Food Coma!

Whoa. Lisa got 100% healthy and we hit full speed again. Since we last talked, E's been a busy boy going to baby gym, getting faster at "cruising" along the coffee table, and just being a happy, non-teething baby.

Lisa and I took off on Friday afternoon since Nana and Papa stopped through on their way to Hawaii. Though they were only here for approximately 18 hours, we packed it full. After a quick lunch, they watched the lil'man at baby gym. Then we had a nice walk with the dogs followed by a delicious dinner with the whole family.

I dropped them off for their flight at 5:30am on Saturday and we spent the morning around the house. At lunch, Cousin Graham arrived from the East Coast and we proceeded to stuff ourselves for the rest of the weekend (in different locations and for different purposes). That afternoon we hit up a winery and then headed over to Uncle Ron's house for a family party celebrating Tante Ness and Auntie Rachel's birthdays. The family went all out. Salad. Garlic bread. Baked potato. Two kinds of ribs. Smoked chicken. Pulled pork. Jello. And then homemade angel food cake, strawberry sorbet, and lemon meringue pie.

Two words: FOOD COMA.

Still stuffed, we had a light breakfast and then another light breakfast at Uncle Mark/Aunt Dasha's (does light breakfast + light breakfast = normal breakfast?). Then it was off to Santa Cruz. We walked around the lighthouse north of the Boardwalk to help make some room for food. After an HOUR of no food, we drove to the wharf and went to the family's traditional spot of Stagnaro's for a late lunch. Needing a good walk (good nap for E), we laid him down in the stroller and walked through the boardwalk for about 90 minutes. The lil'man slept through screaming kids, salsa-ing adults, and the whole arcade. Finally full, we had wine and "light" appetizers at Oma and Opa's before saying bye to Graham.

Monday was a sad day because Tante Ness went back to Alaska. I wasn't there, but at the airport, Ness took E out of the car seat to give him one last hug. As she was putting him back in, he started crying up a storm...which caused Tante Ness' barely-held tears to burst. So they stood there hugging and bawling.

We sure will miss her...but it won't be long until she's back! And it's something to look forward to.