Grin and Merritt

Babies in the Waves

And some video from the beach of Zach, Dylan, Mer and me watching the waves (I promise not to get too carried away with this video thing!).

I'm So High-Tech

I just figured out how to post video from our camera to this blog-- very exciting! This isn't the most riveting footage you'll ever see, but here's Merritt working on her self-feeding at the airport restaurant. These little puffs for babies keep them very occupied-- at least for as long as it takes for me and Eric to scarf down our meals!

Beach Bubs

We just returned from another family vacay, this time to Newport Beach, where Merritt and Cousin Dylan learned all about eating sand and dipping their toes in the ocean.

Mer loved watching the waves (except for the time that Grumpy got a little carried away, but we won't talk about that)"Cute hat D." "You too Mer."
Super-cute father-daughter time
We set the portable cribs up under the tent so we wouldn't even need to leave the beach for naptime-- note the good girl on the left who is actually napping (kidding Zach!)
The shades didn't stay on long, but I tried

More Bubs on the Beach

My siblings and I pretty much grew up on this very same beach-- we would spend every summer here with our parents, grandparents and dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins. Each year, my wonderful Aunt Linda would bring t-shirts with all the kids names on them and we'd do a line-up photo on the beach. We laugh about those t-shirts now and all the crazy moments trying to corral the crawling babies and get the pouty teenagers to smile. It was always a really special time for us and it made me so happy this past week to see Merritt and Dylan together there, ready to start new traditions, but keeping some old ones going. Here they are in their first name t-shirts!

Eric and I enjoying the sunset

Babies in New Braunfels

We just returned from a long weekend in New Braunfels with my mom's side of the family-- aunts, uncles and cousins from California to Georgia. Had such a great time, but once again, I didn't do the best job at taking pictures. I did capture some cute ones of Merritt and Dylan though-- these cousins are just two months apart and we're having the best time watching them grow together.

Uncle Zach, Little D, Mer and me
The girls lunching at the Gristmill
Mer and Dylan
Uncle Zach composing an ode to the girls on the fly
And my favorite-- joint bathtime

Say Hello to Our "Little" Friends

We spent our Sunday morning playing with Lauren and Sam Little and Mer had a great time. The girls were so generous with their toys and did a wonderful job of sharing with "Baby Merritt." Thanks to the Littles for lots of fun!

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy

Merritt has been having a wonderful first summer-- lots of morning walks with Jessie, hanging out in her baby pool and great times at the lakehouse with Hoop and Bobbi (Eric's parents).

Relaxing on the pier with Dad
Enjoying a swing at the lake clubhouse
Ready for a walk with mosquito force field in place
The obligatory baby mohawk pic
Jess tuckered out after a day at the lake