Happy Birthday Lucie!

Lucie is 1 today!!!! What a fun year we've had with her. She's turned into such a little pie! Well, she was always a good baby. We actually felt a little guilty about how easy she was as an infant. That being said, I notice a little, let's say "independent" streak in her lately. I guess she's not a baby anymore!
We're having her official birthday party this Sunday, but we celebrated a lot today! I'm pooped and Lucie is fast asleep already, even though it's still light out. Last night, I put up the paper flower arrangement I've been working on (with a little help from Trav). That, with a "Happy Birthday" banner went up on the Dining Room wall. We're keeping it up for the party, but it made Lucie's breakfast extra festive.
Trav surprised us both by hanging up streamers in the hallway. It is a tradition in the Theobald family to wake up to streamers. Fun! Lucie thought they were hilarious and loved running through them. Though it made her a little off balance and there were a few tumbles.
I made waffles and fruit (well, I cut up the fruit and put it on the waffle). I think Lucie ate the entire thing. That was the start of the sugar. Yes, I'm a bad mom.
Lucie opened her presents from us: a red piano and a wooden pushcart that transforms into a scooter. For once, she was really interested in both presents. Score!
Lucie and I took Trav to work and then tried to go home and fit a nap in. Didn't work. So we packed up the beach bag and headed to the beach in Sausalito. After weeks of cold, rainy weather, the sun came out in full force this week. It is beautiful outside right now. Of course, Lucie fell asleep on the way to the beach, so we sat in the car with the air conditioning going for about 45 minutes. Thank goodness for iphones.
Her delayed nap ended up being better timing for hanging out at the beach. We met up with Trav and brought a picnic to this really cute sandy area very close to Trav's office. Because it was so awesome outside, there were quite a few families there. Lucie got into her swimsuit, I lathered us up in sunscreen, and we plunged into the bay. OK, we just waded around, but for a 2.5 foot tall person, it was a plunge.
I forgot to mention that we rode bikes to the beach from Trav's office. Then, on the way back, we rode around for a couple extra loops, since Lucie seemed to be enjoying herself. I could tell because she wasn't trying to pull the helmet off her head like she was when we were stationary on the bikes.
It was getting on in the afternoon by the time we headed home, so Lucie fell asleep in the car. Again, she didn't transfer to her crib for a solid nap, so we fed her some cake! No, actually, we hung out in our backyard for a bit. My parent's gave Lucie a sand and water table (actually it's rice and water. sand is just too much for me), so she played around in that, chased the cat, and pulled at some of Trav's potted plants.
We had cake for dinner (hey, it was carrot cake. that's healthy!) and now Lucie is fast asleep.
What an awesome day for a totally awesome girl!

H to the O to the P to the R

We made our annual trip to the House of Prime Rib (lovingly called HOPR) this weekend. Again, we went to the Expolratorium first. Lucie loved the orange/white circling circus tent thing-y and the house of perspectives, which reminds me of both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Beetlejuice. One of my favorite science exhibits there that I liked as a child are these two big shell shaped seats that sit about 50 feet away from each other. The idea is that you can talk at a normal conversational volume and clearly hear the person sitting 50 feet away. My mom, Mark, and I were sitting next to them, watching a guy and a girl try it out. All of a sudden the girl said "yes" and started crying. Turns out, the guy just proposed! From 50 feet away! I thought it was a clever idea.
HOPR was as delicious as always. It was Lucie's first time and she chowed down the meat. I couldn't cut it fast enough. It's always surprising how well all three girls behave at restaurants. HOPR is a great place for kids, actually, because it's loud and the service is really good. The wait staff even helped us look for the missing "K" from Mirabelle's alphabet puzzle.
Megan, who is about 10 months pregnant, proved the myth about HOPR: she ordered a second helping of Prime Rib, which she got for free! She even had a few bites, but then got to take the rest of it home. Those are the kinds of things you should do when 10 months pregnant.
Until next year...

early birthday

Travis's parents came up for the weekend to celebrate Lucie's birthday a little early. It was cold outside, but we were able to show Grandma and Grandpa the park (Sun Valley). Lucie is so good at going down the slide by herself, but she prefers playing in the playhouse or digging in the sand. Actually, Lucie would rather watch any dogs that are running around the grass area than play in the park. But, we're not getting a dog any time soon.
Since it was so cold, we thought it'd be fun to go to the Discovery Museum. It was Travis's first time there, so Lucie and I showed him all our favorite spots. Lucie just starting walking on her own without holding my finger this last week, so she was even more mobile at the Tot Spot. It's fun to see how she becomes more able to move around the museum each time we visit.
Grandma and Grandpa brought Lucie's TONS of presents, including a Radio Flyer wagon and the neatest wooden alligator pull toy. Lucie learned how to pull the alligator right away. She did about 10 laps around the house with it, once she figured out how to pull it.
Lucie can't wait to hang out with her Grandma and Grandpa again!

Relaxing in Napa

Travis is going to China every 3-4 months or so for work. Last time he went for a week, so Lucie and I took a vacation at Grandma and Grandpa's in Napa. It was fun to spend a whole work week up there. We visited Betsy at school one day. Lucie learned how to push around the grocery cart in the backyard and liked visiting the ceramic duck on the front porch. On Wednesday, I met up with my co-workers to tour Dominus winery. After, we all met up with Lucie and my parents at Bardesono for a glass of wine. Napa is nice!

hej!

we went to ikea last weekend and saw the cutest miniature version of our living room chairs. so tempted to get it, but we can't get that girl to sit down for longer than 5 minutes!