Zuma Zooma

Lori sent photos to prove that the day before we left Los Angeles, Sam finally went to the real beach (we're not going to count the tashlich ceremony in Santa Monica last fall where he spent the whole time in the Baby Bjorn):

We had a great time with Ariella, Magnolia and Max, Lori, Anna and Drew, David and Gabriel, and Ariella's other mommy friends whose names I don't remember. :) Sam was completely baffled by the sand, loved loved loved the ocean, and got to see 5 dolphins, including a few moments when we saw the dolphins swimming inside a cresting wave.

These photos are after his second session in the ocean, when he was worn out from wading in the waves and just wanted a shoulder to rest on.

Thanks for including us in Beach Day!

Packing Day

This is Jim.

This is Benny.

Jim.

Benny. Me (32 hours awake and counting).

And this

is PACKING DAY.

Beach Boy

So, Chennai boasts the longest beach in the world. Georgia is on the Atlantic coast. Our place in L.A. is about ten minutes from the beach. But, for all kinds of silly reasons, Sam has not yet been to the beach.


He has, however, been to the fake beach:








Note the seagrass and giant clamshells, which are so abundant in Santa Monica.

The Best Laid Plans

How's the first week of packout prep going? We-ell, factor in one toddler with a fever/ear infection combo that kept him out of daycare all week, and you end up with less than the most productive week ever. Oh, did I mention that there were workers replacing our roof so there was banging and hammering all day? Worked wonders for naptime. Still, one car is now en route to D.C., and there has been some progress at Chez Packout.

Dramatic re-enactment of Sam's unhappiness this week, minus the runny nose:

Actual photo of Sam's unhappiness this week, demonstrated at Sears:

In "bizarre coincidence" news, our doula (labor coach) Serena has just joined the Foreign Service community! It was great to hear from her and we're looking forward to hanging out at the pool together in D.C. before we leave for India.


Two weeks of prep to go...

Pack Out Prep

Just in case you think nothing interesting is going on this week... it's Packout Prep time!!! In other words, I am sorting, organizing, selling, donating, and shifting as many of our possessions as I can. Mark has helped categorize (storage/D.C./India/toss!) and I am doing my best to have everything ready when the packers come at the end of the month. This is my fourth move in five years, and it's been crazy, last-minute and stressful each time. At least this go-round I have three weeks without work (and with daycare) to prep, even if I don't have Mark around. Hey, if we do this right, it'll be easier next time!

(Sam is in the "hand carry to D.C." category, btw.)