Tanzore and LA Athletic Club

As the end of 2009 quickly approaches, certain gift certificates expire. For the past few weeks, we've been on a mission to use up our expiring vouchers. Tonight - an overnighter!! (I don't know, after 19+ months, it's probably time for Enzo to have his first night without us, eh?) A staycation! A parents' night (whole night) out. Jeff picked me up at work and we were off to have dinner at a nice Indian Restaurant in BevHills called Tanzore. And boy, was it delish! I even splurged with an iced green tea.


Then, we checked into our Country Club Suite at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Posh. Can you tell that this 6-month preggo girl is excited for a night out?! I was the grand prize raffle winner at last year's office Christmas party at USC Annenberg and won this dope gift. Our plans for the morning were to work out at the athletic facilities, maybe get a massage, and enjoy our complimentary breakfast buffet. Instead, we slept waaay in (a night with no baby monitor static, nor a baby babbling us awake!) and crawled to breakfast before it was too late. And the workout was replaced with a stroll and browse at the LA Jewelry Mart.

Enzo did quite well and barely missed us at all. Must have been all the attention he got from Mema and her dog Max who came over and played with him. Thanks, Ma!

Joy to the world!

Enzo did NOT get the memo.

Gingerbread, er, graham cracker house

Enzo was invited to a gingerbread house making party with a few friends from Gymboree. Since Kylan and his mom Kathy live just a few houses away, we walked up the hill to find lots of fun (and sugar) awaiting us. Of course, it took Enzo a good 30-40 minutes to warm up to the kids, but surprisingly, he was one of the only kids who actually participated in decorating (or helping to un-do what I was doing to) his house.

I asked him to pose next to his house, and he took off a gumdrop roof tile and stuffed it in his mouth. He has never seen or tasted this much (or any?) candy.

The deconstruction continues...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I pulled down all the Christmas decorations, rolled up my sleeves, put the XM Holly-days station on, burned some cinnamon apple incense and began going to town. And it was a race against the clock before Enzo awoke from his nap.


Once he did wake up to see the bannisters wrapped in pinecone, snow-capped, white-lit garland, he says "oooooooohhhhhhhh!!!!!!" with his eyes wider than I've ever seen them before. This Christmas will be different than last year when all he did was eat wrapping paper. I introduce him to this very special music box, with a train, carolers, and snow frosted pine trees. Mesmerized, I say.


We head out over the river and through the woods to the Christmas tree farm/lot (aka Lowes) and Enzo sprints toward the trees. Why is it he picks the most expensive 10 foot Noble fir? We're going Douglas and we're going 8 feet. And I recall that last year I was stoked to bring with me a $10 off coupon that was conveniently mailed to me. This year, not so much. (Can you tell I still have a philosophical problem with spending $50 on a dead tree?)

Enzo says "There's gotta be a better/fresher/taller/fuller one back here in the tree jail" - if only he could speak. So his mother kindly asked the lumberjack man to find her one.

After making Jeff spin it around 143 times (hey, he was prepared with his headlamp and anti-sap gloves), we decide yep, this is the one.


We do the furniture dance to make a spot for the tarp and tree stand. And, by the way can I ask -- why was it with my first pregnancy I was coddled and protected and told not to lift anything heavy? Why this time is it more like "pick up your side of the couch higher and move a little more to the left, please!" Whatevs.

To tether the tree to the wall, or not to tether the tree? (per all parenting mags directed at moms with toddlers I've read for the past two months.) I think we'll take our chances.

Rudolph and the elf with the ceremonious North Star topper.

I am thankful

We had a wonderful day of giving thanks, and eating two Thanksgiving feasts! At my mom's, we celebrated and got to hang out with little Kayden Dale. Here, my dad holds his two grandsons.

I mean, really. Enzo atop his castle. Afterall, the name Enzo is from the Latin "estate ruler" and the Italian "Henry" (The Great).

We spent some time being silly, of course. What Jesmer family occasion wouldn't be complete without potty humor? I think my mom revelled in the diaper-changing stories we told and the shared techniques we imparted on one another. Being novices, Tim and Claire explain Kayden's first T.B.E. (total butt explosion) on Tim's oldest son, Anthony.

And of course, the compulsive shoppers - er, I mean those looking for a good deal - spent some time plotting out their courses for Black Friday.

I didn't get a shot of the fantastic feasts or a group family photo (boo!). And my camera died from no juice before our next stop at Jeff's family's house. This year we all have been so fortunate to share good health and lots of laughs, new life, and new adventures. We are very blessed and very grateful!

A-loooooo-ha, Ko' Olina, Oahu, Hawaii

We had a wonderful vacation in Hawaii - and it was much anticipated and much needed. Two years ago at this time, Jeff and I were having our babymoon at the same location and now it was time to head to the islands as a family, celebrating our threesome. For some reason, I didn't have my camera at the ready to capture the 56 minutes that Enzo screamed at the top of his lungs on the flight over the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps I got overconfident, since this is how we started out the 5 1/2 hour flight.


Thanks be to God -- Enzo slept for about two unconsecutive hours, and only wanted Jeff to hold him.

I don't have a photo of the first excursion in Paradise. Costco, of course. It's tradition. So we finish our shopping and Jeff spots a new menu item on the food court menu board that he's never seen on the mainland. Teriyaki beef bake. He sends me to fetch one, while he waits in line with calm and happy Enzo. Standing in line on the other side of the store, I think to myself, almost unconciously "why won't that poor child stop screaming?" Finishing my transaction, I turn and expect to see Jeff finished with his little receipt in hand. Instead, I see him exactly where I left him, with one of Enzo's wrists in each of his hands, waving them frantically, mouthing something unintelligible to me. I wave back and fill up our soda.

As I approach them, I begin to realize something is terribly wrong. The stench. The fear in Jeff's eyes. The panic in Enzo's face. The stench. Oh, it's my child who's screaming. I see that Jeff is holding Enzo's wrists because if he lets go, what is covering Enzo's hands will end up even more so in his hair, on his shirt, on Jeff's shirt, in Jeff's face, etc. Of course, our diaper changing kit is in the rental car. Now, how do we get this child out of the shopping cart and into the restroom?! By lifting him by his wrists and dangling him all the way to the restrooms. Jeff took one for the team. I realized I couldn't leave the store to retrieve the diapers because we hadn't paid for our items and I wouldn't have been able to re-enter the store because I'm not the Costco member, Jeff is.

About 20 minutes later, Jeff and Enzo emerge from what I'm sure is carnage. There was a twinkle in Jeff's eye when he said "I made a paper towel diaper."

We settle outside with his beef bake and all our groceries. Jeff was traumatized. The passers-by who spent some time in the restroom as Jeff was in crisis looked with pity on us. Since all was under control, we left Enzo in the cart and took our first bite of lunch. And we hear what sounds like raindrops on a cardboard box. Oh right. Enzo just pee'd on our take and bake (later in the week) margharita pizza. Because he was still wearing a paper towel diaper.

We lost it. And all started cracking up.


Enzo's morning ride in the laundry basket.


Contemplating his future.

On a canoe ride at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

My preppy kiddo.


LOVE this BodyGlove wetsuit with a bullet-proof vest inside.

Diving off the Ko'Olina Cat -- a snorkeling catamaran. I think the only reason he was initially afraid was not because he was buoyant in the middle of the Pacific, but because his father decided to suit up with snorkel gear, looking like a scary sea monster.

A sunset wade.

Pupus, cocktails, and birdwatching - oceanfront.

Fun with buckets and shovels.

Splish splash.

"I'm gonna get chu!" A game of hide and seek and chase me, all rolled into one!

Probably the best vacation we've had... and definitely the best one we've had as a family! Mahalo Oahu!

A day in the life of Enzo

Taking his wheels for a spin.

Getting a little push from Grandbob.

After gassing up, he does a walk-around to be sure all is in tip-top shape.

Test-driving a trike.

Silently indicating he wants to go outside.

Taking a water break in his favorite spot, waiting for me to get my shoes on.

Wrapping up the day with some singing. ..

...and a breathy - Marilyn Monroe - coo.

18 month check up

I saved up all my questions, since Enzo hasn't had a *planned* doctor's visit since he was 12 months. He checked out fine - 26 lbs. and he stood on the scale himself! 50% for weight, 75% for height. He's rockin his walk and loves to push the doctor's stool all over the office. Although he got four - count em FOUR - shots, he celebrated with some bubbly.

Happy 30th Claire

Tonight, we had the chance to celebrate Claire's birthday with a nice (and out) Italian dinner. It's been a few weeks since we've seen Kayden, who peacefully slept the entire time.


I asked if I could wake him up to hold him, but I wasn't allowed.

Enzo was on his semi-best behavior. If by that you mean taking a walk around the restaurant every 20 minutes to settle down and walk the ansies off.

Claire's mother-in-law Vicky was in town from Texas to lend a hand to Claire, as Tim has gone back to work. It was great seeing her. And, of course, my mom loved being the in presence of her two grandchildren together for the very first time!

Close call on Metrolink 603

Me: "Jeff, my train just hit a truck and it looks like whoever is in this truck is dead, for sure."

Jeff: "I'm on the scene. I was at the intersection and I saw your train hit it. The guy was stalled on the tracks and I yelled for him to get out and run. He was like a deer in headlights, but got out in time. Two seconds later, your train hit at about 50 mph."



I look out the window and I see my car (there between the two police cars) pulled over with the hazards on. Then I see Jeff there, on his phone talking to me, standing next to the traumatized guy whose truck it was.

"What?! I didn't even know you took this route to go to work after dropping me off at the train station. Do you see my train every morning?"

"Yes."

For the next two hours, Jeff kept us who were on the train apprised of what was going down. Fire and rescue inspecting the train. Engineer getting a breathalizer. Police collecting debris in the road. Road closure. Metrolink Safety on the scene, interviewing Jeff as the key eyewitness. Metrolink PR getting a statement from Jeff. Sherriff wants to know if the train tried to break before the impact. Conductor indicates minor injuries of passengers on the front of the train. (Which is why I ride in the second to the last train car.) Front bumper of the train has damage. Train track looks good - no damage. Etc. Etc.


What an adventure for a Wednesday morning. Just a three hour commute to work. And everyone was okay, which is what matters.