Let's Rock 'n' Roll

Well, I decided that I need some accountability... and you're the one I chose... yes, you. I have always wanted to run a marathon and I have finally chosen the one I'm going to do. On June 3rd, in San Diego, they have a rock 'n' roll marathon that I've heard is awesome. Anyway, I started running about 2 weeks ago and I thought, "I'll just go out and run a little 4 mornings a week and I'll be in shape by June." Then I looked at the race map. Boy did I have the laziness scared out of me! Once I was done crying, I decided all over again that I want to do it. I'll have to start waking up earlier than Andrew (which is a bummer any "new" parent can understand), but I really want to do this. Please make sure that I do. I'll try to keep you posted every once in a while. Remember, YOU are my accountability!

9 Months Old... and other news...

I haven't had a chance to update for a while so here are some random shots in no particular order. (I couldn't get all of them for some reason so there might be a couple more tomorrow too.)

Andrew is 9 months old now and just like every other mother of a nine-month-old, I can't believe that he's been out of the womb as long as he was in! It seems like he's been around forever! Being pregnant was wonderful and such a blessing, but having Andrew this past 9 months has been even more amazing! I love my little boy!

As for the stats, he has leveled off in weight (finally!) at 20 lbs 11 oz, which is about the 50th percentile. He is 30 inches long, which is 95th percentile. (He is definitley taking after his dad.) He says "ma" and "ba" and just today started saying "da". It's so cute! He has a surprisingly low voice too. He loves crawling and walking while holding on to something or someone and cracks up at anything. His laugh is amazing to me!

This is Andrew's "Morpheus" shot. From the back, he looks just like Morpheus from The Matrix.

We took Andrew to the zoo for the first time last Saturday. (We went to the one in Santa Ana.) It's pretty cute and great for little kids. Andrew had a fun time, but didn't seem to be too excited about the animals.

He just looked so cute in this outfit playing with his blocks. :)

My 2 monkeys outside the monkey cages. This pic also shows the mohawk that Andrew got to show off at the zoo.

How cute!

Grammy and Papa ELM came for a visit Sunday to Monday. It was so good seeing them. We had an awesome visit. My mom and I went to Glen Ivy and got pedicures... Neither one of us had ever been to a spa before. It was so nice!... and great mother-daughter quality time. :)

Last week, we got to go over to Amy and Danny's house. Andrew had a fun time playing with Noah... and his toys. Although he got a little jealous when he saw his daddy playing with another baby!

Another shot of Grammy with Andrew.

Isn't this a funny face? He looks like a rapper staring into the camera at the end of some song. (You can also tell it was almost nap time by the circles under his eyes) :)

Parrots II

I talked to my friend, Amy (different Amy from Noah's mom), about the parrots in town here and she did some additional research for our further parrot education. She sent me an awesome article. Even if you don't want to read the whole thing, read the urban legends section on the right to find out where the birds came from. Click here. And for those of you who think I'm a nerd, #1: I'm not Kimball Garrett who founded The California Parrot Project and #2: Read my sister Sara's blog entry on September 6th. Who's the nerd now???

Sushi

Today, Annie taught Amy and I how to make sushi. (Lin took the intermidiate course.) :) We started off our morning on a field trip to Marukai (pronounced like the ugly Uruk-Hai in LOTR) which is a Japanese market. It was interesting being neither one of us speak Japanese. (Although she, at least, knew what everything was.) This is our finished product. I learned how to make yummy sushi!!! Annie also made several other things that I don't remember the names of... mushrooms, "white carrots", fish cake soup, pickled (?) something, seaweed, and I know I'm forgetting at least one other thing. The sushi turned out really good. Although, there was some seaweed with wasabi on it and although I do like the flavor, my lips were ON FIRE!!! Whew!
Here's Andrew with Auntie Annie. (I learned that not only is she the infamous "Aunt Annie who has an alligator A... a... A..." from Dr. Seuss, but she also is famous in Taiwan... Or at least she looks like a Chinese movie star.)
Here's Noah enjoying lunch with us. He even joined in the conversation! (Non-sushi picture.) Gabe and I got to enjoy an awesome afternoon on Sunday. We played football at church with a bunch of people and then we went down to the Spectrum for some faux Chinese food at PF Chang's and then what could top off the afternoon except some ice cream? It was an awesome date! We were so blessed to have some time for just the two of us!

Retreat

Our church had our all-church retreat almost exactly a month ago. I don't have a post on it yet. That's not becuz I forgot or didn't have anything to say. I didn't know how to put into words how wonderful it was and what a blessing it was... Until I received these photos from Marco and Lin. I saw the above pic and just thought how much it explained the weekend. I still don't think I'll be very good with words, but I'll try. I know it's difficult to tell, but I'm not actally related to anyone in the above picture besides Andrew. :) I feel like I am, though. Gabe does too. I'm pretty sure that Andrew would agree as well if he could say more than, "aba!" EFCOC is an amazing family of God. The love that is at our church is incredible. They have accepted all three of us in as their family members. The way they care for Andrew blesses me more than I can tell you.
I had the awesome pleasure of teaching the 1st-6th graders. It was awesome! The kids understand the love of God more than I think they know. They have had it played out before them for so many years that it's normal for them. What a blessing in this day and age!

I am so blessed to be (most importantly) where God has called us, but I'm also blessed that this church is the place where God has called us to be. Thank God for our new church family who love us so much!

What's Up

Well, I thought I'd tell about a few things that the Barbers have been up to. Andrew got to go on a playdate at the park with his buddy Joshua and his twin Noah. (Although I forgot about the camera until after Joshua's naptime.) It was a beautiful day at the park. Andrew walked (with help) around the jungle gym (is it still called that?) and we had a fun picnic lunch.
I just thought this was an interesting shot of the little guy.
Yes, this photo is going into the future blackmail stack... playing with Mom's purses and her dolly (which he loves, by the way). :)
This picture is very decieving. It looks like Ben is feeding Andrew a beer, but it's actually not close to his mouth at all. It is hilarious, though, being Ben is at med school right now training to be a pediatrician.
I think Andrew started out the night a little bummed becuz Blake and Gabe got to meet Miss America that afternoon without him, but by the end of the night, all was forgiven. :)

Meeting Baby Brayden

Here he is! What a sweetie! What a wonderful little boy! He makes the cutest faces. He even has a one-eye-opened-Popeye face. Here, he's almost smiling! Andrew is Mr. Cool-Guy here on our way up to Fresno.Sleeping babies with dads.
I love this pic of Andrew and Gabe. Andrew is drooling over toys in a KBToystore window. Uncle Gabe with little Brayden. Although he weighs 8 lbs, he feels as light as a feather! It's amazing how buff you get after carrying a little one around!

Brayden Pics

Here's the link that everyone has been waiting for. Click here to see my new little nephew. What a cutie-pie! I love him already! Gabe, Andrew, and I are going up on Monday to meet him. Whoo-hoo! I can't wait!

Andrew Update

Well, I thought I'd do a quick Andrew update. (Is there no one out there who was interested in my parrot post?!) What a ham he's turned into! Does anyone else remember Michael J. Fox in "Back to the Future" when he wakes up, thinking that it all could have been a dream? Does my son's sleeping position look familiar? (Don't worry. We adjusted him so he wouldn't break his arm.)
While Andrew was sick, he was barely eating so we tried just about everything. :) Gabe is very creative. By the way, he is totally better now. After a cold for 1.5 weeks, stomach flu for 2.5 weeks, and roseola for a week (overlapping illness are fun), he's finally better! Satuday was his first day back to normal and Sunday we stayed home from church just in case he still had any germs and so he could rest and now he's as good as new! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and thoughtfulness. :)

BBQ Weekend... I mean, Labor Day Weekend...

Saturday night, we had our friends, Cam and Janelle, over. They brought the yummiest Carne Asada ever!!! We also played "This vs. That" with them. It was hilarious!On Sunday night, the Encarnacions came over. Joshua and Andrew played so well together that Andrew even got to play with Elephant... until Joshua caught onto what was going on. :) That night was tri-tip and super yummy ice cream sundaes!
Monday afternoon, we had the TOFU group (college and young adults) over for hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken... and fellowship too! There were 3 babies born within 2 weeks present. In the domino picture above (Jonathan looks like he's falling onto Noah who looks like he's about to fall onto Andrew.) We had a fun time not playing Cranium and eating a table full of desserts. By the way, Amy brought over a pie from Marie Callendar's that had 3 of us almost in tears it was so good. (Apple Carmel Cream or something... yum...) Aparently, Noah didn't have enough to eat and had to start chewing on Andrew for additional sustinance. (See last photo.) :)

It was such a fun weekend. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends!

Brayden Curtis Heard

Whoo-hoo! Last night, at just after 10pm, my little nephew, Brayden, was born! Joleen and Curtis delivered him at a hospital in Fresno and everyone is healthy and happy. Praise God! He's 8 lbs 3 oz and 20 inches long. From what I hear, he has big feet and a big head. (Classic Heard boy.) :) We are so happy for the new little family and ask that everyone rejoice with us and pray for them as they start their new life. I'll post pictures as soon as I get some and the link to their blog once they are able to update it... Whoo-hoo!

India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and Fullerton

So you may be wondering, "What do India, SE Asia, W Africa, and Fulleron have in common?" The answer to that question lies below...Parrots! That's right. Although parrots are commonly found in the warm climates of the world, we do have a flock of parrots that live in the "wild" in our neighborhood. I hear their distinct voices, "Arrrr! Polly want a cracker?!" every morning at about 6:30 and every evening at about 7:00 as they fly by our house. They go south somewhere for the day and then return in the evening to rest in our neighbors' trees. This photo is at the park by our house. I am very intrigued by this family of parrots and keep a rather close eye on them... it's kinda a hobby of mine. If you'd like more info, click here. (Could these be the now "extinct" Carolina Parakeets?)