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These pictures were taken a few days before Thanksgiving. Just a random morning, but for some reason, Evan was trying to pick Sophie up off the ground.

We spent this Sunday afternoon with friends Doug, Dennis, and Lonan. We went accross the bridge to the Bay Area Discovery Museum where Lonan and Evan played with all the cool things.

After playing, we all went up to the hotel and sat outside near the firepit, had a glass of wine, a snack, and let the kids run around a bit. Amazing views and great weather for late November made for a really nice late afternoon and some great photo ops.

Both families got pictures taken

As night approached, the boys played nicely while the Dads got to relax.

There happened to be very little wind, so we stayed until it got dark.

And then it was back over the bridge and home…

So it was Saturday night, Sophie had started eating food, and we had two high chairs. It seemed like a perfect time to implement “eating dinner together as a family” at our house. The daddies managed to make a meatloaf before going to the park in the afternoon, and we thought a dinner with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas, and winter squash (for Sophie) would go over great.

The first “family dinner” didn’t go off quite as we had hoped. The minute Sophie sat down, she started to scream, and that set Evan off. So it was a valient try but we’ll have to try again later.

The Daddies took 3 days off from work, and the whole family went up to Fair Play with Nanna and Poppy. The idea was that the Daddies would take two days and get away for a little mini vacation. The only other time we have been away for a night was last year in December when Evan was 6 months old (younger then Sophie now!) and Daddies went to NY while Evan stayed in CT with Nanna and Poppy. So after a great day in Fair Play that included playground and lunch and Boccanato, on Sunday we (a little reluctantly) left the kids and drove up to Squaw Valley.

It is definitely “off” season around Tahoe right now. There isn’t enough snow for skiing, and most of the hikers, swimmers, and summer revelers are gone. Fortunately for us, we got amazing weather. The 70 and 80 degree weather in Fair Play found its way up the mountain so that even at 6000′, it was close to 70 degrees!  The Dad’s took the opportunity to eat dinner out, sleep in late, watch a movie (Sex in the City), and best of all, get in some exercise by hiking a few thousand feet up the beautiful mountain.

Daddies came back to Fair Play on Tuesday to find that Sophie, Evan, Nanna, and Poppy were all doing just fine. Evan learned to use Playdoh..

Sophie enjoyed the beatiful fall weather and got to spend lots of time outside. Sophie also got to show Poppy how to change a diaper. (which Nanna said might have been his first – unfortunately we don’t have a picture of that!)

On Tuesday, David had the day off and went with Nana and Poppy to get a new high chair for Sophie. I put it together that night, so it was all ready for Wednesday morning. We also got a new blue seat cushion for Evan’s chair.

On Wednesday morning, both kids got up early, so we got them both set up in their chairs.

Dad is finally in front of the camera instead of behind it. He looks like he just got out of bed! Look out the windows and you’ll see it’s still dark outside.

Today, Thursday, Sophie had her first taste of solid food. She didn’t spit it out right away, which is a good sign, but she sure did make a mess. In the end there was food all over her face and hands, but I think it was a great first try.

A close-up of that special moment

Evan thought the whole event was pretty silly. What’s so exciting about eating mush? he says with his mouth full of sausage…

Evan has been waking up earlier lately. He usually starts talking to himself and saying “dada” around 6 am now. We try to leave him in his room as long as we can – but one of the results is that blogging time for Daddy is getting shorter and shorter. (that’s why many pictures are still uncaptioned.

Sophie has almost full use of her hands now,  and Evan and she interact more and  more each day.

Its facsinating to watch the two of them on a daily basis because EVERY day one of them does something new right now!

Evan got his first black eye last week. He was walking with a candle in his  hand and fell on it. At first it was just a little black and blue on the side of his face – but it eventually  under his eye.

Its clear that a bond is starting to form between them. When they first wake up, Evan loves to sit in Sophie’s crib with her and talk to her and touch her. For her part, now that she has use of her hands – if Evan is in grabbing distance… she does! Her “grab” is not very strong yet – so it doesn’t bother Evan! Below, Evan gives Sophie a totally unsolicited,  unpromted kiss!

Barack Obama is our president elect!  GOOD!!

Californian’s decided that it is ok to write discrimination into the constitution.  BAD!!

We know that this is just one step in a fight for equal rights, and that other groups before us have fought longer and harder to achieve even more basic rights. However, because its happening to us right now, we have very strong feelings about how unjust this proposition is. 

On Friday night, we took the kids out to the “protest” that marched from city hall down to the Castro. If nothing else, it was nice to be in a large group of people that were feeling the same way we do after a very long and tough week. 

Below, Daddy, Evan, and Sophie get ready to join the protest

Protestors march along Market Street. 

Daddy and Evan enjoy Evan’s first protest march. 

This was the view down Castro street as we turned of market. 

Sophie is changing faster and faster each day. The front of her hair is getting longer and she even has a couple of small curls above each ear. We’ll see if those stay! She is getting much better at sitting up, and can almost do it by herself.

Pumpkins arrived just the day before Holloween, and Evan couldn’t wait to get at them!

Holloween arrived and Joseph brough Evan and Sophie downtown to visit the Wells Fargo offices and do some trick-or-treat on the 20th floor.

Evan costume was King Arthur, and Sophie was just about the cutest little lamb you ever saw!

Back at home, Daddies, Nana and Popi, and Evan and Sophie got to work carving the pumpkins. 

Creative Daddy carved the faces, not so creative Daddy scooped out the insides and roasted the seeds, Evan and Nana transfered the insides back and forth between the pumpkin and the bowl, and Popi and Sophie watched enthusiastically! In the end, we had two beautiful pumpkins ready to go  outside before dark!

Once outside, We tried to take some pictures of the family on the front stairs. Evan was anxious to get out trick-or-treating, so that didn’t work so well. After pictures, we joined the kids on the block for a few houses. It was the best Holloween yet in our neighborhood. 2007 was the first year we ever had trick-or-treaters, and this year the number went up to around 20! Seems the baby boom in the Castro is going strong!

What a great Holloween it was!  I’ll leave you with this last picture of a little lamb..

Monday October 25 was Sophie’s adoption day at the courthouse in San Francisco. It was an amazing day with family. Joseph and I are so proud to be the legal parents of two wonderful kids, and so thankful to our families for helping us and supporting us through every stage of our lives. 

We were at the courthouse at 8:30 AM.

The actual hearing takes only a couple of minutes

The judge that does all adoptions in SF is wonderful, and presided over both Evan’s and Sophie’s day in court. 

Filing the paper work took a little longer while family waited.

Everyone went to the playground at Yerba Buena after, adults drank our morning coffee while the kids played. Highlight at the playground was Evan going down the slide with his cousins.

To officially celebrate the day, the family went to a long, fantastic lunch at the new restaurant on the bay “La Mar”.

Evan got to try octopus – but clearly wasn’t impressed.