Forgive me for this incredibly long post. I was going to make the bay area a three-parter, but I figured that I would just finish it tonight, or I might never do it. Okay... where did I leave off... So Marc had to go home for a bit to work, and Rome and I stayed in the bay area while he was home. OH!! And while he was home we finally FINALLY had the carpet installed. It may have taken seven years, but it's finally here, and it's wonderful. I could not be more pleased with the way it turned out. Now Romey can just wander and play, and I won't worry about him cracking his head open on the concrete. Anyway, I digress. After Marc left, Romey and I spent a day or two just lounging around the house. This gave him some fun time to spend with grandma and grandpa. Grandma showed Romey how fun it is to crawl up and over things; grandpa took Romey out on the bobcat; and both grandma and grandpa spent quite a bit of time with Rome on the tire swing and on the hammock in back. I am always so happy when Roman gets to spend such quality time with Bill and Peggy because even though we're a more than a few hundred miles away, I really want Roman to have a good relationship with them and the rest of his extended family.
And Roman also got to spend some quality time with Genchie Pie! She's only two months older than Roman, but Gentry is seriously more advanced than he is, but I think they still had fun together. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings Pacen, Camry, and Claira all have school, so I told Erica to bring Gentry over so that Romey and Gentry could play. I think Roman enjoys being around all of the kids, but only for a brief period. It's a lot of commotion to take in. But I do love how much Camry loves Roman. She always wants to hold him, and she's very considerate of making sure he's getting attention and playing with a toy. Speaking of Camry, I am not sure if I mentioned this in my last post, I got to go to a family reading morning in her classroom. I am not sure how many mornings a week they have family reading, but it was a lot of fun. Camry chose the books, and we sat and read them in her class. Some of the other kids didn't have anyone to read with, so they came and sat next to us. It's really a fun thing, and I am hoping that Rome will have something like this at his school. We also saw one of Pacen's soccer games, and that kid is seriously athletic. One of the other dads (whom I know I have met before, but I totally cannot remember his name) just kept saying how fast Pacen was, and how Pacen was working so hard. I know that made Erica and Than very proud. Let's see... OH!! And I headed over to the Hancock home to watch Monday Night Football! Hooray!! The best part was that the game was Broncos-Raiders, and for those of you who do not know, I am a Raiders fan, and Erica is a Broncos fan. It was an okay game to watch, but both teams had far too many penalties, and it got a little ridiculous. But I had dinner with them (Rome stayed with grandma and grandpa because it was the late game), and then we made root beer floats. It was a great night, and I cannot wait to do it again in their very own house the next time I head up. I was also there for Miss Claira's third birthday! I really cannot believe that she is already three. These kids are making me feel old. We had pizza and ice cream, and Roman watched all of the big kids playing. Oh, and Erica and I were able to spend the seventh together, and that made that day much easier. I don't often talk about mom on here, I am not exactly sure why, but I don't, but I really miss that lady. She was just the best, and so the seventh really sucks. But we made her favorite dessert, german chocolate cake, and went shopping, because if mom were still alive that's what we would be doing with her. We didn't do a crazy "Linda shop" because Erica is buying a house in Walnut Creek after all, but I at least bought myself some Burberry boots for my birthday... I will pretend they were from mom... Thanks mom!
Okay, so, really, in the above picture, both of those kids could be my kids. We have always joked about how much Cam looks like me, but really she could be Rome's big sister because they look so much alike.
And of course I got to spend more time with Sarah and her babies, Mallory and Caleb. We went swimming over at Michelle's house; we went out to lunch; we grabbed coffee; we went shoe shopping; we had lots and lots of baby time. I love my Sarah. I am always so happy when we get to spend time together because we don't always get a ton of time together. Swimming was so much fun. Rome absolutely loves being in the water. I really have to get him into a baby-swim class. He'll love it. And unfortunately I only have a picture of Rome with Natalie, but Natalie and Samantha (Michelle's daughters) were very good helpers, and kept Roman occupied for me while I had lunch. Thanks girls! I can totally see now why having an older sibling is going to make my life a bit easier with baby #2. Thank goodness!
Look at these sleeping angels. I got to spend some really good cuddle time with Cal and Mal while we were out having lunch. They are just so adorable. Look at those little hands!
And when Marc did come back up to the bay area, he and I headed off to San Francisco for our very first night away from Roman. Bill and Peggy, thank you so so much for watching Romey for us! We really had a nice time. We wandered around Union Square and went to Farallon and had an amazing dinner. It was really just so nice to not feel rushed. And while Marc and I were both looking forward to getting some really good sleep (yeah, date night priorities have changed a bit), the hotel we were staying at had paper-thin walls, and so neither of us slept. Unfortunately, the only picture I took was of Union Square while I was enjoying some coffee on my own the next morning while Marc was at this conference. The time alone with just some coffee and a pastry while people watching was amazing. It was a really really great morning for me, but then I started to feel a little guilty that I was out by myself, and I really really just wanted to go see Roman, so I headed back to the house. Seriously, I thought I wouldn't be that mom, but here I am, confessing that I have become that mom. I guess it's inevitable.
Before we left, Marc, Romey, Peggy, and I headed over to Rudgear Park, and we played on the swings, on the jungle gym, and then Romey got to play in the sand. It's funny, because even though we live in San Diego, Rome has never really seen sand. There are a few things Marc doesn't want to miss out on, so I have not yet taken Roman to the beach, and we will never go to the beach on a weekend during the summer, because, by now, I am sure you all know how I feel about tourists. Anyhoo, it was so much fun watching Roman play with the sand; he only tried to eat it a couple of times, so it went well. I guess a beach trip is definitely in order soon.
Well, that was our trip, or at least most of it. I am sure that I am forgetting a few things. We had an amazing time, but I am glad that we don't have another big trip planned anytime soon; I just finished laundry and putting everything away.