Vocabulary

Elliot's vocabulary at 18 months: 
Dada
Mama (finally!)
Car
Truck
Bus
All done
Wow!
Hi!
Oh!
Uh oh
No
Diaper
Cracker
Quack
Woof
Who (owl)
Moo
Baa
Ball
Tractor
Eye
Turtle
Rock
Stick
Sock
Shoe
Choo choo
Apple
Broccoli
Milk (the sign)

He is very talkative.

Another Sunday

A coooooold hike in the morning in West Rock State Park, where we explored the "cave" rock formation and found some neat trees.

After lunch, we had a visitor drop in unexpectedly. (Literally drop into our back storage room through the hole it had chewed in the ceiling)

Winter Days

I found some great "new" toys at my favorite thrift store. The favorite is this Thomas sofa. (yes, it's inspected, sterilized, and cleaned). I also found a nice "piano" style xylophone and some kid size wicker chairs.

Elliot has sometimes taken to using two pacifiers at once.

Elliot's friend Greta tried it out too.

Morning hike up to the top of East Rock Park.

Bay Area: Winter West Coast Tour Part 4

After Tahoe, we headed to the Bay Area for almost two weeks, seeing friends and family, and exploring the area (and Chris going to a conference, and doing research). We went to some parties, hiked in Tilden, rode the steam trains, went to many parks and a beach, fed the animals at the little farm and practiced our dishwasher loading skills.

Tahoe: Winter West Coast Tour Part 3

After Christmas, we headed back to CA, spending a few days in very snowy Tahoe. While Nana and Grandpa watched Elliot, Chris and I got to ski! It was the best snow I've seen in years, and we thoroughly enjoyed it (but wish we could have stayed another few days).

Seattle: Winter West Coast Tour Part 2

North to Washington! We stayed in Seattle with Chris's family for a little over a week. Elliot got to meet his GREAT Grandad, visit the Seattle Aquarium, play with the dinosaurs at the Burke Museum, learn how to load a dishwasher, and enjoy lots of Grandma and Grandad time. We spent Christmas there, before heading back to California.

Southern CA: Winter West Coast Tour Part 1

We started our West Coast travels in Riverside, our future home. We visited the campus, some neighborhoods, and the lovely UCR Botanic Gardens. Photos are all from in the gardens.

Then we spent a wonderful relaxing 4 days in Ventura, with friends Keren, John and Fiona We went to the park, made latkes, celebrated Chanukah, decorated the Chanukah bush, visited a great kids' museum, and played with Fiona's fun toys!

Next, we went to Santa Barbara for the day and hiked along the coast with Chris's friend Sara.