Happy Halloween!!! Here are some of the latest and greatest of Jonah B. .....
Jonah really likes cars and trucks and anything with wheels that rolls. Mommy couldn't resist buying him a tractor with farm animals.




Jonah's second favorite thing to do is to pull books off his bookshelf one by one and laughing the whole time. He is so smiley and happy.


Daddy finally bought mommy a rocking chair!!! Jonah reeeeaaaalllly likes it.


The Finale..... Jonah is wearing his cousin's halloween costume. We went to Dad's work to say hello. I think the little dinosaur was overwhelmed with all of the attention.
 

JONAH ON THE GO GO!!!!
8 MONTHS AND STILL GROWING :)

Jonah is in an exploration phase. He is learning all types of new things and is curious about everything.

About a month ago, Jonah started standing in his crib. I (jessi) walked in one morning and there he is standing in his crib, very proud of himself. He is still trying to figure out how to get down from the standing position (other than falling).

I guess all babies are fascinated by certain things, well, Jonah is fascinated with wheels and ANYTHING that rolls. He is constantly crawling towards his stroller and rolling it. Behind him is a package of clothes from Stella and Haley. He says thanks to his girlfriends. :)

Q -T- pie :) Jonah on the go go!!

Jonah is now bouncing to music. He loves to play the piano (the adult piano and baby piano) and listen to Uncle Stephen play the guittar and sing. Look how big he is getting! 

Jonah's Swim Lessons

Considering Jessi's passion for swimming, we decided to get Jonah started early with swim lessons (he didn't really retain much from all of the swimming that Jessi did while he was in the belly). Well, admittedly perhaps swimming is a bit ambitious in that he just started to crawl, but we think that he is an overacheiver like his mommy. Jonah loves the pool. He doesn't mind water in the face, but has trouble blowing bubbles under water, but he loves to laugh at mommy and daddy as we try to teach him how to blow bubbles...





Mt. Tamalpais Hill Climb - Jessi's First Bike Race

Jessi did her first road bicycle race (other than a triathalon) and did very well. Jonah and I were the loudest fans in the crowd at the finish line. Jonah enjoyed watching mommy race for once, after going to all of my races last year. The race was a monster climb up one of the toughest climbs in the bay area. Jonah thinks that we should take a ride up Mt. Tamalpais in the Chariot, but I'm not sure I have the legs to get us both up there. He's pretty persuasive though, so I'm sure we'll give it a shot one of these days...

Napa

9/13/06

Ben, Laurie, Sam, Aiden (on the left)... JJJ (on the right)...


JJJ in the gondola (left)... Beautiful view of the vineyard from the gondola (right)...

San Francisco

9/11/06

This week Ben (Jonathan's brother), Laurie, Sam, and Aiden McFarland are visiting from Seattle. On Monday, we went into San Francisco for the day. We met up with Rob and Lucy at their new place on Russian Hill and wandered over to the beach in front of the Golden Gate Bridge for a walk. Wow, what an amazing place...

Rob, Lucy, Jonah, and Jonathan in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. Jonah and Lucy bonded immediately... Perhaps it is the hair :)

JJJ in front of the GGB...

7 McFarlands in front of the Palace of Fine Arts in SF...

San Francisco Aquarium
9-4-06

 

Big Basin Hike
9-5-06

12mi Round Trip - 3 Water Falls - 2000 ft in Elevation Change


Jonah's First Waterfall - Berry Creek Falls



Daddy and Jonah are in awe of the beauty of nature half way up Jonah's second waterfall...


Lunch

 

Mount Tamalpais Day Hike

9 mi to the coast and back

All smiles with the beach in the backdrop...

Both boys are exhausted with their their tongues out, mid-way through a beautiful hike...

Notice who is smiling and who is carrying the little giant :)

Only about one mile to go after the 10 foot ladder!

Jonah's Cycling Adventures

The top two pictures are from Jonah's first bike ride. We rode about 25mi and daddy and uncle Stephen each pulled for half of the ride. Jonah was a real trooper and we all celebrated w/ smoothies at the end of the ride.



Erik, Katrina and Rider visited from Phoenix. Jonah and Rider went for Jonah's longest bike ride when Erik pulled both of these little studs for 45mi. We stopped half way at GP's house for a quick swim and some lunch. What a fun day!

Well, we are now in Palo Alto. It was a crazy airplane flight with the cats, Jonah, and all of the terrorism scares on Thurs, but we arrived to Cali fine. See below for some pics from this week in Cali. The first pic is of Jonah in his new chair in the kitchen of our house (notice the bib Nana). The second pic is of a hike that we did in Saratoga with the crew (Stephen - Jessi's bro, and JJJ). Then there are two pics from a day trip to the dunes in Pismo beach this weekend. Jonah had his own little tent. The last pic is of Jonah helping us unpack in our new house...

Several of you have asked for our new address, so here it is: 247 Fulton St, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Tuesday, Aug 9 - Jonah had bathtime with Stella and Haley today. He was happy in the top picture when he was in the background hangin' with Haley while Stella stole the show. Then he got a little upset in the lower picture when bathtime was over because he loved bathtime with the girls :)


This is a very bittersweet week. We made so many good friends in Chicago. It is sad to say goodbye. That said, we are really excited about starting the next stage of our lives. There are several new adventures to come.


Pic 1 - Wednesday, Aug 9 - Rand, Amy, and Trey went out for coffee at Istria with us. Rand has been a great influence on our lives in Chicago.

Pic 2 - Sunday, Aug 6 - Pat and Lara went to Ravinia with us to hear Yo Yo Ma. Pat is going to be Jonah's baseball, volleyball, and basketball coach one day.

Pic 3 - Thursday, Aug 3 - Keely and Jen took us out for dinner at Calypso. Jonah loves the foam puzzle play mat that they got him. Mainly he rolls on it and tries to eat it now, but I'm sure he will be able to put the puzzle together one day. Thanks!