Beach Trip

Two weekends ago, the three of us went to the Oregon Coast. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were spent at Camp Magruder with the Metro Church youth group. Rusty was the main speaker for the weekend and he did a great job -- the theme was "burdens -- laying 'em down and taking 'em up." Christ calls us to lay down our burdens at his feet and rest in his love... but as Christians, we are also asked to bear one another's burdens. Good stuff -- even for the "old folks" who were there!

Sunday night, we took advantage of a free night's lodging at the Tolovana Inn in Cannon Beach. This was something Rusty's mom had purchased at a benefit auction for Columbia Christian Schools and never used. It was expired, but we called and they said they would still honor it. So we enjoyed some much needed r&r... playing on the beach... swimming in the pool... soaking in the hot tub... eating Mo's clam chowder... enjoying the gorgeous view from our balcony. And my personal favorite -- since our room was a suite, we put Alex to bed early in the back room and Rusty and I slept on the hide-a-bed in the living room. We stayed up late talking, watching Part 1 of the season finale of Battlestar Galactica (boy, have we missed a lot -- can't wait for it to come out on DVD!), and fell asleep with the window open listening to the sound of the waves. Heavenly!

Enjoying the view from up high

Eating sand... YUM!

Alex was not afraid of the water at all. In fact, when we set him down on the sand, he ran straight towards the waves, yelling the whole way!

Alex and Mommy

Chasing the waves

The rock in the background is called Haystack Rock (for, um, obvious reasons).

This was Alex' first time in the pool. Although you can't tell from the picture, he really loved it!

Alex and Daddy

Fun to be One!

Isn't he just adorable?!

Not that I'm biased or anything!

Photos by JCPenney Portrait Studio

Please email me if you would like to see the entire gallery, and I will send you the link and password so you can access the images online.

More Birthday Fun!

We had several good friends and their families, as well as relatives from my side of the family over to the house for a birthday party on March 3rd. I went with a Sesame Street theme for the table ware, and made "Hokey Pokey Elmo" the centerpiece. We had finger foods, punch, and cupcakes. In lieu of gifts, we asked everyone to bring an item for Alex' baby time capsule which he will open on his 18th birthday. (Thanks to my friend Kari for this wonderful idea!) Some of the contributions were very creative. The Ranums brought a USB drive with headlines from newspapers around the world on March 3rd. I just hope USB drives aren't completely obsolete by 2024! My grandma Nadine brought her and my grandad's expired passports from when they went to Kenya for the first time when I was just a baby. Other cool items were a menu from Baja fresh from the Loffinks, and a pair of baby shoes from my Aunt Dyana in memory of the fact that Alex loved to play with shoes when he was little. Rusty included a couple of 2006 mint coin sets. By the way, we haven't sealed up the time capsule yet, so any family and friends out there who still want to contribute something, please feel free!

Alex got to try a chocolate cupcake this time, and he thought it was just as delicious as the "funfetti" cupcake he had on his actual birthday. Here he is relishing every bite, and all the attention.

The one-handed cupcake smoosh.

Finger-lickin' good.

I LOVE CHOCOLATE!

You're kidding, right? I don't get a cupcake every day?

Trouble Getting Up In the Morning?

Okay, normally, this blog is simply a place for us to keep friends and family updated on the goings-on of our daily lives. If you visit our blog on a regular basis, then you know that, for the most part, you are spared political rantings, preaching, or unsolicited endorsements for the latest cool technological gimmick. In fact, being the doting parents we are, we mostly post pictures of our adorable son. Truth be told, this is probably more "Alex's blog" than "Rusty and Laura's blog." But, I digress...

I was skimming through a catalogue that came in the mail the other day when I saw this ad. Rusty can testify that I have not laughed so hard at something in a really long time. And after I picked myself up off the floor, I thought, I must blog about this! Like Dave Barry, I must preface this by saying I swear I am not making this up! In fact, you can click here to see for yourself.

So this is the ad I saw:

Flying Alarm Clock Makes You Get Out of Bed on Time!

Trouble getting up in the mornings? When the alarm sounds, "time flies" when it launches its propeller that emits a nagging siren noise that will for sure annoy you right out of bed! To turn the alarm off, you have to get up, find the propeller, and return it to its base!

You have got to be kidding me! Would anyone really buy this?! If you are the kind of person who would actually consider owning this alarm clock, (for $24.98, batteries not included) please post a comment because seriously, the only thing I think it might be good for is an episode of Seinfeld (if they were still making them, that is).

Birthday Video #1

Hope you enjoy these four videos of our Birthday Boy. The lighting was not that great, and there is no sound for some reason, so your imagination will have to add the sound effects.

Birthday Video #2

Alex shares his cupcake with Daddy.

Birthday Video #3

Alex opens a cool present from his Auntie Ronda.

Birthday Video #4

Alex watches Hokey Pokey Elmo sing and dance.

Alex' First Birthday

We had a small family party at the house on the evening of the 28th. Very simple... just dinner together, followed by cupcakes and presents. Alex seemed to thoroughly enjoy all the attention, not to mention the balloons, and he knew exactly what to do with the cupcake we put on his tray. The pictures below tell the story better than I ever could!

Alex in his birthday bib and hat

Alex demonstrates how to eat a cupcake. Clockwise from top left:

1) Pick up the cupcake with both hands.

2) Eat the frosting first!

3) Smoosh the cupcake all over your face.

4) Share with Daddy.

Alex and Mommy

Alex got some clothes and cool Baby Einstein bath toys from his Auntie Ronda, plus a Costco size box of diapers and baby wipes. But the best present was the "Hokey Pokey" Elmo, who sings and dances when you squeeze his hand.

Birthday videos to follow soon! Stay tuned.

One Year Old!

It's pretty amazing what can happen in just a year...

February 28th, 2006

7 lbs. 1 oz.

20 inches long

One year later...

February 28th, 2007

23.5 lbs.

31 inches long

Happy First Birthday, Alex!

Tryin' on Daddy's Shoes

Wow, size 13? Daddy, what big feet you have!

Okay, first I'll put the shoes next to each other on the floor.

This takes a little coordination!

Ummm, I think I've got a ways to go before I catch my dad!

Playing with Daddy

Eleven Months Old

I was eleven months old on January 28th. Can you believe I will be 1 soon? My parents have officially declared me a walker and bought me my first pair of real shoes! I am very proud of my new talent (but I'm not sure I like the shoes yet). I love to walk around the house, carrying things and moving things. I also like being chased by my mom and wrestling with my dad.

I am a busy little dude these days. I love balls, balloons, and books. It's fun to read my books, but I also like just pulling them off the shelf onto the floor. When I can sneak past my mommy into the bathroom, I like to drop things in the toilet. And unrolling the toilet paper is lots of fun too. I can't understand why she has started keeping the bathroom door closed -- it's such a fun place to be! I like to empty drawers and make music with pot lids in the kitchen. It goes without saying, I guess, that my mom is busy too, chasing and cleaning up after me and making sure I don't get into too much mischief.

I am talking up a storm -- too bad no one can really understand me yet. I can clap my hands, play patty-cake, and wave bye-bye. I like waving to my dad from the living room window while he drives off to work. I am eating all sorts of new foods and drinking out of a sippy cup during the day. I now have three teeth! I love to put everything in my mouth. My mom says I am better than a vacuum cleaner about picking up all those little things that end up on the floor. She just wishes, I think, that I would learn to put them in the trash rather than in my mouth!

It's been fun being a baby, but I'm really looking forward to toddlerhood!

Alex Walks!

Welcome to the World, Little Ones!

It seems like lots of our friends are having babies these days! Rusty and I took dinner a couple of weeks ago to our dear friends Tim and Chalon, and also to Jared and Jenny, both of whom just welcomed new babies into their hearts and homes. Congratulations, guys! Lemuel Onsomu and Jasmine Ranum are both just as cute as can be -- and so tiny! Hard to believe that Alex was ever that small and helpless.

And although we weren't able to bring you dinner or cuddle your babies, congratulations to Steve and Gina on the birth of Bennett, and a VERY belated congratulations to Josh and Julie (my sister) on the birth of Eliana last October.

Oh, and, just for the record, Rusty and I are not expecting another addition to our family anytime soon.

Lemuel Bitange Onsomu

Eliana Joy Marcum

First Snow

Alex experienced his first big snow in January. Yes, that's right -- we were in Michigan for almost two weeks in December and saw not one single flake! Anyway, we finally got a big snowfall here in Portland... school was out for three days... a blanket of white covered the ground for almost a week... there was even enough for a big snowman in the front yard! Alex wasn't quite sure what to think of the snow. But I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

Enjoying the snow while safe in Auntie Ronda's arms...

Down on the ground -- getting curious about the snow...

Definitely NOT liking the snow after doing a face plant in it!

Ten Months Old

Alex was 10 months old on December 28th (yes, I know I am a bit behind in posting this update). His major milestones this month included graduating to a bigger "convertible-type" carseat and FINALLY getting his first tooth! I was beginning to worry that the child would be toothless his whole life when the sharp little sucker decided to appear. He also enjoyed learning to crawl up the stairs while we were at my parents' house (going down is still a problem). And, he has taken a few steps on his own, although quite by accident (he thought someone was holding on to him, when they really weren't). I am waiting to declare him a walker, though, because crawling is still his preferred method of getting around for now!

For the 10-month photo, we tried for the perfect pic of Alex in front of the Christmas tree, but that proved to be Mission Impossible! Just you try getting a crawling, everything-goes-in-the-mouth baby to sit still in front of a tree filled with all sorts of shiny ornaments just begging to be touched and tasted. Anyway, as you can see from the pictures below, we finally gave in and let him hold a couple of the sturdier ornaments in an attempt to get him to pose for the camera. But then, we ran into the problem of the ornaments he was holding obscuring the picture on the front of his adorable Christmas sweater (a red pick-up truck with a Christmas tree in the back). Ah, life with a little one -- it's never dull, and it sure keeps me on my toes, I'll tell you that much!

Alex Goes to Michigan

Our trip to Michigan was a wonderful and much-needed time of rest, relaxation, and special moments with family. We arrived late Christmas Eve, tired from our trip and from all of the excitement of the past few days.

The next morning, we opened stockings and presents around the tree. Alex got some new books, a set of blocks, clothes, a ball, and a really cool riding truck!

But one of the most special gifts, and one that he will cherish for years to come, was a stocking lovingly made by his Nyanya.

My Aunt Cindy and her family joined us for Christmas dinner later that day.

Alex was worn out from all the excitement!

Alex enjoyed meeting more of his relatives during our trip -- including Great Grandmother and Great Grandaddy Clutter...

...Uncle Matt...

...and Great Grandma and Great Grandpa "B" (honorary great-grandparents).

He also enjoyed playing the piano...

...going to see the elaborate electric train at the Henry Ford Museum...

...pulling pens out of Babu's pocket...

...and going with Babu up to the front for Kids Time at church on Sunday morning.

Rusty and I enjoyed taking advantage of the free babysitting and actually went on a date -- out to dinner and to see a movie ("We Are Marshall" -- highly recommend it!). We were, of course, thoroughly spoiled by Mom's delicious home cooking, and the cookie trays that seemed to magically appear at the end of every meal!

It was hard to say goodbye, but we look forward to the next time we can all be together, whenever that may be!