While doing a little more research/planning I started remembering all the neat things about China and Beijing, and it’s getting me pretty excited.  I can’t wait to go exploring with my husband and son this time.

We decided we’d tag along on Mick’s business trip eight days before our departure date…leaving us scrambling around town and getting all Sam’s legal documents in order.

It might look like Mick is the proud Mufasa showing off his lion cub Simba.  Not the case.  Here is a sorry attempt to get Sam his pics for his Visa.  We tried suggesting to the lovely worker that it might work best putting him on the floor, as opposed to Mick awkwardly hiding behind/under him.  Eventually he caught on.

Whenever people hear that I’m taking my three-month old to Beijing I get a lot of ‘You brave girl!’  Accompanied with a ‘you’re so crazy’ look.  Perhaps I’m both.

While buying our power converters today the lady helping us happened to be from China.  In her broken accent she confirmed three times that I knew the flight was twelve hours.  yes. yes. and yes.  If anyone has any suggestions for traveling long flights with a little one or traveling internationally, I’ll gladly take them.

PS Don’t judge my mother skills with Sam’s outfit.  The only time he was awake today was to eat.  Luckily he’s going through his growth spurt BEFORE our trip.  Hence him in his jammies.  Luckily his visa pics aren’t permanent like his passport pics.  You better believe he looked cute for those.

So. stinkin. cute. This kid looked right up at the camera man and gave his best no-teeth smile. Beijing, here we come!!

We are experiencing record highs here in the city. 90+ with no AC is uncomfortably hot. I take back all my complaining about the cold, foggy, SF summers. Just kidding. I don’t take it back. I just wish we had some AC. Or a ceiling fan.  Next year we’ll be able to turn on the sprinkler and run through the cool water.  Oooh I can’t wait!

After a month of vacationing I’ve returned home to poor little Sammy being sick with an ear infection. It is a little difficult to judge if his fever has gone down because it’s too stinkin hot! Okay, Okay. I’ll stop complaining. SF usually does have pretty perfect weather. Just when it’s not raining. Or foggy. Or super hot. I promise I’ll get some posts up once we get a little more settled in. I’ve started up a few design projects as well, so I can’t wait to show you some new finds.
Toodles!!

Somebody has his days and nights mixed up.  Perhaps he’s trying to be on the same schedule as his dad who is on the other side of the world.  Sam’s not crying.  He’s just not sleeping.

I have him sleep in his little bouncy seat on the floor.  There he is.  Kicking and flailing his arms.  I’ve re-swaddled him about three times now hoping this will help him sleep.  Not the case.  Once I stop hearing his noises I slowly peak my head over to see if he’s finally fallen asleep.  Nope.  His big blue eyes are just waiting to say hi to me.

I guess I could go to sleep.  But there is just something unsettling about going to sleep when my child is wide awake.  Ask me this tomorrow morning and I might  have changed my perspective.

Mick is in China this week on business (did you know Zinch opened an office out there?), so I thought it’d be the perfect opportunity to hang out with my parents this week.  Ever since June they’ve been empty nesters, so of course my mom jumps at the opportunity to hang out with me and her new grandson.

What is it about being at your parents’ house that makes things so good?  I don’t cook.  I don’t clean.  I sleep in.  Swim in the morning. Do an activity during the middle of the day.  Take a loooong afternoon nap.  Wake up.  Hang out.  Eat dinner.  And Swim again. Yes, I’m still taking care of Sammy.  He has now joined me in this daily routine.  Making it even better.

Today we gathered up the all the local Decker grandkids and went to the Phoenix Children’s museum.  My mom was being a fun grandma and played with the kids in the playground…only to get herself stuck.

No mom, you can’t go out the way you came.  I was getting claustrophobic just looking (laughing) at her.

I was surprised to see that they had an Infant Play Area.  So I excitedly took Sam over to check it out.  I was expecting to see some really cool ceiling fixtures or a lot of black and white decorations.  Nope.  Just these industrial-looking mushrooms to plop the babies on.  LAME.  He lasted about two minutes.  I lasted one.  On to the cool wall of CD’s.

For dinner everyone came over.  It wouldn’t be a Decker summer without a BBQ and swimming.  I love it when my family gets together just to eat and swim.  My dad is getting savvy with his TV system and he had pictures of past vacations playing on the TV.  It was nice to look back and reminisce about fun trips while munching on fresh, cold watermelon.

I took Sam swimming for the first time this evening.  He loved it!  The water here is so warm it was like a giant bathtub.  I took pictures, but I look chubby and white.  And I’m vain and don’t want to post them.  Just trust me, Sam looked really cute in his little swim trunks all relaxed.

To end the perfect day I actually got to chat with Mick a little online.  He misses us and we miss him; but we’re making the most of being away from each other.  He’s learning and loving the startup life, and I’m getting a much needed vacation.  I’m now relaxing in my bed with our family dog right beside me.   Her breath smells.   And she’s being ultra stubborn and moving right back next to me whenever I shove her away.  I’m trying to have Sammy’s grunts distract me from her bad breath.  But it’s just not working.  Oh well, at least I have a cuddle buddy for the night.

We’ve been in Utah all week, giving Sam the opportunity to meet his cousins.  Pictures to follow once I get a breathing second.  In two weeks Sam and I will get to meet my little niece.  Look at her! Already studious like her parents: