Visalia or bust...

Baby Michael flashes the peace sign as he poses with Great Grandma Katie and Grandpa Trino!

So engaged!! Baby Michael loves his Great Grandpa who advised him to only allow people to call him Michael...not Mike or Mikey!

A loving gaze for Great Grandma Katie!

Baby Michael takes a photo with all of his cousins and Great Grandpa Trino. What a special day!


Yes...we did it...We drove to Visalia!! It was an interesting trip (to be read with a thoughtful tone..) We embarked upon our drive at noon on a Friday and prayed that our little one would tolerate the trip. Can I just say...WHAT A TROOPER!! He slept most of the time and took the bottle like a champ! I sat in the back with him (because I'm a neurotic mom) and pumped his lunch with perfect timing. We had a little traffic hiccup near Magic Mountain, but survived and didn't hear a peep from him until we turned on to grandma and grandpa's street!

Everyone was excited to see him! He was the center of attention and it was wonderful to watch!! The best part was that Baby Michael got to meet his Great Grandparents. What an amazing moment! How blessed we are! And our little guy hammed it up with smiles and cooing for all to adore! We watched like proud parents and captured the precious moments with a million photos! Now we can't wait for Christmas, when we will travel again to see our wonderful family!

One of my favorite things...

Momma and Papa were worried Baby Michael would not enjoy his baths. The sponge baths of the early days were not a big hit! The screaming, the shivering, the pure agony!! Momma was ready to let her baby be a hippy and skip the baths all together!! But then the belly button and the ;) healed. Now we are on to the good stuff and Baby Michael is loving it! it is truly one of his favorite things. And since a nice warm bath helps him sleep longer, it is now one of momma and papa's favorite things!

We have learned that keeping an extra warm wash cloth on his belly keeps him warm while momma perseverates on cleaning all the nooks and crannies. Can't wait too long though or Baby Michael might add a little "water" of his own to the bath tub! All in all, bath time has become a special bonding time for our little family! (Maple leaf added for modesty...original photo to be revealed to Baby Michael's future love interest in approximately 30 years!)