Nick's 1st Photo Shoot

As we said in our last post, Andre Niesing came by our house last Thursday and took some awesome photos of Nicholas. Below are some of our favorites and above is a slideshow of the pictures from Picasa or you can view all of the pictures here. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

A preview of things to come...

On Thursday afternoon, Nick's 6 week mark, we had an old friend over for a visit...Andre Niesing, our engagement and wedding photographer. He stopped by for a while and took some pictures of Nick and he's posted some of the better ones in a post on his blog. If you're looking for a photographer, he's the guy. We've always love his candid approach to photo shoots and he's only gotten better with time. We get the proofs and negatives sometime in the next couple of days and can't wait! While waiting for us to post the pictures, check out his blog and website. Here are a few of the pics from our engagement and wedding that he took as well.

Too important not to link

I found this clip over at Justin Taylor's site Between Two Worlds and it relates to a post I wrote on my blog because that's where I like to vent about stuff. My job, the world, politics, etc. My cousin commented on one of those recent posts and I started a dialogue with her about it. If you want to check it out, click here. I'd love to hear your thoughts as comments on that post, or this post, whichever, or just enjoy reading the rantings of a crazy Chippie!

Video Fun

Following in the footsteps of the Davidson's, we thought we'd appease the grandparents and other relatives who don't get to see Nick on a daily basis with some video. The first is Nick's workout video:

The second is simply displaying Nick in a bouncer...a minute and a half of it...exhilarating. But, he is focusing on movement, which, while you can't see it in the video because it's on the other side, is still pretty sweet. So here it is, Nick in a bouncer:

A bit of the country in the middle of Santa Barbara

While in Sacramento we weren't able to go up to Apple Hill like we wanted to (see how our friend's the Wisner's enjoyed their trip there), so we settled for a little trip to the local pumpkin patch in north Santa Barbara (which apparently the Garate's and Lesiw's had the same idea! Way to go guys!). Let me set the stage for you. Santa Barbara is pretty much city, not much rural but on the outskirts. You'd think you'd find something like this out on the edge of town or up in the hills above town. Not so. This pumpkin patch was right in between two subdivisions in north Santa Barbara and apparently it turns into a cool Christmas tree farm in December. So we went. While pumpkin patches are probably fun with toddlers who can appreciate a little more all the goodies these places have for them (hay rides, petting zoo, corn maze, etc.), a 6 week old, I know this is shocking, does not. Because of that fact, it was a little hard for me to swallow when we ended up paying $32 for 3 pumpkins when we could have gone to the Albertson's right up the street and payed maybe $10. But, it was fun and made for some good pictures...right? Only time will tell.

See if you can spot the major roadway behind the pumpkins!

Nick and I in the bright sun with a scarecrow. I know I look a little ticked off, but I swear, I haven't even paid for the pumpkins yet!

Didn't quite get the shot we intended, but Nick's John Deere socks next to a real life John Deere tractor, and me in my John Deere hat! Go Deelick Indiana! (home of John Deere)

Katy on the John Deere with Nick in the blazing sun...what a great photographer I am, subjecting my newborn son to such harsh conditions.

A bit better, not quite as much sun

Katy and her $10 pumpkin equipped with true pumpkin patch dirt.

Nick and his $3 pumpkin that he so lovingly picked out!

Me and my $15 pumpkin...better make some good pie!

Me and the boy on a bright red tractor, farming the land, in our designer jeans.

Learning to drive at 6 weeks...or learning to do what we Chippies do on CalTrans overtime

Katy and the kiddo about to enter the corn maze, which we failed at. We made it about halfway through after 1/2 an hour and said forget this, I'm tired of ducking under corn leaves and walking hunched over in a maze designed for the height of a 4 year old. So we went back out the way we came in and called it a success.

The happy family after a fun day at the patch!

Couldn't help but take a picture of this. Ahhh, my young Jedi warrior in his polka dot car seat!

The Tale of the 'Stache

I'm thinking this should be posted on my personal blog, but it involves both Katy and I, not just work. So here it is.The Tale of the 'Stache. I had to go back to work last Tuesday for the first time in 5 weeks. For the past 2 1/2 I've been growing a killer beard. I mean the real deal.

No neck shaving, no high cheek shaving, no trims, just straight growth, the kind you'd find on say, Vlade Divac, or my brother, for my wedding, against my wife's wishes, but I digress. On to the topic of mustachios. I grow a fairly weak mustache. I'll admit. However, as a highway patrolman, it's sort of a higher calling to be able to have a sweet 'stache. So while I can't grow one worthy of admiration, I can still grow one, and I felt like because of the time my 'stache spent under the guise of a beard, I could showcase it. So here it is, in full effect. And yes I do realize it could be called a mild adult film 'stache.

One thing I regret is not taking a pic with my Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses and smokey bear hat on as well, but hey, I was driving at the time and had my iPhone on my steering wheel. Not really...or did I? I'll leave you to guess.

Of course I had to have Katy take a few with Nick in them.

Rubbing his face with it, and no he didn't cry, scream, or scald.

Well little did I know how much Katy would hate it, so much so that every response to any comment, question, or answer I gave related to her hatred of the 'stache. Let me give you a sample conversation we had on a walk while I bore the 'stache:

K: I really wish you'd shave that junk off your lip.
R: (Me avoiding the request) It sure is a nice day.
K: It'd be an even nicer day without that mustache.
R: I'm not so sure it would, but hey, can you pull the shade over Nick's stroller, he's being blinded.
K: Don't talk about our son with those lips bearing that thing.
R: I can talk to our son with anything on my face. Plus I think he likes it.
K: Yeah, just like he likes sitting in his own pee, going hungry, not being swaddled, and other things.
R: Well what do you want for lunch?
K: You to not have that on your face.
R: Seriously, can I make us some sandwiches?
K: Only if they're made by someone without a mustache.

And on, and on, and on. You'd think it would deter me and cause me to shave it. Not so my friends, not so. I'm quite stubborn as anyone who's known me more than five minutes would attest. She even pulled the whole, "If you love me..." bit. Didn't work. And yet, here I am, 5 days later at the Habit on a lunch break with the fam:

What broke me you ask? We'll just say this. Nick was born 6 weeks ago tomorrow. Katy's body heals after 6 weeks. We're able to do things after 6 weeks. The threat was if you don't tonight (last Saturday night) we won't on Wednesday. You figure it out if it isn't too obvious already.

Pismo RV

Katy's parents recently purchased a fifth wheel and now drive it to various RV parks for the weekend. This past weekend they met some friends at the Pismo Beach RV park and Katy met them for a nice lunch with Nick. Where was I? My buddy Josh who I used to coach in Morro Bay when he was in high school, became a believer, moved to Roseville, helped me when I was a youth pastor, moved out to Arizona...anyway he was in SLO for the weekend so I had lunch with him. Needless to say I didn't get any cute pics with Nick, so I'm absent and Katy was the photographer.

Nick and Papa enjoying the shade

Nick praising Jesus! (Hopefully he doesn't become a charismatic!)

A grandma's love

Later that day Katy did what I wished I could have, enjoyed a nice afternoon on the couch with Nick zonked out.

As you can tell by the position of his diaper, he's beginning to outgrow his newborn onesies.

Simi Valley maintains our good friends

I'm almost caught up on the last two weeks of pictures and tales...just a few more to go.

When we all graduated from college in the years 2002-05, we all split off to different regions of the state. Some to Sacramento, some to the bay area, some to Long Beach, some stayed in SLO, and some to Simi Valley. Since then, even some have left Simi Valley for other places, but a few have remained true. These are those featured here in this post today, our friends the Beuving's, Moores, and Susan. They all decided to come up on a Saturday morning and spend most of the day with us. A day filled with catching up on each other's lives, watching our kids, having a good lunch in the Santa Ynez Valley (which contrary to Matt Moore is not even close to the direction LA is), and of course, Guitar Hero.

The Moore's plus one, and it doesn't include the one in Sarah's belly being grown right now!

Seth Moore enjoying having a furry friend to play with

Susan and Lucy catching up on lost time

Ahhhh, Guitar Hero and the addicts we become

All the gang outside our house (again, remember our out of focus camera, see the post two previous)

H20 Polo and Lemoore

I figured it only fair that since I was able to get Nick to his first volleyball game (which everyone knows that whatever sport a child is first exposed to becomes his most beloved sport), that it would be necessary for Katy to let him see water polo. It's ok though, it was his cousin Brieana's game, thus being played by girls, ergo perfectly socially acceptable for him to see it and not be influence by it.

Brieana setting up for a shot on goal

Katy and Nick who was obviously enthralled with the sport...

The family in full support of Brieana, and a few others

Michelle, right off of work, Jake, and they're mini poo?

Aunt Michelle saying goodbye to her nephew
Katy and her kids

On the way home we were able to stop in the happenin' town of Lemoore where the Peregoy's, my cousin Amanda (Mandy) and her husband Carl, live. Carl is in the Navy and was away on tour and Mandy wasn't able to make it up to Roseville for the welcoming party so we stopped by for our own welcoming party! As we stepped out of the car, one of the two of us, her name will be omitted, dropped the camera with its telephoto lens on, directly on the lens. Right now its being fixed by Nikon for around $120. At the time we didn't realize how it affected the photos, so if you see a few out of focus on one side of the picture, that's why. Anyway, here's a few shots from our visit in Lemoore as well with Mandy and her dog Abby (a lot of dogs seemed to be named Abby, no idea why if anyone wants to enlighten us).

Lucy and her friend Abby getting along just fine.

Mandy and her first cousin once removed, our little Nick.

And again, same comment on the photo.

The Grindy's at the Peregoy's