Card #2. AT&T Park

After an almost 3 month hiatus, I decided to start using these cards again. So much for one card a week. Card #2 is AT&T (formally Pacific Bell) Park! So fun. When Betsy and I were first married, we lived 3 blocks away from the stadium in an awesome loft so it was a bit of a homecoming.
We parked in South Park near where previously both our cars were towed while we were on vacation. Ahh, the memories. The neighborhood hadn't changed too much and it was fun to see our old haunts.
To start any good adventure one needs sustenance and Caffe Centro delivers with bagels and cream cheese. Charlie combined both his loves, bagel eating and people watching.
After breakfast we headed to the stadium and our first stop was South Beach park. What a view. The park is right next to the stadium and provides great views of the city and bay. Also the T and N muni metro lines are nearby and if your child is like mine, the metro train is the coolest thing next to the regular bus.

The park is small and doesn't have swings but does have sand. And a pirate ship.

We then walked down the marina that's behind the stadium. Charlie loved to watch the boats and countless seagulls on the dock.

We then continued around the stadium and this was as close as we got to the field. The card noted there were daily tours of the stadium but you had to call before and come later in the day. Not going to work for our nap schedule and I'm sure Charlie didn't care. Besides, it's an excuse to buy tickets to a game this upcoming season so we can go inside.
We crossed the 3rd street bridge (named after this guy) and headed to China Basin Park, a grassy knoll that boarders McCovey Cove. Charlie was stoked!

We walked to the end of the park, chasing birds, saying hello to dogs, and having a great time. The sidewalk is covered with all sorts of baseball stuff and I wish I knew what it meant but was too busy chasing around Charlie to make sure he didn't fall into the cove. He loved the giant cement baseballs. I loved the view.
With all the running, Charlie was pooped and he jumped in the stroller for the ride back to the car.
Since there is an actual park in South Park, we decided to extend our stay and get our swing on.

The park structure is a bit antiquated but they have a bunch of sand so its OK with charlie. As Charlie was playing, I was trying to remember if I ever observed kids playing in the park. Ever. I couldn't remember children using the park, just tons of smokers and drinkers.
What a fun adventure. This walk is very picturesque and I bet during the baseball season, would be very fun. I can't wait for the season to start so I can take charlie to a game or two.

Baby #1 & Baby #2 (AKA oh yeah, we're having a baby girl really soon)

Happy new year friends & family! Life has been full and fun and we're grateful for it. And, oh yeah, we're having a baby girl in February! Because he deserves it, most of our attention is focused on Charlie who just turned 17 months! He is amazing and we love him so much. He's such a little dude, less a baby every day, and I'm well aware that as soon as baby girl arrives he's going to seem like a teenager.
He speaks! Charlie is a total chatter-box these days. He says Dada, Daddy, Mama, Hi, No, Oh-Wow, Woah and probably a few other words that I'm forgetting at the moment. He can also make animal sounds for cows, lions, dogs, bears and snakes. If you ask him what Santa Claus says he'll tell you "ho ho ho!"

He runs, he plays, he loves sand and rocks. He loves to move things from here to there. He loves books, balls and anything with wheels. He likes to empty things out and fill them back up with anything. We just returned home from a week in Utah and Charlie LOVED spending time with family, the dogs and I'm happy to report he's now a master of stairs (up & down)!

Charlie is pretty great all around. Some things never change...we still always get comments from people about Charlie's happy demeanor and smiley attitude. He's a great sleeper. He goes to bed every night around 7pm, and sleeps until anywhere from 5:45am - 6:15am like clockwork. I dream of sleeping in but will not complain about the system we have going. And of course, he's still cute cute cute. Proof:




In other Santos news, Steve is still the most amazing full-time stay at home dad in all the land. He seriously amazes me every day with his dedication and love for our little guy. Charlie is so lucky to have such an amazing daddy to take such good care of him while mommy goes to work each day. We feel really lucky that we're able to live in SF and have one of us work while one of us is home full-time.

And because we have yet to document Baby Bump #2, here are some shots of me this morning at about 34.5 weeks along. Ready to deliver this baby in T-Minus 5.5 weeks and counting!



p.s. Thanks to our great friend and an AMAZING photographer, Robyn Kessler, for taking pics of our little family at the Christmas tree lot in December. If you need pics taken for a wedding, pets, pregnancy, babies, kids...anything...she's so so so so fantastic.