Duck Robe

The title says it all. Here's Satchel in a duck robe that my co-worker Megan got for her. Being a little on the small side (can't imagine where she gets that), she just now grew into it.

Bike Rides and Car Rides

Satchel has done a couple of bike rides for the first time in a bike trailer. The first ride we did was Bike the Boulevards tour with Nanette and Jessi from Wicker Park Grace. It was hot and Satchel didn't like her helmet and was pretty unhappy for much of the ride.

Here we are looking all fresh before starting the tour. It was just 16 miles, but in stop and go traffic and 90 degree heat pulling a trailer, it felt like a long ride.

Our second ride was in the Cuyahoga Valley while visiting my parents in Ohio. It was beautiful and much cooler and Satchel did much better on the ride. She even fell asleep at the end.

Every time we go to Ohio, I'm always struck by the beauty of the rolling farm land. These are some photos taken out the car window.

Making our trip to Ohio, we spent a lot of time in the car - not Satchel's favorite activity. Generally Satchel is a really pleasant easy going kid and we're often told how lucky we to have such a chill little girl. However, put Satchel in the car and she becomes a different beast completely. Here are some photos to prove that she can be pretty unpleasant if she wants to be. After this particular trip home, she had us so at wits end that we offered to let my parents keep her so that we wouldn't have to endure the trip back. In the end, we changed our minds, of course.

(Imagine if you will lots of screaming to go with these photos)

Videos of Satchel Walking

Shortly after her 1st birthday, Satchel started walking. Here is the footage to prove it.

This is an early video of Satchel walking.

This is a video of Satchel and her Snoopy Sniffer (the same one that I had as a kid).

Satchel is Walking!

That's right, about 1 month ago, Satchel started walking and continued to get better and better at it over the past few weeks. It has happened so fast. Now she never stops moving. She is literally walking at all times if she isn't eating or sleeping. Courtesy of Ashley, here are some photos of a trip we took with Ashley and Mark to the Botanic Garden.

Satchel making her usual scrunchy face for the camera on the way to the Gardens.

Ashley, Satchel, and I in the aquatic garden.

In the English garden.

Mark, Satchel, and I.

For some reason Satchel felt the need to stick out her tongue in these photos.

And here, they are. Satchel walking with Uncle Mark.

Tahoe!

A couple of weeks ago we made a trip out to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe to spend the week with friends that Matt grew up with in New York state. We had an amazing time seeing California for the first time (for all three of us really).

With our friends Eric and Melka by San Francisco Bay near their apartment in Alameda

The first glimpse of Lake Tahoe from the car window.

We got to stay at an amazing house that had a beautiful unobstructed view of the lake. It was luxurious!

Sunset from the deck.

Jason making sure that Satchel doesn't fall down the stairs.

The nicest kitchen that I have ever used.

Lake Tahoe.

Emerald Bay.

We hiked down to a neat old cottage that is on Emerald Bay and had lunch.

Melka sitting on the beach at Emerald Bay.

Jesse and Matt spot something in the distance. Definitely not a posed shot.

The sand near the shore is full of mica so it shines golden in the water.

Satchel hanging out on the beach with Megan, Melka, and Eric.

A stream we crossed on our way up to Eagle Lake.

Megan, Melka, Eric, and Matt hiking up to Eagle Lake.

Melka, Eric, Matt, and Jesse.

Another view of Lake Tahoe in the distance.

We saw so many beautiful old redwoods!

Yet another amazing view of Lake Tahoe. We must have 20 pictures like this.

Eagle Lake, a pristine mountain lake you can only get to by hiking. We were some of only about 10 people there.

With so much hiking, Satchel was exhausted.

View of Lake Tahoe from our deck!

On the beach at Lake Tahoe.

Frisbee!

Back in San Francisco we made a stop at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Alcatraz

Hiking around the old fort near the bridge.

Satchel chewing on Matt's sweatshirt string.

The Marin Headlands.

Eric and Melka.

Lombard St. in San Francisco.