1st Mothers Day!

When I look at Lucas, I really can't believe he is my son and that I'm a "mother". It's just amazing that he's part of me and part of Todd - still not sure who he really looks like. He just looks like himself at this point. Well the boys in my life made my first mothers day really special. I got a card from Lucas thanking me for being a great mom, for looking after him and changing countless diapers and playing silly games. I also got a card from my hubby and very thoughtful gifts - bubble bath, pajamas, scented candle and a fashion magazine and roses too! In the evening I was off duty, and got to take a long relaxing bath, read my magazine and change into some cozy pajamas. Oh, in the morning we went out for brunch with Coni and Todd's brother and had Indian food in San Jose.

Saturday morning we had brunch with 2 other mom's, Heidi and Susan. It was fun getting together (they both live in San Mateo too) and having some cocktails. The cocktails continued at Susan's place with her famous margaritas.

Wow..I am a "mom"....still shocked :-)

Lucas Spreads the Joy

In September of 2000 I met Alisa, and, sometime after that, she smiled at me. It was not the first time I had seen her smile of course, but it was the first time she smiled just for me. It was magic. Nine years later I saw that same magic, that same brilliant flare of joy, from our son. I was, and still am, astounded at the power such a small facial gesture can have. I am also amazed at how early in life we all learn to wield that power. Most importantly I am glad that Lucas just loves to smile, plain and simple. Outkast said it perfectly - his smile is "just beaming like four carrots."

Well last week, Lucas, beaming big smiles as usual, spread the joy in kind of a surprising way. We were enjoying some ramen at Oidon, a fantastic little ramen joint near our house in San Mateo, when Lucas caught the eye of our very nice waitress. Her two kids were grown and she loved kids, so when she got a big smile from Lucas she immediately asked to hold him. Next thing I knew she was carrying Lucas over to meet other guests she knew and it was, again, magic! He was smiling, she was smiling and having a great time, and this very sweet elderly couple were smiling too - waving and cooing at him.

Lucas rocks. Lucas making other people smile, making their days a little bit brighter, THAT was magic too. If there's anything I want for Lucas in his life, it's to make the world around him a happier place, and that day it was clear to me that Lucas will do just that.

4 Month Checkup - Big Boy

So Lucas had his 4 month check up yesterday and he is doing well. I'm not sure how he got so big so fast and where it came from, since he came out at 6 lbs, but at 4 months he's a big boy. Here are his stats:

Height: 25 1/2 inches
Weight: 17 lbs 6 oz
Head: 17 inches

So wow, 17 lbs - and my back really feels it. Picking him up and carrying him is giving me a workout. He's in the 75-90 percentile for weight and for height 50-75 percentile. One big little dude who smiles a whole lot. He's a talker too, loves to squeel and gets excited when he listens to Daddy on the record players. He likes laughing and interacting with people and is into his grabby phase. In the mornings when he wakes up, he has a big giant grin when he sees one of us. It just makes our day.

Beautiful Day for a Walk

It was a beautiful day today...super hot about 80 degrees F (30 degrees C for us Canadians) and we decided to take a nice stroll along the bay and watch the airplanes land and take off at SFO. Lucas loved looking around and soaking in all the new things to see - planes, birds, water, trees.

One of his crazy smiles from his stroller.


Daddy and Lucas strike a pose.
Ok, Lucas is wiped out from today.

On Friday, I hosted the playgroup I belong to at my place. I had 6 babies over at my place..never seen so many babies together before. All the babies are around the same age and the new mom's get together every week. It's been nice to meet moms in the area and just talk about what we are going through and share advice. Lucas is one of the bigger babies, meaning he's 4 months old but he wears 6 month clothing, but not one of the oldest. He was super chill with all the babies playing with his toys.

Notice none of the babies are looking at the camera.

Twins & Maddie Visit SF & Easter

My dear friends Jennifer, Juliet and 7 month old Maddison came to SF from Vancouver for a visit. It was a blast having them here and having another baby at our place. We actually did a lot while they were here, with the babies, and they did great. I would say they were rockstars while we trekked with them sightseeing in the city, shopping, eating out and all day Easter day at Todd's mom's place.

Here's the full album of their stay. Thanks Jen for taking all the pictures.

Easter was a lot of fun too. It was a first for both Maddie and Lucas. Coni hosted the family affair with an Easter hunt, arts and crafts and games. Todd made gourmet panini's. There were lots of cousins there - Lucas could only watch but one day he can join them.

Mom and Dad Staying Connected

My history is mostly an oral history. My childhood memories are etched in my mind, and all but the best of them are fading into broad strokes of the happiness I know I experienced. Lucas's life, on the other hand, has been documented in countless photos and videos. One day he'll be able to watch himself coming home from the hospital, see the first of his smiles caught on camera, or even just watch himself sleep. Even better, Lucas's family in Vancouver, and even his Nana in San Jose, who don't get to see these tiny moments, get DVDs in the mail so they too can enjoy their grandson. Isn't today's technology great?

Beyond the memories, Alisa and I, aka mom and dad, get to stay connected, whether the distance is from home to work, or from here to Las Vegas. Alisa makes my day by sending me pics throughout the day of her adventures at home with Lucas. As you parents out there know, what seems mundane to most, like a 4 month old sitting upright in a chair and holding his head up!, are mini miracles to mom and dad. Alisa sharing these moments with me make my "day at the office," away from my wife and son, that much more bearable. Here's my favorite moment of the week that mom was kind enough to send to me ~ check it, DJ Lucas!



And mom recently took a weekend trip to Las Vegas for a bachelorette party. It was her first time away from Lucas, and his first time alone with dad! Ahhhhhh, right? No way, it was great! Lucas and I had a great time together, but I know mom missed him like crazy. (To be honest, Alisa and I miss Lucas when he goes to sleep at night, much less when one of us travels away.) Again, I got to send her little updates, just to show her what her little man was up to. Enjoy some of Lucas's quiet, and not so quiet, moments...


Good morning mom, I miss you!

Don't worry about us mom, Dad's taking good care of me!

Virginia Visits & Alisa's Bday

This weekend Virginia stopped by from Vancouver to hang out with the Berliners. It was a beautiful weekend, the weather was really nice and it was fun getting to hang out one on one with her. I think she fell for Lucas though... kept saying how "good" a baby he is. We took him everywhere this weekend; out to eat, Stanford Mall, Half Moon Bay. Todd cooked one of his famous gourmet meals for our group of friends and topped it off with a birthday cake for me. Happy b-day to me! Come visit us again real soon! (that's what Lucas whispered to me). Oh and we had a visit from Uncle Mo (Another Vancouverite) & Aunty Anita too. I think Uncle Mo is trying to get him to be a Canucks fan - he got him a babysized Canucks tee.



As for my Birthday, Todd took me out for a nice dinner at our favourite Italian restaurant, Stella Alpina Osteria. The food is so amazing there and we love going to celebrate little things in our lives. Hedda & Leonard babysat for the evening so we could sneak away and have some one on one time with each other. Thanks for all the birthday wishes!