Half Dome

I encouraged Michael to mark his 30th year with something he's always wanted to do: hike Half Dome in Yosemite. It was a little bit more difficult to coordinate this trip than either of us had anticipated…the National Park is now limiting the number of people who can go up to the top of the face to 300 per day, which means that each climber needs to purchase a ticket. Way back in April when we started looking, the first available tickets were for August 6th. I suppose I have to appreciate them wanting to keep hoards of people off of a 3000-ft. precipice, but a 4-month delay was pretty crazy! We also learned that if a person wants to stay overnight in the Yosemite area during the high season, whether it be in a campsite or in a hotel, it is impossible. So, we had some coordination to make happen. Michael's climbing team were his sister, dad, and friend Matt. They all left at 3:00 a.m. in order to drive into the park and be on the trail by 6:00 a.m. A grueling 15 hours later, they were finished. I watched them limp back in the house at 11:00 p.m. Long day though it was, the experience was pretty spectacular, and the photos were the proof.

Beginning of the trek; I'm seeing lots of energy here!

Good to know.

What did he get himself into?

The ants going up the side of that rock are people.

Views from the top…

This is how they got up and down the dome.

I (Eryn) had really wanted to go on this hike, but didn't think I was up to it this summer. Now I'm not sure if I'm up to it at all, after looking at these pictures. Well, you know what they say, "never say never."

Summer Highlights

We've had a pretty fun summer; not only because we had a baby. In August, we traveled down to Modesto for a double-hitter: Michael's assent of Half Dome in Yosemite and the celebration of my 30th birthday. Here I am getting ready to blow out my candles--instead of 30 candles, they are in the formation of the number 30; easier on the smoke alarm, I suppose. It was a really fun day; all the Half Dome hikers were kind of sore and subdued, but we all enjoyed cooling off in the pool and grilling hamburgers.

This must have been a somewhat cool part of the morning, since Evie is wearing pants and socks. She is looking miserable because I put a hat on her.

Fast forward. Evie is 12 weeks old in this picture and is beginning to discover the world around her. We discovered something wonderful; toys will occupy her for a minute or two. There is a lot one can accomplish in a minute or two:

-a couple bites of a meal

-a trip to the bathroom

-getting dressed or blow-drying hair

-switching out the laundry

-stretching out the neck and shoulder muscles

Here she is staring at and talking to her toy; deep concentration is happening here.

"Not sure what I think about the laundry basket…"

Here are some of Evie's milestones we have been noticing as she finishes out month #3…

-increase in the variety of sounds she vocalizes: deep gurgles and rumbles all the way to high-pitched squeals

-conversations with whoever wants to talk baby talk with her

-imitation of the sounds that her conversation partner is making

-lots of smiling, especially at Daddy, who is currently her new love interest

-discovery of her hands; she stares at them intensely, somewhat surprised that they have appeared in front of her face

-discovery of her feet; she hasn't figured out how to grab them yet, but she stares hard, as though wondering what those things do

-new interest in novel objects

-ability to track people and objects with her signature gaze

-height and weight! At 2 months, she was 11 pounds, 6 ounces and 23.75". I KNOW she's grown since then.