Birthday Fun!

This week, we had quite an adventure as my most wonderful friend, Christena, graced us with her presence for Tuck's and my birthday week!


Tuck turned the big One Month on Thursday...

and Friday was my 27th!

Despite a bout with the 24 hour flu mid week, we had some fun running around town, lunch at Cafe Flora,

dinner with family and friends and some great time sharing our hearts amidst tears and laughter. Marsh and I often talk about how thankful we are to have been blessed with amazing, loyal and trustworthy friends that despite distance and time are so very faithful. Christena is certainly one of those... She headed back to Santa Barbara Saturday afternoon and we hope to see her again soon!

As for the happy couple, Marsh and I are both on the mend; he took me out for a delightful birthday dinner on Sunday evening (and missed the Red Sox game! what sacrifice!) Though I did get the cutest Red Sox t-shirt from Tuck...

I was excited to have a little time alone with my wonderful husband... he has been such a trooper despite feeling a bit blue on my birthday and I am thankful for his huge heart.

Tuck's Brush with Fame

On Friday night Emily, Tucker and I were treated to dinner by my uncle Glenn and my aunt Cherry. We decided to keep things local so we ate downstairs in our building at a fabulous restaurant called Bennett's. Half way through the meal as I was taking a bite of food Emily leans over and says, "Isn't that the guy who hosts 'The Soup'?" After finishing my bite of food I looked up and sure enough, being seated a few tables over was Joel McHale. For those of you who don't know, The Soup is a talk/comedy show on the E! network that makes fun of pop culture every week. Joel McHale was a '91 Mercer Island grad and was back in town eating dinner with his mom.

I knew this would be Tuck's big break to meet his first celebrity so on the way out as we passed by his table I stopped and said, "My son wanted has been waiting for us to leave so he could come by and tell you that his favorite show ever is 'The Soup'." Joel laughed and told us that Tucker was spoiled already. After chatting for a few minutes Emily asked if he wouldn't mind taking his picture with Tucker. The result was these two classic pictures you see below!




Thanks for your generosity Joel! Tucker is still bragging about his first encounter with a celebrity.

Tuck's Big Weekend

This guy is on the move! This past weekend was a whirlwind as we had Mercer Island Homecoming, Rachel Orrico and Danny Lund's fantastic wedding, and a surprise 60th for Marshall's step-mom, Chris. It was a blast but I must say that we found our limit as a new little family. We all crashed by the end of the weekend and little Tuck was all tuckered out... Regardless, life is GOOD; the little guy seems to be growing before our very eyes and continues to surprise us with new sounds and faces (and peeing on the wall has become his latest trick - though he only performs that one for daddy!)

Enjoy the pics!


Tuck does homecoming... GO MI!

We love weddings!

Rachel says "I DO!!"

The Chef gets a kiss. :)

The Odie-Jamieson Clan

Tuck makes the rounds

The Godparents!

Happy Birthday, Chris!

All Tuckered out...

The Ladies Man

Tuck has only graced our presence for 12 days, however has won more hearts than I can count! Here is a little snip of just a handful of ladies who are smitten with our little heartbreaker.

Tuck becomes a sports fan...

Red Sox games actually make it on the family calendar at our house... so no sooner did Tuck learn to poop up his back, did Daddy have him dressed to the nines and swept him over to Uncle Tyler's place (around the corner in our apartment building) to watch the playoff game... I must admit, it was pretty cute to watch the boys bond over such an event. And Kara, under that blanket, he is wearing his homemade Boston onesie. :)



And don't forget the Seahawks! Uncle Ty showed up in time for Sunday's game with a Tatupu jersey onesie... it has undoubtedly been a big week for the wee sports nut!

Meet the Parents

...and the grandparents




...and the great-grandparents!

First Post-Tucker Date Night

Before Tucker was born we had received some valuable advice from close friends telling us to make date nights a priority after the little guy arrived. So just six days after Tucker arrived, Emily and I chose to heed that advice. Little did we know we were about to embark on the best date night yet...

We called up Emily's dad and mom (Pop Pop or Grandpa Odie and Sheshy, as they will be called) to come over and watch Tuck. After a yummy dinner all together, we left Tuck with his (delighted) grandparents and headed up to one of our favorite date spots, Newcastle Golf Club, for dessert. To our dismay the restaurant had just closed but we would later find out this was a blessing. We drove the car to a look-out spot at the golf course and opened up what was undoubtedly the most special baby gift we received. Without my knowledge, my mom had written a card and made a tape of her voice for her future grandchildren before she passed away over 9 years ago now. I opened up the card and struggled to read it out loud to Emily as the tears began to flow. We then listened to the tape and I heard my mom's voice for the first time in nearly a decade. Words cannot explain what this gift means to us and hopefully to our kids. My children will never meet their grandmother (or Nana as she would have been called), but I hope that they will be able to see a little bit of her in me. As Emily and I sat and prayed and talked about heaven, I decided I didn't know exactly what it will be like, but I can picture my mom holding her grandkids in her arms for hours and telling them how much she loves them.

Bath Time!

Today, in celebration of turning a week old, Tucker had his very first bath! Needless to say, the little guy didn't so much love being cold, naked and wet, and exercised his lungs for the duration. In the end, he came out smelling sweet and clean and cute as a button! We hope to get a little video up in the next day or so...