Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

Dear Elzora,

Yes, you definitely do because we just returned from a month long visit with our family and friends in Northern California, which included a good long visit with Auntie Liisa and Uncle Jer in San Jose.

The trip was wonderful. You have such a beautiful personality and you charmed just about everyone you came into contact with, even on the plane rides. You were just amazing. I think many of your aunties and uncles had a hard time saying goodbye to you. As your daddy said to you last night "you just make life better."

Daddy Andreas spent the first two weeks with us in Berkeley and San Jose. We spent a lot of time with the folks at The Channing House in Berkeley, strolled around 4th street, met Jamie for lunch, caught up with a few of mommy's old work colleagues and daddy took lots of food pictures. Everyone just loved meeting you, especially Tookie Loo. Daddy was very happy to meet Uncle Strephon and pick up some new November Fire apparel.

During the first part of the trip we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium and met the trees at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. We also spent some time shopping in San Francisco and papa got a new iPhone, which made him extremely happy.

After papa flew home, it was just the two of us, mamma and baby girl, for 2 weeks. We spent a few days at the LS Monkey Studio (www.luckyspacemonkey.com), we had dinner with Annie and Eric in SF and visited Eric at 3 Fish Studios, the studio that he and Annie founded in January 2007.

If the mission of this trip to Berkeley was to surround you with creative, fun, intelligent and inspiring people, then mission accomplished!

BTW, you are 7 months old, now. You are exploring the world with curiosity, excitement and compassion. You are so kind, Elzora and I am so proud of you. I'm looking forward to starting our baby massage class this Thursday with Mervi at the BVC.

Love,

Mommy

PS A special thanks goes out to the Lorton-Howell's, The Channing House (Amanda & Conrad), Liisa & Jer, Jamie Marks, Strephon & Heather, Sarah Chase, Eric Rewitzer & Annie Galvin, Adam Days, Rachael, Grover, Hitesh and Family, Trix & CC and Victoria and Nord. Thanks for making this such an unbelievable trip for us. We miss you all very much and can't wait to see you in Sweden, Hawaii, Belize, Las Vegas, Monaco, Egypt, New Zealand, etc.