A diversion from the baby news & photos...

A few weeks ago my parents took me in for my official 2 year old photos. I want to share these two with you all - I'd say that I'm looking rather handsome.

Morning Workout

I like to join my sister for her morning workout at the gym. She sure is getting strong - almost turned over already and lifts her head off the ground. What a great wrestling partner she'll be one day!




ps - I just found a photo of myself from two years ago sweating in the gym...

Hold, Hold!

I've asked to hold my sister, Fiona, a few times. She sure seems cuddly and sweet until...

...she starts to cry. Then I want to roll her off my lap.

Two for the Road

A recent outing up the hill to Starbucks...

I'm a big brother!

On Tuesday, September 9th at 9:44pm I became a big brother!



Fiona Madeline Tripp was born at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. Labor began on Monday night. After a midnight trip to the hospital, the doctors said that labor had not progressed enough to admit Jennifer to the hospital. So Nana spent the night at the house to watch Gabriel while Cam and Jennifer stayed at a hotel next to the hospital. The next day we went home as labor seemed to have stalled. Then, at 5:10pm as Jennifer was walking up the front steps of the house, her water broke and it was a dash through rush hour traffic to the hospital. Gabriel hung out with Nana until Cam's parents picked him up to babysit him for a few days.

Jennifer was pleased to get her epidural :-) Labor seemed to be progressing slowly, then suddenly. The nurses were just telling Jennifer to rest for a half an hour, then, the doctor walked in with a different game plan, she said "your at 10 cm, start pushing!". Jennifer pushed for 5 sessions. The doctor used vacuum suction and within a half an hour, Fiona was born.

Fiona didn't make a peep. The nurses were slapping her hands and feet to get her to respond. There were just about to use an oxygen bag to force her to breathe, then they realized that she was breathing fine, she was just relaxing under the warmth of the heat lamp. It was about an hour before she finally cried (hopefully a sign of things to come :-)




It was an easier labor and recovery the second time around. We spent two nights in the hospital and were eager to get home. Gabriel wasn't sure what to make of the new addition. After a week of adjustment he seems to have adjusted fine and takes great interest in watching her get changed and fed.



Fiona looking at Jennifer trying to figure out if it's time to eat or sleep.

Jennifer and Fiona cuddling

Fiona holding daddy's finger.

Fiona and daddy.


Mom and Fiona leaving the hospital.

Two Year Old Smiles

My parents took me down to explore the Seattle Center on my birthday weekend. Here I am posing for French tourists at the Experience Music Project:

The tourists were so nice - and even started singing and dancing for me (I grooved a little, too):

Playing in one of the public art displays...

Up, Up and Away - I Turn 2 Today!!!

This last weekend all my grandparents, my uncle Matt and parents (aka Dada & Mama) celebrated my 2nd birthday. I like the number 2. It happens to be my favorite # of them all, so it was a great excuse to have a party.

My mama's attempt at the Food Network Cake Decorating Challenge... at least the airplane cake tasted great and kind of matched my t-shirt

My grandpa pretending to be a strange combo of Capt Hook and "Pingu" the claymation penguin

Burning off some extra energy whilst chasing my dada around the table

Examining a miniature toy camera with my Uncle Matt

I'm going to take down Elmo...

He doesn't even know I'm coming...

Aargh! Foiled again!

2 Year Birthday Bash with PEPS Friends

Happy Birthday with Friends...

I've had enough of this log!!!!

Fun at Grandma and Grandpa Tripps'

I'm so lucky! I have both sets of grandparents around now that my dad's parents moved up from the Bay Area this past spring. And, most Wednesdays I get the whole day with them to play golf, swim, chase the dog, and run around the tennis courts. They're gonna have me playing a mean game of golf before you know it.


This is where they put me for "time-outs"... just kidding. My favorite dog, Oso, lets me crawl in his cage every now and then.

I love all the attention I receive - here I am with grandma, dada, and mama while grandpa is taking the picture. I've heard things are going to change soon once my baby sister arrives in September.

What a drip!

This morning I decided to play with the hose in the backyard before my nap and before I knew it, I was drenched in the water, clothes and all. It sure felt great on this hot day!

Thomas the Train

Yesterday mom and dad took me to visit Thomas the Train who was at the Northwest Railway Museum near Seattle. We got to ride the train, see Sir Topham Hatt (kind of freaked me out), eat snacks, and enjoy the beautiful sunshine.

Here's daddy and me in front of Thomas:


On the train ride - the conductor didn't care if I stood up or not:

My fancy new tattoo of Thomas on my muscular forearm:

Eating a yummy cool dessert:

Bye, bye Thomas!!!

A preview of summer

These are just two photos from a great, warm weekend we had with family visiting the NW. I'll get the others posted as soon as I can.

This is at Snoqualmie Falls which was full of water from the melting snow pack and 85 degree heat.

Don't let this photo fool you - I had a fun time. You can see from the one posted below it.

A bit overdue

My parents noticed that my hair was getting rather voluminous and decided it was time to get my haircut again. Since I had an okay time the first round, I wasn't too nervous to give it another try.

The photos are a little fuzzy since they're taken on my dad's iPhone, but they'll give you a decent picture of the neat decoration at Beach Comber Kids Cuts.

You can see a video screen in the background. When I arrived they let me pick a movie or TV show to watch while sitting on the whale seat. I decided that Elmo would be a great distraction in case I got scared. Chris, the hairstylist, was super and made me laugh a lot, esp when she tickled my ears.

Voila! I'm all done and looking good. Before leaving, I wanted to see how tall I'm getting these days. Just shy of 3ft with my Stride Rites on.

Le Ballon Rouge

I wanted to share one of my favorite things with you all. I happen to love balloons and yesterday, when I had a bad ear infection, my parents let me watch "The Red Balloon" movie. It was a favorite of my mother's when she was a little girl. Catch it sometime if you can.

Sugar and Spice...

Hi, I had a fun time in Hawaii. Saw lots of whales swimming nearby. Ate cheese, pineapple and raisins. Then I got the flu, so I've been out of commission for a while. But I'm back, and with great news too! I just found out today that I am going to have a little sister in September - yahoo!

How much is that kitty in the window?

Sydney and I decided to wait for dada to come home from work, peering out the window and watching every car that went by. Finally, he arrived and caught us hanging out on the couch together with his camera phone.

Sighting of a local pirate

We seem to have developed a Friday night tradition of going to Zeek's Pizza for a slice of pizza and a cold brew --- though none for me these days. I don't like to eat. But I sure like the pizza dough they bring me to throw around.

Anyway, this last Friday, I saw a pirate walk in the door and he then sat down at a table of rowdy schoolboys directly behind us. I couldn't stop staring at his crazy hair and eye-patch. Who was this amazing person?

After we left, my mother explained to my dad and I that it was actually a world-famous artist, Dale Chihuly. I can't wait until next week. Maybe he'll return!

Bella Luna

I'm obsessed with many things these days including Carnation Instant Breakfast (vanilla please!), "Pingu" the claymation penguin, bubbles, brushing my teeth, smothering the cat, taking short naps, swimming, belly-buttons, my dad, praying before bedtime, making monkey sounds a la Curious George, and the moon. I just love the moon. Each night we say "Goodnight" to it and read a special story about the moon, though last night we got a real treat (see below):


We watched the moon slowly disappear and then turn this wonderful orangeish glow. I could hardly go to sleep as I was soooo excited.