We originally made an ill-advised plan to tour the Midwest and New York the first two weeks of January, which turned out to deliver some of the worst winter weather across the country seen in decades. We bailed on that trip and instead took a makeup trip over Easter to Milwaukee and Bloomington. Stronner had a great time hanging out with his grandmas and great-grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, cousins, the Hiatts, the Sturbaums, John Bean, the Easter Bunny, pretty much everyone he saw … he even made it on the front page of the Bloomington Herald Times (see the photo of him high-fiving the Easter Bunny and you’ll get the picture!)

Stronner had a wonderful holiday – while we didn’t have a big family get-together this year, he did get gifts from all his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, which led to a full day of gift opening and serious playing.

This summer has been just beautiful in Seattle, and Stronner’s been making the most of it, taking advantage of his mobility beyond the yard to beaches, woods and playgrounds. He absolutely adores all his cousins, and is delighted to be a part of a screaming, laughing, running gaggle of children. Next summer he’ll be starting pre-school already!

The last 3 months have seen Stronner transition from tentatively side-stepping along the furniture to walking confidently around the house, yard, and even parks, working his fedora like a pro to increase his attention-drawing power and introducing us to the new people he’s charmed. Next challenge: speaking skills! Not to say we aren’t fond of his arsenal of grunts and looks, but we do hope he learns to communicate with a little more finesse.

Stronner spent his first birthday in Kauai, setting an impossibly high bar for all future birthdays. After his many hours spent in the car this winter, the plane trip was pretty easy in comparison – 6 hours each way, and lots of people and other kids to interact with. We took him on a tour of many of our favorite sites, including Hanalei, Ke’e beach, Kope’e park, Spouting Horn, and Poipu. He seemed to enjoy eating out even more than being at the beach, especially at our favorite sushi restaurant, Kintaro in Kapa’a. He also enjoyed some leisurely water time in the salt water pool at the Hanalei Bay Resort, which was more inviting that the ocean this time of year due to massive surf (though he did get in the ocean a bit on the calmer south shore beach at Poipu).

Now we’re back in Seattle, where there are a few glimmers of impending spring, but it’s still mostly cold and gray. But Stronner was happy to reunite with Tashi and Norbu, and to unwrap all the wonderful birthday gifts he received from family and friends!

Stronner got a taste of the open road this holiday season, logging 3,783 miles in his car seat as we drove to Utah and New Mexico to gather with family and get a taste of real winter. Stronner had a lot of fun with his cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-aunts and great-uncles, friends and even some strangers! From several foot snow falls, to subzero temperatures, ornaments, ice cream and cookies, baguettes, elk and mountains, head colds and Sesame Street, Stronner packed in as many new experiences as he could.

Now we’re home again and trying to get back to a routine, except Stronner changed so much in the 3 weeks we were traveling that we’re having to quickly adapt to his new capabilities – he can walk along the furniture and grab things off of tables, and there are fewer places where the dogs can elude his grasp. And it’s only a couple weeks until his first birthday!