Chico, Mariah, and Sebastián: 4th of July at the San Clemente Pier

Sebi had his first 4th today. First we went to The Cheesecake Factory and had a serious episode. Sebi was squirmy so I walked him around for a while only to realize he had peed (sp?) through his diaper and onto my shirt. I took him into the men's bathroom, put a little plastic cover over the diaper-changing table, took off his clothes, laid him down, and went to get something from the bag. I have never heard him scream like that before. I think it was a combination of the hard surface, the very cold plastic, and it even looked like he thought I had abandoned him. Anyway, it completely broke my heart and I was sprinting to finish the change until this grandpa with two little girls came and used the adjacent toilet stall. I couldn't see them but their chatter was so adorable! "We're in the boy's potty!" "I have to pee, grandpa." "It's the 4th of July, grandpa!" "We're in the boy's potty!" Anyway, Sebi heard them and instantly got quiet and calm. It was so incredible the effect these little girls had on him. They were so effervescently happy I think it made us both a little calmer.

Unfortunately, things didn't get much better after that. He cried most of the rest of the day. Tonight we watched the fireworks at the pier in San Clemente. We didn't think about the noise, which was outrageously loud, but it didn't seem to bother him. Still, we covered his ears for their protection (we are new parents, remember, and we worry about anything). Towards the end he started balling because he was hungry and Mariah had to feed him while I tried to cover his ears as the grand finale was blazing all around us. Then Mariah had to walk and feed him- a talent with which I was very impressed. Oh, we were there with our soon-to-be neighbors, Mitch, Reiko, and Sera (I believe the name is spelled phonetically to make it easier for Reiko's relatives in Japan, but I love it aesthetically as well). Little Sera is unbelievably cute and we hope she will be Sebi's playmate when he gets a little older (don't worry Lydia, he will remain true to his one, true love...whom he hasn't yet met).

Sera waking up for the fireworks: