Beach Trip

A weekend at the beach this past weekend for all of the March birthdays. Jeremy's, Matthew's, Jon's and Dan's birthday were all celebrated at a rental beach house in seaside. Although I took 95+ pictures I feel like I didn't capture the true story of our weekend.

Stage 1: the drive to the beach - Our morning was filled with excitement as we pack up the car with all of our stuff and tell little miss Julia we are going to the beach. Even the dog gets into the car, and boy did this excite her. But, we tried to explain Chewy was going to spend the weekend with Grandma Nancy and Spike. After leaving Chewy behind (sad for me too) Julia was very upset about not having her dog with her for her trip. "Chewy stay home." "Buy new Chewy" (Don't ask about the Buy new phrase...that's a whole other story in it self.) Needless to say Julia was pretty anxious on the car ride to the beach and did not take a nap for the 2 hours we were in the car.

Stage 2: Hang'n out at the beach house - Friday we choose to just hang out at the house, relaxing and settling in. Our family took the apartment that was attached to the side of the house. This giving us some more privacy and Julia her own space for sleeping. Paige and Iris were so excited to play with Julia that the 3 of them ran around the 2 stories of the house all afternoon. They played hide and go seek over and over, then in the art room they colored over and over, and again just palled around together all day.

Stage 3: We must do everything together - The 3 girls were meshed together for everything, and they loved it. During bedtimes they took a bath together in the huge jacuzzi tub and helped washed each other's hair and then brushed their teeth together in front of the giant mirror. They watched movies together and ate together. If 1 sat down on a tall stool at Nana's house, then the other two followed suit. The only time they separated was at bed time.

Stage 4: The shopping - Saturday, after everyone was fed and bathed, we all headed into the heart of Seaside intending to have some shopping fun and Sushi lunch. We started off getting coffee, where Julia read the Fry's Ad for Jon (too funny), and then looking for the best candy shop on the strip. Roxanne was on the hunt for Matthew's Birthday gift and we ended up in a clothing store where a huge sale was going on. We ended up getting new shoes and a t-shirt for Julia. The shoes being size 8 water sandals and the short being a size 5T cat and the hat pink top! So cute! We wondered down into the candy stores then and Julia insisted on someone getting her popcorn, and of course Grandma and Grandpa came to the rescue. At the end of the shops we of course had to ride on the carousel! Julia loves riding the carousel so much and wanted to go again, but was also very hungry. So, we headed to Sushi lunch and waited almost 30 minutes for service and food! But, while waiting Julia and Paige went potty in the public restroom! On the walk back to Nana's Condo we bought Julia and mini Kite and got rained on by the sudden onset of pounding rain showers!

Stage 5: Meat Party - Saturday evening was the planned birthday party dinner. Jon had requested a year ago to have an all meat birthday party, so steak and ribs were cooked for our meat loving family. And since we were at the beach of course we had some crab and shrimp! Our vegan friends, Lin & Ryan even joined in by baking a vegan meatloaf. Dan, Toni, and Brandon brought potato salad and of course chocolate cake and red velvet cupcakes for desert. I had to make a huge salad for us leaf eaters too.

Stage 6: The beach- after our meat dinner we took all the kids to walk on the near by bay, but the whole beach area was covered in rocks and it was dark by the time we made it there. So, we insisted on major beach time the next day! After packing up the house Sunday morning we headed to Nana's condo and Jon, Julia, and I made a dash to the beach before the others. It was pretty cold still, so we walked up to the water and then Julia wanted to go in. But, just as we were turning around to go in the police horses were walking down the beach towards us. Of course Julia and I were super excited at the idea of petting the horse. This would be her first time seeing a horse close up! The horse had the best personality too, very curious about what we had in our hands and kept sniffing at her like she smelled like food (she probably did!). We met the others back at the condo and then made plans to go to the Aquarium and fly kites on the beach. Paige wanted to fly her new Tinkerbell kite and Julia wanted to fly her Rex kit.

Stage 7: The Aquarium - Jon, Matthew, and I took all 3 girls into the aquarium while Amber hung outside (the prices were high). We got some fish food to give to the sea lions and the girls were giddy with delight over the hungry sea lions. We walked around and looked at all the fish and the giant octopus, and Julia and Iris even touched starfish and a sea cucumber. Paige clung to me the whole time (we think she was scared) and wasn't too interested in anything to do with the aquarium. A coloring station for the kids was at the end, and the girls all colored a pictures they had out. Of course we then ran out to the beach!

Stage 8: The Wave - After attempting to fly the kites in a very mild wind unsuccessfully we began to walk towards the water. Julia lead the pack with Grandpa and found a stick to draw in the sand with. Us adults hung back and let the kids run around each other. Then all the kids and Grandpa began to jump and run from waves. The last wave that came seemed faster then others apparently and Julia ended up face planting into a wave and lots of wet sand; soaking herself and Daddy (who picked her up and ran back to the condo). I ran behind and as we came in I stripped Julia down and did a quick bath/wash down.

Stage 9: The End - after all the excitement of falling in the ocean Jon and I were done and ready to head home. Julia of course wasn't, but soon after leaving Seaside she was fast asleep in the car and didn't wake up until we reached Grandma Nancy's house to pick up Chewy. (All due to 2 days of staying up late and not taking naps.) We got home late, had a fast food dinner, and unpacked our sandy adventures.

Stage 10: Potty Training - With Paige and Julia being so close in age of course they are working on the same milestones around the same time. Right now they are working on potty training, and Grandma brought along the tavel potty chair. Each time one of the two went potty the other did too, and it was amazing to watch the two of them be so successful in a new environment. Julia came home and stayed right on track and continued to use the potty all day long after the trip. It seems like spending the weekend with her cousins made her grow leaps and bounds in development.

The view from the house

The Carousel Ride!

"I found you!" Playing Hide and go seek.

Best Buds! (most of the time)

The 3 girls and Grandpa! (Julia in her cat and the hat hat)

Daddy and Julia heading to the beach

Julia and I petting the horse

Playing with Grandpa at the Condo

Julia touching the Sea Cucumber

Julia and Grandpa

Just before the final wave hit!

Cough Cough!

Well, 2011 has sure started off at a fast pace. Christmas time feels like forever ago, and it's almost spring time! Life sure is passing us by. I'm hoping that I am capturing the moments. Once we finished with the flu we had a week of no illness and then jumped right into major infection time. Julia ended up with RSV, which is a respiratory infection but a virus that does not take to antibiotics, and had to have a breathing treatment to clear her lungs at the doctor's office. This was one moment I didn't capture with a camera, but she was amazingly good about it and kept the breathing tube in her mouth the whole time. After that she was still wheezing really bad so they send for an X-ray to make sure it wasn't pneumonia. She again was awesome and listened to directions very well. And for this she got a stuffed dinosaur toy (made by volunteers) and lots of stickers from the nurses. Grandma Nancy and I then took her out for Jamaba Juice and tried to get her to release all the jittery energy that the breathing treatment medicine (albuterole) gave her. I was not clear and free of this illness either and at the end of the week was worse off then Julia, with a respiratory infection too, and then Jon had to play nurse again to the two of us. As of now we are both doing much better!

At the dr Julia weighed 27 pounds and was 3 feet 1 inch tall! She seems to be growing so fast, and is getting to be so tall! A long way from her 11 inch beginning I'd say!

On Valentine's weekend Jon spend lots of time taking care of us and spoiling us to no end. Julia got new toys from the Disney Store and a board game from Walmart! On top of her getting extra goodies all weekend, and making cards for everyone. Jon bought me a new purse from Coach and a new IPhone! Holy Cow, I am spoiled! We're calling the gifts - Anniversary, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Birthday Gifts! But, we all know I'll except something for my Birthday. haha - Jon's gift has yet to arrive in the mail (a Red Swingline Stapler) and he's going to pick out a Tablet (kinda like an IPad, but different brand) for his birthday. I'm hoping to be able to get him shoes too, but I think he wants the tablet more.

Well overall, life has been very blessed even with out illnesses. I am thankful for all the opportunities that arise in our life, and the blessings that are delivered to us daily. Here's some pictures....

Julia with her Elmo Valentine's Day Balloon!

Jon and I on the day before Valentine's Day

Me and my new purse! Wooo!

Julia and her all her toys!

Milkshake for good girls!

Sickie and her new Dino!

December Daily Scrapbook Project

My first December Daily album will begin this year! This is a project I have watched Ali Edwards create for a few years now and have wished that I had a reason to make such an album, not that before having a kid I didn’t have a holiday season, but I just didn’t think I had the time; energy; or creativity to embark on such a task. So, this year I have those things mostly in place and really want to begin documenting the holidays and traditions we have for Julia.

December Daily is an scrapbooking album project that documents the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Many people start their documentation earlier and many people go longer. I have yet to decide on the length my album will be. Many thoughts occur with this – 1) our holiday season usually begins the week before Thanksgiving with out yearly friend’s dinner, but this would be a 36 day album. 2) I would really like to have just 25 days, but want to include the days after thanksgiving, and again that would make it more days. So, this leads to my dilemma, and I will continue to ponder how this album will work for me.

As for now, I am collecting all of my supplies that are holiday related and place them in one bin to begin organizing and sorting through what I would like to use. This should be an easy task, seeing as that I have organized all my supplies recently.

My next task is to write down some ideas of what our holiday traditions are, so I can have an idea of what I’m going to focus on. Here are the ones off the top of my head.

• Family holiday party/December birthday party with Jon’s family
• Woodcrafter’s Holiday party at a fancy restaurant
• Putting up the up the Christmas tree the day after thanksgiving
• Gift shopping/wrapping
• Decorating the house
• Baking cookies
• Cookies in the Jar gift making
• Christmas Card pictures
• Christmas Eve Party at Roxanne & Matthew’s home
• Gift Exchange games
• Waking up at 6am to open Santa’s loot
• Fruit in the stockings
• Watching White Christmas as we wrap gifts
• Laura’s Cookie gift

Ok, so those are a lot of memories I already have, so now I can’t wait to see what this year brings as new memories and traditions.

A family Focused Perspective!

Am I a mom who has it together? I’m not sure I can protest that just yet, but I sure feel like I’m on my way there instead of the road I was on – lazy, depressed, and overwhelmed with what to do next. I feel calmer about my mommyness and feel like I can accomplish most tasks on my own at home while my husband works to support our family. I was reading a forum post on Circle of Moms.com that asked about advice from those moms who have it together. I would have asked the same question a year ago, and here I am with some great insight into my momness now. Here is what I wrote.

“First of all, how old is your kido? That has everything to do with it. No mom has it all together the 1st 3-4 months of their first child! Secondly, it's all about routine and lowering your expectations. If you don't get the chores done in order to get a shower in, then you still rock! Children thrive on routines, because they love to know what is coming next and what to expect from their day. Even as a baby/toddler I tell my daughter what we are doing each day and why. This increases her speech development, cognitive development, as well as any anxieties she may have about what is coming up.

Lastly, it's all in the partner! My husband is fabulous about picking up the slack for me when I go to the gym or need time to decompress from a stressful day. He does a lot of one on one time with our daughter and she also thrives from these spontaneous moments with daddy!”

I would not be the on track mom that I am right now without my husband or my friends. I truly believe it takes a village to raise children, and know that if I don’t have it together one day I have people to call on to help me make it through the day. I try to remember that if the to-do list I write for one day last me for the whole week that the world is not going to end and that eventually it will all get done. Focus on your family first and then your expectations with expand to other areas of your life.

Stories, projects, and rooms....oh my!

I’ve been attempting to scrapbook off and on for about 3 weeks now and it always just turns into an Internet search for an hour or a clean/organize the room for 2 hours project instead of playing with paper and pictures. But, I can’t regret any of it because my room has more space to move around in and I’ll be able to organize it much more efficiently now. And on the flip side I have some amazing ideas formed in journals and projects waiting to be made in a file now too.

Here is the progress being made in my craft room and a list of the projects I’m currently starting (because we all know I can’t just start one!)

This is the table that will now have all printers & the computer that is slowly dying on me.

Empty Space! I took out the small table that originally held computer/printers. So now my craft table with go here and shelves will be against the other wall.

Projects:
• 100 life changing moments: this is an idea I snagged from Big Picture Scrapbooking. It’s all about the moments in your life that were life changing and significant to the person you’ve become. This include all the big ones (graduations, first boyfriend, etc.) but also the little ones (meeting a certain person for the first time, learning to play an instrument, or using a cell phone for the first time).
• Interview yourself/Life Stories: You know those chain letters everyone sends out with silly questions like your favorite color, or where were you born, and even the weird ones like are you wearing socks? Well this is a great way to tell your story and get a quick journal down. Write out your favorites – color, song, movie, soda, ice cream flavor, etc. and just make a page about all of it!
• Baby’s 1st year: ok, it’s time to get this started and finished, Julia’s already 2! I’m gonna join a class at Big Picture Scrapbooking that will give me the motivation and inspiration to get this done!
• Family Tree: I haven’t done much on this, but I really want to get something started, even if it’s just a written out grid of family. Jon’s grandparents aren’t going to be around much longer and it’s time to get their stories down on paper. Mine are already gone and my Aunts are probably the only ones left to tell me much about the family.

Father's Day 2010

When I would think about Father’s Day in the past I would be envious of those who had the opportunity to celebrate their fathers. You see, I grew up without a father. So, I never knew what it felt like to say Happy Father’s Day until now. Now my husband is a father, for 2 years now, and it feels so amazing to be able to see what a great opportunity my daughter will have all of her life to say to her Dad, “You are the best dad in the world.” Because he is the best dad in the world, and proves it every day with his actions and words towards her.

When Julia was first born we of course weren’t at church every week, we spent most of our time at the hospital. One of our pastors made a statement about Jon one week that we hadn’t attended, saying that Jon is the example of a husband that we should all aspire to be. He takes this example and brings it right into being a father as well. So many men fall short in the role of father. They don’t spend the time to see the personalities in their children, or they work so much they aren’t even home for dinner/bath/and bedtime. Jon takes the time in his life to give so much to Julia. He spent so many hours, months, just holding her, changing her diaper, and feeding her so that she would grow and be healthy. Then he spent all that time again running after to her, tickling her, reading books with her so that she will grow up to be a happy and intelligent girl.

He leaves every day for work wishing he could stay home to play with her and is looking forward to coming home to see her huge smile for him. His dedication to being a father is something I will treasure forever. Something that I hope other men will see in him and aspire to be like. He is truly someone to celebrate and I sure hope that today he felt celebrated by us.

Happy Father’s Day Jon – we all love you and wish you to be as happy as you make all of us!