Sisterhood. Oh what joy I have already watching my two girls together. I am pretty sure Leslie will grow up knowing deep in her soul that from her first breath she has had Whitney’s unfaltering love and devotion. Whitney has adopted Leslie for her own and can’t get enough of baby time, always asking to hold her, declaring it’s time to change her diaper,...
On Father’s Day I posted some recent pictures of Tyler in his daddy-element on Facebook. As I was collecting the pictures I was struck (again) with how lucky I am and how lucky my kids are to have Tyler. He’s such a wonderful match for each of us. I wanted to put pictures here on the blog, too, to remember this season (all from...
Within the first few days of bringing our first child home (Whitney), we were imagining her future and what she might enjoy in life and the idea of parades came up. We took her on her first parade with just us, around the block in her stroller with a balloon and some John Phillip Sousa tromboning from a phone. Every year Whitney has had...
I can’t believe we are already celebrating one week with Leslie! I am surprising myself with how much I am adoring the newborn phase. Yes, we are feeding constantly, or so it seems. Yes, I’m tired (what else is new?). But she is so soft! I can’t stop rubbing my face on and kissing her soft hair and cheeks. And she smells so good....
Our little bundle made her peaceful debut on Friday afternoon. Leslie was due on June 3rd, and Tyler’s parents were able to be in town for a few days last week, so we were getting a bit impatient when baby hadn’t arrived. I started googling old wive’s tale suggestions for convincing baby to get a move on. Caster oil was out of the...
Two years of hard work learning and growing (disguised as full-on social fun) and our baby has closed the books on preschool. She has come so far since she first walked in that classroom — and I’m pretty sure she enjoyed every minute of it, considering the ways she talked about the teachers, her friends, and the bus. This is her superstar teaching staff. ...
Friends. It’s already June! My intentions have fallen way behind the draw to lay lumpish on the couch every mid-afternoon. I’m playing the “baby is waiting for…” game and when not collapsing into the cushions I’ve been working hard to get all the possible things crossed off baby’s list….we’ve talked hours over names, patched holes in the wall of the future nursery, washed and...
We’ve logged some good family time in the past two weeks…some with friends visiting and also just the four (and almost five!) of us around home. Last week we adventured much more than usual with our friends from out of town. We picnicked in view of the Golden Gate… Walked on the beautiful bridge. And in general just took our time playing and enjoying...
It’s Mother’s Day! May it be the happiest possible day given the complexity of motherhood; there are so many joys and challenges with having a mom and being a mom. Today I’m thinking most about anticipating this new little babe due for an appearance in the next few weeks. I’m lucky to be a part of a group of talented photographer women who let...
I always thought Whitney was a good sleeper. She slept through the night when only a few months old, she would sleep soundly even amidst moderate noise and light. Sometimes she snored, but not crazy loud and never with snorts or gasps, it was more of a cute snore and usually it seemed to coordinate with being congested from a cold. She was pretty...
Each year it is exciting to see how holidays and traditions are appreciated more and more by the kids. Whiteny (4.5yrs) and Dylan (3.5yrs) enjoyed Easter at a whole new level this year. We got the plastic eggs out a few weeks early and they were having fun making messes and hiding them. Last year their cousins made them a set of Resurrection Eggs...
For a few weeks there I turned my living room into a teepee factory…my good friend pointed out that it is the epitome of nesting to be building a physical home within my home…ha. Well, I am within the two month mark of baby’s expected arrival now, and you should see the chaos of the room we intend to be the nursery, so I...
Considering that my citrus trees are wafting out brand new fragrant blooms getting ready for next season’s fruit, it’s about time to share details of a super fun citrus-themed gathering a while back with the other ladies of our neighborhood court. I have two mature navel orange trees (that still hold fruit year round, mind you, I just can’t eat enough!) a mature happy...
With Whitney on the verge of Kindergarten we’ve had to put on some serious pants and think through the education considerations ahead. Decisions will have to be made, services likely advocated for, and all about a future that we cannot foresee. This is tough stuff, friends. I suppose education decisions are something all parents have to go through: public or private? or home school? ...
Happy World Down Syndrome Day to our friends with (and without) the triple 21st Chromosome. We had an extra special day with a birthday party for good friends we’ve known since before we had Whitney, and then a BBQ with a family we met because of Whitney – through her Early Start services (they also have a daughter with Down syndrome – who’s birthday...
It’s seed time. A few weeks ago, my little garden helper was thrilled to “help” me plant some flats. Whitney helped a little, too, but was a little more interested in the hammock than the miracle of seed growing. I have a collection of seeds…some of them getting old now. It’s hard for me to handle seed packs made to plant a whole farm...
Whitney had her tonsils out. Poor sweet girl didn’t know what was coming…and neither did we. Originally, we had a surgery scheduled just to put ear tubes in – an outpatient procedure, she’s done it before, involves anesthesia which nobody likes, but other than that a pretty simple deal. She was getting tubes put in (again) because for the past 6 months she has...
Who’s going to win it? –a question Dylan is constantly asking as he started trying to make everything a race lately. At least we get from point to point much faster, and I have another tool up my sleeve to get his cooperation! We did a family visit to the track the other day and the kids had a blast running around with Daddy. ...
We’ve started a tradition of gathering some close friends and family every 5 years to reflect on our marriage, renew our vows, and be encouraged by those in our life now to keep choosing to love and honor each other. As a bonus, we’ve had a number of our guests comment that the time was really encouraging for them as well – making them...
Our marriage hit double digits this past week. Wow! How did that happen!? Our actual anniversary day was a Thursday, and while we had babysitters lined up for dinner, the day was true-to-season-of-life and preempted by our family adventures – this time a last minute trip to the doctor with two ear infections and some pretty sick and miserable kids. Go figure! It was...
Whitney had ballet class yesterday…and I welled up with pride for my little girl. It went so well for her compared to her first session (almost a year ago, now). For almost the entire 45 minutes she participated best as she could following what everyone else was doing. There was a brief break where she was distracted by her own beautiful reflection and...
Even with stockings and presents and merriment, when I was putting away Christmas Dylan exclaimed “But Mom, Christmas isn’t over, Santa didn’t come!” I’m not sure what he was expecting – perhaps to have Santa over for dinner? We might need to be a little more clear next year about things….guess that means Tyler and I have to figure out our plans before then! Cousins....
Two weeks ago we got to peak in at baby for the 20 week ultrasound. Here are a few highlights from the photo shoot. And no, we didn’t find out the gender…we’re into surprises. 🙂 My favorite is this one where baby is showing off some sort of yoga move (upside down Downward Dog?) with his/her feet stretched over the head. The technician got...
A few oddities of this season in time… Dylan affirms my good ideas by saying “Good Thinking!” woke up at 5:30am the other day and came in loudly complaining “Mo-om, Whitney won’t play with me!” – poor Whitney shuffled sleepily down the hall escaping to our bed. How nice to wake up raring to go. I can’t wait to teach him to use that...