Death and Dying

Two men that Mike grew up with died this week, separate circumstances. I didn't know these men but my heart aches for the families that are grieving. We say 'life is short,' but we don't really get it, do we?

Today I'm thankful for my friends and precious family.

Nineteen Months

*This post is a week early (the babies kids are taking a nap so I'm writing while I can). October 4th Maxwell and Ella will be nineteen months old. Over a year and a half...it's going too fast. It's been awhile since I've written letters to them so here's one for the baby book.

Ella
Weight: 22.8
Height: 32 in
HC:      47 cm

Max
Weight: 26.4
Height: 33.5 in
HC:      49.5 cm (90th %, go Maxwell!)


Ella Vita,
Today we brought in clothes to consign at Mollywogs and you squealed when you saw the woman in front of us,  ‘Baby!’ A little baby's head rested on her Mama’s shoulder. I tightened my arms around you. ‘Baby,’ I whispered in your ear, ‘You’re my baby.’

You are a smart girl.Wherever we are, you like to explore. You like to say: baby, Dada, ma (for max), teeth, shoes, booger, lotion, nose, duck, cheese, uh-oh!, boat, dog, bubble, ball, hello (for the telephone), baba (for Yo Gabba Gabba), and lots more. You say ‘Mommy’ and it sounds like you’re five years old.  When Dad and Maxwell are gone you ask incessantly for your brother, ‘Ma? Ma?’ You don’t want to be without him.

At the park, you like climbing play structures and swinging. Actually, you like climbing everywhere. We were at Nonni and Papa John’s house and you started calling my name from the other room. I was eating dinner and I told everyone that you were fine, ‘She always calls my name,’ I said with another mouthful of food. A few minutes later you called again. I walked into the other room to find you on top of the table. A high table. How did my girl get this big? You are fearless little one. You don’t like boundaries. Every day we play outside in our yard, and every day I chase you out of harm’s way. You look behind you and laugh as I catch you before you reach the end of the driveway.

When you were an itty baby you didn’t like to cuddle much. Now you love hugs and kisses. Every time we get you out of your crib, you are surrounded by your entourage. You have you pacifier (which you call ‘BA’), your little silky blanket, your big silky blanket, your baby, and at least one stuffed animal (usually your owl from Aunt Tanya). You’re pretty good about leaving your ‘BA’ in your crib, but now and then you sneak it out. You like to read Goodnight Moon. You like to hold your sweatshirt like it’s a blanket, even when it’s 100 degrees out. You like buttons and clasps- you like to buckle your car seat and your wagon straps. You like food. You like putting food in your hair. You DON’T like adorable barrettes or any form of ponytail. This makes me very sad because you look SO CUTE when I sneak them in.

You love when your Dad throws you up in the air you say and sign ‘more’ at the same time, wanting him to throw you higher and higher. You are a happy girl. You still sleep through the night and you take at least one nap a day (usually). You make us laugh and you are absolutely beautiful.  You have my heart. We love you.

Maxwell Daniel,
From the time you wake up, you are funny. You usually wake up in our bed. Most of the time you sleep through the night, but around 5:00 you wake up and I stumble to your room and bring you back to bed for morning cuddles and (hopefully) more sleep. Once you’re really awake, you jump right into your morning routine. You love milk like Seattle loves coffee.

Once your eyes are truly open for the day you sign and say ‘milk! milk!’ Once you’ve got your cold one, you bring me both remote controls and demand your morning toons, which last about ten minutes until you’re ready for Yo Gabba Gabba. When DJ Lance Rock walks across the screen you put your hands over your mouth and your eyes get really big. You pull your hands away and squeal as you start dancing (you are an awesome dancer by the way). You love to dance, run, and spin in circles. The other day you put on quite the show at Grandma Judie’s house as you danced on her fireplace while she played the keyboard.

You love to perform and make us smile. You have so many silly expressions. You put your arms up by your sides and scrunch up your eyebrows while you ask us, ‘Guys?’ You shout and push your lower jaw out when you want to get our attention. You close your eyes and tuck your head in your shoulder when you want to ignore us, but guess what? We can still see you! You are a ham around your family, but you act very shy around new people.

You insist on wearing your shoes all the time. I have to distract you when I take them off before nap time. You LOVE to brush your teeth. You like alone time when you are building your blocks or reading stories. I love to watch you build things. You build your blocks in patterns of color-this amazes me! You and Ella love your play kitchen. You open and close the doors over and over.  Like your sister, you are starting to climb. Yesterday you climbed on the counter of your kitchen so that you could reach the light to turn it on. Smarty pants.  But be careful!

You don’t use as many words as Ella, but you sure do jabber a lot. At the park you like slides, but you absolutely don’t like swings. You like to throw balls and play tee ball. You like Buzz Light Year. You LOVE all your grandparents and are excited when you see each of them. You like your Dad’s cell phone. You like splashing in the bath. You like when Daddy tickles you, ‘more! more!’ Your favorite foods are grapes and carrots. You love to dip food- you think everything is better in ranch and hummus. I saw an older picture of you the other day and I couldn’t believe how chubby you were. You look like such a big boy now. You have a smile that makes me smile back, no matter what my mood is. We love you son.

Cuddle Fest, 2010

Can't keep my hands off them. Can you blame me?

Molly

I spent Saturday in Santa Barbara with one of my best friends, Molly. I couldn't stop smiling. We ate, shopped, laughed...then we ate again. This continued for the 24 hours we spent together. After eight hours of shopping (so fun!) we spent the night at my grandparent's house. I felt like a teenager on one of my trips to Nana and Papas, Molly and lounging on our twin beds. We talked until midnight. The next morning I opened my eyes and heard Papa talking to Nana in the next room. "Hello my beautiful wife. I'm going to town..." Molly and I said goodbye and I went to have lunch with my brothers. I fully enjoyed my weekend vacation. I felt completely spoiled, taking care only of myself. Thanks Moll. Love you.

Of course we only took this picture. Because unless little kids are running around, I have to remind myself to take out the camera.

Santa Cruz Recap

Spent an awesome weekend camping in Santa Cruz. If you are not our family, this post may bore you to death. Here are way too many pictures...

Max and Ella take over the RV~

 

Around camp~

When we found our camp site, I told Maxwell and Ella that these stumps were their 'special chairs.'

Little Meg and her boyfriend Zack came too. Isn't her hair cute dark?

Helping Dad set up a tent to play in~

Love this face.

Around the camp fire~

 

Everyone wants to wear Dad's hat~

 

We took a steam train to the boardwalk~

When we got there, Maxwell ruled at race car driving and Ella made Mama proud with her fancy footwork on Dance Dance Revolution~

Everyone was sleepy on the ride home~

Not pictured: Mike, Meg and Zack zip lining. A few baby meltdowns. Yummy BBQ dinners with friends. Me wanting to cry when, at 9:30, Maxwell and Ella were still awake, and wouldn't fall asleep unless we laid down with them (which made me so thankful of the easy bedtime routine at home- which entails putting them in their beds, walking away, and enjoying a few hours of quiet time before the next day).

Just Because

Lately Ella is really into her baby doll and saying, "Baby?" She says the word like it's a question while she tilts her head to the side.

Big boy is all about hats. But not the cute ones that fit him He likes his Dad's dirty work hat, or this one he stole from our friends, the Borbas.

Our Weekend (in the middle of the week)

I feel like we just had a long weekend. But it was in the middle of the week. I know, if you work, you must hate that I don't even know what day it is. I took the kids for two nights to stay with my parents. We had the best time. It feels like we don't make it there all that often, yet when we do Max and Ella remember everything. It is the best thing watching my parents with them. And them with my parents. It's basically a love fest.

 

Papa John reads Ella Goodnight Moon. Over. And Over. The three of them watching Yo Gabba Gabba. Dad, you're awesome.

 

Maxwell has figured out how to help himself to the cupboards.

While I was in town I went out with my WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, HILARIOUS friend Crystal. Before we went to dinner she brought over her adorable baby Lily for Maxwell and Ella to play with. And me to drool over.

Little friends

Crystal and Lily

Tiny phone picture to document our night out...that's all you get to see :)

 

Bath time with Nonni. Thanks for everything Mom. 

My parents have a great backyard for exploring. Maxwell and Ella loved roaming and I loved having them fenced in. This is the home that I grew up in from second grade. We played for a long time in the backyard. Every corner bringing back memories, while watching my children make there own.

Our Ellie

Meet our  friend Ellie. She is amazing. The babies think she's their older sister/cousin/friend. Ellie is so good with Maxwell and Ella! She knows their routine to a tea. She knows all their favorite games, foods, and she even remembers to put their special nighttime diapers on after their bath. This special girl is 11 going on 21.

Thank you for all that you do for us. We love you Eleanor Borba, Happy Birthday!

p.s. We see Ellie about 4 times a week. How is it possible that the last picture 
I have with her is over a year old?!