Friday, June 18, 2010

The Million Picture Post

I'm back from my trip and it was...wonderful. I LOVE my family. I had the best time relaxing and celebrating my cousin's graduation. As always, it seems like there's never enough time to visit with everyone, but some time is better than no time. As I looked through my pictures I couldn't just pick a few- because each face I saw made me think, 'Man I love that guy.' And 'My Aunts are the best.' And 'I can't believe how big all my cousins are!' And on and on and on.

After my visit with family I got to spend a few nights with my friend Hillary...who is amazing. She has the most adorable two year old Isabella and a brand new precious baby girl Hadley. Hill is such a great Mom. She is patient, creative, and sooooo funny (check out the super cute shirts she made for Maxwell and Ella at the bottom of this post). You know that friend that you don't talk to for months and then you see each other and it's like you're still roommates in that tiny college apartment? That's how it is with Hillary (and Molly, and Stef and Megs when we finally get to see each other). I really do have amazing friends. It's a bummer that they live so far away.

Anyway, my trip was great. The details are in in my head and my heart. I'm too tired to write about them. My husband is amazing. Thanks to the family that helped out when Mike was working. The kids did great. So great, in fact, that I got off the airplane and they didn't really acknowledge me. This was slightly embarrassing, as I had just told half of the plane all about my highly anticipated reunion and many of the moms/grandmothers were teary eyed and watching me run up to Mike and the kids. Only to see them turn their heads and check out the baggage claim. Not quite the reunion I had played out in my mind. Oh well, we're back in the swing of things now and there's no shortage of kisses and hugs.

Although the rest and playing was fun, it's good to be home.

The Fam...













Then on to the Isaacsons...



Crafty shirts from Hillary...

Friday, June 11, 2010

...And I'm Off!

Tomorrow morning I'm off to Seattle. Thank you Mike for this trip, I'm so looking forward to relaxing. Thank you Grandmas for your extra help too.

Maxwell and Ella...Mama will miss you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!! I LOVE you three. Bye for now.




Tuesday, June 8, 2010

15 Months

On the fourth of this month you babies turned fifteen months. FIFTEEN MONTHS! And I still call you babies. But you're toddlers now. You amaze me with how much you understand. You like to give your Dad 'fives' and show off your belly buttons. You bring me shoes and point to your feet. You are obsessed with our toothbrushes, wanting nothing to do with yours. But I know if I bought you the exact same ones...you'd still want ours.

Summer is here and we are having the best time in the sun and the water. We love going to the beach and the Borba's to swim. At first neither of you liked the sand but now you have fun flinging sand with your shovels. Last week at the beach you both took steps into the ocean! The waves came and knocked you down. It was just us so I had to scramble to keep up with two babies toddlers. It is so fun watching you walk. At first you kept toppling over but you're turning into walking machines!

I am leaving on my first vacation without you in four days. I'm very excited to have a fun trip...but I'm so afraid that I'll miss you too much. How is it possible that I miss you already? Your Daddy laughs at me because I keep telling him how scared I am that you'll forget me. Promise you won't? I'm being serious, please, please, please don't forget me. But also don't be sad that I'm gone. Be happy and have fun with your Dad. I know you will. I'll be thinking of you all the time.

Maxwell,
You want so badly to be able to talk. You and Ella learned a few signs from your cousin Abby, but mostly you just grunt 'uh! uh!' or 'mo! mo!' You are such a cheerful boy. I see you understanding so many things and I get so excited when I see that you understand me and I understand you. On your Baby Einstein movie there is a part where dinosaurs walk across the screen. You anticipate them coming and when they do you point and call for me to watch with you. It cracks you up every time. You love reading stories. Your two favorites are Brown Bear and I Love You Through and Through. You want to hear them over and over. In the morning sometimes I'll be lazy, wanting to lay in bed just two more minutes so I'll tell you to go get Brown Bear out of your room. You scurry out and seconds later come back with it, "mo! mo!" OK honey, I'll read it more. You like riding your motorcycle from Nana and Papa all by yourself. You stand up on both feet and tug on the handle bars, trying to make it go faster. You also like Daddy's skateboard.

You are still a picky eater but the things you love, you really love. When I'm tired and we're having a hard day eating, I give in and let you eat these Gerber puff things. They basically look like Cheetos, but they're not. It kills me that you eat these. But the look on your face- man, have you got a million dollar smile. You have me wrapped around your finger when you come up and love on me. You will be in the middle of playing and sometimes you'll stop and come up to me. You wrap your arms around my neck then look at my face and pucker up your lips. You lean in for a kiss and I am 100% yours. We LOVE you big boy.
Ella,
You are still our sweet girl. You have so many sides to you. You can be so silly. You are still doing this fake laugh that sounds like an old man, 'Ho! Ho! Ho' You discovered that your brother and I can't stop laughing when you do this SUPER high pitched squeal. You also love to laugh at Maxwell. He does the littlest thing and you laugh hysterically at him. You are also a vary affectionate girl. You love to cuddle up and give kisses. Often throughout the day you lean into Maxwell and purse your lips together.

You are an animal lover. You love cats (I do not). You have some PJ's with a kitten on the front and you love to rub your belly and say 'mow-mow,' your version of meow. You are adventurous. You like to try new foods and like most of them. You are a good sport when Maxwell sits on top of you. He love to play tough but sometimes he accidentally hurts you. He doesn't mean to. Most of the time you laugh and play right along with him. You notice trucks. Even when we are driving in the car you'll look out the window and when you see a truck that looks like Daddy's you point and wave, 'da da da da.' You also like to ride your motorcycle. You steer very well and it's obvious that you think you look pretty cool. And you are. We love you sweet girl.

I was so bummed I didn't have my camera this day at the beach, but I took these on my phone because I wanted to remember how intrigued you were with everything around you.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

AIDS/LIFECYCLE

Michael and Justin are heading to San Francisco where tomorrow they'll start their seven day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Check out this cause here, and if you'd like to donate, Michael's page is here.
Thursday night Native in SLO hosted a benefit for the ride. Lots and lots of fun :)






Good luck Michael and Justin! We'll be cheering for you :)

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

My Girl

My Ella Vita...I love you.


A Trip For Me

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. In eleven days I am taking a trip to Seattle...alone! I am going to visit family to celebrate my cousin's graduation, then I'm going to stay with my amazing friend Hillary. Hill just had a new baby girl and her older daughter just turned two...they are darling. I am going for FIVE days and FOUR nights. Four days of time away from home. When I think about being away it's a feeling of excitement mixed with gut wrenching anxiety. I know the babies will be fine...but my heart already hurts from missing them.
Anyway, I'm going and it's going to be an incredible break for me. Thanks Mike for giving me this trip.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Playground

Yesterday we spent the afternoon playing in Avila...my favorite. I especially wanted to post these pics because I just found out that I was using an older version of blogger editor. I didn't know that there was an easier way to post large pictures and edit posts. If you use blogger, you probably already know this, but to update just go into your settings tab, then global settings...click update editor. So easy.

 
 

 

We played with our adorable friend Landrie. She gave us some pointers on walking and chasing birds.



Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Baby Steps

Here's a sneak peak of their first steps...

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Them

I think they're finally well :)





Later in the day, big sister Maegann styled Ella in her first pigtails. When I was pregnant I remember dreaming about what the babies would look like. The only time I could ever picture Ella, she was about two years old running outside with little pigtails. Now she's almost there. They are growing so fast...




Monday, May 17, 2010

Feeling Old

I'm actually not old. I'm 29. 30 is around the corner, but so what? My husband is 13 years older than I am so really, I should always feel young. It's just that the past year has aged me. Inside and out. And even though it doesn't really matter...some of it kinda sucks.

1. I am getting gray hair. Not one or two, but many. If you didn't look closely you probably wouldn't be able to tell. But on the days I do look, there are many.
2. I am more comfortable in higher waisted jeans/pants/shorts. YUCK. It's not because I've found cute stylish ones (I realize they are in fashion now), but it's because I am constantly trying to cover my post babies tummy. Apparently I tug my jeans up compulsively, without realizing it. It was brought to my attention when my 19 year old stepdaughter told me that it always looks like I always have camel toe. Again, YUCK.
3. Similar to #2, I am trying to find a bathing suit. Goal: flattering suit to completely disguise tummy, lift boobs, elongate legs/arms, and still make me feel cute and youngish. Even slightly sexy. Suits matching this description come with a skirt and the option solid stripes or Hawaiian print.

On the plus side, I still get carded when I buy beer. That's gotta count for something, right?