Mother's Day 2015

So every year for Mother's Day, I try to have Dan take some pictures of me and my girl. These were from putting her down for nap time and cuddles after nap while watching our Sunday family movie.

I am so glad I get to be a mother to this sweet girl. Her personality is more intense in a different way than mine which can feel frustrating, but I knew after my miscarriage that there was a special little spirit that I needed to be ready for. I learn so much from her--mostly my weaknesses which is hard but good. She's the brightest thing in my life.

Marjorie turns 2!

Marjorie turned 2 in April! I can't believe that she is two. I am so glad that we're not in the little baby stage any more and I'm so sad we're not in the little baby stage any more. She is one of the friendliest littles I know--always walking up to other children and saying hi. I can drop her off at a friend's home and she doesn't even look back because she's too excited to play. She is opinionated and not afraid to tell you what she does and doesn't want. She has a sensitive heart--if she realizes she's hurt someone or sees someone she loves get hurt, she starts crying and begging for hugs. She's great at telling me if she's "eh-cited!" (excited), "ha-py" (happy), and her favorite "sahd" (sad). She does great big tears and cries while telling you she's sad. We're working on what you do when you're sad because toddlers are sad a lot because they don't get their way as often as they'd like. We love her and love watching her grow up and see her personality bloom.

We went to Coronado about a week after her birthday and took some pictures. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Rosebowl Flea Market and other Julie adventures

At the beginning of April, I went to visit my NYC BFF Julie in Santa Monica. She had conned me into doing to Hollywood Half Marathon with her, but then didn't train so I ended up running it by myself. She waited for me to encourage me the last mile which I was grateful for because I was trying not to cry at that point. Whenever I train for a half, the furthest I go is about 10 miles and getting past that is always super hard for me. In all the half's I've done, miles 10-13 are killer emotionally.

The rest of that day we did absolutely nothing. Then the next morning we got up ridiculously early again and went to the Rosebowl Flea Market which is the most awesome flea market ever! We had a lot of fun wandering around. Julie needed some furniture stuff and she scored big time. I got a couple of telephone pole insulators and some wooden little people--old school style. You definitely have to have something in mind that you're looking for when you go because it's huge and overwhelming.

Easter Morning

I was so excited for Easter morning for Marjorie. We had a whole table worth of stuff for her to open from us and the Easter bunny and Poppa. She had a lot of fun opening up her gifts, looking for Easter eggs and eating candy and treats before breakfast.

Jan was visiting us for the week and got to spend Easter with us. It was fun to have family in town!

BFF's

Marjorie has made a bff here in San Diego. His mama had a baby a few months ago so he was came to play with us a lot which was fun for her. He's taught her the finer points of jumping on the bed and building towers. One day I caught them snuggling up together, it was too cute not to capture.

Fresno Thanksgiving

I haven't been home for Thanksgiving since I graduated college. It was nice to be home and get to experience a little bit of fall since San Diego has persisted in being warm (it's finally cooling down now). We had a fun and relaxing long weekend.

And kind of think my little family is the cutest.

I'm so grateful for Dan and Marjorie. My life is nothing like I thought it would be and everything that I hoped it would be.

Halloween 2014

This year I came up with the brilliant idea of Little Red Riding Hood for our family's costumes.

This is just a gratuitous shot of M I took sometime on Halloween. It's her new model shot.

So I made a red hood for M and gave her a basket, I made a wolf mask for me and wore a fury vest, and Dan wore a bathrobe, shower cap and glasses to try to be grandma. Most people thought he was a hospital patient...

I can't get over these pics of M giggling with her dada

      

Kisses!

Reading Little Red Riding Hood. This version was much more politically correct... nobody got eaten.

Happy Halloween!

She had a lot of fun walking around the neighborhood and was very upset whenever we tried to help her with her basket. We were some of the first people going out so it felt a little awkward being the only ones for most of our trick or treating. But we had a party we were going to so we couldn't stay out late. I think we all had lots of fun.