Emery's birthday is just a few weeks away. Can I believe that my girl is almost 2? Not really. The past two years have been so jam packed I have to constantly remind myself to take it all in, because every time I turn around there is something else that is gone. Emery-doodle is nearly two. My perfect little baby hardly has any signs of her baby years left. She has shot up 2 inches since Decemeber and lost her baby fat. My piggy is no longer a piggy. She's a little girl. There are truly no words to describe my absolute love for this child. It's a feeling I could never put into words and often brings me to tears. She is the most amazing gift I've ever been given, even, like the day of her 2nd birthday photos, she was wearing some serious sassy pants. But, then there are nights like last night, when she was tired and not feeling well and she just wanted to cuddle in my lap. Some day she'll be too big to do that. I'm married and a mommy, and when I don't feel good I still want to curl up with my mommy too. So, I know that she'll be the same way. Because that is what mommies are for. To wipe your nose, your tears...occasionally your bottom until you grow up and have to do it for your own baby. The older Emery grows, the more I realize how lucky I am to be a mom, and have such an amazing mom of my own.

I'm so blessed.

xoxo

Looking forward to a new year...

So I realize that I'm a little last with the New Year's blog... but I didn't make any resolutions this year, so I don't have that to share. I think since the new year I have simply made some observations about my life and have tried to put it in perspective.

With 2011 here, I finally feel like I am figuring it out. Marriage, motherhood, friendship, career... all of it. I have a good understanding of what I want out of life and what my priorities are. While I want to be a working mom, and I am so eager to begin my career in higher education, I know that Emery is 100% my priority. I start graduate school in the fall at CSULB. It is an intense program, but produces amazing student development professionals. Student Development has truly become a passion of mine. It started with having excellent advisors as a collegiate, became my favorite programs to work with while at St. Jude, and is now my life... as a CSULB employee and DDD Alumni Advisor. I know this is where my energy should be directed... I also know that I may not be able to accomplish everything in the field that I want, because it does require work to become a lifestyle. I've done that, and it just isn't for me anymore. I am all for being apart of the team, but I want to leave my work at work most days to go home to my perfect little girl. That isn't going to change, no matter how exciting the career opportunity.

Now that Emery is nearing her second birthday, I finally feel like I am getting the hang of motherhood. At least for now. I have a good idea of how I want to raise her... and how we'll get there... and more than that. I know that Jason and I can communicate together and be on the same team in raising her. That is such an amazing feeling, knowing that you have a partner in the crazy journey of parenthood.

I've also come to accept many of the relationshps and friendships in my life for what they are. I don't have this core group of 8 amazing girlfriends from HS or college... that we are all best friends and have been forever. And, it used to totally bum me out. However, I do have a number of amazing girlfriends.. and they all know eachother well enough that we can get together and have a ton of fun. I also have a great group of mommy friends that I adore. Because of our busy lives with jobs, husbands and kids, we don't see eachother that often, but it's ok. My life is moving at such a rapid rate, I know it's much more important to focus on my family than worry about my bffs. Emery is growing up so fast, I don't want to ever feel like I missed out on anything because I was worried about other relationships. Besides, Jason is truly my best friend. We have more fun laughing together than anyone else in my life... besides, I like kissing him too. It's a 2fer. =)

As I near my 27th birthday, I think I am finally coming into my own and getting comfortable in my own skin. I know who I am, what my intentions are, and that I am a good person. I enjoy volunteering my life and my time to others and feel interpersonal relationships are the key to all things successful. I love my life. Maybe for the first time in my life, I'm truly happy with where everything is headed. And that, my friends, is an amazing feeling!

And because an adorable picture of my girl is always awesome... from our latest family adventure!

xoxo

25. Go wine tasting

CHECK! Another item off my 30 by 30 list! Over NYE weekend, Jason and I took a night away to go to Santa Barbara. We didn't have any real plans, beyond wine tasting at some point. After a day of shopping and enjoying a beautiful cool SD Day, we had dinner on the pier and hopped in the jacuzzi at out hotel. We stayed right on the ocean and a fabulous dinner on the pier.
On our way home, we stopped at this adorable wine tasing room in Summerland and came away with 4 bottles. Next time, when it's warmer, we would love to go to a few vineyards and bring some friends along. But, for a first time, it was lovely!

For tracking purposes... here the photo

#25 Wine Tasting 1/2/11

January, already?

It's not that I don't love updating my blog that keeps me from posting more often... It's that I never get around to uploading our fabulous pictures.
So, here I am, another blog without pictures. I swear I'll doing it soon. Maybe not tonight, as it is potato soup night with my parents, but soon, I swear!
Now that I am back on campus and finally getting back in touch with friends and aquantencies, I am able to reflect and then share our amazing holiday. We didn't do anything special or out of the ordinary. We simply enjoied time with one another and those that are closest to us. And, we ate delicious food! The only addition this year was bringing Madison, Emery and Richard together to open their presents for eachother. This was the kick off of present opening season 2010. It was a smashing success! The kids loved opening presents and seeing what each one had gotten. The excited "whoa" and "ooh" were enough to make my heart melt. Madison and Richard have come into my life and stolen my heart. I absolutly adore these two kids. And, with the addition of Emery they make up the 3 musketeers. They are BFFs, hard core. I love it.
And, the other major event of this year, was no event at all. No trip to the ER, no sick baby, no frantic calls to 911. We put on Emery's thermal jammies (which Madison also had) and went to bed.
When I was a kid we got to open one present on Chritmas Eve. Something to wet our present appetites. We've decided that this gift will now be jammies for Emery to wear that night. It's amazing how much my kid loves jammies. We've also decided that we will get up earlier on Christmas morning to have our own private family christmas moments before heading over to my moms. I'm sure someday Emery will beg to have a slumber party with Madison, but for now, this hour as a family of three is something I cherish. Jason and I exchanged our gifts while watching Emery beam with excitment. And yes, we spoiled her with presents. But, after every gift she looked as us and said thank you... followed closely by MORE PRESENTS MOMMY?
Christmas with a little one has changed our family. Christmas with both Madison and Emery has brough it back to life. The magic of Christmas that gets lost on cynical teenagers has returned. And for that, I am so greatful!

Since Christmas, Jason and I took our first "alone" trip up to Santa Barbara. We were only gone for a night, but it was so wonderful to just exist together as husband and wife. Thank you to my amazing sister for keeping Emery-doodle over night. It was rainy, but cozy. We shopped, enjoyed great food, beer and wine... and didn't have to worry about diapers or toddler tears. Motherhood is the greatest gift of all, but I must never lose sight that it is because of my marriage that it is all possible. We need to take time to connect as a couple in order to be effective parents. And, while on our trip, I was able to cross something else off my life: wine tasting. And I have the 4 bottles of wine to prove it. I have the photo proof that is in the group to be uploaded soon.

until then.

xoxo

Hoping for an uneventful Christmas!

Last night, Jason, Emery and I visited our local firestation to donate a toy to their "spark of love," holiday toy drive. I had never heard of this before, but my division participated as apart of our holiday party this year on campus. I loved that our local police and fire departments took toys to children that teachers and councelors had identified as underprivlaged. It wasn't a program where random people, with plenty of resources, could show up, just for the free toy.
As most of our friends and family know, last year, on Christmas Eve, we had to call 911 and the same local firefighters came to our home. Emery had a febrille seizure, something we knew nothing about, or that it was hereditary from my mother-in-law's side of the family. All we knew was that Emery had a fever for about 24 hours and it wasn't going down... after a cool bath she started shaking and turned blue. It was our first christmas together and all I could think of was that my perfect little girl was going to die on Christmas Eve. But, it turns out that these types of seizures are more common than we knew...and that when you seize, you naturally stop breathing, but begin again on your own. However, if it ever happened again, and it could, you better believe I am calling 911. It was terrifying. Even thinking about it now has me tearing up. And, with Christmas just a few days away, I can't help but think about that first Christmas. I am praying for an uneventful Christmas.
We were so thankful to the speed in which the fire fighters responded to our home, and how patient they were with me... As you can imagine, I was hysterical. Emery has so much. She is so spoiled and loved. She never goes without her hearts desire. We truly hope that our one toy will go to a child that will love it.
We decided this is going to be a new Christmas tradition for our family. We want to give back during the holidays and teach Emery to give to other children that are not as fortunate as she is. In future years we may expand our service, as she gets older and wants to try new things. I was so lucky to have a family that was passionate about service to others and lead by example. I hope to set that example for Miss Emery and instill in her a love for giving back... this is just one small way we can start that new tradition for our family now.
I am so loving the new traditions we are starting for our own family.

xoxo

When it rains... I go for a walk

21. Take a walk in the rain- done 12/19/2010

Well, since mother nature has decided to unleash herself upon long beach... I thought it was a pretty good sign that I should mark another off the 30 by 30 list. So, today, when Emery went down for a nap...Jason and I went for a walk. We went just down our street, not too far in case Miss Emery decided to wake up. But, it was so fun. I felt like a kid again. We jumped in puddles, splashed eachother, and came back soaking wet. There is something totally liberating about walking in the rain and having your neightbors question your sanity a bit. But, I am so glad we did it. And more happy that we did it together.
I know this 30 by 30 list is something that I created, but I love that Jason and I are getting to go on some of these adventures together. I'm so lucky to have a husband that is just crazy enough to take a walk in the rain, just to check something off of my list. I love you babe!

Now, for the photo evidence!

30 by 30, not so easy

So, I have to say, 4 months after posting my 30 by 30 list, I haven't really accomplished much. 1 item checked off the list.

30 by 30
13. Have an “in the moment” non-studio photo session with my family - DONE 11/7/2010We did an awesome photo shoot with my bff heather and her husband.

This is probably my favorite picture ever.




Jason and I are going away to Santa Barabara at the end of the month, just the two of us. I think we are going to do a walking urban wine tasting tour. I'll be sure to post a picture. My goal is to make myself a cute little book of all my 30 by 30 adventures. Stay tuned.