More Water Fun

On Memorial Day we had a BBQ with Brian's parents and grandparents. Liv had a blast playing in the DoDo (Dora) Pool and with the hose! Apologies for all the water pics, it's what keeps her busy lately!

Summertime

"School's out and the nights roll in
Man, just like a long lost friend
You ain't seen in a while
And can't help but smile"

Yup.

Pretty much sums up life these days...consistency, consistency, consistency. Please remind me it doesn't last forever.

No one looks forward to the terrible twos, a developmental stage that usually begins sometime in the toddler years.
Although many parents don't expect the terrible twos to start until their toddler is two years old, it is important to note that it can begin anytime during your child's second year, and so anytime after their first birthday, and unfortunately, sometimes even before.

Characterized by toddlers being negative about most things and often saying 'no', the terrible twos may also find your toddler having frequent mood changes and temper tantrums.

To help you cope with this normal stage in your child's development, you should always remember that your child isn't trying to be defiant or rebellious on purpose. He is just trying to express his growing independence and doesn't have the language skills to easily express his needs.

"Happy Mommy"

The title is what Liv kept saying to me all day...so cute! My husband and daughter really out did themselves this year. The day started with a vanilla latte by my favorite coffee chain brought to my bedside and waking to the smell of bacon cooking (the funny thing is I really only crave bacon when I'm pregnant!) and I came out to open some beautiful gifts and cards! I got to relax most of the afternoon and then we headed out to prepare for Grandma and Grandpa to come over for dinner. Brian (a husband who's a cook, it's like the icing on the cake I tell ya!) prepared flank steak, his version of scalloped red potatoes - he doesn't really follow recipes so I'll have to ask him what he did so I can share it here, they were amazing and mixed greens with asparagus, tomato, pinenuts and a yummy homemade dressing. I am so glad there are leftovers!! Grandma whipped up a homemade strawberry pie, this pregnant girl was just loving every single bite and thankful there was no heartburn to follow! Anyway, enough about the food (it was just too good not to talk about) here are some photos of me, the "happy mommy" and my girls. I say it over and over, but this is really the hardest but best and most rewarding job in the world!!






And because so many of you have been asking...a profile of the belly, 34 weeks today!
(oh and all the dirt in the background is due to Brian's hard work in our backyard this weekend rototiling all the dead grass that won't grow and preparing for the next phase of landscaping...suggestions anyone?? I so don't have a green thumb and want things to be kid friendly!)

Grandma came!

My mom visited (rescued) us while Brian had to travel to Alaska for a few days. It is always so great to have her here, she is such a huge help. Especially now that I am carrying around this ever-lovin'(growing) belly...I am trying not to complain, I really do love being pregnant it just becomes really hard and sometimes painful at this point even in doing just the daily tasks - getting out of bed, drive thru banking (random - but that was a tough task today), picking up my daughter. Anyway, here are some cute shots of Liv and her "mama" (she doesn't have the "G" sound down yet).






Thanks for coming mom, hurry back!!

Rome Wasn't Built in A Day...

If any of you have owned an older home and renovated it, one room at a time, you will relate to this post. Besides the biggies - marriage and motherhood, I don't think anything has stretched me as home owning has. Two and a half years ago, two starry eyed newlyweds (that'd be Bri and I) purchased our first home as husband and wife. It was a first for me and Brian's second. It was built in the mid 1960s and came complete with all it's original ammenities - gold carpet, funky mirrors, linoleum flooring, and lots of retro fun. Not even knowing what was in store we bought it and over the last few years have been fixing it up, room by room.

Today I can finally say Brian's (and maybe a little of mine) sweat equity has paid off. After long working hours to support our family, and by work I mean physical labor, he spends his weekends DIY'ing and honey-doing. He longs for the weekends of family fun and hobbies, but what can we do, this is the reality of owning an older home. These last two weekends were no exception. After nearly completing the laundry/mud room (Cali's do you know what a "mud" room is?? I never did!) he gutted our second bathroom - a slow leak from the shower turned our sub flooring into sawdust, nothing like that to get the party started! We're just about finished, but I thought I'd show you all the progress so far, I was pretty impressed! I love seeing rooms get checked off the list. It's been a process for me to get to that place and not get impatient with the lack of time and/or money it takes, but I can honestly say I would not do it any other way. Brian's wise old grandpa once reminded me, in the midst of my complaining, not to be in such a hurry to get it all done, "you'd miss out on the best years of your life", he said, I couldn't agree more.



Before - ain't she pretty??






Just about done, minus the fun stuff!