The Story of Us

A New Year

2012-01-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hello. It's me again. Happy New Year! My, time sure does fly. So, there's been a few things that went on since Tate's Baptism, but let's just skip over Halloween, his FIRST birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.

I have been busy. I know, I know...so has everyone else. My 13-month-old is exhausting. He likes to eat chalk, carry around anything extremely sharp, run into things, climb up stairs, climb downstairs, stand on top of things, unroll all the toilet paper, throw dishes across the kitchen, crush crackers into sawdust, smear mushed up banana all over the walls, steal his sister's crayons, eat his sister's crayons, get banged up on more stuff, and eat more chalk. He may be the busiest 13-month old that has ever lived (but other mothers to 13-month-old children may disagree). Other then that, he is walking and talking (well, saying a few words). We all find him very entertaining. His dad refuses to let him have a haircut, but I really can't blame him. Who can resist those blond curls?

Ellie has been busy performing (but only for the very select audience of her parents), dancing, twirling, and using plenty of her imagination. She turned 3.5 on Christmas Eve and already has big plans for her 4th birthday. Of course, she is always asking when we can go back to visit all her friends at Disneyland again. She has inherited several more stuffed animals over the holidays that occupy her bed every night. Ellie enjoys drawing pictures of rainbows, wearing "high heels" (Disney princess shoes), watching Cailou (gag!), helping me cook, participating in her ballet class, going to the library, running errands, and being out and about all the time. Thankfully, she finally loves going to preschool. She is looking forward to starting a soccer class with Knute next week!

Cheers to a happy and healthy 2012!

Tate's Baptism

2011-10-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

Tate William was baptized on October 9th. It was a joyous occasion we celebrated with family. He was a good sport, despite the fact that his white smocked jumper was a bit snug in bum area (and just about everywhere else). We love this little boy dearly!

Gearing up to sit quietly through Mass

Ellie, I said LISTEN!

Proud Godparents Celeste and Dane

The Bucklew Family....but where is Tate? Is Celeste singing? Who am I looking at?

The Hooks Family

Such a big boy

They're really sweet when they're not sitting in church :)

5 Years

2011-10-27T19:21:00.001-07:00

We celebrated our Five Year Wedding Anniversary on September 30th. For people who have been married 10, 20, 35 years, maybe this doesn't seem like such a big deal, but we enjoyed it anyways. My sweet husband surprised me with dinner at Ruby Hill, where we had our Wedding Reception. He even included a replica of my bouquet and a scaled down version of our cake. I was emotional and beyond surprised, but I think everyone is sick of hearing me talk about it.

My parents and in-laws were extremely generous in watching Tate and Ellie while we took a five day vacation to Cabo San Lucas. Honestly, we may have had more fun then the actual Honeymoon we took to St. Kitts and Nevis. We were able to truly appreciate what it's like to completely unwind and relax. That wasn't such a novelty to us when we were newlyweds. I could pretty much take a long bubble bath and settle into a good book any night I wanted. That's not exactly the case anymore.

Honestly, I think the reason we made our 5 year Anniversary so special is because we're in a satisfying place. No, it hasn't always been easy and we've definitely had some challenging times in our marriage, but you don't want to hear about that, right? Ha! We have been blessed with two wonderful, healthy children that we get to celebrate the small joys of life with every day. Five years feels pretty good.

Old Friends

2011-09-17T14:01:00.001-07:00

A long time ago (like, think back to July) five good friends went to the wine country. These friends grew up together in Denver, Colorado, but were spread out all over the United States now. Seriously...all over. They came from Denver, Walnut Creek, Dallas, Charlotte, and New York City. They invaded the little, quaint town of Sonoma with their boisterous and immature ways. The kind of immaturity that is brought on after drinking several bottles of wine together and god knows what else. And they laughed, and laughed, and laughed, until their stomachs hurt and they couldn't laugh anymore. And they made fun of each other like old friends do. Because who else understands weird quirks about you from high school? Who else knows that the boy who took you to Junior Prom may or may not have permed his hair? And then they poked fun of each other some more, until people started becoming sensitive and it was time to stop. After all, every one of them was beautiful, brilliant, witty, thoughtful, and talented!

They ate delicious Italian food, cheese by the ton, and yummy chocolate, followed by wine. Each morning they woke up chipper and ready to greet the new day...some more than others. They plugged in their hair straighteners, curling irons, and hairdryers until the hotel room heated up to 1 million degrees. They set out for their day with every hair and stitch of makeup in the right place, a nicely pressed summer dress, and the perfect heels. After a full day of wine tasting, they returned sweaty, stained, and looking, well, not quite as good. But that's okay. They put on their swim suits, grabbed their towels, and went off to the hot tub to offend more innocent hotel guests trying to enjoy a little peace and quiet.

They shared stories of their current adult lives, their careers, babies, dogs, husbands, and other topics. Oh, how times had changed! They cried, laughed harder, and gave each other encouragement and advice. They broke glasses, ordered more wine, more food, and continued to make fools of themselves.

And when the last day came and they were all sad and tired, they hated to say goodbye to one another. They put on their dark sunglasses to cover their bloodshot, hungover eyes, and held their heads high as they departed for their various cities. How thankful and truly blessed they all felt that such wonderful women were in their lives. There is nothing quite like an old friend. Until we meet again.

Tater is 10 Months

2011-09-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

He came into the world at 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and now he tips the scales at 25. I hardly recognize that dark haired peanut in all the newborn pictures. No doubt he was handsome then, but I am just in love with the Gerber-like chubby baby that exists today. The more the merrier in my book when it comes to those cute, delicious rolls all over his legs. I just want to eat him all up. I know...I'm kind of a crazy nut lady. I sort of feel sorry for the woman who steals his heart away one day. You are mine, all mine!

To Be THREE

2011-09-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

True to form, Ellie turned three on June 24th, but I decided to take the opportunity to write about it over two months later. You see, I felt like I needed a better idea of what this new age entails. How am I supposed to know what it's like to have a three year old without testing the waters for a couple months?

I thought I would ask the best source, Elizabeth Bucklew herself, what it's like to be three:

Mommy: Ellie, I'm going to ask you a few questions, okay?

Ellie: Maybe later, okay? (no, actually now would be a good time)

Mommy: What is your favorite color?

Ellie: Pink (this sometimes changes to brown, depending on her mood)

Mommy: What is Daddy's favorite color?

Ellie: Blue (this is true)

Mommy: What is my favorite color?

Ellie: RED!!! (It's Pink, but that's pretty close)

Mommy: Who is your best friend at preschool?

Ellie: Miss Julie came by my new classroom to say "hi." She said she misses me.

Mommy: I know how much you like Miss Julie. Who is your best friend at preschool?

Ellie: Jo Jo and Grayson (last week it was Owen and Sarah, but this really is a loaded question and probably something I shouldn't ask. It just sets someone up for hurt feelings, you know?)

Mommy: What did you do at school today?

Ellie: I had snack. I fell down on the playground. Then I had some ice and I was holding Mope, but I feel better now (thankfully her teacher already told me this).

Mommy: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Ellie: chocolate, vanilla, and chocolate chip (maybe we should have a lesson on the meaning of the word favorite).

Mommy: What is your favorite food?

Ellie: Cookies (I don't like this answer, but it's an interview and I should state the truth).

Mommy: What else?

Ellie: Chocolate (I don't like this answer either)

Mommy: What do you like to eat for dinner?

Ellie: Cantaloupe (not totally true, but thata girl!)

Mommy: What do you want to be for Halloween?

Ellie: Wags the Dog (a character from the Wiggles)

Mommy: I thought you wanted to be a ladybug?

Ellie: I thought I wanted to be Wags the Dog!

Mommy: What is Tate going to be for Halloween?

Ellie: An Elephant! I like Elephants! Do you like Elephants Mommy?

Mommy: Yes, I like elephants. What is your favorite animal?

Ellie: ummmmm.....my favorite animal is....ummmm....an elephant, a zebra, and a green frog (again, we should probably work on the word favorite).

*It is taking longer to answer questions and I can tell her attention span is fading quickly. This interview is over.

A few things about Ellie at age three:

Ellie has 7 "lovies" she sleeps with every night (Mope, Nola, Moochie Cat, Sophie, Peter Rabbit, Baby Elephant, and Halfie).

Her bedtime routine is ridiculous. She has many rituals.

Ellie loves to make up songs and has some very exaggerated dance moves to go along with them. I think she gets it from watching Barney.

Favorite shows are Barney, Sesame Street, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Little Einsteins

She likes to draw pictures of rainbows and cats, then asks for us to hang them around the house.

Did I mention she is obsessed with cats????

Ellie has a wild imagination, which has been interesting to watch develop in the past year. She likes to use the calculator as a phone and has very detailed conversations on it, usually with her Grandparents.

She loves to swim and we are very proud of her for doing so well with her lessons this summer.

Ellie prefers smaller groups and usually has a very shy nature. I find this interesting, because she is quite the opposite at home.

Favorite food is typically pasta (does mac and cheese count?)

Ellie likes to wear band-aids even when she doesn't need them. She asks to get her nails and toes painted often, wants to wear perfume, matches things to wear (which sometimes results in over-matching)

She is a very nurturing and sweet big sister. Tate thinks she is the funniest, most entertaining person to ever walk this earth.

Ellie likes to keep us on our toes and we are looking forward to what the next year brings. We love you Ellie and can't imagine the last three years without you in it.

xoxo

Newport Trip

2011-06-08T20:48:00.000-07:00

It seems to be a common theme that I'm a few weeks behind in updating my blog. I guess that's life with two little ones for now.

Anyways, we drove down to Newport a few weeks ago for a little trip to the beach with Knute's parents for some fun in the sun (well, it was kind of May Grey, but that didn't stop us from having a great time). The best part for Ellie was a day trip to Disneyland to see all her "friends." She is almost indifferent when it comes to rides and the Princesses, but LOVES all the classic characters. We had to go on a wild goose hunt to find Minnie Mouse, but it was worth it in the end when she got to walk Minnie out.

Good times and priceless memories!

Tater Tot

2011-05-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't let this month pass without saying a little something about my precious boy. My sweet, little Rolly Polly baby is 6 months old. I still feel like he is the smallest, newest person in the world until I actually see a newborn and then realize how big he's gotten. I personally feel that Tate is just about the cutest thing since sliced bread. He has two little bottom teeth that make me want to eat him up when he smiles. I think Knute and Ellie would agree that he's the most handsome baby to ever walk (or roll) this planet.

He adores his big sister. She is extremely sweet and nurturing to him. She always lets me know when he wakes up from a nap, and then goes into his room to stand at his crib and talk to him. His eyes follow her wherever she goes. He likes to watch her eat, watch her play, and take a bath with her. I think he kind of worships the ground she walks on. Sometimes it makes me sad because my brother was the same way when we were growing up and I was sometimes mean to him. Ellie is never mean to him (for now). The only problem is that she calls his toys "hers" and says that she will "share them with him." That's obviously going to change one of these days.

He likes to eat. A lot. Prunes are his favorite and I can't shovel it into his mouth fast enough. Gross. If only he knew how good an ice cream sandwich tasted...

We don't have a Dr's appointment until Friday, so I don't know his stats. Knute likes to use words like huge, tank, and bruiser to describe him. He is definitely on the bigger side, but I think Knute likes to inflate things a bit. It must be a guy thing. Whatever...

He is a total Momma's boy (and always will be). Good thing, because it's my turn.

Thanks for blessing our lives little Tater Tot. We love you to the moon and back!

Eric and Diane Tie the Knot

2011-04-10T16:07:00.000-07:00

Almost a month ago we headed to the fabulous city of New Orleans to celebrate the marriage of a very special couple. The plane flight was long, the city was full of excitement, Tate and Ellie were cooperative (mostly), the food was yummy (what's not to love about Muffalettas and Beignets?), and most importantly the couple was HAPPY. Actually, everyone was happy. I think the pictures capture it all:

Tate couldn't be happier for his Uncle Buck.

The Bucklew "kids"

The new Mr. and Mrs.

Quite a pair

Isn't she lovely?

Cafe Du Monde was a delicious treat

Auntie and her Tater Tot

A little dancing in the French Quarter

Little Miss Sassy Pants

Two of a kind

My Dad

2011-04-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we celebrated my Dad's 60th Birthday in Dallas. Yes, I said 60. I really love my dad. He makes me laugh. Sometimes he likes to tell the same joke over and over again even when I'm the only one that continues to find it funny. One time he was trying to tell a joke and actually had to go pull the written down punch line from his briefcase. He is extremely color blind and owns possibly 20 red shirts that all look the same. He has an appreciation for good art. He is really goofy in general and I think I take after him in that respect. He has a very strange dance move where he uses his pointer fingers and taps his feet in a sort of Irish jig. Even after 30 years I can't quite figure out if he's serious or just trying to be amusing. Surely he's not serious? I think of my Dad ever time I hear Huey Lewis or Roy Orbison. It always makes me smile. He has had many interesting hobbies in the past, including competitive roller skating, riding Harley Davidsons (he rode to Sturgis for several years), hunting, and skiing. He loves ducks and could probably observe them for hours. He always knows really strange trivia. He has lived in many interesting places, including Cuba, and all over the South. When we were little he used to take us roller skating some weekends (this later developed into Roller Blading). He would even enter the competitions (like limbo). On Sunday mornings he would bring home Winchell's donuts. He once paid my brother and I to eat squash. I'm pretty sure this actually happened on a few occasions. He despised any guy who was ever mean to me or broke my heart in High School. He has always supported me in sports, even when I wasn't any good (okay..horrible sometimes). I think he actually had to disqualify me himself when judging a swim meet one time. When I failed my driver's test on my sixteenth birthday, he let me tell people that he forgot the insurance paperwork and I was unable to take it in order to save me from embarrassment. He is one of the hardest working people I know. He has always loved my mother. I will never forget the look on his face before he walked me down the church aisle on my wedding day. I love you Dad. Cheers to many more happy and healthy years! The best is yet to come.*This picture was actually taken at my Dad's birthday celebration and not a 4th of July party. The coordinating outfits were unintentional.

Rudy

2011-03-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

His fate didn't turn out to be so good here. Rudy took a permanent vacation to Weldon, California and is now living with his original Breeder and her other dogs. She has a couple families interested in adopting an adult male Boxer. If for some reason that doesn't work out, he will live permanently with her. It's honestly one of the hardest things Knute and I have ever had to do in our marriage. The drive was long with a lot of tears. I have convinced myself that Rudy will be happier there. I imagine him frolicking through the yard with his other Boxer friends. There are many excuses I've made for sending the dog away, but none of them diminish my guilt. Guilt is a powerful thing. Mostly I feel guilty and selfish for taking away one of my daughter's very best friends. I wish she could understand. He made me feel incredibly angry every single day and I yelled at him a lot. No one wants an angry mommy. The truth is that I enjoy my children and husband (and house) a lot more without him here. Farewell Rudy. I will always carry memories of you (both good and bad) in my heart.

Slug Bugs

2011-02-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there were two little Slug Bugs who were sick with icky, yucky colds. Colds of the worst kind thought their Mother. Surely other Slug Bugs who have colds don't act this miserable! The once cheerful, bright nursery suddenly seemed dark and stuffy and was littered with Kleenex, medicine syringes, and assorted nose sprays. The house echoed from floor to ceiling with the terrible sounds of hacking and coughing, then crying and whining. The Mother felt very sorry for the poor, dear Slug Bugs. She especially felt sorry for the smaller one who was too young to whine, demand snacks, beg for more Barney, more juice, MORE JUICE, MORE JUICE! The Mother also felt very sorry for herself. She called and complained to her husband and blamed things on the dog. After all, it had to be someone or something's fault that the Slug Bugs were sick, so naturally it was the dog. The Mother walked around the house in pajamas with greasy hair all day nurturing the Slug Bugs, feeding the Slug Bugs, and picking up after them. She thought to herself,"will this ever end???" Will I ever see outside the confines of this germ infested house? When the Slug Bugs went to bed, their Mother searched the internet for the perfect pair of shoes. This would make her feel better! Temporarily of course. Alas, tomorrow is a new day and the Mother desperately hopes her little Slug Bugs recover soon.

*The older Slug Bug was asleep and therefore unavailable for the photography session. The Mother would like to keep it that way.

January Draws to a Close

2011-01-31T16:27:00.001-08:00

It's the last day of my most dreaded month of the year and I have to say that it wasn't so bad at all. As it turns out, January was a refreshing month, other then the unwelcome cold that seems to always linger when you have a toddler.

A few things that made January a happy month:

*The Bachelor (sorry, but it has to be said)

*Little weekend field trips with Ellie to Sky High and Lindsay Wildlife Museum

*A great date "day" with my husband (I dragged him to see Black Swan and then we had appetizers and drinks after).

*The discovery of "Super Suppers"

*American Idol (I love Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez!)

*Microwave Popcorn

*Baby Boot Camp

*Yummy fondue at Cooking Club

*Friends and wine (sometimes there are occasions they go hand in hand)

*Great neighbors

*A quick visit from my Dad

*A fresh haircut and highlight

*Pizza (for some reason we kind of ate a lot of it this month and I think January is supposed to be a month you don't eat a lot of pizza, but it was good).

*My blue rain boots. When it's cold and rainy, why not have something you look forward to wearing, you know?

*Brunch with my favorite Sister-in-Law and dear friend Kelly :)

*Soy Lattes from Starbucks

*A fun night out with friends at Vanessa's Bistro

*My little family (obviously), although I'm not sure we're really considered a "little" family anymore. It certainly doesn't feel that way.

My smiley little boy

Ellie likes to have "Brown Bear" at the center of all pictures recently

It's nearly impossible to get a good picture of both kids together

Just being lazy

I love his little double chin

I love him when he's all sleepy too

A fun visit with cousin Abbie

Friday Night

2011-01-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

A good Friday night is pretty simple. All you need is a Chicken Artichoke de LITE pizza from Papa Murphy's, a bit of Chardonnay, and a dance party with a little Stevie Wonder. It really doesn't get much better then that for a January night and I can't complain!

Even the dog was amused...or possibly scared?

Ellie's famous dance moves

Ringing In...A Little Late

2011-01-13T15:23:00.001-08:00

It's a rare moment. Both kids are napping and I am sitting at my desk sipping hot tea. Yes, tea. I figure it's better then my addiction to Diet Pepsi. Oh, I have one of those going too. There is so much to say, but.......I hear Ellie. Nap time is over.

*
*
*

I figure the Wiggles can occupy her for 22 minutes. Yes, she probably watches too much TV these days. Please don't judge. It's a rainy Thursday afternoon. What else is there to do? Make cookies? Read books? Paint? Yes, these are all great ideas too.

Life is good and crazy. Two keeps me busy. I was never much into multi-tasking, but I have had to learn quickly. It constantly amazes me what I can do with only one arm. No, it's probably not always safe. The days go by so quickly. I can't believe Tate is already two months old. This reminds me that I need to take more pictures. I may have already mentioned that, but it is a constant goal of mine. One I can't seem to accomplish nonetheless.

The holidays are a blur, a fun blur. My parents came to visit from Dallas for Christmas. Ellie and Tate were spoiled to death. It was a very special time for everyone. I maintained my sanity by not cooking anything, but there were still plenty of yummy treats. I threw all the sweets out once everyone had left. I was pretty convinced that Ellie had become addicted to sugar and she wound up with stomach "issues" for several days. I hadn't been paying attention to what she had been eating. I felt like a bad mom. Now our house is full of healthy snacks. Don't get me wrong, I keep Popsicles in the freezer and Cheese Nips in the pantry. I use the word "healthy" very loosely. I discovered stale airheads left over from Halloween and chose to save them for myself. Gross. I'm not sure where I was going with that...

Tate is still dreamy. He enjoys sleeping and when he's awake he gives me big, gummy smiles. I like to smell his sweet head. Ellie tries to keep him entertained by bringing him stuffed animals and making sure he always has his "bink." I am in love with my two little people.

That's all for now...

Happiness is Ellie and Tate

2010-11-30T19:31:00.001-08:00

I haven't really had much of a chance to adjust to life with two. My mom just left on Saturday from helping with a little of everything. Thank you, Thank You Mom! Our freezer was stocked with chili, Ellie was kept entertained, and the house was always clean (amongst other things). Knute stayed home five days in a row for Thanksgiving, and Claudia picked up Ellie from preschool on Monday for lunch and playtime (thanks Claudia!). So far, so good. However, I'm no fool. Not everything will always be sunshine and rainbows, but for now life with Tate is dreamy (a sleepy, yummy dream).

Ellie Update: This child hasn't been short on attention. Between Nana, Geej, special outings with Daddy, and endless gifts, she really hasn't gone without. Quite honestly, it was nice getting back to our "normal" routine today. I missed my little girl. She has definitely been more needy lately, but I don't know if it's due to life changes or from everyone (including myself) constantly catering to her every need. She adores Tate and likes to "help" change his diapers, push his stroller, and give him a pacifier. Overall, I think she's adjusting really well.

Tate Update: We may still be in the sleepy newborn phase, but I really don't remember Ellie being this easy. I don't even like writing this for fear that it could all change tomorrow. Tate is such a sweet baby. He's a good eater and a pretty good sleeper. I think I could stare at his cute little face all day long (which reminds me that I really need to take more pictures of him). He seriously melts my heart.

There you have it! We are loving our new family and enjoying the holiday season. I feel like I should bust out in song and dance. Yes, I know this may be somewhat of a "honeymoon" phase. Get back to me in January....

Off to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live!

I love these three. xoxo

True Love

2010-11-22T19:34:00.000-08:00

People told me this would happen. Of course you will love a second child as much as your first. I knew I would love him, but I had no idea that it was possible to love a second little person so much. He is pure joy. 6 lbs, 12 oz, 19 inches of perfection. Born on November 12th, 2011 at 10pm. Yes, we are in love with our new little man.

One Chapter Closes

2010-11-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Knute and Ellie,

Soon our little family of three will become a family of four. I wish words could express the joy both of you have given me. We have had so many fond and wonderful memories as a family of three. I know that things are going to be different moving forward, but our love is about to be multiplied even more. It's hard to even believe, but I know that it's possible. I love you both with all my heart. Thank you for making me a wife and mother. I can't imagine a more precious or perfect gift in the world.

October Makes me Happy

2010-10-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

This is the first day it feels like fall to me. The 10 day weather forecast is very exciting. In celebration, I put on some super cozy pants that I may never take off and made red beans and rice for dinner. The Halloween decorations aren't looking quite as silly. It's hard to get in the spirit when it's climbing over 90 degrees outside. We also went to the Disney Store today in a third attempt to get Ellie a Halloween costume. She is going to dress up as Tinker Bell and seems to be pretty content with that for now. It doesn't really matter because I'm not returning another costume. She has a wand, but won't wear a crown. My two year old is VERY opinionated these days. Sometimes it's entertaining, but at other times I want to pull my hair out in frustration. On a bad day, we go through three or four outfit changes. The pink sparkle shoes that I thought were once cute have seen better days. That's because she refuses to wear anything else. I even got the same pair in purple (smart, right?), but that was a no go. They've sat untouched in her closet amongst other pretty shoes that have never been worn. I am trying to pick my battles wisely.

In other Ellie news, she is adjusting well to preschool. Today she came home with her first "boo boo" report for tripping and bumping her head along with a letter that someone in the school has been diagnosed with a case of head lice. Great news! However, I think the benefits of having her there six hours a week far outweigh a little lice (hopefully).

Here are a few recent pictures of Ellie enjoying her favorite part of any birthday party (the cupcakes, of course) and the obligatory pumpkin patch pix:

*I didn't take these pictures, but I thought they were kind of cool.

Life Goes On

2010-10-15T23:08:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a month. I turned 30, celebrated a 4 year Wedding Anniversary with a trip to Carmel, and was "sprinkled" by wonderful family and friends to celebrate a little boy who is expected to arrive in about 4 short weeks. In a nutshell, I feel very loved.

I thought I might be emotional about saying goodbye to my twenties, but I think the raging hormones that come with pregnancy may have overshadowed this "monumental" year. Is it so monumental? The truth is that I feel 30. I remember well, but almost have a hard time recognizing the girl I was at 20, 21, 22. There were a lot of life changes crammed into the past ten years. I am in a happy place at age 30. What else is there to say? Well, probably a lot more, but I would like to refrain from becoming a blubbering, emotional wreck. I mean that in the best of ways.

Checking In

2010-09-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

I have no earth shattering news (do I ever?). We have little happenings to report. They are always big and important to us though (especially when they involve Ellie).

The Ellie Update:

She moved into a big girl bed. It was horrible at first, but now things are going fine. I say fine because she's never been a great sleeper. Sometimes she wakes up wanting milk, or water, or a back rub, or just to be cuddled and know that we're there. I don't know where she gets off being so high maintenance! In other Ellie news, she started preschool two days a week for a total of 6 hours. I was anticipating this to be a rough transition, but so far everything has gone pretty smoothly. If anything, I am the one who has a harder time. I constantly worry if she's okay when I'm not there. What if there's a kid who's mean to her or tries to hit her? What if she's hungry, thirsty, or needs to be changed? Does she think I've abandoned her? But every time I come back I'm greeted with the sweetest smile. I know it's a good break for both of us.

Pregnancy Update:

I am 31 weeks along now and exactly 2 months away from my due date. Overall, I feel great. I have a few minor complaints, but I won't bore anyone with the details (except for maybe my husband and mom who never hear the end of my complaining). I'm excited to meet the new little person who's coming into our lives. I wonder what he looks like, what his personality is going to be, how Ellie is going to react to him, etc. I also get really nervous about being the mother of two. The whole newborn phase seems kind of far removed from my life (even if it really wasn't that long ago). I remember it involves a lot of dirty diapers, a lot of crying, fuzzy headed sleep deprivation, endless hours spent feeding, soothing, rocking, etc. And I'm supposed to do all this with a toddler who's still in diapers? That sounds kind of hard, right? But nothing beats that sweet newborn smell, the perfect little fingers and toes, and the whole innocence of such a new, tiny person. It's the best part.

That's all my thoughts for now. Of course I have a few pictures of some fun and happy times over the last month. So long summer! We had a good run, but it is always so nice to greet September.

The new bed

Roasting marshmallow during a last family getaway to Angel's Camp.

Who doesn't love a good mud bath every once in a while?

Ellie and Cameron over Labor Day Weekend in Rio Vista.

Celebrating Knute's 32nd Birthday. Yes, I said 32.

There is nothing like wearing an orange dress with big, pink polka dots on the first day of school.

Summer Lovin Continues

2010-08-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

I always find myself wishing August by. The novelty of the park, pool, etc. have worn off just a little bit. I know I will be kicking myself for saying that come February. I realize that I talk about the calendar year a lot, but my mood is very effected by it and always has been. I like a nice, round four seasons, which can be difficult here in the East Bay. Last Monday I took a trip out to the city to meet Celeste for lunch and was pleased to find so many people dressed in boots, light sweaters, etc. It made for a nice break, not to mention that I ate the best grilled chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries I've ever had at Taylor's Refresher in the Ferry Building. I "shared" an order of the sweet potato fries with Celeste, but I think I inhaled them before she could get her hands on too many (and I wonder why I've gained more weight with this pregnancy?).

Anyways, we have managed to have some fun-filled August weekends, including a visit from my cousins, and a trip with the Maddox family up to Angel's Camp. Visits with my cousins always send me into huge laughing fits, the kind that make your stomach hurt and your eyes water. We enjoyed going to the city to visit Dane's new apartment (have I mentioned that my brother moved here?). He lives with his girlfriend in an incredible place right on Lombard Street, in the middle of pretty much everything. On Sunday we took a day trip to Sonoma where everyone delighted in a little wine tasting as I sipped on sparkling water and played designated driver. I really can't complain. I will camp out at Gloria Ferrer, enjoy the views, and eat all the little seasoned almonds they bring to your table any day.

As for camping, I know I've mentioned before that I have a little love/hate relationship with it. Well, we managed to have a really great time. Some people thought we had fallen off our rockers being that our company was made up of two pregnant women, a one year old, and a two year old, but everyone knows I'm always a great sport and up for anything (insert sarcastic laugh here). In all seriousness, it's kind of impossible not to have a fabulous time with the Maddox family. Also, I think it made things a little easier this year (for us at least) now that Ellie is older. No matter what kind of experiences our trips to Angel's Camp brings, they will always make for wonderful memories.

As it turns out, Roman was a great boat driver.

A little relaxing with "Yo Gabba Gabba"

Obviously my computer skills need work (I can't figure out how to delete this one).

Out Went July!

2010-08-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

I wish I had some fabulous and exciting vacation to talk about, but our life recently has been an uncomplicated one. Most days involve swimming, park play dates, and spending a lot of time in the yard. We've been eating dinner on the back patio almost every night and watching Ellie tire herself out before settling her hot, sticky self into a bath and then bed. Sometimes we take long evening walks after dinner. The weekends usually involve the Farmer's Market (we love the peaches, heirloom tomatoes, and Brentwood corn), dinner out, pool picnics, and some sort of "field trip" (the Zoo, a lake, or maybe a cold, windy beach). Yes, I definitely get envious at times of friends' tropical vacations, fun adventures, or wine tasting trips, but that's not my life right now. I am trying to embrace this simple, slow-paced summer before the chaos hits again, because I know it's only a matter of time. Is this starting to sound like a country song? Alas, a few pictures of July:

24 weeks pregnant. Baby boy has made quite an appearance at this point.

We love spending time with sweet Kaden!

Ellie asked me to leave after taking this picture. She wanted to read the Sunday paper alone with Daddy.

Shawn came to California for a quick weekend visit! Remember Shawn? She's one of my favorite people.

Ellie has been insistent on putting on her own shoes. It takes a lot of patience (especially when we are in a rush), but she feels a huge sense of accomplishment!

An afternoon at Lake Anza with Uncle Dane

Woodlands 4th of July Parade

A very cold picnic at Baker Beach

A Little Late...

2010-07-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

My dear, brown-eyed, girl turned two almost a month ago to the day (June 24th) and I feel the need to document it properly. Unfortunately, there really are no words to describe this very special age. She is an absolute joy that gets cuter and more challenging by the day. I am amazed with how fast she is learning new things. In a way it's easier because she is so much better at communicating what she wants, but she is also becoming extremely opinionated. She is a good listener, but can also throw a mean tantrum when she doesn't get her way. She is very sweet natured, nurturing, clingy, shy, and silly. Ellie loves to look at books and be read to (Little Miss Spider is her favorite), swing (for hours if we'd let her), swim, play with her dolls (Little Suzie and Megan), color, blow bubbles, dance, sing, and watch Sesame Street. Ellie is a good helper and likes to set the table, unload the dishwasher, do laundry, water the garden and flowers, and sweep (but only at her convenience). She loves her dog and likes to bother him and boss him around (she then gets frustrated because he never listens). She hates bugs, is obsessed with chocolate (See's candies and M&M's are among her favorites), and gets very excited on trash day (we have to stand in the front yard and wave when the trucks go by). She only likes to wear her Crocs and tennis shoes (absolutely no sandals or cute, dress shoes), yet she doesn't like getting dirty or playing in sand. Her favorite thing to sleep with is "Mope," a pink blanket that has to go everywhere with us. Mac and Cheese is her favorite food followed by any kind of buttered noodles, corn on the cob, bagels and cream cheese, quesadillas, waffles, and pancakes (or any other sort of high fattening or sugary carb). Our bed is her favorite hangout spot, where she likes to cuddle, read books, try on all my jewelry, eat cereal, drink juice, watch TV, and play with Rudy (our bed is always a mess).

It's really quite impossible to sum up Ellie without going on for hours. She is a very unique little person with a lot of personality. Mostly, she is very gentle and loving, which I think are characteristics that will make a great big sister. I can't wait to see the changes that this new year brings, yet I kind of want to freeze her at this age forever. She is one well loved little girl!

Think Blue

2010-07-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

This is a 3D picture of the little guy. You can see part of his face, neck, and chest. Unfortunately, he is partly obstructed by the placenta. Is that weird to say? He is a bit gaunt looking, but I'm sure he will fatten up these last few months.

I mentioned I was pregnant, right? This poor, little fetus gets no blog love. Well, this one is of a different species then my first...the male kind. We are very excited to be expecting a baby boy! He looked great from our ultrasound. He looked like a boy should. I wasn't too shocked since previous ultrasounds seemed to indicate that it was a boy, but Knute refused to believe it until he saw the official "boy" shot.

No, we don't have a name yet. Yes, we are open to suggestions, but please don't be offended if I tell you your idea is just plain stupid. I'm only kidding of course (sort of). Knute and I are currently at a stand still when it comes to names. He likes traditional. I used to like traditional names, but have veered away from them recently. I'm sure we will eventually come up with something we both love and agree on. Either I will go back to traditional again or vs. versa. This is where someone is supposed to comment that I should be able to choose the name after carrying the child for nine months, right? After enduring the sleepless nights, the morning sickness, the swollen ankles, the excess weight, the ongoing feeling of general discomfort, the moodiness, the gross unmentionables, etc. The pain of labor....OH THE PAIN!!!! To top all this off, I don't even get to drink wine!!! Don't you think, after having been through all this, I should be able to pick out a name?

Anyways, I have other updates, but I will save them for a later time. Someone absolutely wonderful and special to me turned two years old, but for one entry I had to let her brother have his moment to shine. After all, she'll have to get used to not always being in the spotlight.

June Love

2010-06-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

After all the rain, summer has finally crept it's way into our lives. We've been enjoying all the traditional luxuries of the warm weather with backyard BBQ, plenty of time spent at the pool, etc. We have the kind of neighborhood that a friend described as "suburbia on crack," and what's not to love about that? So far June has brought neighborhood dinner parties, wedding celebrations, birthday celebrations, family celebrations, and any other kind of celebration I may have failed to mention. June is FUN and we're loving it!

"Goodbye" dinner for Eric on Forbes Island

Melissa and Luke's Wedding (the greatest dancing I've ever witnessed)

Old Friends

What's a good Wedding without a guy in a sequined American flag vest?

Meeting Baby Aiden

Celebrating Mark's 60th Birthday at Campo di Bocce

Two of my favorite little people :)

"Welcome to the Neighborhood" dinner at the Maddox's house

Road Trip Part 3

2010-05-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

I've lost my steam on these road trip blogs, but that doesn't mean the third leg was any less exciting. We spent the remainder of the trip (4 days) in San Diego. We had images of building sand castles on the beach and lying around the pool drinking fruity beverages, but the weather didn't exactly cooperate. Fortunately, we had a couple sunny days, but Knute was extremely disappointed to have had food poisoning for one of them. It was terrible. I felt horrible for him. He felt horrible for himself. Ellie and I spent the day at the San Diego Zoo while he remained prisoner in the hotel room. After a quick recovery, we were able to enjoy the last day of our trip in La Jolla walking along the beaches, eating (at least on my part), and getting in a little shopping (but there are only so many fine jewelry stores you can drool over). It was a great way to end the trip. We enjoyed a wonderful vacation with our little family of three (for now).

Road Trip Part 2

2010-05-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

We left Santa Monica and headed to Anaheim, home to the happiest place on earth. Yes, Disneyland! There must be something they pump into the air because everything makes you feel, well, happy. I couldn't believe the effect it had on my husband. Is there a name for this? He couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. He couldn't stop talking about Churros. I had to make him leave the Disney store when it became too hard to contain himself. He was one of those types. You know the kind. The best part of all was watching how much fun Ellie had. We thought she might be too young, but she wasn't. She got caught up in all the excitement with everyone else. A Disney experience of this magnitude is truly priceless (at least Knute would argue so).

Dancing for the parade.

She just kept on going!

Mickey Mouse was standing right there as soon as we entered the gates in the morning.

This wasn't my idea.

Her favorite ride

Road Trip Part 1

2010-05-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

We packed up our bags and headed out on a little eight day Southern California excursion. Sounds simple enough, right? It actually involved a tremendous amount of planning and preparation, which is part of the joy in traveling with an almost two year old. Of course it was all well worth it in the end. Our first stop was to visit my brother in the beautiful city of Santa Monica. Like any vacation, we seemed to eat our way through the day with sightseeing and a trip to the Boardwalk in between. Then we enjoyed an afternoon at the incredible Getty museum. What kid doesn't appreciate a masterpiece by Van Gogh? Well, at least we did. Dane, thanks for playing tour guide and showing us such a great time (I know it took a little practice in patience for you)!

An example of Dane practicing patience.

New Life

2010-05-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

This is the little person that has literally been sucking the life out of me for the last several weeks. Yes, we are excited to welcome a new baby into the family this November (around the 17th)! I am thirteen weeks pregnant and still very tired. I am hoping to get a 2nd trimester surge of energy soon. Other then that, I have been feeling pretty good.

Ellie really has no understanding of the life changes that will soon be coming her way. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to a new baby residing in our house and never leaving. She may not like it at first, but I know she eventually will. My most precious childhood memories involve my younger brother. A sibling really is one of life's greatest gifts.

Mothers

2010-05-08T11:16:00.001-07:00

Thank God for Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers, Aunts, and all the incredible, nurturing women who help shape the people we are. It's not an easy job, but it's a rewarding one. Happy Mother's Day!

Coming Out of Hibernation

2010-04-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not even sure where to begin? Easter? Valentine's Day? I've missed so much. I have so many excuses, but none of them really stand out (other then leaving my camera cord in Dallas, but that was only a couple weeks, not months).

Anyways, I would really like to get back to blogging, even if my mom is the only one who reads my jibber jabber. I enjoy it. Because I don't really have the energy to play catch up, I will post a few spring pictures.

Hanging out with "Geedaddy" on our visit to Dallas.

Her favorite spot (Geej's Lap)

The Arboretum in Dallas was so pretty!

First real Easter Egg Hunt. She took several candy breaks in the beginning.

Easter Egg Hunt at Heather Farms. Please ignore the ugly bag. I forgot the basket. All the other good moms remembered theirs.

I just love them.

So proud!

I don't recommend dyeing easter eggs with anyone under the age of 15, possibly older.

Can we talk about how old I look in this picture? I asked Knute if I really had this many wrinkles and he said "you always have."

How sweet is this face?

Ellie took great interest in the Bunny when he was across the room, but was a little hesitant to sit on it's lap.

Until next time (hopefully sooner rather then later)....

An Ellie Update

2010-02-25T20:45:00.000-08:00

20 Months. I know. I can hardly believe it either, but it's true. She's 20 months old. Maybe it's time to start saying "she'll be TWO in June," but I think I'll hang on to the whole counting months thing for a little while longer. I'm not ready to give that up yet. I'm not ready to give a lot of things up yet, but she keeps growing and changing and I can hardly recognize the tiny infant in the pictures anymore.

There's something that happens as your child starts approaching the age of TWO. Maybe it's after they turn one, but for me I started noticing it when she was around, oh, 18 months. People start asking a lot of questions, people you don't even know. They start glancing at your stomach, looking for that bloated bump that signals the early stages of pregnancy. For example, I was pulled over by a Policeman today for making an illegal u-turn (don't worry...this is going somewhere). I've always had a problem getting pulled over for making illegal u-turns. Anyways, that's not the point. The police officer sauntered up to my car and proceeded to lecture me. I suppose I deserved a good lecture. After all, I've been pulled over several times for the same thing. I was prepared to remove my license and registration when he asked me how old my daughter was, pointing to Ellie in the back seat. I answered "20 months." He then asked me if she was my only child. I told him she was (thinking this was really strange all the while). He then proceeded to ask me if I was going to have more (it just keeps getting stranger). I am wondering to myself at this point if this is some kind of joke or trick question. I answered seriously, "hopefully." He replied, "GOOD." He made one last remark about driving safely and then told me to have a nice day. I think this is indeed the most bizarre encounter I've ever had with a person of the law.

Maybe I've gone a bit off topic. The point is that Ellie is now 20 months old! The point is that the days of my chubby, little infant are gone. Forever. I will never have them back and that makes me feel kind of sad. I am embracing this new stage with Ellie. She is a very sweet little girl who entertains us with her funny personality for hours on end. The point is that hopefully, someday, we will have more. They may not be chubby or have dark, spiky hair. They may not resemble Ellie at all, but until then, I will look forward to meeting him or her. Hopefully. Someday...

A few pictures of 20 Months-ish:

Fairyland in Oakland

The eight dollar Elmo Bubble Machine that offers endless hours of entertainment...no matter the weather!

Be Mine

Spending time at Golden Gate Park with her Godmother, Amanda.

Little Miss Hollywood

February Randomness

2010-02-10T16:51:00.000-08:00

I have felt kind of boring this month. Just the usual daily happenings and routine. When I can't think of anything specific to blog about (which hasn't been much lately) I always find it easiest to use bullets. So here you go:

*We (as in Ellie) have had every kind of chest cold, ear infection, etc. run through the house this month. This meant a lack of sleep, a lot of crying, and plenty of Elmo. Fortunately, we're fully recovered now (which means a very happy mom and dad).

*I found a dead rat in the backyard last week while we were playing. It was fat with a huge tail (I'm not exaggerating). I panicked. I couldn't find a shovel, so I grabbed a rake. It's lifeless body dangled from the rake as I carried it from the backyard to the trash can on the side of the house. I'm still a little traumatized.

*I have become pretty busy in an organization called BVA (I don't want my blog to pop up in a Google search). It's a nonprofit volunteer organization that supports children's literacy through a Tutorial program. I am on the Auction committee, which basically means I get to call around and solicit restaurants for donations. I get turned down a lot. One day I even dressed Ellie up really cute and we walked from restaurant to restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek. We still got turned down. How could anyone say no to her little face? Anyways, please let me know if you have buckets of money you don't know what to do with and you'd like to donate it. Maybe you'd like to know what BVA stands for first?

*What is the deal with Yo Gabba Gabba? I don't get it. I hear it's the latest craze, but quite frankly it kind of creeped me out. I know I'm not exactly their target audience, but I still have to watch the stuff too. I find Elmo way more entertaining (if anyone cares).

*American Idol and The Bachelor are currently my favorite shows. I'm a little embarassed to say that I still am hooked on The Bachelor, but I figure I should come clean. TV is a great thing in February.

That's all the randomness I can think of at the moment. Last, but not least, I leave you (whoever you are) a few recent pictures:

Knute wanted to spend a Father-Daughter afternoon with Ellie. He took her to Pier 39 to see the Aquarium, ride the Merry-Go-Round, and eat junk. I was a little bummed to miss out on the fun, but it was nice to spend an afternoon watching some high quality Lifetime movies. There I go talking about tv again...
This is Ellie and Rudy's favorite hang out spot (our bed, which gets smaller by the day). They like to shed dog hair and dump out dry cereal all over it.

Ellie enjoys "grooming" Rudy. She even wipes off his paws.

18 Month Professional Pics

2010-01-17T17:18:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I put Ellie in her Sunday best and attempted to get some 18 month pictures taken at the "Picture People." Unfortunately, we left without getting a single shot. The patient photographer tried to play every peek-a-boo and silly game she could muster up in attempt to get Ellie to cooperate and smile, but it was a no-go. She was in one of her stubborn moods and there was simply no snapping out of it. Maybe we'll try again in a couple months. I will definitely have to give her a pep talk beforehand and maybe throw in a nice bribe. In the meantime, here are a few candid 18-month shots of Ellie:

Curious Ellie

Building a bear she named "Amy"

A Love for anything outside

A Love for chocolate Teddy Grahams as well (or anything chocolate really)

Ellie has some very special dance moves. She usually likes to bust them out when she knows she is getting ready to go down for a nap or bed.

Playful Ellie

Stubborn Ellie

Ellie the Drama Queen

Ellie the Bookworm

How Time Flies

2010-01-03T20:16:00.000-08:00

I'm not exactly sure where the last month went. It must have gotten lost in a whirlwind of fun Christmas festivities, food, friends, and family. We are looking forward to everything 2010 has in store for us. A few highlights of Christmas 2009:

Ellie had the pleasure of sitting on Santa's lap. I thought she might recognize her Grandpa's friendly face behind the scary looking beard, but apparently not. Why are children expected to sit on a strange (to them) man's lap with an overgrown beard? It's kind of an odd concept, but I'll reserve my deep thoughts for a later post.

Ellie was in hog heaven with all the yummy Christmas treats.Christmas Eve marked 18 months with our dear, sweet Ellie. I know...I can't believe it either. She is an absolute joy (most days) and has enriched our lives in the most incredible way. I need to get some professional pictures taken of her this month. I wish I could freeze these precious moments with her forever in time.We hosted our first Christmas at our house with the Hooks family (Dane decided to spend Christmas Eve in San Francisco with his girlfriend). It was a sad loss for us, but we were excited for him. I don't think I've ever spent a Christmas Eve apart from my brother.

The little Sugar Plum Fairy woke up to a Christmas morning filled with so much love, so many toys, and a serious case of bed head.

We headed to Napa the day after Christmas for a fun day of wine tasting.

Dane joined us with his beautiful girlfriend, Colleen.

After all the company had left and we were left with an empty house and a depressed dog (who is never short on attention when my family visits) we rung in 2010 with good food, an ample amount of champagne, and wonderful friends.

Joys of a Toddler

2009-12-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you don't blog during nap time (see previous post). Lesson learned.

Tis the Season!

2009-12-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year (and also the craziest). I need to remember to take a step back and breathe. There are so many precious moments when celebrating the holiday season with your 17-month-old (who is back to her normal, sweet self). Everything is "WOW." It's her new favorite word and I find it pretty fitting. Ellie is loving all the Christmas decorations, lights, and ornaments ("balls"). She has learned how to climb up on the dining room table to play with the decor. Unfortunately, the house may have to go a little more naked and child-proofed this year.

A few highlights (at least ones where I had my camera) of the last couple weeks:

Ellie and I flew to Dallas to visit "Geej" and Grandaddy at their new home. We took Ellie to and Ice Show where all the ice sculptures were of "The Grinch that Stole Christmas" theme. No, these are not our jackets. The room was only 9 degrees in order to keep the sculptures frozen. It was a little chilly.

We tried to snap a few photo opps for a Christmas Card, but there was little cooperation.

Uncle Dane came to visit us from LA over Thanksgiving weekend. We spent time eating, playing cards, watching a super depressing movie he made us see (Precious?), and spending Thanksgiving day at Nana and Grandpa's house with more eating and games of dominoes. I would have more pictures of the day, but someone doesn't like it when I post pictures of them on my blog.

"Nane"

The Little Turkey

We were thankful to spend our second Thanksgiving as a family of three.

Have You Seen my Daughter???

2009-11-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

If you've seen my sweet Ellie, please send her back to me. The new Ellie tests my patience to the point that I have to practice deep breathing exercises several times throughout the day. The new Ellie screams at the top of her lungs for no apparent reason. I'm pretty sure that the new Ellie may cause my hair to fall out and my face to age prematurely.

A lot of people say that it just keeps getting better with age (the joy of parenthood). I find this to be true for the most part. Ellie gets more entertaining by the day. She has a funny and sweet personality that brings us endless delight. Our love for her is overwhelming.

With that being said, I thought we had some time before those "Terrible Twos" hit. She's not even 17 months yet. This weekend seemed to have no end in sight. It was one temper tantrum after the next. This involved screaming at the top of her lungs and kicking at the floor. Just when she would calm down and her mood would stabilize a bit, another tantrum would come on like a tornado for what seemed to be for no reason at all. I ran through my list of things that could be wrong. Was she thirsty, hungry, tired, bored, constipated, hot, cold, sick, teething, etc.? I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I've come to the conclusion that it may be a nasty stage she's going through. I desperately need it to be short lived. If I put her shoes on, she wants them off. If she's inside, she wants to go out. If I feed her, she wants something else. If I pick her up, she wants down. If I read her one book, she wants a different one. I think you get the picture. Cry me a river you're thinking? I just might.

As I was rocking her to sleep tonight, I think I had glimpses of the old Ellie. She touched my eye and proudly said "eye." She gave me Eskimo kisses and snuggled into my arms. I hope my sweet, smiling Ellie greets me tomorrow morning (preferably after 6:30 am). I promise not to take her for granted.

Ellie-Funt

2009-11-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Meet Ellie-Funt. Isn't she cute? I figured I had at least one more year to make her dress up in a costume of my choice, with a hat she absolutely hated. Maybe next year some sort of pink fairy is in store. Or maybe she'll always want to go as an animal from the zoo? One never knows. By the end of the night she discovered a love for M&M's and Michael Jackson's "Thriller." I would consider it a successful Halloween by all accounts.

Her Ride

Trick-or-Treat

Knute's newest masterpiece. I would consider it a step up from last year's.

We hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween. xoxo

Couch Potato

2009-10-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

We have been enjoying the comfort of our couch (or lack thereof) for the past several days. I took Ellie in to get her 15-month vaccinations last week and now she is sick. Figures. That didn't stop us from taking her to the Clayton Pumpkin Patch on Saturday (not smart), but since then there has been a whole lot of this:and this...*Mom, thank you so much for the cute Halloween book. Ellie especially likes all the paper pop-outs.

Here are all the cute pictures of Ellie at the Pumpkin Patch. She was so thrilled to be there.

Enjoying the train ride with Dad.

The Year of Leather

2009-10-06T20:37:00.000-07:00

A traditional third year anniversary gift is something leather, but we chose to forgo traditional this year and celebrate our anniversary with a wonderful weekend getaway to Half Moon Bay. It's always been our favorite spot. Knute won a trip to the Ritz Carlton from playing BINGO of all things. It would sound a lot cooler if it was from a game of Poker, but who could complain about that kind of BINGO prize? I was thrilled to say the least. The trip was beautiful, luxurious, and romantic all wrapped into one. Am I making you sick to your stomach yet? As much joy as raising a 15-month-old brings us, our "coupleness" can sometime fall to the wayside. This trip was just what we needed.

Wow...I really can't believe it's been 3 years. We were married a week after my 26th birthday. It didn't matter that we had lived together for over a year (gasp!). I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I mean that in the best of ways. I had no idea what it would be like to buy and sell a house together, to become dog owners, and then to become parents. I had no idea of the joys and stresses married life would bring. Sometimes I feel like it was just yesterday we were sipping Lava Flows on the beach of St. Kitts during our Honeymoon, but we've come a long way since then. We are much richer in our life experiences together. For me, marriage has been a huge blessing. I hope we will continue to be blessed with many happy and healthy years together.

A few pictures of the weekend:

*Disclaimer-Whenever it is just the two of us, we tend to have mostly pictures of just one of us by ourselves because we feel too ackward to ask people to take pictures of us. I hope to get past this ackwardness one day.My husband of 3 YearsUsMy idea of warming up by the fireKnute's idea of warming up by the fireThe view from our roomA perfect sunset

A Farewell to Summer

2009-09-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

Despite the triple digit temperatures here in the East Bay, today marks the last day of summer. I think it's about time to say farewell. We had many wonderful memories, but now we're ready to move onto a new, crisper season. I am in need of cooler weather, yellow and orange hues, the smell of firewood, and a warm bowl of tomato soup. I want to bundle my Tot up in cozy little sweaters, feed her sweet apple cider, and toss her in a big pile of leaves! Doesn't this all sound so wonderful and nostalgic? In all honesty, I am so SICK of wearing tank tops and faded Capri pants. Yes, I never fail to disappoint with my true reasons that involve vanity. Unfortunately, I think it may be a few more weeks of heat. I'm just getting a bit restless...

We spent this last weekend attending an A's game (I don't think I watched a single inning, but the fireworks were pretty remarkable). On Saturday, we surprised Claudia with a 60th Birthday Party. As if we didn't get enough in, we then headed to the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival on Sunday. I've come to the realization that we are kind of Festival junkies.

Here are a few pictures of the BIG surprise:

The very lovely and surprised Birthday Girl. An important job....collecting rocks with Uncle Buck.Ellie is saying "Happy Birthday Nana!"The Bucklew Family, Take OneThe Bucklew Family, Take 6

30-Something

2009-08-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. My husband is 31 and I'm still 28 (for three weeks anyway). He's a total cradle robber. I think I will have to rub it in frequently.

We started the celebration on Friday when we left to meet my cousins for a day of wine tasting in Sonoma. We finished the celebration on Sunday night with a delicious dinner of yummy Mexican food with my mom, Ellie, and the whole Bucklew family.

Happy 31st Knute! You are well loved.

My cousins, Travis and ValerieA pretty scene at Viansa WineryMy 30-something husband.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

The Fam (missing a few important members, of course)

The Sibs

A Big Birthday Smile

My co-host

Remember this guy? He needs to get a little more face time with the camera.

Ellie Update

2009-08-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

I never think that there's enough Ellie updates, although I'm sure anyone who reads my blog feels quite differently. My baby girl (I guess she's considered a toddler now) is fourteen months old today. Fourteen months! Sometimes I still feel like she's the youngest person in the world.

I remember riding the elevator at Macy's when she was about three weeks old when an older woman looked at me and said, "don't worry, it gets much easier." This was a relief to hear in my sleep-deprived, emotionally fragile state. I was so grateful and appreciative of her very honest statement. It's true, every stage gets easier in so many aspects. Of course, there are new challenges as well. Those dog leashes people put on their toddlers (you know the kind?) that I always used to make fun of suddenly have their appeal.

A few things I love about 14 months:

*A new word seems to pop into Ellie's vocabulary every day. She is suddenly like a sponge in all the new knowledge she soaks up.
*She loves to dance. This offers us hours of endless entertainment. We are still hoping she hasn't inherited my sense of rhythm (although I still don't see anything wrong with it).
*She is a very happy and easily entertained child. Dirt and random items found around the house are an endless source of entertainment.
*You can give her most anything to eat. Her favorites are mac&cheese, corn, tomatoes, scrambled eggs, and anything sweet. I'm pretty sure she eats half of all my frozen yogurt and ice cream, therefore I should probably start giving myself bigger servings. Don't you agree?
*She is obsessed with animals, especially dogs.
*She loves books and sits patiently on my lap while I read to her and she turns all the pages.
*Although she sometimes goes back and forth, lately she has been a total Mommy's girl. I find this flattering.

A few challenges (the nice way of putting it) at 14 months:

*Ellie is not good at running errands. I run a lot of errands, so this is sometimes a problem. She doesn't like to be restrained in a stroller or cart.
*She runs away and tends to tune me out when I ask her to come back. I think I say it in my most stern and serious voice, but I'm pretty sure she thinks it's some sort of game. She only runs away faster. This may not seem like a huge deal, but unfortunately the world can be a scary and dangerous place. When will she understand that I am only trying to protect her? Come to think of it, this is probably a dilemma for parents with children of any age.
*Having a toddler is very messy. There is currently a lot of smashed up foods, dirt, and disarray in my life right now. Every time I clean something up, I turn around to another mess. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother.

There you have it: a very brief, compact description of life with my little fourteen month old. We have our moments, but it's really quite wonderful.

Little Miss Sunshine

2009-08-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

We had good intentions of taking Ellie to Santa Cruz on Saturday for a day at the beach, but some nasty fires had other plans in store for us. That's OK. Instead, we headed about 15 miles west on highway 24 to a lovely little place in the Tilden Regional Park of Berkeley called Lake Anza. I think it's a true hidden gem. It was to me anyway, and Ellie was equally as satisfied as she would have been enjoying any blue ocean. As long as she's outside (which seems to be her element), our little Earth Muffin is a happy camper.

Little Miss Sunshine

A rare photo of two friends sans kiddos...

It just doesn't get any better than a soft serve on a hot August afternoon.

Precious moments.

Daddy's Girl

Ellie and Teddy 'sittin in a tree...

Must all good things come to an end? I am pretty content with freezing my 13-month old forever in time.

The Joy of Camping

2009-07-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

I have a Love/Hate relationship with camping.

A few things I LOVE:
*Eating guilt-free s'mores (it's not a true camping trip without them, right?)
*Lay's Potato Chips and French Onion Dip
*Being out on the boat. It was Ellie's first time. We were pleasantly surprised that she loved it (after a 10-minute rough patch when she wasn't so thrilled about wearing a life vest.)*Playing cards, Catch Phrase, etc.
*Not wearing a stitch of make-up or drying my hair. No one cares.
*Drinking coffee early in the morning and relaxing. Sort of relaxing. There's only so much of that when you have a 13-month-old.
*Feeling like you have warped back in time. It's a simple life.A few things I DON'T love:
*The flies. This is a huge one for me. I hate flies more then spiders, snakes, or any other kind of pest. Yuck.
*The heat. It was the end of July. Everything was kind of hot and sticky.
*The bathroom facilities. Enough said.
*It's not necessarily the best night of sleep.
*The set-up/clean-up. There's kind of a lot of dirt, laundry, preparation, etc.

Overall, we had a great time. Angel's Camp made for a perfect July weekend. Thanks Mark and Claudia for letting us use the RV (no, we weren't in a tent, otherwise I would have a lot more to add to my DON'T love list). I hope we can go again soon, but I probably need a couple months.

Catching Up

2009-07-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

I feel like I used to blog about more random thoughts, events, etc. and that lately my blog has become more about catching up on past events. Because catching up takes a lot longer to do, I've started blogging less. Maybe these things just go in waves depending on my mood. Anyway...it has been a fun month and summer has been in full swing. We have been staying pretty close to home and enjoying all that the East Bay has to offer (there's a lot).

Poor Knute sort of got the short end of the stick when I never made a Father's Day Post. He is a wonderful, involved, and loving father. Ellie is a lucky girl to have him as a dad. The Saturday of Father's Day weekend we went to Tilden Park in Berkley. Knute wanted to take Ellie on the carousel and didn't realize that other parents stand NEXT to their children when on the ride. He decided that he wanted to ride the giraffe with Ellie.

We had a nice picnic lunch with Kaden.

We visited the petting zoo and saw cows, pigs, chickens, etc., but everything was still "doggy."

We dragged Ellie's first birthday out for almost a week. There were presents, friends, family, cake, cake, and more cake. Who could ask for anything more?Doesn't everyone look like they're having fun?

4th of July came around again. It felt like we had just celebrated this holiday. It was Ellie's first year to be in the parade. She had fun "driving" her pink love bug.1st Fourth of July @ 10 days old We ended the parade at Mark and Claudia's house for a BBQ with friends and family complete with watermelon enjoyed by Ellie.

A Year in the Life

2009-06-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

Ellie's first year of life will draw to a close on June 24th. I've been reflecting a lot about it this last week. Although I'm excited to see what the next year has in store, it makes me a little sad to say goodbye to a year filled with firsts. I realize that I'm probably being a bit dramatic, but this is my BABY.

Looking Back...

June. Taking your first bath at John Muir Hospital. We would spend hours staring at you in amazement. I thought you were the most breathtaking sight I ever saw.

July. Your hair is so dark and spiky. I almost wouldn't recognize you.

August. Here you are celebrating Dad's 30th Birthday in Aptos. It was your first trip to the beach.September. What a little Peanut! You started to enjoy your Bumbo seat. Your sweet personality really started to emerge.

October. We dressed you up as a Dalmation for Halloween, but most people thought you were a Cow. I think you wore that hat a total of 10 minutes.

November. The spiky hair I loved so much began to relax. You went through a big growth spurt and started to get "rubber band" wrists.

December. Here you are for a night out in the city! You are always the life of our party.

January. Your hair started to get blonder. Do I talk about your hair a lot? Here you are eating Saltine crackers. They were your favorite at the time.

February. You were my funny Valentine.

March. We took our first vacation as a family to Hawaii. You weren't really interested in relaxing on the beach, but enjoyed looking at the fish in the hotel lobby.

April. I dyed you two dozen Easter Eggs and you could have cared less, but you sure were happy!
May. You started to look more like a "big girl" and less like a baby.

June. We've come almost full circle now. This is where you enjoy spending the majority of your day (outside).

Wherever did the time go???

Say Cheese!

2009-06-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

We had some new pictures of Ellie taken that I can't resist showing off. Knute's Senior Partner's daughter (follow that?), Courtney Steffens, came over a couple weeks ago for the event. I say event because it involved two hours of constant singing, dancing, and anything else that could get Ellie to smile. Courtney graduated from the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, and although babies aren't her typical subject to photograph, I think she has incredible talent. She even got Rudy to cooperate for a short while (and that is an extremely hard thing to do).

Where the Month Went...

2009-05-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day my very nice husband gave me a new camera, but I haven't really figured out how to use it yet. The manual is pretty thick and I feel incredibly stupid every time I open it up because everything is in a foreign language. Foreign to me at least. Apparently Wolf Camera offers free classes on Thursday nights, but that sounds pretty boring. I will put this on my list of "Things to Do." That list grows bigger every day.

What we've been up to lately:

*Ellie and I took a week long trip to Denver to visit my mom and dad. The weather was gorgeous and we spent time entertaining Ellie with trips to the park, Children's Museum, and Tiny Town. We had so much fun and were sad to leave. The plane ride there and back was not so great. It was actually kind of miserable to be honest. I feel really bad for anyone who sat within a ten row radius of us.

*After spending a couple days at home we headed up to Angel's Camp for a fun Memorial Day Weekend with friends. Ellie stayed behind at home with her Nana and Grandpa. It was our first overnight trip without her. I don't think she was hurting for attention. I missed her, but it was good for us to get away for a little adult time. We enjoyed cooking, staying up late playing games, drinking too much beer, and going out on the boat during the day (I even got up to Wake Board). Knute was impressed with his invention of a S'Moreo. It's pretty self-explanatory: a S'More with an Oreo cookie included. Sick.

*We've adjusted to our everyday routine again this week. I have a tornado that lives in my house. Her name is Ellie and she's eleven months old. She pretty much destroys everything in her path. She no longer enjoys playing with her toys, but rather throwing them. Also, how many times does she have to try eating dog food before she realizes it's nasty? I've never tried it myself, but I'm just assuming. When she goes down for a nap I try my best to clean up the wreckage, and when she wakes up, we pretty much repeat this same cycle. I like to get out of the house a lot for this reason. We need a fun, focused activity during the day.

A Few Pictures of our trip to Denver:Visit to Tiny Town

At it again. You can't tear her away from the stuff. My favorite...Cuddle Time
Who doesn't love ice cream?

First Mother's Day

2009-05-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

It was 10 months and 16 days ago that I had the great pleasure of becoming a Mother. Elizabeth, thank you for blessing me with one of life's greatest gifts. Thank you for bringing so much joy, love, tears, dirt, and laughter to our home. Thank you for being the wonderful and lovely daughter that you are. Because of you, I am a better person. Because of you, I lead a much richer life.*Ellie has a new obsession with dirt. Yes, dirt. She likes to go outside and throw around bark. I think she would do it for over an hour if I let her. I thought that when you had a girl they would love baby dolls, but my daughter is more interested in dirt.

The Perfect Weekend

2009-04-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

I LOVE the weekends. Sometimes they're crammed with so many activities that I feel like we need a couple days to recuperate after the weekend (which is supposed to be a time of rest, right?). Sometimes they're lazy and we spend most of our time hanging out on the couch. Sometimes they're highly productive and the garage gets cleaned, projects get done, etc. Sometimes the combination of a happy child, well-rested mother, and beautiful weather make for a perfect weekend. That was how this one went.

On Saturday morning I made breakfast burritos after Knute took Rudy out for exercise, and then we headed to Anthropologie (I had a gift card that's been burning a hole in my pocket since Christmas). It's my favorite store. Knute and Ellie stayed outside and watched the ducks while I took my sweet time. On our way home they dropped me off at Tomatina to have lunch with Shawn. She was in town from San Diego for a couple days. I love Shawn and I love Tomatina.

On Saturday night we headed to El Charro for a 30th Birthday Party and left Ellie with her first babysitter (that wasn't family). She didn't even cry when we left which I was relieved about, but it secretly made me a little sad. I called about once every hour, but I was OK. I was in the company of good friends and I was still able to enjoy my Margaritas.

Ellie slept in until about 7:30 on Sunday. She's been doing that lately and I love her for it. We had a leisurely morning drinking coffee, reading the paper, and eating toast. We headed to the Oakland Zoo in the afternoon with the Schroeders. I think Ellie is more entertained with her own dog then the zoo animals, but it was still a nice time. On the way home we stopped at In-N-Out for an early dinner. I had been craving fast food for weeks and today I had to succumb to my craving. It was totally worth it.
When we got home I spent time in my garden (see...I told you I was serious) planting seeds, tomato plants, and then watering them. Mark really likes to stress the importance of watering. That's all I have to do...just WATER everything! I don't think he realizes that this is what I've struggled with in the past.
Later I went on a run with Ellie and Rudy (well...sort of a run/walk).

Now it's Sunday evening and I just got finished reading my exhausted 10-month-old "Goodnight Moon" and putting her to bed. No, I can't believe she's 10 months old. It sounds so much older then nine.

I'm contemplating ending my Sunday night with a warm bath before snuggling into bed with my favorite person.

It was my version of the perfect weekend. I know they can't all be like this, so I will try my best to treasure these memories.

My 10-Month Old!

See Paris Run!

2009-04-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

I ran a 10K on Sunday. Yes, I really ran the WHOLE thing. The weather in Santa Cruz was beautiful. The company was entertaining. My adrenaline was pumping. So...I just kept running! I was unstoppable. Sure, my pace was a bit slow, but I didn't care. There will be a next time. Everything about the day was PERFECT. Thank you Melissa, Amy, and Celeste! Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but I seriously couldn't have done it without them. Wow...I sound like I'm collecting some medal, which is definitely not the case. In the end, my body never ceases to amaze me. *Knute thought this last line sounded egotistical. What I meant was, the things my body can do ceases to amaze me (example: give birth). OK. I'll stop now.

Little Happenings

2009-04-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

I've been a little uninspired lately. Not really sure why, but I guess I've had a bit of a "Blogger's Block" if you will.

Anyways, here are the little happenings going on in our life:

*My good friend, Jen, visited from Denver last week. She was actually in Sonoma for a work trip and then stayed a couple extra days here. We enjoyed doing what we do best, which usually involves bumming around. She would wake up at about 10:30 each morning and tell me how GREAT she had slept. I was a little bitter.

*We had a nice Easter Sunday with the Bucklew family that involved attending Mass, lunch at our house, and an Easter egg hunt (one for Ellie and one for the big kids). I realize that I'm getting a bit too old for an egg hunt, but I just can't resist those Reese's Peanut Butter eggs. Nothing can make me run so fast. Which brings me to...

*Knute and I have been in a bit of a health kick lately. Knute much more so then me. He's been doing some muscle confusion program. PX90 something. Maybe. It lasts for 90 days and each session is about 60-90 minutes. We work up a sweat in the comfort of our own living room. I join in every so often. I'm trying not to be such an all or nothing type thinker. I like the Yoga and ab exercises. Which also brings me to...

*I'm running a 10k this Sunday in Santa Cruz. I haven't trained for it like I should have. Actually, not really at all. Sometimes when I take Rudy and Ellie for a walk I turn it into a part run, but it doesn't usually last very long. I'm pretty nervous about Sunday to say the least.

*I'm sort of starting a new hobby. About a week ago my Father-In-Law,Mark, showed up at our front door with a packet titled "The Garden Helper." I really wasn't sure what to think of this at first, but now I've kind of embraced it. He told me that he wants to help me grow a garden. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. I thought that maybe it would be some fleeting idea of his, but last night he showed up with a truck full of gardening soil (I think that's what it was). He said that he would be back tonight to build a fence around the gardening boxes (to keep out Rudy) and rototiller (sp?) the soil. I can't even tell you what a rototiller looks like or what it does. In a couple weeks we are going to plant tomatoes, onions (or whatever my heart desires) and it is MY responsibility to keep them alive. It's kind of a lot of pressure, but I'm actually really looking forward to it. I hope to show up at your front door soon bearing baskets of squash! Please let me in.

*There are two words to describe Ellie these days: BUSY and HAPPY. She learned how to crawl a few weeks ago and has been non-stop ever since. She likes to follow Rudy around the house, climb stairs, play in the trash, and make a mess of just about anything. This, in turn, makes me very busy. Nine months has definitely been my favorite age so far.

Park Hopping

2009-03-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

This is an old picture, but we've temporarily misplaced the battery charger for our camera.

In college, we used to go "bar hopping." I'm not to sure what we were in search of, but we would aimlessly hop from bar to bar until they closed and we had to be dragged out kicking and screaming. Sometimes we would buy a diet coke and then head into the bathroom to mix in an itty-bitty bottle of rum that we had concealed in our purse. Other times we would bat our heavily made up eyes and get nice boys to buy us drinks. I realize now that this sounds pretty desperate, but we always had great stories the next day. That was then. These days, Ellie and I are busy park hopping. Yeah, it's pretty intense. Sometimes we go just the two of us. Other times we meet friends. On Tuesdays, my Mom's group has a whole park schedule where we rotate to a new park every week. On the weekends, Knute is lucky enough to join in on the fun. We pack a picnic lunch and away we go! My little Earth Muffin loves being outdoors, and because shopping trips to Broadway Plaza are off limits these days, this is a good, cheap way to have a nice time (at least I have convinced myself of this). Let me know if you would like to join in our adventures in park hopping. We love new recruits!

*If someone had told me a year ago that this is what I would be blogging about, I would have laughed in their face.

Sand and Sun

2009-03-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Last week we packed up our flip-flops, bathing suites, and SPF 60, and headed to the beautiful, sometimes rainy, island of Kauai. It was nice to leave the gray weather behind us and enjoy some quality time with our little family of three. We ate Macadamia nuts and fresh pineapple (little wedges accompanied with our strawberry daiquiris, of course) while lounging pool-side. We walked along beautiful beaches. We saw waterfalls, sea lions, gorgeous sunsets, and hula dancers. We read on the balcony that looked out over the ocean while Ellie napped. We dined early in the evening and had tons of delicious sushi. We went to bed early (not necessarily by choice). We woke up VERY early (also not necessarily by choice).

Unfortunately, the trip was not all sunshine and rainbows (and there were some lovely rainbows). Ellie had an ear infection which landed us in Urgent Care. Looking back, I think she probably had it before we even left. We knew that something was either wrong or our child had morphed into a Monster overnight. Luckily, she was prescribed a big, pink bottle of Amoxicillin. I'm pretty sure it's a miracle drug. We were able to fly home with a nice, peaceful baby.

Now it's back to the real world, which I don't have much to complain about these days. The wonderful thing about vacation is that it gives you time to reflect. I rested. I reflected. It's a good life. For now.

A Day Without Rain

2009-03-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

We had a nice reprieve from the constant rain today. Not that I don't enjoy cuddling on the couch on a gloomy day with my favorite Snuggle Bug, but it was a treat to have the sun show it's lovely face. Spring is creeping closer and it makes me excited for pastels, florals, Easter eggs, and longer days. Am I sounding like a Hallmark card yet? I know it's only the beginning of March and we probably have plenty of stormy, dark weather in the near future, but the break was so appreciated!

Wicked!

2009-03-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

[Insert evil cackle of a laugh here]. My friend Lindsay oh-so-generously offered me a free ticket to see the show "Wicked" with her at the Orpheum last Saturday night. Fortunately for me, her brother was unable to go. I only had about two hours notice, which didn't help with my "I never have anything to wear" issue, but I was too excited to care. I have been wanting to see this show ever since I heard about it over two years ago. I am a sucker for musicals! I told Knute that it was comparable to him being offered court side seats to a Warriors game.

We had a delicious and extremely garlicky Mediterranean dinner before heading over to the theater. The seats were incredible, the company delightful, and the show was beyond entertaining. I would highly recommend it to anyone, like me, who can't resist a great performance. It makes you want to jump out of your seat and break into song and dance (a very scary thought). Now I can finally retire my Jersey Boys CD that I've been playing in the car for almost three years.

Flashback

2009-02-26T15:44:00.001-08:00

When you haven't blogged in a while, sometimes it's hard to know where to start. I guess I can't chronicle every little (yet sometimes significant) event that happens in our lives, but I try to get the bigger ones. Most recently, Ellie was Christened. I was thinking of labeling this post "Ellie's Christening," but then decided that no one would read it. So....that's the news. I am relieved that it's over because it had been one of those things weighing heavily on my mind that I wanted to have done. Fortunately, my parents and brother were able to come in town and we had ourselves a good 'ole time as usual.

Ellie with Mom and Dad before the bow came off. Selfishly, I look at this picture and think how badly my hair needed to be highlighted.

The Bucklew Fam. Eric was the Godfather and Celeste was the "stand-in" since Ellie's Godmother, Amanda, was unable to come in town from West Virginia.

Ellie with Gram and Grandad. Yes, she had shoes, but those came off as well.

Ellie and her Uncle Dane.

The Yummy Cake from Walnut Creek Baking Company that Ellie got a tiny taste of.

Other Happenings Big and small:

*The Hooks Family also made a trip up to Sonoma while everyone was in town. We were lucky that the weather decided to cooperate with our plans and it was a gorgeous day in the Wine Country.

A First taste of Dirt.

*Our Girl Scout Cookies have arrived! My favorites are Tagalongs, but they are sitting in the pantry unopened because I wonder if they're safe to eat with the whole peanut butter scare. I don't think I care enough and will probably dig into them anyways.

*Ellie is busy teething. She already has six teeth, but is getting in her seventh and eighth. GRRRRRR! This means there's not a whole lot of sleeping going on for anyone.

* I finally got my hair hightlighted. I will stop complaining about it and focus on more important things.

* I have spent the majority of today on the phone trying to straighten out health insurance issues. Major headache.

* My mom left today. She stayed a few days longer than everyone else. We were busy as usual doing really important things. I am always sad for a day or two after she leaves. The company is all gone and the house seems extremely quiet.

Love is all Around

2009-02-12T16:31:00.001-08:00

Ellie received a Valentine in the mail today from a B-O-Y. I thought it was a bit premature too, but this little one is an absolute Heartthrob. His name is Owen. He is a Roly Poly, Cute and Cuddly, Lovey Dovey baby. Ellie is 'smitten! What's a girl to do?

The BOY
Answer: go out and buy an overpriced headband of course. Yes, I know we're in an economic crisis. Can we talk about something else? I have been really good lately, but my girl has got to look her best for her Tuesday rendezvous with Owen at Mom's group.

The GIRL

Love is in the air. I am bombarded with commercialized pink and red crap at every store I walk into. I LOVE it and I got caught up in the moment!

In honor of Valentine's Day I added a few favorite love songs to my play list. Yes, some of them are a little "old lady," but they are classic.

XOXO

The Happy Couple

2009-02-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

Kelly and Christian are getting married! We decided to celebrate and celebrate and celebrate! You know it's a great party when there are jell-o shots, lots of dancing to Daft Punk's "one more time" song (not quite sure of the name), and a taco bell run at the end of the night. When Ellie was up and ready to play at 6:30 this morning, I was regretting those last couple glasses of wine. Now I remember why I don't celebrate like this too often anymore, but it was a lot of fun at the time. Congratulations to Kelly and Christian!

A Few Pictures of the event:

The Beautiful Bride-to-Be

The Happy Groom

Some crazy people I don't know

Cute girls

The pregnant lady I gave unsolicited advice to all night long. Sorry Heather!

More cute girls!

Last, but never least....the gorgeous smile that greeted me the morning after!

Special Friend Day

2009-02-02T15:26:00.000-08:00

On Friday, I had the privilege of going to Assumption School, in San Leandro, as Joey's special friend. I felt extremely honored that she picked ME of all the important and wonderful role models she has in her life! This may be due to the fact that I am a stay-at-home mom, but still...

After arriving at the school, all the special guests were shuffled into the first grade classroom to sit in teeny tiny chairs. Joey showed me her cubby, special craft projects she made that were hung on the wall, the inside of her not-so-organized desk, etc. Even though I was in first grade 20 plus years ago, memories came flooding back to me. I almost wanted to cry from the nostalgia. Things really weren't all that different between her first grade classroom and mine. It still smelled like glue, the boys were extremely loud, and her teacher (like mine) spoke in a super warm and fuzzy voice that made me want to curl up on the floor for a nap. After a church service with a message about friendship, the school day was over. It was a shortened schedule and I was kind of disappointed that I wasn't invited to recess.

I took Joey to McDonald's for lunch afterwards where I too got a Chicken McNugget Happy Meal. It was extremely delicious. I'm pretty sure they put some kind of addictive chemical in those McNuggets because I've been really craving them since.

Anyway, I am so thankful to Joey for the opportunity to be her special friend. First graders are really quite interesting and it was fun to hang out with them for the day.

Great Friends

2009-01-30T16:54:00.000-08:00

To our delight, Ellie has discovered a new love for Rudy. When they first met there was indifference on both sides. Then Rudy was probably more interested in her then she was with him for a while, but now there is a beautiful relationship in bloom. So cute! A few special moments together:

"That" Mom

2009-01-23T20:46:00.000-08:00

After Music Together, I joined a friend over at Tulio's for lunch today. They have 'slammin' sandwiches (to use a term my husband likes). She has a son about six weeks younger than Ellie. We've gotten together several times since our children have been born, yet I've never witnessed him having any kind of mini-meltdown or being the least bit difficult. While he slept quietly in his infant seat, Ellie continued to bang on the table, eat the paper place mats, smash saltine crackers everywhere, and try to snatch everything within a three foot radius of her. I actually kind of find it cute, but she's definitely not as easy to take to restaurants as she used to be. As we were leaving, I looked around the table where we had been sitting at the destroyed paper products, smashed crackers, napkins I had used to wipe her runny nose, and realized that I had become "that mom." I was completely in my own world and too involved in conversation with my friend to notice that I was oblivious to my behavior. That is so not okay! I used to work at a restaurant in college (as a hostess because I could never quite graduate to waitress status) and I remember how annoyed everyone would get at "those moms." They would leave broken crayons, food all over the floor, spilled drinks, etc. I had become one of them. The horror! If my child is only seven months old, it can only get worse. From now on, I promise to police my area before I leave and clean up any mess my child has created. This is my pledge. If this isn't possible for one reason or another, I promise to leave an extra generous tip at the least. How did I let this happen?

January Blues

2009-01-15T13:37:00.000-08:00

The excitement of the holidays is long gone. I was really looking forward to this month. I thought it would be nice to cleanse, organize, and have some quiet time (ha ha). Although I LOVE Christmas, it was a lot of work this year with an infant (I'm sure it is with children of any age). Now, everything is kind of BLAH. It didn't help that I saw Marley & Me over the weekend. Oh my God! SO sad. I assumed that the dog died in the end (because everyone said it was such a tear jerker, so what else could it be?), but there was so much more. Great movie, but a little depressing. I'm still thinking about it. Then, I finished an extremely disturbing memoir about the Holocaust on Sunday night. I still can't stop thinking about that either. Monday night the Bachelor came on, so that was a little bit of a reprieve from all the sadness. But then the news starts at 10 and is there anything good to say about what's going on in the world? Please tell me something good! Were there any new baby Polar Bears born at the zoo that I can see some footage of? No? Also, Ellie has been going through a new phase (one I don't like so much) for the past couple weeks where she SCREAMS at the top of her lungs every time I leave the room. Maybe I should feel flattered, but I'm not. Even if she is twenty feet away from me while I walk over to the kitchen sink, tears start streaming down her face. It breaks my heart. I really don't know what to do. Do I embrace this phase and hope that it passes soon? What if it doesn't? Am I spoiling her by running back every time she cries or is it cruel to not go pick her up right away? Does she think that I've disappeared into thin air every time I leave the room? I can see how that may be traumatizing to her if that's the case. I'm kind of hoping the answers will just come to me.

Anyhow...on a lighter note, I did manage to snap a few cute photos yesterday. I think that they're pretty good given that I don't have a super-fancy high tech camera (but I would like one). They are the many faces of my sweet girl:

Then and Now

2009-01-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

Then...
We welcomed Elizabeth Clare on June 24, 2008. She was just a little 6 pound 9 ouncer. 19.5 inches long. I was expecting a very bald, blue eyed baby, but she had brown eyes with a mountain of dark hair. I was in love.

Now...
Christmas Eve was her 6 month birthday. Today was our Dr.'s. appointment. She is weighing in at a solid 17 pounds, 10 ounces. At almost 28 inches, she is in the 95th percentile for height. Huh? What happened to my little peanut that couldn't even fit into newborn clothes? She is growing like a weed! I want to freeze her at this age forever in time.

I think she's been saying "Ma Ma" the last few days, but I'm not sure anyone else is convinced of this.

New Beginnings

2009-01-01T21:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why, but I have a lot of New Year's Resolutions this year. It's actually kept me up at night thinking about them. I've never really taken them seriously before. Some years I failed to even make any, but this time is different. I plan to really hold myself accountable. Some are big and some are smaller. I want to drink more water (and less wine), organize every single closet in our house, run a Half Marathon this spring, go to church more frequently, read great books and less Us Weekly, and the list goes on. Most importantly, I want to be a better person.

A Better Daughter. This was my first role in life. I'd like to think I'm pretty good at this one after 28 years (although there were a few rough patches in High School and College), but I'm sure there are always areas for improvement.

A Better Sister. I forgot to send my one and only brother a Christmas card this year. Can you believe that? One of the most important people in my life. He was pretty hurt to say the least (and I definitely heard about it). I neglected to get his new address. To my credit, he's moved several times over the last few years, but there is still no excuse. I feel terrible. I promise to send him a Christmas card next year.

A Better Friend. A lot of my close girlfriends (and cousins) are spread throughout the country. I am not the greatest at keeping in touch. I think about them every single day, but sometimes picking up the phone seems like a chore (I'm not much of a phone person). Then weeks pass (sometimes months), and I avoid calling even more because I know there's so much to catch up on. Don't they know how much I love them? Unfortunately, that isn't enough. I will continue to try and get better at keeping in touch.

A Better Wife. I need for my husband to feel more appreciated. He works so hard for his family. He makes it possible for me to stay home with our daughter, which is what I've always wanted to do. I need to tell him this more often instead of just assuming he knows. I need to give him ten minutes to change his clothes, say hello, and hear how his day was when he gets home from work instead of asking him to take out the trash, clean up dog crap, etc. Surely this can't be too difficult.

A Better Mother. When I was pregnant I had visions of hanging out and playing on the floor all day with Ellie. Unfortunately, it doesn't exactly work like this. There's always so much laundry, bottles to clean, appointments to make, phone calls to return, errands to run, places to go, dinner to make, a dog to walk, gifts to buy, etc. Sometimes I don't know where the day goes. She's only a baby for so long. Soon she'll be talking back to me and throwing temper tantrums in the middle of the grocery store (not my sweet Ellie). I want to have just one day a week where all we do is play and spend one-on-one time together. The grocery store and laundry can hold off for a day. There's typically nothing really that pressing that I do. I hope she doesn't get sick of me.

A Better Dog Owner. I love Rudy. I really do. I'm afraid he may not know this. I complain about him a lot. I yell at him a lot. He is a special dog that requires a lot of love and attention. He likes scrambled eggs, plenty of walks, and lots of petting. His needs are quite basic really. The sooner I realize and accept this the better off we'll all be.

I'm sure I've missed so much, but there's a start. Today was a good day. I drank lots of water, organized a whole closet, and gave the dog a fair amount of attention. It's a start.

Christmas in Dallas

2008-12-31T15:58:00.000-08:00

Before moving onto the New Year, I thought I would post a few pictures of our Christmas in Dallas. We got together with the whole family. Ellie got to meet her Godmother for the first time. There was plenty of Tecate, dice games, sugar cookies, Gypsy Kings, and more Mexican food then you could ever dream of. Fun times!

My Transformation

2008-12-18T15:51:00.000-08:00

No....it's not any kind of sexual transformation. Just a temporary change in appearance (hopefully). I decided to get my hair cut. Really cut. I know that it was sort of short to begin with (as Knute continues to remind me). As always, I am now regretting it. My husband told me he doesn't "hate" it. My girlfriend referred to it as the "Lafayette Bob," and I don't think this is a good thing. I'm not sure if it makes me look 16 or 46, but definitely not my age. The day after I got my new do, I developed an eye irritation which involved me throwing out my contact lenses and having to wear my glasses that I never use. Now I'm not quite sure if my own daughter recognizes me. I either look extremely sophisticated or really stupid. I'm thinking it's the later of the two. My next transformation might have to involve a hat and some sunglasses. Grow hair! Please grow.

Nob Hill Christmas

2008-12-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

On Saturday afternoon we headed to the city for a Bucklew Christmas Extravaganza (hosted by Eric). Even though his apartment is only about 35 minutes from our house, it felt like we were in a whole different world. I guess I need to break out of Suburbia more often. After drinks and hors d' oeuvres (I've never known how to spell this word) we headed up to his roof top for some views of the city and family pictures.

Our Little Sugarplum was there to celebrate as well!

After spending time at Eric's, we walked over to the Ritz Carlton (right across the street) for a photo opp in front of their Christmas tree. I guess whoever took the picture found the tree more captivating then the family in front of it.

We then headed up to the top of the Mark for a pre-dinner cocktail. The drinks were delicious. The views were spectacular. The service was super snotty.

The day ended with a fun and yummy dinner at Rue Saint Jacques in Nob Hill.

I swear that I have more intellectual things to talk about then Christmas (sometimes), but probably not this month. After all, it IS the most wonderful time of the year :) Also, it's an exciting FIRST this year for a very special someone.

Uninspired

2008-12-04T17:34:00.000-08:00

When Knute and I were engaged (about three years ago) I decided to start a collection of Snowmen for Christmas Decorations. I used to think they were SO cute. I couldn't wait to get out my Snowmen the day after Thanksgiving and put them out on display. My tastes must have changed A LOT in three years. I now find them extremely tacky. What was I thinking? Now I'm stuck with all these Snowmen that I don't know what to do with. They might have to become part of Ellie's toy collection next year. Oh well.

Welcome Home!

2008-11-25T13:31:00.000-08:00

I spent a wonderful week in Denver with Ellie visiting my parents. We were able to do a little Christmas shopping, play plenty of cards and Scrabble, and I spent Saturday night celebrating Jen's Birthday while Gram and Grand Dad entertained their favorite baby girl. It was a great trip.Unfortunately, my good mood coming home was short lived. It started on the plane ride. The two year old sitting in front of me wanted to talk to me (and talk and talk and talk) and "play" with Ellie the whole flight. She wanted to touch Ellie, offer her fruit loops, and ask me a million questions. It was really kind of sweet at first, but after ten minutes it got old. Please leave me alone. Her mom was busy reading her book. I love children, but I prefer my space on airplanes. Ellie had a horrible dirty diaper in the middle of the flight. Everyone was looking around for the culprit and checking their own kids' pants, but it was my sweet little Ellie. It was extremely awkward and very inconvenient to change in the tiny airplane bathroom. Oh well. Shit happens.

We landed and were excited to see Knute when he picked us up. We waited for my bag at the luggage carousel, but it never made it. I'm pretty used to this happening to me. My luggage has been lost 4 or 5 times in the last two years. Does this happen frequently to anyone else? I really don't travel that often. I know the routine fairly well by now so I headed over to Southwest to fill out a Lost Luggage Report. The bag will typically make it on one of the other flights coming from Denver. It still has yet to come. I have called several times. Knute has called several times. No one knows where it is. They even said, "it should have come by now." I will continue to be hopeful. Yes, I know they're only material possessions, but I am sick about it. You know that feeling when you've lost something? I lost A LOT.

On the way home Knute told me that we received a noise violation from the Animal Services Department for persistent barking. Our dear Rudy. Not really sure what else to say about him. I think it's all been said.

The house looked fairly clean on the surface, but I know our house well and things weren't quite as they should be. I think Knute may have taken his "Mancation" to the next level judging from the number of beer cans in our recycling bin. It's possible that he may have even hosted a college fraternity party. I may never know for sure.

On a positive note, it is the time of year to be thankful. I am thankful for Elizabeth Clare, who just turned five months old yesterday. Wow. I love her so much that I feel like my heart is going to explode sometimes. It's an incredible feeling and something I can never quite explain. We are very fortunate to be celebrating our first Thanksgiving as a family of three (plus dog) this year.

A Kidnap Breakfast

2008-11-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

I remember I had a Kidnap Breakfast Party for both my tenth and eleventh birthdays. It was all the rage back then. My parents would drive me around on a Saturday morning (at like 6:30 a.m.) so I could wake up and kidnap my friends in their pajamas (usually comfortably asleep in their beds) to come back to my house for breakfast and cake. Can you imagine finding this fun now? Well, this kidnap breakfast was a little different. My sister-in-law, Celeste, came to kidnap me at 10 a.m. Fortunately I was already dressed and out of my pajamas. There's something cute about a bunch of ten-year-old girls dressed in their pj's, but it's a little different when you're 28. We did eat breakfast, but instead of having cake we drank Bloody Marys. They were delicious. Afterward we went to get pedicures. My feet actually look pretty and that is an extremely rare occurrence. It was a real treat. Thanks C-Buck!

Later on Saturday we headed to the LaSala's house for a Thanksgiving Cooking Club. It's usually a girls only club, but we decided to be nice and share our delicious food with the guys this time as well. Knute is typically stuck with a turkey sandwich or microwave dinner on cooking club nights and I think he was glad to be included. It was so much fun! Amy is an incredible host. Everything always looks perfect, like a spread from a Martha Stewart magazine. It's never a good idea to offer to host cooking club after Amy. She even provided us with a fashion show for our after dinner entertainment.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of all the fun we had, but I did manage to take a shot of Ellie's three future friends. Not the pretty ladies, but their cute little baby bumps.

I feel like I basically ate my way through a Saturday, but I had fun doing it.

'Tis the Season!

2008-11-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

Knute always brings me home a Grande Soy Latte in the new red "holiday" cup the very firs day it's available at Starbucks. It's the little things in life that make me happy. This is how I know the holidays are upon us. Yes, I realize that may sound sad, but it gets me in the spirit. Now I will have to look forward to KOSI 101 playing Christmas music 24/7. I think it starts the week of Thanksgiving. I refuse to listen to anything else and I never get sick of it.

Knute's Masterpiece

2008-10-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

Last night I made Knute carve a pumpkin. It started off as a request, but his response was "I don't like art." I told him that this was one of his new responsibilities as a father. I guess he's going to have to learn to love 'art.' Because he is a smart husband, he did what I asked anyway. After all, what would all of the other four-month old babies think if Ellie's Dad didn't carve her a pumpkin? The above picture is a result of his efforts. After a few choice words and asking if he could start over on the other side (after he had already begun carving), I think he did a pretty descent job for a first timer. Even though the nose is a little questionable, it offers character. Knute may have some serious potential as an artist.

Chicken Noodle Soup Days

2008-10-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

I know she's not exactly a vision of illness, but Ellie hasn't been feeling so hot these last few days. She had her four month shots on Friday and for whatever reason had some kind of adverse reaction to them. She has been vomiting for the last three days and has very little appetite. After talking to the after hours advice nurse from her Pediatrician's office we went to the ER last night for fear of dehydration. I know this sounds a bit extreme (and it probably was), but we were worried sick. Fortunately, we were there for less then two hours and after giving her a few ounces of Pedialyte were on our way. She hasn't thrown up since, but has no appetite and isn't her chipper self. I wish she could rest on the couch and watch movies while I serve her Chicken Noodle Soup and 7-up, but I fear this could make her feel worse at such a young age. Having a sick baby is the worst :(

Visit from Gram

2008-10-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

We love visits from Gram! I try to see my parents at least every other month. We switch between visits to Denver and visits here. This time it was my mom's turn to come out (unfortunately, my dad had to work). She is an extremely easy house guest, if you can call her that. I don't stress about having the house perfectly cleaned before she comes, just washed towels and sheets. We typically don't make plans ahead of time, but once she gets her there never seems to be enough hours in the day. Sometimes I save all the little projects I don't want to do for when she visits, like paint a couple bedrooms (which we will never attempt again), sew missing buttons onto things (because I don't know how), rearrange the living room furniture, cook banana bread, make cookies for the neighbors, and the list goes on. Of course we know how to have fun too, although our idea of "fun" may be somewhat different then most people's. If it's a really good TJ Maxx, we can easily kill two hours there. Our latest visit also involved a walk on the Lafayette Reservoir, lunch at Sam's in Tiburon, and a stroll through Sausalito (where we found Ellie her pictured "Lamb" jacket).

The Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

Ellie had been begging to go to the Pumpkin Patch all week. She could barely sleep the night before the anticipated event. It was everything she had hoped her first visit to a Pumpkin Patch would be.

It even included a petting zoo with a pig that looked like it was on it's last leg (on sale for $50) and a baby Billie Goat.

Her friend Luca was kind enough to wheel all her pumpkins back to the car.

She has yet to stop talking about all the fun she had (yes, her verbal skills are quite advanced for her age).

Back to the Gym!

2008-10-07T17:38:00.000-07:00

I say the word "back" very loosely because I've never really been a huge gym person. It makes me sick to think of the months of gym membership fees that we have paid without me ever going, not even once. I think I may have taken two yoga classes while I was pregnant. To my credit, I walk the dog every single day for 2-3 miles, rain or shine. This is not necessarily done by choice, but to save my own sanity before he drives me nuts with his incessant whining. For those who know me, you may have heard me complain about this once or twice. Thanks for listening.

I think part of my problem with going to the gym is that I build it up too much in my head and sometimes set unrealistic goals for myself. I know that I will never have abs of steal or be able to get through an aerobics class without feeling completely foolish for my lack of coordination. So what if I can only lift ten pounds of weights? At least I don't make obnoxious noisy grunts while doing it.

So...I decided that it was time. It's been fifteen weeks since I had a baby and my ass isn't going to get any firmer on it's own. I threw on my very not-so-cute ratty gym clothes and dropped Ellie off at the Kid's Club for a short time. It wasn't such a big deal at all. I got a nice little workout in, feel good, and Ellie did just fine without me. I will really try hard to keep this up. If I set reasonable goals for myself then I think I can do it. Two to three days a week for 45 minutes is good enough for me. Maybe abs of steal are in my future??? One never knows.

Life of the Party

2008-09-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we celebrated a very special three-year-old's birthday, Campbell. I love this little girl! She had a "Pink Party" (last year was blue) where everyone wore pink, the house was decorated in pink, and all the food was pink. Needless to say, there was a lot of PINK. She's my kind of girl. Also, I think the birthday girl changed into a minimum of four different dresses. Ellie celebrated in her typical fashion, by sleeping (during the day of course).

My New Best Friend

2008-09-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful face to wake up to (but I would prefer to wait until at least 7am to see it).

Scoot over Jen, you've been replaced by coffee. I'm not really sure how I used to get through the day before. I would make the occasional trip to Starbucks for a Grande Soy Latte, but now I can't make it to 9:00 am without at least two (usually three) cups of Folgers. This all stems from Ellie's new sleep schedule the past week. I guess we got a little spoiled when she would go down at 8:30 and make it until 3:00 am without so much as a peep. For some reason she reverted back to waking up every 2-3 hours. Last night she went down by 8:45, up at 12:00, 2:00, 3:45, and so on. At 6 am she is ready to greet the day, ready or not. Knute and I have gone through a laundry list of possibilities for why the sudden change. We have the same bedtime routine every night: bath, bottle, story, rocking. I thought most three-month old babies sleep through the night (a five hour stretch). No? If this post makes no sense it is because I am functioning like a Zombie.

Ellie Looks Like Me!

2008-09-21T20:53:00.001-07:00

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Genealogy forums - Family search

Weekend in Aptos

2008-09-09T21:11:00.001-07:00

As an extended celebration of Knute's 30th Birthday we headed to Aptos and stayed at the Seascape Resort. It was the perfect spot for a relaxing weekend and the weather was gorgeous. We enjoyed a nice lunch by the pool, a Clam Bake for dinner, and a campfire complete with s'mores by the ocean. I love little weekend getaways, even if it's only for one night. There are so many great places to visit when you live in California.

The lobsters we had with our clam bake came complete with eyes. Yum!

Ellie's first trip to the ocean. Unfortunately she was too busy napping to notice. Maybe next year..

Wow...I have a 30 Year Old Husband!

2008-08-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

Knute is turning 30! The 30th is his Golden Birthday. In cheesy blog tradition, I decided that I simply had to post 30 reasons I LOVE Knute. So here it goes...

1. He gave me the most wonderful gift I could ever ask for, a beautiful daughter.

2. He loves and adores his little girl.

3. He likes to surprise me.

4. He is secretly obsessed with our dog. Even though Rudy can be a terrible nuisance, I know he couldn't live without him.

5. He brings me Starbucks Lattes in bed.

6. He is a great planner.

7. He packs more then me when we go on vacation.

8. He asks for my advice on what to wear to work.

9. He is a total Momma's Boy.

10. He appreciates good restaurants and likes to frequent them with me.

11. He claims to like my cooking.

12. He makes me feel appreciated.

13. He isn't much of a Handy Man, but he tries really hard.

14. He LOVES Christmas and aspires to be the neighbor with the most tacky yard decorations.

15. He has a million different nicknames for me. Most are endearing.

16. He buys really sappy Hallmark cards.

17. He is an extremely hard worker.

18. He realizes the importance of family and always makes it his first priority.

19. He watches "The Bachelor" and "American Idol" with me.

20. He has a great sense of humor.

21. He is a loyal friend.

22. He loves to celebrate any kind of occasion.

23. He always asks me how my day was.

24. He has more hair products then I do.

25. He takes me to Warriors games even though I talk his ear off and never have a true appreciation for the game.

26. He likes to grill things and is always trying to master this skill.

27. He can't wait to be the coach of Ellie's basketball team (or whatever she plays).

28. He encourages me to take bubble baths, drink wine, go on walks, hang out with my girlfriends, and do things that I enjoy.

29. He tells great stories.

30. He is a genuinely happy person who enjoys life.

A Story in Pictures

2008-08-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

The adventure begins! My childhood friend, Allison, was married on August 16th to her college sweetheart, Eric. We left for Denver (all three of us!) to celebrate the happy occasion.

While we were out at the Rehearsal, Ellie got to spend some quality time with her Grand Dad.

...and of course her Gram.

Jen and I were in typical form at the Rehearsal dinner (always finding ourselves hilarious when nobody else does).

We enjoyed our dinner at the Fort in Morrison.

A picture of Allison and her incredibly awesome Bridesmaids.

The radiant bride on her Wedding Day. She looks a lot different from the girl with braces I remember in Middle School...absolutely stunning.

The long limo ride on the way to the reception
(the driver got lost...whoops). At least we had plenty
of champagne.

The happy Mr. and Mrs.

Until next time...

Ellie and Ayla's Play Date

2008-08-08T08:40:00.001-07:00

Ellie Cried

Ayla Cried

....and then they slept. At least Alix and I enjoyed ourselves.

A Very Special Day

2008-08-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Lex and Aimee! They were married on August 2, 2008 at Wildwood in Lafayette. Knute and I were extremely honored to be in the Wedding Party. It was so special to see such wonderful friends get married. We wish them many years of health and happiness. They are currently honeymooning for three weeks in Spain and the Dominican Republic. I wish I had more pictures of the bride and groom, but instead Knute and I got mostly pictures of ourselves. I guess we're just that vain.

In other important news...Ellie is six weeks old and smiling! I haven't caught the happy event on camera yet, but I will try to post a picture soon.

One Month Old

2008-07-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

Ellie is already one month old! In all honesty, it feels like it's been much longer. It doesn't seem possible that your life can change so drastically in such a short period of time. Luckily she has learned to like her swing for fifteen minute stretches, which allows me to do a quick load of laundry or write a short blog (anything to keep me procrastinating in writing thank you notes). Knute and I really enjoy being parents, minus the lack of sleep. We have a pretty amazing daughter if I do say so myself (although sleeping is not one of her strengths).

Although Ellie's Zodiac sign is a Cancer, which traditionally tend to be home-bodies, she takes after her father in that she likes constantly being on the go. Ellie enjoys taking Rudy for walks, car rides, trips out to restaurants, visits with her friend Ayla, tummy time, and listening to music.

Introducing Elizabeth Clare!

2008-06-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

Born June 24, 2008 at 2:46 AM
Weighing 6 lbs, 9 oz.
Measuring 19.5 inches long

It was love at first sight.

Baker Beach

2008-06-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

We decided to pack a little picnic lunch and a couple of books and head out to Baker Beach in San Francisco. I really felt the need to escape the heat for a little while. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the "fun in the sun" I had envisioned. It was extremely cold and foggy, and we looked pretty silly in our flip flops. We ended up having a nice time anyways, even though we didn't stay for too long. The view of the Golden Gate bridge was pretty and I always enjoy a relaxing afternoon with my Hubby. We were also entertained while observing and making fun of the couple getting engagement pictures taken. The photographer kept having them do cheesy things like spell "I love you" with sticks in the sand. Then he would have the guy pick the girl up and take a picture of him stepping out of a wave. It looked like they were trying to copy a scene from "The Notebook," but it was about thirty degrees too cold and there were no Seagulls. I asked Knute if he would carry me out into the ocean, but he said "no." Maybe next time.

The Dangers of Target

2008-06-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

I feel that it is my responsibility to warn you of the dangers that lurk within Target. Unless you have an incredible amount of willpower (which I apparently don't), I recommend staying far away. It gets me every time I go. I have a pep talk with myself in the car that I am only going to get what's on my list:

Freezer Bags
Method Counter Spray in Grapefruit (I'm obsessed)
Windex

I'm not even in the store five minutes before the aisles have sucked me in like a vortex. All the fun summer stuff: bright colored beach towels, fun lawn toys, plastic cups with cool designs, 4th of July decorations! I tell myself that I don't need this junk. It's cute, but it will only end up in a Goodwill pile next year and create more unnecessary clutter around the house. I remain strong and head over to collect my Windex. Somehow I get side-tracked along the way. I start talking on my cell phone and lose focus of what I am there for. I start walking through the aisles in a trance-like state. I decide to get just a few more things that I need while I am already there.

Twenty minutes later I leave with the following:
Windex
Method Counter Spray
Two nightgowns
A nursing tank top
Eye Makeup Remover
Hair Gel
Elastic headbands
Underwear (ugly, full-bottomed, & cotton)
Grated Cheese
Peanut Butter
Tuna (gross!)
Cards for assorted occasions
Gum
People Magazine

Crap...I've done it again! I succumbed to the dangers in Target. The best part is that I didn't even leave with one of the three items on my list. I then had to make a separate stop on the way home for Freezer Bags. I will do better next time I tell myself. Next time Target will not get the best of me.