Shout out to Ariana and Jasper

I just wanted to send a big shout out to my pals Ariana and Jasper over at Becoming Mom.
Ariana is the epitomy of awesomeness when it comes to things like being a great mom, photographer, writer, designer, and now - teacher. Her adorable son Jasper was born on the same day as Liam - so if there weren't 3000 miles between them, i am sure they would be BFF's someday.
She recently has taken on the task of schooling her peeeps on photo shop and has posted some excellent tutorials to turn your photos from (in her words) "drab to fab" I feel honored because her latest lesson features our very own Lima Bean as shot by Heather.

The GREATS are here!

My grandparents are "Snowbirds".
They live in Oregon for 6 months out of the year, and Yuma Arizona for the other 6 months. This year they are heading down south a little later than usual due to a back surgery that my "Gran" is recovering from. Well, she finally got clearance from her dr. so, my mom is driving them down, and we convinced them to make a stopover in Agoura Hills for a night.
They arrived yesterday afternoon and left this morning - the visit was short - but amazing. It was the first time they had met Liam. We didn't do much except watch our little one man show and visit... it was perfect.
Here are some pictures.

4 generations!
Great Gramp, Me, Liam, Great Gran, and Grammalinkey


Great Gran and Liam

5 months of Lima Bean!

Oh little lima bean... my how you've grown!

5 months already and month after month... i can't believe another month has gone by! And month after month i think "i like this stage the best" ... and it just keeps getting better!

Today was a holiday - MLK day, so you had the day off from day care, and I had the day off from work - so, you and i spent the day shopping for (and dreaming) about furniture! Believe it or not, you slept the entire time (i bet your dreams were not about the furniture though!)You are now two full weeks into full time daycare... this morning you and i did the "test run" stroller walk/jog to daycare just to see if we could do it and how long it would take. It took us 18 minutes door to door. Lucky for you, pretty much the entire way there is down hill. It took us a little looonger to get home, and we had to stop a few times on the big hill coming home. Next time we go, I will have an empty stroller on the way home which will make the hill easier on my body... but not on my heart.

You are such a social butterfly - you love a good party, and you shine for an audience. You love standing up with help these days, it makes you happy and very proud of yourself. When you get your legs good and straight you turn and look around the whole room, as if it was a packed auditorium... you beam and smile to your pretend audience as if to say "look at me... look what i can do... check me out... i am STANDING people, this is BIG!" You also think you can sing - i sing to you alot, and lately i think you are trying to sing along... either that, or you are mocking my inability to keep a tune!

We are now pretty much into a schedule/routine/rhythm - especially on the weekdays. Its up by 7ish, food, playtime, get dressed, go to daycare, come home, more playtime, food, bath, story, cuddles, and bed. You are sleeping through the night (YAAAY) most nights you go down at 8, and wake up around 7. We got the ok from Dr. Bromberg to start cereal this month, so we are all "geared" up with the proper equipment. baby spoons - check, rice cereal - check, highchair - check, teeth - we think they are coming because lately you are drooly mcdroolerson, and almost can fit BOTH fists in your mouth at the same time (which is where they usually are)! This time next month, I hope to have happy stories of our new adventures in FOOD!

We love you so much little love bug.

i love l.a.

nowhere else in the country would a parent in their right mind send their child to daycare in this outfit today!

* thanks HB for the adorable outfit

* thanks Los Angeles for the great weather so he can wear it

* henny... sending you warm sunny thoughts of 85 degrees today (come home soon!)

Not to make y'all jealous or anything... but the photos below are from 10:00 a.m. this morning in the backyard, where the temp. is already 76 degrees.

All dressed up and nowhere to go...

except daycare!
Poor Liam, he is going to hate me when he gets older and sees how his mother dressed him!

This is Us

About the song I added to the blog... it is a song by Mark Knopfler (formerly of Dire Straits) and Emmylou Harris. Two of Kurt and I's (kurt and me? ... Kurt and My....oh whatever) OUR faves... It is a song that came out AFTER Kurt and I were married, from the "All the Road Running" CD. We both immediately loved the song - and thought "this IS us" ... we hadn't even had Liam at that point... now that we do, it really fits. Because our Baby boy IS our pride and joy.


If anyone remembers... please play this song at our 25th anniversary...

Here are the lyrics - the version I posted is a live version, and a little harder to hear than the CD version.

This is us down at the Mardi Gras

This is us In your Daddy's Car

You were the missing link

Yeah, I'd had a little too much to drink,now

Too long in the sun

Having too much fun

You and me and our memories

This is usRocking at the barbecue

Yeah, when we said I do

Hand jiving on the Ballroom floor

You in that wedding coat you wore

And you in that amazing dress

I was stoned on love I guess

You and me we were meant to be

This is us

This is us on our Honeymoon

In our hotel room

Sitting by the wishing well

Checking out of the love motel

Making plans for the sunshine state

Waiting at the terminal gate

You and me making history

This is us

And our baby boy

With our pride and joy

You at the Sunday Game

Standing next to What's hisname?

On our Anniversary

With the family

You and me and our memories

This is us

2008 The year of MORE

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2009.

My reflection of 2008.... "more"
More surprises, More joy, More hugs and kisses, More Wrinkles, More Smiles, More Mortgage, More Home, More Sun, More Fun, More Pounds, More Yum, More Love, More Diapers, More Lima Bean, More Bliss, More Sleepless nights, More Awe, More Tears, More Laughs, More Love, More Bubbles, More Pain, More Blessings, More Rock and Roll, More Peace, More Beauty, More Work, More rewards, More days in the hospital, More days spent with family, More Mouths to feed, More Family Meals, More Grandparents, More Happy, More Cowbell, More Gifts to Buy, More Presents Under the Tree, More Wisdom, More Mistakes, More to be thankful for, More Love, More Liam, More Kurt, More Jinxie, More Ace Face, More Love, More Love More Love...More More More.....

Some photos from New Years Day 2009

"MORE presents under the tree" (the loot after the dust settled)

"More Sun" (shining golden in the front yard on Jan 1.)

"More Rock and Roll" (If its too loud, you're too old)

"More Love" (and more kurt and more lima bean)

"More Ace Face "(with more ears and extra antlers)

"More relaxing" (with good friends)