more time

I hope I always remember how it feels to see summer through my child's eyes.
Every day is a special day when the sun is shining as we play outside. Just watching her play and laugh brings me so much happiness.

Yesterday I was snapping the ends off of fresh green beans as Anya ran around me laughing. She kept on dumping water out of her little pool to make muddy puddles. Her little feet were covered in dirt but her smile held me back from stopping her. We tried out the big pool and Anya filled the air with her laughter as her daddy threw her up in the air. She continually said, more time.. more time. She wanted one more time of being thrown into the air only to be caught by her daddy with a splash. The beginning of the summer holds so much promise for popsicles, fresh cut grass, picnics with cheese and wine, firefly catching, playgrounds, splash pads, grilling with friends, and fireworks. I feel like saying, more time.. more time, myself.

Memorial Day!

Special thanks go out to the men and women who have fought for our country and to those who continue to do so.
Anya saw her first parade. It was the shortest parade we have ever seen. She enjoyed it.
We had a fun weekend filled with friends and family. Dwight ran his first 5K on Sunday and beat his goal of 30 minutes. He ran it in 25 minutes. Yeah!!

It's pool season!

It feels like just last week there was snow on the ground. Where did April and most of May go?!
We are loving the sunshine.
Anya loves her new "baby soup" (bathing suit) from Grammy.

it's that time

Its that time of year when toddler skin smells of sunblock and kisses leave sticky strawberry lip prints. Little faces are red from running all over the park. We try to remember the picnic blanket, balls and bubbles every time we load up the car. Sand is in our sandals and knees are scraped, but we hardly notice. It's that time where sharing fruit on a sunny day with a good friend is pefection on its own. It's that time of year again and we are loooovin' it.


On the drive home from the park Anya took a cantaloupe rind to her ear and called some family members ;)

The sun

Oh sun! We have missed you!!


Anya loves her new bus slide from nana and grampy :)

Eating strawberries on the deck..

birthday shindig

Yesterday we had our parents and a few best friends over to celebrate Anya's birthday. We were so happy that it didn't rain although it was cloudy and cool.
I made Anya these Elmo and Cookie Monster cupcakes..

Here is our 2 year old. :-) She was thrilled to wake up from nap to a home filled with her favorite people.

Madelyn, Billy and Ella..

Tickles for grampy!
She loves frosting!

She received many wonderful gifts. She loved the big box that a play bus/slide came in..

It was a fun filled weekend with lots of celebration of our little girl.

She's 2!

I couldn't wait for Anya to see her new tricycle this morning. We were only halfway downstairs and she started calling out, bike bike!, once her eyes spotted it. We got her one that has a removable handle so that we can push her on it until she really gets the whole idea of pedaling.

She wore the helmet and tried out the trike. She opened her other gifts from us. While she opened each gift she continually said, what is it?, over and over. So stinkin' cute. She said, thank you, to us all on her own. I was so proud of that. She played with her new toys and asked me to put in her new Tinkerbell DVD.

We had munchkins for breakfast. We headed out to swim class which she LOVES.

After swim class we headed to lunch. She had her favorite. Grilled cheese and french fries. Once lunch was done Anya napped in the car while we drove her to the zoo. When she woke up we told her that we were going to see monkeys, giraffes, etc. She was thrilled at this idea and repeated, monkeys, yay!!, over and over ;)
The zoo was perfect. We had amazing weather and she walked most of the day. We had to con her into sitting in the stroller a couple times to take a rest. She was really into seeing the animals this time. Not only did she get to see monkeys, tortoises, deer, flamingos, giraffes, etc... but she rode her first pony!!!!!!
On our way home we stopped for ice cream BEFORE dinner. She loved it :) The best part is that she still ate her dinner. She had worked up an appetite, that is for sure!
I still can't believe we have a two year old. She is an amazing kid. We love her easy going, funny, loving personality. There will be so many more fun memories in the next year. We love you so much, Anya Elizabeth!!!

Anya's 2nd Year...

What a wonderful year it has been!!! We love you Anya xoxo!

Do you think Herman is happy to be back?

Niece!

We are getting a niece!!! My sister and Marty are having a GIRL! We are all thrilled. I am so excited that Anya will have a little girl cousin to play with. Bring on the slumber parties, barbies, dresses, bows, and dolls!

We all thought it was a boy so hearing that it is a girl was such a surprise.

I can't stop beaming with happiness with this news :)

Congrats, Jill and Marty!!!

for my expecting friends

The week after I held Anya in my arms for the first time I knew I was experiencing something profound. A mothers love IS profound. We are amazing in that our love is so much more than words can ever tell.

We smile at our babies when we want to cry, we fork over our favorite meal if they decide it is what they want for dinner, we scrub them down and laugh at their giggles, we stay awake when every fiber in our bodies tells us to sleep, we read 'one more story' at bedtime when asked, we sing just to calm them. They make our hearts explode on a daily basis just from being themselves.

I can try to put it into words. I will continually try. The truth is a mom can't explain the love, it is too deep. It seems to be such a unique bond.. one that is rare. Yet, I know many moms that feel the same way as myself. It is the reason we bond in motherhood. We know that endless conversations about bedtime routines, feedings, and schooling sound boring. However, they are somehow interesting to us because we bond in that we want to succeed as mothers. This doesn't stop us from our friendships with those without children. Those friends bring us back to our youthful past filled with late nights, laughter and freedom. These friends will always be just as important.

Once a friend whispers the words, I am pregnant, a spark ignites.

I say to myself, I can't wait for you to know how it feels. You will be amazed.. in love.. obsessed with this little human being for the rest of your life. It is a great journey in life. You will understand how I feel and I can't wait to share that with you.

Choose 5 words you would want your children to know at the end of your life (borrowed from an Elizabeth Berg book):

You were the best part.

Hands down my friends.. they are the best part.

The dentist

Today was Anya's first visit to the dentist. They had sent her a little book to prep her for the visit. It explained what her visit would be like including the name of the dentist and hygienists. While we were in the waiting room Anya was bouncing off the walls and I had to continually tell her no running, no yelling, etc. Once it was our turn she stopped dead in her tracks at the door to the room at the sight of the big chair. She was so nervous! I picked her up and she stayed on my lap for most of the visit. She was very serious and quiet (I was wondering whose child was with me ;) ) She didn't shed one tear although I could tell she was unsure about the whole experience. She showed me how strong she is today and I was so proud.
The dentist counted her teeth (18 beautiful teeth, 19th just starting to cut through, and the final 20th not cut through at all).. we are so close to a full set of baby teeth!!!! She also received a fluoride treatment which she didn't seem to mind. She was more annoyed with having to unclench her teeth lol.
Here is a picture of her choosing her special toy from the treasure chest. She chose a little flashlight :) She is wearing sunglasses that the office uses for the bright lights (so fashionable).

After her appointment I took her out for a happy meal to show her how proud I am.

Moms Day posts from the past

Click here to read last years post about my nana.

and click here to read last years post about my mom..

and click here for the post I wrote about myself as a mom after 1 year of parenting.

First swim lesson

This week in preparation of Anya's first swim lesson I showed her a new Ariel towel and a new bathing suit. She loved running around the house in her 'baby suit' as she calls it. She asks me to take out her towel and she lays down on it. This morning we told her that she was going to swim in a pool. She was very excited! She wasn't hesitant at all and loved every second of the class. They sang songs, passed a ball back and forth, practiced kicking and bobbing up and down with daddy, practiced going on her back and even jumping in. I am so happy we signed her up for an eight week session!
Can I also just say that it is so heart melting to watch these two together? I get to do most of the classes with Anya so watching Dwight get a chance at it made me grin from ear to ear.

playing dress up

He is in for it. The rest of his life will be filled with necklaces, hats and shawls.

Have I mentioned how much we love spring?

Okay.. so spring might not have anything on summer. It surely can't compete with fall. It definitely wins over winter though! Welcome, May!

peek a boo
flexible.. for art