Daddy's Swelling Heart

Penny had her first guitar lesson last night. As you can imagine, Bryan was having the best time of his life.

The Wild Animal Park & Baby Kisses

Penny's first playdate. She had no idea it was coming up, but I was excited enought for the both of us. She had never been around babies her age & I couldn't wait to see how she would respond to them. I knew she wouldn't care about all the animals.



We met at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego. Four mom's & 6 kids. We were aquantances from our birth board & already had so much in common. We clicked instantly & the day was a huge success.


The babies all loved each other. They touched faces & reached for each other's cheerios. They giggled & clapped, trying to outperform each other. We attempted to get a photo of them all sitting in a row, but inevitably one of them would crawl away.


As we said goodbye at the entrance to the park, we leaned Penny & Joey towards each other trying to encourage some good bye kisses. Little did I know my sweet, innocent babe was such a little flirt. She grabbed him by the back of the head, pulled him closer & licked his face! I've never been so proud.

Tunnels & Bathtubs

Nostalgia

"The more vast the amount of time we've left behind us, the more irresistible is the voice calling us to return to it. This pronouncement seems to state the obvious, and yet it is false. Men grow old, the end draws near, each moment becomes more valuable, and there is no time to waste over recollections. It is important to understand the mathematical paradox in nostalgia; that it is most powerful in early youth, when the volume of the life gone by is quite small."

Ignorance - Milan Kundera

Shutterbug

I have never been a very ambitious girl. Those who have known me long can attest to this fact. I have started many things and never followed through. But this time it is different. I have finally found a passion all my own (second to being a mommy, of course). Photography.



I have dabbled here and there over the past two years, but recently have become more serious about my hobby & started devoting my time to learning all that I can. I started saving up for my very first dslr.

For those of you that don't know, I have the best husband ever. He is supportive, encouraging, and always looking out for my happiness & this past weekend, Bryan chipped in and picked up my Nikon D80. It is gorgeous! I never knew something could bring me so much joy.

I have so, so much to learn, but here is the first pic to share from my fancy new toy!

lessons

you'll be 8 months old tomorrow. i can't believe how fast it is all going by. my tiny baby is quickly growing into an independent toddler & i am having a hard time keeping up. these moments are so precious & i pray i remember every single one. the way your face gets so serious when you are trying to figure out a new task. the look of pride when you first crawled across an entire room. the twinkle of mischief in your eye right before you dive for the dog's tail. the sweet way you nuzzle my neck to let me know that i am the one that makes it okay. my little girl....

yesterday you pulled yourself up using me for support. soon you will be walking. like every milestone reached, i can't imagine how you are going to figure it out. but then i blink & you've done it again. so many things you are left to learn on your own, but what about the rest? do i have what it takes to be a good mother? can i teach you all the things you need to learn. will i be a good example of kindness & compassion. how do you teach someone else humility? i want so much for you & i pray that i am able to put myself aside & always do what is best for you.

slow down, please

she is so independent these days. she will spend hours on the floor just rolling, rocking on all fours, scootching her way towards the dog, and exploring every inch of her little world. every once in a while she will look up to make sure i am still here or whine to make sure i am paying attention to her extraordinary feats. she's only 6 months old (7 months on tuesday!), yet, sometimes i forget how much she needs me still. i am always there when she needs to eat or be changed. i am there when she bumps her head or is scared by a loud noise. i am there for a cuddle & kisses all day long. but i forget that she still needs to be held close for no reason. she needs to feel the rhythm of my breathing like she did when she was growing inside of me. she needs to feel the warmth of my body & know that she is safe & protected. my little girl is growing up too quickly... let me never forget that she will always need her mommy.

yesterday, we sat on the floor folding laundry. a game of peek-a-boo with the dish towels as our entertainment. she leaned down as if she was going to scoot away & then changed her mind. she teetered for a second & then TaDa! she sat up all by herself! my eyes filled with tears as i watched her latest accomplishment. it may seem like no big deal to some, but my joy in her new feat is mixed with the sorrow that my baby is growing up far too quickly.