lovely mother's day

Today I took my mom to the Huntington Library for a Mother's day treat. It was such a relaxing and peaceful day. EmmaJane was so good for us all day and we just enjoyed chatting each others ears off and taking it all the beautiful flowers and gardens and art work there. I love my mom and am so blessed she is such an awesome person and is so fun to hang out with! I could relive today over and over and be totally ok. Love you momma!

It takes a village.

So let me enlighten you on our little bit of heaven here called Woodcrest.
As I type this there are approximately 7 children ages 2-6 playing outside right now. It.is.so.loud. But would I trade it for a more subdued quiet part of the complex? Never.
The other evening I was talking with some friends/neighbors about living somewhere else, one of us made the comment of "I don't know how anybody who is a stay at home mom with small children lives anywhere else, it must be awful and lonely."

The reason we think this is for one of these many reasons:
- Bored out of your mind and want to avoid housework in some other way than turning on the TV? Then walk next door and see what one of your neighbors are up to.
- Your 10 month baby wakes up in a really grumpy mood and she is bored to tears with you (literally)? walk outside and 1 of 4 baby-loving little girls will be glad to give her tickles and kisses.
- Need a pool buddy? I'm sure you can convince someone to go with you.
- Need to run to a doctor appt? Just see if one of your neighbors is ok with watching your baby for an hour or so. What better way to have someone watch her than them being right next door.

EmmaJane playing with her BFFs

Anyways, you get the point. We love it here, despite the fact that these buildings were built about a million years ago and aren't much improved since, they are spacious and work just fine.
Being a stay-at-home mom here has especially been wonderful, now with my 10-month old I can see how moms can suffer from lack of socialization. Luckily this is something I've never had to worry too much about. But now that we're all spoiled the next task is to all by houses next door to each other! Maybe someday, for now we're happy in our own little Provo in California.

A favorite phrase of ours is "it takes a village" because around here it's pretty true.

Thank goodness

Thank goodness for baby girls in sun hats.

happy shining babies.

Oh my dear EmmaJane where do I even begin?Now as a disclaimer, I really do have THE happiest baby in the world I'm pretty sure. The only time she is upset is times like this because this is the face she makes if you put ANYTHING in her mouth that is food that is not pureed. The girl is 8 months old (almost 9) and is no where near eating table food, picky picky picky.

On Saturday after my birthday we went to Irvine Park to hike around and ended up at their little zoo, aren't my two babies just so cute with the crazy goats in the background?

And this is our first all family smiling picture! yay for us!

I had a birthday...I turned 27! That's 3 years away from 30 folks...THREE.

enjoying a rainy day fire.

on the attack.

overhead shot from her 8 month photo shoot. I just can't get enough of that little bum!

This is kinda old from her 7 month photos, but she is so darling.

EmmaJane is getting closer and closer to crawling as days go by, including officially sleeping on her stomach always!
While she is getting so big, when I hold her in my lap and look down at her cute little back and flapping little happy arms, I realize she is still so small! And so I am enjoying remembering that and having one little baby at this wonderful time in my life that I can devote all of my attention to!

As far as the rest of life goes, I'm getting a hang on this whole stay at home mom thing, and it's getting easier! I now find joy in organized refrigerators, long naps (and happy babies), and good sales on children's clothing. and I love it, I really do.

I've already stocked up on bathing suits and pool floaties so we are all ready for the summer! and judging by EmmaJane's splashing and happy face in the bath, she's ready for warmer weather and the pool too!

Moments

There are these crazy moments as a first time Mom when you are so happy about a new trick your baby has done and you can't stop smiling. Then you soon realize this happiness means you're proud of them, which then makes you feel so old because that's what your Mom used to say to you after colorguard competitions (oh? ...just me on the colorguard?) Then you realize you're almost 27, and you're already starting to think about when you'll get pregnant again so you're babies will be buddies, which means you only have so long to lose these last 7 pounds so you can start out not already fat like last time.
and thus is my life for the next 10+ years of having babies.

But seeing EmmaJane sleep successfully on her stomach this morning and how gosh darn cute she is makes me not care how long I have not being pregnant or how fat I get next time.

I want babies, lots of them.

having fun

We've been having fun around here watching EmmaJane grow and get so smart! She is such a happy little baby, here's some fun times:

Got our pictures taken by the lovely Natalie Fenn.

Getting ready for her first bites of food.

First time on a swing and she LOVED it. of course.

Literally lounging around, her favorite way to look at anyone - upside down.

Went to the LA Zoo on MLK day with the Brent and Linnae Williams'

One of the first time she sat for longer than 5 seconds, I was so proud.

Hamming it up during her 6 month photo shoot.

This picture is right in the middle of a ear-piercing scream, such a funny face.

Sitting pretty Christmas morning.

Robert turned 32! What an old man!

So far 2012 has been great, our little baby is far from little anymore (20 lbs, and 99% for height!) But we love our little chubs.

(I don't know why this is underlined...will they ever improve blogger?? c'mon google!)

halloween time

I made a Minnie Mouse dress for EmmaJane for Halloween, I was looking forward to this for a long time, one of the first things I said when I realized I'd have a baby this Halloween (when I was maybe 4 months prego) was "What is she going to be??" I also already have next year planned...having children is already so much fun! Can't wait for the rest!