She gets it.

She continues to teach us lessons about life.

Summer is here....and a family trip to the lake to make some memories was in order.

Warm days, sandy beaches, love from family, s'mores, bonfires, pontoon rides, morning walks and evening game time.....exactly what a June weekend should be all about.

It makes me giddy when I see these cousins together.  Brooke turns from a 5 year old into a 13 year old within seconds of being near Maya.  It is adorable and warms my heart every time I see her trying to make Maya laugh.  On Saturday morning, Maya was chewing on one of Brooke's little dolls.  When Brooke saw her, she nearly started crying and said, "I NEVER wanted drool on that doll!!!!"  Yes, she is still just 5!  Jada on the other hand, just takes Maya's toys....they'll be good friends....in a few years!



The weekend was perfect.  During our time there, we gave our Mom and Dad an Anniversary present of a "photo shoot" with a photographer that met us at Grandview.  We spent an hour together with Laura, a talented photographer that was gifted in capturing the simple moment....not too formal, not cheesy, not too 'senior-picture-like". 

We had a blast, as you can see on her blog...if you are ever in the Brainerd area, check her out!  http://www.lauraradnieckiblog.com/











Mom.

It was 1982.
Tijuana, Mexico.
I was 3 Years Old.
She decided to put me on a donkey.

I look at this picture and it makes me laugh out loud.
My Mom likes animals about as much as I do.
My Mom isn't one to prop her child up on a live donkey without being firmly attached....after all, she didn't let me ditch the water wings until I was well past the age of 12. 
And, hey....we're in Tijuana, Mexico...not exactly the most vacationed spot in the world!
I have a feeling my Dad is behind the camera and my Mom is grabbing a moment with her two little girls....little girls that think its fantastic to hang out with a live donkey.

She's taught me a lot over the years. 

She's been my most avid encourager, my strongest cheerleader, my biggest fan and my best friend.

(Nearing the end of my 1st and only marathon here....I'm pretty sure my Mom burned more calories than me during this almost 5-hour run.  If you could press play on the picture above, you'd see a woman that looked like she was jumping on a pogo stick, you'd hear her cheering as if she thought I was close to actually being in 1st place for the race and your heart would flutter, 'cause you'd feel the love for her daughter)

I am so entirely lucky to call her my Mom. 

On Sunday, Mother's day was just a little different.

It felt amazing.
It was one of those weekends that just feels "right".  It felt complete and it was full of joy and love.  I went to bed on Sunday and could only feel lucky.
For celebrating Moms and Daughters.  For celebrating Grandmas.  For celebrating Family.

I hope Maya looks back one day and sees the joy she brought to me. 

I hope we have a photo of her little chubby legs propped up on some random animal and she realizes....that I, just like my Mom, wanted her to have memories..simple moments that brought me joy and that brought her joy too.

For now, we'll steer clear of the animals, but will keep loving these kind of weekends.



Half-a-Year

Birthdays are such a milestone. 
It's that formal acknowledgement of that very special day that some mama, somewhere, celebrated a miracle happening in this world.  She had her breath taken away as she looked at this tiny little baby and realized, 'this one is mine'.....to hold, to hug, to kiss, to teach, to learn from, to snuggle....and to love and be loved. 

And, every day forward, that day will be imprinted into that mama's mind as "the day".

We hit a milestone last week.  Maya's first half-a-year-birthday. 
Some might think it was just a little crazy and a little over the top to celebrate, but I couldn't wait to show her how fun her parents really are!  I also realized how I want to celebrate  getting closer to 'that day' that my heart fell in love with someone that I had never met.

6 Balloons.

A half-a-cake.

Lots and LOTS of rounds of singing, "Happy Birthday"!

A morning ride around her new size 3 diapers.

A beautiful warm evening walk.

A finale (and bittersweet ending) to "the perfect candlelit bath" that took place every night on our kitchen island....our hardwood floors were at risk of warping and Dan and I didn't want to have to wear ponchos, so we've had to make a transition.

Trying sweet potatoes for the first time.  These sweet potatoes are her Lays Potato Chips.  She couldn't just eat one bite.  Or two....but the whole container seemed to do.

And, a weekend visit to Maya's favorite little people.  Two cousins who know she's not as "fragile" as she once was...they've found their groove with making her smile, holding her just right and tickling her.  Love is in the air when these three are together.

The celebration continues...of the simple moments of each day....and each month...and for the 'latter half' of her half-a-year. 

Loving this moment indeed.

Better than I imagined.

Everyone asks....."So, how is parenthood?"

I always have the same theme in my response...."It's SO much better than I ever imagined".
I truly mean it.
I had some fear that we would be "tied down" and that we "wouldn't have a life" and that "we'd lose our sense of adventure and fun". 

People even told me while I was pregnant, "Make sure you go out to dinner and go to a movie before she's born....it will be years before you do that again!"
It sounded a little gloom and doom.



I can't believe I was nervous. 
My heart has never been so full of joy and love.

We seek out and experience adventure and fun and joy and memorable milestones each day.
No more baby laying in her tub relaxing.....she likes to sit up and splash.

No more baby sitting in her car seat in her stroller.....she now sits in her stroller by herself.

Loving the simple moment....its all better than I could have imagined.

You are my Sunshine

I've always loved that song.  I've never thought about the meaning of the little tune.

"You are my Sunshine.  My only Sunshine."

"You make me happy....when skies are grey."





"You'll never know, dear, how much I love you."



"Please don't take my sunshine away."

This girl is going to know this song.

I sing it every morning when we get in the car together. 

As we're backing out of the driveway, I start singing.  Sometimes, I sing it four times before we arrive at her daycare.  Sometimes, I mix it up and sing it loud...sometimes quietly...sometimes, I end up humming the tune to her long after the words have been sung. 

Regardless, she hears it and she knows.

She knows....she's added sunshine to our world.

Smiles, serious looks and little laughs. 

She is our sunshine!

16 Eggs

Last year, we broke the news.
We told Brooke first.
She was going to be a big cousin.
She agreed to put the "I'm going to be a big cousin" t-shirt on after I told her and walk out of the bedroom to see what her Mom would say.  I prepped her.  I told her that I think her Mom might be a shocked.  She innocently asked, "What does shocked mean?"

As Brooke walked out of the bedroom proudly wearing her new shirt, Heather glanced at the shirt and moments later, Brooke learned what the word 'shocked' means.  Crazy, excited, happy, joyful squeals!

Easter....One Year Later.

A year later, I'm determined. 
Determined more than ever to make holidays a much anticipated experience.  I want Maya to  be so, so, so excited about them that she'll ask to make a paper-chain-countdown 6 months before the holiday rolls around.  
I want to celebrate them, cherish them, capture them and make memories that we look back on with joy, laughter and fun.  I have a feeling I'll be buying stock in the construction paper company for those paper chains.

I want to make each day special and make it feel like a holiday everyday, so when you add a true holiday to the mix, it feels like a double dose of accountability to make sure this happens. 
I've always loved holidays and loved trying to make them special, but it was more because I was trying a new recipe, buying a new outfit to kickoff spring or the holidays, or finding a gift that I thought someone would enjoy.
Creating memorable moments was for us.  It was fun, it was looked forward to and there certainly was always joy, fun and meaning. 
A new memory making reason has rolled in now....one that turned 5 months old just before the holiday.

The Eve before Easter, we had a slumber party with the 3 cousins, complete with homemade pizzas, chocolate chip cookies and a few rounds of the Bunny Hokey Pokey. 

Learning to play checkers.....

One day, these three will be in a big bathtub together.  For now, its a little more of a spectator sport.

We were so excited and grateful to have both Dan and my family at our home for Easter.  The day started off with sunshine streaming in the windows, 3 excited little girls joining us in our bed, and much anticipation of preparing the Easter Brunch. 
Pure Joy in my book.

Brunch was set for noon. 
Everyone was coming over around 11am. 
I was going to be prepared, going to have my hair curled, my Easter outfit on, the candles lit, the homemade cinnamon rolls baking, the appetizer coming out of the oven 'just as our guests arrived' and the table 'just perfect'.
But, a moment that was more important, more meaningful, more memorable for the future changed this.
16 eggs needed to be cracked.

These two little hands were in charge of cracking 16 eggs. 
One at a time.
Sometimes, they would just crack a little and we would watch the white of the egg slooooooooowly escape.  Then the yolk would even more sloooooooooooowly come trickling out.
I knew it was a moment.  To breathe.  To share.  To be just as excited as she was about helping make Easter Brunch.  To celebrate that she cracked 16 eggs.
At 11:37 am, our guests had all arrived and I was kneading cinnamon rolls with my partner in crime.

I was still in my pajamas.
I hadn't brushed my teeth and there were definitely not curls in my hair.
I could feel my anticipation....a little bit of dread creeping in....a little frustration taking over.....a bit of regret that I didn't prepare more ahead of time....a moment when I "wished I had quickly done it all myself". 
I learned something.
Nobody will remember whether we ate at noon or at 1pm.  Nobody will remember whether I had a sweatshirt on when they arrived or my Easter best.  Nobody will wonder what I was doing rather than making sure the asparagus tart was done to be served in sync with the Spring Mimosas. 
But She'll remember.  She proudly shared with everyone at the Easter table, "I cracked Sixxxxteeeeeeeen Eggs!!" 
A moment.
A memory.

(Note my Dad and Maya's faces.....must be the look of patience of watching 16 eggs being cracked!)

I didn't realize the learning until later.  Life isn't about hurrying through to get things done.  Its about loving the moment, loving THIS moment. 

There were 20 tulips on the table and 11 of the most important people in our lives gathered around that table.
We laughed, we clinked glasses, we prayed and thanked God for sunshine and rainbows and for the great fortune of having us all together.
The day ended with a hunt.  Looking and seeking and cheering when we found eggs.

I found myself looking and seeking the perfect Easter Brunch, but truly feeling grateful about finding a different outcome and yet feeling that outcome was a better one.

Sometimes, what is not perfect is perfectly perfect.

You got the whole world in your hands

I am amazed.
I never knew how much a parent would want and dream for their child.
I want her to know....The world is waiting for her.

When my Mom and Dad use to say, "You can do anything you want to!", I didn't know how much they really, really believed it.  I may have had doubts or insecurities of whether I was good enough, strong enough, smart enough, creative enough or anything enough. 
They never doubted.
I get it now.

I want her to know.
She's good enough.  Smart enough. Strong enough.  Creative enough.  You are enough.
The world is yours to explore, to challenge, to create, to love.
The "doubters" on the outside, or the doubts inside of you one day.....give 'em a run for their money. 
This great big world is ready for you, Maya Leigh, and what a gift it is to travel with you on this journey of life! 



"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."