Her stocking was hung...

We had a stocking all ready for sweet little Savannah but it looks like she will have to see it next year. She has yet to make her appearance. I am officially 10 days overdue and it's not getting anymore fun. I kind of knew to expect this since Lyla was 12 days late but I thought that because it was my second pregnancy maybe, just maybe, she would be a little early. I had a non-stress test yesterday and she is happy as can be. Her heartbeat is strong and accelerating as it should and all the amniotic fluid levels look fine. I have another one scheduled for tomorrow, though I think that is a little overkill. I can't imagine we have had a crazy change in 48 hours but we will see. She is moving a lot so that makes me happy. Physically I am tired, but honestly no more tired than I have been for the last few weeks. Mentally this is getting a little taxing. Each day I wake up and wonder if today will be the day. I know at least by Friday it will be the day but until then, I just have to keep waiting patiently. I have no choice.

Yep. Still Pregnant.

4 days past due. I'm not surprised. Lyla was 12 days past due. But seriously, I am ready for this all to come to an end so that I can meet this little girl. There is a little stress surrounding all this because it's also Christmas time and I would be a little bummed if her birthday fell on Christmas day. It's not the end of the world but that just seems like a tough birthday to have. That would add a new challenge for me- as I LOVE birthday parties. I am having contractions but nothing is organized. I am working at relaxing but still working. I get 11 weeks off from work and want every minute on the other end to spend with my new little girl. Lyla is getting more excited by the minute. She is really interested in all of the baby items that are slowly making their way out and we are continuously mentioning little ways she will be able to help. She is mostly excited that "new baby sister" will need lotion as Lyla LOVES lotion. I have visions of "new baby sister" being one slippery little baby covered in lotion compliments of the overzealous big sister. I am off to the doctor tomorrow. Mostly to make sure everything is good- which I know it is. I am sure a stress test will be scheduled and threats of induction will be thrown around. I have confidence that "New baby sister" will come when she is ready and on her own, hopefully soon, cause the pregnancy thing is done and done.

Alice Mae Martha Birds Ovenell

Our sweet little Alice Mae passed away at 1:30am on December 12th. If you have ever lost a beloved animal you know how hard it is. She was such a big part of our family. At 120 she had a solid presence in our home. She slept on the couch, when she stretched it was half way across the living room and she was a talker. By that I mean that Alice let you know exactly what she needed by nudging you along or hitting your hand and pushing ever so gently. She was the sweetest, most kind girl that just wanted to be loved. She loved love. She loved hugs (but only by a select few people) she loved having sweet things whispered in her ears, she loved car rides with her head out of the window and she loved our family. She was protective beyond belief but had nothing to back up her fierce bark. To say she was the scared lion would be an understatement. She was scared of the world which made her all the more endearing. She needed to be told that it was going to be okay.

Our house feels so empty these days without our sweet girl. She wasn't well though and we knew it for some time. On December 11th we took her to the emergency animal hospital because she was throwing up and we could just tell in her eyes that she didn't feel well. They thought her stomached had flipped, which is a common and deadly problem in great danes and said that she would need emergency surgery. Of course we wanted to do everything we could so we gave the go ahead, but shortly after we got a call that they weren't sure she was strong enough to make it through the night. Her blood pressure was crazy low and they thought that perhaps she would go into cardiac arrest in the night. Matt and I headed back down to the hospital and made one of the hardest decisions ever. We had to say goodbye to our darling little Alice Mae. She wasn't conscience and we knew that she was critically ill. She was only 4.7 years old. So hard to say goodbye but we knew we had too.

Animals have a funny way of sneaking right into a special place in your heart. Alice never spoke a word, but taught me so much at the same time. She was my hip dog, always by my side. I miss her more than I ever would have imagined. It does get a little easier each day but that sweet dog will always hold a very special place in my heart. We love and miss you sweet girl.

Lady Hops-a-lot.

It was March of 2005 and I somehow determined that I needed a rabbit. Once this decision was made, I spent A LOT of time looking for the perfect rabbit. Matt went along, seeming excited but mostly because I was excited. I found the perfect bunny and she was only about 4 hours away including the ferry trip off of Orcas Island. Off we went in the pouring rain. We arrived at what Matt named "The Love Ranch". It was the most religious and earthy place I have ever seen and I have come across plenty of interesting places in my life. They had a bundle of bunnies and we chose the cutest one- Lady Hops-a-lot. We quickly left and told bunny stories of how we rescued her from a crazy world.

Bunny had a good life. It was full of plenty of card board castles and obstacle courses to play in. She ate her fair share of walls but nothing that wasn't fixable. Charlie was by far her best friend. Charlie often gave her baths in the evening. Hopsalot was important because she was the first thing Matt and I raised together. These things matter to me. You learn a lot about a person when you raise an animal with them. It was fun watching Matt have fun with Hopsalot. He tried to teach her what her name was. He built some crazy structures for her including the two story mansion that she lived in for two years. He embraced having a rabbit because I was into it. That means a lot to me in so many ways. Hops-a-lot was a great pet. She was always a hit with visitors, she never disappointed in her tricks and she proved to be a crazy exciting confusing fur ball for Lyla. Lyla loved trying to catch bunny to pat her. It was rare that she did but the level of excitment when she perservered, was overwhelming. Lyla was into having a bunny.

We noticed in the last few days that bunny wasn't eating so much and then it just got worse and she passed away on December 5th. Not fun. She was part of our family so that was hard. Lyla is only starting to realize she is gone though we told her what happened in a very simple two year old sort of way. The questions will come over time as that is how she seems to be processing it.

Lady Hops-a-lot, Bun Bun, that damn rabbit, Bunny. It was a good seven years. You actually taught me a lot. You will be missed and I promise that you will be the only bunny I ever have, don't worry. Bye-Bye Bun Bun.

Waiting for the Queen of Hearts.

I forgot how much I REALLY do enjoy the utter anticipation of when labor will begin. It is one of the joys of being pregnant I think. I'm 38w5d at this point and she really could make her appearance at any moment. Each morning when I wake up I wonder if today will be the day that I get to meet my sweet little girl. Every time my stomach tightens I wonder if labor is starting. It's like waiting for the most fantastic gift in the whole world and you have no idea when it will arrive. I do believe the utter anticipation is making me crazier than usual and has me asking Matt to do a million things in rapid succession. I will say, he is doing a fabulous job keeping up with my ridiculous requests.

This morning I was talking with Lyla about "new baby sister" and she seemed pretty excited to meet her. She knows that when Matt and I go to the hospital we will come home with a new baby. She seems cool with this concept so far- we will see once it all plays out. I have no reason to believe she won't be into the idea of a new baby-but then again I also thought she would like cake- so we will see. She seems to just roll with change as it comes. Very little phases that girl. When I was pregnant with Lyla I was 12 days past my due date- I'm mentally prepared to go there again. I can't say I'll be the most lovely company at that point but what choice do I have. I'm on Savannah's schedule now. It would be just lovely if she turned out the be the punctual one in the family.

Two times the fun!

The whole cliche of "wow, I can't believe she's already two" doesn't seem right for Lyla. I can believe that she is two because she owns it. She is one grown up little lady these days. She talks up a storm, she loves doing things herself and she has very little fear. She's hard to miss when she's around because she is so chatty, observant and full of spirit. She gets a look in her eye and you never really know what will happen next. It usually involves trying to ride one of our dogs, or running from one of the house to the other yelling or throwing anything she can get her hands on. She climbs on anything and everything, yet has amazing balance (that's all genetically thanks to Matt) so it makes it hard to stop her because I know the odds of her falling are slim. Some of her favorite things these days include: hide and seek, playing outside, play doe, puzzles, coloring, dolls, legos, walking Woofie her dog around the house, throwing balls and playing with her Little People friends (Andy, boy and Rosarita).

We can understand most of what she says these days and she is speaking in 5 to 6 word sentences and coming up with her own ideas. She invites us to play with her all the time which is cute. Since having her sleep in her new bed, she has started coming into our room once a night and climbing in bed with Matt and I. The funny part is that she only stays for about 20 minutes and brings her stuffed animals, Miss Puff and Wocket and her water. I love that she comes fully prepared. She likes wearing cute clothes and says that she looks "pretty and fancy" when she feels good with her outfit. She uses the word "fancy" to describe lots of things- a personal favorite is when she does what she calls "fancy jumps".

We celebrated Lyla's birthday with a little family party a few days before her birthday and then did a couple special things are on her actual birthday. The theme of her birthday party was ladybugs and she LOVED it.



A friend from work let us borrow a lady bug costume her granddaughter had and it was a big hit with Lyla. She ran around the house in it for awhile. It was nice to have a simple birthday for her this year and it was just what she needed. If it had been too big I think she would have been overwhelmed. She was able to play with her new toys and just have a nice low key afternoon. She was so excited for her birthday this year and it was so sweet to be able to watch her really appreciate the day and have fun.

The least scary and most chill lion I know...

Just taking it all in-

Like Paper in the Wind

As my due date inches closer and closer (31 days!!!!) it is becoming more of a reality that a new little girl will be in our home soon. Physically, I am starting to feel different. The movements in my belly are more rolling and less sharp and the Braxton Hicks are coming more often. I am hoping my body knows what to do again and charges right along- perhaps even a week or two early. I don’t want to be too wishful but the beauty of being pregnant has ended. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a miracle how the whole process works but I feel like I am the movie that has one too many scenes. Let’s get to the good part. Meeting Savannah. I am so curious about her personality, her eyes, her lips, her smile, her smell, her little cry, everything really. I wonder what Lyla will say when they first meet. I love watching our puppies protect a new little one. Alice is always so guarding and watchful, she keeps a careful eye on everyone. Charlie will give a little kiss every now and again and we mostly have to watch for his ever wagging tail. The house will be full of new noises and conversations and stories.

When Lyla arrived, I loved watching Matt shift to this gentle man so careful yet strong and proud and loving. He has a huge heart to begin with, but watching him with his baby girl just about did me in. Currently he is the best “horse pony” this side of the Mississippi and makes the best play-do cookies ever. There are those funny times when Lyla insists that he leaves and asks him specifically to stand in the kitchen. Sometimes he complies and other times he stays to play, much to her chagrin. He is a patient and happy daddy, always working to really figure out what Lyla needs. He also has the best ideas for games. To hear the real and actual excitement in his voice when Lyla asks him to play cars is priceless. He’s not doing it because she asked, he genuinely wants to play cars and he finally has someone to play with him. I mean, I love him, but we aren’t spending our evenings playing cars together. That’s not my thing. He is a champion chef for Lyla, always knowing exactly what she likes to eat and making sure we have her favorites on hand. Savannah has no idea who this wonderful man is except perhaps from him whispering that he loves her to my belly, but let me be the first to tell you, she will be loved and protected forever by him. That is just who he is, he doesn’t know any other way.

I have done very little to prepare for Savannah’s arrival. In my head I have things somewhat coordinated, but I worry so much less than when I was expecting Lyla. It’s not because I love her less, it’s because I know things will work out. They always do. I am trying to live in the moment. I know that I have one little girl that is so excited for her “ladybug birthday comin’ up” that she can hardly stand it. I have Christmas to explain- as in why all of the sudden is there a giant tree in the living room. I have a husband that is graduating from school soon (at the top of his class I might add- though you would never get that info from him). I know the instant I see sweet Savannah Pearl the hands of the clock will stop for a moment in time and I will fall more in love, my heart will grow and life will never the same. I can anticipate that moment but I can’t worry about that moment right now, it will come and that day will forever hold a special place for me, different from anyone else’s. Today I have a to-do list a mile long and it is making me edgy and grumpy. I am trying to savor these fleeting days of us being a family of three (plus 3 furry ones) but at the same time I am filled with excitement and nervousness over Savannah that I try to keep at bay. Everything is how it should be right now, hectic and busy, with an underlying feeling of happiness and impending change. Thank goodness I am madly in love with Matt and he makes me laugh or these days would suck because I feel huge and life is not slowing down. The days are going by like paper in the wind… everything changing, and then changing again.

New Bed.

We have been planning to redo Lyla's room for awhile and finally found some time last weekend. We needed the crib and changing table from her room for the new baby but didn't want to just take it and put it right into Baby S's room. Matt and I spent the day doing the remodel and then finally revealed it to her in a very HGTV manner. I have to say, it was pretty fun. She was surprised in a very Lyla appropriate sort of way. She said, "happy" and "nice" as she wandered about looking at everything.





We have been so impressed and surprised with Lyla's ease at transitioning. She has taken to the new bed like a champ and hasn't mentioned her crib once. She loves climbing in "new bed" and talks about it in this cute squeaky voice that confirms her joy with the whole situation. Room redo's will definitely part of our world- they are a super fun surprise.

Pumpkin Patch

There was never any doubt as to whether or not we would go to a pumpkin patch this year. We WERE going... mostly because we have a favorite local farm we've gone to and because Lyla had spent many weeks reviewing pictures from her previous year there and it was ALL she wanted to talk about. Animals topped her list of things to see. She would review all of them- pigs, cows, goats, chickens, horses and rabbits and by the end her voice was so squeeky with excitement she could hardly stand it. She was stocked for trip. So when Saturday morning arrived, she was ready. We swung by and picked my mom up and off we went.




She loved the slide and kept talking about "all the peoples" at the top. A highlight to the morning was the pony ride.



She had one of the best times riding that pony. All smiles, telling the pony to "giddy up" and waving. She was so happy and proud of herself. You could just see it in her eyes.

After a hayride and some donuts we picked the perfect pumpkin. Lyla found a big pumpkin for Matt and then a tiny pumpkin for herself. She loves her "Tiny Pumpkin", as she calls it, and has been caring for it for the last week. Good times for sure.

Fall... just the way it was meant to be.

Ocean!

Lyla has been bringing up the ocean non-stop lately so we decided to go to Seaside for the day this past Sunday. We went a few times this summer and she really enjoyed looking at pictures from those trips. My mom came too since we wanted to thank her for watching Lyla every Sunday while Matt and I ran Moo-Shakes. We also thought it would be fun to hang out and for Lyla to have her Nana at the beach. The weather was perfect- a little cloudy, not to cold and no rain or wind. Between the carousel, the swings, the beach and a fantastic lunch out, we had a perfect afternoon just relaxing and enjoying the day together.

Busy Little Lady.

The energy level has really ramped up in our house these days. Lyla is way into talking about everything and anything and switching activities every 45 seconds except for when she is playing "babies". The game "Babies" as Matt and I have dubbed it, started all on it own. It involves Lyla tucking her 3 baby dolls (the triplets) into bed over and over again... for like 30 minutes. It is both fascinating and exhausting to watch. She feeds them all, tucks them in, lays down with them, then she instantly yells "wake up babies" and the whole game starts again. There are always a few exhausted sighs from her throughout the game, like she can't believe her babies are up again. It is a pretty fantastic game to watch and play. Matt and I are really amazed at her ability to care for three babies- no one goes hungry.

She also has an insatiable desire to consume frozen blueberries. We have started to make her super healthy smoothies and we call them "Moo-Shakes". She loves them because she associates it with Matt and I making milkshakes this summer- but really they are spinach, apples, bananas- pretty much any fruit/veggie combo and presented with a fun straw and a fancy name. It's a win/win.

Lyla has been into all things happening in the kitchen. She always wants to pull a chair into the kitchen to stand and watch what is happening. She is into taking little tastes of things and touching as many different things as she can. It is kind of a fun way to explore the kitchen. I was making pizza dough the other night and I wondered what Lyla would do with a plate of flour. I found out:

The bathroom has become a new and fun place. The sink holds the promise of a tooth brush, a real glass for drinking and pouring water and bubble soap. All things fun.

A lot of water has been poured these days. It's pretty fun.


There is also a whole lot of singing in the house these days. Happy Birthday is a favorite right now even though we are still just two months shy of celebrating another one in the house. Lyla sings "Happy Birthday Mommy and Daddy" at the top of her lungs a lot.... and then cheers for herself. She also likes playing "Ring around the Rosie". She is starting to ask to watch "Strawberry Cake" and she is always super concerned when Pup-cake goes missing. A genuine concern. It just keeps getting better. She is one fun little lady.

Moooooooooo

We went to visit Matt's parents in Quincy, WA for Labor Day weekend this year. It was a really fun trip. We left on Friday and stopped over to stay the night with the Karns' family. Always a good time visiting them- and love our conversations. Lindsey is pregnant with another little girl too so between the two families, we will have four girls- all right about the same age. I can't wait to watch our families grow together!

We left early on Saturday morning to drive over and stopped at Ellensburg for breakfast. We arrived just as the parade for the rodeo was letting out. Poor timing on our part, but fun to people watch and Matt and I had fun reminiscing about our years spent in that town. Good times.

We had an awesome visit. We were able to see so many people and Lyla had a great time playing and swimming. She loved jumping in the pool- I can't wait to get her into swim lessons. She is a little fish.


Lyla was so excited to go to Ovenell Farms to see all the cows and ride on a tractor. It was pretty much all she talked about. She was in heaven the whole time and she still talks about it daily.






This turned out to be a great trip and very relaxing. It was a much needed change of pace for everyone and it was wonderful to visit with Matt's family.

A little scare today...

I went to the doctor for my 24 week appt. and I really just expected to roll in, have my midwife say that everything looked great and waltz right out. That has been the trend for my pregnancies so I had no reason to prep for another scenario. She got the Doppler out and I heard the heart beat and then there was a dramatic drop and then a quick rise. It sounded odd. We both heard it plan as day. She quickly said that she wanted me to get a stress test right away because there could be quick jumps with the heart rate speeding up but rarely do they hear it dropping and slowing. I went over to Labor and Delivery and it felt weird. The last time I walked that hall I was in labor with Lyla. I was walking down that hallway next to Matt and nervous and scared and excited to meet my little girl. This time I was nervous but had no desire to meet my little girl just yet- she needs to bake a little longer. I got all checked in and they did the heart monitor and the nurse eased my worries right away. The heartbeat was strong and consistent. She also did a modified ultrasound just to check amniotic fluid levels and all was well. I could see our little girl practicing breathing and moving her fingers and toes. Everything looked great. The doctor determined that the drop could have been because I laid down quickly and the baby might have gotten stuck in a weird position. She seemed less than worried and told me that I had a strong 24 week old. What started out as an "oh shit" moment turned into a really happy experience - I got to enjoy an unexpected half hour of bliss listening to my sweet little girls heartbeat and watching her wiggle and wave.

20 Months

Life with Lyla is rather eventful these days. She is talking non-stop and surprisingly enough we are able to understand what she is saying. She has started putting two words together and her vocabulary has expanded drastically since she started going to school four days a week. Since Matt started school we have been taking her to an in home program run by a husband and wife who are both pre-school teachers. There are a total of eight children and it has been one of the best things we could have done for Lyla. She loves it and she is so eager to learn new things. We have really noticed a difference in her vocabulary since starting.
One of Lyla's newest funny things that she does is something I like to call 'trapping statements'. She will say one word like 'cracker' and then when I ask her if she wants a cracker because she just said the word, not because I was planning on giving her a cracker, she will answer 'okay' in the sweetest little voice. She says it as though I came up with the idea she is just going along with it to make me happy. It really is pretty endearing but she traps us in all kinds of things- we are always laughing about it.
Lyla continues to be more playful all the time and has now realized when she is being funny. She calls herself "goose" when she is being silly as in "silly goose". She loves to be naked nowadays and it always looking for ways to play with water. She loves to help out with things and always says "helping" while she is trying to help. Brushing teeth is a favorite pastime for her though I would use the word brushing loosely. It is mostly biting the brush. She is more excited about the drinks of water from a real cup afterwords.
Lyla has started to fake cry somewhat for things and every now and again throws a small fit when she can't have her way. It is pretty manageable and after a few minutes or so she pulls it together or we just redirect her.
All in all life with this little girl gets better everyday. She continues to surprise us daily with new little discoveries.

Beach Vacation

At the end of July we went on a family camping trip. We were all looking forward to this trip so much- it really was a much need getaway. We left of Thursday evening after work and that proved to be a little stressful. We didn't take the dogs on this trip because Alice had gotten pretty sick a week before so she still needed her rest at home. We took the three hour drive and it turns out Lyla won't sleep in her car seat no matter how tired she is. She was pretty fussy by the time we arrived. Once we got there though everything settled down and we were pretty happy. Lyla laid right down in our camper for the night and Matt and I promptly built a fire and sat and talked and relaxed.

The next day was my birthday and it was a fantastic day. Lyla slept in which meant we all got to have a relaxing morning. Matt gave me beautiful ring from Tiffany once we got up. Since I am pregnant I can't wear my wedding ring right now so he got me another ring to wear that fit better. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts and truly special to me. After a delicious breakfast, we went out the beach for the morning. We have taken Lyla to the beach many times, however this time she decided that she didn't like walking in the sand. I mean, not at all. She would stand there frozen and refuse to move if we put her down. That meant a lot of carrying her but that didn't dampen our spirits.


After nap time we went down to the historic district in town and walked around- it was such a beautiful afternoon. After a lovely birthday dinner in town we headed back to the campsite for cake. Lyla has never been a dessert person but not this time- she was a little cake monster- and I loved it.

The next morning Lyla and Matt chatted over coffee...

... and then it was time for family picture time...

... and then we headed to the playground for a little playtime...


... and back to the beach we went...


By Saturday night Lyla was getting done with camping. We were supposed to stay until Monday but after a very long night of no sleep on Saturday we decided to come home and day early. That was the best decision ever because we were able to finish the vacation on a high note. This was a fantastic little family getaway and it was so fun to spend all that time with Lyla and Matt. So many special memories.

Happy Day!!!

This past Tuesday my sister was released from the hospital. I could not be more thrilled with this joyous event. This has been one of the most intense journeys for our family as we have watched a person that we love lay helpless in a bed to now being able to talk on the phone, tell stories and begin to lead a normal life. The strength and perseverance she has shown is so admirable- but I can say I am honestly not surprised in that she has always been a strong woman. Please continue to send strength her way as she works on her outpatient rehab.

Naked.

Lyla's new favorite past time is being naked. Perfect timing considering that it's summer. We usually just put shoes on her and open the back door and let her roam the yard naked. She is happy as can be.

It's a girl!

We found out today that we are having another little girl. I am so excited to have another baby girl. It'll be fun to watch Lyla and our new little one grow up together. Everything looked great with the ultrasound. It's so nice to have that little piece of mind because lately I have been overly worried that things are amiss. Don't get me wrong, I have nary a symptom to indicate this convoluted thought process, just a wild imagination. I feel much better after seeing her today.

Matt and I always laugh because Lyla is one active little lady. She NEVER stops moving. Today, the ultrasound tech kept making comments about how active this baby was and how she couldn't get a good picture and how she "just couldn't believe how much this baby is moving". Matt and I just looked at each other and smiled- we might have another little mover on our hands.

Sister Update.

My sister continues to move forward in her journey. She has woken up and does know a lot of things but at the same time doesn't know a lot. She has moved to the in-patient rehab part of the hospital. Day by day it becomes more apparent that her path to healing is going to take a tremendous amount of time. However, I also know that my sister is one hell of a determined and strong minded woman so I have no doubt that she will impress us all with her perseverance.

My little avacado!

I am 17wks and just had an appointment yesterday. The heartbeat is 140bpm which is exactly what Lyla's was when I was pregnant before. I am not necessarily predicting another little girl, though I do find the similarities between these two pregnancies really interesting. They are almost spot on the same. All in all the doctor said everything looked great. I will be having an ultrasound in the next few weeks to determine whether it's a boy or girl. I of course will find out- how else would I be able to plan the nursery and get all those cute little outfits I have been eyeing?

Sister Update.

Things are moving forward slowly but surely with my sister Jennifer. She is just on pain medicine at this point and they have removed all monitoring devices from her head. They did discover that she has a staph infection in her blood but they have a pretty good handle on that with antibiotics and continual testing. She moved her hands and feet on the left side by command only once. She only has pain responses on her right side which essentially means that if they pinch her she pulls back. She has opened her eyes here and there but still is tracking very little. This is how they can tell whether she is starting to become more aware. As one nurse said, "The lights still haven't come on upstairs yet." They are going to start to lower some of the medications so that she can begin to hopefully wake up a little more. That really is the next step in order to determine functioning levels. She is still on a ventilator but she is initiating the breaths rather than it breathing for her. This step forward will more than likely prevent her from getting a tracheotomy but we will know more in a few days. Each day is another tiny step forward and we have been told that based on the severity of her injury she is right on track and showing all signs they are expecting at this point. More to come...

Saturday at the Park

We just discovered that the park we normally go to has a splash pad. This was just about the best discovery ever. Lyla was very unsure at first but slowly warmed up to the place. We will be back for sure.

I love you!

Matt and I were saying our usual goodnight to Lyla two nights ago and saying "I love you" about a million times like we always do and out of the blue she said it back! We stopped, looked and one another and both walked right back to her crib and sure enough, she said "I love you" for the first time. Talk about an amazing feeling.

I thought we were busy before.

Matt started school full time at the Northwest Renewable Energy Institute last Monday. They have an amazing program that is a perfect fit for Matt and I haven't seen him this focused and excited about something in awhile. When Matt first signed up for the program they had the option to take night classes. He was going to attend class from 2:30pm - 9:00pm Monday through Friday. My mom was going to watch Lyla for a couple of hours and then I would be home at night for her dinner, bath and bedtime. The perfectly choreographed plan... until Matt went to school the first day and they announced that they would not have night classes anymore. WHAT? Plan foiled. We were 100% committed to Matt still going to school. We quickly started the process to find childcare for Lyla and in our search found the perfect program. A retired couple, both of whom used to teach preschool, now run an in home daycare about five minutes from my work. There are only 8 kids and all the kids are pretty young. We really feel lucky to have found this place and I really feel like Lyla is going to love it. Needless to say, our days are packed right now.

In an instant life can change.

On June 14th my older sister Jennifer was in a motorcycle accident in Ohio that has left her with a traumatic brain injury. She is still in the Intensive Care Unit and has been there for the last two weeks. She was in a medically induce coma for a bit and is now just sedated and slowly moving towards hopefully waking up. This has been a really intense time for our family as one never expects something like this to happen. She is making the tiniest baby steps forward each day and I have learned to celebrate the tiniest of accomplishments. One of the largest things I have taken away from this thus far is to truly appreciate the time you have. Don't wait to do the things you dream of because in an instant everything can change. I will certainly keep you posted as we move forward on this journey but please keep Jennifer in your thoughts.

It's Official!

We are expecting another little darling!!!! I am 12w5d which means I am due December 15th. We couldn't be more excited! We just heard the heartbeat today which is 160. Lyla will have just turned 2 when we have our next little one. I have been feeling pretty good though very tired, but that doesn't surprise me as life hasn't slowed down any. We should know whether we are having a girl or boy towards the end of July. Our little family is growing and it just pleases us to no end.

18 Months!

Hard to believe that our little Miss Lyla Belle is 18 months old. We went to the zoo to celebrate the day. We have taken Lyla to the zoo a few times but this time was by far the best. She walked most of the zoo as she hates to sit in her stroller. She yelled "mama" most of the time and ran around and made animal noises at everything she saw. It was one of her most favorite days of her life thus far I think.

We had Lyla's 18 month well visit this past Monday and all went well. She is 22lbs which puts her in the 20th percentile and 31" which is the 29th percentile. She is just a little bean but FULL of spirit.

She says the following words: up, off, down, more, ball, airplane, go-go, arf, meow, car, home, bug, mama, dada, nana, tractor, wagon, moo, oh no!, all gone, Elmo, smoke, brush, please, fish, bun, no-no, bum, baby, cracker, hi, bye-bye, poo poo, help, back, book, frog. She also know an assortment of animal sounds and can point to her nose, eyes, hair, etc. when asked.

She loves to be chased and squeals with delight. She laughs at the dogs playing. She loves to climb all over things and has no fear. She will stand on the edge of the couch and just jump- thankfully we have been ready to catch her each time. She is very independent. She will just walk off when we are places, very rarely looking back to see if we are following. She loves to watch "Cat in the Hat" and refers to it as "go-go" because they "go-go on an adventure". She finally just tried cake- after much coaxing on our part- still no ice cream though. She holds her hand up and says "no-no". She has one nap a day at this point and only has a pacifier for sleeping (those days are numbered). She likes looking at books, though still doesn't like to sit to read them. She can give kisses which are very wet. When it's bedtime she kisses everything goodnight. Her toys, the dogs, the bunny and she blows kisses to the fish. Sometimes we ask her for a kiss and she says "no". So cute to see her assert herself in the most endearing little ways. It really is amazing how much we have fallen in love with this little person. Just when I think I can't love her anymore than I already do, she somehow opens up a new little piece of my heart.

Milkshakes!

Matt and I started a milkshake business for the summer. It is our project together and it's pretty fun. We are at the Milwaukie Farmers' Market, which takes place on Sundays. My mom watches Lyla and Matt and I joke that it's our new Sunday morning date together. We currently have 11 flavors and have had a really good response from people so far. Through some research I determined that in all of the farmers' markets in Oregon no one is selling milkshakes, thus meaning we have a wide open lane to expand this business in years to come. I also realized that milkshake shops are huge in Europe but haven't really hit the scene here in the US yet. Based on the response we have had so far, I think a little shop might just be in our future. That has me buzzing with excitement, as I think I am secretly meant to work in the world of food. Until then, we will be busy making our shakes every Sunday. It's a super fun date!

Seaside Weekend

Matt and I decided on a spur of the moment trip to Seaside a few weekends ago. It was much needed and turned out to be an excellent decision. We found a place last minute that was super close to the beach and we could bring the dogs- it also had a separate bedroom so Lyla could go to bed and Matt and I could hang out. It also had a kitchen. All good things.

Our dog Alice gets crazy nervous the second her schedule changes at all. Traveling just about does her in but we continue to take her everywhere because she is part of our family and does have a good time once she calms down. Her biggest issue is that her stomach goes crazy the minute we travel which often means lots of trips outside and usually at least one accident. She did not disappoint this trip. We arrived at the condo and Matt was outside getting our bags out of the truck and I was changing Lyla's diaper in the bedroom. Little did I know, Alice was in the living room dealing with her issues. Well I finished with Lyla and set her down- she ran out the living room before me and promptly stepped in Alice's situation and then screamed. Well I instantly called to Matt because it was too much all at once for me to comprehend. It was a pretty humorous start to our trip. We finally got everyone cleaned up and officially got our mini vacation started.

The beach was a quick two minute walk away and so nice. There weren't many people and it turned out to be a nice day. We gave Lyla a bucket and she was so excited to fill it with interesting beach finds.

Anyone who knows Lyla, knows she doesn't sit down- EVER. To get her to stop and hang out on a log for a few seconds was a miracle.

There was a carousel in town and Lyla was obsessed with it. She rode it five times and it would have been fifty had it been free. She was not pleased when we left. The funny part about it was that she only smiled one or two times the whole time she was riding- she took it all very seriously. The carousel was an awesome little find.

We discovered the most fantastic swing set ever. It is right on the beach! That is as close to perfection as it comes in my book.


One of my favorite things about little mini trips is the change in routine. Matt and I discovered that we like to do puzzles together. We found one in the condo the first night and had fun so we bought another one the next day in a cute little toy store we found. It was a nice little discovery. Truly a weekend filled with great memories.