Very Happy for my Best Friend!

When I was 9 years old my parents moved us from Northern California to Southern California.  My Dad had been commuting for a job and was only seeing us on the weekends, he was working very long hours and this was best for our family.  We moved to Ventura and started school in January of my fourth grade year (January 1990).  I did not know anyone, I was starting up school in the middle of the school year, and as I do not remember much, I know that I was scared.  Scared of a new place, scared I would not fit in and more scared because I did not know anyone.  

I meet a very special person at school on my first day.  This person welcomed me with open arms.  She invited me to eat lunch with her, play with her at recess.  All very big things when you are in school.  This person, 20 years later is still my very best friend.  We have had our ups and downs, but when I think of this person I just remember every fun and happy moment we have shared.  I wish I had my pictures scanned (and maybe I will add them later) of us always dressing like "twins", telling everyone we were sisters (cause we were you know), always swapping clothes, going over to each others houses whenever we could, going to girl scouts together, Medieval Times (how can I forget- we were all dressed up), yes there was also the russian singing, and of course Bobby McGees.  This person knows me well, we have watched each other grow.  Her friendship, no matter how long the gap, always picks up the second we left off.  

Now, we see each other often (not often enough).  I can say without a doubt she is my best friend, she always has been.  She really genuinely cares for the people around her.  She has taught me so many things.  

I was overly excited a few months back when she approached me and told me that her and her husband were going to be adopting a child from Rwanda.  I just remember almost crying and hugging her!  I knew something was going on when she called me and told me that we had to talk in person (we both are very busy!).  I am over joyed for her and her family.  I want nothing but good things for her.  She deserves to have the best.  I hope this process brings her much happiness and I am glad to be a part of it with her.  You can check out their adventure HERE.

I will always appreciate the day the girl with the beautiful long hair and dress came up to me and said, "Hello my name is Maddie, do you want me to show you around?"  Thank you Maddie for being my first friend here, my best friend.

Goats in the sky, Oh my!

photo by Suzanne @ Noodle & Bug

See I told you goats in the sky!!  And you really just thought I was making it up or I was just well, crazy!  Bailey had a play date this last week at the Underwood Family Farms in Somis (http://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/).  Even though Bailey is small she enjoyed looking at all the animals and seeing all the children running around!  She even got to visit her little boyfriend Nathan, his brother Lucas, and her friend Kenzie!  We enjoyed feeding the animals (there was one goat who refused my carrot, can you believe that and then I offered him another and he took it- funny goat!), having some blanket time with all the other children, and walking around in the sunshine. Yes, it was a nice 70 degree Southern California day!  Here are some pictures from our day:  

Later that day we decided to enjoy to frozen yogurt with Rachel and Kenzie!  Oh how I needed some chocolate yogurt and it hit the spot.  Just writing about it makes me want it, so bad.  But yummy!!  It was a great day! (Bailey wants to say she is a bit mad that she does not get to enjoy frozen yogurt with us!!)

Month 4

Dear Bailey,

It has been 4 months since I had you, Bailey.  It seems like we have loved you forever.  I really am amazed by you everyday.  

Bailey you are doing soo well and learning new things every single day.  Things you have learned to do:  Roll from your tummy to your back, Roll from your back to your tummy, grabbing at everything ( to note Mommy's phone, people's hair, poor Roxy, and faces), playing with toys now, you talk all the time, you are now controlling your feet and playing with them, blowing bubbles, smiling all the time, laughing or cackling (although you have to be PRETTY FUNNY to get her to do this), watching everything around you and looking around, you are  noticing people around you, but is not yet really recognizing anyone except for your Daddy and I (and maybe your grandma, I think), you are trying to make raspberry sounds, you are trying to crawl, you love to stand up (with help of course) and you are now throwing full on tantrums when we take something away or when you get angry (yes, I know I thought this was tooo early but it is soo obvious when you see it!!).  

We have been up to a lot lately: going to play dates, cooking, doing arts and crafts, and well usual around the house stuff.  Bailey, you love to watch other little kids, you are drawn to them where ever we go!  Bailey, you are getting bigger everyday it seems!!  This month we had your 4 month check-up!!  You received her shots and was soo good about it, you cried and then once I picked you up she was alright again!  What a strong little girl (I think I was about to cry for you!)  You are doing great and the doctor says you are advanced (for now at least) on everything that you are doing for your age.  Here you are Miss Bailey before your shots, of course!!

Bailey you are moving everywhere!  I will put you on the floor and you are rolling everywhere!  You will go from your mat and I will find her 5 feet away in minutes.  You are trying soo hard to crawl, you are picking your bottom up and puling your legs in and trying to pull with your arms.  I think we will be seeing some crawling action very soon.  In the meantime, you continue to buildup your crazy abdominal muscles with baby pushups and baby crunches!  

Bailey you are in love with your doggy Roxy, and Roxy loves you also!!  You love to pull Roxy's ears all the time (and Roxy totally lets you torture her!!).  She is soo patient with you, little monster baby!  Bailey you are also gentle with her most of the time, you love to pet her.  Roxy will go lay with you while you are having floor time and you love it!!

Other things:  Cloth Diapering is going excellent!  We love them.  We have just had to start night diapering you, but otherwise all is well for both Tony and I!  So far so good, and we have not had to buy a single disposable for 3 months! (except for the 5 days on vacation- but seriously I should have brought the cloth diapers....next time!)  We now have a couple different types of CD's (cloth diapers) in our rotation...we are using Bum Genius, Gro Baby, and Flips.  I think I like all three, although I really like the Gro Baby ones, so those may be my favorite!  The Flips are great but not so much now (newborn poop= yucky!).  We are diaper testers right now for The Natural Baby Co, can not wait to share what we have been testing, at first I was skeptical, but I really like it!!  I wish the sun would come out more because my inside clothes line takes forever!  We have already made several changes to be more environmentally friendly- cloth diapers, using canteens instead of bottles, most all of our household cleaners are environmentally safe, and we are trying to recycle everything.  There are still many things I want to be better about.  One of the big ones:  cloth wipes....I was being good about them and I want to add that habit back, because it is soo easy!!  I have been trying to change a little at a time!!  Not only are all these changes environmentally friendly, but they are cost effective, and well better for my baby!!

So back to Bailey, you are sleeping great in your own room and your own bed!  Yes, I am very happy about this (okay I still miss you!).  Bailey, you are doing good though, you go down to sleep without a fight at all, you are quite content...I nurse you, sing to you and you fall asleep.  Sleeping through the night, going to bed at about 8 pm with an early morning wake up-- somewhere between 5- 6:30 am.  You are not so great on the napping front, but we are working on that right now.  It is quite the fight right now, and that is just not so much fun.  I can not complain at all though, I am super proud of you!!  You wake up super happy with a big huge smile for me.  I love it.

Bailey we love all your little sounds, we even love your tantrums.  Your smile makes us smile.  Your laugh makes our hearts melt into pieces and puts the biggest smile on our faces.  You amaze us every single day with all that you are learning to do.  I hope you know how much your Mom and Dad love you, because we love you just that much, never forget it!!  

Auntie Laurie and Bailey

Daddy and his little girl

After bath time

I love my baby!

Bailey and her friend Kenzie

Bailey with her Boyfriend Nathan!

Bailey loves changing table time (especially with Daddy!!)

Valentine's Day 2010

Love you to the moon and back,

Daddy and Mommy

Marvelous Mondays

This Monday is different:  My thoughts for what I am thankful for keep going to my friend Rachel.  Today I would like to honor her 3 little angels, Jaxon Thomas, Colin Alexander, and Courtney Grace.  Rachel is a mommy of 4, she has 3 angel babies Jaxon, Colin, and Courtney, and her fourth baby, Kenzie (whom Bailey adores!).  Rachel is an inspiration and has helped many other bereaved mommies out there with her generous heart.

She started Triplet Butterfly Wings   (http://tripletbutterflywings.blogspot.com/) ,   a site to help other bereaved mommies and daddies.  She does Monarch butterfly releases for babies who have become angels and each baby has their own butterfly.  It is spectacular and beautiful.  She also makes micro preemie hats and burial wraps for many hospitals.  This site also serves to connect many mommies together and with information available.  Rachel does this out of the kindness of her heart, and I am sure many mommies are very thankful for her.         

What Rachel and her trio has taught me: many things.  First, not to assume things, many people are only here for a short amount of time, we need to cherish what time we have together and also, we do not know what other people have gone through or are going through.  This one is important because so many times people speak, and we need to be careful with what we say and our words.  For instance, asking people when they are going to have kids, or is this their first, to a person whom can not have kids, that is a heartbreaking question or to the person who has angel babies, that hurts.  So it is just a reminder to watch words because you just have not stood in the other person's shoes.  Secondly, the trio has taught me to love my baby more than ever.  I think I could list many others, but these are the two for me that come to mind first.

The triplets birthday is tomorrow, and I just thought today I would honor them on this Marvelous Monday and share a little about their Mommy.  For everyone who wants to read more about their story hop on over to Rachel's website (she started Marvelous Mondays) and to Triplet Butterfly Wings.  Thank you Rachel for sharing your story.

To JaCoCo, I know your Mommy loves and misses you guys, but I am sure heaven is perfect and beautiful.  Thank you for teaching me many things.

Marvelous Mondays

It is Monday today... Ready or not, here it comes...

My Friend Rachel has started Marvelous Mondays as a way to take a look at the positive parts of our lives.  Rachel is a friend whom has just entered my life, I enjoy her friendship greatly.  It is a small world, I bought a couple cloth diapers from her through Craigslist.  I am fortunate to have done so.  Marvelous Mondays,  I think this is an awesome idea and I hope that other bloggers out there will participate with us on Mondays (click and link to her site for better directions or click below this post to join) !!  

On this Marvelous Monday I am thankful for Friends.

I have been thinking a lot about what friends are lately.

What defines a friend, is it a person who is always there for you, or someone who is there for you when you are sad, or someone who calls you every week just to say hello, or is a friend someone who only calls once in a while, or the person you never see?

I feel like I have a lot of friends in my life, and the conclusion I have come to is that each friend is put into your life for a different reason.

I am thankful for my friends.  

Life without friends would be sad.

I am happy that I have friends, some of who I have known in my life for a long time, some of whom are new, but still a integral part.

To all my very many friends out there, Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I appreciate the little and big things you all do.  I hope that all my friends know this.

Now it is your turn, to think about friends in your life....

Playdates!

Bailey and I have been enjoying getting together with other Moms and their children.  We have joined a few Mom's groups and look forward to much fun to come.  There are many fun activities such as play dates, picnics, visits to the farm, and even whale watching!!  We met some new friends, Rachel and Kenzington!  I am very happy to meet Rachel because she and I have a lot of things we like to do in common.  We both love to do CRAFTS!!  We have enough project ideas to keep us busy for quite a long while!  I will post some of them as we work.  We also both have a love of cloth diapering, so we have many conversations about that (yeah I know we are weird but hey we are mommies with great intentions!!)  I am lucky to have met Rachel and I am looking forward to many other fun days to come.  Her daughter Kenzie is a doll, I love her!!  

Here is a picture of Bailey and Kenzie hanging around: