Happy Mother's Day!!

Being a Mother is true love.

Bailey thank you teaching me how to be a Mom

Thank you for showing me this love

I do not know what my life would be like without you in it

Mom, Thank you for being a great mother

You are the absolute best

All the time, thinking about us, not yourself

Now, I have an idea about how you really feel about us

When I hold Bailey, I feel what you must have felt

A love that is unconditional and absolutely amazing in every way

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there.

Mothers to babies on earth, Mothers to babies in heaven

Aunts, Grandmas, and Great Grandmas.

Easter this year

This Easter we just shared some family time,

 in a quiet and peaceful way...

Bailey got her first Easter basket, filled with some new toys, books, binkies, and baby spoons to be used at a later date.

  All attention on Bailey.

We sat as a family and played blocks on the ground in the morning.  Bailey loves her new blocks and ball spinner popper toy.  We both laid on the ground, in awe, of our beautiful little girl, who is growing and is so very smart, learning new things every single moment.  We played blocks for a while and popped the balls all over the floor.

Our little family, we love this little girl, more than ever.

  She is the best thing that has happened to both of us.

 Love.

We enjoyed good food, with our whole family.  It was more than nice to see everyone.  My sister, brother, Mom, Dad, and I were all together.  These moments are few, but always well enjoyed.

Bailey enjoyed snuggling with everyone, her aunt, uncle, cousin, grandma, grandpa and great grandparents.

She wore her Easter dress, and looked beautiful, her Great Grandma said she looked like a "little doll".  What a cute baby.

Precious moments all together, always good memories of family together

Happy first Easter Bailey.  You are loved.  Very much.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!!  Bailey, you were not a big fan of the Easter Bunny, it is okay, we totally understand!  We think you are adorable anyways!  Today we will be spending time with family.  It will be great to get to see everyone.

  

Hope everyone has a great Easter, filled with joy and love.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!

Our Valentine's Day Dinner

Tony and I got the chance to go out this year for Valentine's Day without little Bailey!  We choose to go to Suzanne's Cuisine in Ojai!  It was a real treat!!  We have been there for Valentine's Day now 3 years in a row.  This year we had a great dinner out while my Mom and Dad were there to watch Bailey.  Thank goodness for such awesome grandparents!!  It was so nice to be able to eat dinner without juggling Bailey.  Besides having the best food we enjoyed a bottle of wine and had dessert and coffee also!  We enjoyed a very good wine, it was a 2003 Mak Coonawarra (Austrailian wine) which is 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Shiraz, and 17% Cabernet Franc.  It was nice, we are going to buy a bottle for our collection!

My husband is my best friend.  He is always here for me and I can not imagine life without him.  I am glad to have spent my 13th Valentine's Day together with him.  He even got me 24 red roses!!  I feel like a lucky girl!  Thank you Tony!!

Our little Valentine

Bailey you are our little Valentine and we LOVE LOVE LOVE you!!  

We will always love you.

Happy First Valentine's Day!!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!!  

Hope everyone has a day filled with love of friends and family.  

How do I love thee, let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being an ideal Grace. 

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. 

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,--I love thee with the Breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."

-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Bailey we LOVE you soo very much!!  You are what LOVE is all about to us!!

Happy First Valentine's Day to our baby girl!!

And to Tony:  I love being loved by you, you are my very best friend!!

Bailey's First Christmas!!

This year was extra special for us filled with much meaning. Unlike other years where it was mostly about us, this year was all about Bailey, as every year from now on (and of course any other babies we have). Bailey was like my Christmas present that I have wanted for a little while now, so it was really unreal to have her here with us. We did not get each other gifts this year, with the economy, our bills from living and Bailey’s birth, the income difference with me staying home, and well just lack of money we decided to play it low. We really made an effort to cutdown everywhere. My brother, Farrin, Laurie, Tony, and I agreed not to exchange gifts ( I mean what do we need anyways, right!! We all agreed to go out to dinner together--spending time together is better than a gift, the only problem, we still need to do it!!!). On Christmas Eve Tony and I had a nice breakfast together and then headed to my parents for our traditional tamales, beans, rice, and all sorts of yummy food. It was a nice night, it was wonderful having my brother and sister there.

We woke up Christmas morning at like 8 am, OH MY Bailey had slept 8 hours in a row and so had I, thank you Bailey, what a great present for Mommy!! Bailey is an excellent sleeper, so usually she sleeps 6-8 hours in a row, I am very very fortunate!! We all hung out in the bed together, mostly Tony and I marveling at Bailey and her cuteness. Then we headed out to the tree where Santa had brought Bailey “binkies” (Thanks Santa for saving our ears!!). We had a special stocking made with Bailey’s name on it, Santa left her some bath toys, and other little things. Bailey also had MANY other gifts!! She got soo many things!! She got a Doggy named Violet that says her name and sings about her (programmable by USB cord), I think it is soo cool!!

We opened all of Bailey’s presents, then we headed over to my parent’s house! They were excited to see Bailey (as they are EVERY time :)!!) We had an awesome and huge breakfast and then opened presents. Bailey was spoiled this Christmas! So not only did she get all the above fun toys, but she got an exersaucer!! I am soo excited about this one, I have heard that children LOVE them and I hope for a break to get somethings done while she is happy and playing!

We then headed to my Grandpa and Grandmas home (Bailey’s Great Grandma and Grandpa) where we visited and enjoyed some time, we also visited her Uncle Steve and Aunt Stephanie later that day! Bailey got to visit her cousins there, she loves when Sierra and Elaina hold her! It is really neat that Bailey has her Grandparents Anderson soo close, Great Grandpa John, Great Grandparents Anderson, Great Grandparents Woodyard, all of who she has met!! Bailey also has many aunts and uncles who all love seeing her, and many people who have “adopted” her :)! It was nice having family time on Christmas, just hanging out. It was special having Bailey with us even though she was not old enough to really understand. Christmas is about family, about love, and being together, we feel blessed to have all of these things!!

Bailey we hope you enjoyed your first Christmas and can not wait for the years of fun times to come!! We are sure there are many memories to be made!

All I want for Christmas is "binkies" please...

We decided that Bailey needed to go and have her first Santa visit. My Mom, Dad, Tony, Bailey and I ventured to the Thousand Oaks Mall to visit Santa. We dressed Bailey up in her holiday dress, she was too cute!! Bailey was sleeping, so we woke her up just in time!! She was awake and alert. Santa asked what she wanted for Christmas and she said “binkies”, okay so we helped a little!! We had a great time watching her and then enjoyed a nice dinner at The Cheesecake Factory with my parents!! What a great way to start off the Christmas Season! I wonder if Bailey will make the nice list and get “binkies” for Christmas??

Check this out: http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/168423-cyndmarie/

What, No Baby??

Yes, the first time I went out without the baby!!! Tony had a Christmas party for his work, so we decided it would be the perfect opportunity for Bailey to stay with her Grandpa and Grandma Anderson. They were nice enough to come to our home, and let us have a nice dinner out before the party. Tony and I enjoyed a nice dinner at Piatti’s, I even had my first martini in I think about a year or more!! It was good! We then went to the party and had a great time out. It was great to have some couple time. It felt weird not having to think about taking care of Bailey! It was the first time since Bailey has been born that I actually put time into getting myself ready (and Bailey was NOT A HAPPY CAMPER AS THIS HAPPENED!!) It was really nice because I did not have to worry about Bailey at all. I trust my parents with her all the way! So when we got home we were soo happy to see Bailey! I guess she was a good girl for my parents, so that is a good thing!

Thanks Mom and Dad, we had a terrific time!!

THANKSgiving this year

This year I feel like I in particular have so much to be thankful for. First off, I feel very blessed to have a great husband whom is my absolute soulmate and best friend. I do not know how I would have gotten through everything this year with him not here with me. Our newest addition Bailey is the light of our world, we are very Thankful that she is here and healthy. She makes us smile, feel whole, and complete. Happy First Thanksgiving Bailey!!

There are many people who have helped me throughout my pregnancy. In particular, when I had my C-Section there are two people that have been here for me everyday, at all hours. These two people have helped me through my worst, most vulnerable times, but also my happiest moments. They were there as my daughter was born, and were strong when I could not be strong for myself. Tony, and my Mom: Thank you for helping me take care of myself, thus allowing me to take care of my baby. I appreciate everything from the small but large words of encouragement, the hand holding through all the procedures I went through, to helping take care of me, our house, the baby, doing things to make me feel human again, taking me out when I could not drive, going on walks, visiting, and helping me get through the hard first 2 weeks, and EVERYTHING ELSE. With these two people the moments that seemed bad, are a far memory of now happiness. I am thankful to have you both in my life. Most Thankful for all these moments.

Other things that we are thankful for:

For me: my Family; my dad, my mom, my brother, my sister, my husband, my baby daughter Bailey, and my doggie Roxy

For Tony: my wonderful wife, my beautiful daughter, and my dog Roxy

For both of us:

Our Friends: Every one of them, you guys know who you are...

Our Home

A happy marriage and family

and...

Love and Peace