Bubble Beard

If only you could hear the belly laugh that came along with this face!

The small things

Every now and then I come across something that really REALLY inspires me. It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes I get knocked off my feet. This time I have been so moved, inspired, crazy about another blog, and another mother. She knows how to say the things that I have never found the words to say about certain feelings I have.

If you want to read something that will change your life - and if nothing else, you will at least get a good cry AND a taste of life so raw and real...click right here. Be sure to grab a few tissues first, and please leave a comment to tell me what you think.

I have yet to read much of this woman's blog, but everything I have read has related to me in some way or another, in such a beautiful way. I know you other mothers out there will really love it. She sets the bar high!

Motorcycle girl with her frog in the front

Well you can't exactly SEE the frog, but I promise it's right under the pink helmet =)

Breakfast for a fairy

They say that we can expect an earthquake just like the one they had in Japan at anytime. They say to be prepared, but nobody says how. They say to be ready...but how do you get ready for something like that. For now I pray for Japan. And sometimes I wonder if maybe we should move.

New Jean Jacket

Keeping really Busy!!!

We have been busy having fun, and will be even busier next month. My sister got Adelaide a gift certificate to the Playground Gym for two months!!! Thank you so much aunt Jessie - you really didn't have to do that for us!! Today we went to our first "explorers" class and Adelaide had a blast. She is currently not able to hop or jump with two feet, but is good at trying! Today she did lot's of practice jumping and hopping. I can tell that she does gain confidence in her body and abilities with just one of these classes. Tomorrow we are going to try out a "growing yogi" class just to see which one we like best. The yoga class is made for kids her age and might also be really good for her to get more acquainted with her body. Either way, we will be going once a week for the next two months, so I am excited to report her progress! That place is just the perfect thing for this rainy city. She gets so much good exercise and gets to be around other kids.

I also signed her up for a little "ballet for two" class for the month of April. I am really excited to see how she likes that. I guess we will have to go out and find her a tutu now? I have no idea what she is supposed to wear to that kind of a thing. Yesterday she was pretending to be a ballerina, so she does have some idea of what it means.

AND she and Myles will start swimming classes in April. The classes are on Saturday mornings, and I know they will have so much fun together. Adelaide is such a fish. Yesterday I took her swimming at a heated pool. There were other kids that were older that kept diving to the bottom to find toys. She really watched them swim and dive, and she wanted to go under too. I am NOT good at going under the water myself, but didn't want my own issues to effect her feelings, so I held her and made her dive ALL OF THE WAY UNDER. I was so scared, but when I pulled her back up she didn't even cough or fuss at all. She was a bit surprised and her hair was all in her eyes, but she seemed fine with it. I know she will be a good swimmer as she gets older.

One last class will be my birth doula training that starts in April as well. Two nights a week from 6-9 pm and one full Saturday. That will last two months, and then I will need to do a bunch of other stuff, but my training will pretty much be done! I'm so excited to start the process. And to add to all of this, I'm on call Friday, Saturday AND Sunday this week - so right now I'm really hoping there isn't a need for me for all of those days. I am kicking myself for volunteering to work so much this month, but I know there is still so much to learn, and next month is really not so bad. Last weekend was my first weekend on call, and there were NO babies...so I didn't get to/have to work at all. This will be interesting as far as income is concerned! It's a weird feeling knowing that you are on call and just waiting for someone to call you... It's going to take some getting used to!

We are really sad to say that we won't be watching Jai on Wednesdays anymore. I haven't really explained it to Adelaide yet. They have moved about 2 hours away so we are really excited to go visit them and also see them when they come here, but it won't be such a regular thing. Adelaide has been talking about him non stop, and she keeps saying "Jai jai comes on WEDNESDAYS"...but I just don't know how to tell her that he won't be anymore =(. I guess that is part of life right? I think that's why I've decided to sign her up for so many other things. Gotta keep the girl busy and out of the house!

Putting good use to their rain boots

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!



Adelaide and I made this hat at Pottery Barn for Kids today. We used a paper plate, piece of white paper, and some red streamers. So simple and so cute. She has been wearing it and showing it off all day.



Playground Gym for Gigi's birthday

We were invited to a super fun birthday party at The Playground Gym. Adelaide had so much fun, and I really saw her grow in that little time we were there. It was amazing and so fun. They set up all kinds of things for her to challenge her body and her balance. I think her favorite part was the parachute. This was also the first time to see her have to follow directions given by another adult, and I think she did a great job. You could really tell how proud of herself she was after accomplishing some of the tasks. They have some other great classes there, but the place is expensive! If anyone wants to get Adelaide a gift for Easter or another holiday, please consider a gift card to the Playground Gym!! Right now she is in the age range for yoga, and another parent/child class. They offer one free class, so we are hoping to try it out soon and see how she likes it.

Sitting on the red line - she looks so proud!!

Backs against the wall!

Broccoli anyone??

Our friends. They are such a cute family. I knew Mac way back in my high school days.



so maybe she doesn't ALWAYS follow directions!?

Buddha and Adelaide BFF

Daddy drew this for Adelaide

Snow in February

Our goodnight prayers

This is a Waldorf prayer that I got from the book "Heaven on Earth". We light the candle and say the prayer, and then Adelaide blows the candle out. It's a very special part of the day and I think a great way to end the night. I will post the words to the prayer below =)

Guardian Angels whom we love
Shine on us from above
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the lord my soul to keep
and in the morning when I wake
show me the path of LOVE to take

Amen
blessings on our sleep

More amazing dance moves

Keep your eyes peeled for the cutest little butt wiggle towards the end. Sorry it's so dark!

Happy Valentines Day 2011

She is so big, and my heart is so full. Let's hear it for LOVE!

It's a hard knock life

Myles "doing laundry"

Valentines Day Picture Preview

Here are a few of the shots from our Valentines Day shoot that didn't make it to our card. Adelaide is the best model ever. I will post the winner on Valentines Day!!

This one (below) is the one Adelaide said she wanted me to use for our cards. She is too funny!

The job of my dreams

My job at the Birth Center is exactly what I need right now. I get to be around midwives, mama's and babies that are brand new. It's in a beautiful Victorian house with lots of charm. I get to see this world of Birth that I have been drawn to for so long, and now I'm in it! I feel like I am right where I need to be. I am going to continue with my birth doula training as well...I have been dreaming of doing it for many years now, so I may as well try. Right now Adelaide is my number ONE and I like that I can schedule around Myles schedule with this job. With birth, I could be gone for days at a time. Some women are in labor for a LONG time. Am I ready to be away for that much time in one chunk? Not really.

Here is my favorite part - I have come to realize that all women sound the same when they are laboring (naturally). I think this is very healing for me. I remember feeling so loud and crazy when I was in labor with Adelaide, and now I know that it was normal! I know that sounds crazy, and I know that not EVERY woman may sound that way...but I have had the chance to hear several women in labor now...and I love it. What a tough job that is, to bring a baby down and out of your womb! And the other amazing thing is that I get to be with them soon after that has happened. I get to see women becoming mothers, and babies taking their first breaths and living their first days. What a precious and special time in each of their lives that is..and I...ME...I get to be there with them. And then I get to see the mama glowing and healthy. It's refreshing to get to see the amazing after part, after hearing the process. It makes me feel like all of that pain really is normal, that our bodies really are made to birth our babies (like I always knew), and that with the help of a few amazing women, we really are capable of doing anything.

It also cements my feelings on out of hospital births. There has already been a baby that I met that had to be resuscitated at birth. Midwives have the same exact equipment to resuscitate a baby as the hospital has. They are just as well (if not better) trained to use it, and it works! I am so proud to call myself an employee of this amazing center and I can't wait to see where this job of my dreams takes me.