Authentic Food

I am looking forward to many things on our impending Mexican vacation. Things like snorkeling, spending uninterrupted time with my husband and reading a good book on the beach. Ryan, on the other hand, has other things in mind. Things that include menu items from hole in the wall restaurants. (as well as snorkeling and spending time with his fabulous wife, of course!) He's all about getting real Mexican food while we are in Cabo.

We laugh at how menu items offered to us do not fall into the category of 'authentic'. Like a deep dish pizza in an Italian restaurant. Or a gordita from Taco Bell. So when I saw this video it quickly became our favorite! I wonder if we will overhear any Americans asking for guacamolito sauce while in Cabo???

The Cure

I took my in-between-stores self shopping yesterday and found a store that fit just right.

Banana Republic!

It's gets better. It was not only a Banana Republic (which does not carry pants or shorts with elastic waistbands or have a Misses section), it was a Banana Republic outlet store!

Can't beat stylish clothes that fit at outlet prices. Actually, I take that back.....the only thing better than an outlet store is a sale at an outlet store!

I am one happy girl. Oh wait, I'm not a 'girl'....but I'm not a 'misses' either! Sweet!

In Between Sizes

What is it about going on a trip that makes a woman decide that she needs new clothes? I'm going over what my wardrobe will allow me to pack and it makes me want to get just a few more things. Maybe a t-shirt or two, and a pair of shorts or capris. That's all, not much.

However, I have a delima. Where do I shop??? Now that I am in my thirties and have had 3 children, I feel like I'm in limbo as to where to buy clothes.

I can't really buy things from the juniors section - too tight, short or revealing, and overall not my style.

And the Misses section is, um, too 'old'ish for me. I'm not ready for cotton knit printed tops or blouses. Am I even old enough to wear a blouse?

Then where can I shop? I am feeling like my time at Old Navy may be over. Pants labeled 'skinny fit' aren't something that will flatter me. And 'low rise' is just plain scary to think about. Then there is the 'boyfriend Tee', of which I don't relate either!

This reminds me when I was about 10 or 11 and I found myself between the Girls section and Juniors. Girls was too little girlish but Juniors was still a bit too old for me.

*sigh* I think I am struggling with my Momhood again. There's got to be a way to be a mom and still stylish! Maybe I should stick with solid colored T-shirts and jean capris.

Destination: Outta Here!

Ryan and I made our decision a few months ago as to where we would go with our flyer miles.

Cabo San Lucas!!!

The week after next is when we are going. We will take off next Friday night and drive up to Modesto, where we will say 'hi' to family as we slow down and drop off the kids before heading to San Francisco to catch our flight. We can't wait!!!

In preparations for our trip we each got a snorkel set with fins. I remember on our honeymoon to Maui (13 years ago this week!) we rented snorkel gear for the week. It was fun to have the gear in our car so we could use it anytime we wanted during that our time there. This time we figure we'd spend about the same amount in renting it than it would to just buy it here and take it with us, so that is what we have done.

In other preparations, Ryan has been brushing up on his Spanish with a coworker. He's pretty good about picking up languages and I think he'll do fine for us when we go. Maybe I should do some of my own brushing up. I took some Spanish in high school, it can't be so hard, right? Maybe this video will help me out since I've already done the first semester!

It's That Time Again

Yes, it's time to celebrate another year. Another year has past and the number has been updated.

Isabel is 4!!!

Sweet Issy woke up to balloons all over the floor and now declares that she is (rightly) 4! We will go to the park with friends to celebrate her big day. There will be a bunch of kids running around, getting wet in the interactive fountains and eating lots of cupcakes. It's going to be a great day!

Happy Birthday Isabel!!!

I'm still having a hard time believing that my baby is 4. But if 4 means a completely potty trained little girl, then I'll take it! *big grin*

Super Sunday

I know that today is Wednesday but I can't seem to forget my fabulous Sunday afternoon. And you know what, I don't want to either! This is why....

After church, my good Michigan-turned-SoCal friend and I were going to have some girl time. The previous weekend our husbands took the liberty to see the new Transformer movie, so we were going to see a chick flick. We were. Until my friend threw out the suggestion of going boogie boarding instead!

Oh. My. Did we have fun!!! We were at the beach for a good 3 hours and enjoying our kid-free status. The waves weren't too bad either. *wink wink*

Ahhhh.......I could use a good Super Sunday about, oh, once a week!

**our kids will have VBS in a few weeks, guess how my friend and I will spend our free time that week??

Once again

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ~ Philippians 4:12-13

Do you know what the definition of being contented is? Yes, I know what it means, but I thought I'd look it up just the same...

satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

I have a confession to make. I struggle with being content. There are times that I think I have it licked, only to have it rear it's ugly head and become an unitchable itch. You know, one of those deep-down-can't-get-to type of itches? Yeah, that's what being content is like for me at times. And this is one of those times.

The first big struggle with contentedness came when I was first married and living in a teeny apartment. I could not wait to move out and into a nicer place. Other aspects of my life were not what I had envisioned them to be and in my mind things would be better if we could just move to a better place. But in the Lord's wisdom and grace, we did not move. Instead, I had to learn that being content was a choice. It was not something that could be bought, or rented or moved. Rather, it was a conscience decision that I was going to have to accept where I was and be ok with it. It also came down to a matter of trust. Trust in the Lord and that He had me there for a reason and remember that his plans for me are for my good.

That was my first adulthood struggle with contentedness and choosing to be happy with where the Lord had me. I've had other bouts with it since, some easier to accept than others. And today I find myself in that well worn spot once again, struggling to accept where I am instead of where I'd like to be.

Just as before, I need to put my trust and focus in the Lord. From where I am now, I can see that the thing I want is just beyond my reach. It's almost there and I can just about put my fingertips on it, but I can't. And this is where I must make my choice....do I spend my strength and emotions on something I can't quite get? or, do I give it to the Lord and trust him with it? Trust Him to take care of it, which could mean it remains out of reach or even worse out of sight? Can I do that again, trust Him with my dreams and hopes? I believe I can. For just as Paul said in the above verse....I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And once again I place myself in His capable hands, and along with my future and hopes, my heart.

Cause for Celebration

This summer marks our 3rd anniversary of being in our Southern California location. Much has happened, and things we had anticipated have not. These few years have been a mixed bag. For starters, we thought that we would be in the rental house for only one year then buy. But then the bottom fell out of the housing market and we find ourselves still here, in our lovely rental. Who knows, maybe this is the year that ushers us into homeownership again.

Also, for three years we have be sort of on the lonely side, seeking friends, and have yet to find a good 'couple' friend. When we moved from Michigan we left behind some really great friendships, and as we have found a good church to be a part of, it's still been difficult to find a married couple in the same stage of life that Ryan and I both connect with. However, the Lord is quite resourceful and in His way of working and moving has brought some friends from Michigan to us! Last month one of our really good friends moved out here and are now within a few miles of where we are. Get this....in Michigan, we lived 5.9 miles from this couple and now we are 5.6 miles! How amazing is that?!

So yesterday as we celebrated our country's independence, we gathered with good friends and rejoiced together in all the Lord has given us......a country we can freely worship our Lord, gainful employment that provides for our needs, and renewed friendship. Our God is so good!

Caleb and his good buddy watching the firework show from our backyard

Just An Observation

If you go to the beach with friends....

and in your party is included a little girl who has been having potty issues.....

when those worlds collide.....

that is where sand poop is found.

I Never Want To Hear The Word Poop Again!

There is a reason why I have not shouted from the rooftops my joy of being done with potty training.

There is also a reason why my cup of ice cream has an extra scoop tonight.

And those reasons are one in the same - I'm not done dealing with potty training issues!

Today could aptly be named "Deanne's terrible, horrible, rotten, no-good, day". But really it began yesterday.....or did it??...

Tuesday was the second day of swim lessons for all my kids. I have been looking forward to this summer and the swimming lessons because it is the first year that Isabel would join in on the swimming lesson fun. Well, she could have joined in last year, after she turned 3, but it would have required some hard-core potty training on my part (and hers too) as swim diapers are strictly prohibited. I spared myself (and Isabel) the torture of such rigors and waited for this year to begin the lessons. However, she managed to throw a wrench into my well-laid plans. And yesterday the entire pool was cleared out because someone's little angel pooped in the pool. Not only was the entire pool cleared out and lessons canceled for the rest of the day, but the lessons for the first half of the next day were canceled as well.

Now, I was not completely convinced that it was my sweet little baby who was the responsible party. But when I talked to her about it, she flat out said it was her. Still, I held out hope that it wasn't her. She must have been too sensitive to the situation and that is why she was so forth coming. Of that I was convinced.

But then she had another 'accident' that night.

Then again today when we were at our community pool.

And again after we got home from Mae and Caleb's swim lessons (I omit Isabel from the lessons because we pulled her from the class for the summer - let's not mention it anymore, I'm in mourning).

So, if anyone wonders why I have not yet jumped in exultation over having diapers and the like behind me, please note - I. Am. Not. Done.

I've known for quite a while now that Isabel possesses mass quantities of cuteness. And I've always wondered if there was a reason for it. As if her being so stinkin' cute (no pun intended) would someday save her life. I believe that time has come.

I Demand A Recount!

Last weekend Mae experienced her first wedding. On the drive home we talked about it, and I wondered if this would be the beginning of her own dreams of what her wedding will be like. So I asked her questions about what she saw and what she thought. And tried to help her understand a little bit more of what took place. Then she asked me some questions in return, questions about my own wedding. Mae remembers watching the video of my wedding and she made a comment that, when I thought it through, made me hold my breath. It was one of those moments when you realize how quickly they really do grow and how much you want to resist it and demand that time slow down.

Mae: Why did Grandpa look younger at your wedding?

Me: Well, Mae, that was 13 years ago. Everybody looks younger when you look back. Just think of how young you will look when you look back on yourself now, in 13 years!

Mae: (silence, as she thinks about it)

Me: (silence, as I calcualte and realize that in 13 years my first born will be 21!!!!)

And So It Begins....

Even though my kids have been out of school for almost two weeks, today feels like the first day of summer vacation. You see, the kids and I have been on the move, on the road and busy since they finished the school year. But today is the first real day of being home as the summer stretches out before us. However will I we survive the next eight weeks???

Today, for starters, will be chocked full of fun events such as (but not limited to); grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning up abandoned toys and getting together with the neighbor kids.

The rest of our summer is also full of activities and things to do, places and people to see. This will include two weeks of daily swim lessons (to begin next week!), park dates, free-movie viewings, driving to Modesto (for the third time), vacation bible school, and using our community pool.

And suddenly I don't quite feel so overwhelmed with the summer that awaits. I think we will survive quite nicely with our arsenal of stuff! Above the things on our list, I will remind myself of Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Truly, it will be the daily grace of God that we will make it through each day, through the summer, together. As it should be!

Top Ten Tuesday - Spring Cleaning

I've been a busy lady these days. Spring has sprung and I find myself cleaning things that haven't been touched in.....well, I'm not going to say how long ('cause that's just embarrassing!). Over the past month or so I have cleaned many a room and too-dirty furnishings. Things like;

1. two bathrooms
2. three nasty ceiling fans
3. three grungy light fixtures
4. two icky lamps
5. vacuuming every edge in just about every room
6. vacuuming window sills and slider door canals (for a lack of a better term)
7. underneath furniture and cushions

And now that my house is spic and span (until the kids come home, that is) I have now used and consumed too much of the following;

8. Windex, paper towels, Soft Scrub, electricity
9. my own muscles (small ones in weird places that I had no idea existed) and personal energy
10. coffee

Hopefully you didn't get bored with my list, but maybe (hopefully?) you were inspired! Or perhaps you'd prefer to read other Top Ten lists? Whatever the reason, head over to Oh Amanda and check them out, and/or create your own!

Spring Cleaning

Spring is definitely in my system these days. I don't know what it is, but I've been cleaning and organizing like never before. And. I. Love. It!!!

The latest project that has me feeling good is my bedroom. There has been one area in particular that has needed attention but I just haven't known what to do about it. When we first moved in, there were a couple boxes that I just didn't know what to do with. The contents were not something that I felt I could store in the garage, so they have been sitting in my bedroom for almost three years.

Until now.

The other week my cleaning-frenzied eye couldn't ignore this area any longer. So I went to work. At first it started out as just a "I'll clean off the dresser and put a few things away". And one thing led to another and by the time I was done I had pictures hung and furniture moved. I was so pleased with myself, I could bust.

And I could hardly wait for Ryan to come home so I could show off my days labor.

However, Ryan doesn't like it when I move furniture. But I actually thought I'd be safe this time since the furniture moved was minimal and the bed was in the same spot.

I was wrong.

However, to his credit, I did not have to point out the changes. Ryan noticed it right away. Although he was pleased with the clean space, he also could not ignore the mismatch of our hand-me down furniture and uncoordinated picture frames.

These things are not my fault. I'm just pleased that it all turned out well. I am only using what I have to work with here! So, I suppose I can't fault him for not being head-over-heels proud of my days accomplishment. He did say he liked my picture arrangement once I pointed out how I laid it out.

Here's the before and after, what do you think??

Before:

this picture was taken 2 years ago, but minus a box or two,
this is what it looked like before I got started!

After:

the bags of clothes next to the dresser will be gone next week
as they will be given to a friend for her son. and the laundry basket
will be gone too. it will, it will!

as I pointed out to Ryan, see how the group of pictures on the right
is arranged in the same size area as the larger picture on the left?
I'm particularly proud of that layout, and it took me a while
to figure it out and make it work!

Hey, Who Turned Out the Lights?

Yesterday I met a friend at the gym and spent some quality time with my heart rate and sweat. I just love having a friend to workout with! She helps me stay longer than my typical 20 to 25 minutes. I'm still in awe that I am on the treadmill for an hour! Having someone to talk with is a major help (not to mention a bonus!).

So there I was, with my friend, on the treadmill, happily talking away about some trivial motherhood account when all went black and we stopped in our tracks. The power had gone off. Luckily for the people on the elliptical machines, they didn't need power to keep going. But we were motionless, without help. My friend and I stood there and waited for a bit, but the power did not come back on. We made our way to the stationary bikes instead (again, no power needed for those puppies!).

After riding the bikes for 30 minutes, we did some wieghts then called it quits. Good thing too, as we past a childcare worker and she told us that the childcare room was getting stuffy with the lack of a/c and fans to circulate the air. My friend and I made our way to get our kids and relieve the room of three more bodies making heat.

As I was getting Isabel situated in the truck, she was telling me how the power went off. She told me that the tv's went off. And the lights. Then she noticed that it was light outside and promptly told me that the 'sun is still on!'. I love her observations!

Month of Mae - Mae Day!!!

The day before Mae was born I stayed home from work. I had been having irregular brackston hicks for weeks (with no pain) but that morning, as I got ready for work, I thought maybe I was having some more and wondered if it was 'the day'. It was 3 days before my due date, so I was hopeful. Turns out it was nothing, but I did enjoy a nice day at home.

Early the next morning, say around 3:00, I was quickly awoken when my water broke. I was so excited! I woke Ryan up, then called the doctor (who told me to make my way to the hospital). We took our time getting ready as we had learned in our birthing class that most first-time labors went slow and there was reason to rush to the hospital. After I had eaten some breakfast and gotten dressed and ready to leave, I called my parents to let them know that 'today was a great day to have a baby!'

just before leaving for the hospital we took this picture

And we were off!!!!

We got to the hospital around 7:00 that morning. I could feel some contractions, but nothing with any pain, yet. I remember in my birthing class, seeing a chart with varying degrees of happy faces, ranging from very smiley to a a serious/unhappy face. I walked in the hospital with a full smiley face. I was happy and excited to finally to this show on the road!


In fact, I was quite excited about everything. The hospital we were at was like a nice hotel and there would be no room changing at all during the course of my stay. My room was a one-stop shop, the only time I would leave would be when I checked out with my baby in my arms. And it was a nice hotel hospital room too! The room had updated everything, from the carpet, furniture and colors to the jet tub in the bathroom. In fact, I was looking forward to using that jetted tub!

A couple hours after arriving, my contractions still weren't anything to complain about. I could feel the tightening but with minor discomfort. The nurse suggested I either talk a walk around the halls or take a bath to maybe speed things up. Hmmmm.....walking halls with socks and a hospital gown - or - check out the jetted tub???

I opted for the bath. Thank you very much.

It must have worked. As I was in the bath, my contractions went from minor discomfort to uncomfortable to GET ME OUT OF THE TUB!!!

I didn't really have a birth plan. I'm a 'go with the flow kind of gal', so I figured we'd make decisions as they came depending on the circumstances. I had thought of forgoing the epidural though. My sister in law had had two babies and all she had for meds was something to take the edge off. Sounded good to me. So, there I was (out of the bath by this point) sitting in a rocker talking to the nurse about meds. I told her I'd like to take the edge off. She was fine with that, but did mention something about it wearing off by the time I need to start pushing.

Um, WHAT?! No. There will be no wearing off of drugs! Please give me an epidural. Thank you!

So, around 10 o'clock is when my happy face went from 'smiley face' to 'hurts a whole lot'. But by 10:30 I got my epidural (or 'hapidural' as my good friend called it) and I was back to my super happy face, albeit a bit scared and tired.

Seems things progressed quite well after that. Not that I felt anything. Mostly I rested and waited for my doctor to check me, then tell me any news of my progression. Shortly before 1:00, they started prepping me for birth. They reconfigured the bed and I got into postion. And I said an absolute NO to the mirror. Ewe.

Around 1:00 I was pushing. I pushed for about 15 minutes and she was out! There she was, all red and squirmy and crying. Our Mae Elisabeth.

And our lives were changed in an instant. At exactly 1:16 on the afternoon of May 18, 2001.

Month of Mae - Waiting

The word was out and our families and friends all knew our exciting news. I was pregnant! Now all I had to do was wait. Wait for my tummy to get big. Wait for food cravings. Wait to wear pants with lots of elastic and 'panels' in the front (then wait to not have to wear them any. more.). Wait for my readiness to kick in. But we all know that no matter how much one prepares, no one is ever truly prepared for what comes next.

My pregnancy was, for the most part, uneventful. I was fortunate to not get morning sickness, although I tried to always eat at the first sign of hunger (which was about every hour, so it seemed. can you say 'annoying'?!). However, around the 20 week mark I got real bad pains in the area of my kidney. This was when I realized my threshold for pain and what happened when I reached that threshold. It made me sick. We never really found out what the pain was since I couldn't have x-rays due to my condition. But it was either a kidney stone that I later passed (I doubt that it was it was) or it was the baby pressing on something and cutting off the flow from my kidney. The pain would come and go, but I found that if I laid on my side (the opposite from the one that hurt) then the pain would go away within minutes. This was when I also learned that although I may be pregnant and not allowed to take simple things like ibprofen for a headache, that I was allowed (given!) vicoden. Crazy huh?

This was also the time that I had the long awaited ultrasound. Ryan and I had decided to find out the gender of our baby. We figured why not be surprised before the baby was born. Although we would tell everyone the gender, the kicker was that we had also decided not to reveal the chosen name. So, we found out that we were having a girl, but mum on her name! I'm glad we kept that bit to ourselves, it was fun to have this little secret between us. It was also nice to not get negative feedback on our chosen name, for it's rude to say such things about the name after the baby is born (so I discovered).

The name picking process was difficult. Never before had we both had to agree on something like this in our marriage. I don't why it was so hard for Ryan to accept the names I liked! This concept escapes me (and him as well, apparently). But it wasn't too hard, not really. We chose the name Mae out of honor of Ryan's grandmother who passed away when I was about 5 months along. It was her middle name, and we tended to like classic names so it was perfect. Mae's middle name, Elisabeth, came from our mutual love of the movie Pride and Prejudice and it's heroine . The spelling of the middle name was us trying to make it a little different.

I never got really big when pregnant. Although I would have disagreed with that statement at the time.

Here I was at 7 months. This was taken after my baby showers from family and friends in California.













This picture was taken about a week before Mae came. The day before Mother's Day.



Not too big and not too bad for a young mom-to-be. I chalk it up to being in my twenties and being my first pregnancy. It would be the only time I was 'small'(ish) during pregnancy. *sigh*

The thing I enjoyed most about being pregnant was food. I've always been the type of person that ate for survival and not much for enjoyment, and it was fun to get a craving and fulfill it. My cravings never lasted for very long and sometimes I never knew I was craving it until I started eating it. Like the time I grabbed a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos from the lunchroom.....oh boy were those the best tasting Doritos I had ever had!!! The next day, when I sympathetic co-worker bought me a bag, the chips were good but not the best thing in the world, not like they had been the day before. That was my new thing to say about food 'the best thing in the world'. Other food items that filled the category during my pregnancy was; Vernor's Ginger Ale (no other brand worked), beef jerky, Jiffy blueberry muffins, biscuits and gravy, and orange sherbet ice cream. I've never enjoyed food more than when pregnant with girls (for some reason food was never 'the best thing in the world' when I was expecting Caleb).

The weekend before Mae's birth day eight years ago, Mother's Day 2001

I will never forget my first Mother's Day. Although, at the time I didn't consider my own claim on the day as I wasn't technically a mother yet. I remember my neighbor wishing me a happy Mother's Day as I sat on my front porch in my new rocking chair. I was enjoying my new rocker, waiting for the time that I'd sit there with my new baby, and it was going to be any day I was so sure! That year Mother's Day was a week before my due date, May 20th. And I was certain that I'd deliver early. My reasoning was that My mother delivered her two babies early, 6 weeks for my brother and 2 weeks early for me. So it only made sense that I'd deliver early too.

Pregnant women should not put their hopes in false things such as early delivery.

But it turns out that I was going to deliver early, just not as early as I had thought......

Snippets

Conversations, things overheard, or little things spoken by little persons in our home....

We were taking a walk the other night after dinner (we can do that now that it stays light longer) and as we walked we could here the sound of the crickets starting up their nightly song. Isabel heard it too.....and she declared hearing the 'cripets'. But, no, we can't 'pep' (pet) them.

~~~~~~~~

Praying with Caleb at bedtime......he was concerned for his friend Jake, who wasn't feeling well....Dear God, please heal Jake and his stinky breath.

~~~~~~~~

Isabel, out of the blue one morning says......I can't like spiders. I like bunnies. Me too, Isabel. Me too.

~~~~~~~~

Standing in our master bathroom, combing Isabel's hair....

Me: I love you Isabel.

Isabel: I luff you too!

Me: (enjoying the moment and feeling warm and fuzzy from hearing such sweetness from my baby girl)

Isabel: You go poo-poo Mama?

Me: (inwardly - what??!! what just happened to the precious moment we were having? and no!, Mama doesn't do stuff like that!) *sigh* end of precious moment.

Month of Mae - Breaking The News

When Ryan and I been married for 4 years we had already been through quite a bit. The first 3 years we were focused on Ryan going to school and graduating. After his graduation, he got his first job in his field, and this job moved us to Portland, Oregon. During those early years, we were fortunate to not get a lot of questions from family or friends about when we would start a family. Most people were considerate to allow us to focus on surviving our first years of marriage and getting Ryan through college.

However, it was only a matter of time before the expansion of our little family would begin.

In the fall of 2000, we had celebrated four years of marriage and our first full year of living in Portland. Ryan's job was going well and I was doing alright at my own. At that time I was driving a company car, so Ryan decided to sell one of our vehicles and replace it with a sporty Mazda Miata. We knew this was not a good family car, but at the moment it was just Ryan and I, and we didn't need the extra room. There was no need for a backseat, not for a young couple such as ourselves!

Little did we know that just about the time we bought this zoomy addition that there would soon be another...in about 9 months.

We weren't trying to start a family, but we weren't exactly not trying to either! But it was still a little surprising to find out that a baby was coming. After the initial shock, we began to think of a creative way to tell our family and friends. A phone call just wasn't fun enough, it had to be inventive and original!

So this is what we came up with. Ryan took some pictures of our new car along with a borrowed car seat from our neighbors. Then he made a card and we mailed it out!

the front of the card

the inside

We had fun telling everyone with our cute little card. It was the perfect way to tell everyone who was far away. And I think everyone enjoyed it too! Now all we had to do was get ready, as ready as any first-time-parents-to-be can be.

The Month of Mae

Where did the first part of 2009 go? Seriously, didn't I just celebrate the closing of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 just the other day?! I blame the kids for this warp speed of time, for time has never flown by so fast until I had children. See? It's all their fault.

For example, when I was younger I would anticipate the coming of a holiday or my birthday and it would take for. ev. er. And now, Christmas is here before I can pack away the decorations!

The month of May is always a bit of a wake up call for me. It is a month that changed my life like no other. For eight years ago I was expecting my first child. And we all know that you are never the same after that. So, to commemorate this monumental and momentous occasion, all this month I will be posting about my first child, Mae. I'm going to try to recapture in pictures and stories of how she entered my life and how we prepared along the way.

So stay tuned!