An almost grad celebration.

It was an eventful weekend.  We started it off Friday evening with the UCI FEMBA (aka, fully employed MBA) program's awards banquet.  We asked our friends the Morgan's to stay with Chloe while we met up with the rest of Kevin's classmates at the Newport Marriot for dinner and awards.  We were so happy to know our babe was in good hands and I'm sure it was good practice for Chris and Lisa, who will become parents later this summer.  We were glad to hear Chloe was on her best behavior.  We enjoyed time reminiscing about the last three years with the fellow soon-to-be grads.  They are an amazing group and we have met some incredible lifelong friends. 

The countdown to graduation is on, 19 days til graduation!

Erin and Joel.

Raj and Alpa.

Jenna and Matt.

Many of the A-mazing group A students.

Alpa, Kevin and Julie, class representative extraordinaire.

Kevin felt a little out of place...

...so I stepped in.  These ladies are great!

S+N=Love.

Saturday we celebrated the engagement of our dear friends Sammy and Nicole.  Their engagement party was so lovely.  Food, drinks, desserts, gorgeous flora, great music and a cozy outdoor setting.  It was such a wonderful way to spend the day.  The best part was seeing two people so happy together.  You could feel the love of everyone there in the air.

The handsome couple Sammy + Nicole and their dog, Purnie.

Sammy's Mom Bette and Chloe, were so smitten.

Childhood friends.

Wanna see more?  Check it out: An Engagement Party.

Still Adjusting.

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” 
- Rajneesh


I've been in a blogging rut lately.  The days have come and gone and I find myself totally burnt out and lacking blog inspiration.  I had a realization this week as I felt kind of grumpy.  I'm still adjusting to a new way of life.  I am learning to let go of a to-do list and flow with the day more organically.  Which can be tough when you've been trying to accomplish something for over a week.  It sounds silly but some of those small tasks can give a great sense of accomplishment when much of the day is all about feedings, diaper changes and hopefully nap time.  

I was so naive before having a baby thinking that by around six months I'd have a routine and get what motherhood was all about.  How wrong was I?  Here we are nearing month eight and I feel like my feet are just beginning to touch ground.  So much in life has changed and some days I wonder, do other parents feel like there is some kind of adjustment period before life settles into your new normal?  

Nap time is still a major challenge around here.  Chloe is very active, a light sleeper and still likes to sleep in my arms.  I remind myself at least once a day that she won't do that forever and to enjoy it but it's still tough some days.  For the last week or two Chloe has sleeping (mostly) through the night.  I have to say even getting up once in the night for her to nurse feels luxurious.  When I think back to the nights of every two hour feedings my eyes almost well up with tears.  How lovely those early weeks and months of her newborn tinyness were but how I ached for sleep almost 24 hours a day.  I'm happy to say I'm feeling at least a little more rested these days.  Or maybe I'm just used to sleep deprivation now?  

Now I find myself adjusting more on a personal level.  Some days feeling like I'm totally failing at motherhood, when the whole day seems to be spinning out of orbit and nothing seems to keep my babe content all day long.  Those are the days where I ache for even a quiet moment alone and I think to myself how did my mom do this with three children?  Even two is impressive.  Then the very next day is simple.  Mealtime, nap time, playtime, bedtime all flows with lots of giggles in between.  Those days I see life through her eyes and feel refreshed and excited about just snuggling, learning new things and being together.  I guess maybe that is the way life is. 

I'm sure I'm not the first mama to feel this way, but I never have heard anyone mention an adjustment period.  When does life feel like a new kind of normal?

This sounds so cynical.  You know how much I adore this girl.  How could you not love this face?

My first Mother's Day Brunch.

Claire's at the Museum is our go-to favorite breakfast spot.  We became fan's of this historic seaside building when visiting the art museum when we first moved to Long Beach about 4 years ago, it's been a favorite ever since.  Kevin knew it was just the place for our celebration.  We were all pretty tired but it was the perfect quiet morning date, just us three.

It was Chloe's first time there.  She was so well behaved, I wondered why we hadn't gone to brunch together earlier.

I feel so lucky to be a little family together.

A favorite new trick.

Chloe's first encounter with sculpture.  I hope she'll be a museum nerd like me.

Our Mothers.

“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.”
- Abraham Lincoln

These two women, our Mothers are pretty extraordinary.  If you know them, you know the kind of love, commitment and care they give everyone they know.  You can only imagine how that is magnified for their children.  They have both been giving, giving and giving for 29 years now (yep Kevin and I will both be 30 this year).  It's incredible to watch the love they have for their families continue to grow.  I can see so much joy in their eyes when they are with Chloe.  I could go on and on about their beauty, knowledge, perseverance and strength.  When it really comes down to it, Kevin and I say at least weekly how lucky, blessed and thankful we are to have them in our lives. 

Can you feel all the grandma love or what?

We spent Sunday in Temecula celebrating our Mothers and all they mean to us.  Peter cooked up a delicious meal and we dined at the Locklin's.  The day was busy and we were back in Huntington Beach less than 24 hours later but we were so glad to have that time together.  It was so fun to be celebrated as a Mama too this year.

Naptime?

I'm noticing a little Mother-Daughter resemblance in this one.

A lovely little babe asleep in my arms; the perfect way to end the day.

At the Zoo.

First trip to the zoo.

Today we took an impromptu visit to the Santa Ana Zoo with our friends from The Little Gym.  They called this morning to invite us and we decide to pack up and join the fun.  It was a great afternoon to be outdoors and spend time with friends.  This was Chloe's first trip to the zoo.  At this point I enjoyed it more than she did but soon she'll be able to check out all the animals.  The zoo was small and quaint and had such a great nature feel to it. It was great to spend time with these ladies. All four of these babies side by side was so cute.

Kristy & Alyssa. - Denay & Michael.

Amy & Dakota.

The cuteness hurts.

Up Early.

But guess who isn't?  Kevin and Chloe are still sleeping and guess what?  Our little bloom slept from 7pm to 5am.  Then fell back asleep after nursing.  I've already showered and had breakfast and it's 7:15am.  Perhaps this is my early Mother's Day gift?  I'd embrace this sleep routine with open arms. 

I'm downstairs checking up on some favorite blogs.  I'll confess they are sort of like my morning news.  I learned years ago that watching news just puts me in a funk.  It just is not my cup of tea.  (I do however keep up with major events online.)  I prefer to start my morning on a positive note. 

There hasn't been much to blog lately.  Life has been simple and nearly picture-less for a about a week.  We've been busy. 

Kevin had midterms last night.  You heard me right, midterm, on his last term.  We are over the hump.  Let the countdown begin!  I can't wait for his commencement and to celebrate all he has accomplished.  And I love ceremony, for so many reasons.  I tell you, this man has perseverance and loves to learn.  I lovingly told him that after a year off from school he can consider going back for another degree if he likes.  But for that year it will be family time.  He anticipates the change with excitement.  There is nothing he wouldn't do for more time with us.

Most days this week Chloe and I have been on the search to escape the heat.  Even here seaside the days have been in the 80's and 90's.  Which I love.  But we get pretty toasty during the day.  So we've tried:  swimming, a drive around the neighborhood with the AC on, perusing local shops, The Little Gym for a tumble and lots of walks.  We've tried the beach but Chloe is not totally old enough yet.  She cries after about 30 minutes.  We'll try again soon.  I'm still on my reorganize, de-stacking  mission.  Slowly but surely.

I just heard the babe awaken.  Time for breakfast.

See I told you, picture-less: kinda boring.