18 months!

A little late but I figured it was time for an update on Sweet G. 

 ...Being that she is on the downhill march to a 2 year old! And being that she is the big sister now and has a lot more responsibilities these days.

Like handing me the wipes as she sits close by my side and watches in curious enthrallment as I change her baby brother or throwing his diaper away all by herself. 

 She is settling into her new role just beautifully.

This series of pictures says it all...

 ...Wiping the leaves and debris away so her baby has a nice clean seat to sit on

...Giving a gentle push with tremendous focus and a careful attentiveness

...Joyful when giving to others

...Perceptive and protective, with a wisdom well beyond her years.

... Simply. Sweet.

Oh Genevieve, you are an absolute doll! It is quite amazing to see your unique characteristics and God-given strengths developing and blossoming already at such a young age.
You are naturally nurturing. You are, oh so, gentle with little Soren. You are kind and caring. You love to share (unless of course you are standing your ground on an unjust dealing with big sis). You are unselfish. You are obedient (for the most part but we'll take it). You are my peace maker. You are incredibly independent, creatively finding things and ways to entertain yourself. You love to explore on your own. You are comfortable alone and enjoy being in your own presence: What an incredible skill that is that so many (adults) fight with and never learn to embrace and enjoy. You wave goodnight to me as I lay you in your crib for naps or bedtime every day without a fight or a fuss. Despite the multiple teeth popping up, your peaceful disposition has remained the same. You are incredible, baby doll!
I used to think that all babies were like you. Boy was that naive ignorant.  I quickly discovered after becoming a mom that wasn't the case and now I know (& your pediatrician agrees) that you are the exception. 

 I believe you are the primary reason this transition to 3 has gone so smoothly for me. 

Thank you for that. 

We love you, little darling.

Some recent words you have added to your vocabulary:

-Cracker

-Cheese
-Nana (Banana)

-Eye

-Ear

-Baby

-Elmo
-Dirty

-Agua

-Bye Bye

-All done

-More

-Grama

-Bapa

And you are putting words together, like, "Bye bye Bapa"
Speaking of.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!

My Sweet Sweet Genevieve

I just cant get enough of her.

 I smother her in kisses every morning and carry her as long as possible before she is squirming to get down and when I lay her down at night, I can't wait to do it all over again. Despite her increasing independence and apparent, unique spunkiness, she is still the Sweetest thing. 

I wouldn't call her mellow, so much anymore. She is a very healthy, active 16 month-old: she darts into the street to get to that tether ball she eyes at our neighbors across the way; she lets her sister know in very clear ways she can't be bullied around and she throws herself on the floor in a short lived fit when something doesn't please her. But she still loves her sleep, she loves to share with everyone, to give big sister her blankie and "baca", to wave "hello" and "goodbye" to everyone and anyone. She still loves her daddy's arms for comfort and consolation when she is overly tired or sick and loves to pat or lay her soft cheeks on my baby bump. And she still melts my heart even though the days of holding her close to my chest are fading all too quickly.

 How happy I was over the fact that the Vans Auntie Nini bought for Spicy (whose feet were far too wide & thick to ever squeeze into) are finally getting broken into over 3 years later!!!

Window View

For the last 7 years of my career working in the aerospace industry, I supported proprietary programs which meant living working in buildings with no visual access to the outside world. I always fantasized about a "window view".  A view of anything, really. A tree, some blue skies, heck even another building. 

Well, this morning while I was cleaning up in the kitchen and washing the dishes after breakfast, I realized I had a better view than from any office or cubicle window, better than our Dana Point oceanfront view from our time share condo, a better view than of any "wonder of the world"(not to say I wouldn't like to visit/see them)

And although I've been feeling a little tired and running low on patience and endurance recently, I felt so incredibly blessed today. I know I've said it many times before but today was one of those days where I really felt it and so, I must say it again...

I love my job, I love my home, I love my family and I love this view.

(Dean, thank you for going through so much including much interior agony to make this happen. I never thought I would land a job that I could honestly say I love and about which I could feel so joyful, passionate and alive!
And Dad, thank you for creating a place for me that I can call my little "dream home", and a home for my children where they have so many special and favorite places to play, to run, to learn, to call their own so that we never seem to get tired of our home. You are truly amazing!)

(Playing in her favorite spot as of late: a little pit hole of dirt that needs some patching from our recent sprinkler installations)

Cutting It Short

My girly girl and her new do. I wasn't kidding when I said she gets a weekly trim. Unfortunately, I went a little crazy (combined with a very squirmy one) and cut a bit more than I had planned, making it almost impossible to put it in pigtails. Darn! Good thing we'll have a better shot by the end of next week!

And another look at those lashes that continue to receive admiring compliments.

Happy Friday!

These boots are made for walking

...And that's just what they'll do!

Yup Sweets, you are walking solo. The kind of walking that had both Daddy and I squealing at the top of our lungs to each other like we had just won the lottery! Actually, it started this past weekend. And it has continued and improved every day since. 

 Today, you walked from one end of the room to the other. Falling a couple times but getting right back up on your own and continuing on, arms slightly stretched forward or to the side for balance!

The coolest thing is when Spicy grabs hold of your hands and helps you walk (faster than comfortable) as both of you are cackling up a storm!

The other exciting milestone has to do with another set of feet. TreSoto, who we will have a name for very soon, I've been feeling you within the past few days and squealing (quietly) over your stomps and movements. This is by far my absolute favorite part of the pregnancy.

It makes the miracle of life all the more real and tangible.

Here's to happy feet!

A Super Sweet Sundae Celebration

This past Sunday we celebrated Sweet G's 1st beautiful year of life!

 (pictured in the same dress big sis wore 2 1/2 years ago)

After much dialogue on how to celebrate while staying within our modest budget, we set the date and time and made the notice to our immediate extended family and a couple friends who, are family. Once it was official, the SUPER Duo Team Emde (aka, Mimi & Bapa) pitched in for absolutely amazing results. This included hours of research, visiting 10 different nurseries, questioning, translating, working with the landscaper to finish our beautiful cottage style soft-scape backdrop. Meanwhile, Superdad is mixing and pouring cement, scoring on his hands and knees, installing patio covers, hanging lights, sealing floors, building a fire pit, cleaning up, hauling dirt and much more I am forgetting, to make our backyard a gorgeous place for hosting and enjoying. 

Late last week, I had 1 of the hardest days since becoming a mom which included passing out in the morning (in keeping with my pregnancy tradition) and a tantrum by a certain Spicy one so bad that had me considering performing an exorcism. Once that was behind me, somehow I pulled it together and with Mimi's help snatching the girls away for a day and a half, I was able to do some much needed deep cleaning, painting that was started and unfinished from over a year ago and lot of fun little projects! 

Without the constraints of feeding, entertaining, bathing, wiping bums & napping (that is, imposing forced naps, not partaking in them myself), my creativity let loose and the ideas kept coming! It started with this banner made from wooden pendants my dad cut that I covered in various scraps of fabric I already had. 

    
Then I found a font I liked, printed out the stencils and went to town with different paper. It was so fun to make, I even used a cordless saw for the 1st time but boy were my hands sore after all that stapling and cutting! It was definitely the 'centerpiece' and the source of much inspiration!

Since I am obsessed with themes (as you can probably tell by looking at every room in my house) I took the "Sweet" theme and well, ran with it... all the way to the candy store! The next idea was for the centerpieces. Re-purposed jars (originally filled with peaches which we enjoyed as a side dish) filled with a variety of candy with a few bright faux Gerber daisies. 

The best part about this? They didn't go to waste because once dinner was finished, the flowers came out, and the jars moved over to the "Sweet Sundae Station" for ice cream sundae's with lots of yummy toppings! 

 Add some over-sized lollipops and you're practically in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. 

 kidding. 

But the party prepping fairies were definitely looking out for me. The only thing purchased for this event was a couple cans of spray paint, dowels at 75 cents a piece and the styrophone circles for the lollipops. Everything else we already had! And while I was in line waiting to check out, wouldn't you know, I see leftover Christmas items in the dollar bin and some of them, even 1/2 off! 

I couldn't resist. A variety of sanitizers, body sprays and bath salts in "Sweet Candy Kiss" and "Frosted Berries and Cream" scents, they were the perrrrfect favors!

And pictures were cropped and displayed on an old cork board that got a nice coat of bubble gum pink!

The meal was centered around BBQ Beef Sandwiches on Hoagie Rolls in a sweet & tangy BBQ sauce

Side dishes were homemade and brought by loved ones such as Grama Emde's famous tomatoes & cucumbers in a sweet vinegar marinade

 ...Mimi's yams in a secret sweet syrup

and a sweet corn bread treat made by yours truly!

Even the corn dogs were transformed into a sweet delicatessen

We had about 30 guests. Less than half of the number at Spicy's party. However, it is important to note that her event had a dual purpose, namely to give mommy a major emotional boost to survive through the 2nd half of daddy's deployment. 

Needless to say, from young to old not so young, everyone had a great time!

Me & my Sweet G

Following in her sister's footsteps, Sweets surely did not disappoint when it came time for the cake...

        Getting her 1st taste from Spicy             Spicy getting a taste from mommy

That a Girl!

Another flashback

Pure Joy. 
What an incredible baby girl you are!

After dark, we inaugurated the fire pit by roasting marshmallows for Smore's with good friends. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.