Happy 3rd Anniversary, Boog!

it's been three years already.

three years since I made the easiest walk of my life.

three years since we said "I do"

three years since the best day of our lives.

three years since I made the most honest promise of my entire life.

three years since he made that exact same promise.

and we both smiled.

these past three years have seen more ups than downs

more highs than lows

more good and less bad

smiles, can't-catch-your-breath laughter, and a few tears

oh, and a baby!

but there is one thing I know for sure...

I want to walk hand-in-hand with this guy

for another 47 years.

Atleast.

three years ago today

I made the best decision of my life.

Happy Anniversary, Boog!

Just like our wedding song said,

you are the best thing that ever happened to me.

We truly are the lucky ones.

xoxo

~Wifey

Up in the Air

After what my husband considers much unnecessary anxiety, our first flight as a family of three was more than a success. We got Claire through security without any  majors hiccups (minus almost leaving the carseat on the scanner belt - too much to think about!). Kevin and I enjoyed our much-needed coffee break while she ate her cereal and flirted with those who stopped to oooh and ahh. The flight attendant instructed us on how to board early due to the little miss and, because the plane wasn't full, we even scored an entire row to ourselves. One diaper change before the flight, no blowouts or crying on the plane and she slept the entire way! It was a breeze, really. Couldn't have asked for a better first flight experience. Let's just hope for the same on our return flight. Thankfully, that's not for another six days. Welcome to Vegas. It's vacation time, baby! 

12 Things I Want to Remember About Claire (2nd edition)

1. The way her middle toes get wedged behind the pudgier ones on either side
2. How it feels to have her gummy grin chomp down on my fingers
3. The way the drool on her chin kinda glistens in the sunshine
4. Her perfectly plump little baby feet and how she refuses to wear any type of sandal
5. How it feels to wake up to her after a nap in my bed playing with my hair
6. My anticipation every night driving home from work to see her
7. Carrying her carseat into the house and putting her in the bathroom with the fan on to keep her asleep
8. How cute she looks with her bink bobbing in and out, in and out
9. Her photos that are slowly taking over my house
10. Finding her sitting up in her crib like a big girl
11. How she repeatedly puts her little fists together and brings them repeatly back and forth up to her mouth
12. The grunts and groans when she wants a food that I'm eating

Celebrity sighting

Judging by Claire's reaction, you would have thought she was a thirteen year girl and Justin Bieber himself had walked through the front door tonight. We had squeals, a smile that practically split her face in two, flailing arms, rocking forward and back, the whole bit. She saw her papa and could barely contain herself. The "Hold-me" arms (as I so lovingly refer to them) went up and stayed up. It was really precious. Neither Kevin or I have ever seen her get that excited to see somebody. And when he walked passed her to try to use the restroom instead of picking her up? Oh no, baby girl wasn't having it. She wanted her papa and she wanted him NOW. What baby wants, baby gets. So they loved on each other and neither broke their smile. Nothing makes me happier than to see my husband love on his baby.

 

A father and his daughter. 

Now, that's a special bond right there.

3am

At 3am this morning, I was awoken to the sound of a crying baby. I fluttered my eyes open and close continuously as I tried to make out the time on the clock and decipher whether it was real or the phantom crying my brain sometimes creates. As Kevin snored away, I cautiously made my way down the dark hallway to Claire's nursery hoping and praying the whole way that a quick fix was all it would take to make my way back to my warm bed. As I picked up her warm body, she looked up at me like I was her hero. The only one that could rescue her. The only one she needed to make it all better. Right then, my irritation about the mid-sleep interruption fell away. She needed me...and I love that. So, we snuggled and sang and shh'd our way to a dreamier state. And in that moment, while she nuzzled herself into my chest and ran her tiny fingers through my hair soaking up all that is her mama, I did the same towards her. That sweet, milky breath. The way she comes and goes with each heavy sigh. Her body heat keeping me warm. With each passing minute, she calmed until that little body I love so much melted into my arms, creating a heaviness I could hold forever. And when she was ready to return to her crib, I held her closer. I breathed her deeper. I kissed her forehead. And I prayed that I could keep her this way just a little bit longer. There's just something about a baby needing her mama that fills me up. Today, my body may be tired but my heart is sure full.

12 Things I Want to Remember about Claire

1. The way she smells after a nighttime bath
2. Her huge grin when we dance together in the kitchen like fools
3. The fact that I whisper "stay just like this" in her ear
4. The little chubby creases on the inside of her thighs
5. Her puffy little eyes when I have to wake her early for work
6. The way it feels as she plays with my hair when she nurses
7. Finding her sleeping on her stomach with her diaper donk up in the air
8. Her excited half-cry, half-laugh she makes when she's hungry and sees a bottle
9. The first smile of the day that she saves just for me when I get her out of her crib
10. Seeing her chomping on her toes in the reflection of my rear view mirror
11. When she gets stuck on her stomach, flailing her legs/arms like she's trying to swim
12. The way she slams her little hand repeatedly on her high chair tray for "more!"

Weekend Getaway

We said it too many times to count this weekend:   

We sure are lucky to have a place like this to get away to.

And, it's true. We are lucky. There's nothing like a weekend away to relax, get a nap in here and there, go on an adventure and make new memories.

Claire had the time of her life, getting into everything under the sun. She made the transition of napping and sleeping away from home like a champ. She doesn't seem to have a very difficult time adjusting from her normal routine. For that, we are so grateful.

This was not her first trip to the beach house or Seaside but it was her first trip to Cannon Beach and Mo's. We didn't see much of Cannon Beach as the weather didn't exactly exude inviting vibes through the thick overcast grey skies. We did, however, find time to indulge in some of that famous Mo's clam chowder before heading back to sunnier skies.

Back at the beach house, Kevin squeezed in his fair share of hitting golf balls in the front yard while I laid out on a blanket in the grass jotting down my thoughts as they came while Claire rolled around in the typical 6 month old baby fashion. We spent most of our time outside just enjoying each others company. We cooked breakfast together, Kevin BBQ'd a fantastic steak dinner and finished both nights with a bonfire. It was Claire's first experience with fire and she was mesmerized by the flames. It was pretty adorable to watch.

The highlight of our trip was our little family trek to explore Oswald West Beach. This was no easy feat! It was about a half mile hike into the beach from the side of the road parking lot but we made it complete with a stroller, two folding chairs, a blanket, diaper bag and the little miss in tow. Yes, we looked like the Griswold's. The beach was packed full of fellow sunscreen-drenched, savagely-"tan" Oregonians swimming, surfing and sanding the perfect summer day away. Due to our ill prepared ways, we had to leave earlier than expected because little miss got hungry and there was no lukewarm water in sight. Oh well, better luck next time. Overall, a great time was had by all. Claire loved observing everything that was going on around her and we loved sharing this new experience with her. Kevin and I even got a mini cuddle session on the beach sans a fussy baby. It was a win-win.

 

We cannot wait until next time. These little getaways really remind us to slow it down and just cherish each other because, when it's all said and done, that's what this is all about.

Fancy schmancy.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a control freak. Clear as day I remember walking with the teachers assistant into a special room down the hall from my kindergarten class. I was given instructions to stamp my name under my clay handprint (which my mother still has), one letter at a time with metal letter stamps. Each letter sunk into the clay at different depths and they are not all in a straight line. It bothered me so much that I asked if I could re-do it on a fresh sheet of clay. The teachers assistant said it was fine. To this day, it still bothers me when I look at that clay plaque hanging in my moms sewing room. It's not perfect. It could be better. Now, fast forward 23 years later and I am still the same control freak that likes everything to be perfect and beautiful. Certain aspects of my life could be better, different, more perfect. My house could be cleaner. I could be more organized. I could stay on top of Claire's laundry. I could have that home-cooked meal on the table every night as my husband walks through the door. I could look more put together and less like the sleep-deprived, disheveled new mama that I am. I could actually print photos living in my camera. I could do everything asked of me. Those things are what I strive for but rarely what I achieve. Post-baby, I have become more laxxed on what is soimportant. I crawl into bed at night thinking...there goes another day, it is what it is. I used to put so much pressure on myself to keep it all together all the time, never letting anyone see me fail. Now, I acknowledge my failures, I clean the stagnant items off my full plate and I move forward with the understanding that life never turns out as planned. But somehow in the midst of all my stressing over where my life was headed and how long it would take to get from A to B, I am right where I want to be. Messy floors, laundry, baby puke, take-out food and all. Fancy that.