Easter montage 2011

33 Years (a lot of days)

Last weekend I turned 33.  The 23rd to be exact (same as Shakespeare).  Here I am kissing my father-in-law after they spoiled me with a new bag and a beautiful little heart shaped ring I had been coveting.  I had my favorite dinner, Chilaquiles, a carrot cake, and Klinker Brick wine (my absolute fave).  It was lovely!  I felt super special and happy, which was much needed lately.  I love them so much!  The weekend couldn't have been better actually -- and I even saw my dad for a quick lunch (he was working) and I got to spend most of the last weekend with him and my grandparents. 


I've been trying to think of what I would say if I were to write a little note to myself to commemorate the last year, and to set the tone for the new one.  It's such a mixed bag of feelings, (and I know I haven't gone into explicit detail on here about everything that's gone on in my life), but I'm going to try.  I'll make it brief.  Here goes (large sigh)...

Dear Amber,

You are 33 this year!  I have a feeling this is going to be a good year.  I know things have been hard lately for you, and you feel like you are ALWAYS writing this very sentence in some form or another.  But that's okay.  In fact, everything is going to be okay.  You have a most amazing daughter that you created from your body.  She is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.  You have a husband who is both your lover and your best friend (he also happens to be a fantastic father).  Times can be rough, but you wouldn't change them for anything.  Remember that fact when it feels like everything is caving in on you.  It's a new year.  You have a lot of things planned and dreamed up, and it's time to start making them happen.  Most of all, be kind to yourself in everything you do -- and know that I'm here supporting you and loving this life of yours every step of the way!

Happy birthday Amber!  May your 34th year around the sun be lived to the fullest.

Yours truly,

Amber 

Mama loves Vivi

Vivi scares the "you know what" out of June!

Don't Puke!

Oh yes, it's still Easter around here

I just love that little Pookie LOVES my old vintage Easter basket from when I was a wee one.  Apparently I cherished this thing, according to my Nonna.  It is now hers, and it's adorable!  Today, I finally put it up in the closet for next year.  And of course, we never do anything without the RAMBO headband -- thank you daddy.  Yes.

Flashdance twirl party

I got out of my therapy appointment last night, looked at my phone, and saw the following:

You have not lived until you've experienced your partner wearing hot mitts and a silk scarf on his head, twirling around with your child, in sheer delight.  There's no better way to leave my appointment!

Happy Earth Day, Happy Easter

This says it all

This photo cracked me up, as it is SO symbolic of our last week.  After trying to get all of our stuff together to go visit Grandma and Grandpa for Easter weekend and birthday celebrations, I came into my room to find a much TOO quiet Vivienne unpacking everything (and putting momma's dress on) that just took me 30 minutes to get together.  Anyone else have this problem? ;)

Oh gosh, PLEASE no mockery about all the stripes in this picture.  Yes, I have a dress that matches my bedspread.  Not intentional.  I'm a whore for stripes.  I'm wearing a striped cardigan as I type this ;)

Where I've been

The last week has been very hard.  A lot of things I'd rather not get into here, and some that were just plain crazy and busy.  Needless to say, I've needed some space from the blogosphere.  Here is our last week in pictures.

Vivi gets hives

Zoo!

 

Swim with dad

*Sorry if the hives gross you out, I debated on whether or not to put them up.  But there you have it.  Memories people, memories.  They look worse than they were apparently.

What Vivi's been reading

It's been awhile since I've done a post about book reviews so here are the few that we are reading lately.  First up:

 

This book was a little gift from Nonno.  She has been obsessed with trains for awhile now and my dad also works for Union Pacific, so it was kind of fitting.  I LOVE this book.  Donald Crews has a magical way of writing about things that are so simple.  We are definitely ordering more of his stuff.  The illustrations are just amazing, and the text is captivating.  Trains and colors and movement are emphasized.  Viv always makes me read it twice before bed.  I highly recommend this little gem.  Get it here.

Next up:

First the Egg, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, I first purchased because I knew Easter was right around the corner and I got taken over by everything egg and bunny related.  Besides the Caldecott Honor AND the Theodore Seuss Giesel Honor, I also highly recommend this book (for what it's worth ;).  This book is absolutely STUNNING.  One of my favorites so far.  We're finally able to start reading outside the sturdy board books type and it's so nice.  There are maybe ten words in the entire book and that's all that it needs.  It's all about firsts and what happens next.  Seeger goes from eggs to seeds to words, and there's just no stopping the creativity.  The little story comes full circle and is just so captivating.  Buy this book!

And lastly:

Ollie, by Olivier Dunrea, is an all the time staple.  I'm sure you all already know about this one as part of the beautiful little series with Gossie and Gertie and BooBoo, etc.  Anytime I need to cheer Vivi up (like today in Target) all I have to do is remind her of what Ollie says, which is "I won't come out!" while shaking my finger.  She loves this -- who knows why, but it works.  We love love this series.  Peedie and Ollie are her favorites, with Ollie on top.

Those are the top three in her book bin right now.  I would want every single one of these for my collection!  Happy reading.

A kiss, (a "big" one)

Creative with cardboard

I knew all of my online shopping would come in handy for something!  I went out the other day and came back to Mitch and Viv's art project.  Cardboard is such a great texture and medium, and we all usually have at least some pieces left over in the house.  I'm kind of embarrassed to say how much we have!

Sunday

Today was a blur (get it, blurry picture...).  Ok, I'm done with the jokes.  But really, today was crazy.  We spent the morning with some relatives of mine that are here from Italy and my dad and step-mom, at the Japanese Tea Garden.  This was not Viv's first time there, but she was so little before so it was fun for her to actually roam around and check it out.  I'll post some pictures soon.  My little Toots has been on antibiotics now for about 36 hours and is finally not so lethargic and sad.  I was kind of a worried momma, and also a completely tired and crazed momma.  A three week cold with a toddler is extreme torture.

Nonno and Nonna (my dad and step-mom) brought Viv a new fold-out chair yesterday when they first got here and can I just say, THANK YOU!  The bright pink princess decor goes SO well with my living room.  All sarcasm aside, it came at such a great time because yesterday when she was feeling the worst she has been so far -- she sat in that chair for an hour having a Yo Gabba Gabba marathon (instead of on my lap).  Oh my lord, was it nice.  Needless to say, she loves it.

After our beautiful morning at the tea garden we came home only to be blessed with the worlds most throbbing headache and neck pain (for momma).  It may have been because I forgot her stroller on the walk and ended up carrying all 30 pounds of her around Golden Gate Park.  In fairness, we took turns, but I am the most used to her massive stature.  Mitch has been in Tahoe all day in meetings, or so that's what he tells me ;).  Right now I am still nursing this crappy neck of mine, with a peacefully sleeping baby and a quiet house.  Not a bad way to end a week (even though Sundays are actually the beginning of the week).  I do not see the logic in that at all.  It should be Monday through Sunday.

Happy beginning of the week.
x

Waiting on summer

 Here's what we've been up to during this fabulous stint with warm weather.  Spring is so nice in San Francisco.

19 months

 

Well, sweet Vivienne, it's been a hell of a month.  We are all STILL recovering from a major cold so I am behind on pretty much everything.  I took you to the doctor on Monday and so far you don't have to take antibiotics (read: no ear infection).  If you don't start to get rid of this chesty cough by Friday it's on to amoxicillin for you though.  You haven't really ever had any infections that require medicine, so I am really hoping to keep it that way.  Don't worry, your 19 month portraits in Mama's favorite Eames rocker are coming.  Tomorrow I will take them/post them.  I think...

Since you've been down and out this month I've eased up with the potty training.  I never really officially started you on it, so you don't really know the difference anyhow.  You still go potty before each bath and sometimes in between, casually.  You are getting 4 molars all at once as well!  A nasty cold, plus four molars equals NO sleep for the Mama and the Dada!  We are all very tired, including you.  You have really worked on weaning almost all of your bottles and once we all get healthy I am going to "jump in" for real, and bare that bum of yours.  It will be a pretty cute week with a naked Vivi bum running around (or terrifying I guess, depending on how we look at it :).  As I've mentioned before I think you are more than ready, but more importantly, we all have to be ready!

What can I say that I haven't said a million times before?  I'm pretty taken with you, Toots.  Your Daddy and I know there will come a time when you don't want to hang out with us every second of every day, in fact we talk about it a lot.  I know I won't always be able to cuddle with you like I do now, or smell your red head right under my chin, or comfort you just by picking you up.  You will turn two this year and I feel like I was just pregnant.  It is FLYING by.

Anyway, Vivi, I am going to cut this one short because I'm already tired and feeling super emotional and I can't think of any other way to say what I've already tried to articulate to you so inadequately (in this letter, and every day).  I love you, love you, love you -- and will always make sure you know this truth.  You are cherished Cheeky Bootie!

Love,

Mommy

Saturday

This weekend we got to spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa Weathers.  It was so fun and Vivi really loves the time she gets with them.  Here are a few pictures of our Saturday which included a little nature walk.

Elvis

So Vivienne and I have this thing.  I totally debated putting it up here because there is nothing I loathe more than hearing my voice in video format.  Nothing.  Well, maybe public speaking.  And bees (shush, Virginia!).  I don't know why, it's like nails on a chalkboard.  But I'd love for her to see this someday, and for us to remember it together.  And who knows, it may slip my mind when I'm old and toothless.  Also I can use it for leverage when we get to that point in our relationship where she is constantly rolling her eyes at me or saying my name with an exclamation point at the end all the time, "Mooommmm!", followed by a sigh.  I can say, "Look!  You totally dug me, see?!" 

Anyway...it goes like this.  She's in a crappy mood so I ask her if she wants to hear from Elvis or Ray (Presley or Charles).  She almost ALWAYS picks Elvis.  I'm starting to doubt my Ray Charles impersonation (Mitch is shaking his head I can feel it).  I then say ''I love you'' in my best Elvis voice while tickling her.  That's it, times ten.  She is always in a better mood, and her laughter is hysterical!

There you have it, and there we have it!

Hiking/walking with dad

There were WAY too many pictures to decide which ones to share with you.  So instead I put up a montage of all of my favorites.  Brace yourself, there are a lot, AND I edited them!  Enjoy Vivi and her daddy at a natural bird preserve...

 

PS: Viv's wearing (in the solo photo and most others on here)

sweater jacket - Go Gently Baby

pants - Tea

shoes - Superga (these are constantly on Gilt.com at half off)