Packed & Ready to Go

We leave the house at 5:15 am tomorrow to head to Mexico.........Gwen free.  I won't be able to see her tomorrow prior to leaving so bedtime was a tad rough.  I kept her up a bit later because she was being absolutely adorable..........well that and the thought of saying goodbye for 6 days makes me want to throw up.   I finally put her down and cried.  My heart aches right now and I am filled with anxiety. 

My only saving grace came today as Mike and I were sitting on a patio eating a hot dog and $1 can of PBR.  Yes, it was just Mike and I sitting there under the sun, as Gwen was with her grandmother.  Tomorrow that hot dog will be some Mexican flair and that PBR will be a Tecate.  The cars driving by will be the ocean.   I long for a week with just my husband, too much sun, and the ability to nurse a hangover in peace. 

I am also a bit calmer than expected because Gwen is just loving her grandmother.  Her grandfather has the car packed in Tulsa ready to make an early exit to see her.  Gwen will be surrounded by true love and that is more than I can ask for.

The below picture is when the tears started flowing.  Gwen got on top of my suitcase and laid down.  The mom in me would love to take her with us, but the wife in me is going to be content with a picture.

Grandma P is smiling down from Heaven

Water Table FAIL

We bought Gwen a water table this past weekend.   We realized it is going to be a bathing suit/swim diaper, type toy.   Why you ask??  The answer is best described in a series of pictures:

The way a water table SHOULD be used:

How Gwendolyn chose to use the water table (yes she climbed up there herself):

Guess who is going to Yo Gabba Gabba Live?

On November 7th at 5:00 we will be taking Gwendolyn to see her favorite YGG characters!! Who knew that I could get as excited for this as I am to see Lady Gaga this summer? Yep, times are a changing!

Wordless Wednesday: Dad's Choice

18 Month Photo Shoot

Gwen had her 18 month photo shoot, at The Picture People, on Saturday, even though she is 19 months old.  I was a tad behind.  She did great and even posed in a few.  I can't believe how much she looks like a little girl, rather than a baby.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Your 19 Month Old

Each month my inbox gets flooded with e-mails on the development of my child. The e-mail today informed me that:

Around month 19, your child may begin to run! She might look a little awkward and fall quite a few times before she's able to master this skill, so make sure her environment is safe.

RUN?!? Are they serious??? I can't even get my 19 month old to walk more than 50% of the time on her own. To her it is a routine, rather than something she should do and constantly needs to be reminded to stand up and walk. Forget about walking at our house. She won't, and throws a fit if we even try to make her. The only time she walks at our house is during her nighttime routine. Although she does walk 80% of the time at daycare, so I know it isn't an ability thing. I truly believe she is already against us. What will the teenage years bring???

Wordless Wednesday

My First Ride

Here is the video of Gwen on the pony that I promised.

Gwen's Trip to a Horse Ranch

On Saturday Gwen got to visit a horse ranch for a friend's birthday.  She had a great time riding a pony, watching chickens, and seeing a 2 week old colt.  The weather was sunny, but it was extremely windy.  I kept asking Mike what time it was and he would say "time to leave".  I don't think the wind bothered Gwen in the least.  Here are some pictures of her at the ranch.  I will post the video once I get it uploaded.  Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day

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

Happy Mother's Day to all women who are mothers to outside babies, inside babies, and babies with wings.  I want to wish a special Mother's Day to my mother.  I am lucky enough to have my mother and best friend all rolled into one.

We had a great Mother's Day this year.  We all went to Panzanos for brunch.  It has become an annual Mother's Day tradition.........as has bottomless bellinis :-)  Gwen got me a beautiful card and a floral watch band to go with my watch she gave me for my birthday.  I am truly blessed in life to have Gwen as my daughter.  She is wonderful.  I am not a big believer in organized religion, but I do thank God everyday that she is in my life. 

Retro Wordless Wednesay: This time last year

Painted Piggies

I just had to share how adorable Gwen is.  Yesterday I was getting ready to paint my toes and Gwen kept lifting her foot up so that I could paint hers.  She stayed and I was able to get 2 coats and it didn't smudge.  I love the fact that I have a little girl.  Sitting there painting her toes, for the first time, was one of those memories that I will hold onto for life. I love that I have a daughter and that she is girly like me.  I seriously wouldn't know what to do with a boy!