Time Capsule 2030

 If you knew me you'd know I'm super sentimental and keep just about everything I consider special...from certain restaurant receipts to birthday cards....I guess I'm a bit of a hoarder so to speak, but since I don't like that word I prefer to call myself someone who is big on preserving memories :) ('hoarder' makes me think of the crazy people with the messy homes on the TLC show) I'm certainly not anything like that but you'd be surprised at some of the items I held on to. I really just enjoy looking back at those things...it brings all kinds of joy to my heart...the other day I stumbled across a drawing my niece who is now almost 10 drew me when she was 4...it left me with a smile for the rest of the day

With that said, I wanted Sienna to have a box full of special things to make her smile on her 18th birthday. So I've been working on a time capsule memory box for her and though I was emotional putting it together I'm just about done and wanted to share the contents.

newspaper from the day she was born

positive pregnancy test & her very first picture

girly magazines from Feb & March, so she can look back at the fashion trends from the time she was born. They are still unopened in the foil

First Birthday party dress & candle....it still has some of her cake on it :)

Hospital gown, hats, blanket & first headband

1st ornaments

special birthday cards

1st piece of jewelry Daddy bought her

1st baby item we bought after finding out we were expecting.

...spit up stains and all :)

photobooks:

Pregnancy journal

Birth -1 month

1st year

1st birthday party

a pic of her parents at their High School prom :) 

I think she will get a kick out of this as she'll be our age then when she opens this

1st and favorite toy as an infant

"a year of sunshine" 

monthly photos birth to 12 months

First shoes she walked in

as soon as she started walking we jet to Target to get her comfortable shoes...since she was only 11 months old and had tiny feet still it was hard to find sturdy walking shoes, these did the trick.

Special outfits

First cloth diaper...look how tiny!

Things not pictured:

bottle of 2012 champagne that will age for 18 years and will be enjoyed by the 3 of us on the day she gets to open this.

a letter I wrote her on her 1st birthday

birth announcement & birthday party invite

some of the handmade party decorations

her belly button stump...yeah yeah I know it may be gross to some, but didn't I tell you I keep everything?

***

Even though it now looks like its gone through a world war, I will also be putting her beloved baby doll in there whenever she chooses to be done with it. The box will be sealed and put in a moisture resistant container to assure there is no damage to any of the items. 

Sienna's strange phobia

we have no idea why

 but shes scared of this glow worm...

particularly when it plays music, totally ok with it when its not.

and again...

needless to say, the "scary" glow worm is now is out of our house and longer taunting little Miss Sienna, we gave it to the neighbors baby girl....but I can't help but wonder where this little phobia came from?

Because I'm a mom....

I shower with the curtain half open, to keep an eye on my toddler...

I go to the bathroom with the door open...and most of the time an audience...

I like buying clothes for my kid way more than I like buying clothes for myself ...

My purse is full of diapers, extra pacifiers and toys...

When my baby cries I automatically ask "what time is it?"....

I eat fast and forget to drink enough water...

I use tv watching time to fold mountains of laundry...

my nose can smell a poopy diaper from a mile away...

I can recite several kids books by memory (brown bear brown bear, what do you see?)...

Because I'm a mom, my heart is most happy knowing she's happy & healthy

melted to the ground

Yesterday my barely 14 month old said

 "love you too" clear as day

I couldn't believe it..... best part is that I got it on video. Crazy thing is we never taught her that, she got it from hearing Dan & I say it to each other - before the "love you too" she says "what!" something we didn't teach her either, but she hears it all day since my husband could never hear me haha so "what?" is said quite often.

Here is the video:

Sienna says "love you too"

this brilliant little girl never stops amazing us! 

So happy she's able to see & feel the love in our home and learn from it.

14 month old Sienna

My sweet baby,

I told myself I wouldn't write these monthly updates anymore once you turned ONE and I would just do it once in awhile...but so much happens each month that I just can't help it, and any opportunity I have to write you another letter, I will take. 

This month you have been a chatterbox  repeating pretty much everything we tell you to. Today I told you to say animal and you hit me with "amammal" I couldn't stop laughing. Now, I'm not just saying this because you're my baby and naturally I'm bias but you really do say a whole lot more than your peers and even kids older than you. 

You got your first booboo this month and I'm pretty sure I was more upset than you were. You now try to run...at times faster than your little legs can keep up and so you tripped on the doormat scraping your forehead, of course it happened a few days before our family photos. We went to Target & got you a new toy (Daddy's idea)

 

You've started sleeping through the night!! moving your crib out of our room was the best idea for all of us, you sleep better and so do we. We don't do "cry it out" but we also don't run to comfort you at every whimper as you're able to soothe yourself now. I think that was the mistake we were making....we ran to comfort you at every peep and you got used to that. 

Sofia is your buddy, you two melt my heart to the ground. She always tells me all the things she wants to teach you and do with you when you're "a big girl" I hope the two of you continue this bond for years to come without your strong personalities clashing.

You were such an awesome travel companion on our road trip, can you please please please be that good again for our upcoming flights?

your baby and fox go everywhere with you

I don't wanna jinx it but you've also been much better in the car & stroller. No more screaming to get out....lets see if it lasts.

When you want something you say the Polish word for "give" I am so grateful that we are able to teach you a second language and I hope it continues to stick.

You have gotten the stomach flu back to back this month, it was rough. You lost a good amount of weight and you were a dainty little thing to begin with. We are trying to get you to gain it back...but you're the pickiest eater on the planet. You don't like carbs!! I wish I had that problem. 

well I think thats all the updates I can think of at the moment, don't mind how scattered this letter is.

love you!! 

Oh and you've been saying it back!!! its the best!

Mother's Day trip recap

Its funny how being a mom changes you in so many ways, makes you think about your children first....the things that used to matter don't seem nearly as important now. I feel so fortunate to know this kind of love.

My first Mothers Day I had tiny little baby

this year I have a busy energetic toddler

Any woman that has gone through labor deserves getting a little spoiled this one day a year :)

I celebrated my special day in San Diego, that was hubby's gift to me...a little weekend getaway. Enjoying the beach and watching Sienna have a blast playing in the sand was all I needed to have a perfect day...and I think we may have just started a new mother's day tradition. 

Here is a little video recap of our weekend 

(photos to come)

San Diego 2013 video recap

Summer bucket list 2013

While all of you non Arizonians are super excited for summer, 

we are actually kind of dreading it.

The weather here is amazing for the majority of the year but come June, July, August and we are in the triple digits everyday. Not exactly ideal playground weather as you can probably fry an egg on the plastic slide.

Now- don't get me wrong I love living here and one of the reasons why we moved here was for the 9 months of perfect temperatures....but I won't lie, summers are tough and I'm sure it will be even harder with a toddler that will not be able to play outside as much. 

So here are some things we plan on doing to keep little S busy with this summer

1.  Story time at the library
2. Kiddie Splash pads at the mall
3. Childrens museum
4. Swim lessons
5. Peach picking at the farm
6. Make our own ice cream & froyo
7. watertable in the backyard
8. Playdates
9. crafts
10. early morning or evening trips to the park

anyone else have any suggestions? 

I'd love to hear them

teeny tiny favor

Can you guys PLEASE vote for us in a Mother's Day photo contest

It just takes ONE CLICK :) Please and thank you!

vote here

Family photos 2013

Taking decent family photos with a curious toddler is no walk in the park, this was much easier when she couldn't run away from us. It really takes a great photographer to capture the .5 seconds there may be of sitting still while making her smile in that half a second. At one point I found myself doing jumping jacks to make her look and smile.... you'd think I was kidding right? haha I bet the people who saw me must have thought I was nuts...jumping jacks in a strapless dress, wearing 4" wedges making sure I dont twist my ankle or expose myself....yep that was me.

at one point... we were all jumping

 because thats one thing that never fails to make her laugh

Thank you, friends

I want to tell you thank you, yes you! I don't say it enough, but I'm very appreciative of this community. For your advice, support & positive affirmation I want to extend my thanks to all of you for being a part of my small internet world.

Same goes for all the sweet gals I 'met' on IG. This little space of mine is comprised of memories and photos most dear to my heart. Knowing you guys stop by here every so often and even express you how much you "love my blog" it really means a lot and sure makes this girl blush :)

So thank you for stopping in, I appreciate you all.

 I may not always respond to your comments..but I ALWAYS read them.

Healthy cookies

Healthy & made with just three ingredients

need I say more?

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup of uncooked quick oats

1/4 of walnuts

 (I used cranberries & chocolate chips)

bake on 350 for 15-20 minutes

I've made them twice in one week! 

satisfied my craving for sweets in a guilt free way :)