Today

-MK and I took our weekly trip to the library. An hour after our usual story time, which is okay with me since with summer break brings entirely too many kids. And too much chaos.

-Met Daddy for lunch at Red Robin, MK's favorite. She had her .75 cents in tow, as always, hoping this will be the time she gets the happy face ball. No luck. It was the dolphin ball. Again. But she seemed pleased. She was definitely pleased to order the macaroni and cheese, which was almost always a no no at restaurants due to her egg allergy. Well, that pesky egg allergy is a thing of the past. More on this later.

-Came home. MK napped while I worked.

-MK woke up and went swimming with Daddy. I wouldn't believe it if I saw it. She is actually swimming. Since Sunday (6/27). With a life vest on, of course. She goes back and forth across our 50 foot pool and she loves it. As long as dunking is not involved.

-I ran to LensCrafters to drop off my one month (new) glasses to have my second pair of ($400.00) lenses fitted into my frames due to LensCrafters damaging my old (new) lenses while adjusting my glasses. Yes, free of charge. Still annoying.

-Ran to yet another Target looking for my size in the cutest tankini. No luck. We leave for California soon (yippee) and I am in desperate need of a more modest swim suit. I don't want to scare my fellow beach goers and all. I will not give up.

-Had Stacey and Haylee over for dinner. Steak, lobster, and asparagus. No, we don't eat like this often. Yes, it was good.

-Cleaned up the house and got MK ready for bed.

-After reading stories (Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Snake Cake - both library books), singing our nightly songs (Itsy Bitsy Spider, Popcorn Song, ABC's and Count to 20), and rocking (yes I still rock my almost 3 year old baby before bed every night) MK says Momma let's talk? What did you do today? Something I have said to her night after night for as long as I can remember.

-So, we went through our day. As we so often do.

-And I thought I would share.

-Now off to pour me a bowl of honeycombs and turn on the boob tube.

Lately

-she tells me momma be happy if I get after her for something.

-or she gets the saddest expression on her face, lip puckered, and says momma yelled at you.

-we were holding hands walking into her swim lesson on monday (5/24) and she said what a beautiful day. made me smile. something i always say to her.

-about swim, it was short lived due to the fact that she cried the entire 30 minutes. all but 1 time. after about 6 classes daddy gave up and has been working with her in our pool, which she doesn't cry in. go figure.

-her grandma viola and pappa harland have been visiting from florida. they drove. which is pretty amazing considering dave's dad's age (89 in july) and health. marlee instantly fell in love with her grandma and cried when she left. and pappa was ok, too.

-she is a little copycat. mimics daddy and me constantly.

-she loves to play games on my iphone. one of her favorites is a cupcake app. after she makes the cupcake, adds the icing and toppings, and adds and lights the candles she sings happy birthday to you. happy birthday to you. happy birthday marlee kay (or momma kay). happy birthday to you. she then blows out the candles and says yay! every time.

-she is asking for a big girl bed, to ride on a bus, and to go to school. none will be happening anytime soon if i can help it.

-okay, maybe the big girl bed.=)

-she had her first happy meal (05/29). mcdonald's. and it just happened to be shrek themed. bonus.

-she started dance (ballet and tap) last week. her first class that is not parent and me. she will not go in alone and makes me stand at the back of the room. this is no surprise.

-she is completely potty trained. she now wakes up from nap dry and is dry about half the time when she wakes in the morning.

-we're planning a trip to Disneyland this summer for her 3rd birthday.

-we went and saw shrek ever after at the movies on memorial day. the second movie we have taken marlee to. she loved it and did great. what a difference 6 months makes.

As for the rest of the family...

-dave is beyond busy. starting his days at 2:30am and pretty much not stopping until 8-9pm, when he crashes. and he never complains. ever. He defines ambition and makes the rest of us look inadequate.

-as for me, i too am busier than ever. taking care of MK, the house, working, working, working, and gearing up for the fall semester. it.never.ends.

-cooper has been having some problems lately. after a vet trip and x-rays we learned he has spinal disc problems, hip dysplasia, and arthritis in his hips. they have him on meds, which will hopefully help the disc problem. as for the hips, his doctor doesn't seem too concerned. we put him on dietary supplements and we'll see how it goes. time will tell. lazy little bugger.

-as for mollie, she had surgery on her mouth a couple of months ago due to gingivitis and periodontal disease. after pulling 11 teeth and a good dental cleaning, she is good as new.

-yes, the dogs are going to bankrupt me.

-and yes, the majority of this post was written on 5/25. i suck.

Favorite part of my day

Dave, Marlee, and Cooper were snuggling on the couch tonight watching Mickey Mouse. Marlee looked up at Dave and said "Daddy, I happy."
Nothing like a 2 year old putting things into perspective.

Annual Family Photos

12/2009

All photos taken by an amazing photographer, Lesley Barr. Who also happens to be my big (little) sister. To see more photos and to read about my crazy love for my Bubba's, go here.

Wishing you and yours

a Verry Merry Christmas!! Hope your day was filled with smiles, laughter, love, and good food.


I spent the day with my 2 most very favorite people and now I'm off to curl up with a good book. The end to a perfect day.

Pickin' Pumpkins

Our trip to the pumpkin' patch today. Or as Marlee calls it, the pumpkin store...



M set out to find the perfect pumpkin






and pet the animals




and go down the huge slide...by far, her favorite


can you tell


and even though she looks to be having a good time, this was her pouty expression for most of the morning


unless she was going down the slide, that is.

PS-yes, those are holes in Dave's socks. As he says, they are his Sunday socks...Holy. Get it?

Make a Wish...7/10/09

Marlee's birthday was pretty low key. I really wanted the day to be about her.

Dave, Marlee, and I started the day off at Chuckie E Cheese. She had been there once before, and had a blast.
Came home. While M napped, I baked her cake (and cupcakes) and Dave wrapped presents.

Marlee woke and the fun began...balloons and presents!

Later that evening we had family and my one friend over for cake and ice cream. And more presents!

She actually blew out the candle!

Happy #2 my sweet girl.
I still can't believe 2 years has gone by...

Round 2

Another Mother's Day, my second, has come and gone.
Today, I feel fortunate...
...fortunate to FINALLY be a Mama and celebrate this day
...fortunate to have a healthy daughter who amazes me daily
...fortunate to have a wonderful husband who would do anything for us

and last, but certainly not least
...fortunate to have the best Mom a girl could ask for. Happy Mother's Day Mom. I love you.


4 generations..Mom, Grandma, Me, Marlee Kay. Oct 08

**I so milked this day for all it is worth. I told my husband I wanted nothing more than a clean house and to be dotted (is that even a word) on all day. The dotting part, he went above and beyond. I barely lifted a finger all day. The clean house, well, it got about half done. And I am more than pleased! Thanks for making my day so special. Next year Marlee will have to step up.=)

Back to Reality

We are home. After 5 days of pure bliss in San Diego.
Back to reality....work, school, cooking, cleaning, laundry, working out...you know, the usual.
Many many posts and pictures to come from our first family trip.

Before I move forward I want to share something funny....
The house we rented in Pacific Beach had a black and white painting of Audrey Hepburn. Many times, M pointed to that picture and said "Momma". Well, thanks Marlee.
One night she was holding a box of Orville Redenbacher popcorn (yes, she had popcorn for the first time on vacation, and she loved it) . She pointed to the picture of Orville Redenbacher and said "Daddy".
I couldn't stop laughing. Dave, not too much.
So, I'm the beautiful Audrey Hepburn and Dave is the old Orville Redenbacher.
Kids, I tell ya.

Sign?

We leave for San Diego soon, very soon. I have been so excited as this is our first family vacation since Marlee was born. It's also the first vacation Dave and I have had in years.

I have envisioned long walks on the beach, a trip to Sea World, shopping, strolling through Balboa Park, etc. Walking, lots of walking.

Only problem(s)
-I think I sprained my ankle today. It is swollen and sore.
-Has anyone else been following the swine flu outbreak? It seems to have originated in Mexico, which neighbors San Diego. Great.

Do you think it's a sign?

San Diego or bust!

Easter 2009

We colored eggs, which M thought were balls.


The Easter Bunny stopped by and left M loads of good stuff...


and hid some eggs for her to find.


First time blowing bubbles, and yes, she tried to eat the wand.


Favorite photos of the day


...


We finished Easter off at Grampy and Grammy's house with my family. Dinner + egg hunt = fun time (other than the Marlee mishap).

**Last photo courtesy of my sister, Kristy. Two photographers in the family...aren't I lucky!

Number 7

Happy Anniversary to the man who is meant for me.



After 7 years, you still make my heart go pitter-patter.
I love you...so much.


4.3.2
Maui, Hawaii

Journey

My favorite part of everyday with Marlee is before bed, when she snuggles into me and lets me rock her. She lies so still, with her Mr. Bear under one arm and her sippie cup of water under the other.
Tonight, as I rocked her, I thought about what a wonderful day we had together. The past couple of days have been pretty tough on my baby for reasons unbeknown to me. The hard days make the good days that much better. Today was a that much better day.
As I rocked my daughter and ran my fingers through her hair, I started thinking how fast my baby's entire life has gone by. It seems we were just celebrating her first birthday, which was in July. I thought once she reached one year old, time would slow down. How wrong I was. These past six months have flown by at an excessive speed. I can't even believe my baby girl is 18 months old.

Six long years ago, Dave and I were preparing for our first IVF cycle. Our journey has been a long one. Our struggle is still so fresh in my mind, yet nothing more than a distant memory. It's almost a surreal feeling.
Through all the sadness, I would have never thought that there was a plan for me. That miracles do happen. That through years of heartache, there would be a time for happiness.
My Miracle.
My Marlee Kay.

Our Christmas

Yes, I'm running a little behind this year...

We had a wonderful Holiday.



Christmas Eve...
Was a pajama party at my parent's house. We ate yummy food, opened presents, and the bigger kids frosted sugar cookies.



Christmas morning...
My husband is an early riser, and by early I mean like 4:00am. So Christmas morning he woke me up at 7:30 and asked if we could wake Marlee. I, of course, told him no way. We sat around and waited, and waited, and waited. Around 8:30 Dave and I got impatient and opened our presents from one another.



Finally, just before 9:00, Marlee woke up. She had Elmo Live waiting for her under the tree from Santa and a few presents from Dada and Mama to open. It was so fun watching her get into the wrapping paper. I can only imagine how fun it will be next year.




Her list of presents:

Santa...
Elmo Live
Elmo movie and toothbrush in her stocking

Dada and Mama...
My first laptop
Sandra Boynton books
Pajamas

And Dada got her a special ceramic angel. The tag was addressed to "my little angel." This is the second year that Dave has gotten M something special just from him and it makes my heart go pitter patter.

Christmas day was spent running around like a crazy person to get out of the house to spend the day with family. It ended with a dinner out in Pahrump that my Grandma Bea hosts every year and a major snow storm on our way home.

I'm a little perturbed that I did not have one picture taken of Dave, Marlee, and me on Christmas. We did, however, take a picture in front of our tree a couple of days after Christmas with the new DSLR Camera my husband surprised me with on Christmas. But I'll have to post that another day!

Thought I would share my 2008 Holiday Card with you too!

I hope your holiday was overflowing with as much love and joy as mine.

Another First

With Marlee not feeling well, it has been meltdown mania at the Ross household. Sleep, what is that? Sleep has pretty much gone out the window. Last night was another rough night. After taking an hour to get Marlee to sleep, she woke up screaming at 1:00am. So, of course, I go in and rock and soothe my baby. It is now 2:00am when I return to bed. At 2:30am, I hear more screaming. Dave goes in to get her back to sleep. After about 15 minutes Dave comes back to bed...with Marlee. He put her in our bed, she snuggled into her Daddy, and feel asleep until 7:00am.
This is a first. Marlee has never, and I mean never, slept in our bed. Even when she was a tiny little baby, she slept in the pack-n-play next to the bed. This was just something Dave and I both agreed on as we did not want to form habits and Dave was so worried about suffocating her. Then once she got mobile, forget about relaxing enough to go to sleep if she's not confined to her crib.
Although I didn't sleep well, I loved having Marlee snuggled in our bed.

Sickies has brought out a whole other side of Marlee...a lovin', huggin', snugglin' side, which I am enjoying immensely!

11/29 - First time Marlee slept in Daddy and Mama's bed.
Oh, and Kristy, she is a thrasher...reminds me of someone!

On a similar yet different note, my 16 month old daughter is a jump away from crawling out of her crib. She kicks her leg over the top of the crib, straddles the rail, and laughs like she is so cute. Which, of course, she is! Lord help me.

Fall Days

I love fall..definitely my favorite season. The crisp morning walks, the leaves changing colors, the earlier evenings, the smell of baked goods...I must bathe in the fall glory as we go from hot to cold quickly here in the desert. The past couple of weeks have been so nice and we have been enjoying our weekends full of outdoor fun.



This past Sunday we took Marlee to BalloonaPalooza at the Craig Ranch Golf Course. They had hot air balloons, a carnival, live music, a circus, food, and much more. Just thought I would share a few pictures of our enjoyable morning.







I am enjoying this age with Marlee Kay immensely. Her constant motion, curiosity, tempers (yes, plural), giggles, and excitement make everyday so new and special. She makes me stop and see the world and what's in it so differently...so beautifully and simply.

As you can see I have been having a lot of fun experimenting with my camera and photoshop.

Pickin' Apples

This past weekend Dave, Marlee, and I went to Gilcrease Orchard. Who knew we had an orchard practically in our own back yard. Imagine my excitement! We paid a couple of bucks to enter into the orchard and then we picked our own fruits and vegetables. At this time of year they have apples, pears, peaches, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, all varieties of squash, and more.

Marlee picking a zucchini.

Our pickings for the day.

I had such a blast going up and down the aisles of trees and picking the apples. That’s probably why we left with 9 pounds of apples!
I’m off to make zucchini bread, bars, casseroles, pancakes…and apple pie, turnovers, chips, butter, muffins….