Houdini returns!

I have learned my lesson first-hand (I know, I know.... I was warned countless times) once those little bodies learn how to move, they don't stop... and it seems their favorite time to practice their speed and mobility is conveniently when watchful eyes are turned (even for 30 seconds!) My little mover was left in front of her morning cartoon Caillou with her toys that she was completely enthralled with (judge away if you must, but 15 minutes keeps her entertained while I get stuff done and I'm not sorry... there's worse stuff she could be watching and its not an all day babysitter). I went to upload new pictures (all of 45 seconds-1 minute at most!) when I heard the unmistakable pitter-patter of her crawling at lightning speed. As I looked down from the table to see what she was getting into, I saw a Jayme-less living room floor (oh crap!)... I look up to hear her chuckling (that "I know I'm doing something wrong, and its hilarious to see mommy's reaction" kinda laugh)... and 10 years off my life, a patch of gray hairs later, I see her at the top of the first stair landing getting ready to stand at the railing! I have never in my life moved so fast around the dining table, over a pile of toys, over the couch and up 7 stairs (you get the mental picture- sorta like the slow-motion Huggies commercial)... After grabbing her, I had to come up with some sort of temporary gate (again... judge if you must, but now we have learned that baby gates are no joke!)
Until we get over to Babies R Us or Home Depot this weekend, this was my ghetto solution (which clearly serves its purpose, minus the fact its an eye sore!)

it even swings open like a fancy gate!

HA! Whatcha gonna do now little bug???!! (you can almost hear the hamster wheel spinning in this picture, trying to find a way over, around, through...)

"seriously mom???"

her classic "disgusted face" directed at me, or my solution to her climbing problem

I hope this determination to succeed continues through life, just not in this mischievous manner

ramming the gate... at least its soft???

giving up after a few minutes of failed attempts

telling me how she feels about this obtrusive blockade

"I've had enough mamarazzi!"

mamarazzi in the house...

while having a father-daughter playtime moment (i was cooking dinner for these two goof-balls), i quietly started snapping pictures of their play time (what kind of mom would i be without my camera practically attached to my hip at all times?!)... to which ryan asks jayme (obviously intended for me) "can't we ever have playtime without mom snapping away???? it's like we have mamarazzi living in this house!" my response: "not if i happen to have the camera on hand! these are precious moments we'll never get back, and i want to remember them even when my memory starts failing me in 50 years!"

last week when dad wanted to be the one to get her up from nap time...

more like daddarazzi this time!

(mom is learning the bink needs to be left in the crib after naptim...it looks silly at this point) and daddy is learning you can't give her a "toy"...

if you're gonna take it away without giving her an appropriate replacement...

otherwise this is the result. (side note- we aren't evil parents who sat back laughing and taking pics of our crying child... she found other amusement within 30 seconds and was back to her happy self- without the bink and camera case :-)

blue eyes...

love this little face! (quality of the pic isn't great as it was taken with a phone camera... but i still love it!)

just another ordinary day...

and I am so blessed to be able to stay home with my little lady and experience "ordinary" days... its these kind of days that often go unmentioned, unappreciated, or taken for granted... I want to have these little memories documented every now and then as a reminder of how lucky I am to be a SAHM... its these ordinary type of days that I will one day look back on and appreciate the little things that made us happy on a daily basis in our little White family world... and if I don't every now and again document with photos or writing, these precious little moments of my daughter's childhood, might just become a foggy memory in time... and I don't want to regret, or FORGET any of it!

 

fresh from her morning nap, we took advantage of a little fresh air before the rain resumed... note- she's bundled in 3 layers plus a blanket so i don't have mommy guilt making her stuffy nose worse in the cold air

40 minutes and a 2.5ish  mile walk & jog later... she thinks it's hilarious that i am "glowing" with sweat

my favorite thing to make (super cheap, fresh, fast, and easy!)... we shared a few slices (turns out she loves basil AND tomatoes)

note- a quiet baby is most likely a baby getting into mischief

diaper bag bandit busted!

so much for diverting her attention... she is obsessed with my clutch!

busted AGAIN!

at this point i should have been smart enough to move the bag out of her reach

the "i swear it wasn't me mom!" face... <3 her!                               

this is me...

holding myself accountable by putting it in writing... today i WILL get outside and go for a run before the rain starts AGAIN... i WILL do my domestic duties (i.e. dishes, dinner, vacuum, and laundry - let's face it, it will get done, just not completely folded... i loathe folding!)... i WILL spend some quality play time with my little bug... i WILL lay out my to do list in order of priority so that i can ACTUALLY get started...

if it sounds like a puppy, and chews on everything....

it probably is a puppy... oooorrrrr in my case a jayme bug. i went to put her down for a nap yesterday and happened to notice her crib (how i didn't notice this before is beyond me!).... no one warned me or even mentioned that crib rail guards might be a good investment! here's to hoping ryan can fix jayme's teething marks from her crib :-/ in the meantime i guess making rail gaurds will be my first sewing project (i suppose i gotta learn to sew first... minor detail)... unless someone has a better suggestion, i'm all ears (or eyes i suppose in this case)

the most noticeable spot

but she didn't leave out the end rails (at least she knows to be fair to all 3 sides???)

all 3 sides... chomped

getting caught up...

i just realized i have failed on my goal of posting at least three times a week. our little world has been crazy busy with a mixed bag of life events, and somehow (i know its not an excuse, but i'm giving it anyway) life updates and what should be priorities have gotten away from me. i got a reality check/wake-up call this afternoon as i was reading a girlfriend's post about self-will and sahm laziness (its as if she went inside my deepest level of subconscious and put it into words better than i could have). <deep breath> sooooo this is me telling you (and myself) that its time to stop putting off my rapidly growing to-do list (some of it shouldn't even have to be on a list, as some of it entails my daily domestic duties) and get busy. since the forecast says rain all week (boo-hiss), i will have plenty of stir-crazy indoor time to knock out a few blogs about what we've been up to (i.e. jayme), what's in the works, and other ramblings.... stay tuned... first priority right now is playtime with my bright-eyed lil' one (i wish i had her post-nap energy!)

inspirational...

of all her titles, I knew Nancie as "mother-in-law" and "dear friend" (how many people can call their MIL a friend?!); however, I believe everyone who knew her would agree she was more than any title... she was gracious, kind (in a truly genuine manner), forgiving, inspiring, dedicated, and courageous to name a few qualities that defined her. After a difficult day at work and coping with losing his only parent, Ryan's boss gave him this poem by Linda Ellis... the words are inspiring

The Dash Poem

by Linda Ellis 

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what's true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

And more often wear a smile,

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read

With your life's actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

Nancie's dash was cut short, but the dash she lived was full of love, grace, genuine kindness, and generosity that have inspired me and others who knew and loved her...

RIP Nancie... 3-1-11

san clemente sorta camping...

we aren't exactly camping ready (1- we don't own a tent, B- the only gear we own are a lantern and grill, and 3- neighboring campers don't want to hear a teething baby cry at 2am)... but we were happy to get out of the house and crash uncle buck's campsite for the day.... here are some of the highlights (minus the smores, baileys & hot chocolate, and the final straw for me was a skunk that was lurking way too close for comfort)

so this is camping...

#78...best campsite near the bluff (without the wind)...

checkin out the beach with grampa

its always snack time when we're camping

give it 5 years or less :-)

pretend parenting (i.e. free birth control for uncle reed and uncle buck- becca)

daddy time

uncle reed makin' sure the nugget is secure on her daddy's shoulders (one of my fave pics!)

breathtaking view

my camera doesn't do this glorious sight any justice

she's entertained

uncle buck standing by in case uncle reed has an "oops"

tuckered out in uncle buck's tent (while the rest of us enjoy campfire cocktails and smores)