4.28.2013

what a ONE-derful world




















"i hear babies cry....i watch them grow, they'll learn so much more....than i'll ever know, and i think to myself...what a wonderful world"

dear milena, happy first birthday. you have blessed your mama and papa one thousand times over. here are a few things you're doing, that we can look back on as those sweet days, when you were just the tender age of one. love you.

*a girl of few "words," but understand everything we say
*you moan to fall asleep, say "uh uh uh" when you want something and are great at making up your own conversations with "adubadubaduba" all day long
*throw your head back in laughter (as you've seen your mama and your aunties do) which puts the rest of us in stiches
*you love to brush your teeth. you know the routine when it's about to happen and you literally jump for joy
*take a few steps, rest and try again - you're up to 11 steps (first walked on 4.18)
*love to lean in and give your big sister big kisses and hugs
*you love to bounce and will "bouncy, bouncy, bouncy" on command
*stretch your arms out and close your eyes - almost pained for mama to scoop you
*use your little pointer finger to look at the finest details of food, dust, or any minute matter
*could spend hours looking at the trees, birds and breeze moving through it all
*have great coordination with a ball and think every toy in your basket is one too, as you chuck it across the room
*give high fives, clap and you looooovvveee to sing
*wake up always with a smile and a big kiss for mama, before quickly making sure your sister is within eyesight
*crawl around the house with things in your mouth, like a puppy who has just fetched
*close your eyes and throw your head the opposing direction when you absolutely don't want something
*are so definitive about what you do and don't want and let everyone know through facial expression alone
*love the bath like nothing else and have the best time splashing
*want to do most things your sister does and are thoroughly entertained by her
*can be so serious 50% of the time and such a ham the other 50% 

how we spent your birthday
quinoa banana muffin, o's and strawberries
beach fun!

 
birthday dip
prefer sitting on the blanket to the texture of the sand
pumpkin spice cake, no thank you mama
on a side note, mama got to hold one of our newest "family" members. little george. at only 17 hours old, he's pretty darn fresh - and super cute and loveable to boot. congratulations tylers!

365 days ago in the hospital with my muffin

4.23.2013

walk don't run, our new baby is turning one

 
"happy birthday to you!" -photo credit paul moreno

in my last post i talked about how quickly three years has gone by, with our sweet evia anese. now all of a sudden, our second baby girl, milena is turning one!! the saying that you hear so often, "the days are long, but the years are short" - is so true as a parent and i'm trying with all my might to slow down and take it all in. diegas constantly reminds me, that these love bugs of ours are not always going to want to put their head on our shoulders, hug us tight and give us a million kisses. two birthdays in one month, has mentally hit me hard. it's been a wake up call to walk through these days, weeks and months and try not to run: so many errands, chores, bills, appointments, (not to mention virtual socializing)...just the happenings of life....but looking at my little ones and taking a deep breath i am choosing to savor this moment in time.

this sentiment is what brought us to the idea of having a pony party for the girls. i want to live in the moment. evia has a thing for horses and i wanted to see my little girls faces as ponies walked into the backyard. i wanted to enjoy the giggles of the little guests at the party as they experienced a pony ride, perhaps for the first time! these were my objectives for their special day, but regardless of the activity, i wanted to just be present. we chose to keep it simple no elaborate food preparation, just cake and pony rides. i was able to relax, enjoy the company of our dear friends and family and spend time with my two favorite ladies. i couldn't have pulled it off, without some very important players. thank you marisa, emily, mama, lucille, rina, tina, christina of ponies and paints and my wonderful husband. someone told me the sun never came out that day...i didn't notice. 
the invitation



rainbow was the decor - so here are my colorful flower selection
getting to know eggnog and about to brush some locks!
riding eggnog - photo credit joe lee
cakes came out so funky looking, but redeemed themselves once on the cake plate
cake table: chocolate with (red) strawberries, carrot cake (orange), (yellow) banana cake, cheesecake with (green) kiwis, sponge cake with (blue)berries and peanut butter and grape jelly (purple) cake - all made with love by friends and family
party hats made by mama, rina and evia
favor bags, inside: small pony figurine, pony stickers and rainbow-colors travel paints
enjoying her selection
auntie love

mama and mila hanging with auntie emi
unicorn-pony
my girls
opening their joint gift from nana and grandpa, the day before
opening gifts together the following day
evia loving the generosity
making thank you cards, with the new horse stamp gift set - thank you beraldo's!

4.11.2013

blink, she's three!

evia and her cousin isei taking a little break before the zoo closes (8 hours of zooing-it, whew!)
this week was the highly anticipated 3rd birthday. i cannot believe how quickly 3years has gone by. our little love bug is a big girl now...and it's based on so much more than the number! i can ask her to go wash her face, check on her sister or relay a message to papa. what?! when did this happen? she goes on the potty, rides roller coasters and finishes a cheeseburger as fast as her mama (that's fast!). she loves pizza, telling stories and walking instead of sitting in the stroller. but, even with all of those things in her repertoire, she is still my little baby. she wants to hold her mommy's hand to go to sleep, talks about future hugs from her papa and smiles from ear to ear with the prospect of seeing her grandparents. my first born i love you to the moon and the stars.

we spent her birthday in san diego for a little r&r at the san diego zoo. we were there last year and had such an amazing time we started planning our return on our walk out of the park. her cousin isei was on spring break and got to join us with auntie becca, tio gamz and ayin. isei's san diego request "legoland!!" so we joined them for that excursion too. lucky for us auntie anna took time off work to hang with us at the zoo. it was an incredible weekend of family fun. below are some photos that help tell a visual story:
with an egg allergy evia has never had donuts. promised her 3rd bday morning it would be on!

made, decorated and packed for the trip

the baking process. such will power, for her to watch and not get to eat until her bday

a stop at the infamous langers for pastrami on rye, in los angeles


arrival to shelter island and our "room with a view"

talking to evia about her last night as a two year old...feeling sentimental

wake up birthday morning to mama's flash - MAMARAZZI!!

donuts ready for evia's consumption

one happy girl!

zavala cousins came over for donuts...d and ayin

auntie becca and isei

morning chat on the balcony

lovin' the start to the fun-packed day already

somebody woke up

gettin' birthday calls from gma t, grandpa mikey, nana and grandpa


hit the zoo running

mama's favorite memory of the zoo and so excited to share it with evia (they were beached last year)

kissing hippos

auntie anna lifting e above the crowds
 
eating a cheeseburger and LOVING it
 
gotta be one of my absolutely favorite pics of the trip

seesters
 




chocolate cupcakes

more sugar this day then in her whole life

morning pool time
LEGOLAND



mini legos - san francisco

papa putting evia on her first ride solo

she did great!
isei coming around the bend

cousins

our crew


such an amazing weekend of family time
mama and evia on a ride together

many of the lines have lego stations for play....such a great idea

evia as captain

tio gamz and isei on a boat cruise


volvo junior driving school - licensed included!


rescue patrol helicopter ride

playing hospital