Oh my sweet girls

I find myself saying "Oh my sweet girls" all of the time. I just love these two. Being a mom is the craziest, by far most stressful, and yet most unreal, most radical, best thing ever. 

Ava has gone from being incredibly quiet while inspecting the details around her, to being quite a little jokester. She does a little stare, like the quiet before the storm, and then cracks up and throws her body around, so much so that she bonks her head on the ground sometimes. She started to pull herself to standing just today. She crawls like a gremlin just like her big sister did. She is teeny tiny, just like Riley too. I guess I make 'em small around here. She is such a mama's girl, and I don't mind it a bit. She has 5 teeth. 

Riley is smart and beautiful. She knows what she wants and tries her hardest to get it. That is nuts to me that I am describing a 2 year old. The girl can push my buttons. I read something on Facebook once about your children being your little gods, in a way that they see where you need to grow (for example Patience) and force you to work on it. It was a great post, I wish I had the link. One of the funniest things right now is how she pronounces her R's when they are at the end of a word. She sound like she's from the East Coast, maybe Boston or New York when she says "your." She also is becoming quite a little fish thanks to swim lessons, enjoys Dora on her iPad, and loves giving Ava a kiss and hug as soon as she wakes up. 

Robby just completed his second Ironman 70.3. We made a trip out of it to St. George, Utah then to Zion National Park. I took 2 weeks of "baby bonding" time from work. It was a very nice 2 weeks. Robby did really well, especially since the temp was in the 90's on a tough, hilly course. Love you babe. He has become quite the endurance athlete. He is so driven towards better health. It inspires me. I love that I am inspired by my spouse after being married for almost 10 years. Not bad, huh? 

I'm kind of in a holding pattern. I am not completely content with life, which is usually my norm anyways, and which I find to be a good thing. However I am happy. Very happy. Today, Riley was sitting in my lap, then in front of her, Ava was in her lap. We were reading one of those soft, touch and feel the animal books. Riley was showing Ava how to do it. For a moment, life stopped, I was so fulfilled. I wanted life to remain stopped forever in that moment.

Generally though, I am always wanting and expecting a little more. Speaking of wanting a little more, I am taking steps towards a more Minimal lifestyle. More to come on that. For now, here's a few pics to recap the last couple of months. 

 We kept trying to get a family selfie while hiking towards The Narrows in Zion. This is as good as it got.

 Easter at my sister's house.

 Riley couldn't help but strip down and run toward the water when she saw a little beach near a park we were at in Coronado the other day.

 I can't believe how much older my nephews have gotten in such a short time.

 The new Waterfront park is San Diego is amazing.

 Costco.

It's starting to get really fun watching Ava interact with her cousin Luna (who turned One today - happy birthday Luna!).

Roughin it

By "Rough," I mean how hard it is to live in San Diego in late winter (jealous, East Coast and Alaskan friends?) It's been in the low 80's a lot of this month, which leads to picnic lunches in the yard and trips to the parks nearly every day that I am off. How can I complain (for example, about, yes you guessed it, sleep deprivation) when I have my healthy family and this wonderful weather.

One of Riley's favorite topics is the future…Whenever I say "No" to something that's not quite safe for her yet, she asks when "Riley bigger? Riley older?" That's her referring to herself. Always in the third person. And now Riley has expanded her grown up world to Ava. When I remind Riley, no sweetie, Ava can't play with pennies for example, she pauses and says to me "Ava older? Ava bigger?" Then she even adds "Ava run, Ava crawl, Ava have hair?" Yes babe, when Ava can run and crawl and has hair, maybe we'll re-evaluate if she can play with pennies. The way their mind wraps around concepts never ceases to entertain.

In other exciting news, Ava got her first little tooth. I know all of my readers were on the edge of their seats for that one.



Riley is potty trained. Or I guess I should say Riley is treat trained. I'm not sure if she has bladder control or just decides to 'go' because she wants an M&M. She's addicted to chocolate. Addicted. Every morning she starts her day with a piece of chocolate if she stayed in her bed once it's bedtime the evening before (instead of climbing out and running giggling into the living room 3 to 50 times like she used to do).
















Ava is 7 months and doing that little lean into a crawl position, then pancakes into a swimming motion without actually going anywhere.

Robby is training for another half ironman. He found this training program tailored towards family men such as himself, where you put the least amount of time in, to make the most efficiency out of that little bit of training time you can squeeze into working 96 hours a week and coming home to a part-time-stay-at-home crazy wife that expects your help as soon as your foot is through the door. I'd say as soon as your car pulls up, but maybe that's why he bought a Prius. Can't even hear when that little things engine is on.



I am working on my barista skills every morning with my espresso. I know, I know, I am the family over-achiever right? (the last one is my first attempt at a fire engine)

Last topic for today's blog is Riley on Discipline. Let's start with Timeouts. She asks for them. Literally. She'll push Ava, look up, and ask "Time Out?" Then walk herself to the wall and stand there for a couple of minutes. Not giggling, not interacting, just waiting for it to be over. Then will obediently say sorry to Ava, kiss her and move on. Only to push her again tomorrow. Really Riley? I tried putting soap in her mouth and she says "Mmm, spicy. More soap please." We talked about toys being taken away if she continues not listening. The next time I gave that look, you know moms, the one with the eye brows up, that says 'you're not listening,' - she says to me "hmm, take away toys please?" What am I to do with you honey?

North Carolina

I had the chance to take a quick trip to visit my dearest friend Wafa over a long weekend in February. Wafa is expecting a baby girl any day now! I got to take Ava and give her that goo-goo gaga baby attention that she doesn't get nearly enough of, as it's divided with her sister most of the time. I was so proud of the great traveler Ava was. When my girls travel well it just makes mama so proud. Good job sweets. While I was taking a shower or something one morning, Wafa and her wonderful childless, yet child-adoring girlfriends set up a fashion show for themselves with Ava as their headband model. 

Ava got to see snow for the first time just as we were departing. By the next morning Raleigh was blanketed with snow. 

Robby and Riley got their own hang out time too. 

My souvenir for Riley was a bottle of soap from Bath & Body works (I couldn't find any NC kid things that I thought she'd especially like). How well do I know my daughter? She went through half of the bottle as soon as I gave it to her. 

What this is, what this do?

Riley has reached that inquisitive point in her life where everything she see's is followed up by the questions "What this is?" or "What this do" or "What doing mama, What doing dada?" 

 Can't beat february in San Diego.

Rollin' with her cousin Luna. 

Fall and Winter

Just a little throw back to this past fall/winter/christmas time that I didn't get to posting at the actual time…

Nighttime at the zoo  

Took a few trips to the Colorado river, celebrated cousins turning 3, and had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with family.