Tuesday, April 19, 2011

What a 15 month old looks like-


Just a regular day for Makena!

Bagels for breakfast!



Putting coins in her bank!

Nap time!


At Gymboree class!

Just being a cutie!


Smelling the flowers!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Date Night #4

Tonight Pam and I went to dinner at The Melting Pot to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary.

It was our 4th time (in over 14 months) that we've left Makena and gone somewhere by ourselves.

We had a great time, and Makena had a great time with Catriona and the boys. It's really awesome to have somewhere where we know she is safe and comfortable. :)

If we could go back in time I wonder if we'd make ourselves have more together time. Part of us knows we need it for our relationship, but we also just don't like to be without Makena! It's a difficult catch 22.

We were gone for 5 hours. So for 5 hours of today, Makena did/experienced things and I have no idea what. She played, ate, played some more. Played in the backyard. Cried when she got frustrated. Listened to stories. Laughed.

But I just lost 5 hours with her.

I seriously cannot IMAGINE leaving her for 8 hours a day. Really. Just knowing we missed out on 5 hours makes me sad. I can't imagine having only a couple hours together each day. It's always been a given that when Pam and I had a baby I'd stay home to raise the baby, "no ifs ands or butts!!" The issue wasn't debatable at all. I want to be a full time mom. It's hard. There are tough days where I think how glorious it would be to escape to "work" for an entire day. Then I realize that I might not have been there to discover her first tooth. To see her roll over and then take those first steps. To hear her first words and laugh.

Working as a nanny I experienced many moments of witnessing a baby's first milestone. It's heartbreaking! Those should be kept for the parents eyes only!

And Makena is growing and learning and changing so much every day. Within 8 hours she can master a new skill. Speak a new word. Have a new trick!

As of now, she says-
Mama
oh-NO!
ba-ba (ball/baby)
buh (bubbles/belly button/balloon)
Mo-mo (Elmo)
muh (milk)
ish (fish/shoe/this)
...and something that sounds like Donte but we can't be sure just yet. :)

She can match the right colors for her stacking toy.

We're always amazed at how smart she is. She will bring you things when you ask for them, or put them back where you say. She can follow most directions and is happy to help with anything you need! She will grab a diaper and lay down on a blanket when it's time for a diaper change. She's seriously a genius.

And oh so cute too!

We've been going to the park a lot lately. The weather has been warming up and we live within walking distance to a few parks. On Saturdays we go to the Farmer's Market.

One of these days I want to sit and type out a huge post catching up on everything. I just get so busy with, you know, living life and loving this amazing baby!