A New Friend

Sienna has a new friend...

When Auntie Jen came to visit, she had a surprise for Sienna all the way from California. Grandma Diane and Grandpa Paul got Sienna a "Melmo" backpack from the Sesame Street store.


She carries him around like a dolly and he even helps her put together her puzzles!

Sienna loves her "Melmo."

A Visit from Auntie Jen

The past few days were filled with mini road trips to Fremont, Mount Vernon, Arlington & Bellingham, picking up and dropping of Auntie Jen at Seatac, and of course, enjoying our visit with her. Sienna was just a little bit shy, but warmed up to her right away. We are looking forward to our next visit with Jen in May for her wedding in Chico.

Here is a little photo blog scrapbook of our time with Auntie Jen ::

Visiting the Statue of Lenin in Fremont

Auntie Jen touching Lenin's finger

The "little family" and Lenin

Visiting Troll Avenue in Fremont

And, of course, the troll under the bridge with his VW

Sienna all bundled up at Bob's Burgers & Brew in Bellingham

Auntie Jen loving her Mac & Jack

We had a great visit and can't wait to share Sienna's new friend in our next post!

On Giving Thanks

I'm feeling a little blog guilt today for neglecting my "Giving Thanks" posts. Isn't it funny that I feel so much more busy now than when I was actually working full-time? It's just a different kind of busy, I guess. Anyway, please forgive me for my negligence and do know that I quietly reflect and give thanks each and every day.

The pictures in today's post were taken last Thanksgiving, Sienna's first Thanksgiving. This year we will be going over to my mom's house in Edmonds.

How are you planning to spend your Thanksgiving?

Sienna helping Mama in the Ergo.

Her hair was so light back then.

I love how our dresses kind of match!

Mama's New Hair

Today, Sienna and I had a long day! It began with us "working girls" going down to the district office for a meeting on a special project Mama is working on. Then, we strolled around downtown Snohomish and window-shopped at all the cute stores already set up for Christmas. We went out to lunch at the Haggen's deli and waited for Mama's hair appointment. Yes, Mama got her hair cut today and Sienna watched on Nana's lap. She was such a good girl and kept coming over to Mama.

Here are some before and after snapshots ::

Before

Just outside the hair salon.

After

Sienna was happy to finally be home!

Another shot of the new 'do.

And ... the back, which shows it's still really long.

A girl & her purse

On Saturday, Nana brought Sienna some new winter clothes and ... a purse!

The purse also matches one of the coats, dress, and tights that Nana gave her.

Here are some snapshots of her (and the purse) at breakfast time ::






What a 17-month old cutie!
Yup, today is Sienna's 17-month birthday ...
Can you believe it?

Giving Thanks: Day 7, 8, 9 &10

Today I'm thankful for ...

• yummy Mexican food for dinner prepared by my husband (tonight, we are having the leftovers)
• a sweet, napping baby
• the three (!) coats, two pairs of shoes, dress, tights, mittens, and purse Nana brought over for Sienna this weekend
• a delicious lunch at Gere-a-Deli in Anacortes after our trip to the flea market on Saturday (my favorite sandwich is made there ... pesto & mozza ... mmm)
• David's shortened work schedule this month (Veteran's Day, three days of vacation, Thanksgiving, and the day after)
• Auntie Jennifer coming to visit us next week
• possibly, maybe snow on Monday ?
• $30.00 in coupons on our weekly, Sunday trip to Fred Meyer's
• four weeks of free newspaper service from The Skagit Valley Herald

Giving Thanks: Day 6

Today I'm thankful for:

• what an "easy" baby Sienna is ... does this mean the next one won't be?
• a successful exercise session this morning
• Sienna's good health, thus far
• natural root beers (especially Virgil's and Natural Brew)
  
• having a washing machine & dryer ... it would be awfully difficult to use cloth diapers without having them
  
• Flea Market sales (my mom, Sienna, and I are going tomorrow)
• having my mom/best friend in one
• online graduate programs (I'm applying to this one)
• having our cars paid off (it's been 1 year since I paid off my Xterra!)

December 2008
Nursing Sienna in the Xterra after Daddy chopped down our Christmas tree at Mt. Pilchuck

September 2007
Daddy and his truck at Yosemite on our secret "Honeymoon"

Exercise Girls

Today Sienna and I added "size" to our morning rhythm.
This is something that is long overdue for Mama.
Although I'm only 10 pounds away from my pre-Sienna weight, I've been having some back issues lately and miss feeling in shape.
Prior to becoming pregnant and embarking upon marriage, I was very in shape. I ran or hiked daily.

So, today we started something new.

I wasn't sure how Sienna would handle watching Mama exercise.
I don't want to start running again quite yet, as it's not the best weather to start something like that, especially not being in the best shape right now. (I sprained my ankle twice slipping on wet leaves while training for a half marathon).
Instead we opted for an exercise video!
I "built it up" for Sienna to get her excited about it and we even dressed her in some special workout clothes, too.
Here are the results ::

Ready to workout!

Sienna watching the exercise video.

A closer look at Sienna's workout outfit.
Don't worry it's very warm in the house!
Daddy built us another fire this morning.

Mama's running shoes still fit perfectly!

A candid photo of Sienna working out. I went to get a glass of water and she was exercising when I came back.

Up ...

and down!

It's important to stay hydrated while exercising!

Mama was able to do the whole video and feels energized.
Sienna enjoyed watching Mama run around the living room exercising and was entertained with her basket full of shoes.
The plan ::
alternate between different exercise videos during the week
run, hike, walk on the weekends

Giving Thanks: Day 5

Today I'm thankful for:

• how my "big girl" can use her spoon and eat her baby food all on her own (without messes) yes, she's getting to be a very "big girl"
• the rainy weather today and the little tapping sounds that it makes on the skylight in our bathroom
• peppermint mocha's from Starbuck's
• delicious leftover chicken tortilla soup from yesterday (so we don't have to cook tonight)
• little packages for Sienna that keep arriving! we got another one in the mail last night from great aunt Carol ... thank you!
• little stacks of things (books, blocks, movies) all over the living room - Sienna's newest skill
• my new Mothering magazine that arrived in the mail today
• Sienna's love of kitties (Baba's)
  

Note: These pictures are from yesterday. She is wearing her kitty shirt, kitty sweatshirt, and holding one of her many kitties!


P.S. Sorry for no Butterfly Wednesday ... I had an idea, I just ran out of time.
Maybe next week?

Giving Thanks: Days 1, 2, 3, 4

You can probably guess what this blog will be about given the title.

But, I'll explain anyway.

For the month of November, I plan to do a little Giving Thanks piece each day. I may or may not do a regular blog for the day also. It just depends on the day and what we have to share.
The Giving Thanks pieces will be done in a list format with what I've been thinking about/pondering for that particular day.

Please forgive me since I've missed days 1-3 and I'm starting a little late (which seems like my life since motherhood anyway).

On our way to the Co-op, which seems to be happening every Wednesday, coincidentally.

The view looking out from the little house.

The view to the side of the little house.

The little house as we head down the drive.

Sienna asleep after the trip to town. Look how tall she is getting!

Today, I'm thankful for ...

• being able to stay home with Sienna every day
  
• being surrounded with warmth from the fire David made us this morning
• listening to Sienna sing "lalala" and ask for "mik" (music) in the car
• the yummy food the Skagit Valley Co-op has to offer us
• chicken tortilla soup for dinner that I will start preparing in a few minutes
• the Little House that we are loving living in
• how eating raw garlic cloves yesterday seemed to help my sore throat go away
• the beautiful sunny (but chilly) day
• Sienna returning to two naps a day since the time change (one of which is going on right now, which is why I'm able to blog)
• being David's wife and Sienna's mama
  

Oh and don't worry, I didn't forget "Butterfly Wednesday" ...

Books, Books, Books

Sienna and her Mama have something in common.

Books, Books, Books!

While we both love reading books,
Sienna also has a newfound hobby ... stacking them.

These snapshots are from Friday night, just before bedtime ::

Sienna standing proudly next to her rocking chair, stacked with all of her books.

Perfecting her book pile!

The completed project.

These snapshots are from Sunday afternoon ::

Using Mama as the foundation for her building project.

No time to look up for the picture with this very important building project!

Once again, putting her final touches on the project.

A Cozy Halloween

This year, Halloween was very low-key and cozy.

On the way to running errands, renting a scary movie for mama & daddy, and grocery shopping, the little black kitty took a nap ::

She then declared that it was "Brrr" outside ::

So, Daddy built his kitty a fire ::

She played with her "punkin" while Daddy carved the other two ::

The kitty wanted to play with her ears ::

Daddy put his pumpkins outside ::

And the little black kitty wouldn't go to sleep and let her Mama & Daddy watch their scary movie.

So, Mama stayed up with her a little late and watched "Bedtime with Elmo."

Maybe we'll get to watch it tonight!