Show your PRIDE

This weekend was Gay Pride.  My sister walked for Planned Parenthood. I wanted to go support her and the organization that in my opinion does so much for the community.  Its not all about pro-life, or pro-choice.  Its about being human and providing access to healthcare and education no matter what your status is, who you sleep with or how much money you have!

I am proud of my sister!

there she is!!!!!!

Emerald City part II

So after my fits of joy in seeing a Target going up downtown, I managed to take more pictures of our day.

Max is so inquisitive now.  He wants to get out and explore all new things.  This is both good and hard.  But overall it is great watching him learn.  Experiencing new sounds and people.  I am loving this age!

at Starbuck getting a little coffee

gotta love the slippers

hmmmm, what size belt am I?

On the light rail.  A little scared, but the ballon helped.

Back to the Emerald City

Its good to be back home.  Its also good to be back in the Pacific Northwest.  Yes, it is a bit more grey than California, but it is home, and home is comfy. Not every ones cup of tea, but......it does grow on you, sort of like a fungus.

On our first day back we headed out downtown.  My sister was marching in the Pride Parade for Planned Parenthood and I wanted to support her and the organization. So off we went.

It was a great day. Even more great was when I came across this huge red sign........  Oh Seattle, I just heart you!

Back to Bend

The drive back and forth to Stockton is a drag.  It's about 15 hours long.  Thankfully we stop in Bend, Oregon for two night and recharge.  This also gives us a good chance to catch up with our friends the Ulvi's.  I have been friends with Dawn since we were about 13.  Thats a long ass time.  We have gotten into our fair share of trouble.  Those were some good ol' days.  We have also travelled the US via small car. It took us about a month and if two 21 year old girls can spend one whole month in a small car and still be friends, well that saying something.

She now has a great hubby and two beautiful little girls.  Its an interesting thing watching your friends become mothers.  Watching Dawn, who has amazing patience and affection for her family is inspiring.  Especially when that is the same girl I held up over a curb while she puked up her dirty rice and beans.....Oh New Orleans.  You will always be missed.

care for a jug of vodka?

The fam

beautiful art by Kaia

Kaia hard at work

a tour of the greenhouse

Dawn and I

Happy Father's Day

Last Sunday was the hubby's first Father's day.  We celebrated with some gift giving and a nice walk.  Despite the 104 degree weather, the jeep breaking down, and the pool being closed it was a good day. No, but in all seriousness, it was a good day.  It was nice to celebrate Father's day with such a loving, giving, and funny dad.

We love you!!!!

Notice the hand prints....
They look a tad bit funny you say????
Do you know how hard it is to get a 11 month old to want to imprint his hands or feet?
Not the easiest task :)

who wants a spankin'?

Before we had children, my hubby and I talked about if we would be spankin' parents or not.  Now both of us grew up in families where a spankin' wasn't uncommon or undeserved.  My mother, bless her Asian lil heart, ruled with iron pincher's.  That's right, she was a pincher.  I am not sure if you have felt the wrath of an angry Korean mother and her pincher's.  Its enough to make you sweat, and bring you to your knees.  I was actually the pinch and twist that was the real killer.  Try it on your mate one day....you will see.

Anyways, I digress.  Rob and I came to the decision that we had no real stance on it.  That some behaviors probably warrant a swat, but what those behaviors were, we didn't really know.  Which brings me to the crux of my story.  Max has been into biting lately.  I know this is a toddler thing, and I am suppose to redirect it. But he's too savvy for that game. Today as I was cleaning some toys, Max climbed on my back and started lightly biting me.  I was stern in my tone and pulled him off and said, "no bite".  As if I said nothing at all, he was gleefully climbed back on my back, biting away. "NO BITE", I yelled and pulled him off me and gave him a swat on his butt.  All noise stopped. And for a moment I thought he was going to brush it off and go back to playing.  Then all of a sudden he looked up at me with the saddest eyes, and bursted into tears.  Crocodile tears. Huge, over sized tear drops fell from his eyes. It instantly broke my heart.  He even put his head down and rested it on the couch.  As I sat down next to him rubbing his back, I started explaining my actions.  Why we don't bite mamas and how it hurts.  I swear it did hurt me more than it hurt him.

Who knows if this made any impact on him or his biting, or if he will be explaining this event to his future psychologist, I can't say.  I can say that I am not sure if the swat or spankings will be making an appearance again, but I can say he is damn lucky I am not a pincher. Damn lucky!

new chapters

So now that Max is coming up on his first birthday, I feel it is about time for this mama to branch out and do some extra curricular activities sans monster.  For the first 12 months I was really content not doing more than being a full time mama.  All though hard at times, it is very fulfilling.  Being there for every step, squeak and milestone has been wonderful.  But now, I feel like I need a little more.  Lets not get hasty though, I'm not going back to work or anything...blech! But I am going to start volunteering at my last job in the food back.  I had this intention before I left my job last year.  Saying, "I'll be back" as I ran out the door, clocking out for the last time.  It has just taken me a little longer than I anticipated.  Anyways, I am super stoked for this chapter.  I have a nanny all lined up.  Her name is Sarah, and she comes highly recommended from my BFF Merry.  She will watch the monster every Friday for four hour while I go back into the world.

Google image

I am eager to start this.  A little time for me, talking with other adults about things that don't revolve around diapers, nursing or poop.  Well maybe some poop talk. Poop stories always make me laugh. The sort of laugh that usually involves tears and maybe a snort.

Lake Tahoe

Last weekend, the family packed up and headed to South Lake Tahoe.  I had never been before, but Rob had so he was our mini tour guide.  It was only about 2.5 hours away from Stockton so It was a nice get away.

However, it has been a small bummer when we leave for the weekend.  One, Max has to sleep in the same room so that means lights out for everyone at 8.  And Two, mama gets no sleep with daddy snoring up a storm right next to me.  I have to admit, I contemplated hurting him....real bad.  Little sleep can drive someone to do crazy things.

Other than that, Lake Tahoe is beautiful.  Everything everyone said is true, it was breathtaking.

We plan on making a return visit next spring.

buying tickets for the gondola

little father, son time

gorgeous

At the top of the mountain

lil time for some wine while Max ate some rocks

Nekked

I am sure one day Max will see this and absolutely hate me.   But there is just something so cute about a babies bottom.  

I couldn't help myself.  

Sorry in advance sweetie!

Trash to Treasures

For about the last year (I think) I have been really drawn to antiques.  Now, it was brought to my attention that in my younger life, I would of laughed at the thought.  That "I" would ever collect old junk.  Well, my have I changed.  I now getting gitty with glee at the idea of wandering through antique stores. And I am talking wanting to pee my pants gitty.  Odd I know.  But what can I say.  I just go with it.

So far I am just starting my collection.  I have an old water basin, a great butter churner (that my BFF got me), some skeleton keys, jars, and frames.  These will all rest nicely in my dream home, that has yet to be found or purchased.  But yes, they will reside there.

Here are some pictures from an antique faire we went to this month.  There were 800 vendors at this faire.  I was a little overwhelmed, and so freakin' GITTY!!!!

I love me some burlap

Max was a pretty good sport too :)

great vintage clothes

Rob found a vintage classical guitar, but didn't buy it.  We got him an old liquor bottle instead 

ReAlLy???

Today as I was nursing Max, he reached up so lovingly...... and grabbed my double chin..... He actually played with it

If there was any reason to put down the cookie, this might be it.

Or I could invest in the "Curves of Youth"???

mama rants....

A little on motherhood, thus far.....

I know, I know. This blog is suppose to be all about Max, my perfect little monster.  However, as of late I am finding myself more and more contemplative.  You know, about life, marriage, friendship and of course motherhood.  I thought maybe (and we will see how long this last) I could incorporate some of my own ideas or concerns on said subject matter.  I apologize in advance if it comes out jumbled and random, as that is how my brain seems to work these days.

I am coming up on a year of motherhood and it has flown by.  I remember hearing that, actually everyone says it, but it doesn't ring as true till you experience it.  I can't believe that a year ago today I was as big as a house and impatiently waiting for Max's arrival. And now, as I write, he is screaming at the top of his little lungs, in his crib refusing to go to bed.  Little ironic, dontcha think?

I must admit, I imagined my life a tad bit more chaotic and filled with panic and frustration.  I saw myself un kept, rarely showered and a hot mess.  I painted a pretty picture of motherhood hadn't I?  But it is true.  I wandering through my late twenties petrified of motherhood.  Did I want to be a mother, would I be a mother or better yet, would I be a good mother?  I searched book stores for enlightenment and was quite surprised at the lack of literature around this subject.  (I even swore I would write my own book....one day) Anyways, my decision to have a baby was filled with fear.  Fear of the unknown, fear of regret, and fear of work.  So, when I say I imagined my life chaotic, I truly envisioned that. Oddly, I decided to take the plunge anyways.

Thankfully, motherhood has proven to be the opposite.  Don't get me wrong, my sweet little monster totally tests my patience.  Like when he tugs at my legs while I wash the dishes making this awful moaning sound because he is bored, hungry or whatever. Or how some days I wish I could just sleep for 24 hours straight.  Or wait, one more, how about when we are out at a store and he starts to lose his shit because he wants to runs around.........but even that, that is way easier than I had anticipated.  Guess expecting the worse has worked out in my favor.  More to come on this subject for sure.....

party time!

Guess what came in the mail today......

I may be a little excited....

Invites are in the mail :)

saucy....

Not sure what it is about little kids but I know he isn't the first, nor will he be the last to have sauce all over his face.

Love this face!