36 years

It's my birthday! Here I am in my flannel pjs trying to get Eliza to bed when Cap surprises me with news that we have a reservation tonight for a sushi dinner! I asked if I had to change and he said at least out of my slippers. He also surprised me with an ice cream cake to share with Addie and Papa Mit and 3 dozen red roses at work. I know, awwwwwwww, right?!

My Dad has been organizing his life possessions and shipped me three boxes of family memorabilia including a box of letters and cards that were sent to me, my parents and grandparents when I was born, yes, 36 years ago today. This is the telegram sent by my Aunt and Uncle from the US Embassy in Kathmandu to congratulate my parents on their first child - me! My Aunt Susan and I share a birthday along with Robert "Robbie" Burns who would be 251 today. See, 36 is young!

Thank you all for my birthday wishes in person, on the phone, by mail or on facebook. Hugs!

Meeting Tufty

Nana and Pop Pop have headed back to wintry Michigan leaving us missing them and a week of rain. Good thing Miss Addie has her new Hello Kitty umbrella compliments of Nana and Pop Pop to keep her dry and remember the long weekend. This was their first time meeting Eliza and my Dad gave her the new moniker, Tufty, because of Eliza's dark fluff on the top of her head.

Over the weekend Addie saw her grandfather in action up at the church pulpit presiding over the baptism of the granddaughter of former Michigan friends. Also on Saturday, Addie went to her swim lesson and we all went to the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena. She passed out at 5 pm that night forcing us to move our sushi dinner plans from dining out to dining in. No problem!

After pancakes on Sunday, we drove up the coast to Malibu to explore the tidepools at Leo Carillo State Beach just before the rains came. We saw cormorants, sand pipers, a white egret, crabs, sea stars, urchins and anemones. The rain didn't stop us from continuing North to Neptune's Net to consume massive piles of fried seafood. The rest of the afternoon we watched football and then Cap and I snuck out after the girls were in bed to see Avatar in Imax/3-D.

Monday morning after waffles, we took Addie to see Princess and the Frog (her second time!) while Cap and Eliza stayed at home. Then it was off the airport to say farewell. In between all of our adventures, there was plenty of time just to hang out at home and let Nana and Pop Pop play with the girls. My Dad is an expert bottle feeder!

Now all of the grandparents have met Eliza and we are ready for repeat visitors!



Addie's portrait of Baby Eliza




Check out more pictures of our trip to the beach here.

Love Letter

This is Addie's first love letter. At least, that's what I'm calling it. It was written by her classmate, Jack, for her. Smart kid to know the way to her heart is through her ponies.


Addie's drawings continue to amaze me. This is a self portrait. I love the eyelashes.


ice cream cones with rainbow sprinkles


a sad face with tears. I asked Addie why the little girl was sad and she replied "she misses her Mama and Dada."


Addie has also been practicing writing her letters which she noted was "hard." I'm digging the flourish on the letter "U".


And this masterpiece is her most recent. Did she really draw this herself? She said she did and when I told her I really like her heart person and flower person, she informed that they are not persons, they are girls. So there.

Nana and Pop Pop are coming to visit us today. This is their first time meeting Miss Eliza. I'm so excited!

Happy 4 Months Eliza!

Four months old already? But how can that be?!

And could she possible get cuter? Oh I melt when I see her. Spoken like a proud Mama, as Cap just said after I gushed over these photos.

Eliza smiles. Eliza laughs. Eliza has also found her feet, her hands and her mouth which she mixes up in a little baby waltz. Hand to feet, feet to mouth, mouth to feet, hand to mouth and round and round we go. She grabs everything including Addie's hair which she tolerates with great fortitude. Eliza is adjusting to daycare and me to work. I must say though that, after the miracle of bringing life into the world, spreadsheets and proposals seem rather mundane.

The other big news is that Eliza has pretty much weaned herself. When I got strep, Cap stepped in with the bottle and formula and by the time I recovered days later, Eliza had lost interest. I feed her once or so in the middle of the night when she is too sleepy to protest. I've been trying to pump at work once a day although even that is becoming hard to schedule. While I'm a little sad and a less than thrilled at 6 months of expensive formula, I am glad to have the freedom to roam about knowing that Cap can step in and feed her. I'll also miss the extra calorie burn. Perhaps I'll get serious about Wii hula-hooping and see if I can shrink the kangaroo pouch that is my stomach.

Happy Birthday little Eliza Belle, Eliza Booty, Eliza Doodle and Turkey Lurkey. I love you!







See more from her 4 Month photo shoot here.

Let it snow!

We ended 2009 reconnecting with family and began 2010 celebrating with old friends in Colorado. I had such an amazing time hanging out in Keystone with my cousins, seeing their kids who are now almost all grown up, and having plenty of hands willing to hold Eliza. Then we went to Granby for 2 nights to stay with fabulous girlfriend Reid and her family. We all went sledding, Cap shredded the mountain, Eliza went swimming for the first time, Addie got on Nordic skis and I even went myself. It was a perfect way to welcome in 2010.

Happy New Year!


Addie and Eliza with their second cousins


Snow angels


3 Madeira girls (1 not pictured) nordic skiing in Rocky Mountain National Park. We had the place to ourselves.


The view from Reid's house in Granby


Cap takes on Winter Park


Scott, Arden, Cap and Eliza roast marshmallows


Addie and Sawyer sledding


I was so proud of Addie for trying out cross country skiing. She was a champion and despite the wipe out in this video (which Addie finds hilarious), she spent most of the time upright moving right along.

Check out a few more photos here.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Santa brought so many presents that we didn't open the last gift until 9:45 - at night. Sure, we had a few pleasant interruptions like the arrival of Uncle Brother from Alaska and hosting Christmas dinner for 10. Next year under the tree, I think less is more will be our motto. Addie enjoyed every minute even though Santa forgot her Snow White crown. He made up for it though when he brought a Cinderella phone so Addie could invite her over for a Boxing Day playdate. I loved having my brother with us and Addie thought he was pretty cool too. You can check out a few more of our adventures below.



Decked out in Hello Kitty thanks to Auntie Jennifer



Brother at Christmas Dinner at our house


Riding the train at the Santa Barbara Zoo


Sledding practice, California style


Uncle Brother and Snow White at the Getty Villa


Me and Eliza on the beach in Malibu

I survived!

Yes, I survived Eliza's first day at daycare and so did she. I also survived my first day back at work, enjoying perks like a working bathroom, free coffee and adult conversation. Andi said Eliza did fine and was a great burper. I guess we all have to be good at something.

Home Again Home Again

We returned last night from a fabulous adventure in snowy Colorado. I'm glad we have today to transition because I have a To Do list that can't be ignored (see below) and, gulp, tomorrow I return to work after 4 months of maternity leave and Miss Eliza heads off to daycare.

To Do:

Have plumber come ASAP to fix backed-up pipes (nothing says welcome home like backed-up sewage in your shower and toilet.)
Mop up flooded laundry room
Unpack
Do laundry (once the top 2 on the list are completed)
Take a shower (see above)
Rent check (late. oops)
Fill out daycare paperwork
Make copies of Eliza's immunization records
Pack diaper bag, label Eliza's bottles and defrost breastmilk for daycare
Write thank-you notes
Pack away Christmas decorations (sniff sniff)
Dispose of Christmas tree somehow
Download pictures and videos from our trip
Write a Christmas blog post
Write a Colorado vacation post
Do something fun that doesn't involve cleaning or sewage!

optional: ponder New Year's resolutions

Christmas Countdown: Day 25

Santa is here!

And Uncle Brother is on his way! He and Santa are neighbors, you know. Too bad Santa didn't have room on his sleigh so my brother wouldn't have to travel 12 hours to come visit us. Good Brother! I also got a great gift - Eliza slept until 6:30 am!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love, Peace and Good Health,
Sarah

Christmas Countdown: Day 24

Twas the night before Christmas.

Thanks to antibiotics (and my Dad's prayer warriors) I am up and about, showered, clean and not contagious. I am ready to feast on manicotti with Cap's family for their traditional Christmas Eve meal. Today, Addie and I dropped off a toy at Pier 1 for their Toys for Tots drive. Then she and Cap made chocolate chip cookies for Santa while Eliza and I rested up for the big night. I hope Santa is hungry because the cookies are bigger than the plate!

We are also getting the house ready for Christmas dinner where we will be hosting 12 family members including my Brother who is flying in on Christmas day from Alaska.

I can't wait for tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Countdown: Day 23

S'mores (with a twist) by the fire.

We have had our few fires this season in our own fireplace. Addie wanted to make s'mores but we didn't have any chocolate. I thought about raiding her Advent calendar but then Cap came up with a new and even more festive idea - Peppermint Bark - which I bought at Trader Joes. Soooooooo good. Addie loved roasting the marshmallows but in the end gave them to us and only ate a plain marshmallow out of the bag. She's that way with desserts. She thinks she likes them but when it comes down to eating them, she enjoys the process more then the result. Loves making jello, pudding, cinammon rolls, cupcakes and cake but won't really eat them - except the frosting. She does love frosting.

I also decided that I haven't heard enough Christmas music - maybe because I shop online more than in malls, but tonight I had Cap download the Mormon Tabernacle Choir which I listened to growing up and then David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing "Little Drummer Boy" together which I remembered being a lot cooler than it is.

The antibiotics kicked in and I'm beginning to feel much better. I imagine I'll be able to actually eat Christmas Eve dinner. Hurrah!

Christmas Countdown: Day 22

We're taking it easy today. I have strep and poor Cap had to cancel a business trip to SF to stay home and take care of all of us. While I rest, take antibiotics and eat ice cream, Addie and Cap are munching on popcorn and watching movies followed by some Christmas books. The doctor said I'd be feeling better by tomorrow afternoon. I pray she is right because my throat hurts and I want my Mommy! I wish I could get an epidural for my tonsils.

Christmas Countdown: Day 21

Christmas Crafts

Addie could spend all day doing art projects. By noon she had glittered two birds and a dinosaur, drew this awesome snowman, and decorated an orange with cloves. Earlier, I had made this little glittered woodland scene and made a tree from an old issue of Glamour magazine. Addie also made this cute play-dough hand at school which now hangs on our tree. Aren't we a crafty family?

She's off from school and I had big plans that have been thwarted by an evil sore throat. I was feeling lousy but around noon I texted Cap to come home and rescue me. Ugh. I am a wimpy sick person.

Christmas Countdown: Day 20

Sand angels!

Yes, it's flip flop weather again in LA which lead us to a playground at the beach. Addie also wrote her name in the sand. I'm impressed! Little A, Big D, Big D . . .

Christmas Countdown: Day 19

After we came home from a Christmas party down the street, we surprised Addie with a little silver tree all her own in her room. For some reason, she immediately removed it but was willing to be photographed with the tree making silly faces in the hallway. Oh, and that silver "dress" is really my shirt which she insisted on wearing to the party.

I left a little early to take Eliza home, but Cap and Addie stayed for the White Elephant gift exchange. Cap came back with the prize gift - a snuggie. I know. You are jealous. Addie said, "when I grow up, I can fit into a snuggie." It's everyone's dream really. Here Addie and I are snuggled up together as Snuggie Monster. Beware!

Christmas Countdown: Day 18

Addie's Holiday Recital at school.

Cap picked Eliza and I up to go to Addie's first school recital. We thought we were arriving 10 minutes early only to discover that we were 20 minutes late and missed the entire singing performance with her class. I felt awful. Horrible. Like the worst Mom ever. We did catch her dancing and thankfully the music was loud enough that it drowned out my sobbing through the entire video. I know there will be other school recitals but this was her first and that can't be replaced. The good news is that she didn't notice. If she had been at all disappointed you would have had to scrap my heart off the floor and give me a Valium.

There was a small party afterwards and then Addie handed out her hand-glittered bird ornaments to her teachers. Addie helped glitter the wings and was really excellent at it. If we had more time, she probably could have done more but I ended up finishing them up yesterday during the day in time to get them to her teachers on the last day of school. Addie is off until January 4 when Eliza will also start daycare and I'll return to work. My maternity leave is unofficially over and vacation has started. No more Entourage, Big Love or Weeds. Goodbye Martha Stewart, Ellen and Little People, Big World. I'll miss you.

Christmas Countdown: Day 17

Cap's office holiday party at the Pacific Design Center

babysitter
2 vodka tonics
no nursing bra
high heels
and a
photobooth

Christmas Countdown: Day 16

Our Christmas cards arrived yesterday so I'm diligently addressing 70 cards by hand in an attempt to get them in the mail on Friday. Sometimes I can be quite the traditionalist preferring handwritten addresses, but next year I might research cute label alternatives. I gave up writing individual messages on each card when we had kids and I could get away with a photograph instead. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? I'm sure all 70 people are diligently reading the blog year round anyway. Oh, wouldn't I be flattered if that was the case!