Walking with Walker

This is my little girl, on the move. Not even 9 months old yet. I'm in trouble.

I got these Size 3 shoes at Once Upon a Child for $3.50. Steal.

I'm so happy the weather is outdoors worthy now. It looks like walks and trips to the park and lake are calling our names for more frequent visits, and I'm more than happy to oblige. I'm pretty sure Payton is getting bored here exploring the same old territory, when I find her playing with everything but her toys and just looking for trouble.

Her absolute favorite thing to play with is my laptop. I can't even get on it when I'm around her or she B-Lines straight for it and puts up quite a determined fight until she gets to pound away on the keys. I only let her do this due to the fact that my laptop is on its last leg anyways. Lately our days with her are filled with a lot of playful laughter and fun, amongst chase downs and some skillful hawk eye action on my part. Which she also participates in...

Happy Sunday! 

It's never too late

Exciting news! Layne and I are both going back to school to finish our degrees. I'm going to be starting the Academy of Arts University in San Francisco, Fall 2011. I'm majoring in Fashion Merchandising and I'll be doing the classes online so I don't have to commute over there. I am so excited to finally start toward a career path that I'm passionate and excited about. I actually have enough credits to classify me as a junior in college but only a few of my core classes will transfer over.

Their Fashion program is one of the most prestigious majors at the Academy; partly because they are the only school invited to NYC Fashion Week to have their students present their upcoming clothing line collections. The first two classes I have to take are Intro to Fashion Business and Fashion Illustration. Although my focus is in Fashion Merchandising, they expose you to all areas of fashion so your portfolio is much more versatile and appealing. The next steps for me are just registering and filling out financial aid forms.

In the next few months our lives our going to become much more hectic. It makes me sad to think I won't see my husband and daughter as much, but I am welcoming the changes for our future. It will just make us treasure the time we spend with each other even more. I don't like the thought of putting Payton in daycare, but at least she will be over a year old. Hopefully we can find a way to only put her in 3 days a week. I will just need time to do school since classes are very intense, and I may be working part-time also.

It goes to show it's never too late to do anything you want to do! :)

Daddy's Little Girl

There is nothing sweeter than seeing this daddy/daughter duo together; The way they look at each other, cling to each other, and play together. She gets so upset when she knows her daddy is about to leave to go somewhere or do something. Sorta sad, a lot sweet. I secretly love it. I've heard a lot of people say a dad starts interacting more and attaching more when the baby is after a year old, when they can really start playing and talking to them. That is not the case here though. Layne fell in love Payton the moment he saw her. She has had us both wrapped around her little finger since day one. 

A healthy, balanced life

Last night I sat writing as my baby slept and wondering what the heck I should've been doing. Well...I know what I SHOULD'VE been doing but as the room lied in shambles I was still not finding much motivation to do anything but relax after 12 hours of hardcore playing.

Seriously though, I have such a hard time finding a balance. I watched Eat. Pray. Love. today for the first time and it really resonated with me. Julia Roberts was having a hard time balancing between finding herself and losing herself to love. For me it's trying to find the right balance of work, play, love. I need it though. I'm trying to adjust accordingly to achieve it because I'm tired of getting overwhelmed. 

My daughter is at that age where she wants my constant attention. She has like a 2 second attention-span and gets into everything so it's not easy to do much else. I more or less just feel bad for my husband because I'm sure he misses his clean shirts and matching socks.

But I have vowed to set some changes, get motivated, and get things done in order to be super mom worthy and achieve the art of balance. I am going to be working soon again (I guess I should be applying for jobs first) and going back to school in the fall for Fashion Merchandising. If I'm going to be doing all these things plus being a mom and wife, I am either going to need to be hopped up on some dangerous amounts of caramel frapps and Coca-cola all day, or finding that right balance and energy I need to accomplish everything. If not for my family, for my sanity. I have found it's not the quantity of time you spend on something, it's the quality of time. When I have balance and equilibrium in my life...things fall into place. Things are easier. Lately, everything has been so scattered and it sends me into disarray not knowing what to tackle.

So. I have a devised a master plan. Obviously since my countless attempts of wishing and dreaming things away wasn't working, I am just going to have to find a place for everything to fit into my crazy life.

First, I need to get healthier. I've always been anemic or borderline so my energy levels are always dropping. I don't get much sleep (I still love you Payton) so I just try to get through the day with as much grace as I possibly can without falling over and going into some kind of sleep coma state. I am going to drink more water and start taking vitamins again because for me at least, it really gives me that boost in energy.

Second, I am going to start a weekly routine of things to get done each day. Such as, laundry on Mon, Wed, Fri. Also, making a weekly meal plan menu. This will allow me to stay organized and on track.

Third, I want to try to start getting ready earlier in the morning. I like to rock the PJs most of the day if I'm not planning on going out. This might be a hard one to give up...Hey, one of the perks of being a stay-at-home mom.

Okay. So it's not really rocket science, but it's taken me awhile to realize this is what I need to do. Being a mom is hard work and it can be all-consuming, draining, the most fun and biggest blessing in your entire life.

Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. 
Robert Fulgham

The calm and balanced mind is the strong and great mind; the hurried and agitated mind is the weak one. Wallace D. Wattles

Monterey & San Diego

We made it back after a week in beautiful, mostly sunny San Diego. To this day, it is still one of my favorite places to be.

The time away to relax and just have fun was much needed. San Diego welcomed us with open arms and we settled quite comfortably. In fact, probably too much so...we didn't want to leave!

On the way down, we stopped at Monterey Bay and went to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. We thought it would be fun to show Payton all of the sea animals and give her a new scene to enjoy and look curiously around at. She did so good. We wore her out to the point of pure exhaustion, she passed out right in dad's arms at the last stretch.

We saw the ocean. And tons of dolphins swimming in it!

There were some Oh-so-cute penguins.

And lots of intriguing looking jellies. 

Then there was this creepy guy who wanted to come out and play...

There was SO much to see and we enjoyed every little bit of it. It's not often you get a chance to see these things up close and personal. And I would've never been able to see them otherwise.

Three story Kelp Forest. Even had sharks in it.

The next day we drove down part of the coastline, but mostly along the coastal hills to reach SD and the views were TO DIE FOR. We probably tacked on an extra hour or two going this way but it was so worth it.

We are lucky enough to have family that live in San Diego so we stayed with my aunt and had a few days to visit with her and my brother-in-law Shaun. We rarely get to see them so it was a nice treat to spend all this time with them. I really enjoyed having them get to see Payton since she is getting so big so fast!

Payton with my aunt and her baby.

Shaun lives right on Mission Beach and he took us to some of the most fabulous restaurants right there. The thing I loved most was the amazing food in a comfortable, laid back atmosphere. Everyone is super nice and nothing is over the top. And what could beat having this as your backyard...

Sunset on Mission Beach.

In between our visits we planned our days around exploring San Diego, going to La Jolla, and then finishing off at the San Diego Zoo and staying a night in Los Angeles with friends. It was the perfect way to spend quality time with my husband and daughter without any kind of stress or distractions that everyday life provides. Sometimes we lose sight of beauty, wonder, moments, and just taking life in with every breath. Getting away is a chance to recapture and remember...it doesn't matter where you go.

And boy it did not disappoint in providing just that...

While walking down to the ocean in La Jolla we discovered this beautiful park. The blue skies, ocean breezes, crashing waves, green grass, and families playing only added to what could only be described as natural beauty at it's finest.  

Then we really discovered this hidden gem. 

A small beach along the cliffs where you could watch the sea otters play and swim. Unfortunately, Payton freaked when I put her feet in the sand. She better get used to it or she's going to have trouble being a California girl! So I sat there with her in my lap as we all just watched the super cute sea otters. They are really quite the entertaining bunch.

And then Layne went exploring into the cave. 

And found a new friend...

I think it's safe to say that we had no problems getting Payton to sleep during our trip.

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My poor baby was such a trooper through dragging her along everywhere, dealing with horrible eye issues the whole week, and sleeping and being in a completely unfamiliar place. We are so lucky for such an easygoing, happy-go-lucky baby!