Full Circle

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Adventure seeking. High speed, unpredictable chaos all wrapped up in a nice little ball of excitement. Adventures carry a high probability of knocking you off your feet and yet the thrill of something new propels you forward. A drive maybe? In life, I feel that there are many windows to adventuresome living. Some truly plunge-worthy while others serve only as a glimmer of a dream to be put into action some time in the very near future. Recognizing the right moment to leap can leave you feeling doubtful, foggy-headed and quite honestly a bit run down. This adventuresome living can be tiring, no?

Sometimes, you don't even see the adventure until it has passed you by--- hopefully sweeping you up in it. Spontaneous adventures can make the whole process oh-so much easier. Happenstance. Other adventures are a compilation of forethought, effort and a good dose of heartache.

Like moving.

One year ago today.

Thinking back to moving day, I feel overwhelmed. All those boxes, hugs goodbye and the leap into the unknown. Scary overwhelming and yet plunge-worthy for sure. You see, moving to Austin was a glimmer of a dream for a really looooong time. And then one day ---- it was reality.

What a year it has been. Hard times? You betcha. Moments of doubts? Uh-huh. Bits of fun? No way....


Try Bunches.

  

Adventuresome living? Why not.

The Brady's

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What a busy week! Between working all week at the hospital, we managed to squeeze in a BUNCH of fun with some friends. Our good friends, The Brady's, were in town from Colorado. They were bringing their first little son, Seth, to good ole' ATX for the first time. What better reason to throw a party, no?

Seth is just a few weeks older than Lucy. She was in LOVE.

 First kiss with her boyfriend, Seth. She had to get them in before Seth drops Lucy for Helen.

 What a great night with friends!!!

Stella

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There are certain friends that just make their way to your heart right when you most need them to be there. For us, this was the Miller family.

 Right at a moment when mommyhood was feeling a little bit lonely and my daughter seemed a bit different than her other playmates... my daughter connects with this little blond girl at the splash park. All by herself, she just starts playing with this friend--- which she never does. So, I go and hit on her mom. BEST.DECISION.EVER because it sure has been true love.

This was the first official play date. How are they so small?

You know, we never were able to witness our sweet friends get married or be there to congratulate them on the birth of their first daughter (as ours was not far behind). In my heart, I still celebrate that joy for them though. We never had the chance to see our girls together from the very beginning (you know, at the age when you can actually carry on an adult conversation without interruption.) However, if we HAD met as brand new moms versus 2 years into it... I imagine it would have been somewhat like this...

only better now... because we have double the fun.

Lucy and Stella's first play date. Oh, all the adventures our girls and a Gabey are going to have.

We love you, Millers! Thanks for the visit!!

Molly's Preschool Video

Molly's school made a really cute video in two parts. I don't know if they will link up correctly but here's hoping.

*Don't forget to pause my music on the side

Milwood Preschool Graduation 2011 from Michael Davenport on Vimeo.

Milwood Preschool 4 year olds 2011 from Michael Davenport on Vimeo.

Lucy Smiling

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Lucy  started social smiling at 4 weeks and they are getting bigger and better by the day. Unfortunately, her smile is REALLY hard to catch on camera. This is my attempt. Apparently, she enjoys Gabe's "fast talk". My crazy mays.

*Pause Music on Side

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Graduate

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This morning we celebrated our little graduate. I know that there are a bunch of people that think preschool graduation is silly and that by over celebrating the little events, we are creating a generation that struggles with entitlement and the expectation of immediate reward. Yes. I hear you, people. I just believe that anytime you can celebrate a scholastic endeavor of your child,  you are further supporting their confidence in the pursuit of academia. Even in preschool. So that is what we did this morning. We celebrated our Molly girl as she finished her last day of preschool and plunged forward into this unknown world of elementary school. Ready or not world, we officially have a kindergartener!

For selfish reasons, I  could keep these preschool years for longer. I love this age. Molly has the funniest little outlook on life and is in this really inquisitive phase that I really hope lasts a lifetime. I love to share in her perception of the world. In many ways, I wish that Molly and Gabriel were just a little closer in age (am I crazy or what?!?!) so that they would just be 1 year in school apart. He has LOVED having her at school. He especially loves it when he passes her in the hall or ends up at recess with her. His teachers tell me that he just hugs on to her so tightly.

And today at graduation was no exception.

Hard to believe that they won't be together in the same school again until Molly is in second grade---Which I am sure will get here all too fast. Sigh.

Molly's class put together a program with about 8 songs and then they received their diploma. I am continually shocked at how my loud and rambunctious daughter can transform into a timid and shy girl on stage. Don't be looking for a smile in the video footage---there is an almost smile--- but we were just celebrating the fact that she didn't cry.

*Don't forget to pause music on the side!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Oh, we're off to kindergarten yes we are... Yee Haw!

1 Month

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So guess who is now a month old?!?! Yep! This cute gal. And technically, she is 5.5 weeks but who really cares about those technicalities, right?

It is hard to believe that Lucy has been a part of our household for a month now. For selfish reasons, I hope the next 11 months don't go quite so quickly. I want to soak up this last baby stage as long as I can! I look at Lucy now and see so much more baby and less newborn tendencies. Perhaps this is because we are becoming so much more comfortable with her. Lucy is definitely starting to lose some of that newborn smooshed body. She will still snuggle up but just today I was noticing how long she looks. Lucy is still quite honestly our easiest baby of all. She never cries. Fussiness is supposed to peak at 6 weeks and we have probably heard her all out cry like 2-3 times in her whole life. She prefers to grunt. Our little piggy for sure. Still the ever eater and thankfully, is starting to gift me with 4-5 hours of straight sleep at night. YAY!

Lucy's continues to be another curly girly for our family. I think I should just buy stock in conditioner now because that is definitely our only way of surviving Molly's hair. Much like Gabriel as baby, Lucy will only have a poo every 3-4 days... and it is a blow out. Almost EVERY time. Let me tell you I am completely rethinking the white swing, white car seat cushion, white EVERYTHING that is our baby gear. Oxyclean just might be my saving grace. Gabriel would go 8-10 days without having a bowel movement and it would make me so nervous... no belly distention, no gassiness.... according to his doctor, he was just absorbing all that he was eating. I can assure you that at 3-years-old, he is quite regular. So, I am reminding myself that she is fine. There are so many random similarities between the kids but that is a post for another time. A very soon post.

My CAN'T live without item this go around has been my Maya ring sling for sure. Gabriel is too much of a daredevil for me to be stuck behind a stroller at a park. He is like a magnet to the monkey bars. Luckily, with Lucy right with me, we can take off running if need be on a rescue mission. Have I mentioned before the benefits of babywearing?

Molly and Gabriel continue to be crazy about their sister. Molly's favorite is definitely the daily bottle she gets to give her and Gabriel has to hold her hand in the car while we drive. Our kids have also taken to calling Lucy, "Lu Lu Bird" because of this cooing noise she makes. They think it is the funniest thing yet. Every time she does it they will just crack up laughing. I am sure she will keep her siblings laughing for years to come.

Our lovely Lu. The perfect fit for our family.