Thursday, October 11, 2012

Lennon is 3 months

 
 
 

My daughter is 3 months old!

Oh my goodness, what happened to my newborn baby?

Lennon is grabbing at her toys now, playing with her favorite little Sophie giraffe that Nana and Papa got her- it squeaks, is made specially for teething babes and its just simply AMAZING! She is babbling more than ever and she's just overall getting SO big.

She is now over 13lbs. and getting taller! I feel like I'm going to wake up tomorrow and she will be crawling out of her crib.

It's exciting, nonetheless.
My baby smiles when she sees me, laughs out loud, giggles when Daddy talks to her, loves visiting Nana and Papa, and is the center of EVERYONE'S world. :)

Can't get much better than that, right? Wrong, it gets WAY better. This month is Halloween, my second fav Holiday! And even though it may seem pointless to get a 3 month old baby a Halloween costume, I did it. Guess what she is?

An elephant! :)
And she will be the cutest baby elephant out there!

In just three months this baby girl has changed my life. I am so amazed by this little life I have molded my world around.

She's perfect.
Happy 3 month birthday little Lennon.

Elephant Costume, to die for!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Stop and Smell the Flowers

Today was a rough day...

While I was driving my daughter to Day Care this morning I drove past a familiar place my best friend, Meghan and I used to visit. We had many inside jokes about this place, we laughed, cried and built friendships at this place. It was OUR secret place that we would go to unwind, think, sit and talk about the crazy world, our love lives and gossip about anything and everything. As I drove past I felt this odd feeling. It was almost like a movie. The world stopped, I began a journey into la-la land. All of a sudden I was taken back to a time when we sat there, at 3 a.m, and gossiped about a boy. As this memory came to mind I laughed out loud, I cried a little and instantly grabbed my phone to call my best friend to laugh with her.

It was then that I realized again that she was not there. I did it, again... and it's been three years since she's passed. It is STILL so hard to believe she is gone. It seems like yesterday that she was here sitting in our apartment laughing and sipping red wine. So much time has passed... I just want to rewind life.

Today I needed a good laugh on my way to work... it had been a long weekend at the office, a headache at home and my Boss returned today. I was dreading it... Meghan was always the person to cheer me up - make me laugh by doing something silly when I was down - play my favorite song and start dancing all crazy - post pictures to scare the crap out of me around our apartment - and be the best friend ever. She knew when I was sad and needed a good laugh, or scare... even when I tried my best not to show it. Today was one of those days.

I guess that's Gods way of telling me to slow down. As I drove past our old memories I laughed, I cried and I reminisced. I did exactly what Meghan would do. I drive past this place numerous times a week, and not once have I slowed down to remember the past memories made there. I need to watch more closely, I need to stop and smell the flowers, laugh and be sad at the same time. I need to thank God more often.

I was reminded of two things today...
1- God is ALWAYS there. He is giving you a hand when you need it most. Even if it takes you by surprise and you laugh out loud, and look like a fool because you're in the car alone... It's okay. It's Gods medicine for the soul.
2- Your best friend is ALWAYS going to be your best friend and be there for you, even when you least expect it.

M.C.V
My guardian angel.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Cutest iPhone everrrr

Okay, maybe not everrrrr.
But close!

So today I got a little creative and looked through all of my old iPhone cases. I found one with obnoxious, over the top BLING all over it. Of course, I'm a mom now... I cannot and WILL not have anything BLING anymore. It screams trashy!
So I peeled the blingy sequins off the case. In the end I was left with a clear plastic case. So I looked around the house and began thinking what I could do with it. I found old cards in my room, and unique stationary. I traced the case and cut the paper to fit. Easiest, coolest, cutest case in the world. Not to mention, cheap. I can change the paper whenever I want! So instead of paying 40.00 for a cute case at the store that I will be sick of in a week (hence the mini storage tote I have full of old iPhone cases) l have one case that I can make million different designs with! Woo!

Okay, happy Kaila is done blogging.

Ps. You can buy clear cases on amazon for super cheap. And scrapbook paper, well that's anywhere and super cheap too! Woohoo!

Okay, picture then done...

Friday, September 21, 2012

How I changed the world

At work a man walked in dressed in the nicest suit, shiny shoes, and a side swipe hair-do. I had no idea who he was until he looked at me and shook my hand. Wrong day to chose to wear my dress pants and heels with a NorthFace. This man was Mr. Owner of our company.

He sat down next to me in the office, told my boss and I how life was going, blah, blah, money, corp, blah, blah, etc. Then Mr. Owner told me and my boss, "Ready for a story of how I changed the world?"

Mr. Owner proceeded to tell us an unforgettable story of how over the past two years of his life he has been in the process of adopting a little boy from Russia.

My heart melted. So much so that I was tearing up as he told me his struggles, and joy of becoming a dad all over again for a child in need. These children in Russia lived in a small hut, eating only rice and drinking water 3 times a day. The water was brown, the rice was cold and mushy, and the bugs were so bad you could barely breathe. The smell was that of rotten eggs, garbage everywhere. The children would sleep on dirt floors covered up only if there were enough blankets. Mr. Owner told me about how he had visited many countries over his years and this village was by far the worst place he had ever been. He pulled out his phone and showed me pictures of the little boy in his "home" at the village. It was unlike anything I have ever seen... my heart hurt for those children. At that moment he knew he had to make a change for this little boy.

He had visited this small village three times before the adoption was final and even then he couldn't take his new son home with him. He didn't get his new son until 2 1/2 years after he started this paperwork... Over 500 pages of papers, signatures, legal documents.

Through all the struggles, paperwork and financial stress he made the commitment to this little boy and adopted him. He changed this little boys life. He then showed pictures of his new son at their home, playing with toys, wearing nice clothes and being loved by everyone around him. The smile on his face was one I will never forget.

He said to us "See, I changed the world. I may not have, ya know... Really created world peace, or ended the war, but I really changed the world in my eyes because everyone I tell this story to has a new outlook, a new view on this world that they live in. It's not perfect for everyone but it can be. We can make a change, and help children across the world!"

That made my day. And let me tell you, his son is the cutest little boy I have EVER seen!

Thank God there are children out there getting the help they need. ❤

Thursday, September 13, 2012

The Smell of a Memory

You know that feeling you get when you walk into your Grandma's house and smell the potpourri, the smell of your mothers perfume, your ex's cologne, fresh cut grass? The feeling of an old memory coming back... and for a split second you're back in time trancing in that moment.

I felt that yesterday.

All of a sudden I was 5 years old again. I was wearing light pink heels, dressed in a night gown, curly hair and big brown eyes running into Grandmas bathroom to look in the mirror and see my new make-up. I remember that Grandma and I were standing there and she was telling me how beautiful I looked as she combed through my hair.

I always loved watching Grandma put on her makeup, maybe it was because she was so beautiful and elegant, or maybe it was because I wanted to be just like her... both were definitely true. Or, maybe it was because she let me have my very own make-up caboodle and I had a little bit of everything in there - her old lipstick, some bright blue eyeshadow, compact and blush. I made memories in those moments I would spend with her getting dolled up to go to a movie or our special trips to McDonald's. I will forever be grateful that I got to spend so much time with such a wonderful woman.

Yesterday...

I walked into Lennons room and saw my old makeup caboodle sitting there. I picked it up, looked inside and felt the memories take over me. There was my Grandmothers old makeup caboodle. The lipstick she wore, the blush, even the blue makeup. All of it - just like I remember.

The scent of a makeup box may be an odd one, and quite possibly something you've never heard someone say they "like" before but it was a smell that I will forever remember. Each day that passes I think of her, and how much she would adore Lennon, and how much fun they would have together. Their laughing and giggling. The distinct laugh my Grandma had was beautiful. The way she smooched my cheeks was so warm and sometimes obnoxious but of course, in a good way. I loved her kisses and the smell of her perfume when she hugged me. Now, I am left with memories to cherish and spread on to my little L. I am so grateful for the memories left behind and hopefully someday Lennon will get as much happiness and joy from that little makeup caboodle as I did as a child.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Lennon is 2 months

After 2 months of being in this world...


Lennon has nicknames.
Mommy calls her "little bug"
Daddy calls her "baby hippo"
Not the usual nicknames you'd think of,
but it's better than "Lenny", right?
My daughter will NOT have a nickname.
I despise them.

Anywayyyy,
Lennon makes funny noises when we talk to her,
I wonder if she knows what we are saying?
The best thing is that when I tell her I am mad because she isn't falling asleep
I can talk to her in the sweetest voice ever and she thinks I am happy.
Therefore, she laughs.
Laughs at EVERYTHING I say or do.
Especially when it's bedtime.
How can I be mad when she's so cute?
Mommy caves and begins talking to her,
Lennon stays awake for another half hour...
Go figure!

... and in these two months

Lennon has changed my life.
Lennon has made me a better person,
a wonderful mom and a more joyful, happy woman.
I am so in love.

I mean, really...
In love.

Who can't love this??


She's amazing & she's all ours.

Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too
--John Mayer--



Tuesday, September 4, 2012

White, Blue, Old & New

White dress, diamond ring,
blue flower, shiny shoes... The whole shebang!!

So last night I had a dream...
The kind of dream that feels so real, so happy and so magical. I felt SO happy.
I had a dream I was getting married.
It could be the fact that my best friend is texting me all the time talking about her wedding plans... Or, it could be the fact that I am so happy with my life, my daughter, and my amazing boyfriend. Or, maybe I am just being a girl... Well, that one is most likely! Who knows, but it's all I think about.

One year ago I would have never pictured my life being as perfect as it is right at this moment. One year ago I didn't know what I wanted out of life. I didn't know who I was. But this year has changed me. It has been the most challenging, yet most amazing year of my life. And now I can't picture my life being any different.

I can see my future now,
I know what I want out of life and I know who I am.
I am a loyal girlfriend, I am an amazing mother, and I am a true friend to those who stuck by my side through the hard times. I am now excited for my future with my new family. I am excited to learn new things, go back to school, get a good career, provide for my family... and eventually, hopeully sooner than later... marry the man who has made my dreams come true. He has stuck by my side through the hardest of times, held my hand when I needed him most and he has become the best father to our little girl. I am so blessed... and I can't wait for that day!!

BUT, That day isn't here yet... So for now all I can do is live vicariously through my best friend that's getting married soon, and pinterest. Oh, pinterest! I swear, if I could afford a wedding planner someday I would hand her my wedding board and say "have at it!!"

Oh, the beauty of dreaming...

The dream ring


The other dream ring...
The dream dress...


The dream venue...

Okay, I'm getting too far ahead of myself.
At least it will be here to come back to.

:)