Come unto Him and be transformed.

How sweet the joy this sentence gives. I know that my Redeemer lives.

adventures in parenting: the zoo.

Saturday is a wonderful day. Phil is home from school and we have no plans. Sometimes we play with Teddy in our fluffy white bed and don't get dressed until noon (generously). Sometimes we go walk on the trail behind our apartment or hike in the foothills of Mt. Daiblo. This Saturday we went to the zoo.

Of course Theo could be at the zoo or the park or the DMV and he wouldn't know the difference but we (the grown-up parents) LOVE the zoo, and the aquarium, and museums, so we're starting early.

We packed up quickly and bounded out the door. It was the sunniest day we've had this spring and it was splendid. We forgot one thing (a change of clothes) which proved to be a regrettable decision. As we drove into the zoo parking lot Teddys face turned red and his eyes began to water. He flexed every muscle in his body and....surprise! He made a present for mom and Dad that maybe leaked a little... I changed him on the backseat and tried my best to baby-wipe his clothes. I put on an old gym shirt to protect myself and strapped him into the baby bjorn. He may have smelled a tiny bit but I'm just not sure. At the zoo, you see, he was in good company with the monkeys and giraffes and elephants. And that is one adventure in parenting.

theodore.

Teddy.

Theodore is 4 months old.

He laughs at funny things.

He nuzzles into my neck when he feels shy.

He gazes at our purple orchid as if in a trance.

He faces out in the baby bjorn.

He wakes up happy in his crib after a big morning movement.

He drools and puts his hands in his mouth. The Dr. says teeth are on their way.

He charms with his big eyes and lashes.

He talks and chirps.

He gets bossy.

He snuggles.

dream big.

I had SIL Lenore's kids over this week while mamma was at the dentist. We made paper hats and headbands from the craft box. (Phil calls it the "crap box." It's kind of messy...) Then we watched an old Christmas claymation movie because we only own 6 movies and that is one of them.

Claymation Santa was soaring over the fake sky in his wooden sleigh. Rudolph led the pack with his tiny clay legs floating in the clouds.

I sighed...

me: I wish I could ride in Santa's sleigh.

my niece: I wish I could be Santa's child and the elves could be my slaves.

my nephew: I wish I had a red nose!

We have big dreams over here.

11.

My Mother in Law bought a surrey bike. No big.

My friend and blogstress Cassie tagged me in an 11 question challenge. Here goes nothin'!

1. Blogging.Why?

I blog to keep in touch, to record special moments, and to write. Blogging makes me feel so creative and lively. When I write a blog I'm really happy with it puts a big smile on my face. I also like to think people read it and that makes me happy too. I just wish it wasn't called blogging. What a horrid ugly word.

2.If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I have a lot of feelings about this question. I used to want so and so's curly hair, or tan skin, or big teeth (I love big teeth, weird?) but not any more. We all have something special to offer in part because of our flaws. "I wish I could bake a cake full of rainbows and smiles and we could all eat it and be happy." "She doesn't even go here!"... but seriously.

3.Chocolate or Vanilla? Think about it.

This is the easiest question I have ever answered in my life. I am a big chocolate junkie. Chocolate is in every single way superior to vanilla. There are movies and towns and holidays devoted to chocolate. The mayans called it the food of the Gods. Can't say that can you vanilla?! I didn't think so.... Vanilla is an ingredient. Chocolate is a way of life.

Chocolate in Design by 5.5

4. Your favorite movie genre?

Goldie Hawn in Overboard

I LOVE comedies from the 80's/early 90's like Overboard and HouseSitter. I also like period-dramas and offbeat comedies like Drop Dead Gorgeous and Best in Show. Every time I can't find Teddy's pacifier or blanket or something I yell to Phil "Where's his busy bee?!!!" If you've seen Best in Show this makes sense, if not you'd just think I was a crazy person.

5.What/Who inspires you?

My Great Grandma Edna inspires me. She lost her husband to tuberculosis during the Great Depression in Minnesota. She had 3 children and was pregnant with her 4th. Many people advised her to give up her kids and she didn't. She faced adversity calmly and with love her entire life. I keep a picture of her and her sweetheart husband in my bedroom.

Edna and Bud

6. The greatest lesson you have learned in the last year?

I'm trying to learn not to be upset every time something is hard but I'm so not there yet.

7.Gun to your head.Have you pick just one.favorite movie? Just one.

I'm really glad this question is prefaced with "gun to your head" because unless it were life or death I'd have a tough time answering. I think my favorite movie is Little Women because I adored it growing up and it's all about sisters. I have a lot of sisters in my life. I also like the big bustles they wear...I need a bustle.

8. Where do you see yourself if five years?

WOW. Teddy will be in kindergarten then and we'll probably be calling him Theo because he'll be such a cool little dude. I will be 31. He may have one or two little siblings. Phil will be done with school and have a job (!!!!!!!!). I will drive a van like a boss. I aspire to be a cute momma but not in that creepy bleached/tanned/awkward cocktail dress way that many moms do in my hometown (think real housewives of anywhere). I hope to be living in CA (jobs permitting). As they say on Arrested Development (and you can put this on my headstone) "I'd rather be dead in California than alive in Arizona." No offense AZ you're cool, I'm just true to my state. I also hope I will still be singing and dancing and adventuring with my little family.

9. Dream travel spot?

I fell in absolute head over heels love with Tuscany when I did an opera study program there and all I can think about is going back. Nevertheless in the spirit of new things I'll choose somewhere from my bucket list. I absolutely want to go to Spain in my lifetime. I am so interested in Barcelona and Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. The beaches don't look half bad either. Everyone who tours Europe tells me Spain tops their list so I'm curious.

La Sagrada Familia

10. Random fact about yourself?

At every restaurant I go to I have one thing that I order from the menu. It's very very hard for me to branch out once I've found something I like. I have been ordering the same exact sundae at my favorite ice cream joint since I was about nine if not earlier. Phil makes fun of me mercilessly. I just don't want to be disappointed by something new. I can't cheat on my food.

11. Favorite way to relax?

For me the most relaxing place in a house is the bathroom. I love to take showers or baths to calm myself down and unwind. Even sitting on the bathroom floor and reading relaxes me. It's such a private place. No one will barge in on me in my tiny sanctuary. I love the smell of towels and the echo-y sound from the tile and linoleum. I think it brings back memories from being tended when I would get sick as a little kid. It's just a soothing place that old jon.

Oh and ps.

Tag you're it!

Answer these same 11 if you please. I'm too dang lazy to think of 11 more! I'd LOVE to hear your answers!

chadandrandi.blogspot.com

brettandvictoria.blogspot.com

peejandcourt.blogspot.com

marybrightside.com

rachandtodd.blogspot.com

jennicamarie.blogspot.com

evrhetandjaicy.com

heavy metal.

me today

A few weeks ago my mom and I were at Sephora toting baby Teddy. As we were leaving a friendly employee offered us some samples. I am a sucker where samples are concerned from cosmetics to Costco. We left happily with our little treats.

Yesterday as I got ready for the show, I decided to put one of those tiny samplers to the test: Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray. I've used setting spray before (It sets your makeup and makes it last. It's a great option if you use loose powder like bare minerals.) but none had such a hard-core name as this little number. I was a little concerned for the good of my skin but I sprayed away. This was at about 3:30 pm.

The show opened at 7 and after running around, getting dressed, eating snacks, sweating out my nerves, and trying to fix my flattening hair, my face still looked perfectly preserved.

This morning I woke up exhausted. I reluctantly put on real clothes and went to the mirror. My eyelashes were still curled, my flaws were still concealed. WHAT is in this stuff?! My guess is the tattoo ink of Kat Von D mixed with the sweat of Ke$ha and a powder made from the horn of a unicorn. Either that or it's straight up super glue. IT'S MAGIC and what could be better for a new mommy than the possibility of cutting your makeup application to every other day?!

ps. The show was breathtaking. I feel so lucky to be a part of this uplifting work and be so reminded of the message of Easter!