What a warm sunny day!

We had such a fun day today. It started off with lots of walking around the house. Lots and lots and lots. Daddy and I took turns walking the baby:) Then we headed to daddy's soccer game, where they won!!!! Congrats Daddy. Auntie Sarah joined us to cheer on the White team. After soccer we drove around a bit, so the little one could get a cat nap, looking for a house for Auntie Sarah and Uncle Dean. We came home and ate lunch, then headed to the hills, our favorite walking spot. The sun was so warm! We then fed the ducks and then headed home for some down town before church. We enjoyed church very much. Not sure who the pastor was, but he was great!!! I learned so much in one night. For those who attended, Amelia would like to change her name from poopy pants, to speed racer:) She had us all running around in the parking lot after church. Daddy's playing poker, Amelia is sleeping and Mommy is catching up! Thank you Lord for such an amazing day!

Lunch Date with Grandpa

Friday we headed to the spectrum, in search of some good walking shoes for Amelia. We found them! She picked them out. I can't believe these things will only last her 2-4 months! Um, do you think that could work for me? Anyway, after making our big purchase, we were able to meet up with Grandpa for lunch. Amelia showed off her new shoes and made Grandpa help her break them in. After lunch, Amelia and I headed for the horses! She pointed to the one she wanted to ride. She was so proud as she sat tall on her horse. "Giddie up." What a wonderful day.

CONGRATS Daddy! A hole in ONE!!!!

Last weekend while the girls played in LA and Old Orange, Daddy was in PD enjoying his last weekend of his golf discounts, due to us owning a home there. I can't believe it's been a year since we sold our PD home!!!!! Wow, time flies! Anyway, Daddy got a hole in one!!!! There were witnesses:) Amelia wanted to make a card for daddy. She's such a good artist!

Keep'n busy

We've been keeping busy here at the Hadj home. We survived all the rain! One day Auntie Sarah, Amelia, the dogs and I went for a walk on our favorite paths. The sky was so clear, you could see the HOLLYWOOD sign in the distance. One picture is of our new friend Coon. He decided to really get the hounds in an up roar by sleeping on the top of the shed under some shrubs. He didn't stay, but one night. We haven't seen him since. Last weekend we made our way up to LA to the flower district. If you love flowers, you have to go there! We were in search of wedding flowers! Amelia had the chance to walk the streets of LA and enjoy the lovely exhaust! One of Amelia's favorite treats is liking the Greek cucumber yogurt from a spoon. She won't eat normal yogurt, but she loves her Greek stuff!

So yummy...

Auntie Sarah came over today and we took a long walk in the park. Amelia sang her "Daddy" song. :Daddy, daddy, daaaaddddyyyyyyy," Over and over. She's so cute! Afterwards we shared a garden salad at Olive Garden!!!!! Oh so yummy. I went to class tonight. It was again so amazing. Too crazy to share, except I'm bruised up:) I learned a lot in class about myself and other women. I love it.

I'm soooo happyeeeee, so very happeeeeeeyyyyy

All I can say is YUM YUM!!!!! Ame says it Ahm Ahm with her mouth fully open. Today Amelia and I decided to close the kitchen. We threw out things in the fridge daddy could make dinner with (no not all of it). With this rain, we needed to get out. We'd settle for Denny's, since we had a gift card there. Low and behold though, daddy had a gift card to Olive Garden!!! The garden salad was to die for!!!! All you can eat for 6 bucks!!!! Amelia got her very own children's cup after showing daddy and I that she can drink from a straw like a big girl. This kid cracks me up...she's been drinking juice and water from her sippy cup for months, she drinks water out of her water bottle and now she sips from a straw, but she refuses to give up that stink'n bottle! Maybe because she loves making her own milk bottle. She opens the fridge door, holds the milk cap and then puts it back on, opens and closes the microwave and waits for the milk to be poured into her bottle. She gets so excited in the morning when she wakes up. She points her way to the kitchen, all the way to the fridge. So I've been cleaning out boxes in the garage, AGAIN! I swear someone keeps adding boxes into the garage. I emptied three today and a lot of it is on the dining room table. I'm not sure what to do with it. It's our wedding stuff, like cards, favors, and so on. I also have my baby books and artwork when I was a perfect child:) Do I dare put them back into a container or try to find a place in the itsy bitsy house of ours? I think I have to go back into the garage and find a box to clear out and throw away, in order to bring back in a box. It's the only way I'm going to get my pole back up! Speaking of pole...I had one of the greatest dances Thursday night. It felt so good. I danced to "Like A Woman" You have to listen to it. I have it on the blog. Anyway, I dressed up in my mommy clothes, jeans, long sleeve shirt, hair up in a clippy and my favorite black scarf. Each item I was able to shed from my body was a feeling I was able to let go of an emotion. Like throwing the clippy across the room and swinging my long hair threw the air. Or dragging the scarf across the floor with arms stretched out. The emotions came flowing, as well as the tears. I avoided my teacher after class in fear Niagara falls would dump into the studio. There's something so amazing, so raw, so vulnerable, about dancing in the dark, flying around a pole and being a live. I don't remember every part of the dance, but I left feeling so incredibly sensual, so light, so.....well, I felt like I did when I was taking class and teaching, even up to when I was 8 months pregnant. I strongly believe Amelia has her love of music because she was there in my belly listening to my voice and hearing an array of music. It felt really good!!!!! Thanks Teach! I also had my Stella & Dot trunk show at my house Sunday. That was a blast! So many fun women there to try on some really cool pieces of jewelry. I have learned that it's not the tag on your pair of jeans or the label on your shoes, it's the accessories you drape your gorgeous self with that make a statement about yourself. I doesn't have to be something BLING BLING, but simple or eclectic. Some of their pieces were inspired by their grandma's jewelry they have. Go raid mom's jewelry box! I have been asked to become a stylist and I'm really thinking about it. I would be able to network with so many women and possibly embark on some new friendships. Oh, I've also finally looked into play groups for Amelia and I'm joining a bible study. A wonderful friend of the family is going for support. She's going to help me let Amelia make it to the nursery without mommy crying, and to hold my hand as I enter the room of women. I'm a little bit nervous, but excited to connect with a Christian community. I think I mentioned it in a past blog, but I feel the Lord is stripping me of the woman I was. Taking away layers that I put on thinking it was me or would make me a better person. It's been a tough long road, but I'm feeling his presence with me each way and will not give up hope. It's way too late for me to seek therapy:) I'd spend the rest of my life (and life savings, if I had one) trying to rehash the past and break down every event, I don't think that would be good for me. Mind you, the carpet I have swept everything under is now 2' above ground:) It's going to be good. There is still more stripping and sanding away to do for God to mold me, but I have all the time in the world he gives me to enjoy each day, each lesson in life and my hubby and baby girl! Like Kenny says.....Don't Blink!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Wishing all of you a wonderful day, full of happiness and of course LOVE. We had a wonderful day. It started off a little crazy. Beep Beep, front door open.....Grandpa arrived with an alarm system for the house. Him and I spent the morning installing sensors throughout. I kept on thinking we were gonna trigger the thing and the whole HB swat team would arrive at our door. Don't even think of entering the house without me knowing! Too bad they can't make one for the toilet seat...Beep Beep, toilet seat up. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for beeps! After daddy took Amelia and dogs for a walk, we headed off to Rain Forest Cafe at DT Disney. Afterwards we went to CA Adventure. Amelia loves the wind. She'd close her eyes, flip her head back and stretch her arms out, like she was flying. She's now dreaming in her comfy bed. Sweet Dreams our little Valentine! Mommy and Daddy love you soooooo very much. XOXOXXO

Happy Birthday Aunt Stella and Aunt Elly!!!!

We are wishing you both a fun day of celebrating your amazing lives and the beautiful women you are!!! Love you.

OH MY BACK!!!!!!

Amelia has us feeling like monkeys, ok at least me! Today we went to Target and she dropped Miss Bunny!!!! I didn't notice until we were in the car and ready for take off. We ran back in and walked the isles. There she was laying on a shelf. Some kind person placed her on the end isle shelf for Ame to find her. I told Ame, if we found Miss Bunny, she would have to walk back to the car. I should have thought about that thret a little bit more. She was having so much fun and my back was about to break! She loved walking in the rain with the wind blowing on her face. She kept looking up to the sky. On the way home we enjoyed seeing God's promise in a beautiful rainbow.

SSSHHHHH....I've taken over Straty's computer

And I'm using ALL of his storage:) Just until I get my computer up and running. I'm happy to announce I've signed up with MAC for one on one training each week. This Friday I hope to learn a lot!!!!! Here's a few "firsts" for Amelia. She discovered Daddy's dresser drawers and that they open! She sat on her first bicylcle which had a lovely price tag of $199! What in the world???? She's so loving her Mickey Mouse airplane! She's also communicating with Yaiya and Papou on Skype! What an incredible piece of techno!!!!!

Opening Presents!

Amelia's Butterfly

Amelia got a little excited with her butterfly box, putting her butterfly into shock. Her Monarch took a little longer to take off, but when she did, it was beautiful! It was great seeing the kid come out of all the adults! CJ, you're going to make a great dad someday!

Amelia not wanting to eat her cake!!!!

Amelia's 1st Birthday Party

Yaiya's Trip to HB

Rainy Day...

I'm sitting at our dining room table, listening to the rain on the patio and roof. Straty is running in the park. Amelia is in her crib taking a nap. She woke up at 8 this morning, played a bit, ate breakfast, took a bath with Yaiya and Papou. What? you say....We have Skype, so Straty held the computer so they could watch Ame in her bath, then she walked around holding my fingers and showed Papou the house. Then we went into the living room to play and have some milk. After the good-byes, Ame went to sleep in clean sheets, clean Miss Bunny and clean blankie. That is my favorite thing!!!!! Shower and slipping into bed with everything around you clean!!!!!!!!!! I'm feeling comfy in my favorite green dance shirt. It's the one with the really long sleeves. When I dance, I LOVE to pull the arms and tug at the longness of the shirt. I love the wrist reveal. Thanks Terry!!!! (one of the teachers in LA) So, my cameras are at fault!!!! I have them taking super fine photos. I changed it on the Nikon, but can't figure it out on the Cannon. I've signed up for Shutterfly, so you have access to ALL of my photos and can down load them yourselves, but the photos pixel is tooooooo big, that I have to figure out how to resize them. I can do that on my MAC, but since I have no room to DL, I can't. I have them all organized on Straty's computer, but I don't know how to resize a Toshiba! I can't believe this is happening to me. It's so frustrating!!!!!!! I'm so thankful this week is over or at least yesterday is gone. Between the mystery man in the park, the side yard noise, my stupid fears, Amelia getting so frustrated she can't walk and talk and she cries when your back is about to break, because you stop walking her...to having a short curcit in big groups. (What? I know there a lot missing between all that.) I thought all would have ended when I trecked my way up the hill last night, after Ame was in bed, to get a warm cup of Toffee Nut Latte. I saw this poor girl having to carry the Starbucks trash to never ever land. I grabbed some bags and boxes and helped her to the trash. It was fun helping out a stranger, meeting someone new and feeling good about helping and not feeling obligated. Anyway, I walked away from the trash and told myself, nothing else could go wrong today, what a great way to end my crazy day. Low and behold that damn devil put water in my shoes!!!!!! I felt the bubbles between my toes. I laughed and kept walking...What a day, what a week.

So, if any of you girls are in town Sunday, February 15th, swing by my house at 3pm. I'm hosting a trunk show about Stella & Dot. I really, really, like the owner's concept. They are bringing back that housewife image of dresses in jewels, but with jeans and T's and jewels. Susan told me never to leave home without a piece of jewelry, changing out of your cleaning clothes and slap on some make-up. I think I've done it every day, but yesterday!!!!! (should have done it.) What a difference. I have these fun rings and hoop earrings! I may wear them all the time, but I feel great in them. I can't wait to see the Happy Flower line!!!!

Better get some stuff done. Nah...I'm going to enjoy the rain. I've decided I don't do work on Saturdays or Sundays. I won't make the bed, if I don't want to. I won't do laundry if I don't want to and cleaning, NEGATIVE!

Gosh I feel like I have so much to say, I could go one. I won't bore you.

Happy February

We are now in our second year of Amelia's life and boy has she started changing! It's like she woke up the day after her party with this big girl attitude!!!! She's wanting to crawl, more so walk then ever and she's trying so hard to communicate. She does so well though at pointing out her needs. We are starting her second year of celebrations, like Valentine's Day and so on. It's so fun, because she's starting to recognize change. Like going to down for a nap and waking up to big red hearts and Valentine decor. She pointed them out the first time she noticed them. She loves playing with her new toys and reading her new books. I love playing dress up in her new clothes. Speaking of dress up, she loves to play with mommies jewelry and hats! She has her own special purse daddy bought her with her own toys, she likes to take with her everywhere. She has her own camera and THREE cell phones!!! She even has her own laptop, a pink one, that speaks the ABC's and such. She's a busy girl and so much fun!!!!!