Bye-Bye Yaiya!!!!!

This morning we took Ameli's Yaiya (Straty's mom) to the airport, to head back home. We had a wonderful visit this past week and are very thankful she was here for Amelia's big day! We had so much fun!!!!! Walks in the park, going to Disneyland and riding the carousel, playing with the toys, going to the beach!!!! The weather couldn't have been any perfect! I'll post photos soon! It's been a very busy weekend celebrating Ame's birthday with a big bash! Right now, I'm sitting here watching Amelia drink from a water bottle. She's getting all wet, but having a ton of fun!!!!

Our Baby Girl turned ONE today!

Amelia's first birthday, I can't believe it's come and almost gone!!!!! She woke up this morning to balloons, streamers and butterflies awaiting in the kitchen, surrounding her highchair. She started the morning off opening some birthday cards. Her and Yaiya were off to the park to feed the ducks. Then we made our way to the most happiest place on the earth...DISNEYLAND!!! We all met at Disneyland to take in some magic. Amelia was in awe of all the people, the pretty buildings and the joys of Disneyland. We celebrated her time of birth sitting in the Tiki House. We then had a fabulous dinner at Napole's and she made her first attempt of birthday cake. Grandpa bought a beautiful Lemon cake with sparkles and Happy Birthday Amelia! Amelia had a wonderful day, as we did celebrating her life. What a joy it's been this past year. She has brought so much more love then I could have ever imagined into my heart. I love our family! Thank you everyone for the cards, the phone calls and the cute carnation cupcake bouquet! You are all such an important in Amelia's life, as ours. Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!! Mommy and Daddy love you with all their hearts.

Happy Birthday my Super Baby! Love Auntie Sarah

You are such a joy! I love you and can't believe you are growing so big! What was life like before Amelia?
Fewer smiles, fewer laughs. Less clapping and less singing. Little anticipation and childlikeness.

You have added greatly to my life little poopie. I love you so much and celebrate you daily. I can't wait to share more of life with you and see who you will continue to grow up to be!

I also can't wait for you to be a flower girl!!!

love,

Auntie Sarah

A year ago today...

I was making lists, cleaning the house and going into panic mode! I'll never forget laying in bed begging Straty to call the doctor and cancel the appointment. I couldn't go through with having Amelia. My first thoughts were, this world isn't safe enough. Then I wasn't sure I could go through the labor! Imagining birth and the process and the anxiety of popping my water just didn't sound fun any more. Straty swore I had planned the scheduled delivery with me being an event planner. I didn't though!!!

Our little girl is going to be ONE tomorrow! What an amazing year. Forgetting everything we went through as a family and just looking back at her firsts...her first sun bath, her first night she slept in my arms in our cozy rocking chair, her first time she lifted her head, her first encounter with cereal, then mommies home made food and then finger food. Her first bath with Grandma. The first time she sat up all alone and when she stood up in her play thing. Her first she smiled and when she grew in two teeth. Her first camping trip and airline trip. There are so many firsts, and now we celebrate her first birthday. I have learned so much as a mommy this year and can't wait for the years to come. Sometimes I get a little rumble in the tummy and remember when she kicked or rolled over in the belly. Our family has had the most amazing year with little Amelia. Hazel May and Miller Lite love their little sister. They are her protectors. I know Indi loved her so as well. He never once snapped at her. Amelia has over filled our hearts with Joy and great Happiness. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL! Mommy and Daddy love you so much.

Indi is okay...

Today, as I was cleaning our windows outside, a beautiful Monarch butterfly flutters passed me. I turned to watch it soar over the pool and around the trees in the park. A sense of peace came over me and then tears filled my eyes. It was as if Indi was sending a message saying "I'm okay Mom, don't be sad." Monarch butterflies are such a beautiful creature that mean so much to me. I fell in love with them the night Straty and I were strolling around a plantation in Kauai. The night he proposed to me. Then we released them on our wedding day and Mom wrote a beautiful poem about the butterfly and read it to us. This passed year has been a crazy one, and each time I was feeling overwhelmed, I'd sit on our patio amazed in God's beauty. Then low and behold a Monarch would come flying down and dance in front of me, bringing me a sense of peace. It happened so many times, I felt it was God's way of bringing back to earth and all it's glory. Saturday, as we celebrate Amelia's birthday, we are releasing Monarch butterflies. I hope that Amelia will grow to love and understand the beauty of the butterfly and in her own life dance and flutter as beautifully and peacefully as they do. I know it will still take time to morn my baby boy's passing, but I know in my heart it was time for him to dance and flutter about in heaven. I know in my heart God has a special place for these amazing furry friends. They serve such an amazing purpose on earth, why wouldn't he want something so special with such unconditional love in heaven? They are his secret angels on earth. Indi was such a blessing and a beautiful creature.

Happy Couple marries July 4th, 2009

Let the fireworks begin!

It's quiet in the house...

I'm so used to hearing Indi's distinct walk, since he only walked on three legs, on the wood floors. It was different then Miller's or Hazel's walk. I keep thinking I hear him walking the house. Sometimes out of the corner of my eye, I'll see something white and think it's Indi. I'm so used to having him around, it's so hard to know he's not here and he's not coming back. It's quiet around the house. No yelling out to Indi to stop drinking the water, because after 15 years of his life he still didn't get the fact that if he drank too much, he'd throw it up. The clinging of the bowls is silent, because he was the one who informed us if they were out of water. No cries of pain, no Indi bark...I can't believe how much this hurts. He's a dog for goodness sakes. I have to tell you this, which I couldn't yesterday...Mom stayed with Amelia while we went to the doctor's office. We came home and she was taking a nap. When she woke up, her and I were standing in the kitchen. She looked at Miller, looked at Hazel, looked around the kitchen and then looked at me with her arms open wide and said "Dog?" Her Indi wasn't there. She's a smart little girl. It killed me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT CONNIE! I hope you have a relaxing day all bundled up in a cozy blanket, next to a warm fire...or a nice hot bath? Or a warm loving hubby:) Love you!

Good Bye Baby Boy

Today we did the hardest thing I've ever had to do. We had to put Indi to rest today. His real name was Indigo, because when I first saw him, he was like a white fluffy cloud in a blue sky. Indigo is a color blue. My heart is breaking over and over again, hoping and praying we did the right thing. I know in my mind we did, but my heart is yearning for one more day. His leg was causing so much pain. He lost the desire to move around or eat. He just wasn't the same Indigo he used to be. I hope him and Madi are running around in a big green park in doggie heaven. Indi and I had some wonderful time today. I loaded up him and Amelia into her red wagon and headed for the park. We walked in circles, as I avoided his passing. This amazing woman, wearing a vibrant blue sweater walked up and commented on how adorable Indi was. She wasn't a kid person and loved dogs dearly. She went on how she never had children and her best friend her mom, didn't keep animals around very long. She told me her mom passed away 5 years ago. I explained to her what was happening today and she grabbed a hold of me and held me tight. I said she must have been an angel, because I needed her hug desperately. She said "no honey, you're an angel for loving your dog so much." She wished me well and walked away. We circled the park as Amelia gave Indi kisses. We had lunch with dad and Sarah in the park. Indi laid in the wagon, taking in the warmth of the sun and wishing he could chase those noisy ducks away. We made our way home, when mom pulled up to watch Amelia. Sarah drove Indi and I to meet Straty at the doctor's office. All the way there, Indi laid his head on my shoulder, purring in my ear, like he used to do when we shared a pillow at night. It was the sweetest thing, listening to him sleep at night. My heart was burning and I sobbed all the way there. I'm sure he knew what was going on, I just hope he was okay with it and wanted to be at peace. The doctors office was so fast. We brought Indi home and buried him on the side of the house. He laid peacefully in his favorite blanket. No more of him crying in pain, or going potty in his sleep, or struggling to walk. There's got to be a doggie heaven, where he's meeting his older sister now and they are in a joyous reunion. I just can't erase the look he gave me as they mussled him and took him in the other room for prep. Or how he laid there with the mussel before they injected him. I know this is probably too much information, but life is so precious, even if it's a four legged creature. They are truly man's best friend. Lord give me strength took come to peace with his passing, to stop the crying, and to feel we did the right thing. I want him back so much....I loved my baby boy, my Indi, Indi-poo, more than I could have possibly known. He was my first own dog. The first day I met him and how he chased Nelson's shoes. Or when we brought him home and he ate Straty's shaving case, the bathroom floor and cabinet. The days he basked in the sun on his favorite blue raft in the Palm Desert swimming pool. How he chased Madi around the golf course and how he cuddled up on the couch or snuggled into bed and purred to sleep. How his little legs ran in his sleep and how he hated rough housing. Even the grumpy and protector that would snap at you, even when warned:) How he somehow beat the ceasures with the will to live. How he'd beg loudly with no pride and be sure to tell you when he wanted something. And as the years passed and our family grew, he still would get bursts of energy and wag that fluffy tail, trying desperately to be the best companion ever. His soft pink ears and his pink and black nose. Those big black eyes and his bony leg. Indi, my baby boy, thank you so much for 15 years of happiness. You blessed my life in so many ways. Through the happy and sad, you were by my side. Where ever we went, Indi would go. I know you loved life, and I hope and pray, your life now is much better. I miss you and love so very very much. You'll always be my baby boy. Rest in Peace best friend.

Mov'n on down...

tonight I had to drop Amelia's crib down. She's not standing up in it, but rolling over and holding onto the top bar. That can't be good for the back:) She's getting to be such the big girl now. Please send up a prayer for Indi. He's in a lot of pain tonight and I don't think it's going to stop. He took a big fall yesterday and landed on his bad side. He's 17 years old and has had many wonderful years. I just can't see him in so much pain. It breaks my heart. I love him too much.

I love my new-used stroller!

This is my 300th post! So, I've been searching for a new-used stroller for my baby girl for the past couple weeks and yesterday I found it! They posted their sale on line yesterday and I negotiated and snatched it up before anyone could take it! I swear buying a stroller is like buying a car: the make, the model, the color, the comfort and most importantly the cup holders!!!! If only my SAAB had the cup holder I bought yesterday. First thing first, I purchased a Peg Perego P3 Plinko in sky blue and gray. It's a couple years old, but I LOVE it!!!! The person I bought it from didn't have cup holders, but told me where to go. They only had one, so I'm heading to the CM store tomorrow! It holds large sized drinks! YEAH...Shame on you all for not telling me about Right Start store. I went their first to pick up my cup holder and bought ring clips for shopping bags! They have so much stuff there that I could have used when making her baby food. I know now for the future. Amelia loves her stroller too! She sat comfortably as we cruised through Target, looking for nothing:) It's hard to believe a year ago she was in decent and in no hurry to make her grand entrance into this world. A year ago we had went to the doctors office and he told me to wait a week, and if she doesn't come on her own, we'd go in and get her. The last week of pregnancy, the excitement and fears running through my mind. Oh and the contractions leading up to her delivery. It all seems like yesterday. She's growing so fast and there's no way of stopping her. I treasure each and every day I'm with her. I'm so lucky to have Straty able to work and support our family, so I can take care of the home front. Thank you babe! Our baby girl is going to be one in a week, and I don't think I'm ready for it. I like 11 months. When she's 21 years old, I'll be telling everyone she's 252 months old. My precious girl I love you so...oh the tears are coming:)