It's almost Christmas

It's been really fun introducing Aurora to Christmas. Last year she was way too little to understand, although she did enjoy hiding behind the tree. This past weekend we drove up into the Santa Cruz mountains to our favorite tree farm and wandered around until we found just the right tree.

We didn't pick this one, but it was too good a picture not so share.

Decorated and ready for Santa. Thanks Google for the bonus sparkles.

That afternoon, Aurora had a great time playing peek-a-boo behind the tree. We headed into downtown San Jose to the annual Christmas in the Park festival. We hopped in line to wait for Santa, and after about 30 minutes got into see the big man. Unfortunately, Aurora wanted no part of sitting in Santa's lap, so we got a family portrait instead. She warmed up a bit after Santa gave her a candy cane, evening blowing him a kiss and saying, "Bye, Santa!"

Next we headed over to the rides, where we learned that our girl may be horse crazy. Two trips on the carousel were just not enough and there were many tears as we left behind her beloved caballo. Next year we'll plan for more tickets.

It will be interesting to see what she thinks about Christmas day!

Until then,
Sarah

Two!

This post is a few days late because we were really busy over this Thanksgiving weekend throwing a big birthday party! We invited a bunch of friends and the kids from her sitter's family.  All told I think there were 12 kids.

We got a giant bouncy castle and set it up in the backyard. M jumped in there and tried to get Aurora to join her, no luck.  She was scared. Fast forward to 3:30 when the other kids arrived, she can't get enough of it.

We ordered some pizzas, fed everyone delicious cake M made and then sent everyone home.  It was a great time and we were totally exhausted when it was over.

I'm getting used to the fact that Aurora is now 2. Sure, we've entered the "terrible 2s." She's a smart kid and sometimes she gets frustrated, she can be stubborn like her Mommy, and just as easily a little snuggle bug. What's most shocking to me, is it seems still like just yesterday when she came into our lives. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to cap it off with her birthday. We truly are thankful for our little ray of sunshine.

Happy Halloween!

Mmmm candy

In early September I found some awesome Bat Girl pajamas with a cape for Aurora at Target. They were so great I went back looking for more and found this fabulous Super Girl nightgown.  Rather than try to figure out something else for Halloween, I just picked up some red tights and called her done.

She loves "flying" through the house with her cape and of course, all the candy.

She wore her costume to daycare and went to the kids Halloween parade at the school nearby.

A B C D or something like that

Old friends

In trying to keep Aurora busy this weekend, I pulled out a bag of toys that I've been dragging around for over 20 years. Some old friends, like the Raggedy Ann my mom made for me when I was 5. It's amazing to me how much she has grown up in a very short time.  In just a few months she'll be 2.

Summer in Seattle

At the end of August we took a family trip to Seattle to celebrate our friends Laurie and Corrine's marriage at their house/mini-farm on Vashon. The trip also fell on M's birthday so she did some celebrating with our friends Scott and Beth and her brother Erik while Aurora and I got some farm time on Vashon. Aurora had such a great time on Vashon riding in the wheelbarrow, eating fresh blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries from garden and visiting the chickens. Since we got home, she continues to ask to go see "Lawlie" and the "tickins" several times a day.

We also had a great time picnicking with M's family up in Everett. Aurora had a fantastic time alternating between aunts and cousins on the playground. After the picnic we all spent the night with our good friend Emily in Marysville before heading back to Seattle.


Our last day in town started with a visit with Grandma and Tapa in Everett where Aurora got to meet Grandma's bunny Bugs. We finished off our last night in Seattle with a fun dinner with Scott, Beth, and our friends Brian and Brooke. Then back on the airplane at 6am! and home to San Jose. It's always a little bittersweet to leave Seattle and there's never enough hours or days to connect with everyone we'd love to see, but it's always good to get back to our roots.

In the garden

Wheelbarrow ride

Congratulations Corrine and Laurie!

Adventures in solo parenting

Is Mommy home yet?

Before Aurora was born, M spent about 10 days in Zimbabwe as part of some work she's doing at the Medical School there. At the time I was 30 weeks pregnant and not super happy about her being gone, but was proud of the work she's doing. Well here we are in 2013, and M is back in Zimbabwe for a 10 day trip to continue her work there. While she's away I'm getting a tiny taste of what it's like to care for a child on your own, it's exhausting! Thankfully my parents and some friends have chipped in to make it a little easier.

Mommy has been gone for 5 days now, and Aurora definitely misses her. In the morning she points at M's bathrobe and asks, "Mommy?" and I explain that Mommy is in Africa. The one thing that's made this easier for her (and me too), I think, is that we've been able to see M via Google Hangout. So twice now in the morning here (early evening in Zimbabwe) we've had a video chat. Aurora says, "Hi!" to Mommy and leans in for a virtual kiss.

Aurora and I have had some fun together. She's learning to blow bubbles (instead of just dripping the liquid everywhere), she's doing lots of coloring, and we've read every book she has at least 10 times. She changes so fast, it's hard for me to imagine what it would be like to be away from her.  Tonight for the first time, she said, "Goodnight," when I put her to bed. While it is nice to get this time with her, I think we'll both be pretty happy when Mommy gets home.