Content

Ahhh...I'm sipping a root beer float watching my baby sleep peacefully in the video monitor, working on Children's ministry teaching schedules and typing up notes from a my very part time CWS job. I just did a quick clean up of baby toys, washed the dishes and scrubbed the sink. I slept in this morning and feel rested, and am anticipating a family date night (hopefully including a very special friend!) to Avila farmers market tonight. I have a smile on my face. I am content. I'm happy. I'm filled with joy!

I am living the life I dreamed, and couldn't feel more blessed. I am married to the man of my dreams, have the sweetest baby on earth, live in a house that feels like home...what more could I want?!

Recently someone asked me if I think I will live on the Central Coast forever... like it was a bad thing. They asked "don't you ever feel the need for change? for something new?" For a little bit, I actually thought I was boring for thinking no. I even felt a little embarrassed. I thought about this conversation for a couple of days. I wondered if I was dull for not craving change. Instead I came to a conclusion and a realization that I'm not dull, boring, or adventureless...I feel fulfilled! I have no need to desire something different or new when I feel everyday that I am walking in God's will for my life. Who knows what the future will hold for us, and if we did someday feel God telling us to go somewhere I have no doubt that we would. But for now, for today, this feels great.

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight" Psalm 43:3-4

Going way too fast!

Aubriella is 6 1/2 months now. She just got shots on Friday, and weighed in at 17 lbs 15 oz (75th percentile!) and was 95th percentile for height! She's a chubby, tall girl but it is funny that almost everyone tells me she is petite!

Aubriella s such a joy! She smiles freely and often, and loves to giggle and squeal. She loves to give and get kisses, and is generally a very, very happy baby. She makes me laugh, and my heart melts into a puddle a few times a day.

This little girl of ours is always on the move! If I dare brag a bit, she is quite advanced! She waves hi and bye, crawls, pulls herself up anytime she can-- we had to lower the crib mattress because she was trying to dive out of the crib, and today I had to stop her from trying to climb the stairs!--blows raspberries, and when I tell her to say mama she always whispers and says "ma ma ma" or "pa pa pa" or "ba ba ba." That might not seem very verbal to you, but because she does this every time I ask her to say it, it is obvious she is attempting to communicate and understands what I am asking. She also sometimes copies clapping.

Since the introduction to solids, she has had homemade rice cereal, oatmeal, bananas, avocado, and peaches! She tolerates everything well, though usually only takes a few bites unless it is oatmeal or peaches! I'm excited for her to try the applesauce I made today.

She is napping even more consistently which is great, and even improving at night. We've had a few recent nights that she has slept 7 hours straight, and only woke up once through the night. Everyday she seems to get a little better at putting herself back to sleep.

Aubriella loves to be read to! She is so good at turning the pages, and will sit still while we read. Lately she doesn't want to stop reading at nap time. She keeps trying to get up and reach for her books! Today, she started whining when I closed the book, and didn't stop until I read one more!

Lastly, Aubriella is quite strong willed. There is no getting her to do anything she doesn't want to, and once she has her mind fixed on something there is no redirecting her! She can display quite a temper when she doesn't get her way. The prime example is the daily struggle with her wanting whatever cup we are using to bathe her. She can have have her hands full with another cup, but she wants the one we have...every.single.time.

I love Aubriella so much, and am so thankful to have her!

Photos by Moments Captured photography

Just like the Nester

Last month I shared a little bit about my obsession with The Nester... she was the one who taught "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful", yard sale finds, and thrift store. Remember?

Well anyway...today she wrote about her kitchen and I happened to see MY COOKIE JAR! Except hers is a flour jar.

Nesters:

Mine:

I knew it! She wants to be just like me. ;-)

Acosta Baby Shower

We had a fun time celebrating the anticipated arrival of Baby Acosta! He will be here this month! I'm excited to see how the twins will do with baby brother- and whether he will have Jaclyn's active personality or Kathryn's mellow one.

Tia Cuca let Aubriella borrow these sunglasses! Too cute!

Canaan got to spend the day with us, and he had a blast playing with Jose in the bounce house.

Even Aubri got to bounce!

Somehow we were able to capture Jaclyn not jumping!

Grammy Silvi played with Aubriella even after her hand surgery! Aubriella loved this toy so much, Grammy went and bought her one. She loves crawling after it!

Little Jesse is the youngest baby in the family- not for long!

I LOVE this picture of Aubriella and Adriana! They are the youngest and oldest first cousins. Both of them are gorgeous!

Brandi and Savannah are so sweet with the little ones. They changed the twins diapers without even being asked - they just thought it was time!- and even asked to change Aubri's (which I happily allowed!).

A few of the granddaughters and great-granddaughters.

And most importantly the Mommy to be!

Big Bows!

Taming Aubriella's hair is often challenging! She has a drawer filled of bows, clips, head bands and barrets...if only I knew how to make them all work! Up until now Aubriella has worn the little size, but they aren't helping to keep the hair out of her eyes! Just recently she "graduated" to the next size bow. Of course I had to take pictures of her new look.


And check out who I caught red handed! She had a blast ripping apart my pillow tassles. She was so cute I didn't even care!

B-I-O-L-A

I always thought it was weird (at least what is portrayed in movies) that parents cared so much that their child attend their alma mater. I would have never been like that. Except now, maybe an itsy bitsy, teenie tiny part of me would really want Aubriella to go to Biola. Of course I will do everything I can to persuade her she can decide for herself where she wants to go. In the meantime I will just continue to indoctrinate provide her with cute collegiate attire .

*Thanks to Amanda for this t-shirt! I love it! We got it when Aubriella was a newborn and I didn't believe it was a 6 month shirt because it looked so large. I am so glad I decided to try it on her because it fits!

Baby Legs

I love these fun pictures of Aubriella Joy! She looked so cute rockin' her tights. I'm posting a little more than I normally do (of the same thing) because I just love them all. Trust me, I used restraint to narrow down the 40 or so pictures I took.

She was showing off for the camera. She would give me a quick smile, then sit really still.

I never thought I could love brown eyes so much! I can't believe I wanted her to have blue eyes.

My baby model

She decided to roll around a bit and mess up her hair. I have to re-comb her hair several times a day!

Happy half Birthday!

Aubriella turned 6 months old on July 30th! We'd been postponing solid foods until the much anticipated 6 month mark. To play around we had put food or fruit close to her lips over the past month, and she wouldn't open her mouth for anything! The week before she turned 6 months, I tried it again and she wanted to take a bite! We had a feeling she was finally ready. Before the big meal, Jose pretend fed her with a baby spoon and she opened her mouth wide every time!

Aubri's Papa wanted to be there for her first "meal" so we had to wait patiently for him to come over after work.

She was a little excited for her first meal!

I love our beautiful Baby Cake!

Waiting for the first bite

No funny faces from her! She acted like she has been eating rice cereal her whole life.

She kept wanting to feed herself so we had a very messy little girl!

Look what I found!

While looking at pictures on my parents computer, I found bon fire pictures from 2007!