Letters to Kenley

In a post a couple of weeks ago I had mentioned that I was going to write a note to Kenley every day in her last month before she turns one... and publish it here. And I am sticking to my word. Todays is her 11 month birthday.

On Thursday afternoon my computer crashed. So I ended up having to buy a new one the very next day. My new computer will be heading back to Napa with my mom on Tuesday (she is visiting right now) so that the NPI dictation program that I work in can get put on it. However, I will blog from my phone and/or Gavins computer to make this happen!

I CANNOT believe it has almost been a year since our little girl was born & what a year it has been.


Letter # 1 "My Kidney Bean"

Sometimes I sit and wonder about how I will tell you about how you came to be. It's so complex, baby girl and I'm not even sure I'm qualified to explain. How will I tell you about how young we were? and how green in the ways of the world? How will I tell you about how at first we weren't convinced we could handle this? I don't have the words yet but maybe someday I will. I'm still just making all of this up as I go... so thanks for being so flexible.
You had been in my belly for ten weeks when I saw you for the first time. "See that flicker?" the nurse said. "thats her little heart beat." She told me you were about the size of a kidney bean. I knew right then and there that you were mine, and no one elses. Even if I couldn't give you the world that you deserved, I knew my love would be enough.
When I think back on the first couple months of my pregnancy, the first thing that comes to mind is how I could smell EVERYTHING! I assosiate my memory of all the smells with certain "situations" that came about in those first weeks/months. It was Halloween when we sat down with both sets of your grandparents to discuss a "game-plan," I remember the smell of burning pumpkin as I sat on the couch next to your daddy as we talked, cried, and even laughed with Grandy, GMa Patty, Papa and Granny... we knew everything was going to be OK. I remember the sterile smell of the ER a couple weeks after that when I spent the night in the hospital (after getting e.Coli poisoning) and being so scared I was going to lose you. It was that night that I realized I couldnt live without you. I distinctly remeber the smell of the cinnamon air freshner at Replay Sports (where I was working) when I called Angel Adoption Agency to tell them they need not send me their paper work anymore. "I'm so sorry, so so sorry... I can't live without her."
I hope you dont hold my honesty against me baby girl, I want you to know I only ever wanted the best for you. I may not be perfect but I know that I am what's best for you, that YOU are what's best for me, and that God has blessed us with each other.
Those first months and weeks were some of the hardest, yet looking back on them I miss it! I look at your little face now and can't believe that anyone every made a fuss... like you were always supposed to be here and that anything else simply wouldnt be our life.

I love you, Mama

the world didnt end... but baseball season did.

so yeah, in other words the world ended.

jusssst kidding!

Gavin had his last home series this weekend :( The season FLEW by... and I cant believe we have almost already finished out our first school year down here. As many of you know we have come to the recent desicion to keep our little family located in Riverside for the summer. Gavin is taking TWELVE units of  summer school and I will basically be working full time between NPI and Kissui. Gavin will also be playing for a summer team out of Orange County... the OC Pioneers. Sounds like we wont be having much of a "summer" afterall.
Fun weekends have been pretty few and far between, but this last one was definitely a good one. Gavin played UC Irvine at home. On Saturday Kenley and I went to San Diego for my dear friend Alexa's graduation from SDSU. While we didnt go to the actually ceremony we joined in for dinner with everyone in Old Town San Diego.... have you been there???!!!??? I am totally dragging Gavin back at some point this summer! It is so fun! Did you know that San Diego is the oldest city in California? I didnt either until this weekend, but it makes sense... I mean when you are in Old Town you are practically on the border. You really do feel like you are in Mexico! We went to this awesome little Cantina with a live mariachi (sp?) band.
Sunday Gavin had his very last home game and it was senior day. I made it a point to take lots of pictures... especially with everyone that Kenley and I have been hanging with all season. I will miss being at the ball feild with all of them..... but... they have talked me into having a little party for Kenley's first down here as well, so it looks like she will be having a little Riverside party as well!
Speaking of the birthday girl... I would LOVE to share details about her party in Napa and things I have planned but then it wouldnt be fun! Lets just say that im really looking foward to it :)
Ok sooo.... I cant quite remember the last time I worked seven days in a row but between Kissui and NPI this past week, I HAVE. It feels good to be so busy but man oh man am I tired. Not to mention my MAIN job of Kenley duties.
....... and duty calls :)

happy tuesday bloggers.
jess

may showers?

I shouldnt act surprised... I saw that rain was in the forecast for the desert this week but, really? Of course the one day my job requires to be outside it would rain! And of course every.single.one. of our towels is hanging out on the laudry line... I just used one of Kenley's haha.
One plus? It always smells SOOO good out when it rains here... like unreasonably good. I think it might be a combo of the smells from the botatic gardens and the citrus orchards across the street, its a very fresh floral scent... I wish I could bottle some up and post it right here ----> _________ .
Its been a relaxing morning, picking up the house, Mumford & Sons on Pandora (Im officially obsessed with them right now), had my tea, did dishes...
Meanwhile Kenley was playing in her crib, looking through her "First 100 Animals" book. (Everytime she turns the page she yells at it, trying to make the animal noises... because when I show it to her I do all the noises... ex: "the piggy says 'oink oink!!!' " haha) Anyway it got really quiet in her room and when I went to check on her she was asleep ON TOP of her little lamb. We both had a rough night sleep and im not shocked she is already back asleep. At around 2 am she was up for the second time, I still hadnt slept and so I took her in the spare bedroom and we cuddled all night in the twin bed :)

PS!... The "birthday theme" is in honor of Kenley's first birthday and will be until after she is offically ONE! ... Also, starting Kenley's 12th month (May 29) I am going to be writing her a note every day and posting it here, everyday will be a memory or thought about her first year :)

Kissui Craft Fair

Tomorrow Kenley and are going to be putting some miles on the BOB stroller and cruising downtown Redlands to promote the CRAFT FAIR thats happening at Kissui on June 4th. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS!! I promise to take tons of pics!!

shake your HAIR feather!

If you dont know what a hair feather is, well... its pretty much exactly what it sounds like, and seems to be popping up everywhere. Its basically a real feather, put in the hair with a little clamp bead. You wash it, curl it, straighten it... all like real hair! I am totally addicted and think they are so fun! I got my first one a couple months ago at a salon in San Diego and have added to it since then. The adorable salon next door to Kissui does them too and the girls that work there are always letting me know when they are getting new feathers in. I added a couple feathers yesterday and wanted to share! I have gone with a "natural" hue... but I think the birght bold colors are super cute too, just not sure I could pull them off! I pulled my hair back in the picture so that you can see them better but I usually just wear my hair all down with them so its more of a "peek-a-boo" effect.
When taking the picture of them for the blog I figured I would include my newest DYI project that is hanging above our couch!
I have had the hardest time deciding what to hang up there and I actaully saw THIS idea on a blog... all it is is framed SCRAPBOOK paper. I made the frames too :)

flip!

FLIP! you know?? FLIP!

My favorite cloth diaper to date!

I have tried Thirsties, Bumgenius, Grovia, Rumperoo & have landed on a favorite... FLIP!

If you havent tried them... you must. They are bulletproof! ...... not to mention, they have left no marks on my chunky thighed baby, we havent had a leak, she is rash free, they wash up well and plus I have decided that I am DONE with pocket-style diapers... I am so partial to being able to put a clean liner into a FLIP cover and call it a day. They are the same idea as Thirsties... just BETTER. by better I mean better quality. (plus im also done using velcro)

It feels good to find something you love, that works.

blog worthy sweet & tangy chicken...

This recipe is too easy and to delicious not to post. I am trying to cook more (part of our saving all the $ we can plan) and plus its just better! Kenley is starting to eat whatever we are eating so knowing where her food is coming from is huge bonus for me too. She is my little gourmet eater... it blows me away the things she will eat... and "asks" for MORE of.
So I did this recipie with brown rice instead of white, lean chicken breasts and Gavin asked for it over rice pilaf (which sounds like a gross combo but actually was not bad at all!)
if you make it... let me know what you think!
ENJOYhttp://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Sweet-and-Tangy-Chicken