Halloween...3 months late

Believe me...this has been on my mind since October 31st, 2008!  I know that it is awful to finally be posting Tavian's Halloween pictures in January, but better late than never. Especially when they are so darn cute!

We took Babyhead Shark to a community Carnival for kids. He was a little young to get it, but he had a chance to swim around.

Next stop was a stroll down Montana Street. 

Back to normal?

January 4th - January 10th

Best

When you have a destination wedding it is kinda indulgent to also go on a honeymoon.  But after we returned from our wedding in Costa Rica, I realized why couples go on honeymoons.  Because even though your wedding is one of the most amazing events in your life it is exhausting!  Plus we got to have so much fun with our friends and family who attended, but we really didn't spend much time alone. So really a honeymoon is more like a recovery-moon from endless fun, laughing, and love for newlyweds who now just need a little rest and quiet time.

But there was no way I was going to out Babyhead on another 6 hour flight to some exotic location, so instead we had a Saturday-Night-Honeymoon.

G'ma Fran came over to be with an already sleeping Babyhead, and Eli and I cleaned ourselves up and headed toward Santa Monica.  Our destination didn't require us to take our shoes off and go through security, just a 15 min drive west in the Infinity.  But as with most trips a reservation was required and we hadn't made one. So when we arrived at the 2-mo-old restaurant Riva without a reservation we had an hour and half wait for a table for 2.  

Since we had all night we went with it and sat down in the lounge and ordered a bottle of wine to last us through the wait.  Having a few hours to sit, talk, and enjoy each other's company is something we haven't done in a very long time.  So it was awkward at first, but then the conversation started to flow and ended up in non-stop talking, holding hands and loving gazes.

All that time also lead to hungry tummies so we ordered a few things to tide us over, such as Buttata Pepperonata (creamy mozzarella and roasted pepper salad) and Roasted Quail farrao with pistachio pesto.

After our hour and half wait passed we were approached by the hostess to explain that they still didn't have a table for us.  Perhaps it was the combination of cozy conversation on the couch mixed with an almost empty bottle of Riesling, tossed together with tummies only being half full...we decided to just go ahead and camp out in the lounge and order dinner. Eli went for the Angus Sirloin with polenta frites, mustard greens, caramelized onions & brandy sauce.  I selected the Crispy Salmon Trout (trout that tastes like salmon...weird, but true!) with celery root puree, the most amazing braised artichoke hearts, and lemon brown butter sauce.  Dinner wouldn't have been complete however without a side of potato puree and finish it all off with the chocolate bread pudding and seriously real vanilla bean ice cream.

We ate like we had been on vacation for a week and felt refreshed, connected, and in love.  Everything you get from a honeymoon, but all in one night.   

Worst

Getting back into the swing of things after the holidays is always a challenge. But getting back into the swing of things after the holidays, a wedding, and a vacation is practically impossible.  When you spend 8 days in a row with a "To Do" list that includes sipping cafe con leche over a delicious plate of huevos and rice and beans before hitting the beach, then taking a nap to rest up before playing with Babyhead in the pool, catching some waves and then enjoying a fabulous dinner with friends and family...it is VERY difficult to get back to real life.

This week felt like the longest week since the last longest week...which was the first week we brought Tavian home from the hospital.  It all started with breakfast on Monday.  When I tried to recreate my Costa Rican breakfast at our local Brentwood spot the NY Bagel Company.  When they delivered my plate and my huevos were covered in tomoatoes, onions, and cilantro...it hit me that my pura vida living was over.  The coffee with non-fat milk was not even close to the creamy cafe con leche I had been downing for days.  And where were the chickens that would run around the tables?  No, it was all over and now we had to face our normal-running-chicken-less life.

Only the best

December 28th - January 3rd

BEST

Costa Ricans use the common saying "Pura Vida."  The first time Eli took me there he explained that this saying means "Pure Life." But it is more than just a saying, it embodies their way of life, the beauty of their country, and their happy, laid back attitude.  Once you experience Pura Vida, you are hooked and want to return to Costa Rica as many times as you can.  Which is why Eli and I have traveled there almost every year...which is why we could not think of a better place to get married.  

Words cannot describe the amazing week we had in Tamarindo with our friends and family.  But hopefully a few amazing pictures can! 

I know that I have mentioned my amazing friend Jasmine Star many times and her blog is #1 on my list of favorite websites.  And without her talent as a photographer we wouldn't be able to share these amazing moments with all the people in our lives.  I was so happy and fortunate to have had her there!

One of my favorite parts of the ceremony was that we included Tavian in our vows.  I can't help but get big happy Momma tears in my eyes as I remember promising to Eli that I will always be a loving and patient mother and to always care and provide for Mr. Tavian Babyhead.

Jasmine put a great slideshow together with more pictures.  I have watched 100 times and will probably watch 100 more.  The images she captured let me relive this amazing day over and over.

Promises

December 21st - December 27th

Best 

For 27 years of my life I have had a Christmas tree to wake up to on December 25th.  Beautiful presents tucked away underneath.  Ornaments collected over the years dangling from the limbs.  Strings of lights shining softly casting a glow around the room.  One of my favorite things to do during Christmas time is to sit at night with all the lights off and look at the Christmas tree.  But in the 28th year of my life Christmas I did not have a tree.  It made me sad, but there was nothing I could do.  I just didn't have the extra time or energy to put up Christmas decorations when we would be spending Christmas in LAX anyway.  

But what is even sadder than missing out on my 28th Christmas tree, is Tavian missing out on his 1st.  I had nightmares of an older Babyhead coming to me and saying that for his 3rd grade art project all the kids had to bring in pictures of their first Christmas.  And me trying to explain that Momma just couldn't cut it that year and there is no picture of an adorable baby sitting in front of the tree trying to eat the wrapping paper off his presents.

Luckily, Fabulous Neighbor Laura rescued me from my Christmas-tree-less nightmare.  Her and the hubby Russ had a fantastic Christmas tree and suggested I bring Babyhead over with some of his presents, we'll snap some pictures, and boom...Tavian's first Christmas...with a tree!

So from 8:00 am to 8:30 am, Tuesday December 22nd became December 25th at #105 on Chenault St.  Not only was it a huge relief, but we captured some great Babyhead moments...and even had a very special visitor. And I promise Babyhead that next

 year we will have our own tree!

What is all this stuff?  Why is there a tree inside the house?

Are all these presents for me?

But who brought me all these presents?

Hey I really like this Santa guy!

Oh you mean we open the boxes too? I just like to push them around the floor.

My first Elmo from Great Uncle Les and Aunt Terry...yessss!

Mom this one is too big!

Thanks for all my wonderful presents everybody!

Worst

Traveling with a baby can be very challenging.  We can all recall the horrible flight Babyhead and I had on our way home from Colorado. As mothers who brave the task of keeping a baby happy for hours on end in a small space surrounded by strangers...we are bound to run into some problems.  So conisdering our flight to Costa Rica was departing at 1 am and usually Babyhead would be comfprtably snoozing in his crib, I was expecting the worst.  

But I am happy to blog that this was not another sky high nigtmare.  Although it took a lot of work, Tavian was very good on the plane and even slept for long periods.  This "Worst" is about the other screaming baby on the plane...correction screaming child.  Now I know how difficult it can be so I hate to rag on traveling families, but this incident was just wrong in every way.  Since it was a red-eye flight everyone was trying to get some sleep as best as they could, but periodically it would be inturrupted by the screams of what I can only desicribe as a demon child.  Literally it was the exact same sound as the kid from The Shining in that creepy voice.  But instead of "Red Rum, Red Rum" it was "No, no, mommy, no, mommy, etc." I have to think that if your child (this boy had to be at least 5 yrs) is able to verbally communicate at that level than he can also understand what his parents would try to communicate with him.  The problem being there was no parental commuicating going on...no trying to find out why he flet the need to scream...no explaining to him that it was time to be quiet now...or no even taking him to the bathroom and giving the rest of the passengers a break from the devlish howls.  And as the man in therom in front of me had to order another Jack and Coke in order from going back there and smothering the child and the parents with his airplane pillow, he turned to me and said "my mother would never let me get away with that."  To which I replied "Me too, and I won't let him (Babyhead) do it either."  And that's a promise!  I'm not saying Tavian will never cry or get frustrated that he is uncomfortable and wants to run around and play, but I am promising that I will do everything in my power to make sure we don't drive a plane full of passengers insane.

Bowling and Closets

December 14th - December 20th

BEST

Bridelorette Sharty.  That is what you get when you combine a Bridal Shower and a Bachelorette Party into one fabulous night out with a group of wonderful ladies.  And that is how I spent my Sunday night.  Strapped into some bowling shoes at Lucky Strike, sipping on cocktails, munching on food that is not so good for me, and overall just letting loose for a little while. 

Bestie friend Rachelle planned the whole thing, even down to the cute gift bags with hand sanitizer and colorful socks, perfect for a bowling party.  And I couldn't have loved her more than when she brought out a box of mini cupcakes from Yummy Cupcakes...yes I DID eat two of the chocolate peanut butter ones in case you were wondering.  Not to mention Rachelle topped it off with a gifted waffle maker, the only item I said I would register for if I did a wedding registry.

Being with good friends and hearing the roll of the bowling ball took me back to my Whittier College days and I reminisced with Natalia and Melissa about the dive bowling alley I would go to back in the day.  At the time I wasn't 21 yet so those who were would order my drinks.  Not really knowing what to order I remembered that my Grandma liked to drink Kahlua and milk.  So this is the only thing I could think of to order.  So my 21 year old friend ordered one for me at the bar...but in a dive bowling alley what they pour you is Kahlua and Half and Half. The thought of it now makes me gag a little, but oh boy did I think it was good back then!  And I wondered why I gained 20 lbs in college...

And of course after sharing this story with the ladies and having a good giggle as soon as I finished my next turn up to bowl and returned to my seat...sitting on our table was a Kaluha and Cream for me to enjoy, which I did...just like I remember.  

I have the bestest girlies in the world! Thanks for a great Bridelorette Sharty.

WORST

Exhaustion can make you desperate.  Everyone has had a moment in their lives when they would do anything just to get some rest.  If you had a million dollars you would give it away just for one more hour of sleep.  This was the level of desperation I felt Friday morning.  

It all begins with bargaining.  As you lay there listening to the alarm you start to tell yourself "5 more mins and then I will get up."  Then "if I skip the workout this morning to sleep in, then I will go for a jog this afternoon," even though you never go for jogs in the afternoon...ever. And the reason you are so tired in the first place is because you have way too many things to get done in one day, so why would you think you would have time to go for a jog later in the day? Irrational bargaining sprouted from desperation.

Even when I was already dressed and driving to the gym to meet my trainer I was till bargaining.  "Maybe I could just pull over, tell my trainer he could still charge me for the session, but just let me sleep in my car. One glorious hour of uninterrupted sleep in my car...it would be our little secret, he would totally understand."  We laughed as I told him about my temptation to call him on my way to the gym...then he continued to kick my ass in the hardest workout ever.

Then as the exhaustion deepens and the bargaining stops desperation leads to desperate acts.  By the time I returned home and Babyhead went down for his nap I was near tears of joy knowing that I too could take a nap now.  But looking at the clock I realized that our cleaning lady was going to be here in 20 mins and she would be needing to wash the sheets on the bed I so desperately wanted to crawl into.  So desperation leads to creativity and I grabbed a pillow, a blanket, and the baby monitor and laid down in the bedroom closet.  Almost as sad and desperate as sleeping in your car, but it was actually nice and dark and pretty quiet. So I slept in the closet for the next 45 mins before I heard little Babyhead sounds coming from the monitor. And even though I felt a little better I knew I had hit a low point.