Weekend

Hi Friends!

We were busy checking items off our Fall Bucket List this weekend! 

 Isla is the collector of crunchy leaves and she does not discriminate -- they are all treasured :) 

 Isla picked a pumpkin (and the competition was stiff!) 

 She informed us it was this one...and put up quite a case for this little guy. We were sold. 

 These are my general feelings on picking pumpkins in a torrential rainstorm. #fear. 

(Thankfully it cleared up before we headed out to pick -- thank goodness!)

The cliche 'photo op' at the Pumpkin Patch. Had to do it! 

 B caved while I made dinner---and Isla was a big help this year! She actually really liked it (which made me super excited for Christmas with her :) We carved a witch--- fun times with my little fan! 

And last but not least..... Isla face timed with my Sister's cat, Max. Facetiming with animal friends is one of her most favorite things. Thanks for the patience Max! I love Isla's smug-amused face in this! ;) 

I hope you all had a great weekend! 

xo. 

S

Thursday: Randoms and one great story

Hi Friends!

I've been waiting all day to blog this story....so I was at my dry cleaners with Isla dropping off B's shirts. I've known my dry cleaner lady for a long time and she loves Isla so whenever I'm there we check in to see how each other is doing. To make this story make sense, I should tell you that we know this guy (through a friend) who's a local Real Estate Agent and has a VERY unique name. I am dying to write it here but I don't want him to google his name and find my blog so I'm going to leave it out. Lets just call him Scooter.

Anywho--Scooter made bobble heads of himself as marketing and has them at local businesses. It has his name right on it so I'm 100% sure it's him. As I'm chatting away I look down and see Isla has pulled Scooter's bobble head right off of his body. Oh LORD! She was just looking at me with big innocent eyes like, 'look mom, I found this'-- uh huh. SH*T!!!!

Thankfully my dry cleaner friend didn't see so I was trying to stick it back on while I'm attempting  to chat nonchalantly with her, not to raise suspicion!--- the damned thing kept falling off, I was getting so flustered. Thankfully it finally stuck for a moment and I rushed out. I can't believe Isla decapitated Scooter's marketing bobblehead- so embarrassing!

Isla apparently on a roll...because then we went to 3R, which is a tech recycling place in Georgetown to exchange a switch for B. Wouldn't you just know it.....one of the only times I agree to run to Seattle and drag a toddler into a tech store for him ....she blows out her diaper before we got in. I thought it would be a quick trip but it ended up taking longer than I intended and Isla ended up running full blown laps around the center aisles laughing maniacally. That place is a total choking hazard-- at one point I had to say, "excuse me while I make sure she's not choking on a random cord over here"-- my kid will NOT stay by my side so it was a game of tag and she WON. #momfail.

The guys in the store were all super understanding....thank god I wasn't that lady! Does anyone else's kids go crazy after a big poo? We used to have a little terrier that would do the same thing--a big poo and she'd run around like mad. We always called it the 'poop crazies.' I can't believe my Toddler has them too!

These "Baby Legs" killed me today---SO CUTE! (and perfect for Fall days when the weather can't make up its mind!)

Last but not least.....

I totally 'mom-failed' today. I personally don't consider Taco Time fast food because it's too delicious but lets be honest.... mexi fries and a crisp bean burrito are pretty much fast food (devastating I know!) Anywho- I needed a quick lunch and failed to pack one so Isla and I had a little picnic in the backseat. This pic says it all.......

........she's completely disappointed in me. :(

In my defense I did order her a cheese quesadilla with black beans and light cheese so maybe it wasn't so bad? maybe? (I'm sure the woman in the drive through was like 'sister you're at Taco Time, there's no way to make yourself feel better by custom ordering your kid a quesadilla!' :)

xoxo.
S

Hi Friends!

A couple quick highlights (or lowlights :) from our day since I'm in the middle of editing these GORGEOUS shots from my Cousin's Senior shoot.....

....that field and sun just KILLS.ME.DEAD! This is her backyard--her backyard! What I would give to have that field at my disposal for pics whenever I wanted---Isla would literally run when I got out the camera. HA!

1. Isla is regressing---she pooped in the tub again today. UG! She's in the middle of terrible teething, no napping and a growth spurt so apparently all of that equals crapping in the tub again. My life is so glamorous.

2. I made the most amazing veggie hash tonight. Before I made it I googled 'hash recipes' and wasn't prepared for the results. Lets just say I didn't think that one through and there's a very likely possibility that I'm now on being monitored by the government. It was delicious regardless! :)

3. My favorite animal noise Isla makes right now is a rooster'--- "doooodle doooo"

4. I realized today Isla hasn't napped in her crib in at least 3 weeks. She just won't go down in the afternoon in there- it's so ridiculous and crazy. Tonight she melted into a raging lunatic at 5pm. I really, really hope this phase is quick---as do I hope the hitting me in the face and biting is as well. (Thankfully those are SO out of characteristic for her- I think they will be). Did I mention she threw sand on a little girl with a broken arm at the playground---aiyiyi. It was a long day!

5. I need to decorate for Fall. It's time to get this season going!

Gotta run friends! More from me soon....

xo.
S

Recovery

Hi Friends! 

Time to recover from another day of watching these two crazy monkeys! 

Isla had so much fun and we both left exhausted! Two toddlers is not an easy business---props to you Mamas doing this insanity every day! I am so excited to just relax tomorrow AM with my coffee, the Today Show and my little lady :) and then spend the afternoon catching up, editing and hopefully cleaning my house while Isla sleeps (nap for Mommy tomorrow Isla? PLEASE?!)

I hope everyone's well! I am so thrilled that Fall is upon us, my season is wrapping up and the holidays and evenings in cuddling with my honey, reading, crocheting and BLOGGING are here. YAY! Can we put up the Christmas tree up yet?? (but seriously..... :)

xo.
S

Catching up!

Hi Friends!

Sorry for the lack of posts last week-- we were out of town visiting family and wrapping up shoots while Daddy.B was gone on business. We're back home and loving the end of my photography season (time to edit!) and spending family time together--- we've had far too little of it lately!

For now-- a couple quick highlights from last week and the start of this one! Hope everyone's well!

1. I wrapped up my 'littlest' Cousin's Senior Session- she graduates High School this year. I feel SO old! I stayed in the hospital with my Aunt the night she was born---love you Jess, these are just stunning (that field kills me! Can you believe this is her backyard? literally!)

2. We met Baby Beau and congratulated his awesome parents. We love you little Peanut! Welcome to our crazy circus! :)

3. Isla was SO in love with Beau. I expected to visit quickly and leave before she set off any alarms but she was so good-- all we heard was "bay-bee", "BOW" and she did a lot of petting :) Sweet.

4. Isla loves my Mom's cat, Morris. I can't say he feels the same.

5. My Mom bought Isla a wagon- she was in LOVE with it. She would literally burrow down in the middle and not want to come out.

6. She was wheelin-&-dealin with that porcelain doll at my Grandparents. So funny!

7. Isla and my Grandpa are best.friends.forever. She thinks he's hilarious.

8. We spent the afternoon at the park with my Dad and Kerri and enjoyed AWESOME mac&Cheese at Mac n' more in Lacey (so good!) Isla's a big fan of clinging to Grandpa's hair.

9. It was so warm Isla went swimming at my Mom's. Crazy October weather around here!

10. Our new favorite bottle. SO GOOD! (so cheap!)

11. My Neighbor gave me her pea patch when she moved and I hit the veggie-motherload on Sunday-- those heirloom tomatoes are SO GOOD!!!!!

12. My most favorite thing about today was taking this little man's first photos. We love you Beau-- it was such a privilege :) ... and a little preview below because I just can't resist.

 Photo credit: Lacie Hansen (Thanks Friend!) 

13. Isla had a little playdate with her friend, Brooklyn while Brooklyn's Mom worked. Nanny issues- we saved the day!!

 14. We fed my Brother&Sister in-law's cat, Chanel...they are in Tahiti on their honeymoon. MUST BE NICE LOVEBIRDS! :) Isla loved Chanel--she kept saying "KITTEEEEEEEE"-- Chanel was so patient and wonderful.

 we practiced "gentle hands" :) 

15. Last but not least, the sweetest view from Isla's bedtime routine. I adore this girl. 

xoxo. 

S

20 Months: Separation Anxiety and Sleeplessness

Hi Friends!

Yesterday was so rough. So ROUGH. It was one of those nights when you swear your kid is a newborn again and all you want to do is beat your head against the wall because you'd be getting better sleep doing that than trying to comfort the wild beast straining in your lap to be let free.

All day yesterday Isla was a clingy monster. All I heard was "up, UP, up, UP, UP" or "ma,ma,ma,MAMAMAMAMA." Even when B was home she wanted nothing to do with him. When he went into her room to check her after an hour of checks and soothing that I had done she yelled "MA-MA!" A demand questioning why I had sent in her Father. Yikes! I know she's going through a growth spurt, teething and racing through a mental leap (today she stood up and said 'all done ma' -- really?! What are you 15 now?) but she's never had a problem going down at night or sleeping through the night when she doesn't nap during the day (which hasn't happened since last Tuesday-- yes I remember the exact day). Last night she just wouldn't go to sleep. By 9pm, she had been up for 14 hours straight and I said "THIS IS CRAZY!" I did another small bottle, rocked her for a moment and put her in her crib. She screamed like she was being traumatized and then within 10 minutes went down. Unfortunately she was up from 2:10-4:00 and then again at 6am. I finally gave up and drug her into bed with me, which sounds like a lovely little co-sleeping oasis. It's not....lets be clear. Isla likes to lay on top of me-- crushing my throat and chest. It's horribly uncomfortable but I was so damned tired I took what restless zzzz's I could get.

The shirt lies. 

Today, she blew through her nap (per usual these days, ug!) and cried for 15 minutes, after one check and a total meltdown she finally went down after 20 minutes total. That is SUCH an improvement over last night! I'm interested (and TERRIFIED) to see how tonight goes but I'm really hoping the reassuring checks and back to sleep training basics are helping her get through this. It's all I've got so I'm hoping it does the trick!

Did anyone else's little one have separation anxiety really kick in around 20 months?
Did it feel like the teething, mental leap and separation anxiety all hit at the same time?

During the 2 hours I was up last night I was busy googling "what's wrong with my terrorist 20 month old who won't sleep" and other helpful questions. Fortunately I found pages upon pages of Q&A's and sleep blogs regarding the 19-24 month age range and how much goes on in their little brains during that time. Pretty interesting stuff! It actually made me feel more sane and in control. Thank you Google.

I hope everyone is sleeping soundly tonight with little sleepy babies! Here's to a RESTFUL slumber Isla--- I'll see you at a decent hour! :)

xo.
S

HBD Baby!

Hi Friends!

I have so much to blog about but for now I just want to say, WELCOME TO THE WORLD Beau Graf Hansen! You are so very loved!

Isla was up a lot last night and I suspect she was just ready for you to arrive (ha!)

A very warm and loving congratulations to my wonderful, mama-friend, lifeline, Lacie and her beautiful little family...and to Miss Gemma on being promoted to 'Big Sister'- it's the very best job in the world next to 'wife' and 'mama' --- I know you'll be the best Sissy to your 'baby Beau' :)

Isn't he just precious :) 

xoxo.
S