The Big ONE

Sienna is officially one year old! Last Tuesday was the big day! I took the day off, and unfortunately Russell couldn't with it being his second week at his new job. The poor birthday girl had a rough morning, woke up early screaming, with top molars that had just barely cut through gums. We had some cuddles while watching Sesame Street, then she helped me make (and eat) blueberry pancakes!




After a short nap, we headed out for the day. We met Alisa, Sami and baby Makayla at our local zoo. It was the first time we had been there and nice for it to be close by. Sienna was very excited to see her PIC (Partner In Crime) and check out some animals. She is an animal lover for sure! The zoo is pretty small (can see everything in 30 minutes easily). We saw goats, a porcupine, an emu, kangaroos, meerkats, a sloth, monkeys, warthogs, flamingos, parrots, lemurs, and a tiger! Sienna also enjoyed playing in the dirt in front of the exhibits. And as a bonus, Sienna's Aunt Mo bought us a family pass to the zoo for her birthday gift!

Next we drove down to the beach, and picked up lunch to take to Russell at work (chicken strips, fries, clam chowder and a burger for Daddy). Sienna had fun checking out Daddy's new work and meeting everyone. Then we went to the beach where she had fun playing in the sand- digging, crawling, and watching it blow out of her hand. It was a beautiful day!

After a much needed nap on the way home, we stopped to pick up cupcakes and got home around the same time as Daddy! We then played with her new treehouse slide she got from her Great Grandpa and Great Grandpa.

Then it was off to dinner at Senior Sanchos to meet Lolly, Pop, Uncle David (Tio), Aunt Janie, Aunt Cherie and Barb. She had fun seeing everyone, and even colored with crayons (what a big kid, huh?)Sienna chowed down on some rice and beans (her favorites) and also tried some tamales and enchiladas. Mama enjoyed a margarita. And of course the restaurant sung to her! She thought the commotion was a bit odd, but loved the flan they gave her. She ate the whipped cream, and completely dug in head first... then grabbed and mushed handfuls... must have been the texture. We all laughed hysterically, pretty much in tears watching her.

Next everyone came to our house including Uncle Joey for cupcakes! After singing to her, I put the cupcake on her highchair tray and she instantly went for the candle, putting it out with her finger, ouch! But she didn't seem to notice. Then she devoured it. We figured it was practice for the whole cake she would be getting at her big party. Then she opened some presents from us, her favorite being the musical card that plays "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to."

Ch-Ch-Changes...

Big news this week, and it happened fast! Last Friday Russell had an interview for a Production Manager position, he had a good feeling but we didn't want to get our hopes up over the weekend. Then Monday they called for a second interview that afternoon with the bigger boss, and 10 minutes afterwards, gave him an offer, and he started the NEXT day. Craziness!

When Russell was laid off a month before Sienna was born, we took advantage of having him at home, and its been wonderful. We are so grateful for that time we had, and that we survived financially. The job market was awful, and we didn't see it getting better any time soon, so we took advantage of the GI Bill- getting paid to go to school! It worked out so nice to have one of us able to be home with Sienna during the day, have Lolly help for a couple hours, as he took afternoon/evening classes. He learned a ton and got very valuable experience (He was working towards a welding technology degree). We didn't see this job coming, and of course can't turn it down. The hours will be tough, and its a 45 min drive, so its not even an option for him to stay in school (we REALLY wanted him to finish the semester since he was so close). Russell is excited to be working again, but of course will miss his stay at home daddy days, (says he will miss Yo Gabba Gabba) .

So literally overnight our whole routine and needs changed. Talk about an insane mama! I am so happy,I know this leads to so much for the future of our family, less financial stress, but means we have to come up with a new plan for Sienna. And thinking of childcare full time is HARD! So I took a personal day yesterday, to run around and check places out. Of course the good personal recommendations I had were full with waiting lists, its really hard to find infant openings. The first place was close to our house, but AWFUL (unfriendly, impatient lady with caked on makeup, stilleto heels and super low-cut shirt with screaming kids, dirty outside toys, etc.)

But the second place was AMAZING! In an absolutely beautiful home (can I move in please?), with the nicest owner and full time worker, plus a part time girl. I just felt comfortable, and it felt right. Everything we were looking for: some structure, but not too much, great backyard play area, healthy meals, and a good balance of kids. They have the kids plant a garden, do crafts, storytime, circle time, and other activities. I know this will be good for Sienna, and she loves other kids! So the opening has one child taking 2 days a week, so we hope to get the other 3. I think that will be a nice transistion, and Lolly can help the other two days (we are SO grateful Sienna will have time with her). I feel such relief, and we will find out tomorrow if we have it for sure. This will be very difficult, but I do feel more comfortable, and hope it works out.

I am a firm believer in having faith that whatever is meant to happen will happen. Even with struggles and hard times we have faced in our life, we know this is true. We are so lucky to have things work out the way they are!

Side story- At the place we loved, I was talking to the owner and there was a boy Sienna's age in a riding car. Sienna was standing next to him, and totally leaned into the car, trying to kiss him!! Whoa! She blows kisses to everyone these days, strangers included, and plants kisses on us all the time, but this caught me off guard completely! The owner remarked that it must be his car, or his shirt that said "Kiss Me, I'm Irish"! Then a few minutes later, she had a little fall holding onto a tricycle (welcome to "toddling") and started crying (not hurt, just startled). I picked her up, then she saw the boy and cheered up, blowing him kisses, went to the car and tried to kiss him AGAIN. It was too funny!

Walkin' on the Pier

A couple weekends ago, we went down to Avila Beach, and walked down the pier. It was a nice day, minus the cold wind! We ate at our favorite little taco shop/seafood joint- yummy shrimp burrito! I was bummed there were no seals out! And the Avila Farm (produce and farm animals) was closed. Still a fun day and I had some fun playing with Photoshop after...

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today my mom would be turning 57, in two days its the 4 year mark since she lost her battle with cancer. I really can't believe its been that long, that so much has happened without her. I am so sad that Sienna won't have her as a grandma, that she isn't here to see me as a mom. But Sienna will definitely know about her Grandma Vivi and hear stories and memories of what made my mom such an incredible person.

My mom was so very talented in the arts. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Dramatic Arts. Acting was her biggest passion, and she also studied set design and costume design. She was part of many community theater plays and it was so fun as a kid to sit in the audience and watch her on stage. She was great with many accents and would talk in the appropriate dialect for weeks around her shows. We had fun helping her with her lines, and hanging out back stage with her. She was a very proud member of the Screen Actors Guild, and loved everything about Cinema. Every year for the Academy Awards, we would make ice cream sundaes and root for our favorite films.

Drama wasn't her only passion and talent in the arts. She loved to sew, and claimed to have sewn her first shirt for herself at like 4 years old. She would sew us Halloween costumes and doll clothes. She also was fabulous at knitting, crocheting and quilting. Her next biggest passion was photography, and she converted our laundry room into a dark room. This was one art I actually was decent at. We would take day trips to take pictures, then develop them at home, it was so much fun. And she loved to dance, even in her 40's, she took tap dance for fun and would practice on our wood floor in the kitchen. The list doesn't end there, she was also great at painting, drawing, and for many years had a job framing pictures which she was amazing at. I just wish I had even a little bit of her artistic abilities!!

Her last job was working for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA (FIDM) as an international student advisor. She LOVED this job, as she loved fashion. Each year, the faculty would take a trip to a city known for fashion. My mom was so interested in different cultures and languages, loved to travel, take photos, and go to museums. In 2003 when I graduated from college, my mom's gift to me was for me to go with her on the trip, to take her husband's place. I am so grateful to have had this experience with her! Being a twin, I really hadn't had much individual time with my mom, so this was so special to me.

We decided to travel for a week before the work trip started, so we started in Paris, her favorite city. I hadn't been there yet, so it was perfect for her to show me around. We stayed in a hotel room the size of a walk-in closet right in the city. We saw all the sites, walked a ton, took photos, ate and drank cafe ole at little cafes, drank wine, she tried hard to speak french, and we had a day full of museums (Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Picasso Musuem and the Pompidou). The next stop was London, my favorite city, where she had never been. I studied a semester abroad in London 2 years prior, and was dying to go back and so proud to show my mom around. We stayed in a hotel right at Picadilly Circus, walked even more, took many more photos, saw the main sites, visited my school's campus, drank beers in pubs, and went to the Original Hard Rock Cafe (she loved going to Hard Rocks, and collected glasses). We also saw Richard III at the Globe Theatre (recreated as it was back in Shakespeare's Day) and Noises Off (a play that she had been in years prior).

The work trip was a week in Barcelona, somewhere neither of us had been. It was so amazing, I want to go back like now! There was a good size group of people, a fun young group that my mom joined. We were out late, drinking sangria and eating tapas each night. There was a big holiday, in which they had massive celebrations in the city center with free live concerts and dancing into the wee hours (dinner was around 10 pm and "discos" had no cover if you came in before 2 am). We took some more amazing pictures, both loved the Gaudi architecture, rode bikes along the beach, and soaked up the culture. Did I mention I want to retire there?

Today has been emotional thinking of my mom, especially now that I am a mom. I am remembering her my watching her favorite show, Fawlty Towers and drinking chardonnay. Happy Birthday Mom! I miss you so much.