Tag: Random Moments

Melts My Heart

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I am so lucky to be Abby’s mommy. Today has been a less then perfect day, with Abby a little more cranky and needy then usual and I was probably a little less patient then usual. There were some tantrums and some tears and I thought I was about to pull my hair out. But then a moment comes along so precious (to me), that all the issues of the day seem to slip away.

I sat down on the couch to feed Ellie. Abby was distracted with a movie so it was perfect timing. As I sat there I closed my eyes and just relaxed as Ellie ate. It was finally quiet, aside from Elmo in the background rambling on about his blanky. Then it became too quiet so I quickly opened my eyes to figure out what Abby was up to. Instead of getting into something, there in the arm chair by the window sat Abby. In her lap was the baby doll that Grandma and Grandpa Taylor gave to her when Ellie was born. She had her baby wrapped up in one of Ellie’s receiving blankets, very meticulously I might add, and she was feeding her baby just like mommy was feeding Ellie. She had not noticed that I was watching her as she sat there, talking in whispers to her baby doll. She brushed the dolls head with her fingers just like I do as I feed Ellie and talk to her.

It was a moment that left me with joyous tears. Just when I think she isnt watching or listening to me at all (due to her defiance to pick up her toys or come with me to change her diaper), I watch her mimicing something that is so special to me. She melts my heart when she does things like this. I certainly feel lucky to be her mommy.

‘Tis The Season

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And so it begins my friends… Fire Season in Southern California. Luckily this one was out within an hour or so, but that was probably due to the fact that this area burned heavily 2 years ago. I remember it very well as I was home recovering from my C-Section with Abby and Simi Valley was dark with smoke, my Aunt, Uncle and Grandmother had to take a detour to come visit, Grandma Zoe had to evacuate from her house, and Shaun nearly got stuck in Box Canyon because it was so smokey.

Anyway, I digress. This fire was in the hills behind Porter Ranch at the top of Tampa Avenue. We spotted it on our way home from Thousand Oaks off of the 118 on Monday. As I watched, I think my only real concern was that it was close to a Gas Company facility. Now I am generally not a looky-loo, but Abby was having a grand old time watching the fire trucks wiz by. So, we headed over to the park near Grandma Zoe’s house and sure enough, all of the fire department helicopters were landing there to fill up for water drops. Its pretty amazing to watch. One would land, fire fighters would run a hose from a nearby hydrant to it, fill up and it would take off. The cool part is that it only took minutes to do. Abby just loved to watch them. I think should have cared less about what they were doing. All she knew was that they were there and it was pretty neat.



I am beginning to think that those of us living in Southern California are getting a little too used to fires. Within minutes of us parking to watch, the street was swarming with people, with their cameras poised, ready to take pictures. I can say I was one of them, although I did use my cell phone to snap a few photos. After living through so many of them in the last ten to fifteen years, I know I am in awe of them. I am always respectful of the fact that they can cause so much devastation and heartbreak for many. At the same time, its amazing to see what fire can do and how, all too often, we have no control over it. I have a respect for fire and a very healthy fear of it too. I think if everyone was that way, so many of the major brush fires of the last ten years could have been avoided.

Labor Day Weekend 2010

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Our Labor Day weekend was extremely mild. I think we were still trying to decompress and get back into a normal pattern. Rest and relaxation were the key words for the weekend. And we certainly did try to stick with it.

On Saturday we slept in and all snuggled in bed watching a movie. It was nice to just be there together as a family. Around 11 or so we decided to get up and out of the house… take a drive and get away. I think we really would have enjoyed taking Abby to the park again, but the 100 degree heat made that nearly impossible. Oh well, there are many other weekends.
We decided to drive out to Montrose, La Canada/Flintridge and then Pasadena. I got the chance to see where Shaun spent time as a kid with his dad and Fiona, before they moved into their house in Reseda. From there we drove through La Canada/Flintridge and into Pasadena admiring all of the beautiful homes along the way. Boy would I love to live in one of those homes! Maybe one day… although if I had that kind of money I would have a home in Santa Barbara or Montecito. When then visited with Grandpa and Nana for a bit and then headed home. Like I said, it was a quiet weekend.




On Sunday we decided to head up to Santa Barbara. We didn’t have much planned up there, but figured we could enjoy the drive up, stop by the zoo to renew our memberships and maybe hang out for a bit. However, before we headed up the coast I was able to stop by and visit my dear friend Allyson who had just given birth to her first baby… a handsome little boy!

Nathan Dean Vargas was born Saturday September 4th at 3:25am. He was 5 pounds 12 ounces and 18 inches long. Allyson did a great job and when I came to visit looked great! She was tired, as every mom who just went through labor would be, but there was definitely a glow to her. I could tell through the sleepiness that she was so excited and in love with her little boy. Andy was holding him when I came in and I could certainly tell he was a proud daddy. Such a cute family. Thank you Allyson for letting me come to visit! It meant so much!



The drive up to Santa Barbara after my visit with Allyson was eventful. It was Labor Day weekend and who could have a holiday weekend without traffic?! I knew there would be some, but good grief! Despite the frustration of traffic we made the best of it and enjoyed the drive up. When we finally made it up to Santa Barbara we headed straight for the zoo. We renewed our memberships and then spent the next hour and a half hitting up the favorite spots. When we asked Abby what she wanted to see, her immediate response was “Monkeys!” So we headed over to see the Gibbons first. From there we walked past the elephants, who can miss them, and over to see the Gorillas. Lucky for Abby one of them walked right past the glass! After the Gorillas we headed straight to the giraffes, Abby’s other favorite animal at the zoo. She loves watching them and really did not want to leave. That was made very clear by the near meltdown.





When we left we decided to go for a drive through Hope Ranch. This area was once owned by Fess Parker (Disney’s Davey Crockett) who just recently passed away. It now is a secluded area of homes that are beyond amazing… if only I was filthy rich. Its nice to look though. I had hoped to enjoy a cone of soft serve ice cream from a nearby Foster’s Freeze as we drove through, but it was gone. That place had been there since I was a kid and I am sure before that… and now its gone! I hate change… I really do.

We drove all over Santa Barbara and Montecito mostly to enjoy the scenery but also to get around traffic on our way home. Our drive home once we ran out of alternate routes was a mess. Traffic was a nightmare and Ellie was fussy beyond belief. She was great up until that point but then as we hit traffic and just wanted to get home, she turned up the volume. From Ventura to Westlake Village she screamed and howled. I tried to feed her but nothing. She just wanted to cry and cry and cry and… you get my point. By the time we got home we were exhausted and went to bed right away.

Because of the long ride home, Monday was completely uneventful. We literally did nothing all day. Had breakfast, slept, watched movies with Abby and Ellie, napped while the girls napped. Ran to Target to get some needed supplies and then got dinner on the way home.

Like I said… easy going holiday weekend =)

ABC’s

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Abby has learned her ABC song. Most of the time she gets it all except for TUV… for some reason that one seems a bit hard to remember. But, every now and then she gets it all. Day by day it sounds better and I can understand more of it. Here is a video of her singing for me…

Afternoon Movie Time A Complete Snooze

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Abby and I had afternoon movie time in our room while Ellie slept. Abby was tired and cranky and I am still trying to recover from the lack of sleep while at the hospital. So we snuggled up in our bed and watched Toy Story 2 together. As the movie ended I told Abby to stay right there while I took are of Ellie for a moment and then we would go lay down for a nap. By the time I turned around she was passed out, sleeping like an angel. I love afternoon movie time.


Best of Buds

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Abby and Jack have become the most unlikely best of friends. I always thought Jack would spend most of his time hiding from Abby, but once again he has surprised me. Abby likes to chase him and he willingly plays. She will also steal his toys and he will chase her to get them back. He also plays tug of war with her, but is so gentle. They have a love and respect for each other and I know that he would protect Abby from anything and anyone.

A Little Bit of Personality

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Abby is growing so fast and as each day goes by her personality grows even more. So far it looks as though Abby is happy as a total girly girl. Today as we were heading out to run some errands, she decided to bring her Tinker Bell purse that mommy gave her and her super chic sunglasses. I even got the red carpet pose from her. A star is born! The future is so bright that shades are a definite requirement!

Father’s Day 2010

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“Fatherhood is pretending the present
you love most is soap-on-a-rope.”
Bill Cosby

Shaun’s Father’s Day was calm and fairly quiet, just as I think he wanted it to be. We gave him the chance to sleep in until 11, then Abby and I came bouncing in with gifts, cards and Abby’s giggles. While I am sure he could have slept longer, Shaun seemed very happy to get up and snuggle in bed with his girls while he opened gifts. Abby and I got him plenty of books to sit and read together, including one that compared a daddy to the pet dog. The similarities were uncanny and really fit Shaun…. in a humorous way!


In a way I was given a gift on Father’s Day as well. I had the chance to stop and just watch Shaun and Abby together. I watched him sit on the floor and play with her as she tossed around blocks and tried to hit them with her pink hockey stick. Watch them snuggle on the couch as they watched a movie together and listen to their conversations. I always knew it, but in those moments I felt so blessed to have a husband and best friend like Shaun. He is an amazing husband but more importantly, he is an even more amazing father. While I am still nervous about what the future holds as we add another little girl to our family, I am excited and feel at ease knowing the love and devotion the both of us have for our children and just how much of it comes from the most important man in our lives.

“It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge.”
Phyllis Diller

Cute…. Even with a Fever

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As I posted a bit ago, Abby had been sick with a fever, cough and runny nose. Maybe its mean of me to take pictures of Abby while she is sick, but she looked so cute snuggled up in her little cozy spot on the couch. She’s cute no matter what and I just wanted to post pictures to show that!

Precious Moments in An Unlikely Situation

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Precious moments with our children do not discriminate. They come at the most unusual of times, even when you think there isn’t anything good that can possibly come from your current situation. One would ever think that a time of illness and a bit of worry could create a moment that, in the few fleeting minutes, could put a smile on your face, tears in your eyes and warmth and comfort in your heart.

I certainly never expected to find that in a 3 A.M. wake call with Abby burning up and that look in her eye that says it all… “Mommy, I feel miserable. Make it better.” Shaun and I did what we as parents have been taught and told to do to ease her discomfort and try to bring her fever down. After a bit of time we find ourselves out in the living room, Shaun and Abby laying on a blanket on the floor and me on the couch. We looked like a family determined to bring some peace and comfort to our sick little girl, but as I layed there I saw so much more then that. I saw our family, so busy with life and all that it throws our way, stopping for a moment to truly be with one another and support each other. Abby curled up in her daddy’s arms, dozing in and out of sleep, finding comfort with her parents. I was worried for her, as any parent is for a sick child, but I found peace in the moment that was unfolding before me. We were together and did what we could to relax until Abby was once again sound asleep. It was a moment that you certainly don’t plan for and definitely cannot see coming, but you wouldn’t trade it in for the world.

“The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family”
Thomas Jefferson

A Quiet Saturday with The Next American Idol

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OK, so she’s not the next American Idol nor do I think I want her to be, but our Saturday was relaxing and Abby provided some cute entertainment. That is until she was distracted by her regularly scheduled programming. I love when she sings her own little songs. She always puts a smile on my face and Daddy’s too. Not sure what she is singing this time, but it certainly is cute!

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Most of the day was spent just playing and spending some family time together. Abby and Shaun sat on the couch and played with her farm puzzle that we bought in Montana. I was a tad intrigued by her little foot. As she played and focused on what she was doing, she kept twisting and turning her little left foot, rubbing it against the edge of the puzzle from time to time as well. Some people stick out their tongue when they concentrate, others play with their hair or tap a pen… Abby makes circles and movements with her feet. So cute… Ah to be a kid!