the sisters I hope they are.

I truly hope with my whole heart that I give these girls a relationship as sisters that will be timeless and cherished forever. If anything and in everything that I could possibly teach them - I truly pray for this one relationship to be the strongest in their lives. 

I have hope for the strongest future for them because they have each other.

And I get to watch it happen.

"My question was the attention I gave to them,

and their response was their beauty."

roller coasters and all

I know, I know. It's been forever.

I've been busy. I guess? Kind of busy. Not too busy, not too sitting still. Just the right kind of busy.

Right this minute I have one child on top of me eating Pirate's Booty and the other child is taking pictures of my nostrils with my iPhone.

'tis the life.

My heart has been going through a roller coaster of emotions. We have close friends that just lost their sweet baby girl after three hours of her life. We have celebrated birthdays, we have seen Michael's niece win the state championship at St. Mary's high school, we have watched Lia in her very first dance class, we have had friends losing and getting jobs, we have celebrated births and joys with families and friends.

We have danced, we have cried, we have laughed, we have struggled, we have begged for the grace to make it. We somehow make it when it seems impossible.

It's a constant - the consistency of inconsistency. I'm grateful for incredible family and community that I can call and say "you've experienced this before, right?? I'll make it, right??"

I am beyond blessed. I've been given support beyond measure. I've been given a family that unconditionally listens to my complaints and gripes and tells me it's all good, it'll be okay, we will not only survive, we will be stronger for having the hard times, and the good times are oh so much sweeter.

I'm rambling. But life is sweet. I'm so filled with joy that far surpasses my look of happiness. I know His joy is in my soul, and that truth is the most golden truth I could have.

But I got to pick up my camera today and shoot some photos of my fun and amazing girls. Lia was cracking up out there. And her joy is beyond beautiful.

"I was here. I lived, I loved."

gazing out the window.

These two together make everything perfect. I can't begin to explain how grateful I am that they get to have each other through this beautiful and messy thing called life. 

I know they won't remember these moments, but I always will.

photo by lia

I love that on the days when I'm not reaching for my camera, and I'm seemingly filling my schedule with busy-ness, Lia forces me to sit and be still with my eyes totally focused on her because she's holding my huge camera and trying to snap photos. It's the cutest thing ever. And it's in those moments that I'm paying the most attention to her, completely and utterly zoned in to her every move.

I edited a few of the photos she snapped, and I kind of love how they turned out. I hope she turns into one hell of a photographer one day - if for nothing else, to capture the love of the world around her.

"we do not remember days. we remember moments."

life according to Siena

Sometimes life is like climbing in between some chairs. You have a destination in mind, and no matter how many people tell you that there is another (easier) way, you say to hell with them! and go your own way...

You plan your course of action...

You set about your way...

You get stuck and all confused...

Then some friends come over to assist you, encourage you, and love you.

You get lost in thought...

and thought...

and thought.

Until you've cleared the hardest hurdles...

Only to find your damn foot is stuck.

But alas, you survive, and you make it through, and life is always better with a good glass of cold milk.

Oh, and life is also always better with Lia around...

I love these girls.

siena, siena, siena.

Well, my little one turned one. Siena girl is now a ONE YEAR OLD. Insanity, I tell you! She brings me so much joy it is literally unbelievable. I don't understand what God did when He made her - she is all the goodness wrapped up in one adorable beautiful loving and sweet baby. It's really amazing. There is just something special.

Sadly, I worked on Siena's actual birthday. MAJOR sad. It was so horrible... so the day before, we tried to have some special family time (on "mama and dada's bed"), and tried to soak up all of our love together. Michael and I are some blessed parents to have these two wonderful girls.

Here's dad loving on his babies: 

So, her birthday was on a Thursday, and I also worked Friday. So Saturday and Sunday (and Monday and Tuesday) were ALL about Siena. We sang to her pretty much for two days straight, simply because Lia LOVES the happy birthday song. And Siena just looks up and smiles. Ugh.

On Saturday, Michael's family came over to love on our special girl. Here are ALL the cousins together - I know, I know, the two girls aren't even looking at the camera. But this is shot 25. I'm pretty sure everyone was restless, and seriously, I can't get either of those girls to ever look at me.

Then, of course, we moved on to cake. I got the cake from Whole Foods and it was super yummy... and Annette, Michael's mom did the honors or writing on the cake and decorating it with sprinkles. It was so cute.

"hold up, hold up, what's going on here?" and then there's Lia. That girl has a set of grills :D

We had such an awesome time having breakfast with Michael's family, and were so blessed to be able to do it again with my family the next day! It was so much fun. 

Grandpa had to take his honorary "mouth full of cake" photo with Siena since he did it with Lia. I have that photo on my old computer, so I have to find it and put the two together!

Lia with her most favorite Pablo! Yes, she looks like she's choking him but he ended up okay :)

mmmm gluten free cupcakes - my favorite! ;) 

I mean, isn't he the cutest?! 

I simply can't handle the love that Siena and Lia share - it's so surprising every time a special moment like this happens - not because it happens infrequently - but because I don't understand how they already love another person (who isn't their parent) as much as they do.

I've been trying to teach her how to pose :) Now, we just need to get her looking NEAR the camera.

Then on Tuesday we headed to the nearby splash pad for some good ole splashing time with friends. Siena is one lucky girl to have as many lovely people in her life.

As a recap - we love Siena. The End.

Head over to my current blog at A Mama Collective:

rollsandrollsandrollsandrollsandrolls...

Your rolls are more than I can handle. I love them so much... and your clothed-up bum is beyond. Our special moments while Sissy is sleeping are the greatest blessings for me.

Happy 9 months baby girl :)

laughter

have you ever heard a baby laugh this hard?

brings you to tears.

major major tears.

you, Siena girl, are precious.

best friends forever

We have been having such a great time together, we three. Lia will often come up to Siena and me and hug us, yelling "BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, YEAH!"

It is the sweetest thing ever. I truly live for the moments when these two interact with each other, whether it be Siena's face lighting up with Lia comes into the room, or Lia yelling "BABY SIENA!" when she spots her. Whenever I need to do my makeup or hair, I just set them on my bed and the two of them just hang out and play, well, more like Lia plays pillow fights with herself and Siena just stares at her and laughs.

It makes me wish I had a sister so badlly! It is so awesome to see their friendship making roots to really bloom and grow as they get older. Such a blessing to see where true, everlasting friendship begins.

crawling time

I keep trying to get my babe Siena to crawl. She despises it.

I'm really wanting to be patient with the girl, but really?! You're nine months and not even an attempt!!

I tend to be a pretty competitive person (I like to bet people constantly - and of course I win!), so it is slightly difficult for me to hear of and see other babes who are younger or the same age who are so far ahead of Siena in terms of movement.

However, I know that she is her own individual. She is a huge blessing for me in that she doesn't move! She has her own timing, she has her own way of doing things, she is special in so many ways.

She is teaching me patience. She is showing me to be at peace in your place in life. She is teaching me to just "be."

Thank you my love. Take your time.

nine months

You, my love, are so beautiful.
You still only say "da-da," much to the delight of your pop's ears.
You love when Lia walks (or shall I say STOMPS) into your room to wake you up in the morning. Your smile is the brightest.
You laugh when she laughs, and cry when she cries.
You give me high fives and move your little hand when you try to wave.
You love to stare at your dad when he comes home from work, and never stop staring.
You have HUGE crocodile tears which totally come out when I try to force you to crawl.
You aren't very patient... which is just like your mama.
You have the best posture I've ever seen.
You get so excited when I walk into the room, and if I don't scoop you up, you get very angry.
You melt in my arms.

You light up my life.

wordless wednesday

Truly, no words.