Off To See The World

I feel I need to explain that she isn't strapped in because we were parked at the time. 

My semester ended two weeks ago. As soon as I was done with my last final we headed off on a road trip! We've actually been on several road trips with Amelia, including going to Arkansas to see my youngest sister graduate when Amelia was just 3 months but this is the first trip we've taken since she has been mobile. Not only that but it was going to be at least one day of 9-10 hours either way. It turns out my child is a traveling champ! She didn't have any major meltdowns and slept most of the trip. When she wasn't sleeping she danced to the music on the radio, read books and "talked" with me. 

The reason we were taking this road trip was to spend time with my oldest friend, Laura, and her family. They have 3 kiddos, Dylan, Siena, and Thalia. It is quite the household. We are definitely not used to that much noise but it was a great time! We mostly just hung out at their house but did take a day trip to Estes Park. Amelia would have been happier if she could have walked around instead of riding in the stroller. Would I be a horrible mom if I got one of those backpack leashes? She just doesn't want to hold my hand and I am at a loss for a better way to keep a hold of her but let her have some independence. 

We were super sad to leave (I almost cried), but on the way home we had a bit of an adventure. We took our time and stopped at The Garden of the Gods. This detour was so worth it! The rock formations are beautiful. Amelia got to have a break from sitting in the car and best of all, it was free. We will definitely hit it up next time we go. I hope that we can make it an every other year or so trip because I miss the Hernandez family something fierce. 

Tomorrow I start my internship (I did find one!). I will be working at Holley's Window Fashions in College Station. I am really excited because I think I am really going to enjoy it. Well, actually I am determined to. Since I am not getting paid I am determined not to regret spending my time that way. I doubt it will be a problem. Mrs. Holley is a super nice lady that my grandmother actually used to work for a long time ago. Plus, I am excited to get a look at the business and manufacturing side of this industry. Wish me luck! 

Easter Egg Hunt

I have been really bad about blogging lately. It's just that we have so much going on and it won't be stopping until the fall (if even then!). I've missed it though and I really wanted to share Amelia's first Easter egg hunts. We celebrated Easter with my family Saturday. My mom made lunch with a little help from Amelia. My sister Vicki and my brother-in-law Nathan came to visit and after we were all fed, had a casual egg hunt. Then the next day we had Easter lunch with Curtis' family. We tried the egg hunt thing again and it went over about as well. She was a good sport about finding eggs but was content once she got two in her hands. It's nice to know she's not greedy. ;)

Am I really there?

It's almost summer! But it won't be summer like it was last year or well really any year ever before because I will be taking summer school and doing an internship (Lord willing, I have yet to find anyone who will let me work for them, did I mention for free?!?). I am already trying to saver ever minute I get to be home with Amelia but a couple of things have put things in perspective for me lately. One is the fact that the our life style will be changing a lot, very quickly. Once this semester ends I will no longer be a stay-at-home-mom, possibly ever again. I feel really blessed that we have been able to make this work while I have been in school but once I graduate I will be entering the work force. It makes me sad to think I will never have time like this with Amelia in the future but at the same time I really enjoy design and am excited for my future working experiences. I guess this is just all part of the modern mother's dilema. How to balance giving our child/ren everything and still finding a place for ourselves.

Anyways, this has made me reconsider how I spend my time with Amelia. It bothers me a little bit, how distracted we can be by our technology. I am not a technophobe, in fact I practically sleep with my smart phone but that is what I have been thinking about. Am I really there when I spend time with my daughter or am I on my laptop or cellphone? I have noticed that on the days that the computer stays off and the phone is charging upstairs Amelia and I get along better. She has less meltdowns and gets into less trouble, which makes me wonder if she isn't trying to get my attention on those other days. So, I want to make a resolution that when Amelia is awake that my laptop stays off and my phone is only to be answered if someone calls. No more distractions. I can never get this time back.

DVF loves GapKids

Preview Here

Have you heard about this? Diane von Furstenberg has teamed up with Gap Kids to create a collections for girls. I am so excited! I will admit I hardly shop at Gap, unless it's at the Outlet and the item is on clearance. I just don't have the budget for that right now, but I am seriously considering splurging on one of these dresses. I love the patterns and bright colors. What do you think? Are loving the collection too?

My 20 Rules For Raising a Daughter

I got the idea for this post from Pinterest. I have seen several different lists floating around and I thought it  important to make my own. I'm calling it a list of rules but really it's my goals for what I want to teach Amelia. It felt good to sit down and really think about the things I want to teach her. As a parent it can be easy to get caught up in the day to day and forget about the big picture. I hope to come back to this list often to get a little perspective.

1. Teach her to care for her appearance but remind her living and having fun are more important.


2. Let her dress herself, even if she wants to mix stripes with a floral print. Let her experiment with her self expression.


3. Let her make mistakes. It’s tempting to try to protect her from pain and disappointment but it is what we learn from the mistakes we make that make us who we are.


4. Be present. Don’t call watching TV together “family time.” Get down on her level and play. This teaches her she is valuable.


5. Teach her to be independent. Follow your dreams and passions. Let yourself be defined by more than just what others expect of you, but by your attributes. Lead by example.


6. Let her get messy. Splash in puddles, dance in the rain, make mud pies. The best memories are often the messiest.


7. Believe in her. It is in those moments of self doubt that she will need you to believe enough in her for the both of you.


8. Encourage her father to spend time with her, just the two of them. She needs that relationship to learn how to accept/expect love and respect from men.


9. Compliment her often. She needs those reassurances and she needs to know of your pride in her.


10. Let her pretend. Let her believe in fairy tales. She will have her whole life to live in reality. Let her find magic in the ordinary.


11. Read to her. Just like pretending, reading will open new worlds to her. Help her discover the wonder of words on a page coming to life. It’s a joy that will be with her for life, but starts with you.


12. Sing and Dance. Do it often. Show her the simple joy of jammin’ to your favorite song with the windows down and the wind in your hair. Help her compose the soundtrack of her life.


13. Teach her to love by loving her and passionately expressing it. Love her father, teach her to love a man like him, someone who lets her be herself and loves her for it.


14.Listen. Communicate. Talk, share secrets and dreams. Teach her that her point of view and opinion matter.


15. Be there to comfort her, whether she is sick or broken hearted. Let her lean on you. There is nothing like a mother’s care to make everything alright again.


16. Pray with her daily. Teach her how to talk with God. Show her how to have a relationship with Him by sharing yours.


17. Take time to enjoy the simple things. Every so often spend a day just enjoying time together. Bring her into bed with you one morning and lounge around until noon, cook together, laugh together, be silly. These are the moments she will hold onto and try to replicate with her children someday.


18. Teach her to try new things. Be there to catch her when she falls and help her back up while encouraging her to try again. Have adventures together!


19. Show her how to laugh at herself. Having a sense of humor can help make even the stickiest situations better.

20. Be her friend. This will teach her how to be a friend. Teach her how to recognize and hold onto a good friend and how to let the others go.


I am curious, what are your rules for raising daughters? Or sons?

Cheap Entertainment

Amelia's Nana is a teacher (previously pre-k.) So, she sees the learning/play potential in the most unlikely of items. I have been giving Amelia fruit/veggie pouches for months. Sometime after I start Nana suggested I hold onto the brightly color lids for future sorting items. This is in fact a brilliant idea! Amelia loves playing with them and they are big enough she can't swallow them. Plus when she gets a little older we can use it for color and numbers. Can you find all the red caps? How many blue caps do you have? etc... It's just too bad for me that she likes to throw them everywhere.

Happy Valentine's Day!