8 month update

growing baby: 20 pounds.. and she is in 12 month clothes... very healthy! 
hobbies:  
-Standing! It's her favorite thing to do right now.  She can pull herself up from sitting down and it's totally crazy.  I thought that crawling happened first?  Hopefully that comes, but as of now being on your tummy is not ok with you!
- Quinne loves to eat.  You have tried all fruits and veggies(minus the ones you can't have yet) and she loves them.  And that makes me one happy mama. 
- sleep is something that she finally wants to do!  Even naps are a regular thing these days.  So very wonderful!  She goes to bed around seven and wakes up in the early sixes.  That's early for me, but I'll take it over waking up every two to three hours!  
- finding her voice.  Yelling and babbling can be heard all throughout the house.  It's the best noise.  She can say ba-ba and ma-ma and da-da.  Pretty exciting!!
- outside is still her prefered place to be.  
- she is aware of her surroundings and starting to cling to me in public, even when people come over to the house.  I have to admit I love when she wants me to hold her.  It's a sweet sweet thing.  


This is a really great age.  Friends told me that around eight months it gets to be really fun, and they weren't lyin'!  I love spending time with her.  She is my favorite little lady.  I love getting her out of her crib in the morning and kissing her to no end.  Taking her on my errands and having someone to talk to in Trader Joes instead of talking to myself and having people look at me funny.  In the evenings feeding her and rocking her into sweet dreams.  And every moment we get to be together makes me appreciate this life I get to live.  I really do say that a lot, but it's true and I don't want to take a single day for granted.  


Sweet baby Quinne you are growing up fast and it makes me so excited and scared at the same time.  You are just perfect and I love you to pieces.  


Love, 
your mama

work and picnics

shirt:F21//skirt:Free People//heels:anthropologie 

Ahh this weekend has been quite wonderful.  There's something about this nice June weather that makes us all a bit cheerier.  And I like it!  Saturday I was off to work on a wedding party that happened to be just down the street from our house.  So lucky me got a little extra time to get ready.  That's why my hair is straight.  I actually washed it and blew it out.  Pretty wild of me!  The wedding party was young.  I mean 19 to 22 year olds young.  It was funny listening to the things that early twenty year olds talk about.  Like parties the frat house threw the last weekend of school, and if it would be weird if they kept tissues in their cleavage incase they start crying.  It was silly and I totally got in on their conversations like I'm apart of the group.  But when Amy Grants "Baby, Baby" came on and they had never heard of her or the song I felt old and weird.  Who doesn't know that song?? Oh well, I'm also not in college anymore and therefor not really hip.  

Sunday came along and greeted us with more sunshine and a free afternoon to fill with fun.  While Quinne napped I planted some succulents in pots that have been empty for about seven months now.  Just empty sitting on window sills and all over the backyard like some abstract 'art'.  And I only plant succulents because they seem to be indestructible.  Which is good because I have the opposite of a green thumb.  And on the color wheel that's red.  So it's safe to say I have a red thumb.  

When Quinne woke we headed out for a family picnic in Shell Beach.  With a quick stop at De Palo and Sons we picked up sandwiches, and a delicious brownie.  Pure perfection.  It was so peaceful to sit in the sun and take in the beautiful landscape.  I was reminded of the beauty that we are surrounded by everyday and could not be more thankful.  

How amazing are Quinnes thighs?  I can't get enough of her! 

Happy Weekend!

Love, 

Noelle

date night: modified

I miss date nights.  I really really miss them.  David and I used to go out a lot pre-baby.  Even when I was pregnant we went out and enjoyed each others company surrounded by good food and strangers.  Needless to say, you can't go out that often with a baby.  And when you are a schedule nut, like myself, going out to dinner is not an option.  So, we have learned to improvise.  And bring date night to our home.

I was really sad about never spending time alone with David in the early months of Quinnes life.  Postpartum had a lot to do with my sadness, and the huge change of doing everything I'm used to doing differently.  I've learned over these past eight months that you have to be willing to change or else life is going to be a sad long adventure.  And that is not what I want out of this life I've been given.  

A dear friend of mine who has two kids told me that we need to laugh together again.  That we need to make time to spend together.  She has been in my shoes more than once and I trusted her advice.  So we went to our favorite little market in Shell Beach that has delicious salads and soups, and an amazing wine selection.  Once our little lady was fast asleep we set out to have an in home date.  And it was really fun!  I even put on some lipstick.  Crazy!  We talked about work and summer plans and everything that has been on our minds.  It was so refreshing.  I had so many things I wanted to talk about I hadn't even realized it until I started going!  And I'm sure the wine helped.  

It was a perfect night.  We spent much needed time together.  I instantly felt happier and closer to David from one little dinner date.  It is now a permanent fixture in our weekly routine.  Hooray! 

Happy Thursday

Love,

Noelle

celebration

Oh my what a weekend indeed.  One of my dearest friends Taryn turned thirty(well, actually today!) over the weekend, and what better way to celebrate than surprise her with a weekend to San Francisco!  For months we've been tricking her into believing that we were going to Santa Barbara, which would've been great, but two very important people would have missed out, so we secretly planned it to be where we could all be together.  I love being sneaky.  But was afraid I would say the wrong thing on so many occasions I basically ignored her the week leading up to the trip.  Sad.  But the surprise was so worth it!! She freaked out when we handed her the coffee cup that had San Francisco written on it and started heading North on the 101.  Too much fun!  The weekend was a serious good time.  I love being reminded of the good, kind and loving friends I have.  It's such a blessing and I can only hope that Quinne ends up with lasting friendships.

It was a perfect weekend but I have to admit I was so happy to be back at home in my pjs with husband and baby.  Back when we started planning the trip I had zero reservations of leaving Quinne overnight.  I was so excited to go and shop, dance, drink and be with friends.  Then the week before I started getting nervous.  Panic-y nervous.  Whenever I thought about leaving the baby girl I would cry.  David was so encouraging, reminding me that he was capable of taking care of her, and my mom was planning on being there to help.  And deep down I knew that if I backed out I would regret it instantly.  So fears aside I kissed her goodbye Saturday morning and climbed into the car headed for San Francisco, breast pump at my side.

It was comforting knowing that all my friends were leaving their kids at home too and everything would be ok.  My fears and guilt and nerves slowly eased away as the morning went by.  I'm so very happy that I was apart of Taryns birthday celebration.   It's such a great feeling to laugh so hard your stomach hurts.  To eat candy and fried foods and not feel bad about it.  Oh and cheers-ing to yummy champagne!  I have only wonderful memories that are going to last me a life time.

And for that I could not be happier.

Love, 

Noelle

another one bites the dust

I can't believe another month has slipped through my fingertips.  Painted fingertips mind you.  May has been so good to us and I'm sad to say goodbye so soon.
We have been blessed with almost two weeks of sleep and I'm beside myself with happiness.  I had forgotten what it feels like to wake up and not want to sob from being so tired and frustrated.  Never take for granted sleep my friends!  It's a wonderful thing.
And my sweet sweet Quinne where do I begin.  This week I found myself falling more and more in love with you by the minute.  I miss you terribly when I have to leave for work and pack my bags up so fast to rush home and love on you.  Lately I have really been thinking about staying home with you.  Nothing has been discussed I just think about it more and more these days.  I don't want to miss a single moment with you.  If you take your first step without me I could possibly jump off a cliff.  Just thinking of you doing things without me by your side makes me hurt deep down in my heart.  Can I please go to college with you?  I'm serious.


So thank you May for being so nice and tell your buddy June to follow in your footsteps.  Im excited to see what mysteries are in store for us!  

Happy June my dear friends!

Love, 

Noelle

pearly whites

If it weren't for teething I would have to say that life is perfect right now.  I know that's quite a statement but we have been through a lot in the last seven months so I think I'm allowed a little bragging rights.  It'll probably come around and bite me in the arse, but I'll deal with that later...

Teething is the worst!  It's so sad and miserable for Quinne I feel awful for her.  How do you tell your almost eight month old that everyone goes through this and you will survive?  I'm having a hard time getting through to her, but hopefully these little whites will break soon.  I'm having a hard time telling if they are really almost there.  Her gums always have a hint of white to them and in my mind baby gums always seem to be swollen.  She is chewing on everything, as you can see, and I'm taking that as an indicator that somethings happening under those gums.  I just want her to feel better.

In case you are going through this or will be soon I found that these work really well.  Quinne loves to munch on ice that I have broken up for her and frozen fruit.  Mangos especially!  But I'm warning you that bananas make a super big mess and turn the mesh into a hideous black disaster.  You've been warned.    

no socks for baby

our favorite Zorros breakfast

i will be bald in no time

success!!!!

warm backyard days

Santa Barbara with grandma and auntie

Isn't it funny how a week can tiptoe and speed race by all at the same time?  I feel like this week was one of those.  I was pooped out most evenings and didn't want to do anything but drink tea and read.  Hopefully this next week I get more energy.  Quinne is becoming such a little lady.  I love spending time with her.  I can't kiss her chubby face enough!  I hope everyone is enjoying a fun Memorial Day weekend!  

Love, 

Noelle