A little bit of camping.

We took a little time away for a 1-night quickie camping trip last week. It was Mila's 2nd-ever time camping and what a difference a year makes. Last time, still gaining proficiency walking. This time, what walking?...my running, climbing, stuff-yo-face eating, BABY-IN-MIYA-BEYEE-TOO fun girl. We went to nearby Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Lagunitas. "You got the honeymoon site!" exclaimed the ranger at check-in; we laughed because with one child in the backseat and another on the way we've clearly already done some happy honeymooning. But he was right. We were so proud of our site number 11, seemingly just a fire pit and lockbox when you pulled up to it, but then take one step further and you're in a little redwood clearing that belongs to only you. Add to that a creek, a tin foil dinner, a s'mores meltdown, one filthy Baa, one filthier Elmo, and a tent outfitted with two air mattresses so that Wugs is now convinced she's going to be spending the night in a bounce house.

I call that successful camping. It's heartwarming to see it unfold--I'm a camping girl at heart. It's always been one of my favorite memories, both as a child and in adulthood, and I'm hoping to raise a likeminded girl.

Our fourth.

This one was even better than last year. Am I going to say that every year until my babies grow up? 

It was better than the 4th when I was 22 years old and went swimming in the Washington Monument's reflecting pool right before the fireworks.

Better than the 4th when Steve and I, newlyweds, were driving home from a road trip to Montreal and pulled over the side of the highway somewhere in upstate New York to watch fireworks light up the sky.

Mila's first fireworks. We had been pumping her up all day, showing her fireworks youtube videos and explaining that they would be loud but fun. By the time 9 pm rolled around she was understandably excited for this whole fireworks business (and wide awake, thanks to a well-orchestrated late nap bwahahahahaha). She was enthralled: UP HIGH....HOT....PWETTY....TASTE 'EM....TOUCH 'EM....there may or may not be a video posting of her wide-eyed crazy innocent delight. We'll see how well lit it is. But we've got it and it's proof for Wugs to see someday: her first fireworks. And my most magical one yet.

Other fourths: strawberry cupcakes, my patriotic stripey fashionista, Mila's glow bath (or as she refers to it, SUH-PRISE BATH) which is becoming a 4th tradition, watermelon smoothies, Wugs and Papa dressing up Baa and Elmo all patriotic like, and blueberry popsicles.

Mila + Sparklers

In honor of Independence Day, I wanted to share a little something that happened over a month ago when we were in Arizona. Steve's Dad had sweetly and thoughtfully bought sparklers ahead of time and thought that Mila would enjoy seeing them all lit up one night before bed. And so they put on a sparkler show for her in the backyard and well, she was tickled impressed. Looking at these, I think it's my favorite memory from that weekend.

Sorry about the blurry pictures. Our tripod did not make the baggage cut on that trip.
Tomorrow I'll show our 4th pictures from today. Happy Independence Day!

This one's for the father of my children.

Father's Day was quiet around here. Steve was up at five and out of the house by six, the usual when he has to work. He very sweetly wore the SuperPapa emblem and cape I set out for him under his scrubs...and then he was gone for the day, leaving us to our own devices. I was a little sad for him --that he couldn't celebrate his day the way he would have liked, but that's any healthcare profession. It's not a Monday-to-Friday job and that's both a great and a not-so-great thing.

Happily, though, a few days later he got to call the shots on his re-do Papa's Day. Breakfast in bed (Wugs was beside herself with excitement), time alone, time with his girls, walking to an Italian restaurant near our apartment for dinner. As Mila often says...GOOD DAAAAY.

I say this all the time to myself, but not enough around here. It is such a privilege getting to watch Steve be a Papa to our girl, and I can't wait to watch the love multiply in just a few months. He is patient, kind, funny, loving, firm when he needs to be, crazy silly when he needs to be. Perfect for her. Perfect for us. Watching him makes me be a better parent. The best decision I ever made was when I said yes* to a life with this man.

Here's a tiny little thank you video to the father of my children. And enjoy the lil' video snippets where I'm trying to coach Mila to say Happy Papa's Day! Is her voice not the sweetest, most singsongy melodic straight-from-an-angel-angelic sounding? I think so, too.
p.s. My favorite part is at the 1:05 mark, where Mila thinks I'm taking her picture and shouts out TEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASE! (cheese) ;)

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
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* Which, coincidentally, was nine years ago today! Happy engagement day to us crazy kids.

These last couple weeks.

We are very slowly trying to feel our way back to some kind of routine  again. Hawaii threw us for quite a loop (a good one), and I swear I  fought hard against getting back into the swing of things. We  don't really have any kind of hard and fast schedule around here  anyways, what with Steve working different days each week, but for Mila I  try to keep a nice rhythm that works for us. Anyhow, here are the last couple weeks, our segue into summer, according mostly to my instagram  account (@taniaweibel).

1. Wildflower spotting  2. Our close Knuffle Bunny-like abandonment of Baa at the beach. 3. In Mila's heaven there is a carousel. 4. Mila watching the roller coaster riders at Train Town. 5. Such joy at playing in the fountain. We get in. Every time. 6. I'm conducting a personal panzanella salad-off this summer. 7. Mila and Mama body-painting afternoon. 8. More panzanella, on heavy rotation around here. 9-12. Strawberry picking! 13. There are also trains in Mila's heaven. 14. Feeding goats. 15. Carousel. 16-17. Strawberries everywhere. 18. Wugs' 1st ferris wheel ride! She loved it. 19. Blimp spotting.

Me, in Hawaii

Well, here goes.
I'm elated to say there were four of us relaxing on Kauai this past week!
I'm sixteen weeks pregnant and will have a lot to be thankful for come Thanksgiving.

Actually, I already do. xo