2011

I was going to do a month by month  2011 review, but I have the worse memory ever, so I can't remember when things took place!  I know that this year has been out of control and filled with ups and downs.  At the beginning of 2011, I weaned Stella, got on medication and seriously dealt with postpartum depression.  I didn't talk about it much, but it was bad and I am so happy to be back to normal (my normal, which is still crazy). 

Stella said her first word,"momma", then "dadda' and then didn't say "momma" again for months.  She celebrated her first Valentine's day by joyfully yelling in a crowded sushi restaurant.  Stella and I also took mommy and me swim lessons at the YMCA.   In April, she took her first airplane ride up north to visit family after my Grandma Susan passed away. She was loud (happy loud), but right then we realized that or Australia trip would have to wait. 
In May, Stella turned 1 and I turned 31....yikes!  We had a big amazing party that probably cost too much :), but everyone had a blast, including our girl.  Over the summer Morgan and I decided that it was time for me to get my fibroids removed, so we got in touch with an amazing doctor at Cedars Sinai and got the process going. The day after the 4th of July, Stella got up and decided to fully walk.  She had been cruising before, but was apparently ready that day. A week later, I had my fibroids removed.  While all of this was going on Morgan and I somehow decided that it was time to buy a house!  We started looking in June, put offers in on 5 houses and in October we finally found the one!

In September Morgan started his MFA at Cal State LA aka, our lives got more insane than we could have ever imagined!

In October we signed the papers to our new home, painted the walls, pulled up the carpet and by November 16th we were moved in!  Our family was so insanely helpful with the entire process and I am not sure we could have gotten it all done without them.  We love our house and feel so incredibly lucky to have found it!

Stella celebrated her second Halloween by dressing up like Minnie, trick or treating and in general just acting miserable (we set our expectations low around here, so I wasnt' disappointed)! We had an amazing Thanksgiving with family and friends and geared up for Christmas.

In the middle of all the madness, my work has been crazy busy, Morgan has been working full time, going to school full time and I have been caring for Stella at home while I work!

Christmas time was nice, but Stella, Morgan and I all got the stomach Flu the day before Christmas Eve, we made the best of it.  We missed Christmas Eve with the family and I slept through Christmas Day.  Our family came to our door caroling on Christmas Eve which made me cry.  Morg and I both had the week after Christmas off, so we packed the week full of activities which included snowboarding, movies, relaxing and Stella's first trip to Disneyland!  It was an amazing day that I will never forget! 

We decided to have a big NYE party at our new house!  It was a great party,which included too much food, too much booze and amazing family and friends.  I feel so blessed! Now we gear up for 2012!  Here are a few goals I have for the upcoming year!

1. To get Stella into part-time daycare!
2. To be a better wife to Morgan.
3. To lose 15 lbs!
4. To take better care of myself.
5. Finish The Slater Sisters full length album!
6. To blog more!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy year and that 2012 brings amazing new ventures!

Halloween!

Stella was not a big fan of Halloween this year, or dressing up like Minnie Mouse.  Thankfully, I set my expectations really low, so I wasn't disappointed.  All I wanted was a picture of her in her costume (she didn't even have to smile and she didn't).  We got the picture and I was happy.  We went to a carnival the Saturday before Halloween at the elementary school she will end up going to and then, she and her cousins went trick or treating in our neighborhood on Halloween.  The kids had so much fun, except for Stella of course, but oh well.  I think next year will be the year!

Super Why, Minnie, Batman, Captain America :)

                                              

Sidewalk chalk mania!

My Aunt Alice gave me an entire tub of sidewalk chalk, so Stella and I have been going to town with it! She is starting to write , which is really cool. Before, she would just sit on top of my chalk drawings, but now she is creating! She is for sure going to be right handed, which I am excited about:) My brother and sister are both left handed, Morgan and his brother and his dad are all left handed as well, so I get a little righty on my side!

Misty Morning at the Park

It seems as though Stella has been in fast forward these days. She said "thank-you" yesterday, says "no" all the time now and yelled "stop!" when I told her to stop banging her head on her high chair. She is her own little lady and knows what she wants. I can tell that she will be a leader and not a follower and that makes me happy. This morning we went to the park and it was misty and cool and I just watched my little girl play. She is so brave. She climbs the stairs on her own, crosses the wobbly bridge on her own and goes down the slide on her own. Pretty soon she won't need me to help her with anything and I am ok with that. I want her to be independent, secure and happy.