Em 7.0

Seven years ago today, our lives changed forever. 

In the best {and hardest} way possible: we became Parents.

Our biggest little, Emma turned seven years old at 12:08am this morning!

I cannot believe how incredibly FAST the years have flown by!

Before she was born, people would tell me that time would go by fast, and to cherish every moment because they are so fleeting. And oh yes, how they have been!

 

Just born

 

Sitting here thinking, I can remember every moment:

When I found out I was pregnant, the first time we saw her on an ultrasound, when we found out she was a girl, the moment she was born. 

I remember rocking her to sleep, singing her lullabies, and those first late nights that we never thought we would make it through. But we did! 

I remember how hard it was to go back to work and leave her behind, and I remember my first Mother's Day and how precious it was to me. 

I remember her first steps and her first words.

I remember her first birthday, and every birthday since. 

I remember when she started preschool.

I remember when she graduated Pre-K, and started Kindergarten. 

I remember the magic in her eyes when we took her to Disneyland.

And I remember when she became a Big Sister. 

One month old

First birthday

2 years old

First day of preschool - 3 years old

Pre-K - 4 years old

Kindergarten - 5 years

1st grade - 6 years

I remember every. single. moment. 

The good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful!

And let me tell you, she really is Beautiful. Inside and out. 

I know that I am biased, but it is undeniable. 

While she may have her moments, as does every child, the good far outweighs the bad.

 

I can only imagine how much of a mess I will be when she reaches all her older milestones, if I am this gushy about her turning seven!

 

 

This is my HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my forever-baby girl! 

Mommy & Daddy love you to the Moon and Back, Forever & Ever!

XoXo

 

 

Earliest Childhood Memory...

Day four of the blog challenge is entitled 'My Earliest Childhood Memory'.

Honestly, this is tough for me...I have a ton of childhood memories.  Who doesn't?!

But which one is the earliest? 

Well, I remember a lot of stuff from elementary school, like my teachers and class mates. And early Christmases where my Papa would dress up as Santa Claus, and I would sit on his lap and open presents. 

I remember playing outside and building forts in the bushes! I would climb trees, ride my bike everywhere, and take my helmet off as soon as I went around the corner because I didn't think it was "cool" - SO NOT COOL! I also remember watching Saturday Morning cartoons, because they were such a treat! I remember the fashions and the trends, the most popular music, and walking to school by myself! My how times have changed!

I remember walking around my grandparents neighborhood knocking door-to-door to see if they had kids I could play with, and sure enough! I made quite a few memorable friends! My absolute oldest, and one of my dearest friends I met this way! There were some boys across the street who I became quick friends with, and a funny story: they convinced me to sell jolly rancher candies at school to make a profit...I totally did! HA!

I remember making up games with friends, and thinking that the future was so far away I that I never thought it would actually come...little did I know!

Those were some of the best days...playing with the neighborhood kids, sleeping over, being downright silly. I miss that. Being a kid. There was no stress. Just laughter, fun and friends! Ah, the good ol' days...

I also remember getting my first pet. A cat my Mom named Quest, because it was apparently a quest to find her, but whom I had name simply: Kitty. Which turned into Kitty-Witty. She was The. Best. Cat. Ever! No joke! She lived for 15 long years, and passed away when I was in high school.

I remember when each of my cousins were born, since I am the oldest of the grandchildren.

I remember spending a lot of summers at our families cabin, which was always one of my favorite places! 

Over all, like I said, there are a lot of memories! However, I really don't think that I could choose just one to ever write about!

Identity Theft

We all know how much we love our kiddos. We love them more than we love ourselves {well, most of us}. But I am going to be brutally honest here: having children has somewhat stolen my own identity from myself.

For the past six years, my life has been completed and utterly devoted to my daughter. And now that has become plural. I love them more than anything! But there are times when I will look back and wish that the younger, carefree version of Me could emerge! 

2006

 Now, that is not to say that I enjoyed that version of myself better, it is just to say that those were less stressful times. The days that for me, were filled with what I believe is a permanent fixture of myself: Music.

Me back then, consisted of: good friends, dive bars, live music, and a lot of festivals! And I would be lying to myself if I said that I do not miss some of that. Because I do! 

However, the life I lead now is the path that I was destined to travel. I truly believe that, and would not change any of it! But who doesn't, from time to time, wish they could take a breather to do what they enjoy the most. Guilt free!! 

Because back then, it was guilt free! There were no children to feed. Or tuck in, or read to. In fact, me just writing this already has me feeling guilty for just thinking these thoughts! Let alone admitting them publicly! And why is that? Is it just me?!

Back to the subject at hand: Now this is not to say that I do not get to occasionally partake in some good ol' fun! And granted, the definition of "fun" varies from person to person. But for me, myself and I, fun consists of the following: live music, concerts, music festivals, and yes...the occasional dive bar {from time to time}! As cheesy as this may sound to some, when I am in the moment, I become completely  engrossed in every note, and every lyric, of the music that I am listening to. And in that moment, I am not just listening, but I know that I am meant to be there. In that exact moment in time, to soak it all up. Every last second of auditory excellence!! 

2010...Best. Concert. Ever.

See what I mean? I miss it! Not being able to make my own money to spend on a whim when I see one of my favorite bands or artists are coming into town! Because that is what I used to do. I used to live it up, and now I don't. Instead, I throw myself into my days by being completely submerged into all things Kindergarten. All things baby.

So how do I treat myself these days {well, really the past six years}? Well...I BUY my music, and I really listen to it. I am a total lyric-listener. I really listen to what is being said. The story that is being told. And yes, I play the air drum in my car, and I sing out loud!! And nope, I am not ashamed, and I do not hide it! 

And when I say I BUY my music, I mean it. I do not pirate it, and I do not steal it. Granted, I might burn a CD from someone on occasion, but I always purchase music. And why you might ask? Well, because I am truly a believer that music is an Art, and I want to do everything in my power to support the Artists that I love. I believe in them and their art form, and I want to support it. So yes, I purchase every tune, and I proud to admit it!

To sum this all up: while I couldn't imagine my life without my children, and I would not change a thing, I miss a few certain aspects of my old Self. Which in a way, feels as if a minor case of Identity Theft has indeed taken place. 

These words may be a little..."extreme". But if the shoe fits and all that...The best part of my absolute LOVE for all things music, is that I have already passed it on to Emma! And now I am "working" on Haylee! Not that it was intentional, but it happened, and I couldn't be more Proud of my child's admiration for the Artistry of Music! If I do not do anything else right in this whole parenting gig, I will at least know that I did this one thing right!

*ROCK ON*