Walking the Hood

When the girls wake up from their long afternoon naps it seems like there is this awkward amount of
time to fill before Ryan wakes up and we start our nightly routine of dancing in the dining room, dinner, baths, and bed. Some days there are errands to be ran, other times we visit Nana & Fafa, but on most afternoons we walk the hood. Giulietta independently pedals her trike sometimes too far, while I push the bouncing Presley slowly behind.

The California sun starts its descent leaving the sky filled with orange and pink beauty allowing the girls' golden hair to glisten and their bright blue eyes to twinkle with wonder and awe. The various palms sway in the warm breeze and we walk, giggle, observe, talk, and enjoy each others company. On these walks I spend a lot of time contently listening to my little ladies, thinking about how the world looks differently through their eyes, wondering if I will someday be able to watch enjoy these sweet moments with their own children.

The time I spend with just my little ladies on these afternoon walks seem to be by far some of my favorites. It's just me, them, and this amazing world that I am teaching them to soak the most out of.

Growing Pains

Giulietta is growing. And, I know this sentence is obvious, redundant, and probably not necessary. However, it explains so much about her at this very moment.

Being three is hard, and being a Momma of a three year old is even harder. You see...there are battles, fits of screaming, tears streaming down faces (both hers and mine), consequences for actions, and testing of bounds. Some days are harder then others, but this is life as we know it and I wouldn't change it for the world.

When I'm telling my rendition of our day which often include G's behaviors, my mom kindly reminds me "That it is her job", and she is so right. It is Giulietta's job to be three, to learn who she is without me stifling her, to find her place in this world with our guidance, to ultimately grow inside and out. And, with each growing pain endured, my little lady and I both learn more about who we each are, who we each strive to be, where we want this path of life to take us.

I can proudly say that my sweet girl is developing the ability to express her true emotions, whether or not they are dramatized that is beside the point. Today she melted my heart into a million pieces when she randomly looked at me in the mirror with a mouth full of toothpaste and proudly exclaimed, "You're the best Mommy in the world." It caught me off guard, in a good way, and left me questioning her "I am? Really? Why do you say that?" Her only response..."Because I love you!" As tears stream down my face with each press of a key, I realize that my first born is growing, needing me less at times, wanting me more at others, expressing how she feels in the here and now.

I know this isn't the first time, nor the last that she will say these words to me. And, I'm quite aware that one day she will sadly be screaming the opposite. What I can dream is that she forever understand how much I love her!

Stop to Smell the Flowers

The saying "Stop to Smell the Roses," is a favorite of mine that I seem to hardly ever embrace. I'm one of those who likes to be on the go, who likes to have a plan and action, who feels at a loss and ultimately bored when staying shut in. Therefore, when I fill out my occupation I no longer write "stay at home mom," instead the blank gets filled with "always on the go mom." The fact of the matter is that I just can't keep my feet planted, they always want to run. I'm not sure why I'm this way, or what it is about me, but I just want my girls to experience everything, to be out in the world and soak up all it has to offer, to embrace this beautiful place because sadly we have so little time here and there is really so much to enjoy.

When I'm old and grey, I want my girls to remember the Mom I was when they were kidlets. The Mom who taught them how to smile and belly laugh, how to drink up the world around them, how to live life to the fullest, how to dance around the dining room singing at the top of their lungs, how to roll down the car windows and feel the warm sun glisten on their faces while their hair blows across their face, how to stop and smell the roses. The Mom I am right now.

So, on Saturday after a fun couple of hours at Legoland we took a spur of the moment trip at the Carlsbad flower field to do just that. We stopped, took two very tired and hungry girls to smell some very beautiful flowers.

I'm quite sure this will be an annual tradition of the Morad's for as long as our girls will go with us. Watching them stroll along the rows and rows of planted flowers, look in awe at the bright colors and beauty, and feeling them tug my hand so they could stop to smell one flower after another after another was by far one of my favorite moments thus far. If my heart could smile, it would be sporting a big grin for sure!

One Lego Block At a Time

A year ago, Ryan's dad kindly took us on a mini vacation down to Carlsbad and purchased us Legoland passes. At the time Presley was too young to enjoy anything but the bright colors, while Giulietta tried her best to be 3 so that we could take her on rides when in fact she was only 2. We stayed in a pretty hotel that overlooked the Carlsbad flowers, and enjoyed time as a family. As great as
it was, the kids were younger, I was still breastfeeding Miss P, and the dynamics are always different when an extra adult is added into the mix.

Since then, we have been to Legoland a handful of times with other friends and family. However, it wasn't until this past weekend, in which we took a day trip down south with just the four of us that I saw the excitement and enthusiasm in their hearts. With each ride, smile, tiny hand clap, and squeal I saw the girls adding to their memorable life experiences one lego block at a time.

Weekly Round-Up

Swim lessons, nightly family walks, driving cars, park time with Presley, mornings at Joann's, lounging with Fafa, new shoes, easter parties, visiting Kaka as the bunny, trip to Legoland & the Carlsbad flowers, and little snuggles from Baby Archer = ONE PERFECT WEEK!

Watching the Moon Rise

Tonight we walked as a family. It felt good...great to be honest. Great to just get out, great to just be the four of us, great to watch the moon rise!

None of us really said much. We walked, Ryan picked the girls flowers which they tried to put behind their ears,  and we simply enjoyed each others company!

The walk tonight made me realize that we don't do this enough. Sure we go, we experience, we spend time together, but none of it is as easy or simply or wonderful as our walk tonight!