My Baby Girl

I just can NOT believe that my tiny baby is turning five today. Five seems big.


School, BFFs, a preferred hair style. I am not the mother of a baby anymore and I am more than a little sad. If the first five went this quickly how on earth will I keep up with the next 15?




I have thought of a million things I want to say about her or to her on this milestone, but decided that will be between her and me. Photos tell a story pretty well on their own. Happy 5th Birthday to my baby girl. You are so worth celebrating.



One - All big blue eyes and the occasional smile.

Two - still a little shy, but discovering her love for sugar and other people celebrating her.


Three -a trip to Sea World and Mama's sunglasses to protect her from the glare. A little more of the kooky personality that we're in for.

Four - in Hawaii with her Grandma & Grandpa. A little sunburned, a little sweaty - it's just so her.

Five - all dressed up with somewhere to go. This year is going to be a blast!

Happy 5th Birthday, Sophia Grace ~ xoxo

Flashback Friday - June 2008

Look who turned 4 in Hawaii?


At exactly this time last summer I was finishing a program in Hawaii and Ed, my babies and his parents joined me for vacation. We had a fantastic time together and it will long be a special memory for all of us.

Pia didn’t get a birthday party last year, but I personally think she prefers Hawaii. I’m sure we all do! There was no shortage of love and gifts waiting for her when we got home. Her favorite perhaps was the makeup from Uncle David and Aunt Annie.

Ohhhh myyyy . . .

We have her 5th birthday celebration on the calendar tomorrow. I just don’t know where the time’s gone.

I heart busy boys

I am truly, madly and deeply in love with my son. I walked to the parking garage from the outfield today and after a huge hug and toothless grin from him I literally thought my heart would burst out of my chest. I know that it’s motherly bias, but I think Max Montoya is the kindest, funniest, most charming, most adorable little boy I’ve ever met. We’ve had a rocky road lately, but in hindsight I believe that it might just be because the poor guy is overbooked and exhausted. Here’s a brief summary of his last eight days ~

Field trip to Aquarium of the Pacific ~ First Grade Luau ~ Pia’s Preschool Graduation and 9 PM family dinner (ooops!) ~ Field Day ~ play date at the beach ~ last day of school and celebratory mass complete with promotion to the second grade!!! ~ two pool days in the 100+ degree heat of the desert ~Father’s Day baseball game at the beach ~ four full days of baseball camp ~ a birthday party

Yeah, maybe he is tired and not just turning into a cranky teenager after all : )

Admittedly, Pia’s been getting lots of "press" lately because it’s her birthday month and I truly cannot believe that it’s been 5 years since she literally came screaming into our lives, but don't worry about Max. He is nowhere near lost in the shuffle. We’re with him in the bleachers, on the court and on our knees every night trying to finish a prayer before he can’t keep his eyes open anymore. He is 100% an athlete (just ask him) and 100% my little man until he won’t let me be.

I love you, Punkie. Enjoy your day off tomorrow.

Happy 6th Birthday, Emma Elizabeth Gray!

I was there on the day you were born and just can't even believe that we're celebrating 6 years of wild and crazy YOU!

Our family loves your crooked little grin, your sweet laugh and spending time with you when we get the chance. Max and Peeps are excited for your party tonight and we can't wait to see you. Thank you for being our friend, we love you.

Fifteen years and counting . . .

Thursday, June 23, 1994 - I finished my summer school geometry class and drove to Orlando to work for Disney. The rest of my life started that day.

I'd never met anyone who knew how to surf. He had a gorgeous tan with a giant smile. He was a good listener, a great dancer, and wildly funny. We spent the entire night talking on the roof of The Peabody Hotel. I cried uncontrollably when I drove away the next day. He promised to call me when he got back to California. He did.

We didn’t have cell phones or steady jobs – our phone bills were more like car payments. We talked for hours on the phone and went to the post office often to mail cards and photos to each other. I thought about him all day every day. I was head over heels. That was 15 years ago.

We have the same name now, multiple email accounts, cell phones, blogs, and monogrammed stationary with the return address of the home we own together. I somehow still can’t find enough words to tell him how he lights me up. I am more in love now than ever before and am grateful to have learned not to take one moment for granted.

Happy Anniversary, E. Fifteen years went too fast. The next fifteen couldn’t possibly be better, but I am looking forward to whatever the future holds for us.

My kids always crack me up. Always. I used to do a better job of remembering how funny they are. I need to get back on track. Here is the best of the last couple of days.

PIA - "Mom, my boo boo is itching."

MOM - "Well, that's because it's healing."

PIA - "What does hilling mean?"

MOM - "That means that it's getting better and your body is helping to make it well."

PIA - "How do you know that? When did you learn it?"

These are always my least favorite questions because I do a really lousy job of articulating life experience and stuff I just know from who knows where.

MOM - "I dunno, Peeps. Maybe I learned it in college."

PIA - "Ohhhhhh, you took a boo boo class. That's good for you, Mom."
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MOM - "Max, we're leaving in five minutes. Why are you dressed, but your face is so dirty?"

MAX - "Because I am an athlete!"

The very best part of that whole exchange was the tone of Max's voice and how chagrined he was that I didn't recognize exactly WHY he had such a dirty face!!

I am so sad to be turning the corner from "Mommy on a Pedestal" to "Clueless Lady that Drives me Around", but SO grateful to see my baby figuring out who he thinks he is and wants to be. The good news is that with Max it will always be a fun ride!

www.scmontoyas.blogspot.com

Happy Father's Day

If you read often you know that I think I am one lucky girl. One of the biggest reasons for that is that I married a man who is an amazing Dad. As my priorities change and my focus on my family sharpens I am more deeply drawn to the significance of male role models. I cherish my husband as a man and loving partner to me, but above all else I admire him for his positive impact on our family.

Pia wants to be near him and have him cherish her.

Max simply wants to be him.

He is their hero.

Several weeks ago there was a New Parent Meeting at St. Edward that our friends attended. The school administrator was offering examples of involvement and encouraging new families to give their time and talents freely regardless of their child's position in the school. She upheld Ed as a shining example of selfless volunteerism as he volunteered on a basketball team that Max isn't old enough to play on.

Thank you, God for giving me such a beautiful role model for my children to look up to. Thank you for giving me a man who makes me want to be a better person. Thank you for creating someone who is honorable and makes his family proud. Thank you for the very special gift that my babies call, Dad.

Happy Father's Day to every special Daddy who's their baby's hero.

Flashback Friday

June 2005

My memory doesn't feel like my three year old Princess was that different from my almost five year old, but I think I could be fooling myself. I am certain that the days of entertaining herself with a linen napkin are long gone. The time flies when life is this much fun!

Sweet Pia

Make a Smilebox photobook

I Want

I want to be A Runner

I want the lean, toned physique of a runner

I want to feel the exhilaration of crossing the finish line after a tough race

I want to be on a trip and itch to put on my shoes and get in a good run to kick start my day

I want to run for recreation with my husband

I want to register for races and run with my girlfriends for fun


I want to be a strong, healthy role model for my children


I want to live long and run in the park with my grandchildren


I want to run head on into the next phase of my life

The In Laws

Pop culture and commercial entertainment tell us that "the in laws" is a negative term. Lucky, lucky me that is just not the case. We had a great impromptu dinner with Ed's parents tonight and the good time we had is a reminder to me of how much I love my marriage and my family.


Thank you Russ & Laura for being the very best example of what in laws should be. I love the love you give to me and my family. I cherish so much the relationship that my kids have with you and the comfortable way that E and I can spend time with you. I am endlessly grateful for every minute we spend together.



With Much Love, Your Daughter In Law






p.s. I would love our time together a lot more if we were going back to Hawaii this year!!!
It's not too late to make plans for Thanksgiving . . . : )

Flashback Friday

June 2006

This was the weekend of Sophia's 2nd birthday, but we partied with our friend Emma Gray first. She and her friend Tea were celebrating their 3rd birthdays with a petting zoo and pony rides. Such a cute party!

Pia wasn't super sure whether she wanted to get in on the petting action, but obviously decided she'd be just fine with a bunny. These photos remind me of how quickly she is growing yet how much she was the very same person three years ago that she is right now.

Adorable. Tenacious. Stubborn. That poor bunny . . .

take your hand off the bunny, Mama

this is MY bunny

I wish . . .

I wish
the dog would STOP barking at everyone who walks within 100 yards of our house

I wish
my kids would stop asking for snacks every hour and eat a full meal

I wish
I didn't live so damn far from my family

I wish
I would actually get up when my alarm goes off at 5 AM and go running like I mean to

I wish
school lunches would pack themselves

I wish
Sophia didn't have asthma

I wish
we were going to Hawaii this summer

I wish
work were fun again

I wish
there were 28 hours in every day and four of those were all mine

I wish
my babies knew that I love them like crazy even while I try to make them decent humans

I wish
I could call my Nanny and she would tell me I am being ridiculous

I wish
saying her name didn't still make me cry

I wish
I would get over my day and remember how good I have it . . . Tomorrow will be much better. I am sure of it

Flashback Friday

June 30, 2005 - Sophia's First Birthday

All of my flashbacks this month will be in honor of our baby girl. She's turning 5 at the end of this month and I can hardly believe she has been in this world that long. She is such a peculiar little person and it is an ongoing experiment to watch her grow and develop. Being her Mommy is the greatest blessing and a test in humility for me every single day.

Happy Birthday month, baby girl.

Easy Rider

Although we're creeping up on Pia's 5th birthday (4 weeks to go!!) she's still just creeping past 3 feet tall. She's not even close to being tall enough for most rides at Disneyland and California Adventure, but there are some with a 40" height requirement that she and Max happen to love.

When Sophia is on a ride she is the picture of pure joy. She rides the entire time with her arms over her head and whoops and laughs the entire team. It is truly the cutest thing ever.

Some days the Disney cast don't give her a second glance and miss that she is JUST under the 40" and sometimes they look a little closer. Our last ride of the day on Sunday had a 40" height requirement. We got through the first two checkpoints without a problem and thought we were home free. I was so bummed when we made the turn past the final checkpoint and the girl tried to stop us.

"Excuse me. Excuse me."

I am holding Pia's hand and keep walking and pretending like I don't hear her.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I need to check her height."

BUSTED

Sophia happily turns around and walks right to the measuring stick and looks directly at the girl with her sparkly blue eyes. While the girl is looking at the top of Pia's head and the horizontal measuring stick, she ever so slightly raises on her toes. Not abruptly enough that it's obvious, but enough the she's allowed to get on.

Well, well - guess who's figured out how to get what she wants?? Maybe I shouldn't be proud, but I do love a girl who knows how to get it done.

www.scmontoyas.blogspot.com