Do I dare?

try to make these?


Or these???

I have yet to try to make anything off of this site but I pull it up often daydreaming about it. The reality is I can cook, some things better then others. When it comes to baking...not so much. I can manage to some how screw up chocolate chip cookies. Impossible I know, but I can do it. I reeeeaaaalllly want to try one of these cute cake pops some day. Until then I'll just daydream about if I did which ones it would be.
Check out the site they have loads of yummy ideas!
www.bakerella.com

Panama City Beach...again.

View from our patio

Awww...

Long time no see

Ja Ja!!! It seems like it's just been extra busy lately.

We took a 3 day trip over to Panama City. Mario had 2 days of work over there and it turned out our friends had also planned a quick trip also so we all met up. No oil when we were there. The water was beautiful! This was about a week ago and I'm hearing it may be close or in PC now. So awful and so sad.

We've been house sitting Mario's dads' dog, Jaffa. Stella LOVES Jaffa! She calls her Ja Ja. Which when she says it, it sounds awfully close to Da Da. She'll be running around saying Ja Ja and Mario will pick her up or go to her thinking she wants him. But no, she will wiggle out of his arms and go running after the dog. He's admitted to a tad bit of jealousy over Stella's undying attention to this little runt. While Stella will be heart broken when she returns home tomorrow, Mario will not.

Another event to note...Stella pee peed on the potty!!! OK, if you are not a parent you may want to discontinue reading right about here. She has been acknowledging pee pee and poo poo for a little while now. Grabbing her diaper etc. I wasn't going to actually start "potty training" til around the new year when she was a little over 2. I did want to get a potty though to start her getting used to the idea and get comfortable with it. So the other day Nana got her her very own little potty. The other night when she said poo poo (which we've figured out means pee pee) and grabbed her diaper, Mario took her in and sat her down and presto! We've only had the little potty for about 2 days so I think we are doing pretty darn good! The next morning she came up and told me poo poo and grabbed her diaper, same thing I took her in and sure enough! Although, I think she says poo poo in place of either. It's OK...work in progress. While I am not switching out her diapers for underwear tomorrow or anything I think she is on her way! Mommy's sad. :( Baby is turning into a big girl! :( Oh my, what am I going to do when Kindergarten comes around??? I think this parenting thing is definitely harder on me then her!!!

On another note, Mom has her 3rd chemo today. Half way there!!! She is doing pretty good and just taking it day by day. We will all be glad to have this chapter behind her. Thanks again to anyone that has helped or even kept her in your thoughts and prayers.

Dear Stella

You are the most amazing little person.

I am in awe of your beauty every single day.

Inside and out.

You take my breath away sometimes.

When you are asleep I miss you.

I am excited when I wake up every morning to see your sweet smiling face.

I love your ten little toes.

If I handpicked you I could not have picked a sweeter little soul.

I could stare at you all day and be perfectly happy.

I think I could kiss you a million times and still not get enough.

I am so thankful to be your "mama".

I love you sweet baby and I'm so glad that you are ours.

Seattle

Cousins

Uncle Craig

Just try to keep her still. I dare ya!

Hudson

She also steals toys. Working on that. Poor Hudson!

Kissing bandit. She kisses everything.

A swiftly tilting planet

Sometimes things happen in life that make you feel like someone picked up your world and shook it. Hard. Then set it back down, but not in the right way. It was tilted. Not quite right.
I haven't been updating lately. I haven't even really been taking many pictures. I haven't wanted to sit down and post some pictures and pretend like everything is flowers, hearts and rainbows. I just didn't know what to say. The day we got back from Boca I got a phone call.

My mom has breast cancer.

It hurts.

Things have been moving so quickly since that evening. SO much has happened. Stella and I went to Seattle to be with family and try to provide some support.

My mom is fighting. It hurts.

Even though things like this change the world you live in, and how you exist in the day to day, it cannot define you. It cannot define a family. Yet, it still takes up a lot of room in the corners of your mind.

The last month or so have been a blur. My mom deserves some privacy walking this road, I just couldn't write or update without acknowledging it.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She has been down this road before and come out on the other end. That doesn't make the race any easier. Each road has it's own terrain.

She started chemo when we were in Seattle and will continue through that during the next few months. Again, please keep sending positive energy in her direction. We appreciate all the love, support and help everyone has given to her and us.

Stella and I were in Seattle just about 2 weeks. We didn't really spend time visiting with anyone except family, but that was what the trip was about. Tried to spend as much time possible with my mom and fit in some time with everyone else also. We split up time between staying with Carrie and Hill. An 18 month old doesn't really allow for rest so thankfully Stella got to spend some time with family while I helped mom out and then she also got to spend a little time with her too. Pictures to follow from the trip.

I love her.