state of distraction...

lately i've been trying crazy hard to not be in a state of distraction.

whether that be via my phone or computer I am trying so hard to put down the phone and other devices... and just be. With certain challenges that arise in life you fall back into what you really care about and get your bearings, or become grounded. Ive realized it's good for me to go through hard things. To anaylze and re-prioritize. 

I've done a few things that have helped me personally. I may not be as available allll the time (kind of annoying...sorry!!!), adjusted my social media, set limits on myself, and pray. 

Because at the end of the day (life) I know where I'm going to be happy I focused my time and energy.  

Sooo...here is one of those moments in time. 

Where I completely shut off my phone. 

And honed in on my relationship with Ella, my mom, and nature....

I always have had a little peace and love side. 

Seriously though there is no place I would rather be than splashing in the ocean or hiking up a mountain.

And it was one of my alllll time favorite days ever, ever, ever.

And since this day i've kept tweeking and adjusting to make myself more present.

It's been good. 

The tide pools in Laguna at Victoria Beach.

 

Eating her bag full of grapes. LOVE HER

 

 

I got there early and there was only one other person who was painting on the beach. I walked around with Ella and we found a perfect spot on the warm sand. We laid out our blanket and snacks and built a sandcastle together. She had fun smashing it with her little hands.
My mom came about 45 minutes later and we walked down to the tide pools. I left her little suit in the car so we stripped her down and let her splash in the pools that were the perfect size for her. There were some burnt orange seaweed that looked like little bubbles that floated around in the shallow pools. Ella would army crawl over to them and try and catch them. She then climbed in and out and would laugh with the rise and fall of the tide. She stayed there for a good 45 minutes until we pulled her away to go discover anther beach.
It was so warm on that november day. Just an ever so slight breeze and an empty beach.
It was such a good day. 

Ella 16.5

I knowwww.... posting in the point 5. 

I'm sure it wont happen again but this age is just fascinating. 

Ben and I were talking about what we are grateful for during fhe last night and at the top of bens list was watching ella grow, learn, and develop. 

 I agreed. 

I have never been so enamored by watching a little person just walk around and talk. 

Some of the things she's doing as of this month is throwing up her hands and saying

**"whheer dago" (where did it go?) mainly to our fish when it swims behind a rock, or when her toys get lost in the bubbles of the bath.

**ow ow ow (she now knows how to communicate pain, which is kind of sad)

**car

**haaaaa (hot) then preceds to blow on the hot thing whatever it is. A light bulb, a pot of boiling water, etc. 

**shhhhhh then puts a finger to her little mouth

**nigh nigh (night night). And wraps her babies up and says nigh nigh. Or for some reason thinks that putting things down our shirts where they are covered is nigh nigh as well ??

**i sawwyyy (I sorry) probably my favorite (ha!) but honestly its caraazzy cute. We make her sit on a rug for time out and I say, say sorry ella and she waits for about a minute and randomly throws out isawyyyy looking in another direction and runs off and gives me a hug. She says it at really random times too, like when she hurt her toe "i sawy i sawy" I'm sure she hears me say it when she's hurt. 

Those are some new fun phrases from the baby girl.

and now a favorite photo from a calm and low tide kinda night while my cousins were visiting.

one of my favorite photos of her

Family Visits..

John, KJ, Russ, and Kash came down for a short football weekend.

Followed by my cousins the next week.

Both stayed at our house (minus r + k)

and it was just such a dream.

There is nothing like family.

Like sitting in a big comfy chair.

It always feels a little more cozy here on Malaga Dr.

There is always a little void when our family leaves. 

And I always get a little tear in my eye from a thank you card, treats on the table, and little gifts left behind. 

We have a very special family.

   

**With Castleberry's we went to Emerald Bay Beach, L.A. for the football game, sat around and chatted, went to stacks, explored, and had a good time. It was short but so worth it. It's just so fun to have them here and see them in person. I usually want nothing more than to just hang out and laugh together. 

**With the cousins we taught chris how to surf which was so fun, hung out all day at San O for an amazing beach day, DISNEY, halloween, sushi, farmers market, barre class, bagel shack, would lay around and chat, laugh about life, eat lots of yummy treats, and just had a good ol fashioned slumber party. I love my cousins A LOT and love the idea of cousins. It's da bomb. Christy and I have always had a super special bond. I'm grateful for that. 

Ella M. 16 mo!

 that little personality is comin on through and its just there. It takes only a couple of minutes to get to know her. She is a little firecracker full of life. I have a feeling she won't be my child that I will be pushing too much, but rather reigning her in (wink). She most definetly likes to get what she wants. Has big plans from sun up to sun down. 

Loves to draw, color, splash in the tub, talk, grab my hand and take me all around, usually with baby in hand (of course). Loves all things girl, headbands, dressing up, purses. 

Loves to make people laugh, has crazy amounts of energy. Runs everywhere. Gives really great kisses while going mmmmm. Absolutely loves to dance...still. Drops it low and does the groucho walk with arms to the sqaure. Recently learned the word 'ya' so I know if she does want something or not. Started with time outs on the circle rug and she of course says 'no no no no' which sounds more like noy noy noy. 

Working on sharing...it's a rough one when you are 1.5

Takes my hand...walks me out of the room shuts the door and runs around laughing her head off. Isn't that supposed to happen when she's a teen...or later? 

As curious as they COME. honest. she destroys everything everwhere in a split second. throwing things around looking, smelling, sitting, standing on just about everything. so so curious. 

Loves older men and babies. 

My shadow, follows me around saying ma ma..ma ma...MA MA...MAAA MAAA. Increasing with volume the farther away I go...followed by a fast paced run and the head bob. I know I'm going to miss that one day. 

Loves to plank, on the floor. Usually in public areas. No joke. Out and about and all the sudden she's on the ground as straight as a board with her head down still as can be. ?!?

Starting to be super expressive with facial expressions, pouty when sad, furrowed brow when concerned, etc. In general she has a lot of emotion. When she's happy she's all in and when she's sad...!

Ella m. 

16 months

love you girl

Pumpkins...

So over here we are big fans of the pumpkin.
//After you read / view (this post if you are like me) that is going to be embarasingly obvious//

Day one of october and I am all over it.

Bagels, cream cheese, pie, drinks, candy, cookies, frosting, all pumpkin flavored.

Pumpkin Patches, pumpkin painting, pumpkin decorating...

And then there are the halloween festivities as well. 

Donut eating, baking, trick or treating, dance parties, mummy wrapping, festivities.
And Disneyland...we went there a bunch of times. Ben and I went at night and watched the mad hatter concert and dancing. And then we would take the kids during the day to the halloween / petting zoo section.

We had an adult party, a family party, and a kiddie party this year.
We also went to lots of different pumpkin patches and pumpkin themed places.
All in all it was amazing. And for the first time ever...i'm ready to move on to feeling thankful and november. We partied that hard.


 
**Decorating our house! And getting spoooky.

 

 
  
  
 

**Disneyland, dance parties, and petting zoo.

 

** so glad my friends still have dance parties and adult hallo party.



**Fallbrook Family Halloween Party at the Gardners. AMAZING. She did such a great job.


 

**Park and pumpkin painting


 
 
**San Juan Cap / Zoomars. Ella wanted this little animal sooo bad. You can go pet them and hold them. And it's like a big farm for kids. I joked on instagram that if ella ever doubts my love for her she needs to remember this moment right here. When I was on all fours under those dirty little benches catching one for her. And then it scratched her and that's photo one....but she could care less she was soooo proud to be holding that little thing. She is indeed an animal fanatic. It's too cute.







**So at pumpkin city...this is sad but kind of funny too. Finn and Ella hugging...like usual. Just so happens we were all trying to get a pic because you know...you take pics at pumpkin patches. They hugged.... Just toppled right over. so so sad but kind of funny too. And ben happened to take a photo.

 
**so proud of her pumpkin that she called 'ball'
   
Some other pumpkin place that we gathered up a group of friends and babies. Train rides, face painting, horse riding (which ella cried...I was super surprised), etc.


**Finns kiddie hallow party!!

 
ANNNNDDD. HALLOWEEN ITSELF.
My cousins Christy and Elias were here so we dressed ella all up took her out for a bit and came back for some chili, apple pie, and movie night. It was so fun. I ate all her candy (hehe) and we called it a night.
And if I do say so myself. That is the cutest little owl I ever did see.

See ya next year halloween.