Monkey Baby

 

This is the baby I nanny for - Bradley. 

Can't resist posting the highlights of our photo sessions. He is just the cutest.

Endless Energy

My daughter is almost two.

She is changing. Rapidly. A true sleep trained child, Heidi loves her crib to bits and always has, but lately she hasn't been doing as much sleeping as she used to. In fact, little miss has decided that napping only seems like a good idea now after about an hour of quiet playtime.When I leave the bedroom, I come back and listen with my ear on the door every 10 minutes and hear her talking to her toys, singing her ABCs, jumping in her crib, etc. I tell her to go night night through the door and she responds cheerfully "night night time mommy!" and then continues to play, just more quietly.

I've decided that she is not getting enough exercise and that this is the reason she is not going down for her naps as quickly. So I have devised a plan.

A while ago, we borrowed a bouncy house from a friend. Heidi loved it. She has not stop talking about it since. Seriously. 10 times a day Heidi will stop whatever activity she is doing, point outside and ask in the saddest most heartbroken voice that could possibly come out of a two year old "Bouncy House?"

In a few days, when she asks about the bouncy house again I will be able to lead her to this thing of beauty:

 

Concentrated Happiness

(poorly photo-shopped children not included)

I am so excited to show her! 

On a side note - Can't believe I am at the point in life where I can actually purchase a bouncy house. I am fulfilling my 7 year old self's biggest dreams. Being a grown up is pretty cool. 

I Love Prince Erik from the Little Mermaid

So I’ve been on the look out for some artwork for Heidi’s bedroom.

Just had to share some of the uber cute prints I have come across.

How cute are these?

 

  

and these?

 

and these?

Would be so cute if they were all individually framed and lined up in a row!

Also came across these which I kind of love.

All of this makes my heart ache for a trip to Disneyland. Still haven’t taken Heidi. Just can’t bring myself to spend so much money on passes when we have other amusement parks that are so much closer…. Sigh… Some day.

Oh and can’t end this post without sharing what I decided to buy -

Pretty sure Heidi is gonna love this print of Prince Erik.

These Pictures Would Never Have Been Taken 20 Years Ago

As I look through photos from just a year ago, I feel so grateful to have birthed a child in the age of digital cameras. Having done so means so many more captured memories. I come from a family of camera users – several generations so. My mothers aunt was the first to own a video camera and thanks to her my mom is able to show off her toddlerhood via captured video on her Iphone. I find it incredibly fascinating to be able to not only picture in your mind’s eye what life was like in  years past, but to be able to actually view it. My own childhood was well documented but back then film was expensive and no photograph was to be wasted. As I look back I wonder how many more images would I have to look through if I had been born just 15 years later. I feel a little sad because having the ability to capture so much more in this day and age has me realizing exactly how much has been lost from my own childhood.

Today I share with you a luxury of modern day living. Photos of nothing but a simple walk around the neighborhood with my toddler.  

   (Upon being told it was time to go home)

I can’t wait to look back on these in 5 years and remember just how precious Heidi was at almost two.

Also, can’t wait to see how this new Baby Alive holds up.

What a difference a year makes…

October 2010

 

October 2011

Little Baby Alive has changed so much!

Weekend in Avila

This beautiful coastline can be found in the town of Avila, about an hour north of Santa Barbara, California. This weekend we made a trip up to see Austin’s grandmother who called to declare that she was “hanging on by a thread to see Baby Heidi”. While I’m sure she was in poor spirits when she made that statement, she was quite full of life upon our arrival. After finding out that Austin didn’t know how to play chopsticks, she decided she would teach him then and there! I recorded a bit of the session and think its one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.


Untitled from Mrs MacKenzie on Vimeo.

After a couple hours of visiting, she decided she needed to rest since the excitement of our trip had left her unable to sleep the night before. We decided to venture out to nearby Avila. First we drove out on the pier and visited the seals..

 

 

After the pier we went to the picturesque Avila Barn, a little well-known gem that sells the most gorgeous fruits, veggies, snacks, and fresh baked pies. 

  

 

    

 

    

Heidi had a blast exploring the barn and playing in the pumpkins. She is such a little Ham! I really wish I had gone with Amelie for her middle name because those initials would have been so appropriate for her!

Anyway, we loved Avila and loved the beautiful coastal drive home. We can’t wait to come back up and explore some more of those beautiful beaches we drove by like this one called Shell Beach.

Maybe we’ll go back up for our anniversary!