Just Another Girl

June 27, 2011

Love Letters

Dear House in Short Sale,

Please work out. I'm really starting to fall in love with you.

Wistfully Yours,

Dear All The Stuff That I Have To Pack,

I hate you. I can't relax because I know what my obligations are towards you.

You suck,

Dear Terrible Twos,

You aren't due for another six months, so why are you here? I will take your arrival as an indication that my daughter is wise beyond her months, but I'm still not thrilled about your presence here.

I just want you to know that I will beat you. No matter what it takes. I will not allow you to possess my daughter in grocery stores, restaurants, and other public places. I will win. You will see.

Your Enemy,

Dear Animal Crackers,

I love you. I am sorry that I neglected you for so many years, but I realize now that looks aren't everything. So what if you are considered primarily children's food? So are chicken strips but those are delicious too. I don't care what anyone thinks anymore. You are delicious and I will keep a baggy of you wherever we go from now on. I promise.

Salivating for your touch,

June 25, 2011

Heidi

... According to my Iphone

June 23, 2011

Yosemite

We spent the past week in camping in Yosemite. It was more beautiful than I've ever seen it, but I'm so happy to be home. And clean. I spent two hours cleaning my shower yesterday. I find camping really helps me appreciate keeping a clean house. The down side is that I may have a sore throat from mixing and inhaling too many different bathroom cleaners. Ouch. Anyway.

Here are some of my favorite photos from our trip. Enjoy!

This past winter was a particularly wet one for Yosemite and it showed in the waterfalls.

You couldn't go near the base of Yosemite falls without getting soaked.

Gigi and Papa were kind enough to babysit baby Heidi so we could hike to the top of Vernal Falls. Its an insane hike, but so worth the effort.

View from the top of the falls!

It was hot in the valley, but up at glacier point there was still snow. Out came the monkey hat! Of course Viking Daddy didn't even need to wear pants.

We couldn't resist taking some pictures in front of the sparkling Bridal Veil Falls.

(love that last one of my parents, don't you? heee heee)

And last but not least, an uber cute deer.

June 10, 2011

Why I Love Foxes

Untitled from Kerjack on Vimeo.

June 9, 2011

Newborn Heidi

Heidi is getting so big. Its hard to believe that only 18 months ago she was this small.

May 24, 2011

Tips for Traveling with Baby

OMG I'm so stressed out. We just got back from our cousin Mariah's wedding/mini vacation in Napa so theoretically we should be nice and relaxed, but I feel quite the opposite. Let me tell you - vacationing in a luxurious spot with baby on the hip - not the best idea! Napa is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Seriously. Napa makes Carlsbad look ugly, but I completely underestimated how difficult this trip would be. Heidi is the best behaved baby I know, but she was a disaster on this trip. Already fussy due to teething/travel/sleep loss, Heidi became a complete monster when she developed a random fever of 104 degrees. She was pretty much constantly being medicated, but that didn't stop her from letting us know, in no uncertain terms, how miserable she was. We're talking constant whining. The only time she stopped whining was when strangers offered to hold/watch her (Thank you Jathan and Katie!! and thank you older gentleman who sat next to me in first class on the airplane!!!)

Besides her general fussy demeanor we ran into several unforeseen obstacles to vacationing with baby, like this one - Heidi will not sleep as long as there is light or noise in the room she is in. This meant that if we wanted her to to take a nap or go to bed, we had to turn the TV and all the lights off, silence our cell phones, and figure out a way to entertain ourselves in the dark. This meant that I ended up spending many an afternoon lying on my hotel bed daydreaming about all the fun things I COULD BE doing in Napa if I had only left Heidi with my parents.

In light of my recent travel I have decided to post some tips for traveling with baby. I hope they help you in your future travels.

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Tips for Traveling With a Baby

1. Don't.

2. If you have to travel with a baby, book multiple rooms so the baby has her own private place to sleep.

3. Bring a nanny along to stay at the hotel when you want to go out.

4. Ask your doctor for prescription narcotics with both adult and infant dosaging instructions for the times you must interact with your child.

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Never been to Napa? Check out these pics to see just how gorgeous it really is.