Embarking on a mission

Most of you who know me know I always have crazy ideas, but never have time to follow through on them. One thing I have really been wanting to do is go on a tour of LA through my son's eyes! Over the next few months I want to visit as many places as I can in and around LA, for as little cash as possible. Each trip I take will cost less than $10, for both of us. Sounds fun, huh. I will rate the experience from both mine and Konrad's eyes, and I hope some of you join me on my mission..... Please feel free to give me ideas, of places you have wanted to go but have not ventured to, or old favorites you lave and just want some more company!

Peace!

Join me on Facebook to, group named WestValleyMoms!

I love you, More and More...

Well, hello to all. I have had such beautiful week. I am reading some amazing parenting books, "Smart Love, a guide to positive parenting." Man is it really helping me understand what Konrad is going through developmentally, and helping me see the world through his eyes. He has been very fussy and needy lately, and man I'm telling you that can be so taxing. Smart Love, is really showing me, that this is a positive sign that he is maturing, and he prefers, to be in the presence of Aaron or myself, and as we are distracted by other things, he is sad, and wants to play, or read. Well, he does not know much else, and so much that I do, can be put off a bit more.
Man, I am pooped out. I do love spending so much time with the munchkin, but what I wouldn't give for a glass of wine and some grown up conversation. I have been listening to NPR, more during the days, and that really helps. Well, if you call talking to the television about how glad I am not to be, on the pile up on the 5 helping. :) Tonight, I was really shown that it is all so worth it. I have been singing the same songs, with the same sign language, OVER, an OVER and OVER...for ever, and tonight while making dinner I turned on the song, and Konrad did all of the signs to Aaron, at the correct times. "I love you, More and More." is what he said to him. With out me there doing the motions. :) I love him, more and more, if that is even possible.


Yesterday, Konrad was a Lil Rancher, and boy was he a cute one. We visited Leonis Adobe Musuem's Lil Rancher Days. He got to see some longhorn cows, goats, chicken and turkeys, and loads of dangerous farm equipment, what more could he ask for? Ohhh, yes a water trough!
BTW: I got bangs!
Peace and Love,

You say, "It's his Birthday, well it was my Birthday too YEAH!!!

Well, I know I know, I am Soooooooooooo far behind on updates. Well, let me tell you, it has been a bit crazy around here. Konrad will be 13 months tomorrow, and he is turning into such a great walker, I am amazed and amused on a daily basis. If his heart stays half as sweet as it is now, this little man will change the world, if the world does not change him too much.

We had such an amazing turn out for his birthday, Betsy came in on Wednesday, my mom and dad came in Thursday, and Kick showed up just in time on Friday. Despite a cold Konrad had gotten from putting too much in his mouth, we had a very nice Bar B Q, here at the complex. The girls, Kelli, Mona, and Hope came in from L.A., and Marni and Mike, brought over Jordan. We decided to give the parents a heads up about the cold and let them decide if they wanted to come over or not! Most, as I would have done, opted out. :( All in all Konrad had no clue, and he had a total blast, with 100% on the attention him, ALL the time. He soaked him self, numerous times in his new water table, and got totally over whelmed by all the other gifts. He has since adapted to their presence, and I occasionally find Lego's in my sock drawer.

During the families visit we took Konrad to the Underwood Family Farm, for strawberry picking, attended and out door concert in Woodland hills, Visited the Getty Villa, and had way too much yummy food. not too bad for a sick baby.

The weekend was also consumed by attempts to get Konrad to walk, he did very well, with 10 steps becoming his limit and record. We bid all of the family good bye, and got Konrad back on his normal schedule!

The following week was my birthday and we made the trek out to good old Disney Land!

I make him pose in all the silliest ways I can think of! And it was obvious the real mouse was out of our grasp.



Konrad was a bit taken back by it's a Small World, but them again, so was I, I can only imagine how confusing it was for the little guy!

Aaron got me the most amazingly thoughtful, and amazing gift, a new camera! A canon G10, yes, that is right, I am spoiled. :) We had a nice time at Disney, we didn't meet Mickey, the line was a bit too long, and his house does not have AC! jeez!

This is as close as we got to the Mouse, maybe they should have like 5 of them all over the park, just a thought! And where were all the other characters, I really wanted to get my pic made with at least one, but NOOOOO.

This little boy LOVES his daddy.

We had such a wonderful time celebrating life, and falling more deeply in love. I hope you have a wonderful day, just look around at all you have, not what you want and REJOICE

Now, I ask myself, what shall I do in Konrad's second year, and my 29th to make the world a better place. Not just for Konrad, but for those in true pain, hunger, and poverty.... keep your eyes open and you will see. I will let you know soon!

This Magic Moment...

I put Konrad down for his afternoon nap, and waited for him to nod off to dreamland before, running the vacuum, and bleaching the kitchen (we have a crazy fish odor we can't shake). Well, that never happened, he played in his crib, and the started to cry to inform me that nap time would not happen as planned. I went and grabbed him, and saw in his eyes how sleepy he truly was, but I abide by his demands and picked him up, and am I SO HAPPY I DID. the moment I picked him up he smiled his, I love you smile, and cuddled up under the nap of my neck. We wen and lounged out on the sofa, and he nodded off to dreamland. Part of me wanted to put him back in this crib, and then I thought of how seldom moments like this really happen, so I got really comfortable and just took it all in. His super soft skin, his slow labored breaths, the feel of his breathing on my arm, and the feeling that this is truly a magical moment. After about ten mins of this he lifted his sweet little head gave me a big smile, and smacked me in the middle of my forehead! lol... Those moments must be taken in because they happen so rarely and all too often only last a moment. I really wish I had a picture to share, but it was just Konrad and I, and dreamland.

I must go, he just fell asleep in his crib, after pulling all the books off my shelves. Mom has some housework to do. ;) Until next take.


XoXoXo

I think I'll go for a walk outside.

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last,
Just kicking down the cobblestones
looking for fun and feeling groovy. :)

Over the weekend, we took Konrad and his walking car down to the park and let him walk the dirt trail.

So cute, he is such a sweet reminder to take it slow and look around. he noticed, and stopped for EVERYTHING, dirt, sticks, rocks, grass, to gaze in the sky at a kite; now when is the last time you did that. I love watching the world open up to him, to see the way he watches all of the things he has never seen. He is my mantra.

Later that evening, I sorted through his old baby clothes. My lord he was so tiny. Even though it has been difficult to not have the extra income, and I do go a bit stir crazy, I am so glad that I get to spend this time with him, it is such a treat to work with him on a daily basis, OK, play. I am beginning to see his little personality shine through. He is very social and such a people person, like me. Very introspective, like daddy, he has to know how things work.

On Sunday I took Konrad to his friend Jordan's birthday party. There were a few other little guys there from class, and it is so sweet to see them start to recognize them. I always wonder what they are babbling away at, it makes me think of the movie Looks Who's Talking. lol...
The way kids love bubbles is the sweetest thing ever. if you really think about it, they are water and soap. the simplest things bring the biggest smiles. And as each of them pop I can see in little Konrad's face, the expression, "Now where did they go." I love my little man, and my sweet simple life.

I have to close with a quote from the movie Knocked up, "I wish I got as excited about anything, as they do bubbles."

Ta ta for now ,

RIP Farrah and MJ.

Today is one of those days that you will look back on and remember where you when they announced that first Farrah Faucet, then Michael Jackson have both died. Both of these people left such a large footprint on the world. I think one of my most vivid memories of MJ would have to be when he performed at the Super Bowl, remember? Every one in the audience held up colors that when put together formed children from all over the world holding hands, while he sang, "we are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day, so lets keep on giving." I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Kate Jackson, made a comment that I hope would be said of me once my day comes, "Farrah will be remember by her kindness, her cutting dry wit, and of course her beautiful smile. Today when you think of Farrah think of her smiling, that is exactly how she would want it." I remember watching Charley's Angel as a child thinking, wow, I want to be just like her when I grow up. I, like most other people at the time, thought she was the most beautiful woman ever.

I guess I never really thought of what kind of legacy I wanted to leave behind, until I had Konrad. He honestly makes me want to be a better person, I want to save the world, so he can lead a more solid existence. I have never been the kind to try and impress people, I have really just been myself and if you don't like WHO CARES. Now, for at least him, I care. I want to leave a legacy of giving back to the world, of separating the great divide between the haves and have nots. I want to help people lead a more fulfilling existence. I want Konrad to know that character can't be bought. That if someone is more impressed by the car you drive, or the bag you carry, than the person you are, then they are not worth your time. I want to give him the power to open any door that awaits him in life, and I want to enable him to love with his whole heart.

Seek enlightenment, and share it with your neighbor. I love you all. May this day bless you with peace and love.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Hello All,

I am currently looking up moms groups and book clubs in the area, this after submiting more job applications. Konrad is babbling away in his crib after his morning nap. Sufice to say, it is a typical day at home. I have been planning konrad's b-day party and cannot believe that he is almost a year old. On one hand it seems like yesterday, on the other hand it seems like a decade has passed. Here is yet another picture from the Family vacation, I love it, if I didn't look like a humpback. Oh well. ;)

I have such a beatuiful family~!

First Family Vacation, Rehoboth Beach

So, I guess I should start this blog with vacation, and act like nothing else has happened this year. I'll catch you up later I promise.

Aaron, Konrad, and myself just got back from our first official family vacation. Konrad was a bit under the weather, to say the least, on the flight.

We flew into Washington DC, and made out way to Annapolis, I just loved the old street lights decorated with flowers.

The fresh air really seemed to help out poor little Konrad. After exploring the city we hit he road again, for Rehoboth Beach. The traffic was great, and we made fantastic time. Once we got there Grandma Betsy and Kick were there waiting with open arms.

The weather that week was a bit overcast, with scattered thunderstorms, but it was such a nice break from the hot Calabassas days. And what do they say, a bad day at the beach is better that a good day at home. The houses were all built in the 1800s, and are so lovely and full of character.

I may have had a bit too much fun hat shopping for Konrad!

....Ahhhhh, just right.

It was a very lazy vacation, Aaron ended up catching the stomach bug from Konrad, but a lovely week indeed. Lotts of food, fun, ad laughter. I got the chance to pend hours on the outside deck, reading and listening to the surf come in. Ahhhh, well, now it is back to life as normal.

Lotts of Love until next time. (there is more form the vacation I will share soon, I must shower and get some cleaning finished before the morning nap is over.)