Archive for 2015

Dear Etrain,

You were seven months old the first time we took you to Las Gaviotas. The house we rented was newly renovated and had a jacuzzi on the deck. We loved that jacuzzi because it wasn't heated so it was like we had our own swimming pool for you. Dada could go surf, and you and I could chill in the jacuzzi to keep cool while watching Dada in the water. We stayed at Las Gaviotas for four days and you were a trooper the whole time. That was your first international vacation!

Dear Etrain,

This year was the first year we put up Christmas lights outside. Now that we have you we wanted to be more festive. Plus you love lights. Each time we went outside at night you'd say "Oooo" as you'd look at the lights. Several times we'd go walking or driving around different neighborhoods to see Christmas lights. One night we even went to Balboa Island via the ferry and drove around in the rain to check out how all the houses were decorated. We drove slow so we let you out of your car seat so you could have a better view. You loved it. We got lots of "Oooos" from you.

Dear Etrain,

You're a lucky little dude because you have three sets of grandparents who all love you tons. Your Grammy Vigil lives in Northern California so we don't get to see her as much as we'd like. She wanted to see you for your first birthday so she hopped on a plane and got here last Saturday - the day before your birthday party.

Dear Etrain,

How did this happen? How are you already a year old? I can't believe it. I've heard people say - the days are long, but the years are short. This couldn't feel more true. There were plenty of long days, and I guess if I think really hard I remember them. But it just doesn't seem that long ago that you were a tiny little newborn.

Dear Etrain,

Your birthday fell on a Monday this year, so we decided to have your first birthday party today. Let's just say you are a very loved little boy.

Dear Etrain,

When you were a little baby we spent a lot of time together while you were asleep. You'd fall asleep in my arms all the time - many times right after nursing. You were a crier, so when you would finally shut it down I didn't want to move and wake you up, so I'd just sit there. Sometimes I'd sleep too. Sometimes I'd watch tv or play on my phone. And sometimes I'd take the opportunity to take a photo of how adorable you looked. Turns out I took a bunch of photos. The photos don't even capture how precious the moments were, but I remember them. I miss them.

Dear Etrain,

In the last month of my pregnancy with you I was quite large. I wasn't feeling very pretty, but I still wanted to have pictures of us (that would be nicer than the ones I was taking in the mirror of my bathroom). Auntie Ansley offered to be my photographer and she suggested the Beachcomber because they put up festive Christmas decorations and it's right on the beach. So about a week before you were born, we had our photo shoot.

Dear Etrain,

Today we went to see Santa. He decided to stop by Dada's work so all the kids in the daycare there, and anyone working at Dada's office can give him their Christmas wish list and take some photos. From the first photo you can tell you weren't too thrilled.

Really, who could blame you for not wanting to go to bed. Splashing in your bath, eating graham crackers, playing peak a boo and playing with your choo choo train was just too much fun! We had said our goodnight to the moon, pumpkin, lemon tree and teddy bear..but no sign of sleepiness.

Dear Etrain,

I've been worried about you and all the stairs in our house. Until recently we just kept you away from the stairs completely. Your crawl is just so fast now and you love to explore the house, so I figured it was time to try to start teaching you how to attack them safely. To my surprise, you seemed to catch on after one lesson.

Dear Etrain,

As you may have already figured out, your dad and I love to travel so, we were really excited to take you on your first vacation. We chose Kauai because we had been there before, and since traveling with a 4 month old baby for the first time was going to be very new and possibly challenging, we figured it'd be a good to idea to go somewhere familiar and cut down on the unknowns. Plus Kauai is gorgeous.

Dear Etrain,

Oh my little turkey. You are just the cutest boy. And wow, were you adorable yesterday in your button-up shirt, tie and jeans with holes in the knees. Your dad wanted you to be a little more fancy (but not too fancy!) for your first Thanksgiving and I'm sure glad we switched up your outfit. I have to soak it up now because soon enough you'll have an opinion on everything you wear.

Dear Etrain,

I just got a new computer and I had to transfer all my documents, music and photos over from the old computer. While doing this, there was one folder I had to make sure was in there, and it was the folder containing photos from when you were born - specifically the ones your Auntie Ansley took of us. Your dad and I took photos of course, but her's were so much better. I was looking through the photos last night and it reminded me of the days leading up to your arrival.

Dear Etrain,

They say it's good to read to babies no matter the age, so that's what I've been doing since you were born. You have a bunch of awesome books that people have given you - The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Giving Tree, Where the Wild Things Are, and many more. We read The Going to Bed Book every night and even before naps. But unless you had a bottle, you were always more interested in flipping (or eating) the pages rather than listening to the story...until last week.

Dear Etrain,

Today feels bittersweet. It's 5 am. Your dad just left to go surfing, but I've been awake. Allergies woke me up, but my thoughts started racing and I'm having trouble going back to sleep. Yesterday there was a terrible terrorist attack in Paris, France. The attacks happened at regular places where people hang out - bars, restaurants, a concert hall, and more. What is keeping me awake is thinking about what if something happened to you, or your dad, or what if we were all out together? What would I do to protect you?

Dear Etrain,

I don't know why it took me so long to think of writing to you in a blog. I guess I was busy figuring out how to be a mom. I can't say I have it down completely, but you and I have a groove now (except for the part where you are changing naps on me), and I want a place to document our time together.

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