We are LIVE

The house went on the market this afternoon starting at around 3 pm. All our hard work will hopefully pay off and we will be able to sell the house for a profit and quickly. We are headed out of town tomorrow while there are multiple open houses this weekend. Can't wait to just get away for the weekend and get a little bit of relaxation and focus on the kids. 

T-Minus 4 Days

We are putting our house on the market on Saturday, June 1st. Needless to say we are up to our eyeballs in getting this place ready to show. I am just trying to keep my eyes on the prize and looking forward to heading out of town this weekend to Whidbey Island to enjoy some family time and get away from the whole house selling. Crossing our fingers the house sells quickly and it doesn't have to stay on the market for long. I can't imagine keeping up a pristine home for too long. 

Birthday Photos

We have had an outstanding weekend. Full stop. 

All day Saturday we celebrated Nora's birthday with the Milads and friends. We went to a farm all morning for a kid party and then to the Milad's house for an adult only party in the evening - maybe a little too much fun!  

Sunday was all about Whitaker. We had presents with Grandma C in the morning at our house and then a very informal, yet very fun, picnic at the beach with our friends, the Moirs, the Smiths, the Cooks, the Woottons, the Einfelds, Matt Taylor, and of course, Grandma C (I wish I had been better about getting more photos of everyone but it just didn't happen). We were so happy so many of our friends were able to join us to celebrate Whitaker very last minute (I sent an email about it on Friday). It made us all feel very loved, especially the birthday boy. When we asked Whit what was his favorite thing about his party, he replied, "Grandma." 

Today, we did house stuff and more house stuff. T-minus one week till the house is on the market. 

Here are photos from Whitaker's birthday. I will try to download some photos from my phone from Saturday. 

Whitaker got a picture of Eloise as a present for his birthday. Best gift ever! 

Two years ago I gave birth to this big headed kid. 

The beautiful birthday boy. 

Proud Pappa. 

Grandma C entertaining Mae with books. Mae was pretty upset in the morning that it wasn't her birthday. 

Grandma C bought Whit his own set of wheels.  Goodbye purple car, hello big boy ride. 

Whit was pretty upset at the start of his "party." He lost a stick in the water and couldn't get it back. 

Mae and her BFF, Lucy. 

Alyssa and Will. He just woke up from a car nap and was in need of some Mommy cuddles. 

Now he is happy.  

Molly, Sarah, and Kelly, who is no longer pregnant.

Whit's girlfriend, Eloise. 

Dan with brand new baby, Henry. 

Mae eating fried chicken. 

It took me forever to light these sparklers. One was a number 2 and one was a star. 

Time to sing Happy Birthday! He actually sang to himself, which was beyond adorable. 

Blowing out his candles. 

Even though all our friends left, he had a ton of energy so he did some more running on the beach. 

Goodbye to being ONE, hello to being TWO. 

Two

Happy 2nd Birthday to my beautiful, funny, sweet, curious, energetic, social, hysterical, and lovable son. We have had a great day celebrating his birthday. I will post photos and update tomorrow about his celebration but tonight, Pearson and I kick up our feet and reflect on the spectacular little boy we created (and get some sleep). 

Weekend of Whitties

As I mentioned yesterday, Whitaker Ian Cummings is turning 2 on May 26th so I figured the next couple of post would be about him. I can't believe he is almost 2. I have cherished every day with him (although I don't think that I can say I have enjoyed every moment - getting hit in the face with a toothbrush that he chucked across the room the other day was not a pleasant moment). 

I never shared any of the photos below of Whitaker the day after he was born because we used them for his birth announcement. (I also found the disk in the midst of all our packing yesterday so I figured it was time to finally share them). 

Please ignore the fact that I still look pregnant. I actually considered deleting them but thought back to the post I wrote about being in the photos with my kids. So here I am big belly and all. Pearson was also upset when we got these photos back saying that he looked like a dirty, disgusting slob. (In all fairness, I forewarned him we were going to be taking photos). Even though Pearson and I might look far from perfect, Whitaker was (and still is) the most perfect and beautiful baby boy. (Also check out how sweet Mae looks).  

Babies, Babies, Babies

I have failed to mention that Whitaker's birthday is this Sunday. Around the time of his (and Mae's) birthday dates, I am always flooded with memories of labor, delivery, first meetings, love at first sight, incredible snuggles, and overwhelming feelings of limitless love and devotion.

Three good friends have just got to experience these indescribable and cherished feelings, they have all had babies in the last week and are getting the opportunity to add to their family and take in the sweet, sweet smell of newborn-ness. A big CONGRATULATIONS to: 

• Pearson's best friend from college, Adam and his wife, Sigrid, who welcomed their daughter Karoline Jane Rose on May 16th. She joins their son Felix in rounding out the Rose Family. 
• Our old Seattle friends Karen and Zac Imel added a daughter Kea Henley Jialu Imel on May 19th. Her brother Makana aka Kani aka Mr. Amazing is one of our favorite kids of all time hence the nickname Mr. Amazing. I have no doubt Kea will be Miss Amazing. 
• Our new Seattle friends Kelly and Dan Smith welcomed their son, Henry on May 20th. We were fortunate to have their daughter Eloise be a part of our family while Henry was being born. 

We are excited for all our friends and can't wait to meet all these additions. 

"Mom, I made it safely, you can leave now"

Mae has always been a pretty independent, confident, and unafraid child. It poses some challenges but it also makes me extremely proud to be raising such a strong little girl. In fact today as I was picking up Mae from preschool one of the moms said to me, "Is Mae afraid of anything?" To which I replied, "not much."

Since Grandma C has been in town the whole month of May, Mae has been going to her place every Tuesday afternoon after school. She also goes on Friday mornings when I take Whitaker to coop. Mae insists that I do not walk her up the stairs and to the door at Grandma C's rental apartment for the month. She has told me that she merely wants me to get her out of her car seat, set her on the sidewalk, and get right back in the car and drive away. I tell her every time I can't do that I have to watch her walk up and see that Grandma C has let her into the place. Today was no different, she told me to immediately get back in the car. I told her again that I have to make sure that she gets to her destination. After I got Mae out of her car seat, I stood by the driver door making sure to not get to close to the sidewalk, and watched her walk up the stairs, carrying her big bag of dolls and lunch. She seemed so small with that big bag but so self assured. She even made sure to hoist the bag up so it didn't drag.

When she got to the top of the steps and door, she turned to me and said, "I made it here safely you can leave now." (I, of course, stayed till Grandma C opened the door).

As I got into the car her words repeated themselves over and over again in my head. I wonder how many times she is going to look at me from afar or call me on the telephone after driving somewhere to say, "Mom, I made it here safely." On days like today I just wish I could turn back the hands of time and be holding her in my arms as an infant.

Mayfair 2013

This past Saturday was one of my favorite events that happens in Seattle. Madrona Mayfair. I have written about it in year's past but it is a neighborhood event put on by the community - there is a parade, pony rides, face painting, reptile show, food, games and a kid's concert - it truly is spectacular every year. 

This year I ran the bake sale. Although I wasn't able to solely focus on my family and enjoy the event with them, I was happy to give back to the community that I have called home for the last almost 7 years. It is things like this that will make me miss this neighborhood that I have called home so much. 

I decorated Whit's car for him and didn't realize that he was riding a car with two boobs on the front.

Getting ready for the parade. 

Mae with her friend Eloise and excitement is building. 

And it starts. There is Pearson, Kelly (super pregnant but still super cute), and Dan. 

Waiting in line for Seattle Gymnastics Academy obstacle course. 

Hanging like a bat.  

Getting a ladybug on her forehead. 

Watching Mae ride the pony. 

I felt they kind of look alike. 

Dancing. 

And then my kids did this. This is pretty typical. 

More dancing. 

Before we left, Whit did this! What is up with this kid?!?