My first official Mothers Day :)

Last year I was as big as a house and ate a wonderful delicious brunch followed by a pedicure that my terribly swollen Fred Flintstone feet needed. I was so anxious, Charlotte was due in less than a month and I couldnt wait to hold her to be a Mama with a real outside baby to show off.

A year later and it is even more wonderful than I could have ever dreamed it to be.

 At least once a day it hits me - like an 18 wheeler - shes mine. forever. im her mama. man i love her.

I hope to never take the gift of motherhood for granted, to do it deliberately with as much grace and love as possible.

To all the amazing mothers that I have had in my life - Grandmothers, Aunts, Friends, Teachers and of course my own Mama, thank you just isnt enough. You literally keep the world moving, you fed hungry bellies, kiss boo boos, protect your babies, beam with pride for accomplishments, encourage, discipline and most importantly love.

This post feels rambley but it will have to do because I dont think I could ever do this topic justice. Motherhood is just too grand. Thank you both to my wonderful Mama and to Charlotte for making me a better person. <3

Here are 2 of my favorite "mommy-bloggers" and my favorite motherhood posts from them.

http://www.71toes.com/2008/07/cherish-moment.html

http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/05/have-it-all.html

xoxo
Ashlea

a baby and a dandelion

Several times a week we walk over to the park to swing, climb and run around. The other day while we were there Little Miss found a dandelion, she loved it. She twirled it in her fingers, pulled off the petals, looked at it from all angles and of course tried to eat it.

She saw something beautiful, wonderful and interesting in something that adults see as a pain, nuisance or something to be looked over. Thanks for the reminder to stop and smell the roses dandelions, kid :) 

xoxo
Ashlea

favorite new go to dinner

I have a new favorite go to dinner recipe that we LOVE! Its super easy and super delicious and it also happens to be super good for you.

Mediterranean Roasted Chicken and Quinoa Salad

Chicken
- take a whole chicken and rub it down with olive oil, garlic, salt, parsley and lemons. Stuff the lemons and garlic inside the chicken.
- cook chicken in oven at 450 for 30 min to brown and crisp the skin and seal in the juices. Lower heat to 375 and cook approx 1 more hour depending on size of the chicken.

Salad
- mix cooked quinoa, kalmata olives, feta, cubed cucumbers, and diced red pepper with olive oil, salt and oregano. Chill before serving.

Its such a light summer meal that has minimal prep time and is pretty much fool proof :)

I don't have a picture of our delicious meal so you will have to make do with this.....

xoxo
Ashlea

toys?

Why play with toys when you have 2 super fun plastic bags?!

So family and friends, you know what to get this little nugget for her birthday :)

video here

xoxo
Ashlea

11 months

This little girl is 11 months!

This month you are.....
*wearing 12 month clothes!
*size 2 diapers when in disposables
*eating 3 meals a day and nursing 4 times a day
*you love salmon, beans, strawberries, avocado, mushrooms, peanut butter and chewing on celery sticks
*you are walking!
*you are "reading" books (turning and looking through the pages) rather than just tossing them around :)
*you love being in your kiddie pool and going to the splash pad
*you are having less stranger anxiety and are letting people hold you
*you still love playing peek-a-boo and being flipped and thrown around
*you love to turn off light switches and close doors

I am down going to begin by pleading to God, bargaining with the universe and closing my eyes super tight to try to keep this next month from passing and you turning one.....

xoxo
Ashlea

Waking up is hard to do.....

*yaaaaaawn*

xoxo
Ashlea

Charlotte's first Indian wedding

A couple weeks ago my sister-in-law's sister (also called my sister-in-law?) got married! Indian weddings are like nothing else in the world. They are loud, colorful, exciting, crowded and confusing and full of food, tradition and music. I LOVE them. So naturally I was super excited for Charlotte's first Indian wedding experience, she took to it like a fish to water :)

The loud drums didn't bother her, she easily got passed around from cousin to cousin and Auntie to Auntie, and she even sat quietly through the ceremony portion.

Mrs.Sukhwani made Charlotte and I matching outfit for each day, they turned out so beautiful!!!!

the absolutely beautiful bride!

organized group dance of course

group shot at the end of the last night :)

 We had a wonderful time and wish all the best to Nicki who moved to San Diego to start her new married life!

xoxo
Ashlea