Happy 18 Months, Cyanne!

We celebrated Cyanne's 18 month birthday today!
Amazing to think she's 18 months old!

Here are a few photos from the day:
(And my apologies, she was moving too quickly to get her to sit in the rocking chair for a comparison photo... we'll do it next month.)

Good Morning sunshine!!!



The daily ritual each morning: Throwing the vast majority of her stuffed animals out of her crib with gusto. Oh, it's a super fun game throwing them out, watching mommy pick them up and throw them back in, and doing it all over again!





Good Afternoon sleepyhead!!
A few photos after she woke up from her afternoon nap:





Her "birthday" present - a toy stroller. She LOVES it and has since been pushing it around constantly. (And no, we don't get her something each month... I'd just been meaning to get her one of these figured today would be a good day).





And, to top it off, we brought home a few cupcakes from "Crushcakes" to celebrate.
The frosting was a huge hit... and the cake, too.

Visit to the Zoo - March 14th

Cyanne, Tom & I visited the zoo recently one beautiful Saturday afternoon.



The gibbons were going nuts! This one guy was totally showing off, swinging from tree to tree. And he was way, way up towards the top of the eucalyptus tree. (Devon, I told Cyanne your story about when you knocked one of the gibbons unconscious when throwing a corn cob for them to eat when you were a zoo camp counselor... she's yet to fully appreciate the humor of the story. We'll tell her again later =))



Cyanne had a really good time looking at all of the animals - she especially enjoyed all of the birds. She's really into birds at the moment. She emphatically points and says "zzeessshhhh." What that means, I've no idea =). She points at the bird, opens her eyes wide, looks at you and nods as if to say, "you see the bird? the bird! right?!"





She also does the flapping arm/flying movement when she look at the birds.
She also had fun looking at the penguins and the turtles in the water area.

Meerkats and giraffes were also popular.



The lions were taking a 'cat' nap, snoozing in the sun ... so she couldn't really see them but I did manage to take a few photos:



It was amazing for us to see how much more interested she was this time than when we'd ventured there in mid-August. She was much more curious and interested in all of the animals.

As we now renewed our membership... we plan to spend lots of time at the zoo!

Happy 5th Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Today, Tom & I celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. Oh, how the time flies...
We've been friends since 1996, started dating in October of 1998 (almost 11 years!!), and were married 5 years ago today right here in Santa Barbara.



The last five years have been such a wonderful adventure. Getting married, honeymooning on Turtle Island, living and working in Boston, moving 3,000 miles across the country and putting down roots in Santa Barbara. Starting our life here, exploring and enjoying our "new" town, and
the biggest of all - starting a family.



Cyanne has been the best, biggest, and most amazing change to happen in the last 5 years and we can't imagine a single moment without her. We marvel at what our lives were like before she arrived. What we did and how we spent all of that free time is a total mystery to us now! And we wouldn't have it any other way. Each day brings a new surprise, adventure, word, gesture, smile or laugh. It's hysterical, entertaining, and amazing all at the same time. It makes us realize how much we love each other but even more so, how much we love (no, make that adore...) Cyanne.



We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful, incredible, too-cute-for-words, independent daughter.

I am truly blessed to have such an incredible, loving, caring and supportive husband. I could not ask for a better friend, partner, and soul mate. I love this journey we're on and look forward to every new day and experience.



So, on that note - a famous poem but a good one nonetheless:

To My Dear and Loving Husband (A. Bradstreet)

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more then whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persevere,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

xoxoxo, k.