They Grow Too Fast

I posted this picture on instagram last week but, I just love it. My sweet Daisy will be four next month.  FOUR!  I seriously can't believe it...and I can't believe that I can't believe it but, for me at least, it never gets easier to process how quickly time flies and how fast our babies grow into adults. 

Daisy has never had much of an opinion about what she wears.  I hear stories about how exhausting it can be when a little girl puts up a fight each morning over every little detail of her outfit.  I'm still waiting for that independent spirit to kick in with our kiddo and I'm sure that time will come soon enough.  But, for now I am savoring the fact that I get to dress her in what I want and she could care less (99% of the time)...so long as pink makes a regular appearance.  The shirt was $2.50 at Target!  Have I mentioned lately how much I love Target's clearance sales.  They are thebomb.com.  The pants are from baby Gap and I have my seester to thank for scoring me so many awesome Gap goodies for my kiddo.  Thank you Becca Boo.  The shoes were $4 at Old Navy.  Daisy actually found them in what appeared to be a discard bin with hangers piled on top of them.  They were literally the last pair in the store.  She insisted on having them and I didn't argue.  She has good taste even if she doesn't care all that much. 

And I am not sure if I love hearts so much simply because they are the symbol of love, or because they are so cute, or because my last name was Hart prior to getting married...but, I don't think you can ever have too many hearts.  Love her heart outfit.  I'd like one for myself as a matter a fact! 

In other random Daisy news:  We got the Frozen music CD a couple of weeks ago and we have been listening to the songs hundreds of times a day since then (because I am a softie mom and would rather keep my kiddo content in the car even if my ears are literally burning inside!)  I have all of the songs memorized and I catch myself singing them at random times of day and when I am walking around alone in public.  I need to stop.  Someone please help me.  

On the other hand I do love the movie and the songs are pretty...or at least they were the first few times I heard them.  I love listening to Daisy sing them in the back seat of our car.  She has almost all of the lyrics memorized as well.  Another blaring reminder that she is not so little anymore. 

Daisy you are my sweet, loving, wild and wonderful little buddy.

Oh how I love her so. 

When I Hear Kenny G Music Playing

For over 25 years I swam in a crystal blue pool, under swaying palm trees, in southern California, Summer after Summer while Kenny G music played over the outdoor sound system.  I would lay out in the warm sun, on my Gram's floral patio furniture and the sweet sounds of saxophone and jazz would lull me to sleep.  I don't know too many teenagers that unashamedly love Kenny G but, I was one of them, thanks to her.

She was an early riser and whenever she hosted one of her many grandchildren sleepovers she would turn the radio on to jazz music and it would be playing softly in the morning to greet us.  She always had a delicious breakfast waiting for us when we finally decided to drag our lazy bums downstairs.  She never rushed us or expected anything of us grandkids.  How she served us so patiently and sacrificially through all of our selfish seasons, I'll never know.  

As she got older she would sit outside for many hours in between spurts of watering her roses or tending to her yard.  She loved being in her garden.  I would say it was her happy place and her roses brought her so much joy.  As long as her sound system was working I could hear those sweet jazz melodies playing softly behind the scenes.  The music danced through the warm breezes and into my ears like a warm hug or Mother's kiss.    

There's just something about when I hear Kenny G music playing.  Such peaceful melodies.  So soothing and absolutely bursting with memories.  I laugh.  I smile.  I cry.  

I've had two Kenny G channels saved to my Pandora station for a few years.  Whenever I nap or if my kiddo naps with me, I always turn one of those channels on.  I'll admit that more often than not, instead of napping, I will lay awake in bed listening to the tunes and watching the memories roll through my mind and across my heart.  It's beautiful to remember her so well and to have so many wonderful memories.  Such a priceless gift.  

I find myself chuckling at the recollection of her walking around nearly nude year after year (in a skimpy bikini) even in her 70's while watering her flowers.  More often than not she always had her fuzzy slippers on even if she was only wearing a bikini and I can still remember the sound of them shuffling across her stone pavement in her backyard.  Sweet, sweet memories.

Oh how I miss her so.

Death is strange, in that it seems that every loss I have experienced has been a completely different emotional journey for me.  Just when I think that I have learned the healthiest grieving techniques, I lose someone or something else and I realize that I really don't know anything about grieving.  Life just walks us through loss and sorrow whether we like it or not and we simply have to surrender to it and let time works it's soothing balm on our weary hearts.  

There are some people that we simply never stop wishing for another moment with.  She is one of those people.  I may have no choice but, to learn to move on without them but, the longing never dies.  Every week and especially on birthdays I miss her calls and thoughtful gifts.  With each holiday, I miss her savory cooking and the joy of her traditions.  Every Summer I miss her giant blue pool and the beautiful oasis that it was for so many of us.  Every day...I miss her.

Because of her, I cherish the close bonds of family and time spent with loved ones.  Because of her I will strive to create my own special family traditions.  She taught me what it means to be a listener, a giver and a friend through all the ups and downs.  It wasn't always perfect of course but, somehow we always forgave and moved right along.

I love you Gram and thanks to you, Kenny G, inspired this blog today.

Till we meet again...xoxo

Happy Valentine's Day 2014

Happy, Happy love day to all of our friends and family!    

I hope you are all enjoying your day.  After all, this is just another day and another chance to tell the people that we love, "I love you and appreciate you." I hope you find yourself in the company of people that you care about today and I hope you know how loved you are.  

Our good friends, The Morris Family, are moving across country and our house is their first pit stop tonight.  Can't think of better people to spend the evening with:).  I'm definitely sad to see our dearest pals move so far away but, I'm thankful for all the years we have enjoyed in close proximity.  Praying that God blesses their socks off in their next chapter.  We will miss you guys like crazy.

Here are a few festive pics that I snapped of Daisy and her brand new cousin Avery Jo.  I was very impressed with both girls during this super fast photo op.  Daisy held Avery like a pro and Avery tolerated Daisy like a pro:).  I love them both to pieces.  Such a treat to finally be an auntie.

I have many more pictures to share from this session but, I am in a hurry...like always so this will have to do for now.   Enjoy! 

Much love from our family to yours. xo