Maps and Mer

Starting New

2013-04-23T15:17:00.005-07:00

Since life has changed, (and I can't change my layout or blog name) I moved to another blog. You can find us here on our new blog Love, Seahorse.

Hope to see y'all there!

Hiking in Arizona

2013-01-04T21:32:00.001-08:00

...and spending some time at the nature center at the entrance of White Tank Mountain Park...

Two Months!

2013-01-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

From 12 to 15 pounds,

21 to 25 inches,

he just keeps growing.

I love you baby.

PS. I Love You.

2013-01-01T10:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Onyx,

You are 2 months and 4 days old today.

You share big gummy grins with everyone, but they wont be gummy for long! (You're getting teeth!) Which has been hard but we have a secret weapon if need be. The vacuum cleaner. Oh yes, it works! We just push the "on" button and you slowly start to relax. I can't take the pain away, but I will be with you when you go through it.

This morning you suddenly became aware of your toes. You woke me up around 8 like you normally do, with only a minor interruption for the usual 5:30 am feeding. (Other than that you already sleep through the night!) I place you on my bent knees like a chair until I wake up. It takes me a few. Hehe. So anyway, this morning I noticed you were in a intense stare down with your littlest digits just wiggling them away. Then you tried to snatch one up! You looked so disappointed, not to mention confused why your arm just wouldn't do what you were trying to make it do! So I might have helped a little... You seemed pretty satisfied as you were wiggling your toes between your chubby fingers. It's been a good morning already!

Bathing has been a fun experience. I was so afraid at first, you didn't even touch soapy water until you were over a week old. I figured out some tricks though, so I feel you're safe and you feel pumped to be in the bath!

Plan. I make sure you don't have a nudey booty until the last minute so you're not cold and I have an open towel, diaper and outfit all on standby.
Warmth. I keep a little washcloth over the majority of your body re-soaking it with water every few seconds so you keep warm.
Royalty drying session. I dry you off with a hair dryer on low (and you love it!)

Other than that, it's just a bath, but you sure seem to enjoy yourself. :)

After your bath and morning nap we pretty much play all day until 9-9:30 at night when you fall asleep and we start all over the next day. I can't wait until you're laughin' kid. You're SO CLOSE!

I'll write again soon.
Your mom.

A Good Ol' New Year Resolutions Post

2013-01-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

10. Start a store on Esty selling knitted-crocheted-sewn children's clothing.

9. Gain new friends.

8. Lose the last few pounds of baby weight.

7. Stop obsessing over sweets. (Practice moderation.)

6. Drink more water.

5. Do a photo shoot using a handmade hat every month for Onyx's monthly birthday until he is 1 year old.

4. Eat a lot less meat. (During pregnancy I picked up the habit again and I don't what it becomes.)

3. Set time aside for violin practice.

2. Become a gentler person.

1. Set aside a lot more time to spend in prayer and mediation.

Goodbye Christmas!

2013-01-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

This clock was always so cool when I was a kid at my grandparents house.

It would chime every hour and slowly turn from the sun to the moon as the day progressed.

I was so happy my grandma still had it since she got rid of many of her possessions when she moved down south.

For Christmas we had my grandmother's friends over to share a potluck style dinner. I made these name tags for all of our guests. Halfway through I realized I hadn't made any representing the real reason we celebrate and I made "Ronda" and "Sachie's" name tags and felt a lot better. ^^

Pretty things from around the house...

The rose paintings were another thing I was glad she kept. As a kid I thought those were the bee's knees!
... I was also pretty set on being a rose gardener for a brief period (maybe that's why I dug those rose paintings so much?) before I wanted to be a professional back up dancer, an opera singer and then to my most favorite

(which I am still to this day very much into) a wardrobe specialist for far off fantasy movies like the Chronicles of Narnia or Snow White. For now I think I'll just stick to sewing costumes for this bub.vv

Here I'm texting my mom, telling her I miss her and Washington. I missed the cold and all things green.
She told us while we were there that she wanted to be referred to as "Nana" for Onyx.
I love it! Grandma just didn't fit her.

Table settings and more pretty things...

All of us getting our baby snuggles in before company came over.

I love him more everyday.

A Toasty Christmas

2012-12-30T23:21:00.001-08:00

This year we spent Christmas in Arizona with my Grandmother.

It was so odd to have the sun shining and palm trees swaying in the wind when I woke up Christmas day.

My little boy is growing, and it's happening so fast I can see it.

Freakin' me ouuuuut.

We hope you had a splendid Christmas.

-Challice, Jared and baby Onyx.

I NEED To Get Outside...

2012-12-13T21:57:00.000-08:00

...Or I am going to explode.

Here is my little problem:

Cabin fever

Car problems

Cold weather

1 infant

Friends who live close by

Me, going bonkers!

Okay, okay, I'll calm down- but let me tell you how excited I am to be going to Arizona in less than a week!

I love my comfy little house, but I need a breath of fresh air every now and again.

Oh to be outside...

I can hardly wait for the warm weather AZ walks!

Another thing I "NEED" is to get back in the habit of being there for Jared.

It is incredibly hard to balance being a wife and a mother, I mean I've heard that a lot but I've never lived it.

This last month has been 98% filled with Onyx and that leaves almost nothing for my sweet husband.

I could not do this without him and I am taking more initiative to be with him when I can.

After all, he is the easiest person ever for me to talk with, laugh with and just be with.

Now all I need is to practice balancing

time.

Handsome huh? :)

A Little Late Is Better Than Never Right?

2012-12-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

Onyx has been one month old for a couple weeks now and I just don't understand how the time passed!
The last month of pregnancy is comparable to the adventure in Lord Of The Rings.

Except you play gollum and walking from one part of the house to the other is like the epic walk to Mordor.
Everything is exhausting, normal things become obstacles and shoot! You're waaaay heavier than usual so it's hard to be cheery. But the first month after they are born? It feels like 5 days- a week at most... and also an eternity.

It's hard to imagine you're life without them.

Somebody is wearing cloth diapers during the day now.
And somebody hasn't yet noticed they are second hand... FROM A GIRL! :P

This kid loves his dad, lemme tell ya. There are times when he is flustered that I can't get him to calm down, Grandma can't calm him down, Grandpa can't calm him down. Just Jared and only Jared. It's also possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, to see them snuggling fast asleep.

... and this is his thinking face. He's got this one down pretty well along with *dead serious* face and then random (and increasing!) bursts of smiles. I love it. Being a mom is way better than I expected. Is that crazy to say?

Just Hanging Out!

2012-12-12T11:00:00.001-08:00

My two sisters came over last night with my littlest brother. It was a blast! We ordered pizza and all of us just hung out. It was really nice. Jared showed my little brother (age 5) how to play Minecraft. Amazingly he picked it up in about 10 minutes, built himself a house and kept hatching "the human and witch" eggs.

"I just LOVE that game!!!!!!"

... he said on the way home. He wants to come over and play again today. Too bad he lives almost 2 hours away!

I love those guys. Being a family is the best.

It's Tough Being A Dinosaur...

2012-11-30T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's Tough Being A Dinosaur... and Onyx takes his job very seriously.

Roaring and everything...

...But he is a pretty good dinosaur...

...When he is not busy being a bear.

Missing Summer

2012-11-29T23:59:00.001-08:00

I know it just ended, but I guess I wasn't ready.
I miss our garden. The peas, carrots, tomatoes and squash...
I miss Jared bringing in kale from outside to put in my smoothies I was so obsessed with during pregnancy.
I miss the walks, the sunglasses and the parks...

I can't even explain how good food tastes that YOU, yourself grew.
Carrots, squash and peas...
How I miss you.

...and then there were the flowers.
Long gone now.

Our neighbors adopted two new kittens named Dixie and Dorothy.
They are almost full cat size now, but still stuck in that gangly teenage phase.

I hate to say it, but I also miss my belly in a way.
BUT it's so much better to be able to hold Onyx and snuggle him face to face.
I wouldn't give that up for anything.

I even miss the summer bugs!
I can't wait to go to Arizona for Christmas. We are going to be staying with Golden Gram and neither

Jared or Onyx has ever been to Arizona, and I've never been during the winter! Oh to see the sun again...

My Sweet One Month Old

2012-11-28T07:48:00.001-08:00

1/12th of a year has gone by?

Oh my stars!

We love you SO MUCH Onyx!!!!!!

This Month At Our House...

2012-11-26T20:15:00.000-08:00

Onyx is growing insanely fast. I am soaking up every moment. He is just lovely.

A mushroom Jared carved, now sitting on our entertainment center.

Talent man. Talent.

Below are some shells and what nots from our window sill that I picked up during our summer walks,
along with some paper owls I made for Halloween and two tickets to the fair from right before

Jared and I finally started courting. Haha courting, who says that anyway?

I love looking down at that fluffy little white haired kid.
Being a family is amazing.

Scenes From Thanksgiving

2012-11-23T14:14:00.000-08:00

The little guy is in my Ergo carrier. That thing is a life saver!

My MIL really knows how to decorate!

Onyx's Grandpa and Great Grandpa right there!

The pears were our place holders on the table. Cool right?

Cousinly love!

Food, games and family...

It was a good Thanksgiving indeed.

Snow Babies...

2012-11-23T13:15:00.001-08:00

...Do not like hats.

Dear Onyx,

2012-11-17T22:20:00.001-08:00

I must have forgotten to post this!

Better late than never right? :O!!?

Your Grandma did an amazing 37 week pregnancy photo shoot for us. Up there, in that photo, is you! All snuggled up! It's pretty hard to believe.

It's been so long since I wrote you last! I have changed my mind on so many ideas I had on how I want to be your parent! All for the good, I promise! Your dad and I have learned SO MUCH! We took 12 pregnancy classes and met some nice friends there. We changed midwifes, but I bet you already knew that because when she checks your position, feeling around on my tummy (she is the one with icy cold fingers) you always kick/punch her away. Haha

Here are some things we have learned about you:

I have learned you are an intense meat lover and I have no idea where that came from. I only started regularly eating meat again since I became pregnant. You dance and dance when I eat it. That's well, kinda gross little dude, but I love you anyway.

You don't like being touched, at first it kinda hurt my feelings. I am not gonna lie. I realized though, that doesn't mean you don't like me, (which I did have a total crying breakdown over, but your dad calmed me down) that probably just means you will be independent! Good for you! Just no running away from me into the road or something like that. I'd probably have a heart attack! I promise to give you space and freedom as best I can though.

Along with not liking being touched you tend to smack away or hide from any hand that touches my belly. This leads me to believe you might have adopted your father's childhood pickiness. Well who better to have a fussy son than a fussy father? Karma sucks! Heehee. Did you know your dad used to freak out and cry every time he put socks on as a kid because he could feel the "linty balls" poking him? To this day he still wears his socks inside out because if it. I wont knock it though. I tried it a few weeks ago and, yeah, it feels preeeetty good!

Your bedroom is all set up and waiting for you. Even if you're not going to be sleeping in there at first, it was really important to me to have a room waiting for you. I am 5 days passed my "guess date" for you being born and still waiting little guy! Everybody is! I keep getting texts, messages and calls all the time asking if it was your big day! Nope. Still waiting on you love. You can come anytime now. Even tonight! Tomorrow morning! Lunch time! Dinner! As soon as possible? Please? Please? Pretty please?
Oh fine. No pressure... I guess.

We just really want to meet you and kiss your little face.
See you SOON????? You are 39 weeks old after all! :)

Love, your Mum.

It's Good To Be Back

2012-11-16T13:42:00.000-08:00

Back to normal that is!

For the last 9 months I went from too nauseous to write posts, so I posted pictures. (Tri 1)

Too tired to go many places or make many new things, so I took pictures of the life around me. (Tri 2)

Then finally, to so uncomfortably immobile that my blog took the back seat. (Tri 3)

It's amazing the weight a pregnancy veil puts over you. Your eye lids are heavy, even though all you do is sleep.

Your mind feels like lead, and we all know lead can't think. Your body may only gain 35 pounds, but it might as well be 350 because doing anything is difficult physically not to mention emotionally and mentally.
...and just when you start getting used to it...

Suddenly labor pulls you in like a fishing lure you can not pull away from.

Then a thousand of the most intense years of your life go by,

(or what seems like 1000 years but is really only a few hours of hard labor) and suddenly you're light again.

You feel like, like you! Like a you that you forgot existed!

And look! This beautiful, wonderful, tiny person is here now and you are their world.

Birth?

THAT WAS A TRIP.

Introducing My New Best Friend

2012-11-16T13:09:00.002-08:00

Onyx Morel
was born October 28th at 10:07am

weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces and 21 inches long

I can hardly believe we did it!
More details to come, but for now I am going to soak up every little moment and get some sleep.

Going On Walks In The Cold

2012-11-10T16:42:00.002-08:00

Okay, okay so we didn't find brussel sprouts on a walk, but they look pretty neat and are so tasty!

The Coral Collection

2012-11-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

October Sky

2012-11-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

Mushroom Hunting During a Downpour

2012-10-15T16:17:00.003-07:00

This tree has been standing there, forever, watching over the forest.

Spine Mushroom. Pretty cool eh?

I apologize for not being a woman of many words these last few posts. I have been avoiding a lot of battles and hiding myself, trying to build up strength and learning to trust my gut a lot more. In general I have just been talking less, observing more and waiting. I don't know what for... maybe a sword and shield, maybe an open door, maybe a boat going to an island so I can have some time to myself or maybe just pure bravery.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Life Lately Pt. 3/3

2012-10-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

Life Lately Pt. 2/3

2012-10-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

Here is one of our last harvests of tomatoes. I'd say they did pretty darn good.

However our carrots thrived, but between the moles eating them and me accidentally chopping them with a shovel, there were not many carrots to speak of...

All things grow <3

It's getting cold out! But I don't mind.

Hullo beautiful!

Trying to live outside as much as possible.

What could have been a lobster mushroom. Ermmm, long story.

A couple things I have been thankful for this week.

A huge chicken of the woods mushroom I found, and my little love Onyx.

He is almost here!

I really don't have E.T. fingers (like in the picture above) in case you were wondering.
Well, I mean, I don't think so.
Now I am lookin' at my hands...

Haha, 'till next time