reach for the stars

we have a problem. a sleep problem.
it's not like we weren't prepared for it. we were just hoping it would pass us by the second time around.
no such luck. wishful thinking i guess...
going on prior experience, when traditional methods don't seem to work, it's time to whip up a chart.
i am not sure what it is about the age of three and sleeping in our family, but they just don't seem to go together.
the issue is further compacted when that certain three year old is sharing a room with her big sister.
when ella woke up crying {from a deep slumber might i add} the other night cause little sister had gotten a hold of chapstick and smeared it all over her face, that was the last straw.
barth got involved this time. we love having daddy home.
he took the girls to michaels {that in itself is a task} and whipped up a pretty impressive chart....

it works a little something like this....
for every night of going to sleep...no fussing, no getting up, no calling us back in a hundred times, no bothering sister...a glitter star is placed on top of one of the itty bitty stars. once all those {14 to be exact}  have been covered up it's time for a trip to the toy store!

{the first star for one good night's sleep}

{the number of "good sleeps" so far}

{so hard to be patient}

we ♥ our attending

attending.
it feels so good to finally be able to say it.
in the medical world this means you are the one in charge. the big wig. the head honcho.
10 years ago, this day was only something we could dream about. a day completely out of reach.
we talked about it as "the light at the end of the tunnel". a thought that made the hardest days a bit more bearable.
the last decade was filled with ups and downs, sacrifices on all ends and learning to take it one day at a time.
it was a learning process to say the least and a lifestyle that was anything but easy to get used to.
learning to trust and depend on God took on an entirely different meaning. he was and is our rock through it all.
we made it. 10 years of training, 3 amazing little girls, a guy and a girl who are still head over heels for each other and one stud of a surgeon....God is SO good....we made it!!

barth...i couldn't be more proud of you. you exemplify what it means to be a doctor. the passion you have for your work makes it so evident that this is your calling..to help others heal and to impact their lives in the most positive way possible..i pray that God would continue to guide you in every aspect of your work and that you would never lose sight of the fact that you are where you are today because of Him. i ♥ u.

i took a few pictures of the girls and daddy. i love that you are the coolest thing ever to them, but i love even more that they have you wrapped around their tiny fingers...

nothing like a sister

sisters.

one of the biggest blessings in my life.

my sisters mean the world to me.

i love knowing that my girls have each other.

had to add these cause they are just too stinkin cute not to post...

grandma & crew

my grandma is a pretty special lady.
she has seven, yes seven kids. five girls & two boys. my mom is baby number three.
out of those seven kids came sixteen grandchildren.
from those sixteen grandchildren came eighteen great grandchildren {the current count}...that number still has the potential to rise quite a bit.
my grandma remembers each and every one of those birthdays. from her own kids all the way down to the youngest great grandchild. she has quite the crew to keep track of, and yet she always does. i know that her family means the world to her. i am so grateful for her and the incredible blessing she is to the entire family.

here are just a handful of grandkids and great grandkids....

{grandma and riley}

{brittany & the girls}

{me & chelse..wish we lived closer}

{simone doing what she does best...}

{the besties}

{jess ann & uncle tony}

{miss lexa}

{great grandma bought matching outfits for the kiddos...we were missing stazi in this picture}

a wedding {eugene edition}

this summer is full of weddings. my favorite part about it all..spending time with incredible family. ever since our move to california, we don't get to spend near enough time with our loved ones in the pnw. it had been eight years since our last trip to eugene..we were way over due! the few days we had up there were jam packed from dawn till dusk...we loved it. all three girls had the best time ever. this was our first trip as a family of five and it went much more smoothly than i had anticipated. riley was a trooper.

my youngest cousin {brittany} was married on saturday. she was gorgeous. chloe had the honor of being their flower girl. knowing her personality i was just hoping she would make it down the aisle...nevermind standing the entire ceremony. thank goodness for the fruit snacks hidden below the petals in her basket. she passed with flying colors.

so many pictures were taken at the rehearsal and on wedding day. here are a few of my favorites....  

{the brides shoes..so fun}

{the weather was perfect}

{i ♥ daddy/daughter shots}

{chloe had her own pair of sassy shoes}

{simone and her sweet peas}

♥congratulations mr. & mrs. saiz♥

♥6 months♥

you are six months today!!

you are a wiggle worm. talk about a hard age to take pictures of.
you love to put anything and everything into your mouth. time to baby proof.
you do this thing where you squeeze, pinch & scratch whatever is in reach. usually mommy's arms. doesn't feel good.
you get so upset if you are playing with a toy and it falls out of your reach.
we started you on solids last week. just rice cereal for now. you are lovin it.
you love to sit up in your bumbo seat and just take in the world around you.
you take two solid naps a day. usually 1-2 hours each. you have been know to take three hours ones. love it.
we need to discuss your daily need to have at least one blow out. so not good.
you think your sisters are just about the funniest thing ever.
your hair is starting to grow in the back. time to get rid of the comb over.
you sleep swaddled with one arm out the bottom.
you are teething. hoping that one little tooth will break through soon.
you are going on your very first airplane ride tomorrow.

riley ann, i love you so much. you fill my heart with so much joy & happiness. 

pinkalicious

i ♥ girls. especially my girls.

who knew that one household could contain so much pink.

that endless twirls and dances around the room are the perfect start {and end} to each day.

that pink tutus can be paired with just about anything.

and that no day is complete without listening to the soundtrack from tangled a gazillion times.

sounds like the perfect day to me♥

a first {taste}

it's official. riley had her first taste of food tonight.
i had been procrastinating the entire thing mostly because of her food intolerences.
the major ones being dairy & soy...terrible i know.
had it been up to her she would have started weeks ago.
she had been eye-balling and reaching for our food for some time.
looks like all that watching paid off, she was a pro at it. each bite could not come fast enough.
her sisters each got to take turns feeding her. they loved it and had been waiting for this day for months.
it was quite a messy ordeal, but it made for some pretty cute pictures...

{the 1st bite}

{waiting for the next taste...}

{big sister chloe}