goodbye volvo

Hello 2009 Honda Civic!!

The Volvo's constant transmission hiccup turned into a $4000 transmission rehaul, so we opted to trade it in.... for this!!

I never thought we'd own a brand new car, but here it is.... 120 miles, straight off the lot. It's a gorgeous color (urban titanium metallic), has a sunroof/moon roof, fancy wheels, an MP3 player, 40/60 seat split to lay down the back seat, lots of trunk room, great gas mileage... and it's really really safe.











Max will be riding in style from here on out...

And Jane at Parker Johnstone Honda in Wilsonville is awesome.

Friday the 13th

Today is November 13, meaning Sir Maxwell is 16 months old today!! How can that be? Can my little boy already be a toddler? Wow.

The past 16 months have been the best months of my entire life. I love this little guy more than I ever though I could. He makes me smile, laugh, feel proud, joyful, in awe of the human body... Last night Andrew and I were thinking about the fact that I grew Max in my now-flat-tummy, gave birth to Max, and fully sustained him with just my milk. If I ever wondered what I was built to do - I can honestly tell you that I was born to have babies. I was built and designed by God to have babies.

So today, on Friday the 13th, I smile and say Happy Birthday to Maxwell. My little preemie baby who has grown into a tough, fearless, daredevil toddler. Here is to the next 16 months....

Oh yeah, and GO PILOTS! We host the our first playoff game tonight for Women's Soccer...

monk

I miss my little man today. Why more today than other days, I don't know. But today I am watching the clock counting down until when I can let him tickle me. To when I can chase him around the house and watch him giggle and run. To when I can feed him dinner and laugh as he grinds black beans and avocado into his freshly washed hair. And then give him a bath again.

Cake Number Two

Serena is in town this weekend (becoming Champion of a cyclocross series, wedding dress shopping, you know - normal stuff) so I decided it was a good time to make cake number two.

Using the same chocolate buttercream frosting and a chocolate buttercream/toasted coconut filling - I attempted a yellow cake. This cake was the "Essential Yellow Cake" from the book Wedding Cakes You Can Make by Dede Wilson. I checked this book out from the library and it has been a very good resource. Good Christmas present idea... hint hint. :)

The cake was good... the recipe wasn't THE recipe, but it was good. I think I've decided on baking a 3 tiered cake with 2 chocolate tiers and 1 yellow tier. And all chocolate buttercream frosting. I have 100+ people to feed and a bride and a groom to make happy. I think I can accomplish it....

Two cakes down, many many to go...

music

I've recently rediscovered classical music and have remembered what I used to love about it so much. It was so easy to get pulled into the world of all pop, country, and kids songs - but classical is where it's at!

Classical music is so relaxing - it's result? A usually high-strung Kacy to be relaxed and chilled out. Very nice.

A few of my favorites:
The Swan from Carnival of the Aminals - Camille Saint-Saens
Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major - Franz Joseph Haydn
Serenade No. 13 For Strings In G Major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Back to work I go in my relaxing world of strings...

5 things...

the top 5 things I am looking forward to as we move into winter...

#1 the fireplace!
#2 watching Max's face when we turn on the Christmas lights for the first time
#3 our trip to Victoria, BC for Thanksgiving - 1st family vacation as a threesome!
#4 watching Serena race her bike in the mud
#5 baking cookies and cakes while drinking coffee and watching kids movies

communication milestone

Last night Max asked me for help for the first time. He babbles alot, says a few words, but hasn't really learned to communicate his needs yet. Until yesterday...

Max and Andrew got home from school (aka daycare, but school sounds more fun, right?) and Max ran straight to the couch. The couch is his favorite place to play and hang out these days. He ran to the couch and tried to get up. He can get down just fine, he just can't get himself up yet. He was getting really frustrated that he couldn't get up and started whining and growling. I was ignoring his fussing because I want him to learn that he doesn't always get his way and he can't just whine to get what he wants. So he realized I wasn't coming based on his whines and he came to get me! It was adorable!

He walked/ran into the kitchen yelling Mamamamama and grabbed my hand. He pulled me into the living room next to the couch and threw his upperbody on it - his way to say Mama, help! So I lifted him up on to the couch and he gave me the biggest smile! He then stood up and walked across the couch to give me a hug.

Communication milestone. Wow my baby is a kiddo. Holy cow.