Simplify

Simplifying has been my goal for the last few months.

I recently found myself so caught up in my job as a nanny, having a business of my own, being a mom, wife, friend, sister...etc. 

I felt like I had to do it all. 

I thought I liked being busy and having so much to do.

I couldn't say No to anything..and I didn't want to miss out on anything. 

I didn't want to let anyone down.

I started to get stressed and snappy (poor jason)

I keep piling more on my load than i could handle.

It's a weird thing right now in the world of motherhood, where it seems like every single mom is doing it all (at least that's what they might want you to think?). and it makes you feel like you have to too. 

at least that's how i was feeling.

i also think my role as a mom was so new and i was trying to figure myself out in the midst of it.

i took a step back to revaluate my life and really focus on the reasons i was being stressed and felt so pulled in different directions.

i started to cut things out. 

my nannying job ended for the school year and i decided i was done. i loved the family so much, but needed to focus on my own family more.

i stopped my business. 

i went back and forth with this for months but finally decided that it wasn't a passion of mine

and it was making me more stressed than it was happy.

as soon as i did that i felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

i learned to say no to things. it's ok if i miss out on events and activities.

i learned to prioritize better and do things that made me happy just for me and my family.

not for anyone else to see or show.

just for me. for us.

and you guys...I FEEL AMAZING.

i feel so free and so happy.

i love waking up every day planning out our day on our own schedule and no one else's.

i am doing video projects for people a bit more, but that's not busy work to me. 

that is a passion of mine.

and is more like a hobby than anything else.

i do still like to be busy, but not stressful busy. 

i like plans and we have to get out every day, but that's for us! for our happiness.

because in the end, that really is the end all, be all purpose in this lie.

our own progression, our family's happiness.

TWO!

On Monday, our favorite little one turned TWO!

She is so fun and so crazy at this age.

for her birthday we had a little family party on sunday night with just some cake & ice cream. on her actual birthday we woke her up with balloons that we threw in her bed and sang happy birthday to her. (she was TERRIFIED) side story: she is afraid of balloons. this is a new thing. last week we had two balloons at our house left over from a baby shower and they had deflated so much that they were basically just laying on the floor. all our windows were open so the breeze was blowing through and it made the balloons move all around the house on their own - piper thought they were alive and she freaked. i thought she was over it but when we threw the balloons in her bed on her birthday we was hysterical. #parentfail

the day of her bday we planned a little party with some friends but it was raining so we postponed it until the next day. so instead we just went and got donuts and then after her nap daddy met us at disneyland and she was in heaven! she loves going but it's always me taking her. having daddy there was a whole new world. it was the best.

then we had a little party at the park with her the next day combined with her friend Henley who's birthday is the day before.

success all around! (minus the balloon fiasco)

things she loves: disneyland, beach, yogurt, doggies from afar, tangled/frozen, chocolate, playing with friends, jumping in the pool, counting to 12 (with a little help), saying ABC's (with a little help), dancing, playing with her toys, copying everything mommy does, when daddy comes home, doing lion cubs with mommy, discovering new things, walks in the stroller, bike rides, swings, shopping, brushing my hair and more..but those are what come to mind right now.

Phrases she's into saying:

"mommy, I nice"

"No No mommy"

"yaaaa"

"truck!"

"that's cuuute"

"lets go"

(and she copies back anything we say)

currently in joy school and gymnastics. loves both.

honestly, she is so fun right now. she is like a real person. no more little baby.

she knows what things are and we can have a conversation.

she is my best little buddy. she loves walking next to me and does a really good job at just staying by me when we're out and about. (she loves to go shopping with me and walks and shops next to me like she's 13.."mommy thats cute")

she is a screamer whether she's happy, excited, or mad. either way, she HAS to scream about it.

she recently started to get really nervous and overwhelmed when the attention is on her or when there's a lot of people around that try to talk to her (exactly how i was when i was little)

although, if she's in a good mood, then she'll say hi and bye to every single person that walks by.

she loves to do different expressions and faces like her cool face, excited face, happy face, etc.

she tries to make us laugh ALL the time. it's so funny.

we love everything about her, the crazy and the sweet. 

happy 2nd birthday my pipeys!