No Mama!

No Mama! These are the words I am getting ready to hear.  Last week while I was feeding Reese she began to shake her head when she was done. I thought this may have been a coincidence, just trying to get away from the spoon.  Well it turns out that she has associated the head shake with the word no.  I find this particularly funny because my good friend Angela attempted to teach this to Reese when she was about 4 months old.  Surprisingly she mimicked the head shake fairly well at the time, but of course didn't really know what it meant.  Well now she sure does! Not only does she shake her head no when she doesn't want food, but she will do it when she doesn't want to go to someone, or when she doesn't want to do something. I try not to laugh to encourage her, but it is so incredibly funny.  I have to say that I love watching her little personality develop. I think she is going to be a stubborn one! But as Chris says, "What do you expect when you cross a Palestinian and an Italian?"  Good point!
Reese also gave me the best gift on my birthday and took her first step.  It was just 1 step forward, but we were not holding onto her at all and she was freestanding when she took the step. I am so proud of her!  She has continued to walk with help and took 2 more steps on her own today. I know it is not going to be long know before she is running all over the place!  It is so much fun to watch!
Reese also got to have fun with her Gramma and Seedo this weekend. Chris and I went down to Seattle with our good friends Colt and Sheena for my and Sheena's birthday.  Sheena and I are a week apart and have spent just about every birthday together since we were 16!  The guys surprised us with a night at the Grand Hyatt and dinner at the Metropolitan Grill. It was so much fun and the Chateaubriand was better than I remember! We had such a blast celebrating and we feel so fortunate that Reese has a great place to stay and gets spoiled by her grandparents.  On Sunday morning we had breakfast at Top Pot doughnuts.  They have the best chocolate cake doughnuts ever, and those just happen to be my favorite! We enjoyed celebrating my my mom and my birthday with the family Sunday night at Barrio.  It was a great weekend topped off by Chris having the day off on Monday.  I can't believe another year has passed and Reese's first birthday is next month! I am soaking up every moment! Even if she is going to start telling me no!

Here is a picture dump from the past month. Enjoy!

Reese at swim lessons

More swim lessons

Gearing up for spring!

Reese loves her cousin Luke!

Peek a boo!

Kiss me Luke!

She loves being nakey!

Getting drinks at the Tap House before our birthday dinner

Dolled up for a night on the town

Don't even ask!

Happy Birthday to My Mom

My beautiful Mom Linda

Today my mom turns the big 5-0.  I am sure she is thrilled with my posting her age, but I see her as so young.  She had me at 23 after all and I was baby #2!  I look at all the things my mom has done for us over the years and feel so overwhelmed by her love and care.  She is the cornerstone of our family; the glue that binds everyone together.  She is the most selfless person I have ever met, and I can count on her for anything. She is always looking for ways to make me, and the rest of my family feel loved and cared for.  She puts her own needs aside, just to make our lives easier. I remember when we were young and she would get a gift card for her birthday or Christmas. I remember she would often spend them on us.  She would take us to the store and get those new jeans we "needed".  She mentored and guided us through the years, and always seemed to give just enough of a push. She was never overbearing, but always just enough to push you to the next level.  I quickly realized in my teenage years that the worst punishment was making her feel disappointed. That made me feel more remorseful that any restriction that I was given.
It is also the little things that my mom does. She will clean my house any time she comes over no matter how many times I tell her not to. She has surprised me the past several years by planting me spring flowers on my birthday to add some color to my front yard.  She came over weekly the last couple months of my pregnancy, and after Reese was born, to clean my house while I was at work. She watched Reese while I worked, no questions asked, no strings attached. I could go on and on.  It is these little things that make me feel so completely and fully loved by her.
 Having a baby has made me appreciate my mom even more.  You realize the emotions that go behind the actions, and it is amazing.  You realize the physical and emotional aspects of being a parent, nothing that you can experience or understand until you are one. Going through this has made me even more in awe of my mom.  I strive to be like her. If I can give Reese a small portion of what she has given me, I will have succeeded as a parent. I have had the best role model and am so thankful for the women she is and the women she will be. So happy birthday to my beautiful mommy who doesn't look a day over 30! I love you mom!

Leila, my Mom, and Me!

All the Sayegh girls

Happy Valentine's Day!

An oldie but a goodie! (July 30, 2005)

Well today is Valentine's day.  Generally Valentine's day is a very low key day for us.  We do the whole exchange gifts thing, and usually go out.  Yesterday we did breakfast at the barking frog.  We debated for a while whether or not we wanted to do a "date" or take the munchkin along. In the end we decided to bring Reese, and I am glad we did.  We decided that it wouldn't be right to celebrate her first Valentine's day without her.  We had a great breakfast celebrating another year, and I think Reese had fun too.  Today we decided to just stay in.  I made some carrot, ginger soup with chicken satay and peanut sauce. I have to say, it was amazing! I tried some new recipes and definitely found a couple keepers.  My plan was to surprise Chris with dinner made and candlelit dinner. He foiled my plans a bit by showing up an hour early, but it was nice to have him home and celebrate a bit longer!
I think it is funny how people hate Valentine's day.  I don't know why you would. It is just a day to tell the people around you how much you love them. Yes, you should do it anytime, but I think it is so easy to take people for granted and not express that you care. I think that extends beyond your significant other, but also to your parents, friends, etc.  I am so thankful for my friends, family and especially for Chris.  I am so lucky to have found someone to share my life with and who is not only my love, but my best friend.  In celebration of Valentine's day, I thought I would be extra specially cheesy and list the top 10 things that I love about Chris/our relationship. So in no particular order, here we go:

1. I love that a lot of times he knows what I am thinking before I say it
2. I love that he takes care of me and Reese and is a wonderful husband and father
3. I love that he knows me to my core
4. I love that he is an eternal optimist and sees the best in everyone
5. I love how he makes others a priority and is so good to his friends and family
6. I love that he can always make me laugh and smile
7. I love that I can tell him anything, at anytime, without reservation
8. I love that he makes me feel like I am the most beautiful girl to him
9. I love that I have complete trust in our relationship and his faithfulness to me
10. I love that our beliefs, values, and goals all align and the things that are most important to him are the most important to me
I am thrilled to spend our 9th Valentine's day together, and am even more thrilled to get to share it with our daughter.  It was definitely so amazing to celebrate Valentine's day and look across the table at a little "us".  Happy Valentine's day to everyone!

Reese enjoying her Valentine's Dinner of Black beans!