Muelrath Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend Damon, Cambrie and I joined Kris, Leana, Ryanne and Charlotte at Murleath Pumpkin Patch for a Friday night date.  I hadn't been there before and I was impressed, there were plenty of activities for the little ones, plus Kris treated all of us to the dinner portion 'campfire in the corral' where you buy tickets to roast your own hot dogs for dinner and marshmellows for dessert followed by a hay ride.  Very unique and fun!

 

Cambrie even went into a super scary haunted house, but she just hung onto her grandma and was a trooper.  Fearless is that daughter of mine.

Me and my first niece....who is getting soooo big!  Love her :)

 The corral portion for the dinner was adorable...cozy, fun, and yummy.  It was nice to sit by the fires and it really made it feel like fall had officially started.

Our best family photo with a beyond sleepy baby girl...

  

 Ryanne was sweet and gave the little C's a ride in the pumpkin wagon, she is such a great helper and both little girls just adore her.

  

There were some technical difficulties with the hay rides and Cambrie had her heart set on driving on Papa's tractor so we waited.  And waited.  By the time it was time for our turn she was well beyond her bedtime.  But, it was worth it.  

A super tired and off center family photo on the hay ride...



Pajama Day at Kindercare

Look at that cute little Pumpkin Pajama girl running towards me...

 

Kindercare has what I like to call spirit days at least twice a week.  And, as a former school spirit leader, I do my best to have Cambrie involved.  Some of the dress up days we don't have clothes for yet (like hockey day) and some days she misses the good themes since she is only there 3 days a week.  But, we were able to make Pajama day count by also dressing her in holiday theme.

Love how big she looks holding her lunch bag. 

 

 

Daddies Are Fun

I ran into Target to grab a few things and this is what I come outside to...

 

 

Cambrie playing in the back of the truck, running around, using her outside voice and having lots of fun.

 

It was a good thing that it was bath night because Damon let her run around barefoot and her feet were SO dirty!

 

It is amazing how much fun Daddies are in the Target parkng lot :)

My Little Diva :)

 

I had these pictures uploaded quite a while ago, but I forgot to add the commentary and publish the post.  This was just one of those funny moments that I want to remember of my baby.  My mom and I spent the day in Corte Madera while Cambrie played with her friends at Kindercare.  We picked her up in the afternoon and headed home where my moms friend and her daughter were joining us for a playdate. 

 

 

They are so sweet and brougth Cambrie some sticker books to play with.  She loved them, obviously, they are Mickey Mouse!

The funny thing about the afternoon is that my little diva absolutely refused to wear a normal afternoon playdate outfit.  She screamed when I tried to put her in anything else.  She just wanted to wear her easter dress :)



And, who was I to argue with that? 

Playing in the Leaves

Today is Damon's birthday and this post sums up his fabulousness in so many ways.

 

He turns his house chores into a memorable experience for our daughter.

 

I had just returned from a photo session to see my joyful girl playing in the leaves with her favorite person, her dada.  In the course of 15 minutes I took 300 pictures in an attempt to capture a fraction of the fun.

 

I have known Damon for 8 years and he still manages to surprise me. 

 

When we were trying for a child, I longed to see what he would be like as a father.  It was something that would be special to the two of us.  Something that we had never shared with anyone else.

 

When I was pregnant with Cambrie I was excited to meet our daughter, but I was also excited to fall in love with Damon again.  But, this time as a father.  I think I might have spent more time thinking about that while she was growing away than about what she was going to look like :)

 

To say that I love him is an understatement.  Damon has given me a new meaning to partnership and nothing is more evident of our partnership than this beautiful daughter of ours.

 

He supports me in a way that I never really knew was possible.  One of the best things about him is that he lets me just be me.  I can disappear for hours into my office to work on client galleries and he never gives me grief.  I can obsess over the cleanliness of our house and he never makes me feel like I am turning into my mother (which I realize is true, but he is so nice not to point it out!)

I can count on him in every aspect of life, taking care of the house, taking care of Cambrie and taking care of me. 

 

Although this season of our life is especially busy, I have 8 years of memories of the two of us that are constantly in my mind to remind me of our relationship.  It is so easy to put that relationship aside while raising a toddler, having careers, running a house, maintaining friendships and connecting with family.  But, at the root of it all, I know that we are solid. 

 

We have traveled together, we have laughed together, we have made bad decisions together, we have made great decisions together.  And, although our date nights without our daughter have dwindled, we love our new definition of normal.

 

Damon has accomplished so much in his short life so far.  He has taken risks and been the first in his family to do many things.  But, despite his professional, educational and financial successes, his greatest accomplishment is raising Cambrie.

 

And, I am just so thankful that he chose me as the one to start a family with.

 

So, today, on your birthday, my Damon, please know deep in your heart from much you are loved.  How much you are respected.  How much you are appreciated.  By both of your girls.

 

Cambrie loves waiting in the big chair for your big truck to pull up after your workday.  She loves the way that you explain to her about the world.  She loves that you pick her up from daycare on Fridays and take he to the ranch.

 

She loves how you read to her every night.  She loves that you have taught her how to take a shower in the 'big wa-wa.'  She loves that you let her just be her.

 

And, of course, the reasons I love you are too many to count.  Just know that I will spend the rest of my years trying to tell you.

 

So, today, on your birthday, my Damon, please know deep in your heart from much you are loved. How much you are respected. How much you are appreciated. By both of your girls.