Blah 2.0

Not sure why this didn't post yesterday but oh well... Now you have something new in your Google Reader, which let's be honest is one the greatest gifts in life you can get.

It has been kind of a ridiculously long time since I have blogged, but I guess I have been busy or we we had nice weather, so I didn't want to be inside on a computer all day or... I don't know. The point is, is that it is happening right now... Yep right now, as we speak... Blogging.

Here is my brother and I on Easter Morning. Yes we both are over 18 and still get Easter Baskets. More importantly we still have an Easter Egg Hunt. Go ahead... be jealous.

For Mother's Day we went up to Santa Barbara. It was nice because we were also able to tour the campus and see the dorm where my little brother will be living.

The Santa Barbara coastline is amazing.

I would love to live there one day.

Well actually I would love to live next door to Oprah and Rob Lowe.

I'm thinking that's totally do able on my salary.

Cute family, eating the traditional clam chowder from the Pier.

My sweet mom is allergic to all kinds of scented flowers and so since sunflowers do not have a strong scent or maybe a scent at all? I hit the jackpot.

I think I have like 3 solo pictures of my mom and I think all of them involve her sitting with puppies.

After not being able to see my Elle Belle for like 3 months I was finally able to meet up with her at park by her house.

To say it was an emotional meeting would be an understatement. We saw each other from across the park and both started running. She has the most darling run and was shouting... "Oooohhhhh!!!!" We met in the middle of the park in a giant hug. We got to spend the rest of the afternoon going down the slide and swinging and playing on the see-saw. It was amazing.

As we were leaving and it was time to say goodbye, her little bottom lip started to quiver and in the sweetest most tender little voice she said " Bye Manda, see you soon"

When I got home I didn't even have a word out before I started crying, my mom started crying and I think my dad and brother thought we had lost it. It was such an emotional day. It was tears of happiness at finally being able to see her. I'll explain below why it meant so much...

Her self portrait.

It has been a really emotional journey. Since she started at her pre-school (although it's more like she goes to work since she is there M-Th, 9-4) she has not spoken. She has become selectively mute and does not talk at school. She has not uttered one single word. We were only made aware of it because her grandma, who is friends with my mom, had called her to ask about any ideas that my mom had, since that kinda things is my mom's forte. My mom was able to suggest some social stories and some play therapy ideas that they could do with her.

It just breaks my heart because she has the most amazing little personality and she charms everyone she meets. It also saddens me because for a child to become selectively mute it means that they have experienced a trauma, which in her case was having her sweet little world turned upside down. When you are just barely 2 and you go from being at home every day with someone who loves you and who you have a tender nurturing relationship with, to school all day long with no one who loves you... it just breaks my heart even writing it.

I think this picture that I took of her a year ago sums up her sweet spirit.

On a lighter note:

This is the new little boy that I just started with, Parker. He turns 2 on the 18th and he is a funny little duckling. Anytime we are in the sun he has his glasses on. I die.

My brother says he should start a music blog because the kid has amazing taste in music.

He likes Bruce Springstein (Boo-sa), The Foo Fighters ( Fighters), Fitz and the Tantrums (Fitz), and Sia (Sia). He has specific songs that he requests and he oddly knows every single word to Bruce's Thunder Road. Like if I sing, " Roy Orbison singing for the...." he finishes it off with "lonely"

If he can't wear his Bruce shirt... we are in trouble...

That's all for now... hopefully it won't be so long until next time.