Teething

All of a sudden her 2 front teeth came in (thanks to Aunt Tori)!

Wonderful Willa

Here are some shots of the little bean from this past week!

Foot in the mouth...Sometimes she can even get both in there (or at least tries).

She continues to love her "party chair". It keeps her occupied for about 15 minutes at a time. 

Long walk in the stroller. 

Love!

Eddie with "Leroy the Frog". He has claimed a couple of her toys as his.

I think she looks like Daddy here. 

Willa and Aunt Patti at a happy hour at "the Wilshire". She was a trooper. 

It has been so cute seeing Eddie snuggle up to Willa lately while she is sleeping :)

Such a good big brother...

Happy Mother's Day & Photos from Grandma & Papa Koss' Visit

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing mothers out there...Especially to my mom (the best mom in the world...), Kim (the best step-mom in the world...) and Sue (the best mother-in-law in the world...)! I am very blessed!

I now know firsthand that motherhood is one of the most challenging jobs, yet NOTHING is more rewarding and wonderful. 

I love you Mom!!!

I found some quotes on "Mothers" that I love. All of them are so true:

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, "where mother is."

-- Keith L. Brooks

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.

-- Irish Proverb

A mother holds her children's hands for a while...their hearts forever.

-- Author Unknown

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.

-- Tenneva Jordan  

A mother understands what a child does not say. 

-- Jewish proverb

A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.

-- Agatha Christie

A mother's love liberates.

-- Maya Angelou

All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother.

-- Abraham Lincoln

Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease.

-- Lisa Alther

It was when I had my first child that I understood how much my mother loved me.

-- From "For Mother - A Bouquet of Sentiments"

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.

-- Marion C. Garretty

When I was a child, my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk you'll end up as the pope.' Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.

-- Pablo Picasso 

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.

-- Sophia Loren

I love you, Willa!!!

Grandma and Papa Koss were in town this weekend to go to Uncle Hal's graduation. We also got to celebrate Papa's birthday and Mother's Day!

Proud Mama the morning of Uncle Hal's graduation from Loyola Marymount University. She's been waiting 4 years to wear this T-shirt :)

Grandma and Papa with Willa

Daddy & Uncle Hal with Willa

 

Willa with Uncle Hal on his last night in Los Angeles. We will miss him so much!

Mother's Day breakfast at "Bru's Waffle"

Family walk through Douglas Park

Some misc. pics of Willa

Sitting up like a big girl!

Playing in her "party chair"

3 Generations

Opa sent me these pictures of my mom and me as babies. It is so cool to see the similarities in all of us at around 6 months of age. Clearly, chubby babies run in the family.

Nanna (We now see where Willa got her "baby cankles" from!)

Me

Willa

From the Archives...

This video will never get old to me. Stay tuned for her second music video.

My Best Friend's Wedding

I was so busy with Matron of Honor duties, that I barely took any photos. Here are a few that I took (some blurry) and some that I stole off of Facebook. I will post more in the following weeks once people send me good ones. Overall, it was an INCREDIBLE wedding weekend. So much love and so much fun. Lindsay looked gorgeous...and more importantly, she looked happier than I have ever seen her. 

Aunt Lindsay and Willa at a McCormick and Schmick happy hour. We stopped there after a fun day of pre-wedding errands (final dress fitting and make-up trial). Willa had a 5 minute laugh attack in the car on the way home because Lindsay made her laugh. Nothing in the world is cooler than hearing your baby laugh. 

Willa's outfit for the wedding

Willa and Aunt Lindsay about an hour before the wedding started. Willa was a pretty good girl during the ceremony, although Daddy had to take her out of the sanctuary at one point because she was "talking" too loud. 

Yay!!

A HUGE "Thank You" to Tony and Renee Cestaro for taking such good care of Willa during the reception. Mommy, Daddy, and the grandparents were able to go to CYC and enjoy the celebration!

Linds and Chris with the Ring Bearer and Flower Girl (Sophie and Grayson)

Aunt "Krusty" (Kristy Hill) and I

Willa en route to the airport before a LONG day of travel back to LA. Despite having a cold, she did great on the plane.

Although she already misses her grandparents and Aunt Lindsay...Willa was happy to be reunited with Eddie :)

Uncle Charlie and Aunt Megan's Visit

We had a blast! Too bad they live on the opposite Coast. 

What's wrong with this picture? 

We walked to the Brentwood Country Mart for some Frida's (best tacos in the world)...It was a hot day and Eddie got tired. 

A Willa Bean Sandwich

Night out at the Viceroy. Willa was home with a babysitter. I only texted her 50 times while we were gone...It went well though and despite the terrible service, we had a lot of fun.

Gorgeous day in Santa Monica...75 and sunny. Perfection. 

Uncle Charlie and Willa at breakfast on Montana Ave.

Aunt Megan and the Willa Bean :)