Marin Turns Three

On February 18th, our little gal turned three years old. I say this every single year, but somehow we were in the hospital one day, holding a little baby in our arms with no idea what we were doing and then we blink.....We have a 3 year old. 

Marin has blessed our lives in ways that I can't even begin to describe. Becoming parents has been one of the most rewarding and difficult things we have ever done. I have learned more from this little girl in the past few years than I have in my entire life. 

On Saturday, we invited our family over for a birthday celebration. In true Marin form, there was lots of pink packages and glitter tissue paper. She was given this adorable dress from a lady at church that her daughter wore 20-something years before. I think it's adorable. Marin's hair is also growing like crazy (finally) and she really needs a hair cut, but her dress is so cute. 

We brought in some chicken from Raising Canes and had other people bring sides of fries, beans fruit, pasta salad, cupcakes, etc. Raising Canes was the brilliant decision from my husband and I have been way too thankful to be eating chicken all week. It's so good. 

I barely got any photos taken because she moves quickly and so does our family. 

We don't have a baby girl any more. We have a little girl. Marin's vocabulary shocks me daily. She sleeps through the night. She drinks out of a big girl cup. Just this week, we dove once more into the land of potty training. It's finally clicking and I cannot believe it. She went poop in the potty last night and I've never been so thrilled about a bowel movement in my entire life. We haven't had a single accident and I'm so proud of this little peanut. 

I cannot wait to see what this new year brings for Marin. She will become a big sister to a new brother this summer. She will become a big girl and say good bye to diapers forever. This fall, we have enrolled her into 2 day a week preschool. I want to get her into dance class. 

We love you, Marin! Happy 3rd Birthday!! 

Baby Marin | Week Thirty Seven

Marin generally does well in a lot of different situations and is pretty chill when around a lot of people. I will forever be thankful for that. She is usually great in restaurants, at church, family gatherings. That is awesome. 

On Thursday, we celebrated my brother-in-law's birthday at the bowling alley. We had a blast and Marin was great the entire evening. When one of us was up to bowl, Marin would be handed to the next family member and hang out. Kind of a musical chairs situation and she loved it. She was up way past her bedtime but loved the commotion of the bowling alley. That is really awesome. 

Marin is currently napping away upstairs and I can't help but think how lucky we are to have been blessed with such a great baby. Seriously. We have our moments and melt downs but overall I couldn't ask for a more awesome child. This week, she has started to wave at everyone and everything. She is just starting to eat finger foods. We still have no teeth but she is still all smiles. 

Baby Marin. Week Thirty Seven.

Birthday BBQ 2013

We have quite a few August birthdays in our family. Mine is August 3rd. My man's is August 30th. My dad's is August 16th. So, this year, we planned a BBQ at our house for all three of us. It was a nice, chill time of hanging out with family, eating too much good food, and celebrating all three of us. 

My prego splurge for the day. I love coke in a bottle. 

Ryan grilling.

Family 

Get in my belly. 

Get in my belly, part 2. 

All of the men in the family. 

Earlier that day, we were also went in for our first ultra-sound. I feel like I'm just too huge already and wanted to make sure everything was looking good. We still don't know if it's a boy or girl, but I am measuring right along schedule and everything looks great. It was pretty crazy to see that little life on the screen, bouncing around like crazy. Definitely one of the coolest experiences for us as a couple.

Baby Hollen

I'm big. 

This year for was for birthday shoes. 

Time with family is good. Always good. I am fully ready to ring in being 27. If you haven't already, check out my new 28 Things Before 28 List. You can also find the link button on the side of this blog. 

28 Things Before 28

One week and one day ago, I turned 27 years old. I'm now closer to thirty than I am to twenty five. I feel like my years as a teenager are very far away now. My immaturities from that time in my life are only a small flicker in my life now. My past is my past. I don't think I've ever looked so forward to the future like I am now. Being pregnant puts everything into perspective and I'm scared to death about becoming a parent. This will happen while I am 27. 

Last year's list looks a tad sad. A lot of the things on here involved me doing things not pregnant. Oh well. I also didn't blog for a good chunk of last year and I had forgotten many things on the list. 

This was last year.....

1. Finish writing 5 songs. That’s a big deal. ( I finished four whole songs. I'm crossing this off.) 

2. Rock a two piece swimming suit with confidence.

3. Treat myself to a massage

4. Camp in a tent

5. Get another tattoo

6. Learn to knit (I will put this on my lists until I do it!)

7. Record another music project

8. Work through a few e-courses that have piled up.

9. Gain financial peace. Get out of debt once and for all.

10. Get pregnant.

11. Paint some walls

12. Not kill my garden (Big negative. I got pregnant and created a pile of weeds.) 

13. Have a picnic

14. Sew something. Anything.

15. Fly in a plane

16. Repurpose a piece of furniture

17. See a concert at Red Rocks

18. Go on a wine or beer tasting tour (Prego, no go.) 

19. Eat at 5 places we have never tried before.

20. Bake often. 

21. Have a girls night

22. Make breakfast for dinner

23. Finish reading the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King (This was my man’s idea)

24. Have a dinner party

25. Read 12 novels (I probably made it about half way on this one.) 

26. Re-grow out my hair (Definite no. I really chopped all of my hair off in April.) 

27. Take a road trip

Here's to a new year and a new list. It doesn't feel quite as ambitious, but I'm sure with a little one around, this will be more than enough. 

1. Buy more vinyl

2. Have a baby (Duh) 

3. Continue the great yard makeover on our pathetic lawn

4. Pay off all credit card debt (we are well on our way!) 

5. Go to the Drive-In or to a movie all by myself 

6. Bake a pie

7. Have a garage sale

8.  Rejoin a gym/New workout regime 

9. Read the Dark Tower Series

10. Lose the baby weight

11. Decorate the nursery 

12. Photo booth pics with my honey

13. Hang out with other moms

14. Go to the Roller Derby

15. Have a weekend away

16. IKEA Trip

17. 3 Day Juice Cleanse

18. Have breakfast at midnight

19. Make a bunch of frozen meals before baby's arrival

20. Try 12 new recipes

21. Project Life 

22. Do the Whole 30

23. Sip and Paint

24. Send out Christmas cards

25. Write a letter to an old friend

26. Make a photography website

27. Take better care of my skin- new routine 

28.  See a concert. (not including any gig we are involved in.) 

I am excited for this year and all that it brings. 

Ringing In Twenty Six

This weekend was good. I do believe that my twenty-sixth year will be the same. 

Breakfast at the Silver Grill with my parents. 

My new dress from my parents. I feel like a hip watermelon.  

Glorious summer nights  

Drinks with the best people ever. 

He prefers to drink whiskey from a measuring cup. We keep it classy, folks.



My weekend was full of good people. Vodka tonics. Drinking sangria on our porch. Staining front porches. Eating BLTs made with veggies that have are homegrown. My house is now clean.

I am ready to take on all the my 26th year has to throw at me.

27 before 27 list coming very soon.