Heaven on Earth

Daddy and Leia at Carmel Beach

The Monterey High Girls and their children

Suzie and Baby Girl Enjoying the Ocean

 I’m sitting here at Starbucks watching my sweet angel girl sleep in my arms. The smell of fresh coffee and the feel of this comfy chair are oh too familiar for me. A flurry of memories overwhelm me as soon as I step foot in this place. But this is the first time I can sit at Starbucks, order my chai latte and not worry about the impending doom of yet another college exam. Up until now, I associated Starbucks with the stress that accompanies cramming for my biochem midterm or studying every pharmacy-related book in anticipation of the Pharmacy boards. I can confidently say that working a full-time job as a pharmacist and caring for a 10-month-old is the easiest life I can imagine (relatively –speaking, that is).

Right now I am reflecting on all the right things that happened to me that lead me to where I am today. Did I realize all that studying would finally bring my dream of becoming a pediatric pharmacist to fruition? Did I realize when I met the man who would become my husband that I would wake-up to him every day thanking my lucky stars to be married to my best friend? Did I realize when I helped my mom and dad choose the house in Monterey in 1989 that I was choosing the house that my own children would be raised in? And did I realize when I was 14 years old, going out for hot chocolate with friends that I would end up at the same Starbucks watching my very own baby girl sleep in my arms? Funny how life works out, isn’t it?

Leia turned 10-months old this week and she amazes us more every second. We are so lucky that between our weekly Grandma Janice visits, James’ flexible school schedule and my random days off, we have been able to avoid putting Leia in day-care. Her happiest moments are spent reading, singing, and “fixing” everything. She is becoming such a sweet lady with her dainty princess wave and sweet singing voice. She is now able to crawl everywhere, stand-up, and walk (as long as she is holding onto something). She can say “Dadda”, “Momma” and “goggie”. Leia has very specific desires and hilarious idiosyncrasies, like eating tags and anything that is shiny, including door stops. She loves to ride her bike that her Grandma bought her for Christmas and her most relaxing time is spent being strolled to the park and back. I am still nursing her and I feel the older she becomes, the more attached she (and I) become to the nursing ritual. Unfortunately, our bonding ritual occurs every 3 hours all night long—I guess I didn’t read the part in the baby manual where it said train your baby to sleep by herself at 2 months old by letting her “cry it out” –I’m afraid I skipped that chapter (or ignored it, perhaps) and I bought myself a beautiful nightly bonding session. When the alarm clock rings at 5:30a, I remind myself that I will miss these sleepless nights when she is begging for her independence at 13 years of age. Until then, James and I will soak up every second of this pure bliss-of-a life and be happy to say we are the happiest and luckiest people on earth!