Happy Mother's Day/ Happy Birthday

Yesterday was quite the fitting Mother's Day as I shared the day with Stella and her 2nd birthday. With baby #2 due in August, I have done a lot of reflecting on how different my life has become. I once heard somebody say that having a child was like putting arms and legs on your heart and letting it run loose, and that couldn't be more true.

The hubby had asked me if I wanted a "day away" for Mother's Day. Not that I would leave Stella on her 2nd birthday, but hubby said I could cash it in later. I have to admit, I did consider this at first. But then I got to thinking, what sense is Mother's Day without spending time with those that made you a mother? Of course, we all need a day off but it seems to me that this day should be a day where I celebrate my mother and my own role as a mother.

With Stella waking me up at the usual pre-7 a.m. hour, we snuggled in bed for a bit and then went into the kitchen to make a batch of pancakes which was the birthday girl's special request. My parents were in town for Stella's big day, so we all got to eat breakfast together and spend some time as a family. Stella was attached to her grandma which I thought was sweet for the both of them. I did get a gift from her (thanks to day care) and a card (thanks to hubby) in between all of the birthday wrap for Stella. It was a precious little key chain (Stella had to correct me when I thought it was a bracelet) with her picture at the end. The mid-morning sun then prompted us to go on a walk to the park where we all enjoyed the slides. I got to spend some time in the shade while Stella enjoyed the swings with grandpa.

I did take advantage of Stella's nap time with a little siesta. We went to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner to celebrate a combined birthday and Mother's Day. Stella was an angel through an abnormally long dinner, and that was a gift all in itself.

With wonderful days such as this, I feel honored to be a mom. It makes me grateful to have Stella as well as my own mother close to me. Maybe in future years, I will take hubby up on that "day away" but for now, I am enjoying the time I have at home with Stella, not just on Mother's Day, but any day that I have with her. I can;t believe two years has already gone by. I have a feeling I will be saying that ten years from now as well.

Whether it involved sleeping in, a day at the spa, or some quality time with your kids, I hope all of you haute moms enjoyed your special day.

A Year and a Half Milestone!

I cannot believe that a year-and-a-half has gone by already.  It seems like just yesterday when I started blogging about how much my life had changed.  There are so many things that have are different and strangely, many things that are not.  The important things in your life as a person no longer hold true as a parent.  Each day I wake up with one thing in mind, my daughter. How has time gone by so quickly?

Here are some of the things Stella has taught me in the past year and a half:

• You don't know love until you have a child.
• Each day is a new day of discovering and learning. 
• You can never start getting ready to head out too early.
• Sick days are no longer reserved for when you get sick.
• A clean house is no longer the same as a tidy house.
• There is no end to laundry...or dishes...or taking the trash out.
• It doesn't matter how haute you look; sticky fingers can change that in a heart beat.
• No job can ever prepare you for being a mommy.

Being a mother has opened up my world in so many ways. I only have Stella to thank for all of the ways I have grown in the past year and a half!  Happy 18 months Stella!

I Will Wine...I am 35

Today is my 35th birthday and I am off to Napa with the hubby for a couple days of wine tasting. Stella is staying with grandma and grandpa in the Bay Area where we have been since Friday. After a seven hour road trip with my poor little walker (not as easy as it used to be) I am ready to relax and wine-d on down.

This is the first trip to Napa that I have taken with my husband and I am excited to visit some of our favorite wineries, many of whom are hosting us for complimentary tastings and tours. I have been welcomed by some wonderful people, one who is a fellow haute mom. I will be meeting her personally, and she is not only the owner of one of the wineries but has also agreed to do an interview for this blog! I can't wait to share more about the wineries when I return.

So, after celebrating with my family last night, I look forward to a very beautiful and lazy Sunday in the wine country. As always, it will be difficult leaving miss Stella behind but I know she is in good hands. Will the guilty feeling of traveling without her ever go away? I will have much to share when I get back as well as some words of advice from a fellow owner of a wonderful winery! Hope all of you haute moms are having an equally wonderful Sunday!

Stella made me a birthday cake at day care!

Stella's First Birthday - A Haute Mom Never Does It Alone

I know all us haute moms dream about the grand 1st birthday party that we are all going to throw our little ones.  It is natural for us since, as haute moms, we thrive on party planning.  And not just any old party planning, but THEMED party planning!  Secretly, I started months ago when I bought a hot pink zebra birthday banner for Stella from Bannerparty.  I couldn't draw myself away from the sassy hot pink and zebra print in the banner - I felt it was a definite match for Stella's personality.

After the theme was decided, I just couldn't help myself.  My hubby thought I was "getting a little nuts" with the zebra print and hot pink but I shrugged him off as we haute moms do and continued on my merry planning.  We decided to have the party at our tiny little house even though we were expeting about 40 people to come.  My hubby was in charge of cleaning and I took care of the rest.  We invited friends and family and were shocked at the turn out! 

Etsy was a HUGE help in finding matching decorations and items.  Kenzy Bug supplied hot pink zebra gift bags, matching tutus, and even a matching tank top and bows for me and the family.  Her stuff was DARLING and reasonable!  I bought matching cupcake toppers from Get The Party Started that were seriously one of the greatest things I have spent money on in a long time.  The toppers had different messages on them and, of course, fit right in with the theme.  She had so many cute things to buy for themed birthdays but I had to restrain myself.  They came super fast too!  Last but not least, I have to mention the cupcakes.  I got them from Delightful by the Dozen, a local cupcake maker who has the most delicious cupcake AND they deliver! She had a fantastic choice of flavors and she even dyed some of the frosting hot pink to go with the colors!

All in the all, the party was fabulous and we were surrounded by our closest friends and family.  Stella even got to meet her great-grandfather for the first time which, to me, was the best present yet.  Take a look at some of the pictures, and pay close attention to Get The Party Started who has generously agreed to give all Haute Mom followers 15% off a purchase if you enter the code "HAUTE" at checkout!  Kenzy Bug will give all followers a 20% discount if you mention Haute Mom at checkout or send a conversation prior to ordering mentioning this blog. How haute is that?  Party planning anyone?

The birthday girl

Stella and her great-grandpa greeting the birthday zebra.

Gift bags from Kenzy Bug

Cupcakes and those FABULOUS toppers from Get The Party Started

 A closer look

The start of it all - the zebra print banner by Bannerparty

"Going nuts" according to hubby

Stella - The First Year : homemade banner (can't you tell?)

This wasn't me "going nuts" - this was from grandma (I guess that's where I get it)

Stella was a little...uh...overwhelmed when we sang "Happy Birthday"

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Haute Mom Dilemma #43 -Where's the Party

Boxes have been arriving for weeks, full of gifts, favors, and decorations. I haven't seen my UPS man this much since my husband and I got married. As of Thursday, various guests have been coming into town. The invites were sent out weeks ago.
We have all the ingredients for a large event but nobody is getting married. It's Stella's 1st birthday party.

Her big day was actually yesteday (yes I know, Friday the 13th, I thought about that minutes after she was born). We took her to Disneyland and then had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants with grandparents and even her great grandfather. She got a sandbox from us, a "big girl" car seat from my parents, and fun sand toys from her Uncle Jordan. The best gift was my grandfather driving out from.Arizona to meet Stella for the first time.

The rest of the family and friends will be celebrate today at her birthday party. This is definitely a bittersweet feeling for me. A combination of pride for all her accomplishments and sadness that my little baby is growing up with such speed it makes my head spin. I am so happy and melancholy I don't know whether to laugh or cry. So I've been doing both.



I have some great giveaways in honor of Stella's 1st birthday and will be posting them soon, along with all the details of the fiesta in the next couple of days. Since I have family in town (you all know how that is) my time seems to be more limited than usual.

Have a great weekend and happy birthday to my Stella!

Crown 1 year old for the weekend!

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