MY HIGH SCHOOL REUNION || 10 YEARS (!!)

Charlotte and I + 8 week old Effie.

This week I attended my high school reunion. It also happened to be the hottest day of the year in Portland at a sweltering 101 degrees. I'm not sure if my brain started to get fuzzy from the wine, marathon social interaction, dehydration or a combination of all of the above. But when beads of sweat are dripping from your entire body as you try and navigate relationships from your past, you just got to go with the flow.

I think I need to preface my experience with a short explanation of St. Mary's Academy (or SMA, as we affectionally call it). As you can probably tell by the name, it was a Catholic college prep school. It was relatively small with about 150 girls in my class. Oh yeah, and it was all girls. Yes, I am the proud product of an all-girl's catholic prep school. Do I get a badge or something?

SMA was a unique experience and I definitely wouldn't change it for the world. There are, of course, the misconceptions of what it is like that one needs to answer every time your high school days come up. "No we didn't have a uniform unless you count sweatpants, and no everyone wasn't a lesbian". If anything the school was challenging and pushed us all to become powerful female leaders. But besides all that, my favorite part was the lifetime friendships that I made and the fact that we are all still close to this day. I am happy to be apart of this tribe of women.

Trying to act cute and not like it's hot as hell.

I didn't have exceedingly high expectations going in to the reunion, although I was more stressed out and anxious than I thought I was going to be. Partly because I have literally no clothes that fit me right now, I'm breastfeeding, and my hormones are still up and down. But it turned out all right like most everything does, with the exception of the temperature, and I ended up having a great time. Sitting on the periphery and looking around you could see that some people lost weight, some gained, (ahm...myself included), everyone now knows how to do their make-up, and there is one or two people that you swear you have never seen in your life. So all in all a pretty typical high school reunion.

Major milestones in our lives sometimes not only mark the next chapter but guide us to the small memories we have bookmarked back in the far reaches of our brain. Personally, I know when I saw that invitation and realized it had been 10 years since high school I was a little shocked. It seems like it was only yesterday that I walked in though the doors and like any teenager, probably started complaining about something.

I think what surprised me the most was that confronted with the past I was able to see my own personal growth. I am in some ways still the exact same person, painfully introverted, but now I know that is who I am. So in a way I am at peace with it and no longer have the teenage angst surrounding how I feel in a big group of people or during conversation. There is this idea when you are young that one day you will find yourself and who you really are, but now most of the way through my 20's I know that everyone is just constantly evolving.

Sometimes in the slough through life we are just trying to get through the day (especially with kids) and we never take time to reflect on how far we have come, both professionally and with family. I'm not sure what my answer would have been at 18 if you would have asked, "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?", but I think I would have been very pleased with the actual outcome.

<3 from our last day

So here's to 10 years 2006!

xoxo,
Kevlyn

LONG TIME NO SEE || REAL TALK

I almost don't know how to start this blog. I feel embarrassed (even if it's unwarranted). I keep asking myself why it is so hard to keep consistently producing content. My last post here was literally 6 months ago and then only a link to my YouTube channel. The channel faired a little bit better as I was able to keep making videos until about 2 months ago (You can check out some of the more recent videos: Andromeda's Totoro Themed Birthday party HERE or Karl's attempt to do my make-up HERE). But even that has tapered down to nothing and it's difficult to not be hard on myself.

Can you believe this one is 2??

And then I remember, I JUST HAD A F**KING BABY. Why do I keep comparing myself to all these people that do this for a living? They pitch their lifestyle in daily vlogs or perfectly posed pictures done with a $$$ camera or professional photographer. Why, oh why, do I keep comparing myself to them? I hate the current trend with obsession of personality which is why I deleted my Facebook. Your brand is a narcissistic reflection of you. I think I'm so annoyed by it because its so hard to avoid being drawn into it. Human nature is a bitch.

Big Sis meets Little Sis

Let me give myself some real talk for a second.... You have a two year old whirlwind of a toddler. You have a new 8 week old baby girl. You are exclusively breastfeeding and it is HARD. You are only just starting to get into a routine and your husband just went back to work so you are all by yourself. In three short weeks you are going back to your full time job as an engineer who is the breadwinner of her family. So you can't be the coolest blogger/youtuber/guru ever. GET OVER IT.

It's ok to be average and not a special snowflake. In fact, more people should probably embrace it. They would be a lot happier.

So honestly I don't really know the point of this post or what the future of the blog is. I want to continue it I really do, but at the same time I have a life crammed completely full and I want to be present for all the ups and downs of that as well. I don't really know if I have any goals, and I don't know if I want to set any. I think my favorite thing about blogging or making youtube videos is the chance to look back on that fleeting moment in my life, and I have to remember that when I feel the pressure to conform or perform. But I think I like those memories so much that it's so hard not to try and pick up the baton again.

I guess I just wanted to get my thoughts down on the page, or in the cloud, or whatever. It has been hard to find my niche when I am still trying to find myself. I hope to post my thoughts or glimpses of my life here. Maybe every other week. Maybe once a month. We'll see.

xoxo,
Kevlyn

PALM SPRINGS VACATION!

We had the best time in Palm Springs hanging by the pool and playing in the sand.  Andromeda demanded to go to the pool every day as soon as she woke up. We also got to go hiking in Joshua Tree National Park which was beautiful. Can't wait to go back in the future!

AN UNEXPECTED WEEKEND || KBakerSquared Vlog #16

Sometimes life is all about living in the moment and letting your weekend unfold before you!

Update || KBakerSquared YouTube Channel

Hey guys & gals!

Yes, it has been awhile since I've updated this most neglected of blogs. At one time it was well tended, but alas it has fallen along the wayside along with a good portion of my time and sanity. Those things that you lose once your infant transitions into toddler hood. And with the exciting news that we will be welcoming a new addition to the Baker family in late June (see my previous post), my time spent with you is about to get much shorter.

...HOWEVER, Karl and I have started a new YouTube channel and are faithfully uploading weekly videos (often vlogs) of our day to day. So if you'd like a better update on what we are up to make sure to check it out! Click the link below to subscribe :)

EXCITING NEWS! || Pregnancy Announcement :)

9 months // little leprechaun

Baby girl you are 9 months old! I can't believe that you have now spent more time in the world outside of me than in. 

Everyday we notice a new skill, surprising, exciting, and bittersweet. You are on the brink of being truly mobile, although we have already begun baby proofing. You are able to roll almost anywhere and have just began to army crawl. You love to hold onto mom and dad and show off how well you can stand up! Sitting is easy and you love to kick your legs.

"Ma", "da", "ba", are just some of your babbles that are becoming more and more like really words and speech. You love to copy intonation and are definitely practicing with your volume!

You flirt with strangers all the time, acting coy, but we can tell you love the attention. Using your gestures is great fun, pointing at everything that interests you, clapping, and waving "bye-bye".

You love to read books and help mommy and daddy turn the pages. Daddy also taught you how to blow raspberries. Your favorite foods are blueberries, strawberries, avocado, broccoli, and spinach.

The best development for mom and dad is that you sleep through the night! (Most of the time anyway) 

We love you so!

Xoxo

Mommy