Darla's Mom

We set about getting this Darla her passport today because she has a list of places in the world she wants to see. We were in line for three hours and 45 minutes, but we’re treated ever so gently by the Van Nuys passport staff, including a nice lady named Aja.

This would not have been possible without the law offices of Andrea Caster who looked up my custody order and both emailed it to me and sent me a certified copy. So now we wait 4 to 6 weeks.

Also, I’m tired. Sitting in the sun is exhausting and I’m very glad that I always keep Folding chairs in my trunk.

Karla asked if I would take her to universal today. I said of course and then when I went to my Apple wallet, I realize that our passes expired last week. But because I haven’t let 30 whole days pass yet I called and they gave me 15% off of each of them now here we are. I stopped at the city walk Hello Kitty Cafe and the lemonade was very good but not child friendly. The cake however was! Now I’m sitting inside Universal Studios while the kid hunts down a Mac and Cheese cup.

I am switching cameras and my iCloud is stuffed with photos. I am sending them here before deleting .

Fierce

Play Cousins, real friends

They have been friends since the little one joined us Earth side.

Darla does not have an Instagram account, but she does like to take pictures of her food. This is from the coffee shop called yonder in Northridge.

Our days of driving to Northridge together our numbered as she starts to wrap up her middle school career.

"It was a dark and stormy night" is how her birth story begins, 5 minutes later she was in my arms. I unwrapped the chord from her neck and she pinked up. Fire department and police officers arrived shortly after and I’ve never seen so many scared men in my life.

As we were wheeled through the rain and between claps of thunder out to the ambulance the paramedics asked "What is her name?"

I’m torn, I told them. Bob has always been my favorite name, so maybe ‘Roberta’ like her aunt Roberta Nelson?

Or, so her initials match her dad’s, "Darla" and she’ll be my own little DC.

Together the men shouted "Darla!" And so that’s how I chose.

Her father went back to bed and we were driven to Arcadia Methodist Hospital (now Arcadia USC) where we were out I. The room named for a family member of one of my favorite teachers, Mrs Lucas.

And that is the birthday story of Darla Catherine Ducky Nelson.

Happy 14 Miss Ma’am. Someday people will call you "Ducky"

I love you and I’m lucky to be your parent through stormy nights and sunny days. Also Darlasmom.com will always be funny to me!