Happy Leap Day!

Skipped lunch today and instead got full on two of my favorite delicacies: ruffle butts and striped leggies.Cubby Bear still curls her toes like a newborn!!!
Relaxin' in the grass while she "reads" to me...

Spring

Signs of Spring in Our Home:
-the peeps have arrived (and mine are unwrapped and waiting on top of the refrigerator while they come to a proper "crisp")
-bunny hats on babies
-fresh tulips on the coffee table
-unveiling the Easter kitchen towels and rug
-replacing the black toss pillows with the floral ones...they make me smile

It Doesn't Get Any Better...

You know what's a Wonderful Thing? The Dollar Section at Target.
You know what's equally wonderful? Finding THIS in that dollar section:That's right, folks. They're animal crackers. But, not just any animal crackers. They're Honey-I-Shrunk-the-Animal Crackers. As if animal crackers weren't good enough, they're even better. They're the most miniscule animal crackers you've ever seen, but each miraculously still maintaining every bit of detail as its respective predecessor. Minis are delicious. And yes, I still save the cats for last, but in this case, they're kittens. Oh, and they're impossible for Baby to choke on.
I'm not enjoying the small things. I'm childishly amused by them.

SPC: [Blue, Week 4], Ink on My Fingers

I believe in writing letters--not e-mails, not texts--but hand-written letters.
I believe in fine stationery.
I believe in a good "muddy" gel pen with ink that slides onto paper like butter.
I believe in asking "Are there any cuter stamps than this?" at the post office.
I believe in searching for the perfect address label.
I believe in decorating the envelope with colored pencils.
I believe in "extra postage required."
I believe in teaching children to write a proper "Thank You."
I believe in "Love," over "Best Regards,"
I believe in Ink on My Fingers.

For delicious stationery, click here.
To splurge on fun stamps, click here.

For more on Self Portrait Challenge, click here.

Things that make you go "Mmmmm"....

"Mmmmmmm...." as in "Mmmmmm....Yummy Baby!"

She loves Mommy's piggies! Tries to eat them!
Two old ladies we've never met were standing behind me gushing... I think she knew they were gushing about her.
And the best for last:

Because We Can

Enjoying a sunny wagon ride in February...because we can.

Latte always likes to come along. Wild horses could not keep her away from the door the minute the word "walk" is mentioned. Usually, she sits in the basket below the stroller, but today she enjoyed a first class seat. That's why she's smiling.This one's for you, Emma.
And Brett picked out a "beer cooly" that would match his shirt. He's obsessed with coolies. Takes them to people's houses and everything.Instead of the "figure 8" route we usually take on our walks, we took the long route yesterday, visiting the back of our neighborhood and stopping at the lake to look for turtles. Latte only jumped out once to chase another dog. And, midway through our journey, I became entranced with a "porch" on a house. It had two big white wooden rocking chairs and a little table in between them, atop which rested a beautiful vase of pink tulips. I made Brett stop walking and look with me. "See that? That's where I would sit with my sister and drink coffee." Less enthused, he kept walking, but I had to stay for awhile, just standing there, looking at "my" porch. Oh, to have a porch.

Enjoying the Small Things...on a Fabulishous Friday

Here we are planting our lily bulb today for sweet, sweet Baby Lily who will become Lainey's pal in April when she arrives (our friends David and Kelly have waited for this baby for a LONG time, and we are so excited with them! Check out their incredibly touching story at Waiting for Lily). We love you Baby Lily and cannot wait to hold you! Lainey put some extra love in the pot so we know our lily will grow just as sweet as the real thing! The small things we enjoyed today: Oh, why the park again, of course! Blue skies, sweet sunshine and a baby as sweet as sugar! Doncha wish you could kiss her sweet cheeks through the monitor? I'll do it for you...and yes, she's every bit as delicious as she looks. She's dessert, I tell you! Dessert! Speaking of, my two-scoops-of-sweetness-with-a-cherry-on-top is chirping a sweet little melody from her crib right now. Ahhh...waking up from naps is delish. She sees me, she smiles, I smile. And it's lots and lots of Daddy time this weekend too. Pictures to follow, of course.

Loved

When I was seven years old, my mom bought me a pair of lavendar double velcro tennis shoes. I wanted them so badly, and when she caved and let me have them--beautiful purple ones, not sensible white lace-ups like most practical mothers would purchase--I remember feeling loved. And as I held my feet up to admire them in the back seat on the way home that day, I remember smiling. "She must really love me. She got me purple tennis shoes."

When Brett bought me my first piece of jewelry and waited with it behind his back as I stepped off the plane, home from my week-long trip to Michigan, I remember feeling it again. Loved. It was a heart necklace in white gold with little diamonds curled around the edges. Then I read the card and the sweet words that his lefty hand must have labored so hard to neatly write. I knew it then. "He must really love me. He got me a heart necklace."

When I was reading books to her tonight, watching her pudgy fingers trace the pictures, her lash-laden eyes looking up at me seeking my recognition; her toothy grin reassuring me that my presence is all she needs; her arm resting subtly yet oh so deliberately on my knee to keep me close, I felt it...tears. They come often these days, brought on by the smallest of things. For years, I was confused about God and the portrayal of Him as someone to be feared. Someone who demanded perfection. Someone who I thought of only as scary. out of reach. so far above me. But, now I know. He's right here. He gave me a gift so far valued above purple tennis shoes or diamond heart pendants. I know it now. "Wow. He must really love me. He gave me Everything."

I don't wear my spirituality on my sleeve so to speak, but it's deep down inside and I find more and more that by enjoying the small things, it resonates more vividly, more profoundly and more beautifully in every area of my life.

Hope my Cubby-cub touches your heart tonight too!

SPC: [Blue] Week 3

So many of my most delicious things come in blue.
And, get this: I got this picture in.....(drumroll, please)....One. Shot. Not kidding.

Hey Look!

Lainey made the cover of Parenting Magazine! Okay, maybe not, but she COULD!!! To make your baby into the next cover model, click here!

Ode to Pink

Back into the woods for more fun...
I'm on a crafty kick right now, sewing flower headbands and attaching big bows to her shirts. She needs a little hot pink beret in this picture. Oh, but look! One handed stand! She could take the gold in the Baby Big Girl Olympics!

Oh, the Places You'll Go...

And she's off. As Dr. Seuss said:

Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Congratulations, Today is your day;
You're off to great places,
You're off and away!

And, Will you succeed?

Yes, you will! Yes, Indeed!

98 and 3/4 percent, guaranteed!

Kid, You'll Move Mountains!

Saving the Cats

My Guilty Pleasure: Animal Crackers. And I save the best for last...the Cats. Yummy Kitties.

Today, I Just Feel...

...thankful. For happiness...for her health...for life being so much fun every day...for friends...for my family...for my hubby who held my hand today while we pushed the stroller around the neighborhood. I love these pictures. Smiling tonight...an ordinary day, but to me, nothing's ordinary.

A Dollop of Daisy

But now my own delights I make,
My thirst at every rill can slake,

And gladly Nature's love partake

Of Thee, sweet Daisy!

~William Wordsworth

Cliche, but...

...still had to do it. We had a tea party today in her new table and chairs.
"There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again." ~Elizabeth Lawrence
And, if those are 'eating the cake' then, these are 'licking the spoon':

I'll Take V-Day for $1000, Alex..

Thank you, Mom for making every little holiday a big deal growing up...you taught us well. Loving any excuse to make a regular day a special day. We used the "good" silverware last night. Candles, cloth napkins, pink bows, and lots of homemade heart-shaped cookies. I shall now retire the pink heart-stamped kitchen love towels. Sigh.

And our special Cupid-inspired Menu? Cilantro salad with crunchy noodles, garlic bread and Joel's recipe for AMAZING cream-sauce with shrimp over bowtie noodles (shallots, garlic, fresh parsley, sundried tomatoes...heaven!) And it simmered all day...delishioso!

Bonus: We didn't spend money on each other, and yet it was such a special day! Hand-written cards, a kiss, and an evening spent with all of us around the table. Yummy.

My favorite part? When everyone was laughing at Lainey while she ate, and she had a big smile on her face 'cuz she knew she was being funny. A bowtie noodle would go in her mouth and would come slipping right back out...the kids said it looked like a receipt coming out of a cash register, so every time she did it, they would say "Cha-ching! Sale complete!" and then everyone would roar...including her.

My Other Valentine

I love him...I do!

Happy Valentine's Day

Ooooo....chocolates? For me?
Delish!

Happy Valentine's Day!
My Laineybug: Every day is Valentine's Day when you're here...you fill the air with love! Cupid struck us good with you and I am forever thankful! Truly, your love is better than chocolate, your smile sweeter than candy, and your company more precious than all the roses in the world!

SPC [Blue]. Week Two.

The first time I wore it was the night she was born. I bought it special for that day...searched for weeks until I found the perfect one. I like the way the lace pleats into layers of pretty folds. I like the way the cotton feels when I slip it on straight from the warm dryer. I like the way the lace straps hug my collarbones. I like the way I think of that heavenly night every time I wear it. It's my 'new mommy' nightgown, it's blue, and it's my favorite.
For More SPC, Click here.

Having a Daughter...

...means there's never too much pink. I've been doing some photo work for Brett's dad over at their home and there's a spot where light hits in the morning that makes a perfect place to take her picture. We finally did this morning.

Sweet Sunshine

Wanna make it sweeter? Click on the picture to see my baby's pretty eyes get even brighter!