Carrot Birthday Party

For Lizzy's first birthday I did a carrot theme. Carrot invite, carrot outfit, carrot cake, and a touch of carrot decor. The invites were actually very easy to make. I printed the text directly onto scrapbook paper and then cut out the rest of the shapes and glued on. I had a photo of her eating a carrot which completed the theme.

Lizzy was so tiny when she was born I took photos of her next to a toy glow worm that was Eric's as a baby to serve as a comparison. I continued to use it as a constant until she got too busy to pose so I decided to do a little feature on the mantel of each month of her with that glowworm.

The adults got carrot cake and coconut cupcakes from Dessert First and I made a giant carrot cake cupcake for Liz.

The carrot onesie is from Target online and the carrot legwarmers are from Etsy (they have carrots on the thighs).

Elizabeth is One

Dear Elizabeth,


Today you are one. We made it, kiddo – you and me. I can’t pretend this hasn’t been a tough year but despite the challenges, I wouldn’t change a single second of my time with you. You are mine, all mine, and I love your sweetness, your goodness, and your tenderness.

You have been the most even tempered, sweet girl – especially as a little baby, you loved to be held. We could hold you for hours and you would sit quietly and cuddle in our arms. Even though you are mobile now, you are still most content when someone is holding you or near you.

I love how you have smiles for everyone, even strangers but you still save your true excitement for us by kicking your legs and making your happy squeals and squawks. I love that despite your even temperament, you are fiercely independent and you know what you want -- whether it be the most expensive formula at Target, puffs, or bread.

It has been a joy to watch you grow and become the perfect fit for our family. Life has gotten so much better now that you are here to complete us. I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.

Love,

Mamma

 

Climber

So....I guess we'll be taking the side off the crib.

Dinner Together - You Have No Idea

I am a very creative person, however, that creativity does not extend to the kitchen. While cooking, my perfectionism takes over and I follow the recipe with such strictness that my ability to improvise is paralyzed. I do not substitute, I do not change ingredients, I follow all timings and measurements exactly. Well, most of you know how well this usually works…


But on Sunday, I was like a cooking hero (well, for me anyway). I used ingredients on hand and made a meal WITHOUT a recipe that – get this – everyone in the family ate at the same time. A first for us.

All four of us have eaten dinner at the same time since Lizzy has been born, but we have never all eaten the same thing at the same time. It was wonderful…it was bliss…it was poetic…well, until Lizzy took like eight bites of food and then refused to eat anything else and Sydney ate all of the carrots and green beans and then insisted she didn’t like chicken or pasta (a staple of her first two years). But for those first five minutes…it was awesome.

This is us.

Sydney wanted to wear her hat during dinner...I've learned to embrace it. :)

Lizzy has a cold and a near constant runny nose...I've learned to embrace it. :)

 clean plate club!

Sydney's plate - she ate all the veggies...no carbs...whose daughter is this?!



What Did I Make?

steamed carrots and green beans

chicken breast chunks

noodles

Philly Cooking Creme

for me, this is cooking...

My Little Adult

Every stage Sydney is at in my new favorite - but lately, she has been such a blast - her vocabulary has exploded and she is my little adult. A few of my favorite sayings are below:

1. While holding her finger to her chin, "Let's stop and think."
2. "I already took a nap". (of course she hasn't)
3. "Stop Richard! That's not yours!"
4. "Um...I think so."

I got that last one on video.

Eating Alone

On Saturday my hair appointment got pushed back but I had already left the house so I had some time to kill. I decided to grab lunch...by myself. As an extrovert, hanging out by myself is not something I’m accustomed to – I much prefer the company of others. I’m convinced dining alone is an art form. Where do you sit? What do you do? Where do you look?
All I had with me was my phone and while it has a Kindle app I decided to unplug and enjoy the quiet. I ordered some candy cane tea which was delicious…and I sipped it and looked out the window. I tried not to stare at the other patrons (classic rookie mistake) and I thought…about my family, the true meaning of Christmas…how I was going to cut my bangs…it was bliss.

croque monsieur with sweet potatoe fries

Lizzy Eats!

I few months back I expressed concern to our pediatrician that Lizzy wasn't embracing solids...well...at all. She referred me to a program called Birth to Three and we've gotten some awesome one-on-one help from an occupational therapist. Lizzy has been doing much better and while solids are still a struggle, she is making progress. Well, tonight we made a break through and discovered the secret to get Lizzy to eat...