A Sprinkle for Simon

When we moved, I didn't know how quickly and how wonderfully life would change.  Along with a beautiful new house, we have had the great fortune to meet some very kind new friends.  I knew a number of them before we moved, actually, but being in the same neighborhood as many of them has been such a refreshing change, and such a gift.

This weekend I had the honor of hosting a little baby "sprinkle" for one of these women.  It's her second baby, a boy named Simon due around the first of the year.  I know second baby showers are uncommon (at least in these parts!), but since none of us knew each other when we all had our first babies, it feels like we're going through this pregnancy stuff - including baby showers - for the first time together.

I had so much fun doing this for her.  And selfishly, I loved the chance to throw a little gathering in my new house.  I love it here and am proud to invite people over now.  I had a lot of help from my dear family and two other mutual friends - without them it would not have been so successful or fun (and it certainly wouldn't have been so tasty!).

Here are a few pictures of the day (well, okay, mostly the pictures are of the food :)

It was a lovely afternoon and I think everyone had fun.  We played two shower games, the Safety Pin Game, and a lively round of Baby Jeopardy!  My mom made her famous turtle cake, and people raved about it.  It really is the best chocolate cake in the entire world.  Thanks Mom!!

I hope I get to attend and host many more of these events in the future.  What a happy occasion to gather together and celebrate.

Can't wait to meet Baby Simon!

A Last Minute Party

Getting an invitation from good friends at the last minute is so much fun.  It turns an ordinary, normal day into something a little more special.  So we were excited to get invited to a little Super Bowl party at our friends' house last night.  I baked cookies and our talented host, Abby, created a fun mini pigs-in-a-blanket making activity for the kids, and also made fixings for homemade individual pizzas (Abby is quite the baker).

Eliza learned how to "put the pigs to sleep" in the blankets...

Then she and Vi got to work...

Then all three kids enjoyed a pre-dinner snack (so did the adults, because those things were YUMMY!).

After dinner, the kids did a little more playing, and then we headed home.  It was so sweet to see Eliza playing with her friends.  They are a little older than she is, and they are SO great with her.  They all seemed to have a ton of fun playing, and the adults had fun chatting and watching the Super Bowl (welllllll, two of the four adults, at least - some of us aren't as interested in football as others).

It was a fun evening!

Partay!

Eliza's party was today, and after a rough start to the day - refusing to nap, and she had a cold - the party was a success!  Our food theme was "dips", partly because the party was at 3:00 and I didn't want to serve a big meal, and partly because I was trying to avoid having to use forks (ended up still needing them, but oh well!), so we had guacamole and chips, devil's caviar (also for the chips), spinach and artichoke dip with crackers, baked brie and veggies and dill dip.  And then of course, there was dessert!  My mom made the most delicious chocolate w/salted caramel cupcakes, and hubby made the yummiest coconut-vanilla cupcakes.  I have to say, I could honestly not pick a favorite... so I had half of each.  Eliza loved her party, and was totally comfortable and happy even with all the people and noise and chaos (and without her nap) - she really is a trooper, so flexible and willing to go with the flow.

A few highlights from the day:

• As everyone was singing happy birthday, I was holding Eliza's little cake out for her with the little "2" candle lit... and I started to tear up just watching her and listening to everyone -- so many people who love and care for her, who have supported us for the last 2 years -- sing to her, to my sweet girl... it was so overwhelming and touching and I think it just hit me that she's TWO now, and really her own little person... very memorable.

• After she blew out her candle (she totally blew it out all by herself - haha it was pretty cute :) and everyone clapped, the room fell silent and Eliza just said "need spoon!".  HA!  The girl just wanted to dig into her cake!

• My brother gave Eliza a special little straw sippy cup in the shape of a bunny.  It is completely adorable and "leak-resistant" - and I have to say, it really is!  I will let you all know when it hits the shelves, it's a bit of a preview of an item that his team worked on (he's an engineer).  I was really touched that he thought to give one to his niece on her birthday.

• Eliza's Nana gave her a whole bag of gingerbread making supplies and other accessories for the Christmas season - it is so sweet!  There's a gingerbread house kit, lots of gingerbread cookie cutters (including the elusive gingerbread woman!), gingerbread cookie-making supplies, a sweet gingerbread-themed child-sized apron, and gingerbread man kitchen towels.  It was sweet because Eliza has really gotten into baking with her Dada, so it will be lots of fun for them (and I'll join in the fun too!).

• Oh!  And one from earlier this morning.  Hubby and I set up her play kitchen - her gift from us - last night after Eliza went to sleep and so when she woke up this morning we brought her over to it.  The look on her face was so so so sweet; I think I will remember it forever!  It was the face of pure toddler joy, and also a shy little look that said "really? this is for me?".  Priceless.  

• Eliza's voice got a bit hoarse by the end of the day - both because of her cold, and all the excitement, I think.  Bu that little voice talking like that was really cute.  Haha, is that horrible of me that I think my daughter's sick voice is cute??  It's a bit lower and all scratchy... I think it's adorable!

• My amazing hubby did SO much work today - not only did he make the cupcakes, he did almost all of the party clean-up, and I am so grateful.  I hate that part of the party - I love the setting up, the cleaning and prepping FOR the party, but afterwards it's such a letdown and all I want to do is sit on the couch (or in this case, sit down and play with organize Eliza's new play kitchen, food, and dishes!!).

The day was wonderful and I so soooooo appreciate every one of the family and friends who help make Eliza's life so rich and full of love.  Many of those people were at her party today, but due to space issues (i.e. we live in a shoebox of a house - but it's a cute little 900 square foot shoebox!), some of those people were not.  So, to ALL of you (you know who you are!), thank you thank you thank you.  We are amazingly lucky and grateful to have such a network of loving friends and family who support us in so many ways.  I hope someday I am able to have all of you in one room together :)

Photos to come!

Wordless Wednesday: A Visit from Patrick (and his parents, too!)

Meeting Old Friends

On Saturday we met some good friends at a local playground so our kids could play and we could catch up.  We all went to college together and now we all have kiddos, so it was especially fun to see our little ones playing together.  One flew in from California (or, rather, was here already visiting family, she didn't fly in to go to the playground with us!) and the others drove from just down the street (practically).  It was a wonderful evening of playing (after we waited out the rain shower that passed over us by huddling under a tree!).  There were seven of us who graduated from HU there, and between us we had six children.  Of course I didn't get photos of everyone or all of the HU babies - why didn't I think to do a group shot?

Eliza hangs out with Thomas - they are only two weeks apart!

Randy and Eliza play peek-a-boo!  

It is just so wonderful to watch your friends play with your child and make them smile, isn't it?.  Warms my heart.

Dana and Thomas - he is the smiliest toddler!

Randy introduces Eliza to baby Avery (not his baby - there was a lot of baby swapping going on!)

Eliza gets a mid-play cuddle and kiss from Dada

Isey is hard at work playing!

Got your toes!

Adults can have fun on the playground, too!

Mama helps Eliza on the... what the heck is this thing called, anyway?  It's not really a teeter totter...

Wish we could do this more often!

Weekend Recap

Warning: Photo heavy post!

We spent last weekend at the lake, and we had a great time, as usual!  The only downside was that Saturday was a dreary day, and it was the day we had friends coming up.  It looked like this for most of the day:

But that didn't stop us from having a fun day.  Our guests arrived - good, wonderful friends and their little guy (3 months younger than E), Isaac.  As soon as they arrived, everyone got right to playing inside the cabin.  Eliza and Isaac enjoyed using the daddies as jungle gyms, playing with Eliza's Thomas trains, and generally being crazy, cute toddlers.

Even though we were trapped inside for most of the day, we still had fun.  Eliza LOVES her friend Isaac.  She talks about him ALL THE TIME (she even said his name in her sleep one night!), so she was giddy having him there.  There was a lot of hugging, giving kisses, and, of course, some wrestling and some arguing over toys (they ARE still toddlers, after all, no matter how much they love each other!).

Handsome boy!

Eliza making her 'faces' for Dada :)

The babies enjoyed running wild and eating on and off all day (no highchairs at the cabin) - there were no real defined meals that day, and they didn't eat as well as they usually do, but we kept saying "meh, it's the cabin!"  We were all pretty relaxed that day!  Later on, the mommies took the babies to the park in town while the daddies cooked dinner.  Good trade, I say :)

Our friends left on Saturday night, and Eliza fell into bed - exhausted and happy - at 8:00.  The next morning, we went out to breakfast and then came home and relaxed.  I was still tired so I convinced Eliza to cuddle in bed for a bit when we got home (okay, I totally bribed her with nursing and reading books!).  

My mom came up later on and she and Eliza went out to the dock and watched Daddy fish for a bit.  Eliza said hello to the bait:

Daddy had to leave that evening and drive back to the city so he could work the next morning, but Eliza and I decided to stay another night with my mom so the girls could have some together time.  It was great!  We played in the lake a lot, throwing rocks and playing with her new toy boat (say that 10 times fast!).

My parents set up a hammock at the cabin and Eliza loves swinging in it.  She probably spent 45 minutes in it while Grandma swung her.

On Monday morning, Grandma took us out to breakfast (she had yet to try the new - and only - breakfast cafe in town) and then we went back to the cabin to hit the water one more time.  Well, actually, Eliza and Grandma went in and Mama stayed on the dock and took pictures.  Eliza rode on Grandma's floaty, though she wasn't too keen on it, so she opted instead to walk in the water and/or be carried by Grandma for most of the time!

It was another lovely weekend at our Shangri-La.  Good friends, family, food, and... as long as I'm on an 'f' trend here, I almost forgot: new futons to sleep on!  YAYYYYY!

Wordless Wednesday: Eliza and Isaac

July 2010:

July, 2011:

Weekend, Extended

We had a fabulous weekend at the cabin this weekend.  Good friends of ours came up on Saturday with their little guy (who is 3 months younger than Eliza) and we had a really fun day.  On Sunday, my mom came up.  Eliza and I stayed the night last night while hubby went home so he could work this morning, so the 'ladies' got a little cabin time, which was soooo much fun!  I haven't uploaded any photos yet, so I'll wait to do a better post until I can include pics of our weekend.

Right now, I want you all to go over to Missy's blog to congratulate her - she and her husband have a match!  They have been waiting to adopt for a while and their prayers have been answered today with the wonderful news that a birthmother has chosen them!!!  I have known Missy for three years and I have watched her go through so many struggles and heartache on her journey to motherhood - she was there for me during the hard times I went through, and then she celebrated with me when Eliza was born - even when  I know it was hard for her (and she sent me the cutest hat and booties that she crocheted when E was born).  I am overjoyed to finally be able to celebrate with her as it is now her turn to become a mommy; her baby girl is due the end of October!  Congratulations Missy!

A Birthday Party and a Big Surprise!

The first birthday party is over and the house it quiet.  Baby and hubby are both asleep and here I sit on the couch with my feet up.  So many thoughts are swirling around in my head - I can't possibly put them all down into words tonight...  My baby is a year old!  She is leaving babyhood and entering toddlerhood.  It's so surreal...

The party was so much fun.  It was just perfect.  And it was made even more perfect by my very best friend Ashley, who surprised me by flying in for Eliza's party all the way from CA.  I wish someone had gotten my reaction on video when she walked through my front door!  I was so touched that she flew all that way to help us celebrate.  It meant the world to me.  I have to take a moment (or a paragraph) to tell you about Ashley (and perhaps totally embarrass her, sorry Ash!).  She has been there for me through so much - college (we were roommates, for better or worse!), my wedding, grad school, pregnancy announcements, my miscarriages, the bad ultrasounds, the good ultrasounds... all of it.  And I will never forget how she took such great care of me (and Eliza!) when I visited her when I was 6 weeks pregnant (and totally scared and worried - this was pre-good ultrasound); she gave up her bed so I could be more comfortable, cooked for me (super nachos, yay!), stocked her fridge with decaf Honest Tea, took me out for dinner...she completely took my mind off of the worry that was threatening to eat away at me that week.  Most of all, she was so positive and so hopeful; there was no doubt in her mind that this was it, that this was going to be The One.  The day after I came home from visiting her, I had my first ultrasound, and Ashley was right: we saw that beautiful heart flickering away.  I sent her a copy of the u/s photo, and she hung it on her fridge.  And nine months later, she cried the first time she held my sweet baby in her arms, and so did I.  She had waited for Eliza all that time, too.  So, yeah... it was very meaningful to have her there to watch my baby turn one.  Thank you, Ashley.  You made a special day even more special by being here!

So, the party!  It was a ton of fun.  Eliza was a trooper and seemed mostly unfazed by allllll the people in our house oohing and ahhing over her.  And the poor thing woke up with a stuffy/runny/snotty/all-around-icky nose this morning, too.  Of all days to wake up under the weather!  :(  Poor thing.  But she seemed to enjoy herself in spite of it.  She got lots of fun gifts - a few new books, a sweet little plush doll, some cute new clothes, some bath toys, a couple of great toys that make all kinds of sounds and music (those are, I think, her favorites!), some blocks, and even a mini ball pit shaped like a turtle.  But most of all, she was surrounded by 14 people who love her so very much, and that made my heart swell.  She is one lucky girl.  Her daddy made a cake for her, and of course she LOVED it.  She even got into the present opening, and I wasn't sure she would.  But she helped open almost all of her presents, and when she found the fun things inside, she got even more involved - ha!

I'll write more when I get all the photos loaded from my camera.  It was a great day spent with wonderful family and friends, celebrating the life of one very happy and very loved little one-year-old.

Happy Birthday, Eliza!