{keeper of memories}

I started a baby scrapbook for Lucy about 4 months ago. I got about 2 1/2 pages done before the project came to a halt. Ya know..I got busy...with baby stuff (I can use that as an excuse for everything for awhile, right??) Well...I finally had some time this week, so I busted through a lot more pages and I am really happy with how they've come out so far. (I apologize for the shoddy picture quality. I was lazy and didn't take the pages out of the plastic before photographing them...oh well)...

 {click images for larger view}

Who knows how long it will take me to finish the rest...but I figure it will happen eventually. It did take me about 2 years to finish my engagement picture scrapbook. Maybe I have too many projects going at once...hmmm...

{you are my little bird}

I was gifted a few CD's this Christmas...and I am in LOVE! They are all folk songs for children albums and they make my heart so happy every time I listen to them. I can see our family all listening to them as Lucy grows up and singing along together. Three of the albums are by Elizabeth Mitchell who has combined new songs with old and has put her own personal touch on each and every one. The songs are performed with banjo, guitar, clapping, and rhythm sticks. Her husband and daughter sing along on many of the tracks as well which is just the sweetest thing in the world. This is one of my absolute favorite songs off of her "you are my little bird" album...



Music is such a profoundly important part of a child's life. Even young babies listen attentively for the varying sounds and patterns in music and is such a beautiful learning tool for them. Lucy and I listen to music all day long together and I love the way she studies my mouth as I sing, and she will often start to "babble" or sing along with me.

Think of all of the music that gets passed down from generation to generation and all of the stories it carries with it. Think of how many children in the world a particular song has soothed, amused, or put to sleep. Think of how many families in the world have danced to these songs together. Music truly is a universal language. One that I certainly hope to pass on to my children....

If you need something to dance to...here's one for you from another album I received by the amazing Laura Veirs...

Enjoy!!

{joy}

Lucy's first Christmas was a roaring success. My heart is absolutely bursting at the seams with gratitude for how lucky we are to have such amazing friends and family. It's so easy sometimes to feel like you don't have it all together, like your house is messier than anyone else in the world, like you can't keep up and get it all done...but this is the time of year that really forces you to take a step back and make you truly realize all of blessings you have in your life. This year was no exception....

We spent the 23rd and 24th with my family in Cincinnati. My brothers were both there from Cleveland and NYC. We were very much missing my sister and nieces who weren't able to make it home from Aspen this year. They are always with us in spirit, of course.

We woke up at my parents house on Christmas morning, finished opening gifts, and then made the trip back to Columbus to spend the rest of the day with Zach's side of the family...

 

 There were 3 new babies at Christmas this year!

....and now another Christmas has come and gone. Zach and I are both off of work this week (!!) and we are spending these days together as a family and basking in the afterglow of the holidays. 

My heart is full.

{anticipation}

We sure are getting excited for Christmas around here...

I handmade a few of my gifts this year. Every year I say I'm going to do this...and time gets away from me and I never end up doing it. But this year I did...and I'm pretty excited about it. I'll have to wait until after the holiday to post pics since I don't want to give away any surprises here...!

All the gifts are wrapped and sitting so prettily under the tree...for one more night. Tomorrow we will be packing everything up and heading to Cincinnati to spend a couple of days with my family. I absolutely love how much my family genuinely enjoys spending time together. It makes my heart smile big time. It makes me feel so good to know that Lucy is surrounded by SO many people who love her to the moon and back...

Our bags are packed, and we're ready to go... 

Zach and I both have all of next week off of work. Both of us....a whole week! We still plan on taking the baby to daycare for the 3 days she normally goes (5 hours in the middle of the day). This way we can get stuff done around the house, I can get in some much needed crafting time, and we also plan on going on a fun afternoon date one day. Yes...I'll take it!

Well, in case I don't make it back to this space before Sunday... I want to wish you all a beautiful and joyous holiday. May there be love in your lives and peace in your hearts now and always.

{peppermint cupcakes}

I'm pretty sure I need to make these immediately....

{found here}

{Santa: take two}

Well, I wanted an authentic looking, white bearded Santa this time...and that's what we got. Success!

 

...and then I got scolded for taking my own pictures! oops.

In our defense...we did buy the professional ones too:) 

{Hi-lar-ious}

Do you have a 2011 baby?

Then this article might affect you.

Must read.

You will laugh. I promise.

See....here she is playing when she should be sleeping.

Oh well! 

We are going out to enjoy some holiday festivities downtown tonight. Lucy just might be meeting Santa....again. I'm hoping to snag a better picture this time. Is it wrong to say I just didn't love the way the other santa looked?!?! I've got my fingers crossed for a real white beard this time! 

I know we've got over a week left until Christmas, but I'm already getting sad that the holiday season is almost over. I wish I could keep my tree up for at least another month or two. All of my students have been playing/singing Christmas music since Thanksgiving and I love the way it fills the halls of our studio. Everyone is just so cheery and spirited and happy. It is such an infectious time of year. I always say that there's no reason for that spirit to end after the holidays are over, but I'll be the first to admit that January and February get especially tough at times. It's just so cold, and dark, and dreary....but this year we have our little bug to focus on and I have a feeling that she will pull us through with a smile on our faces. I also think my waistline might be happy when the holidays have passed.....jeans.fitting.a.little.tighter.now.....

oh well!!

...and on that note...I am off to make some truffles. yum. 

{repurpose}

How cool is this??

Now I just need to figure out which one of my talented friends 

I can hire to make this for us! :)

{tis the season...to be sick}

Today we are laying low and enjoying the holiday decorations...

 

If I could have it my way...this is how my house would look all year round. It really is the most wonderful time of the year, although I could certainly do without the cold weather....

We've been passing the plague around our house ever since thanksgiving. I started out with horrible allergies, which turned into a cold, which turned into a cough and a sinus infection (which is when I finally got put on an antibiotic). In the meantime, Lucy developed her first official cold (she now rears her head back in a screaming fit at the mere sight of the white bulbed "snot sucker" as I like to call it). Then this led to massive amounts of goop coming out of her eyes to the point where they were glued shut after naps. We thought maybe it was pink eye, but the doc says it's just cold related. In any case, it's been no fun. The good news is that despite all of this, it hasn't seemed to bother her all that much. On top of it all, Zach hasn't been feeling too great this past week either...

All I can hope for is that we're all feeling better by next weekend because we have oodles of holiday festivities to attend. So for now, we'll just lay low and enjoy the festive surroundings of our own home!

{6 months}

{I'm late on the monthly post (as usual)...but better late than never, right?!}

Dear Lucy,

My sweet little ladybug. I cannot believe we have already hit the 6 month mark. That means only another 6 months to go before you turn one! I don't know if I can really handle how quickly the time is going! I am just so in awe of you every minute of every day. You have such a beautiful and vivacious personality and it is absolutely infectious. Your smile melts my heart every single time and reminds me of how lucky and honored I am to be your mother. I have always wondered what my purpose on this earth truly was...and now I know.

We have become so attached to each other since you came into the world. I truly believe we were made for each other. I love the way your eyes light up when I come into your room early in the morning. I love the way you laugh when I make funny faces and sing you silly songs. I love the way you talk and coo at me as if you are telling me a story. I love the way you listen so intently when I talk to you or read you a book. I love the way your wriggle around in excitement every time the dog brushes up against you. I love the way you flirt with yourself when you see yourself in the mirror. I love the way you look so concerned when I sneeze or cough or cry. I love the way you use your hands to explore every feature on my face when I lay down really close to you. I love the pure joy it brings you when I lay you down for "naked baby time" on the floor.

You love to explore, and you LOVE to eat! You love rice cereal, avocado, and bananas most of all so far. You also love when I give you Mum Mum's because then you can feed yourself. And not only food...BUT absolutely anything that you can get your hands onto goes directly into your mouth. We sure do have to start being more careful about what we keep laying around and where we put you down. You still have that beautiful toothless grin, but I know that a couple of teeth are on their way. This makes you quite cranky sometime, but I can certainly understand why! Thankfully, even with as much as you love food, you also still love to nurse. I love still having those moments in the day where we both have to stop what we're doing, and it is just you and me.

There are often moments that I find myself wishing I could live in forever. For example: we have both been feeling a bit under the weather for the past week. I have a sinus infection and you have your first little cold. You seemed to be feeling particularly yucky a couple of days ago. You simply wanted to be held all day long. I took you to the doctor with me so I could get an antibiotic and you were such a good girl. We came home and sat down on the couch together. You laid your head on my chest and stayed there for over an hour and a half. You were wide awake, but hardly moved or made a peep. You just laid there all snuggled in complete contentment as I read and sang to you. At one point, I literally had tears in my eyes. You are just so sweet and my love for you is overwhelming sometimes.

I will admit, some days are definitely harder than others, and I certainly don't claim to have this whole motherhood thing totally figured out (I imagine I never will), but I do know that I have never been happier and that every day with you is an incredible adventure. You have proven to be my greatest teacher and I am so grateful for every lesson of patience, love, and humility that you have passed to me thus far.

It is really hard to think about the fact that someday you will be a teenager, and sometimes you will think you hate me, and sometimes you will feel like you'll never be able to forgive me for not letting you stay out late with your friends. I keep thinking about how many times I've heard from my parents "you will understand someday when you are a mother", and it is SO TRUE. and then I think about how many times I am sure to say these same words to you as you grow up...but it really is just all part of the cycle....

Here I am getting way ahead of myself again (I do that a lot). For now, I will just enjoy these fleeting moments I have with you as my little baby girl. You are my heart and soul, sweet one...and I love you to the moon and back (and there and back again!)

All my love,
Mama

{ipads for babies}

She has expensive taste....

I think we're in trouble!