Happy Mail

February 11, 2014 by Summer

It’s always so nice getting things, other than bills in the mail. Today some birdies flew in from Northern California and Kansas. I think I mentioned the Birdie project a few weeks back but let me elaborate since they are now seeming to be flying in to my mail box weekly. I have this wonderful group of Mama’s from all over the world who decided it would be fun to show our love and support for one another and make something for each other, a kind of chain mail project of sorts. We all make 14 birdies, keep one for ourselves and then send out the other 13, one for each Mama. I will hopefully end up with 14 birdies of my very own from all over the world in just a few weeks. We loosely used this pattern. Once we get all of the birdies it will be up to us how we decide to hang and display them.

Here are all of the birdies I have received thus far, including my own birdie.

It’s a joy receiving these little birds in the mail. Each one hand-made with love from a mother just like me, mothers I have been conversing with for over half a year through the internet. Mothers that have become dear friends to me. Each bird has come with a handwritten note and sometimes an inspirational quote. Something to lift me up for that day.

This week, I not only received these lovely birds but one of the wonderful, sweet Mama’s sent a whole care package, complete with birdie, chocolate, an original piece of art she had done and even a book for Ellie. It made my heart swell just to see it all!

I am certainly feeling the love. Happy Mail, indeed.

Weekending

February 10, 2014 by Summer

We are very much on the upswing of this bug. Only the cough seems to be lingering now. We all stayed well hydrated this weekend and finished up Daddy’s homemade chicken soup. Nana and Papa spent most of the weekend with us. Papa and Daddy fixing up the car that my In-laws will drive while they are in California. Ellie and Nana playing and reading and enjoying each others company. Mama catching up on laundry and dishes and cleaning. Sunday we felt Ellie was well enough to spend an afternoon down by the beach. She was overjoyed being outside again and not cooped up in the house. We then took a walk down to see the seals in the town my In-laws are staying. One seal had just given birth and there were several more nursing their little pups. It was really neat watching them. We got to watch the train go by as well. One of Ellie’s favorite things to do these days.We ended the night with Thai takeout and a nice drive home with a happy baby. A lovely, fun evening for all of us.

-joining Amanda at The Habit.

Portrait Project

February 8, 2014 by Summer

6/52

eloise: I didn’t take many photos at all this week. You came down with the worst cough and cold you’ve ever had. It’s been a very rough fews days and nights. This photo was one I took for your 18 month shoot. You can see the cold already creeping up in your glassy eyes and rosy cheeks. Get better soon little one.

-joining Jodi for the 52 project.

{this moment}

February 7, 2014 by Summer

“A single photo. No words. Capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

-joining Soulemama.

18 Months Old!

February 5, 2014 by Summer

Weekending

February 4, 2014 by Summer

The Good news: Nana and Papa are here from the east coast.

The Bad news: Ellie has come down with a yucky cough and cold.

Hoping she gets better quick so we can enjoy the days with the grandparents a whole lot more.

Portrait Project

February 1, 2014 by Summer

5/52

eloise: An action shot for this week’s portrait (because it’s getting harder and harder to catch just your face these days). We were back at the beach this week. It was cooler this time around, finally feeling a bit like January. These days you have been very busy, very sensitive and needing to be very close to Mama at all times. Except when I take you to the beach. You run carefree. Your face lights up as you chase the birds and run down to the waters edge. You squish your toes in the sand and exclaim, “more, more, more!”

-joining the lovely Jodi for the 52 project!

{this moment}

January 31, 2014 by Summer

“A single photo. No words. Capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.” – joining soulemama this Friday! Happy Weekend!

Toddler Teeth

January 28, 2014 by Summer

Long nights. The pain of new teeth coming in disturb my already very light sleeper. She whimpers and rolls closer to me, sometimes needing Mama’s milk to settle her body again. The days can be a whirlwind of emotions. Happy to paint but only with a paintbrush. Angry when the finger paints go back into the drawer, even though not a finger would touch them two seconds before. She wants to be close to me but bats my hand away when I try to gently brush her bangs out of her face. It’s hard, this dance we do when things get rough. I want so badly to take the uncomfortableness away, to cuddle her up or enjoy our day, but she has fight in her. She wants all of me and to be left alone at the same time. I carry my weepy girl upstairs. She wants her Pink Baby and her Bunny and her Napping Blanket. I get them as she sits on the bed waiting for me in all her sweet toddler glory. She scrunches her jaw and pats her cheek where those molars are breaking through. I give her a gentle glance and she curls up with me, nursing to sleep. An early nap time for this growing girl.

* It’s been awhile but my goodness that felt good. Joining Heather today with JUST WRITE, “an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments”.

Weekending

January 27, 2014 by Summer

Not the most productive or fun weekend we’ve had. In fact, on Saturday I came down with a full-blown migraine that left me upstairs recovering in a dark room for the rest of the night. I hadn’t had a migraine in years so this really knocked my socks off. Sunday we bought new baskets at the farmers market that I had been hoping to gather for organizing Ellie’s toys with. And we got some of this years seeds planted too, which was exciting. My parents were with us for part of Sunday and Ellie enjoyed watching Gramma fix my sewing machine before bath time. Now off to an early bed time for me. How was your weekend?