Eloise’s Monthly Photo

September 5, 2013 by Summer

13 months is here already! My little girl is no longer a baby these days. She is a full-blown toddler and yesterday took her first real steps. (I say real because she’s been taking a step here and there, but never 7 or 8 like she did last night). Very exciting toddler things happening in our house, very exciting! This very busy 13 month old has also been teething like crazy and sleeping like she doesn’t want to miss ANYTHING (which means we are all very sleepy around these parts). But, she’s oh so busy learning about the world and it’s so neat seeing her brain in working and learning mode. She likes dumping things and throwing things and putting things into things (one of her favorite past times is taking all the laundry out of the basket and then putting it all back in again, repeat, repeat, repeat. We’ve been putting on more classical music for her and she seems to be enjoying that, but does not like when anyone sings specific sad songs (like Taps or When You Wish Upon A Star). She loves swimming at our friend’s pool, throwing sand out of the sandbox and pushing chairs all over the house. She shows her frustrations through clenching her fists and glaring and will certainly let you know if she doesn’t like something. She cuddles in the morning, waves at people in Target and calls out for “Dada if she’s not ready to go to sleep at night. She’s been on a reading binge too which we like. She will bring Daddy, Panda Bear, Panda Bear nightly and loves books with animals in them. We love our Miss Ellie Lou with all her spunk and personality and we’re looking forward to watching what 13 months brings!

*Where is the bunny we’ve been using for the past 12 months, you may be wondering? Ellie just loves her “pink baby”. She carries it around, she’s been dressing pink baby and putting blankets on her and giving her kisses, so I thought this month we’d highlight her favorite toy in her chair instead of a toy she likes alright. Pink Baby it is!

A Soulful September

September 4, 2013 by Summer

There have been posts and talk around the blogosphere about a September challenge. Throughout the summer, I’ve been feeling like I haven’t been giving this space enough of my attention. Part of that is because I have a teething, almost 13-month-old who needs her Mama’s attention and love and soothing milk the majority of the day and another part is that I’m feeling less than inspired these days and I’m thinking a challenge will give me that bloggy pick me up.

I really liked this post on filling your “soul hole” and then this morning came across this post and the “three for thirty” idea I really liked too. Also check out this TED talk and this one for added inspiration. I know we are already on day 4 of September so I have a few days to make up, but I think I’m going to give this 30 day challenge thing a go, both for the creative inspiration I hope to get from doing something every day and the routine of adding something soulfully healthy into my life. I will call my challenge Soulful September. I have been drawn lately to the principles and philosophies of Buddhism and I would really love to learn more ways to enjoy the world around me, spend more time reflecting and meditating, as well as reading as much as I can about the wisdom of Buddhist teachings. Every day of Soulful September I will read (something inspiring hopefully), move (either walking outside, yoga or swim), write (journal, gratitudes, blog) and meditate (this will be the toughest for me. Finding the time and just reflecting quietly, has always been difficult for me). These four things seem like soulful additions to my every day life yet simple enough to hopefully keep up with every day for a month.

Read, Move, Write, Meditate -once a day for thirty days.

I will keep you up-to-date about my Soulful September happenings once a week here. And would love it if you would join me with this challenge or anything similar you are doing this month.

* calendars by Claudia Pearson and Nikki McClure and Bee girl art from here. (All inspirational art for me)!

While Mama’s in The Kitchen

September 3, 2013 by Summer

It’s been more and more difficult to do anything in the kitchen these days with a little explorer under foot. The kitchen isn’t exactly set up for an almost 13 month old’s curious hands, but every day I find I need to get in there to do things. My solution was a kitchen basket. To keep Ellie busy and exploring, I loaded up a basket full of child-friendly kitchen utensils, empty containers, little dish ware and and anything else I think Ellie will find interesting and when Mama’s in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, Ellie is welcome to pull things out of her basket and go to town exploring.

Empty yogurt containers are great fun these days. Ellie tries hard to put the lids on them and they are great for filling and dumping with. We have oatmeal containers for makeshift drums and wire whisks and wooden spoons and ladles. I try and change it up every so often to hold her interest. It certainly gives me a bit more time to prep for dinners or wash a few dishes and it gives her some time to independently play and explore her environment.

Weekending: Labor Day Edition!

September 2, 2013 by Summer

A scattered set of pictures throughout the weekend. Jeff and his sister (and Linus our shepherd mix) returned from their camping trip up north just in time for the three-day weekend. Our days have been rather lazy and chill (well, as chill as can be with an almost 13 month old). Hot days with the fans blowing. Lots of time in the kiddie pool, sun tea, yard sailing (I scored those lovely pottery pieces at an estate sale as well as several great books for our home library). Fantastic early morning skies and coolish morning walks. There were visits to new coffee joints and lots of reading books (both alone in a basket and with family). Ellie is practicing her walking any chance she gets. And we had my parents over for an impromptu Labor Day dinner, complete with grass-fed tri tip, potato casserole, broccoli and baked beans. I made some peanut butter fudge and fudgey corn flake balls for dessert and we ended the night with a wagon walk to help a certain someone fall asleep. It’s weekends like this one that remind me of the beauty in the every day. I am grateful for days like these… How was your weekend?

-joining Amanda over at The Habit!

Portrait Project

August 31, 2013 by Summer

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eloise: You have been a busy girl this week. You are so close to walking. You’ve taken several steps here and there and walk along side the walls and around the dining room table, holding on with one hand. You are so close! You also are enjoying playing with your toys for longer periods of time on your own. This picture was of you zooming your cars around the dining room. I captured your sweet smile as you picked up your car to show me. This was also the first time I got pig tails in your hair. My, you are growing up so fast!

-joining Jodi for the lovely 52 project!

{this moment}

August 30, 2013 by Summer

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

Just Write: My Tribe

August 27, 2013 by Summer

I have this tribe of Mama’s who have gotten me through the most trying days and nights with my baby. They support and guide me while I navigate nursing my active twelve month old, they give me advice when I’m anxious, pick me up when I’m feeling low and encourage my healthy living habits. They are the most phenomenal group of women that I have never met. They are writers, artists, engineers, stay-at-home-moms, professionals from all walks of life. We’ve never met and yet I feel like they are my dearest friends, my support group, my sisterhood.

It was a blog that started all of this. I stumbled upon it one sleepy night while nursing Ellie back to sleep. A blog about “waiting it out”. A blog about accepting that some babies just don’t sleep through the night and that was okay. A blog about following the lead and needs of the child. No crying it out, just waiting it out. I loved every word Sarah wrote and I started eagerly following her blog. Post after post resonated with me. The respect and tenderness in each of her posts were so genuine and real. This was the mother I was trying to be to Ellie, this was the way I was parenting as well. The Nurshable blog touched so many sleepy mothers, a Facebook group was created and then sister groups stemming from that. Mothers from all over the globe, coming together to talk about waiting it out with their children. Supporting each other, helping each other, learning from each other, lovingly, with respect and adoration for each other. Months of visiting these groups and I am now a solid part of the community. I talk with these Mothers daily. I have their phone numbers and they have mine. Women I have never met but a camaraderie that grows and grows.

A tribe is so important in this motherhood journey and I am thankful every day for the support I have in these women. We don’t need to meet each other to feel so connected (although it would be lovely to meet many of them). We are connected through our passion to parent gently and we are connected through the support we give to one another every day. They remind me to breathe in and out and smile. And I in turn remind them.

-joining Heather for Just Write!

Weekending!

August 25, 2013 by Summer

It was a quick, sunny, nice weekend. Jeff and his sister went to the Red Sox/Dodgers game so we spent the day with Gramma and Grandpa. They of course spoil their little grand baby rotten (i.e. new push car toy)! We had such a nice day with them! We discovered “noses” this past week and finding everyone’s (including the dogs’). I got Ellie’s hair pulled back in two pig tails for the first time and oh my, she is darling with pig tails! I think she thinks so too. Sunday was a lazy day with walks downtown, cookies and iced chai’s in the afternoon and a tired-but-happy-she-got-to-go-with-us bulldog. The house is in ruins and laundry is piling up. I have a long week ahead of me. But thank goodness for lazy weekends. How was your weekend?

-joining the lovely Amanda over at The Habit!

Portrait Project

August 24, 2013 by Summer

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eloise: You are ruff and tumble. You are queen of the playground slides. You are hands in everything. Explorer of all textures and sensory experiences. You are strong-willed and eager. You are pretend laughter and animal noise imitator. You are wisps of blond. You are cuddle monkey. You are lover of books and horses and dogs and bananas and Chipotle carnitas and “milky milk”. Wagon rider and champion wrap nurser. You are Ellie Mungojerr, twelve months old, my sunshine, my monkey, my love.

-joining Jodi for the 52 project!

{this moment}

August 23, 2013 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.