Two Little Monkeys...

Jumping on the bed!

(well, make that four if you count their sock monkey friends, too)

(maybe someday, we will have four little monkeys of our own!)

(but not anytime soon, for reals :)

(Sawyer flashback: just about a year ago...wow, a lot happens in a year!)

My two little monkeys have had "the cold that never ends" for several weeks now. Just when I think it's getting better...more drippy noses and coughs ensue. So, we've made a habit of taking an "aromatherapy" bath after nap time to soothe a bit of the stuffy noses and sore throats. Usually, after the bath, we end up jumping on pillows and beds and running naked down the hall. (yes, all of us, ha ha ha, you think I'm kidding don't you?)

Anyways, kind of random. But ya gotta find some way to have fun even if you get your nose wiped or sucked out a few thousand times per day.

I know this is going around - so to anyone else who has the cold that never seems to end - here's to better, healthy (and can I add warmer?) days ahead! We are ready for Spring!

ps-I am in love with Aspen's curls.

pss- and her cute little bum!

the good stuff

When you're one, all of a sudden you get the go-ahead to try some new things (first being cake and ice-cream!) The week of her birthday, Aspen was thrilled to try a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, just like her big bro. loves to eat. She is quite the little lady with her table manners. She prefers to use utencils - or motions for a nearby adult to put her food into her mouth for her - as I guess she just doesn't like either the texture, or getting her hands dirty. I think mostly it's the texture of certain foods - because others (like goldfish crackers) she loves to stuff in her mouth. She also loves to suck on apples. I cut them up really small, and she just kind of gnaws on them for 5 minutes. Must like the juice. Silly girl. She eats like a little bird! A cute one, at least!

Our V-day Feast

For the record, this is how our Valentine's Day went:

Daddy made us Blueberry Crunch Coffeecake for breakfast

(he gave me some beautiful earrings)

(we gave the kids some bath tub soapy paints)

We gave him a ride to work

Me and the kids went to Nature Preschool, in the pouring rain

(I tell you, we have a class of troopers)

We jumped in huge mud puddles

Found refuge under canopys of large trees

Sang songs, read stories

Played games and did a scavenger hunt

Then retreated to the visitor's center for a little party

We came home, soaked and chilled.

We took a bubble bath (yes, all 3 of us)

We gave those new soapy paints a try

We lunched, we napped...and then...

I cooked. A LOT.

I believe I've mentioned before that I'm not especially fond of the kitchen?

Well...on Valentine's Day...I spent a lot of time there,

(just for my man).

The menu:

Authentic Thai Chicken Satay

w/ peanut dipping sauce

Fresh, steamed artichokes

w/melted butter

Martinelli's (have to have some kind of bubbly)

Chocolate-dipped Strawberries

Chocolate cake & ice-cream

We were gluttons. We were stuffed. It was DELISH.

(and I gave him a gift)

(and he gave me ANOTHER gift)

(we don't usually do gifts)

(we put the kids to bed)

(we danced...in the dark...to this song...)

Maybe I should cook more often!?!

Happy Valentine's Day!

LOVE

LOVE

LOVE

So glad he's mine!

To see a few more cute images of my *other* valentine's, click here.

Aspen's nest

Welcome to the little spot where Aspen sweetly slumbers...

I've been working on doing the kids' shared room for a loooong time.

Since Aspen is now one, that means she gets to finally sleep in her beautiful crib. I sometimes wonder why we even have cribs in our family - we have chosen to share sleep (aka "co-sleep") with each of our children the first year.

Well, at least that gave me plenty of time to make bedding! I have to admit, I had *cute enough* bedding from Pottery Barn that I had got a while back on sale. But once I had her, and thought about the shared room of a boy and a girl, I just didn't want to feel pigeon-holed into "yellow and green". Ya know?

So, I opted for yellow and gray. And white. And maybe a splash of pink in her corner ;)

I'm still not quite done - just a few details left and then I'll give a tour of their room. Sawyer's side is awfully cute as well ;)

Mostly, I am waiting for a print to arrive, and trying ever-so-hard to decide which prints I should (if any) hang on the walls. I think it's kind of weird to put up a lot of prints of yourself by your bed. Maybe that's just me? But maybe one or two...? Ahh, decisions! You would think since I take a gazillion pictures my walls would be covered, right? Nope. I can never decide! If anyone can help me, here, please feel free!

Okay, without further ado, here is her new cozy little nest...

In case you're wondering:

I made the poms with fabric (the big one took FOREVER!)

I got the print off of Etsy (love that Katie Daisy!)

The sheet is a hand-me-down from PB Kids - soooo soft

The monkey is from Santa

The bumper I made from cutting up a white coverlet I found at Target, then turning it into a bumper and finishing it off with flannel-backed satin for the trim and ties

The bedskirt is from a sheet I cut up - found the set at Ross and made Sawyer's duvet out of the same sheet. And trim to finish it, just ropey stuff I found at the fabric store.

The white quilt was made from the same coverlet and trim,

and the pretty blankie is Amy Butler fabric on one side, pink Minky on the other, and bound with satin.

I wish I could fit in her crib and take a nice, looooong nap myself, it is just soooo soft and cozy.

When I write that down it seems so simple.

But it took me days. And hours. Weeks. And months. To. Do.

So far, the transition from our bed to crib is going relatively well. She starts out in the crib and comes into our bed later - but the time gets longer each night. Last night she came into our bed around 4am. We believe training ourselves to be night time parents is easier than sleep training our babies. Sometimes, they just need to be cuddled, ya know?

Here's to sweet dreams, Miss Aspen!

ps-anyone who has two young kids who successfully share a room - any tips? they are totally welcome! (ie Sawyer now naps in the pack n play in our room so we can be consistent with the crib. He thinks it's da bomb :)

One Candle

The one thing I forgot at the actual "party" -

the candle.

yup.

of all the things I had to transport to the venue,

it was one candle I forgot. oops.

Actually, it was fine. That made her "real" birthday more exciting, when she got to blow out the candle. Sawyer was excited to help, too. There is something really fun and magical about turning out all of the lights and then singing to the dim light of birthday candles...of watching the birthday girl's eyes...of making wishes in your heart since they only come true if they're a secret...

Her eyes did light up, I tell ya.

And then it was dark.

and we ate that mini, pink, ruffly cake -

with ice cream, of course.

Sawyer then got to be the helper of the opening of gifts, another task he was happy to help with.

And this was the icing on the cake.

She already loooves her babies. And it was so fun to watch her be all proud and big girl like, pushing the stroller.

It was a good day. We finished celebrating our girl by watching home videos from the day she was born until present. Amazing how much they grow and change in one year. We also couldn't help but gasp at how little Sawyer was when she was born - only 6 months older than she is now. Yikes. He was a baby himself. The wonderful thing is, they are growing into such great buddies. They bust up laughing together quite frequently now. A few friends have told me that the closeness in age is hard at first, but later on it pays off when they become best friends.

It's been a wonderful year. We are excited to see all of the new and fun things Aspen will do in her second year! Happy Birthday, dear Aspen Jane - we are so lucky you chose us as your family!

The Party

Our cute one-year-old!

Go here to see a little bit of her party! (I am too tired to post all of the pics, those will have to just go in her book. So...I had this picture in my head and I became obsessed with making it real. The party planning was both fun and stressful and all of the details took me a lot of work. Thanks to Jacob who surely thinks I'm nuts - for being my helper into the wee hours before the party, just to make sure I had everything I needed and that it was all "just right". It was more that just right - it was beautiful. So, if you weren't there - well, take a look at the pics and you can imagine being there to celebrate with us!

*Ah Hem. As it turns out, both kids got an extra special gift after all the celebrating: sick. So we're laying low on this sunny day :) I'll post a few more pics from her "real" birthday when I get the chance ;)