Our American Tale

Squishface: The Next Generation

One of Dan's favorite things to do is squish my cheeks between his hands and make me talk to him. He asks me to tell him a story or make certain faces and within seconds he is in tears laughing at me. I've returned the gesture and I must admit, it has provided us both with endless hours of laughter over the last 11 years.

And now we have a new subject to use for our entertainment purposes.

If ever there were cheeks that demanded to be squished for entertainment, these are them.

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

And SQUISH!

September 30, 2011

Apple of My Eye

Like a teeny little giraffe, Lucas was working really hard the other day to get a bite out of his apple.

Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera ready when he did catch it, but I can assure you, it was adorable.

Though he really doesn't have to try very hard, does he?

September 29, 2011

Lets Get Organized! - Pretty Pantry

Now that the baby is back to good health, my dogs are only acting weird at their standard baseline level and I've made headway with getting the house back to its normal status, I can get working on the big reorganizing project! Weeeeeeeeeee!

I'm starting out of order, but I'm sure you'll forgive me! On to the pantry...

My pantry was pretty organized to start. Being a big fan of matching plastic bins, I outfitted the space as soon as we moved in. However, even organizing bins can get a bit chaotic from time to time, so I went through everything got rid of old items or food that I know we won't eat (why do I have an industrial sized can of black beans when we don't really eat black beans?), cleaned out any crumbs, and rethought how some items were grouped.

And here you have it.

A new hook for my super adorable apron, stacking Tupperware canisters for flour, brown and white sugar, teas and the like, a large jar of cookie cutters pulling double duty as storage and decoration, and a big bin which serves as overflow storage for the cookbooks I don't use on a regular basis.

Coordinating bins give visual appeal to a space and help to wrangle naturally clutter-prone areas of the house. Top bins hold any items I want to keep out of reach for little people such as vitamins and first aid inventory, beverages, and an assortment of protein powders and health items. Our cereal and granola are stored in the corner. Below are the most commonly used items sine they are at the best vantage point. I have vinegar and other mixers for home cleaners, a three-drawer bin for lesser used spices and seasoning packets, the baby food maker, bottles (even though my son still refuses to use them), snacks, and canned goods.The bottom shelf has smaller bins to house popcorn, oatmeal packets, granola bars, and baby food. The clear bin is a laundry basket for rags and dish towels. The last of the larger bins hold pastas and grains, oils and syrups, and baking goods.

I also make good use of the floor. On the left I have three smaller trash cans tucked under shelving to house plastic bags, glass recycling and regular recycling. A standard trash can and a folded up step stool are against the wall. In the corner is my cake decorating kit - a stackable compartment tote. To the right, we use two large Rubbermade totes to house the dogs' food with bowls stored on top of the lids when not in use.

How is your organizing coming along? I know my Washington mamas have been at work!

Monthly Photos: Six Months

My Darling Son,

Somehow I woke up this morning and you were six months old. Six months. Half a year. How is it even possible? It feels like just yesterday you were still warm and cozy in my belly.

I was up to hold you as your passed your birthday at 5:11 this morning. I snuggled you tight and sang happy birthday to you. I whispered in your ear as you slept on my shoulder how happy I was that I had you. You, my little sunshine boy, have changed everything for me. There is no way to describe or compare the love I have for you. I can only hope that you have children of your own one day so you'll know the full measure of my heart as your mama.

You are doing all kinds of new things now. You are much more sturdy and balanced as you sit up, though you like inspecting your toes and frequently wind up getting stuck folded in half as you fiddle with your feet. You enjoy, nay, LOVE blowing bubbles with your mouth and you crack me up daily with your wide range of noises as you explore all the fun things you can do with your mouth. You aren't crawling yet, but you're definitely mobile. You roll and pivot and stretch to inch your way to all kinds of places. You are just barely starting to work to get your knees up and I can tell that it won't be long before you'll be crawling all over the place.

Your interest in the dogs continues to grow and they now know to stand next to you to get a good, albeit sporadic, rub with tiny baby hands. You laugh and smile at them and reach to touch them. They often come to watch you bathe and you get big belly laughs at them as they peer into the tub at you. 

You love grabbing things and your hand is always busy opening and closing, opening and closing. You also pinch. Hard. I've had quite the alarm on more than one late night feeding as you pinched me and woke me up in the nursery rocking chair. Those little hands are always busy as you explore your world. I can't wait to see what those hands will do one day! You reach for things all the time now and my heart nearly exploded with excitement the first time you reached for me with purpose.

You absolutely love bath time. You splash and giggle and suck the water out of wash cloths. Your baby tub had been in the big sink in the laundry room until just a couple of weeks ago. After a particularly vigorous kicking and splashing session, which ended with the laundry room and cabinets being soaked with water from one end to the other, we decided it was time to move you to the guest bathroom. You're still in your little baby tub, but now your splashing is a little more contained!

You're back to sleeping through the night these days, though we still have a night here and there where you don't quite make it till morning. I cherish the sweet bed time routine we have. After your dinner we go to the tub to get all the sticky goodness of first foods off of you and let you play. Next, it's diapering and lotion and your vitamin drops, which you anticipate well. As soon as the lotion cap gets closed you open your mouth like a little bird, ready for your vitamins to be deposited. We get you in your jammies and then it's time for your good night books, a little nursing and singing as you start to get drowsy and rub your tired eyes.

You have such a pleasant demeanor, always smiling and babbling and giggling. Even when you're "fussy" you are pretty easy to soothe and your smiles are always so easy to find! I can't imagine my world without you, my child. We love you so much more than you could ever know.