Out of the Mouths of Babes

Jones and I often have our best conversations while in the car.  Two of the most recent:

On the way home from school a few days ago:
J- Mom, I don't feel good.
Me- Oh No! Why not, babe?  Does something hurt?
J- No. I just don't feel good. I don't feel like I'm outside.
Me- Well, that's because you're not. We're in the car. [stifled laughter]
J- My fwends gave me strangers.
Me- (silence)
Me-Your friends gave you what?
J- Strangers.
Me- Well, that sounds bad. Is that like cooties? [knowing full well he had no idea what cooties are, just wanting to prolong the entertaining conversation]
J- No, mom. Strangers is strangers.

And, then just this morning on the way to school:
J- Mom, animals don't wear clothes.
Me- Very good observation, hon. Why do you think that is?
J- Because they poop a lot.

Jones' most recent school picture.

That kid and this age (3) is proving to be the most entertaining yet.  He constantly sings, (mostly made-up songs), and he loves to dance and make music.  He is indeed his own drummer.

And in the world of 10-month-old Bird, here she is wearing her first hair bow:

She is crawling and "cruising" all over the place, and wants exactly what her brother has in his hands at any given moment.  And, her latest foray into the brave new world of vocabulary is "uh oh."  She's really great at it and practices saying it constantly.  We're rooting for a new word pretty hard over here :)

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Sweet on the Columbia Museum of Art

Last Saturday's Sweet on CMA event was so fun.  Lunch Money performed--you've heard me profess my love for them before here and here.

 There were multiple Valentine's-related craft stations.  

that's a good Daddy- making tissue paper flowers

And there was a photo booth.  And it was all FREE!

Jones and his friend from school, McCall!

Our little family enjoyed the heck out of it.  Thanks CMA and Junior League of Columbia for hosting!

XO

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There's Not Much Better Than Live Music

At least, according to my toddler, there's not.  It's safe to say that Jones is pretty obsessed with listening to music, and playing musical instruments, and singing, but most especially hearing music live.  I have to admit that his father and I are pretty over-the-moon about this obsession with music.  The video above is him jamming out to The Kernal at the most recent Columbia Jam Room Festival.

At this same festival, we were listening to Dear Blanca, when we hear the lead singer give a shout out to our son.  By name.  James and I looked at each other.  I looked at Jones who was perched on James' shoulders, and then looked back at the lead singer.  I thought, um, how do you know our child's name?!  (He then said into the microphone that he works at Jones' daycare).   But seriously, our 2 year old got a shout-out at a concert.  We've never been prouder!  And Jones took it in stride, no big deal to him.  "Oh yeah, that's Mr. Dyyan."  (He's still working on pronouncing his 'l's correctly...)

taking in some music from the best viewpoint in the house

The hubs is a certifiable musician, and by that, I mean he actually plays instruments and can read music and all that jazz.  I, on the other hand, cannot.  I am woefully very musically-un-inclined, but I sure do appreciate it.  I never even took a Music Appreciation class in school, but if I had, I'm pretty sure I would've aced it.

Thankfully for our family of music-lovers, there is ample opportunity in Columbia to take in some live music, even during the day-when we must enjoy if we're going to take the toddler along for the trip.  We have attended a couple concerts at EdVenture Children's Museum.  Jones asked me the other day if we could "go to the museum to hear some music?"  Alas, the concerts at EdVenture were only scheduled for Fridays during the summer.  Maybe they'll schedule some more for the Fall too, hint, hint...

Lunch Money is a kindie-band favorite--they have dubbed themselves "Indie Rock for the Whole Family," and I would agree.  It's kid-music for people who hate kid-music.  We own a couple CDs and we've heard them twice now at KD's Treehouse in town.  They don't disappoint. 

Here's to more family-friendly live music in the Midlands for my music-lovin' babe!

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Toddler Tantrums & Treats

Minute-to-minute my emotions and thoughts are so differently-focused these days...I blame the 34-week-pregnant-hormones.

Today's focus seems to have landed on how to prepare (and love-up) my sweet 2-year-old before this baby girl comes into the world.  I'm having the typical anxieties about how he will react...I have a feeling nursing time will be pretty brutal, as Jones is already mama-clingy these days.  And I'm pretty sure he totally gets that there is change coming, as he has already started wanting me to hold him and rock him "like baby" more and more.

I am reading up and asking advice on how to handle all of this, and for now, holding tight to the boy while also trying to lay down some discipline as his tantrums and willfulness seem to have spiked to the "terrible twos" level literally overnight.  One thing I have thought might help with the behavior issues is to create a reward system for chores.

via here

I know some might think 2 is a bit young to do chores, but Jones loves to help and he actually can do some helpful things around the house, (with a little oversight!)  I just ordered these brilliant little chore magnets from Etsy and am excited for Jones to use them!  I included Feed Dogs, Pick Up Toys, Brush Teeth, Try a New Food, and Water Garden, among other things...

via here

A friend of mine "pinned" a genius idea on Pinterest the other day, a "nursing basket," full of new/rarely allowed toys, games, and stuff for the older child to play with only when the baby is nursing.  As I've been thinking of what to put in Jones' basket, I came across these personalize-able flashcards from Pinhole Press that I had "pinned" a while ago, and I decided to order them for him.  I think it will be a fun and educational thing to put in Jones' "nursing basket."

via here

So, any advice for me on how to seamlessly (ha!) bring a new baby into a 2-year-old's world??  I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

XO,
B

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My Kid Likes to Party

Jones received an Elmo watch (analog, not digital, thank you very much) for Christmas from his Aunt Liz.  He loves this thing, and we knew he'd love it because he's loved his Daddy's watch for months now.

passed out, wearing Daddy's watch

He wears the Elmo watch nearly every day and when you ask him what time it is, without fail he responds emphatically: "Party Time!"

He's a pretty damn cool kid.

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The Ultimate Adventure

my greatest adventure

A reminder to myself and any other mamas out there who may sometimes feel too "tied down" to indulge that nagging wanderlust, or too tired to endeavor to try new things, or too broke to pay for a babysitter and head out on the town--or out of town-- on a whim like we once could:

"Motherhood is the ultimate adventure..."

This nugget of wisdom borrowed from this post on Emphasis Added, one of my daily blog reads.

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I Heart Zara

Somehow, earlier this year I was introduced to Zara kids' clothing; I think via this blog, (which I love).  The clothes are really well-made and stylish.  I haven't bought a thing for full-price, as it's a little more than I can afford to spend on clothes, but they have great sales.  

Here's what I scored this morning--their Fall/Winter sale just started, so I got some things for Jones and Baby Girl (Birdie) for next year:

Can't you just picture these with some cute-colored tights underneath?!

I actually want this in my size, but it'll be even cuter on a baby!

Cableknit leggings for an infant. Enough said.

And for Jones:

The boy looks good in blue.

The boy also looks great in a hat; and loves them to boot.

Happy Holidays! XO

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Motherhood, Officially

Sounds silly, but today the fact that I am a mother finally hit me like a ton of bricks.  You wanna know why? 

My shopping list includes the makings for cupcakes made to look like pumpkins and Halloween stickers for my adorable child's Halloween party at school tomorrow.  Plus, I just realized that every. single. picture. I have posted on a social media site lately has been of said adorable child.

"Bodybag Johnny," aka my adorable child

As if that wasn't enough, the ever-growing baby bump under my maternity jeans and sweater and the contantly-moving baby therein, give me a pretty much hourly reminder that I'm officially a mom.  It's pretty grand.

Happy Halloween!

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My Toddler's Favorites

My 20-month-old's teachers told me yesterday that they had noticed that every time they tell the class to pick a book from the bookshelf, Jones always picks the same one: a book with kid-friendly recipes.  They said it has pictures of foods made into cute little animals and shapes.  I guess I'm not really surprised; the boy does love to eat.  (And he gets it quite honestly, from momma and daddy).

At home, his favorite books right now include:

via here

via here

via here

He is really into books where he can point out and say the word for what he sees on the page--it is amazing to see his comprehension expand so quickly!  And his vocabulary is catching up, too.  Although he still speaks entire paragraphs in seeming-gibberish, we are beginning to understand him more and more.  His favorite words right now are "truck" (cuck) and "bus."  He loves to point out every truck and bus we see when we're in the car.  He also always points out the fountain ("wa-wa, mama!") that we see on our route to and from school everyday and the firetrucks in the fire house on Devine Street.

He's starting to put together 2-word phrases really well: "hold you" (when he wants to be picked up) is my absolute favorite...I mean, how can you resist that!?  He also says "love you, mama/dada/yaya/didi/caca" to whoever he's with.  I enact the proverbial hand-clasp-over-heart every time I hear it.

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Play

"If a child has been able in his play to give up his whole living being to the world around him, he will be able, in the serious tasks of later life, to devote himself with confidence to the service of the world."
~Rudolf Steiner

from Simplicity Parenting

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On Being Present

My son, Jones, (18 months), gave me his first-ever unprompted kiss this morning on our way out the door.  I was a little rushed, and it barely even registered what he was doing until he had already done it.  At the time I said "oh, thank you, sweet boy," or something equally trite, and we made our way to school and work.

Thinking back on that sweet kiss now makes my heart swell and swoon, and I am kicking myself for not being "present" enough in the moment to fully appreciate how sweet it was at the time.  Isn't that always the way?  Memories are more poignant and sweet-seeming than the actual moment.  I hate that, but I guess it is human nature, and definitely parent-nature.

Also, my babe has started to watch TV all of a sudden...  When I first became a mom I was firmly planted in the "no TV until 2 years old" camp, due to all the research saying it isn't good for babies.  And, I still pretty much fall in that camp.  But, upon my first hungover morning as a mother of a toddler, I begged my son to watch just 15 minutes of TV so momma could "rest her eyes" while lying on the couch.  No go.
A couple months ago on our 10 hour drive to Boca Grande, FL, I brought along our portable DVD player and a stash of shows I loved as a kid and thought he would love- Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Care Bears Movie, and crossed my fingers that when the going got rough for Jones, he would discover that TV was super-cool.  Nope. 
The hubs and I have long-known that our baby is biologically-drawn to music and will dance to almost anything with a rhythm.  Seriously-- think, cell phone rings, (and not necessarily ones that ring as songs, just plain old phone rings), the washing machine, and the 5-second transitional music played between NPR shows...  Anyway, we finally figured out what type of DVD our child would be enamored of at this point in his life, and when I brought home the Sesame Street Singing with the Stars DVD a couple weeks ago, enamored he was!

image via here

The DVD is basically just Elmo and friends singing Sesame Street versions of songs by famous musicians.  Jones dances, stares, and has even started air-drumming at appropriate times while watching this DVD over and over recently.  The lineup of stars boasts everyone from LL Cool J, Feist, and Will I. Am (mommy's 3 favorites) to Hootie and the Blowfish, Destiny's Child, N Sync, and Andrea Bocelli.  It's pretty crazy how many famous artists sing with Elmo.  Some of the songs are pretty tough to take, and many get interminably stuck in my head; but it's not a horrible children's video, considering all the crap that is out there.

Anyway, though I am not proud of the fact that my 18 month old is now addicted to a DVD, my favorite part of his new obsession is that he likes to watch from my lap, while holding onto a finger or two.  It makes me indescribably happy to see that sweet chunky butt backing up towards me to sit in my lap and then feel his tiny hand grasp my fingers.  Sigh.
Here's to being present for these moments.

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On the Bedside Table

image via here

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

I am enjoying this one so far.  Took me a minute to get into it, but about halfway in, it's now the first one I pick up when I settle in to read.

image via here

Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne & Lisa Ross

Yes, this one is still in my stack...it has taken me a little longer than usual to get through it, but what I have read is good.  I am seriously still working on purging and simplifying our house and specifically the toys and activities that Jones has to play with.  

I am looking more and more into Montessori-type activities, and finding that many of the "practical living" activities are things he already enjoys the most anyway- like sweeping, pouring his own cup of water, and "threading" items--the boy adores fitting things together!

image via here

Just ordered Blue Nights by Joan Didion from half.com.  After reading The Year of Magical Thinking, I am enamored of Ms. Didion.  

And, after reading this book review by a friend of mine, I am really wanting to read Gone Girl.

What's on your reading list for the rest of this fleeting summer?

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On My Brain Today

Some things that have been in my head and in my life lately:

Banana chocolate chip muffins.  I was the mommy assigned to bring "Fun Friday" snacks today for Jones' toddler class, and that's what I made.  I used this recipe from Life of Meg blog, (substituting applesauce for oil), and they turned out great.  My forays into baking don't always have such an ending, so I was pleased.

Gamecock Baseball.  3-peat in the works.  Good luck tonight vs. Arkansas.  So exciting!

This article on working moms attempting to "have it all" that's making the rounds on the interwebs. 

We're headed to Boca Grande, FL soon for vacation with my in-laws and it's a 10 hour drive, so I've been thinking of ways to keep my 17-month-old entertained in the car for 10 hours...here's what I've got so far: 
I bought and wrapped several cheap dollar-store toys, like glow-in-the-dark necklaces, stickers, a plastic dr's stethescope, small nerf football, and more. 
I of course have plenty of snacks--mixtures of raisins, organic cookies, cheerios, dried banana chips, cheese sticks.
A book light and a roll of painters tape.  Random, I know, but my son loves a flashlight, and I read somewhere that toddlers can be thoroughly entertained by a roll of tape.
Books--some familiar favorites and some new.

Here Comes Science Album via here

We have plenty of music- kid-friendly and otherwise- although Jones would mostly rather listen to grown up music than silly songs.  The kid music we have for him includes Muppets: The Green Album, They Might Be Giants' Here Comes Science, and some Lunch Money CDs--these are all fun, kid-friendly stuff, but tolerable for adults as well.

image via here

And, as a last resort, we have a portable DVD player.  Jones has never really been allowed to watch TV at home, and now that I actually want him to spend a few silent, immobile minutes in front of the tube, he isn't interested at all...so, not sure the DVD player will work.  But, in case, we have the newest The Muppets movie, Follow That Bird Sesame Street movie, and episodes of Fraggle Rock on DVD.
Any other suggestions?!

And, this little man is always on my mind- here he is on the way to school this morning wearing seersucker and Converse One Stars--my favorite combo of traditional and hipster ;)

Happy Friday!

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Holga Love

A couple years ago my husband gifted me a Holga camera.  "the Holga produces extraordinary low-tech works of art with the bare minimum of mechanical function." (via here)  Right up my alley.

My first attempt at taking pictures with it is documented here.

It took us a bit to figure out exactly how to take decent pictures with it, but judging by the most recent ones we took over Memorial Day weekend, I think we've got it down:

My sister and her son.

Don't you just want to poke that belly?!

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Easter Sweetness

The boy quite enjoyed his Easter weekend, and especially all the socializing and sweets that came with it!

I am nearing the 14 week mark with this pregnancy, and let me tell you, I am really hoping that this sickness passes soon...it is taking a lot out of me, and I just don't feel like doing anything.  With that said, I do hope to start posting here again a bit more regularly--let's cross our fingers.

Happy Tuesday.

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Big Boy Room for the Big Brother

We have begun a new home improvement project at our house, out of necessity, really...my 14 month old, Jones will be getting a new room by the end of the summer because a new baby is on the way!

I am almost 12 weeks pregnant, due October 16th-ish, and my recent dearth of blog posts has been due to the fact that I have been feeling really crappy lately.  Morning sickness (or in my case, all day/mostly afternoon sickness) has brought me to my knees, quite literally.  I was sick with Jones too, so I expected it, but it is much harder to run around after a toddler in the midst of this!

So, to give you an idea of my inspiration for Jones' new "big boy room," here are some of my recent Pinterest pins:

Totally doing this paint job- we're doing clean white at the top and a teal-ish at the bottom:

via here

My talented husband will be re-creating this wall-mounted fold-down desk with shelves--I love it, and I already have a thrifted wooden chair that I am going to re-paint to go with it!

via here

I am a sucker for a gallery wall, and I especially love this one, and the way the shelving kind of makes this a cozy little reading corner:

via here

Some art for the gallery wall:

LOVE this  modern-cool take on Sesame Street character, Bert, by Symbol Society

The Streets, Number 2, via here

My mantra, exactly:

via here

You may remember my obsession with foxes...well it persists:

via here

James and I already purchased a set of unfinished pine bunk beds for Jones' new room, and I really want to find some vintage patchwork quilts to use as comforters for the beds:

via here

I love old maps and globes...

via here

So, that's the inspiration so far...it's slowly coming together, and I'll share pictures with you as we go.

Happy weekend everyone!

XO, B

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Jones' 1st Birthday Party

The party was loosely animal-themed.  Almost everything was homemade (food, decor, favors).  Close family and friends were in abundance.  The babe enjoyed himself immensely.

homemade party hats; inspiration via here

balloon animals (made by James!); inspiration via here

Balloon animals, from left-right: pink poodle, orange tiger, pink pig, blue dog, green Loch Ness Monster.  (My husband is uber-talented, no!?)  Nessy was made specifically for me.  The hubs and I have a running argument about which is more believeable- Nessy or Bigfoot.  I claim Nessy because she would be harder to fake...

guacamole & chips...more balloon animals: white bunny, yellow monkey & pink swan

left to right: yellow monkey, pink swan, yellow duck, green elephant

 The balloon animals were the hit at the party, truly.  Not pictured, the hubs also made a really cool horse and a hummingbird too.  We may start renting him out by the hour for parties...

homemade cake with homemade bunting decoration; inspiration via here & here

the sweet birthday boy with his Aunt Cat; homemade crown tutorial via here

Here are some of the details:
Food- organic animal crackers & organic Cheddar Bunnies; homemade guacamole & chips; cantaloupe, strawberry & blueberry fruit salad; grilled cheese roll-ups; homemade cake.

The cake- this was my very first attempt at making a homemade cake.  Ever.  It was intimidating, but I was determined to do it, and it actually came out pretty damn well.  I used a cake recipe that I can't seem to find online now...and this buttercream frosting recipe.  The cake was a little dry, but other than that, it tasted great.

Favors- each child took home a balloon animal, a party hat, and a goody bag which included a vintage, metal animal-shaped cookie cutter and a small plastic animal figurine.  I used plain white bags for the favors & sealed them closed with an animal stamp- either a duck or an owl.

ooohhh, cake!

the momma and the sweet birthday babe

Happy First Birthday, Jones.  Your momma and daddy had a blast planning this party! XO

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