baby's first wedding

The kids and I attended the wedding of a family friend over the long weekend ...  So, it was a nice excuse for us all to get dressed up!

You may not be able to tell from the photos, but my kiddos (the one in the middle isn't mine) coordinated quite nicely.

Cotton dress: Cherokee ($6.00)

Sweater: Old Navy (thrifted for $1.00)

Shoes: Keds (thrifted for $1.50)

As I've mentioned in the past, it's a lot of fun shopping for Pearl ...

While it is a challenge just to find a decent selection of boys' clothes, finding something for my girl that is cute, but isn't too pink or prissy, is a whole different animal! 

Luckily, my second born is adorable in whatever she ends up wearing!

daddy's girl

It's hard to be annoyed that she only says "Dada" (and not "Mama") when I am witness to sweet moments like this ...

The title of "Daddy's Girl" certainly fits for this little sweetie!

bruiser

When I gave birth to a girl, my mind immediately jumped to all the stereotypical "girl" things I'd have to endure ...

Pink!

Princesses!

Prissiness!

And, yet, my girl (as sweet as she can be) doesn't currently fit that mold.

In comparison to her older brother, she is far more inquisitive (getting into and destroying everything) and spunky than he ever was at her age.

And she's got the battle scars to prove it ...

Lady love is currently sporting a black eye and a shiner (on her forehead).

Tank top: Carter's (thrifted for $0.50)

Shorts: The Children's Place (thrifted for $0.50)

But, at least her bruises coordinate with the lime green in her outfit ...

She may be headed down the "tomboy" path like her mother (I hope so!), but that doesn't mean she can't look cute, too!

train wreck

We took Malcolm to a "Day Out with Thomas" event over the weekend and witnessed the (unexpected?) highs and lows of a three-year-old in the span of a half hour.

I think the following photos sum up the experience quite nicely ...

Photo #1: Too much excitement leads to an all-out kicking and screaming melt down, and some tears.

Photo #2: The train is coming back into the station?  Wait a minute ...  This is fun!

Photo #3: Being cooperative and actually posing for pictures (with Gordon, his favorite engine) ... Maybe he wants to come again next year?

 

You've got to love the roller coaster that is life with a three-year-old ... 

As much as I like to complain (commiserate?) about it, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

ninety percent

Pearl took her first steps at the end of April and hasn't looked back.

Today (less than a month later), she is walking about 90% of the time ...  Yet, it is still strange to see her ambling down the hall, or across the room on two feet!  And, although she is showing plenty of signs to the contrary, it is hard to shake the image of her being my little baby.

It feels like I brought her home from the hospital just yesterday ...  And made the adjustment from "mom of one" to "mom of two."

But time is flying by.

My baby is quickly entering the "toddler" phase.

(Seriously?!)

It is mind-boggling the difference a year can make.

chemistry cutie

It's never too early to start learning about the periodic table ...

Especially when it is in the form of a cute onesie that  was passed down from your big brother!

My girl's got beauty and brains!

everybody climb the dinosaur

The kids and I spent an afternoon at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History last week.

While Malcolm wasn't too impressed with the dinosaur bones inside of the museum (his favorite thing there was a large, coral-like chunk of calcite), he did greatly enjoy climbing the (life sized?) stegosaurus outside.

It was fun to sit back with Pearl and watch as he gained the courage to climb higher and higher ...  Starting carefully at the tail and gradually making his way up the oversized lizard's back.

Tee-shirt: Garanimals (thrifted for $1.00)

Hooded sweatshirt: Circo ($8.00)

Pants: Old Navy (hand-me-down)
Sandals: Cherokee (gift)
 

Although he isn't there yet, I know that it is only a matter of time before he is one of the "big kids."

He wants so badly to just get out there and do it ...  To break free and be like them.  And with him being preschool-bound at the end of the summer, I suppose that's a very good thing.

My little boy is growing right before my very eyes.

I wonder if I'll even recognize him in a couple of months!

pearl's first year

She may be approaching the fourteen month mark, but it's never too late (as evidenced by Malcolm's second year video) to post a slideshow of some of her memorable moments ...



It's hard to remember the time before she was part of our family!

The amount of love I have for this little girl is indescribable ...

sunsets and baby swings

Since we're in a smaller home for the time being (with a smaller yard than what he is used to), we've been telling Malcolm that we're going to visit a lot of new parks and playgrounds this summer.

And while he's certainly eating it up and soaking in every moment, there is someone else who seems to like the idea, too ...

Shirt: Circo (thrifted for $1.00)

Black leggings: Old Navy (gift)

Shoes: Keds (thrifted for $1.50)

There is just something about a warm day, a baby swing, and the golden light of the setting sun that makes for good pictures ...

And promises that summer is really on its way!

busy days and a diaper giraffe

When Friday evening rolls around, I breathe a sigh of relief that the work week is over and I will actually have some time to relax over the weekend ... 

 

Unfortunately, although they seem rather unassuming as they approach, that hasn't been the case for a couple of weekends now!

This weekend, part of the "busy-ness" included a baby shower for one of my childhood friends.

And what is a baby shower without a diaper animal?

Since the "theme" of her shower was giraffes, I set out to make one as part of her gift. 

Using the following tutorial as a basic guide (and with the addition of some pipe cleaners within the legs to hold them together, some wooden popsicle sticks to support the neck, and different embellishments), I ended up with something pretty cute.

And while it wasn't as relaxing as I had hoped, it turned out to be a nice weekend afterall!

pearl and the porch swing

As her shirt so plainly states, Pearl screams for ice-cream (but who doesn't?) ...

 

Tee-shirt: Child of Mine (thrifted for $0.50)

Onesie: Circo (pack of five for $12.00)

Pants: Jumping Beans (thrifted for $0.50)

And, as these photos so clearly show, she also screams for the porch swing.

(And this mom screams over the perfectly matched outfit that she was able to piece together from various thrift store finds!)

black and white beauty

Although it has its differences, this photo reminds me of another one I took of Pearl about five months ago ...

Can it really be that that much time has passed?

She's getting too big!