nerd in training

When Malcolm was still a squishy little thing, laying around all day in sleepers, I went on a shopping spree for when he was "bigger." Searching Google left and right for science-related baby merchandise, I stumbled upon CafePress and wasn't disappointed.

In that single visit, I spent more than I usually do in a thrifting trip and received far less ... But it was worth it! You can't put a price on seeing your cute-as-a-button baby in periodic table or phagocytosis onesies, or shirts like the one featured today.

Titled "Cellabration" on the website, today's tee shows different cells having a party ... One is wearing a party hat, one is using a party noisemaker, and two others are saying "oh yeah!" and/or "get funky!"

Get it? Cell-abration? Like celebrating, but with "cell" in there instead?

Tee-shirt: CafePress ($14.00)
Shorts: Wilson (thrifted for $1.00)
Pocket calculator: Casio (hand-me-down from Dad)

The only thing that would make this whole outfit just a little more awesome would be a pocket complete with pocket protector ... And maybe some thick-rimmed glasses to help Malcolm see the numbers on his calculator as he figures out how many cells will be present at this party in forty-eight hours.

taking the good with the bad

Through every stage of Malcolm's life so far, I have noticed that for each negative experience, there is a positive one ...

You know, kind of like Newton's Third Law ("For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction") for mothers!

Negative: Enduring a good four hours of excruciating back labor (with no drug assistance)
Positive: Feeling like Superwoman for a good week after that ridiculous delivery

Negative: Being outnumbered two to one in the household
Positive: Having a "mama's boy" that completely adores you

Negative: Getting very little sleep due to nursing demands
Positive: Having that oh-so-lovable (and cuddly) snuggle time every two hours

Negative: More dirty diapers than seems humanly possible for such a small creature
Positive: The smiles that ensue while on the changing table

Negative: The strobe light that is the baby monitor cutting through the darkness of the bedroom
Positive: Hearing that sweet little sleepy sigh ... Or that giggle ... Or that sneeze ...

Negative: All the extra laundry!
Positive: Seeing that basket of clean and folded, tiny baby's clothes

Negative: Having a crabby, uncomfortable, drooly baby during teething
Positive: The cuteness of a single-toothed smile

Negative: Making "raspberries" with a mouth full of baby food
Positive: How cute those "raspberries" look (even if they are messy)

Negative: Perpetual dirty knees and hands ... And the ability to get into EVERYTHING
Positive: Watching the glee on your child's face as he explores his world

Negative: The whining ... Oh! The whining!
Positive: Putting an end to the whining with the power of a hug and and a cuddle

Negative: Knowing he's just going to keep getting older ...
Positive: Being there to experience it with him

out of this world party decorations

It's never to early to start planning for a party!

Right around the time that Malcolm turned six months old, I found myself "researching" birthday invitations on Shutterfly. After finding a really cute one, I decided that, for his first ever birthday celebration, my little guy would have a space-themed party. Not only could I see myself finding (or making) decorations that fit the theme rather economically and easily, I was thrilled to incorporate something science-related.

What can I say?

If you haven't noticed already, I'll say it again: I am a total science nerd!

The first thing that popped into my head regarding cute decorations was to create the planets of our solar system from inexpensive foam balls and paint them using craft paint.

A quick trip to my local craft store yielded all the necessary ingredients ...

Foam balls of different sizes (and a couple foam rings):


Acrylic craft paint in a variety of colors and shades, some foam brushes, and other assorted paint brushes for smaller details (like Jupiter's "Big Red Spot" or Earth's land masses, for example):


From there, it was as simple as letting my creativity (and science geekiness) take over.

Since I planned to make multiples of each of the planets, I completed them in batches. The following tutorial shows you how to make Saturn (the most complicated planet, because of its rings).

First, I painted all of the foam rings and balls that I would need to complete my batch ... This can be done as simply or as intricately as you want! I chose my colors and patterns from memory, but you could certainly find a book with accurate pictures of each of the planets. To add dimension to the rings (and a little sparkle) I used some glitter glue pens that I had laying around.


Next, I took some 2.5 inch floral pins (for pinning boutonnieres) and removed the "pearls" using a pair of wire snips.


Once the "pearls" were gone, I carefully pressed one pin in on each "side" of the ring, making sure it passed all the way through the ring and into the ball. I did this four times to ensure that it would have a secure hold.


Here are the finished Saturns:


Here are *all of the finished planets:


*My husband was "disgusted" that I did not include Pluto (his favorite planet). Unfortunately, since it has been demoted to "dwarf planet," I couldn't, in good faith, add it with the others. If I did, I'd also have to make Ceres and Eris ... And that would just confuse everybody! This is a one-year-old's party, after all!

Pictures of these decorations in action will follow in September!

my favorite pajamas

I think that Malcolm looks cute in whatever he wears ... I'm his mother. I obviously have a very biased opinion of anything that remotely relates to him.

(This should come as no surprise!)

Even so, there are things that Malcolm wears, outfits that I put together, that have the power to make him even cuter ... If that is even possible. One such "outfit" that I will be really sad to retire is his snap-up fish onesie, something he wears as pajamas on warm nights. While it is as simple as can be, there is just something about it that I loved from the moment I first put him in it.

Maybe it's the fact that it has always been a perfect fit, hugging his little baby body from head to toe:


Maybe it's the fact that it makes his little bubble butt, look a little bit bubblier than usual:


Maybe it's the fact that he always seems so darn happy when he is wearing it:

Onesie: Gymboree (thrifted for $1.50)

Whatever the reason, this simple onesie was well worth the price I paid for it (and then some)!

Maybe I can locate one in a bigger size ...

the mundane days

Some days, the realization that "this is really my life" hits me like a ton of bricks.

I look at Malcolm and my mind turns somersaults, reeling with the fact that he is here. There was a time, not too long ago (although now it feels like ages), that I wished and prayed and grew jealous that I didn't have him. I was consumed with the need for a pregnancy, a baby of my own. I saw friends and family members and even complete strangers with their babies and I almost couldn't handle it.

I wanted it to be me.

Now that it is, I almost can't believe it.

After all that needless stress, I'm somebody's mother. Somebody's lifeline. There is a little person crawling this earth that needs me.

The love I have for my little boy is intoxicating. There is no food, or drink, or other vice that could bring me the same feeling ...

Some mornings, when I see his smile or hear his raspy squeal upon entering his bedroom, I almost can't contain myself. Even the most mundane days, those ruled by the usual baby routine of "wake up, eat, play, nap (for the baby, clean up for me), repeat" are worth getting out of bed for. Even the most mundane days make me wonder: "What was life like before he was with us? How did we ever get along without him?"

In fact, it's those boring, nothing's-really-happening mundane days that show me how blessed I truly am. While I can't ever be "off" and I must always be ready for whatever the little guy needs ... His hunger, or waste, or need for attention always trump my own ... I can't believe how lucky I am. Sure, there are days where I don't get into the bathroom to take care of myself until well into the afternoon. Or days where a certain someone is crabby and only wants to be held (on the hottest day of the summer) ... But it is all worth it.

The mundane days remind me.

On special days like wedding days, or birth days, or even vacation days, the world always looks beautiful. Yet, it's the mundane days that show you true beauty.

I know because I am a someone's mother.

This is my life.

I almost can't believe it.