Leo's Birthday

We celebrated Leo's birthday this weekend.  I can't believe that our boy is four.  For the party, I hung up a bunch of pictures from throughout his life.  I hardly recognize his sweet little two year old face and the newborns, well, it just seems like a lifetime ago.  When did he become not that little boy anymore?  When did he start telling me stories?  When did it all change from toddlerhood to this boy?

I said that I wasn't going to throw a party this year.  We'd thrown a big one last year and the year before and with it so close to Thanksgiving, it wears me out.  About two months ago, Leo started talking about what his party was going to be like, that there would be a blue cake.  How could I not throw a party?

He has been really excited about the movie Planes lately and asked for a Planes party.  It was actually pretty fun to sit with him and have him look through pinterest with me and to point out what he'd like for his party.

For the first time in my life, I bought a cake.  I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to buy one but usually I throw together some cupcakes and call it good.  When Leo started asking for a Dusty Crophopper cake that was blue (and the fact that we've been hosting company all week and had a horrible cold), I knew it was time to call in reinforcements.  So, we ordered a blue cake. 

We continued on with our new tradition of birthday boxes.  I ran onto this idea on a blog and thought it was so fun.  In a box, you put some little presents and special treats.  Leo's had fruit loop cereal, a carton of little goldfish, a couple cars and of course a small Dusty airplane.  It's been a fun tradition to think about and he loved the box even more than the big birthday presents.  I think we'll keep doing this.

On the birthday day, we invited some friends for a playdate.

In four years, so much has happened.  Leo is our joyful, excited guy.  He is so happy to be alive and takes such joy in the simple things like driving his cars.  We were lucky to have his Grandparents in town to join us for the celebrations too.

Amy's First

 

 Amy turned one.  Our girl is one.  I can't believe that it has been a year already.  I have loved watching her grow, how she has started coming into her own.  This year has passed by in a blink and suddenly my 6 pound newborn has become a cruising, crawling one year old. 

 

She is such a joy in our lives.  I can see so much of her personality starting to come out, her quiet determination and curiosity.  I can't wait to see how she will change and come into herself.  Our little red haired girl is one!

It's been a joyful (and absolutely crazy) year.  She has taught me so much and changed me deeply.  Having a second child is so much different than having one and it has been a year of trying to figure out how to do it all. 

We have a special bond, Amy girl and I.  I am so thankful to be her mom, even when she didn't sleep for months. 

We threw a little party to celebrate her first year.  A party makes it feel like a special occasion.  We served waffles, eggs and coconut syrup.  Her cake was topped with raspberry frosting.  She tentatively liked it but didn't go too wild.

A Birthday Visit

It was my mom's birthday a few weeks ago.  I'm pretty sure that I'm a few weeks behind on everything but that is just life at this moment.

 

So, it was my mom's birthday.  She has been the most influential, tirelessly supportive and wonderful person in my life.  She is who I turn to for advice, for help.  I can unequivocally say that I am who I am because of her influence. 

Leo likes her too!

Lunch in Old Town

She came into town over Leo's birthday and we celebrated the birthdays big.  My only regret is that we didn't get into Georgetown for a celebratory cupcake.  Next visit I promise!

The night she flew in (on a delayed flight at midnight), we took a jaunt into the city to see it all at night.  Because, when you are that close, you take the detour, even if it means we got to bed very, very late.

 

We sewed and did projects together.  Watched movies.  Ate good food.  Witnessed the wildest 3rd birthday ever and got out to see some fun things.  I watched Leo and Amy interact with her and it felt like a vacation for me to have someone to help me with everything.


My favorite of all was our visit into Eastern Market.  Mom, come back and stay again!  And happiest of birthdays to you!

Celebrating.....

It was my birthday last week.  Heber gave me a dremel for my glass toolbox.  He loved picking a tool out for my birthday and I love being able to quickly clean out my beads.  Leo helped wrap it.   

We celebrated with a weekend of fun because a birthday should be a week-long event.  Heb and I had a date in Old Town (pretty much our favorite place to go).  And we went to Annapolis, which was supposed to be a balmy 50 degrees but was very cold.  We called it early and headed home. 

It was a good low key birthday.  Would you believe that Leo took a 3 hour nap on my birthday?  Best baby ever.  Which meant that I got to make these. 

The Birthday Extraveganza!

It was Leo's birthday last week.

I think Leo knew that it was his special day too.  Every time I said "it's your birthday," he would look up at me with a big toothy grin (almost 6 teeth now!).

We threw two parties.  One with his little friends and one in the evening for another round of friends and family.  As you've read here, I am a part of a group of mom's with one young baby.  They have been so kind and supportive over this past year.  I don't know what I'd do without them.

The whole gang of littles.

The crazy fun!

Amy and Zach.

Best buddies Zach and Leo.

Rebecca and Will

Leo, Amanda and Jasper.

It was a very special day for us all.  Because, let's be honest, the first birthday is as much celebrating us as parents as it was Leo.  We made the transition to becoming parents.  We learned how to care for a baby and made it to one year.

Leo not loving his chocolate cake but loving ice cream.

The decor.  Putting it together was like a walk through this past year.  Oh how he's grown.

The whole day I just felt grateful (and very tired by the end too).  So grateful that Leo is in our family.  Grateful for Heber because I couldn't have done it without him.  He is ever my support.  

Our cousins.  They love Leo and are so sweet with him.  So glad we live close.

Leo and BJ (Boolean Junior).  The Blake's have a schnauzer named Boolean and they got Leo a little twin schnauzer.

Our friends, the Blake's, who have become part of our family out here.

Our families were able to join in to see the festivities through skype.

Thinking back on it, I am overwhelmed by the love and support we received from our family and friends.  There were so many sweet gifts, phone calls, and people who joined us to celebrate at the parties.  It was just wonderful.  Thank you all. 

The Big One...

A Year

It's been almost a year since I became a mother. 

I can't believe that A) I have a one year old and B) that I survived infancy.  If you're a mother, you know what I mean.  Being a mother is not for the faint of heart.  It's one of the most challenging, yet joyful things I have ever embarked on and I'm only one year in. 

I feel like I have grown and changed a lot in a year.  If you looked at my life before, compared to what it is now, it's very different.  I have a sweet little buddy with me almost all the time.  Everywhere we go and every decision that we make takes into account our Leo.  The friends and life we've built has been very impacted by Leo.  

As I've prepared for his birthday celebrations, in a way I'm celebrating all that we've learned.  Part of me though is somewhat sad.  He's not a baby anymore.  He's a "stair climbing, sleeping through the night, going to be walking here soon" boy.  As with anything, things change but it seems so much more evident as I've watched him grow so quickly this past year. 

I am deeply changed because of Leo.  And just think, it was only a year ago that I held him in my arms for the first time.  I looked at his little face there in the middle of the night and knew nothing would be the same again.  Just a year.   

Thank you Jenny Lewis for the beautiful shots of us together.

The Birthday Post

It was my birthday this past week.  This one will go down as the most up and down of all birthdays.  My actual birthday was a bit more low key this year because Leo had a cold and was up half the night.  Poor little lamb.  We did do some fun things to mark my big day though.

Heber made efforts to make it really special for me.  I appreciate that.  I believe in making things special.  It takes extra time and energy but it's worth it.

We ventured out to Serendipity on M Street in Georgetown, on recommendation of our good friends, the Blake's.  What a delicious experience. It was absolutely divine in every way.   There were people everywhere but that's how you can tell a good place, if it's completely mobbed.






We ordered the frozen hot chocolate which is their house specialty.  No, it's not really hot in any way but an interesting texture.  It's not overly sweet but it has the texture of a snow cone (which you know is going to be a winner with me).
We also ordered a sunday with peanut butter pie, ice cream, bananas, caramel and chocolate.  It was so rich that it was a good juxtaposition to the hot chocolate.
 
This is definitely one to visit again.    

I loved this day.  It was so joyful to be there together, to laugh at our Leo and joke about all the overpriced shopping. We've been going through a bit of a rough patch lately and getting out was just what we needed.

One last note about Georgetown:
I guess you might consider it the hippest part of town.  We, however, are not hip.  It's ok, I accept it.  I don't wear leggings (in public), I don't wear high heels when shopping and I am completely opposed to wearing neon in pretty much any form.  But it sure is entertaining to people watch.  Oh, and I refuse to wait in a block long line for Georgetown Cupcakes.  I don't care how hip they are.  I guess I'm getting old.