The Scribble Pad

A Mother's Hands

2013-05-11T21:59:00.000-04:00

mom holding Hudson when he was a few days old

These hands have been guiding me through life.
I am so thankful for the hard work of these hands.
Most recently they have guided me into motherhood,
for that I am ever more appreciative.

Happy Mother's Day

to our mommas and our momma's mommas

Little Days: Behr's First Carnival

2013-05-09T23:16:00.002-04:00

While visiting family in Pennsylvania, we made a last minute decision to check out the local fare. Twenty-five dollars later, Mark and my dad, Popouli, were carrying neon tickets of fun. At first, Behr was skeptical, but quickly realized he was having fun and the center of everyone's attention. How many 2 year olds get followed around by a five person entourage at the local fair? You could say Behr is a popular guy. Hudson on the other hand, slept through the entire experience.

I never realized how bizarre the fair is and how expensive! My sister and I thanked my parents again, profusely for taking us to so many of the area fairs while we were growing up. We can only imagine the chaos of two parents corralling the four of us, not to mention the cost. I also didn't realize that the carnival games are extra money, not paid for by tickets. This nearly put us over the age when a rubber ducky game was denied. Thank goodness for diversions.

And thank goodness for grandparents who helped make this experience special for Behr (and free for us)!

Hudson One Month

2013-05-08T14:49:00.000-04:00

These first few weeks with you in our life have been an incredible whirlwind. You don't sit still and you certainly won't let us sit still. Of the hundreds of pictures I have taken of you, most have a blur of movement. Even the sleeping pictures! It excites me to see how active you are, knowing that it will take a great deal to keep up with your older brother. But I have a hunch that you are going to challenge him. I can't wait to see it all unfold.

For the first week or two, I forgot that newborn eyes don't focus. I wondered if you would ever lock eyes with me. Now you stare at me (and your Dad and Behr) with such intensity, it is as if you are seeing all of my strengths and faults laid out. Your gaze is contemplative, still deciding if you are going to be able to love us as much as we love you. You take in new surroundings before making your judgement.

Your hair is always spiked up.

You like to party at 3am, but are settling nicely into 5am. A time to which I am willing to adapt.

You hiccup and hiccup and hiccup. I don't remember you ever having the hiccups in the womb, but they plague you now.

Spit bubbles are a permanent feature. At first your Dad said you were foaming and my reaction was so panicked and extreme that he has not commented on your spit bubbles since.

You move constantly and also like to be moved constantly. My arms ache by lunch every day.

You much prefer to be out and about than stuck home with me. I certainly don't blame you. This is a trait I hope continues, for our survival. The only way we manage living in our tiny apartment in the city is by leaving it often. We have parks and streets and museums and shops to explore. It's a good thing you are happy on the go.

We are entirely overwhelmed with love for you, all three of us. You are the primary focus of everyone, even Behr. He bursts through the doors after day care with the same question every day, "Where's Hudson?!" He is proud to show you off and introduce you to new friends. All of our expectations and hopes have been exceeded. Behr is more than happy to share the love and the spot light with you, and somedays even to give it all to you.

Happy One Month Baby Boy!

I am all too familiar that this is going to be a far off memory in a short while, so now I am going to snuggle with you a bit more, while you still let me.

Little Days Soccer Ball

2013-05-02T09:26:00.004-04:00

After breakfast we told Behr, we are going to have an adventure today. We packed a lunch and piled into the car and headed to the 'burbs. As we pulled into the shopping center, we realized both kids were passed out in the back of the car. A smooth transition later, Mark and I were actually enjoying a conversation in a book store amidst relative quiet! Miracle of miracles.

Once the boys woke up from their unplanned naps, we headed into the sports store. Behr exclaimed "WHOA!" And then not a beat later, "Look Dadda, soccer balls" while pointing to exercise balls.

Behr has become absolutely fascinated with soccer since a poster advertising a 3+ rec league showed up at daycare. Since he is too young to sign up, we figured we would make our own soccer adventure for him. Never did we imagine that every ball in our house, and anywhere else for that matter, would be deemed a "soccer ball."

After Behr realized we were actually going to bring a soccer ball home, not just put them back on the shelf, he wanted to buy the entire store. One soccer ball later and a mini-lesson in paying for our goods, we were off to part two of our day.

On our list of "things to do with Behr," Gravelly Park has ranked high on the list. We enjoyed the picnic, kicked the soccer ball around and watched planes soar over head as they took off from Reagan National Airport. Next time we visit, we hope to go by bike!

Link up below and share your #LittleDays

Becoming a Parent of "Two" with Kimberly

2013-04-29T07:30:00.000-04:00

"Two is easier than one."
"Two isn't double the work, its exponential."

Everyone has to give their two cents about parenting two kids, so here is mine: Plan for the worst and hope for the best. You'll probably have moments of both.

Axel is a more difficult baby, but my ability to handle difficult has increased so it is easier. Crying doesn't send me into a panic like it used to. I don't cry when he sleeps a lot of the day, worried he wont sleep at night. I've learned that more often than not, babies sleep.

Each day gets a little easier, except when they get harder but those days are rare. I strive to find a balance between my chores and baby snuggles. A balance between Olivia and Axel. A balance between mom time and me time.

When Axel was five weeks old I found myself cooking dinner while he slept on the couch. Olivia was "helping" from her high chair (a plastic knife and piece of carrot help her feel involved). My cute husband was chatting with us while paying bills and checking his email. And I realized how happy I was, how relaxed I was and how it all seemed meant to be.

I hardly slept last night, but those nights are the exception and not the rule, and now that I've done it before I know it will not last forever. Also, I can be totally lazy on days after nights like that. I don't have to conquer the world everyday. Snuggles are all my babies really need.

Well, snuggles and food.

Find Kimberly on

her blog // twitter

Little Days: Becoming Brothers

2013-04-24T23:52:00.000-04:00

Our most memorable moments right now are watching these two become brothers. They always have been brothers and always will be, but their bond is starting to form in real and tangible ways. It is pretty darn special. So grateful for the front row seats!

What moments are you enjoying from your front row seats?

Share your "Little Days" with us here by linking up and spreading the word #littledays

Last Week

2013-04-22T10:00:00.003-04:00

All of last week, I was preoccupied with thoughts of Boston. Much like the rest of us, we know people who live there, friends running the marathon, and spectators that were certainly nearby. Mark and I still think of Boston as "home." We call lots of places home, places that have a piece of our heart.

We met in Boston.

We dated in Boston.

Mark proposed in Boston.

We have traveled back to Boston for birthdays and vacations.

Sunday night, before the marathon, we even mapped out our next trip to Boston over the summer.

We feel so tied to Boston, we often wonder if we are being called back to Massachusetts.

In fact, Behr has been to Boston so many times, he probably thinks we live there too!

{our adventures in Boston}

On our most recent family trip, we spent time, in the rain, at the Esplanade Playspace along the Charles River. (If you are going to the city with kids, this park is a must do!) As I poured over my pictures from years spent in Boston, this visit stuck out to me. I can practically hear Behr laughing. And that is how I want to think of Boston - a place full of joy and laughter.

And a HUGE thanks to all of my Boston friends {here, here, here, and here} who spent the weekend "instagraming" their beautiful weekend in the city we all love so dearly. Wish I was celebrating with you.

Until my next visit north...

BostonSTRONG

Little Days: Slide Duo

2013-04-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

I am so glad that these two both have the energy to run around the park like crazy!

Nothing makes Behr happier than going to the park with Dad. I look forward to lots of nights at the park this Spring and Summer! Hudson better start walking soon to keep up with these two!

Join us for the #LittleDays link up - where we share the little moments that make parenthood so special!

And don't forget to share the love!

Catching the Cherry Blossoms

2013-04-17T13:47:00.001-04:00

Last week, Mark and I had a mini date. Nothing like a walk to the dry cleaners before a doctor's appointment for romance, right? But in reality, our walk was full of gratitude:

the first taste of the coming summer

time to slow down, even with a newborn

Hudson and his beautiful new life

Behr, for being so willing to go with the flow

my new 50mm camera lens

and catching the cherry blossoms

The cherry blossoms season is one of my favorite in DC. I had hopped they would peak early so I could enjoy them before my five day hospital stay. But a week of cold weather kept the blossoms at bay...just long enough until I was out of the hospital. The beautiful trees peaked over a week late and we were able to soak them in. We are now enjoying our full house and full hearts and overwhelming gratitude.

What have you been grateful for recently?

A Boy Mom with Sarah Tucker

2013-04-15T07:30:00.000-04:00

Being super honest today.
When I found out I was having a boy, I was all ... no, let's check again, mr. ultra sound tech.
But he was a boy! There was no denying it.

I never thought I'd make a good boy mama. I just thought I'd have girls.

Realistically I knew there was a pretty darn good chance my little bub was going to be a boy.
BUT as a pregnant woman I wasn't quite in reality. I definitely dipped my toes into some kind of crazy hormone induced bod for a while there.

And then a few other people confided in me that they felt the same way. Maybe I wasn't crazy, or I just found a sub-group that's just as crazy as I am.

But he's here. And it's true, whatever you have, it is the BEST. Baby boys are now the worlds greatest thing on earth. There is nothing better. I could care less about bows and smocked dresses. And I'm a girl who is every inch a girl. I can even foresee the future of WANTING to attend baseball games, and being actually INTO them. If he's involved, whatever it is, it might just turn into my new favorite sport/thing/whatever it is.

Find Sarah (and sweet baby boy Tuck) on:

her blog / twitter / instagram

Hudson, His First Days in 20 Pictures

2013-04-12T12:03:00.000-04:00

Thank you for the out pouring of love for my family.

We are thrilled by the arrival of Hudson

and look forward to sharing more of this journey with you soon!

Little Days with Courtney and Piper

2013-04-11T01:00:00.000-04:00

Hi there! I'm Courtney- mama, worker-bee, instagram enthusisast, and nighttime writer. My little corner of the interwebs is called Bowdenisms- a place where I share my love of (my) babies, my obsession with grilled cheese, and my passion for keeping it real. I am delighted to be hosting the Little Days link up today with Shannon.

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I love my daughter.

Duh, right?

But I do. I love to cuddle her, read to her, play with her, sing to her, and cuddle her some more. Basically- I love to love her.

But there might be something else I love just a little bit more...

...seeing other people love her.

As her mama, I obviously think she's the cat's pajamas (sometimes literally- when she wears her cat pajamas...) and even if I didn't (impossible) I'd have to love her anyway. Or at least act like it.

But everyone else? They don't have to love her. They can see her from an unbiased perspective, and judge her on her own tiny merits. Now I know most people wouldn't admit to judging babies...but let's be real: we do. Sure, they're all adorable, precious little gifts from heaven etc and so on....but when they're not yours, it's easy to also see that they're sticky, sweaty, tyrannical little monsters. So if someone else loves my little monster? I know it's because they really want to. And that makes my mama heart swell.

With pride?

With gratefulness?

yes and yes.

When I hear someone praise her...when I watch them marvel at one of her newest "skills"...or see them smile at her goofy antics...I'm so proud. Proud of my girl. Proud of who she is, what she's learning and who she's becoming.

And when I see someone's eyes soften when they look at her...when I watch them cuddle her...or hear them laugh with her...I'm so grateful. Grateful that God has given me such a beautiful (and loud, and quirky, and basically irresistible) gift of a daughter. But even more grateful that He's also given me beautiful, loving, (and basically irresistible) friends and family to share her with.

Loving a child is a wonderful, stretching, and humbling experience.

And watching your love be loved...Is even better.

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Little Days is a weekly series geared towards capturing our children and their stories. The hope is for this series to become a way to continue to encourage one another to enjoy the small moments and create a record that we can easily look back upon to see the often overlooked moments of childhood. Join us by linking up your own recent post and helping to spread the word. #littledays

Transition to Staying Home with Lindsey Kubly

2013-04-09T07:30:00.000-04:00

Sweet Scribble Pad readers: I'm Lindsey, and I blog over at The Kubly Girl about marriage, motherhood and making a simple life cozy. I am thrilled to share with you while Shannon is taking time away to be with her two precious boys. The Scribble Pad Blog has been a go-to place for answering all my new-mama questions over the past year. I’ve clicked on her “Baby 101” button many times.

During the past year of being a mama, I have been surprised at how difficult the the transition to staying home was at times. I’d love to share a little about it with you today.

My husband and I married when I graduated college, and I spent the next five years teaching high school biology. I loved so many things about that job – my colleagues, my students, my subject matter, and hey – summer break! Being a teacher brings a certain rhythm to your life...

The first day of school brought nerves of meeting a new class of 150 students. The palpable stress of final exams right before Christmas, while twinkling lights were strung around my classroom. The awkwardness of high school students asking each other to the school dance. Collecting textbooks, finalizing grades, and the beginning of glorious summer break...

By my fifth year of teaching, I was ready for children of my own. I had grown a little weary of 150 students vying for my help and attention. I was eager to start teaching and loving my child. So, when we found out we were expecting and I began planning to stay home, I assumed motherhood would fulfill me. I had dreamed of and expected this role of “SAHM.”

For the first five months after my daughter was born, I was consumed with the constant-ness and chaos of motherhood, that I never missed my old job. I was BUSY.

But as I began to find some rhythm I noticed my mental capacity just wasn’t being tapped into by the physicality of caring for a baby. And that was when I missed my job and being an earner for our family. I missed working, accomplishments, and deadlines. I missed teaching and communicating ideas. I even missed the paychecks. For someone who loves to cross a finish line, parenthood stretches on endlessly.

I didn’t wish to be teaching or leave my baby. I really felt my calling was to stay home for this time, but I dreaded waking up in my thirties and feeling I had lost myself through giving everything to my kids.

There were three big things that helped me transition:

1. Give yourself a year.
A friend told me that it could take a year to find a new life rhythm and mourn the absence of your career. The expectation that staying home (or going back to work, for that matter) will be immediately & constantly fulfilling sets a girl up for disappointment. There are tradeoffs with both choices.

2. Be in community with other women.
Motherhood creates a fundamental bond between women, and finding other moms in a similar situation is enormously encouraging. Every other week, one girlfriend and I trade watching the other’s children, so we can have some alone time. On alternate weeks we try to go out to breakfast or walk around our neighborhood. The challenge is finding women who aren't too busy to build friendships.

3. Pursue your passions.
Don’t be stagnant. Spend time learning + growing + creating. Writing and working with women at The Influence Network has met a need to mentally engage in my world. I don’t believe this makes me less of a mother – it is making me better. I hope my daughter learns from me the value of working hard and trying new things.

Find Lindsey on

her blog // twitter

Little Days Hudson Mark

2013-04-04T05:52:00.000-04:00

Hudson Mark born

Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 3:07 in the afternoon.

8 lbs. 2 oz

21 and 3/4 inches long

For Immediate Release:

Team Schreiber adds Hudson Mark

Washington, DC - April 3, 2013 - Team Schreiber is proud to announce the birth of Hudson Mark Schreiber at 3:07 pm. Hudson joins the team weighing 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 21 3/4 inches long. When asked about today's news, older brother Behr stated, "clutch move Mom and Dad; Hudson will add depth to the offense bench and I'm stoked about the direction we are heading." Head coach and co-leader of the family, Shannon (a.k.a. mom) noted, "definitely a great pickup for us; looking forward to transitioning from zone defense to man-to-man coverage - we are truly blessed." Special support coach and biggest family fan, Mark (a.k.a. dad) commented, "I couldn't be prouder right now. Mom did a great job. She spent months preparing for this acquisition; definitely team MVP. I appreciate Behr's willingness to step into his new role as leader of the pack. The combo of Hudson and Behr will be a force to reckon with as we grow." Dad continued, "We are honored to be parents and are committed to raise these boys as gentlemen and teach them about God's grace."

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This week for little days, we would love to see how your children made their debut into the world! Feel free to link up either a current little days post or a past blog post that announced your child's birth.

#41weeks

2013-04-03T12:03:00.000-04:00

Week 41 is better than week 40.

Perhaps because the end is somehow now more attainable? At 40 weeks I was frustrated, discouraged with no signs of labor, and feeling exhausted. Once the due date came and went, it allowed me to enter into a mode of acceptance. This is not in my control.

Why is it always so difficult to relinquish control? A control we never even had to begin with.

As I entered 41 weeks on Monday, I was able to cherish my last days of pregnancy a little bit longer. I spent more time snuggling with and reading with Behr. We took advantage of take out more frequently. I focused on things specifically for baby, like stuffing diapers and organizing sleepers. I praised God for a few sunny days to get out and walk when just last week I was bitter and angry and only wanted to sleep.

41 weeks rejuvenated me.

So here we are, c-section day with all hopes of a v-bac long gone. We feel peace and abundant gratitude. Today we get to introduce Behr to his baby brother. Today we get to hold our son. Today we get to announce him to the world. I could not be more excited. We could not be more blessed.

Follow us on instagram @thescribblepad

to see pictures of our new little one faster than we can get them up here on the blog!

Happy Easter!

2013-03-31T23:37:00.000-04:00

This Easter was low-key, waiting for baby.

Growing up I celebrated traditional Catholic/Protestant Easter and also Greek Easter (which follows a different liturgical calendar). While Easter this year was without travel and extended family, we will be celebrating Greek Easter in May. I look forward to sharing some of those traditions with you later this Spring.

Easter 2012

Easter 2011

Preparing for a Sibling

2013-03-29T08:30:00.000-04:00

Folks, still no baby news, but I loved Jen's guest post so much, I couldn't wait until after the baby to post it. Happy reading and have a lovely weekend!

Hi Scribble Pad readers! I've posted here before and am back as Shannon and I both are finishing up our second pregnancies. Here I am with my hubby, AJ, and my son Drew, who is right around Behr's age.

When I was about to give birth to Drew my biggest thoughts and worries were how in the world was I going to do this... I felt so clueless. Now I'm finding myself really thinking about how to make the transition easier for Drew. And not just easier but fun. We've constantly been talking to him about Baby and how he is going to be such a great big brother. He'll often want me to pull up my shirt so he can hug Baby but then he says "cold" (because obviously she is getting chilly without my shirt covering her) and he'll get a blanket to put over my stomach. It is precious. And he's calling her "Sissy". :)

Here are some ways that we have tried to make this transition easy and make Drew feel special amid the changes:

Recently we went up to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for a night and spent some time at a great children's museum there that Drew loved. It had a gigantic train table and a pseudo restaurant. That night we made sure to go out to eat at a kid-friendly place (Flatbread Pizza Company) and we ended the day in the hotel pool where he could jump and play to his heart's content.

When working on Drew's "big boy room" I was very careful to incorporate many of the same elements from his nursery so that it wasn't like too many changes were happening at once. We added in more grown-up elements like a twin bed that he can use when he's ready but we aren't pushing it.

Drew loves looking at photos of people he knows so I made a book for him from My Publisher. We plan on presenting him with this book once he meets Baby Girl. In the book I really tried to reinforce who Drew is and what he loves. Often we'll ask him what he is going to teach his baby sister and he responds with one word "cars" (except he pronounces it like a true Boston-ian and says "caws"). I made sure to put photos in the book of people and things he recognizes and loves. At the end of the story we affirmed how Drew was going to be such a fabulous older brother and how we loved both Drew and Baby so much.

On the day my sister, Kim, was born my parents had her give me a slide. Immediately I loved Kim because she had given me such a great toy (even though she was about 10 minutes old and didn't have a clue what was going on). :) The other day I found a cement mixer at Home Goods and picked it up for Drew to be a gift from Baby on the day she arrives. This boy loves his cars and never stops talking about the cement mixer at the gym where he plays.

I emailed my friend Danielle and asked her to bring Drew a little token like some candy, a little Matchbox car and a balloon to the hospital when visiting the new baby so that he wouldn't feel left out. She's all over it.

So, tell me, what are YOUR secrets for making your firstborn comfortable and happy with the changes? Okay, well, as comfortable and happy as possible when someone invades their life? :)

I'd love for you to come by Migonis Home and visit for a while. And drop me an email while you are at it... I just love meeting people (even if it is just through email)!

Find Jen on

her blog // facebook // pinterest

Little Days Lacrosse

2013-03-28T20:17:00.000-04:00

If there is one thing that is certain, our boys will spend a lot of time around the sport of lacrosse. No one is saying they have to play, but as two former college lacrosse players, we get itchy every March to get to the first games of the season. When our alma mater is within day trip difference, you can count on us to be there. Parents of players who neither Mark or I know, have heard of my cheering voice. I am the real life version of Coach Yoast's daughter from Remember the Titans (around 1:56).

The good news is Behr has a blast playing lacrosse (or any sport) right now and he has no idea that he is the little guy. When a group of 5-7 year olds are playing, Behr jumps right in as if he is big enough to hang, and usually he does. We are having a blast watching him enjoy sports. And look forward to tossing his baby brother into the mix.

Disclaimer: compensated affiliate links may be used in this post.

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How are you spending these early spring days with your kids?

I'd love for you to link up and let us know what little moments and bringing joy to your family.

Don't forget to share the love with the others who link up and spread the word #littledays.

Blogger Book Club: The Book Thief

2013-03-26T11:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Blogger Book Club, where we gather in conversation over the blogger comment section on the last Tuesday of each month. Feel free to write your own reviews and share them in the comment section each month. Tip: to stay engaged in the conversation, be sure to subscribe by email to the comments!

This book is a fantastic read. Here are some of the points that stuck with me

Liesel's brother's death seems to have sparked her love for books. Can you imagine falling into reading over a Gravedigger's guide? When did you fall in love with books? Was there a particularly book that shifted you towards becoming a reader?

Max seems to fill a void in Liesel's life. I went back and forth over whether Max became a surrogate brother for her, or helped fill the void of love in her life. What role do you think Max played for Liesel?

The Mayor's decision to no longer pay for their laundry to be done seemed akin to similar decisions being made in Washington. With the sequester upon us, silly things like Story Time at the Library of Congress and White House tours are being canceled. But like no longer paying for laundry, these seem to be appearance based actions, not significant changes.

The lists throughout the book are such a natural insertion of details. From Rudy's foolish acts, Liesel's gifts for Max, and even Max's dreams, the lists efficiently round out character depictions. It feels natural for their to be lists, like human nature. Are you a list makers? What lists do you currently have running in your life?

The book is narrated by Death. It wasn't until the Narrator says he had visited their home on 33 Himmel Street, that I realized the role of the narrator. Did you realize this? Have you ever read a book narrated by death?

This book presents a very different perspective to WWII and the Holocaust than the books I read in school, and since then. How do you think this book differs from The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Night by Elie Wiesel, and others?

What points struck you as your read this book?

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A few other thoughts:

Pregnancy exhaustion and insomnia had me thinking I would not make it through this book. And then I discovered audible. I have had the app for months, but never used it. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. Do you listed to books on audio? It might be my new favorite thing!

Stay tuned to our Blogger Book Club page for updates about our next book selections. For April, we are spinning things a bit and sharing about our favorite e-books. Be sure to come ready to share yours!

p.s. I'm still taking book suggestions.

Disclaimer: compensated affiliate links may be used in this post.

Little Days of Pizza Making

2013-03-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

We have started a mini Friday tradition in our house, making pizza with Behr. He loves to cook so much these days, we are trying to constantly think of ways he can be at the help without actually touching the oven or stove. Behr gets so excited. The second we walk in the door, he is pulling the chair over to the counter. The more steps Behr can be involved in, the better.

Do you cook with your kids?

What are your favorite things to make together?

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Little Days is a link up where moms can encourage each other in the little things that make parenthood so precious. Life doesn't have to be full of big moments, and it isn't only the "big" that deserves to be recorded.

Here we share the ins and outs of our kids lives. We hope you join in the fun.

Wardrobe Rework

2013-03-20T21:33:00.000-04:00

Five days before my due date might not seem like an ideal time to focus on my wardrobe, but for the next few months, my world is shifting and I want to make sure I don't wear all black! I am joining Danielle of Framed Frosting for this style experiment.

My six pieces:

J.Crew Aqua Sleeveless Tunic - In theory, I love this item, but I never seem to wear it out of the house.

Tulip Shirt from Stitchfix - I love the pattern here and the tab sleeves. I want to be bold in how I wear and style this shirt (not just wear it with white jeans every time).

J.Crew Boy Shirt in Plaid - This shirt is quintessential Shannon. Unfortunately it has fallen out of rotation and needs some new pep.

Yellow Kate Spade Cardi - Can I saw swoon? This cardigan rocks, but I am sure it can be more versatile than I typically allow.

Madewell Chambray Top - After searching for the perfect jean jacket, I bit the bullet last Spring and went with chambray instead. I am still a bit overwhelmed on how to wear this, so I will gladly accept your pointers!

J.Crew Berry Cords - A twist on nantucket red, perhaps? I love the idea of these pants (so bought them while pregnant) but haven't had a chance to wear them yet.

Be sure to check out my looks on instagram. I am even going to try to weave some of these pieces in and around having a baby. Wish me luck! (and again, seriously, give me your fashion pointers!)

Dear Baby, It's Nearly Spring

2013-03-19T23:06:00.000-04:00

Dear Baby,

A few weeks ago these lovely tulips filled our home. They welcomed throughs of Spring and much more symbolically, the realization that you, our second son, will soon be born. So as I gazed at these flowers, I decided to teach myself even more about using manual. Way too many pictures later, I am continuing to understand how to better use my camera, especially indoors. Beware! Mom is gonna go crazy taking photos of you. Fortunately, you have a stellar big brother who has learned the ropes of avoiding unwanted paparazzi. (and then things jumped to a whole new level when I bought myself an early birthday present today).

Your brother was born in a snowstorm. And although Spring is upon us, I am secretly hoping that by the oddities of nature, it might snow on the day of your birth too.

Recently I have been longing to know your story, how it will begin and where it will go, and how our family will shift to embrace you. I try to imagine my range of emotions, who I will think you look like, to fill in the details I never knew I would know about Behr. Details that my heart is literally jumping to know about you. I recently wrote about your kicks lessening as you grew out of room, but you have already proven me wrong. You move with increased intensity and regularity. I cannot wait to have your ball of energy bouncing around in my arms.

The countdown is on. In less than 16 days, we are guaranteed to meet.

I am so excited, I can't seem to sit still.
(I guess I will just have to go practice more with the camera)

Love,
your momma
xoxo

Feeling Irish in the Kitchen

2013-03-17T22:46:00.001-04:00

One of the vegetable fears I have overcome through my CSA is cabbage. Growing up with too much sauer kraut and bad cole slaw had me turning my nose to cabbage (sorry mom). But I frequently received it through my CSA and my husband happens to love the stuff. Here are my three sure fire (no cook) recipes for enjoying cabbage. Although, technically I do not believe any of my recipes below are actually Irish.

Mother-in-law's Cole Slaw:
Most of the time when my husband prefers the way his mom preps something, I let him enjoy her cooking rather than my attempt to reproduce the meal. With cole slaw however, he happily jumps into action and makes a batch that feeds a crowd. This winter we have made a ton of coleslaw as it is part of one of our favorite quick and easy meals for new moms. Here is their famous recipe:

Shred half a head of cabbage
dice half-one green pepper
shredded carrots (I buy the pre-shredded kind in the bag, and it is about 1/3 of the bag)

Mix together:
1/2 cup canned evaporated milk
1/4 cup vinegar
4 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of black pepper
dash of celery seeds
6 tablespoons of mayo

Pour mixture over shred and let sit for at least two hours, or overnight.

Asian Slaw:
This recipe was new to me when I came to DC, but has become a favorite since a few of my friends here love it too! It is a quick and easy way to use up some extra cabbage and is the perfect accompaniment to cashew chicken lettuce wraps.

Half a head of shredded cabbage
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 package of ramen noodles *reserve and add right before serving
Toss together (and freely add any additional ingredients like, sliced celery, ground flax seeds, green onions, shallots, etc.)

Mix the following ingredients to make the dressing:
2 Tbs. sugar
3 Tbs. rice or wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil (or peanut oil)
1/2 flavor packet from noodles

Pour dressing over salad at least two hours before serving. Top with noodles and garnish of choice.

Blue Cheese Salad:
A twist on the blue cheese wedge salad, this is a great way to get a salad in the winter when greens aren't garden fresh. There are no measurements, because this recipe is all according to taste.

shredded cabbage
blue cheese or gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
chopped walnuts or lightly toasted pine nuts
raisins, golden raisins, or dried cranberries
red onion (thinly sliced)
toss with your favorite homemade balsamic vinaigrette
...and maybe garnish with crumbled bacon?

How do you eat your cabbage?

Little Days: Hammering Away

2013-03-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday you got a peek at our nursery + big boy room progress. The main attraction is Behr's big boy bed. We made this bed exciting from the very beginning. As soon as the box arrived in the mail, we pointed it out to Behr and told him we would wait to open it until Dad returned from a work trip. When the mattress arrived, we let the fun begin. Behr helped each step of the way from deciding where in our house the boxes should wait, to opening the boxes, to cleaning up the packing materials and finally assembling the bed with Dad. Behr even got out his trusty tool box (a gift from his best friend Bella) to hammer along side Dad. It was quite the process, but the excitement remained high and I think contributed greatly to the success of the bed so far.

These two have been enjoying the best story time together since the bed was put together. I couldn't be more excited for these precious little moments each evening.

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Little Days is a weekly post series geared towards capturing our children and their stories. I hope that this series becomes a way to continue to encourage one another to enjoy the small moments.

Don't forget to share the love with the person who linked up before you

and spread the word #littledays.

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Behr's Big Boy Bed

2013-03-13T10:15:00.002-04:00

Some of you may know, we live in a very tiny apartment in DC. This room that was converted to Behr's bedroom originally began as my closet. (and unfortunately, it gets no natural light, so the pictures are always horrendous, please forgive me!) For the past few months we have been plotting and planning and researching how to make this closet work for two.

Some of my top concerns:
+ Having access to the changing table/dresser combo for the baby during Behr's long afternoon nap.+
+ Making sure the space felt dedicated to Behr, as he is the one getting shuffled about.
+ Finding furniture that fit well.

Some things we learned:
+ Ikea toddler beds and cribs are actually larger than the standard US toddler bed/crib.
+ There was no way I was also going to fit my rocking chair in this room.
+ The length of Behr's crib is about the width of a standard crib mattress! I had no idea there was such a huge size difference. (which translated into the toddler bed being much bigger than I anticipated)

Solutions:
+ Move the changing table into our bedroom - which you get a peek of here.
+ Purchase the smallest aesthetically pleasing toddler bed we could find, the DaVinci Modena in white.
+ Use as many existing items we had.

The room isn't finished yet. We still need to hang art and picture ledges for Behr's growing library. But he happily drags all of our guests into see "Behr's Big Bed!" The most important items are crossed off the list. Behr successfully transitioned to his new bed and we now have a happy place for both of our boys to sleep.

Note: For all the moms out there, let me revel in this for a few days before you warn me about a toddler and an infant sharing a room. I am in denial of the possibilities of sleep regression.

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