The Scribble Pad

Balloon Garland Tutorial

2012-02-14T04:44:00.000-08:00

a few extra minutes and common household goods can bring life to your party or your valentine's day!

begin by blowing up your balloons

pull a long piece of twine, one and a half times the length you desire

and tie about half of the balloons down the length of twine (be sure to leave room at the ends) until you have what you think you need. test it to be sure.

after you have tested your single row of balloons and confirmed the placement, secure the twine.

then gather your twist ties and remaining balloons

alternating up and down, fill in between the twine tied balloons with twisties

it is important to alternate up, down, high, and low to give you garland a full look

step back and examine your work, filling in any remaining gaps

it only takes a few minutes to give your party and extra boost of excitement

just in case you don't have these items laying around,

check out Olive Manna, my new favorite stop for all things home!

Behr's First Photo Booth

2012-02-13T04:49:00.000-08:00

The birthday party photo booth may not have been as successful as most wedding photo booths. But we managed to coax almost everyone into the front room to get their mug shot. Props or not, the photos turned out to be a wonderful way to see the love that is poured out for Behr. This group of people truly loves this little dude. And that makes me very happy.

Introducing Obababy

2012-02-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

Say hello to our newest sponsor, Obababy!

Obababy is your go to shop for styling your tot in elegance. Sarah King began Obababy when she was searching for the perfect gift for her niece, Coco. Tired of searching for what she couldn't find, Sarah put her own skills to work, and Obababy was born. Each onesie or tee, features a hand-sewed flourish to ensure your baby is looking sharp all day long!

Sarah is so excited to be here, that she is offering all readers a special discount:

Use the code: SCRIBBLE

for 15% discount off

your order placed by February 29th

p.s. you might remember Behr sporting his Obababy tie onesie here!

Recent Changes

2012-02-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

Behr is learning new things every day.

He stacks blocks.

Ventures out on his feet, learning to walk more every day.

Wants to explore new foods and eat everything we eat.

Behr can climb up onto the couch, and slides back down gracefully.

He is also testing limits.

Behr throws things and looks for a reaction.

Stops in his tracks when we say his first and middle name together, in a stern voice.

When he hears the word "no," he makes a face, even if it isn't directed at him.

He likes to make noises.

Still loves to snuggle.

And has officially put me back in his number one spot.

A few months ago, when I stopped breastfeeding, Behr realized he didn't need me as much anymore. Life quickly became all about Dad. He would pick Dad over me for anything and everything. Behr would flail on the floor in distress if Dad stepped into another room or lunge out of my arms to try to reach him as he walked past us. But this also meant that I could coexist with Behr with little drama. And he was no longer attached to my hip. I have to be honest, my newfound freedom was both enjoyable and productive. I could make dinner, fold laundry, get work done on my computer all while Behr played happily by my side.

But at somepoint over the past week, while Behr has been sick, it all changed. Momma is number one again. And so my life has gotten a little bit more challenging again. I am the go to for everything these days. And I couldn't be more happy. My few months of freedom were nice after a full-term preganncy plus 9 months of infant carrying. But my little toddler is growing up, and so is our bond. Our cuddles are sweeter. And the reach for mommy is endearing on a whole new level. I wouldn't change it for the world.

I am linking up with Mama Loves Papa for my favorite part of Thursdays:

Behr is wearing:

Polo - Janie and Jack

Camo Pants - hand me downs

Shoes - Robeez from a consignment sale

Up, up, and away...

2012-02-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

...we are still pouring through Behr's birthday pictures. But there are a few exciting blog posts in the works, including a balloon garland tutorial, the photobooth pictures, and the making of the photobooth backdrop. Alas, none of them are ready yet. So today, I will leave you with a note from Behr.

We purchased this snazzy prop plane stationery from tinyprints* before we ever considered a plane theme for Behr's first birthday. These thank you notes ended up being perfect. I love when things come together like that! Behr was a champ and even colored on some of the hand written thank you notes we sent out.

Until we are old and wrinkled.

2012-02-07T04:35:00.000-08:00

Mark and I started dating when we were young, practically babies.

We were married before either of us turned 25.

But deep down inside, we have always been old souls.

Our dating life consisted of grocery shopping, Jeopardy watching, and too many board games to count. We read the paper and talk about the price of orange juice. We both have incredible relationships with our grandparents, and look to their generation to set an example for our marriage.

When we do take an occasional date night, we both secretly hope to be seated near a more established couple. We love seeing the spark of love in experienced eyes, wrinkled hand holding across the table, and the ease in which two bodies move in harmony, even if the pace has slowed.

We like to take a peek inside the lives of a generation that came before us and hope that we can live up to their example. So when I saw this Time magazine special featuring Lauren Fleishman's work, I was smitten.

"Little by little we change but we don't change in our hearts. Love gets stronger. That is the way I feel. I believe he feels the same way. Yes, he was my first love. My first love and my last." - Leila Ramos

I am not sure which I appreciate more, the photos or their wise words on life, love, and marriage.

Valentine's Day is just a week away.

What are the examples of love in your life?

Airplane Birthday Party

2012-02-05T22:22:00.000-08:00

An airplanes theme first birthday party, filled with streamers, and bunting, and balloons. My inspiration came from Dina, proprietor of Honey + Fitz, and her adorable vintage bomber planes. This past summer, With Two Cats held a giveaway, and I won 6 incredible planes to frame for Behr's big boy room some day. I immediately fell head over heels for the theme "take flight" for Behr's first birthday! And thus, a theme was born.

The Menu:

pulled bbq

pigs in a blanket

behr's favorite veggies

goldfish

pirates booty

airplane grilled cheese

and fruit salad

The Guests:

The Entertainment:

which sadly, terrified Behr!

The Cake:

Behr's Reaction:

Behr was unsettled the moment we put him in his chair. We aren't sure whether it was the cake, the crowd of people looking at him, or the singing. Likely it was a combination of all three, and I can't blame him. Ultimately, we waited too long, so Behr was also tired. I don't think he even had a single bite of cake. He did however enjoy smashing the cake in my face. And then we had a big 'ole family smooch!

The Presents:

behr had many helpers

The Piano:

the unexpected hit of the party!

We also had a photo booth {which you see a peek of in the piano pictures}, but those are pictures for another post. The party was a hit. Behr was happy the almost the entire time, and loved having all of the big kids to chase after. The party was a wonderful celebration of Behr with friends and family. At the end of it all, we were content with the balance of effort and fun that we put into making this day special. The biggest help was having my dear friends, Michael and Lindsay, take these photos! I did not have to worry about my camera or taking a single picture because I knew they had it covered. And my favorite shot of the day, might be this sweet father son moment.

my sleepy behr.

So glad I get to call you my one year old!

Freshly Squeezed

2012-02-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

The warm weather that graced the East Coast has me craving color in my wardrobe. This morning I stepped outside and realized it even smelled like Spring! Too bad we have snow forcasted for Sunday. I am choosing to ignore the snow and think about a few key items I want to add to brighten my wardrobe!

Gumdrop Stud Earrings from Kate Spade. I have posted these before in other colors. They are my new obsession! // Scarf from Echo, currently on sale at Nordstrom // These necklaces would certainly be a fun statement piece for spring and summer. And because they are so affordable, I wouldn't be afraid to wear them at the beach or pool side. // Loving this neon wrap watch! Watches are my second obsession, but I haven't taken the plunge to puchase a statment time piece. // These lemon yellow heels would blend perfectly with my spring suits, and even better with sundresses! // I am not sure I am going to be able to resist the colorful denim trend. So far I have stuck to my trusty blues and a few pairs of white jeans. But this papaya hued pair from J.Crew has me swooning. // How fun is this shade of Bobbi Brown lip gloss? //Speaking of fun shades, I could be super adventurous and take a spin in the 80s with this stila blush from *birchbox! // And of course, my pedicure would be completely season appropriate with my trusty, Essie Clam Bake!

I have been slowly collecting these favorite pieces for Spring to remind me that the flowers will soon be blooming! I was thrilled when {av} emailed the theme for this Friday's Fancies, Spring Fever. I have clearly been struck!

Quick and Easy Dinner

2012-02-01T04:12:00.000-08:00

You have seen it here before. When in doubt, I toss a bunch of my favorite things with pasta and call it dinner. It is a bit of a crazy week for our little family. Mark is finishing up his final deliverables for grad school (this program seems to never end!) and work for both of us has picked up full steam. So last night, I was on a mission to simplify our meals for the week with a big pot of something.

I rummaged through our cabinets refridgerator and found every ingredient that would work with pasta:

garlic

a jar artichike hearts

three half empty jars of olives

roasted red peppers

sun dried tomatoes

a pint of cherry tomatoes screaming to be used

chicken broth

and of course, my whole wheat penne

I decided against the roasted red peppers and sundried tomatoes for this round, but surly they will be making an appearance soon. First up, I sauted garlic in some butter, roughly chopped the olives and artichokes and tossed them in the mix. Next, I quartered the tomatoes, all the while bringing a second pot of chicken broth to a boil to cook the pasta. A long time ago, some cooking show host taught me this little trick, cooking your pasta (or rice) in broth give a boost of flavor that is sometimes needed. Once everything was good and ready, I tossed it together.

This is the base for our meals for the week. I might add a bit of cheese, Mark likes to add red sauce. He is a sauce guy. I might even add some chicken later in the week if I have time. But either way, we have a big batch for when we need to grab a bite for lunch or dinner this week.

And did you see? I found a great deal on the perfect staub, and couldn't be happier with my new workhorse!

A Birthday Video + A Giveaway

2012-01-31T04:56:00.000-08:00

oh, the joys of home videos

my brother is recording this

you can hear him singing or talking the entire time

when I asked if I should let Behr touch the candle, I was joking

one of my cousins grabbed the flame on their first birthday

Behr had no interest in the cake

we waited too long for cake

the party tuckered him out, he was sleepy

poor baby

This video is unedited, just like our life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love that we can hear so many of our family members in the background of this home video. I love that my brother panned the room so we could see the folks who were there. I love that it is messy and jumpy and so classically my family. Mark and I watched this video a few times already. And we look forward to watching it hundreds more.

p.s. a few days later, Behr ate some of the cake and loved it!

and for that snazzy giveaway I mentioned,
you will have to jump over to Ava Grace's Closet to check that out!

Looking forward into the new year

2012-01-30T05:11:00.000-08:00

'Morning folks, today I'd like to give you the chance to hang out with my dear blogging friend Emily. She blogs over at Tales for Karina Marie, and may or may not be singlehandedly influencing pattern (stripes don't count) into my wardrobe. Enjoy!

First of all, I want to thank Shannon for giving me this amazing opportunity to guest blog on The Scribble Pad. I have been a follower to this lovely place on the blogosphere for a while now. She's a pretty incredible woman, if I do say so myself! We've bonded many a time over me just obsessing over Behr's animated facial expressions and general awesomeness, and my crazy, sometimes-too-much fashion sense. Nonetheless she's pretty darn fantastic.

When Shannon asked me to do a post and it possibly have a new year's/starting out fresh theme, I immediately jumped on it. The new year brings many things with it: below zero temperatures that freeze my toes and fingers into three-month-long icicles, snow that makes city parking even more of a pain in the bum, and hibernation becomes a lot easier than during the warmer seasons. But it also brings cute mittens, hot Passion tea from Starbucks, and a new beginning with new goals and new dreams.

This year is going to be a first for me. It's going to be a full-year of healthy and happy growth. (As simple as that!) As a young woman who chose one of the less-traditional routes after high school, I did not have the easiest adjustment into adulthood. After several unhealthy relationships with men and then diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder, I moved back to my parent's home indefinitely. After about a year and a half or so of soul-searching I decided to move out and become financially independent at the age of 20. Many poor-decisions later, that fortunately, because of the grace of God, became lessons lived and learned, I started to see the true beauty in life. This past year and the big girl-life issues, stresses, and unfortunate events it brought, really set the foundation for 2012. The amount that I learned about myself and the relationships I have with those that I love, grew at an exponential rate.

As I look into the year (and coming years for that matter,) I see hope, excitement, and opportunity.

I would love for my blog to expand and grow into something great. I am continuing my online degree in journalism and will be done in a year.
I am working hard at a full-time job with some really wonderful people that I love and cherish.
I will continue to photograph as much as I can, so that I can document it and remember every beautiful and hard moment that I have.
I want to grow in my relationships even further with my parents, my young brother, and my other loved-ones.
I want to make new friends at church and meet some new people.
I want to learn more about graphic-design and really study HTML code.
Learn how to master my sewing machine!
Cook or bake something once a month.
Do more DIY projects, because crafting is da bomb.

I really love making new friends. I'm definitely up there on "the most outgoing" list in many folks' books. So please stop by Tales for Karina Marie and say hi!

My Little Organizer

2012-01-26T04:03:00.000-08:00

Lately when I arrive to pick Behr up from daycare, there is a familiar scene. He is emptying a bucket of toys, simply to fill it back up again. Those of you who know me in real life are now hysterically laughing. My son has so many of my characteristics, one of which is the desire to sort and organize everything in sight! It is honoring and often quite scary. I am waiting for the day when Behr informs me of the most efficient way to load a dishwasher. {still owe you a picture of that one!}

A few weeks ago, Behr decided to pack his own bag to get ready to leave daycare. I simply couldn't resist capturing the moment. Come on people! How stinking cute is this? He packed his own bag. And he put all of the right things in there...before promptly taking them out to repeat the process. I love that this simple act of sorting and organizing entertains him. It cracks me up. And you know what? I am utterly and completely head over heals in love with this kid. Yup, I just went there.

Side note: This was pre-first birthday. On the Saturday morning of his party, he had his last bottle. Behr has been completely off bottles and formula since then, and he is thriving. It was a simple transition, despite great fear of the most horrible of horrible potential outcomes. Easy-peasy! Phew...giant sigh of relief.

And now my absolute favorite part of Thursdays,

Small Style on Mama Loves Papa.

Behr is wearing:

Plaid Shirt: Arizona Jean Co.

Jeans: His very first pair of Wranglers!

Shoes: our favorites from Little Friends Co. on etsy

and the center photo one more time, just because the expression is priceless.

R & R

2012-01-25T04:32:00.000-08:00

Now that the New Year is officially underway {I may be a bit behind on my resolutions} and Valentine's Day is around the corner, I have been reflecting on loving my husband and serving my family well. Back in October, I wrote this post for :: the neesby lookbook :: sharing a bit about what makes marriage work for us. It has been at the forefront of my mind, so I decided to repost and share with you today. I hope you enjoy!

Marriage has been a journey of learning, but nothing has left a greater mark than a message we learned during pre-marital counseling. Honestly, I am not sure we really understood how important this simple message was until over a year into marriage. It is just two words, but made an incredible impact.

As arguments and disagreements arose in our marriage we have been subtly reminded by how important these words and what they entail are to maintaining a solid foundation.

marriage is not just about the clichés:

moving onward and upward

don’t sweat the small stuff

saying “it’s okay”

brushing it under the rug

never going to bed without saying “sorry”

In fact, if you live by any number of these mantras, you are likely to harbor resentment or let incidents slowly chip away at the joy of marriage. That is where these two words come into play.

For even the most minor infraction, Mark and I hash things out. Sometimes this is simple, and other times it gets pretty ugly. We make an effort to reconcile the situation.

But that is not the only step. The key is the restoration of the relationship. We try our best to follow up our reconciliation with a simple question posed by the offender: Relationship restored?

To be honest, arguments can be painful, so the answer is not always yes. I am stubborn, so I like to hold on to my hurt. When I say “No” I am making Mark work for it. I hope and pray that this is for the betterment of our marriage, not out of my sinful heart. But either way we always come back around to a place when we both can nod and hug in agreement that the relationship has been restored.

This sounds like heavy stuff, I know. But during times when communication was difficult or stress levels were high, this made the world of a difference.

During the first year “honeymoon stage” of our marriage, we practiced this process over simple things:

Changing the channel on tv

Breaking a glass vase

Forgetting to pick up something from the grocery store

Not making the bed

Shrinking a favorite sweater in the laundry

Leaving the gas stove on and almost killing us with fumes…

*some of these hypothetical examples may have actually occurred

Our practice proved fruitful. When harder times came, it was natural for us to reconcile the difference and proactively restore our relationship. We are a stronger family unit today because of these two words. I could never be grateful enough for this simple lesson.

A Challenge to Create

2012-01-24T03:50:00.000-08:00

Today I would love to introduce you all to my sweet new sponsor, Kendra from Our Little Almanac. She is a mama, a blogger, and etsy shop owner, and pretty freaking hilarious. Enjoy!

Hello Scribble Pad readers! I love Shannon's blog title. I feel like my whole brain is a scribble pad full of thoughts and ideas that are trying to get out there and make it in the real world.

So are we all excited about this new year that is upon us? I know there are varying opinions about making new years resolutions and if they are actually beneficial for you or not, but one thing I think we can all agree on is that we desire to make each day better than the one before.

I believe that as women we have this desire to create. We all find fulfillment and joy in making something that wasn't there before. However, there's something called fear. Have you heard of it? Have you felt it? Well, if you've had a brush with it, PUNCH IT IN THE FACE the next time it comes around. Yep, I just said that. Get aggressive. Don't let doubt of your capabilities or intimidation of others prevent you from discovering your potential. Boy, I'm starting to sound like a tv preacher so let me take a step back to my real self here. But seriously, I do believe in self-worth. I do believe in a work in progress. I believe in good intentions.

So for this new year, I challenge you to create something each day. And it doesn't have to be a work of art. There's a wonderful man who states perfectly how we should approach creativity:

"Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty...You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us...Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside. If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

While I have more creative ambitions, one goal I have for this year in the blogging world is to create more joy in the lives of my readers. I am a firm believer that "laughter is the best medicine" and I am attempting to cure the world one laugh at a time with my weekly posts "Funny Friday." I hope to have you pop over and get a giggle or two :) Now go get to creatin'!

A week in Pennsylvania, by the iPhone

2012-01-23T05:37:00.000-08:00

We arrived late Friday night to get ready for Behr's birthday party. It was an airplane theme, complete with airplane shaped grill cheese, two cakes, and lots of red and blue accents. Behr's first cake didn't go quite as planned, but that is a story for another day!

The main feature of the party was a moon bounce, inside! I once wrote a post about how Angelos family parties are always over the top, but an indoor moon bounce may take the cake. The best part was, my incredibly generous friend Faith owns it and lent it to us for the party. It is a toddler moon bounce, so slightly smaller than your average. You can get an idea of the scale from the first picture. We had eight kids under the age of 5 and they all played very well together. Friends drove from all over Pennsylvania and Maryland, and we were so grateful to have everyone together!

Some of the boys of the party. The first picture is of Behr, taken and uploaded to instagram by my 4 year old cousin Liam. That boy is a wiz with the iPhone! In the middle we have Levi {you may recognize him as Julie's son}, the sweetest boy. He was so excited about the piano! And on the right we have Noah. He is a the best big brother and was very helpful when it was time to open pressents. His momma, Faith, is expecting number three, and I am certain Noah will be a big help!

On Sunday, we hopped in the car and drove to Fairfield, CT to watch Brookie play basketball. We were all so excited to see her! Behr loved watching the game, and kept an eye on the ball with intensity. He even raised his hands up in the air or hollered at the right times. He is clearly his momma's son. On the way home, we completely accidentally found a shake shack, on our way to a five guys. And I must say, my first experience with this burger join was pure perfection. Why have I never been to the one in DC?

Monday, we had brunch with Auntie Karlene who was only in town for a few hours! Julie and Levi joined us too! Karlene was kind enough to get Behr a drum set for his birthday. And now everyone who sees it laughs and smirks about how Karlene, "did that on purpose!" We will be laughing about this gift for a long time. The morning was a time of sweet fellowship and the boys played very well together.

The rest of our week was a lot of time around the house, or sleeping in the car on our way to visit more friends and family. We learned how to sweep the floor, implemented the cage, and even found some old toys in the basement to keep us occupied.

I was once again reminded by the luxuries of suburbia. We met up with Mark's cousin Rebecca and her son Sam at a Barnes and Noble that had a story time area, train table, and lego table! It was like an indoor activity center for kids. Why doesn't the city have book stores like this? At the train table, the big attraction were the kid sized adirondack chairs. Over at the lego table, Behr had more fun knocking things down off shelves while Sam built towers. It was a great time catching up with family!

Last but not least, we had a blast with Aunt Julia and Uncle Mike. Behr has some new favorite people in his life. No one makes him smile like Julia or laugh like Mike, they even tucker him out. He is one well loved little dude.

And finally, on Saturday, reuniting with Daddy after his final residency in grad school. We cannot wait for graduation in May!

New Shoes: Nude Pumps

2012-01-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

Folks, the shoe fast is over! I purchased my first pair of shoes this past week. For a few years, I have been on the search for the perfect pair of nude or beige pumps. While strolling through t.j. maxx this past week, I stumbled upon a pair of Franco Sarto pumps in the perfect shade of nude and my size. It seems the pair is no longer available, so here is a peek at a very similar pair.

my pair doesn't have a platform

The best part of my first shoe purchase? They were $39.99!

A bowl of fruit or a mixed bag.

2012-01-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

More like a round up with a lot of fruit references. Here are ten things:

1. Behr loves a whole piece of fruit. He is over things being sliced and diced. He prefers his citrus round. Punching a thumb through to reach the squishy inside is the ultimate satisfaction. But taking a bite out of the bitter rind elicits looks of horror from strangers and giggles from Behr.

2. The manipulation has begun. This week we were out to lunch with my brother when Behr accidentally hit his head on the table. To calm the immediate screaming, I handed him an apple. He calmed right down. When he resumed eating, I slipped the apple back in my bag for use later. A few minutes later, Behr gently lowered his head, banged it on the table and then reached out for the apple. He did this a few more times throughout lunch. He faked hurt to get what he wanted. Pure manipulation.

3. I have been using Springpad to stay organized recently and I love it. But I have to be honest. Going completely paperless scares me. Like if there isn't a sticky note in my life, then something isn't getting done. I love online magazines, and ecards, but life without postal mail would mean one less evening joy. I crave the organization that my electronic devices allow, but may never make it fully paperless.

4. I guess that is part of why I am so passionate about my etsy shop. Making simple note cards that encourage people to express themselves on paper brings me joy. Writing a letter is an art. Even if it is simple, the words are awkward, and the handwriting is scrawly or slanted. Putting pen to paper is an expression of love. So I would like to encourage you. Love big, write often.

5. There are new items in the shop, just in time for Valentine's Day. Imagine that!

6. Speaking of Valentine's Day. I am looking forward to a 2012 full of dates with my husband. He is at his final residency for his MBA program and I could not be more excited for his graduation! This weekend we are joining him for a special evening event celebrating the closing of his cohort. Behr and I even get to dress up for the occasion. Even after this weekend, there are a few more projects and papers to submit, but the end is near. The day he submits his final deliverable and says, "I am finished!" will be one of rejoicing. Mark will be able to help with the house and Behr and not travel away from us as often, but what I am most looking forward to are the dates. Hint, hint, Mark, you better start thinking of some stellar date nights!

7. Did I mention I was proud of Mark, or did I make that last point all about me? Seriously, I am very, very proud. Mark has been incredibly dedicated to his program and learning. I could not imagine a more avid independent learner. Mark, has done well and set quite an inspiring example for our entire family.

8. I have been having nightmares about where Behr will sleep next. Not next nap time, but once he grows out of his modestly sized Bloom Alma Mini. We don't even have room for a full sized crib mattress. What will we do? Images of cots or worse, animal beds, have been haunting my dreams. Where will my child sleep? This is an irrational fear, because when the time comes, we will figure something out, I just need to get these darn images out of my head!

9. Is instagram the new Canon Rebel? Silly question, but serious thoughts. Being home this week with family, I have hardly picked up my camera, let alone my mom's fancy drool-worthy camera that I typically hoard. There is something about the ease of my phone that has me completely smitten. Plus the pictures are shared with the world with second. Who wouldn't want that?! (did you pick up on that bit of snark there?)

10. Which leads me to my most recent thoughts on the pictures I post on my blog. I admire the blogs that have made it big time with their professionally crafted and edited pictures. I long to create simply beautiful things. But sometimes it doesn't always work out that way. I don't always get to capture "blog-worthy" pictures, and yet I still post away. At the end of this day, I want this blog to be a means of communicating with friends and family. So pardon the poor lighting or occasional blur. The aunts and uncles and grandparents don't mind that stuff, and this blog brings them joy. So when it comes to sharing our life, I will continue to share, even when we are as fuzzy as a kiwi if that is all we have.

I am joining Elizabeth today.

Big Birthday Boy News

2012-01-19T02:00:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday, Behr turned one and the doors of opportunity were flung wide open. Turning one served as a catalyst. He woke up Friday morning, as a brand new one year old...and walked! {sort of} He spent all day Friday taking steps for every single person under the sun except me! Late afternoon, I was finally able to see him take his first steps. And since then, I have spent countless minutes behind the camera attempting to catch this inspiring milestone on film. But my little Behr only likes to take a few steps when I am not looking. The little stinker!

He has taken up to three unassisted steps too many times to count. I have been excited to share a video with you, but it just isn't happening! Someday. Eventually. These steps that lead to full blown walking will be old news. And then you will get a video. But for now, just the excitement of a momma who couldn't hold the secret in any longer! Wahoooooo! Behr took his first steps the day after his first birthday. Phew, I have been jumping out of my skin to share this with all of you!

We are linking up with small style on Mama Loves Papa.

Behr is wearing:

A "Baby's 1st Birthday" tee - a gift from his greek grandparents.

Fleece Vest - a birthday present

Jeans - our old trusty Osh'Koshes

New Balance Sneakers - a gift from daycare so he could match daddy. So sweet!

Question time for Small Style Mommas!
How on earth do you keep your mobile babies still long enough for cute pictures for your link up each week!?!?

Baby Meal Planning: 10-12 Months

2012-01-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

As I wrote before, the world of baby food has left me with more questions than straight answers. Every book, website, doctor and mom you meet on the play ground has a different answer and a different set of rules. Each kid likes different foods, different amounts, and at different stages. But that doesn't help a frantic mom figure out what food to introduce next. I was in search of someone to layout a guide of no-fail meals that I could feed Behr, but ended up in a frustrating cycle of trial and error. Here is what worked for our family. Hopefully it can help you.

You may also want to read our 7-9 month meal plan. The biggest changes over the past two months, is Behr's interest in feeding himself and eating what we eat. This has lead to even more strategic planning of dinner.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this meal plan is to provide you with ideas that may work for your baby.

As with all recommendations, please follow the advice and guidance of your pediatrician.

{breakfast}

Pancakes - we started a special Sunday morning tradition of homemade pancakes. Behr loves them and can feed these to himself.

Plain Whole Milk Yogurt - (this one carried over from before, and is still Behr's favorite food) we currently buy stonyfield, but I hope to make my own someday. Keep the yogurt plain to teach that not all food has to be sweet and sugary.

Blueberry Waffles - Another food baby can feed themselves. We feed Behr Earth's Best and he loves them. However, I have to admit the giant picture of cookie monster on the front kept me from getting these for a few weeks, and then I finally buckled down and read the ingredients.

Sliced Fruit - bananas, apples and kiwis are favorites in our house, and help satisfy Behr while I get my act together in the morning.

{snack}

Granola Bars - I have been experimenting with homemade, but haven't found the perfect recipe. Once I do, I will be sure to share.

Veggie Booty - Behr loves this stuff, and a piece or two will keep him happy for quite a while, whereas with other prepackaged finger foods he tends to plow through the serving size and still want more.

{lunch}

Quesadillas - spinach and cheese quesadillas can be made in a large batch (a whole 6-8 tortilla package), and can be served at room temp. This makes them super easy to have on hand and can be lunch all week.

Veggie Burgers - our favorites are Sunshine Original Burgers, but they are hit or miss with Behr. I want to make my own with a chick pea base and will let you know how it goes, once I give it a shot.

Finger Friendly Veggies - cooked and cooled these veggies make lunch time fun. Recent favorites: cauliflower, carrots, and sweet potatoes. When chopping food, I make sure there is room to hold it and chew on the end, think baby carrots. This allows baby to pick up their food before complete control of the pincer grasp.

Mac and Cheese with Peas - this is a bit messy, but mac and cheese with a few peas thrown in is our fall back when we are short on time and we have nothing else ready.

{dinner}

Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprout Curry - The diced sweet potato is already perfect size for baby, all you have to do is chop the brussels sprouts a bit more and it is a meal that everyone can enjoy.

Squash Soup - We use a new recipe almost every time, but recently, this one has done the trick. Tip, when Behr gets bread from the table, he gets the end. It lasts longer and doubles as a teething tool.

Veggie Soup or Chili - Anything you have, throw it in the pot! The good news is that during prep, you can make sure the size of all of the veggies is baby friendly, so once you are finished, you are set for a few pint sized meals.

Potato Soup - This might be Behr's favorite meal to share with us.

Clearly, these are a bit seasonal, as every dinner in our rotation is soup, but they are simple and make multiple meals. A time-saving bonus for any mom!

Do you have any favorite foods for baby?

Recipes I should try?

Questions about how I prepare food?

Ask away.

Behr's First Birthday

2012-01-16T21:15:00.000-08:00

We started off Behr's first birthday with a visit to the doctors office for his one year check up. A few pokes and three shots later, we now have the official stats! He is 20 lbs. 10 oz. and 29.25 inches in length.

But the real fun began after dinner, when we presented Behr with his gift. He was a bit confused at first since his gift was covered in a blanket, not actually wrapped. (he has the tearing wrapping paper down pat!) Once we began to tug at the blanket, the excitement filled the room.

Behr unveiled his brand...

new...

CAR!

(in your best Bob Barker voice)

So the rest of the evening was spent like this:

It was pretty awesome.

In case you are wondering, his fly ride is a schylling speedster which we purchased through zulily months ago for a great deal.

And because I cannot wait to tell you all about Behr's first birthday par-tay,
here is a sneak peek of the decorations.

Some Favorites for You

2012-01-13T07:53:00.000-08:00

This wallpaper would make a room sing. I am falling in love with the large scale animals. Seen on Stella and Henry.

Colleen took this photo for her "close up #janphotoaday" and I love it. At first glance, I see glitter, the second look makes me hungry. Craving new york bagels. ps. Colleen, if you are reading, my preference is sesame too!

Behr likes to build. The fun we would have with this Block City is unimaginable. Seen on Paul & Paula.

Now that we have a new cabinet upon which to perch our TV, I've gotten a hankering for a new sofa. Yeah, typically a "hankering" involves food for me, but this sofa is also delicious. The beauty is in the chaise, which would separate our television area from our toy area, but the open side keeps it feeling like one room. I am smitten.

And if you give a mouse a cookie... Clearly, I would need some new pillows if I got a new sofa. Thankfully Lauren of With Two Cats was one step ahead of me. She also wrote a pretty nifty piece on the anatomy of her posts. Bonus, a free printable is included.

Speaking of free printables. The ever inspiring Jess of IROCKSOWHAT is offering these ikat frames.

So there you have it.

A round up of the pretty pictures that I have been eyeing this week.

This weekend we are off to PA to celebrate Behr's birthday with family and friends. And then I get to stay and continuing visiting! What does your weekend have in store?

Dear Behr, It's Your Birthday

2012-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Behr,

Today you cross a significant milestone. It is your first birthday. Leading up to this day, I have been surprisingly unemotional. Rather than getting weepy eyed, I have been begging time to slow down. I will never forget what it was like to hold you as my 8-pound bundle of joy when you were first born. But these days, you are so independent that I already feel like I am forgetting what it was like to hold you as an itty bitty baby in my arms. I am afraid that tomorrow you will be starting college!

But instead of continuing to worry about the future, I want to cherish the present. You are growing and changing so fast. Just the other day, I realized that your voice is already changing a bit. What was once baby coos now can be a full-blown monologue with emotion expressed through changes of tone. You yelp with excitement, huff when you are frustrated, and grunt when you are working your hardest. You are adding new sounds and syllables to your repertoire, all leading to your new independence.

You feed yourself, pull yourself up, and navigate your way across the room, even if it requires moving furniture to push or lean on. You empty boxes and bins and crates only to fill them back up again. You knock things down at every change you get. And Behr, you are a daredevil. I am bracing myself now for bumps and bruises and hospital visits. I am already coming to terms that bungee jumping and sky diving may be in your future as you hurl yourself off high places you climb to on a daily basis. You, sir, are already becoming a man.

Along with your independence, another shift is taking place. You are hooked on your daddy. You follow him everywhere and crane your neck to see him when he is just out of sight. The glee that spreads across your face when he walks in a room is second to none! I joke that you love him more than me. But in reality, I am ecstatic that you look to your dad’s example each step of the way. If he is the only man you ever look up to and learn from, you will be served well. And while I am certain that you will have many influential people in your life over the years to come, I hope and pray that you continue to look up to your dad. He is the best role model I could ever imagine for you.

Behr, we are so proud of you. We thank God for the tremendous blessings you have already brought to our family. We are eager to see what the future holds, excited for each new adventure with you.

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Love, momma

and in case you were wondering about that little voice that likes to monologue,

here is what our 30+ minute walking commute has looked like recently:

yup, that's right.

each day we walk instead of bike, it is about 30 minutes of that

did I mention tht I don't like noise?

now you know why I prefer to bike

at least Behr is having fun!

psst. secretly, or not so secretly, I love these monologues.

The Name

2012-01-10T21:20:00.000-08:00

The most common question and comment I receive on my blog is the origin of Behr's name.

So here is the story.

I hate running. And yet, a friend convince me to enter a race here in DC. So in the early spring of 2009, while I spent a horrible amount of time training for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. One weekend, in an effort to motivate me, Mark decided we would conquer Hains Point. "We" being an operative word. You see Mark also hates running, but he didn't foolishly sign up for a dreaded race. So as "we" conquered Hains Point, Mark rode his bike along side of me and a gruesomely slow pace. He got bored, even biked up and back a few times while I chugged along. And then Mark got creative.

"Let's talk about baby names." seriously, this man is a genius!

"Okay," I replied trying to hide my enthusiasm and that I was woefully out of shape.

Somewhere in the conversation, we both agreed that we like the history and heritage that comes with using a family name. So we started throwing out a few, Boorse, Youells, Cotrob, Haesche (pronounced Hey-SHE). Hmmm, we didn't have many winners.

There were also the more common last names that wouldn't make very good first names. And then, we stumbled upon Mark's great-grandmother on his mom's mom's side. Grandma B. Grandma Boorse. Well, we had already ruled out Boorse, but Grandma B's maiden name was Behr and that had a nice ring to it.

We tossed the name a few times. Paired it with a few middle name contenders. And we liked it.

So we decided, in the early Spring of 2009, that our first son would be name Behr. In fact, we felt so accomplished in naming our not-yet conceived child that we ended my run early, turned around and headed back to the car. Double win for me!

And that is the story of how we named Behr.

Other fun facts:

I ran the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler again in 2010, pregnant with Behr.

Behr's middle name is Robert in honor of my Grandfather's brother, who my uncle is also named after.

I am also going to be linking up to small style tomorrow.

But this post is a day early because tomorrow is Behr's first birthday. Wahoo!

Behr is wearing:

one-piece romper from Baby Gap

socks from See Kai Run

shoes from Robeez via the tot swap

A year ago

2012-01-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

This time last year, I was in labor. And the beauty is, no matter when {over the next few days} you read this post, this time last year I was in labor. I was induced on January 9th and Behr was born on January 12th. Over 50 hours of my life that I, incredibly, never want to forget. You can read the long version here.

But there was one thing I did while I was still in the hospital that I am so grateful for. I wrote down the moments I wanted to remember. Memory has been escaping me, and it is unclear if this was my own idea or wise advice. Either way, these are a few of the moments that I captured from this week, last year, in the order I wrote them down.

The Eagle's game. They were in the fourth quarter and royally, hmm...how do I put this in a motherly tone, throwing away their season and the chance for my baby, MY BABY, to wear his 0-3 month Eagles onesie for a game. My blood pressure was high. The nurses got nervous. Mark tried to assure them that it was all because of football, and perfectly normal. They lost. We turned off the game. All vital stats returned to normal levels. My baby didn't get to see any of the 2010-2011 Eagles season. I am not bitter.

Babies don't come out adorable. Nobody warned me. Hello! Mothers who came before me!?! Are you there? How come nobody told me that birth is traumatic for the baby too, and it might take a bit for the swelling to go down and for them to be the cute button you imagine them to be? I was shocked. Very unprepared.

Karlene brought an orchid. On a plane. In an overhead luggage compartment. On its side. And then convinced a Rosslyn to Georgetown shuttle driver to go off of his route to bring her to the hospital because she decided to figure it out herself instead of taking the cab we told her we would pay for. But that is a different story. Back to the orchid. It was beautiful. The 4th, 5th, and 6th flowers bloomed on the coordinating days of Behr's life, which made it all the more special for me as an overly hormonal new mom.

Mark is leaving for Brazil on the 15th. That is what I wrote down. I cannot even imagine the emotions that had both of us completely in knots over the fact that he was leaving the country in just a few days. Mark actually left for Brazil three hours after brining us home from the hospital. That might have been the hardest part of labor.

Mark crying in the parking lot. After the blur of the 50 hour labor ending in a midnight c-section, by the morning of the 12th, Mark was beyond starving and exhausted. I forced Mark to go get some food and he ran into my mom in the parking lot and cried with joy. Or, so I have been told.

Being separated before the c-section. As they began to wheel my bed down towards the operating room, I realized that I wasn't okay, Mark wasn't okay, and he wasn't walking as fast as we were. I asked all of the nurses to stop in the middle of the hallway and told Mark I loved him, because I couldn't think of anything else. I knew he was fearful of a c-section. And they had just given us come pretty grave warnings due to the length of my labor. We were scared.

There is a snow storm, is mom okay? While Mark and our incredible nurse gave Behr his first bath, I tried calling my parents. Dad was home, but Mom was already in DC. The snow forecast led her to drive down early and get a hotel room. We couldn't get a hold of her. I called 7 Marriott none of which had a reservation for her. Neither Dad or I could get through on her cell phone. I forced myself to focus on Behr and not the fear that Mom had gotten in a bad car accident and/or died. She knew I was going into have the c-section. Why wasn't she near her phone? Turns out her phone was dead, she couldn't find her charger, and she was at the one Marriott that didn't show up on my phone's map search.

We had rounds and rounds and rounds of doctors and nurses. We met them all. And our favorite, "Dr. Man Hands," came to visit us as soon as we got settled in post-pardum. She was just starting our shift, and was so full of energy and super excited. I was thrilled to be talking with her and was overwhelmed by her obvious joy for us. p.s. she gave her self that name, and even uses horse balm on her hands which get chapped easily due to wearing gloves and all the washing. Is that too much information? Well, it is what we talked about in the first hours of Behr's life!

Behr's hanging air time. His first trick. Really, I wrote "trick," like he was a puppy or something. Silly sleep deprived brain. Pictures below.

50 hours of labor. Did I think I would forget that part?

His hand broke free from his swaddle, and he slept like this.

Even today, Behr still occasionally hangs an arm up in the air as he falls asleep.

Vintage Airmail Americana

2012-01-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

If Emily Henderson was naming the design style of this wedding, I am betting she would go with "Vintage Airmail Americana." Talented and creative duo Lina and Sante embarked on their engagement with a long list of vintage shops to hit and DIY projects to knock out of the park. I had the honor of serving as their day of wedding coordinator, helping it all come together.

Rather than pay to rent pricey tableware from their caterer, Lina and Sante combined their own family china with pieces they collected from antique stores and ebay.

The guest's place cards doubled as their drinking glass for the evening. With the catchy phrase "Sip, Smile, and Repeat" gracing the bar.

Taking the DC theme by storm, Lina collected vintage DC post cards which were included in each reception place setting so guests could write the couple a love note in lieu of signing a traditional guest book.

The dessert bar features a small cake the the couple to cut, and impressive ice cream station, and a traditional Lithuanian cake to embrace the bride's heritage.

As with most of the elements included in this wedding, the flowers were pulled together by the friends and family that offered incredible support to this couple throughout their wedding weekend. If there is one theme that became aparant to me during the planning, set up, and coordination. If you are going the DIY route, enlist the help of talented and creative friends! Lina and Sante sure were lucky to have a full cast of support.

You can read more about Lina's planning in her Make It, Fake It, or Buy It series that ran on my now retired Calligraphy by Shannon wedding planning blog. Here are some specific posts that might be of interest to you.

Reply Cards | Mason Jar Tags | Airmail Invitation | Post Card Save The Dates | Save The Dates Reveal

All pictures features here are either my own, or by their fabulous wedding photographer, Anne Robert Photography. psst, she takes her pictures with film!

Vendors: Wedding Location: St. Peter's Catholic Church // Reception Location: Rockwood Manor // Photographer: Anne Robert Photography // Caterer: Blacksauce Kitchen // Decor & Floral: diy

*****

a little note from me to you:

I am excited to finally be launching "parties" on my blog. The page has been chilling in my top nav bar for months. While I have a few back parties to share with you, idea boards I have completed for friends and clients, and even more exciting ideas planned, I haven't had the bandwidth to get this up and running. So with the new year, I figured I would make the push and give it a go. And this wedding is especially near and dear because while decorating this venue, my brain starting spinning about Behr's first birthday party, which is this Saturday! I cannot wait to share that with you next week.

p.s. can you believe that my itty bitty baby will be ONE on thursday?

p.p.s. you can also find me over at naptime diaries today