For the Love of Bubbles

There is wonderment that comes with watching a boy and his dog grow together. Joy comes from the simple things, something that I at times forgot before becoming a mother.

This week, Leon and Sawyer have been enjoying the sunny Texas afternoons in the best way possible: with bubbles.

For Leon's first birthday, Papa and Lola sent him an automatic bubble machine.

Needless to say, it has been thoroughly enjoyed by Sawyer as much as Leon

The Ultimate Puzzle Box

Every year, my sisters and I anxiously awaited opening our special puzzle boxes.  Granddad would spend months designing and creating them, revealing his masterpieces to us on Christmas morning.  Throughout the year, he bounced ideas off of Grandmom, his greatest cheerleader and tester.  Carefully, he handmade and assembled each box.  Elm, oak, and cedar, selected from trees on their property, composed each box.  Magnetic apparatuses and trick openings fooled even us seasoned puzzle solvers.

Granddad always seemed to one-up himself year after year.  On December 25th, my sisters and I would compete to see which one of us could get to the hidden enclosed money prize the fastest... winning bragging rights for the rest of the year.  After we started dating, Tony also joined in on the game.  Granddad would get such a kick out of our excitement and struggles with his unique inventions.

Granddad passed away earlier this year.  It saddens me to know there will not be anymore puzzle boxes to add to my collection... that this chapter in my life has come to an end.  The holidays will be a bit less cheery.  This will be the first year he won't be at the Christmas table.  I will miss our competitions, and marveling at Granddad's newest designs.

Last month, Tony and I received a special gift from my grandparents' estate: a set of unique lounge chairs.  They were quite possibly Granddad's favorite possessions.  My mom recounts that Granddad saved up to buy 4 of these Eames Lounge Chairs in the 1950's.  For many years, they were the only furniture filling my grandparents' living room.  Fitting to Granddad, their design was one-of-a-kind: the perfect marriage of comfort and ingenuity. As a kid, I appreciated their unparalleled smooth turning capability as I spun around in them for hours.  And as an adult, I cherish them as a reminder of my special grandparents.

It was quite a process, moving these 80-pound chairs from NY to TX.  Each had to be disassembled, packed into large boxes, shipped across country (thanks, Mom and Dad!!), and later reassembled. Tony and I spent a weekend putting them together.  As we aligned shock mounts, heavy glides, and back stand-offs to wooden and metal frames, we discussed memories of my grandparents.  Tony and I recalled many college weekends, traveling to Binghamton to share good food and conversation with Grandmom and Granddad in these chairs.  We remembered Christmases.

After many hours, with the rust-red leather cleaned and the aged wood oiled, we finally sat down in our comfy new additions.

And, Tony remarked: It would only be fitting that your Granddad's final gift to us would be the ultimate puzzle box.

Home.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when a house transforms into a home.  Somehow, over time it becomes something more than its collective furniture enclosed by brick walls.  It has to do with the the little things... finding that perfect, cozy reading spot... the moment you discover you finally can find the bathroom in darkness because you know the path by heart... the feeling you get when you walk through the front door and realize... this is home.

Tony and I have enjoyed placing our own personal touches on our house to make it into our own.  It has come a long way from the mardi-gras-themed decor we saw on our initial walk-through.  We shared the transformation process with parents and siblings, as visitors came throughout the summer.  Kit joined us in August, and I love that we live under the same roof again.  I look around and see reminders of our growing son, movie nights, lazy weekend mornings, winning (and failed) cooking attempts, decorating experiments, investigation spots for an energetic puppy.  And, I realize that somewhere over the course of the last 4 months, this house has become a home.

Meet Sawyer!

Four months after the passing of our dear Butters, we welcomed a new member to the family.  Meet Sawyer!  While raising 2 teething babies has been a challenge over the last month, I cannot imagine my home without this little guy.  

Sawyer certainly has been living up to his name.  He is a (not so) wonderfully creative trouble maker, constantly finding innovative ways to surprise us. I don't think my underwear, socks, or shoes will ever be safe again. Tony and I have placed a set of doggie stairs up to our couch, and Sawyer loves sharing his "prizes" with us after galloping around the living room showing them off. Our previous cavalier, Butters, was never much of a retriever. However, Sawyer is quite the natural. We have been trying to curb his chewing habits with plenty of cow hooves, stuffed animals, and Himalayan chews... the Nylabones and bully sticks (our previous go-to chews) really didn't do much hold his attention. As our vet says, "He certainly is the most enthusiastic cavalier I have ever met." I am pretty sure that is code for... he is absolutely crazy. However, after seeing our Butters so sick, I can say it is a welcomed blessing to see such an energetic little guy. We have been enjoying plenty of walks, with Leon in the stroller and Sawyer trotting by his side.

We have been working on the training basics including sitting and staying, soft mouth, and appropriate manners around Leon... particularly NO JUMPING! It has been going slowly but surely.  After being used to a well-behaved and calm dog, it has been a bit of a culture shock.  We had some concerns with Sawyer teething on Leon when he first arrived; but, Sawyer has been learning quickly. We now can trust the two together, of course with supervision. I am sure in a few months we will be having the reverse problem: teaching Leon how to be gentle around little Sawyer. For now, we are enjoying just watching the two entertain one another.  

... and, during the fleeting moments that Sawyer has fully expended his puppy energy, I can't help but admire how absolutely adorable he is

Paging Dr. Leon

Last month, Auntie Joanna sent Leon his very own doctor’s outfit to match Mommy and Daddy.  He has been regularly wearing it since then, and is feeling right at home in his own white coat (with the proof in the spit-up).  Unfortunately, Mommy has been slacking on getting some good pictures and he is (rapidly) outgrowing it.

So now…. Long awaited by masses… I bring you:

A Day in the Life of Dr. Leon

Good morning!   What brings you to my office today?

So, you are telling me you are craving milk?  

And, you are excessively crying when you don’t get enough?

Tell me more about your dirty diapers…

… 15 dirty diapers a day!  

Oh, that sounds messy.

I think I know what may be troubling you

It sounds to me like you might have… MILKitis!!

Unfortunately for your figure, it inevitably results in large quantities of fat deposits.  It has been known to lead to another condition… babyROLLitis!!

But, you are in luck! There are some excellent exercises I can show you, which help to slow down the progression to babyROLLitis.  Let me demonstrate them for you

Thank you for your visit, and you should be feeling better in no time!

(and, thanks again Auntie Joanna for the cool outfit!)

A Simple Smile

It was 5AM.  I could hear Leon stirring next to me, the gentle rocking of his sleeper starting back and forth.  In the 8 weeks since he was born, I hadn’t managed to squeeze out more than 3 hours of sleep.  I was exhausted, begrudgingly rising out of bed for the seemingly hundredth time that night.   Through sleep-laden eyes, I stared glassily through the dark at my wide-awake little baby.  And, there it was: for the first time, a real smile.  It was the kind that spread from his gummy lips to his twinkling eyes.  For the first time, it wasn’t meant for a toot or an awaited bottle… it was just for me. 

In that moment, all of the spit-covered shirts, diaper blowouts, bath-time tinkles, and midnight awakenings were all forgotten… that first time that Leon smiled at me.

A Morning with Amelia

Meet Amelia!  Last week, I had a chance to meet this gorgeous sweet pea for the first time.  At only one week old, she already is such a cuddly little beauty.

Before Amelia was born, I met her mommy, Jess, through work.  We both were pregnant at the time and became fast friends over shared food cravings, wardrobe malfunctions, and pregnancy milestones.  At the photo shoot, I finally had a chance to meet her other half, Tom, whom I had heard so many great things about over the previous months.  We enjoyed a fun morning, recording some of the Amelia's first moments.

It is so clear the love these two share for their little Amelia.  What a joy it was to capture these three!

And, I was so impressed by baby Amelia.  Already, such a natural model!

Thank you so much, Tom and Jess, for asking me to capture your beautiful family!