as crazy-busy as summer is, we’re just goin’ with the flow loving…
10. our everyday afternoon thunderstorms lately (conveniently landing on lainey’s nap time) that make the house all cozy dark and prod me to take a moment for myself with a cup of tea and a catalogue from the pile of “i’ll-have-time-to-read-someday”…it literally is getting to the point where the first thunder is my cue to put the kettle on
9. having my friends not working over the summer which makes for lots of fun mommy dates, pool parties, spontaneous meet-me-at-panera-in-fifteen-minutes texts and feeling like, even though i don’t teach anymore, i’m on a three month vacay too.
8. watching her personality go through crazy growth spurt lately… wish i could pencil in a notch on the door ledge for how much her wit and humor has grown. including her obsession with not pushing, but sitting in her baby doll stroller… yeah, that little tiny stroller made for little tiny dolls. she gets in it…and grunts and whines until someone gives in to pushing her around the house with it. she looks like a giant baby…like gulliver’s travels.
7. joining daddy and the boys on weekend afternoons to watch them fish in the lake across the street
6. mornings. my favorite time of day…bed heads, jammy feet, blueberry pancakes (we’re on a blueberry kick), the today show, and that first cup of coffee. everything is fresh and new. love that. of course teddy always joins her for breakfast.
5. watching her run like the wind outside with her walker, which, for the record, is always filled with random crap she finds around the house
4. her skinny little monkey legs which always make me laugh when she sits this way:
3. Being majorly creatively inspired lately in so many areas
2. really feeling content and finding that i’m happiest not with things, but with people, creativity, accomplishing little things on my list, making memories, taking pictures, being outside…and the list goes on…you know, the small things
1. this outfit and the fact that i found the sweater dress for $1.99 at a consignment store and the hat (which i sewed a ribbon flower and a button to) at gap on clearance for $2
…and other fun from this week:
her i’m-thinking-about-throwing-a-fit-but-trying-to-get-myself-under-control pose:
playing with blocks:
and, my personal favorite…that blankie is always within a 3-foot radius from her!
plus, this week we’ve completely mastered putting herself to sleep for naps. i stuck to my guns for five days in a row now. it started as ten minutes of crying, then went to five, three, one…and today….(drumrole)…NONE! i put her in her crib, she hugged her blankie and went straight to sleep! hooray! (i don’t know who i’m more proud of…myself, or her!)
p.s. we’re thinking about you, miss stephy! you could be in labor right now…we can’t wait to meet that baby!
Love to see them develop right in front of my eyes!!! I have missed “looking” at her, but am finally back on-line!! Beautiful!!!
Love the countdown!! Love those pictures!! Love that font!! Where did you get that font? Proud of you and LL for putting herself to sleep!
That first picture of her looking up at the camera made me gasp out loud! (GOL)
I love your attitude! Love u and all the ”small things” about you!!
that outfit is TOO cute!!! LOVE the hat! the last picture of her on your doorstep is my favorite. good for you on sticking to your guns and letting her cry it out.
I love gol. I have never been a lol gal but gol I can do. Thanks, Kelly.
I also love the song I am listening to: Paradise by my new bff Ana. LOVE.
Oh, an I love that Lainey all of the sudden looks so much like a grown human. I can feel her new wit and humor.
Good job on the outfit. I love that you can make a winter hat (that was no doubt on sale because you are in Florida) look all summery and cute. Props.
The bed head crispix pic is my fave. Her with her teddy and sleepy, dark eyes.
And, I was just now so excited to see your comment on my blog because your comments are some of my favorites.
x
oh and how can I forget to give you a hug for the nap thing?! yay.
hi. me again. CONGRATS on making photography “not just a hobby.” Good call.
I love the outfit find. SOO adorable!! And her face when she is looking up??!! WHAT A SMILE!!
And GOOD FOR YOU for giving her a structured naptime…I know it isn’t easy (actually at times it is gut wrenchingly painful as you stay true to your plan), but she will be a better, happier, rested, and more confident kid because of it. I promise. 🙂 You ROCK, Mommy!!
i really enjoyed this post…other than the pains i felt for not being able to join in for mommy play dates (notice i wrote mommy, not kid, playdates), or impromptu visits to Calistoga-that is SOOO my thing:) Well, it was b4 2 kids;0
LOVE the gap hat made better by you, love the less expensive outfit…tres chic, love all the pics. Blocks, little painted red toes,…all!
Good for you on the sleep thing…that is soooo super hard. You did it and so did LL!!!
oh yeah, the dark, cozy right-b4-the storm time each day is wonderful. You said it perfectly…i love that you write about the little things like this. U are a amazing, I’ll say it again:)
I laughed out loud at GIANT baby in the stroller and the “grunt and whine”. Other things I love about your post – 7. Her face when she’s looking at the fish – total girl face! 6. Her bead head and well worn teddy. 5. “random crap”, ’nuff said.
1. her perfect little face smiling up at mommy while she clicks away.
no I forgot the almost temper tantrum – that may be my favorite. So many favorites in this post!
Confetti, Balloons, Horns a Blowin’ for you and LL for learning how to nap!!! Yay for you!
She has got to be THE best dressed baby around!! Love her!
Heidi Lee
Wow, your blog, thoughts & photography are gorgeous!! BTW, I think you and Kendall had the same wedding dress….
Thanks for your kind Eric thoughts–it was good to see some Crydermans last week even though you girls couldn’t make it.
I’m going to link to you–I think our daughters must be pretty close in ages–Heidi’s birthday is 8/8.
Love,
Summer
I should have specifed – I Love the Giant NAKED baby in the stroller!
I love her coverses. And that pic of her when she is about to pitch a fit. That is the cutest thing. You tak such great pictures!!!!!
the very last one looks JUST LIKE YOU! i’m with dig this chick…the crispix one is my fave. real life. that right there is what you will remember and miss.
love you