Monday arrived like the day after a fabulous vacation ends. With a big fat decrescendo where my mood bottoms out and I’m shaking sand out of my beach bag and reorganizing sunblock bottles. It didn’t help that the only thing that could have topped Sunday’s Eutopian level was if unicorns galloped their way across the beach and the Northern Lights lit up the sky. But recovery is all part of the game, and I’m getting pretty good at it.
And so I bake. Because I always feel good when I tie on the old worn apron that my Jo’s beloved mama used to wear when she made her famous cakes. And I like the way I feel when I’m measuring and pouring and wiping sweat off my brow with a floured hand. I like that I can ferociously stir all my frustrations out into one little bowl or whisk away my stresses with a few quick rotations of my wrist. But mostly, I love that moments in my kitchen glue me to my girls, Nella slung close to my chest just above the apron and Lainey by my side, mimicking my every move. Like ‘dis Mama?
We made oatmeal cookies, undercooked just a little so they’re chewy and soft.
…and we finished one off, with milk before dinner.
As usual, I’m not ready for a party this weekend, so I will mad-dash in shake-down fashion for the rest of the week, throwing things into closets and staying up far too late hot-gluing flowers to various objects to fairy-tize them. We did manage to make some very easy fairy cone hats out of poster board with some elastic ties. Can’t wait to see them on cute fairy faces.
And while we procrastinate a little more, we are still enjoying delicious small things…
Afternoon nursing on Lainey’s bed where the sun magically trickles in the blinds and I half fall asleep relaxing to little breathy suck-suck sounds and tiny fingers grasping to find my skin. It’s quite heavenly as Brett managed to capture in these shots…and I love, love, love her one little eye that peeks up to find me. *whale-eye* as Cousin Emma calls it.
She loves her hands and when they’re not in her mouth or grasping at dangling toys, they are peacefully clasped out in front.
Lainey somehow overnight mastered a black belt in baby-holding because she suddenly knows how to do it just right. No flopping head or flailing arms–no screaming baby while the big sister strong arms her into headlock. Just peaceful sisters and one very proud smile that says she totally knows she finally rocked this out.
And I can put my money on always, always drawing out a magic smile in the middle of a deep sleep. I barely have to whisper just the beginnings of some sweet nothings and the tiny corners of that mouth are turnin’.
Her body has graduated from a form-fitting football hold to a heavier flour-sack that just melts into the crook of your arm. But don’t let her comfortable recline fool ya…she’s strong and fiesty and has been known to arch quick and determined where we’re grasping to keep her put. Mellow little bunny with a pinch of firecracker…I like it.
And poor little sprite had a fever last night and was all groggy and clinging to her puppy blanket, but we are happy to get it out of the way because we are going to celebrate big this weekend. And when we celebrate life, we celebrate life, baby.
And the winner of the bathing suit. Random.org drew #619.
MWD: beautiful day! me and my little will forgive any “fewchure” grammatical errors if you forgive all the times in the “fewchure” that we will come here for a read and then i turn the speakers on the computer and we spin around the office:) love the music selections as much as i love your blog!
MWD, e-mail me your contact info and pick out a suit on Popina. Let me know what size you want and we’ll get one sent out to you! Congratulations Girl, and go buy a lotto ticket ‘cuz you just won over 1482 comments.
Happy Wednesday!
Oh my word!!! That pic of Nella grinning in her sleep is pure HEAVEN!:)
Another happy, beautiful post!
that picture of Nella laughing with her eyes clothes is my favorite picture yet! i can’t wait to see pictures from Lainey’s birthday!
So sweet!
Kelle, I love the photos of Nella laying with her fist tightly clenched. It’s as if she’s saying to the whole world, Rock-Paper-Scissors anyone? Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos and beautifully imperfect perfect life! I really enjoy reading your blog.
Gorgeous! I love how Nella smiles in her sleep. So sweet.
Nella smiling in her sleep.. that’s simply heaven.
Sleep smiling is the best!
Darlin’, visiting your house would be better than a vacation for me. 🙂
oh my, the photo of Nella smiling while still asleep is just adorable!
Can I just say you are amazing and the best mom ever!! Your pictures your children your writing .. perfect. I am a follower and everytime I see a new post I get soo excited. I look up to you soo much your strength is amazing!! Hope you have a good wednesday!! You are beautiful Kelle!! Thanks for starting this blog. 🙂
That tiny precious fist…speaks of tenacity, the tightness of her grip, the closeness of those who love her…and tell me she will be just fine. She will take the world…and find her place. She will be supported, loved, allowed to be fully Nella. She will be applauded, embraced, released. She will not be shielded, shamed or set aside. She will run with the big girls. She will have her voice. She will not just take her place at the table–she will set the table! The wonder of love. I cannot wait to see you all this weekend…Moon walks, Lainey! I want to savor a sunset and celebrate a dawn. I want a cup of coffee in the hot tub to greet the day and a glass of wine to settle the evening sun into the sea. Sea ya soon! I wouldn’t have looked good in that suit anyway!
That Nella is just too cute! I think my Bennett and her could make a cute little couple one day;)
Love the pics of big sis holding baby sis-too sweet!
anxiously awaiting your post of Lainey’s fairy party!!
aaah Nella smiling in her sleep, simply beautiful!
Poppa is too funny!
1) After reading Poppas comment I can see where you get your amazing writing.
2) I am a little ridiculously excited to see how the Fairy Party turns out!
3) Seeing the picture of your sweet Nella sleeping and smiling at your mere voice brings tears to my eyes.
Our daughter was still born just over 2 months ago and we miss her terribly, but seeing your beautiful daughters warms my heart and gives me hope for a future with littles!
Your daughters are gorgeous! I love this blog and have been really touched by your story. You should really consider writing a book. Your writing skills and your photography would really make an incredible and inspirational book for so many people. God Bless you and yours.
Your pictures get beautifuler and beautifuler every time you post, or perhaps the little’s you capture in them do?
This post was just like sinking into a hot bath! Your words are so relaxing and you make an ordinary day extraordinary with them.
Nella sleeping, and the one of her smiling in her sleep, are the cutest pictures of her ever. She is the sweetest, most adorable baby. Her face is like a little dolls, I can’t get over how gorgeous she is & is gonna grow to be. The one of lainey and nella bonding & having sister time? Sa-weet. I think baby-holding is something us big sisters just wake up and know how to do! and now lainey has awoken and is ready to give out some cuddles.
Those little hates look precious, it’s so cool what a little construction paper can do. I took some paper used for scrapbooking and made my mother a card she kept saying was “so cool” and asking how I did it. Imagination and a little glue can get you tons of places! I hope you all, especially lainey, have a magical fairy birthday weekend.
I must add, that pink cup (it’s not a cup but I can’t think of what it’s called) with Lainey Love written on it looks adorable. You must have painted it yourself? Or something else? That’s such a cute touch to a little girls games of having tea parties and such.
Have a great thursday!
My whole heart is in those creases that pop up in the corner of my son’s eyes when he smiles. They’re heaven on Nella as well.
That sleeping smiley Nella shot is the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen!
That sleeping smiley Nella shot is the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen!
Oh Poppa! You would have rocked that suit! LOL
Love Nella’s clasped hands and the cute one of Lainey looking over her shoulder embracing Nella. So cute! Frame it!
:o)
Oh Poppa! You would have rocked that suit! LOL
Love Nella’s clasped hands and the cute one of Lainey looking over her shoulder embracing Nella. So cute! Frame it!
:o)
I love the one of Lainey holding Nella. When my little girl gave her little bro a hug for the first time (with out us prompting :))it made me choke up. Love the little moments that make up these crazy days. Thank you for your blog. It’s a respite for sure.
a bunny with a spark.
i love it.
and that smile melts me … i can’t even imagine how much it melts you.
but i actually can. cause those smiles melt me daily too.
Ok seriously, Nella smiling in her sleep, FRAMER. Cutest thing ever. I’m not sure how pathetic it is that I am so excited for another family’s 3 year olds fairy party so I can read the blog…but I’m not ashamed!
Baking does the same thing for me. My husband always knows it’s been a hard day when he comes home to fresh-baked cookies on the kitchen island.
And holy cute, Batman! That picture of Nella grinning in her sleep is absolutely precious! Gotta love those little moments!
*sigh* I’m glad I got to read your blog before hopping off to bed. I will have sweet dreams for sure!
I love your world, and I LOVE Poppa’s comments!
Congratulations to MWD, I hope you rock that suit out in the “fewchure”
you’ve got such a great vibe on this blog it follows through into the comments! I love the music selection also and come here several times a day and listen to it with my littlest ones!
BTW, good luck with the Fairy party, I hope it is a great day for Lainey Love.
Nella’s peaceful smile as she whisper to her just tickles my heart…love those photos!
oh my goodness, i want to roll nella up in a blanket and sneak her home with me!! she is just the sweetest little thing 🙂
the sudden back arching, hands in mouth or clasped in front, etc is exactly what is going on in our house right now too – our little bunny was born right around the same time 🙂
LOVE love love the Nella Sleeping smile 🙂 She is way too precious!
L.O.V.E. the pics of you nursing Nella. As a lactation consultant, nothing warms my heart more than to see someone celebrate this true gift 🙂 You always bring beauty, to even the “small things”!
Beautiful! I am a new reader and I love your blog, your thoughts, your family, your photography. It is awesome – every single bit of it. You are such a positive person and I admire you as a Mother and a Wife for that!
can i just say…smiling from ear to ear! lainey holding her baby sister right is just the beginning of that thing that happens between sisters..that thing that really is hard to describe..but you know, the i can do whatever to her but let someone else mess with her i will go all karate on her and protect her to the end! sisters can make you crazy in 60 seconds flat but they are who we run to when we need to connect to the other half of our heart. can’t wait to see their first tug of war over a baby doll! they were meant for each other. on heidi’s one post i just adore the picture of peyton and beckham looking angelic and seconds later one bit the other..isn’t that just reality..sibs know each other like the back of our own hand and know what buttons to push… priceless. thanks again for the humpday smile. can’t wait for the fewchure post of the much anticipated celebration of your first girl. ♥
Your girls make me smile 😀 Every time a read a new post I have to grin.
I love the cherry apron that Lainey wears. I have an almost identical one from my Great-Gramma Candy, who I will pass down to my daughter. There is nothing like an almost-see-thru vintage apron and how they smell like cookies 🙂
your posts always make me smile. love it! and your babies are just heavenly.
Oh my . . Nella smiling in her sleep is just priceless! I can’t wait to see pics of Lainey’s fairy party!
Sue
I so so so needed this today. Thank you. And how awesome are those breathy suck-suck sounds? I smile everytime I hear them.
Absolutely love those sleepy Nella smiles & Lainey rocking out the role of BIG sister with such pride! Sisters are so grand! I’m celebrating 40 years with my twin this Saturday-big slumber party with all our girlfriends! Martinis & dancing involved! Soak up the journey Lainey & Nella-and we all know you will do it to the fullest because you have an incredible Mama!
M
Awe…I LOVE the pics of you nursng Nella, those were my FAV moments with my kids and I miss it all the time. It was a bonding time with them like nothing else and I cried when they both stopped. Knowing I will never do it again makes me sad, but I feel blessed to have experienced such complete joy with them. Thanks for sharing what it feels like to have a party coming up this wknd. My son’s 4th bday is Sat and we have a family party Sun…we have a small budget so have to be fun & creative. Your blog has inspired me to do as you wrote, celebrate LIFE and I will not let the stress of a party interfere with that!!! You and all you share and photograph amaze me daily…THANK YOU! ~Julie
well everyone has already spoke my words of how darn precious is the sleepy smiles at her Mamas voice, but, I’ll say it too….My goodness, that little Nellas smiles are magical. Oh and Big Sis Lainey holdin’ and snugglin’ her baby sis, oh so cute.
Congrats to the swimsuit winner too!!!
Is that really her smiling in her sleep? Oh my! I love it! Thanks for sharing!
beautiful as usual…
but i do love the breastfeeding shots. as a passionate breastfeeder who faught long and hard to be able to feed my baby (who is now 15 months and still a booby babe) it warms my heart to see others sharing the most amazing and natural of gifts…
you often talk of nursing (we use the old breast word here is oz) and each time you mentioned it, internally i screamed, pics kelle, pics…
i had a short feeding relationship with my son therefore have no photos, but with my little miss i am forever taking pics of her feeding, just to remember these times..
so thankyou for sharing your special booby time with us..
PS cannot wait for fairy party, how did that sneak up so fast?
Reading your posts gives me patience to wait another few weeks. Gives me confidence that becoming a mother was meant to be. Gives me peace that somehow our new family will find it’s place.. find a way.
Big sis holds the baby like a pro! And Nella..is she smiling in her sleep? So cute! 😀
Oh I love that picture of Nella smiling!!!
How I love the Better Homes and Garden’s Cookbook, mine is the 1960’s version that belonged to my mom. I just loved seeing the picture of it in your kitchen with Lainey as you baked your cookies…and sleeping, smiling, sweet Nella, simply scrumptious!!!
Oh Kelle, just love, love the girl’s in sister holds and embrase, and Nella’s fist does speak volumes as Poppa said, and, you recover holiday’s very well, beats mine I am sure, lol…Congrat’s to the winner of the bothingsuit…she had a great post BTW …for I too hope my posts, with “past and fewchure” grammatical errors are forgiven too, cause God knowns I make many, my excuse, first language is french, and I never mastered either language !…*shrugs n lol* …but I love your blog Kelle, and I cannot stop commenting on how beautiful it all is to me…I am addicted, and sooooo soooo loving it big time !
Thanks You Darling Kelle …
Deborah, the Canadian Nurse
I love the second photo of Nella sleeping! So precious.
I just wanted to say thanks for that first song by aimee mann..i had totally forgotten that one…loved it forever now!!
fab pics as usual and congratulations to the bathing suit winner, wear it proudly 🙂
Love love LOVE that sweet little baby smile. Oh my is that precious or what?
Oh and Brett, Daddy, I love too so much your tender embrase with Nella, just wait till she wraps her lil arms around you in a warm hard hug, it will melt Your heart n soul Dear Daddy …*winks*
Deborah, the Canadian Nurse
Love that Poppa! He could have rocked the suit!
I love the sweet pictures of you nursing Nella. I am going to have to have my husband snap a few of me and my lil bee. Great idea for the party hats, too! Can’t wait to see and hear all about the fairy party.
Nella knows her Mama’s voice that triggers such lovely smiles.. she gets cuter and cuter with every post! And little Lainey… can’t wait to celebrate her birthday with her, even if only through this blog. Beautiful family, Kelle!
These pictures might just be my favorite ever! I haven’t even read the post yet, just love the photos.
Love this post… baking is my prozac… lifts me up whenever I am down or lost or in need of something happy. Sleeping Nella smiles are as delicious as cookies. Can’t wait to see fairy party goodies. As a mom of two boys I am sorely lacking in all things fairy & frilly!
Cheers,
Kate
p.s. Today unloading the dishwasher (for the millionth time) I found myself humming a little tune… then I realized it was your Nella song from last week! Catchy tune indeed. 🙂
Kelle, the picture of Nella smiling is too precious for words. She is the most beautiful child!
bells,
you rocked out the ioc-to-real life transition. it’s not always easy. pics are amazing as were the oatmeal cookies i kept breaking corners off of.
lainey holding bean, soo sweet. shy smile makes me happy.
and nella, the most beautiful sleeping baby ever, and so happy.
xoxo
That little grin on Nella while she was sleeping, that just melted my heart….what a sweatie!
That’s so funny that you like to bake when your decompressing. If I’m under a lot of stress or sad for any reason you can be sure to find me in the kitchen with my frilly apron on baking something yummy. It just helps me to relax. When my little neice passed away from SIDS a year and a half ago and I couldn’t afford to go to Michigan for the funeral I think I made about 500 pizzelle cookies in a week….It’s therapy for me.
I meant sweetie…
your girls are both adorable, but seeing these pictures of sweet Nella makes me ACHE for these baby days again. I have 3 small ones right now, that keep me plenty busy, so I can’t say I’m sad we don’t have a newborn… but seeing Nella helps me to remember that when we find out another is on the way, its such a joyful blessing!
Little Nella smiling is adorable. She is such an angel.
And I love the way Lainey and Nella bond.
Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful, beautiful photos. Especially the ones of Nella asleep. What a cutie.
Love Bridget
Love the nursing photos. It makes my heart happy to see a mother giving her baby the very best. And what a good mommy you are! Speaking of, my little angel with Down Syndrome has had a hard time getting the milk out of me…with her tiny little mouth giving up after 10 minutes. She’s nearly two months and still a wee 7 lbs. Did you experience that with Nella? She looks so beautifully chunky in all her photos, and has that “breastmilk glow” about her that I kind of doubt you’ve struggled with milk supply issues. But if you did, what was your secret? It’s sort of been my never-ending struggle from day one to get my little one to nurse well and gain weight, bless her heart.
Loved the mother’s day post. I’m a huge fan! Keep ’em coming. BTW, I’ve noticed your husband wearing a Florida Gators hat in several pictures from past posts. My husband (Brent) went to Dental School at U of F, and we’re huge Gator fans! Just another reason why I like your blog so much! ((I sure do miss Florida.))
Poppa’s funny! I’m with him though…looks way better on you than it would of on me.
Lainey is so precious holding her little sister. I love capturing how proud they are just to hold them.
Glad she’s feeling better! Hope she has a wonderful birthday! We just celebrated one here and I love planning birthdays just like you. It was awesome.
Nella’s beautiful as always. Hand clasps, love them. Sleep smiles, amazing. Nursing, heaven.
That photo of Nella smiling in her sleep just blew away the long, weary day. I’d try and stay awake all night to catch those smiles.
you have the sweetest little family. i am a fairly new follower to your blog but have become a faithful follower. you are an inspiration. you have such a wonderful way with words…not to mention with your camera eye! lainey is an absolute beauty and little nella is the sweetest. i love love, love your sleepy smile photo. i try to blaze those into my memory when i catch them on my boys. so precious. thank you for such a fabulous blog. you truly have an incredible outlook on life.
ps. i secretly love to open your blog to listen to the music too…so fun!
Love the way you recover … baking is also one of my “feel better” pills. Something about the mess that gets made and then magically something wonderful and delicious is making the house smell heavenly! Thank you Kelle- As a 52 year old mom, I really appreciate a young nursing mother who celebrates the beauty of feeding her baby. I remember those moments with my boys and they are still fresh and treasured. Reading and seeing Nella in your sweet blog this morning brought the feelings back.
Keep on Keeping on! Love your music!
That little Nella Bean is Pure Heaven~
And whispy haired Lainey, is like a magical fairy!!!
She is perfect at holding her baby sister…..Adorable!
I’ve been following your blog daily since I found it in January. You are such an incredible woman and your family and life is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for giving me something to look forward to. My husband and I are currently trying for our first baby and your blog always makes my heart ache with excitement thinking about the beauty that will come into our life when we’re finally blessed with our own little bean.
I was reading your photography F.A.Q and was wondering if you know of any cheaper editing programs that are still pretty great. I have Nikon D5000 and I have been experimenting with different editing programs but haven’t found a really good one yet. You posted that you use Lightroom 2 and in reality I’d like to try it out but when I looked it up I realized it’s $300 and that’s not something I can invest in right now. Any advice?
Oh dear….Lainey holding her sweet baby sister like she’s been doin’ it all her life…what else can I say, my heart is mush!!! What a sweet, sweet, little mama she is. And those little pixie-angel smiles in bunny’s sleep….well…I could just eat her. What a perfect start to an otherwise dreary Thursday….thank you.
xo-nicole
soft…that is all I can think about to describe this last post…soft
Beautiful, as always. 🙂
i love the nursing pics and nella smiling…pure bliss. made my crappy day at work much better. 🙂
My grams always said that when a baby smiles in his/her sleep . . . the angels are playing with him/her.
Love your pictures and your post!
Awe, your sweet Nella bean..Her smile could not be anymore precious!
….aaand now i want a cookie.
Love the sleeping Nella grins. 🙂
I hope Lainey is feeling better real soon!!
xo
Kris
Does Poppa have a blog? He should!
I love the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook! Granted, I do more reading from it than actual cooking from it, but it’s entertaining nonetheless 🙂
I always smile when looking at the beautiful photos of your beautiful girls! Thanks for brightening up my day.
You captured love and warmth and shared the feeling today. Thank you! Love the song. And the apron feet.
The pictures of Nella sleeping are just too much! So much love in your beautiful family!
Hey there~
I’ve been reading your blog since Nella’s birth (via my friend Nici~dig this chick)and have fallen in love with it. Your girls are beautiful; your posts lovely. My hubby and kiddos enjoy looking, too!
Today’s post grabbed at my heartstrings. I love baking and cooking with my boys. I’ve been raising them in the kitchen with me since each of them was born.
Thank you for your inspiring writing and capturing ‘family’ so beautifully behind the lens. I grew up just north of Naples and find the pics of the beach an extra dose of fresh air.
Nella smiling in her sleep is so so sweet. Darling girl!
That picture of Nella grinning in her sleep is just so cute!!
We are going to the birthday party of a 2 year old friend this Sunday and while we’re there I’ll be thinking about Lainey celebrating her own special day. I can’t wait to see how the fairy party turns out!
The way you capture you family in pictures is just beautiful beyond words!!! Love it! 🙂
The picture of Nella smiling in her sleep is the most precious picture! What a beautiful little girl!
You, Laney, and Nella just make me smile. Its rare that I open your blog and not smile. The picture of your feeding Nella is just magic and gives me a really bad case of baby fever!
I just love reading your blog and looking and your family pictures! Your family is absolutely beautiful!
Your girls are absolutely beautiful!!!!
The sleeping/smiling picture of Nella is too adorable! And the one of her fists! Watch out world! And the one of Lainey holding Nella, she’s such a great big sis! We got a new laptop for our downstairs and I enjoy listening to your music list. Thanks-
Oh my goodness, Nella’s sleep-smile just melted me. She is such perfection. I swear you are SO right, that extra chromosome is magical. 🙂
I hope that Lainey feels much, much better for her party this weekend. I’m biting my nails in anticipation of the pictures! 🙂
BEAUTIFUL apron. I love it! I love oatmeal cookies too. 😉
Dumb question, but we know Nella’s middle name is Cordelia (which is beautiful, btw — love it!) but I’ve always just assumed Lainey’s is “Love.” Am I correct? Is that Lainey’s given middle name?
Lots of love to you, Kelle. <3
Baby hands are heaven. They are so sweet and full of mystery. I can envision them inutero doing the same thing. Precious. I too am a bit ridiculously excited over this birthday party!
I had seen in another post (because I think I have ready them all!!) that you are indeed part Duggar. Do you want more children? Has your journey with Nella changed your plans?
Yes, Lainey’s middle name is just “Love”…because she defines it…and because my other grandma’s name is “Loverna.”
The Dixons. I indeed want another baby. And if Nella has changed any plans it’s only that she has reminded me just how sweet babyhood is and fired up the desire to do it again. It’s all out of my hands, but I shall probably want a baby in my home for as long as I live.
The Dixons. I indeed want another baby. And if Nella has changed any plans it’s only that she has reminded me just how sweet babyhood is and fired up the desire to do it again. It’s all out of my hands, but I shall probably want a baby in my home for as long as I live.
Lainey and Nella are absolutely GORGEOUS. C:
Your life’s celebration this weekend is going to be wonderful! FYI: The planets alignment is even better this week because Mercury -the planet of communications, wise counselor and divine messenger- turned direct. (Love to learn about Astronomy/Astrology/New Age).
“The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” -Henry Miller
Beautiful
The picture of her smiling in her sleep made my heart flutter. ♥
Oh so cute and wonderful…I involuntarily put my hand to my heart when I saw the shot of Nella smiling in her sleep. And so beautiful to see Lainey’s love for her little sister.
Your girls are absolutely gorgeous.
I love, love all the beautiful pictures you share in your posts! What a tribute to your family for years to come!! 🙂 When you “crank up the ISO” when you feel like the lighting isn’t the best…what do you set it at vs. what you would normally keep it for when you have great natural light? Thanks!! (Still learning about all this stuff…but your beautiful pictures are a great inspiration for keeping at it 🙂 ).
,,,the 2 blk/whts with nella’s fist clinched are a few of my favorite,,,indeed the pics suggests all that “poppa” described and when i saw the pics for the 1st time i imagined nella standing before “wall-street” telling “them” we’re not going to take this anymore,,,not your “shanannigans”, not your “caca-may-mee” excuses, none of it, no more,,,clean up your act or hit the road fellas!,,,
Your blog is awww inducing! I love the picture of Nella sleeping and smiling.
Is Poppa single? Just wondering. Not for me, of course. I have this friend… lol Good thing for my husband he makes me laugh the way he does. But man, if only he could write words that sing, like Poppa does. Mmm, mmm!
And no, Poppa is not going to get away with not having a blog. Waiting, waiting.
Your nursing pictures remind me of when I would nurse my son and he would smile from ear to ear…with my nipple still in his mouth. The memory makes me laugh. Amazing I can remember 16 years back.
LOVE the nursing photos. determined to get some of my own now too. it was a hard road with my son and literally every time i nurse him i am just SO thankful that it all worked out. i’d love to have pics to remember it more vividly down the road. babyhood is addicting, isn’t it?
have an amazing time with lainey’s party!
I adore the sleepy Nella smile! It IS magic.
SO many great pictures in this post kelle! And the one of Lainey holding nella so perfectly – heavenly! She looks like a dolly sitting on her sister!
I’m almost done breastfeeding my son and I’m having seperation anxiety about it! I love the bonding it creates…
Have a BLAST this weekend celebrating Lainey bug-a-boo!!
Oh my! The photo of Nella smiling in her sleep just melts my heart. She is so gorgeous! 🙂
I cannot wait to see photos from the fairy party! Nice job on the party hats.. Fancy sending some of your creativity my way?! 🙂
I don’t know what it is about those pictures of Nella, but when I saw them I got chills and wanted to grab my Ross and squeeze and kiss him and just love, love love on him! I didn’t…’cause he was sleeping…but I definitely did when he woke up!
Gorgeous photos as always, the ones of Nella with a tight little fist are wonderful! What a rockstar!
I wish I had the drive that you do! I could learn a thing or two from you 🙂 Enjoying every post…
Little Nella knows her Mommy and that smile, oh that smile…how do you get anything done? What a sweet, sweet bean.
Kelle, I was reading the Hostess with the Mostess blog and if you need any last minute ideas or want to submit your own party ideas…you should definately check this site out @ {http://www.hostessblog.com/2010/05/real-parties-fairy-garden-birthday/#more-12043} Meanwhile,we are all anxiously awaiting Lainey’s party!
Kelle – Just saying hello! I am keeping up with each and every post and loving…just not always leaving a message as I am trying not to overwhelm you with constant comments.
Poppa – Bahahahahehehehe!! on your “I wouldn’t have looked good in that suit anyway!” comment! I imagine that Pamela at Popina could have modified that suit into some killer red/white polka dot trunks!
Love,
Jill B. (Overland Park, KS)
My mother taught us how to bake at a young age, and I’m so grateful for it. I’ve even been known to crank out a wedding cake or two. My kitchen is small, but I love baking with my kiddos… and of course sharing the best part: licking the batter off the mixing blade.
I love how my 5-month old peeks up at me while nursing, too. Like… to make sure I’m there? Just making sure you didn’t leave me and leave your boob behind! Hehe. And when he’s tired, he likes to stroke my shirt or a blankie, or grab onto my fingers.
It’s amazing how momma’s voice is magic for baby… and then they grow up. 🙂
Love the Big Sis hold, Nella grins, and kisses from Daddy!
PS – LOVE LOVE LOVE the vacay pics, but saw how many people were after that bathing suit and refrained from comment!
I can sooooo relate to the baking thing, 11 1/2 years into my journey as a mom of an amazing SPECIAL kid I now have about 100 pounds to lose. LOL I guess I got too into it (but damn… it all tasted so good) LOL.
I recently found your blog & I am in awe! Your writing & photography is FAB! But your girls are so lucky to have you & to have eachother. My son is an only child (so far) as with him being the 1st we were not ready to have another, then we blinked & now it’s 11 years later. It feels too late now. Anyway my biggest regret is that he does not have a sibling to love him like we do. Nella is a lucky little bug & so is Lainey.
(((hugs))) to you all!
PS: the pics of Lainey holding Nella.. ADORABLE! And the sleeping smiley pic… delicious!!!
I can sooooo relate to the baking thing, 11 1/2 years into my journey as a mom of an amazing SPECIAL kid I now have about 100 pounds to lose. LOL I guess I got too into it (but damn… it all tasted so good) LOL.
I recently found your blog & I am in awe! Your writing & photography is FAB! But your girls are so lucky to have you & to have eachother. My son is an only child (so far) as with him being the 1st we were not ready to have another, then we blinked & now it’s 11 years later. It feels too late now. Anyway my biggest regret is that he does not have a sibling to love him like we do. Nella is a lucky little bug & so is Lainey.
(((hugs))) to you all!
PS: the pics of Lainey holding Nella.. ADORABLE! And the sleeping smiley pic… delicious!!!
The cookie making is sensational. I love your aprons. Such beauties you are : )
Very excited for your party! The hats look like they are perfect!
Kelle- I wish we were friends; your blog makes me wish I were part of your beautiful world! You’ve inspired me to keep on sucking the marrow out of life and documenting the everyday with my gorgeous chubby 7 month old, Connor. And, thank you for the the tutorial on the photobooks– i bought Microsoft Digital Image Suite on eBay and I’m going to try to make Connor a “Year” book before his birthday in Sept.! Keep on doing what you do, you are fantastic.
Hi Kelle,
I have commented before, but had not yet introduced my family. My hubby and I have been married for 6 yrs and have a 2yo son with a genetic syndrome, 18q-. We have a family blog, posting about our day to day lives. We have mentioned
Graham’s special needs. However, to date, we had not yet mentioned his diagnosis of 18q-. We’ve only known for 2 mos now. It was such a delicate subject, one I wasn’t even sure I’d share. Once we finally decided to share, it
took me a while to find the words. I hope I did a good job expressing what it is like to receive a diagnosis such as this. You have done much to inspire me to share and your blog post express so many of the emotions we share. If you’re curious, here’s the link.
Enjoy!
http://wolfsonsafari.blogspot.com/
WOW…I still can’t believe I won! Another beautiful post! Gotta love sleepy baby smiles!
your pictures just EXUDE warmth.
A dear friend recently sent me the link to your blog. I too have an angel. His name is Ashton, he’s 13 and the love of my life.
You are blessed.
I know I should not be up at this crazy hour of 9:45 pm but I always find myself needing a “Lainey & Nella” fix!
The sleeping smile picture of Nella makes me wish for more babies.♥
i just melted when i saw that photo of nella sleeping… so adorable! just uplifting and heavenly!
He, he, he…I just pulled up your blog for the 47th (honestly I just typed 47 out of nowhere without thinking…. 47 chromosomes:) 🙂 anyway I am sitting here and said to myself “you know I REALLY want Nella in the worst way, I just want to snuggle in her neck for like 3 hours”. My 16 year old daughter goes “um, yeah we know, it’s like the ONLY thing you look at on a daily basis”. And then she was looking and oohing and aahhing wishing she lived closer to BABYSIT. We’ve got the Nella bug!!! And I could just bite Lainey, she is so stinkin cute I can’t stand it!
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I loooove your blog, been following it a while had to post on the Oatmeal photo set. I LOVE me some oatmeal. Your photos always come out so much more brilliant and poignant than anyones! And your blog, photos, spirit, just make me happy in general. Love the way you dress your girls…and all the happiness you share.
Oh My Goodness!! She’s getting so big!! Beautiful, beautiful baby girls. xo
Oh sweet Nella. I just love her, that smile is magical.
I love that Lainey’s middle name is Love. So beautiful.
The sleeping smile is my favorite!
Nella kicks ass on the paper rock scissors game…I can tell by the determination in her face, and the clenched fists- not letting any hints out 😉
Too bad I didn’t win the suit, I totally need something glam this summer!!!!
xox,
Lori
That photo of Nella smiling in her sleep? Melt…
I love that Nella will smile in her sleep when she hears your voice! Adorable!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one that views Mondays that way. Looks like you had a fabulous time baking! 🙂
Love Nella’s sleepy smile – what an absolute treat – HEAVENLY! Have fun at the fairy party – sounds fabulous and can’t wait to see pictures. Enjoy!
I love the pink lip gloss…what an amazing take you have on life. Keep writing – I love your style!
Nella bean looks so snuggly in her sleeping smiley picture! Well, and always, really.
Also, I have a question! Is Lainey having an all-girl party? I was just curious with the whole fairy thing. I’m thinking of snagging some of your birthday party ideas for my daughters third birthday in August, but there will definitely be a few fellow-friends of hers in attendance.
Anyway, I just love how you make life magic for your kiddos 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Someone just sent this to me and I thought my “friend” Kelle will enjoy this…
If You Give a Mom a Muffin
If you give a mom a muffin,
She’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
So she’ll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She’ll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She’ll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She’ll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With a Pound of
Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for the checkbook.
The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)
Her five year old will answer it and hang up.
She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.
Written by Kathy Fictorie
Nella’s eyes and eyelashes! My goodness, you could not paint a more perfect, lovely picture. When I think of baby eyes, I think of Nella. Her sleeping with those delicate, feathery eyelashes melts my heart everytime. I know people call all babies angelic, but really, with those eyes and her soft, sweet face she looks like a little cheribum.
I love how chubby those little hands are becoming! Beautiful as always 🙂
Your girls are so precious….but I know you already knew that. ;). The one of Nella smiling in her sleep is my favorite. You have such a gift of writing and photography. Wonderful, wonderful stuff! Thanks for sharing your journey with the world. We are blessed to be along for the ride!
Love the fairy hats, the cookies, and the celebrating. So much to celebrate. Thanks for sharing your joy!
Love your blog! I seriously look at it everyday whether or not you’ve posted anything new. It’s a real pick-me-up no matter the day I’m having. The pictures, the writing, great! You’ve inspired me to invest in a really good camera.
Love the sleeping, smiley Nella. Adorable.
Thanks for the “peek” into your everyday life!
Kelle, apologies as this question is TOTALLY unrelated to this last post (which I loved, BTW). I’m scouring every online shop I can think of trying to find Lainey’s frog floaties (with the tummy tube). Where did you get it?? I can’t find anyone who sells that style. Thanks in advance! 😉
Thank you. Rough day at work and your blog reminded me to savor what’s important in my life. I’m gonna go sneak into my little boy’s room with a glass of wine and watch him sleep 🙂
The sweet baby smile melted my heart!!
I’m addicted… to your girls, your photos and the wonderful life you make out of it all… please never stop sharing your world with us!
I love the way Nella clasps her hands in front of her, as if in prayer. My friend, who also has a Down Syndrome daughter, said that her little girl did that as a baby too, and it convinced her that these “special” babies have a special connection with God.
Thank you, Kelle. You’ve ironed out my wrinkles once again and I can hold my 4 babies closer and better enjoy their scents and sounds. Crazy, right? A complete stranger can inspire the love that’s already there? I adore my husband more and don’t take a second of this chaotic, insane, beautiful, 4 consecutive childhoods and one amazing marriage for granted a little more thanks to your words. Keep it up!
My local paper had a wonderful article the I wanted to share with you. I imagine that you hear lots of stories about the difficulties associated with Downs… this story is so uplifting.
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_2cebf6b8-5f98-11df-bf00-001cc4c03286.html
Blessings,
GAWD your girls are gorgeous
And I thought I was a party planner! You blow me out of the water:-).
I’ve given you the “Sunshine Award” come on over to my blog to get it!