Stream of Consciousness

September 9, 2010 By Kelle

The cool thing about craft-making and cupcake-baking days is that it doesn’t make you feel quite as crappy when you have days where you’re frazzled or you snap at the whining or the T.V. runs too long or you’re just not feeling it. And we have them, but there’s a strange beauty to those days too. Sometimes, at the end of those days is when I have my best moments. When I sidle next to sleepy bodies in bed and whisper in their ears that today didn’t go exactly like I wanted, but tomorrow will be better and that I love them all the same. Ah, the beauty of Balance. I learned it here and here and, well another time here.
Ebb & Flow, Baby.

We’re a bit crazed with some chaos right now, but it’s beautiful chaos…like the unorganized dissonant tones of instruments as they tune before a symphony. It’s all in preparation of something good, and soon the maestro will tap his wand and all will fall together in lovely harmonies…at least that’s what I tell myself.

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Labor Day had us setting out for a little drive up to Gasparilla Island where we met my friend, Rebecca and her husband Jon at her parents’ house and enjoyed a day of beach-basking and catching up.

This girl smiles in her sleep all the time.

Lainey’s totally in love with Aunt A’Becca.

…and so are we.

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Ballet is now one of my favorite moments of the week, and in just these past few weeks, I am quite certain I have acquired new wrinkles from all the smiling I’ve done.

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Today, we met sweet Ethan whose mama and daddy won a giveaway here awhile back for one of Poppa’s vacation rentals. Nella was smitten, and we got a kick out of not only watching the two of them together but Lainey and Beckham having a ten-minute pow-wow on the cold tile in front of the front door just lovin’ on him.

Jessica & Justin, hoping the rest of your week is relaxing and perfect and just what you need!

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Our Nana Kate is not only our borrowed grandma, across-the-street neighbor and a dear friend of mine, but she is locally known as the Naples Nana who works at Baby Gap. She’s worked there for years and calls all the babies that shop there “my babies.” Recently, she worked hard to get Gap corporate to approve an idea she had to have photos of all “her” local babies as the Gap models in our store here, and I love that her passion for this idea and the genuine love she has for the babies that shop there got approved.

…especially because my babies now grace the walls.

I had my old camera this night and some horrible lighting conditions but you get the picture…that my mama heart was swellin’ and that my girls’ pride was matched with Nana Kate’s who treats us like her own.

Kathleen, we love you and you are so freaking fabulous.

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And that brings me to the last two lovelies, the first being that September from now on is just Christmas on a cracker. Family arrives tomorrow and there will be love and much of it this week. Next week, I am taking my girls to the Montana mountains to finally meet my dear friend, Nici. We’ve been blogging friends for three years now…e-mailing, texting, talking, Skyping and dreaming of the day we’d finally meet. And Friends…it’s gonna be good. I cannot wait to see our girls together and fetch eggs from the chickens and take walks under blue sky kissing Montana mountains. And these Florida girls will get to wear tights. That’s a bonus. My mama comes down to finish off the month with more love and that? Well, that’s just heaven.

Finally, I am so proud to announce our new sponsor, Tina Steinberg Designs. Her fingerprint jewelry is beautiful and unique, and I can’t tell you how many times I reach up during the day to rub my fingers along the edge of my pendants and feel the fingerprint impressions of my babies.

For a special promotion this month, enter the code “smallthings” at checkout and receive 10% off your September order. Orders over $100 (after discount) also receive a silicone ‘i am not afraid. i was born to do this.’ bracelet. (I feel powerful when I wear mine. Like Wondertwin Powers Activate! kind of power)