Okay…the intro to this song is the best ever. Listen to it for one second….

And moving on.
Bringin’ it today…

Enjoyin’…

Ballet Conquered.
Word is, when Brett took her last week while I was gone, she had a 9/10 ratio of huddling-in-her-daddy’s-lap/participating-in-class. So, this week called for much jubilation when she walked in, smiled and enthusiastically took part. And by jubilation, I mean I could not contain this half-hour combination of spontaneously combusting in weird bursts of nervous laughter and this pool of tears that was welling uncontrollably.

And this heel-tapping thing kills me…

And I’m wondering if it will wear off by like, the tenth class, or if I’m always going to be cry-laughing outside the glass wondow watchin’ my girl from the mama chairs.

Therapy.
It isn’t ideal and it is, in the beginning, a bit overwhelming. But somewhere along the line, it becomes a new normal. And it is what it is, so we make the best of it.

Physical therapy comes to our house once a week, and we’ve been outsourcing some speech therapy now for almost a month and are lucky that it’s only a few minutes from our home. Nella’s rock-starrin’ her way through it, and I use it as another opportunity to do what I do in the mama chairs outside ballet…I beam.

Creativity Combusts.

It’s happening…this new tide of creativity that is unearthing itself after a bit of a creative drought. If I’m not creating something or at least thinking of something to create, I starve. So it is…this soul-feeding satisfaction of doing something creative.

Even if it’s cupcakes with the best buttercream frosting recipe this side of the Mason Dixon line. And by best buttercream frosting, I mean I baked ’em, frosted ’em, ate two of ’em with a glass of milk and then sat on a stool against my counter spooning the bowl remains cursing my friend Dede for passing the recipe. I finally had to squeeze dish soap in the bowl so I would stop. Buying storebought frosting after being introduced to this mutha would be blasphemy. And it’s easy: 3 c. powdered sugar, 1/3 c. butter, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1-2 tbsp. half & half. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

…and creativity continues with something little for my house. It’s been a while since I added character to our spaces, and these new shelves make me happy.

And my $15 Ebay vintage camera find. Love, love, love this baby.

And what is it about the littlest new treasure for your home that makes you want to clean it? That, I love.

…and finally, creative brain went to bed happy last night after major fun photo shoot. I’ve taken a professional break from photography because I can’t keep up with it right now with everything else going on…mainly spending the time I want with the girls. But, I still have this pulsing need to fulfil this love of taking pictures. And a little-turned-big love in my life gave me another opportunity to do so last night. My friend Laura’s beautiful girl Kaity is off to Savannah College of Art and Design later this month…and we commemorated her bon voyage with a living room make-over session and a post-rain trip to the park for these pics…

Love her necklace! Lisa Leonard Designs.

Before and After Editing: We completely faked Fall with dialing the green hues to yellower ones in Lightroom…a bit unnatural, but I wanted the effect. I’m from Michigan and my pre-fall withdrawl is beginning to haunt me. We added fill light. Dropped the clarity and added it back to specific areas with adjustment brush. Added contrast with adjustment brush as well. Oversaturated the blue suitcase. Reduced Noise. And Voila.

And Kaity’s an amazing photographer already.

Her heart and soulful charisma are just as beautiful as her outward freestyle beauty…she’s goin’ places. xoxo, Kaitybug.

Nella’s First Bike Ride.

It was a drizzly, sticky afternoon and we had every good reason to stay inside, but my pretty pink Schwinn was calling. We answered, buckling up little bodies in the bike buggy and pedaling into the heavy, wet air. Five minutes into it, I forgot all about the humidity because every time I turned around there were two little grins and the quiet reassurance that this is what they needed…and so did I.

Impromptu Catamaran Cruise.

You know, when your friend calls and says, “Hey, you guys want to join us for a catamaran cruise tomorrow?” and you make her repeat it because you’re pretty sure she just said “join us for a catamaran cruise tomorrow” and catamaran cruises aren’t exactly something you do every day and surely you misunderstood her. But you didn’t. And you’re really glad when you agree to go.

Turns out The Sweet Liberty catamaran is only twenty minutes away, makes cruises every day and costs less than going out to dinner. And is totally freaking worth the thirty bucks. Because really, we’re not catamaran people. We’re like the prop-dinghy people that get paid to scrape the barnacles off the catamaran.

I felt so fabulous and lucky and movie-starrish to be stretched out on a catamaran under billowy clouds shielding prismatic sun rays on a plain-old week day that I called my dad from the starboard deck just to say, “Hey, Guess where I am right now? No, really…guess. I’m on a catamaran. In the ocean. On a Tuesday.” And I’m just wondering how many times I can say catamaran in this post. Catamaran, catamaran, catamaran.

I’m pretty sure there are no cars in heaven. Just catamarans.

My girl was delighted. And that triples my delight.

And I can’t believe I just found out about this. Because next time we spend money on a date, I’m totally picking a catamaran cruise over dinner. Locals…it’s worth it. You can pack your own cooler, drinks, food…and there’s a perfect little nook for babies to stretch out and catch shut-eye in the sun.

What’s up, Cash?

Oh, I love my salty sea-kissed town.

And, being that it is now September, I will shamelessly bring on Autumn, scattering the northern delights of my Michigan into my sunny, palm-fenced pad.

But, for now, there’s a giveaway winner. A Willowbean petal-knot dress custom-made to your liking will be given to…

Commenter #988!

M Monkey: Your blog is a constant reminder for me to take more pictures with friends! Thank you. Congratulations, M Monkey! E-mail your info please to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net.

Catamaran, Catamaran, Catamaran!

Enjoying…

Ballet, Take Two

Yup. I let go. And so did she. And I watched excitedly, heart all throbbing in my throat as my little blonde one walked onto the wood floor, turning back for my approval, my thumbs-up, my silent clapping charade and mouthing of words she didn’t understand. Things like It’s Okay. Go On. And I love you.

Her teacher made her the special helper today.

And all those other mamas opened up today and told me about their little’s first day too. That it was hard. That one little girl took four weeks before she ventured in. Here I was worried. And suddenly, a huddle of chairs outside the sliding glass door in a little ballet studio became the bleachers at a big game…they all cheered with me for my little girl because they are mamas. And they know how it feels.

My girl did so good.

She stood all statue-like for a good part of the beginning while little girls danced around her. But she was in there. Without me.

At one point, the teacher called the girls together. “Hold hands,” she said, nodding down at Lainey. “She’s not gonna do it,” I thought. And I waited. I saw the studio owner peek in the glass, anticipating what followed as much as I was. I watched as my girl stretched her arm out, grasped hands with the little to her side and completed the circle.

And I sighed relief and took it in. And wavered between cheeks aching from smiling so much and eyes pooling with tears. I was so proud.

Through the glass, I watched her be a girl. A proud, dancing little girl.

Uuugh. It hurts and feels good at the same time. Trial ballet is over…the real deal begins. Hence the real deal leotard and skirt…the one we got today that she insisted on wearing to Costco after class.

Which brings me to the next enjoyin’…

Costco Super Shop
Where I am strangely tempted to buy crap we would otherwise never need just because its excessiveness is packaged really cool.

I wisely decided against the 5 gallon jug of artichoke hearts and the ton o’ plums because I was practicing self control today.

Self control that lasted all of why-hello-there-$1.50-pizza-deal.

The Gymnast
It cracks us up. ‘Nuff said.

Glued-to-my-Girl
I am a baby slingin’/papoosin’/hip-huggin’/cradlin’/carryin’ mama and anything that makes it easy for her heart to beat closer to mine while multi-tasking makes me happy. Which is why I love my new Lillebaby carrier.

It’s uber soft and hugs Nella so comfortably…but my favorite is my view from the top.

Hello Little Bunny.

Coffee with Friends
Because summer’s almost over and my teacher friends go back to work. So, we suck the bejesus out of what’s left and get together as much as possible before the buses hit their routes again.

Matching My Girls
I am so in love with this funky necklace…but it gets better. My girls have digs to match me.

We went out to dinner the other night and sported our matching stuff and Lainey said, “You look beau-fi-tul Mama…just like me.”

Necklaces and Baby Headband from Lilian Eve Designs, Etsy.

Deedah
I watched this for the second time this past weekend and smiled and cried happy tears. It’s a beautiful heartwarming documentary on a sibling relationship with Down syndrome. Trailer below. My favorite part happens to be when the little boy says Shit. Because that’s one of my goals for Nella. Ha ha.

You can buy the DVD here if interested.

And finally, tonight I enjoyed another Picnic at the Lake

…where the slightest rain drizzle pittered and pattered against broad leaves, whispering its echo and cozying up our cove just right. It was popcorn and “spicy juice” tonight…

…enjoyed while watching the big sister drag sticks half her size to the lake and thrusting them in with all her might…and the little sister explore new textures as she fingered dewy grass blades and cold dirt.

…and practiced her sitting skills against the damp bark of the big tree.

I breathe these moments in for what they are…the stand still of everything but wonder and discovery and being completely in love with my sprite and my almond joy.

And you know Girlfriend wore her boots.

So, with all that said…a giveaway.

A randomly selected commenter will win…

Ah yes, a $75 gift certificate to The Vintage Pearl.

Good Luck!

Winner will be announced Thursday evening. And if you don’t win this one, there’s another fabulous giveaway I’m excited about for later this week.

And with that, she said Good Night.

Blue skies and breezy palms that hang outside the windshield like a perfect snowglobe wonderland. Her arched back that stretches up from her toys in search of my voice. Fabulous heels with jeans…on a Friday…just because. A pool full of boys that scream and holler and laugh and push each other off the big tube that floats like an island from shallow to deep, deep to shallow. And the little tube just for me because my feet begged me to take them for a dip, and I obliged. A killer $5 clearance tee from Marshalls that’s soft and hugs in all the right places. Afternoon baths with citrus ginger bubbles and my little companion who swaddles into soft terrycloth post suds like perfection. Hot orange peel tea, steeped for two and a half minutes, sipped slowly in the sun. The soft milky skin of pudgy feet. The deep stare of chameleon eyes that beg me to know more about her. Clearing the heap of clothes mess off the dresser to reveal rich wood and pretty treasures beneath…like winter’s snow finally melting to unveil lush grass below. Witnessing a rare bottle feeding, sister style–rough and gentle at the same time. The magic of the little sprite sleeping. Maryjanes. And behold…the first time in a year…a hair cut. A real one–not the kindergarten Fiskars job I give myself every couple months. A babysitter and a quiet drive. A head massage and the half-asleep trance I fall into to the accompaniment of *snip*snip*snip*. And the best? Sleek glossy ends that fall softly against my shoulder. Ends that don’t look like a cat chewed on them. Bliss, Baby.

(Ask for Nidia at Naples’ L’Image. She’s never let me down.)

And Lainey spent much of the day with Grandma Colleen today, so the bunny and I quietly sank into Lover’s Land where time melts like cotton candy…time that is spent nursing and cooing and photographing her trillion expressions so that I don’t forget a one. I watch her like a movie, drinking her in sip by sip. She is delicious.

Peek-a-boo little almond eye.

These funny faces send Lainey into fits of belly-shaking toddler laughter. “Baby ‘ella so funny,” she says.

Dessert, I tell you. Spooning-the-last-drips-of-goodness-from-the-bottom-of-the-bowl delightful.

Happy Weekend.