designdelicious

big and small changes.

2011-11-08T17:49:00.001-08:00

From the local park here in Florida, where Georgia has been visiting a lot with her Papa and Grosspapi to feed the turtles and look at the fish.
++++++++++++
Okay, its been like three decades since I have updated this blog here. Georgia is going through a major "mama" phase at the moment and as flattering as that sometimes feels, its really something new for me and draining to be the only one in the room that will do. She's also really challenging us with tantrums and a strong will. Gone are the days of no opinion!

I'm kind of in a blogging rut as well, wondering really what the point of it all is when we're in transition & I don't really have all that super interesting of things going on. I now categorize all my design interests and things I think are inspiring on Pinterest, so this blog has become a family blog with little else to report other than "Look, look at my kid! She is awesome" and that kind of makes me feel lame. Isn't that what Facebook is for? And do I really have the time or energy to give play by plays of the way I spend my time these days?

We do have some big-ish news on the horizon. As in our typical fashion that aforementioned horizon is coming in less than two weeks: we are returning to Switzerland to live for at least the next two years. If anyone has noted a pattern here on this blog: 2 years is a long freaking time in Trummer Land!!

So, life right now has mainly consisted of shopping for things we need for winter in Europe that are much cheaper here (the fun part) and sorting through our entire life of boxes to fit everything we need into 3 suitcases (the really not so fun part). Also hearing the word "Mama" at least 300 times a day. And learning that my daughter can contort her body into all sorts of interesting shapes during a tantrum.

I'm hoping to find some more direction as to whether I want to continue this blog as it is or decide to quit for awhile or what. There is a chance with some fresh inspiration from moving to a more lively European city and living the life of a foreigner again that I may have loads to write on, I guess that remains to be seen!

2011-10-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

Just a quick pic of Georgia and her Nana. We're in Florida enjoying perfect weather and beach time with family. I'll update soon!

2011-09-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

It was raining like piss from a boot earlier this morning so I already prepared myself to have one of those days, but the sun came out in the afternoon and it turned out to be a really lovely Fall day after all. Georgia and I met Philipp for dinner at his work and then returned home to play out in the field near the horses until bath time. One of the horse stalls was filled with fresh straw today so I foresee some big time interest from two particular toddlers in that area all morning tomorrow.PS. Pictures like this last one make me ask myself, "Seriously, did I provide any genetic material for you to get here?" The dudette looks like her dad. Sheesh.

Babies are crazy.

2011-09-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Why does my child like to lay face down on the concrete at completely random times of the day? PS. How amazing would it be if adults did this?

2011-09-08T18:16:00.001-07:00

We've all been having some major cabin fever since temperatures dropped and its been constantly cold, raining or misting all week. Georgia and Oliver are not used to this sudden change. They went from 90 degrees with bare butts to being bundled up in winter clothing just to go outside. They've been literally bouncing off the walls, so when the downpours finally broke today we headed out. Georgia put on her new wellies and was back to exploring.And pointing.And being sassy, outdoors (she's still been plenty sassy indoors). Speaking of sassy: holy crap, she has to know I have no idea what I'm doing here most of the time. I don't know whether to laugh or grab my camera (seriously, kicking in the floor?) or try to be more firm with her. She's becoming queen of the back arch when things don't go her way. Her personality is still very mild but she's getting a handle on the magic of tantrums. Here comes Toddler Autonomy 101 for me, I guess.

a very important news break.

2011-09-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

Georgia got her first pair of Wellies today. Its been extremely rainy and wet around here lately and we have a nature lover on our hands, so these came home with us from the second hand store this afternoon:

rockin' it redneck style.

2011-08-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Fact: for the past several days we've had a blow-up mattress in the yard.
Yes. A piece of furniture in the yard.

Oliver and Georgia have so much fun bouncing on it & let's face it, my afternoons are a lot better laying on that thing under the tree while letting Georgia wander around & ~~eat rocks~~ play. Her hair gets so golden in the sun (just like mine as a kid, believe it or not):
We're still in full accessorizing mode around here. I know this looks completely posed, but trust me it isn't. Proof being that no one would initiate this knowing they'd be putting them back on her head at least a hundred times a day when they fall off.And we're still getting a fair bit of this around here as well--Little Miss SassyPants when stuff doesn't go her way:Boy, is she loving the power of that little pointer finger and "no" head shake. But most of the time it's this:Sweet, happy Georgia on the move wearing three necklaces.

cricket press.

2011-08-21T09:02:00.001-07:00

I bought this screen printed poster for Georgia today at an art fair in town. I originally saw it in a tea shop a few weeks ago as an advertisement for a local ballet event. Its from a local printing press that makes a lot of cool artwork and posters. Here's their website.

It will be perfect for whatever form her room takes in years to come. Its really detailed and lovely in person, much more than this image from the web conveys.

since its been a month (!)

2011-08-20T11:45:00.001-07:00

Two things have changed since the last time I blogged:

1) Georgia's hair has really grown (we tried pigtails for the first time last week) and
2) She's discovered accessories:
We recently had to buy her some shoes and she is so aware of them being new and nice. She likes to put them on and walks around on her tippy toes. They're still a bit too big but come Autumn when she can no longer spend her days entirely barefoot they will be perfect.

Personally, I'm doing fine. Reading a ton (per usual) and generally enjoying the break from the heat. Fall is my favorite season and I'm so glad its on its way.

rain, rain, you can stay.

2011-07-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

It was raining earlier this morning (started right when we were packed up to go to the park!) so I got Georgia involved in helping me re-plant my little basil plant into a bigger pot on the porch. She was happy to dig her big tablespoon into the soil and watch the rain pour off the roof and hit the earth below. My girl likes dirt.After it stopped (for she isn't too crazy about cold, wet raindrops, however) we opened the kitchen door and let them explore all the puddles outside. I hope I'll always remember to take the time to do stuff like this.Look at the butt through that wet t-shirt. It kills me.Checking in with Papa.By the end of it, they were just soaked. Such a bunch of hippie farm kids around here. 80% of their days end up being spent in the nude.Finally a quiet moment for him during nap time.

lovey times.

2011-07-15T05:05:00.001-07:00

Just one more step away from baby towards little girl: Georgia is starting to really like her stuffed animals. They're no longer just oddly shaped furry things, they're becoming friends. When we came up here we just packed our three favorites (bunny, bear & lamb) because she was not really interested either way. We now keep one in the car for trips, one around the house for playing and one in her crib. She likes to carry them around (okay, she also like to carry dirty laundry around too) and talk to them. Its so sweet and something her 100% boy cousin just doesn't do.

As much as I really don't want to dictate her interests by gender or anything else, I have to say some of the girly stuff is a lot of fun. Don't get me wrong, she is still 98% of the time naked in the dirt eating a rock while chewing on a stick these days. Her name means farmer girl, after all!

let's lighten things up a bit...

2011-07-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

Its really an ideal location here at my sister's for two roaming toddlers. We're far back off the road but cars are often buzzing by beyond the front pastures and little G is all to happy to point each and every one out to me. There's a huge tree in the front yard that she also likes to watch when its breezy and she & Oliver can roam everywhere without danger for the most part.

She has become obsessed with the horses in the paddock and also River the dog, whom she knows from my parents' place in NC. As two non-animal lovers, we've really been handed a karma curve ball--her first real word besides mama is "dog". Oh, no! She snaps that pointer finger out and proclaims, "Dog" every time River's in the vicinity. She's probably going to be a crazy pet lover & I'll have to fake it!

she has no clue/it keeps me going.

2011-07-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna go ahead and say it: our life sucks right now. And has for a really, really long time.

Up until shortly after the birth of our daughter we were managing an inn right on the California coast, less than an hour's drive from the rugged cliffs of Big Sur. Although very, very un-rich, we were living our dream with the priorities of our hearts lined up and loving most every moment of it. For various reasons we left last year shortly before Georgia turned 2 months old. I boarded a plane for my home state of North Carolina with what bravery I had left and kept the tiny hope of returning in the near future tucked away deep in my sleep-deprived, coping-with-a-newborn while battling depression/anxiety pocket.

It's been a year ago this month since we left and my heart's not yet fully recovered from it. Every week I go back and forth between feeling like we made the only obvious right choice at the moment and wondering if we could have somehow managed to remain where we were & survive.

Its been such an aggravating place to be in life because I've never been a person to settle into defeat and just accept what life has offered while sort of lazily slugging my way through a discontented, half-assed life. I always had an idea of my dreams and chased after them, never mind how others perceived those desires. My values were mine and if my values were to live in an ex-Communist country crammed in a high rise with 5 other Ukrainian girls while I learned Russian from scratch instead of studying it in a classroom, then so be it! I didn't need the comfort of a college degree, tons of friends, new clothes, a nice car (or hell, a car that ran half the time!) or things that just didn't matter to me. I always figured this is my one shot at living my life, why not do it the way I want to. Which isn't to say I made decisions without care, quite the opposite. Following this path of thinking always worked well for me because I came by my experiences honestly as life unfolded and was vigilant to follow my heart.

Honestly, I didn't expect our present turn of events & its been an extremely hard adjustment period. We're both out of work. We've lived with family for a year now. Every job interview we've been excited about has failed. We've now moved three times since initially moving to NC. There have been odd jobs and we've sold some things. We never really got anywhere because it always seemed some opportunity was about to open up, then it didn't.

You start to feel guilty and a bit stupid, definitely naive (for thinking outside the box?) but mostly like there are small bits of your life flying and floating about with no place to land.

I had lots of dreams shrivel and die as a child and my fair share of disappointments, but not too many on my watch since becoming an adult. I'm now faced with the painful realization of the necessity to look my dreams in the face and truly, honestly try to cope with the fact that they probably will not materialize. Its a hard pill to swallow. And we're not talking about gigantic dreams here, folks. I honestly don't desire wealth or buying a home or having a cell phone even (Indeed I asked around and its been proven we are the last people in America without a cell phone).

My dream is to have a simple, modest life in the place that I love & to be able to raise my daughter at home. I'd like fresh water in glasses on the table & healthy food in the house. Books from the library and walks outside. I don't even want a t.v., I promise! Music & time to live. Reduce all the chaos, trim all the fat, go without the extras to be able to give what means most to me to the ones I love.

Of course I'm healthy. And my daughter is strong. And I have a husband who loves me. And we've not been turned out on the street (yet). But I feel as if life is passing me by, for the first time in a really, really long while. And I honestly don't have the resolve to hope that it's bound to change. We've been hard pressed for so long it seems foolish to expect otherwise.

But then of course, I know it will. It has to. I remember thinking this time last year that I really, truly would never sleep or feel normal again. But I did. And I do (I'm back to my pre-Crazy Asshole Asshole self).

Life has to go up at least a notch or two, even if we don't ever feel the California sand again at all. And I've still got my laugh and my luscious, dark humor. Sometimes I laugh at nothing at all. Or I look at Philipp and bust out laughing (our.life.fucking.sucks.) and it gets better. For a little while.

The dude asked me last night with a serious face, "How does one prevent toe jam?" Folks, there's plenty of laughter in my life still. I've not yet climbed that proverbial bridge to jump. Are there big kill you, not just paralyze you bridges in Kentucky?

Coming around full circle, what I hope to learn from these trying times is there aren't any guarantees in life and this is when your true character aligns itself with what's left inside you. Will I start each day anew, ready to find the small joys as I can, love every moment I'm given with my daughter & challenge myself to be kinder than I feel to my husband, each and every day no matter where I am living or not?

One of the things that's been helping is knowing Georgia has no idea whatsoever of the things we carry. She sees every day as something new and possible. Its my purpose to facilitate her growth with love. She'll have her years where all of this adult shit will come and it will dawn on her. Let her be small for now. Get down in the dirt. See what she sees. Look at life from 2 feet off the ground.

So often these days we play "her" song and dance in this kitchen of yet another house that's not our own and I twirl and spin and laugh as she takes it all in for the first time.

I hope to always give this to her as she grows up into the person she'll become because these are the moments we don't get back. And they're free.

"Every morning got sun to shine, Every day got plenty of time. Every night there's a moon so fine...There for you, my Georgia Bean." (Italics mine. From Neil Young's song, Amber Jean.)

park.

2011-07-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

There is a really great park less than 10 minutes down the road from us. Its got a lake with ducks and a little bridge leading over to a gigantic wooden play structure complete with a sandpit, slides, swings, etc. The whole thing is just really well made and so imaginative and fun for children to play on. We've brought Georgia out there several times already but she mainly stuck to the sandbox and watched all the action of the other kids from afar.

We timed it right today somehow and Georgia had the place pretty much all to herself. This is when our little girl feels most free. She likes to have the time to survey a place, notice all the details, test out the waters & become secure before diving in. She explored the entire area and had such fun climbing the steel slides and hiding with her Papa in all the little nooks and small spaces.

I really like who she is at the moment and wish I could freeze & keep her this way awhile longer. She's so easy and fun to hang out with and learns something new all the time. She is obsessed with pointing at things and communicates pretty well although her words are still very few. It's insane the amount of joy that goes through me when I put a handful of berries in front of her or pick her up from her crib in the morning with her new smile reaching both sides of the room. Every really shitty thing of your entire life melts away every morning on account of a few tiny little teeth and two fat, chubby hands reaching out for you--no lie!"Please need us to buckle your shoes forever!" is what my heart feels the most these days.

4th of July...

2011-07-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

or Losers Day, as I have called it all day for the benefit of my British relatives.Georgia put on her red, white & blues although we only stepped out once to the grocery store all day.She was far too content to just sit on the porch and point out passing cars (better than pointing out every person she sees once in the grocery store!) and dig in the flower pots and analyze the wind moving through the trees.In the evening we grilled out and let the kids run around naked. It is one of the great joys in life, after all...being naked (not while grilling).Corn on the cob was a big hit. Georgia got a little insane with it or let's just say she taught it a lesson. Geez, this girl loves to eat.

kentucky morning

2011-07-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

From a walk up the long driveway in the A.M. :

this is the extent of cousins...

2011-07-02T13:41:00.001-07:00

right here:Georgia grumpy & pissed off at Oliver. And Oliver loud and jubilant, having no clue he is scaring Georgia to death. Oil & water, anyone?

off again...

2011-06-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

We're heading to Kentucky to visit my sister for awhile. Be back soon. PS. I had to laugh as I looked at Georgia's little packed suitcase of "essentials". Oh, childhood.

a tribute in pictures.

2011-06-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Last Father's Day Georgia was just a few weeks old. I remember going to the beach and sharing a beer while trying our best to celebrate this first special day as best we could being so exhausted & overwhelmed as first time parents. What I remember of that time was no matter how tired and overworked Philipp was he was completely overtaken and in love with his new girl and gave 100% to us while I was so stressed & recovering.

Not once since she was born has he grumbled about sharing the many middle of the night wakings or caring for our little one. From the second our baby girl made her entrance into this world he has been a partner in every sense of the word . I am so grateful and calmed by knowing she has been given the best possible parent imaginable in her Papa.

on (not) eating rocks.

2011-06-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

A progression on the quest for delicious rocks.

this is thirteen months.

2011-06-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

I wonder when you stop counting a child's age in months? Around two, maybe? I'd imagine its hard to drop the month counting when she will forever be my baby.

Anyhow, our Georgia Elodie is thirteen months old now.

All this growth & development got me to thinking: just where does personality come from? Its such an interesting and amazing thing how a tiny little being starts to month-by-month reveal more and more how they are. I know nature vs. nature & all that jazz, but really, that little temperament is in there from day one and its mind boggling to think of how it got there in the first place. What makes one a little hyper ball, the other chill? What makes one a strong willed little spitfire and the other a little surfer chick?

Georgia is such a joyful, humorous girl with quite a lot of reserve and calculation about her. She is not very impressed by strangers but is so warm to those she chooses to let in. She is fantastic at staring contests and scrunching up her nose in disapproval and cross analyzing you! She wins every time. Nothing makes someone smile more than a deadpan look from a chubby cheeked baby.

I like her just the way she is & hope I don't ever pressure her to become one with the crowd before she is ready. I hope I can instill confidence in her without being pushy or causing her to feel as though she has to play the part of someone she is not. I hope she will grow up knowing its okay to sit on the sidelines or read by herself or not go to the movies with everyone else or go into deep daydreams and think differently than other people.

I also hope that she will cultivate deep friendships and push herself out of her comfort zone socially, because in doing so one grows much more than being alone. I have a feeling this one can see straight to the heart of people & I like that about her. It will help guide her in a world that's not always truthful or genuine.
***
Some stats:
I am: 23.5 pounds, 29.5 inches long.
I eat: everything in sight! Especially egg omelets at breakfast & anything to do with fruit.
I can: walk, dance, climb up and (sort of) down stairs and follow simple directions such as "Give me the ball" or "We don't eat ROCKS!"
I am always: walking around and opening cabinets or anything with a hinge.
I drive my parents crazy when: I try to open the toilet and throw my toys inside. Or eat rocks in the driveway.
I like to: flip the pages of my books and look at the pictures, play in my swimming pool, scream really loudly at the dinner table!

2011-06-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

{peekaboo}

hey & hay.

2011-06-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

There's been some freshly baled hay sitting outside just waiting for us all day.This evening we walked across the pond to the field behind my grandparents' place and attempted to take some photos. I set up the tripod and we jumped in front of one to get the always rare family shot.

Georgia stared at the giant hay bales like they were aliens and started crying when we put her down. Being a toddler has got to suck sometimes. Can you imagine giant, prickly orbs 7 times your size coming out of nowhere?!Anyhow, its been silent around here for awhile but I'll post again soon.

thrifty

2011-06-02T17:23:00.001-07:00

For our four year anniversary yesterday Philipp and I went out during Georgia's sleep times to celebrate. For her first nap we went to practically every thrift store in the county where I scored some really pretty sheets for craft projects and this cool wooden whale push toy for Georgia. I also found two really cute vintage dresses for her & Philipp got a Transformer (no, I am not kidding).After Georgia was down for the night we went into town to have dinner at this new tapas + wine bar which was really nice. It felt good to be out and about without having to rush. It was a good day to reflect on how far we've come and where we've yet to go.

4 years today.

2011-06-01T19:09:00.001-07:00

We've been on a lot of adventures together.

it's summertime and this was inevitable.

2011-05-31T11:24:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days Philipp and I can casually slip out a Dove bar and go to town on it while Georgia plays obliviously in the corner with her toys.

Nuh uh. She now knows exactly what it is crinkling in that wrapper and she wants in on the action. She is kin to me so is not above elbowing one out of the way to get to it either.

Since her every meal is planned out and cooked by me with the fervor of a really annoying dietician, a treat like this every now and then is only called for. It's summer after all, and this is her only childhood...
Please, oh please...Side note: Georgia went for her 1 year check up today and she is in the {cough...sputter} 90th percentile.

balloons

2011-05-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I tied several balloons together and set them in the grass to see what Georgia would do. She was intrigued. Then nervous. Then scared. Then pissed off. And finally very happy...after I sang a silly song to her from behind the lens.

grosspapi

2011-05-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

Today is Georgia's last day with her Grosspapi Martin. We finally decided this is what he will be called because there have been 3 Grandpas in her life so far. To avoid confusion he is now Grosspapi. Don't worry. We're not calling Martin nasty. This means Big Papa in Swiss German.

So my dad is Grandpa (we could not abide Paw Paw) and what's left is figuring out what Johannes will be. I am voting for Jo Jo because its very 1970's disco sounding and slightly pimp-ish and very awesome. I may be the only one who thinks so but I'll claim Georgia agrees because she can't talk. You've got 5 months to think about it, Johannes. I mean... Jo Jo.Anyhow. Georgia loves Martin. She took to him immediately and has really enjoyed her visit with him. They've went on walks, played in the sand and water and turned Martin into a jungle gym. We will all be sad when he leaves tomorrow morning.

2011-05-28T09:29:00.001-07:00

I've been shooting exclusively in manual mode for the past 2 weeks or so and have to say it's really making a difference in the quality of images I'm able to get. I took these quickly this morning before Georgia's nap.PS. Her lips look just like Philipp's when she's got 'em all pouted like in photo #2.

waa waa.

2011-05-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

Guess who most certainly did not want to participate in an afternoon photo session?P.S. Georgia, you're cute when you cry too. I win.

a.m.

2011-05-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

Philipp snapped this rare, genuine moment of Georgia cuddling with me this morning. He had just brought her to me from her crib. She was still slowly coming to so was content to lay with me for just a moment. I love it when that occasionally happens.

2011-05-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Some favorite captures of recent days:

picnic photo shoot

2011-05-24T05:45:00.000-07:00

We had to be out of the house yesterday in the early evening for a showing so we took Georgia to the next town over and staged a little picnic for a photo shoot. I found her sweet little dress at a thrift store. It was so cute with it's anchor buttons and vintage styling but there was a hideous sailboat applique collar on it. I knew it would be easily removed so I bought it anyway, fixed it and now I love it! Anyhow, here are a few of my faves:

:::

2011-05-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

And with it, a bare bottomed Georgia in the grass all day. A Sand pit & swimming pool to go back & forth in (one should be so lucky). Climbing around the parked car with doors open & music floating. A.M walks in the woods with Papa. Swinging under the Oak tree. Cool, juicy melon at lunch. Water forever in the sippy cup.

And long, luxurious naps in the cool house before going at it again.

munchy.

2011-05-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

Georgia up and decided to walk across the yard yesterday. How does this just come out of nowhere? As in, today is the day I will walk. Step aside. Of course there have been many miles behind her little blue wagon leading up to this point, but its still funny when it finally clicks and off she goes.Grandpa Martin is driving up from Florida for the week. Georgia has not seen him in half a year, so I am curious to see her reaction to this new "stranger." I am sure she will destroy his self esteem stare by stare until she finally decides he's okay.

Notice little G's foot there perched on the table? When she is not raking all of her food in the floor, feeding River the dog or squishing it all between her fingers and pushing herself away from the table with her feet, she has them propped all nice & easy on the table, owning the place.

Oh, Toddlerhood, here we come.

a colorful balloon banner.

2011-05-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm bookmarking this really pretty balloon banner tutorial for any parties I plan in the future. No, I am not already thinking about G's 2nd birthday!!! : ) From the great Design Mom blog.

pretty initial necklaces

2011-05-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

I saw this online recently and really love it. I'd get it in gold with a "p" and a "g" for my loves.

this is one year.

2011-05-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

Since the sun was still so bright at Georgia's little outdoor party and created lots of shadows, I decided to take some 1 year old shots the day after on our front porch. I decorated the door and put G back in her outfit (cake smeared & all). This is what happened:I pretty much want to put her on toast and eat her.

::georgie's 1st birthday recap::

2011-05-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

(The single invite we sent out, just to maw & paw across the pond)

Georgia's first birthday started with a bang, literally. We had a massive thunder storm sometime in the wee hours of May 11th which woke everyone in the house up (including little G). So there we were all 3 in bed watching the light show while Georgia eventually babbled herself back to sleep & returned to her own bed.

We woke up the next morning to discover the electricity was still out & (yikes) I had yet to bake her cupcakes, because, dangit, I wanted them to be fresh. After a few failed attempts at trying to figure out how to make coffee without power, P drove to the next town over for coffee & to the local farm for fresh strawberries. No one was at the farm stand so P tromped through the fields, slipped a Mexican $10 and returned home with a brimming pail of berries for his girl.

We scratched the 10:00 birthday time because it so was not happening and decided to celebrate later in the afternoon. I went across town over to a friend's place who still had electricity to bake the cupcakes. This was one of those situations where THERE WILL BE HOMEMADE CUPCAKES, DAMMIT! It looked like this:

(Yes, those are 10 cut-out pictures of my child's face on cupcakes.)

Did I mention no electricity=no air conditioning in the South in May? Mmmyeah; big, fat No Me Gusta over here all day. Georgia kept cool chilling in her pool and sandbox. The rest of us sweltered.
***
Let's go ahead and throw it out there that in the middle of all of this, my shirtless father killed a cooter (better known as a gigantic snapping turtle who WILL kill you) with a handgun. Mmyes, moving along now. Philipp got Georgia dressed and looked pretty good himself. I don't want to wear clothes at all in the heat, but since I don't believe in internet family pornography, I wore a sundress with my apron:We picked the willow tree as the spot because its quite possibly Georgia's favorite place on Earth & seriously, the house felt like a sauna:Georgia humored us pretty well. Not sure if these types of hats are still allowed in the South, but whateva.Quite impressed with the giant tissue ball:
We are three:They were very happy. And there wasn't even beer.G, I'd like to introduce you to your lifelong nemesis. Meet the cupcake:All in all, it was a fun day that we will definitely remember. I was of the mindset that we (P & I) are really celebrating ourselves...we survived the 1st year as parents! Oh yeah, and our girl's pretty special too:

"Georgia Elodie Trummer arrived. Our hearts are too big for our chests."
--May 11, 2010. My diary entry.

birthday sneak peek

2011-05-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

The past 24 hours have been interesting. Full recap to come, but for now:

its my party...

2011-05-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

I think I settled on Georgia's birthday outfit this morning:1) Party hat & "1" ribbon, handmade by me.
2) Dress, second hand from Switzerland.
3) Socks, second hand from Italy, via Switzerland.
4) Black patent shoes, mine from babyhood.

i'm one this year.

2011-05-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

I can remember thinking I'd become a mother last Mother's Day; my water broke exactly a year ago today and we drove the 35 minute coastal highway drive to the hospital. The anticipation was crazy and a little surreal because I'd yet to have one contraction, yet there we were driving along the ocean as two for the last time.

Things felt different for us listening to Neil sing again that day on the stereo and we knew it. The next time we drove that route again we'd be parents.

Little Miss Georgia had other plans as we now know, arriving three long days later instead.

It's difficult to put into words what my first year as a mother has been like. Exuberant, exhausting, humbling, maddening, overflowing, boring, cleansing, ordinary, challenging, empowering, fun, not-so fun...

The reality is so much different than the imagined in a lot of ways, but then often times it's just as I'd hoped it would be. Today for instance, I celebrated my first year of motherhood in a very average day fashion---chunky Georgia ran around naked, ate breakfast in her pajamas, I worked on her birthday party decorations as she napped, I blew bubblegum bubbles as she laughed and watched as she climbed into (and out of, a hundred times) her very first kiddie pool of the summer.

Becoming a parent confronts you with what you're really, truly made of. It challenges you in ways you could never before conceive of. I've heard it said before that when you give birth to your child you're also giving birth to yourself...as a mother. It sounds kind of hippie, but its true. The minute your baby is out into this world and laid upon your chest, you are instantly changed...forever.

If I had to sum up my rookie year of mothering, it would be with these two quotes:

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”---Elizabeth Stone

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings."---Hodding Carter

nyum nyum.

2011-05-07T04:40:00.000-07:00

Berries are delicious.

{Click to enlarge}

trying.

2011-05-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I forget that pretty much anything Georgia attempts she is doing for the first time. Ever. Also, her scale. Can you imagine how gigantic everything is to her? This has to be so intimidating at times. Take these porch stairs for instance:For weeks she has mastered the small step downs in the living room. She climbs down up, up down...about 20 times before something else catches her interest. These porch steps outside are a lot further apart and she has been stumped as to how to manage to scale them. She goes to the edge, feels for footing, retreats, tries again, repeat. Finally she managed to figure it out (ya gotta put your butt into it!) and gets so happy.

Being a parent constantly feels like trying to strike the right balance between too close/too far. I don't want to remove obstacles from her path but I also don't want to see her get hurt. I guess the happiest distance is one of just a hands width away...

I'm kind of thinking we should get out more...

2011-05-05T17:48:00.001-07:00

This is the look Georgia gives every passerby every time we go out. She literally sears a whole through people and cranes her neck around all obstacles to ogle. Stranger Danger!And if you're especially unimpressive, you get this:Yeah, that's right. You just got owned by Georgia.

Also: Identicals:

water bug.

2011-05-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

Bath times around here are kind of awesome. Don't let Georgia's stare tell you otherwise.

down by the river...

2011-05-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad I dug these little hand-me-down from cousin Oliver overalls out of the pile to wear today because little Miss Georgia is about to bust out of them. I could not button the second side snap, but they were too cute to not let her crawl around in them.We decided to take Georgia down to the Broad River Greenway to play on the sand banks. The weather was really nice today (not too hot) and its been ages since we took her down there.When we were by the ocean last Georgia was around 5 months old and still unaware of the glory that is sand. That's all changed and now her fascination is endless and a lot of fun to watch. I'm pretty grossed out by door handles and public places but outside dirt is the trademark of childhood so I say take a toothbrush with you in the tub at the end of the day and don't worry about it until then!

OUR DAY.

2011-05-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

{1) Pappi got new glasses (finally):{2} This insane thing came home with us from the thrift store:{3} Georgie walks with Papa:{4} We played dress up on the porch:{5} And tried to get some pictures of us girls since I'm always behind the camera:Then it was time for the two look-alikes. Georgia obviously was not digging it in the 2nd one:And an outtake of trying to get us 3 at the same time (James was to the left making funny faces):

four.

2011-05-02T09:52:00.001-07:00

Four photos of me and my Georgia Elodie:

happy may day!

2011-05-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

This time last year I wrote in my date book, "Its the month of Georgia." 10 days later she was here. Happy May 1st, everybody!

perfect home baked bread.

2011-04-26T13:18:00.001-07:00

Ever since we left Switzerland a few years ago I have been trying to find a good recipe to replicate some of my favorite wholesome European-style breads. I've not been all that successful; I've created dense hockey pucks with bitter flavor, busted a glass pan in the process of trying to create a steam oven, made bread out of kits sent from Switzerland (still not really capturing the taste) and finally even cajoled my mother-in-law to bring frozen loafs over in her suitcase when she visits. That is, until now:I've been baking this bread for several weeks now and I have to say I have finally mastered it. Which is not all that difficult, really, as its dead easy to make.

Its from this book. The premise is basically mixing a giant batch of ultra wet dough, letting it rise for 2 hours before stowing it in the fridge where it keeps well for up to 2 weeks. You take out what you need the day of and bake straight away after forming and letting the loaf rest for 40 minutes. In about 35 minutes you have a gorgeous hearty loaf of real bread (as Philipp likes to say).

We have been having freshly baked bread every morning for breakfast with butter and jam. Its delicious, not to mention economical. I invest about .50 per loaf, which is way better than what a 5.00 artisan load would buy you at the grocery store. The dough is a mix of white, rye and whole wheat flours and produces a really thick crisp crust with a light, moist interior. Its not too light, not too dense. I kind of want to marry it.

you can't fight genetics.

2011-04-25T19:48:00.001-07:00

First Easter

2011-04-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

This was the 1st holiday since Georgia was born that I really had the head space to put energy into celebrating. Of course at 11 months old, this is more for me than for her...but whatever, it was fun.

First things first--after Georgia woke us up, Philipp and I had coffee and opened our Easter goodies. The other day we both took turns in this nice beer & wine shop and bought each other a few surprise specialty beers. Then Georgia got all dressed up with nowhere to go in her adorable purple dress and yellow cardigan.Then it was basket time. I wanted to put together something simple for her first Easter so I decided to just fill some plastic eggs with little baby yogurt puffs for fun and ordered these really cool rolling turtles from Haba because I knew they would sort of look like eggs inside the basket. You can hardly spot them amongst the other eggs, right?There was also a tiny bubble set nestled in her basket:She was very serious and intrigued and of course proceeded to go straight for the grass.I foresee a very clever way of diverting her attention in the future:

strawberry fields forever

2011-04-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

A few days ago everyone loaded up to go pick strawberries at a local farm.Georgia has since been eating strawberries for dessert at every meal and is pretty obsessed with them. I make sure to only bring them out at the end otherwise she grunts at me wanting them only!The handsome boys:Papa and Georgie took to the sidelines to watch. How freakin' cute is her shirt?!Sorry, I just can't resist a picture dump. She is too cute:And a rare moment with me in front of the camera:All of the English boys:

crashing and burning

2011-04-21T05:24:00.000-07:00

is what Georgia does each nap time. I think all the new faces and new toys of the week totally keeps her mind working and she needs all those refreshing breaks!Aunt Jessie with Oliver. The curls abound.Ollie brought all sorts of nice toys.But her little wooden wagon remains the fave at the moment. All that mobility is hard to resist.

a sneak peak

2011-04-19T05:40:00.000-07:00

of the many adventures G has went on in the past few days:

three for Grandpa Martin.

2011-04-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

I've been having fun the past few days, as my sister is in town with her husband, son & his two brothers from England. Yes, there are 12 people staying in the house at the moment! I'll do an update later of all this fun in the sun we've been having, but for now. Love:

just some of her.

2011-04-13T09:03:00.001-07:00

Sorry, I am extremely uninspired lately. So just some shots for family & friends who want to keep up with little Miss Georgia Elodie for the moment. In the meantime I am reading novels like crazy, baking daily bread and trying to go on at least one long walk a day.

this is eleven months.

2011-04-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

Today you found a stick in the grass and played with it very intently for a solid ten minutes. You're outside in the grass a lot these days, crawling on your hands and knees and walking with the help of our two fingers held very tightly so as not to fall. You stand now by yourself, but only when you don't realize it. As soon as you get the feeling of standing independently, you plop down again to the safety of the floor.

Right now you're in the closet playing with a stack of books, your favorite things in the world. You love to flick each page open and examine them all. Curiously, nothing else holds your interest longer. I can't say that doesn't please me with how much I love books myself.

This is how we find you every morning and after your nap. In your crib, so well rested and happy to face what's next and overfilled with joy to see us. How much of an ego trip it feels like for someone to be that excited that you've entered their room. Its insane, really.And, wow. You're really, really into your food these days. Um, yeah. You had shrimp scampi (hold the shrimp) with garlic, onions and fresh ground pepper for dinner two nights ago. You eat plain greek yogurt with blackberries and cottage cheese by the spoonful. You are obsessed with mandarin oranges and wheat puffs and the crusty end piece of my homemade bread. Oh, and apparently you love toilet paper. Because I just got up from the computer and dug a roll out from your grubby hands with a big bite mark in it.

Oh, Georgia. Really. You add so much happiness and fulfillment to our days. At night after you're tucked in bed, Papa and I go in at least 3 times just to look at you. Most nights we even joke about going to wake you up because we can't stand to not have you around, fiddling with everything and making all your noises.

Life with you only gets better & better. I wish I could tell this to every new mom struggling with a newborn & I'd also like to mention that you tried to eat a piece of dog sh** from the lawn the other day. These are the moments.

piano madness.

2011-04-08T07:17:00.001-07:00

Georgia's latest thing is to play with this little keyboard from my childhood. She really likes pressing the demo button and sort of bouncing up and down to the music. She also likes to press the same key indefinitely which is really not all that fun for anyone else in the room. Kind of sounds like a tornado warning on AM radio...only louder. But at least its not a Tickle Me Elmo doll...bleh.

warm again.

2011-04-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

Several days of gloomy weather (and not much inspiration for posting) finally broke and we could have adventures in the grass again today.

girls in yellow.

2011-03-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Proof that I do exist in our family photos every now and again:

these two.

2011-03-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

P & G before leaving for last weekend's trip to Asheville. We hung Georgia's new swing on the tree this morning and I'm waiting for her to get up from a nap so I can go try it out. I am gonna swing her to the moon...or to the sun, as it may be...

our day.

2011-03-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day. Philipp worked all day with my dad so Georgia and I hung outside on the grass, put her first sundress of the season on (the weather was perfect), slobbered all over a wheat teething biscuit (her, not me) and went to the university to sit under the big oak tree while fishing acorns and leaves out of G's mouth in the shade.Also, just 'cause:

A Mother in the World.

2011-03-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

REUTERS/Yomiuri Shimbun

Its impossible now since becoming a mother to distance myself from the news of natural disasters and calamities such as this latest horror in Japan. My heart always wonders of other mothers and their children and how just as easily this could be me or Georgia.

Amid the devastation, small miracles of chance happen. Like this story here of a 4 month old being rescued from a pile of debris, given a second chance at life and with her parents still alive, no less.

On a side note: sometimes I imagine a world in which only mothers ran countries. Is that sexist of me to think the entire globe would be a better place to inhabit? I don't know, it just seems to me that the mother/child bond is so unbelievably pure and untainted that no son would be sent to war or any decision made that would place a beloved child in peril. I like to imagine that fierce, unbridled love absorbing evil and triumphing.

Maybe I was made to be a flower child in the 60's, not a cynic of the millennium.

12of12...or 13.

2011-03-13T17:13:00.000-07:00

Ooops. A day late on my 12of12 project:1) Picked up some new garden themed board books for Georgia on our day trip to Asheville yesterday.
2) So far the old freebie from her doctor's office is holding #1, though. I have a soft spot in my heart for the gigantic red dog from childhood, so no hard feelings.
3) Patiently waiting on breakfast. A delicious thumb is sufficient in the mean time.
4) The breakfast I've been making most frequently, hot multi-grain cereal.
1) Moving up in the pincer world...shredded cheese.
2) The other brother's eye.
3) Papa & Georgia on one of their many walks outside together.
4) Spring comes in the form of yellow flowers by a barn on my walk.
1) The nice weather dries some of Georgia's diapies.
2) The Carolinas have consistently blue skies, something that I never take for granted.
3) Squeezing in a shot with my love in a dirty car windshield reflection.
4) More Spring!

this is ten months.

2011-03-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge.

Last night I began having some issues with the fact that this child is now in the double digit months. Slow down, way too fast Georgia. Shrink yourself, please.

I wanted so badly for this little swimming suit to make it to summer. Just for fun I tried it on her this afternoon. Folks, she looked like a sausage. These photos are of her...without a diaper on. Every inch of that suit was digging in to some munchable roll of hers. I love it. The tag says size 12 months. I won't tell if you won't tell.

a sleep nook.

2011-03-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

I'm in love with the modern, minimalist feel of this "bedroom" (and how it can be hidden with pulling some drapes).

From Apartment Therapy's Tiny Home contest, winner Maria from Barcelona.

2011-03-07T08:33:00.001-08:00

New pj's. That is all.

bees and honey.

2011-03-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

From the book Keeping Bees by Ashley English via Design*Sponge.

Lately I have been kind of romanticizing/daydreaming about keeping bees and thereby creating my own honey stash. For someone who is not even remotely an animal person (except for bunnies!), I don't know where I get off...I have even been missing the chickens we had at the inn we managed in California.

There is just something so right feeling about homesteading/living off the land. One of the best things to me is eating something you've grown, be it an omelet from your own chickens with herbs fresh from the garden or lemonade squeezed from the fruit of your own tree. I don't think I'd ever cut it as a full blown farmer, but those small pleasures add up to a special sense of contentment.

I like the feeling of honest work, being tired at the end of the day from domestic/gardening jobs. I guess planting season has me thinking about all of this. That, and the cool book I got from the library recently, A Householder's Guide to the Universe.

colorful + eco wrapping.

2011-03-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Got a Trader Joe's grocery bag and some yarn laying around anywhere? This gift wrap idea is so simple and colorful:

From More Last-Minute Knitted gifts via Melanie Falick Books via Oh Happy Day!

park!

2011-02-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

Last time we tried the swings at the local park Georgia just sort of hung in them. Today she smiled and seemed to enjoy it more, especially going higher with the wind in her face. She is sucking her thumb in quiet praise here, I guess.The tunnel was confusing at best. Mama at the other end and the tassel of her hat was infinitely more interesting. The bouncy blue thing got quite better reviews.Sumo baby smile--trying to get us all three in the shot.

fishies.

2011-02-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

I wonder what you're thinking when you don't really know about fish...Also, legs!!

honeycomb sweater

2011-02-26T08:34:00.001-08:00

I'm attempting to learn how to knit lately and although I have hardly progressed past tying my own slipknot, casting-on & stitching, I daydream about one day completing something like this for Georgia:I saw this on Gilt Groupe recently and really like the stitching, I think its called honeybomb.

our AM: yellow overalls & papa's monkey.

2011-02-20T06:02:00.000-08:00

Oh. And I almost forgot. Remember this post from last year-- my pregnancy induced crafting spell?I just had to remove those awful yellow ruffles on the butt but kept the little 'g'.

an evening treat.

2011-02-18T18:31:00.000-08:00

For the past couple of nights right before bed Georgia has been so sweet. She's never been a cuddle bug even as a newborn; she was always wiggling and moving and trying to see around us to what's just ahead or refusing to be in the Ergo for too long. But lately she has been climbing into my lap and laying her head on me and letting me hold her close for a few moments before setting off on another crawling adventure. Man, becoming a parent makes you realize just how kids never really understand how much their parents love them or how much these small things mean. I've become such a freaking sap!PS. Yes, that is an Iron Maiden onesie.

V-Day report.

2011-02-15T04:59:00.001-08:00

What did everyone do for Valentine's yesterday? Our day was a more typical, mellow affair. I made a Guinness cake for Philipp and we went for a really nice long walk in the afternoon. I did dress the Peach up in her finest for a sleepy stroll outside before one of her naps just because:The weather was absolutely perfect yesterday. Anytime she was not asleep we were outside on a blanket or stroll. I love the feeling of Spring. Always have. I don't know, it sounds cheesy but the air feels full of possibility or at least optimism.A few days ago I dug out a bonnet of my sister's and decided it was going to be used by G for a sun shield. I can't decide if she looks more like an Amish, pioneer girl or cult member in it, but its fun nonetheless....for as long as she'll allow, that is.

Valentine's Day.

2011-02-14T08:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!P.S. The little cream sweater was mine!

laundry days.

2011-02-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

When you can't carry them both...

colorful georgia.

2011-02-13T04:47:00.000-08:00

I didn't post for several weeks, so guess what? Now you get blown up by pictures of Georgia. Yesterday she was in the most awesomely ridiculous ensemble of clothing ever. The whole day she just looked like a bundle (read: round ball) of cheer.

12 of 12.

2011-02-12T17:01:00.000-08:00

I decided kind of randomly this morning to participate in this project called 12of12 from one of the blogs I have been reading for a few years. The idea is to take twelve pictures every month on the twelfth to document your day. I did three mosaics because I did not take the time to figure out how to use the template in Photoshop (yikes!). It was a lot of fun, here goes:Clockwise from top:
1) Simply the best part of my morning (more on that in another post).
2) Reading Five Quarters Of The Orange right now.
3) Philipp makes this for me every morning.
4) My brother's eyes are stunning--even when he is sick.Clockwise from top:
1) The little smoosh and I played outside all day.
2) Papa and Georgia first thing in the morning.
3) It was a colorfully clad day.
4) Georgia's whole grain cereal and carrot puree cubes.Clockwise from top:
1) One of the many great toys from Nana in Switzerland.
2) Love.
3) Georgia tried her hand (literally) at some Cheerios and shredded cheese today.
4) Before a run with my little brother (is 14 still considered 'little'?).

A poo at 3 and 9 months:

2011-02-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

sunshine & a laundry basket.

2011-02-12T13:01:00.000-08:00

The past two days have been really lovely here. Nice enough to take a blanket outside and sit for awhile in the sunshine. Georgia is perfectly content to stay within her parameters if I make sure to bring a laundry basket along for her to climb on.

every shade imagineable.

2011-02-11T05:48:00.001-08:00

Rue via Oh Happy Day!

Check out this post over on Oh Happy Day. This would be so perfect for a party or shower. I'd love to create something like this for G's 1st Birthday.

Now we are 9 months.

2011-02-11T05:39:00.000-08:00

Little Miss G is now nine months. I find myself stupidly saying to Philipp all the time, "She's like a real person now and stuff." Well, she is! Some 9 month old day-to-day action for you:
Getting majorly busted all the time now.Creating some seriously awesome nap pouff-age. Some of her hairs are crazy long (like 5 inches crazy).Everything is so curious. Especially the disastrous stuff. Light sockets, tiny BB's left in the carpet by my brothers, electric tea kettles, dog hair wads. Yum.Still full of all the smiles as in days gone by, just a little more attitude & willful determination thrown into the mix.
****
Some stats:
I am: 19 pounds, 11 ounces & 27.5 inches long.
I sleep: 12 hours straight at night (Hallelujah!).
I eat: pureed everything, no finger foods yet.
I can: crawl, pull up and stand on furniture.
I am always: babbling; ma-ma, ba-ba, da-da.
I drive my parents crazy when: I stand up in my crib repeatedly instead of napping.
I like to: crawl to the computer and turn it off while my parents are on it.

absentee blogger.

2011-02-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the complete and utter lack of posting lately. I have been really busy with:1) an almost 9 month old who recently/finally cut two teeth, learned to crawl and pull up on everything all in the span of about one week.
2) moving houses--shacking up with my parents for the time being.
3) more and more and more job hunting.
4) a new running regimen with my 14 year old brother.
5) trying to get on the internet with a desktop set up on two microscopic end tables apparently made from toothpicks.

More inspiration and updates hopefully to follow now that I am better juggling all of the above.

a sea between then and now.

2011-01-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

I found this in some old Cambria files. This was a week, maybe two before Georgia was born. When I look at these photos I realize how clueless I was, not necessarily in a bad way, but so ignorant as to what becoming a mother would really mean and take and give. The person I was then in this picture and who I am now sometimes feels like a sea is between them. I've learned quite a lot about myself and another tiny human being in 9 months.

a lemon tree

2011-01-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

Last night on the drive home P and I were talking about our ideal lives. We chatted about the usual stuff and then I came out with: "I want a lemon tree." I miss that simple pleasure from our life in California, the small lemon tree that I could just walk outside to and take one down for lemonade or dressing or some sweet thing to bake. One day again {soon, I hope} ...

From Decor8 blog.

the best dollhouse i have ever seen.

2011-01-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

I kind of want to live in this dollhouse. It reminds me of something my father-in-law, Johannes might create for someone. It even has little platform beds in it and a flat screen television!

saying goodbye to Nana.

2011-01-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

Philipp's mother left to return to Switzerland today...This month with her here has flown by in a such a hurry. Georgia absolutely adored having her around and we're all bummed to see her go. These goodbyes happen so often you'd think we'd be used to them by now, but they are hard every time : (

asleep in asheville.

2011-01-18T18:33:00.000-08:00

This has got to be so cozy; getting wheeled around outside in the fresh, cold air while having layers of clothes on and blankets surrounding you. Now I'm getting why those Scandinavians let their babies sleep outside all the time. We walked around all over Asheville while Georgia napped the other day. It was refreshing to not have to jump back into the car and just let the day unfold.

a ginger.

2011-01-14T16:32:00.000-08:00

Seriously beautiful hair.via little alouette blog. credit: riding in cars with boys.

future fun.

2011-01-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

I hope I will always, always let Georgia pick out her own clothes.

Credit: Bloombaby.

a gray belly.

2011-01-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

via wee textiles blog, a maciun dress.

A gorgeous and versatile dress fit for pregnancy.

coziness.

2011-01-14T11:12:00.001-08:00

A really lovely pic. The whole blog is, actually.

le dans la blog.

on sheepskin.

2011-01-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

Looking pretty somber for a girl who just got gifted a new sheepskin rug to play on, don't you think?

wee textile.

2011-01-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

Seen on the bean and the bear blog.

Just one example of the gorgeous offerings over on the blog, Wee Textile.

embroidery hearts.

2011-01-13T05:28:00.000-08:00

These look fun to make. Details here.

Seen on Apartment Therapy.

wooly georgia.

2011-01-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

Spring, oh, Spring! Where are you?P.S. Yes, I am aware we need another duvet cover.

This is 8 months.

2011-01-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

8 months sounds so very un-newborn-y, don't you think? Truly on the other side of half a year now...
You find the tiniest details. And your eyelashes are about a mile long.You have stare down competitions with yourself in the {smudgy} mirror.You get packed into a hundred winter layers for walks outside. Here you are waiting on the rug before being shrink wrapped. (Still not crawling, and why would you when you have 2 chariots in the arms of Mama and Papa?).