august rush

And just like that, it's August! As of late I've been happily swallowed up by all things Rowan. I unconsciously took a step back from the internet and a bit from social media. I actually haven't gone to my blog reader in several months.

I was getting to that place. You know the one where those of us that are active on social media can sometimes go. The place where everything in your life is Kansas- colorless and ordinary. While everyone else seems to live in the colorful and dazzling Oz. And, so, I've been choosing to focus on the real. The tangible. The pleasures of good books, nights out with friends, snuggling with my husband and Rowan's infectious laughter!

I found this quote on Pinterest...I know, I know but at least it's not attributed to Marilyn Monroe or Shakespeare...but it's been rolling around in my head for months and is always there when I push play and turn on the negativity in my head.

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not, but remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for."
      

for rowan{give a little bit}

In just over a month our baby boy will be 1! I'm not quite sure where this year has gone but if time could do me a solid, and slow down just a bit, I'd be forever grateful!

I've been thinking about and bouncing around ideas for his birthday party probably since he was six months old. But, we didn't start discussing it in earnest until a few months ago. During one of the many conversations Doug suggested that we donate blood as a way to say thank you for all that had been done for us. If you've read Rowan's birth story, you know that it was a fairly traumatic and critical situation for me and the baby. I lost about two liters of blood and had to receive a blood transfusion. We received such good care! I'm not sure either of us would have survived without it.

I thought his idea was terrific. This has been such a special year for our family. To mark Rowan's birthday and in honor of everything that it made this year possible, we decided to hold a blood drive.

Starting March 1 we are asking friends, family and anyone that is moved to do so, to give blood. Donations will be collected at all Hoxworth Blood Centers. You can schedule an appointment or simply walk in to any of the neighborhood donation centers. When filling out your information /registration form please use the code: ROW to help us track the donations made in Rowan's name. Check out the Hoxworth Blood Center website for places to donate, hours and directions. The blood drive runs from March 1 until March 25. If you're not local but you know someone that is in Cincinnati, please share the story with them and if you don't know anyone locally please think about donating to your local blood bank. Every bit helps!!

note on parenting{sometimes you forget}

I try really hard to avoid being judgmental about the parenting choices of others. And for the most part, I remain pretty judgement free. The" mommy wars" are stupid and as long as your choices don't hurt my kid we're all good.

However, I've come to realize I may have been a bit dismissive of the parenting problems of those with little ones. Having been through it all, I roll my eyes a little when I hear of sleepless nights, potty training battles and toddler tantrums. I would gladly take a 3 year old melting down in the Target checkout lane over a screaming match in the front yard(as your neighbors try to proceed with their very normal lives) because your 15 year old daughter has been caught trying to sneak out of the house again. In my head waking up every hour to feed your baby safe and sound in his own room is exhausting but better than laying awake terrified that you're going to a call your kid has wrapped the car around a telephone poll the first time you let her take it out unsupervised at night. Parenting takes nerves of steel and you need every bit of them when taking on tw/teens!

This week I've been humbled. February is always the gray and dreary. Why does the shortest month of the year drag itself out for so long?! The temperatures have dropped dangerously low-below zero before you even factor in the wind chill. We've had more snow in the last week than we typically have all winter. And then of course there's the cold/flu/general ick that keeps circulating through the house. As soon as we're all healthy two weeks later someone brings home a new germ and it starts all over again. Good times, I tell ya'. This is all to say that for last week I've trapped in house with a grouchy 11 month old. Late Friday evening we'd created the perfect storm. We had a meetup with some other moms and babies which was great but left him over stimulated. He fell asleep for maybe ten minutes on the way which left him grumpy and any attempt to get him to take his afternoon nap was thwarted by a barking dog or ringing doorbell or noisy sibling. By 5 o'clock he was in full meltdown mode. By half past 5, so was I!  Nothing made him happy! He didn't want me to read to him but when I stopped he screamed. He didn't want to eat his snack but when I took it away, he screamed. He didn't want to play with any of toys but when I put them away, well you get the idea. Doug and I took turns handing him off to one another so try to stay sane. It goes without saying that by 6:45 we were all in our pajamas and most of us were asleep. Those that weren't, were quietly tucked into their crib and soon drifted off.

So here's the thing I forgot while being so smug, when you're in it, it can be really, really hard! Yes, angst-y and disrespectful teens are hard. Particularly when you know that the mistakes they tend to make can really mess up their lives in the long run. But that doesn't mean that dealing with an overstimulated toddler screaming and crying and wanting ALL the things isn't just as hard to navigate. It's just different. What's the old saying-Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting their own hard battle-even if that battle is with a very tired 11 month old!        

6&7/52 [the52project}

I'm a week,actually two(...shhh!) behind. I've been taking pictures but there's been a slight lag in blogging about them because....life! February is brutal!

Still love watching him while he sleeps even if he's not doing much napping these days. Those crazy curls are out of control!

Bath time antics and baby chub.



A portrait of my son once a week, every week in 2015.

worn{two of hearts}

what's a girl to do on Valentine Eve when one of her best friends graciously takes you as her plus one to The Cincinnati's Ballet production of Alice in Wonderland?

Valentine's Day is one of the very few days in the year when a dress full of hearts is not only appropriate but it's kind of necessary. A quick prayer to the fashion gods that it still fits and I'm ready to meet the Queen of Hearts.

mood board monday{rowan's wild rumpus}

We're a little more than a month out from our baby's first birthday!! How can this be?! In spite of my deep denial I finally managed to start to put together some sort of plan for his big day.

There are so  too many great ideas on Pinterest. I wanted something fun and not too complicated. Pinterest has a way of making you feel like the most inadequate parent ever! Ultimately, I decided on something that we all love.  Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are  is one of our favorites. Rowan's Wild Rumpus seemed like a perfect fit.

Here's the mood board I sent over to Jen to give her a little inspiration for the invitation design.

5/52{the 52 project}

A portrait of my son once a week, every week in 2015.

There's an app that lets you know what the #1 song was the day you were born. March 25, 2014 the top song was Pharrell's "Happy". Always quick with a giggle or a smile, it's the perfect anthem for this kid!