don't be crabby

When I started looking for decor for Liam's first birthday party, I didn't really expect most of my needs to be met by Pottery Barn, but met they were.

This isn't Pottery Barn, but they're darn cute and we've got a couple (complete with red Tutti Fruity scented tea lights) for a decor display I'm planning.

{yankee candles}

Now, I know what you're thinking- Pottery Barn, for a first birthday, really?

Yes, really.

Why? Because I trust their quality and there are a large number of things that I'm looking at that I KNOW we'll use more than once. I don't want to spend a lot of money to have a bunch of single use items.

I'm in love with this platter- I think they'd be awesome with crab cakes and crab stuffed deviled eggs on them. And they'll be something my hubby likes because he's always looking for platter type things to use when grilling, and these would be a great replacement for his huge-mongous cookie sheets he's using now (that don't fit in the dishwasher).

{pottery barn: crab melamine platter}

LOVE this. Don't know that it'll get constant use, but it is precious- too bad the napkins are really illogically expensive for a birthday party. I COULD use them to line a bread basket, with the little crab embroidered corners hanging over the edge...

{pottery barn: crab napkin holder}

Seriously adorable, these little boat dishes would be a-dor-able filled with dips or nuts or candies (or even sand with cute crab shaped lollypops sticking out... just sayin').

{pottery barn: enamelware boat appetizer dish}

Love these lanterns- they'd be great out around our patio, or even decorating the entryway to the house.

{pottery barn: globe paper lanterns}

These are PERFECT for the party's color scheme and I think they're precious. They'd be uber versatile too- criss crossed in the passthrough to the kitchen- around the edge of the food table, outside on the patio...

{pottery barn: marine flags}

I love the idea of a handful of these scattered around- sitting with the cakes, with the food on the table, outside on the garden tables...

{pottery barn: mini fisherman lantern}

Is there any point to explaining why I need this?

{pottery barn: net table topper}

Okay, so I probably won't buy this because of the price tag, but I adore it. I can see me using this over and over and over and over and over again. And it's adorable. Seriously. IF it goes on sale... I just don't know where I'd store it. But love it.

{pottery barn: row boat cooler}

I am loving getting things found for Liam's birthday party. We started talking about it last night, mulling over the potential guest list and discussing the *cake* situation (The short version: I'm planning on making the smash cake. Do I order the other cake? Do I make the other cake? Do I make cupcakes instead?). It's hard to believe that we're closing in on his 1st birthday- but we are. It's still months out, I'm aware, but it never hurts to be prepared!

IVY and HALEY: here's the link to my wire card display.

up late & shoes :)

Why yes, I'm up VERY late for me. But Ghosts of Girlfriends Past came on HBO and I love, LOVE Emma Stone, so I had to sit up and watch it, then I got started uploading pictures, and here we are. So there.

Liam's been keeping us crazy busy when he's awake. I know I've only posted the one video and you can't really *see* there, but he is all energy and no-quit. Go-go-go-go-go.

He didn't go down tonight until 11:15. So maybe that's another reason why I'm up so late- I've had him attached to my hip since 8 this morning, and when you consider how long that ended up being, I just needed a few minutes to sit by mysel fon the couch with my laptop.

{bouncing on mommy's leg}

Liam's finally back to being his normal happy, adorable, sweet, energetic self. No more sick baby here!

Because of this, his appetite is back and with a vengeance. He practically accosted me for my cous-cous the other night (below) and has since branched out even more. He was after his daddy's fried rice Friday evening, and has been making his mommy SO proud by munching on the freshly baked banana bread I made Saturday morning. Love that he eats it.

{mom's cous-cous rocks.}

So I put Liam in Zach's lap on Friday evening to go and get his bed ready and a bottle made up so we could go to bed. By the time I got done changing the sheets, I went to check on the boys and I found this adorable scene:

{how precious are my boys?}

{Mer- I found those Gap crab jammies I talked to you about! TOO cute to save for later!}

{modeling my new big boy jeans}

{went into the corner of the couch at a full crawling sprint- mouse over eye to prove it.}

Last night we left our sweet angel in the care of my momma to go to a wedding shower for Zach's cousin Bo and his fiance Valerie (yes, the one I KEEP talking about!). I am not going to lie, we were both loathe to leave him. It was the first night since he came home from the hospital 8 1/2 months ago that I wasn't there to give him a bath and put him to bed. I went from 4:30 in the afternoon to 8:30 in the morning without holding him and it was torture. Having said that, my momma took this darling picture when we were on our way out the door. Love.

{can you see yourselves on my card display? ivy? mer? ashley brooke?}

And finally- SHOES! Yay!

I was going to wear these last night:

Pretty, no? Duh.

But then, my mommy surprised me BIG on Friday by getting me these:

{coach}

{excuse the cankle shot- totally awkward angle in the truck}

HERE is why I love them so much:

{my spelling too!!}

THANK YOU MOMMY! YOU'RE THE BEST!!






AMENDMENT:
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GET AHOLD OF ME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, PLEASE TO NOT RELY ON MY CELL PHONE. I'M HAVING TO KEEP IT OFF BECAUSE IT'S RANDOMLY DECIDED TO START CALLING PEOPLE AGAIN. IT CALLED MY MOM TWICE TODAY WHILE IT WAS IN THE LIVING ROOM AND I WAS IN THE OFFICE. AND THE SOUNDS HAVE STOPPED WORKING, SO I DON'T HEAR IT DIALING WHEN IT DOES MAKE CALLS.
TECHNOLOGY.
BLARGH.

jellycat

I don't usually plug products-- except Sophie-- but I found something else that warrants sharing with other Mommies out there.

These stuffed animals, by Jellycat, are d-i-v-i-n-e.

They're beyond soft, and they're adorable to boot.

I just wish I could find a reason why I need one for myself!

They're available in all sorts of places, but we've gotten the two he has at Anthropologie and the one that's put away for Easter at the Gap. You can also pick them up at Nordstrom, and other places like. I've even seen the "Cordy Roy" collection at Swoozies in Sugar Land's Town Center area.

But I haven't really given you any good reason why I like them, have I, beyond them being cute and soft?

Firstly, they're the perfect size for my little guy, at least the 'medium' size is. They're floppy, they're lightweight and they're easy for him to pull around.

Their long, thin limbs are easy for him to grab onto and aren't so full of stuffing that he can't get his fingers all the way around.

Liam seems attracted to stuffed animals that have cylindrical bodies and long, thin limbs. These are his absolute favorite.

We found our first Jellycat at the Anthropologie in the Town & Country center in Houston:

{jellycat bashful calf}

This is still his favorite Jellycat. The calf has supplanted (!!!!!!!) The Grinch as his favorite stuffed animal. The calf accompanies us everywhere (as does Sophie). That's another great thing about these toys- they fit *perfectly* in my diaper bag. Liam gets so excited when he sees me pull out this animal- it makes me smile just to think about it.

This Jellycat came today from the Gap. It's hiding in Liam's closet with his Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger action figures. Yes, I totally got him those action figures. It was way too much of a throwback not to get them for him.

{jellycat bashful beige bunny}

I took it out of the packaging in front of him, which was a BIG mistake because he instantly made a grab for it. He is going to love this in his Easter basket, and I feel very strongly about it because I got my own dear Bunny in my Easter basket when I was a little girl. I can't help but feel like I'm passing that along to him.

Now, my Mom picked up this Jellycat at the Anthropologie at Highland Village (my FAVORITE Anthropologie) in Houston:

{jellycat merryday zebra}

This Zebra is ALWAYS out. He drags it around and likes to have it sitting on the front of his walker with him. It's a darling toy- the legs are longer on this one than they are on the other two. They also had a Donkey and a Horse at that location, and I'm still kicking myself for not buying the Donkey because I fell in love with it. I'm also contemplating heading to Swoozies to get him one from the "Cordy Roy" collection because the last time we were in the store (with my parents- we were killing time before Japaneiros opened) he zeroed in on them while he was in his stroller and would crane himself around to look at them when we were walking around. Even with his cow in the stroller with him.

I know I'm probably not a killer sales girl, but I really do encourage you to have a look at these the next time you're browsing through an Anthropologie or walking through the kids section at fine department stores. They really are worth the money- I don't even see the point to buying him any stuffed animals that aren't Jellycat.

babble babble

And all this at 8:45 at night.

Enjoy, Grandpa Ed and Grandma Steph!

late night

{Liam has his own Havaianas, like Mommy!}

Right now, it's almost 1:30 in the morning, and I'm sitting on the couch, with New Moon on the TV, listening to my son scream his head off in his bed. Go get him, you say? I did. I rocked him. I fed him a bottle. I sang to him, I hummed to him. I swung him. I finally just put him back in his crib so he can cry it out. Frankly, he's exhausted me today and I didn't get much help at all with him, so I'm about done today. Especially when he's just yelling to yell.

Zach spent the morning at the church, with the preschool there. A family friend called the clinic and asked if either Dr. Clark or Dr. Ping would come talk to the kids since they're both church members. He had two groups of kids to talk to, and since he kind of figured that a bunch of two and three year olds don't actually care too much about what a Vet does, he just took Jethro.

Jethro is really great with kids, so it was great. Zach said they all loved the big dog. I'm glad, Jethro came home in a great mood and crashed for the rest of the afternoon.
And how can you not love this face?
I know Haley will appreciate the look of a bloodhound who's been playing ball.

I got proofs from my sweet friend Ashley Brooke today for Valerie's lingerie shower. They are TO-DIE-FOR cute- I cannot wait to share them with you. Of course- since very few people own up to being my readers (why, friends, WHY?), I don't want to post them here until after I'm able to mail them out. Don't want to spoil the surprise (or let Val see anything she shouldn't)!! So excited. Have I mentioned that sweet Ashley is extraordinarily talented? Cause she is.

{Trying to get at his Daddy's video games.}

Right now, in my mind, I'm hearing Liam say "mama" while he's crying. He has started to babble. Yes, he's made noises for months and months, but now it actually sounds like he's trying to talk to me. I'm going to have to go in and get him in a few minutes- he's probably a snot covered mess by now. I guess I just have to reconcile a probably wet bed in the morning with a bedtime for me before 2:30. I jump up and run when he needs me now, especially after the croup.

Oh.

Did I mention that's what his illness escalated into?

Full on croup.

I really think once you've handled croup, you can handle anything. The lead up to Liam's bout came complete with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, cough... But thanks to some fabulous advice from sweet Lauren, we got through it. But it wasn't fun. The night when it was the worst Liam woke up every 45 minutes. He slept with us that night just so we could do it easily but woah boy was it un-fun.

{This is how he decided to take his bottle the other day. Yes. Silly.}

there's no stopping him now

So I remember Erin at Blue-Eyed Bride saying her sweet little boy went from crawling to pulling up in a very short time span.

I was sincerely hoping that Liam would not follow in his footsteps, but indeed, it seems that he has.

{how it all started...}

{no hands!}

And now that he CAN pull up- he's doing things like this:

{first time i caught him pulling into a standing position all on his own: ran in with the camera- doesn't he look proud of himself?}

{does anybody else think he's gone through really big facial changes recently?}

And THIS is how he chose to drift off to sleep last night:

{not to worry, he was laid down properly}

And he can climb on everyone now.

See?

{playing with dad and jethro}

{mounting a full frontal attack.}

{seconds before he tried to position his entire body on top of jethro.}

Seriously- I thought crawling made him a handful! Now that he's pulling up, he can REACH things!!

by popular demand

Due to your OVERWHELMING response to my last post, I've decided to post again.

Wait. No.

NO response.

Next time I bring my son to be introduced to and acknowledged in our House of God, I'll let you know before hand with a much bigger, flashier post.

{scowl}

You'll have to excuse me- yes, that was rude (Not going to lie, I was more than a little irritated because everyone "wanted to see pictures" and then *cricket cricket*)-- but I'm irritable at the moment because it has been a long- LONG four days. Yes, I realize lots of parents are going through the same thing right now, but you have to understand: with a baby as easy going and well behaved as Liam is- this cranky, inconsolable attitude is not something I know how to deal with on a daily basis. I can handle one cranky day with ease, two okay and anything past that I'm into uncharged territory. Liam won't be put down-- he's happy for the moment because I turned on Baby Einstein= the only reason I can blog right now-- not even for naps. This means the coffee table is piled high with crap I would normally be putting away, our taxes sit un-mailed because I haven't had a spare minute. Once I am finally able to get him into his crib at night, I crash. I'm definitely ready for him to feel better. And don't tell me to get Zach to help because Liam doesn't want to have anything to do with him at the moment.

{happy for a brief moment yesterday: playing with his "man tool"}

Tomorrow's my Mom's birthday! Hooray Mom! She and my dad are at the rodeo right now (seeing Brad Paisley- thanks Ashley M!) and I'm glad she's out having a fun day today because tomorrow, on her birthday, she has to cater to my brother because he's having his wisdom teeth out. Been there, done that. I only had to have 2 out though, because I was born without canine teeth on the bottom jaw, so my wisdom teeth fit fine. Yes, even my dentist and orthodontic specialists consider(ed) me a freak. I wonder if it's genetic. I wonder... because my son seems to take so heavily after me... for example:

Do you see that itty bitty curl behind his ear? You might have to click to see it, but it's there! He's got a little fuzzy patch on the back of his head where the hair is starting to come in curly. Lordy Lord, the child is following in his mama's footsteps. Yes, I'm hoping he has curly hair. Zach's is stick straight, as is my mom's, my dad's, my brother's. I'm the only one with any *oomph* in my hair and I'm hoping I passed that sweet (as in cool, not *awwww*) gene on. Because there's nothing more lasting & gorgeous than a boy who ends up with dark curly hair (I started out a blonde & his Dr. says he'll be a brunette) and blue eyes. See:

I rest my case. At least, I have supported my argument for the aforementioned Ashley M. And I would love to tell you where I got that photo, but I've had it on my computer so long that I don't even know how to go about finding where I got it from. Sorry, oh provider of the image!

I have begun preliminary planning for my new cousin's lingerie shower. I have my sweet friend Ashley doing the invitations- I sent Valerie (said bride) to Steph's blog to see what she'd done for Steph's sister Jenn and she was as enamored as we all are with Ashley's work.

{Thanks for that awesome example, Steph!!}

So we've decided to pink and green with the party to give it a fun summery feel. I couldn't be more excited because I know Ashley will give me a great starting point and from there I have a lot of ideas. If *effing* Sprinkles ever opens its doors in Houston, I was planning on going there and ordering special, with the pink and green dots- but I'm not hedging my bets. I'll go to Ooh La La because at least they have their act together. Valerie got a great recipe for a bright green punch just this morning and we'll just add a little *something* to it. I kind of decided to go very Lilly Pulitzer with the colors and decor and Lo! I found the best source online for Lilly party stuff- including those great tissue poms. So excited. Not sharing that link till post purchase. Yes, I'm being selfish.

Okay. That's enough. I am in need.

{today: cranky grumpy boy.}

baptism fever

I have been meaning to tell you all about Liam's christening, but we had a little hiccup the other day, so I'm only just now getting a second to sit down and do anything for myself...

So I schlepped around in these all morning:

{tory burch}

... and I'm sporting a pretty blister on top of one of my little toes as a result. I have been trying to "break them in" but they're not leather- they're plastic. There's a lot less give. Every time you put them on, at first, they're stiff and hurt- you have to let your body heat warm the plastic for a little bit, then they're more comfy. I don't care if I do get a blister- I've been debating returning them, but the color is just too luscious to give back. What's that old saying? Beauty is pain. Beauty... fashion... whatever.

These beauties are on my bar right now.

I'm calling them my "thanks-for-doing-the-taxes" present. Zach and Cory picked them up for me on a run to the Heeb- they're my absolute favorite flower. I love hydrangeas so, so much. I want to try growing them in the back yard. Hm...

Does this little face look less than thrilled?

That's because this little boy is sick. S-I-C-K.

He woke up yesterday with no signs, but developed a fever before 11 in the morning, it was raging at a little over 102 by the afternoon. We went to the doctor this morning, and he was doing a lot better, but he still went downhill pretty fast this afternoon. He's sleeping now, thank heavens, but this is the first time he's slept in his bed all day- but not the first sleep he's had. He insists on me holding him while he sleeps. My poor little boy. He's hardly eaten anything solid today- he's had plenty of formula, but he threw up this afternoon, he has had two really, really nasty diapers today... I'm hoping he feels better tomorrow. I feel so sorry for him.

Early Sunday morning, Liam's Godfather arrived from San Antonio for church. We headed up to the 11 o'clock service to get Liam baptized, with quite the party. In all, Zach, Liam and I were joined by Cory (aforementioned Godfather), my parents, my brother, Zach's parents, Zach's Grandmother Kennedy and Zach's Uncle Hal. It was great to have so many people there to love and support our sweet little boy.

He was such a champion. I mean seriously- the child didn't cry AT ALL. He jumped on my legs, he played with his Sophie, he kicked, he squirmed a little, but he was perfection if I can brag.

He was so precious during the actual baptism, he was more curious about what was going on than anything else, and once he turned around and realized that hundreds of eyes were on him, he was in a pretty dad-gum good mood about the whole thing. Everyone loved it when Dr. Karen held him up to the congregation because his shirt came untucked and hiked up under his arms so his bitty baby Buddha belly was hanging out for all to see. SO (EFFING) CUTE!!

After church we all headed over to La Finca on Westheimer Pkwy. for lunch. We l-o-v-e this restaurant, and I'm always up for it. They're fantastic there, the staff is so friendly and the food is yum-yum yummy.

Liam got this monkey as a baptism present- it sings and acts out "if you're happy and you know it..." and he's not sure if he's scared of it, or intrigued by it. He started whimpering a few times when we were playing with it, but I think it'll end up being a hit eventually. It made for a funny picture, at least.

All in all, a wonderful day with the little guy. I'm such a proud mommy.
{and a proud daughter- look at my daddy!! He's in the background in gray- how young does he look???}


Thanks for the use of your photos, Mommy of mine- I wish I hadn't been a dumb-butt and forgotten my camera.
(which doesn't work that well anymore, anyway...)

Aside: I'm buying these. NO doubt. Look at the name- do you know how often I find something with MY name??