Baby Curls No Mo'

I love Lincoln's baby curls. Part of me didn't want this reminent of his babyhood to be over yet. Part of me loved kissing the curls down the back of his neck. But it's getting hot here & the poor guy just looked sweaty with all that hair. So, I finally bit the bullet and decided it was time. It was a random Tuesday- the time when most of my major life decisions have been made.

BEFORE: (just look at that kids face!)

DURING: (he didn't freak out at all & really enjoyed looking at pics of himself on my phone)

AFtER:  TA-DA!

 And there we go! A classic first hair cut, probably interesting only to the grandparents & posterity, but this kid was a champ. I'll admit I was worried that a hair cut would age him exponentially, he still feels just like my same ol' little guy. Just with less sweaty curls plastered to his forehead!

2 adults, 6 children, 4 hours to a GRAND GETAWAY

Spring Break popped up without me really realizing it was coming. I had a bunch of friends that were going on vacation for it but I didn't really process that it was coming until it was too late to do anything. I resigned myself to some sort of "staycation".

Unfortunately DAY 1 of "staycation" was horrible- rainy, bad moods all around- a boring bust. So, I was chatting/commiserating with my lovely friend Meagan and I said, "We should just go somewhere." and she said, "Yeah, we should". So, you know what we did? We just went.

This is no small feat, my friends. We have three kids each of us- two in diapers and 3 that look like triplets between the ages of 5 and 7. But we did, we decided on Saint George a 3 1/2 - 4 hour drive away to Southern Utah & vastly different landscape, and we reserved a ghetto room (we were going on the cheap). We made a plan at 5 at night and left at 7 the next morning.

We did everything a couple o' mamas with small children would want to do. We stopped off to an easy hike in a fantastic red rocks area right by the town- there are narrows to squeeze through, caves to explore, and a gorgeous view of the whole city.

We then went swimming at the local Rec Center- this was the highlight for the children- nevermind that we could drive 20 minutes to visit almost the exact same pool in our area. But they had a blast.

We spent multiple times at a local  park and had a BBQ with Meagan's in-laws one night too.

Not to mention that our stay at the Economy Lodge was an adventure in and of itself. All of us crammed in a tiny room- 4 kids on the floor, and two beds for mamas and babies. It was a sore-fest (mostly thanks to Linc) and everyone got very little sleep but we had a blast!

We found  a carousal with a small splash park next to it. The kids had so much fun despite changing into and out of swimsuits in a car.

 And, of course, we ate copious amounts of really terrible, artery clogging, super tasty food and ice cream. 

And when I left sunny Saint George behind me, I can't help but feel that I left a little piece of me back there. It's strange, given that I'm an East Coast girl- all greenery, and trees, and humidity, and city. But I feel like there is something about that land that I connect to. Specifically those redrocks of the first day that I thought, "This place kind of feels like home". 

The only thing missing was the Mister and I was glad to get home to him. But the little jaunt away from home was just enough to satisfy my restless soul and got the kids out of town and out of their routines and made for a fun spring break.

So, next time you feel the hankering to go, forget that you have responsiblities, and dishes, and children you have to drag along with you and just go.

Happy Birthday to my First Born

Syd Star, my first born.

I know this beautiful soul was meant to be mine. She, like her dad, was meant to level me. To ground me. Just a touch of Sydney's hand in mine brings me back from the clouds of stress and disorganization I am flying on. She reminds me of appointments. Of assignments. Of directions. Of plans. And I remind her of drama. Of everyday beauty. Of individualism. Of creative disorganization. Of having fun. We are two halves of one whole of mother-daughter love. Sydney reminds me of my much adored mom, my bestfriend. She is so much like her. And I believe perhaps we are a cyclical whole of mothers and daughters. And I imagine years down the road Sydney is going to have a creative, messy, late, passionate daughter. And I'll smile knowing, that she'll be the other half to Sydney's whole like she's been for me. And I was for my mom.

On this your 7th year I wish you love and joy and friendship and books. I wish you giggles with your brothers and tickle fights with you daddy. I wish you sunshine and snow fights and little crushes on boys. I wish you creativity and expansion and spirituality and learning. Always learning. A striving for more in all of your life and yet a contentment with each and every moment. Happy Birthday Soul Sister and Delightful Daughter. My female compatriot in the Carter Clan. We ladies gotta stick together!

Hiding

Sometimes we all gotta get away...

 But sometimes they'll find you anyway...

Lincoln's NACHOS AND NACHO 1st Birthday Party

Oh, my Lincoln! What a fantastic excuse to celebrate! We decided it was time to have a "Nachos & Nacho" party (as in the food & the movie).

We had fiesta decorations (I just made a simple fringe bunting to put around the house) & a nacho bar!


Plus some "Hecho in Mexico" Jarritos & LimeAid drinks- complete with Luchador straws I made.


We made good use of the blanket we bought when we were in Mexico & I even found cacti and I painted some pots for them. Plus last week I took pictures  of Linc dressed as a Luchador to put all over the party.

For the kiddos I bought a template from this Etsy shop of a "Color Your Own Luchador" mask. The kids had a lot of fun coloring them & when Rob was done he kept running around saying, "Look I'm a minion!"

I even made Lincoln a Luchador shirt just for the occation. Man, I love that kid!

And most importantly we were surrounded by fantastic wonderful friends who we consider family.

 Thanks to everyone for being there to celebrate this special messy, but happy fellows first year!

Happy Birthday to my little Lincoln

My sweet little son. 

We knew we wanted you for a long time, but we also knew that when I was caring for my mom there was no way I could help her, chase your siblings, and  have a new baby. So, I imagine you waited patiently for the time I needed with my mom. The humility and the love that serving her gave me. I imagine you may have crossed paths. On her way out and your way in.

And, much like my mom, you bring a light to this family. I knew it when you were still growing and taking up space in me. That you, like babies are, were a connection to something Greater. And you have been. Contention flees when you smile. I am so grateful for that.

So, on this, your first birthday I snuggled you longer, tickled your toes until you howled with joy, peeked as you as you napped your worry-less sleep, and we all sang Happy Birthday to you countless times today. Celebrating the light you bring and the life you remind me of.

How Boys and Girls play together

I know I've blogged about this before, but I love what Syd and Rob come up with to satisfy both Syd's girlie-ness and Rob's boyish-ness when they play together (see here and here). Syd typically wins out when they play together, but Rob frequently gets his dude-ness in just the same (see here, here, & here).

When I went into Sydney's room to put away clothes this morning I ran into this in front of her closet: 

Oh. My. Heck. That is in fact her "Girlfriends Vet Set" Lego ladies dancing with Rob's "Monster Fighter" Lego, apparently having a dance party.  Those kids bring me an immense amount of joy & giggles throughout the day.

P.S. And, by golly, because it my most favorite video of Rob & Syd playing together check out this post!

Update on my Lincoln Logs

For posterity, for grandparents, and for those who are lovers of Lincoln Buckley, I thought I'd update you on how my little man is doing. 

Lincoln has hit a lot of those baby milestones with in the last month. He's crawling (on his knees finally) and he is growing his two bottom teeth simultaneously. Which, as anyone who's had a teething baby knows, is a horror.

 And his single favorite activity in all of his human history is feeding himself puffs. If his stomach didn't have a max capacity I'm pretty sure this kid could sit in his highchair (or the floor) and eat baby "veggie" flavored, basically glorified Cheetos puffs, forever.

He loves taking baths and playing with Syd & Rob. Those kids love on him from the moment he opens his eyes until the his tiny head hits the pillow. And he is incidentally the worst sleeper of all my children. Ever. Good thing he's sweet & smiley.

And that, friends, is Lincoln Buckley- 9 months, on the cusp of 10 months, nearing his first Christmas and growing some teeth like a boss.

Rob's Monsters

As I mentioned a few posts ago, Rob draws amazing monsters. He's always had this interesting creative artistic brain (here's one of my favorites he's done).

So, to liven up your work week, I grabbed a couple out of my notebook and off the wall where he tapes them up to share with you guys (this is a tiny glimpse into the piles of monster pics I have). I know I'm biased but these are pretty darn cool:

 

My favorite is are the pink twins each with a spooky eyeball and the downtrodden blob guy  on the right. Which one is your fav?

Hovering

I had Lincoln drooling all over my shoulder as I herd Syd & Rob into the sliding glass doors of the grocery store.

"Can we get a car cart, Mama?" Rob asks and I oblige. Lugging that huge thing up and down the aisles is a small price to pay to keep those kiddos contained.

Rob hops in as I strap a squirming Linc to the front baby seat. I look over and see Sydney hovering one foot moving to sit in the car next to her brother, the other planted firmly on the floor.

Syd looks up and our eyes lock. And I can see it in her eyes. Indecision.

"Mama?" She asks. "Do I have to sit in the car?" She sets the foot that was headed into the little car down, placing it securely next to the one on the ground. She walks over to me, her head bowed. "I'm not a little kid anymore." she whispers so Rob can't hear.

"Okay, honey," I say, inexplicably blinking back tears. And so she held onto the side of the car cart while we grocery shopped.

But still she swore she'd be good for a kiddie sized ice cream cone. Still begged to wait & watch the "rainstorm" that falls over the fresh veggies every 5 minutes. Still whistled "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" as we wandered in the cereal aisle. She IS still a little kid. 

When I went to sleep that night, I could still see her there, one foot hovering in the magical world of "little kid" and while the other is  planted into the land of "big kid".

That's where she is right now. Hovering between the two. It's both terrifying and thrilling to watch your baby growing up. Scary and awe inspiring to watch her change and become.

I'm lucky to have a girl like Sydney. A grounded, old soul, who loves deeply and completely and understands that it's okay to be both a big kid and a little kid at the same time.