Charlie, Five Months Old

How could I have forgotten how much I LOVE 5 months? I feel like I cannot get enough of this little guy, and seeing him look around for me, reach for me, nestle in when I hug him...nothing's better. Charlie is really the sweetest little guy in the world. He's very mild-mannered and go-with-the-flow, which he must get from Hank! haha. But really, he's what people call (and I seriously cringe writing this) an easy baby. Now I am certain our next one will probably be the opposite, so I'm soaking it all in now.

Charlie at 5 months:

He can almost sit up on his own.
Loves to make sounds, especially "dadada."
Has started to sleep so much better, with one wake-up around 5am, then he'll go back to sleep until 7:30.
Naps have finally clicked and he's taking two on the DOT; 9am until about 10:30 and 1pm until about 3pm. Bedtime is at 6.
Puts everything in his mouth, but still doesn't do a thumb and isn't interested in a pacifier. He does love his Sophie Giraffe and a particular baby toy in the shape of a football though.
Loves to watch us eat and is so interested in food.
Loves music and "The Wheels on the Bus" will always calm him down when he's upset.
Is a roly-poly little ball and rolls every which way whenever he's on the floor.
He's starting to scoot a little on his back and on his front.
Laughs and smiles all day long.

Our boy is so inquisitive, and could watch his big brother play all day long. No one can make him smile like Henry, and just the sound of his voice from the other side of the house makes him light up. More than anything, I'm looking forward to watching their bond develop over the coming months and years. Charlie laughs at anything and everything, and is so ticklish. He's just such a lovable little goofball that you can't help but be enamored by his big grin and twinkling eyes.

Five months has of course been the best yet, and it's been really fun watching Charlie's personality develop. It's so exciting to think of what's next.

Happy five months, C.

Post Ideas for the Stumped Blogger, Part One

Tonight I was thinking about the times I'll sit down at my computer and want to write, but don't really know where to begin. Last year I made a little list I kept in my drafts that I would revisit whenever I needed inspiration, and as the year went on the list of post ideas grew and grew. I thought it would be fun to share a few of them here, and maybe inspire someone else who may be stumped too! I'll start with 10 today, and share more at a later date. I still need to do quite a few of these too- so perhaps in trying to inspire you, I've inspired myself again!

Enjoy, and happy writing.

1. Behind the Scenes. A few photos of your morning routine, what makeup you love to use, or even your walk to work. Take your readers into your world and show them something new, from your point of view. No matter how big or small it may seem to you, it will most likely always be interesting to someone reading your blog, as we are all curious creatures by nature.

2. Stream of Consciousness. Sit down and write. Really write. I call this a brain dump and they are my favorite posts to read on others' sites. Talk about your day, your thoughts, what you're dreaming of, what you're scared of. Just write and don't stop for a good 10 minutes.

3. Share a Snapshot. Think back to a particular time in your life- it can be big, like the first day of high school or the day you met your partner, or it can be small, like getting the mail yesterday or riding the train to work. Take that experience and capture it in a paragraph. Describe it; tell a story. Create an image for the reader and allow them to be right there with you, along for the ride.

4. Photo-an-Hour. Take your camera (or iPhone if that's more convenient) and commit to taking one photo per hour the entire day. Start when you first wake up. At the end of the day compile all of your photos into a post, and write little blurbs about each moment in time. 7:07am- wake up. Feeling so tired but ready to start the day.

5. An "I'm good at this!" post. Sometimes I feel like I see the same kind of DIY projects floating around the internet over and over again. It would be so nice to see some new ideas, from new people, even if you're not necessarily a DIY-blogger. So what are you good at? Maybe you're an expert BLT-maker, or you taught your dog how to do really neat tricks, or you still enjoy getting out your old keyboard and playing songs. Teach your readers how to do it themselves! Just share it, even if it feels a little out there. In my opinion, fresh and good and out there are pretty awesome.

6. Share a collection. What do you collect? Take photos of your whole collection, then of a few favorite items. Tell your readers the story of how the collection came about, and talk a bit about those special pieces. There's a reason you love these things enough to collect them, so share some of that passion in the post.

7. Borrow a Feature. So many bloggers have particular features they do regularly. For example, I do Currently posts, Jen does Weekly Parenting Ups and Downs, and Diana does Friday Darlings. There are so many bloggers out there who something special and unique to their blog, that it could be fun to try it out for a post. Just be sure to give credit where credit is due and share where the feature is from, along with a link.

8. Song and a Story. Pick a song in your life, maybe your wedding song, a song from an old boyfriend, a party song from college, just a song that has some sort of meaning, and tell your readers about it. Share the song in a one-track playlist, then write the story of the song. Where did you first hear it? What does it mean to you? What do you feel when you hear it?

9. What's in Your _____. The "What's in Your Bag" posts are super popular, but I would love to see what's in your car's glove compartment. Or your junk drawer, makeup drawer, etc. Post a photo of what's in there, and talk a bit about each thing.

10. The Best ______ Ever. Choose a topic, like Meg Ryan movies or blueberry muffins, and gather together what you'd need to find "the best ______ ever." Maybe you'll screen five of the most well-known Meg Ryan movies and crown the winner, or try out four blueberry muffin recipes and pick the very best. This can be a one post project, or span into a mini project as you search for the very best of whatever you choose to highlight.

I'll be back soon with ten more, but if you do decide to try any of these out be sure to send me a link- I'd love to read it. xoxo

Currently.

Reading: I'm in the middle of two books right now, one of them being LIFE-CHANGING. I kid you not. I feel like since beginning it I've loved blogging about 100x more than I already did, and I've felt more inspired to continue working on something very close to my heart that I won't ever talk about or share until I'm ready to do so, which I definitely am not even close to being. haha. Sorry, vague, I know. Anyway, the book I'm talking about it called Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life, and it was a gift from my dear friend Diana. I can't say enough good things about it- I actually could go on and on about how much I relate to it- and I will definitely review it here when I finish it. The second book I'm also absolutely loving and have found myself highlighting things so often- The Spectacular Now. The funny thing about this book is I actually ordered a Kindle sample of it a few months ago and hated it. The narrator was so negative and he called his girlfriend fat, and I felt super annoyed right from the get-go. But then this past Saturday night I had a few hours to myself after the boys went to sleep and I decided to rent the movie from iTunes (not making the connection between it and the book, since I never actually read it). I fell in love with the movie, and of course I wanted to read the novel. That same night I got the sample (again), and liked it this time. I think it helped that the movie made Sutter so lovable, so I was able to see the book's version of Sutter in a different light. I'm on Chapter 18 and in love, and I think this might be the rare case I actually recommend seeing the movie first.

Doing: I've been running so much more lately and it makes me so happy. I've always loved running but I have this whole appreciation for it since life has gotten so much busier with two kids. I look forward to that me time so much- an hour where I can listen to the really crappy music really loud, and run really hard. Just this past week Hank and I signed up to do the Whiskey Row in May Shirley and Nate (and baby Carson in the stroller). The original plan was to do the half-marathon but since Hank's doing the half and I'll have the boys, I'll be pushing them both in the double BOB for the 10K. 6.2 miles pushing 100 pounds? I might be crazy.

Working on: The other day I came across a pin about the "Four Agreements." Are you familiar with it? I read it a long time ago and recall enjoying it in a self-helpy kind of way, but this time it really struck a chord. I can say without a doubt that I have never felt happier or more fulfilled, but at the same time I find myself getting upset over very silly things that I have no control over; mainly things that stem from other peoples' behavior, or me taking something personally that has nothing to do with me. And part of that book is all about letting go of those things, so you can let go of needless suffering. And as dramatic as "needless suffering" sounds, I do feel like I waste time feeling sad about this or that, or the way this person is. I need to get to a place where I accept that if I want to have these certain people in my life, then I need to accept just that- the way that person is. So I'm on that path, and it's not easy, but when I saw that pin I was reminded of the book, which of course I then had to look up online. It's helped put things in perspective for me in various situations and I'm feeling good about it. Where I'm at is always a work in progress and I keep reminding myself of how FAR I've come, and how good it feels to be truly happy. Now I just need to continue letting go of all the extra stuff.

Watching: Well, I'll tell you what I'm not watching...The Bachelor. What?! Yes...it's true (and yes, I just asked myself a question then answered it). I'm not sure if it's being annoyed and disgusted with Juan Pablo's anti-gay remarks (yes, I know he went back and apologized), or just kind of over the whole thing, but I can't get into it. I would say the biggest issue is that the show is two hours long, and I can think of a million things I'd rather be doing during those two hours. Maybe next season I'll like it again but this time around, no thanks Juan Pablo. So what am I watching? Nashville, and feeling so bad for Juliette. I actually really like her, and hope she succeeds; I feel like she has a good heart, deep down. I'm also loving Parenthood and dying a little more every week. And crying a little more too. And like I mentioned above I watched The Spectacular Now and adored it. I'd say the best thing about the whole film is the chemistry between the two main characters, played by Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley. Their performances were so great, and I found myself being moved to tears numerous times, from the emotion I felt and also the bits of nostalgia I experienced from their own high school experiences. It was great.

Loving: this whole cookbook project and February's pick, getting the best news from one of my best friends today, dreaming of summer, Valentine's Day planning, discovering new music and listening to old favorites, going to bed and feeling like I did a good job, but also going to bed and feeling like I didn't do the best job, and knowing I can try again tomorrow.  

So, how about you? What are you up to today? Feel free to do your own "currently" post on your blog and link back in the comments for everyone to check out. And thanks again to my dear friend Megan for providing the original inspiration for these posts.

Weekend Links

packing!

It's the weekend, and thanks to my sweet sister offering to house and dogsit for us, we are headed out of town for a few days. I'll be back Monday with photos and a fun post or two, but as usual you can always follow along via IG.

Here are some links to get your weekend started!

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10 Tips for a Productive Life. Loved this.

New Oreo flavors. Neither sounds very appetizing!

Why The Bachelor was ruined with Juan Pablo's anti-gay remarks. Agree?

Midway Ice Castles- so cool. 

Scientific proof that thoughts and intentions can alter the physical world around us.

Currently loving: these ankle boots, this bracelet, these pants, and this dress.

21 inane products for questionable parents. We actually have the first one on the list and love it!

Mexican quinoa. I make a similar dish for lunch pretty often, but this is a bit fancier.

The most recent post on one of my most favorite blogs.

I always enjoy reading about other people's fave beauty items.

The best cities to raise an outdoor kid- love that one of them in our neighboring city, and where I went to college.

The Full House cast is reuniting for a Super Bowl commercial. Awesome!

"The days are long but the years are short."

Still texting? Apparently "old-fashioned texting" is on the decline.

My sweet friend Kelly Ann has a new site, and it's beautiful.

Smokey Kale Caeser Salad. Yum.

Are you there God? It's Katy Perry.

7 reasons to be happy...even if things aren't perfect now.

Great, informative post: Lighting Tips and Tricks For Bloggers.

Etsy wishlist: one, two, and three.

Girls and Sex and the City in one place. Miranda and Marnie, people!

The ugly side of pretty.

And finally, some great posts around the blog world: Writing For Fun and A Year of Date Nights.

Cookbook of the Month: February

Although there's still a week to go in January, I wanted to share next month's cookbook a little early, so those who want to participate can be all set for the 1st of the month. I have had the best time with month #1, and I'm looking forward to trying even more recipes in this next book now that I'm in the swing of things.

For February I chose The Sprouted Kitchen by Sara Forte. This book is chock full of healthy, whole-food recipes and includes both meat dishes and vegeatarian dishes, and some absolutely delicious-looking desserts. There are so many recipes I've already bookmarked, and as soon as this month is over I'm excited to dive right in.

You can buy it here, but if you're not planning on collecting the cookbooks as you go (I like to make notes in mine), the library is a great option!

And don't forget, if you do decide to participate be sure to tag me @danihampton and use the hashtag #sometimessweeteats. I've had such a fun time meeting new friends and seeing what everyone else is cooking through the tag and can't wait to continue. Will you be joining us in February?

I used Amazon Affiliate linking in this post. To visit Amazon without my link, click here.

On Marriage

I was just thinking about marriage, and how, when you really think about it, it's pretty crazy that two people choose just one person to spend all of their life with. I mean it's not crazy to me on my own personal level, but the whole broader concept is slightly crazy. Right? So yesterday Hank raced home from work so I could squeeze in a run before the sun went down (I turned my alarm off in my sleep that morning), and that little gesture kind of filled up my entire run, just thinking about it and him and our marriage and marriage in general. To find that other person in this big world that just gets you and your weird ways, and you get them and their weird ways, to me that seems like the biggest lottery win ever. Hank and I talk about that often, discussing how wild it is to find your person, out of all the people in all of the world. And if your circumstances change, would your person still be that person? Would you find that person no matter what, or would you never know, and settle into a different life with a different somebody, never knowing the difference? I could go on.

So anyway I was on this run thinking about Hank and all of the little things he does that maybe he doesn't even notice he does, that mean more than anything to me. And I think in any good marriage that's how it goes- you become so in tune with one another that you just know what that person needs, and then you give it to them, and maybe in a way you don't really even know you're doing it. For instance right now I'm sitting in our bedroom typing this. This is my me time. And just as Hank goes into his office and writes music, that is his. We often spend time on our own during the week, doing our own thing, but it's this comfortable orbiting around each other, meeting in the kitchen to share a snack, meeting on the couch to watch an episode of Modern Family then going back to finish whatever we're working on. In this way I think we are both able to feel whole. Him, writing his music and tinkering with his electronics and organizing his vinyl toys. And me reading books and writing here and there and watching stupid television. But we are both in our home and I can feel him here and it's the most wonderful, comfortable thing in the world.

A lot of people talk about marrying your best friend and I heard it a lot before I got married- "No matter what you do, make sure you marry your best friend." Always the biggest piece of advice you hear from married people, right? And now we've been together for a decade and I get it. I understand what it means, in a very real way, more than I ever did before. I always knew he was the one for me and that I loved him beyond measure but after you've been together awhile and all the newness goes away and life gets hard, you are left with each other. And this is my person. Hank is the human being who I will go through every single thing in my life with. It's beyond anything I could comprehend when we actually got married, although if you would have asked me then I would have said I did understand, and I probably thought I did. It wasn't until I saw us getting older together, losing people we love together, becoming parents, leaning on each other, being partners through all of our twenties and growing closer rather than apart...it clicked.

So last night when Hank hurried home, rushing in the door and taking Charlie, finishing dinner with Henry and saying "go, go go!" with a smile on his face, I spent the next forty minutes on that run just feeling so goddamn thankful I could have cried. I am so grateful to have this person in my life who just gets me, and accepts me for me, just as I am. I'm grateful for all of the little things, all of the I love yous without ever saying it, all of the everyday things that are so tiny but so big at the same time.

xoxo

January's Cookbook Update

So I'm well into month #1 of my Cookbook of the Month Project and I'm loving it. I've made a few different recipes out of this month's pick- Super Natural Every Day- and more than anything it's inspired me to get out of the little "cook the same thing all the time" bubble I was living in. Plus, I now have a handful of great dinner recipes to add to our rotation.

Here are four favorites:

1 // Pan-Fried Mung Beans with Tempeh and Broccoli

2 // Kale Salad with Toasted Coconut and Sesame Oil

3 // Parmesan, Garlic, and Broccoli Quinoa Patties.

4 // Dilled Green Beans with Seitan and Leeks

Out of all of these dishes I'd have to say the Dilled Green Beans with Seitan was my favorite- and Hank and Henry's too! I was also pleasantly surprised by how delicious the leeks were. It was actually my first time cooking them (I always found them to be intimidating for some reason) and I'm happy to have tried something new and feel like I did a good job with it. And even some of the things I don't cook on a regular basis, like seitan, were super easy. That's what I am loving about Heidi Swanson's recipes- there are minimal ingredients and it's all laid out for you, plain and simple. All of the dishes have been great so far, and I'm looking forward to trying the baked oatmeal tomorrow morning.

Are you planning on joining in next month? I'll post next month's cookbook pick before the week is over, and if you do decide to join in on Instagram be sure to use the hashtag #sometimessweeteats and share photos of your shopping, prep, meals, etc. It's so fun connecting with everyone and seeing what they choose to cook, and of course seeing how it turns out. I'm looking forward to watching this project grow more as the months go by, and I can't wait to share February's cookbook in the next couple of days.

Until then, happy cooking!

xoxo

Local Love: Hugo's

I get questions about our little town all of the time. Where should we eat? Where should we go? And for years I've been saying "oh, I'll totally write a post on that" every time I send an extra long email to a reader or friend coming through Prescott. Adie and I even went out a few years ago and took photos for my own "Slice of Prescott" (remember those?) but I decided to end that feature before I ever shared my own. Most recently my friend Diana started a wonderful "Locals Only" feature over on Our City Lights and it finally inspired me to get my butt in gear. So thank you, D.!

My family and I live in a small town called Prescott (read a fun post about it here), located in the mountains of Northern Arizona. Most people are surprised to learn that we get all four seasons, because Arizona is most often thought of as a desert state with insanely hot temperatures. That's not the case though- we are actually surrounded by beautiful forests, experiencing snow in the winter and heat in the summer (but nothing like the 120 degree weather Phoenicians get).

Prescott is a very special, inviting place (our town's slogan is actually "Everybody's Hometown"), and Hank and I feel extremely lucky to call it home. There's definitely a slower pace of life up here, but we love it. Hank's a second generation Prescottonion and I think it's awesome that if we end up staying here for good, Henry and Charlie will go to the same schools Hank attended as a child. Prescott is just a wonderful little community and I thought what better way to highlight it than through a series like this.

So for the first "Local Love" I had to look to one of our favorite spots, a place that is so, so close to my heart: Hugo's!


Hugo's is a tiny Mexican food restaurant located a couple blocks from the town square. Some people may categorize it as a "hole-in-the-wall" kind of establishment, in that it's quite small, and like most hole-in-the-wall spots you happen upon, it's amazing. Hank and his friends have been going there for close to thirteen years now, and it's become a special part of our own family's life as well, as it's played a role in so many things- one of our first dates, where we always take out of town friends and family, a first meal after giving birth to Henry, and the place of many fun lunches and dinners with friends on the back patio.

Hugo's is run by Manuel and Tino, and they make some of the BEST food I've ever tasted, and the very best Mexican food, hands down. It's fresh, healthy and wholesome, and there is truly something for everyone. Their menu is full of all sorts of items, but if I had to choose a favorite, I'd say it's a toss up between their carne asada (I get it soft taco style) or their pinto bean and cheese burrito. Hank usually gets the same thing, which is a green corn tamale (seriously, try it) with beans and potatoes on the side. You honestly can't go wrong with anything they serve, and they are always happy to offer up suggestions too. One big highlight is their que mada, which is one of their homemade salsas, and a must-try, alongside their homemade chips that are provided for free with every meal at their help-yourself salsa bar.

Hugo's is a order and pay at the counter kind of place, and there are six tables inside and many more outside. It's vegan-friendly and very child-friendly as well, which is always a plus. It's a popular spot for both lunch and dinner, and one of our favorite things to do in the summer is enjoy a meal out back, then walk to the square for ice cream.

Hugo's is classic Prescott spot and I can't recommend it enough. And in true small-town fashion, if you do go, be sure to tell them Hank and Danielle sent you!

Local Love is an ongoing series highlighting some of my favorite spots in and around Prescott, Arizona. 

Weekend Wrap-up

1 // This little babe is getting bigger by the day- he's already 5 months (post coming later this week). He's discovered his toes and it's the cutest thing ever to watch him roll around. Although I have to add I'm not quite yet ready for a mobile baby.

2 // After indulging in way too much sugar and sweets over the holiday I've been enjoying getting back to the basics and cutting out most of the crap. Not all of it, because sometimes a girl just needs an ice cream cone- but most of it. It feels good to just eat clean foods and feel good about what I put in my body. Hank, Henry and I enjoyed a few glasses of kale, spinach and apple juice this weekend and loved it.

3 // Bedtime routine- bath, brush teeth, book and bed. I shared on Instagram that we put our kids down early (6pm for Charlie and 7pm for Henry) due to their habit of rising before the sun, and really enjoyed hearing about the different routines and bedtime other families partake in. Some do a much later bedtime, which made me wish ours was a little later too in the hopes that maybe then they'd sleep in past 7am!

4 // One of my favorites parts of every weekend is having Hank home to do all the fun daytime parenting stuff like going into the boys' rooms when they wake up from their naps. Just look at that smile!

5 // Hugo's for lunch on Saturday. I have a fun post coming tomorrow talking more about this but we took Charlie to Hugo's for the first time and he enjoyed it, as much as a person can enjoy going to a Mexican food restaurant and not eating. Although I guess he doesn't yet know what he's missing, right?

6 // DIRT! We had 10 tons of dirt/top soil delivered on Friday morning for our backyard and Henry was in heaven. The huge pile has since been spread over the half of our yard that will have grass planted but he had a ball playing in it while it lasted. Little kid heaven, for sure.

xoxo

Weekend Links

It's Friday night and it's a wild one at the Hampton house. Both babies are sleeping and Hank actually fell asleep himself around 9pm. So here I am, partying hard online. I hope you're having an equally exciting evening, but if you need a little entertainment, check out the links below! Enjoy.

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Apple to return 32.5 million for accidental app purchases. Ahem, parents of iPad using toddlers.

The daily routines of famous writers.

Working moms- get a tax break on your breast pump!

All things pink.

Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, revisited. 

Currently loving: this ring, this soap, and this top.

My Life Working as a Model In China. Fascinating.

Delicious links: learn how to make an acai bowl or whip up a lemony kale salad.

More Lena, more Girls.

This ring is everything!

Cookbooks I want to check out: one, two, and three.

52 places to go in 2014.

Apparently young people store "high definition" memories.

I cannot wait to see this!

23 reasonable things everyone should plan to do in the New Year. I like this!

Author Jennifer Weiner on chick-lit, hate-reads, and getting paid what you're worth.

Etsy Wishlist: this shirt, this bread board, and this necklace.

Currently, by Megan.

A news report from 1981 about the internet. The future is now.

$50,000 twerking scholarship...it's not what you think!

On Radical Honesty.

What happens when the President sits down next to you at a cafe.

How NOT to talk to your kids. A great read.

And finally, 5 questions to ask before posting to social media.

Have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

4moms rockaROO Review & Giveaway

Hank and I were joking around the other day about how excited we get over baby products. You know you're a parent when a big box with "4moms" on the side arrives, and you want to jump for joy and maybe even kiss the UPS man on the cheek in celebration. Yup. Baby gear nerd, right here. But for good reason, right? When I saw the rockaROO online I was immediately excited to try it with Charlie. It looked awesome- I loved the clean lines and pretty design, and I thought it might be a good alternative to the swing that Charlie wasn't always a fan of. And lucky for us, I was right!

There are so many things to love about the new rockaROO, between the aesthetics to what it actually does. Unlike the mamaROO some of you may be familiar with, this chair has a rocking motion similar to that of a rocking horse. Sweet Charlie loves it so much, and of course as a mama I love it too. It gives me some extra moments to get things done if need be while keeping him occupied and happy.

A few things of my favorite things:

1: The recline and depth of the seat is perfect. In my experience with baby seats/bouncers I've found that sometimes the seat isn't deep enough, which causes the baby to spend its time straining to sit up, even if they can't actually sit up on their own yet. The rockaROO has a nice deep seat which allows for total relaxation.

2: Five different speeds. Sometimes Charlie is in more of a slow, relaxing mood and I'll put it on the slowest setting. If he's sleepy, this is the magic setting that will put him to sleep in about ten minutes. But if he's feeling a little more excited I'll crank it up a notch or two and he just loves it. It's also good to note that this seat is QUIET, which is a huge plus.

3: It's pretty. So many baby things are big eye sores, and although we have our fair share of loud toys and gear, lately I've been gravitating more towards things that are pretty to look at too. The rockaROO definitely fits the bill, and I'm happy to have it be a part of our living room.

4: The extras. I love the detachable mobile and the MP3/phone hookup. Being able to plug in my phone and play music for Charlie is so much fun, and Henry has a great time picking out songs for him to listen to.

And exciting news...4moms is offering up one rockaROO to a lucky Sometimes Sweet reader.

Giveaway details: One rockaROO is up for grabs. This giveaway is open to US residents only and will run through Rafflecopter. A winner will be randomly selected on Thursday, 1/23/14.

Also, once you enter below be sure to check out the 4moms' Facebook page- they're giving away one rockaROO a day this entire month, and also linking to all the other mamas on this blog tour in their 31 Days of rockaROO giveaways.

Good luck to all who enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Bag of Grapes

As we were leaving my parents' house last night my Dad handed me a bag of grapes. To most people it would be just that- a bag of grapes- but to me it was (and always is) so much more. To understand that is to understand my father, and to understand that his way of saying "I love you," is often in the doing of things. It's in him standing at the counter for 10 minutes, sorting through the big Costco-sized container, plucking grapes from their stem, washing them, and putting only the very best into a little ziploc bag, so I can enjoy them on the drive home. It's making sure there are always fresh towels, fresh sheets, fresh everything when we come to visit. It's me reverting back to being 16-years-old whenever I'm there on the couch asking for this and that, and him humoring his totally grown daughter who is a Real Adult and wife and mother of her own now, bringing sandwiches and cold drinks and making sure my seat is as reclined back as it will go, because of course, I need to relax. It's in the way my Dad would always wash my car but not just wash it, vacuum and wax it, shine it and buff it, make it as good as new, all shine and sparkle. It's his cutting and clipping of any and all newspaper articles relevant to my life, the calls with traffic updates whenever I'm driving, the "be carefuls" and the "call when you get theres," and the coffee he will leave for Hank on the counter to find when he wakes up.

This is my Dad. He is vocal with his love but more than anything, his love is in his actions. And now as an adult I see this more than ever. Becoming a parent after being parented your entire life is a funny thing when you think about it. You have these models of what to do (or maybe what not to do), how to do it, what being a parent looks like, and then there you are, doing it yourself.

And last night as we drove and I finished off that little bag of grapes from my Dad, I thought a lot about the parent I am and the parent I want to be. I thought of Henry and Charlie, grown up one day, looking back at me as a Mama- at the things I did and the way I loved them. And oh, how I wish for them to look back at their childhood and just feel happiness. And so all of the little things in our little days, the way I cut the crust off Henry's sandwiches just the way he likes, the happy, sunshiney, good morning song for Charlie, the way we open the curtains with gusto as we get ready each day, the way I always make sure Henry's animals are back in their "home" every night- they're all part of something bigger. Little actions, big love. Teddy bears back on the special shelf, storytime tuck-ins every evening, and maybe even bags of grapes in the car one day too...I look forward to all of these things rolling into the larger story of the way my love feels to them.

Currently. (Henry's Version)

Watching: right now Henry's favorite thing to watch is this show called Paw Patrol. He first saw it at my parents' house one day when Hank and I were out running errands, and I'd never seen it or heard of it. Fast forward to a week later- we're back at home and Henry keeps asking to watching some show called "Pa Patrol." I was confused for days, and he kept getting more frustrated with me- "Mommmmmmy, 'Pa Patrol!' Don't you know what that is?!" Then finally one day I was flipping through the channels and sure enough, there is was P-A-W Patrol on Nick Jr. Ha!

Loving: everything. Henry has so much enthusiasm for everything in his world, and it's contagious and amazing. Right now he's most into the following things: any and all trucks, dinosaurs, football and basketball, making up funny dances, the song "I Can't Stand the Rain" by Missy Elliott (random, I know), FaceTiming with his Gigi and Poppy every night, running everywhere, dressing himself, and the movie Turbo.

Eating: Henry's on a sandwich kick right now, but I think that has to do with me being on a sandwich kick, and me being the one making all of our lunches. I so enjoy eating lunch with him everyday, and he loves helping me prepare our meals. Our favorite lunch right now: an olive oil tortilla filled with turkey and cheese, spinach and tomato, with a touch of mayo. H is also interesting because while it's never a struggle to get him to eat vegetables (this is the kid who eats bell peppers like an apple), when he was younger it was sometimes hard to get him to eat more substantial things like a sandwich. Over the past year or so he's become an all around food lover, and this makes me so happy. So right now he's been into wraps/sandwiches, hummus and baby carrots, Larabars (Key Lime is his favorite), cereal and almond milk in the morning, fruit snacks, apples (always apples!), and Greek yogurt with berries.

Going: To Palm Springs soon and I'm really excited to take him to a few different places, including the Airplane Museum, which I've heard is fantastic for plane-lovers. One place he isn't going yet? Preschool. People have been asking me pretty regularly when he'll be starting, and I'm still not sure. We probably won't send him until the Fall, but I have a lot of research to do. In the meantime, we do a lot of school-type activities at home, and make our way through various workbooks. I wouldn't ever homeschool him (awesome for some people, definitely not anything we're planning on in our home) but even with that said it makes me sad to send him off on his own. Letting go is the hardest thing.

Making him happy: right now Henry seriously lights up whenever he makes Charlie smile. Hank and I often sit back and watch them interact- it's the sweetest thing. Sometimes Henry can be indifferent when he's focusing on something else, but when he's sweet, he's really sweet. It's pretty amazing to watch their bond develop and I keep daydreaming to the future when they'll be running around together with that same mischievous sparkle in their eyes.

So, how about you? What are you up to today? Feel free to do your own "currently" post on your blog (for you or your little one!) and link back in the comments for everyone to check out. And thanks again to my dear friend Megan for providing the original inspiration for these posts. See previous Currently posts here.

1st Birthdays and Big, Scary Dinosaurs

The title says it all- Lucy turned the big ONE, and we took Henry to see Erth's Dinosaur Zoo Live at the Mesa Arts Center on Sunday evening. Then there was a whole lot of hanging out and eating lots of food in between, but those were the main events that kept us busy. It's Wednesday and I'm only just getting around to writing about it, so it's safe to say it was a wild one that kind of just rolled into this week.

I feel like there's so much to say I'm not sure where to begin. Today's been a weird day and I'm feeling slightly brain dead, which is partially to blame for me staring at this little blog box for longer than normal before even starting to write. Normally easy-going Charlie has been having a rough couple of days due to some teething and it breaks my heart to see him so, so sad. It also makes me feel a little wacky to revert back to the early days of newborn sleep and waking up every few hours after getting used to having little mini breaks at naptimes, and getting some nice longer blocks of sleep at night.

However, I could not let another day go by without talking about sweet Lucy and her special day! It's hard to believe my baby niece is already a year old. It's equally hard to believe that Charlie is almost halfway to that milestone. It's neat they're so close in age, but I don't think I realized just how close until this past weekend.  The party was so lovely too- all family and close friends, pink cupcakes and pink decorations; pink everything. Lucy's grin during the birthday song said it all, and I think she had a great day.

On Sunday we took Henry to the Mesa Arts Center (one of my favorite places!), and thanks to our friend Erin we were able to not only see the dinosaur show, but go backstage as well. The whole show is about the evolution of dinosaurs- where they came from, what life was like during their time on Earth, and what ended up happening to them. The cast is made up of puppeteers who maneuver these incredibly huge dinosaur puppets. The whole show was amazing and I found it to be super informative. Henry was so into it for the entire hour and didn't look away from the stage once, which is pretty crazy considering he's a wild 3-year-old boy who doesn't always have the longest attention span. We all really enjoyed it, and will absolutely be checking the MAC calendar for upcoming family-friendly shows.

On a side note, one plus to writing about your weekend on a Wednesday is that the next weekend doesn't seem so far away. Friday, I'm coming for ya...

Here are some photos, courtesy of my ever-useful iPhone.