sela's envelopes

I was looking through some photos last night getting ready for a new project, and I came across these photos and realized I never shared them when I did the big rainbow party post. I think this is my favorite detail of Sela's birthday party, and I'm so glad I took a picture before addressing the envelopes and sending them out. I want to always remember Sela's sweet, wonky lettering and the true inspiration behind the whole party theme - her funny little rainbow drawings that fill all of her artwork these days.

four

There is something about four that is a bit harder to welcome than three. Maybe it has to do with the fact that there isn't even a whisper of her small baby self left in her now tall, thin body. The dimples on the backs of her hands have vanished, as have the bathing suits with ruffles on the bum and afternoon naps. With four comes underwear with the days of the week printed on the back, dreams of finally turning FIVE and kindergarten next fall, worries that Graham will somehow figure out a way to be older than her someday ("He is pretty sneaky, mom." She tells me when I tuck her in almost every night), and questions about whether or not I'll still be her mom when she has babies of her own.

"Will you be really super old when you're a grandma?"

"Does everyone die someday? Even me? I'll be really old and you'll be really old, right?"

"Mom, why do some people have to sleep under benches?"

"Geez, I wish everything I touched turned into doughnuts!"

"Dad! Dad! Look how pretty I am!"

Oh, four. I sure hope you're gentle with this mama heart of mine. Your questions are already a little harder to answer, the days seem to be passing a little faster than before, and I'm worried that I'll blink and you'll have come and gone forever.

Can I tell you what I love most about my shiny new 4 year old? It also happens to be the thing that drives me absolutely crazy, too (that's always how it happens, right?).

There is now halfway with this girl. 

No neutral ground, ever.

It's either wrong or right.

Black or white.

She's either in, or she's out.

She's either happy, or she's not.

She either loves you, or she doesn't.

But if she loves you? Man, she loves you. She will paint pictures of your cats and mail them the very same day. She'll call you as soon as she wakes up to talk about your favorite color. She will learn to write your name and will always include you in her prayers. She will hug you tight and kiss you on the mouth as you walk out the door. And she will never ever hesitate to forgive you if you've failed her in some way.

She loves you all the way, in and around and through everything you are, no matter what, no questions asked.

She's a pretty remarkable, totally ordinary miracle. She's bossy, stubborn, and completely maddening at times, but she's changed my life and changed my heart, both for the better.  And you know what? Not a day passes that I don't think how lucky I am to know her, to love her.

Happy Birthday, Sela!

I love you to the moony moon moon.

how are you, friends? well, i hope. things around my house have been CRAZY for the past month, but i hope to be sharing more regularly soon. have a great day, okay? XOXO

while i was away...

I did a bit of special + secret (shhhh!) birthday sewing.

Including this tiny little quilt that has forever changed how I think about quilting.
 

image

I bought this album and think I definitely get a better cardio workout from my cleaning the living room/dance party routine than I ever did from the boring hours I logged on the treadmill.

"Rumor has it, ooooh,
 Rumor has it, ooooh,
 Rumor has it, ooooh..."

Don't worry, I totally rock it. Just ask Graham. :)

I've been collaborating with some of my favorite women on this exciting project. I'll dedicate an entire post on International Women's Day, periods, service, sisterhood, and just how awesome I think women are (Superheroes, I'm telling you. Superheroes.), but for now just check out the website and pencil in this amazing opportunity on your calendars.

image from mnmlist via stephmodo

I've been thinking A LOT about this. And this. I think "Fall in love with less" is my new mantra.

I spruced up my entryway and took a super crooked picture of it. You're welcome.

I watched this documentary and dedicated an entire day to cooking French food in honor of this hilarious, heartbreaking, and surprisingly gripping film about French pastry chefs. I cried and cheered and was totally engrossed for the entire two hours. If you are super nerdy like me, please watch this film and then come to my house and we'll make gougères together and discuss men who cry over pastries.

Sounds thrilling, right?

Right.

how are you, dear friends? well, i hope. i'm happy to be back here, filling this space with my random thoughts and interests, though i did enjoy my little break from the interwebs. have a wonderful day, okay? XO

12 things we love about you : a project

A few weeks ago Brian and I were talking and laughing about all of the crazy things our kids have been saying and doing lately. It seems that cabin fever hit us especially hard this year and to fight the boredom Sela and Graham have been bouncing off of the walls as they play intricate games involving pillow nests, baby chicken-dinosaurs, various forms of midwife/mama-to-be (Graham is always on the verge of giving birth, in case you are wondering), so many costume changes, and endless chattering.

I've been trying to record all of the hilarious things they do and say in my journal, but what I  really wanted  to do was find a way to pinpoint this exact moment in time. A time when Graham is talking more and more, Sela is growing and learning so quickly, and they are starting to really play together, to rely on each other for entertainment and friendship.

So I decided to put together a little book of sorts, full of recent photos and of things we love about them right now, including funny things they've done in the past few weeks or small moments we want to always remember. I asked the grandparents and Sela and Graham's little cousins what they loved most about them too, and I printed all of the sweet messages on 4x6 cards and loaded them into Noci albums in red from Kolo.

They turned out better than I could have hoped. I got a little teary as I read the small things our parents notice and love about our children, and I laughed out loud when I read the responses from their three year-old cousin, Abby. It's so sweet knowing that my children are cherished and loved by so many wonderful people, and I'm also glad to have a small reminder of this happy, crazy time in our lives tucked into these simple books.

Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day, friends! XO

handmade valentine's day cards

For our valentines this year I knew I wanted to do two things, first on the list: pretty lined envelopes. I have always loved the look of envelope liners, but I have never attempted them before because I thought they would be too time consuming or difficult. But then I found this happy floral paper (the design kind of reminds me of Anna Bond's florals for Rifle Paper Co.) and I knew I had to at least give it a try. Luckily, once you create the template (I cut mine out of an old plastic folder) the cutting, folding, and gluing go pretty quickly (especially if you have a bag of Dove's dark chocolate cherry hearts + Netflicks). I'm really happy with how they turned out and I can't wait to try these fabric-lined versions that Chelsea from {frolic!} made for Project Wedding.

The second thing I wanted an excuse to buy to try was Japanese masking tape. I can't believe I've waited so long to buy some! It's super pretty and versatile - I've already used it on a bunch of projects and can't wait to order more colors + patterns. The tape was originally going to play a bigger part in my whole valentine vision, but after finishing the card design I decided to just use a bit to secure the photo (the tape comes off easily + doesn't damage photos, so grandparents can remove + use the photo long after Valentine's Day).

I'm really excited to send these off to our friends and family (Mom, Mary, and Aunt Faye, act really surprised when these arrive on Monday, okay?) tomorrow. I love sending little messages of love to the people who do so much to make my life happy + full. I am truly a lucky girl to be surrounded by such wonderful, generous, and lovely people day in and day out.

Are you making/sending valentines this year? Do you have any special v-day plans? Brian and I are going to this awesome dinner party on Saturday night that my parents are hosting. I'm really looking forward to lots of delicious food and spending the evening with Brian sans kidlets. Yay!