Day Three

Three months old, in attendance of  his cousin Isaac's 

fourth birthday party...

Day Two

This is the face of a new mother.  Tired... exhausted, but head over heels in love...Anthony took this picture of Sebastian and I while visiting with his parents one afternoon when Sebastian was two months old. I remember thinking that this sweet little baby was the best thing that had ever happened to me... Boy, was I ever right.

Day One

I often think that the day that Sebastian's life began, my life began as well.   Prior to having a child, I never felt as if I were necessarily meant to be doing one specific thing... After having my first child, I knew that being a mother is what was meant for me.  Nothing could have prepared me for the rush of emotion that followed his swift delivery... The doctor placed him directly onto my chest and and I can still remember the intensity of the moment that I saw his tiny face for the first time.  My child. My beautiful son...

Special

It's natural for every mother to think that her child is special. I am absolutely one mother whom not only thinks so... but knows so.  You see, Sebastian was born a leap year baby almost five years ago.  Born to his father and I at 1:31pm on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, February 29, 2004.  Prior to having him, I had not considered the possibility of him being born on this day, some three weeks early... But, as it began to become apparent that he was in fact on his way, I began to think... This child is special.  My son is special.  I am going to be able to say that my baby was born on a very special day, one that only comes every four years... special.  Now that Sebastian is old enough to watch the calender and anticipate his birthday months in advance, it has become a bit trickier to explain his special birthday and try to have him understand that yes, his birthday is February the 29th, even though no such date is on his calender... Hmmm....  I on the other hand love that his actual birthday is not there each and every year... You see, it helps a mother like myself, who is trying to slow and prolong her first son's childhood, to count birthdays as one... every four years.  Last year when Sebastian turned four, he also celebrated his first birthday.  A big cake was made, and Momma made a little cake as well... You get the gist.  I will continue to uphold this tradition for as long as I am honored to be present at my son's birthday gathering.  There is some level of comfort in knowing that when Sebastian is celebrating his 40th birthday, I will be celebrating his 10th...

With that said, Sebastian's birthday is less than one month away, and in honor of his life throughout the past five years, I will be posting a picture of him each day, until the big day... I hope that you will enjoy looking back over the years as much as I will.

Budding Artist

Sebastian chose a set of first art supplies Crayoloa TaDoodles, for Brooklyn for his first birthday last October... Although we used them yesterday for the first time! Brooklyn loved the fact that he had his own supplies and that the markers fit in his little hands so effortlessly!  I loved how he used both hands at the same time... Constant movement... His first piece of art in hung proudly on the refrigerator door for all to see!

Happy Hearts

Sebastian and I cut out these hearts and hung them from the ceiling fan in the dining room... I love watching the hearts dance around when the fan is turned on!  These  glittered hearts make me happy... It's the little things people...

Kisses

Hello

I have received a few different comments about the fact that I am not ever in any of the pictures that I post of my children or our home... I have to explain that it is because I am the one who is always standing behind the camera, asking for the smiles... So for those of you whom have never met me and don't know what I look like... Here I am.  This is me.  It's nice to finally put a face to the name huh? For those of you that have met me and do know what I look like... I love you.  (Notice...  still behind the camera...)

Popcorn

My mom tells a great story of how when I was a very little girl, I would be consumed by a bowl of popcorn... She says that I would eat it piece by piece, even if it took upwards of an hour.  Loved it. Still do. Well, both of my boys have developed quite a similar interest in popcorns buttery, salty, crunch. Today Brooklyn reminded me a bit of my former, smaller self... He sat for quite some time this afternoon,enjoying a bowl of hot popcorn,piece by piece. Then, he helped himself to his brothers   bowl, and ate its contents as well. 

Love

Day Dream

I am day dreaming of a visit to this little piece of lovely...  Yes, this is a real bed and breakfast. Yes, you sleep in a tent.  Yes, there is really no electricity. Yes, you are served breakfast in tent each morning, and are able to cook your own lunch and dinner in that darling little kitchen... Oh, you can also pick throughout the organic garden for any essential ingredient your meal may need...  If I could choose anyone to accompany me, it would be my sister.  We would spend the days reading and napping...  The nights laughing and talking... We would love this place.  It is located in Idaho. (You know we were born in Idaho) So it clearly is destine to be.  

You should treat yourself to a look at this marvelous place...

 Mary Janes Farm 

I will add this to my growing list of must- do, must-see places... 

New Tomorrow

I can't begin to tell you how very excited I am for tomorrows inauguration of the Obama family into the white house and into our countries presidency... Do you not feel like in this election you have not only received a new commander and chief, but also his family? I love that! I love thinking of these little girls running through the halls of the white house and playing hide and go seek throughout its many corridors... I love watching as our first lady seems to put her children and her marriage first.  I love watching our president elect, proud and determined to fight for his children's freedom, as we fight for the freedoms of our own children.I am so excited for tomorrows promise of  new and hopeful years to come... Welcome, Welcome, Welcome,Change.

Ideas

I Like You

At the advisement of my dear friend Jennifer, I bought this tiny little book and slipped it inside Sebastian's Christmas stocking... I thought that I would share it now with you, seeing as I think that it would be a perfect Valentine's gift for someone that you like... My favorite part about this book is how silly and sweet each page reads. An example of this would be...

"I like you because if I'm a goofus on the roofus, hollering my head off, you are one too." Or..." I like you because because because, I forgot why I like you but I do, so many reasons..."

Hello

Hello, Hello!  So, sorry that I have been away as long as I have been!  We were happily surprised with a bit of an early summer these last few weeks, and we have been taking full advantage of the outdoors... Which unfortunately doesn't leave much time for Momma to blog... I am however going to make a point to sit, and write more... Much more. Thank you for waiting so patiently...

Labor Of Love

Here are the little crayon hearts that I made for all of Sebastian's classmates!  I made them by melting down the remnants of broken crayons and then using a heart shaped cookie cutter to punch out the shape, once the wax was dry...Hopefully they will enjoy them come Valentine's Day!  Attached to each bag of crayon's will be a little note that either reads "Wishing you A Colorful Valentine's Day" (for the little boy's) or "You Melt My Heart, (for the little girl's) How sweet!

Say Cheese!

I just had to share these pictures of Sebastian and his "best buddies!"  I just can't get enough of how cute these little kids are!  

Time Capsule

For years now I have been wanting to bring together all of the most important bits and pieces of my children's childhood into a communal place where I know that my sweetest treasures will be safe and sound.  Throughout the past month I have been going through various boxes and bags full of saved items, and organizing them in a way that I can actually enjoy and appreciate them.  I am calling this project a time capsule, because it is something that I started saving items for almost five years ago when Sebastian was born, and will continue adding to throughout the rest of their childhood and adolescence.  I have enjoyed this process greatly and can't explain the peace of mind in knowing that I have finally got all of the goodies into one spot! Here is some of what I have added so far...

Birth Certificates

Newborn Foot Prints

Newspaper Birth Announcements

Birthday Cards from both boy's 1st Birthday parties, with an attached picture of each of them enjoying their first birthday cake.

Wish Cards from Brooklyn's Baby Shower

Hand Knit hat and booties

An envelope that I made to hold a copy of all invitations that have been sent... Birthdays, Showers,Announcements, Baptism etc... 

Another that contains each years picture with Santa Claus, all four of Sebastian's and two of Brooklyn's.  I also added to this envelope all of the letters to Santa that we have written throughout the years...

A jump drive with copies of all of my pictures of the boys thus far...

Hair clippings and pictures from both of their first haircuts.

Baby journals that I kept throughout each of my pregnancies.

Hospital wrist bands from both Sebastian and Brooklyn's birth.

The front page of the local newspaper from the day that each boy was born...(Thanks Dad!)

And a few other little treasures! 

Love Is In The Air...

While checking the Martha Stewart website the other day for some Valentine's inspired decor, I found the directions to make these adorable crayon hearts... The directions were very easy to follow and within an hour, we had a beautiful product hung proudly in each boy's window for the world to see.  When the sun comes through the hearts, they almost glow... Really pretty! Here is what we did... You can do it too!

Lucky Me

I wanted to share the beautiful handmade gifts that I received over the holidays this year... I have to think that I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by such talented friends and family... Beautiful treasures...