This is Lovely

"What sort of diary should I like mine to be? Something loose-knit and yet not slovenly, so elastic that it will embrace anything, solemn, slight or beautiful, that comes into my mind. I should like it to resemble some deep old desk or capacious hold-all, in which one flings a mass of odds and ends without looking them through. I should like to come back, after a year or two, and find that the collection had sorted itself and refined itself and coalesced, as such deposits so mysteriously do, into a mould, transparent enough to reflect the light of our life, and yet steady, tranquil compounds with the aloofness of a work of art. The main requisite, I think, on reading my old volumes, is not to play the part of a censor, but to write as the mood comes or of anything whatever; since I was curious to find how I went for things put in haphazard, and found the significance to lie where I never saw it at the time."

V. Woolf

read here.

Stroller Shopping

We have yet to buy a stroller. Oliver is getting big enough and I am getting pregnant enough where I can't carry him everywhere, even in the Ergo. So, I've been shopping around online for something that we can use this summer with Oliver and later with the new baby when he/she is also too big to wear. So far, the Baby Jogger City Mini is my favorite option - it is reasonably priced (<$250), got great reviews and has lots of available accessories, including a glider board for Oliver to ride on. This solves the need for a true double stroller - I was dreading one of those, so that makes me very happy.

Remodelista: Utility Sinks

I love Remodelista and this recent post about utility sinks as bathrooom sinks. I actually think the look is more institutional. Perhaps that's why it appeals to me so much - they remind me of all those years spent in school.

Post here.

Valentine's Day

We plan to spend the day with the kids on Sunday and then go to an early movie and dinner on Monday afternoon. So, for Sunday I plan to do some baking and whatever else Quinn has in mind for the day (sushi?, Benihana?). We decided that spending time together was more important than gifts, but I just can't help loving all of the red hearts and frilly packaging for simple little things this time of year. I am especially a sucker for soaps in pretty paper, like these -

from here, here, and here.

So late, but still worth it.

BEFORE

Oliver got his first haircut! He was a pro sitting quietly in the stylist's chair while she clipped away. There was a little bit of fussing when she sprayed water on his hair, but that's all. He was almost too serious - but look  how good it turned out! I was very hesitant to cut his locks, hoping they would turn into cute thick curls, but  instead he always had this frizzy bed-head look crusted over with whatever he ate for lunch. For now, I like seeing all of that sweet little face.

DURING

ALL DONE!

Now we're heading out to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa!

14 Months

Oliver has made so many new accomplishments in the last month. He is now WALKING! It is just so cute to see him amble over to one of us for a hug or to go get a toy from the other side of the room. He especially likes to walk by himself from his classroom to the lobby of the daycare. Once there he seats himself at the table in one of the little blue chairs and plays with the trucks ('brrrm brrrm') until I say it's time to go home.

Other accomplishments include saying papa (meaning food), dada, mama, bye bye, night night (a sweet little high pitched 'nigh nigh', then blows kisses), bear (beh), ball (ba), and sister (si-tah). He is also particular about where things go. Like his water bottle -things aren't right until it is in the holder thingy that keeps it off the floor. I can see how he enjoys structure and repetition. Bedtime has started to become the exact same routine every night, mostly led by Oliver.

Oh, I can't wait to see what he does next. His personality is really starting to shine through and I love it - getting to know this little guy better everyday.

Carousel

On New Years day, we braved the Houston Zoo. It was a free day, so the place was packed! My favorite part of the day was riding the carousel. Oliver didn't agree. See this skeptical face? Well, it turned to tears as soon as the ride started. Poor kiddo - I know he won't be afraid of riding a bobbing zebra forever.