I actually forgot that I’d taken these photos until I discovered them on the computer this week. Such an awesome surprise!
On the day after Sophie’s first birthday party we tossed the balloon garland out into the yard and let the girls have fun.
Sophie wasn’t too interested. But Lily? She couldn’t get enough.
Here’s my new favorite photo of the girls. And my heart goes KABOOM.
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This is my new favorite thing off the grill (right up there with those yummy 97% fat-free Hebrew’s National hot dogs, but that’s a post for another day).
Marc whipped up this amazing dijon-based marinade and let the chicken sit in it for hours. He can’t remember where he found the recipe, but this one comes close. It is so good you’ll want to soak you entire meal in it. Fact.
He grilled the summer squash and zucchini in foil pouches with some tomato, onion, Italian dressing and herbs. I’m not really a big fan of squash-y veggies, but they soaked up the other flavors so nicely and were seriously delicious. We finished the plates with a scoop of steamed brown rice and our favorite whole grain dinner rolls.
I’m so glad summer is almost here because that means more grilling. And more seasonal fruits and veggies. And most definitely more hot dogs (post coming soon).
What are your favorite grilled meals? I’m always on the hunt for new recipes!
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Baby girl is into EVERYTHING. All the time.
I have to sprint to beat her to the bathroom so she won’t engage in one of her favorite pastimes: splashing around in the toilet water. We also have to gate off the dog bowls, our shoes and pretty much anything gross that we don’t want going into her little mouth.
And yesterday Marc said she actually scaled one level of the bookcase in our bedroom.
No wonder Lily announces “Here comes trouble!” whenever Sophie enters a room.
And then she looks at us like, “Who, me?”
Sneaky little biscuit.
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Things I’ve learned this week:
My skin isn’t as thick as I’d hoped it would be by now, 36 years into this life.
I will do anything to protect my children and their rights. Of course I’ve always felt this way, but now it’s visceral.
Rainbow cake makes rainbow poop. You’re welcome.
Things I’ve known but that became even truer this week:
The profound depth of my gratitude for my parents. They raised me to have an open mind and a kind heart, and I will be forever grateful for that.
My sister kicks butt. And gives amazing pep talks.
Marc is a kind, kind man with a huge heart. I’m a lucky girl.
My love for my daughters is bigger than even I can wrap my brain around.
I can’t imagine not being their mother.
I’m so incredibly blessed.
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I realized it halfway to work on Tuesday morning. Smack in the middle of one of the biggest intersections in town.
I forgot to vote.
Crap.
So I turned around and drove to my neighborhood polling site.
It was pretty empty. I scuttled past the campaigners, got my ballot and filled in the little circles next to my candidates of choice. But I was really there for the last item on the page. Amendment One.
I read it. Re-read it. Scribbled furiously in the circle next to “AGAINST” and triple-checked that I had done it correctly.
And then, about 12 hours later, it became abundantly clear that I was in the minority.
The thirty percent of our state’s citizens who turned out to vote on Tuesday passed a constitutional amendment that declares heterosexual marriage to be the ONLY legally recognized union in North Carolina.
As I watched my Facebook and Twitter feeds explode with anger and grief that night, I sat stunned. I’m still stunned.
I simply can’t believe that equality for all is still so out of reach.
Women receive less pay for equal work. Our county school system is under threat of segregation. And now gay and lesbian couples can’t get married here. On top of that, Amendment One harms ALL couples joined in domestic unions outside marriage AND their children.
It strips people of their rights.
How is this still possible? It’s 2012.
Will my generation ever see equality? Will my daughters’ generation witness it?
I never, ever discuss politics or controversial issues on the internet. And my blog is one of the most benign out there. On purpose. But my heart is so very heavy. And I’m afraid of what Amendment One means for the people I love and all the people I’ve never even met.
I believe that God loves us all and wants us to treat each other fairly, with equality and respect, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender or creed.
I believe that my daughters deserve a future in which they will be granted equal rights, whether they choose to marry men or women or not marry at all.
I believe that my state made a mistake, and I am hopeful for change. I love North Carolina.
I believe that the government and the voters govern our state and our nation. Not the Bible.
I believe that religion is very personal and very diverse. And it transcends law and politics.
I believe in kindness and respect and helping your fellow human being.
I believe that love is love.
LOVE IS LOVE.
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My mother-in-law gave these little goodies to Lily on our last visit to her house. They were given to her by her mother, who just happens to be Lily’s namesake.
Lily chose to wear the little deer to a bridal shower, and she plays with the “mama and baby” squirrels all the time. Mr. Duck has some sort of red stone as his eye, which she thinks is so cool.
Such special little treasures.
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I was determined.
I had been dreaming of Sophie’s rainbow birthday party for months, but the closer we got to her first birthday, the more panicked I became. She and Lily got sick, then she got sick again, then I got sick, and we’ve all been just plain exhausted. So as April drew to a close, I knew I had to let go of my Pinterest-perfect dreams.
Just focus on the cake and the balloon garland, I told myself. You can do this.
And we did. It was awesome.
For the cake, I used two white boxed mixes and a whole lot of food coloring. I split up the batter into six batches and baked them three layers at a time. I also stained the countertops, several kitchen towels and my fingers, but that’s just between you and me.
My able assistant was a big help (and a master spoon-licker):
We kept the party small. Family and baby friends and one very happy dog who loved licking rainbow crumbs off the floor. The day was gorgeous up until the party got started. I captured a few sunny shots, then had to rely on my flash (boo) for the rest of the party as the rain rolled in.
This centerpiece was a Type-A nightmare. I won’t tell you how many times I hung and re-hung the lanterns and balloons. I clearly need help.
The Deputy arrived early and kicked into super-auntie mode. She and my sister-in-law blew up dozens of balloons for this balloon garland tutorial I was determined to make. We used fishing line, which worked well for the binding of the balloon clusters, but made it a real challenge to string them all together. They kept sticking and twisting up.
Alisa not only figured out how to finish our masterpiece, but she also dusted off the dog hair once we hung it. True friend right there.
And here’s a shot of our table just before little hands got into the fruity rainbow:
Sophie had a ball. I’ll never forget how her face lit up when everyone sang to her. Too much. Although, the hat didn’t last long.
And Sophie loved her cake so much that she decided to share:
Our best attempt to get all the baby pals together for a shot:
And here’s our one-year-old showing off her wide stance:
Happy, happy day.
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I’ve been so nostalgic today. The tears come spontaneously. And I keep watching the clock, remembering.
After all, it feels like this was just yesterday:
But it was a year ago (at 12:06 p.m. for the record). A whole year! And when the “happy birthday to your toddler” email arrived today from BabyCenter, I deleted it immediately. Toddler? Not yet, BabyCenter. Not yet.
Sophie is and always will be my baby.
Her presence in our lives is nearly impossible to describe. I feel blessed a million times over. I was so afraid to have another baby, so unsure I could do it. But this little girl shows me every day how awesome life can be.
She is pure joy. Silliness. Leg rolls. And blue-green-gray-brown eyes.
When she’s naked, she smacks on her belly with both hands. And when she’s done eating, she blows raspberries, usually spraying food everywhere. She ADORES her big sister and works hard to be wherever Lily is and do whatever Lily is doing.
She is a snuggle bunny, a snorer, a belly-laugher.
When she wakes, she coos and talks to herself in the crib. And when I go in to get her, she scrambles up onto her haunches and bounces up and down with her hands in the air.
And, oh, that hair. Part Bruno Mars, part Donald Trump. It’s starting to curl up in the back. I can’t wait to see what it does next.
Determined, happy, adventurous, she stands up all the time and has taken a step here and there. But she prefers to crawl because it gets her where she wants to go very very quickly.
She smacks her lips when she sees food coming. And she can’t get enough of the bathtub. Especially when her sissy is in there with her.
She is positively giddy when Daddy wears her in the Beco carrier. Their walks have become a special little ritual.
Sophie, we love you to the moon and back. You make life more awesome than we could ever have imagined.
Happy first birthday, sweet baby.
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