cuppy cakes

Just doing some photo/editing practice for my photography class. I made these cupcakes for Win's birthday party and they made great subjects for my assignment. Mmm. I wish they were still sitting around the house. Well, sort of. You know how it goes, want them, but don't need them.

Frame within a frame

Rhythm

I am really enjoying my photography class. I love my teacher and I love that I am starting to understand my camera and Photoshop better. It makes a world of difference!

if money wasn't an object...

I'd live here.

















This house is beautiful and literally 5 blocks from our apartment. Talk about rags to riches in the same neighborhood. It's a mere 12.5 million dollars so we won't be moving in any time soon, but I can admire from afar. I've actually been inside of the house. Soon after Win was born I went for a jog and the owner was standing outside and I told him I thought his house was beautiful and he asked me if I wanted a tour of the inside. Could I say no? No, I could not. Lest you think I was being completely crazy, his wife was there and she showed me around. They were really nice.

I'm not even going to try to describe it, but know that they have artifacts in that home that are like 900 years old from around the world. Yeah. It was fantastic. They even have a massage room and home movie theater. And the views? Here, see for yourself:

Seal Beach House

Amazing.

I think it would be the perfect starter home. I'm pretty sure Kent would agree.

having a ball

We had a small party for Win last Saturday and guess what the theme was?






















BALLS!

Win is crazy about them. When he wakes up in the morning the first word out of his mouth is "ball" or "balls" (he does a plural lispy version now-it's adorable). Anything that is round or roundish is a ball - avocados, watermelon, oranges, rings - they're all "balls". Needless to say, it was fairly easy to come up with a theme.

Win and the kids enjoyed the main attraction: a homemade ball pit. Finding a baby pool was no small feat in February. We bought two other ones before we found the one on Craigslist. In fact, Kent walked a mile from his work in downtown LA to buy it. He's a really good daddy and husband to go along with his wife's crazy schemes.

Here are a few photos that our friend Rachel took at the party (thank you!). Win and Nova, Rachel's daughter, are baby buddies.

Thanks to everyone who came. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time celebrating with family and friends. Win was one happy boy.

do not cut my apron strings, please

Why don't women still wear aprons as part of their daily wardrobe? That 50s fashion was chic and functional. I mean, look at these ladies, all dressed up with somewhere to go! Basically done up to the nines with an adorable piece of fabric around their waists.

Or, take these women, don't they look thrilled to be doing housework? If an apron brought that kind of joy to me while folding clothes I'd sport one, too.

She doesn't look as happy as the three damsels above, but how adorable is that tulip? I want to serve lemonade at my next ladies' luncheon in a dress and apron.

Actually, I would need something that covered my entire outfit. Feeding Win these days requires splatter protection, top and bottom. Something like this blue cutie would do.

My mom was an apron wearer in her early motherhood days.

No aprons in the next two shots, just my cute mom. I love her lipstick color in the shot below. Always wears great shades of lipstick, my mom.

I really do want/need to become an apron wearer. I have two: a full-body one that I wear quite often while cooking and a little waist one. I want to sew one. That's a project that has been on my list forever, I just haven't done it and I don't have an excuse. My mother-in-law gave me a book devoted to aprons so I have the patterns, I just need to find the time.

Anyway, I love aprons and I wish they would become fashionable again. Even if they don't, don't be surprised if I show up to my next social function with one on.

one

This time last year I was lying in a hospital bed with a newborn baby by my side. My body felt torn up and inside out yet there I was, expected to care for an infant. Could I do it?

From Win's first breath he let us know what type of boy he would be. He had a strong cry, but not grating on the ears or harsh, and he didn't cry much. I remember I kept asking if he was okay and he was, he was just trying to figure out what was going on in his patient way.


Those first couple of hours after Win's delivery are so special to me. Our family of three was left alone to soak in the new, amazing feelings that accompany birth. Kent walked around the low-lit delivery room with our sweet, new baby boy while I recuperated. Win was so alert and took in everything around him. He was content and interested from the start.

At one point Win and I were alone for a bit. I held him close and I just knew, knew that he knew I was his mom and knew that I would love him more than anything forever. Bonded, just like that.

The first couple of months weren't easy. I had never felt so sleep deprived and my body seemed to heal slowly. In fact, that first month I kept wondering why people have more than one child. Birth is beautiful, but the aftermath is rough!

We got through it and Win has been a joy. Really. A joy. He is my best buddy. I can't imagine not seeing his happy little face and strong baby body bouncing up and down in his crib in the morning. I love his "wat dis?" question/statement as his pulls his pacifier out of his mouth, raises it high above his head then chucks it across the room. He is one endearing chap.

Big things are in store for Mr. Win. He is smart and coordinated, fun and funny, patient and loving. I'm not sure how much of his personality will stay the same over the years, but he is a special boy.

I'm so grateful to be Win's mom and I'm so glad we made it through the first year.

Happy Birthday, Win!