Hello Friend

Another shot of our little one at the public pool. So glad she loves the crowds, the cool water and the sunshine! Whenever we go out people are drawn to her - must be a baby thing! :) That day she made a little pool pal - an older girl who kept visiting the kiddie pool and singing silly songs to our little one and complementing her bitsy toes and bathing suit. So cute! Even ran up to us as we were leaving because she wanted to say goodbye! And of course Delaney just soaks it up - so enthralled with watching other kids!

I have never seen her sit so still as when she is watching other kiddos run and play. :)

Web Finds Wednesday

Babies' Before Birth Personality

DIY Pantry Dividers (tension curtain rods - brilliant!)

On-The-Go Self-Inflating Booster Seat

Caramel Pecan Monkey Bread

How to Connect with your Misbehaving Child (reading up now so I am ready for the future :))

Under the Sink Curling Iron Holder

Surviving the Toddler Years


First Birthday Invite Idea

Pool Baby

Introduced our baby to the public pool for the first time a few weeks ago. So glad she loved it! :) The last time we were here I was nearly 7 months pregnant! Trips to the pool are a little different now - I almost have spazz attacks with the water being so deep even in the kiddie pool. Not quite relaxing like it used to be haha! :) Mama on high-alert time! It is so nice to get out in the sun though and away from the house that needs cleaned and the garden that needs weeded and the computer that calls your name - ah the sounds of splashing and kids playing and that summer warmth just soaking into your bones - feels so good! :)

We ARE Smiling

Oy, this is what I get after 10 tries...haha! So much for a cute posted pic.

Oh Hail

My garden has a sad.





This spring has been a crazy one full of extremes. Both hot and cold...not to mention the resulting storms. Quarter sized hail!

I'm Obnoxious

Yes, we quote Disney movies quite regularly around here! :)

Showbiz "helping" me take pictures in the yard.

Web Finds Wednesday

In a strange land... (great read - especially after just having gotten back from the dentist for a filling :))

Practice Positive Discipline

Dark Sky Park (things to do in Michigan)

Coxhall Gardens (things to do in Indiana)

Frozen Lemonade Pie

Amber Teething Necklaces Inspired by Finn

Summer Sangria

Happy Father's Day!

Want to wish an extra special Happy Father's Day to my wonderful hubby! Hope your first father's day is fantastic! Your love and support means the world to me and Delaney couldn't ask for a better Daddy! Love you!

Envy: Garden Geek Style

Not my blooms but I wish they were!

Stair Master

Oh that face! So happy with her accomplishment in elevation! Look at what I can do!

Web Finds Wednesday

Rosemary Lemonade

Raspberry Beer Cocktail

Homemade Hot Dog Buns


Strawberry Ricotta Popsicles

Pioneer Woman's Flour and Sugar Drawers - swoon

Grilled Banana Smores

15 Ways to Grow Closer Together as a Family

What To Do Summer Fun: Feed The Ducks

I swear there is at least a 10 degree difference in the air temp just by stepping near this little shady creek...duck food is 25 cents...cooling fountain mist on a 90 degree day is free. Memories are priceless.

Dust Go To Sleep

Song For a Fith Child, by Ruth Hamilton. 1958

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
and out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
but I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Found posted at Harry & Rosie

Our household lives by this poem - so if you see the dishes in our sink, or the muddy paw prints by the back door, the dog nose prints on the glass and the toys strewn about....

First Visit To Mrs. Curl's

Puppy Love

You would not believe how many times a day I have to tell our dogs to stop licking the baby. Oy...at least the feelings are mutual! :) Nothing makes Delaney laugh like our two dogs and cat.

Web Finds Wednesday

Owl Birthday Cake

Tropical Island Birthday Cake - awesome DIY cake!

Bird House Birthday Cake 

Cherry Pie Birthday Cake

iSkin Keyboard Cover & iphone cases


Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Go-Go Babyz

Mint Recipes

Iris Update

Still managing to squeeze in some gardening here and there! :) First time this bloomed!

Web Finds Wednesday

Ricotta Cheesecake and Fruit Lolipops

Soy Garlic Flank Steak

Sloppy Joes

Soup Can Rack

What's In the Bottle? (Breastfeeding & Bottle Feeding)

Grills Gone Wild: Grilling Fruit

Tupperware Terror

It wasn't me!

Ok, maybe it was me!

I have found a way to keep baby happy in the kitchen - just open the tupperware cabinet and you are golden for at least a half an hour...chop those onions, brown the meat...dinner is ready and baby is entertained! :) She cannot open the cabinets yet - I open them for her...I need to reorganize that cabinet on a regular basis anyways. :)

Loving This: How to Build Community

Print Available From Blue Barn Press

"HOW TO BUILD COMMUNITY- turn off your tv, leave your house, know your neighbors, look up when you are walking, greet people, sit on your stoop, plant flowers, use your library, play together, buy from local merchants, share what you have, help a dog, take children to the park, garden together, support neighborhood schools, fix it even if you didn't break it, have pot lucks, honor elders, pick up litter, read stories loud, dance in the street, talk to the mail carrier, listen to the birds, put up a swing, help carry something heavy, barter for your goods, start a tradition, ask a question, hire young people for odd jobs, organize a block party, bake extra and share, ask for help when you need it, open your shades, sing together, share your skills, take back the night, turn up the music, turn down the music, listen before you react to anger, mediate a conflict, seek to understand, learn from new and uncomfortable angles, know that no one is silent though many are not heard - work to change this"

Being A Mom

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Elizabeth Stone

So true...this little one makes my heart melt with each gummy gushy smile, each little hand squeeze on my arm or leg....each time she lays her head on my chest when she is tuckered...love this girl!

Warming Up to the Pool

Really taking a liking to the pool now!

7 (Almost 8 Now) Month Update

Wow! Time is flying!

7 Months
Started crawling
Pulls herself up using things
Became a crawling pro
Stands up without needing to pull up on something
Flashes big smiles
Wrinkles her face in excitement and kinda shrieks
Go Go Go
Can crawl up a few steps
Can walk across the room pushing her little walker toy
Still loves cat/dog toys more than her own
Kitty is still her favorite - gets so excited when she is around
Can hyper-crawl (so fast!)
Loves soft microfiber type material...especially blankets, helps her fall asleep
Car rides are still rough going if she is tired or hungry or just been in the car too long
Loves to explore the house - bookshelves, under tables, everywhere
Wants put down when outside - doesn't mind the feel of grass under her feet
Got a splinter from the deck :(
Plays in her kiddie pool outside on the deck
Experienced her first sprinkler (mommy is teaching her out to drink the sprays) :)
Dogs and cat are still the funniest people she knows
Can dance - so cute to see this baby boogie! (dance, dance, dance, Delaney!)
Bath time is still fun time - loves sucking on wash rags and mr fish in particular - bubble baths are fun too - why can't she catch those guys?!
Walker, jumper etc are phasing out...hardly put her in those anymore...though they come in handy to keep her immobile for a moment or two
Can carry toys/objects around with her while crawling
Still loves the vaccuum...now can pull off the extender pieces and carry them around
There is nothing quite like splashing in the dog bowl...dunno why mom keeps taking that away
Paper, tissues, mail are for nomming
Naps are either 10-20 min or 1-2 hrs
Still breastfeeding!
Loves her fruits

Summer Lovin'

Laney's first dip in the pool - a little pensive at first. We filled the pool with buckets of warm water from the sink! :)

Web Finds Wednesday

Lessons From a Sleeping Baby

How to Make a Heart Shaped Egg

Best Blueberry Muffins

DIY A-Frame Tent

Nutella Chunk Cookies

Clone Your Herbs

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus