calvin is TWO!

I woke up this morning at 2:30 and thought of Calvin.  He officially turned two at 1:30-ish this morning.  Two years ago he was born here, right here just feet away from where I sit.  I still feel so amazed and grateful for another homebirth and it was oh, so beautiful.  I tear up just thinking about it.  My first post to this blog here was his birth story!

I wore Calvin today in the Ergo.  He asks to wear his bike helmet...just like the big kids (who are, of course, riding their bikes, not riding on my back).  He's also got his doll I made him, little Calvie.  I love this boy SO much!!

summer birthdays & projects

Coolness--we found a 'toy' typewriter in a shop downtown--the kids are loving composing notes and stories and musings.  they are...interesting!

On Lily's birthday, which had identical weather to the day she was born--sunny, warm but not hot, low humidity--perfect--we walked over to our old house, where she was born.  I lingered and remembered the getting down on all fours once I was gripped by the realization that this was IT, the calmness Rob exhibited while arranging care for Eric, who was 2, and getting us all home, how my friend Kristin came and got on the phone with my midwife, while she and Grace got the birth supplies, how everything unfolded just as it should and the midwife arrived approx. 45 min. after Lily.  Now here she is, as beautiful and strong willed as ever, Lily Jane.

I had some presents in my cache that I could have given Lily, but Grace and Mamie had gone downtown earlier in the day and bought her a present--a poofy pink and purple wand--perfect for Lils.  She was delighted.  So, that was her present.  It was just right. 

Here we are browsing baby pics.

And the projects--Rob made me this table out of scrap wood years ago--till now it's been unfinished.  I had a gallon of paint I was itching to use, so I cleaned it up (it was the laundry table in the basement) and painted it, I put it on the porch and discovered it's a perfect table for the stools out there.

And I painted this free buffet/cabinet I got from a friend--I added knobs and handles that I already had, along with some little wood flower details I glued on. 

Here's my vintage cooler!

And the patio is done!  And it looks amazing.  I love it.  Thanks, Rob!

and half the year is gone...

just like that!

Yesterday was my birthday.  In a nutshell, it was freaking awesome.  Rob gave me my present before he left for word--a record player and some old albums.  We've been wanting a portable record player for awhile.  These albums (plus one he got new--White Stripes) are now in a stack with old albums we'd also collected. 

So we had a low key day.  Eric had been sick but was thankfully feeling much better, so we went out and I got some paint for the Dining Room and furniture, plus I made a shelf for the bathroom.

Then we came home and the kids played on the porch.

Grace made 'four fruit sherbet'. Thank you, Martha.

Eric played with his 'new' ski boots (from Goodwill).

Dinner on the porch...then Mmmm-here's the sherbet--easy to serve from an ice cube tray.  It was soooo good, I thought I didn't like sherbet.  As it turns out, I don't like store bought sherbet, this was so easy and delicious.

My simple and delicious cake, made by Grace and Rob.

I forgot to take pictures of the bonfire in the backyard.  I hooped and we listened to the record player Rob set up in the breakfast nook.  It was perfect and lovely.  Oh, and I also 'got' a tattoo--well, not yet, but just as soon as I get down there.

Oh, and while I'm on the subject of presents, Rob got me a hand carved wooden spoon (to replace the one I loved and lost at a picnic), some milk glass bowls, and a vintage cooler for our anniversary.  Plus, ferns and lavendar and native plants from my favorite garden place.  I love that guy.  And I always feel kinda lame, because he comes up with the BEST surprises, and I'm never so well prepared!

So, as a friend told me yesterday, another year older and another year better!