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Sully's (almost) First Swing:

Watch his feet. Then multiply that by one million. You begin to have an idea of what this looks like when you're there in person.

Also: Mom Talk!

Lucky Me

Thank you, everyone, for the sweet birthday wishes. I had such a fun day yesterday, and I felt so loved: all day long I was surprised by happy comments, emails, phone calls, and cards in the mail (and there was even a handmade card/picture left in our door for me to find). Seriously, I am one lucky lady--you guys are the best!

Of course, the best part of all was being showered by hugs and kisses and giggles (And very special little gifts sprinkled throughout the day, which Eva picked out all by herself--you guys, I got knee-high socks with STARS on them! Yup yup.) by my wonderful family. Mike surprised me by taking the afternoon off from work, so we spent the second half of the day out and about doing some of my favorite things. (Oh yes, there was ice cream!)

I think birthdays are about the most special days ever--thank you all for making mine so wonderful!

Happy Birthday...to MAMA!

I'm thirty-three today, folks! Which is a little strange because thirty-three is the first age I can remember (now, as an adult) being aware of my own mom's age. (Does that make sense? Thirty-three is the first age I remember her being, is what I'm trying to say.) It feels a little like a milestone of some sort.

Anyway, if you come by a piece of cake today, indulge in my honor!

Thirty-three is a good age, I think. Now, I'm off to play!

Not exactly what bibs are for:

Have a great weekend!

Playing Together! (Sort of.)

She cooks, he eats. But if you ask Eva if she's making something for Sully, she'll rarely admit it. So I guess I should say "She cooks, he eats the stuff she's done using."

Elsewhere

So apparently, I'm now a freelance blogger. Yep. Free. Lance. Like I get a pay check and stuff! A local party supply/planning company has hired me to write posts for their baby shower and christening blog (it accompanies one of their on-line stores.) Which means now each week I write pretty things about diaper cakes and table mirrors. Wheee!

But also! They've asked me to write a "Mom Talk" series...and for me, that's that's the really fun part. Because it means that I actually get paid to do the very thing I've been doing here on Bellyville for the past four(!) years: babbling on about my wonderful children. (Which helps make it so I can continue to stay home with said wonderful children.)

And, since you all come back here day after day to get your Eva and Sully fix, I can only assume you'll jump on the chance to read more about them, so I'll be giving you a heads-up whenever one of my Mom Talk posts is...posted. I've also added a link over yonder in the side-bar which you can click on pert near every day, should you care to read my thoughts on the new Monkey Tableware or the March Special (10% off your next order of $50 or more! Act now!).

Happy reading! (Click here to read my most recent Mom Talk post.)

(Don't fret: this will in no way impede my riveting daily posting here of...a picture. And maybe a couple sentences whining about how tired I am? Because you all come first! I swear it!)

CHEEEEEEESE!

Here's what it takes to get four cousins to sit still and look in the same direction at the same time...it's worth watching just to see Sully make a lunge to nibble on Eliza's toes:

Happy Spring!

(Well, technically Spring starts tomorrow. But close enough.)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Our Girl

It seems to have turned into a bit of a "Sully Week" on Bellyville, so today I have lots of pictures to share of our beautiful Evie-cat. 

Oh, the mind on this girl...lately I'm just in awe of the things that come out of her mouth. She seems to be exploring her own inner world a lot--and I'm so thankful for that. It's like she's discovering (or maybe RE-discovering?) the boundlessness of her imagination. She spends most of her days singing little songs she makes up and playing games that only she truly understands the rules to (and the point of!) Boy do I wish I could climb inside her head and see the world the way she does--I'm treated to little glimpses here and there, and I gobble up every morsel she'll allow me access to.

(Yesterday, I overheard her singing while she was in the bathroom: "I'm imaaaaagining, in my heaaaaaad again." over and over and over again.)

It's been a strange transition for me as she's beginning to edge bit by bit into her independence. She's always been a very attached kiddo--she doesn't like me to be out of her sight for too long. But lately, and especially in the past month or two, she been spending more time playing and pretending by herself. She's begun saying "No, I'm just talking to myself, Mama." And "Please can I have some privacy?"

And then five minutes later, she's climbing up into my lap for a snuggle.

I guess that's a parent's role, isn't it? We do our best to give our children a safe place in the world, room to truly be themselves....and as they become "themselves" we start to realize that we won't (and shouldn't) witness most of the living they're doing. The way our children see the world is completely unique--informed by our views and beliefs, to be sure, but wholly independent of our own reality. And that...feels...strange. The most important work of my life has been and will be guiding my children, and large parts of that work will forever remain mysteries--places I'll never truly "see."

And so while I'm celebrating these small baby steps Eva's been taking into her own amazing inner world, I'm also making a mad dash to absorb any small piece of it she offers me--and I'm snuggling her extra close whenever she pauses for a moment to climb into her mama's lap.

Oh, do I love this girl.

He's Got Rhythm

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!