A 28th Birthday Party

Today is my birthday! We celebrated yesterday since dear husband had the day off (finally!!!!!), and he spoiled me with lemon garlic shrimp linguine, candles, tulips and watching the girls all the while. It was amazing.

We lack counter space, so Will put the cake (in a box) in a reachable spot because he forgets that little people also live here. I came down to Grace Harriet happily licking her fingers. Hmm. 

After dinner, getting her (and Laura!) to smile/ look away from the cake was not possible. 

She was very upset when I put her down to blow out my candle. She loves this cake. 

Laura devoured her piece too!

Oh hey hey familia! 

Grace, meanwhile...

Two pieces. She deserved it. 

**

Today was family time in the morning, then I took three hours of alone time, and the girls and I had a relaxing evening together while Will works a later shift. It's a very, very good day. 

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Happy First Birthday, Laura!

Hey, so remember when Laura was born??

Are you my mother?

Yep, you're my mother!!

I think I'm gonna like it here...

It's apparently been a year. Happy first birthday, Laura! 

Fine, so a year ago at this time, I was still in triage. Small details. 

Hooray! It's Laura's day! Time for her very own Camelbak. She liked. 

She got her own box of tissues too, in the tradition of Grace's first birthday... Laura is not the tissue-puller of the family, however; she would much rather have a free pass to play in the toilet. 

This Camelback was the clear winner. There is no water inside it. (Yet!)

She was overwhelmed by the paparazzi. 

Her coping mechanism was to start eating her cake. Mmm, white chocolate. 

My parents came in town for the weekend to celebrate our Lady Laura! 

We sang Happy Birthday, and she suspiciously poked at her cake. Clearly her father's child.

She even handed her piece to Will at one point... but she did eat a few bites of well-deserved birthday cake. 

My parents left early that afternoon to catch their flight home, so we went to the park. It was a very fun transition of Laura walking around the playground!

Happy birthday, my Laura the explorer. 

At one, Laura:

• walks and falls; picks herself up with a grin
• climbs on everything; leans her head back (expects to be caught)
• transitions off couches, beds
• says "all done"; "dada"; "yes"
• babbles and smiles
• teases her sister
• plays with blocks, stuffed animals
• looks through books
• plays chase/ tag 
• initiates peek-a-boo
• has eight teeth
• loves fruit, cheese, veggie noodles
• cuddles with her mama
• head-over-heels for her dad 
• constant playmate of her sister
• shares a room with Grace
• has the sweetest disposition

Laura's birth story

Laura: 0-5 months

Laura: 6 month

Possibly the hardest thing to imagine when you have your first child is how you'll love your second child as much. Laura smashed all doubts. She makes me believe we'll welcome our third with just as eager arms. She has the biggest smile, loves her family so much, and is always ready for the next adventure. 

Here's to many more, my sweet heart! Happy birthday, Laura Kathleen! 

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Introducing Bebe Deux

Presenting, the newest member of the Baldwin Babes... Laura Kathleen

After a long saga (which I will detail later), she arrived on February 28, 2015 at 9:33 p.m.

She is 8 lbs, 2 oz and 20 inches long; blue eyes, black (?) hair and APGAR scores of 9 and 9

She was 41 weeks, 2 days at birth; very serious, snuggly and sleepy in first 24 hours out

Her nicknames currently include: Lady Laura, Ladybug, Concerned Citizen of the World, Grumpy Cat

Mother and Father are ecstatic! Sister is mildly ambivalent.

Welcome, darling Laura! You are dearly, dearly loved!

GHB: Year One

Dear Grace Harriet,

What a year!

One day old.

We brought you home...

You anchored yourself to us, and we to you.

You joined in all family fun!

You give me a reason to smile, always, every day.

You helped me explore and enjoy New Orleans while Dad studied. Thanks for being my adventure buddy!

You joined us on the road to residency!

Literally, on the road. Panera in Kansas City!

You are delightful,

funny,

and the sweetest daughter.

You are graceful, grace-filled and charming.

You really, really, really love your Daddy!

Yogurt? Not so much. But you're enjoying many more solids now!

You love your mama too, and the beach (but not the waves).

Grace, you are so fun!

Smart and inquisitive!

You are the best person to take on errands, even though dozens of people stop us to tell me how cute you are. (I know!)

I've learned so much from being your mother! Your joie de vivre and willingness to pose for my millions of photos

to your complete loyalty and unconditional love you show your Father and I every day.

I won't even talk about your stubbornness and drive, and how absolutely AMAZING you are doing in physical therapy. You are crawling, baby girl! You are moving!

Your dad and I don't even stop you - we're just thrilled you're moving! Then we grab you away from the wire, from falling off the couch, etc. Whatever hazardous position you find yourself in more than once a day...!!

We love you GHB! The first year has been the best year, and I can't wait for many, many more.

Love,
Mom and Dad

#7QT: home is where the food is

What a week. I'm exhausted!

{one}

I found a realtor this week. I said a small prayer before scouring the bowels of the internet for a good one, and I cold-called an awesome lady who laughs and chats as much as I do, talked up Bethlehem, and sent me 20+ houses to peruse that night. Good vibes.

I'm giggly excited over living in a house, and establishing our third home as a family. Fine, I'm really excited to decorate... and our own space, with no neighbors to listen to (even though they do have good taste in music). I'm in love with IKEA's look book, and finally having more space to spread out instead of using our kitchen table as my desk, our bedroom and nursery as extra storage, and better baby-proofing the kitchen and bathroom areas.

{two}

On that note, any tips on selling furniture? I was thinking Craigslist. We have a couple things it would be better to sell than move 18+ hours north.

{three}

A professor of mine in college, Dr. Bart, taught me English literature and that gardening is life's greatest sport. While living down south, I've had the opportunity of admiring everyone's lovely garden, or at least the perpetual greenness of the grass and the leaves in the [palm] trees.

I love Kate's "yes!" to doing something beautiful.

I think gardening will be an excellent start to cultivating a love of imperfection. I might start here.

{four}

Speaking of beautiful - these pictures! I melt. (And!! Don't miss the baby and french bulldog slide show at the end.)

If you're into craft brew, twins, and trans-Atlantic rivalries, this story is for you.

"Six Little Known Musical Portraits of the Sea" - I think the title says it all! Epic.

Brittany writes on her top seven vocation reads - what would you add to it?

No big deal: Hillsdale College grad here, and we can really say "We're Number 1!" They forgot to list me under notable alumni, though... weird.

But I read all these books for my thesis!! Notable and quotable, I am.

{five}

I'm entering that stage of postpartum living where I actually try to look decent every day. That might sound like a laugh ("lofty goals today, Julie!"), but, you know what? It is. Because Grace doesn't judge me or my extremely comfortable yoga pants. As an esteemed professor once told our class, "It takes just as much effort to put on a regular pair of pants as sweatpants."

Well... yes and no. But the point is there. I consider myself dressed once my pants are on. Next step: where are the good looking nursing tops??

My exciting discoveries of the week are two-fold:

• Uber Chic for Cheap website is a goldmine, especially the postpartum section -- it is not lost on me that everyone is goo-goo for the preggo mom, but not the mom who is nursing and just trying to look decent in her new body shape.
• The Jones Market is an etsy store with lovely, baby friendly necklaces. My MIL bought me a similar one, and Grace likes it so much that I might need to supplement my jewelry, which always steps up a girl's glamour.

What I'm really trying to say here is: It's a completely different game dressing yourself when it's just for you and the baby, and it's really time to start winning that game.

{six}

Happy six months to this little lady!

Because I'm happy!

"Oh hai, Dad!"

{seven}

Food has been on my mind a lot recently. I've been reading two cookbooks by James Beard, and I think I need to spend more time studying cuts of meats. Ham hocks? Where do I even get that?

Red beans: I'm ready.

This week, I cooked*:

Sunday: Nothing. Chinese food, y'all.
Monday: fish stew + rolls
Tuesday: petite steaks, pesto pasta, rum cake (Will's birthday!)
Wednesday: red beans and coconut milk rice {this last part was a huge, huge mistake to fix in the rice cooker}
Thursday: plain cajun rice and meaty red beans
Friday: more fish stew tonight
Saturday & Sunday: more red beans and fish stew

What will the menu be next week? I'm thinking of fixing little omelets in muffin tins because, as I sleep train Grace, mornings are getting harder [than usual]. This Amish cinnamon bread looks enticing as well. And maybe this soup for Friday? Lisa Schmidt is hosting Soup & Stories over at The Practicing Catholic -- for delicious soups and warm stories, check it out! I'll be posting there on April 11.

*plus sides of carrots or spinach salad; I'm thinking of sauteing corn and carrots this weekend.

Happy Friday!! UK vs. UL game tonight... game on. Joining with Jen on a plane!