Baby on Board

Tillie at Sea

Shew!

Two months after Scott and I married, we refinanced our house. For some reason, that was the day that I felt the real impact of our commitment. It was the first time that we really combined our finances, which was somehow more stressful than committing to someone emotionally for life. Plus, there was a new couch purchase and we couldn't agree on how comfy or funky or leathery it should be--basically a bunch of mundane things that didn't seem as important as monogamy became much more important than the whole marriage decision. I remember thinking after the whole thing settled that I was a real idiot for having married a guy before sorting all that out, but wasn't I super lucky that he was a good guy after all?!

Well, it happened again. I had a kid with someone (probably the biggest commitment of all) before finding out for certain that he is in fact the best father I have ever known. How lucky I am to have found someone so devoted to our baby and so good at playing with her and feeding her and keeping her happy and healthy! If he asked me to marry him today, I would certainly say yes and I would know that it was the smartest decision I could ever make.

Strawberry Short Stuff

I had a burning desire to do something domestic this past week. I made cherry cupcakes kind of for a birthday and kind of because I missed my mixer. (Dieting is the one thing you can't mix with your KitchenAid mixer, har, har.) The cakes were lovely as individuals, even lovelier in a bunch, and off-the-charts lovely when packed in a little pastel box.

Another shot that shows that I busted out, count em', 5 colors of frosting!

What did Tillie do while I was frosting them? She ate strawberries. She was a mess afterwards, but she smelled so good! My new name for her is strawberry short stuff.

Tillie inspects the fabric of her new party dress.

Kerry holds the newest of our friends--week old Luca. His mommas ate the cupcakes, which means that a few molecules of their sweetness will be infused in him. I feel so honored!

Still Little, Kinda

I got to peek in on a week-old baby today. He was so tiny. He was like a cute little skin bag of gristle and sweetness. That doesn't sound as cute as I mean it. Words aren't cute enough to describe how precious he was. I remember how beautiful it was to care for something so precious. I can't believe that Tillie was once so wee.

Here's what she looked like then:

And a few months later like this...

And now she's GIANT and she's gonna come getcha!

Strollin' Strollin' Strollin'

Someone forced her parents to go on THREE walks today. Even grandma got in a few hours of servitude at the feet the tiniest despot. I never thought that someone so small could be so bossy. She uses the stick, not the carrot.

Flags Are Fun Sticks

Our neighborhood had a little parade, ending in a park where watermelon, lemonade, and tamales were served. Tillie likes America now. I can't wait until she is old enough for her first fireworks show.