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Themed Weekend: One

February 26, 2010 By 25 Comments

looking out the back window Themed Weekend: OneYou’ll be one in just a few short weeks.

Can it really be?

It seems like just yesterday that I was pulling up to the birth center, singing through the contractions. One hour later, I was pushing on my hands and knees in the water.

Tim caught you from behind. When I looked back, he was standing there, holding you – the cord still connected – so proud.

You were a content baby from the very beginning. Happy. Gentle. Calm.

Come to think of it, I don’t really have any memories of you crying as an infant and, even now, your tears are few and far between.

That being said, you appear to have a keen sensitivity to the feelings of everyone around you. Your daddy and I would both describe you as “intuitive.” You are also bright and warmhearted and…you have a knock-out smile. Your presence is a sweet melody of harmony and peace in our house.

And the song of your life fills us with infinite joy.

Happy (almost) birthday, my baby girl. We love you. Oh.So.Much.

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Stay tuned for musings, product reviews, and giveaways that are ideal for 1-year-olds (and their parents).

As posts are published, I will add them to this post so that you can have a comprehensive spot to see my entire round-up:

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Themed Weekend: Colors

February 19, 2010 By 8 Comments

colored hoodies Themed Weekend: ColorsAren’t you glad that our world is full of colors? It makes me so very happy to look around and see the lovely array of blues, greens, oranges, reds, yellows, and purples – in nature and in window shops.

This weekend will be eclectic and cheerful and fun. I’ll be showcasing and giving away some vibrant things that will make you smile.

Ready for the rainbow? It’s coming soon.

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As posts are published, I will add them to this post so that you can have a comprehensive spot to see my entire round-up:

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Themed Weekend: Ask Me Anything

February 13, 2010 By 12 Comments

wedding at tanque verde ranch Themed Weekend: Ask Me AnythingAs it turns out, I’m a little more introverted than I thought.

You see, we went to a wedding last night at this incredible guest ranch [see photo below] and then we went to a marriage conference this morning…and now I’m plum wore out.

It’s a funny thing. I like social get-togethers. I like public speaking. I like engaging with people. I would say I’m about 50% extroverted.

But then there’s the other 50%. I find myself exhausted after being in large groups. After all the commotion of the weekend, now I sort of just want to hang out at home or with close friends…in my pajamas…with pizza and a glass of wine.

All that to say, please pardon my absence the past two days.

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This weekend is going to be a little different than the norm. I’ll be answering YOUR questions from my birthday post. You asked…about my favorite lipstick, how we handle naps, if we plan to have more kids. etc. And now I’ll answer. Stay tuned.

And, if you haven’t had a chance to ask a question yet or you’d like to ask another, now’s your chance. Ask me anything. Go…

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And just for fun – here’s a little pic of the mountainside wedding:

wedding tanque verde guest ranch Themed Weekend: Ask Me Anything

Posts in this series:

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Themed Weekend: The Small Things

February 5, 2010 By 8 Comments

color girl black and white background Themed Weekend: The Small ThingsHave you ever had someone say something degrading to you, something that made you feel small? Perhaps they asked if you were pregnant (and you weren’t) or made a sarcastic remark about your personality that didn’t sit well in your soul or glared at you when your child was…ahem…not his best at Target.

It’s funny how just one small thing – one negative word or roll of the eyes or angry honk of a horn – can totally damper our day. Things can go from bright to bleak and gray in about two seconds flat.

baby in colorful dress Themed Weekend: The Small ThingsAlternatively, it only takes the tiniest action to splash some color into a person’s day. A cup of chicken noodle soup delivered to a front door. A genuine compliment. A warm smile from across the room.

I am convinced that life is about the small things – the little choices we make ever day to love our families, our neighbors, and the strangers that we pass at the grocery store and the ice cream shop.

Mother Teresa was right when she said, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

That’s what this weekend is about. I’ll be sharing ideas…just small ideas…that we can do to bring beauty and COLOR into our corners of the world.

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Stay tuned for articles, giveaways, and conversations about small acts of goodness.

As posts are published, I will add them to this post so that you can have a comprehensive spot to see my entire round-up:

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Themed Weekend: I Want My Kids To Be…

January 29, 2010 By 21 Comments

Recently, I wrote down a list of qualities that I would like to nurture in my children. I wrote them down because I want them to be right where I can see them.

It’s so easy to just let the days pass me by – to think, “Oh, I’ll work on that tomorrow” or “Next week, I will focus on such-and-such…” But, in my heart of hearts, I want to be more INTENTIONAL than that.

I am 100% convinced that these early years matter deeply. Parenting from birth to age 5 is a sobering and significant task. So much of what I do…of WHO I AM…today will shape who my children are tomorrow.

I’m certainly not perfect. In fact, that’s the whole point of this. I am confident that the most crucial thing that I can do to help my children become compassionate and productive adults is…to work on my own character.

Have you ever noticed that your children are at their very best when YOU are patient, positive, selfless, and merciful? Yeah, me too.

This weekend is not about how I can MAKE my kids become better. It’s about changing myself so I can give them all of the resources that they need to go out and change the world for good.

baby in backyard Themed Weekend: I Want My Kids To Be... preschooler in the backyard Themed Weekend: I Want My Kids To Be...

YOUR TURN: What qualities would you like to nurture in your children?

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As posts are published, I will add them to this post so that you can have a comprehensive spot to see my entire round-up.

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Themed Weekend: Globe-Trotting Girl

January 22, 2010 By 9 Comments

holding a sleeping baby Themed Weekend: Globe Trotting GirlSomeday, I’m going to travel the world with my family. We’re going to go to Israel and Indonesia, New Zealand and New York, London and Little Rock.

But today…for now…we travel the world…through books and experiences and people. And we get away for an occasional weekend or week – exploring new sights, laughing with good friends.

That’s how it is when you have teeny tiny ones.

little girl with umbrella Themed Weekend: Globe Trotting GirlSo, yesterday we escaped for a quick trip to Phoenix. And, when we arrived, a tornado warning was issued. That kind of thing never happens in Arizona. But we’re all safe and sound now…and the sun is shining.

In pre-kid years, I went to Pakistan and Pittsburgh and Puerto Vallarta.

Today, I go to the park and the playground and the corner Walgreens for a pack of gum.

But if you think that means my life is predictable and humdrum, you are quite mistaken.

Just in the past 24 hours, for example, we picked lemons off a lemon tree and made homemade pizza and saw an incredible marching band that walked right by our dinner table (The band consisted of my 3-year-old and Christine‘s almost-2-year-old…they circled the table again and again, beating plastic bowling pins together and singing, “We’re in a marching band!”). I should have taken a picture, but I was having too much fun.

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Stay tuned for articles, product reviews, giveaways, and conversations about travel – at home, in our imaginations, and abroad.

As posts are published, I will add them to this post so that you can have a comprehensive spot to see my entire round-up.

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Themed Weekend: The Mother I Want to Be

January 15, 2010 By 27 Comments

mom and daughters Themed Weekend: The Mother I Want to BeIf you met me four years ago, you would have seen a curly-haired girl with green-ish eyes, a masters degree, and a mission to save the world.

I wore heels and matching business suits and red lipstick. I wrote proposals and spoke at trainings. I attended meetings with my Franklin Covey planner in-hand, jotting down notes and business ideas. I ate salads with coworkers…some quirky, some candid, some kind.

If you met me today, you would see a curly-haired girl with green-ish eyes, a masters degree, and a mission to save the world.

But now I wear blue jeans and t-shirts and…red lipstick. I write the ABCs and I speak at trainings (“Don’t forget to say please. No screaming at the top of your lungs at the dinner table. Etc.“). I attend VIP picnics and go on “pretend airplane rides” with my spiral-bound notebook in-hand, jotting down notes and business ideas. I eat noodles and mandarin oranges with two little girls who challenge me and make me laugh.

mother and daughters Themed Weekend: The Mother I Want to BeIt’s strange how motherhood changes you, brings out your worst and your best. I am so different now, yet also still the same.

This weekend, I’ll be sharing some of the qualities that I am striving toward as a mother. I often fall short of who I want to be, but I stand right back up again…and keep moving toward those ideals – allowing grace to give me the strength to try again.

YOUR TURN: What were you like pre-kids? How have you changed/stayed the same?

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Stay tuned for musings, giveaways, and conversation.

As posts are published, I will add them to this post so that you can have a comprehensive spot to see my entire round-up.

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