tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40164777279375824922024-03-13T13:50:20.191-07:00babiquemommyhood, music, and making it all work...Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-90715251486024856202016-12-09T11:27:00.001-08:002016-12-09T11:27:17.565-08:00PP Hair Loss and Other Glamorous Things<div>
Ah--the joys of new motherhood. From bleeding that lasts a month to newfound bathroom issues (girls, you know what I mean), sobbing over commercials on TV while your boobs leak, and trying to make sense of what is happening with your abs, there are many things no one could adequately prepare you for. Post-partum hair loss is one of those things. Even if someone (or lots of someones) already warned you about this, there is something deeply disturbing about shampooing your hair and having a giant clump of long hair fall out in your hand. </div>
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Let's talk post-partum hair loss for a moment, shall we? <div>
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Most women experience this phenomenon, but it's sneaky. It comes later than all the other weird things, when you're just starting to feel "normal-ish" again. Your boobs are figuring their thing out. Your baby (not mine) might actually be sleeping a little at night. You might be able to poop without crying. Maybe even daily. And just when you thought you were getting your mojo back, BOOM! Your hair starts falling out. Not a little bit. Like half of all of your hair. In clumps. In your brushes. On your floors. In your shower. Your family think it's gross. Everyone complains about the crazy amount of hair that's on every surface of your living space. And there you are crying, while your boobs leak with your weird, half-bald head.</div>
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I went through it this time knowing (never underestimate second-time-mom cockiness), and still it was weird and terrible. And just when I started to look like I got a cool side-shave thing on one side (I didn't), my hair decided to stop the mass exodus and grow back. So now I have an all-over layer of 1/4 inch length hairs (primarily visible in the front) that look like spikes to contrast my shoulder length 'do. </div>
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Maybe this is why "mom hair" is a thing? </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-12637128792565980832016-11-26T09:02:00.000-08:002016-11-28T06:28:41.734-08:00Sleep Or Something Like ItI'm going to take a moment here to talk about something I've been fantasizing about something pretty fierce lately-- sleep. In my dream, I'm in a huge bed with the fluffiest white comforter, the softest sheets, and there are French doors leading to a beautiful balcony with sunlight peeking in. I can just lay in the bed and sleep. I can turn on my side if I want. Heck, I can even take up the whole bed. No one is trying to cuddle me or kick me or scratch my face or steal some milk. Are you excited yet? These are my fantasies.<br />
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I have somehow created two humans who (at least as babies) hate sleep. I'm not sure sure how this is possible, as I am a sleep-lover from way back. Even in college I was an 8 hour a night kinda gal. And now, sadly, I am a one to three hours at a time adding up to 8 hours of the least fulfilling sleep you've ever had in your life kinda gal. Let's take a moment of silence to mourn what I have lost.<br />
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You better have done it :)<br />
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Everleigh slept through the night for the first time around 22 months old. 22 months, people. 22. Which means if little Em follows suit (and so far, they're neck and neck), I have about 16 months left to go of feeling like a crazy person.<br />
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So if your life seems like a bummer today, remind yourself it could be worse. You could have a baby with a cold who is mad about her stuffy nose trying to suckle you all night long.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-33632502565776609392016-11-23T08:26:00.002-08:002016-11-23T08:26:38.855-08:00Here's What You've MissedIn case you used to read my blog and you're like "where's this chick been for, I don't know--4 years", here's what you've missed in a super abbreviated fast-forward version.<br />
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Everleigh is now SIX! 6.5 to be precise. I know. It's crazy. So there it is. Since I last wrote, we have moved twice, she graduated preschool and started kindergarten, and is now in first grade. You've missed birthday parties and lost baby teeth, ballet classes and monkey bar accomplishments. She continues to be one of the coolest people I know.<br />
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Scott graduated from art school, retired his SAHD status and is working full time at a prestigious art museum. His new work is so incredible, I wouldn't dare put it here until he has an exhibit.We lost his mother to cancer, which was really difficult--she would have loved to meet her newest grand baby.<br />
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I switched companies and am now working somewhere amazing doing therapy with kids, teens, and adults using talk therapy, sand tray therapy, play therapy, hiking/nature therapy, art therapy. It's a great fit for me and I love it.<br />
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And now little Emerson is almost 6 months old and growing every day. More on her soon. Feel caught up? Good! Let's jump right in.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-19681120050043532002016-11-22T07:55:00.001-08:002016-11-22T07:55:36.785-08:00So We Had Another BabyWelp. You might as well know it happened. We--the lovers of free time and sleep, of yoga classes and jam sessions, of concerts and art openings, and (of course) our amazing big kid, Everleigh--went and did a thing. We had another baby. This is not unheard of. In fact, I hear it's done quite often. But for us, the word "surprised" does not cover it.<br />
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And so here we are. And we're in love all over again with the second person we created, the person who chose us out of all the moms and dads in the world to be hers.<br />
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So I'm back, readers. In part because I dearly miss writing, but mostly because I'm once again a hot mess of sleep deprivation, eyeliner and coffee who is certain I will forget the details of this beautiful experience if I don't record it.<br />
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Meet Emerson Rose, born May 24th, 2016.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-31959908878500642332013-01-11T19:55:00.007-08:002013-01-11T19:55:33.062-08:00TODDLER SPEAK<br />
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A window into the mind of a two-year old…</div>
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Everleigh spotted me getting into the bath the other day and blurted out “Mommy! You have 2 butts!”</div>
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After getting over the initial shock and humiliation of anyone ever saying those words to me, I realized that she was just confused about the anatomy piece of the whole thing. I responded by letting her know that everyone has two butt-cheeks and that with their powers combined, they make one butt. Her mind was sufficiently blown.</div>
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She was patting her own little tush trying to make sense of it all. Amazing. Two butt-cheeks. One butt. There you have it. Although, later that night she still informed Scott, “Mommy has two butts!” so the battle may not be over yet. Maybe she’ll say it in public, in case anyone else wants to know. Oh Ev.</div>
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My butt is awesome by the way ;)</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-79911913772689584872013-01-10T15:17:00.003-08:002013-01-10T15:17:40.298-08:00DEAR EVERLEIGH, 2.5<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your first flower girl experience in Auntie Heather's New Year's wedding. Posing with cousin Remi.</td></tr>
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So...I fell off the blogger map and used the time away to think about why I blog and why I don't sometimes. I've decided that I miss it and I really enjoy capturing Evie's development and our early family years together in such a vivid in-the-now format. I just don't really like when keeping up with the blog starts to feel like an unpaid job, or like I'm frantically taking pictures of a moment instead of being in the moment so I can make it all sync up with a post, etc. In short, I've enjoyed my brief hiatus and I am back.<br />
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Dear Everleigh,<br />
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I am late writing this post, but you recently turned two and a half years old. Bonkers, yes, I know. Here's what you're into right now:<br />
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<b>Everleigh's Cafe:</b> you got a tea party table and mini china tea set for Christmas, and it's quickly become one of your favorite things. You decided to put the table near your play kitchen, and named it "Everleigh's Cafe". The menu primarily consists of tea, water, and muffins, but it still draws a huge doll crowd :)<br />
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<b>Being a Big Girl:</b> you started potty training for real around September '12, and quickly graduated to big girl panties. Since then, you have been 100% about all things Big Girl. If pooping in the potty means you're a big girl, you'll do it. If finishing your carrots is the big girl thing to do, consider it done. You ARE a big girl now!<br />
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<b>Eating like a football player:</b> girl, you must be growing because lately you have been putting food away like there's no tomorrow. We try to lean heavily on you to eat healthy foods, especially when you're extra hungry. And you like to eat all kinds of things--blueberries, bananas, chicken, "leafs" (your name for salad), green beans, carrots, chicky nuggies, yogurt, apples, oatmeal, cereal, etc. You also love all kinds of unhealthy snacks and treats--ice cream, cookies, fruit snacks--and you've pretty much nailed down who you can play exactly the right way to get them to give you treats.<br />
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<b>Catch that Naked Baby:</b> CTNB is your absolute favorite game right now. You love to strip down when we're not looking and take off running, calling out "Mommy, Daddy, say 'catch that naked baby' and chase me!". You've even taken to sneaking out of the bath if we step out for a minute and jumping naked on our bed. When you've had enough of being chilly, you deman a "Snuggle Bed", which is Daddy's creation for you that involved piling all the blankets on the bed on top of you and leaving just your face out, Eskimo-style.<br />
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<b>Puffy AmiYumi:</b> the apple does not fall far from the tree, my dear. You've decided you really like the strange Japanese cartoon about this 2-piece Japanese girl band called Puffy AmiYumi. It's weird and fun and full of girl rocking out, and I think it's adorable that you won't watch a Disney movie for than 5 minutes but you love this show.<br />
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<b>Talking like a Pro: </b>you are talker if I've ever met one. Lately, you've really been into making up words and names. One day you named the act of sliding off the couch belly-first as "Sprouking". You named your Christmas Dream Lights Unicorn "Bucco DiBeppo" (after going to that Italian restaurant once with us) and your puppy (which was given to you by your cousin) "Store Puppy". Why? We will never know. But keep it coming. You've also started using words in interesting ways, like telling me "Stop, stop! my light is red now!" or, in a less proud moment, stating "What the heck?!" when you noticed your bike was in the spare bedroom.<br />
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<b>School Girl:</b> you started attending a lovely little Montessori school part time in August, and it's been a really healthy transition for you. There are days where you still don't want to go, and wish you were having "a Mommy day" or "a Daddy day", but all in all you like your school. Your teachers are awesome, and every time we drop you off, a small group of kids runs up to hug you (you seem very popular, even though you always play it off and act too cool for school). Pretty soon, you'll be moving up to the Big Kid Class (AKA full-on Montessori curriculum) which I think you will really love--lots of personal freedom and room for exploration.<br />
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<b>Healer:</b> you always want to make people feel better when they are sad or hurt or sick. Sometimes the way you go about doing this is strange and/or ineffective, but it's very entertaining. You often say, "I'll make you better" and then pat the other person on the arm or nuzzle them or jump on their belly as hard as you can. But you know what? After having your belly jumped on by a 2 year old, you're rarely still thinking about your cold. So...it works.<br />
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<b>Painter:</b> you got a pimped out art desk for Christmas from Mommy and Daddy, which you aptly named your studio. You love painting and often paint several pictures a day with your watercolor set.<br />
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You are, as always, my sweetheart, my lovie, the primary source of my joy and occasional source of my migraine headaches. But you know what? So far so good. The terrible twos have not been so terrible. You have an amazing sensitivity and the heart of a partier, so it's always fun to wake up to you. I love you sooooo much, little one.<br />
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Love,<br />
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Mommy<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-55693393704042441762012-07-05T18:11:00.000-07:002012-07-05T18:11:21.672-07:00HAPPY 4TH!<div>
For the two or three days preceding the 4th of July, Everleigh's been talking about it with comments like "Is it the fourth of July yet Mommy?" or "I want to play at Riverfest". What can I say? She's a very patriotic girl :)</div>
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Well, we are in full-on heat wave mode here in Missouri right now, with heat indexes topping out at 100+ each day. But this did not deter us from celebrating July 4th in the sunshine. Oh no it did not. <div>
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First, we took Everleigh to a local public garden we all love for some pretty scenes of flowers, plants, and fountains. Then we met up with Scott's family and went down to the annual Riverfest KC, where we hung out for about an hour (there was live music, a bouncy house for kids, pony rides, etc.) until we all decided it was a bit too hot and dry. Then we made out way back home for a cookout with family and friends.</div>
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After filling our bellies, we hung out for a bit and then ventured back into the night to see the Riverfest's fireworks display--one we've enjoyed for several years running. This year was the best I've ever seen. We laid out blanket near the river and relaxed until the fireworks began. Everleigh was thrilled. At one point, she said "I want to see this myself", and she moved further away from us to sit in her puppy chair. I guess she needed a little personal space to really soak it in. She kept saying "wow! This is NEAT!" and "look at the blue one!". During the grand finale, when it got super loud, she ran over and sat in her Daddy's lap while watching with an ear-to-ear grin.</div>
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It was perfect. Just perfect. In fact, SO perfect that I didn't even stop to take pictures. I think it was one of those times you just had to experience without looking through a lens. Hope you all had a nice time with family too!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-43914117672639847692012-06-28T18:34:00.001-07:002012-06-28T18:34:28.660-07:00CONFESSIONSLately I've been struggling to get into blogger mode. The truth is, since moving our internet connection is "on the border of a dead zone", so our connection pretty much sucks. This makes blogging, adding pics to facebook, etc feel like a giant 2-hour long chore rather than a way to share fun snippets with family and friends. I'm working on it and we should have a solution soon. So... sorry for the long boring stretches of nothingness.<br />
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If I'm totally honest, I also feel that as Everleigh gets older, my writing and blog topics may have to change a bit as well. I will likely not do monthly posts anymore, and instead will do quarterly updates...babies just change at a way faster rate than toddlers and I don't want you guys to feel like I'm writing the same things over and over each month. I'm also working on incorporating more recipes, lifestyle pieces, and posts about staying plugged in with creative family activities and outings (art, music, etc.). In addition, I plan to start writing more about my work as a therapist and the interesting balance of work and home the mental health field demands. Basically, I want it to reflect me and my life as a mom a little better. I started psyching myself out when I would have ideas, thinking, "that's not interesting enough to do a post on" etc. So this me turning a new blog leaf ;) If you're still reading, hang in there and thanks for reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-49433372174126747572012-06-21T16:55:00.000-07:002012-07-05T18:14:39.076-07:00DEAR EVERLEIGH (2 YEARS OLD!)<br />
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Dear Everleigh,<br />
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This month you turned 2! You are such a big girl and we are so proud of you. The past two years have flown by, but the changes have seemed to happen slowly. Now, when I look back at pictures of you from a year ago, I am blown away by how different you were at your first birthday. You're such a little person now...crazy.<br />
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Here's what's new with you:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor baby with a cold, rocking out your happy napper</td></tr>
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<b>Stats</b>: you still weigh only 24 pounds, which I suspect is about to change (see below). But you keep getting taller and you're outgrowing your shoes quicker than we can buy them, and you're happy and healthy so we know you're on the right track.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You asked me to put this on you and take your picture ;)</td></tr>
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<br /><b>Eating like there's no tomorrow</b>: you must be growing, little one, because lately you can't get enough food. Especially if said food belongs to someone else. Your favorite foods are: popcorn, chicken, blueberries, veggie chips, prunes, string cheese, bagels, and yogurt. But if someone else is eating something, it suddenly becomes exactly what you wanted too.<br />
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<b>Sleeping like a big girl</b>: after weaning you at night, you have slept SO much better that I now feel ridiculous for not having done it sooner. You also recently started letting me go through the nighttime routine with you (bath, milk, PJ's, brushing teeth, saying night night to Daddy, reading books, lamp off, sleepy time) and then leave you in there awake in bed, all tucked in until you fall asleep. Prior to this, if I tried to leave, you'd freak out and want me to stay in there with you until you fell asleep. We are SO happy that you are handling the new routine like a champ and we're all getting more rest.<br />
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<b>Saying hilarious things</b>: you talk A LOT. We love it. Recently a kid in your daycare said "Everleigh can talk!!!" when I came to pick you up. This is true. Everleigh CAN talk. And talk. And talk. And talk. You typically do a running commentary on everything that's happening at any given moment. "Mommy, are you doing the dishes?" "Daddy, you're making the bed!" Yes, nothing gets by you.<br />
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<b>Sensitivity</b>: you also recently started noticing others' feelings. Now you ask me several times a day, "What's wrong Mommy?" Sometimes you say this when I've just sighed because I'm stuck in traffic or spilled the juice I was trying to put away. Sometimes you simply ask out of the blue, which makes me worry that I'm putting off some kind of negative vibe. I think you just learned that phrase somewhere, and you really want to make sure everyone's ok, which is so sweet.<br />
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<b>Polar bears</b>: your new obsession. You fell in love with the polar bear at the zoo, and ever since that's all you talk about. You frequently ask me to draw a polar bear with chalk, and you hunt for polar bears in all your books. <br />
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<b>Hair talk</b>: you've finally gotten a bit more hair (this has been a long process for you, but I have faith that you will sport gorgeous locks someday!) and to celebrate, you have started allowing me to clip your bangs back with barrettes or pull your hair into piggies. I try not to be all hung up on how you look anyways --you're perfect in my eyes. But it helps to have a bit more hair and bit less mullet happening.<br />
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<b>Pool party</b>: you love spending hot summer days in your little pool out back--something that's been coming in handy in this 90+ degree summer heat. I think even more than swimming, you love putting on your different swimsuits and prancing around.<br />
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You are such a joy to be with. I really feel blessed every day by your optimism, sense of humor, and curiosity. We love you so much!<br />
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Happy 2nd Birthday, Big Girl!<br />
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Mommy</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-22813866406214614032012-06-07T18:41:00.001-07:002012-06-07T18:44:25.549-07:00LITTLE WORDSLately, Ev has taken to stating things and then asking them back in the form of a question (or vice versa).<br />
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Last week at the CVS, I held her in the feminine product aisle and she said (regarding the pads and tampons) "Mommy, are you getting diapers? Diapers for Mommy!". Super loud. It was awesome. Or she'll say, "Mommy is eating a popsicle pop. Mommy? Are you eating a popsicle pop?" </div>
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Today Ev wasn't feeling well and she said to Scott, "Daddy? Do you want to hold me?". Smooth.<br />
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It's oh so cute and I pretty much love it. Except when she calls me out at the store ;) </div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-24127336214985438052012-06-03T20:51:00.001-07:002012-06-03T20:51:21.258-07:00EVERLEIGH'S PUPPY PARTY!We celebrated Everleigh's 2nd birthday this past Saturday (even though her actual birthday isn't until Wednesday). We could not have hoped for a more beautiful day to have a party at the park! I got all craftsy, and attempted to make this the best party ever, while still keeping in mind that the most important thing was that Everleigh had a good time :) Scott mocked me saying, "if you keep this up, she'll expect a birthday party every year". Don't worry Ev, mommy's got your back on this one ;)<br />
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Here are some shots of the party!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet little birthday puppy! Photo by Bryan Bail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little puppy cups with "dirt 'n' worms"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade puppy ears</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adopt-a-Puppy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My homemade paw cupcakes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handmade felt birthday sign</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ev's adorable pigtails and a vintage top</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puppy friends!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going for the birthday cupcake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because every great party includes a costume change (wings and tutu were gifts from our dear friends Natalie and Sage)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with birthday toys in the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How you know she enjoyed the party...</td></tr>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-5075604417546420392012-05-29T20:29:00.002-07:002012-05-29T20:29:20.891-07:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!This past weekend, Scott and I got away to Lawrence, KS for my birthday while my parents watched Everleigh. It was soooo restful, fun, and relaxing. I haven't felt so young in years ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cutie puckering up after tasting my girly drink</td></tr>
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Friday night was pretty low-key. We checked into the hotel, lazed around for awhile enjoying not having to watch someone every second, and caught a Pickers marathon on TV. Then we decided we needed to shift it into gear, so we hit Mass Street and ate some pizza at a little underground dive called Rudy's. Afterwards, we went to my favorite little record store, Love Garden and Scotti bought me a few killer cd's for my birthday (something I always want to do but rarely spring for). I got an Azure Ray CD, the new Lykke Li (love does not describe how I feel about this album), and Fleet Foxes.<br />
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Then we hit up our favorite little Lawrence Bar, Henry's Upstairs, and capped the night with a visit to the Taproom (a basement dance-party with awesome DJ's).<br />
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Saturday, we slept in (wow. so nice), had breakfast in bed, and got up to window shop. We visited an antique mall and found Ev an old-school bulldozer that was made to last. Then we hit the vintage shops and got a few new duds. Along the way, we sampled the best coffee of all time, and caught some kind of decorative car/bike parade, which was super fun to see.<br />
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Later that night, we had a late dinner at Free State Brewery and then wandered into the coolest show at the Bottleneck that I've been to in a minute. The bands were Spirit is the Spirit and Cloud Dog. Both bands were super-danceable, and the place was packed with strangely dressed artsy kids and lots of skinny white gay guys painted up like American Indians. When Cloud Dog played, they basically had a drum circle combine with techno music. We danced along and laughed until about 2AM, when we headed back to the hotel.<br />
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Glorious. The whole weekend was magical and fun and brought us even closer together. We missed Ev like crazy, but it helped us remember how much she has changed our life, and how happy we are in our new role as parents.<br />
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So yep, Happy Birthday to me!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-23741408986620895342012-05-25T15:39:00.001-07:002012-05-26T06:08:16.394-07:00A NEW DECADEToday, I turn 30 years old. I have been so lucky to have had 30 healthy and beautiful years so far. As I kiss goodbye to my carefree twenties, I think of all the amazing memories of festivals, moments on stage, summers where bare feet and sundresses were considered standard dress. I recall amazing conversations with friends that lasted all night, of last minute road trips, of studies, studies, studies. Drinking too much, talking too much, reading too much, working too much.<br />
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I think of past loves and old friends. Of what I've traded in along the way to get where I am right now. And I feel absolutely, positively blessed.<br />
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Spending my first weekend away from Ev with Scott, and although I'm already missing her like I left a chunk of my heart back in Kansas City, I feel so grounded and happy and alive riding in the car, holding hands with my husband, listening to music way too loud with the wind in my hair.<br />
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Here's to a new decade for me. What will it hold? From where I'm sitting, it looks fabulous.<br />
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Cheers!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-80701146952253545142012-05-17T20:57:00.002-07:002012-05-17T20:59:26.561-07:00DEAR EVERLEIGH (23 MONTHS!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Everleigh,<br />
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This month you are 23 months old, which means you are almost 2! This month you made some huge strides towards becoming an official big girl, and I couldn't be more proud. As your second birthday approaches, I see your baby-ness (a word I may or may not have just created) slipping away and revealing the cutest, sweetest toddler I could have ever hoped to know. Here's what you've been up to this month.<br />
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<b>Miss Independent</b>: this month you have decided that you can do it ALL "by myself". Everything from dressing yourself to feeding yourself to wanting to swim by yourself (which, by the way you cannot yet do). You are overly sure of yourself sometimes, which is pretty scary for us, but it also makes us so proud. You're such a big girl Ev!<br />
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<b>Imaginative Play</b>: you've started playing more by yourself, having your dolls talk, and flexing your make-believe skills. It's super cute to watch you do this by the way. Sometimes you use your little toy phone and say things like "Oh nothing. Hanging with Mommy and Daddy" and we MELT.<br />
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<b>Night Weaning</b>: this has been a big one for us. I never in a million years pictured nursing this long, but you really were not interested in stopping and it was a really nice way for us to connect after a long day apart. Now, the time has come and we've been working on weaning, which has been slow and frustrating for both of us. But it's just another way to celebrate you being a big girl.<br />
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<b>First Night Away</b>: you spent last Friday night with Grandma and Papa which was your first night away from Mommy and Daddy ever. According to Grandma (who may have fudged the details in an effort to make me feel better) you did awesome, and only brought up Mommy and milk a few times. She told me that you only woke up crying one time where you couldn't re-settle yourself and needed some Grandma love. I was admittedly a bit nervous about leaving you, but I thoroughly enjoyed sleeping ALL NIGHT in my own bed. That overnight was a practice run for later this month when Mommy and Daddy go out of town for a whole weekend to celebrate Mommy's birthday...but I feel confident that you can handle it.<br />
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<b>Repeating and Baby Talk</b>: lately you've been getting a kick out of imitating other kids when you hear them in public--especially babies. If a kid yells out "ba bah!" you yell back "ba bah!" It's super cute and kind of funny, but it also can be frustrating when you take it home with you and start talking baby talk there. We just keep encouraging you to use your words and talk like a big girl, with mixed results. It is pretty cute though to see you interact with little kiddos everywhere and try to speak their language :)<br />
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<b>Cute Things</b>: some of the things you say crack me up on a daily basis. For instance, lately you've said a few times out of the blue "I forgot to run-run!" and then taken off running. Or you've tooted and said "toot Magoot Mommy". You're a very classy kid, Ev.<br />
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<b>I'm Not Done, I'm Finished</b>: somewhere along the line you've gotten done and finished mixed up as being opposites, and when I ask, "are you done with that?" you'll say, "no, I'm finished". To you, this means you're still working on it. I explained this to you, and yesterday you said "I'm done. Done means finished". You're getting it. Maybe. Or not.<br />
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<b>ABC's and 123's</b>: You can now sing your ABC's all the way through and count to 10 by yourself. This blows me away. Rock star. You love to sing and frequently hum, even in your sleep.<br />
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<b>Little Friends</b>: this month you've really come into your own socially, and are interested in interacting with friends. There's nothing so sweet as watching you play with other kids, laugh with them, share with them. I never get sick of it.<br />
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Everleigh, I can't begin to tell you the ways you've changed my life for the good. I'm so happy to see you blossoming into this independent toddler. Stay cool!<br />
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Love always,<br />
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Mommy<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-80986797617000246032012-05-01T17:36:00.001-07:002012-05-01T17:36:26.652-07:00TWO GENERATIONS OF FRIENDSIt's so sweet to see my amazing friends have kids and for our kids to become friends. Who knew the heart could be so filled with love? This weekend, my lovely friend Natalie invited Ev and I to join her and her daughter, Sage, in attending a pre-opening lunch at Cafe Gratitude--a gourmet, raw vegan restaurant opening in Kansas City. Nat got the hook up because she painted the amazing mural you'll see in one of the photos (go Natalie!).<br />
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The food was delicious, the company was even better, and the environment was warm and loving. The girls were actually awesome during lunch, and afterwards they tried to get the place hopping by breaking out into spontaneous dancing. Afterwards, we picked up some felt at the local art store for a project, and then headed up to Everleigh's playroom and where we all had some friend-time :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out Natalie's skills on that mural!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I meant to photograph the awesome food but it was so good we ate it first. These were our to go boxes ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QAJEhz94Uqw/T6B7fTGz7AI/AAAAAAAABH0/R0Fr-xg0_TQ/s1600/IMG_0829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QAJEhz94Uqw/T6B7fTGz7AI/AAAAAAAABH0/R0Fr-xg0_TQ/s320/IMG_0829.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting their dance on</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natalie and Sage in the art store</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yq2bf8aHEZM/T6B-YEXNjlI/AAAAAAAABIs/3JY9YUsOXEQ/s1600/IMG_0841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yq2bf8aHEZM/T6B-YEXNjlI/AAAAAAAABIs/3JY9YUsOXEQ/s320/IMG_0841.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brief scuffle over control of the brush</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Combing Ev's hair</td></tr>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-43503684136160631042012-04-24T17:54:00.002-07:002012-04-24T17:54:52.537-07:00I HEART CITIESWe've done the burbs thing in the past and really really hated it. Why? Because we're the type of family that loves to explore! We adore that within walking distance of us there are two universities, two amazing museums, a conservation center, a waterfall meditation park (not sure what to actually call this), and a gorgeous public flower garden. Not to mention parks, bike shops, and all the people-watching you can stand. True, we hear the occasional gun shot and definitely lock our doors all the time. It's a major city so there's going to be some of that. We live in an eclectic neighborhood, which we think makes it more interesting. And we always feel safe tucked away in our little city home.<br />
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I would say that I love Kansas City, but I'm more in like with it than anything. We dream of warmer winters, beaches within a day's drive, and culture, culture culture. But until then, we plan to make the most of every beautiful thing this city has to offer us. In general, I mostly love big cities, and even small ones if they're awesome (can I get a Lawrence Kansas in the house?).<br />
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Today we ventured out on a late-afternoon adventure to the nearby conservation center grounds, which are beautiful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kbYrdmCVktE/T5dDtKAkWrI/AAAAAAAABFY/ger_oPnJEQ0/s1600/IMG_0779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kbYrdmCVktE/T5dDtKAkWrI/AAAAAAAABFY/ger_oPnJEQ0/s320/IMG_0779.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everleigh, looking all tough-guy on the way there. Yes, we can walk but today we were pressed for time so we drove.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2870VNJLa84/T5dEE0QXE0I/AAAAAAAABFg/0frFuZy1GKk/s1600/IMG_0783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2870VNJLa84/T5dEE0QXE0I/AAAAAAAABFg/0frFuZy1GKk/s320/IMG_0783.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty nature</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0djfVmRhtg/T5dE2O718nI/AAAAAAAABFo/f_SxWWsPP_g/s1600/IMG_0787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0djfVmRhtg/T5dE2O718nI/AAAAAAAABFo/f_SxWWsPP_g/s320/IMG_0787.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ev parking herself in the bike rack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mw-MfyHMRH4/T5dFQ8mADeI/AAAAAAAABFw/hsIxLt-KWco/s1600/IMG_0791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mw-MfyHMRH4/T5dFQ8mADeI/AAAAAAAABFw/hsIxLt-KWco/s320/IMG_0791.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the little benches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CCmxW1kgU9E/T5dF4EjgMnI/AAAAAAAABF4/WwpRF0xPkNc/s1600/IMG_0794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CCmxW1kgU9E/T5dF4EjgMnI/AAAAAAAABF4/WwpRF0xPkNc/s320/IMG_0794.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiring my husband while he watched Ev play</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pj7mz-D74jo/T5dHQmDcsBI/AAAAAAAABGI/WSXishu2EnM/s1600/IMG_0809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pj7mz-D74jo/T5dHQmDcsBI/AAAAAAAABGI/WSXishu2EnM/s320/IMG_0809.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tickling the flowers. Tickle, Tickle, Tickle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3Z2PFxPlFw/T5dItdc5h1I/AAAAAAAABGY/YtyfWGIP8y0/s1600/IMG_0813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3Z2PFxPlFw/T5dItdc5h1I/AAAAAAAABGY/YtyfWGIP8y0/s320/IMG_0813.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the waterfall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mLBJgqT9iM/T5dJJ5VkweI/AAAAAAAABGg/5YExVeYqnJw/s1600/IMG_0814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mLBJgqT9iM/T5dJJ5VkweI/AAAAAAAABGg/5YExVeYqnJw/s320/IMG_0814.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking for frogs! See it? Look close...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6r3cOOBEho/T5dJ5uuv4KI/AAAAAAAABGo/MCnLe0stZwc/s1600/IMG_0815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6r3cOOBEho/T5dJ5uuv4KI/AAAAAAAABGo/MCnLe0stZwc/s320/IMG_0815.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tall baby back to the car</td></tr>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-72123663181755666072012-04-22T15:57:00.000-07:002012-04-22T15:57:00.201-07:00PAST ADVENTURES<!--StartFragment-->
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This might be as good a time as any to talk briefly about
the time Scott and I moved to the Crossroads Art District, took over and
renovated what was basically a large garage, and turned it into a live-work
gallery space. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, we were young and we didn’t know any better ;)
We knew we wanted to move out of our downtown loft and into something with a
little more freedom where we could play music and Scott could paint without
worrying about space. We drove around the Crossroads district, which at the
time was very up and coming, and the Eastern side was very undeveloped. Think
lots of commercially zoned, super cool old buildings sitting empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For awhile artists had been renting
spaces down there on the cheap, and showing their work in the galleries below.
We did not have a big budget, but we had lots of raw materials and a little
savings, and struck a deal with some landlords to rent a space from them for
dirt cheap in exchange for renovating it—they would handle the plumbing and
electrical and we would do everything else. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we dove in. We painted the loft ceiling, built a wall, a
loft space for our bedroom, a closet, and a library/study. We cooked using a
microwave for way too long. We felt dirty most of the time because we were
living in a construction site. It kind of sucked. But we also were the only
people I know who had lots of square footage downtown and dirt cheap rent. We
even had a stage in our place for bands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One night in a fit of creative rage, Scott began building a
giant tree in the space out of left over dry wall, wood, and anything else that
could be nailed down. We painted it white, but over time it’s evolved into a
fabric-covered Alice in Wonderland style installation. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We really only stayed a year…I was tired of the constant
noise and discomfort of living in such a space, and the gallery never took off
in a big enough way to help supplement other expenses like we had hoped. But
it’s still fun to go back and visit—it’s now the HoneyTree Gallery (named after
Scott’s giant tree), and every owner who lives there has made cool changes to
the space that we love to see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes when we feel too suburban, with our little house
and toddler and SUV, we think back on our time as bohemians in the cozy little
art district. There were late night shows at Grinders (we became friends with
owner Stretch), walks around the neighborhood, which we shared primarily with
artists, homeless people, and small business owners. But it was a real sense of
community, and we belonged. I’m not sure why I’m even bothering getting into
this now—maybe to give you guys a little glance into my past? Probably just to
try and prove to Ev later that we WERE cool <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
PS: I am thankful every day for our little house! We learned after years of
apartments and lofts that we really love porches and cookouts and backyards. So
things are different now, but I really think they’re better. And if we miss
that lifestyle too much, we can always go visit, right?</div>
<!--EndFragment--><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-36551252608123462832012-04-19T16:01:00.002-07:002012-04-19T16:01:51.980-07:00FAMILY DATE: FIRST FRIDAYSSorry this post is super-crazy late. I have lots of random awesome blog ideas throughout the week, but I'm struggling lately to find the time to sit down and hash em out. Also my internet connection (while super pricey) leaves a lot to be desired and sometimes it takes literally hours to do a simple post like this with uploaded pics. Enough negativity :) I just wanted to apologize because A). I really do love this blog and B). I know what a bummer it is to check someone's blog over and over and it's the same post. I will do better!<br />
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So here's a snapshot of our First Friday art crawl, family-style.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbF69PqqQqk/T5COV4DX0cI/AAAAAAAABDs/IPAM5bX7ukU/s1600/IMG_0606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbF69PqqQqk/T5COV4DX0cI/AAAAAAAABDs/IPAM5bX7ukU/s320/IMG_0606.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree in our old place that is now the fabric-covered centerpiece in the HoneyTree Gallery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uiCyJEY1SFI/T5CQCAL85HI/AAAAAAAABD8/Z64ci90jEhM/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uiCyJEY1SFI/T5CQCAL85HI/AAAAAAAABD8/Z64ci90jEhM/s320/IMG_0609.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A weird tag we keep seeing everywhere in the city. Maybe a graffiti artist is expecting?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qduqTkadkYQ/T5CQxWPl4MI/AAAAAAAABEE/TBxu_00Uiu0/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qduqTkadkYQ/T5CQxWPl4MI/AAAAAAAABEE/TBxu_00Uiu0/s320/IMG_0612.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were shocked to see these guys when we came around the corner. They were playing traditional blues rock</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOcj9xzI8fQ/T5CR8_kg11I/AAAAAAAABEU/dMyRCCjRFgY/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOcj9xzI8fQ/T5CR8_kg11I/AAAAAAAABEU/dMyRCCjRFgY/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZV1pXxOi5s/T5CSwuBnoWI/AAAAAAAABEc/GzGqPBeaXbU/s1600/IMG_0618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZV1pXxOi5s/T5CSwuBnoWI/AAAAAAAABEc/GzGqPBeaXbU/s320/IMG_0618.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A costume designer poses for some promotion</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sjs0-ZgHMoI/T5CTO5Bo43I/AAAAAAAABEk/9WAfZgiYeXM/s1600/IMG_0619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sjs0-ZgHMoI/T5CTO5Bo43I/AAAAAAAABEk/9WAfZgiYeXM/s320/IMG_0619.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite paintings of the night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snYmc1N61yU/T5CTogXz-sI/AAAAAAAABEs/dt3xOZuNczQ/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snYmc1N61yU/T5CTogXz-sI/AAAAAAAABEs/dt3xOZuNczQ/s320/IMG_0620.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobo drums</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy caught us by surprise! Mommy kissing Ev while she eats cheese</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-25uEtymGpX0/T5CUokFL7pI/AAAAAAAABE8/BEhYDgUUBbE/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-25uEtymGpX0/T5CUokFL7pI/AAAAAAAABE8/BEhYDgUUBbE/s320/IMG_0628.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A strange but fun installation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtSGwlMUS8Q/T5CVhPgJNeI/AAAAAAAABFE/mX_-hZN5h9A/s1600/IMG_0633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtSGwlMUS8Q/T5CVhPgJNeI/AAAAAAAABFE/mX_-hZN5h9A/s320/IMG_0633.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Hello Art stickers :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fmXY_g9qcxI/T5CWmbuLk8I/AAAAAAAABFM/sXzSb_ZJsIs/s1600/IMG_0639_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fmXY_g9qcxI/T5CWmbuLk8I/AAAAAAAABFM/sXzSb_ZJsIs/s320/IMG_0639_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fibers piece I really enjoyed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZSjsxWyFqY/T5CRfwGbtqI/AAAAAAAABEM/mc1vV80K4_w/s1600/IMG_0613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZSjsxWyFqY/T5CRfwGbtqI/AAAAAAAABEM/mc1vV80K4_w/s320/IMG_0613.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hula girls: rocking my world since 1897</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As the weather gets warmer, the people really come out in droves to see what Kansas City artists have been up to. We saw some street performers, people selling art out of a wagon, hula girls doing their thing, and a one-man-band called Monster, whom I absolutely loved. Everleigh kept saying "go see the ga-wa-wees" and "go see the awt". It was pretty cute. I also got to tour my own employer's Sunshine From Darkness exhibit, which featured art by clients with mental illness. Very neat stuff.<br />
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While it's nice to get away without Ev once in awhile, we really love our family-dates too, and First Friday is a family night tradition in our home, dating WAAAAAY back :) Do you have fun family traditions or kid-friendly family dates you go on?<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-24688837893246291322012-04-11T19:15:00.000-07:002012-04-11T19:15:04.085-07:00DEAR EVERLEIGH (22 MONTHS)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Everleigh,</div>
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This month you turned 22 months old, which means you are
almost 2! We’re already planning your two-year old puppy birthday party (your
idea), and prepping you for the responsibilities of turning 2 and officially
becoming a Big Girl. We’ve informed you that after turning 2, you will no
longer drink Mommy’s milk, and will have to start drinking milk from a cup like
a big girl (a transition we’ve been working slowly for the past month or so).
You will also be losing your binkie, except at night. You nod your head and act
like this will be okay, but the other day when I brought up turning 2, you
cried a little. Change is tough, my little lady, but I know you’re brave enough
to handle it <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></div>
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Here are some of the things you’re up to now:</div>
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<b>Physical Comedy</b>: you love it when people slip and fall, pies
in the face, skateboarding accidents, etc. Wipeout is one of your favorite
grownup shows, and you also like Max X and other extreme sports shows that
highlight lots of falls. You and I play a game sometimes called slippery slip,
where I put lotion on you and then slip and fall back on the bed because your
hands are so slippery! You love this and never get enough of it. </div>
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<b>Memory</b>: it kind of blows me away that you remember so much!
You love singing along with the radio or on your own, and will often sing songs
from shows or from the radio word for word. One of your favorite songs right
now is Rumor Has It by Adele. Also, last First Friday we all got stickers the
read “Hello, Art” and last night you tried to get the sticker from my bag and
said “Hello Art.” We hadn’t said those words in days and it made me think for a
second that you read the sticker, which was crazy. I’m pretty sure you just
remembered that’s what it said, but I still find that to be proof you are a
super genius ;)</div>
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<b>Sick, sick and sicker</b>: February and April have been rough
months for us. You seem to drag every cold and flu bug home from your one-day a
week at daycare, then infect the whole family just as you’re getting better.
You’re just getting over an ear infection and we’re all stuffy nosed and
coughing and blah. Times like
these, I try to keep in mind that if a cold is your biggest physical ailment,
we’re pretty lucky still. </div>
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<b>The Waters</b>: you and Daddy recently discovered a treasured
little park space that’s almost like a meditation space. It’s always very quiet
there, and it has lots of beautiful little waterfalls and fountains. You call
it “the waters”, and your favorite waterfall of all is “the loud one”. It’s
very peaceful there, and I’m glad that you sometimes choose the waters over the
playground <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></div>
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<b>Silly Runs</b>: one of your favorite games to play is to run the
space between the living room and kitchen and do silly runs. Right now your
running repertoire contains the “arms crossed run”, the “zombie run”, the
“moonwalk”, the “broke back” (nothing to do with cowboys), the “flying run”,
and the “arms behind the back” run. You like it best when you can get Mommy or
Daddy in on the action too.</div>
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<b>Favorite Books</b>: this last library run was a success! You
found the book “I Don’t Want a Cool Cat” and “Don’t Lick the Dog” and you still
prefer me to close each night with “If You Were My Bunny”. We also got an
adorable little monster book for you that basically scared you by introducing
the concept that some monsters were considered scary while other were good. You
did not like this and told us outright. We’ll stick to the animal books for
awhile longer ;)</div>
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You’re growing up so fast and we’re loving your ability to
communicate with us like a big girl! You often tell us “I’m so happy” or “I
missed Mommy today”, and it always melts my heart that you feel the love we
have for you. Even though you’re a big girl, you’ll always be my little baby.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Mommy</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-70812080299442550272012-04-01T21:15:00.000-07:002012-04-01T21:15:04.638-07:00LOVELYThis weekend, Tory was on Spring Break from college, and got to spend Friday and Saturday with us. We tried to stretch the time as much as possible. Everleigh lit up to see her sister, and had to immediately show off her dance moves, tricks, and so on ;)<br />
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Saturday we woke up and rolled out to the City Market--our local farmers' market. Oh, how I've missed it so. There were so many sights and sounds to take in! Lots of vendors selling beautiful fruit and veggies, fresh bread, organic teas, figs, fresh flowers, spices. Of course, I forgot my camera.<br />
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But then we took our bounty home and cooked an amazingly fresh meal--grilled chicken and steak with rice, grilled and seasoned green and yellow peppers, and a big fresh salad. YUM!<br />
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Sunday, I woke up late (thanks Ev!), and Scott had made us up a fresh little breakfast platter sampling our yummy fruit. Gah. I wish it could be Spring forever!<br />
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Then after running a few errands, we made good on our promise and took Ev to Loose Park, a nearby favorite of ours.<br />
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We tested out a dollar store kite (it seemed to be worth roughly $1's worth of kite flying), and ran through the grass barefoot and laid on the blanket and soaked in the sun.<br />
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It was absolutely lovely.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-55473969512341280812012-03-26T17:36:00.000-07:002012-03-26T17:36:50.874-07:00+Positive Thinking+<!--StartFragment-->
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m starting a self-care group at work for mental health workers, and
as part of my research, I have stumbled on some amazing material that really
struck a chord with me. Appreciative living touches on the fact that SO MUCH of
how we feel about our lives, our jobs, our families, our happiness in general
comes from inside of us. Not from the
external circumstances—getting a raise, pressures at work, physical illness,
etc. It’s up to us as individuals to choose to see the good in every
circumstance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s not to say that you walk around happy as a clam and aren’t
bothered by the bad stuff. But it’s making a conscious choice to give at least
equal billing to the positives as the negatives. When we do this, it becomes
more clear what we want out of life, what we can (and should) change, and what
we have no control over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We live in a problem/solution- focused society where we tend to be
attuned and vocal about the problems we encounter, and also quite concerned with
how to fix them. But what if the problem was YOU and the solution was also YOU?
This isn’t meant to be a guilt-trip, but rather to empower people to realize
they can choose happiness. You can choose the silver lining. It just takes
some practice, some support, and maybe a little soul-searching. In prepping for
my group, I’ve found myself applying this principle to my own life and
experiencing a lot more peace and happiness. I’ve been working out almost every
day, taking time for myself, and focusing on the positives in several areas of
my life that were stressful for me before. Did anything external change? Nope,
not really. What changed was my perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12.0pt;">****<i>A note about parenting and
happiness—studies show that people who have multiple children are less happy than
people who have no children, and that at the end of the day, the joys of
parenting are about a break-even with the stressors and negative emotions it
creates. And yet, we keep on having kids. Armed with that information, lots of
people dive in head -first and are incredibly happy to do it. Why? Take this
quote by Dr. Browne, a happiness researcher: “</i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">What’s
crucial to well-being is not how cheerful you feel, not how much money you
make, but rather the meaning you find in life and your sense of ‘earned
success’ — the belief that you have created value in your life or others’
lives. </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12pt;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">People find meaning in providing unconditional love for children,”
writes Dr. Brooks, who is now president of the American Enterprise Institute.
“Paradoxically, your happiness is raised by the very fact that you are willing
to have your happiness lowered through years of dirty diapers, tantrums and
backtalk. Willingness to accept unhappiness from children is a source of happiness.”
</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So embrace those dirty diapers--here's to happiness!</span></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-28387433432215813602012-03-20T14:13:00.000-07:002012-03-20T14:13:12.189-07:00Dear Everleigh (21 Months!)<br />
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Dear Everleigh,<br />
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This month you turned 21 months--that's one year and 9 months old! You just keep getting more amazing every month and I have to say--this month you spent most of the time sick off an on with a crummy cold and cough, yet through it all you made me fall more in love with you (I think it may have been the snuggliness you were putting out there).<br />
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Here's what you're up to:<br />
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<b>Sleep-wah, wah, wah.</b> You still wake approximately 2-4 times per night after falling asleep at 9PM. This continues to be super not fun for everyone. However, recently you have decided to let Daddy try and comfort you when you wake up sad. It's really sweet to hear you 2 in the monitor and know my favorite 2 people in the whole world are upstairs cuddling. Someday, you're going to sleep like a champ and I promise to be grateful for every full night's sleep I get. Someday.<br />
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<b>Chatty</b>-you are now what I would call a "supertalker". You say sentences like "I don't want it." or "I don't like it" (notice a trend here?) to communicate exactly what you do and don't want. And it's pretty great. Your memory amazes me! Sometimes you'll overhear something and bring it back up the next day or even week. Amazing. Brilliant ;) I mentioned something to you about maybe having a doggie-themed birthday party, and you said "yay!", then like 2 weeks later said "Dog party. I'm excited!". Sometimes it's still hard for Daddy and I to understand you and we'll ask you "say it again please? I couldn't understand you". You will usually repeat something about 2 times before rolling your eyes and sighing and giving up. This process is kind of hilarious. If we guess the wrong thing, you say "no. no. no. nnnnno" (with almost a rolling "n" that makes you sound vaguely foreign). You are not short on personality kid.<br />
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<b>Happy</b>-you have no idea how great it feels to know your kid is happy. Like, for real super extra happy. You smile a lot and love to laugh and play. It seems like lately you've been extra specially happy and you'll even say so sometimes out of the blue "I'm happy". It's awesome.<br />
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<b>Meal</b>-you've started asking for a "meal" when you are hungry, which is funny. Your new favorite place to eat is The Sweet Tomatoe--a yummy salad and soup buffet that is accepting of young kids but not kind of gross and packed with morbidly obese people like most buffets. So we try to go out there once or twice a month whenever we have a little extra money to splurge. You LOVE it there, because your favorite foods are black olives, soup (all kinds), raisens, green peppers, jello, frozen yogurt, pizza--all things they have there. When we go, you sit in the booth like a big girl, and are usually good (but very busy).<br />
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<b>Binkie tosser</b>-things are very black and white with you. You love your binkie for bed (we're working on getting you off it altogether), but when you decide you're done with it (even temporarily) you throw it accross the room, as if you are disgusted by the look of it and don't care if you ever see it again. Then, inevitiably later that night you will want it and can't find it and we will all have to search high and low for the binkie you couldn't wait to toss aside earlier. You're very hardcore.<br />
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<b>Singer</b>-you've really started singing more lately and I love it! What a great memory you have. You like to sing "Rain, rain go away" and after singing it with me a few times, you can basically sing the whole thing with all the words by yourself (in tune and everything). Wow. I keep wanting to record you, but so far you like doing your own thing and don't like to perform for the camera. Always keep 'em wanting more, Ev.<br />
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<b>Potty Seat-</b>-this month Grandma got you your first potty seat, and although you love playing with it and sitting on it (and even pretending to wipe!?), so far you haven't been so interested in sitting on it bare-bottomed or actually going poo poo or pee pee in it. We're just glad you like it and think it's cool. We're waiting for some more cues from you (longer stretches with a dry diaper, the ability to indicate when you need to pee) before we really jump in headfirst with potty training. The fun awaits!<br />
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<b>Park! </b>You love going to the park now that the weather is beautiful (very strange for MO), and frequently ask to go the "big park" which has a pond with ducks, a huge playground, etc. If there are too many big kids running around on the playground, you will ask to go to the "baby park", which is a smaller park nearby that's usually more low-key. You almost always make a friend, which is SO sweet and cute to watch.<br />
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<b>Time</b>-I forget that kids your age don't have a good concept of time. For instance, if I tell you that you're going to see your cousin, Edmond <i>tomorrow,</i> you will get super excited and say, "yay! See Edmond" and then proceed to not want to go to sleep because you think it's going to happen <i>now</i>. Daddy and I have to be careful to not tell you things that are happening in the future if we don't want you to ask us about it every 2 minutes until it actually takes place.<br />
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<b>No, YES</b>--lately you've taken to saying "no" to everything (sounds like somebody's creeping up on the terrible twos?) but then if you really meant yes, you'll quickly do a take-back and say "no, YES!". It can be a little confusing, but it's pretty cute.<br />
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All in all, this was a tough month for us (which is why I'm writing this like...2 weeks late!), but it also brought us closer. I just think you're something special and it's so fun getting to know you as your personality develops. You're going to be a real character, Ev! Stay cool.<br />
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Mommy<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-36592741150132082112012-03-19T18:30:00.003-07:002012-03-19T18:30:58.645-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3576260/babique?claim=zbb3jf7dqe2">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-73238323215654906402012-03-12T19:30:00.000-07:002012-03-12T19:30:53.423-07:00You Are My SunshineToday the sun came out and begged us all to go outside. So we did. Scott and I piled Ev in the car and drove to "the big park" for a long stroll filled with ducks, birds (peep peeps), and tons of baby-doggies (Ev's current fav). <div>
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We all felt warmed from the inside out and I couldn't help but smile as I watched Everleigh run through the grass, embracing every moment full-on. </div>
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Everything felt so right. So beautiful. </div>
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There are times when the little things start to get me down--the daily grind, financial stressors, pressures at work, limited time with the ones I love. Then days like this come and remind me that my problems are so small in comparison to the beauty and light that I have in my life. </div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016477727937582492.post-85393570615792437502012-03-07T16:31:00.004-08:002012-03-09T13:08:16.807-08:00Sorry to Ask, BUT...<span style="color: purple;">I hate to sound like a broken record, but I'm once again asking if you guys would take 5 seconds and <a href="http://www.topbabyblogs.com/cgi-bin/topblogs/in.cgi?id=Babique">vote for BABIQUE on the Top Baby Blogs link below. </a></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Once a quarter or so, Top Baby Blogs sets all the totals back to zero to give the little guys a fighting chance (which is nice in theory), but it also means all the votes I've gotten from my peeps go away. Why do I even care? Top Baby Blogs has been a great way for me to generate new readers, which helps me connect with awesome people like YOU! Also...the higher ranking you get (after the re-set Babique is now like #450 or something terrible), the easier it is for people to find your blog, read it, love it, want to sponsor you and give you money and try their products and all kinds of awesome things.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Voters are allowed one vote per every 24 hours, and the voting stays open forever until they re-set again. I would love you to view the button (which stays on my top-right hand corner of the blog homepage at all times) as a Facebook "like" button of sorts. If you really like an article I write, a picture I post, or just me or Everleigh in general, give us a vote.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">Okay, enough of the begging. Wait, here's one more last ditch effort:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWlfx7Pm-B8/T1f9usYx8xI/AAAAAAAAA8w/lmdWxCSJcp4/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWlfx7Pm-B8/T1f9usYx8xI/AAAAAAAAA8w/lmdWxCSJcp4/s320/IMG_0374.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;"><br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">So click this button below, then when you get to the Top Baby Blogs page, click on the good owl to your left and you are DONE. 5 seconds, I promise (unless you have an unbelievably slow computer, in which case I feel for you).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.topbabyblogs.com/cgi-bin/topblogs/in.cgi?id=Babique" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="baby blogs"><img alt="Help Our Rank & Visit Top Baby Blogs, Baby Blog Directory!" border="0" height="150px" src="http://www.topbabyblogs.com/topblogs/images/banners/top_baby_blogs_150_an.gif" width="150px" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><strong>We love you, readers! Read-on!</strong></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Babique--a rocker mom's take on mommyhood, music, love, and making it all work</div>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08618030829329132076noreply@blogger.com0