Real Snow!

I am skeptical about meteorology as a legitimate science, so when they predict snow, I remain highly doubtful until I see it. But I will be the first to admit...

It was beautiful!

Good night before/morning after photos:

 

Evans and I had a great time playing like we were 5.  Here are some other pictures of us in action:

(Those are Van's feet in his all-weather-off-road-intense BOB stroller)

Thawing out:

Bedtime:

Mommy and daddy time:

(Pizza, wine, and "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil")

First Beach Trip!

Van was a trooper for his first trip to Wilmington! He slept both 2 hours there and 2 hours back. (And I'm not going to take credit for planning it 'just right' I really lucked out :)... I kept waiting for him to pipe up when we were in the middle of nowhere-eastern-north-carolina and need a diaper change.)

No waves and sand just yet...but Wilmington had beautiful 60-degree weather and we got some good walking time around Sarah Beth's adorable beachy neighborhood. Here he is with Sarah Beth and Suggs:

(My awesome photography skills caught a really "happenin" moment...)

Natural mommy SBD and her sweet lab Kate:

Please don't laugh at Van's diaper showing! I just bought this cute little froggy outfit and he outgrew it as soon as I put it on! Instead of boxing it up without him ever wearing it...I decided Van could rock it without the bottom-buttoned. He is growing so quickly it's ridiculous, but I am NOT complaining. This little peanut can grow as much as he needs too.

And here is a quick picture from Wynne and Francis's engagement party over the weekend. Do we look extra happy and well-rested?? If so, its because WE ARE! Van slept a whopping 12.5 hours without any interruption. Way to go buddy!!

(I am eventually updating pictures from Evans's birthday so check back soon and thanks for sending, Ashley!)

You know your morning starts well

With one of these:

And one of these:

{click here to see Van smile}

 You have to love little boys. I have been trying to make a good video of Van smiling and cooing to send to his Auntie Snags. Van is usually smiling and talking up a storm on the changing table:

So I thought it would be a good location for a video. But bless his little heart...this morning I think he may have gotten into my starbucks or something. He was way too focused to ham it up for the camera. Hopefully I'm not always this obnoxious...I was trying to get him to smile for Auntie Snags! (Apologies for the bad lighting..he was about to have a feeding and a nap!)

{click here to see Van's surprise}

Lots of Surprises Around Here!

In honor of Evans's 30th birthday tomorrow...I threw him a surprise birthday party over the weekend.

Dad kept him occupied at a movie and drinks at North Hills until he came home to a house-full of friends,

family,

food...

and his birthday present:

It was very fun and we somehow managed to genuinely surprise him.  All of Evans's friends and family were helpful pulling off the party.  I'm very thankful!

Today I had a fun visit from the Cochranes...a family I nannied for two summers in Raleigh. They are all so kind and sweet and wanted to meet Van. I cannot believe how quickly time flies. When I babysat Allie (pictured below) she was only 3 years old! Now she is almost 12 and wants to babysit Van! In my mind I still imagine her as a small child but that is no longer the case. She is so grown up and couldn't wait to hold him. It reminds me how quickly time will fly and to savor all of these days while Van is so small.

The visit wore him out. He is sleeping peacefully in his six-month-sized button down shirt that is already looking too small... (I just bought it yesterday!!) 

Hogwarts!

I am late jumping on the Harry Potter train, but I realized a few days ago I am not reading to Van as much as I had intended to. Not that I don't have a ton of awesome baby books...but they are typically so short.  I decided I'd start reading the Harry Potter series so that I can get some more reading in each day. We have been reading before nap times and bed times. Reading seems to help him relax and calm down.

My other favorite books from when I was little:

(I never imagined I would one day have a little stinker like Van to play with...this book has new meaning now!)

Another photo shoot from today:

Fingernail Wounds!

These things are mighty cute!

And small...

But the nails are leaving battlescars all over my little man!  (See above left eyebrow!) I am scared to cut them much shorter.

Some cute pictures from the weekend:

Wondering about that patch of fuzz in the bottom of the photo?

Here's the full scene:

Even Soph is sleepy!

Check out Van's variety of expressions this morning:

And finally...I always blow kisses to him (and he's probably too young to mimic me)...but it sure does look like he's blowing kisses back!!

Something I struggle with...

LAUNDRY!

(Don't be fooled, it is crammed!!)

Laundry is a noun that refers to the act of washing clothing and linens, the place where that washing is done, and/or that which needs to be, is being, or has been laundered.

Even Van's little basket is overflowing...

Goodness gracious. Sometimes I think if I just ignore it...it will go away!! As a stay-at-home mom/student sometimes I struggle with my job role.   "Stay-at-home-mom" implies that your primary role is a mom to your child. (Which is certainly beyond a full-time job in itself, right?).  But in the handful of unpredictable "down time" hours you are supposed to grocery shop, do laundry, cook, and clean?? I am by no means implying that I do all of these things (because my husband does more than his fair share...and usually more efficiently than me) but its just a question I am throwing out there.  I usually wait until the very last minute then end up with SO much to do at once.  How on earth do our moms and women before us do all of these things so well? Including ironing?? I just cannot imagine and have an enormous amount of respect and appreciation for moms before me! (Including my own!) 

I am so happy to be in graduate school & have alternative things to think about other than dirty diapers and feeding an infant...but I have to confess I have been "house-wifing" more than being a student. It is certainly hard to stay on top of everything. 

Now for that cup of coffee...

On a more uplifting note... Van-man has been talking up a storm!! He just lies in his crib in the morning cooing and making the sweetest little sounds! This morning his little mouth discovered his rattle and his hand kept pushing it into his mouth! It was precious to watch his coordination slowly coming together.