Happy Birthday, Angel

We stayed pretty busy on Van's first birthday. He did lots of riding/driving in his new car and snuggling with his mom and dad who fight over who gets to hold him.  I'll let the pictures do the talking!

I channeled my deepest American-mom self and prepared pigs in a blanket with mac'n cheese. So processed, I bet Auntie Snags stopped reading.

But it was GOOD! :)

It was a very fun, reflective day for us.

Now we are just gearing up for the big party on Saturday :)

Happy Birthday Van!! I do not know where this year has gone, but I am so glad to have spent it getting to know you. Love, Momma

Night night!



October Birthdays!! {With updated pics}

October is a good month for Lackey boy birthdays!

Cousin Oliver celebrated his THIRD birthday!!

 

At Oliver's birthday party, Van inherited one of the coolest cars ever. 

 Oliver issued it with a brand new "Van" license plate.

This has been the source of our entertainment all afternoon!!

Van celebrates his first birthday on Tuesday at 9:30 AM. 

I have so many happy feelings about this child, I just do not know how best to express them. 

Lets just say everything about him tugs at my heart. I cannot wait to see what he's like when he's older, but also never want him to grow up so that I can always hold him in my arms! I never realized how quickly time would fly.

A throwback:

Van got hooked up with his fab fall wardrobe at Beanie + Cecil Baby's consignment shop! Several moms have mentioned the store to me, but I finally made my first visit over the weekend and wiped out the 18 mos boys section.  Such cute clothes for good prices, so expect to see some cute outfits in the next few posts!

Lastly, I'd like to shout out to all Van's lovely aunt teenies who have been so awesome and supportive during Van's first year with us! {And happy birthday Mrs. Routhie-J!!} Hope you all had a nice weekend!!



Fall Fiesta!

Tonight I am entertaining a lovely group of ladies. I try to keep this blog mostly Van-related, but I am so excited about the fall-inspired menu, I thought I'd share recipes in case you are getting the urge to make some seasonal goodies!

Chili-infused, sugar-coated almonds...

{You really cannot eat just one. I had to hide these from Evans.}

Heat oil and red pepper flakes on stove

Mix with sugar and salt

Toss in almonds

Bake for 15 mins @ 375

Roasted Red Pepper, Garlic, Mozzarella Crostini

{Finished product still yet to come...but I thought the roasted bells were such a pretty color}

Courtesy of epicurean, Auntie Snags, Curried Pumpkin Soup {its delicious!}

Spinach, Goat Cheese, Walnut Salad with Rasberry Walnut Dressing

{Inspired by Food Network}

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins!

These are from Deedee's cookbook at the Baird House except she uses raisins instead of chocolate chips. I will not sell her out by announcing the recipe online, but lets just say its lots of nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and pumpkin! Don't count the muffins, there are supposed to be 24 servings but a few seem to have gone missing...

And lastly, to drink -- Warmed Spiked Apple Cider with Cinnamon!

{inherited from Jenna & Harrison}

For the preggos, fancy H20.

Happy Fall!!



"Uh-oh, Mama"

These are two important words to know.  Yesterday I walked into the room to discover this:

*Parenting tip: When your child gets quiet...its usually a good sign he's into something.

Van says "mmmmammmma" when I walk into the room

 I say "uh-oh" to which he replies {with a big smile} "huuuhh-hoooohh"

 I had to document the scene.

Note: The below process happens in about 30 seconds...

If I had known this child would be so interested in diapers, tissues, and toilet paper we could have saved some time and money at Target!

Bottling It Up!

I promise we have not fallen off of the Van-milestone-updating track...

Quite the opposite actually!

I decided to finish up his baby book and first-year scrap book and it is proving to be much more tedious than I expected. {Another reason baby blogging rocks!} Especially since we simultaneously embarked on a semi-kitchen remodel {before and afters below...Go Evans & Lawrence!}

Now we have found ourselves officially living without a microwave, cable, or facebook and realize we belong in another decade.

Van is an absolute angel. {Mommy's of toddlers reading this are probably nodding their heads and thinking 'just wait!!'} I know I know. But I am trying to eat up every ounce of preciousness this boy exudes. He lights up our lives every day and is the sweetest, snuggliest little fella we could ask for.

AND he is offially done with bottles. What happened to our baby?

For being such a strong little boy while getting his flu shot yesterday, I bought him a tool set. He loves striking the hammer on anything that makes a noise and "sawing" on our coffee table.

Van also got his first haircut!! I just trimmed a few of the mullet-tails off of the back. Its looking sharp

I LOVE transitioning to fall...playing outside, carving pumpkins, baking apple-delciousness, mulling spice candles, and of COURSE pumpkin lattes.  

The fall-spirit may be getting to Evans a little bit. Last weekend on that first chilly day of the year I heard him tell one of our friends he is ready for #2!! Goodness gracious...I thought I would come to that conclusion first.

This time of the year is beginning to remind me of that special early a.m. almost a year ago when little Van was born!!

I do miss rocking that little guy!!



Its raining, its pouring

You'll find Van and momma snoring!

Since college days I have underestimated the value of a long, rainy-day, afternoon nap.

Our joint 2-hour nap left us in high spirits this afternoon, despite the rain!

{Van enjoys playing pee-pie underneath his raincoat hood}

He is getting very serious and busy about walking independently. I let him hold my hand to walk up to the front porch, where he proceeded to waddle over to the cooler and LET GO of my hand! Go Van!!

He was so cute, trying to drag the cooler inside. Thanks for your help, buddy!

He is going to take off any day now and I am NOT going to know what to do with myself.  I am still trying to convince him he wants to be snuggled in my arms and rocked. But no. Not right now. Homeboy is busy.

Soph-Linda managed to snag her first piece of grubby grilled chicken off of Van's hand dangling over the edge of his highchair this evening! In exchange, she deposited her frog toy in Van's room.

Tomorrow is Friday!! And another round of weddings we go.

:)

Happy Fall!!