More May 2011 fun

Our little water baby had his first swimming lessons in May 2011. He did well and really loved playing in the pool.

We frequented the farmer's market for pastries for breakfast, produce for cooking and for a fun environment for all of us.

During one visit, on Herb Day, Westley received his first balloon animal. It was a yellow fish inspired by his outfit. Sadly, it popped while he was playing with it in the grass after about 90 seconds. As he started to cry, a little girl walked over, patted him and said, "I know what it's like, little guy." Priceless.

During one of Uncle Eric and Valisha's visits to Wichita, we met up at pirate story time at Barnes and Noble. I tried to take Westley to those story times often. They're great! No cost for a story, craft and snack. Arrrr! Shiver me timbers.

Easter, con't.

I was deliberate in making sure that Westley's first Easter basket was adorable. I had waited so many years for that opportunity and loved doing it. It included locally made chocolates, some sweet bunny books (and, in the case of "Guess How Much I Love You," an accompanying stuffed bunny) and a knitted chocolate bunny I purchased from a colleague of mine. (I like how it looked kind of timeless and old-fashioned.)

The Easter Bunny even brought the pups special doggy carrot treats:

We had brunch with my in-laws and spent some time taking photos outside, one of the things I treasure about that day.

Brian and I laughed later at our attempts to keep Easter as non-commercial as possible for Westley. He received baskets at our house, from my sister and my mother-in-law. It was all very sweet and thoughtful. He won't remember anyway, I guess. I do imagine we'll want to try again in 2012.

April 2011

It's time to play some MAJOR catchup on Life is Golden. I intend to do so roughly by calendar months. Let's get started!

Here are some photos from April 2011. I was doing my best balancing a full-time job and my first spring with a kiddo, which included breastfeeding, sleepless nights, working out (to keep my Fight For Air Climb endurance) and trying like crazy to cherish every minute with my almost-one-year-old.

Here's Westley and me at a Cookie Bookie event through the Maize Early Childhood Center. Events like this helped me to share with him my love of books and music. I love to see how little he is, how red his hair is and remember him when he was shier and quieter. Such a sweetheart.

We loved getting outdoors whenever we could and were so happy that Westley was big enough to be a passenger in a jogging stroller. Here he is on a walk (or run? ) with Daddy:

Westley started getting his own little social calender going. I loved watching him make friends at daycare, church and in other circles. Here he is at Kira's first birthday party. Her parents met Brian and me at parenting classes through Wesley BirthCare Center when we were all expecting.

(Kira's family has two goldens, too!)

The party guests liked how the balloons made Westley's hair full of static electricity:

Cutie pie. Look at those locks! We were still holding out to have his first haircut until after his first birthday.

Career day(s)

I have been fortunate to have several opportunities recently to visit Wichita classrooms to speak about my journalism career. On Wednesday, I spoke to a Wichita State University editing class about online journalism. I'll be able to do the same Monday at Friends University.


On Tuesday, I visited a couple of Kindergarten classes at Spaght Multimedia Magnet Elementary School, where my friend Courtney teaches. The school was having a Reading is Fundamental Day and had invited local professionals to read a book, share their love of reading and talk a little bit about their jobs.

In the hospitality room, they had an impressive selection of books ...


... and snacks!


I was able to select a book to read to the students. I picked "Mommy, Carry Me Please" by Jane Cabrera. One of her illustrations ...



... reminded me of a photo I had recent taken of Westley:


I showed the kiddos the photo on my phone. It served to be a great ice-breaker. I snapped the photo at the Donut Whole a couple of weeks ago. Brian, West, Janice and I had gone there for some post-run carb refueling after our Fight for Air Climb race. I have a photo from last summer of tiny baby Westley in the lion's mouth. I'll have to find that one for comparison's sake.

Story time with Helen

On International Children's Book Day last weekend, Westley and I met up with his little friend Helen for a story time dedicated to books that have won the Caldecott, including "Officer Buckle and Gloria" by Peggy Rathmann (my favorite of this morning's reads).

I think the kiddos were more interested in binkies ... and each other!




I continue to be impressed with the story times at Barnes and Noble. (We went to our first there last month with my sisters and nephew.)

After the stories, the littlest attendees get to have a snack and do a craft. Westley sampled a rice krispy treat colored ... on the paper, the stage, Mommy's khakis. What fun! Thank goodness for washable crayons. And now we have some sweet refrigerator art, another sign that our baby is growing into a little boy.


Click to see more photos from the event.

Loving the library

Recently, I've introduced Westley to one of my favorite childhood places: the library.

The Wichita Public Library doesn't offer many programs for the littlest book-lovers, especially if you're trying to accommodate a working mama's schedule. But last Friday, I had a comp day at work, so I started my day by taking West to Nursery Rhyme Time (music, rhymes and stories for kiddos two and younger). Of the books they read, my favorite was "Jump!" by Scott M. Fischer.

"Well, I'm a bug. I'm a bug.
I'm a snug little bug,
and I'm sleeping on a jug.
Until I see a frog, and I ...
JUMP!”

The story was interactive, and all the kids jumped when they heard "JUMP!" Westley was giggled and bouncing around and really getting into it.

They also read the two books at left. They were both cute, especially "City Animals" by Simms Taback. I also liked the "Max Loves Sunflowers" book because it seems a good read for a Kansas kiddo.

Westley does so good at story times! He really is interested in the stories and especially in the other kids around him. He observes and definitely is taking mental notes on how the older kids act and play. He's in such a hurry to grow up. Not too fast, my little one!

Hungry for books

I took Westley to his first story time earlier this month, and we hit another on Saturday. I found out that Barnes and Noble has a terrific lineup of children's story times. They read several books and then have a related craft, followed by a snack. For free! Score!

We invited Auntie M, who was in town last weekend, and Auntie Jen and cousin Kaden to join us for a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" story time. The little boys were more than a little distracted, but the five of us had a blast.



Click to see more photos from our afternoon.

Celebrate!

I celebrated two events with friends last weekend.

Brian and I found a fabulous babysitter for Westley and attended a couples' wedding shower for our friends Rob and Courtney, who are getting married next month.



And then we picked up Westley and headed north to Salina, where we attended our friend Jill's surprise 40th birthday party at Martinelli's Italian restaurant.


Westley was too busy making eyes at his new friend to pay attention to the photo shoot.


They played together, and Westley shared a couple of his favorite reads: "That's Not My Lion" (an Usborne book) and "One Duck Stuck" by Phyllis Root.

We were exhausted from all of the celebrating, especially because Daylight Savings Time stole an hour from our weekend. But we wouldn't have missed the chance to celebrate with these friends. Congrats, Rob, Court & Jill!