Signs of spring

Our flowers are beginning to cheer up our yard, further proof that the earth is waking from its winter slumber.


Meet Gnorme, our garden gnome. We adopted him at the Wichita Garden Show earlier this month.

Birthday treats

I as such a blessed woman. Recent case-in-point: My family and friends have made my birthday a wonderful celebration. Take a look:


My coworker Eba brought in two dozen doughnuts from my favorite doughnut place, Donut Whole. (It's where I celebrated my birthday last year.) I loved sampling a few of the treats, including the buttered popcorn variety. YUM! Peggy, another coworker, baked me a delicious chocolate cake. I was on a wonderful sugar high.


Brian bought me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers.


He also surprised me with these adorable Scrabble-inspired pillows to represent our little family. He pointed out that the point values for our initials add to up equal Westley's. Fitting, isn't it. Scrabble is one of our favorite games, and we're playing a tournament series right now. Brian's ahead 7-6. I'm plotting my revenge.

Snow: My little snowbaby

Before:

Westley, warm and comfy in his car seat after daycare. (This snuggly car seat cover been a smart investment this winter.)


I love the above photo, which Brian snapped while Westley and I watched him photograph the snow. Then we switched off so I could take the pictures I shared in my post previous posts. While I was outside, Brian surprised me by bundling Westley up for a brief trip outside.

He seemed to enjoy the snow more than the first time he experienced it:

Snow: The yard

February saw its second snowstorm in chilly ICT, canceling school, setting a new record low and blanketing our humble abode in a fluffy beautiful white blanket. A few scenes from our backyard:

Baby games

Another to-do on the child-proofing checklist: Find a new home for our boardgames. For years, we've stacked them on the first shelf of the living room armoire. I'm thinking that might be a better place now for baskets of books and baby toys. Case in point:


Do you think Westley's trying to tell us he's mad? Or that he wants to hurry up and learn how to gab?

Not a fan

But I am a fan of this fan, which helped dry out our damp basement.

The past couple of weeks have been a bit of a challenge for our household.

Our dear, sweet water heater tank decided to stop cooperating with us and cried crocodile tears all over our basement. An emergency water restoration crew visit and a home insurance claim later, we're still trying to put the pieces back together. That will continue this afternoon when we venture out to Lowe's to pick out some new flooring for our bathroom. I think it's going to be several weeks before things are back to normal. Sigh.

Then our sweet little Pumpkin got an ear infection, which yielded scary-high temperatures, which led to another visit to the doctor, which led to a chest x-ray, blood tests, a pneumonia diagnosis and lots of medicine. It was stressful and worrisome and heartbreaking and exhausting. But after lots of love and attention from some smart medical professionals and Mommy and Daddy, Westley is on the mend.


Then, two days after my car got stuck in a snowdrift (twice!) after a mess of a blizzard, it decided not to start. A tow and a new battery and oil change later, it's awaiting its homecoming this afternoon.

There are two things I am very, very grateful for right now: insurance (home, medical and auto!) and a savings account. We are blessed to be in a position in life to have these buffers. It's been a headache with them. I can't imagine being without.

Chore time

I wonder if he'll be as eager to help in, oh, about 15 years ...

Why do we even buy beds?!

Here is the cat bed. Where is the cat?


Here is the cat, but where is the baby?


Here is the dog bed, but where is the dog?


Here is the dog, but where is the baby?


The baby is in Daddy's arms, right where he belongs.

Toys at rest

This is how we do still life art these days.

Santa must have thought that Westley was a very, very good boy this year. I've been joking with my friends that it's amazing how one Christmas can turn a perfectly respectable couple's family room into a playroom. The last two weeks have taught us the importance of evening pickups, especially when you include Dakota and Lilly's toys in the mix.

We wouldn't have it any other way.

On Shutterbug Rebels: A more artistic look at one of Westley's new favorite toys.

Our baby's first ornaments

Westley was a very lucky little boy and received three "Baby's First" ornaments for Christmas. (Grandma Buselt and Ann & Jeremey also gave him very sweet ones that we'll hang next year.) The one we picked for him and put in his stocking Christmas morning is the Classic Pooh one pictured above (Pooh Bear is sitting on an alphabet block). We thought this paid perfect homage to his sweet Classic Pooh-themed nursery that we planned and decorated together starting about a year ago.

Also pictured above my "Baby's First" ornament, the 1979 Hallmark green stocking in the lower left corner. Brian's is the 1978 ball in the upper right of the photo. We intentionally hung them near each other this year and may have to do that again. I like the symbolism.

When I was growing up, my sisters and I received a dated Hallmark ornament in our stockings each year. That way we amassed a beautiful and meaningful collection for our own tree, whenever we started our own Christmas. I loved the tradition, and Brian and I plan to do the same for Westley.

Speaking of Christmas ornaments, Brian and I have decided that we need to take down our tree tonight. That's simultaneously disappointing and a relief. Yep. Must be early January.

On Shutterbug Rebels: A peek at one of my more sophisticated Christmas ornaments

September highlights

What a fun, wonderful month. In addition to all of the things I've posted about, here are some other highlights from the month:

Nine years!

On Sept. 1, Brian and I celebrated our nine-year wedding anniversary with dinner at Sabor. With little Westley in the picture, we're betting that this will be our best year yet. Cheers to that!


Here, kitty, kitty, kitty


Meow Meow (and Brian) weren't huge fans, but a pretty little orange boy kitty crashed in our garage a few nights earlier this month. When Meow Meow first spotted the kitten in our garage one evening, she started growling territorially. I could barely hear Westley fussing over Meow Meow's protests.

One morning, Dakota and Lilly scared "Butterscotch" up into our front silver maple tree. Recognizing the photo opp, I ran inside to grab my camera (see photo above). The neighbor saw us and asked if that was our new cat. Simultaneously, I said "Yes!" and Brian said, "No!"

The cat really started annoying Brian one day. We had left the garage door cracked so he could come and go as he pleased (and access the food and water we set out for him). One Sunday morning Brian called me and said, "This is why we can't have nice things." I looked in the garage, and a black-and-white kitty was perched on the roof of my car. Sigh. We joked that Butterscotch had brought a friend to the breakfast buffet. I'm happy to report that the skinny stray has a new home. I get occasional updates on him from a sweet little girl at the bus stop.

Workouts

I am so happy to be back on an exercise routine. Brian watches Westley for me on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for a bit so I can get to the YMCA. I often meet my friend Nicole there, but the chance to burn 300 or so calories and clear my mind for a little bit is so refreshing and rejuvenating.

11:11

I see 11:11 -- both in morning and at night -- all of the time. This may mean something. Or not.

Hail

We had one hail of a hail storm that dropped softball-sized hailstones on our side of town. Here's a hailstone that fell on our driveway. The storm damaged both of our cars, and I'm betting that I may need a new windshield. We're going to have an insurance adjuster come take a look at the wheels and the roof of the house.

Tenants wanted

Nice young married couple with a little one on the way seeks kind feathered friends. Free room and board available. Must not mind romping pups who may sound intimidating but just want to play. Inquire within.

Fantastic flora

Spring is smiling on our gardens. These are all bulbs and perennials that have returned for a visit:

Strokes of brilliance

While I've been working away on a quilt for Roo, Brian has rediscovered his watercolor skills and is working on a series of paintings for the nursery. When finished, they'll hang in spaces Brian already has painted and framed in the baby's room.

Nursery news

The newest addition to our nursery is a Dutailier glider we received for Christmas. (It was a special order, so we didn't actually have it until late February.) It's quite comfy, and I'm sure we'll log many hours in it in just two months' time.

Here comes spring

Being an amateur photographer is always fun during seasonal transitions. A few recent photos:

Frost on our backyard hedges, Feb. 21

Emerging crocus and tulip flowers in our front yard, March 2 (by Brian)



Dawn, March 5

Keeper of the Plains, March 5

Cat cushion

Meow Meow loves to hide behind our living room couch cushion. It's times like this I'm glad we own several types of pet hair removal products.

A peek inside the nursery

Baby B.'s furniture (from Munire's Essex Collection) arrived last week, and Brian & I have been having a blast setting up the room. We bought the crib mattress and have (we hope, with the help of a squirt bottle) trained Meow Meow to stay out of it. (We did catch her taking several unwelcome naps in the crib, looking mighty cozy.)


Lots of beautiful and sentimental Classic Pooh items decorate the nursery. We were given many of the items at Christmas by thoughtful and generous friends and family.

Here are some photos of Roo's room:












Obviously not Classic Pooh-themed, but Brian & I did add two little stuffed puppy dogs to Roo's room. Can you guess who inspired the addition?