My lucky charm

Westley is a genuine Irish baby, and March is the perfect time to shine. Just looking at him, though, makes me realize that I'm the lucky one.


The yellow and green afghan pictured is one my mother passed down to me when Westley was born. Her father's sister (my great-aunt) made it for her when I was born. It has matching booties, too.

Garden par-tay!

An annual birthday request of mine, Brian and I headed to the beautiful and magical Wichita Garden Show on Sunday. It was Westley's first time there, and we met up with my in-laws and friends Amy, Randy and baby Kira to explore the gardens-in-the-movies themed show. Such fun!

A few photos from the day:

Daddy and Westley by the "Up" garden.

Westley's new hat!

Babies Kira and Westley

Look at me!

Click to see additional photos from the day.

Dive in

About 15 of my friends new and old gathered at Mike's Wine Dive last night to help me celebrate my 32nd birthday. There were laughs, wine flights, S'mores and shout outs by the live musician, who announced to the wine bar that I was old. But he also remarked on the large group of people and said that I must be doing something right. I'd like to agree, based on the company.


My friend Amy, whose birthday also is March 9th, thanked me for gathering all my friends together just to celebrate her day. Aren't I a good friend?!


It was great to finally have some time to catch up with my KU journalism school friend Chris and his lovely wife Ashley, who moved to the Wichita area from Texas in August. After months of living here, Brian, Westley and I bumped into them at Cocoa Dolce late Saturday afternoon. We chatted for a little bit, and I told them that I highly recommended their Mayan Hot Chocolate (Brian and I had just shared an impromptu dessert-before-dinner snack there). Turns out, my friends were there to pick out a birthday gift for me! A few hours later, I opened a bottle of wine and a box of the Mayan Hot Chocolate. Loved it.

In addition to the Mayan Hot Chocolate, we also sampled a few chocolates, including the PB&J, Irish Cream and Coffee Spice. Wowzers. Westley was so cute and crawled around and interacted with a couple other kiddos there was we nibbled and sipped and chatted. It was spontaneous and relaxing and wonderful.

It was also part of a wonderful day that started with me climbing 134 stairs at the Y (my personal best to date), getting a haircut and style and a private fitting at Talbots, my favorite clothing store. After dessert, we grabbed dinner at nearby Il Vicino.

What a very sweet super sweet 16.

Click to see additional photos from the evening in my Facebook album.

Boys 101

For Christmas, my sweet and thoughtful hubby gave me a couple of books about raising boys. I'm currently reading "How Do You Tuck in a Superhero? And Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys" by Rachel Balducci. (Check out her delightful and fun blog Testosterhome.)

My brother is a decade older than me, so my childhood household was more "estrohome." (God bless Dad.) Yes, during the '90s, there was a long stretch of time when three teenage girls lived under one roof. Being two years apart, we were 13, 15 and 17 at the same time. (God bless us, every one.)

This hilarious, heartwarming and quirky collection of stories has served equally as an escape and a crash course. I've been reading it recently while burning calories on the YMCA stationary recumbent exercise bike.

Yes, fellow exercisers: I am that lady with her nose in a book snorting and giggling while you work up a sweat.

But I'm also that lady who fought back tears while reading this:

"The journey of motherhood centers on being the person God has chosen out of all humanity and space and time to care for these souls, these beings who will exist for all eternity."

Amen.

Westley and me, May 2010

Wagon trail

We seized the moment on a 60-plus early-March evening to take Westley and the pups on a stroll through the neighborhood. To keep the little one warm, I tied a blanket around his shoulders like a cape. He was cracking us up because he opened his arms and spread the blanket out behind him like a superhero a couple of times during our walk. That's how he rolls.

I love witnessing his sweet, fun, amazing personality emerge.

Lion or lamb?

I'm still trying to decide if my March has introduced itself as a lion or a lamb.

Baa:


My commute home is getting more beautiful by the week, one of the things I love about spring. The sun stays out longer, the weather starts to warm, the bulbs poke their heads from the earth, my spirit soars.

Spring has a new meaning to me this year as I recall this time last year, when I was preparing to meet my little Westley James.

Mom and I snuck away to Oklahoma one night this week. We drove about an hour south to meet Amanda at a Taco Bell just off the highway in Blackwell so we could return Toby, her dog, who Mom has been watching for her for a couple of weeks. It was great to laugh and chat for a little bit. When I returned home, Brian and I realized that the three-hour trip had been the first time I'd been in a different state than Westley.

A crew came to put our basement back together this week, and it's so nice for things to be a little more orderly.

Roar:

Westley developed a fever earlier this week, so we made an appointment with the pediatrician. Turns out he had a double ear infection and a sinus infection, so now he's on antibiotics. The scary and worrisome thing for me is that this is the third time he's had an ear infection in about the past six months. We're taking him to see an ear, nose and throat specialist soon (hopefully next week) so we can investigate the situation more closely. (Note to self: Deep breaths, Mama. Your baby will be OK.)

Farewell, February

A new blog banner (please direct those pretty eyes of yours upward) means a new month.

February 2011 was bittersweet to say the least.

I am trying not to be too hard on myself, though, as I breath a sigh of relief and welcome March.

Today (March 4th), after all, is a day to march forth.


March forth! March forth! March to the beat of a drum
March forth! March forth! To who you will become
Cause you never know
How this day will go
So you just have to march forth*

*Cheesy song I made up and sang to Westley on the way to daycare this morning.

Cause that's how Mommy rolls.