Pinterest Success! Framed Cork Board

With a stainless steel fridge, and not much in the way of a "command center" in our kitchen, I had been on the look-out for something so that we could use to display birth announcements, invitations, etc.  I had seen a cute framed cork board on the Ballard Designs site, but the dimensions and the price tag were not quite what I was looking for (close to $100!).  So, I took a look at Pinterest, and found a great tutorial on how to create one myself.  Here are the basics:

1.  Buy an inexpensive, but visually-appealing frame
2.  Buy a roll of cork (I found mine at Michael's for $14 or so - and it was self-adhesive, which was terrific)
3.  Buy/find primer & paint (spray paint didn't work well for me, but fortunately we had some primer and glossy white paint in our basement that did the trick!)
4.  Attach cork to cardboard backing of frame.
5.  Paint frame (covering the inside area)
6,  Let dry, then hang!

Voila!  So easy! Here is the finished product:

13.5 months old

 

Milestones:
Sleeping: Well, things were great till about 10 days ago. I think some teething, a stuffy nose, and fluid in the ears is throwing you off a bit.  We're now pushing 7:15ish bedtime (at which point you are just zonked out tired), but you're waking up earrrrrllllyyyy.....not like the usual 7am of months past.  This morning you woke up just shy of 6am.  There is a big difference between 6 and 7 in my book, and I am really hoping you'll go back to 7am wake-ups when you are feeling better!! (pretty please!)
Eating:  You love to eat.  You can sign "all done" and "eat," and most of the time you are signing "eat."  (admittedly, sometimes you are doing "eat" with one hand and "all done" with the other, so we have to work on that some more!)  I need to step up my cooking game this month to give you a wider variety of foods.
Clothing Size: Totally depends on the brand.....usually in the 18 month range.
Diapers: Size 4
Teeth:  4!  2 top teeth, 2 bottom teeth.....but plenty more starting to think about popping up!
Language:  You still love to say "Dada," "Mama," and "Dog."  We've also heard "All Done," "Yea," "Hi, " and "Daisy" -- and lots of gibberish that we don't understand quite yet!  This month you started saying "Ball" and something that seems to be "Lilly."  You snort when the dogs bark -- as if snorting and barking means you and the dogs are communicating.  I think if you could be a dog you would.  You love chasing balls, you lay in their dog beds, you love playing in water (though we do our best to keep you from their dog bowls), and you just love to cuddle and lay on the dogs whenever you can.  Lilly thinks it's awesome, Daisy is not so sure.
Etc: We traveled to WI this month.  You went to your first professional baseball game (Cardinals v. Braves).  You really enjoy playing with all of the neighbor kids.  Summer weather has started here, and the sprinkler has been running for the kids, and we've set up the water table that your Uncle Donnie and Aunt Leslie sent us for your birthday.  You think it's tons of fun!

Peony Season

Peony season has brought us a real bounty of beautiful platter-sized blooms this year!  We have vases and vases of flowers in our kitchen, our bathrooms, and on the front hall.  Our house smells peony-licious, and I love having fresh flowers from our garden everywhere!  The hydrangeas are up next :)

Celebrating Moms

We celebrated today by going to the Cardinals vs. Braves game.  It was my first Cards game (and Logan's first too!).  He was a real trooper....and we were pretty adventurous ourselves as it was right during his naptime.  Fortunately, we were in a big suite so he was able to run around and there was plenty of food too, which was nice.  

I feel like I really earned my "Mom stripes" this past week.  Scott was out of town for four days, and in that time I had a horrible stomach flu, Logan threw up all night one night (poor baby - I hate when he is sick - it just hurts my heart), and even one of the dogs managed to have some stomach issues.  Being a mom is a role that I am honored and blessed to have, and I put every ounce of energy I have into making every day a great one for my sweet baby.  It is rewarding, fun, fulfilling, and all-encompassing.  It is also exhausting -- especially in those rare instances when I've been sick but still need to care for Logan.  It does take a village -- and I am so grateful for SB and how wonderful a father and husband he is. 

I feel like my thoughts here are scattered, but the message I want to share is that I have so much respect for all moms out there.  Being a mom is one of the toughest jobs around -- tougher than I ever thought prior to becoming a mom.  There is no "off" moment.  You are on 24/7 - and your performance matters 24/7.  I am lucky to have lots of wonderful moms in my life -- my own mom, my sister, my friends who are moms, our great neighbors who are moms (and help to answer so many of my mom questions!).  So here's to moms everywhere -- wishing you a very happy Mother's Day 2012!!

Wisco Weekend

We enjoyed a long weekend at my parents' house in Wisconsin this past weekend.  We drove up Friday morning, and returned Sunday afternoon.  I am loving the fact that we are driving distance from my family.  It's about a 5.5-6 hour drive, but it is the closest I have lived to my family since I went away to college.  One of my good friends from high school got married, and we had a great time at the wedding festivities.  Here's a little pre-ceremony shot right before we left Logan in my parents' care for the evening:

It was drizzly, and my hair frizzed up the second that I stepped outside.  I think I need to learn how to "do" my hair for special events.  Maybe a set of big curlers is in my future?

Some additional highlights from the weekend:

• Spaghetti dinner on Friday night with my parents and 4/5 of my sister's family
• 5 mile run with my sister (she logged a total of 10 miles as she is preparing for a Memorial Day 1/2 marathon!!)
• An early Mother's Day celebration/Sunday breakfast with my parents, and my sister's whole family
• Seeing all of my old high school friends!  We are spread across the country, so it is always a treat to hang out with them :)