my boy is 2!

we have been excited to celebrate the littlest one in the house. Adrian turned 2 yesterday and he got a photo shoot. we are gonna party hard this weekend with a monkey themed party. Patrick made some killer felt banana invites and envelopes. i can't wait for the festivities to begin!

blunders

since adrian has been walking, he is now mastering turning around, bending over to pick things up, and such.  today, my best friend from high school had a baby shower.  i went with my other best friend from high school and adrian.  he was hilarious.  we had quite the fiasco in the bathroom when mommy discovered there was no water coming out of the faucet other than a trickle after i soaped up.  so it took me about 2 minutes to rinse my hands.  meanwhile, adrian begins to play in the toilet.  ahhh, joy.  and before i can get a wipe out once we are outside the bathroom, he is sticking his hands in my friend, maggie's mouth!  wow!  also, he made a major face plant in the front yard in the mud, because it had just stormed.  he is still a little wobbly in grass on a hill.  when i picked him up, i almost peed in my pants from laughing so hard.  he was spitting mud out of his mouth.  these are the good reasons to have kids.  they lighten us up!

wedding weekend

it was a beautiful day for a wedding.  wasn't sure in the morning when a massive thunderstorm passed through, but it cleared to a perfect day.  my friend, mary and i drove to montgomery to our dear friend, marie's, mama's house.  my friend, marie, had met billy over the internet, on myspace.  he lives in the u.k.  they have had a wonderful relationship of writing each other, talking to each other via webcam, and flying back and forth to visit when they could for 2 years now.  they are perfect for each other in every way.  i am so happy marie found someone who loves her the way she is, not the way they want her to be.  i have known her for 10 years now, and it is wonderful to see her so happy and in love.  they finally tied the knot on saturday.  it was a beautiful ceremony in the old house.  her mama was there, as well as her 3 siblings.  they are such a lovely couple, and of course i wish them well.  she is moving to the u.k. to live with him.  i am going to miss her, but we will keep in touch with a little help from the internet.  

blue phrog art gallery grand opening

so, here we are at the grand opening of the new art gallery in town.  so excited to be a part of it all.  my friends, phil and suzanne have really created a beautiful spot.  wish them well, of course.  and lots of sales... of mine and my husbands work!  this shows patrick sold a piece opening night.  how fortunate!  my big beautiful camera is on display too.  

party down (finally)

so we finally had the party.  it was all that i hoped it would be.  although, next time, i will keep it just to the family, i think.  it was great to have all my friends and all my family there together, but it was a lot of people!  more than what my tiny cottage can comfortably hold.  34 people, i think.  it may have been more.  but it was great.  and adrian had a great time.  he is such a social beast.  and the cake, well, he ate it up, of course.  none in the hair, though.  better to clean him up afterward.  and all the wonderful gifts that everyone brought.  the slinky dog... awesome, i cannot believe they still make those.  and the mega blocks, always a winner.  the rockin' piano was also a hit.  but the brain mold for future jello projects is the winner.  jess marie, you did it again.  you always give the best presents.  thanks to all.  you are such sweet friends.  how did i get blessed with so many?  the orange gerber daisies definitely tied things together in the color dept.  also, the mobile i made at work, using the computerized mat cutter was awesome.  the animals were super cute.  and publix, with the help of my husband, did a fab job with the cake.  i was still a little sore with them for not wanting to use my imagery from the adorable ikea napkins i bought last pilgrimage.  but i think they did all right, and patrick finished it off with the extra icing they packed for me (for free).  if you ask, they will do it.  the water bird whistles were a huge success.  although i have a few left over.  maybe craigslist? again, happy birthday to adrian vega.  hope your day was memorable and all your dreams came true....

birthday bash postponed

so, i took adrian to the doctor for his 1 year check-up and he had an ear infection and a bad cold.  i had to make that call yesterday and i decided to postpone his birthday for another week.  it sucks, but i want all to enjoy, including my son.  

first birthday party planning

i have officially abandoned the monkey/banana theme.  i found these rad napkins at ikea and am using these to base the whole party off of.  crazy, eh?  i am going to publix to see if they can make a cake with at least 2 or 3 animals on this napkins and fill the rest in with mushrooms.  FUN!  ordered party favors the other night that are water-bird whistles.  so cute!  it's on!

juniper's first birthday!

we celebrated juniper claire's first birthday yesterday.  she is going to marry adrian one day, for those of you who don't know.  she just turned 1!  we all had a blast, especially the kids.  looking forward to planning adrian's birthday next month.  i think we may have a monkey theme.  i already have some invites in mind - to make, of course.  Bananas!  we'll see.

my birthday

my birthday has a whole new meaning this year.  i actually know firsthand what it is to give birth, and 31 years ago my mother gave me life.  what a gift to give another!  i am so blessed to be on this earth - to be given life and to give life.  what an amazing journey i have had.  what amazing friends i have that they all come to celebrate with me!  thanks everyone for coming and sharing your lives with me.  anne, these cupcakes were divine!  photo taken with my new wrap from India from Meg.  beautiful!

the poachers party

went to artwalk saturday in downtown birmingham.  didn't show this year, neither did patrick.  we've been sorta busy with the kid and all.  anyhoo, met one of patrick's students down there and brought him back to montevallo for the evening.  the poachers played at eclipse coffee and books that evening and they were fantastic.  patrick's student is on foreign exchange from b.c. canada.  it was cool to have him come stay with us and hang.  we were hanging out being porch monkeys when this was taken of jess marie, walker and adrian vega.  walker is also a cool cat, who plays gigs himself.  he is 13 and can play a mean guitar.  think bob dylan meets bo diddley.  he's real good and an example of what good montessori can do.  his mom, jess is pretty cool too. she heads up the major art festivals in birmingham.  good friends...

happy baby

katie's shower for baby was this afternoon.  so sweet to see baby things in the presence of other women.  this is truly a female event, as the awwing is too much.  brought adrian and he was a dream.  he is such a content child.  happy to play wherever.  even when we took him into the rainstorm last night to my friend becca's surprise 30th birthday party, he did not whine.  he stayed up way too late and had such a grand time on the laps of the partygoers.  such a trooper.  glad he is so well adjusted to whatever life puts in front of him.  i should learn so much from him.  

the wedding

lee and amanda got hitched this weekend!  man, I am so happy for those sweet folks.  i wish the best for them, i really do.  patrick finished stitching the guest book right after the ceremony finished.  he really likes to cut it close.  adrian was an angel through the whole thing.  ashley held him most of the time.  she would make a great ma!  anyhoo, beautiful ceremony in the garden and emotional too.  darn lee's brother makin' everyone cry....  happy life to us all! amen.

birthday celebrations

we just celebrated patrick's 34th birthday. he's so old.  anyway, spent last night at my family's house eating traditional birthday dinner fare - lasagna and cake.  adrian fussed about my putting a birthday hat on his head.  he is teething again and in the evening he has just had it.  i really wanted a photo - and finally got one.  not very good.  just before the meltdown.  funny how things can be fine one minute and completely fall apart the next.  parenthood is unpredictable.