Category: Holiday

A Day for Dads

by Ashley filed under Holiday

Hooper has a new favorite word: “Papa”. It’s asked as a question of sorts in the morning: “Papa?” To which I normally answer, “Papa’s at work”, and Hooper proclaims, “ka” (aka “work”). He then ventures out of his room and proceeds to survey the house, leading me to the closed bedroom door where he once again questions “Papa?”. I open the door to prove he’s not there and then it’s on to something else. It’s no wonder he’s taken to the guy. I’m pretty smitten with him too. Hooper, soon-to-be-Van, and I… were lucky folks. I wonder when the transition will occur that our boys want nothing to do with me and everything to do with their too-cool-for-school dad. And when it does occur, looking in from the outside really won’t be so bad if it means peering in these two (soon to be three)…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Father’s Day, Papa. Fatherhood sure looks good on you. Watching you as the man of the house really ruffles my feathers in the best kinda way. I love you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And an extended Happy Father’s Day to my own dad, who will always be the man I measure others against.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing all the dad’s out there a very special Father’s Day. Now man up and go do the dishes.Click To Vote For Us @ Top Baby Blogs Directory!

Father’s Day Philanthropy

by Ashley filed under Holiday

From left to right, top to bottom:
Vintage deer head belt buckle from Etsy seller Ago2Go
Midcentury brass ship from Etsy seller Zuzashop
Creedence concert poster from Etsy seller Weisbaden49
Leather wallet from Etsy seller Joevleather
Vintage deer antlers from Etsy seller TheRetroBottega
Eames era bookends from Etsy seller AcesFindsVintage

 

Mother’s Day Recap

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
Mother’s Day morning started with sun shining through our window and birds chirping. Sounds dreamy, right? It was. Willy rolled over and reached to the side of his bed and handed me a beautiful handmade card with the most lovely words inside. 

 

I felt special instantly. I unwrapped my gift and was pleasantly surprised to be the new owner of this lovely vintage dress (It appeared on my Mother’s Day gift guide here). I added it to my post pregnancy prize pack. 

 

Then I heard the sweetest little “Ma-ma” spoken over the monitor. Willy and I rolled out of bed to find this little monster standing in his crib, ready to go.

 

We listened to some music while we got ready for the day and headed off to brunch at a restaurant nestled back in the Simi Valley hills with extended family. Hooper wiggled his way from person to person, entertaining everyone with a captivating game of peek-a-boo. When we arrived back home at noon, well past his usual nap time, we put Hooper down. It took him quite a while to fall asleep, but sleep he did. He didn’t make another peep until almost five o’clock. I had the luxury of taking a long nap myself, which I think my body really needed. I have a feeling the baby has dropped as I’ve been having a significant increase in pressure and have since adopted the well-known pregnancy waddle. So yes, it was nice to rest. When we were all awake, we headed to Lowes to pick out some plants.
Willy agreed to take some photos of Hooper and I without any hesitation. Another mother’s day gift. Unfortunately, a little someone did not want to cooperate. 

 

This looks like a cute mother-son photo where the son wants to be lifted up into his mama’s arms, right?
Not the case. He’s crying because he wants to sit in the drivers seat of the car and play with all the buttons and steering wheel. This is his new favorite thing. 

 

I tried explaining to him that today was Mother’s Day and that his mama really wanted a couple nice photos with him. 
He then told me that if I wanted photos with him, that I’d have to chase him. So, I did.
And this was the result: Mama holding a crying toddler. Well, I tried. 
Even Papa tried. 
Nothing worked.
So I took a picture by myself instead.
I snapped a few shots of Hooper on his giraffe (I’ll share the rest soon) and we called it a wrap.
We capped the day off with dinner out, put Hooper to bed, and stayed up and watched a movie. It was lovely.

 

How was your Mother’s Day? What did you do?

Mother’s Day

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
Last year was my first Mother’s Day with a baby in hand. It felt like my birthday. Not because I got lots of gifts, though I did get a few special ones, but because I woke up with that same excitement in knowing that the day was not only special, but special for me. And getting to share the day with all the other woman that make the same sacrifices and share the same struggles feels really special. Mother’s Day has become my new favorite holiday and that little boy just waking now in his crib and that little munchkin fluttering about in my belly are the reasons why. My husband and my boys are my world and today is a day for me to reflect on just how lucky and fortunate I am.
I have a few special little tidbits to share. Interspersed are some of my favorite photos of me and my little guy from his first year. Let’s get started!
An article published in Market Watch determined an average of what stay-at-home-moms would make if they were paid an annual salary for their work. That’s right, stay-at-home-moms check your mailboxes for that annual check of $113,000 for your 95 hours of work per week. Working moms can add $67,000 to their annual salaries for the additional work they do when they come home from work. Score! If only…
Next I’d like to share a wonderful “Letter to Motherhood” written by the beautiful Melissa of Dear Baby. She also writes for Babble and she posted this sweet letter some time ago. I’ve come back to it many times because it’s just so beautifully and perfectly stated. She writes:
What is motherhood but the very best chance to learn what you are made of? It will strip you down to nothing. Make you doubt yourself a thousand times. And it will make you roar with a fierceness you’ve never before seen. It will search your heart for your greatest fears and the bravest of all your intentions and set them out on display.
It breaks you. It saves you. It steals the girl you were. All of her. You’ll never sleep like her or be as carefree as she once was, but she’d never believe the courage or the selflessness she’ll one day possess in you. Motherhood replaces her with someone who understands love on a level the girl you were never could.
It’s okay to sometimes wish you could go back and live a day in her shoes. A day to bask in the decadence of irresponsibility. But if she could look forward: If she could see herself tested, how her fears have been faced, how the question “Am I strong enough to survive this?” is answered with a resounding yes, time after time. She’d feel damn proud to become the woman that awaits her.
Beautifully written, right? I couldn’t agree with her words more.

 

 

 

 

And lastly, The Giving Tree Movie, spoken by Shel Silverstein in 1973. This has always been one of my favorite books from childhood, but I’ve never been able to fully relate to it until now. Because now, as a mother, I am the giving tree. I feel like gifting each mother a nice big bucket of water to keep their leaves bountiful and their roots growing. So yes, water yourselves this Mother’s day. We all deserve it.
And a special Happy Mother’s Day wish to my own mother who always lends an open ear and always helps me keep things in perspective. I love you, mom!

 

A Birthday Card for “Nina”

by Ashley filed under Holiday, Hooper
Hooper eats crayons. Sure, he proceeds to spit out the wax particles but it doesn’t stop him from sticking that colorful stick in his mouth every time we go to a restaurant. That is, until we went out the other night and the waiter handed him a couple colored pencils. He attempted to take a bite, it didn’t work out, and I think he even made a line or two on the paper. What an invention those colored pencils are.
It was my mom’s birthday on Cinco de Mayo, so I broke out a few colored pencils I had in the drawer in hopes he’d draw a little something in her card. Instead, he was more interested with taking the pencils out of the container and then putting them back in. The word “interested”, by the way, is a complete and utter understatement. Check it out for yourself, the boy was absolutely enthralled. Dead concentration caught on film, or that little disc thing we call a memory card. 
As a side note, Willy and I took my parents out that night to Cafe Bizou in Sherman Oaks (highly recommended to anyone in the area) and ran into Chuck McCann, the man who does nearly all the voices in animation and television. He had us going coo-coo for coco puffs in no time. He was an instant hit with Hooper and Willy and through their frequent trips outside to play, these three became quite smitten with each other.

Mother’s Day Madness

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
A wee little gift guide for all the lovely mommy’s out there and a reminder to all the Papa’s and kiddos that Mother’s Day is a week away…
a. vintage pot holders // b. bambi wall hanging // c. vintage woven bag // d. owl canister // e. vintage afgan throw // f. yellow sun dress // g. ray bans h. embroidered necklace // i. orange ring // j. vintage mom mug // k. vintage book // l. blocked planter

Salsa & Beer

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
Happy Cinco de Mayo. Hope you all are spending this beautiful Saturday with a chilled Corona and some homemade salsa. I have a few things to share, starting with this photo of Hooper @ 22 weeks in his “No Hablo” onesie. Want a onesie similar? You can find one here or here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also put together a special Cinco de May edition of Mamas & Tykes:
Girl: Mexican dress // Fringed moccasins  Mama: Mexican dress // Leather handbag // Vintage leather sandals
Boy: Vintage Alamo T-shirt // Camo shorts // Sandals
And lastly, I’d like to wish a very Happy Birthday to that hot woman on the surf board. I love you, mom.

 

A Vintage Easter

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
Here are some vintage Easter/Spring outfits for the kiddos that I’m swooning over. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Lishyloo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Oliver’s Forest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Oliver’s Forest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Fibbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Twitch Tots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Twitch Tots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller 1 Sweet Dream Vintage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Alma Vintage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Miskabelle Vintage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Nap Time Makings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Hart & Sew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Toadstool Vintage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Blue Bird Lucy’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Blue Bird Lucy’s

 

Letters of Love

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday, Hooper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Hooper,
I saw you in your papa’s arms last night and couldn’t help but comment on just how big you have gotten. People say it time and time again, but really, where does the time go? It seemed crazy to me when I first found out you were going to be a big brother. You were still such a baby. But just in a few months, you’ve changed. You’ve grown. And I don’t know where my baby went.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing sweeter than watching you change and develop. I know now why parents can only engage in conversation about their children. I also still know why this is annoying, and thus I hold back in sharing every little detail of your development. You are all that is on my mind, all I want to talk about. You are the reason for the smile on my face, the reason I plan ahead, the reason my life has so much purpose and meaning. 
But you are not my baby anymore. You are a boy. A beautiful boy. My boy.
Happy Valentines Day mi amor,
Mama
P.S. Below is a picture of your Papa and I just before we got married. We were in Panama gazing at the beauty that surrounded us and busy planning what was then our future and is now our present.

 

♥ Valentines ♥

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
Things I’m loving for this coming Valentine’s Day:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

source 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

 

The Dirty Thirty

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
Willy’s birthday started off with breakfast in bed, then some present opening, followed by a relaxing morning of watching sports center and working in the yard. His parents flew in later and we celebrated with a nice dinner out at a local Italian restaurant. The next day we went over to a friends house for a BBQ. Then we continued the celebration on Superbowl Sunday. It was a fun-filled weekend with family and friends.   Hope you had a lovely weekend as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Years Resolutions

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
…In no particular order.
1. Start a stretch/workout routine. And by routine I mean stretching and working out routinely. Not a today I have the energy but tomorrow I won’t kinda thing… I mean a real dedicated I don’t feel like it but I’m do it anyway kinda routine. When I was pregnant with Hooper I started a prenatal yoga class at 9 weeks and went all the way through to 38 weeks or so, until I was just humiliated that I hadn’t given birth yet and had no ounce of desire to show up with a still pregnant belly week after week. Now I have Hooper and no way of making it to a class with this little rascal running around. So yes, perhaps a stretching and working out routine during nap time.

2. Eat healthier. Are these already sounding like cliche resolutions? I mean doesn’t 24 hour fitness make like 80% of their years profit in January. Okay, I’m making things up, but yes, I am fully aware that these first two resolutions are probably 90% of the general populations goals. With the absence of nausea and the days of food aversions behind me, I really have no excuse to hold on to. In fact, I have the best excuse to fully commit myself: I’m growing a human. What better reason than that to trade in french fries for some whole wheat something or other?

3. Buy a new home. A bigger one. With room to grow. To raise kids and live happily ever after. We’re constantly working toward and saving for and figuring out some way to make this a reality. I hope this year it comes to fruition. There’s actually one home in particular we’ve been eyeing… But it relies on many things falling in place.

4. Visualize a healthy home birth and seek support from positive, educated, and encouraging individuals.

5. Keep the house cleaner. I swear I try. I swear I clean constantly. I also swear because this place is always messy. I should also resolve to swear less. Hooper is quite the mimic these days.

6. Continue blogging. I love documentation in all forms. I have a couple old journals and thousands of photographs that tell a broken story and I have a detailed baby book documenting Hooper’s first year. I want something that continues the story without collecting dust in a cluttered closet.

7. Take more small trips. This kinda contradicts #3, right? I’ve thrown out propositions for impromptu trips to Nicaragua or another vacation to Hawaii. Then we think of resolution #3. And I put my backpack back in the closet. But that’s not to say we can’t take a weekend drive and stop along the way or pull that tent out of the garage. We camped a lot before Hooper was born and have yet to return to the woods for fear it’ll be more work than play. But I think Hooper’s just getting to the age where he will enjoy frolicking about. Better squeeze in as much as we can until July, when our camping days will once again be numbered.

8. Find new recipes for dinners. Mostly because Willy will love the fact that this requires me to try something new. I’m a picky eater, you see. And I hate things mixed. I was that kid that whined when my chicken touched my potato. I try harder each year to resolve this. And I am better. I swear.

9. Do something different with my hair. Dye it? New style? Bangs? Anyone have any ideas? I’m bored to all hell with these strands hanging from my head.

10. I saved my most cliche resolution for last. To love and live as much as possible because in the whole scheme of things, life is pretty short. I had the privilege of caring for a patient yesterday that reminded me of this.

What are some of your resolutions?
source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4, source 5, source 6, source 7, source 8, source 9, source 10, source 11, source 12, source 13

Old Pics for the New Year

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday, Hooper
Everyone tells you how fast time seems to fly when you get older. The speed seems to pick up somewhere in the mid-twenties and before you know it, you’re thirty and marveling at how fast the last ten years have gone. Childhood doesn’t seem to do us any favors in this category. Doesn’t it seem like childhood moved at snails pace? I remember summer vacations seemingly lasting forever. Now each day rolls into the next and with no distinguishable break, time just keeps on a’ truckin’.
When you have a baby, everyone tells you how fast they grow and change. These same people remind you to enjoy it. To soak it all in. But the truth is, I spent the last year enjoying our family and soaking in all the changes and excitement and well, it just isn’t enough. What they don’t tell is no matter how much you relish in the moment, the moments pass too quickly.
I imagine the sock monster that hides in the dryer and devotes his life to rearranging pairs of cotton booties must also hide behind clocks and play with those little dials when we’re not looking.
Because time moves too fast.
This past year, I’ve watched my baby grow into a boy. He started the year as a googly eyed bobble head and is closing the year out as a bull in a china shop with a mind all his own. See, it’s not only that time goes fast, it’s also that within a short amount of time a lot of change takes place. Imagine learning to roll, sit, crawl, walk, and run all in the same year. Imagine going from breastfeeding to spoon feeding yourself. A child’s development is incredible.
Anyway, here’s some of my favorite Hooper shots from 2011. I better put my running shoes on in 2012 if I have any aspirations of capturing the blur that is to be next year. And trust me, I do have aspirations.
Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A California Christmas

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
I woke up early Christmas morning. I suppose there was a smidgen of residual excitement left over from childhood. Anticipation of pulling back the covers, feeling the cool winter air, and stepping out to the family room with bed head intact to admire all the packages awaiting to be opened under the tree. Only this year we don’t have a tree. Not a real one anyway. A tinsel tree. Because we have a one year old that will grab, pull, and potentially eat all those tiny pine needles. And also a dog that’s scared of just about, well, just about everything. There was no cool winter air either, I think it was in the upper 70’s here in sunny SoCal.
Back to waking up early.
It was 7:30am and I peeked over at Willy. I saw him itch his chinny chin chin and thought ah-ha!, he’s awake!… So I gave his shoulder a little tickle. He pulled his pillow over his face and gave me a sarcastic and ever-so-cute buh humbug. I chuckled, laid there for a few more moments, and reflected on just how lucky I am.
This Christmas I am incredibly grateful for this little family we’ve made. A loving husband and an always entertaining little boy. They are my purpose in life. My constant reminders of what’s beautiful and meaningful.
There may not be a real tree, but there is real love in this little home of ours this Christmas morning.
Here’s a few photos from our day, though it should be aforementioned I’m not the best at photographing holidays. I like to enjoy them 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Side note: I know you’re wondering about those festive sneakers. Those are my grandma’s and they are nothing short of ffffaaaannnntastic. She’s upset because they “don’t make them anymore”. My Christmas gift to her next year: a recreation. I’ll be stocking up on snazzy jewels and glue. 
How did you spend your Christmas?

The Highchair Series, The Jolly Edition

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday, Hooper, Photography

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Really mom? Another photo shoot in my highchair? Can I go play?




































I guess it’s kinda silly since I have this Santa hat on n’ all…

What’s Sarah doing over there?

Any chance you can crop my nipples out of this one mom?

Oh dear Lord, help me.

Fine. I submit.

Wait a second! Wait just a second!




































I have hands. I can take this thing off.

Shoots over.

Dear Santa… Mama & Papa Edition

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
I’m not gonna lie… It was much easier to put together a Christmas list for Hooper. It’s funny how thinking about ourselves becomes an afterthought when you become a mom or dad. I mean look at our list… It has something for the dog and a trash can. Yes, a trash can for goodness sakes! Anyway, this is all we can muster up…

1. Denver Nuggets retro jersey
2. Double trash can (We have a bear, named Hooper, that has been getting into the recycling bin. Non. Stop.) source
3. Led Zeppelin’s House of the Holy & Grateful Dead’s The Best Of, both on Vinyl
4. Vintage glasses from Etsy seller Vintagerous
5. Canon 24-70mm f.2.8… Let a girl dream… source
6. Dog bowl from Etsy seller ModPet
7. Tool chest (Can’t wait to get some of the tools out of the office desk drawers)
8. Gap Skinny Maternity Jeans source
9. Bullet Planter source
10. Not pictured: A new kitchen and a beautifully landscaped backyard would be peeeeeeerrrfect.