the great catch-up

Lots of gifts have come in since the last time I updated you on the ongoing flow of love from the blog shower. I know I'm leaving some things out. It's not intentional, I promise.
Charlotte made some wonderful art for the room...


including this wonderful sunshine clock. Baby looks for it every time he gets his diaper changed (uh, something like 22 times aday!)

Two wonderful friends sent these fabulous animal cars, Danielle and Shelly...

(Danielle and Shelly, please don't worry that we got two sets. We love them so much and we're happy to have a double-set!)

I thought you might like to see a behind the scenes photo showing just how hard it was to get that photo. Baby's been waiting to get his hands on the cars for weeks!

Becky sent us a beautiful green suitcase packed full with love...including this felt banner which has a new home between the two birds... And some fun crafting supplies that we've put away for an older friend.

or maybe not?

Becky also sent these two, Baby's favorite couple, Puppy Dog and Kitty Cat.
She sent a set of circus animal finger puppets that Baby just adores. He squeals whenever he sees them. I pack them in the diaper bag for special times (like doctor's appointments) when he might get a bit fussy.

My friend Debbie gave us this sweet Ducky... Jenny and Aaron sent this happy picture...Baby loves it and smacks his lips whenever he sees it because I think he thinks they are real.
Catherine made us this beautiful pillow...I just love it so much!
Tracey sent us this bundle of booties and burp cloths. The booties are a bit too wee for this little one but I know they'll be cinderella-perfect for another friend someday. I can't wait to have feet this tiny to kiss.
And this very special picture was made for us by the Chapman family. We love it so much. It means so much to us, especially from this very, very special family. I have to go now. Baby's eating lunch and he's only so patient. Okay, he's not patient at all.

amy needs a new pair of shoes

I'd like to have these shoes. I'm still wearing those red mary jane heels I showed you a few months back and I'm still loving them. But these, with a heart in the middle. Oh my yes, these I love. (I hope the Valentine Fairy is reading this and lets Rich know that he can find them here and I wear Euro Size 40)

Baby is napping. He's doing well...happy and sweet and chubby. We might venture out on a little field trip this afternoon to Tiffany's, of all places! I bought my sister a charm bracelet for Christmas that needs a little adjustment.

I have some Valentine projects to share with you. I bought the supplies but never had time to make them. I'm hoping to get to them this week and show you how I made them. We'll see.

extra helping

This morning, Baby helped put orders together. First I put him in the hip-sling-thing and he had lots of fun trying to grab whatever I put in the boxes, especially tissue paper. It took ten times as long as it would've otherwise but I just couldn't put it off until I had free time. Because, well, I don't have free time. Not a complaint, please understand. I'm not even complaining that Rich took two nice long naps this weekend and still had the nerve to go on and on about how tired he is. Nope, I'm not even complaining about that.

I had to wind a bunch of tinsels on spools for orders going out so I took the wheelbarrel o' spools down from its perch on the book cabinet. Oh, my goodness, but if you could've just heard the squeal of joy from the Baby. He started kicking and laughing and bouncing. He could not wait to get into it. So, here's the picture. We're both on the floor...me cutting tinsel and winding it and making sure that Baby's pacifier stayed in his mouth (thus no spools instead!) and Baby tossing wooden spools over his back with such glee and force and noise. Then Baby had the idea to use the unstable wheelbarrel to lift himself up to his knees (to better reach the spools that looked so much better on the other side of the wheelbarrel). When he did so, the whole contraption turned over and spools poured out all over the place. Baby squealed so loudly and clapped his hands. And, well, I just had to take a picture. Just imagine another hundred or so spools outside of the picture all around, under tables and behind curtains, to be found years from now.

Baby's napping and I'm off to look at the site Erin suggested to help us better understand what he's going through... http://www.a4everfamily.org/