Happy Birthday Nate

Posted on August 19, 2011 by lauren

Last week Nate celebrated his first birthday with a super fun polka dot themed garden party. Luckily the rain mostly held off, so our crew of 10 babies and 25 adults could play indoors and outdoors. We had a ball pool, slide, tricycle, BBQ for the grown ups, mini pizza for the babies, grown up carrot cake cupcakes and baby cake carrot cakes (sugar free!). It was really relaxed and so much fun to have all our playgroup friends over with their partners. Chris and his family really got a kick out of seeing all the babies. You forget that civilians aren’t used to the chaos of so many little people.

We made Nate his own special two-tiered carrot cake with no sugar, but frosted it with the good stuff. He was hesitent at first, but once our back was turned he devoured it. I stopped him when he’d eaten half of one tier. He was in a little food coma after that and sat on my friend Jenn’s lap with his tongue hanging out for about 30 minutes. That’s how you celebrate a birthday!

I decorated the food table with some of Nate’s art in cute, bright coloured frames from Ikea. His creche friends painted a little picture for him and that was placed prominently on the mantel (and still is!)

First Invite

Posted on July 20, 2011 by lauren

We’re only a few weeks from my baby boy’s first birthday party! Where did the year go? I’m too excited about planning his party to get weepy over how quickly he’s going up, but post-party I’ll be a tearful mess. Anyhoo…How do you like his invite? I’m super excited about it. The theme of this party is polka-dots and Nate! I love a party with themes, I remember (almost) everyone of my birthday parties growing up.

Have you hosted a kid’s birthday party? I expect other 1-year-olds to attend so any advice on how to keep them happy and safe would be appreciated. And keep your fingers crossed for sunshine on that Saturday!

Hello My Fellow Americans

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lauren

Happy Father’s Day

Posted on June 19, 2011 by lauren

Happy Father’s Day to the best father I know. He may only be 10 months into the job, but he’s an extraordinary dad and quite often the only thing keeping this ship afloat. I don’t know how I would survive without Chris, he’s an amazing companion and partner. I’ve leaned on him so much through a lot of difficult times, but since Nate has come I’ve totally defaulted to him. And he has picked up the slack with so much grace and without a hint of complaint. I’d like to say he’s extraordinary, but he’d say he’s just doing what every dad should do. He cooks and cleans and gardens. He learned all about breastfeeding when I needed support. He gets up in the middle of the night to sing Nate to sleep. He feeds Nate breakfast every day and rolls up the sleeves on his shirts when they’re too long. He rushes home to see his son and always greets us with a smile and big hug. Nate is enamored with his dad and is bonded in a way I didn’t think was possible. I’m so proud of Chris as a father and so pleased that he’ll be raising my son and teaching him how to be a man. Nate is a very lucky little guy!

Current Events

Posted on May 24, 2011 by lauren

When I was in high school, I did a project on the top 10 world events of my life time. I remember completing the project and realising that I watched all of the events on TV. That’s just a feature of our generation (and the hallmark of a communications major). I have a feeling the same will be true for Nate. Already we watched the first Chilean miner get rescued (at 4am in the morning thanks to feeding), the Royal Wedding, the Queen’s visit (although, I think Nate was asleep for most of the coverage) and Obama’s visit.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom

Posted on May 8, 2011 by lauren

It’s Mother’s Day in the US and my mom’s first time as a granny! She is an amazing grandma to Nate, sending lots of love all the way from Texas. While I love her dearly, I have to question her decision to dress us in matching plaid jumpers. Every Mother’s Day she’d make us matching dresses and we’d go out to lunch together. So mom, today I’m wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, just to make it easy on ya!

Despite her dubious fashion choices in the late 80s, she was (and is) a beautiful, poised and incredibly kind woman. Nate is very lucky to have her as a granny. I’m sure he’ll get in lots of trouble with her as he gets older.

I know it is really hard on her to be far away from us, but I appreciate her willingness to let me go on adventures far from home (first to Boston, then to Dublin). I wouldn’t be the woman I am without learning from her. My childhood was full of fun and projects and trips to museums, zoos, parks, shops. There was never a moment left empty, never a dull day. I plan on doing the same with Nate. She definitely wan’t a Tiger Mom, more of a Kangaroo Mom, always taking me along with her as her little sidekick. She might be a bit of a Bunny Mom too, nothing but kisses and cuddles and the odd carrot!

Happy Easter

Posted on April 27, 2011 by lauren

Nate took a quick break from teething pains to enjoy the amazingly sunny Easter weekend. I think he was in a good mood because Chris was home for 4 whole days! Who wouldn’t be happy with mom and dad around? The bunny came to visit, but was very kind and only half-hid his gifts. Next year it will be a full out hunt for eggs!

The bunny was kind enough to bring Nate stacking cups (his new favourite toy), a bouncy ball and Spots First Easter. He wore a yellow cardigan knitted by his great-grandmother in England and used my old Easter basket. (After we took the photos I realized the lining is reversible to blue). To celebrate Easter, we visited Dublin Flea where I picked up 5 great albums for Nate’s vinyl collection and then headed to Wicklow for lunch with the Dares. Nate joined us and ate his first roast dinner.

M for Momma

Posted on April 5, 2011 by lauren

I celebrated my first Mother’s Day on Sunday and Nate said ‘Momma’ for the first time this morning. There was a time not too long ago that I would have thought days like these were impossible. I had an ectopic pregnancy a year before Nate was born and lost my left fallopian tube. Nathaniel means ‘god’s gift’ in Hebrew, and that is what he is to me, a precious gift that I’m proud to show off every day.

I love this kid. He really cracks me up with his silly babbling noises and crazy faces. Nate and Chris worked very hard on making the day special for me. Chris made a scrapbook of all the things Nate and I do together and Nate was in an especially good mood all day. Being American, I get to celebrate another Mother’s Day in May too. I’m just that special. Wonder if I’ll be a Mom or Mum or even the feared Irish Mammy…