Happy Birthday, Baby

Dear Alexa,

A year ago today I heard you cry for the first time. I gazed into your eyes for the first time. I held you in my arms while you slept for the first time.

I never fully understood how people could say "time goes by so fast" and "they grow up so fast" -- until now. Those excruciating hours breastfeeding that I never thought would end? They became short days. Those long days that away from you at work I never thought I would endure? They became short months. Those long months awaiting the "next stage"? They became a short year.

And now you're several stages past the first one. You went from a squishy newborn to a cooing cutie to a sitting duck to a leaning wonder to a crawling curiosity to a cruising troublemaker. You went from nursing every hour to holding your own bottle to eating hummus and pita.

Today we will eat cake and celebrate you, baby girl, and all the stages that have yet to come. There are so many more, and I fully intend to enjoy them because they are all so short.

Xoxo,
Mommy

Me, on my first birthday, nearly 32 years ago. I still make this face when I see chocolate.

Friday Night Tunes

As a very clever YouTube commenter wrote: "I will gladly play you Tuesday for a Wilco song today."

So That's Why She's Been Waking Up Screaming

This adorable little girl doesn't look like she can scream like a banshee, does she? Well. She has you fooled. Because for the past few nights she's been waking up around 10 p.m. and shrieking at the top of her lungs.

Our first line of defense is to check her in the crib and make sure she has her binkie. Sometimes that's all she needs. But no. Binkie is in her mouth, and she is standing up, bouncing up and down. Is her diaper soiled? No. Is she hungry? Negative.

As soon as I hold her, the calms down. So I try to rock her to put her back to sleep. Oh, if only it were that simple. The entire time I'm trying to lull her back to dreamland, she's kicking her legs and talking up a storm.

She doesn't appear to be teething. She doesn't have a fever.

If there's one thing that drives me more batty than a screaming, kicking baby, it's not knowing WHY I have a screaming, kicking baby.

Just when I'm about to have an aneurysm trying to figure out this brain teaser, a baby development email arrived in my inbox. Lightbulb moment.

"But the period of time before your child takes her first steps might not be so much fun for you. Just before they walk, toddlers-to-be often start waking up at night every four hours or so. Try not to become frustrated by the break in routine — the big achievement your child is preparing for will be worth it."

Whew, mystery solved. But wait. Does this mean I'll have a walking terror on my hands ANY DAY NOW? Omg.

Link Love

Some of the fun things my swap pals have been up to lately:

• Sara introduces her Serial Thrifter Girls project (psst: I am very happy to be part of it!).
• Pamplemousse1983's California Dreaming photo block reminds me of why I love SoCal. (above)
• Sew Bea makes a mean chocolate-banana ice cream.
• This bright-yellow roundup by The Ravenna Girls will rid you of any winter blues.
• That Mama Gretchen shares some veggie smoothie tips. And so do her readers.
• Annie rocks the blogging boat with some pet peeves and why she hates mommy bloggers.
• Kelley of Brixton Makes Three notes the overuse of onomatopoeias in her daily life.
• Eliza has some sweet Valentine's tags in the works.
• Mama G finds out she's expecting with a mac-and-cheese craving.
• Deanna of Delirious Rhapsody is starting to pay it forward.
• Love is all you need. Imprintalish's DIY felt art shares that sentiment.
• Janel of Run With Scissors makes me want to start a Project Life scrapbook.
• Five moments Tales of Grace does not want to cherish.
• Joanna's chicken vindaloo over at Brock Paper Scissors is making my vegetarian mouth salivate.
• Jodi mends family ties over at Sweets and Shutterclicks.

If you'd like to swap with LGP in February, reserve your spot today.

Photoshoot: Winter in Wichita

The next installment of our Midwest trip continues ...

We left Kansas City early New Year's Day to make it back to Wichita for a gathering at my Aunt Denise's house. We had a blast catching up with myriad aunts, uncles and cousins we haven't seen in a long time because we haven't been able to make it back for the reunions. Living far from family takes its toll.




When we first arrived, Alexa clung to me and wouldn't let go. She slowly warmed up as family passed her around and played with her. Before too long, she was cozying up to my Aunt Linda and asking her to read an Eric Carle book.

After leaving the party we met my best friends from high school for dinner. Afterward, we brought the party back to Dad's place, where we stayed up giggling and chatting until the wee hours. Sadly I don't have any photos of our get-together. I was having too much fun gossiping!

The next morning we had lunch with more family: my uncle, aunt and cousins on my mom's side of the family.






There also was relaxation. We had lunch at a coffee shop downtown and did a little thrifting. My favorite place was an antique mall. One of the vendors had the best taste in midcentury modern furniture. I was bummed I couldn't buy it all and store it in my massive new home on the outskirts of the city. (So many housing developments, all with prices that made my L.A. self cry in frustration.)







It was a blustery day. The wind in Wichita is one of those things you forget about when you're not subjected to it on an everyday basis, but let me tell you. It's nothing to mess around with. We're lucky we didn't blow away. Forget about doing your hair, mmkay.

A few shots where the wind seems blissfully absent:




Alexa enjoyed spending time with her Grandpa (or as she calls him, Baba).



To be continued ...

Shit People Say in L.A.

"Do you have almond milk?"

Guilty.

The It List

Five things I'm lovin' right now ...

1. Sandwich art by Low-Commitment Projects. (This one is Mondrian-inspired.)
2. This interview, in which Julian Casablancas chats with Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek of The Doors.
3. Quilt pizzas.
4. "Crossed," by Ally Condie. The "Matched" sequel is besting its predecessor so far. Love!
5. The colorful dinosaurs in Mandy's terrarium/aquarium.

As always, you can see more things I'm lovin' over at Pinterest.