Violet's 1st Birthday Party

For the past year, we've been trying to decide on the best way to celebrate our baby girl. Having burst into our lives on Christmas Eve, Violet gave us quite a challenge. We always want to be intentional about celebrating her and not letting her blur into the chaos of Christmas celebrations, for now, my hubby and I decided that we would celebrate Violet by hosting a Christmas Eve brunch party. We decided to have it at our house, so we set it up more like an open house in order to accommodate a bunch of people {because our house is reeeeeeally tiny!!}. I didn't really have a theme in mind, but stuck with a few concepts instead. White. Gold. Feathers. Our house is hit or miss on lighting so my photos aren't amazing, but here are some photos of our celebration. 

Her yarn tutu kept shedding so I'll have to figured out a way to stop that. It was also a bit full and heavy {although still pretty!} so I'm thinking a lot less yarn/less full next time. I like the concept but need to tweak it to make it perfect.

I made this dream catcher to go with our party but also to decorate the teepee we made the kids for Christmas.

I am so thankful for friends and family who stopped by to help us celebrate the little girl who stole our hearts one year ago. She is a light and a joy. Happy and content. Her smile lights up a room and her eyes twinkle so brilliantly. Happy birthday, Violet Laine! 

My Baby's Turning One

photo credit//Ken Bruggeman

In one week my baby will be ONE. One. Year. Old. Can you imagine?? Where has this year gone?? I'm sort of in denial and also excited about her celebration. It's the strangest thing how it feels like it sneaked up on me as I was planning it the entire time. But it's here. It's inevitable. And I couldn't be more in love with my sweet baby girl.

photo credit//Ken Bruggeman

I'm finally getting around to making a book of the beautiful images we have from Violet's birth. At the suggestion of a photog friend, I'm using Blurb to make a hardbound book for us. But I'm also planning on making a paperback book using Artifact Uprising to give to the wonderful nurses at the hospital and also to my midwife. Artifact Uprising has a sweet {and free} mobile app that allows you to make amazing books from your phone. I really can't wait to try it out. I thought it would be nice to let my nurses and midwife see the images that were taken that day and also to see the beautiful little one-year-old girl that Violet has become. My doctors' walls are plastered with images of infants, but rarely do you see the older kids they become. So ever since I first looked at the images from Violet's birth, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

It has been so emotional and wonderful reminiscing on the magical day that Violet was born. I loved re-reading her birth story and remembering our day through the beautiful images Ken was able to capture for us. I'm so grateful to have them. And most of all, I'm so grateful to have her. She's the perfect addition to our family and we can't imagine life without her.

Violet Laine: 9 Month Snapshot

Mobile. Content. Happy. Noisy. These are the top words that describe our little beauty this month.

Mobile. She has {and continues to} amazed us over these past two months {I never got her 8 month snapshot posted} as she's gone from sitting, to crawling, to pulling herself up on everything and now to cruising. She seems to have so effortlessly mastered her body in such  a short amount of time. She's always so sure of herself--every step, reach or squat is planned and with purpose. Unlike her brother, she seems to have made peace with her limitations and is content with her progress.

Content. This girl embodies the word completely. Since my only experience is with Burke, I didn't know it was really possible for babies to entertain themselves and obey on the first "no". But it is! Violet loves to bee-bop around a room {usually the kitchen, since that's where I'm working}, babbling, standing, sitting, exploring. Just doing her thing. Whatever that may be. She can do this--without even playing with toys--for long periods of time which just amazes me. And if she gets near something she shouldn't, I just have to say "Violet, No." and she stops, looks at me, and goes on about her business. It's like it doesn't even cross her mind to go back to it or disobey. It's a wonderful thing and I'm so thankful for her sweet spirit. 

Happy. She has always been a happy baby, but there was quite a long period of time in which she would go crazy drama for anyone but her mama. I'm happy to report that she has now outgrown this stage and has the most adorable smile ready to flash on moments notice to anyone in sight. She got her top four teeth all at once this month and her smile has gotten only so much more beautiful! One of the most delightful little things she does is her sweet little wave. She loves to wave. To anyone, everyone, no one and nothing at all. I love to catch her caught up in her own little world and just waving, talking and loving life.

Noisy. The Woman loves to talk. Babble all the time. Almost as soon as I posted her last snapshot, she began saying "mama". This is how it went: she learned how to pull herself to standing in her pack and play and would cry "mamamamamama" in the most pathetically sad voice with her face smushed up against the mesh side. I told you, she's drama. Since then, it's evolved into a more lyrical tone and whether she's talking in syllables, nonsense or grunting, groaning {she cannot eat quietly!!}, chanting or blowing raspberries, she's a noisy little thing for sure! These are sounds that make me smile and I enjoy each one! {Thankfully my kids generally sleep through each others' noise}. 

She's started eating table food although she still doesn't eat enough to sustain her. But we're getting there!!! Still not a fan of sleeping through the night {or even napping much these days--I blame teeth}. And she and Burke adore each other more and more each day. The more she is able to do, the more fun she is for him. He loves to play with her and teach her. And he assures her when she's upset. They are such joy. I'm so glad to be their mama!

Violet's Dedication

This past Sunday we had Violet dedicated at our church. It's such a special moment in our parenting journey, because it's the point at which we corporately declare that this child is not our own, but God's. And we promise to steward her well throughout her childhood journey so that she grows up to know who she is and to know Jesus' love for her. And there's something powerful in such a corporate acknowledgement.

I love that our pastor walks her around the church for everyone to see. So often, we're scrambling in to the service late and rushing out to get home for naps that I feel like we miss seeing so many sweet faces. And the fact that our congregation also promises to help steward Violet and show her Jesus' love is so powerful and meaningful. Because raising a child takes so many more people and prayers than our own. There are so many influences on our children throughout their journey. Wouldn't it be amazing if each person loved your child and spoke hope, love and destiny over them at each meeting?!

Ramblings

Burke's first glimpse of the ocean

 I know I've been silent these past few months. I've been working on a lot of things behind the scenes this Summer which I hope to have up and running this Fall. Thanks for bearing with me!

We just returned from a wonderful vacation at the Outer Banks. Our first time there and Burke's first time to the beach that he can remember {because there's no way he remembers being there when he was 6 weeks old!!}. The kids were more amazing than I could have imagined on the drive there and back and had so much fun making new friends, eating sand and drinking the salty clear ocean. It was a time of relaxing and refreshment for the Mr. and me too. We shared a house with four other couples and their little ones--my hubby's college friends--and the fellowship was perfect.

Our vacation was bittersweet. It was both the highlight of our summer and the end wrapped up in one. The hubster started back to work on Monday and is gearing up to shape the lives of a new fifth grade class. I admire him so much for the work he does. It's such an important job and one he does so well!

Before I had Violet I would sometimes think about the impact a sibling would have on Burke. Was it fair to him? Would it be the best thing that ever happened to him? I wasn't quite sure until one day toward the end of my pregnancy I heard God say that it was good. Because God made Burke to be a lover and having a sibling would help him begin fulfilling his destiny. And you know what? It's so true! Violet was perhaps the best gift we could have given Burke (and visa versa, I'm sure). Now that she's more mobile and interactive, I really have the joy of seeing his love in action. He begs to play with Violet. And this morning, while I was sitting on the couch nursing Violet, Burke climbed up beside me because he wanted to see her. And then, out of nowhere other than his sweet little heart, he said "Hi, Violet. Hi, Cutie Pie!" and laid his head on her body. It was so tender and sweet. Guys, seriously, this is what I live for. My heart was so complete in that moment and I am so thankful!

Have a great day!

xoxo
Tabitha

Violet Laine: 7 Month Snapshot

Our baby girl is up to so much these days it won't fit on a little chalkboard anymore. I know there's technically no name for the transition from infant to toddler, but she's there in the middle. Wherever that is. Whatever it's called. She's so interested in what's going on around her and tries her best to get in the mix.

She can regularly be heard babbling away, talking about something or another. Often times she gets stuck on da da da da and now ba ba ba ba. I'm waiting to hear her sweet voice sing my name, but until then we're just enjoying her melodic little voice singing whatever syllable happens to roll off of her tongue. Our little miss got her first two teeth last month {I missed her 6 month snapshot...whoops!} and makes the silliest faces as she adjusts to the jagged intruders that keep growing higher in her mouth. She's notorious for her "lizard tongue" routine where she rubs her tongue over her teeth, quickly in and out of her mouth, all while smiling her gorgeous little smile.

She's gotten to be quite mobile these days too. Sitting up unassisted is my very favorite! It's wonderful to know that I can leave her sitting and playing for a moment and not have to worry about her toppling over. She's quite adept at going from sitting to all four's and loves to rock on her hands and knees. Just last night, we watched her practice her balance and lift one arm to move it forward as to crawl. Guys--I'm soooo not ready for her to be mobile, but it's coming and very soon! She already pulls herself up whenever she can and loves to stand unassisted at Burke's toy box or other standing toys. She watches every move her brother makes, so it's not wonder she's doing what she's doing. Watching babies grow and learn is the most miraculous and wonderful thing!

She's still not a fan of food, bottles or sleeping through the night. At times, she's pure drama. But she's also so pleasant, content and {mostly} easy going. She literally wakes up with a smile and her joy is contagious. She's a mama's girl for sure and while I'm flattered, she's earned herself many an eye roll these past few months! :) Some of Burke's favorite names for her are: Violet {usually pronounced VI-o-let...all three syllables emphasized}, Sissy, Sweetie Pie, and The Woman.

She's so much fun and such a sweet addition to our family. Can't wait to see what the next month holds!