Bernice, oh Bernice...

For those who may be wondering, yes, Bernice used to be a lovely shade of pink. She used to be just as fluffy and full as the new Bernice pictured here. She is so loved. Leah needs her everywhere. Leah will hug her tight and announce, "hug Bernice" as she's doing it. If she drops Bernice, she'll quickly pick her up and say "I sorry Bernice. You okay Bernice? You okay?"

I was naturally excited when we found a "new" Bernice at the mall a couple of weeks ago. Without even thinking about the cost, I snatched up two new Bernices and promptly hid one away when we got home. I was kind of hoping we could retire the old Bernice and bring the new one on as her replacement. I mean, it's embarrassing to carry the old dingy one around. Gross. Unfortunately, Leah now wants the old Bernice and sometimes the new Bernice at the same time. Leah is not being fooled. She's just a companion Bernice, not a replacement. Oh well. I guess I tried.

the hair massacre, eh, cut

I decided today that my children needed haircuts....today. I got a bee in my bonnet about it (why??? who knows?) and took them to the salon on base. I didn't know quite what to expect. Leah, along with Bernice's help, did great. She did look so grown up sitting in the chair by herself. She just got an easy trim, to cut off all of the scraggly ends. Easy peasy.

I wish I could say the same for Ian...

Before

and After.

This picture doesn't quite do it justice. His hair looks busted. It was a bit of an ordeal, though, since he basically didn't stop moving the entire time. I held him in my lap, trying to distract him with pictures on my phone. It didn't work. But the girl was a trooper and kept going. It actually wasn't too bad (although at one point as I looked on the floor and saw all of his curls laying there, I felt instant regret and wanted to cry a little) until she got the razor trimmers out. Since I hadn't taken a child for a haircut ever, I didn't realize it was at this point that I should have spoken up and said, "no thanks." I wanted his mullet to be gone, but I didn't necessarily want him to look like he had had a haircut. The razor trimming didn't go well, as the noise of it bothered him and he kept moving his head about. It ended up very straight and blunt near his ears and on the back of his neck. The good news is that it grows back. I have a lock of his curls saved so I can remember my sweet curly haired baby when he's all grown up.

happy {sniff, sniff} birthday Ian

Dear Ian,

Today was your first birthday. I cried about it a little last night. Your dad didn't quite understand why. I just don't know why time has to go by so quickly. I feel like we're on fast forward mode. I want life to slow down so I can take the time to cherish all of the moments I have with you and Leah and your daddy. I think it's special to have your birthday so close to mother's day each year. Last year, you were born on the Monday after mother's day. I think you're just about the best gift I could ever get and I'm glad to be reminded of it on your birthday.

XOXO
your mom

ps - you've got to stop eating soap. How will I ever cure the potty mouth you're sure to have later on (thanks to your father, I'm sure) if you have developed the taste for soap? And I won't even go into the grossness factor of putting your mouth in the bathwater....

the birthday partay

Our sweet Ian turned one and we decided to keep it nice and low-key with a cake and a candle. My mother informed me that now was the time to establish with my children that birthday parties consist of our family and a cake and some balloons. The balloons didn't quite happen this year, but if Ian asks, I'll have to cover for myself.


Looking pretty interested in the candle on top. He doesn't get the whole blowing out thing, so Leah and I helped him. I was surprised to see that Leah knew to blow it out.

No, it's not a number one cake (sorry Elizabeth!) or a pirate cake or a dinosaur cake. It actually more closely resembles a wedding cake. It was the best I could do last minute (when I decided today at naptime to figure out what kind of cake to make for the party tonight).

Ian is a big fan of cake so I knew this was going to be a no-brainer for him.

It didn't take long for him to dig right in. This is one of the reasons that I think he's so awesome.

Don't you love the crossed legs??

Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

Red velvet cake + cream cheese frosting + red sprinkles = a very pink and sticky Ian


After a much needed bath, we got down to the real birthday business: unwrapping presents.

He didn't quite get it, but Leah was kind enough to "help" Ian unwrap all of his gifts and steal them to play with herself. Big sisters are the best!

Easter 2011.....please be kind

Ok, before I start on this post, you have to know a couple of things:

1 - Leah needs a haircut (like nobody's business). I am aware of this, and hope to fix it soon (we'll see...)

2 - This is the first thing that I've made for my little boy. You must know that I love it (the night I finished it, I just sat back and looked at it over and over again and kind of giggled to myself. Lame, I know, but true.). With that being said, I am fully aware that it is very close to being too girly for a little boy. So don't you just sit there in your computer chair, thinking to yourself, "Wow, look what Becca is dressing her son in." I know, I know. And it has lots of issues that could be repaired. Like the elastic in the back is pretty much big enough for Michael's waistband, not Ian's. I know. It may be hard to look at the pictures and see what I see, but just know that I love it, flaws and all.

Ok, now that that's out of the way, here are the pictures of our little ones' Easter outfits. After hunting down Ian's outfit, we staged a little photo shoot last week. I don't think Leah could understand why none of the eggs had candy in them. I was kind enough to take all of the candy out of the eggs on Easter night after bedtime. No one who lives at this house (under age 3) needs that much candy at their fingertips. She keeps looking though. Good luck Leah.

So I also made Leah's dress. I used a pretty easy tutorial I found online and I think this is the most "un-handmade looking" dress that I've ever made. Score one for me (especially after Ian's Holly Hobby dungarees). I'm pretty proud. Leah called it her princess dress and enjoyed twirling in it. After eating her lunch in it today, I'm kind of rethinking the whole silk fabric choice. Hmm...


I just can't get enough of that little face. He's really getting big. It's sort of breaking my heart, but I'm trying hard (kind of) to not be that crazy mom who doesn't want her kids to ever leave her or grow up.

Leah is always kind enough to show Ian the ropes. These two play together lots, if playing together means Leah stealing all of Ian's toys and yelling "mine!!". She's got it down to an art form.

Even Bernice got in on the photography action. Leah laid her nicely down on the rocks and then said "smile, Bernice, smile" over and over again. I loved it. What else could I do but take a picture?