Make him a Good Man in a Storm.

This blog post was recently shared via a blog I follow and really touched me. It is beautifully written, and I was a sobbing mess by the end of it! Not a surprise to most, as my bladder is close to my eye.

I can fall into the selfishness of being a parent - focusing on Sam's impact on MY life, for the positive and for the negative. I appreciated the reminder this blog provided, of my JOB - to prepare him for his life. 

Of course, I do this in the "little" ways, right? Ensuring there is a meal for him that is fairly healthy, that he is safe when playing outside, that he wears a jacket when its cold. I ensure this by researching schools, daycares, and doctors until my eyes are blurry because I only want him to have "the best."

Sam is my entire life. And I am his mother, I am just the beginning of his life. There are so many days ahead that I can't prepare for, can't protect. But, boy, do I pray, and boy, does that little one know how much he is loved.

I love the prayer that she shares in the post... 

“Lord, make him a man among men. A leader among leaders. Make him strong, resilient, brave, loving, and humble. Make him a good man in a storm.”

And this quote:

I am responsible for teaching my son to love others and serve others as best as possible. I am responsible for teaching him to respect those around him. I am responsible for raising a son who will grow into a man who will love a partner and may raise children to carry on our family legacy. I am responsible for laying the foundation. I will hold his past, and with you comes his future.

(I did paraphrase this slightly.)

Thank you, fellow momma, for this reminder of my job! From

http://thedomesticfour.com/2014/07/12/to-my-future-daughter-in-law/

Snip It!

As he neared 18 months, G and I thought it was time for Sam's first haircut. Boohoo. It was a first that I was not looking forward to as it meant one certain truth - my baby is growing up.

As you can see, a hair cut was necessary. Lil' ragamuffin.

Firm grip on Doggy.

Well who is THAT good looking man??

Snip Its does a photo for the first haircut, along with a certificate, and a plastic bag of locks for keepsake.

I am horrible with hair so do not dare cut Sam's locks myself, except for a minor trim. 

We had such a great experience there!

Before and After shot... my handsome little guy.

18 Month Check-Up

Last week Sam had his 18-month check up with Dr. T. He is still measuring high, in the 83rd percentile for height, 83rd for weight, and according to the doc, his head remains - and I quote - "ginormous." 

It was all around a healthy check-up! We discussed Sam's diet, interests, sociability. The little man seems to be doing great and Dr. T was happy - so Mom and Dad are happy, too.

Weekend-ing with BAY BEEs

In addition to Dad's day, we had a pretty eventful weekend. We spent the majority of Saturday at my cousin's high school graduation party.

It's somewhat tough to see, but this is Sam hanging out with a man we have never met at the party. He was a guest of my cousin's... Sam decided to head over, take a seat, and talk "guy stuff" with this stranger, who turned out to be a very nice man! He was diggin' on those chairs and super friendly to all of the guests at the party.

Lately Sammy is obsessed with BABIES. BAY-BEES. He enjoys sticking his fingers directly into their eyes. It's all love.

  

Much happier with the BAY-BEE situation now that his momma isn't holding lil baby J.

Happy Father's Day!

Yesterday, Sam and I were up early and putting the finishing touches on our Father's Day gifts for G. It was a GREAT and super productive day, and I loved spending it with my lil family, my parents, and then my extended family at GG's!

We are blessed with some strong, kind, compassionate, loving, selfless, and loyal men in our lives. My dad is truly one of a kind, to see the love and respect my husband has for his father is incredibly heart-warming, and my godfather has been an integral part of my entire life. Sam was named for his paternal great-grandfathers, to honor them but also our hope that he carries the qualities that made those two men so special to us.

This is my hubby's second Father's Day. I have fallen more in love with my husband since the day we brought Sam into this world and G became a father. I didn't know I could love him even more, but I did, and I do. G, you are an amazing father and Sam is so blessed to have you in his life. It has been such a joy to watch the two of you together - snuggling, ruffling, playing ball, reading books, hanging out like guys.

January 11, 2013 - the day after Sam was born, when I was finally able to come to and take a picture of my boys!

Long ago I read a quote that reads, "Don't marry a man unless you would be proud to have a son exactly like him." G, your mini-me is exactly like you and it makes this momma so proud, so happy, and so in love with the two of you!

"It is not flesh and blood, but heart that makes us fathers and sons."

First Father's Day - 2013, Boston Harbor 

"A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society."

Happy Father's Day!

Sam's First Beach Day

This past Sunday we celebrated a first - Sam's first trip to the beach! I can't believe it has taken this long for us to get him there!

Last summer, he was not allowed to wear sunscreen until he was 6 months old, and he didn't turn 6 months until the middle of July. I was PETRIFIED to bring him to the beach without any sunscreen on, thinking that if I covered him up he would be too hot, or he would somehow suffer an awful burn! Once he turned 6 months, we were in full-on packing and moving mode and didn't have time to get to the beach.

After this weekend's bridal shower, everyone was HOT. It was 85 and "felt like" 91. We tried to get Sam to nap but he wasn't having it - so I said, ok, we are taking a walk on the beach! What I thought would be a 20 minute walk turned into a 2 hour adventure - - with no towels, no snacks, no extra diapers, no toys. Just my boys and I and a whole lotta laughs.

Sam grabbed my bag and was ready to go! We were smart enough to put him in his bathing suit, thankfully.

Just some light reading on the way to the beach.

One of Sam's favorite places - on his da-da's shoulders!

It wasn't long until he was IN.

A little boy came over to give us some sea gull feathers. When I politely declined them, he placed them on Sam's head and ran away. Sam and I had similar reactions to this occurrence.

My guys.

Cooling down with momma.

With mom's surgery fast approaching and the summer looking hectic, I am hopeful that this will not be our only trip to the beach... but if it is, it was surely absolutely perfect.

A Bridal Shower

This past weekend we celebrated the nuptials of my cousin and his soon-to-be bride with a bridal shower. My aunt choose a venue right down the street from my house, so the commute was awfully easy for me! The bride is very preppy, JCrew, nautical, and her wedding colors are navy, light blue, grays, ocean colors. Very pretty. I helped out my aunt with the decor and details for the bridal shower and we choose to do a combo of navy and coral. 

The shower invitation came from Wedding Paper Divas. It's their Antique Flair in Coral. I love love love the invitation.

The future Mr. and Mrs. I used frames from our wedding and simple glass votives for centerpieces that I wrapped in cardstock paper. I found a shop on Etsy that had fabulous navy and coral paper files, and then I went to Staples to print the files on cardstock. 

Navy and coral chevron cake! I loved how it turned out - and it was so so yummy.

A close up of the sugar flower on the top of the cake. Amazing.

The gift table prior to being filled with many wonderful, special, and generous gifts!

Prior to the bride opening her gifts, we played a "newlywed" game. I asked the groom a series of questions prior to the shower, and the bride needed to provide the same answer to the questions as the groom! If she got it right, she scored a prize. If she got it wrong, she scored a big wad of bubble gum. I stole this fun idea from my sister-in-law's bridal shower in Maryland last May.

Another borrowed idea! My bestie, La vie... J'aime, hosted a bridal shower for me along with her momma. They asked that guests leave wishes for G & I in a mason jar that we were not to open until after our wedding. I loved this idea! G & I have read our wishes at each of our two wedding anniversaries!

And I did not wait til after the wedding day to read our wishes -  - I couldn't help myself.

Obsessed with these coral roses I found at Whole Foods. So beautiful and perfect for the theme.

Some shots of the bride and groom together and as lil' babies.

The lighting in the hall made for a horrible picture, but this is the entry way to the restaurant. ANOTHER borrowed idea from a bridal shower my aunts threw for me - a "guest book" apron! Guests were asked to sign the apron for A & K. (I know, we put these guests to work between signing the apron and signing the well wishes - lots to do!) I keep my apron in my kitchen, although I do not dare use it, but it hangs in the pantry door and is  so special to see on a daily basis. Brings me back to a very special time in my life with G and all of the supportive women in our lives who made our wedding so special! I hope that the bride cherishes her apron as much as I have!

Our favors! "Wedding Day" candle from Yankee Candle with a votive wrapped in navy and coral.

Looking forward to celebrating the bride and groom in July!