Portraits of a one year old

I took Van to a portrait studio today to do some photos of him, I prefer the more photo journalistic approach but these are something I could never do myself. He is almost one and I thought since I haven't had any taken of him yet now was a good time. Not ones I would frame and hang on the wall however. I did find this one of Conner when he was a little one and it was fun comparing how similar they look!

I don't have a little girl yet but I love to think about what she will look like and things I will dress her in! I do love the Sophie & Lili Collection and they are having a huge tag sale, check it out! Also Ouef is having their first ever sale all clothing is 70% off.

Healthy O's & toys

So today when I was in the pantry I decided to read the ingredients of the trader joes cheerios that I give to my Van. I just read the ingredients on everything that I feed to my family so this is normal for me. I found an ingredient that I had never heard of (trisodium phosphate), so I looked it up and here is what I found.
An ionic salt used as a thickener/emulsifier for foods, as well as common uses as a degreaser, detergent, and laxative. It is a chemical that can peel wallpaper off of a wall & they sell it at hardware stores. I know the entire world and then some feed their children cheerios but I found a cereal that actually tastes better, is in the same price range and is all organic, healthy times teddy puffs
To read more about ingredients you should not consume click here.

Here are some of my favorite green companies offering eco-friendly & health-friendly toys, I feel it is important to check up on everything we give our kids to play with. It may save their life. I am just uber conscious and almost annoying about it. I love this peace baby block set.

• TaraLuna Baby Buddy Toy - this fair-trade cuddle buddy is made from organic cotton ($10).
• Organic Gift Shop Rollie Animals - toddler appropriate; made from natural wood and finished with food-grade oil ($7).
• Under the Nile Veggie Bunch - veggie-shaped toys stuffed with organic cotton ($26).
• Peace Baby Block Set - made from sustainably-forested pine ($28).

Manifestations

Van got his Rody from Mimi while she was in town and he really has fun on it, he is a little young for it right now, so I assist him when he rides on it usually. Once he is big enough to jump on I probably wont have to help him anymore.

I feel a little scattered today, thinking about going back to work after a year of being home with Van makes my stomach tie into knots. I got all teary eyed today when I was feeding him his lunch. I think he knew how I was feeling because he just looked at me and smiled. It is time for us to get things back on track. However something that keeps manifesting itself is that positivity breeds more positivity. I went out on Saturday night with some friends and we had a big talk about being positive and letting go of things that continue to eat away at your core. I am feeling fluid and trying to move forward in the right direction. I know I can do it, it is just a hard step to take. Probably the hardest place I have found myself ever. I will let the positivity prevail and continue to thank God for the blessings I do have, my husband my son, faith, hope, love, health, a roof, a warm bed & a family who loves beyond words.

Thank You Son.

For brightening my every day, for looking into my eyes and making me feel like I hung the moon, for holding me, for laughing at me when I am not even funny. For sleeping in my arms and keeping me warm, for sharing the bath with me, for letting it be so quiet at night that I can hear your heart beat, for letting me comfort you when you are scared, for helping me realize that you are one of my biggest priorities, for growing with me. For making me feel a love I have never felt before. Your laugh fills my soul and makes every day better than the one before. I soak you in each day and try to tattoo you in my mind because the next day you will change a little bit more. I love you Son.

Music to my ears!

My sweet friend Jen
emailed me these awesome rockabye cd's and thought it would be a good blog post, I agree! I have seen these cd's. I find myself listening to baby einstein and other nursery rhymes in the car latley, and most of the time I want to turn it off but Van loves to dance and move his arms around to anything playing on the radio. These entertain the kiddies and they are favorite songs that we the momma and pappas like to hear too. What a great idea!

Van jaming in the car to tunes, and showing you how big!

Images from a week

Conner in his contest last weekend in oceanside.


Van's first trip to the Zoo with Mimi & Poppa Mike.
Peek.....
a boo!

Captured moments

I made Conner & his mom a book in iphoto for Valentines day and they turned out so great. It really is a great gift to give someone. I have documented Van's life with a photo a day pretty much since he was born, I went through them and pulled the best shots. This book is 40 pages full color and some black and whites. It has little comments about all of his firsts and so many shots of Van and Conner having fun and loving each other....

Valentine's on my mind

I have this book I have carried with me for the past few years, and every now and then I open it up for inspiration and some colorful moments. I love looking into other peoples lives and what better way to do it than in a book filled with postcards sent to people across the world. PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail
in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

I really like it although it does have a dark side to it, but love has it's sunny moments and it dark moments. Doesn't it? Marriage is not always sunny, but the times when it's dark are the times when you are learning the most. I ask for our marriage to be a bond that grows tighter every day and I can actually look back on the past year and notice a place where I started seeing it tighten like the laces on a shoe. Love is a funny thing, and it will probably take me forever to figure it out. I felt so red this year, the holiday was more this year for me than ever before. I have more love in my heart, and I feel so much love surrounding me. My heart continues to grow, never let yours stop.

First Birthday Party

Happy Valentines Day! I thought I would share the invites that I made for Van's first birthday. They took a while but I had so much fun doing them. I wanted to create a vintage carnival theme with all old timey feeling carnival images and brown tones. I found a vintage photo of some people riding in an old ferris wheel, I took them out and put a cute photo of Van in there. I thought it would be fun to create a circle theme on the inside and carry it through the party too. I printed little directions and used a vintage photo of old fashioned tickets on the other side. I found some carnival stickers and used them to affix the directions! I think they turned out really cute and I am excited to carry out this theme through the little peoples party! Vintage Carnival!
I am on the search for an old fashioned popcorn machine, a mini cotton candy machine & a fun littloe snow cone machine.... I am going to have some fun little goodie bags that tie in with the circle theme and the food will too. We are going to have a little book exchange as well!

Should be lots of fun!
I can't believe my son is already one, what a wonderful year it has been... Thank you Van for helping me to grow up! I love you.

jovovich hawk for target

Target has some cute clothes but most of the time you see it advertised and get into the store and your a little disappointed. Jovovich-Hawk, the label designed by models Milla Jovovich and Carmen Hawk, will hit Target this March!

According to Milla, "Our Target line will have all our classic pieces: smock dresses, tunics, minis, all vintage-inspired, great prints. We took the things that sold the best for us but we're doing it on a bigger scale."

Images via www.fabsugar.com

I'm Delighted!

I was just accepted into the blog directory, Delightful Blogs!
"Delightful Blogs is an edited directory of stylish blogs for women including shopping, fashion, design, travel, family and pop culture."
To you, the reader, it make not seem like that big of a deal, but I am super excited about extending my audience even further :-)

Right now I am listed under Newest Blogs in the mom & family section, so shoot on over and rate my site! Thanks!

The beach dayz

Not sure who these people are "butt" I thought it was a funny photo.


We let Van order his very own pancake this past weekend at our favorite breakfast spot. It was the first time he had food from a restaurant so it was a big experience. He really likes his pancakes, every weekend Conner wakes up and makes him his own little pancake. So he has experience with them, just never this large and buttery! Yum. things got a little out of hand and he was stuffing large amounts into his mouth so after half way through we knew he had had enough, we distracted him and took away the pancake. He looked stuffed.

He had lemonade for the first time this week, and drew with a crayon today at the doctors office today.
He was playing quietly in his play pen looking at a book of dogs yesterday saying "do-t" over and over again that is how he says dog! But anything with four legs & fur is a "Do-t".

There is so much hype on the news about the primary election, I am just glad I voted whew!

Have a good one!

Paris, je t'aime

I found this photo of Van and my mom today as I was going through my Christmas photos, I had never seen it and I just love it. I just love hugs don't you? We should give at least 10 a day. Van loves to hug me all day long, it is the best thing ever. He also likes to pat me a lot too. I notice when he is around other kids he goes up to them and puts his head on theres even if he has never met them before. He is a warm soul, and he has a gentle heart.



I am really into Yael Naim's tunes these days. She is from Paris, and lately I have been dreaming about visiting. YAEL NAIM & David Donatien work so well together in this album vocals and music are so harmonious. Check out some of their other songs!


Paris is calling me, ever since I watched Paris, je t'aime.
It is my kind of movie for sure through the neighborhoods of Paris, love is veiled, revealed, imitated, sucked dry, reinvented and awakened. Rent it if you haven't already seen it and curl up with your valentine, some wine, cheese & some good bread!

Conner is coming home tonight from his trip to florida, I missed him and his warm smile he brings me everyday. Van has said dad about 1 million times these past few days. He will be so happy to see him when he wakes up tomorrow (super bowl sunday) Have a good one!

Valentines Day - Be Mine

I am so into chocolate latley, I found these sweet little gifts that would make anyone feel loved when they received it. In addition to the sweetness you get a cookbook teaching you how to recreate the same thing at home!

I dont't know about you but I use my laptop in bed way too much, and it heats up on my legs and burns me.
I think this is the greatest invention this little lap pillow - that is not sticky leather or wood. It is actually soft and you can store your laptop in it when your finished to protect it from the elements! Did I mention it turns into a purse when you are on the go with your laptop? Genius... I need it.