Congrats to the lovely, newly engaged couple!

All 3 Birt boys are officially off the market!  We're so happy for you Jeremy & Monique!  We love you both very much.

Happy Spring!

Imagine Childhood is giving away a $75 gift card to one lucky winner.  They have AMAZING things.  To enter, go here!

Chocolate + Paris = sigh of complete contentment...

If you have about 7 minutes watch this great clip going behind the scenes of how chocolate is made in Paris.  You won't be disappointed.

Some things never change... (& some things DO!)

December 2009

March 2011

Apparently Axel wanted to get in on the fun too.  So, instead of his typical scoootching over to grab a jar, HE CRAWLED(!!!) for the first time!  11 months & 1 day old, he finally CRAWLED!!!  It was so exciting!  (Sadly, just like with Laila taking her first crawl - Jason was working... thank goodness for video cameras!)  

11 months.

Seriously!?  Will I be celebrating my son's birthday in a month!?  How can this be...?

11 months has always been one of my favorite ages.  They're still super chunky, happy & sleep a lot.  I gave Axel his first hair cut last Sunday, he has 2 bottom teeth, he eats about everything, is SOOOO close to crawling & is a pretty happy little guy.  Just today he started sitting up in his crib & trying to pull himself up.  He wasn't successful but, we lowered the mattress in his crib anyhow... He & Lai had a great time playing in his new (deep) bed.

Dan the mailman.

We are lucky enough to have our mailbox on our porch.  Instead of a mail carrier driving by, dropping our mail in a box halfway down our block, he comes to our door everyday.  We've built quite a relationship with him.  Laila adores him & he's always sure to take time to give her special treats or hugs every time he sees her.  During the summer months she'll eat lunch out on the porch awaiting his special delivery.  During wet months she'll quickly scramble to throw on her boots when we see him coming while exclaiming, "I don't need socks mommy!" so that she makes it outside in time to get a hug.  Lately they've started delivering our neighbor, Thelma's mail together.  Side by side they brave the elements & get Thelma her treasured envelopes.

Dan was also delivering our mail when we pulled into the driveway with our new baby son.  He welcomed us home and was the first of our "neighbors" to meet him.  Needless to say, he has a special place in our hearts.  We love Dan the mailman!

Soaked!

Yesterday it poured.  I hadn't seen it rain that hard since our last day in Disneyland.  It was coming DOWN!  So, Laila & I threw on our boots, grabbed her umbrella & went out to play.

She's wearing a raincoat that was mine when I was her age!  

Face lift.

Paint, prints, switch around tables, ta-da!

Before

After 

If you've been around our home long enough, you know that things don't change.  Everything has it's place.  But, it was time.  I was getting bored with the universal cream color in every room & started asking for your opinions & ideas.  Thanks to those of you that helped give your input & a big thank you to J & M who gave us the great new print that they were getting rid of!  I want our home to be a place of refuge, sanctuary & warmth.  It's still a work in progress but, these subtle changes are a step in that direction.