Buby + Bleu: February 2008

29 February 2008

Mix Master

Original multi-color glitter glue painting by Buby. Dated: 2.24.08. Origination: Buby Land. Value: Priceless

1940. Seven GREATS. Clockwise from top: Buby's great x2 Uncle Harold, great x3 Grandma P., great x3 Grandpa P., great x2 Aunt Isabelle, great x2 Uncle Cecil, great Grandma Ruth, and great x2 Aunt Geraldine. Sadly, Uncle Harold and Aunt Geraldine both just recently passed away. Aunt Geraldine's funeral is today and we cannot travel for it, but our thoughts are with the whole extended family. Photo courtesy of Aunt Isabelle's self-published memoir My Life's Journey. It was a wonderful gift which we will treasure.

The Belly Doctor

Pregnancy: week 33

Pounds gained: 33

Bebe length {so far}: approx. 20 inches

Bebe weight {so far}: approx. 5 pounds

Doctor's orders: no more sledding hills, please

Next appt: friday, march 14

28 February 2008

Sunshine

It doesn't matter how dark it is when I wake {usually by 5:45} ... Buby has a blinding sunshine about him that forgives all else. He sets each day in blissful high-gear with that very first "HI MOMMY." The boy hugs big and kisses sweet. His baby blues make my heart ache with content, even in gloomy 17 degree temps like today. The mornings are my favorite. Not sure why. Maybe it's that our crazy + excited dancing, singing, chasing moments {where he's all BOY} are balanced with more intimate read-to-me, rock-me, show-me-something-new moments. There are times I cannot fathom he is only 2. He defies every expectation I had before becoming a mommy. And there are random times {like when he wakes crying at 4am and takes 20 minutes to settle} when I wish he would never get a millisecond older. And yet, I cannot wait to see what's ahead on this journey. Buby is napping. Exhausted. This a.m.'s repertoire included:

no less than 75 laps around the ottoman playing 'i'm gonna getcha'
puzzle doing x 3
book reading {i to him/him to me}
an hour-long appointment away from home
a stop at the bakery for bagels + iced decaff {yes, it's 17 degrees}
a game of one-on-one hoops
batting practice for almost an hour {yes, in the house}
taking mini monkeys for a ride on the firetruck
guitar playing
violin discovery
pretend tea party
nap time {he naps late, around 3pm now}

For the Love of the Scarf

2.28.08

Ever since Frosty bit the dust, Buby has claimed the scarf as his own. I put it away and he retrieves it in the a.m.

27 February 2008

Puzzled, part I

I never liked puzzles. Growing up I'd run fast and far if someone dumped a box of 1,000 itty bitty lookalike landscape pieces on the coffee table and said "here you go." That's not fun. Even now, knowing that every starter puzzle Buby owns is incomplete--missing just 1 piece--drives me berserk. He has several wood pegboard, lunchbox, and other open-faced configurations that are incredibly difficult to organize + store. Most don't work on carpet, can't be moved in progress, and won't stand up on a bookshelf or in a playroom basket without all the pieces tumbling out. Hence the missing pieces. But despite MY past resistance to puzzles, Buby has grown quite sweet on them. And recently, so have I. We discovered the beauty of puzzle books. Where have I been? These are made of board or foam with puzzles built right into the pages. Each piece teaches, tells a story, and--more important--fits snugly in its spot and stays there so you can file it on the shelf with all the other tomes. Buby and I grab one anytime we'll be in the car, my doctor's office, a restaurant. The Play & Learn Wild Animals foam puzzle book was his first, but it's still a big hit and we hope to snag more from the same collection.

Art I Love

Original pink-on-pink glitter glue fantasty by Buby. Dated: 2.24.08. Origination: Buby Land. Value: Priceless

Postcard Project, I

Grammy DJ from Montreal on 2.14.08

Buby + the airline industry are LIKE THIS. His grandmother is a flight attendant and her Tom a pilot. They had a fantastic idea! Both will start sending Buby dated postcards from every city in which they have a layover. Buby is always giddy to receive mail and {we hope} will grow up to share our passion for travel near + far. His first card arrived last week from Grammy DJ's overnight in Montreal. He LOVES it. How fun to collect postcards--or anything, for that matter--at such a young age. You never know what will INSPIRE.

26 February 2008

Best Cookbook Ever!

A friend told us about this book after we drooled over a handful of delish recipes she had made from it. So I picked it up as one of Buby's Daddy's birthday gifts. I say with confidence, it is the best cookbook ever!!! Everyone should own it. Seriously, I spent all night going through it. It's so easy to use and organize with every recipe you can imagine in every category. The reference guide is key for people like me who can't do conversions. Click here.

Handmade Snowman Kit

Merci beaucoup to Buby's Aunt Jen for the wonderful 'Family of 4 Snowman Kit.' It is awesome beyond awesome. Inside the vintage metal box--which is color-matched to our country kitchen and personalized with our last name--is 4 hand painted wooden carrot noses, 4 scarves {2 boy, 2 girl}, and lots of stones for eyes, mouths and buttons. Buby & Co. FINALLY got the beautiful, sticky, packable snow we wanted late last week. So this is how we spent our Saturday morning. I look forward to the kids bringing out the box every winter.

The Result?

Frosty came out beautifully thanks to Daddy + Buby. Rolling the big snowballs is harder than it looks.

Glittery Glamour

Original purple + green glitter glue abstract by Buby. Dated: 2.23.08. Origination: Buby Land. Value: Priceless

25 February 2008

i heart

2.23.08

this weekend...
i love the sight of: Buby wearing my gel eye mask + sleeping in his little bed surrounded by 12 stuffed things VERY dear to him, 5 loads of laundry done and 5 shirts ironed, our snowman, my 2-yr-old still running up to me for comfort
i love the sound of: the "TIPPY TOE TOE TOE" song {as Buby calls it}, airplanes flying overhead, Buby chatting about anything, the oven buzzing
i love the scent of: fresh snow, Buby's berry toothpaste + his skin after a shower, Chiquita's new mini bananas... which have strawberry overtones
i love the taste of: chewy chocolate chip cookies a la My Sweets, roasted chicken with a chipolte rub, mashed potatoes, hot croissants with melted butter, apricot halves, shepherd's pie, French toast bagels, milk
i love the feel of: still-warm-from-the-dryer bed sheets, catching Buby in a moment... like kissing his little monkey doll and whispering "I LOVE YOU," completing a puzzle, napping as a family, wearing My Sweet's white tee to bed {nothing else fits in my current state of preggerness}

Adventures in Sledding, Day 1

We took Buby downhill sledding on Saturday. It was sunny + beautiful. Our county park has an awesome beginner's hill for young children. Hardly anyone was there, and most of the other sledders were preschoolers. We had hit the jackpot!

Buby practiced before we left the house. Daddy inflated the new sled in the playroom, and we emphasized to Buby to keep his feet up and never let go of the handles. He was IN LOVE with this thing! He even practiced falling off gracefully, just in case.

I can't imagine where Buby gets his strength + energy. I walked up and down the hill with the boys several times but then had to sit out. Later, I was up half the night with mild contractions. Oops!

Most parents were carrying their kids up the hill, but Buby insisted on walking. And pulling his own sled.

Buby was warm but still sporting his rosy reds.

The saucer was faster than the Gizmo, so Daddy went first and held onto Buby's rope to keep him close.

Someone shaved. Did you notice?

This was WAY fun! Daddy ran beside us in case of collision.

There was one collision {my fault!}, but no boo boos.

After, we warmed up at our favorite pub with their famous shepherd's pie. Buby was so sweet + cuddly and wanted only his Daddy's lap. Back home, Buby immediately fell asleep in his bed. Daddy + I raced down to our bed, and the whole family slept for 3 1/2 hours in the middle of the day. That was a first for us! Ahhh.

Adventures in Sledding, Day 2

1st run = success, laughter, lots of smiles

2nd run = backward roll, boo boo, lots of tears

Buby was tired on Sunday, and the sun was blinding. He let go of the handles and flipped off the back. It happened just as I snapped this shot of what WAS a happy smiley Buby. I raced up the mountain as Daddy swooped up a hysterical Buby before anyone ran him over. Little Dude had blood on his face, so we feared he bit his tongue or lost a tooth. Thankfully neither was true. It was just his so-soft baby skin roughed up from hitting the snow.

exit = quick, worried, lots of kisses

Buby fell asleep for a couple of hours as soon as we got home. When he woke up, he looked 10xs worse. His cheeks and forehead were covered in road rash; his right eye black + blue; his nose swollen. Buby talked all night about going sledding again, so obviously the boy has no fear. But Mommy + Daddy are still feeling AWFUL. {And we were so cautious... it was a kiddy slope, Daddy never let go of the rope, and Buby even had his ski helmet on.} So I think we'll play it safe with this sled and look for one with a back on it for downhill.