Cloth Diapers vs. disposable

I'm swamped at work with a huge event this weekend, so I'm "cheating" by pointing you to someone else's post...however, I think it's a good one. We are cloth diapering babygirl, with the occasional disposable when traveling. (Because, it just seems rude, not to mention a pain to wash diapers at someone's house!)

So, check out No Impact Man's post on the benefits of cloth diapering...you may just become a convert yet!

One word "meme"

I read this new meme this morning on Mary's site, while I wasn't tagged (mary doesn't tag)...I thought it seemed interesting and a good way to get my brain moving this morning. (in case you're still waking up too - the idea is to answer each question with just one word)

1. Where is your cell phone? Unknown
2. Your significant other? Husband (I don't put his name up here)
3. Your hair? Brownish
4. Your mother? Mom
5. Your father? Dad :)
6. Your favorite thing? Husband
7. Your dream last night? Yes
8. Your favorite drink? Wine
9. Your dream/goal? SAHM
10. The room you’re in? Work
11.Your hobby? Creativeness
12. Your fear? Inadequacy
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home
14. What you’re not? Patient
15. Muffins? absolutely
16. One of your wish list items? ipod
17. Where you grew up? Michigan
18. The last thing you did? cleaned
19. What are you wearing? capris
20. Favorite gadget? kitchenaid
21. Your pets? none
22. Your computer? mac
23. Your mood? decent
24. Missing someone? Yes
25. Your car? subaru
26. Something you’re not wearing? sweater
27. Favorite store? bookstores
28. Like someone? Yes
29. Your favorite color? orange
30. When is the last time you laughed? lastnight
31. Last time you cried? 2weeks ago

Every morning...

it is the strongest I've ever been and yet the weakest I've ever felt to have to leave this sweet face at daycare and go to work.

I cherish every moment I have home with her.

Happy Birthday Babygirl!

Today you are one, and I am reliving the past year and amazed at how much you've grown into this little person in front of me. I've kept a list of some of your funnier, sweeter traits throughout the last year, and while I'm not going to post the entire list here, I thought I'd share some of my "favorite" things from the past year.

• The way you sing while you eat because you are just that happy
• The way you adore avocado
• How you suddenly sat up one day, as if you always knew how to do it
• Sitting with you on the yellow striped couch every morning talking about the trees, the birds, the items in the living room and you would hang on my every word
• The first time you griped the wooden rattle and hit yourself in the head, you looked so surprised by it!
• Your singing – especially the few times you’ve woken up at 5 am and just happily laid in your crib with your sweet little sing-song voice
• At 7 months how you start laughing when dad or I walk in the room like it’s just such a great thing
• How much you love it when I run away from you and then run towards you singing “doo doo doo…” we’ve been doing this since 5 or 6 months old, and at a year old you still love it
• Our “special time” in the car to and from work every day
• “Kissing” picture in books (really almost licking them)
• Clapping and squealing when the stereo is turned on
• Touching mama’s nose, eyes, mouth while nursing
• How excited you get when you saw a hummingbird fly up to the feeder
• Snuggling in close at night, resting your head on my shoulder or chest and beginning to relax and get ready to go to bed

My love for you is beyond anything I've ever known or experienced. I am grateful for how patient you have been with me this past year as I learn to be your mom. It is my greatest joy.

Visit to family

This past week we were able to go visit my family out east and finally introduce babygirl to my grandmother. My husband and I worked hard to make this trip happen and the time with my family meant the world to me. I know babygirl will likely not remember my grandmother except through photos and stories, so that made this all the more worthwhile.

Besides seeing my grandmother for the first time, babygirl also met her first ducks..and she loved them! She pretty much loves all animals it seems.

We also were able to see my sister and her beautiful family. Babygirl loved being around her cousins and highlighted for me how much I miss my family, and by extention my friends who are like family.
It was a whirlwind trip filled with full days of travel (I'll probably write another entry about traveling with a one year old! 7 hours in a car...10 hours through two airports, two airplanes and literally a two minute time frame from getting off one plane, running through the airport and getting on the second plane. I was a wreck and babygirl was great!) After all of that, it's good to be back in one place for a little while!

Last weekend

(I've had this post "in progress" for four days now...wow how time flies!)
Last weekend we:
finished the garden "cage" to protect potential veggies from the plethora of animals surrounding our house

took lovely naps outside in the sun and breeze

almost finished new shelves in our guest bath

and prepared to be out of town for a bit visiting family.
Here's hoping your weekend coming up is equally productive and relaxing!

Tiny Matters

I decided to rename my blog this morning...still inspired by Emerson's quote, but naming the blog "tiny matters". I thought this has such a lovely intention.

To me, it is the small things that often matter the most, such as my daughter meeting her first horse this past weekend.

I hope my blog can serve as inspiration for the tiny things that matter for my family, and hopefully matter for you as well. Happy Wednesday everyone!