One last birthday post...

We had a family birthday party for Ezra on Saturday. We planned for it to start at 3:30pm since Ezra usually wakes up around 3pm from an afternoon nap.

However on this particularly Saturday he decided he wanted to take two morning naps, and then an afternoon nap starting at 2:45pm (he normally sleeps for 1.5-2.5 hours, so I knew this meant he wouldn't be up by 3:30pm).

Around 3:45pm Ryan and I decided that we should probably wake him up. We went into our room (where he was sleeping) and started to gently wake him by opening the blinds...then turning off his sound machine...then rubbing his back. Nothing. So we rubbed his back some more and sang happy birthday. At this point he picked up his head (eyes still closed) and turned over...still sleeping. Oh, waking up a sleeping baby is never fun, yet so cute at the same time. Eventually he woke up. He is normally a happy baby when he wakes up...even when woken up. However not this day. He was sooo tired and just wanted to be cuddled...preferably by mom or dad...for the first almost 45 minutes.

Don't take my picture guys...just hold me!


Playing catch is always a sure bet for making Ezra smile...


Gluten-free strawberry/banana birthday muffin...


They were plate-licking good!


...couldn't get enough...


Happy Birthday sweet boy!

Ezra is 1...no foolin'!

Ezra's actual birthday was wonderful, even though it didn't go exactly as I had pictured. But then again neither did his birth...so perhaps I should learn that parenthood takes many unexpected twists and turns, but it all works out wonderfully in the end.

He started cutting his first tooth, which as you know, is a hard thing to do. I can see the tooth, but it just hasn't popped through the gum yet. Most of the day he just wanted to be held and cuddled...so that is a lot of what we did. We snuggled in the chair. We snuggled on the couch. I wore him in a carrier while I baked cupcakes and gluten-free muffins. I was feeling sad about how miserable he seemed to be feeling on his birthday, and finally it dawned on me that he needed a birthday balloon! So I wore him while we walked to Fry's to pick out his birthday balloon. If you have a 1 year old, or even an almost 1 year old...balloons are magical! Ezra was in awe of his balloon and would not let go of it for a second. He carried it all the way home from the grocery store and would smile when he saw it across the room at home...I'm not kidding when I say that I have never seen him light up about something so much (except for when he sees his dad walk in the room).

In the morning Jessica and Eleanor came over, which was very fun. Jessica and I did a little sewing.

Ezra and Eleanor wanted to help too...


When playing with sharp needles and heavy machinery was not an option...they tried to break free and get into the backyard...



As always, playing with balls was a highlight...Ezra is not to sold on the idea of sharing yet though...


Ezra serenaded us...


And Eleanor checked out the potty for size... (that long thing next to Ezra is the draft blocker we sewed!)...


The both enjoyed climbing...on the same thing at the same time of course...


And here's just a head shot of him, because he is the birthday boy afterall. :)


(most of those photos should be credited to Jessica Howard :)

After Jessica and Eleanor left, Ezra spent most of the day right here...with his hand in his mouth like so...


But then we got the balloon and his face lit up like this (the balloon is on the top of the string, but sadly I didn't get that in the photo)...


The balloon even received a round of applause.


...and some open mouth kisses...

Decluttering entertaiment...

We were recently given a nice basket that I thought would make a perfect newspaper recycling basket (we save our newspaper to build fires with). As I was clearing off the top shelf of the hall closet where we keep our newspapers, I was freaked out by some verryyyy long tentacles that were reaching out towards me. The shelf is above (my) eye level so I couldn't really see what it was, but still I was feeling a little squeamish. Deciding to be very brave, I just reached for it...and jumped when it was much bigger than I had expected....



Oh dear...I have no idea how long that potato had been hiding up there.

Happy 1st Birthday Ezra!!

How is it possible?? Seriously, how? That a whole year has gone by since we first met Ezra?


It is quite amazing to think that they start so small and depend on you for everything, yet in one year's time, they triple in size and desire to do many things themselves.

1 month...


2 months...


3 months...


4 months...



5 months...


6 months...


7 months...


8 months...


9 months...


10 months...


11 months...


1 Year!


Last weekend we had a joint birthday party at the park with Ezra's friend, Corban, who turned 3!

Ryan and Ezra...


Corban the birthday princess!


Who needs cupcakes when there are gluten-free prune muffins to be devoured?


"If only we could get these open...these bubbles look delicious!"


It has been a wonderful first year. So many smiles and laughs. Hours spent just staring at him in awe. Tears of joy. Sleepless nights. Love that makes me want to burst. Lots of snuggles and cuddles...and millions of kisses too.

Happy Birthday! We love you Ezra!

Communal Living

The other day I was walking downtown and passed by this "compound"...





From what I can tell, there are 6 casitas in total with a nice fenced in yard...perfect for exploring kiddos. I am thinking that if four families are interested, we could each move in to our own quarters and have the 5th casita be a "common house" where we eat meals and hang out, and the 6th casita can be a music/craft house where all sorts of creativity can take place.

Who's in??

p.s. if you know who owns these casitas, can you ask them if they are interested in selling?? :)

da zoo!

Last week Samantha and I took the boys to the zoo. We chose to go at 9:30am when it would be still cool out, and hopefully not very busy. Hmm...not so. Apparently because it was a little cool out, everyone-including every school- decided to make it their field trip for the day! That didn't really matter too much though...we still had a grand ol' time!

Ezra's favorite animal was the peacock. :)

And, both boys LOVED crawling around in the play area...

Monday night!

Meet Me at Maynards (MMM) is the coolest thing happening in Tucson (or perhaps even the nation?) on Monday nights. :)

"The mission of Meet Me at Maynards is to bring active adults and families to the downtown Tucson area to enjoy healthy exercise, to experience the beauty, history and architecture of our unique neighborhoods, and to appreciate and patronize local businesses."

Every Monday night about 400-600 folks gather downtown to walk/run. There are 3 loops to choose from: 2 miles, 3 miles, and 4 miles. We walk by cute old homes, the art museum, la placita, the children's museum, etc...it's really quite lovely.

Most of the restaurants downtown offer a 20% discount to MMM'ers on Monday nights. Ezra usually wants to go home and get some shut eye by the time we are done walking, but perhaps someday soon we'll be able to have a late night dinner downtown after our walk.

(these photos were from last week when it was unseasonably chilly)
Our regular crew (more are always welcome to join us!!...just let me know if you are interested)...

Abigail with Ezra, Blanca, Estrella, Matt, and Abby with Moses
(notice Abby's ultra stylish distance-walking boots... :)


Me and Ezra bundled up..


Matt and Momo...


And, the ever-so-happy Estrella!

It's laundry time!

Ezra loves to crawl around outside while I hang up the laundry these days. The tin of clothespins gets emptied and re-filled, emptied and re-filled, emptied and re-filled...it's lots of fun! :)



(those are his rosy red cheeks from eating bread in Bisbee.)