1st trip to the zoo

the little mister boy and i ventured to the zoo this week with some dear friends. it was wonderful weather and it was little handsome's first trip!

the visit to the lions was amazing! we walked up and he was lounged up on the rock ROARING...showing off his teeth and all! he was quite the talkative fellow!

... hanging out with the antilope ...



he seemed to really notice the elephants



... he didn't seem as impressed with the giraffes {they were kinda far away} as he did with the ducks...



and the sea lions...



...and again from a different angle...underwater. the mister was pretty mesmerized by this!

pretty sure it was a successful first trip to the zoo! we are excited to take daddy next time!

blushing. blushing, blushing

so many blushing thanks to ms. catherine @ design editor for the shout out about teacups and tadpoles's shopping cart covers...and a bit about the rest of my irons in the fire!

if by the slim chance you've never stumbled onto her beautiful online pad then quite the plethora of inspiration awaits you! click on over and be prepared to stay awhile!

he's.on.a.roll

my little over achiever started crawling and the next day started pulling up and cruising the furniture! "firsts" come in such huge helpings these days!

my new favorite MUST-HAVE

picky as always...i am most excited to have finally found a shopping cart & high chair cover that i love, use,...AND share it with my customers! i have been on the hunt for one that provided the most amount of surface protection without folding up to be the size of a king size pillow. i have plenty to lug around without adding another large baby must-have to my trunk! plus...i wanted one that was comfortable enough without being so big and plush that it was bulky...we all know my little mister won't be falling asleep as we stroll down the grocery store aisle! so i didn't need a cover that boasted the ultimate dream-like comfort! ;)

the mister and i love this cover! he gets to chew on his attached toys and i get my hand and hip back as we head through the grocery store...all while i have peace of mind that he is touching his own space and not every one else's! in addition to the obvious stylish fabric choices i am most impressed with a few other features...

1. 100% soft quilted cotton - machine washable. Provides a 360 degree germ-free zone. Folds to a compact, convenient size that can be easily stored in a diaper bag.

2. Four elastic corners for easy one-hand installation.

3. Toy loops to attach baby's favorite playthings.

4. Extra wide safety strap comfortably keeps baby secure while attaching cover to shopping cart or high chair.

...and did i mention how small and compact it folds up to be...

you can find them here...

first shiner

...courtesy of the coffee table {this am}
baby {and momma} are ok.

a whale of a sale

we are having a WHALE of a SALE @ teacups and tadpoles now...
with items more than 50% off!!!
so go ahead & stock up...think: back-to-school, birthdays, and christmas!
{ i am offering free shipping {in the US} for orders $100+...as always! }

"the girl's room"

my parents still live in the same house i was brought home from the hospital to. the front room was first my nursery, then i invited sister in and we shared it for years until she left home, then it was solo mine again, then i married my man and it changed hands again. now...its back to the "girl's room" as we have always called it. and my handsome and i stayed in it this trip.

many times as a little girl playing "baby dolls" i dreamed of becoming a mommy. seeing the mister playing & sleeping in the room that i grew up in, played in, dreamed in...its very real and surreal and dream-like all at the same time for me.

many dreams, many years of wanting and then getting old enough to realize that not everyone is able to have children...my wanting turned to longing...and then when the time was right for our family...my longing turned to hoping that we'd be blessed with a child. and we were. my mind still has a hard time wrapping and realizing that it happened...and he's here. and its as if he always has been. in a way he has...he has always been in my dreams that started in that very room!

another one hitched

2/3 of us got to head to texas for my brother's wedding in early june. dr. hubby couldn't get away to make the trip. it was a gorgeous day on the lake and this sister cried real tears. his bride got the best they come! we trained this one well!

{ all my siblings...some of my very favorite people in the world! }




{ the mister partying way past his bedtime with his noni & lala }



{ my dad }

happy first father's day

i wanna be just like my daddy when i grow up!
i love you daddy!
♥ the mister

{ created, taken, and designed by mommy }

seven months...already

my dapper dude is getting so big....growing so fast...full of such personality...and a TOOTH! i love this baby more than...more than it all! God sure gives amazing gifts when he makes girls into mommas!

a lovely day just being mommy

morning dances in bed, 2 hour naps, a cherry limeade, and the cutest little baby boy to call mine! its so nice to be home! we have been traveling {for pleasure and for work} since the middle of february. some of those travels meant time apart from dr. daddy and my little mister...and some meant all 3 of us were in separate states! i give so many kudos to you working mommies out there...what strength, commitment and true master jugglers you must be! bless you! so many thanks to my dear momma for keeping the little mister while i was traveling...and to my sweet mil for traveling to PA to help out as well! we are blessed! we are now enjoying being home and getting back into a routine. which hopefully means as soon as my to-list begins to dwindle i'll be back to blogging!!! missed you friends!

one of my favorite things as a mother is something so unexpected...its when nothing particularly special is going on and it hits me so clearly and completely without warning...chills come over me...he's mine, he's finally here, he knows i'm his, and one day he'll call me mommy. its as if my mind is one step closer each time in soaking in and fathoming the enormity of this blessing! i've waited a very long time to know what being mommy would be like and who that little person would be to create that job in me...and he's here, he's finally here. and he's more than i imagined. much more!