The PIT!

After the addition of the nursery was put in, it left us with a torn up brick patio and lots of dirt. We went last summer without really touching it and Ricky had good intentions to use the bricks leftover and extend what was left of the patio. Good intentions, bad follow through. Not his fault really, when you are working the hours he has been doing, brick laying is last on your mind. We decided to reward ourselves for persistent saving we had been doing and the absence of a real summer getaway (we will be staying at the ski condo for a week...pictures and post to come about that!) and we hired someone else to do it. At a very affordable price, our brick patio was done in no time at all. We even nabbed a free patio set from a friend...we are hoping to score an end of the season sale later on! A firepit is something I think the two of us have talked about doing for a loooooong time, summer after summer would go by and we would enjoy ourselves at other people's firepits and say how it would be nice to have our own. After a little convincing (I needed the convincing) Ricky and I decided to add a built in pit. I adore this thing. Not only because s'mores happen to be my favorite dessert, but because Ricky and I have already used this quite a bit. I keep s'more ingredients constantly in stock and beer and a fun time is always had. It's been great having our families come over and enjoy it with us, infact, Meri and I decided that chardonnay and roasted marshmallows are a fine pairing! Not to mention, it's just nice to be outside than in front of the tv at night. Ricky immediately wanted to go out and buy Adirondack chairs, but I surprised him with two as an early birthday present!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Ricky! Even though our family hasn't been in exisitence very long, you have already done so much for us! You work so hard to provide for us and you love us unconditionally...what more could we ask for! I hope you had a wonderful day (even though you had to work) We are so blessed with great dads all around us!

"Love is patient, love is kind, love is having a fluffy behind."

Eve is in cloth diapers! This is something both Ricky and I wanted to do a lot earlier, but just didn't get around to doing the research and getting up the nerve to make the purchase and lifestyle change. I don't go a day without thinking about what kind of carbon footprint I have left on the planet and the disposables were the last straw with me. I despise the trash that it accumulates and the money that we are literally throwing away. If my mom did it with 8, than why can't I? The research I did for this was more intense than anything I have ever done. The choices are endless, but I quickly discovered which one was going to be the best transition for all of us. After speaking to many cloth diapering mamas, I got the courage to make the purchase and get Eve into them. Why at 18 months? Because as we get closer to considering trying for Baby Lovering #2, the more sick I get at thinking about 2 in disposables. Plus, I wanted to get into the groove with Eve and it is a groove you have to get into. The transition was easy, the laundering is a little more involved, but the trade off is so worth it. Now I am just waiting for some sun so we can air dry! The best part...seeing Eve with a squishy tushy!

Eve turns 18 months!

Can you believe it? I don't even have to explain in words what our little girl is up to these days, the pictures say it all :)

Me

Not only is this for me, but this is also for my friend Christine who braved posting a beautiful picture of her and her son, Avery in all her beautiful bald glory :) So here it is and I must say, it feels pretty good!

Eve Update!

It was only a day after I wrote my "Reflecting and Looking Forward" blog, that Miss Eve quit nursing cold turkey. There I was spilling about how I thought she would never stop and sure enough she was like, "ummm, Mom, about that nursing, I am sooooo done." I cried about it and now I am really enjoying having my body, well, to myself again. It's nice. I especially love to put her to bed now, I sing and take her on journeys (all you theatre folks will know what I am talking about) and tell her what she will dream about. It's made me realize a few things, this new bedtime routine. I really need to brush up on my age appropriate songs, somehow, I don't think singing Pitbull tunes are okay as lullabyes. I am currently conjuring up old showtunes to sing to her. Eve, when overtired, is as loopy as they come. She bellylaughs at odd things when I am lulling her to sleep. For instance, on of my journeys, we were flying across the country and I was trying to come up with different destinations to describe in full detail. Because I am not much of a traveler and my geography is lacking, I came up with a few places from East to West...NYC, that was an easy one, Chicago, another simple one (great for weather purposes) Yosemite Park, Las Vegas (I thought she would have fallen asleep by Chicago) I come up with Hoover Dam and well the word "HOOOOOOOVER" had her bellylaughing with her eyes closed. I love this kid. Naturally, I said it over and over again until I got my fill of her sleepy giggles.

Eve is walking now, well sort of. She walks, but quickly realizes she is far better off getting from point A to point B by crawling. I got some good footage...one of these days I will get it up on here.

Eve is a talker. So much that Ricky and I have got to watch what we say now, she quickly puts those sounds together and out it comes. I particularly like when she says "Outside" it comes out "Side" She knows eyes, ears (that comes out eahs) nose and mouth. We took her to a Farm Expo and she quickly learned her animal sounds, her horse neigh is spot on. Apple, Elbow and Elmo are perfectly distinct from one another.

Eve loves babies, I mean, "bebes" and Elmo, doggies and farm animals. Sesame Street is genius and really knows the mind of a toddler...we happen to have a DVD, titled "Elmo's World: Babies, Dogs and More" the more part is all about farm animals. Needless to say, this is our go-to for those toddler moments. Thank you Sesame, thank you very much!

Eve has learned the art of manipulation, right now it's cute. If we are ever to raise our voice and scold her, she will cry for a fast second than immediately do these three things in this order, 1. kiss any part of you that is nearest to her. 2. wave and say "hi, hi, hi" 3. point to her fading boo-boo on her hand and say "boo-boo" and hold it to your mouth to kiss it.
We are pretty sure she will be that kid that once she turns 18, we will get a call from her, right before she jumps out of plane. She loves wind in her hair and going fast. Despite the NH winter we are having, we have been able to enjoy the outdoors. We broke in her sled and enjoyed our acres of snowy fields to walk around in. She loved it, loved going down the hills, loved being outside. Yes!

She is a friendly girl too, hopefully not to a fault as she gets older. She waves at everyone and everything. I am certain she believes that anytime she is in her stroller or shopping cart that she is in her own parade, starring Eve.

Eve is 15 months and growing lots and lots. I am anxious for her doctors appointment coming up this month. I have had several people tell me how long her legs are and I am curious if she is still up there when it comes to height. Not that that really means anything at this age, but considering the genes, who knows?

So that is, currently, the life and times of Miss Evie. Healthy, happy and so darn funny.

My newest career move...since becoming a mom, of course!

I have been waking up in the middle of the night with lots going through my head, mostly, for ways in which to keep one foot wet in my creative field and to keep the other permanently planted at home, with Eve. How can I possibly have the best of both worlds? Eve will always be, first and foremost, my priority. If Ricky and I have to turn out all the lights, lose the TV, internet, you name it, we would for me to keep the privilege of being a stay at home mom. I have many friends who are new moms and work, some part time, some full time and I will forever be in awe of what you do. I hate the ongoing debacle of stay at home moms vs. working moms. It's not fair.



As we face another challenging year with the economy, it has been weighing heavy on my heart, "what can I do to help my family?" I am involved with two mom groups in the Southern NH area and the craving for doing activities with your babies is overwhelming! Mommies are jumping at every opportunity to get involved with "Mommy and Me" classes, from yoga to gym to stroller workouts to art classes. It really is amazing. Soooooooo....I am combining being a mom with my passion, dance. And I will be taking over the Baby Dance with Me Program at KBDS. Now, I need to give credit where credit is due...this is the brainchild of two amazing preschool dance teachers and I can only hope I do it justice. They are amazing dance teachers for little ones! I am astonished at how my priorities have changed in regards to dance since Eve came into my life. It was only 6 years ago that my boss was asking me if I was interested in teaching the baby ballet program and I immediately felt insulted. I mean, I had just came back into town with 4 years experience of working with some of the most amazing masters and I was going to teach a bunch of pint size ballerinas who pick their nose and only want to dance with satin scarves? I am quickly learning that there is an art to accomplishing just this. And now, all I want to do is teach nose pickers...particularly my own :)

Along with the studios program, I have pitched and sold the idea to outreach teaching and will be taking the program with me to a wonderful maternal wellness center, Nini Bambini and I will be reaching a whole new demographic. I can take Eve with me, I can teach having her right beside me, I will be doing what I love AND making money....sweet, huh?

Check out my bios at

www.ninibambini.com

www.kathyblakedancestudios.com