Happy, happy birthday...In spades!

Birthdays are just a comin' around here.

Jay celebrated his 32nd birthday yesterday, on the 27th, and we enjoyed it by basically doing nothing! We went for a lovely walk in the morning down the Arroyo Mocho trail, and then stopped by the library for a few books for Charlie. And the rest of the day was spent relaxing, reading, and having a supper of pulled pork and mac n cheese.

I also was determined to make a chocolate cake that was actually moist, and I think I found the recipe! Obviously, oil is the key to a moister cake, or buttermilk, and this one called for oil. I do I think I ended up cooking the cakes a smidge too long, perhaps only a couple of minutes, but overall it was a beautiful 3 layer cake that was moist and chocolaty. I used a simple vanilla buttercream icing, that I tweaked because I did not have an vanilla bean paste, but I think next time I will drive the distance to find it, to enhance the flavor.



And, as a lovely surprise earlier this week, our good friends, Kim and Chris, welcomed their first child into the world. Lovely little Lena Marie entered our world on February 25th, is quite the beauty. We are so happy for the both of them, and cannot wait to meet her! Congratulations and enjoy every moment with her :)

Happiness in a Basket

Every other morning, I wash Lily's diapers, so by the evening, I have 12-14 beautifully clean diapers. And it is my favorite 20 minutes stuffing the inserts into their pockets.

And though many people would say I am crazy, I find this task very soothing, and comforting.

Why? Perhaps because it is monotonous. Perhaps because I am alone (Jason usually skedattles to another room, I assume to avoid helping). Perhaps because they are my baby's. There is something calming about those small fresh smelling clothes, especially since they belong to my little people.

But honestly, I think I love doing this simple task because at the end, I have my own personal rainbow. And rainbows are always lucky, and a sign of good things, right?

Gender confusion ETA

I thought about my previous post this early this morning (approximately 4:45am) as I was nursing Charlie--scratch that--Lily!

I would hate for anyone to think that I don't love the words coming out of my son's mouth. I love that I get the opportunity to say that he talks all the time. After working with children who often say few things, much less discuss the difference between a man and woman, I do not take for granted my bright little boy and his eclectic phrasings.

Forgive me if I sounded as if I was bemoaning our interesting, if not repetitive, conversations. :)

Gender confusion

As a two-year old, it is typical for Charlie to label everything, and I mean everything, around him. And one of his favorite things to point out and tell me about is people. However, Charlie does not quite get the concept of gender, so he calls almost every person a man. Ironically (is this ironic) enough, 90% of the people we see during the day at the store and while walking or at the park, are women.

"Look, momma, it's a man."

"No, Charlie. That's a lady. Not everyone is a man."

"Man is {action}ing."

Momma sighing. "Yes, the person is {action}ing. But, she is a lady, not a man."

"Lady is {action}ing."

"That's right hon."

So, this is our conversation, repeated about every 5 minutes throughout the day when we are in public. I am hoping that we pick up on boys vs. girls pretty soon. Otherwise, I will have to breakout the flashcards.