You know I love arts and crafts, so when one of my co-workers suggested this plan - I was in!  This month our theme was Valentine’s day, and it was my turn to host.  We try to complete the craft over lunch at work, so it is important we choose our projects wisely (no 3-hour long crafts that require spray painting or the use of a sewing machine).  We picked a cute Valentine craft found off of designspongeonline.com.

I have to say, I work with some very talented and inspiring people.  It is always fun to get together, listen to some tunes and make something fun with your hands.  Sometimes you have to force yourself to go – it is easy to feel overwhelmed with the tasks at work.  But at the end of the day, I always feel a little happier when I’ve created something myself.

As a parent, when’s the last time you had to force yourself to take some time for yourself and ended up really happy that you did?

We live on opposite coasts, but luckily we have stayed close through the years. I think it’s because of this that I already feel so close to her little ones. We’ve met the kids before and have spent time with them, but this was the first time hanging out with them on their turf. It didn’t take long for them to warm up to us. KK had already fallen in love with Mike (my husband) when she first met him at my sister’s wedding, so it was like we jumped right back into things.

They are the most precious kids.

C has this fiery, spiky red hair and the biggest blue/green eyes you’ve ever seen. He’s the happiest baby I’ve ever seen, and man can that boy eat! The cutest thing ever was when he’d be done eating and he’d do sign language to say “all done” with those little hands to his mommy. She’d get him out of his highchair and he’d laugh out loud, and wiggle and kick, so proud of himself that he could communicate.

And KK is just so precious and bright. She loves to dance and she’s so smart for a 2 1/2 year old. She would “cook” for us in her kitchen and make up her own stories when she “read” us books. She made me read her the first four pages of one of Rachel’s cookbooks over and over and over again. When she gets excited her little hands shake and she jumps up and down like a little jumping bean until she wears herself out.

It’s funny because I’d feel proud when other grown ups (beside her parents of course) wanted to play with her and she’d come to me instead (I’m sorry I know that’s so selfish!) She’d sit on my lap and snuggle and look up at me and say “I wuv you!” My heart almost burst right then and there.

It’s funny, because I know they aren’t mine, but when I got on that plane to go home I felt a little lump in my throat. Will they remember us the next time we see them? Will they know who we are and still want to hang out with us? By then C will be walking and KK will be reading for real and we are going to miss it!!!!!!

After all of the joy from our week, the house seems eerily quiet.

It seems so stupid to be upset, but how do you NOT get attached? It’s hard being away from family. Kids just amplify it because it turns what you’re missing into something tangible. So, for now, we’ll video chat and we’ll have to plan another trip to look forward to in the meantime!

How do you deal with living far away from your family? And how do you stay in touch?

Do you ever wonder if your baby recognizes you more easily with a camera in front of your face than without? I have a feeling many mama bloggers may agree.

Gracie turns six months old tomorrow, so I know what we’ll be doing tonight: Photoshoot!! I’ve come to really love my monthly recordings of my daughter’s growth and development. With the busyness of life, I never did get around to reading cover to cover in the “Your Baby’s First Year” type books, but as the 29th day of each month approaches I do take the time to read about that particular stage, think about what happened over her last month, and write a special letter to my daughter recording our special moments.

And, thanks to the creative couple behind Young House Love, I also have a very fun way of recording Gracie’s physical changes each month. I love picking out fun fabrics for her to lay on for each snapshot – and I’m thinking I’ll make a quilt using all twelve when Gracie’s first year is done. (Full disclosure: I did totally hesitate to show y’all the how-to link since I get SO MANY compliments about each month’s onesie. Most people didn’t have a clue that it was Photoshopped.) If you don’t have Photoshop available to you and you want a similar effect, search etsy – there are lots of creative ladies out there selling “Month to Month” badges like Jenny uses on her blog.

I know lots of mommy bloggers have similar creative ways of measuring their little one. Have you guys seen Eleanor’s photos on Making it Lovely? They’re one of my favorite sets.

Another super easy and fun thing to do would be to pick out a favorite stuffed animal (not tiny – probably as big as or a little bigger than your baby when she comes home from the hospital) and take a photo of Baby & Stuffed Lovey next to each other each month. It’s fun to see them trade roles: first the baby lies there looking tiny next to the stuffed animal, but then before you know it the little one is towering over the lovey and trying to chew its ear! I tried to Google this to put an example here, but no avail. Has anyone done this who could share a link? So fun!

I love the creative energy that flows from blog to blog – most of my best baby ideas seem to come from one online friend or another. Do you have any ideas to share with us about how you measure your little one?

Calling All Atlanta Moms-To-Be! Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 12 from 10:00 a.m. until noon for an event all about you!

We think planning for your new baby should be fun – but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start!  If you’re looking for helpful pointers, tips and solutions to make your transition to parenthood easier – this event is for you. Join Graco and a panel of mom experts from the Atlanta area to hear advice from real moms on how they prepared for their new arrival.

This group (the final list of panelists will be announced soon!) will answer all of your burning questions about becoming a new parent — like pregnancy, labor, registry and more! Have a question or topic you want to hear about? Leave it here in the comments and we’ll add it to the agenda.

Then stick around for a Graco product giveaway and to meet tons of other parents -to-be just like you. We can’t wait! So bring your bump and come join in the laughter, fun and a chance to meet other new moms in the area.

Here are all of the details:

Date: Saturday, February 12th

Time: 10 a.m. – noon

What: Atlanta New Mommy Event

Where: Cator Woolford Gardens

The Frazer Center

1815 Ponce de Leon Ave NE

Atlanta, GA 30307.

(hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided)

Want to join us?! RSVP by emailing your name and contact information to GracoRSVPATL@edelman.com by Friday, February 4! We can’t wait to meet you.

I’m engaged!!  Well, I have been engaged for a month – but it is my first time sharing it here…so… I’M ENGAGED!!  I met my fiance, Danny, a few years back in NYC while we were both living in the WONDERFUL city.  We made a quick trip back to “our home” in December to visit some close friends.  After much scheming, he got down on one knee, on the Brooklyn bridge, and asked me to be his wife.

After a few minutes of no-words, and utter surprise, I said “YES!!”  He was down there forever, but I was speechless.

Thanks to my fiance’s planning and our dear friend, Lee, we captured it all on film.  Lee followed us over the bridge without my knowledge.  It was romantic, and meaningful, and the scenery of “our home” was especially beautiful that night.

After a week of non-stop dinners, celebration, and champagne, things started to settle down and we got to planning. Now, for me, planning was heavily focused on the obvious next step -  a wonderful wedding.  I was overwhelmed and almost immediately ready to elope.  After-all, who has time to plan the ceremony, the reception, the mood, the music, the favors, the wedding party…(you get the point).  Danny, on the other hand, started to prepare for our life together… post-wedding.  Yes, he is the very logical & practical one.

He began by talking finances & budgeting.   Which lead to discussing the pros and cons of one or two bank accounts.  But this simple conversation began to drift in to MUCH larger ones…  Where we will live?  What side of the family we will see for each holiday?  When we will get a dog?  What type of dog? (This is a hot topic).  How many dogs?  How many kids?????????????????  PHEW.

Although I am so excited to start my life with Danny and am certain it will be full of so much joy, we have officially started our very own family of two.

Decisions no longer belong to me – they belong to US. This is a new perspective, but so far, these conversations have gone over smoothly.  Before getting engaged, we discussed these “hot topics”  in passing and we’re usually on the same page — it’s just finally sinking in how much we have ahead of us!  We have a full year to prepare for our family of two, before it is official.  And we will take that year to figure out the important stuff.  In my experience, your “plan” only works out about 30% of the time anyways.

From previous posts about family – I think it is obvious how crazy I am about mine, and how important it is that I carry on the value of family as I plan my future.

It is exciting to be part of something so special (although small – with just the two of us).  I can’t wait to start our own traditions and pass them on to our children.  Hats-off to all you parents out there who have done it so successfully!  I can’t even imagine the conversations that will arise then (I’ll stick to wedding planning for now!).  Danny and I hope to follow in your footsteps.

Do you remember starting your own family of two?  What were the hardest & most exciting conversations you had?  What about when your family of 2 became 3 or more?

If you gave birth to your wonderful bundle of joy, or found out your were pregnant on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, share your amazing photos on the Graco Facebook page and your little one or bump may be selected for posting on our Wednesday feature Bundles, Bumps and Babies.

Congrats on becoming a new mother and we wish you and your family years of joy! Come back often and stay tuned for contests and prizes as well.

Maybe you’d like to share that great shot of the ever-growing baby bump you are sporting, your newborn baby’s very first picture or anything that captures the wonder, humor, marvel of childhood and parenthood — here’s how!

Since the day I realized Gracie & I were now on our own, there has been a tug-of-war between feeling struggle and tears alongside experiencing joy and celebration.  For while I never imagined being without the Daddy of our new family, I was still Mama to this brand new precious life – a little one that I had waited so long for – and I wanted Gracie to always be confident that she was special, loved and, yes, celebrated.  I didn’t want her to miss out on any more than she already would.

From the beginning, my family & I knew we wouldn’t be inclined to spend Christmas in a traditional sense.  We were offered the use of a home down in Florida as respite from familiar memories; what a comfort that was!  Yet, in this battle with loss, I didn’t want to let go of everything that had been important and special to me – even before I ever knew Ryan.  So, in many small ways this year, we improvised and made December a time to remember.

Did you know that December 6^th is celebrated by many as the feast of St. Nicholas?  Good old St Nick had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him – and because of this gift-giving, he later became the model for Santa Claus.

On December 6^th this year, my Aunt Martha sent a wonderful package of stockings filled with treats (sound familiar?) for our little family – Gracie’s Uncle Ben, her grandparents (Nannie & Pops), and Mama all got our own beautiful handmade treat.  In this same package, Gracie also received a fantastic holiday outfit that she donned with style and pizazz for her first Christmas party later in the month – I assure you, she was a major hit.

Gracie modeled another beautiful outfit for our Christmas card photo – it was even more important to me than usual this year to send out a greeting wishing loved ones a blessed new year and assure them we were doing alright.  (Ok, so Gracie modeled a *lot* of adorable things throughout December!  What’s more fun than buying clothes for a little girl??  She is a well-gifted baby, that’s for sure.)

Another simple way we celebrated the season was by hanging a few special ornaments.  Ryan & I always had “collections” for our Christmas tree: Snowmen for him and Santas for me.  This year, I’ve added a new set – Elephants for Gracie.  I didn’t have it in me to go out to the tree farm this year and cut down on our own, but I found a gorgeous (and wonderfully scented) “Rosemary Bush” that stood in just fine.  (We also took Gracie over to see a “real” tree at my Aunt Lucy’s house… she was fascinated with the beads and the lights.)

Then on Christmas Eve, we retreated.  We took to the comfort of the beach and let our thoughts drift out with the waves.  It was a welcome break from all the memories of home to have this special getaway.

Not celebrating Christmas this year with gift exchanges or lights, cookie baking or big trees, extravagance or commotion ended up being somewhat of a gift.  For I was reminded that while Christmas is fun, it’s not the true “reason for the season.”  Christmas can give us joy – and one day, we’ll experience the joy of our old traditions once more – but what is really important is hope.  Gracie & I, along with our families, do have hope – hope that while we will always miss Ryan, we will still have good and full lives.  Hope that there is still so much more to experience, so much more to celebrate.

I hope the holidays (be it Christmas or anything else you may celebrate) were filled with love and joy for each of you – maybe they were traditional or maybe it was something different this year.  We just have to remember that there’s always something to hold on to – always something to feel gratitude for.  And if you’re feeling a little low, especially hold on to hope.

My “bump” and my baby are not new to this blog – remember us here and here?  – but this is my first time as a true contributor.

What’s more fun than a rolling roll of TP?   Here our LoveBird  “helps” her mom get ready.  Nonna could just eat her up.

Share some of your great photos of cuteness and awe on the Graco Flickr page.  Your little one may be selected for posting on our Wednesday feature Bundles, Bumps and Babies!  Come back often and stay tuned for contests and prizes as well.

Maybe you’d like to share that great shot of the ever-growing baby bump you are sporting, your newborn baby’s very first picture or anything that captures the wonder, humor, marvel of childhood and parenthood — here’s how!

I happen to live in one of those states and cities that were covered with snow on Christmas morning, and as a resident of Atlanta, to say I was surprised was an understatement — I was ecstatic! There has not been a white Christmas here since the 1800’s. Atlanta was not alone as the storm moved up the coast throughout the day and the ones following.

Did you get an unusually large amount of snow on Christmas? Tell us about it!