An Ode to my Coffee Maker.

To my dearest Coffee Maker...

I want to start off by apologizing for my initial mistreatment of you and the years of neglect you endured at my hands. I didn't realize how amazing and easy it was to make coffee at home, as I never was what you would call a 'Morning Person.' I hope this past year of over-use has made amends for those rocky first years and that we live a long, happy life together.

We've walked a long road, haven't we Coffee Maker? You've been here since the beginning. Before the beginning, actually. I remember opening your big box on my future-mother-in-laws dining room table. You were a gift that was delivered by friends who weren't going to be able to make it to our wedding and I was thrilled. A coffee maker for our counter! Did I even make or drink coffee back then? I don't remember...but everyone registered for a coffee maker so that's what I did too.

You were promptly moved into our first apartment and ignored, but you're black so you looked nice sitting atop the counter. August came around and we packed you up and moved you down the street to a new house. The first home we shared together...the first kitchen you could call your own. You collected dust sitting on the counter while I finished my last semester of college...always tired, always stressed about classes and parking tickets...never fully understanding the magical powers you possessed if only I would let you brew me a cup or two.

Years went by. Occasionally I would let you make me some coffee, but it came in phases and conditions had to be perfect. If I didn't have flavored coffee + hefty amounts of creamer in the fridge...it was just easier to ignore you. This is something I'm not proud of, but I became a social coffee drinker. I would meet friends for a mocha or drink a coffee concoction on the deck with Josh's family...but I never committed to spending time with you and drinking coffee on my own.

I believe it was sometime in the fall of 2013...you became more appealing to me. I'm not sure how or why...but I started firing you up at parties, family gatherings, afternoons when coffee just seemed to 'make sense.' The first big project I remember you seeing me through was the fixer upper acreage we purchased. I had so many long nights and weekends out there painting and cleaning and painting some more, followed by working full-time and coaching cheer. I suddenly knew I needed you. I even drug you out the acreage a couple of times (though it was usually easier to pick coffee up on our way out of town and throw away the cup). You were gradually making your importance known.

I switched from drinking frappacinos and mochas to lattes...a subtle but exciting change. There would be days every once in a while after a big week or an especially late night where I would utter the common phrase, 'I need coffee this morning.' I still kept you an arms length away...a treat for special occasions, gatherings, trips, etc. But you never wavered...always there when I needed you...just waiting for the right time.

Our relationship strengthened that spring when I hosted countless showers at church and in our home. Old church ladies expect coffee. And now that I'm one of those church ladies always throwing showers...it just felt natural to pour myself a cup of coffee (creamer was always needed at this point) and mingle. You really proved yourself when I spent two weeks sanding, staining, and sealing our kitchen cupboards. Family came over to help and all I could offer them was coffee because the kitchen was a mess...I plugged you in wherever you fit and you brewed amazing coffee from horrendous places like the bathroom floor, Coffee Maker. It was during that reno project I realized I could no longer go on living my life without you as an active part of it.

Over time I became more dependent...your smell, your taste...the liquid energy you would bring me each morning and afternoon. Soon I was making cups at work most every morning and slowly realizing the role you were starting to take on. When I got pregnant my first question was, "I can't have coffee for nine months?!" I needed you then more than ever to get through that first trimester alive. Nurses assured me one cup a day was fine, and at that point...that's more than I needed! I didn't know what the future held...

During those nine months, I learned I could totally depend on you. The renter in our basement ended his contract and moved leaving a huge mess behind. You came in clutch for a week while I kept your pot full and our mom's came over for a glorious cup followed by hours of helping me clean and paint. That same spring, Josh finished the beautiful tile in our dining and living room but it was my job to grout and seal 500+ square feet...while I was six months pregnant. You were there for me when the grouting seemed to never. end. I knew if I could make a cup of your goodness in the afternoon after work, I could work on those floors until midnight if I had to. Together, that's what we did.

Maverick arrived in September and as soon as we got home from the hospital I put you to work every morning...and sometimes again in the afternoon. While you're aroma fills the house, I feed the baby, clean up the kitchen, make the bed, and watch The Today Show. After an especially bad night, you are the reason I survived another day with a newborn. You're an integral part of my morning and I look back now and wonder...how did I ever live without you? My only regret is that I didn't let you into my mug sooner.

What a wild ride it's been, dear Coffee Maker. I drink the coffee you make black now...no cream, no sugar...pure and simple coffee the way it's meant to be. You've seen me through good times, bad times...times when we thought renovating an old farmhouse was a good idea. I think about our future together...the homes and the babies and the new jobs you'll see me through. The Thanksgivings and movie nights and family dinners you'll be apart of. I can't wait to grow old with you on my counter. What I want to say is...thank you, Coffee Maker. Thank you.

Mollie

Planning a First Birthday Party: Games & Activities

I've been to many a kid-birthday party at this point...and typically there is some kind of game or funny thing to do/wear/watch/craft. But for a one-year-old (who's party was quick and being cut short due to G'ma Boersma's funeral in Chicago the next day) I nixed all of this and considered the present-opening, and smash-cake-watching the 'Fun and Games.'

I briefly contemplated making raccon masks for everyone to wear/have to take home from the party, but then realized that was ridiculous and repeated to myself, "This is a one-year-old's birthday party...he's not going to remember it or care." I found it best to stay AWAY from Pinterest once I had my basics for the party planned.

The actual party was an hour and a half from start to finish, which felt just about right for a one-year-old. It didn't even feel 'rushed' because Mav doesn't have an attention span to do most things for an extended period of time anyway. The crew leaving for the funeral in Chicago all wanted to be on the road by 5:30, so we squeezed everything important in before they left and it worked perfectly. Josh wasn't sure if he was even going to the funeral until about five minutes before the trucks pulled out of the driveway which made things interesting...and it was a good thing Mav and I were planning to stay behind all along. The 10-hour road trip, plus hauling and delivering a bunch of stuff on the way back just would not have worked out well with a teething one-year-old (did I mention as soon as the birthday festivities were over, Mav became a HUGE CRAB for about a week?!).

This also allowed for a nice, relaxing evening with my parents, grandma's and aunt left at the house to visit with...they got to see Mav eat his supper and play with his new toys which doesn't easily happen these days with a grandma in a nursing home + a wheel chair. We took turns crowding in the bathroom for bathtime and ended the evening with a walk around campus.

A few other things that made the party easy and I should note...I requested Uncle Nathan be in charge of taking pictures at the party because he usually ends up snapping pics on his camera anyway and it worked out AMAZING. I didn't have to worry about getting pictures of my baby opening his presents or eating ignoring his cake...I just got to pay attention to what was going on. We also paraded every family member through a line for a picture with Maverick as soon as his nap was over and he was happy and I love that we have pictures with everyone and of everyone who was at his first birthday party. :)

Here are a few more pics from the shin-dig and I swear this is my last post about anything baby-birthday related...until next year. ;)

The books with 'moving parts' are a big hit these days. ;)

#boy

I love his monkey feet in this picture.

Forshadowing of how the whole 'Cake Smash' experience would go............................

When we realized it was a lost cause, I figured we might as well get some cute pictures out of it.

Ornery face. 

The cake tasted amazing by the way...my dad and I polished it off later that night even after it had been rolled all over the ground and stepped on my Maverick. Sucks to suck Mav. You can try again next year. ;)

MmB

Maverick: ONE YEAR UPDATE

My word. We made it. One year with our baby Mav. If you missed the letter I wrote to him/about him while I was feeling sentimental during his twelfth month, you can find it here.

This update is 20 days late...but now that he's a year old and I'm done doing these every month...I figured it isn't a huge deal if the last one was late. We still managed to take the usual pics, though those were a little late too because the number of pictures this sweet boy endured during a 48 hour period over the course of his birthday weekend was a little insane. Even for me.

I'll start with the boring stuff...6, 6-9, 6-12, 9, 9-12, and some 12 month jammies fit. Size three diapers. I'd say he's able to wear the MOST stuff right now. If I want to squeeze him into something I'm not emotionally ready to 'let go' of (haha) or it matches the outfit I'm putting together...I make him wear it. A couple weeks ago on a chilly morning for early church I made him wear skinnies that were too small and a puffer vest that's still a little too big (and by the end of the morning TOO HOT!) but it. was. adorable.

Holy cow I forgot I have so much to talk about...like this amazing piece of news...WE ARE DONE BREASTFEEDING! On the day we went to the fair last month...I fed Mav in the morning and at noon, he had a bottle with Nana after his nap at 4...and at 8:00 he REFUSED to eat. Like...cried until we gave him a bottle instead. And I REJOICED. No tears. No sadness. We had a good run and it's finally time for mom to wear real bras again. Bless.

His actual birthDAY was the first day he started proficiently crawling. That will make that milestone really easy to remember. He'd been scooting and reversing and spinning around on his bottom for so long that he was mobile long before that...but he's actively peg-leg crawling now and has been for exactly 20 days. Way to go Mav! He does this cute funny thing where he will stand with his butt up in the air to 'walk' over a threshold or go from carpet to hardwood and it's hilarious.

Sleeping through the night is pretty much a slam dunk at this point (he will prove me wrong tonight, by wailing randomly at 11pm, but whatever). We start bedtime routine at 7:45 and he's IN bed by 8:00, unless we have something going on or visitors are around. I love the 8:00 bedtime. It's such a HUGE change from last year at this time when I would feed him for the last time at 9:00 and put him down between 9:30 and 10. It feels like Josh and I have more of a 'night' together which is nice. He's supposed to sleep until 8:00 but that hasn't been happening for a while now. I'm just happy if he makes it to 7/7:30 and I can leave him in his room to 'happy talk' until I'm ready to get him for the day. And he's old enough, if he wakes up at 6 or 6:30...we can survive until nap time with errands, Sesame Street, and mealtimes.

In other sleeping news...we're down to one nap!! That's really more of a 'thirteenth month' thing, but it's too amazing not to share. I could tell he was 'ready' when his second nap of the day started getting really short and crappy (and it was supposed to be the big awesome one). I was always waking him from a DEAD sleep at his first nap...plus he started having a few night-wakings that were unexplainable/odd (teeth perhaps, and I didn't really mind the cuddles but it was a sign). This one nap thing has cured all of that (minus some early-waking...we're working out a few kinks). He naps for 3+ hours and I hardly know what to do with myself! Yesterday I had time to eat lunch, clean up the house, lay out for an hour, do my Bible Study homework...AND THERE WAS STILL AN HOUR LEFT!

Here's the schedule we stuck to for most of his 12th month:
8:00 - Wake up, bottle
9:00 - Breakfast
10:30 - Nap
11:30 - Wake up, bottle
12:00 - Lunch
2:00 - Nap
4:00 - Wake up, bottle, snack
6:00 - Supper
8:00 - Bottle, bed

Here's the schedule we're working with now:
8:00 - Wake up, bottle
9:00 - Breakfast
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Bottle, nap
4:00 - Wake up, bottle, snack
6:00 - Supper
8:00 - Bottle, bed

I realize the bottles in this schedule aren't super necessary...but I'm not about to mess with those now that's he's sleeping great. It's probably dumb, but I think we'll keep them for a little while longer. Plus Josh likes giving him the bedtime one and cuddling him occasionally now that Maverick isn't attached to me 24/7. He chugs them and since he's always been on the smaller side (until recently!), it's another reason to give him a bottle four times a day still.

Some odd favorites we've noticed...opening and closing doors. If someone comes in the door, Mav is across the house and in the kitchen so fast because he wants to be there to play with the door...not the visitor. He loves the washer. He also loves the vacuum cleaner...like...he chases me around the house while I vacuum and touches it whenever I get close enough. If I happen to leave it out for a little bit when I'm done, he will sit beside it touching it and 'playing' with it for as long as I let him. He likes kisses. Being tickled. Eating pillows, blankets, the arm of the couch (two top teeth have appeared since my last update and he's working on another bottom one I think...which would be #5!). If I accidentally leave the dishwasher open, he's over there in a flash ready to inspect. He likes stacking things and putting things inside other things...last week he took all of his magnets one at a time and put them in my laundry basket. He also figured out his magnets will stick to the washer, so if I turn around and he's not in the living room, it's because he and his peg leg have made it into the laundry room with a magnet to put on the washer. It's pretty stinking cute. :)

He's not pulling up on anything yet but he's getting close. He loves being 'walked' around by whoever will tolerate it longer than I will. I don't like to 'walk' him too much because we reach a certain point in the day where if we start the walking and then I have to put him down to do something else...he throws a fit. Yes, the fits have started and they are not pleasant. Mainly it's in the evenings, but he's started in a phase where he protests every diaper change with kicks and fake cries which turn into real cries when I give him a firm, 'no.' I'm just excited he clearly knows what NO means! So I'm working on being consistent/diligent with that.

We flipped him to his new car seat on his birthday, sent the baby bath tub downstairs, and got rid of the jumper/bouncer in the living room. All good things, but I have GOT to find a better way to store that crap in the basement because right now it's a disaster. He hasn't had his one-year appointment yet (his 9-month was super late due to doctor scheduling issues, so subsequently his one-year check-up isn't until sometime in October) but we are not looking forward to the shots and blood-draws. Especially now that he's much louder when he cries and he's also found the upper register of his voice which makes for some nice, loud, high-pitched crying.

In the food department we have some work to do. These are the things Maverick gladly eats: Pasta, bread, cheese, mandarin oranges, berries, crackers, eggs, Chick-Fil-a chicken. These are the things he will try and promptly spit out: Green beans, black beans, tomatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, corn, hamburger. And he's not old enough that I can say, "sit there and eat that until I say you're done." So we keep trying all kinds of things but usually dinner ends with cheese sprinkled over everything on his tray in an attempt to get him to eat more of the stuff I know he'll spit out. He seemed happier about trying and eating things at 6/7/8 months when I was on the BLW track, but Josh wasn't sold on that idea and neither were a few other family members. It's silly because with 2nd, 3rd, 4th born kiddos, that 'method' is likely just what 'happens' and no one thinks to put a name to it. They just hand the baby a piece of pizza because that's what everyone else is eating and they let him give it a try. But I think because I named it and bought a book and talked about it...it became a 'thing' and then I just gave up. So I probably screwed him up and that's why he's picky. He'll get over it and I'm not losing sleep about it.

He clearly says "Dadadada" and will exclaim, "Dad!" when he's excited. Just this week he started clearly whining "Maaaaamama" and that's usually what we hear when he's crying too. It's cute now, but I am guessing the 'Mama' whine will get old quick. ;) He waves sometimes, will give high fives, kisses, and likes clapping. Those are the extent of his tricks, but he's likely to hide them if a stranger asks. He doesn't seem scared of other kids or people yet...I plop him right down in the middle of crying babies in the church nursery and he isn't phased. He prefers me or Josh over everyone else when he's crabby or his toofies are hurting though. He jabbers and shouts and 'talks' all the time. As he gets more mobile he's started 'going boom' more often. Last week it seemed like he fell and hurt himself somehow once a day or more (unfortunately fell twice and bumped the top tooth/gum that was coming in which was our first blood incident and NO fun for mommy and daddy...but I suppose it's one way to cut teeth faster). Oddly enough, this week has been a lot better as he gets steadier and more used to being on the go.

Our buddy loves playing by himself and I'm thrilled. He will play on his own in the morning for a couple hours if we don't have anywhere to be and I'm busy starting breakfast, etc. He gets to a point where he needs to be redirected or entertained for a minute to get him going on something new, but as we speak he's been flipping pages of one of his books for 20+ minutes and I haven't heard a peep. Other than the usual grunting noises he makes when he's 'working.' ;)

Out of everything...I think the things I'm most proud we accomplished this year are:
1. Falling asleep on his own for naps and night
2. Getting rid of the paci (he kind of just did that on his own)
3. Making it through breastfeeding for a year
4. FINALLY sleeping 12 hours straight through the night
5. Finding a schedule that works for us and sticking with it, even though it wasn't always convenient or fun or 'popular' with other people...it's so worth it to have structure and clear expectations of how each day 'should' go, then adjust to circumstances from there.

This month Mav was busy with his first trip to the fair, regular trips to the Farmer's market, his second Sargent Family Reunion, a trip to the zoo, closing down the pool for the summer, an overnight to G'ma and G'pas house, and of course his birthday party. ;)

We love this little peanut so SO much. Every day we get to be his parents is a gift that I never want to take for granted.

MmB

Planning a First Birthday Party: Food

Let me preface this by saying...I know my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to hosting. I wanted to enjoy our family and the party with my baby as much as anyone else. So for me, it didn't make sense to spend any time or energy prepping/making/cooking/baking food for this occasion followed by cleaning up a big kitchen mess. When we host friends and family here for the purpose of eating dinner together...I spend a little more time focusing on prepping and cooking something yummy. But that's just not necessary for a one-year-old's birthday party...my opinion. ;)

I realized I don't have pictures of this, but here was our lunch menu:

Two mixed Jimmy John's Sandwich Platters - Pre-ordered a week in advance, and picked up the morning of the party
Fruit salad - Blueberries, strawberries, and black berries, cut, dumped and then mixed in a serving bowl the morning of the party
Macaroni salad - My favorite food in the world, made by my mom the day before the party (sometimes outsourcing certain things can be helpful, but if too much outsourcing is required...it's probably a sign you need to simplify)
Doritos and Lays BBQ Chips - Josh's favorite food in the world

I set the table with paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware, so everything was easily cleaned up and thrown away after lunch. All of the food fit on the table (even with my centerpiece!) so it was super easy for everyone to sit down and dig in (sometimes lines and logistics in the kitchen can get tricky for grandpas who can't hear...and grandmas are always tripping on my rugs...it's usually better if we can avoid that).

We sat down for lunch at 1, Maverick went down for his nap around 2, and everyone spent the afternoon relaxing with their coffee inside or on the deck. Josh toured his grandpa around his shop. Our grandmas gabbed at the dining room table over Maverick's picture books with their cups of coffee. My mom and I cleaned up lunch and 're-set' for the afternoon party and still had plenty of time to relax. THIS IS HOW I'M GOING TO DO BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOREVER.

Now the fun stuff...most of which was copied from this baby shower thrown by my connection group gals, my friends, and Jamie...

I kept snacks SUPER simple. People don't need to come to gatherings like this expecting a four course meal followed by extravagant desserts. I bought four boxes of Teddy Gram's, two bags of pretzels and the 's'more trail mix' is a box of Golden Gram's, a bag of chocolate chips and a bag of marshmallows. We just opened bags and boxes and tossed all of this in jars the morning of the party. People seemed to enjoy putting goodies in their plastic cups and being able to walk around, visit, and munch at the same time. Again...EASY was the real theme of this party. No one wants to balance a plate full of messy food, their silverware, and a cup of punch in someone elses's house during a rambunctious party. It's an accident waiting to happen.

I had this yard of raccoon fabric all year and forgot about it. So I'm annoyed about that, but it sure did come in handy for making our island look cute for the party! The scrapbook paper was given to me after one of my showers, and added the right amount of color. I have a few of these glass jars and use them for EVERYTHING. From Christmas decorating to organizing my pantry cupboard to decorating for this party...they instantly make stuff look cute.

I did go out and buy a few serving items before the party, keeping in mind ALL the things I could have used these jars for in the past and things I KNOW I'll use them for in the future. These would have come in handy at countless ThankChristmas parties and I'm kicking myelf for not owning at least one sooner. I figure I'll typically fill one with water, and one with whatever kind of punch we're serving. For this party I thought it would be fun to celebrate with sangria..and making Arnold Palmer was easy, refreshing, summer-y, and made an excellent color for 'Pond Water.'

Side note, these come apart and flip upside down so I can use the galvanized bucket separately. Kind of awesome and the decorating and serving possibilities are endless. Snagged them for $15/each at Sam's Club a few weeks ago (reguarly $30!).

I think I was most excited about the raccoon cookies and smash cake from Larita's Cakes 'n' More. For less than $30, we got two dozen cookies and an adorable custom smash cake...and mommy didn't have to do a thing. I'm not saying that's how I always do things...but sometimes it's necessary. And it's ok to admit that. I ordered them a couple weeks in advance and G'ma generously picked them up the day before the party. Plus they were super stinking adorable...way better than anything I could have done. And did I mention completley delicious?! Seriously, THESE ARE THE BEST COOKIES EVER. No one in our house really likes cake (see these pics on Facebook for more proof), so I like cookies for birthday's as a way to do something different that's less messy, less work, and makes a cute statement. Keeping everyone's hands off of them until 4:00 was the hardest part about it.

A little more decor, re-used from our shower last year, turned into a decoration for Mav's room...and re-used AGAIN as party decor. GAH! I love it.

That's pretty much everything I can tell you about how we handled food for Mav's first birthday party. In excruciating detail...you're welcome. ;)

MmB

Planning a First Birthday Party: Decorating

If you know me, you know I am very adamant about this...we will not be throwing over-the-top birthday parties for each child year after year. We're keeping it simple, hosting a party on a Sunday afternoon, and hopefully keeping presents to a MINIMUM. I'm not cooking or baking a THING (more on that next week). But I am a hopeless fool in the decorating department, so some decorating accidentially happened.

All it took was a little 'undecorating' of Maverick's room, a quick rummage through his toy box, and BAM! We have party decor! FREE and EASY!

When Maverick had his newborn/3/6/9 month pics, I turned each photo session into a portfolio-style book. It took me about 20 minutes per book and I always orderd them during a 50% off sale. I wanted these pictures in book-form, but it also makes sense to display them for family to look through during the party! It's so fun to see how much he's changed, and it's easier when they're all side-by-side.

Scrabble letters are back at it again. I know this is a shameless, overused Pinterest hack but I can't help it. I have them, they're easy, and they're cute.

Ooooookay HERE'S what I'm most proud of. I printed all of Mav's monthly Instagrams on a website called 'Prinstagram'...it's a small printing business in California that specializes in printing Instagrams in different sizes and quantities. It definitely won't be the last time I order from them. Anyway, their website connects straight to Instagram and I just picked the ones I wanted, went with the larger picture-size, and they were at my doorstep in less than five days. It cost me about $25 (with shipping), but the quality is great and the photo paper is nice and thick. I stuck them up with turquoise washi tape in less than 10 minutes. This was where 100% of my party decorating budget was spent.

This raccoon painting HAD to make an appearance at the party because it's one of my favorite things, painted by our amazing and talented friend, Kristin. You can check out her Esty shop here. I just swapped it out with a different canvas I had propped here and it easily adds to the party theme.

I've seen a couple different mom's/bloggers/friends on Facebook do this and it seriously could NOT have been easier. I dug out the pictures from the past year that I had used in frames, but gradually changed as we had new pictures taken. I taped them to this chalkboard door in the shape of a '1.' Outlined it with chalk. Hung Mav's coonskin cap on the doorknob (not pictured)...and instant party decor!

We have never purchased a stuffed animal for Maverick, yet somehow he has a toy box FULL of them. I don't mind because they are all gray raccoons (so they match his room) and they became decorations this week! Along with some of his Chester books...which match the theme too. I liked pulling all this stuff out because each item is from someone special, many of whom will be at the party.

I'm pretending he's still a baby, this shelf needed some height, this sign was from one of my baby showers and was too cute not to use. That was literally my decorative process for this picture. Not exciting, but easy.

This stick has been hiding in Mav's closet for the past year just DYING to be brought out and used for something. It was another decoration from one of my baby showers (so zero crafting involved for me), and it's so perfect.

There are a few other things hanging around the house, but these are the highlights. It took me exactly one morning nap time to get everything out and arranged...that's right, less than one hour. Plus some assistance from Jamie. And as silly as it seems, I really liked decorating five days early, because it's given me a lot longer to enjoy it!

Morning nap is over, so I'm back to celebrating my one-year-old NONSTOP today. :)

MmB