Dear Alice:

This month has been full of things that made me stop and think “I’ve got to remember this moment!” It’s not so much about “firsts” anymore, but the short reels of memories played back in my mind from each day that you see something new, the fun experiences we have together, and how I can see you knowing the world more and more each day. The time we spend together is what relaxes me, and whenever I’m at work or at the gym or laying in bed at night listening to you mutter in your sleep across the hall, remembering your face as I close my eyes takes me to the most beautiful place I can be.

Yesterday, we spent the day at home together while I cleaned the porch. You LOVE cleaning, and you march around with a washcloth or a little dustpan and broom and announce with great importance, “Adiss, keening. Mama, keening. House. Adiss. Keen.” I mopped the porch with the screen door propped open while you swept the little helicopters and seed pods from the sidewalk, chatting all along. I filled up a plastic tub with water–enough for you to swim in–and you proudly wet a washcloth and wiped down every surface you could find–the sidewalk, the steps, the car, yourself.

We soaked sidewalk chalk and used it to paint beautifully saturated lines all over the trees in our yard, the side of the house, the car tires, your knees. We drew a letter of the alphabet on each sidewalk segment, and you zoomed up and down the driveway on your little wooden bike.

Yesterday was a beautiful day–they’re all like that. A little work. A little creativity. A few hiccups, a challenge for us both, and a funny story.

We’re still working on potty training (of course) and it’s really fun to tackle this with you as a parent because it’s the first kind of “responsibility” that you’ve ever had for yourself. You get to decide if you’re gonna use the potty, and sometimes you don’t want to. A few weeks ago, you were running naked around the house (normal and awesome) and you suddenly ran out of your room and said “oops, mama.”

You actually peed into BOTH of your boots. Like not like you were standing near them and got one of them wet–BOTH OF YOUR BOOTS WERE FILLED WITH PEE. This was totally deliberate. Then you tried to PUT THE BOOTS ON and FREAKED OUT when I wouldn’t let you. There was a tantrum over not being allowed to wear Peeboots. This might be a story to save for prom night.

You also love to name and organize things. When we’re in a group, you point around the room and say everybody’s name, including pets and stuffed animals. You like to stack things and organize things by color. At my office, you sit up on my yellow stool and carefully pick up buttons between your two fingers and drop them one-by-one into tiny jars and boxes that I’ve saved for you. As I type on my computer across the room or stitch standing next to you, I hear “purple….blue…..red……pink……white….”

What else is new?

• You’ve started saying some simple sentences: “Mama…has…yellow…hair!” “Must…be…windy…out!”
• “Adiss, luff, mama.”
• You say that you have pink skin and I have orange skin.
• You think my freckles are owwies and you kiss them.
• You love pointing out letters in signs when we go out.
• You covered your entire face in MAC Vegas Volt, which was the first thing I saw when I woke up one day
• We love going out into the yard at night to sit very still and watch the bunnies (“bandies”)
• You tend to describe everything by color lately: “White chair.” “Pink shirt.” “Yellow robot.” “Adiss want nap, red car.”
• Your favorite shows are Yo Gabba Gabba, and lately you like this really terrible show with puppet babies that you are way too old for. I said it was creepy, and now whenever you want to watch it you say “Watch Keepy Babies?”
• “Mommy’s, daddy’s, room?” You always want to sleep in our bed at night. Sometimes we let you and it’s really nice.
• I’m really impressed with your ability to remember and talk about events in the past–going to the park, napping in my office, and your favorite memory, watching a professional horse jumping event a few weeks ago. “White horsies jump high!”
• Your favorite foods are froot loops, ice, and beans. That’s what you always ask for. Luckily, you eat anything.
• I’m disappointed by your sweet tooth. I was never a big candy craver but you just go nuts for it. Not good!
• You love to draw, and you always say you’re drawing letters. “A… P… N… Y…”

Everyone who you love brings out a little different part of your personality–with grandpa you are mischievous and energetic, with grandma you are well-behaved, helpful, and talkative. This month you finally started naming Grandma–”Meh-mah”– and inviting her to play with you. On Easter we went to your Aunt Mary’s farm together and you picked armfuls and armfuls of rhubarb for pies with Grandma. You just love to be helpful. You love having a job to do.

Most nights, you talk in your sleep a little bit. I think all parents would agree that one of the most magical and enchanting things is watching their children sleep and wondering what they are dreaming. I watch a smile slowly spread on your face, feel you sigh deeply, your eyes open groggily and you say “Mama…..horsie” before drifting back to sleep.

You’re perfect.

Alice, It’s so important to have courage. I will tell you this all the time as you grow up. You have to be brave. And you have to have the strength to admit what you know you have seen, what your experiences truly are, and how you feel about it. Sometimes when you admit those things to yourself, it can bring you to a low place, which is what makes us want to hide the truth. That’s why it takes so much courage to accept nothing less than what you are worth, and give nothing less than courtesy to others. Have the courage to decide who you are instead of allowing others to tell you who they want you to be. I hope you are always guided by what you know deep down is the truth, what you know is the right thing to do, because when you have the courage to stand up for yourself, you’re also standing up for millions of others who couldn’t. Never be afraid of who you are or see yourself–or your sisters–as the enemy. You will always be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Love,
Mama

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This is a bouquet I made for Hannah and Joel’s wedding this August in Ballymena, Ireland. We’ve communicated over nearly a year sharing Pinterest boards, fabric swatches, and lots of ideas, and I’ve got to say hers is one of the more embellished and colorful bouquets I’ve done. It’s like an explosion of candy buttons and happy energy for their casual handmade Irish wedding!

See more photos from Hannah and Joel’s flowers here in their Flickr set!
xo
meg

*note: I edited these photos with Flickr’s new in-app editor, Aviary, after the closure of Picnik (boo!). Still trying to figure out what new program I want to use…what do you like?

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I was asked about a month ago if I’d like four VIP passes to The International, an exciting world-class horse jumping show here in Omaha. I’d never been to a horse event before, so I accepted with glee–and it was SO fun!

So here’s what I learned about horse jumping:

• It’s judged on speed, and number of faults.
• If you knock down one bar, it’s a four-point fault. If your horse refuses to jump, that’s four. And if they refuse twice, you’re disqualified

The same jockey and horse won both nights, and on the second night, his wife, who also rides, came in second! They kissed while they were on their horses doing the ribbon parade thing–it was so cute. Then when all the horses have their ribbons, they gallop around the outside ring.

One of the best parts was the opening ceremonies of each night–a Native American tribe played a song to honor the veterans in the audience, and–I gotta say I liked this best–a troupe of trick-riding cowgirls FLEW around the arena doing horse acrobatics. Their white horses had pink manes and tails and GLITTER on their hides, and the girls stood on top of the horses, flipped around the saddles, and hung to the ground by one leg while the horses raced at top speed around the ring. The icing on the cake was the soundtrack to the routine–Space Jam by Quad City DJs? Lose Yourself by Eminem? And a little Down With the Sickness–yes, they played Disturbed. YES. Sarah, Alice and I were the freaks rocking out in the bleachers.

It was my first time at a horse show of any kind and we had so much fun. Alice loved it–she won’t stop talking about “white horsies jump HIGH!” “White horsies jump!!”

We enjoyed the Mercedes-Benz and Borsheims VIP cocktail parties (Mama and Aunt Sarah enjoyed them very much), and Alice loved the music–a little band on the first night, and harps on the second. One of the jockey’s dogs–a little pug–got loose and ran up on the stage while the harpists were playing. Two staff members were chasing him all over! Pug hero!

Thank you again to The International, Britten at Bailey Lauerman, and Borsheims for making it possible for me to attend–and thanks to my besties Alice and Sarah for making it so much fun.

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Five years ago I asked my best friend to marry me.

Love you, Dave.
xox

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What if those polyester draped tables were taken away and brides and their grooms could connect with vendors who really went above and beyond to make their weddings perfect? What if couples could feel the stationery, experiment with the decorations hands-on, and touch the dresses to visualize it all as part of their big day? What if they could eat the food, taste the champagne, dance to the music, and experience a host of creative new ideas to celebrate with their loved ones? What if you could leave a bridal fair feeling inspired, energized, and confident that you can plan your perfect wedding without sacrificing style or your budget?

Lovestruck is Omaha’s first wedding show created for the modern couple, to provide inspiration for the wedding of their dreams. I’m so excited to announce that the inaugural Lovestruck event in September 2012 will bring magic, simple beauty, and explosive creativity to brides in the Midwest.

About a year ago, event planner and childhood friend of mine Candace Kalasky of Lovestruck Social Events approached me about helping her organize and plan a nontraditional wedding fair to bring some new creative ideas to brides and grooms here in our region. We asked Lesley Pick of Inclosed Studio to join us, and we’ve been just rolling through the planning process for the biggest and most exciting wedding fair the Midwest has ever seen!

Enjoy some of these beautiful pictures from our photoshoot in February with The Mullers (and that behind-the-scenes video up top!). I have to give credit to all the wonderful businesses that helped us put the shoot together!

Photography: The Mullers
Prop Styling: Lovestru.ck Social Events
Videography: Circuit Tree Studios | Wedding Memories of Omaha
Stationery: Inclosed
Attire: Princess Lasertron | Rhylan Lang | Ready or Knot | Inez Gill
Wardrobe Styling: Fash Flood
Beauty: BUNGALOW/8 | Parlour 1887
Flowers: Flor Couture | Shamrock and Thistle Floral Design Studio
Desserts: Butterfly Bakery | Whisked Away
Rentals: Nostalgia Vintage Event Rentals
Models: Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik | Dani DuBay | Taylor Tracy

I’ll be sharing more news about the planning process and event details on my blog here as they roll out, but be sure to keep visting the Lovestruck website and follow us on Twitter for news and announcements. And for heaven’s sake, get your tickets!! (They’re only $35!)

xo
meg

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