Yep, this little face definitely charms me! I love my sweet nephew Noah and marvel at his new growth and expanding personality each time I see him. He’s talking now, with baby goos and ah-oos that mesmerize me.

Kristin wears Noah on her chest in the coolest baby wrap (what’s the name of this one, Kris?). It’s amusing to see something similar to a pregnancy shape, only there’s a baby snuggled close and sleeping just inside the fabric. Sometimes I forget Noah is there until I hear his waking cry. The wrap is a brilliant way to keep a little one happy and snugged tight.

I am not one of those moms who cry over haircuts. Or at least, I didn’t think I was until I took Livia into a local hairstyling school last Thursday. Looking for a cheap haircut and an immediate appointment, we waltzed in the college and sat in between a few empty chairs and two chatty elderly women receiving conversation and haircuts.

I told our stylist-in-training to cut Liv’s hair “just above the shoulders” and let’s just say the first slice of her scissors made me recoil in horror. After realizing that Livia was now getting more than our money’s worth, I did the only thing a people-pleaser like me could do in this modern age: I grabbed my phone and furiously texted my shock to my little brother.

And no, I did not tell the newbie stylist that I was not pleased. I kept that part to myself (and now everyone else I come in contact with, ha) because you know what? Liv looks really cute.

Cute cupcakes are only a boxed cake mix away. Liv and I like to put some batter in the oven and move on to icing. It’s simple to mix up Wilton’s buttercream recipe and then tint it to our heart’s desire.

Our preferred icing method is to heat the icing in the microwave, then dip the cupcakes in the mixture. Livia’s task, then, is to sprinkle like a mad woman before the frosting hardens. We get a little crazy, sprinkles go everywhere, but the end result is cute cupcakes every time. Need a quick platter of treats for a friend? Want an afternoon pick-me-up? Cupcakes are the answer. The cuteness is just the (ahem) icing on the cake.

We saw Over the Rhine last night in Omaha. It was a last-minute kind of thing and I’m soooo very grateful we got to go. It was a fun ride up and back with the Koenigs, and of course the concert was great. Oh to sing like Karin Bergquist! That woman has amazing control of her voice, say nothing of her stage presence. (Jeremy asked me where she was from and I’m now reading on the OtR website of her “torchy, devil-may-care voice, brimming with Midwestern soul.” There ya have it, JT.) I foresee more Over the Rhine albums in my future.

Today feels nothing like a Tuesday. Sunday morning perhaps, but definitely not Tuesday. Tuesdays have responsibilities and schedules and chores and so far I’ve polished off a large quantity of Diet Mountain Dew, assisted in DVD playing for Liv, and watched a giant spider wrap up it’s prey in the flower garden. Tuesday, really? Tuesday-after-a-Monday-night-date? Yes, definitely.

Now if only I can squeeze a nap in between reading some Harry Potter and avoiding the dishes piled up in my sink.

A few weeks ago I met Lindsey at the Sunken Gardens to shoot her little charges as a surprise for their parents, my dear friends. I love these kiddos and it was fun to try to capture their energy and unique traits while also trying to get four active kids in one shot.

Nothing says “let’s paint!” like last year’s Easter hat, eh?

Coming up with fun summer activities isn’t hard. Implementing them, on the other hand, is a challenge. By the time I pull out all the paints, newspaper and other necessary materials, Liv is knee-deep in the activity. By the time Liv’s mommy is knee-deep in creative pursuit, Liv is DONE! and she’s moving on to the next thing. Still, I love doing crafts with Livia and I’m glad my kiddo enjoys stuff like this.

On this particular morning we grabbed some new white tanks from the previous summer and turned them into wearable artwork for my niece Madeleine.

This is Shiloh. He’s quite the character these days. I feel like I’m saying “no” all the time now. “No, you may not eat that napkin!” “No, stop jumping on the couch!” “No, no barking from your kennel!” And last but not least, “No, stop biting Liv!!”

Shiloh is like a slightly naughty toddler that irritates you with persistent bad behavior while charming you with utter cuteness. He’s teething, which helps explain all the biting and chewing he’s doing, and he’s constantly growing. We’re supposed to feed him two times a day, but when he turns those dark puppy eyes on me while standing by his giant bag of food, I just know he needs a little more to eat. I’m the sucker in the family. And as the big weenie, I am the one Shiloh follows much of the day. Jeremy, the consistent disciplinarian and alpha male, earns all the respect but a little less loving. It’s not fair and I know it.

Shiloh is also the packiest pack dog I’ve ever had. If the family is upstairs, then every fiber of his being wants (no, *needs!*) to be upstairs, too. His place is by our sides and he’s quite the faithful little Coton.

We love our little pooch.

This little exercise has been floating around Facebook and I ignored it until Kristen posted her list today. Fifteen books that you’ll always remember in 15 minutes or less… Here ya go! (In order from earliest read to most recently read.)

Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White
Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
Passion and Purity, Elisabeth Elliot
Sarum, Edward Rutherford
The Wheel of Time (#1), Robert Jordan
Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry
What’s So Amazing About Grace, Philip Yancey
Lord of the Rings trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Brothers K, David James Duncan
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Raising Your Spirited Child, Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver