graduation!

I cannot believe that Ted is finished with law school.  I turned to him in the car on the way to the ceremony and asked him what we were supposed to do now.  We've become so used to this life of ours - he wandering in and out throughout the week and working into the wee hours of the night, and me trying to take care of as much as I can by myself and watching TV alone on the sofa at night.  There are some things I will miss.  I will miss his ability to be home during the week, even if he's not really here.  I will miss getting to watch whatever I want to on TV.  But there is so much more I won't miss - the constant studying, the inconsistent schedule, the wasted weekends he would have to spend reading, or writing, or studying.

When we began this adventure three years ago, I pointed out that when he walked across that stage during graduation, we would have a walking, talking (almost) three-year-old.  We couldn't imagine then and we can hardly believe it now.  Ella was his biggest cheerleader at the ceremony, sporting her Michigan cap and shaking her maize and blue pom pom (never used to root for UofM at a sporting event, promise)!  She was so proud of her daddy that, as we sat in the balcony listening to all of the speakers and watching all of the processions, she exclaimed numerous times, "I love my daddy," and "My daddy is graduating."  Thankfully all of our auditorium neighbors also thought she was the cutest thing around and got such a kick out of her enthusiasm.

snow days in atlanta

While not particularly exciting or new to all you Northerners, snow days in Atlanta are so incredibly rare. I realize, after growing up in the Midwest, I really kind of miss them. And here in Atlanta EVERYONE, kids and adults, typically get snow days off because we are so unaccustomed to what snow and ice do to our roads.

What makes snowy days in Atlanta doubly unique? It all goes away almost quicker then it fell. Tuesday we had zero snow (left), by Wednesday everything was covered in snow and ice (middle), this morning the snow was still falling and this afternoon the whole city is melting (right).

I wish this post was about something I had accomplished around the house during the snowy time off the past two days with Tricia around the house...but the fun of snow days is hunkering down, enjoying the snow and relaxing all while hoping our power didn't go out and a tree doesn't fall on your house (thankfully neither of which happened to us!). And I was really quite worried about the tree-falling part because we are pretty much surrounded by enormous pine trees, which apparently are the most likely to fall over (learned from all the endless news coverage on the subject).

My dog Mister (pictured above left) is always bewildered by all the snow but loves to get crazy and run around and try to eat it all, so running around the backyard with him is always entertaining. Also, in our new neighborhood there are quite a few steep roads and hills that I imagined would be perfect for sledding. Unfortunately when we made an attempt the snow had not compacted and harden enough. Bummer.

ella's quilt

While my mother was here last week, I unearthed the quilt I started for Ella over a year ago to show her my progress (or lack thereof).  Bringing it out was all the motivation I needed to begin working on it again.  When Ella woke from her nap on the day I pulled the quilt out, my mother gladly walked with her to the playground so that I could keep sewing.  I now have about two-thirds of the front of the quilt pieced together.  I plan to do a partially pieced back, perhaps with some custom embroidery, and want to do a very graphic binding (maybe a grey and white stripe fabric).

I had originally intended this quilt to be a gift for Ella on her first birthday, but now, with her second quickly approaching (and our impending relocation), maybe a more fitting opportunity will be to gift this quilt to her when she transitions into a big girl bed.  I love the idea of celebrating milestones and transitions in her life with gifts that are lovingly made just for the occasion. 

monthly birthdays

it is amazing how quickly your baby changes and grows during their first year of life. they develop so rapidly that we count their progress first in weeks, then in months. and it isn't until they finally reach their second year that we feel comfortable celebrating that amazing day just once a year.

after a good friend sent me several links to creative ideas for monthly progress photos toward the end of my pregnancy, i decided to make the commitment to take a monthly photo on her birthday (or at least within a week of it) for her first two years.

nicole balch of making it lovely posted this series of her daughter eleanor seated in an eames rocker with an adorable little pin to document the number of months.

image: nicole balch, making it lovely

since ella was born last june, we've been documenting her growth with monthly photos using a white fabric back drop, white onesie, and a large paper mâché number (available at hobby lobby) that i've collaged with various colorful images. the numbers have been a great way to keep her amused and in one place during the photo shoots. i plan to display the numbers in her room when we get settled in our next house.

we just completed her 8-month photo last week. i can't wait to compile all of the photos at the end of each year!

images: amanda fort