Saturday, August 24, 2013

Feeling Nostalgic

Nostalgia
: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition;
A few weeks ago I was struck with a sweet bite of nostalgia at Gigi's cupcakes. My mom and I stopped into this favorite cupcake shop of mine on our special birthday shopping trip. And, even though it was indeed our birthday trip, I opted to get the "wedding cake" cupcake. It's a beautiful white cake topped with a small, swirly mountain of rich vanilla butter cream and sprinkled with elegant pearls. It's understated and extravagant still. Anywho, you may wonder why I went for the wedding cake cupcake on my birthday...

Three and a half years ago I had my first bite of this amazing and delicious cupcake. It was perfectly sweet and delightful in every way-those petite pearls, oh my. It should be noted that there is so much icing on this cupcake you need a fork to eat it with. My husband bought it for me from a lady selling them in the hospital cafeteria, and smiled to surprise me with it in our quaint, new mother-baby room. Boy, was it a sweet sight-almost as sweet as our squishy newborn Evan. I loved those first few hospital days with my first boy-it was such a special time and I cherish those memories dearly. First diaper changes, white onesies, daddy snuggles, matching bracelets...wedding cake cupcakes. I didn't love a lot about our time in the hospital; our long laboring and unexpected delivery were not moments I remember with ease. But by God's grace-and Gigi's cupcakes-those more difficult times seem to me now so small in comparison to the absolute joy of new babies and buttercream. They say scent memories are especially powerful, I say cupcake memories are better-wistful even.

Now, the dawn of preschool days is upon us. Hair gel, 3T jeans and new seating arrangements at the dining room table are the new nostalgia in the making. I love this place in life. I loved that place in life. Looking at the above definition of nostalgia, I'm encouraged to embrace these moments before they turn "irrecoverable." Even then, I'm happy for a cupcake to whisk me back every now and again. :-)

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Superhero's don't chew on their fingers....

...but they do lurk mysteriously around crooked corners. ;-)

Catching up: Pictures of Summer

Friday, August 9, 2013

Catching Up: My Birth-days

My birthday was a ton of fun this year. I turned 28 a week or so ago and boy do I feel it today! It's been a long, hot Friday full of grocery shopping, park playing and carpooling. But, that's a blog for another day. For now, I'll start my game of blog catchup with recapping my happy birthday.

Saturday...
Beause my mom and I share birthdays just days apart, we enjoyed a fun day of shopping to celebrate. We started in Brier Creek where we checked out Home Goods and snacked on my favorite cupcake from Gigi's. Then, after a yummy lunch at Pei Wei(another fave) we went to the mall and made a few other stops. I scored a super adorable dress at Loft, a floor lamp for the living room(finally) and more-it was a grand shopping adventure! Here are some insta-pics of the trip...
Sunday...
The next day after church, they boys and I went swimming with Poppi and then we all celebrated with cake and presents at my parent's house. Check out our rainbow cake! My mom has the good pictures on her camera, sooo TBP, as in "To Be Posted...." yes I just made that up. ;-)
Monday...
On the actual day of my birthday my dear friend Mandi and her daughter paid us a surprise visit complete with crafty gifts and a special birthday cupcake. It was so thoughtful of her and made me feel so special. That morning I also awoke to a special birthday banner(which bore a strange resemblance to Evan's backyardigans banner...cute) and some presents from my honey. I also have to note that the gifts from my husband were laid out in an adorable "baby's first Christmas" fashion. Not wrapped or ribboned but strategically laid out on the kitchen table. I say this not to poke fun, I really did think it was cute, and the memory of it even now makes me chuckle. If there was ever a doubt who wraps the presents in this house, put it to rest now lol!
I had a wonderful 28th birthday this year and am so thankful the many gifts, big and small, that we enjoy daily. A beautiful home, happy and healthy children, near and dear family, wonderful friends, a faithful church, new turquoise sandals...ahhh. Feeling blessed!