parker's not an exceptionally picky eater but sometimes he's thumbing his nose at food before he's even tasted it.  food i know he likes.  he'll shake his head no, lurch his body to the opposite side of the incoming spoon, and turn his head nearly backwards.  and i know, i KNOW, he likes the offered food. it's not like i'm shoving cans of spinach down his throat (that comes later!)!  

then, i throw my hands up, take a popsicle, my popsicle, out of the freezer and drown my baby-food sorrows in it.  now he's real interested.  what is this frozen concoction my mother eateth?!  what is this stick contraption she holdeth whilst doing so?!??  (parker speaks like a true gent.)  i'm utterly interested, indeed!  i am!  please, mother!  may i licketh your popsicle?

so, in an effort to get him more interested in food, his food, i decided to whip up a popsicle-for-parker.  i make smoothie pops from time to time, but also buy these ones (gimme the coconut!), and, as for the latter, i'm not jumping up and down about giving them to him.  they're sugary sweet and since he's still experimenting with food and eating very little at times, i ain't doing it.  he'd probably eat the whole darn thing all the while side-eyeing me like, "what!  you didn't think i could!  boom!  here's the stick!"

where was i?  oh yeah, purple pop for park!

he loved it.  a popsicle?!  all for meeee?!??  i imagine that's what he's saying, anyway.

what's in this blasted thing?  i'll tell you:

half an avocado, small handful of blueberries, handful of spinach, a good splash of coconut milk, and a banana.

p.s. i usually give it to him in a diaper and let him go to town... a bath is definitely a necessity afterwards.

it's never just the three of us, but the other day it so happened that it was.  

it was almost like a date with parker as third wheel (we forgive you, parker.).

it was a beautiful day.  we had an appetizer and drinks at our favorite place.

strolled the streets, and let parker out of the stroller to stretch his legs.

it was nice.

when 4moms contacted me awhile back and asked if i'd be interested in a review and giveaway of the breeze, i thought, "hm.  that sounds interesting."  THEN i saw the video below and a resounding, "YESSSSS," ran through my brain.  not to mention william and lindsey were practically cheering in the background thinking it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen.  their products are truly innovative and, most importantly, make life easier on the parents!

this playard is awwwwesome, people.  the pack-n-play was seriously my biggest 'baby equipment' challenge.  ours was a hand-me-down and i never even bothered to get a new one because the new ones seemed as much a headache as the one i had.  there was no updating goin' on with their set-up-and-break-down function.  ya'll know what i'm talking about.  that thing is not easy to use.  this?  this is easy.  like, parker could do it easy.

but, we're going to show you william doing it instead.

oh!  and, if you travel with your playard, which i'm sure you do (that's their point!), i love

that the breeze comes with its own travel bag instead of the actual bed folding around the 

outside like the pack-n-play.  

and p.s. it can be a bassinet too!

so now, the part where you might get to take one home!

enter to win a breeze ($299 value)!

{u.s. residents only}

+ go check out the website and then come back and leave a comment!

please include your email address!

extra entries:

+ follow 4moms on Facebook

+ follow 4moms on twitter

and, if you can't wait, pre-order your breeze here now!

giveaway closed.

melissa henry is the winner, congrats!

Every now and again, I'll think of a question I have about Shannon for Steve.  They just pop into my head, and I'm hoping he'll have an answer.  The amount at which we share a life, she and I, is enormous.  Married to the same man, raising the same children (I've added Parker to the mix, of course).  I have so many questions for her, many of which Steve can't answer.  When times get tough with Jordan, I've asked Steve, "What would Shannon do here?"  I've wondered what her dreams were and whether she yelled a lot or was a calm mother.  Was she into health food?  Was she shy and reserved or outgoing?  Did she struggle with her faith too?  What did her last days look like?  Was she scared?

I met her only one time, at church, when Lindsey was about two.  I was curious what she was like, even then, because she was my favorite professor's wife.  I thought she was lovely, she seemed a bit quiet, and that's about it.  It was a two-second meeting, and I never saw her again.  

I asked Steve recently what their last date was.  And whether they knew it would be their last.  He told me they were driving home from Mass General and stopped at a Bertuccis along the way.  It was just the two of them.  They would be returning to the hospital a few days later where she'd be admitted for major surgery.  The surgery would be unsuccessful and she'd pass away shortly afterwards.  He says they talked about how all of these waiters and diners all bustled about their business, cleaning up dishes, picking at their bread and crunching on ice cubes, pouring drinks and taking orders, having no idea what was going on at the table in which they sat.  He says he remembers they were a bit in awe of that fact.  Here they were, eating a meal that could potentially be their last together, alone as husband and wife (not knowing at the time that it was), and no one around had a clue.

I've thought about that a lot.  Everyone's got something.  Big, small, something. 

Hi Lovlie readers of Bridget's blog!  This is me.  Blair.  I call it the "before" picture:

It's the before picture because I am ready to chop all that hair off!  And not just chop it off, but chop it off to rescue 3 women from prostitution.  To take them off the streets and give them a second chance at life. 

It's called The Pixie Project and you can help!  In the capital city of Ethiopia 1 of 9 women is part of the sex industry.  3 of 4 of the women in that lifestyle have AIDS, which for many there, is a death sentence   

I'm seeking to raise $1,200.  Thats enough to rehabilitate 3 women for a year which includes intensive counseling, job training, medical attention, a safe place to stay, and care for their children as well.  All that is asked of these women is a commitment to stay off the street.   It is a second chance at life.  *If I reach my goal, I'll go get a pixie -- something I've always been afraid to do.  Helping women in this way is the motivation I need! (** see update at bottom of this post **)

This is Bezuayhu.

She's only 19.  Her mom died when she was 6 months old and she lost her dad when she was 3 years old.  Her aunts and grandparents insulted her and did not allow her to go to school.  They told her she was cursed.  Her life was burdened.  She was young and lonely.  With friends, she left for Addis Ababa to make money and change herself.  At age 18 she began prostitution.  She thought that was the answer.  She worked as a prostitute for 8 months,what to her, felt like 8 years.  Now because of the Women at Risk program she works during the day and sleeps at night, something she took forgranted.  She is proud and excited about who she is.  

"I used to think I was alone, but not anymore because I know God is with me... I am so happy... my mind feels so restful now...In the future, I want to have kids and I want them to have a better life than mine.  I don't want them to experience my childhood."

{you can read more of her story and see her video by clicking here}

There are so many more stories like Bezuayhu's.  Lives that are hurting.  You can help by donating to The Pixie Project.  My goal is to raise $1,200... *if I reach my goal, I'll be walking on in to a barber shop to chop it off and get the cut I've always been to afraid to get.  

You can check out more about the Pixie Project on my blog.  There you will find more details about the program I am working with and the women I am seeking to support.  There is also a short intro video where I share my heart in this project.  You can also click the banner below that will take you straight to my fundraising page.  Donate $4, donate $400... every bit helps.  

We can do something wonderful together!!

**update**  

I've reached my goal!!!  But don't stop giving!  I am for SURE getting the pixie, but still need to schedule a consultation, make an appointment, etc... don't stop giving!  We've successfully supported two women.  Lets go for FIVE!  My new goal is $2,000!

A note from Bridget: Thanks for reading guys -- be sure to go over to Blair's blog to check out this incredibly worthy project.  And to see the final 'cut'!

parts 1 and 2 of the lake are posted and the vacation is over.  it's a rude awakening that steve had to go back to work as soon as we returned and that the temperatures have felt a bit on the cooler side too.  september wants to rip the band-aid RIGHT OFF now doesn't it?!

but, back to the lake for a moment... steve's family--cousins and parents--were with us for the first half of our time there and then my parents were there for the second.  his parents also celebrated 55 years of marriage while there.  happy anniversary you two!  we love you!  (they're the lovely couple you see in the fifth picture down.)  

it was a really nice time.  spent with family and gorgeous surroundings.  really, what more can you ask for?  we're grateful for our time there and our good health and our many loved ones.  grateful, indeed.

and that does it.

oh!  parker took his first few steps while there one morning!  it was dang cute if i do say so myself.

{pictures 3-5 by mandy leigh}

the first week at the lake, we woke early to try to teach william and lindsey to get up on skis for the first time.  unfortunately they didn't, but william was really close.  he was up, ever so briefly, but then went down again.  it was quite early, like 6 am early, and the lake was practically empty.  he and lindsey were troopers out there when the air was barely 70 degrees yet.  

we took trips to wolfeboro (our favorite town on the lake), got some food at a cute, new-to-us cafe, ice cream, and walked around.  we explored new territory on the lake--it seems there is always some new waters, islands, coves to discover there--and relaxed on the deck.

more pictures to come... but don't worry, i won't drag this out into too many posts.

{black and white by mandy leigh}

we're back, we're back.  and while being on the lake was a totally lovely time, it was really nice to drive up our own driveway, back to our routine, back to what we know.  there's a beauty in knowing what to expect, isn't there?  and, in large part, i was ready to get back to a more baby-proofed house (being surrounded by water is not what most would consider baby-proof!).

still, lake winnipesaukee amazes us with its beauty--the trees and rolling mountains in the background, miles and miles of shoreline to discover.  it's a beautiful place, one of our favorites.  steve goes into a bit of a depression when boat-season is over and it's time for school to begin.  he's loved that lake for a long time and i have definitely come to love it too.  i can understand it's two translations: "smile of the great spirit" and "beautiful water in a high place."  

thanks again, lake winnipesaukee.

{i'll be back with more pictures soon!}

parker gets cuddly on the boat so everyone loves to hold him.  it's about the only time when he'll stop moving and let you.  (seriously... fellow mamas & papas... does your one year old wake up, start moving, and never stop until they fall asleep?!?)  especially if the boat's moving fast.  he lays on your lap, wind whipping through his hair, and just chills out for the ride.  a glorious thing!  william and nathaniel, in particular, are always asking to hold him on the boat.  it's pretty sweet.  they want in on some cuddle time with this never-still-always-moving baby.

mornings on the lake with this dude are eaaaaarly.  he didn't get the memo: "vacation time!  sleep in!"  rather, he likes to wake even earlier.  i'd like to think that he appreciates the beauty of sunrise on the lake.  the passing loon and its song.  the way the sun burns up the fog that's pouring over the mountains onto the water.  mornings on this lake are gorgeous.  it feels as though the world is asleep and you should only speak in a whisper.  before parker, i'd sleep in.  i missed all this.  it's pretty spectacular.

we've been enjoying some time on the lake.  lake winnipesaukee that is.  we love going here, there, and everywhere, but this lake is one of our favorite places in the world to come back to.

lots of pics over on instagram if you want to see this awesome place for yourself...

have a great weekend, folks.

since parker came along, i'm not gonna lie.  gracie hasn't totally kept her top-dawg status.  my mom said it would happen.  i believe her now!  it was an adjustment, i'd say.  for her and for us.  she led a pretty cushy life complete with an invitation to cuddle in our bed sometimes.  when you co-sleep, the dog's invitation to the bed... well, it doesn't exist.  at least not in our house.  she still got (and continues to get) lots of love but, like i said, it was an adjustment!  she's all, "wait a second.  he is above me?" eyeing parker suspiciously.  but, for the most part, she has been a stellar dog to have with a baby around.  i mean, you saw the fetching (at the end of the video!) didn't you?  holy crap, when we discovered that she'd fetch with even him, my love for her grew (even more than it already was).  and when he thinks throwing his little bits of carefully inspected, organic, sauteed-with-so-much-love-and-a-little-bit-of-irish-butter cauliflower all over the floor is the bees knees?  well, i call gracie over and she cleans up the floor so thoroughly, your kitchen floor is sparkling.  sparkling, people!

so, what i mean to say is, thanks gracie.  we love ya.  parker does too.

(pictures from my phone of parker fetching with gracie yet again.  those two!  i see 'best buds' in their future, i tell ya!)

today's giveaway is brought to you by two of my sponsors: the scribble pad & chasing sunshine.   

shannon's both a blogger, a mom, and a calligrapher extraordinaire. her shop, the scribble pad, is where you'll find her stationary -- both custom made, and otherwise.  and guys, she's really talented.  here are some of my favorites: the little baby note cards, and the whale note cards.

ginny's blog, chasing sunshine, is one of my newest sponsors and i've enjoyed perusing her blog over the last few days.  she's got some really cool tutorials: this etched glass milk bottles one is a favorite as well as this painted wood bowl, some delicious recipes: i'd like to try this guacamole with feta, and a cute and colorful way to celebrate her new youngest.

today's giveaway is for

a $25 credit to the scribble pad etsy shop

& 

large ad space on chasing sunshine
+ a $40 anthropologie gift card from ginny!

to enter:
{u.s. addresses only!}
+ leave a comment below with your email!

additional entries:
{separate comments for each}
+ follow each of their blogs: scribble pad + chasing sunshine
+ follow each on twitter: scribble pad + chasing sunshine
+ tweet this giveaway and provide URL

giveaway closed.
thanks for entering!

lindsay is the winner of the scribble pad giveaway!
ashley from vanilla tulip is the winner of the chasing sunshine giveaway!
congrats ladies.