Leo is Two

Our Leo is two!  It's like overnight my little baby became a toddler.  I'm exhausted most of the time trying to keep up with him, but absolutely love this age.  He's makes us laugh so hard on a daily basis with his new words, faces, dances, and big personality.  He takes it all in and doesn't miss a thing.  Just before age two…he started having more opinions about things.  What he ate for meals, what socks he wants to wear…and of course the word "no" became the main staple in his vocabulary.  He's become extra snuggly lately and loves to cozy up on the couch with mommy on these cold days. He's Daddy's number one fan and belly laughs at all of Daddy's silly faces and songs. He loves people, fun, life, laughing and learning which is such a blessing.

After months of not sleeping as a baby…he's now a champion sleeper with a 3 hour nap from 1-4 and sleeps 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM on most nights.  I'm praying fervently this sleep situation continues and his baby sister (due next month) will magically be a much better sleeper from the start.  That will happen, right?

Most recently, Leo learned the word "Cheers!" and loves to toast anyone who has a drink at the same time he does, or really any food at the same time or even toys may get a "Chuus!" as well.  Hi-larious. He's a big song lover and will say and sign "more" if a song on a commercial catches his ear.  It's tough to explain that songs on the radio can't be rewound like the DVR or a CD and tears may ensue.  

Leo's Favorites

Activities:  Flushing the toilet, pushing buttons, baths, wearing daddy's shoes, hiding behind clothes in closets, cooking with mommy, playing drums, dancing to the rhythm of the washing machine, unloading the dishwasher

Things:  Balloons, Balls, Tents, Dogs, Drums, Olaf from Frozen

Books:  Goodnight Gorilla, B is for Bear, Goodnight I Love You

Foods:  Annie's Organic Gummy Bunnies, Chick-Fil-A Fries, Green Smoothies & Juices, Beans and Rice, Chili, Strawberries

Songs:  "Get Up Offa that Thing" by James Brown, "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift, "Uptown Funk" by Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson, "Stars" by Coldplay, "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, "Speak Life" by Toby Mac, and all songs on the Frozen Soundtrack

Lovies:  Tiddliwinks knit white blankie and green paci - "beedee and wassi"

TV:  Curious George

Movie:  Frozen

Places:  The carousel at Opry Mills Mall ("neigh neighs"), the slide at any park, Fountains 

Restaurants:  Chipotle, The Juice Bar, Pie Five Pizza

We love you sweet Leo, and the little man you're becoming.  We are so thankful for you!  XO

 

  

Fun Fact:  This little horse was Billy's when he was little!  His Aunt Angie saved it and gave it to us as a shower gift before Leo was born.  It still "neighs" when you pull the handle!  

Birthday T-Shirt:  "I Am This Many" shirt from The Kids Next Door Etsy Shop 

Leo Turns One

When you become parent, every other parent tells you that time flies when you have a baby.  And it gets really, really annoying. But they're right.  And then you realize…you are now that parent that says it to your pregnant friends.  ha!  It IS hard to believe that it's been a year since we had our tiny, fragile Leo and now he's such a big, strong, smiling, funny, smart little boy.  He loves to play with toys that make noise and music, eat leaves and tiny pieces of paper off the floor, rock back and forth to Stevie Wonder, make beats on his high chair tray, take dirty bottles out of the recycling bin, empty the office trash can, rip up important documents, unplug power cords, change the channel to CSpan on the TV, chew on straws, make funny noises, play Peek-a-boo, push buttons on Daddy's laptop, say Da Da when he's happy, and Ma Ma when he needs something. 

People that know me…know I LOVE a good theme.  January themes are hard!  Snowmen?  But I found inspiration for this Airplane Themed Birthday Party on Pinterest and loved it.  Then I started pinning away and getting grandiose ideas of remodeling our house.  It's a lot of pressure to try to be Pinterest Perfect.  I had many projects in mind that I was sure I would have time to do (i.e. gluten-free Cloud Sugar Cookies) that either completely bombed or I ran out of time for.  It's just not realistic and I my poor tortured husband convinced me at midnight (after folding 40 paper airplanes) that it was time for bed.  OK.  You win, Stupid Pinterest.

Once I let go of the fact I couldn't pull off a donut tower with Leo's face taped onto toothpicks…I relaxed and had fun.  I loved having our first "kid party"!  We had 4 couples and 8 kiddos come over to play and celebrate with us.  It is so wonderful to have friends in Nashville that feel like family.  Thank you Sullivants, Knowles, Mitchells, and Chaffers for being in our lives!

The thing about Leo's birthday that I toiled over the most was his cake.  I know it's tradition to let kids have their first taste of sugar on their birthday…but I just couldn't do it.  He's never had sugar (other than fruit) or any grains. He also has an egg allergy.  I did a lot of researching on gluten-free, vegan, paleo, sugar-free blogs and still couldn't find a cake that didn't have something in it I wanted to avoid.  So I concocted my own.  It's not pretty…and it's not sweet…but it looked like a cake and did the trick.  ha!  Leo loves bananas and will pretty much eat anything that you put in front of him at this stage in his life...so he enjoyed it.  And mama was happy.  (See recipe and other links below)

Leo's Banana Smash Cake Recipe

grain, gluten, egg, dairy, sugar, and nut free

Preheat oven to 375

Grease cake pan with coconut oil

Cake

1/2 cup organic coconut flour 

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup organic coconut oil 

1 banana

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

4 Tb. potato starch 

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Melt coconut oil.  Then put coconut oil, banana, applesauce, lemon juice, and vanilla in blender to puree'.  Add to dry ingredients and mix on low speed until smooth.  Bake in small round cake pan (I did 2 thin layers but you could also do one)  for 20-25 minutes until firm on top.  Texture will be more like a muffin, not a fluffy cake.

Icing

11 ounces of Culinary Coconut Milk (aka Coconut Cream)

1 Banana

1 tsp vanilla

1 drizzle of local honey (optional)

Blend until smooth in blender and put in refrigerator for at least 1 hour until thick.  Ice cake within 1-2 hours of serving.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!  We love you to pieces!

Theme Inspiration:  The Vintage Pearl

Paper Airplane Wall:  Printer Paper & Duct Tape

Paper Airplane Onesie:  Dirty Hippie Studios on Etsy
Party Invitation:  Room 1117 on Etsy
Round Helium Balloon:  Shindigs & Celebrations
Instagram Prints:  Printicular iPhone App (prints to Walgreens)

A day off...

Today was a day of rest, fun and family time.  Billy decided to take a much needed day off after many days of working and traveling.  

We started the day with some Urban Juicer…just to get some nutrients and our immunity on.  WB = The Well Being.  

Kale, Spinach, Apple, Cucumber, Ginger, Lemon

The Cold Buster = Apple, Lemon, Grapefruit, Ginger.  Heck, yeah.

Then to something not quite as healthy…Barista Parlor in East Nashville.  This place was built for Instagram.  I swear.  Uber hip.  Shoot, even the napkins are hipsters.  But equally as yummy.  

(So...Billy snuck in a few emails…but, hey.)

Let's just be honest.  I have a hankering for biscuits pretty much every day.  Barista does them right…and gluten-free.  My dream come true.  Add locally made PRB sausage, The Peach Trunk preserves, and an iced almond milk mocha…and I'm in lactose-free heaven.

A picnic outside at Sevier Park in 12 South with some g-free goodies from A Matter of Taste.  

Such a warm, awesome day.  No shoes needed.  Tomorrow it's supposed to snow…so we're soaking this up while we can.

I've always wanted to see the view from the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.  Today was the perfect day.  We caught it just before sunset.