Return to the Door!

This month my family and I had the wonderful privilege of taking a family vacation! We were able to pack up and head back to Door County, Wisconsin, the place where we vacationed many summers during my childhood. It was a blast getting to stay there again...it felt just like coming home. The fact that the pefect rain-free weather was in the mid-70's all week didn't hurt either...a welcome relief from the 100's Chicago-land was enduring. It was our first family vacation post-baby (i.e. quite an experience, to say the least). Slightly bad timing on Will's part, because he got sick and started crawling while we were there. That combo does not make vacationing easy for parents :) However, it was super fun for the family to spend quality time together. Without further ado, some of my favorite pics:

Can you say awkward family photo?

Wasn't sure how he felt about the sand between his toes

A radom park-bench we found...with some editing help from yours truly :)

A Door County fish boil!

Our rental cottage

View from the cottage

Door County beach view

Happy sick baby in his pack and play

All week long, everybody was fighting for chances to pose with the boy:

Lots of father-son time

Many beach campfires!

One beautiful evening we stopped at an adorable diner in the town of Ephraim. We enjoyed our burgers outside along the bay basking in the picturesque surroundings.

Discovered that 8-month Will does not like Ergo-baby in the middle of July...despite how cute I thought he looked in it.

I of course had to take advantage of some great lighting while waiting for the fish boil

Sisters plus Oma plus the Levi-man

Our little fam

And I will leave you with one more classic family photo, taken at our all-time favorite Door County frozen custard place,

Adeiu!!

Summer Fun

After getting all dressed up in his garage sale-acquired matching hat, trunks and rash guard (thanks Grammy!)  the little Levi-man announced to us that he was ready to spend a fun swelteringly hot day at the Michigan Dunes beach.

Ahh...if only that exuberance and excitement had lasted...

But alas, no...I think he was not a fan of the frigid Lake Michigan water...

Don't ask me how he could look so upset when he was surrounded by his adoring harem auntie/Oma fan club!

He was happy later after he was clean and dry again with a full tummy...
Just chillin' in his tent and playin' with Opa

(Can you believe the size of that belly?!)

And all the aunties had to fight to get their Will-time in...

And once in a while I have to step from behind the lens myself, otherwise this boy might not realize I was there too...

Despite the heat, the inability to nap, the cold lake water and the brutal sun, I think my boy enjoyed his first family day trip to the dunes, one of many many more to come. Welcome to the summer family tradition boy!

Where is time going?

Since my baby boy is turning eight months this week, I figured I'd better get a 7 month photo up. This pictures is courtesy of my baby sis, my aspiring photo pupil who will soon surpass me because she's just much cooler and artsier than I :)

"Yes mom, that's right, I am no longer your little baby, I am turning into a little boy." 

This Moment...

I'm going to jump on this train...not sure I'll do it every Friday, but sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words right?

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Retro Bargains

Little William and I spent our day yesterday hunting down garage sales. (He slept, I hunted). I got some great buys...don't worry, I won't bore you with all the details. But I am pretty excited about some so I wanted to share them with you.

I got some great board books for 25 cents each. That's a bargain, especially when you consider that they are currently going for $8 each at the stores. A while back, I spoke of my desire to instill a love for reading in my children, so steals like this make me happy.

On to the next bargain...

This gem was discovered last year but I never got a chance to share it with you...
A while back I found this lovely little retro table and chairs

The middle-aged woman who sold it to me told me that it had been in her grandmother's basement for as long as she could remember...so I'm estimating it to be circa 1950's... I'll take it, it's so darn cute!

Then, what I'm so geeked up about today is...

Drumroll....

This great vintage high-chair I found for TWO bucks!

I love that it is collapsible. I love the retro-patterned vinyl seat coverings. I love that the tray is shiny metal. Makes for great pictures...

I love that the foot rest is just metal rails...and I love that my son's chubby feet are nowhere close to reaching it :)

I already have a nice high-chair, but for two bucks, who could resist this one? I'm sure I'll find a lovely home for it...maybe at Grammy's house...

At any rate, we had a great time yesterday breaking it in.

Slightly demonic grin, yes, but I love that you
can really see that tooth!

Happy Eating to you!!

My day in a nutshell

Today was a random but pleasantly fun day...

I started out the day admiring a new garage sale find.

Check out this beautiful crocheted runner

It's probably hard to appreciate on film, but the detail on this thing is marvelous.

I can't imagine being able to crochet like that.

I think it adds a lot to my secretary, which if you read this post you would recognize as having been plucked from a Chicago alley by this bargain-hunting gal. Speaking of bargains, this lovely doily only put me out $1. One buck, to transform this space with a lovely, soft vintage flair! (Have I mentioned I love finding great garage-sale gems??)

Later in the day, I had to use my camera to capture this adorable stage in my son's life...
we have a tooth folks!!

While I think it adds charm to his smile, still, the disappearance of that ultimate baby gummy grin makes this hopelessly sappy and sentimental new mommy just a little sad...

However,
I don't think he's too upset about it...









Later in the day, I was so happy to get to meet up with a wonderful friend who was in town from Philly...and I also got to meet her sweet little baby girl. Happy 2 months little Ellie!

At the end of the day, the warm, balmy breeze dragged me out to my yard where I ended up picking a spontaneous bouquet of flowers.
Magenta yarrow, pink hydrangeas, dusty rose astilbees, minty green ladies mantle, Annabelle hydrangeas and a Princess Diana rose.

Flowers make me happy.

Who needs a florist when you can grow it all in your own back yard?!
And best of all, it is complemented so nicely by my new doily!

All in a fun day's fun.

A Six Month Photoshoot

Well, I failed in my epic quest this month: to edit and post his six month photos in a timely manner.
Since he turns 7 months today, it is evident that did not happen. What's been keeping me busy?
- Gardening season!! All my summer veggies are in and thriving. Weeds are thriving as well.
- RN/APN license renewal deadline - had to squeeze in those last few CEUs I've been procrastinating.
- Sewing!! My ideas have been abounding, and Miss Singer has found herself having frequent dates with me.

Enough excuses, you say? Get on with the good stuff, you say? Ok, sure. Here goes. I did these over a two-week period, and I think he was a good sport considering I found out later that he had an ear infection, thus accounting for some crabbiness on his part.

A short blurb about six-month William - I love him more each day. He is laughing and squealing up a storm. He  is sitting by himself, rolling both ways (nope, not even interested in trying to crawl) but he LOVES standing. Not spitting up and drooling as much, which his launder appreciates. He is 95th percentile for height and 60th percentile for weight. Yup, definitely wearing 9-12 month outfits. I love this little boy.

Enough! Enjoy the pics!