A Girl Named PJ

This is 20 Months Old

March 12, 2013

Today is Levi’s 20-month birthday! In honor of this milestone, I thought I’d share a quick glimpse into Levi’s life as a busy toddler.

At 20 months old…

He has boundless energy and is always on the “go, go, go!”

His favorite activity is playing with his kitchen (“ki-kin”) and pretend food.

His second favorite activity is getting the mail, or “may-ul.”

He’s obsessed with elevators and, to a lesser degree, escalators. He yells, “Aggi! Aggi” when he sees either (and then doesn’t stop screaming it).

When prompted, he says please (“peas”) after asking for something he’d like to have.

He loves to suck on ice chips and to play with ice packs.

His favorite TV shows are “Sesame Street” and “Yo Gabba Gabba.”

He has four teeth on top, two on the bottom, and all four one-year molars.

He calls his sucky (our word for pacifier) a “gucky.”

He loves to scoop, dump, and sometimes drink the water during bath time.

When he sees a toilet, he grabs his crotch and says, “Boddy! Boddy!”

He also grabs his crotch and squats when asked if he has poop.

He’s starting to show interest in playing with trucks but still prefer blocks, Legos, puzzles, crayons, and stickers.

He can unzip his sleep sack. (Is it time for a crib blanket?)

He runs over for a quick kiss when he gets a bump or boo-boo.

He’ll lean his head towards to the dog when asked to give Briscoe a hug or a kiss.

He loves to carry or drag heavy bags, boxes, or random objects across the room.

And how could I forget…

Lately he’s been adding “oy” to the end of words — for example, more is now “moy.”

He’s also been saying “uh-oak” instead of uh-oh.

He loves to play with my hair brushes and combs and heads straight to that drawer in my bathroom to pull them out.

He eats a lot of bananas.

He calls my father “boo-ba” instead of Ubie, which is what my dad would like to be called.

He can’t say “Max,” so he calls his new baby cousin “Mahk,” like Mark without the “r.”

PS: I’ll be sharing my next letter to Levi when he turns two years old in July, but you can read his 18 month old milestone update here.

{top photos taken at Omaha Children’s Museum // bottom photos taken at Javits Playground in NYC}

Last week I discovered an intriguing series called Fear Confessions on Paper Fort Studio. Krystle, the designer and illustrator behind the blog, asks fellow creatives to share real-life stories about their fears and the ways they’ve overcome them. From fear of success to fear of grasshoppers, guest bloggers reveal the things that scare them the most.

My friend Erika recently revealed that she’s afraid of riding a bicycle. It’s not her only fear, she admitted, but it’s one of her “strangest” ones. Erika’s #fearconfession got me thinking: What am I afraid of?

I share many of the same large-scale fears as other guest bloggers from the Fear Confessions series: fear of rejection, fear of success, fear of the unknown, fear of commitment, and fear of not being good enough. I also have very specific (if not slightly irrational) fears. For example, like Krystle, I’m afraid of talking on the phone. (I even wrote about my “telephobia” back in 2010.)

Another of my more random fears is falling down stairs. Now, I’ve never fallen down a flight of stairs (at least I don’t remember ever falling down a staircase), but I’m terrified by the possibility. My fear is not paralyzing; I don’t live in a ranch-style home and will, obviously, walk up and down the stairs. But I frequently have visions of myself falling headfirst down a staircase, especially when I’m carrying Levi. That’s why I always, always hold on to the railing. And walk slowly. And yell at JB when he’s running up or down the stairs.

Now it’s your turn. What are you afraid of?

Please share your fears — big or small — in the comments below. You might be surprised to learn that your fear is not as uncommon as you may have thought.

PS: A scary dream I had when I was pregnant. I think many people are afraid of giving birth!

{image via}

Army Wives

March 9, 2013

Did you know that I’m a regular contributor to Lifetime Moms? I recently got an exclusive “behind the scenes” look at Lifetime’s hit series Army Wives, which returns for its seventh season tomorrow. It appears that things have changed dramatically at Fort Marshall; it’s time to say goodbye to a major cast member and to welcome some new faces.

In Season 7, a new tribe emerges from the shadow of tragedy. Maintaining the enduring premise of Army Wives, the audience will witness a remarkable group of women – some familiar, some new – form friendships that see them through the challenges of Army life as their husbands serve at a dangerous outpost in Afghanistan.

Here are what a few of the cast members had to say about their characters…and themselves!

Wendy Davis (who returns to the role of Joan Burton) is the complete opposite of Joan: “I am such a pushover as a mom…Last night I told my daughter to go to bed at 8:30, and at 10 she was still awake! Joan would never have that. Joan is very tunnel-visioned (sic) and I am not like that at all.” Did you know that Joan defied expectations and rose through the ranks, becoming Fort Marshall’s first African-American female lieutenant colonel — commanding more than 400 men?

Catherine Bell, back as Denise Sherwood, originally went to college to become a doctor: “I studied biomedical engineering until I discovered modeling. I am a tomboy…I love cars and motorcycles and extreme sports.” Did you know that Denise’s character started out very reserved and unsure of what she wanted to do in life? Over the past six seasons the character has grown dramatically, and Denise is now much more in line with Catherine’s personality.

Kelli Williams is reprising her role this season (Season 6 was her first!) as Jackie Clark. Kelli brings her experience of growing up in a very conservative household to her character: “I grew up going to country clubs…things that I don’t respond to in my life now but are totally Jackie…so to prepare for the role, I just amp up the pearl-wearing!” Did you know that the fans gave Kelli a tough time about her character, they didn’t trust her and didn’t think she was fair with Claudia Joy? Kelli says she’s the complete opposite of Jackie!

New to the cast this season is Torrey DeVitto as Maggie Hall. As we meet Maggie we will find that she, like lots of us, struggles to find herself. She left the Army to be a stay-at-home mom, and is having a difficult time with new roles in her life…mom to a blended family, wife to a new husband and a very different life at home compared with that of a soldier. To prepare for her new role, Torrey attended a day of Army physical training: “I didn’t want to tell the guys, but I had to leave early because I thought I was going to throw up…my body was begging me to stop. I have always had such respect for people in the service, and I always knew it was not easy. I was never so aware of how strong you need to be mentally and physically!”

The Seventh Season of Army Wives Premieres on Lifetime, Sunday, March 10 at 9/8c. You can catch up with the ladies and watch full episodes of last season online!

This post is sponsored by A&E Television Networks, LLC (“AETN”), but all opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting Bunny & Dolly’s sponsors.

Spring Ahead and Weekend Links

March 8, 2013

Levi and I had an hour to kill by ourselves yesterday, so we hit up the mall and wandered around Nordstrom for a bit. When in Jersey, right?

Although he seemed content to munch on goldfish crackers and be pushed in his stroller, I didn’t want to test Levi’s patience by popping in and out of the dressing room, so our trip was strictly a browsing mission. It may have been chilly and damp outside, but Nordstrom was bright and spring-like inside. Pretty pastels and polka dots caught my eye from all corners of the department store, including:

DV by Dolce Vita ‘Jentry’ Boot | Kate Spade New York ‘Carmine Street Stacy’ Wallet | Michael Kors ‘Slim Runway’ Watch | Kate Spade New York ‘Cobble Hill Ellen’ Crossbody Bag | Calson Long-Sleeve Shirt in Stonewashed Blue Combo | Bobbi Brown ‘Lilac Rose’ Eye Palette | Mural Polka Dot Sweatshirt

While I debate whether to return to the mall and buy myself a few early birthday presents, why don’t you check out these links?

Free printable babysitter cheat sheet in two color options

This cartoon-illustrated post made me laugh out loud: What you want to do as a parent versus what you really do (via Courtney)

An on-the-go breakfast that looks easy and delicious

A third Bridget Jones novel is in the works (I loved the first Bridget Jones movie, didn’t you?)

Pick a side: Golden Girls vs Friends

My friend Melanie wrote a book about blogging! (Psst… It’s on sale until 3/13)

Pictures of people taking pictures of food (via Ari)

PS: Don’t forget to spring ahead this weekend! Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 10th, so move your clocks one hour ahead before you go to sleep Saturday night.

Continuing a tradition of letter writing

March 7, 2013

While I’m celebrating the arrival of baby Max with my family, I’ve asked some friends to fill in for me on the blog. Our final guest blogger this week is Eden from The Road to the Good Life. Eden and I met virtually in an Alt Summit Facebook group shortly before our Salt Lake City adventure, and I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch with her before Alt officially began. I like Eden because her vintage style and calm demeanor give the impression of an old soul, yet she describes herself as thriving “in the intersection between technology and communication.” Please join me in welcoming Eden!

Growing up my mom sent weekly letters to her mom, my grandmother, and her sister, my aunt. There was something special about receiving one of my mom’s letters. It’s this tradition of regular letter writing that I turned to when coming up with a way to share Gates’ childhood with her great grandmothers, both of whom are not online.

A 1977 Letter from My Mom to My Grandmother

With a little organization, you can share moments of your children’s lives with relatives that aren’t online as well as create priceless keepsakes for yourself. And face it, wouldn’t you like tangible mementos? I know I would.

A Monthly Portrait and Blog Post are A Letter to Offline Relatives

I blog weekly about what my family is up to and close to the second of every month I take a portrait of Gates. These posts and photos are my letter. As Gates gets older and begins fingerpainting and drawing, I’ll also tuck some of her masterpieces into the packages.

Over the month, I use a mix of old school office supplies and the help of technology to keep my sanity and record those moments I don’t want to forget. The Sunday morning after I take and post Gates’ portrait, I sit down for about 30 minutes, address envelopes, write a short three sentence note, slip photos and a few blog posts into the envelopes, and then I’m done. In a day or two, both of Gates’ grandmothers who aren’t online, will know what she’s been up to.

Reduce Assembly Time with Everything in One Place

Before you can get organized, you need to scope out your project. I recommend starting small to avoid setting expectations too high; you want a doable project that gets rave reviews that doesn’t make you pull out your hair.

Tips for Keeping Organized

Once you know the scope of your project here’s how I make assembly a snap.

Use a Mobile Project File and Checklist for Stress-free Letter Writing

Set up a mobile project file, box, or drawer. You don’t want to have to search for supplies. I use a manila folder so that I can work on it anywhere. To the front, along with a checklist that I’ll talk about next, I secure a felt tip pen for labeling the back of photos. Inside it, paper clipped to the front are Forever stamps and two sizes of envelopes. To avoid losing any keepsakes, I have a clear sheet protector secured to the other side.
Create a checklist. Be sure it covers all must have items, a monthly portrait of a toddler, at least one photo of everyone in the family, and so on, that you want to share. The checklist ensures that you don’t sit down and realize you don’t have any photos of the entire family. (We promised Nan a family photo and until I wrote it down, it didn’t happen. Ten months after our promise we’re finally sending her one.)
Include a “photo” with details. When you take photos with your smartphone, make it easy to remember where and what you were doing. Open a note app, type the day, the location, and anything else that’s on your mind. Take a screenshot of the note. Now the details are stored with your photos. For those moments that don’t have photos, capture the memory the same way.
Gather all photos in one place. Everyone should export their photos to a shared directory on your computer. This way you have access to all the photos (and the notes) and don’t have to wait for their phones. I recommend printing the photos out as you go and transferring the notes to the backs of the photos.
Add special items as they happen. Over the week or the month, tuck photos, print outs of relevant blog posts, and so on, into your project file. Then, when you’re ready to send your package, all you have to do is assemble it. I’d suggest not going beyond a month as the more materials you have to sort through, print out, and label requires more assembly time. I’m thinking of switching from a monthly package to a shorter update each time I share family news on the blog, roughly every two weeks.

Label the Backs of Photos as You Print Them Out

Wondering where your priceless keepsake is? Here. Print out an extra copy of each missive and bind them together into a yearly annual, a treasure for both your family and you to enjoy. If you’re more ambitious, organize everything digitally so that you can use it to create a coffee table book through Blurb.

Where did I get this idea? From my grandmother, Gates’ great grandmother. When I got married, she gave me two binders she had made with every letter, my mom or I had ever sent her. There were newspaper clippings of awards I had won, fabric swatches from dresses my mom and I had designed and sewn, and more. It was amazing. I was able to read in my mom’s words how proud she was of me. The experience really deepened my relationship with my mom, and I hope to give Gates the same.