Saving Up

Something I'm learning about babies is that there are these little tiny moments and little tiny wonderful things that they do that make them uniquely babies.

I wish that I could bottle those up and save those little moments. 

And carry them with me.

They're not photograph-able, or video-able... 

They're those spontaneous little noises or
reactions or looks or
glances... 

They're those silly faces with the tongue and the eyebrows...

They're the sound of lips smacking together tasting new food. 

They're the songs of soft 'baba's' and 'dada's' coming from the back seat of the car.... 

They're the way that she rests her head on my shoulder and lays her arm across my chest as she's falling back to sleep... 

They're the slobbery 'kisses' that come lunging for you
across the bed... 

They're the scampering crawl 

towards the dog//trashcan//day-old puff//tall glass vase///
and towards you...

The look of excitement as she stands,
as she swings,
as she bounces.
Her soft snore...
Her sleep positions// bottom in the air,
horizontal,
face in my face.

The purest smiles.
The most carefree squeals.

I'm wrapping them carefully..
And saving them.
Because I know that the next day will be
flooded with more.


X

Cassie

A Snowcation//Scary Mommy

Last week, we got hit by that snowstorm.  The one that blanketed a lot of the East coast.  That one that left people stranded on the highway in Chapel Hill, NC.  It was a mid-week snowstorm, which is the best kind, because schools get canceled {pre-emptively}, work gets canceled {also pre-emptively, which is ideal, because you can plan for it, as we did ;) }, and you're left with a little mini snowcation.  Will and Izzy and I took it one step further, and got snowed in with our dear friends, Katie and Derek and their sweet baby boy Caleb.  If you're going to be snowed in, for, what feels like the 15th time this winter, then doing it with fun friends who have a sunny, baby friendly, roomy and cheerful house is the best way to go.  Because, let's face it, cabin fever is real, especially this time of year.
I try to avoid it at all cost.  

We had the best time- Will and Derek got to shovel lots of snow, make grocery store runs, and discuss whatever boys discuss.  

Katie and I let the babies do their thing, while we blabbed about important lady topics and caught up on... Vanderpump Rules, The Bachelor, Real Housewives, etc.  

They were the sweetest hosts, and if I didn't hate winter so much, I'd say it was perfect.  ;)
 {PS: Will, Katie, Derek and I were also snowed in years ago during THE Snowmageddon.  The one that buried cars. That was pre-baby era, even pre-wedding era.  So yes, whoa.... Katie and I agreed, looking back to that time, we felt like kids... and now we're raising them!  Ha!}

Katie and Caleb

Caleb, Izzy's newest heart-throb {sorry James ;)}

Katie and Caleb

Macy

Watching the snow

My favorite picture in the bunch!

Always on the move!!

 Also, if you follow Home & Sass on Facebook then you probably already know this, but I wrote something recently that was on the blog Scary Mommy. It's one of those, "How to Survive" sort of posts, about getting through your first job interview after having a baby {with some humor, because, duh, how else would that be surviveable??}.

Hope you like it!



XX

Cassie 

 

Circles

Today we took a little trip down the road to the historic district of Ellicott City.  It was cold and grey and wintery.  It even snowed.  I had big plans to take some nice pictures.  

Too bad I didn't charge the camera's battery before we left. 

We ate lunch at The Phoenix.  The last time we'd been there?  3 years ago.. A few hours before Will proposed.  Being there today, as a threesome felt pretty cool.  Happy... kind of proud. Loved.

Old.  I also felt old.  And much wiser... and kind of weathered. 

In a good way. 

at lunch today

That day that we got engaged was really special.  It was raining, I had finally taken a huge licensure exam that morning, which had been looming for months.... We were away from the city.  

Will was so nervous.
{which was cute// so I suspected something was up}

He wrote the sweetest, best, loveliest song about that day.
On a banjo.. And, you know, I'm in love with banjos.
And songs about the day that Will proposed.
And Will.  
The song is a complete Love fest.
  Listen below :)




Today was one of those full circle days.
The kind that remind you that you're in the right place.
 Those days are like hugs.
{sorry, did you just vomit from the sap? it's true though.. and those days are good to find in the dead of February ;) }

XX

Cassie

Equinox /// Happy 9 Months

This evening, post bath.  

Today our little ladybug turned 9 months old.  

{So, she's been on the outside for as long as she was on the inside... Thus, "equinox".}

It's becoming pretty clear that she's moving away from infancy and into..... something else...

At an alarming pace.

Isabel, between 8 and 9 months, you were very hard at work. 

You're now an accomplished crawler.  

You remind us of a puppy the way your crawl becomes something of a scamper, with panting, drooling, and a stop to gnaw on something, anything.  {yes, that shoe will do}.

You pull yourself up to stand with anything and everything.  You're perfecting your balancing, and working your muscles like a little ballerina at the bar doing plies-- up and down.  

You'll probably be walking in no time {feel free to slow this down though!}. 

Our house is slowly becoming Izzy-proofed... Because you have a knack for zero-ing in on the closest wire/hot thing/electrical outlet/ glass thing/ heavy thing/expensive thing/tall thing/.  

It's impressive, this skill.

You also started waving this week.  And the wave is quite possibly the cutest thing you've learned yet.  {Although the crawl is also really really cute}.  You love to wave.  You'll get everyone in the room waving, hi, goodbye, hello, oh yes I see youuuu! :) 

You've also started to eat a lot!  Sometimes I'm surprised at how much food you can put down, and each time I'm so proud.  Not to mention the fact that your palette is well on its way to great refinement. ;)

You love a game of peek-a-boo, or a little play chase, or a pretend wrestle. Your squeals and laughs are getting louder and more deliberate.  This is so much fun. 

I just can't believe you're 9 months already!  And am having a hard time finding the words.  {the fact that it's close to midnight is also part of the problem}.  But I wanted to be sure I got these things down. Today. 

Because tomorrow, you'll be 9 months and a day....

You're the most wonderful little creature Isabel, and we still pinch ourselves daily, because we can't believe how lucky we got with you.  

{And when you're sleeping, we miss you, and look at pictures of you.... #wearethoseparentswefeared}

So happy 9 month equinox to you sweet sweet girl. 

You're the moon & the stars.  

XO, 

Cassie 

Tonight, post-bath