My baby is 7!! His love for Pokemon is still going strong and his only request was a Pokemon themed cake (thank you BJ’s :). He also LOVES science and we had the opportunity to have Science Show for Kids come over and they were a huge hit. We invited all his friends over for a fun Sunday party and it was one for the books. Happy 7th Birthday my beautiful boy!
This is a visual journal of our annual Spring break trip to Florida. I love watching you bond with your aunties and how you know where things are in the house, and how Florida is becoming a second home for you. Just like it is for me. I love watching you play in the backyard where I spent so many summers and reading on your Auntie Jill’s lap just like I did as a child. I hope you will always cherish these memories.
Happy birthday to my sweet Lucas León! I can’t believe you are FIVE! I say this every year..but I’m in awe of the wonderful young man you are becoming. You are kind, so very funny, witty, spunky, and full of life. In just two months since you have started kindergarten, I am so impressed with how much you have learned and the curiosity and questions you come up with on a daily basis. You still sleep with your favorite teddy bear and I am holding on tightly to these last little bits of “babyhood”. I tuck you in each night and kiss your cheeks and thank God for blessing me with the gift of being your mami. The other night we were having a conversation about our loved ones who are now in heaven and you asked me if we could take a plane to see them. When I told you we couldn’t you responded with “please mom! I just want to check in on them and make sure they’re okay”. Even on the hardest days, you always find a way to melt my heart with your sincerity and love.
This year you insisted on a Pokemon party – you still love your Ninja Turtles but you are currently in a major Pikachu phase. We had a Pokemon hunt, pokeball cakes, balloons galore, and you loved your themed t-shirt which you picked out yourself on a recent Target run (your favorite store EVER). We love you our fierce Lion. I can’t wait to see all of the amazing things you accomplish this year as a five year old!
A huge thank you to Lucas and Lillie’s auntie Chloe who created the delicious and amazing cupcakes! You can check out more of her work over on Technique (and Lillie’s first bday cake here!).
Had enough of our trip to Cold Spring yet?! These are my favorite photos from our weekend away. Lucas on his very first fishing trip which he said was “awesome!!” – his face lights up every time he talks about it. While the guys fished, the girls stayed back and played in the leaves (and took photos of course). No actual fish were caught but Lucas was stoked nonetheless. We also got caught in a downpour minutes before we left. It just added to the adventure in my opinion. I’m so thankful for these experiences and the memories we are creating together with friends and as a family. The coolest part is that we didn’t have to go far from home to feel like we had been on vacation.
On Lillie: bonnet from petite soul, cardi from gap kids (last year), tank from arq, leggings from sapling child, socks from minou kids, moccs from freshly picked
Onesies from Hugo Loves Tiki
Life with two. It’s everything I dreamed of and more. It’s the kind of stuff Hallmark commercials are made of. You know the ones. They leave you a heaping, sobbing mess and you feel like your heart might explode because that mom in the commercial is you and those babies in the commercial are your babies and they are god damn unicorns. It’s also the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve never been so tired in my life and some days I stop and think to myself “what if I never, ever feel rested again? how will I survive? can people live off of no sleep? I mean, they have to..right? right?”
Lillie has zero nap schedule whereas Lucas went down every day at 1pm like clockwork. We leave at 2pm to pick up Lucas from school and usually she is just starting to doze off when I have to wake her up to make the walk to pick up. No naps make for a very cranky mama. She is starting to climb on furniture and puts just about anything she can get her hands on into her mouth. When we get home from picking up Lucas she wants to be held and I am have to make snacks, get homework done, nurse her, and try and get some play time in with Lucas. Some weeks I don’t leave a 3 block radius with the kids and it’s enough to drive anyone insane.
OKAY. Now the good stuff. Every sleepless night is worth it. I swear. Lucas tells me every day he loves me and that I am his favorite girl in the world (after Lillie Sol of course). Lillie loves the crap out of me and I am relishing in this baby stage when all she wants in the world is ME. I am her comfort and her safe spot. She can instantly stop crying in my arms and my arms alone. The way she looks at me when she nurses is enough to make my heart melt into a giant puddle and I stare back at her and can’t believe this beautiful little creature is my daughter. My best friend sent from God. On the days I am beyond exhausted and don’t think I can take another minute with a child’s foot or hand or mouth on me, we all cuddle and get ready for bed time and Lucas asks me to tell him a story and I forget my exhaustion. I tell him about the adventures of Prince Lucas and all the shenanigans he gets into while exploring NYC and these stories are his favorite. MY stories. The ones I create just for him. Then we tell a few jokes and he covers me in kisses.
And don’t get me started on the relationship my kids have with each other. They love each other something fierce and I feel so proud and lucky that Ivan and I gave them the gift of having a friend for life. Nobody makes Lillie laugh like Lucas does and she doesn’t mind one bit when Lucas uses her for jumping practice or covers her little body in Ninja Turtles.
I’m tired as fuck but my heart is so full. My kids are god damn unicorns and that’s the truth. My truth. Thank you my Lucas León and Lillie Sol for making me the happiest, proudest, sappiest mama in the world. I love you. Te amo.
You know when there’s a brand that just suits your children’s personality? Whether it be the colors, designs, or fabric – it’s just a perfect fit and becomes your go to. That’s how I feel about Children of the Tribe. With a bohemian feel and amazing shapes that allow your kids to move and feel like KIDS. Yeah. I’m in love.
My go-to brand for the perfect (and I mean perfect) tee just launched a new collection just for the kids. Everlane Mini is an 11 piece collection that includes yummy cashmere hoodies, beanies, and classic tees. The color pallet is muted and modern and it’s intended to match seamlessly with your own wardrobe. Their motto? Dress your kids the same way you dress yourself. Needless to say I’m in love.
Did I mention that my Lucas León is that adorable model you see up there? Yep. I’m a very proud mama bear. I know i’m biased but I think Lucas totally rocked this campaign! A very big thank you to Everlane for choosing my boy to represent this incredibly swoon worthy collection for the kids. PS – check out this article featuring more on this new move from Everlane in VOGUE!
My dearest Lucas León,
The past four years have been the best of my life. You have brought our family infinite joy and happiness. You are a bright star that I know will go so very far in life. With your wit, compassion, joy, and smarts, well, the world isn’t going to know what hit it when you spread your wings. God knew just what he was doing when he picked you just for us. I can’t even properly articulate just how deep my love runs for you. I hope you always know just how loved you are and that your mommy and daddy will do anything and everything for you. Always. May God bless you with all the numbers, health, and so much happiness my sweet boy. I am honored to be your mother and to be able to witness your growth and success.
Te amo. Te amo. Te amo.
Mommy
I pictured this moment while I was pregnant. These tender, loving, wonderful, heart exploding moments that my children would share. And let me tell you, the real thing is 100x better than anything I could have imagined. Lucas has exceeded all expectations of how he would react to his new baby sister. He absolutely adores Lillie and it’s an adorable sight to see. Every morning he looks for her and greets her with kisses and hugs. He loves to tell me just how cute and pretty she is. My mama heart is bursting with so much love for these two. My favorite is when he shouts “Lillie SOLLLLLL”. You have to just imagine his little pip-squeak voice and I guarantee it will make you grin. Sigh. My heart is right up there captured in a few impromptu photos.
Our first week at home with Lillie Sol. Lucas is terrified of her belly button (which is finally almost healed..woohoo!), she loves mamas milk and is well on her way to being back to her birth weight, snoozes on our chests are frequent, she gave us her first smile at 6 days old, and we are all delirious in love. Life is pretty darn sweet.