Four months

I'm trying to write this post without including any comparisons between Elijah and Abigail (as a baby). I just want to document his little face, and speak about how he steals my heart a little more every single day.

My little guy is four and a half months old.  He's sweet, as sweet as sugar, and loves his Ma ma.  His patience is impressive and demeanor easy going (except after 6:30 pm -- don't push your luck).  Elijah's favorite past times include chewing on his fingers, growling, blowing through his lips, looking at anything outside, listening to his Ma ma hum (not sing, hum), smiling at anyone who chooses to smile at him, and giving kisses.  He takes three to four naps a day, depending on the length, and is up 2-4 times per night.  (Up two times in the night is a great night's sleep for me, actually, just in case anyone is worried.)  He is still on a breast milk only diet, and unfortunately he can be a fussy eater, easily distracted, which can make day trips a little stressful, as he will choose not to eat for long stretches of time when away from home.  While tummy time is not his favorite activity, he doesn't mind it if there is something interesting to catch his eye.  His favorite place for tummy exercise is his sister's window seat, where he can look out into the yard.  He can roll from tummy to back and has almost made it from back to tummy  on numerous occasions.  Elijah generally likes the Ergo carrier, but sometimes prefers to sit in the stroller where he can see more of the sky.  He stands strong and holds his head up like a champ.  My little man just lights up when he sees my face.  I can't get enough of his smile.  I snuggle into his neck every time I pick him up and try to freeze time, because he'll only be this small for such a short amount of time.   

A little bit about baking

For Abigail's first and second birthdays I made cupcakes -- it's easy and kids love them.  Last year she specifically asked me for purple cupcakes, no problem.  But since then Abigail has learned to love  serious baking.  She refers to king cake as a holiday (since there is a king cake season in New Orleans and that is when I generally bake these favored cakes).  She kicks her feet in delight when consuming a truly good piece of cake.  So I knew I needed to step up my game this year.  I intended to purchase a bakery cake, as I've never ventured into the land of fondant, I wanted an elaborately decorated creation, and I have a four month old baby.  When I learned that the cake I would want for the size of party we were hosting would probably cost $300 or more I decided that it was time to learn a new baking skill.

I didn't document this as I truly wanted to.  I have no pictures of colored balls of fondant, or rolled out frosting on the table.  Sigh.  Next time I will do better, and one of these days I'll write a post about baking king cakes, but here's what my first fondant creation looked like!

Seven and three layered doberge tortes with chocolate custard filling

Frosted with a bitter chocolate icing to offset the sweet of the marshmallow fondant--ready to be chilled

Ariel and her sea foam, which I had hoped to make a little more fantastic, but it was already 1 am

Five pillars in the bottom cake was enough to keep the cake stable all day, and they weren't too hard to take out for slicing

This is how she looked at the party.  My sister Michele made the Flounder while I was wrapping presents.  Otherwise, this was my very own creation.

Here are some side views of the sliced cake.  I was handed more than one slice with just the frosting removed and asked to throw it away.  Sigh.  That's what I get for serving this cake to three year olds :)

 I would honestly consider selling these cakes, but I see why they charge $300.  It takes a long time to make it.  So I'm not sure that I could make it worth my while.  Still, there's a little baker in me who just loves to create beautiful, delicious treats.

The big T-H-R-E-E

About 6 months ago Abigail began to attend birthday parties for little toddler friends turning three, at which point she began the loooong period of time during which she was "almost three".  Congratulations, big girl, it finally happened.  Here's how it went down...

We held a party for twenty toddlers and accompanying adults, as well as family from all over southern California.  Here's Abigail with four of her cousins, two were still stuck in traffic on the way down from LA when this picture was taken.

What little princess doesn't have Flotsam and Jetsam dolls?

Showing her age in fingers...my little love

Some of my play group friends, seeing as play group really is as much for me as for Abigail .  Love these gals.

My nephew Miles has the most infectious happy face

 At toddler parties I envision the jumpy as an indicator of party success, much like the dance floor at a wedding.  By that measure this was a rockin' good time.

The line to get in

Non-stop bouncing fun

 But the main event, truly, was the appearance of "the real Ariel".  Here's the moment of truth when they were introduced for the first time.

Speechless

 Ariel painted faces, read a book, sang princess songs, signed autographs, and took pictures with the kids.  The looks of admiration and joy were so sincere and adorable that it made me want to sign up for the singing princess gig.  All the kids, not just the girls, were smitten.  They were SO cute.

Abigail has been pretending to gently paint faces with a cotton ball and the bottom of a baby bottle since Saturday

Who knows a princess song?

In between his two stroller naps and one nursing session Elijah got to hang out with Ariel for a few seconds

Love

In one of her new princess gowns

Surprisingly, the other very popular attraction of the party was the cake.  I didn't think toddlers would be all that interested in cake (except of course the prospect of eating it), but there was continuously a little stream of cake visitors who needed to be watched to ensure that no one took a handful.

Since I made the cake myself, Abigail was pretty attached to it, and very excited.  She saw the layers, and the pre-fondant creation.  She helped me make the chocolate seashells (and by help I mean that she ate as much melted white chocolate as she could find).  She picked out the figurine for the top of the cake.  I strongly believe that Abigail is obsessed with cake because of Jake's love affair with cake.  He is giddy at the thought of a tub of sugary frosting, or any doughy, just baked creation.  He's passed it on to her and she could not WAIT to taste her cake.

  But first we have to sing....

Flounder fondant in the mouth

The benefit of a day such as this one is that my daughter had a birthday to remember (even though she probably won't remember it since she's only three).  The drawback is that I barely saw her.  I was up early getting ready, setting up, taking care of the baby in spurts, greeting people, refilling fruit and drinks, making it all happen.  By the time it was all said and done it was time to try and feed my over-tired girly some dinner and handle the I-don't-want-to-go-to-bed-I-want-to-play-with-my-toys meltdown that was bound to occur after an exciting day in the sun and no nap.  I sort of wish her party was not on her actual birthday, so I could have a few more cuddles and a little less stress.  But every year is different and year three was definitely the biggest party yet.  

Flashback to last year's party....they grow so fast.