First, find a cupcake. Any old cupcake will do. Even one that has been sitting on the ground. Whatever floats your boat.

Then, get a good grip on it. You don’t want it slipping away from you.

Lastly, eat it. All of it.

Pay no attention to the people around you. As long as there is cupcake in your hands keep eating. In fact, eat the wrapper, too. It’s safe for human consumption, right?

Afterwards, if you’re really lucky, some sucker will wash all that icing off of you.

For more (mostly) Wordless Wednesday, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

(The girls say “Welcome” to their new brother through the nursery window.)

It’s hard to believe my sweet baby boy is celebrating his first birthday today. It seems impossible that it was one whole year ago that I kissed his sweet face for the first time.

Last year at this time, I was nervously preparing for a C-section. I was worried about how we would afford our hospital bill. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to figure out how to be a mom to a little boy. And then I met him.

(Traveler Oakes - 1 day old)

And the rest just fell into place.

Happy Birthday, sweet baby boy. I love you more than I could have ever imagined…

(Traveler at the first of several 1st Birthday parties after consuming handfuls of cake!)

Naughty or Nice? from Land of Lovings on Vimeo.

The first Christmas is the hardest one for me. I look forward to it. Shop like crazy. And build it up in my head as the best Christmas ever. Inevitably, all of my children have ended up sleeping through the present opening and being completely disinterested in everything I got them. So, this year I’m trying to think a bit simpler about Trav’s first Christmas. I’ll be picking up a few little toys and some more practical items and hoping that I can actually get the combo right. And in case you’re interested in what a total non-expert is picking up for her baby’s first Christmas, here is my guide to (my) baby’s first Christmas presents:

1. Something to sort, play with, and chew on. Aren’t those a baby’s three most favorite playtime activities? It’s definitely my baby’s three favorite playtime activities. So, here a few of the chewy, sorty playthings he’ll be getting this year.

Playskool Wheel Pals Racing Fleet, $18.99 — I got the chance to try the garden themed version of these out a couple weeks ago and Traveler loved them. They’re simple and chunky and perfect for little hands. Plus, I love that they feel very boyish since this is the first time I’ve ever gotten to buy boy toys!

Toss ‘n Play Crazy Ball, $26 — I love this ball! It’s soft, colorful, and made by a momprenuer. What’s not to like? I think it’s going to be a great little toy for Trav to play with!

Egg & Cup and Peg & Cup Montessori baby toys, $10 — I love these little toys. They are so simple and are great for developing fine motor skills.

2. Something to sip on. When I did a totally informal Twitter poll of what other moms give as a baby’s 1st Christmas present sippy cups were high on the list. And I think it is a pretty great idea and I’m totally stealing it for this year. I’ve been researching good BPA-free cups and here are a couple that look like they’d be good for a transitioning baby.

Thinkbaby Trainer Cup, $8.99

NUBY BPA Free Flip-it Straw top sippy, $6.99

3. Something to wear. Babies (my babies, at least) are always in need of cute clothes. And for the 1st Christmas I like to take advantage of the limited time period when I can able to buy them clothes as a present without them complaining. So, Trav is getting a few cute things to wear this year. Etsy has a ton of great sellers who have the most adorable baby clothes. Not the least of which is this cowboy onesie from bambinamia. You have to check out their store because they have the most adorable things for babies and toddlers!

Six Shooters Onesie, $18

Yoda hat, $25 — Okay, so Trav already has this, but if you’re looking for an adorable hat for your little one you have to check out this Etsy store. It is hands down my favorite! Not to mention, every where we go people stop us and tell us how much they love this hat. And if you’re little one is more the Princess Leia type she’s got one of those hats, too!

So that’s it. My not-so-revolutionary gift guide to a baby’s 1st Christmas. Stuff to chew on, stuff to sip from, and stuff to wear. We’re keeping it simple this year. And I like it better already.

(Dear FTC, all items in this list are things I have picked out on my own for Trav’s 1st Christmas. I did receive Playskool Wheel Pals to try beforehand and have since purchased a set on my own. I was not paid for any reviews in this post. Love, Me.)

I knew the moment the words came out of my mouth that I had tempted fate. I know better than to say something like, “Yeah, luckily we’ve never had to take any of our kids to the Emergency Room for anything.”

Smart, huh? Less than 24 hours later guess where I was? Yep, the Emergency Room.

Traveler spent the majority of our day projectile vomiting all over me and various rooms of the house. Then he fell asleep. And I couldn’t get him to wake up. At all. And that is when I freaked out. One call to our pediatrician and we were being sent down to Scottish Rite. It was the scariest drive of my life. Traveler wouldn’t stay awake. He continued to projectile vomit in his car seat. We’re talking more than 9 times in less than 2 hours. I can’t tell you the things that were going through my head.

But Scottish Rite is a magical place. Because even though he was throwing up in the waiting room (baby barf bags are heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time) the moment he was in the exam room surrounded by nurses he turned on the charm.

See what I mean?

Meanwhile the girls were in the waiting room with the entourage of family that met us there within seconds of our arrival. And while Traveler was getting a hefty dose of Zofran, they were busy modeling the latest fashions for avoiding the dreaded H1N1. (Kai was not amused.)

I am so thankful that what could have been a really bad scary trip to the ER was actually a mild introduction to the wild world of emergency medicine. Let’s just hope it’s not an experience we’ll have to repeat any time soon.

** Be warned. This is one of those picture-ful posts that come about because this blog also serves as my kid’s only documentation of their childhood. I lapse into virtual baby book mode every once in a while! **

This weekend we held Traveler’s baby dedication at our home. It was a really special & personal experience with family & some friends from our Bible study.

It was a day that reminded us how truly blessed we are to be surrounded by so many wonderful people in all areas of our life. I think one of the best gifts we can give our children is a rich community of people who love and pray for them. This day really illustrated the power of such community to us.

Thanks to our friend, Dewde, for taking pictures. (The first 6 are his. They also prove my husband’s point about buying a better camera.)

For more Wordless Wednesday from people who actually manage to keep it, you know, Wordless head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

I know I’ve only been the mom to a little boy for about 4 months or so. But in that short time I’ve managed to notice one glaring difference between Trav and my girls as babies.

You see, my son loves to be naked. Loves it. I’m not one of those moms who ever really let their kids run around naked. Not because I think it’s bad or anything, but I’ve always been too lazy to clean up whatever messes resulted in spending time diaper-free. Traveler, I’m afraid, is going to break that streak. ‘Cause the child is only happy naked.

Now, I’ve heard tales of boys who strip off their clothes at the most inopportune times (Chik-Fil-A playground? Enough said.) I hear it is a boy thing - this love of their, ahem, “natural” state of dress. But, I thought it was something that happened when boys turned 2 or so. Apparently, not so much.

By and large, Trav is an ideal baby. Aside from the desire to be in my arms or in a sling 24/7 he is easy to deal with. But he has his moments. And when he’s grouchy or crying or totally inconsolable I started doing what every mom does. I fed him to see if he was hungry. I rocked him to see if he was sleepy. I changed him to see if he was dirty. And that is when I discovered it.

Because the moment this child’s diaper comes off he’s quiet. And happy. He throws his little arms behind his head all Burt Reynold’s style and basks in his nakedness. Which is why nearly every day I end up stripping him down naked and letting him hang out in his crib for a while. It’s the only way to combat the middle of the day crankiness that he’s developed.

I’ve determined that this is one very important difference in boys and girls. Maybe one they never grow out of. Because when I told my husband about Traveler’s favorite state of (un)dress he said, “Of course he does. Being naked is awesome.”

And that, my friends, I just don’t get. Being naked is drafty. Being naked is inconvenient. Being naked is (at the wrong times) embarrassing. But, awesome? That is not a reality I am acquainted with.

I’m still a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing. After all, I’ve never had a baby that insisted on being au naturale. My girls never cared about being naked. Still don’t care for it really. This little guy, though, he thinks it’s the cat’s pajamas. And if it keeps him happy, quiet, & content I’ll indulge him.

Let’s just hope he outgrows it before…oh, you know, middle school. Though based on his father’s apparent (unbeknown to me) fondness for nakedness it looks like I may be in for years of this…

Because he always has to share picture posts with his sisters I thought I’d share one of just him. On his own.

Our little guy went to the doctor today for his 3 month check up. He’s growing like a weed. Though he’s still really teensy. He’s in the 25% for his height and weight, but that noggin of his is measuring a whopping 50%. But, it is such a cute noggin you don’t even notice that it’s bigger than the rest of him!

He’s a far cry from his older sister who always measured in the 90% (despite being 6 lbs. 6 oz. at birth) so it will be fun to see if he gets growth spurt that will let him stand a chance against his big sisters!

Dear God-

I’m not trying to tell you how to handle your business. I know you’ve got it covered.

But, I thought I’d mention something for you to consider. You know, in case you decide to do this whole creation/humanity thing again somewhere else.

I was thinking the other day that since it takes two people to make a baby, that maybe it should take two people to do other things for the baby. Like, you know, feed the baby.

I get that only one person can carry a baby in their body. And, to be honest, I’m pretty thrilled that I get to be the one to do it. And, even though I might complain sometimes, I really do love that I get to provide nourishment for this life that grew inside of me.

But, I’m worried for my husband. I think he’s feeling a bit left out. I can tell from the sounds of his snoring at 3 am that he is feeling like he’s missing out on something when I get to wake up every 3-4 hours to feed the baby. He’s pretending to enjoy the hours and hours and hours of deep satisfying sleep, but let’s get real. It’s a ruse. He wants to be a part of feeding the baby. And, I think he (and most men) would be much, much happier if they could also provide food and nourishment for their newborn child. Not to mention, they’d relish the opportunity to have deep personal knowledge of breast pads, nipple shields, and all the other accessories that accompany such endeavors.

I’m not quite sure exactly how this would work. I realize the current model might require some modifications. I’ll leave the details up to you. But, I just thought I’d mention it for any future projects you might have up your sleeve. After all, no one should be forced to sleep a deep and restful sleep all night every single night of the week. It’s just inhumane.

I’m pretty sure my husband would agree.

Yours Truly-

Jenna

Okay, we kept it (mostly) a secret for months. And while it wasn’t easy for me. It was even more difficult for Kai. (There were plenty of moments when she told people, “No matter what I can’t tell you Traveler’s name, okay?”)

And it was as hippy as we promised, right? When everyone kept saying “it can’t be as bad as Apple” I kept wondering if maybe they were going to take that back when they heard it. But, Traveler Oakes Kekoa Loving it is. And the more I look at this little boy the more it seems to fit.

So, where did it come from? And why on Earth did we choose that name?

Well, I should start by saying that none of our kids have “normal” names. That’s my fault, mostly. But once you start down the path of “different” names there is no going back for any of your kids.

One night when I was about 20 weeks pregnant, we were talking about names for the baby and Thomas said something about needing to find a good name for the little Traveler I was carrying. And something about the nickname struck us. It was a little Pilgrim’s Progress, I admit, but there was something about it that just seemed to work.

If you ask Thomas, his official answer about what the name means to him is a more spiritual meaning. Something along the lines of Sojourner. He is a traveler in this world on a path that leads him to someplace bigger.

If you ask me, my official answer is that…well, I thought it sounded cool and kind of poetic. Yeah, I’m deep like that.

His middle name, Oakes, came about out of a bit of accidental tradition. Kai is actually our oldest daughter’s middle name (her first name is Arema). And in Hawaiian, Kai means calm or gentle ocean. Ivy, obviously, has botanical origins. So, we had this nature theme going on in their names. And we thought we’d do the same with this baby. But, nature names for boys can be tricky. Particularly when you combine it with the hippy-tastic name Traveler. We wanted something strong and solid. Oakes was a character in a work of fiction Thomas has been working on and it really to fit the bill.

Finally, as a matter of Hawaiian tradition, all of our kids have a Hawaiian middle name. In the past, it has been a name chosen by Thomas’ mom and given to our children as a blessing. But, since Thomas’ mom was the only one in his immediate family who was actually Hawaiian and she passed away last year it was up to Thomas to take the job of picking the Hawaiian middle name for our son. And he chose Kekoa because it means “the brave one.” It seemed a fitting “blessing” to give our son. I love it.

So, while we had some people questioning our choice of names (you know who you are and we love you anyways) the more we considered it the more we absolutely loved the name.

Yes, it is different. And we’ve gotten many strange looks since he’s been born and we’ve told friends, relatives, and total strangers the name. But, it fits. It is him. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.