V.

How is it that something can go from this:

 to this:

in five years?

Today is not about me--at ALL--but it's incredible what happens when you become a mother, isn't it? I'm the same, but I'm different. Five years ago, everything changed. Everything. And for the better, too.

The world is a much better place because this kid is in it. He's going to be something--I don't know what, exactly, but he'll change something, someone in a big way. His spirit and his soul are too strong and unique to just blend in and be a wallflower. I can't wait to sit back and watch all that magic happen in the years to come. I'm so glad he picked us.

He named his new "best friend" unicorn "Penny the Wonderpony" and decided he needed to wear his Hot Wheels hat today because "that's what 5 year olds do." He asked for blue cake pops and ice cream for dinner, and that's precisely what's going to happen . Because when you're 5, the world is your oyster.

And for those who want to see the bunk bed train room reveal, here you go:


Right after I stopped recording, he shouted, "This is the best birthday, everrrrr!" I'm so, so proud of this boy.

Alex, thank you for making me a Mommy, for making me better. You are sweet and kind and you remind me and everyone around you that life is to be lived with joy, gratitude and humor. You're awesome, dude.

Happy birthday, my love!

Happiest of days to my one and only, my love. To the man who has the voodoo magic to make Harper poop, the zest for life to teach Alex the joy of the wet willy and the patience of Job to be married to me.

I love you a million billion zillion.We are so lucky you are ours!

Photo from Harper's baptism day, Dec. 22, 2013.

Works of art.

"This one is Mommy."

"This is Uncle Kyle on his tractor. His tractor is bigger than Poppi's."

"This is Poppi with his snowblower. I made him a chute and a handle!"

"I drew hearts for Grammi. She's my lovebug."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

And happy 2nd birthday to our dear, sweet Samuel! I can't believe you are TWO!

Hippo birdie two ewe.

Happy birthday to the love of my life--the best hubby and friend in my world. Alex thinks so, too.

There are perks to working with your hubby, too...

Happy birthday, my love!

#VW3040.

Although you never, ever need an excuse to have a kickass party, sometimes it's nice to have one. Take, for instance, the #VW3040--otherwise known as the most epic event of 2013.

On Saturday we gathered 40 of our dearest friends and family and had the BEST time celebrating our entrance into two very distinguished decades. There were drinks, foods, prizes, shenanigans and best of all...a dollar store "photo booth."

I think we'll do this again for the #VW4050 (OMG it lierally hurt me to type that) but I think we'll be in Mexico. On the beach. Wearing a sombrero. Drinking tequila. The sombrero and tequila will carry over from the #VW3040.

Happy birthday to the best Mom and Grammi in the WORLD!

We love you!!

Two is the bees knees.

Pardon me...but when did I blink? Because for sure at some point between April 15, 2009 and RIGHT THIS SECOND, I blacked out (most likely from a good bottle of tequila) and lost all sense of time. Today my baby turns TWO. And quite frankly, that's just simply not possible.

Because just yesterday, he was doing this:

And I'm pretty sure the day after that, he did this:

And the day after that, this:

And now, in what seems like just one day later, he looks like this:

I have loved and cherished and laughed through every nanosecond of his little life. He's a delight. A joy. A comedian. A snuggler. A monkey. And, at times, a handful. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love being a Mom. I love being his Mom. It doesn't get any better than this.

Happy birthday, my Son. You made me more than I ever thought I could be. You made me a Mom.

Cake Face.

Uhhhm, I have no idea what could possibly be better than a first birthday. You get to eat cake. Naked. And someone else has to clean you up. Behold:

Birthday boy!

Nakie time for cake.

That's my boy! Dove right in.

"Hey, Mom? This blue stuff? AWESOME!"

Love. Love. Love.

Job well done, kiddo!

We had Alex's party on Sunday at Dave & Buster's, which is basically Chuck E. Cheese's for grown-ups. He's the only mini in the family, so we figure we'll rock it big-kid style until he's old enough to pick something else. Highly recommended. Another bonus: I didn't have to clean my house, bake a cake, decorate or do any of the clean up. Some things are totally worth writing a check for.

Happy birthday, Mister. We love you, mess and all!

P.S. - Did you enter le giveaway yet?

Alex And The WIPpo.

Le sigh. I knew this day would come. No matter how hard I stamp my feet or how big of a tantrum I throw, time will continue to whiz past me in little, amazing moments. Rolling over. Sitting. Crawling. Pulling himself up. *poof* Almost walking. One month. Six months. Nine months. *poof* One year.

Today is an Easter Basket of emotions for me. I get all verklempt when I relive the last year in my head. To think about the things we've done, the places we've visited, the life that we've started...it just floors me. And to think that from here it will only grow and blossom and get more crazy and fabulous...well, that's just almost unfathomable. I am the Mom of a ONE year old. Note how I didn't say "years". That drives me absolutely bonkers, take note. Shelf for just a minute how OLD that makes me feel and think about it. He's not a baby anymore. Soon he'll be running around the back yard trying to catch Jake and squealing with delight over the fact that he can pee outdoors in the field at Grammi and Poppis house. Yes, this happens. I was raised in the middle of a corn field (literally), so nobody will get arrested, I promise.

Seriously, Kristi. Enough with the jibber jabber sap story. Get to the pictures!

Okay, okay...a special thank you goes to Aunt Kelli and Uncle David for the supa sweet banner. We can use it for all his birthdays, because it isn't customized for a specific year...so cool!

Laughing at Mr. WIPpo.

Laughing at Daddy.

"Hello old friend."

Silly boy.

Speaking of Daddy...guess who wins 'husband of the year'? Um, that would be Joe for getting me a COACH PURSE for Alex's birthday. Seriously, what husband does that?! MINE, thankyouverymuch. Should this trend continue, I just might think about becoming a family of four. I keed, I keed. Or do I?

It's Not Just A River In Egypt.

In exactly one week, my baby will be one year old. 364 1/4 days. Twelve months. Frighteningly close to seventh grade, driving and girlfriends.

One year ago today, this happened. And then this followed. And now, in what seems like the blink of an eye, I have an adorably mobile toddler who is sleeping in a crib on its lowest setting and prefers to eat meatballs and potatoes for dinner because he has eight teeth.

So on nights like Tuesday, when Alex had one of his very, very rare 3 a.m. whimper sessions (Really, kid...when your nose is stuffy it's very tricky to have your binky in and breathe at the same time. How else can I teach you that?) and all I want to do is roll over and get some much needed sleep, what I actually do is get up, pick up my baby boy and rock him in my arms for an hour. And smell him. And stroke his crazy, dark hair. And pat his chubby, diapered bottom. And sing to him. Because those times are fleeting, and soon he won't want me to snuggle him to sleep. He'll be playing his Nintendo DS in the backseat and will shrug his shoulders at me when I ask him what he learned in school that day.

And when that day comes, I will probably need a pitcher of margaritas for dinner just to get through.

Happy Birthday!

Happy XXth (<--on purpose) birthday to the love of my life. The Splenda in my Starbucks. The Reeses in my Peanut Butter Cup. The Pinot in my Grigio.

Love you, babe.

27 Is SO Much Closer To 30.

Let's open today's post by exposing the Fatty McFatterson Elephant in the room: I'm now officially on the other half of the half between 25 and 30. Ugh.

Ahhh, well. I'll live it up while I can. In the meantime, let's recap last night, shall we?

As much as it pains me to do so, I will admit right out loud that I was incredibly wrong in my prediction of last night's plans. I thought we were going to the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Detroit. 1) Because it's where Joe proposed 2 years and 364 days ago (well, technically it was in front of the waterfall in the Compuware building...but details, details); 2) Because we make it a point to go back every year and have dinner there on the anniversary of our engagement; and 3) Because the tree downtown is lit and the skating rink is open for bizz-nass so it's like a magical winter wonderland of JOY! Have I mentioned my intense love of Christmas lately?

Anyway, as I was saying...I was wr--. I was wro--. I was wron--. I WAS WRONG, DAMNIT! That doesn't happen often, just so we're all on the same page.

We went to Kruse and Muer in downtown Rochester (sweet baby Jesus their food is amazing) and took a little stroll up and down Main Street to check out the amazing lights. For those that aren't familiar with what Rochester does at Christmas time, you must see the below photo I snapped with my cell:

I knoooooooow, right? It's so, so, so, so awesome. Now imagine every single building for about 5 blocks (and up and down the side streets) with lights like that - literally from the sidewalk to the top of each store. It's breaktaking.

Today is a sad day...it's the first day of no BDBC. But...Christmas is right around the corner. Chin up, little bear.

BDBC - GRAND FINALE!

I adore my birthday. In fact, the only day that actually tops it is Christmas. And I'm relatively certain that if my birthday happened to fall exactly on December 25, the world would galactically implode into some alternate universe where up is down and black is white. It would blow. your. mind.

Day 7 has been fantabulous. My final card contained a sweet, sweet message and tickets to the Taylor Swift concert in March! I laughed and told Joe we will likely be the oldest people there, but you know as well as I that we'll be jamming and singing along with the 80 bazillion tweens in the audience like we're not a day over 14. I draw the line at waving my cell phone in the air, though.

I'm not sure what tonight holds. I know that I was explicitly instructed by Joey to make no plans and be out of work at 5 sharp. I have a leeeeeeeeeetle idea of what it might be, and if I'm right I'll let you know tomorrow. If I'm wrong, well...I'll never fess up to that.

Birthday Love.

Let it be known - I have the smartest kid and the greatest Mother-in-law on planet Earth, as demonstrated by this e-card:

Aaaaaaaaand You May Begin!

Urgent news update:

BIRTHDAY BOOTCAMP 2009 BEGINS TOMORROW!

For those just tuning in, BDBC is celebrated the world over the week prior to the birthday of yours truly. International holiday? You bet your sweet ascot it is.

Tomorrow marks the first day of December, thus kicking off the celebrations that will culminate on December 7...my actual day of birth.

Feel free to send flowers, gifts, e-cards, checks made payable to Kristi Van Wormer, etc. etc.

Ready, Set...CELEBRATE!!!

Happy Birthday To Me.

My birthday is fabulous in many, many ways. First and foremost, I celebrate Birthday Bootcamp, which extends the glorious celebrations to the weeks before and after the big event.

This year, 'twould appear that Miss Carrie Underwood herself is gifting me with what might be the greatest present, ever: a 2-hour variety show special.

On Dec. 7 (my real, actual birthday), Carrie will host Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, David Cook and others in her variety show, tentatively titled Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special. The buzz in the rag mags is that she will sing on her TV special – hits, holiday classics and numbers from her new CD – as well as perform in comedy skits.

Christmas, Carrie Underwood, music and comedy. Basically, I can't wait.

P.S. - Vote for Alex!

Happy 1 Week Birthday To Alex!

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Mr. Alex promptly at 6 p.m. to celebrate...and then he blew out the nipple on his bottle of breastmilk. (BTW - that adventure is going sort of well. He refuses to latch but I am a superpumper and am able to get almost 4 oz. every 2 hours. So, everyone wins.)

Click here for some new pics of our little man. Beware the link is from Facebook, so if you're on a server that blocks it *cough*atwork*cough*, you will have to wait until you're at home to peek.

Happy Birthday!

Today is baby brudder's birthday! Hard to believe my baby is all growed up...and he's gettin' married later this summer. No, seriously. When did I get old?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KYLE!

P.S. - Dear skinny Kristi, I miss you. Please come back soon.
Love, fat and pregnant Kristi

Birthday Bootcamp.

The first week of December might just be the best week of the year as far as I'm concerned. You see, I practice a little tradition I like to call "Birthday Bootcamp." This began when Joe and I were dating and consists of me getting lots of attention and gifts the week leading up to my birthday. (Shocking, I know.) He's survived 3 of them thus far...we shall see how he prevails in 2008.


In other birthday goodness news, I (still) LOVE COUPONS. The following are offers that I have received via e-mail or snail mail from some of my particularly favorite retailers. I am so thankful that they have also opted to share in the Bootcamp celebrations this year.

• FREE burger @ Red Robin
• $15 at Limited
• FREE medium drink at Caribou Coffee
• $10 at Victoria's Secret (more free prego undies!)
• FREE Blizzard at Dairy Queen
• 20% off at Hallmark
• FREE bubble bath at Sephora

And those are just the ones I've received so far. Who knows what will come between now and Sunday?!? Woot! Bring on the free stuff!

And speaking of bargains, I must also share some of the newest additions to baby WIP's nursery. We nabbed these at 30% off and used an extra $40 off coupon - so what should have cost us a total of $358 ended up being only $212. That's $146 for the college fund! (So glad there is a calculator at my desk...)

So, that about wraps up all the essential furniture for the nursery. The extra storage will be so, so good to have - and we're going to put different (cuter) pulls on the drawers to tie everything together. I'm so pleased with all the bargains we've nabbed. Now we just need to have carpeting put in (it's hardwood now...brrr on little toesies!) and figure out a "theme." We'll know more about that next Monday!!

The Adventures of WIP

Little WIP had quite the weekend! It started on Thursday night with a long overdue visit from Jamie and continued into Friday evening with quite the social gathering at the VeeDub household. We had about 20 or so people over to celebrate Halloween and Kelli's birthday, and it was probably the most excitement WIP has experienced in the last 3 or so months! Thanks to some unseasonably awesome weather, we had a fire in the backyard (or a "driveway" fire, as some city-slickers called it) had some of about.com's "famous chili," roasted some s'mores and ransacked the sweets the kiddos didn't take.

Sidebar: We had about 30 trick-or-treaters on Halloween. A few times, I put the bowl at their level and told the kids "you can pick one treat." And wouldn't you know, some of the little greedy monsters took HANDFULS! A note on my anticipated parenting style: when an adult tells WIP that (s)he can take one of something, you best believe that grubby little hand will be taking ONE candy from the bowl. I'm just sayin'...

Anyway, back to the adventures of the weekend. On Saturday morning, Joe, Kelli, Dave and I drove to Auburn to celebrate Kelli's birth with the fam: Mom, Dad, Kyle, Jill, G-ma T, G-pa N and Aunt Theresa. Mom made a deeee-licious dinner and some of her best ice cream cake, ever. (WIP's a BIG, BIG fan of the ice cream cake.) It's also worth mentioning that it took Kelli FOUR breaths to blow out all her candles.

Kelli opened presents and we just chilled for awhile...and then the adventure began. We hopped in the car and headed to a restaurant we were falsely led to believe was a mere hour away. 67,492 miles and 7 panic attacks later, we arrived at "The Bank" in Shanghai, er, Port Austin. I attempted to jump out the window of the Buick at least a half dozen times on the neverending journey and managed to keep the others in the car entertained with some Grammy-worthy renditions of the "Song That Never Ends." I honestly thought we would never, ever, ever, ever, ever arrive at our destination. But, we did. And I survived. Barely.

Sunday was a day of (much needed) rest and relaxation. We only ventured out into the great unknown for a mere 45 minutes - to buy a dining room table!

Woooot! One more room almost complete in the house, then onto WIP's nursery. Oy.

Remember to vote tomorrow! (And because I"m the queen of "free," don't forget that you can get a free doughnut at Krispy Kreme, a free tall coffee at Starbucks and a free cone at Ben and Jerry's just for showing your "I voted!" sticker. If that's not incentive, I don't know what is!!)