my boy...

just makes my heart smile....=)

 

On playing and teething the natural way...

I'm so sick of plastic baby toys, plastic teethers, plastic this, plastic that. Sometimes it seems our world is nothing but plastic! I'm done with plastic...who knows what kind of chemicals they use to make it, paint it, seal it coat it, what-have-you...I'm going back to basics here people. I'm all about natural toys that invoke the imagination. My new found appreciation for natural toys was inspired by the Waldorf concept, which I'm really getting into. I would love for Luca to go to a Waldorf school, but of course Indiana doesn't have any...California has, not only many private schools, but an array of PUBLIC charter schools that teach with a Waldorf concept...and we don't even have a private Waldorf school here in Indiana, even if I could pay $10,000 a year...Oh well, I can learn about the concept myself and try to apply a few of the basic principals at home...So, in the Waldorf tradition, here are some of the toys that are on my most wanted list for my little Luca bear...
One of the best sites for Waldorf toys is this store! Bella Luna Toys

In addition to Bella Luna, there are some great toys on Etsy too!

These blocks are great! From LittleSaplingToys


Stackable rainbow, from Imagination Kids and believe it or not, this company is based out of the Indianapolis area!


Play Clay, which is safe and so fun! From MamaK's....


A simple little sail boat to enjoy in the tub, in a pool, or if you're like me as a kid, in the gutter after a hard rain=) From Willowbaus....


Just because I'm a big fan of babywearing=) From Woodmouse...


Waldorf Doll from Bella Luna, The idea here is that the doll has no expression in order to let the child's imagination flourish! The doll is who the child wants it to be...I love that.

And last but certainly not least...



The cutest toy of all! I love this one...for obvious reasons...Luca will have this someday=) From LittleSaplingToys on ETSY...

Thoughts on coming full circle...

I have never appreciated my mom more than I do now...well, of course both my parents...Dad included, but there is just something about that motherly bond that you get the moment your child comes into the world...it's a true, you've come full circle moment...I finally felt some of the emotions that my mother must have been feeling all these years...and I get it now. I truly believe that you can never fully appreciate the love of your mother without having a child of your own. Maybe it's the unconditional love, maybe its the hopes and the dreams that you have for your child, maybe it's protection, the worry and maybe it's all of the above. I think having Luca has made me love my mother even more than before...if that's possible ...The bond between mother and baby is so strong and such an amazing thing. I enjoy every minute of it...the nursing, the crying, the laughing, the cuddling...I'm so grateful not only to be a mother, but to have a wonderful mother and finally, appreciate every once of her!

Day at the park...

Butler University has such amazing gardens. We had fun taking a few pictures back in August...and there are some of me! Alex is getting good with the camera so I can acutally have a few shots with my family too!

I'm just now catching up with all the photos I take. Luca turned 8mos yesterday! And guess what? I have more pictures from yesterday's little shoot at the art museum. Those will be coming soon. Blogging from the hospital yet again today, but glad to say that my mom is finally looking better. She'll be home sooner than later=)

Happy Fall!

Family Wedding in August...

Katie and Matt were married in August in Omaha and we had a really good time visiting with friends and family. Luca finally got an opportunity to meet his Great Grandma and Grandpa Core! I just LOVE that he has three Great Grandparents! Hopefully it won't be long until we can all spend more time with the whole family again.

Long time no talk...and Alex's birthday...

Hello,
I'm back...after a long few weeks...blogging from the hospital today, thank god they have wifi or else I would be going crazy! My mom's doing better, but still going to be here, in the hospital a while.

I've been working on the photo backlog since Luca and I have all this extra time keeping Mom company. Here are some photos from Alex's birthday in August. Kelli, Lyle, Bridgette, Justin and Amy came to celebrate on Saturday, and of course Luca's bff's Gavin and Wyatt were there in tow. We hungout, rain and all...it was a good time. Thanks guys, for coming to celebrate with us! And Kate and Zach, thanks for stopping by on Sunday! Why didn't I get my camera out on Sunday?