Charlotte has had the craziest, all-across-the-board weather days lately. Chances of snow, followed by mid-60s, followed by rainy days (which I love).

So we’ve been having all kinds of fun, indoor dance parties!

And new discoveries in dress up.

Ali shared with me a super simple chicken noodle recipe that I’ve been making each week. Gabrielle loves it – and it’s a great way to use up leftover chicken.

Lots of crafts, and paints, and glitter, and crayons.

And some tasty little banana chocolate chip muffins. A great use for overripe bananas. (I’m really working with the “use up the food you bought” theme!)

Gabrielle’s playschool had a pajama-day Valentine’s party.

So I made little tags to tie onto the don’t-bring-candy crayon-filled tins.

Jeffrey celebrated his birthday last week. We had a family lunch celebration and went to the Charlotte Bobcats game. Driving in the car that day, Jeffrey said to me, “I’ve changed my mind.” “What do you mean?” I said. “I’ve decided to start liking my birthdays.” I could see the wheels turning in his mind, and when we got back to the house, he wrote this column.

I journaled some thoughts on Jeffrey’s birthday this year – thinking about what to get him as a gift…

When you have experienced so much of the amazing with another person – including bringing life into the world together – you realize there really is no material possession that could match or succeed the bond of that friendship.

Jeffrey, you are the gift, and you’re sharing your gifts with the world.
You are a gift to me.
And to Gabrielle.
And to your girls.
And to all the world that has been inspired by your words and thoughts.

These Tory Burch gowns are making me smile today.

Instagram has been the coolest life addition for documenting moments and also for following the lives of some of my favorite people via the “feed.”

Miss taking my outfit of the day pictures!   A delicious cream puff from Amelie’s.   Gabrielle’s favorite book Marcel the Shell.   An ice cream treat at Ghiradelli.   Gabrielle back in swimming lessons. We’re loving the new venue.   Reclaimed wood used for our new dining table.   Blow dried straight. Happy.   The “Gitomer” roll at Nikko. Jeffrey’s special creation.   Gabrielle happily wearing her scarf.   My happy moment at the end of the day is when my face is super clean and I slather Olio Lusso all over my face.  A mama/G moment on South Beach.   School’s out!   Gabrielle’s outfit of the day.   After school snack with mama.   Gabrielle checking out the fish tank.   The sweet little 12 necklace Jeffrey gave me. We met on the 12th of April, and this year we’re celebrating the 12th every month!   This was the first thing Gabrielle wanted to do when we hit the beach.   Love how this chocolate chip cookie recipe turned out.   Side sweep of the bangs. Never disappoints.   My favorite Gabrielle shoes finally fit her! So business chic.   Love this bond.   Gabrielle and Frances in raincoats.   On a walk.   Curls!   My favorite carrot juice. No other brand compares.   Gabrielle at papa’s seminar in Greenville.   Family moment. Mama and papa on couch with computers – Gabrielle using her tools.   Turkey, lettuce, and swiss on wheat with half sours on the side.   Love this carpet design at W South Beach.   Gabrielle ready to hit the pool.   Self-portrait on the sand.   Gabrielle discovering the treasures her Grandparents found on Lighthouse Beach and sent.   Yay 2012!   Mini Oreo Blizzard. Guilty pleasure.   I love my Cambridge Satchel.   Sleeping in-flight. Best use of time on the plane.   Gabrielle’s favorite meal at Phat Burrito.   The best $20 vintage purchase I’ve made. Thank you, Sleepy Poet.   Ready for bedtime.   These stars are stamped at every street crossing of the light rail behind our building.   We are always on the lookout for “surprises.”   My favorite yogurt.

A warm (fuzzy) little reminder to all.

This is you at two.

When you wake up in the morning, KA-POW! You expect all other members of the house to jump from bed and get moving. I love it. I love that zest for life. You’re fully toilet trained. It happened quite naturally. And now you’re pretty happy to no longer wear PullUps. You talk so sweet to your little baby dolls. “It’s okay, baby. I’m right here with you.” “You are so pretty, baby.” “Are you hungry, baby?” We love when you randomly repeat things that you’ve heard your mama and papa say. When papa tucked you in one night and got up to leave the room, you said “I’ll buzz you later.” At dinner last night, music was playing in the restaurant and you started dancing. I looked at you and smiled. You said, “I’m jamming out.” You have this incredible sense of humor that is the perfect blend of your mama’s and papa’s. “That’s all the chicken we have, Gabrielle.” “Mama, I’ve got an idea. You should get more chicken.” You like to walk around in mama and papa’s shoes. You’re a frequent flier for sure. You’ve been coast to coast and over the pond and you love to travel as much as your mama and papa do. As long as you’ve got tasty snacks, a movie or two to watch, and a couple cool trinkets to check out – the length of the flight doesn’t matter. In your moments of uncertainty (aka attitude), we sit together in the Happy Chair and talk about how you have personal power over your own attitude and that when you’re ready to be happy, we’ll hug and return to the world. You get it. I love that. You spend half a day, two days a week, at a delightful playschool where you’ve made friends and learned about castles and spaceships and how to play in a world outside your own. You like chicken and steak and avocado and turkey and bacon and yogurt drinks and olives and goldfish crackers and pickles and popcorn and apples and chips and salsa and water. If we ask you what restaurant you want to eat at, you pick Phat Burrito every time. It’s the only place you’ll eat cheese at.  You’re demure with strangers, but (typically) acclimate quickly and open up to show your personality. Your favorite song is Karmin’s cover of Just a Kiss. You ask for it in the car and sing it like you mean it. And if it’s just before bedtime, you wanna dance to Party Rock. You have a recent preference for shirts that button all the way up because you don’t love shirts going over your head. You so love closeness. Hugs and kisses and tickles and jumping on papa and carry me and hold hands and “Mama, I want to snuggle with you.” Your movies of choice are Tangled and Ratatouille. Your favorite thing to do on my phone is look at the pictures we’ve taken and watch little video vignettes of all the life moments we have captured on film. I believe it’s cultivating a wonderful memory within your mind of the incredible journey you’ve been on in this precious life of yours.

You at two has been the most incredible and inspiring thing to witness.

Chanel’s Glowing Blush Harmony. So pretty.   Love Oscar de la Renta’s Spring 2012 strappy shoes.   Happy Mama&G time in Charlotte.   Crazy Fair Isle leggings on a cold day.   I’m so excited to be doing Ali’s suggested Project Life. And at the same time I’m loving Instagram. The result is the sweetest little prints from PostalPix into the 4×4 sheet protectors. Super easy. Forever memories.   Butterfly art at my favorite store in Charlotte.   I’m still loving the glasses look.   Simple place setting at The Dutch for our New Year’s Day breakfast in Miami.   Gabrielle’s bento lunch in a PlanetBox. Thanks Martha for passing on the message that “people think that food arranged neatly on a plate tastes better.”   Fifi Lapin artwork on the door of Gabrielle’s closet.   The curls are growing.   So love that we found a cheese steak place in Charlotte that Jeffrey craves. Thanks Clover Joe’s!   Brilliant blue sky in the wintertime.   Breakfast Rose mimosa at Balans in Miami. A happy way to start the day!   We’ve been spinning records up in here! Thanks Erin for the record player recommendation.   Yep, I am!   Fun, sexy shoes on a Tuesday for school drop off. Do it!   Sprinkles make me smile.   Red booties for a little fashion flare.   Dressed up fun for concert time!

I laughed when I saw Gabrielle make this face in the mirror. It somehow looked familiar!

My current stack of must reads keeps getting taller and taller. I’m hoping to find time to get through all of these at some point in the near future. Most have come as a recommendation from a friend – so that makes their completion that much more important!

Poke the Box by Seth Godin.  The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. (Thanks Victoria and Scott.)  The Price of Privilege by Dr. Madeline Levine (Thanks Gabrielle’s play school.)  Momma Zen by Karen Miller. (Thanks Ali!)  The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. (Thanks Britt and Alexa.)  Where You Left Me by Jennifer Gardner Trulson. (Thanks Elle.)  365 Manners Kids Should Know by Sheryl Eberly.  Aperture 3 by Dion Scoppettuolo.  They Are What You Feed Them by Dr. Alex Richardson. (Thanks Ramsay.)  Capitate Your Kids by Dr. John Whitcomb. (Thanks Joe!)

After 32 years of ringing in the New Year in a cool climate, I’ve now experienced the opposite – and plan to continue! It felt so good to put on some SPF and feel the sun’s rays against bare skin as I took time to reflect on all the wonderful blessings brought about in 2011.

This year’s locale was South Beach, Florida, and the weather couldn’t have been better.

Jeffrey and Gabrielle had lots of beach bonding time. We also took walks along Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road – and had a chance to spend time with Jeffrey’s daughter and granddaughter who live in Florida.

Being in the presence of this little one brings so much joy to our life.

New Year’s kisses!

Gabrielle loved all the beach time – she calls it “the sandbox.”

I’m excited for all that’s ahead in 2012 – and walking into it with an open mind and much hope!