My Project 52: Completed

I forgot to tell you guys that I completed my project 52!

Last year I committed to taking a picture of Helen every week until her first birthday. It's wonderful to look back at the photos and see her change.

Here is a short video compiling all 52 of the photos. Enjoy!

)

December Photo-a-Day 2013: Days 24 + 25

My family had a Christmas Eve party for the family. Helen enjoyed playing with the cousins.

We spent Christmas Day with Reuben's family. The brunch was delicious: ham & egg cups, French toast, sausages, oranges, Rommegrot (made by yours truly), and orange juice.

Little Bella is already changing and getting a double chin. She has such nice hair (no fair).

The kids got minion hats (from Despicable Me). Helen got an evil minion hat - I thought it was quite fitting. ;) I'll have to get a picture of all of them wearing their hats.

December Photo-a-Day 2013: Days 21, 22 + 23

Day 21: I forgot to take a photo until dark, so Reuben offered to shine a flashlight on the trees outside our door. I really liked the eerie effect.

Day 22: My sister had her baby! Audra went into labor last Sunday, but it stalled. One week later, little Bella arrived safe and sound.

Day 23: Helen climbed into the corner cupboard, but couldn't get herself out again. It was hilarious. I'm such a bad mom. ;)

My Project 52 + Life Lately

I have decided to undertake a Project 52…of Helen! Here are the first 9 weeks of her life. It’s amazing how much she’s changed already! She’s gone from 6 lb 14 oz to around 12 pounds – that’s almost double her birth weight!

Here are some more random photos of our girly:

Out like a light on daddy’s chest.

Easter Sunday: cousin Susan was so excited to get to “hold” baby Helen.

She looks like a little angel…when she sleeps…

Two sleepy-heads.

Wearing her new booties, made by Grandma K!

Bath time!

Sneezing!

Life is finally starting to settle down into something more of a routine. Sort of.

Helen is much less cranky than she used to be, and is even starting to be able to go 2 hours between feedings. Huzzah! And she sleeps really well at night – she usually sleeps for a 4-5 hour stretch when she first goes down and only wakes up 1-2 more times in the night. But BOY is she squirmy when she wakes up – legs kicking and arms windmilling.

She’s found her fist – she loves to munch on it. And she’s just starting to bat her hands at interesting objects. It’s amazing how fast she’s learning new things.

Until next time!

2 Responses to My Project 52 + Life Lately

1. Judy 
   April 19th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
   Enjoy every moment, this time is so fleeting and precious.
2. Mary 
   April 22nd, 2013 at 9:30 pm
   Oh my goodness; she is adorable, and her facial expressions are priceless! And hilarious. Babies are so funny. I’m currently 6.5 months preggers with baby #5. And I still remember how terrifying and exhausting the first one was. You’re doing great! And you look fabulous, by the way. Enjoy…drink in that beautiful new baby smell.

One Month Update

Two weeks old.

Three weeks old.

One month old.

..

Our little girly is over a month old now.

You’re expecting me to say: “That sure went fast.”

Well, it didn’t. This has been the longest month of my life. But more on that in an upcoming post.

Helen is now over nine pounds and getting chubbier by the day. I think she’s finally getting over the eat-all-day stage. Now I jinxed it. ;)

Watch the short film below for a glimpse at our life the past few months.

{If the video won’t load, you can watch it on YouTube HERE }

..

And one more to show you what we’ve been dealing with. ;)

12 Responses to One Month Update

1. Diana 
   March 18th, 2013 at 11:18 pm
   Your daughter is adorable. Are you healed all recovered from the birth?
2. Rebecca Lately 
   March 19th, 2013 at 7:38 am
   She’s so adorable! I love the video you made, Erica. I hope all is going well!
3. Elizabeth 
   March 19th, 2013 at 8:19 am
   Lovely.
4. Kathryn Grace 
   March 19th, 2013 at 8:45 am
   She is soooo cute!!! Spit up and all. ;-)
5. Sam 
   March 19th, 2013 at 9:22 am
   Congratulations! i just had my little one 3weeks ago and we’re battling spitting up/vomiting. Here’s to hoping that they keep it all down :)
6. Missy 
   March 19th, 2013 at 10:53 am
   What a cutie!!
   I felt the same way during the newborn phase. I was literally counting down the days for each month to pass. It did NOT go by fast for me either, but at some point things got easier and time DID start to slip through my fingers. My little one just turned one last week which is nuts.
7. Cinnamon 
   March 19th, 2013 at 11:06 pm
   Your sweet lil’ Helen is beautiful. Newborns are such wonderful little angels aren’t they!
   Your birth story sounds a bit like my most recent baby. She was born Feb 10th and was by far the longest birth I’ve ever had. Not to mention my hardest. Then after she was born we dealt with food allergies. She is two now and much better on a gluten/dairy free diet. She’s never eaten cheerios or had a grilled cheese sandwich.
   When she was a newborn she spit up everything the first week (before we figured out about her food allergies) from the dairy I was eating. Then the gluten made her wide awake, cranky and restless. Those were long hard days.
   I can’t recall how I found you. I think I was looking at some food recipes for french onion soup. Lots of yummy recipes :-)
   You have a beautiful family.
   Blessings~ Cinnamon
8. Begoña 
   March 20th, 2013 at 6:13 am
   The first month is really hard. They wanna eat all the time, cry a lot, want to be held most of the time, you are recovering from labour, you are exhausted and crancky most of the time, you dont know how to take care or love the baby… I remembered feeling really bad about myself and thinking ‘what the hell have we done? This is really really hard’, but I promise it gets better and better everyday. My little girl is almost three months and while at first she cried a lot and wouldnt sleep at all, right now, she’s a delight to be with. She has a routine now, she wants to eat every three or four hours, she’s a really good sleeper, she’s really funny and I love her to pieces. They need time to aclimate and so you do. I guess no new mom would admit it, that the first weeks together are not what you thought they would be and that sometimes you feel really sorry for yourself cause it sounds terrible but thats the way it is. Just give yourself some time and you see her blooming.
9. bekahjo 
   March 21st, 2013 at 8:25 pm
   Erica… I know how hard these early months are. With sleepless nights, spit-up filled days, and wondering if your body is ever going to return to normal. (btw, LOVE the spit up picture. I always look at baby pictures and wonder why other people’s children look so perfect. :) It gets better. They start laughing, and smiling, and hugging you. I just had a baby 3 mos. ago. And she’s finally starting to sleep through the night! But things have been rough with a 1.5 yr old, and a new baby. My husband has loved me through all the crazy days. It really does get better. Don’t compare to other people’s children, especially on the sleeping front, it’ll just drive you crazy and make you feel like you’re doing something wrong.
   Just know that you are being the best mommy that you can be to that little baby. And that even if she doesn’t appreciate it now, someday, she will.
10. Emily 
    March 22nd, 2013 at 1:20 pm
    Oh, friend. It is so hard. So wonderful and so so hard. Your sweet baby is beautiful. I can’t wait to hear more, and I’m sending prayers and happy thoughts your way.
11. Diane 
    March 22nd, 2013 at 8:36 pm
    Erica, are you healthy now? I know you’re exhausted and sometimes that can mask other problems. I hope the only problems are you healing and Helen getting used to her new world.
    Reuben looks like he is very helpful and you have a lot of family nearby. Get as much rest as you can and you will barely remember these first days in another three months.
12. Samantha 
    March 23rd, 2013 at 9:29 am
    Helen is just a little angel! It’s seems like it’s been so long since we’ve had a baby in the house (2 years really, but it sure seems like 10!) that I’ve forgotten just how small they really are! The video is darling and sure to be a treasure in your family for years to come!

Helen Adelaide | Birth Announcement + 1 Week Update

Helen Adelaide

Born: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 12:03 PM

Weight: 6 pounds 14 ounces |  Height: 20.5 inches

Whew. I gave birth.

I think I’m safe in saying that it was the most painful, exhausting experience of my life so far.

But it was so worth it.

This little girly is already growing & acquiring a double chin. It’s so wonderful to see her get stronger every day.

I can’t put into words how much I love her. She is so precious to me.

And that’s all I can write for now with this little dolly sleeping on my chest.

48 Responses to Helen Adelaide | Birth Announcement + 1 Week Update

1. Flavia 
   February 21st, 2013 at 7:20 pm
   Congratulations and blessings, Erica! She is so beautiful and how fantastic and thoughtful that you took the time to publish this blog post to share Helen with all of us. I hope you are getting as much rest as possible. I can’t wait to see pictures of little Helen as she continues to grow and thrive. Hugs to all of you!
2. Linda J 
   February 21st, 2013 at 8:01 pm
   Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl. Our daughter-in-law’s due date was 3 days after yours…………we are still waiting!! Enjoy your beautiful baby!
3. Claire L 
   February 21st, 2013 at 8:57 pm
   Congratulations! She is so awake and inquisitive-looking for being a week old. I love her name! Is there a story behind it?
   I enjoy following both your cooking and portraits of life on both of your websites. Can’t wait to watch Helen grow and appear with you in future posts.
4. Emily 
   February 21st, 2013 at 9:02 pm
   Oh, congratulations friend! She is absolutely beautiful. There is something special about baby girls. (Granted, now that I’ve had one of each, I can say there’s something special about baby boys, too). She is perfect! I’m so happy for you and can’t wait to hear and see more. Well done!
5. Sara 
   February 21st, 2013 at 9:05 pm
   Congratulations! What a sweet little peanut. :)
6. Kate 
   February 21st, 2013 at 9:32 pm
   Congratulations, Erica!! She is adorable, and what a beautiful name!
7. Sveta D. 
   February 21st, 2013 at 9:35 pm
   What a doll! She is so cute! I was able to attend a birth a few weeks ago, and it was incredible! It amazes me how much work you mama’s go through for the little ones. :) But it’s worth it. Be blessed! (I do believe this is my first ever comment…but hey, we stalkers have to come out sometime. haha!)
8. Kathryn Grace 
   February 21st, 2013 at 9:52 pm
   Ooooh, she is SO beautiful! So, so precious. I love her name! Can’t wait to see more pictures as she grows. Judging by these pictures she is going to be a beauty. :-) Congratulations!
9. vicki helgeson 
   February 21st, 2013 at 10:00 pm
   Erica, You don’t know me, but I follow your blog. It is just wonderful and a blessing to read. Congratulations to you and your husband on the birth of your precious daughter! Blessings, Vicki
10. Samantha 
    February 21st, 2013 at 10:14 pm
    Ohhh!! She’s beautiful!!! Congratulations, Erica!
11. Ayla 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 12:52 am
    Congratulations! She is so beautiful. Love the name, too :)
12. Begoña 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 4:30 am
    Congratulations! She’s is really beautiful and yes, giving birth is… I cant put it into words. The most amazing experience i have ever had, i felt like a lioness! Strong, powerful. If we did that, we can do anything!!
13. Josefin 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 5:56 am
    Congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and I’m excited for you all the way from Sweden. God bless!
14. Martina 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 7:57 am
    Congratulations to both of you :-) she is beuatiful.
15. Jude 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 8:14 am
    Yay! I was so happy to see that beautiful little face when I clicked on your blog. I’ve been checking in each day, waiting with bated breath. Glad everything is well. Xx
16. jill 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 8:55 am
    What an adorable child. God’s blessings on the new addition to your family. She is so precious. I’m anxious to hear how you and Reuben decided on her name. Congratulations to you all!
17. Megan 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 9:50 am
    Oh my goodness she is SO ADORABLE!! Congrats! :)
18. Elizabeth 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 10:00 am
    I’m so thrilled for you! What a precious blessing. Enjoy every moment with the little one.
19. Hannah 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 10:22 am
    Oh, sweet gorgeous baby! Congratulations! Rest up and enjoy that snuggly newborn!
20. Sereina Charise 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 11:31 am
    Aww, how sweet! She has such a beautiful name. Congrats!
21. Dee 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 11:39 am
    Erica,
    I’ve never commented before but I have followed this blog and your cooking blog for quite some time. Congratulations on the birth of Helen! She is beautiful! Enjoy this time….they grow up all too fast. God bless!
22. Lauri 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 12:55 pm
    Congratulations to both of you… Helen is a cutie!
23. Barbara 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 3:04 pm
    Congratulations Erica! She’s a little doll. Love her name!!
24. Shelly 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 3:26 pm
    I’ve been checking in on you to see if you had your baby. She is adorable! Congrats!
25. Diane 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 5:45 pm
    Congratulations, Erica and Reuben! Welcome to the world, Helen!
    She is beautiful and has a strong lovely name. Blessings to you all!
26. Debbie Z. 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 7:24 pm
    What a beautiful little girl! I have been checking your website regularly, hoping to get a glimpse of the new baby…I am so glad she is here and the two of you are doing well. What a gift from God. You will take so many beautiful photos of her. She is lucky to have a photographer mommy. Best wishes to you and your husband as you embark on the journey of parenthood and all the joys it brings.
27. Dancing Fingers Singing Keypad 
    February 22nd, 2013 at 8:31 pm
    Have been a silent admirer of this blog and your cooking blog.
    Heartiest congratulations to you and your husband! Your daughter is gorgeous and so very cute!
28. Kristina 
    February 23rd, 2013 at 1:18 am
    She is absolutely, there-are-no-words adorable!!! So, so precious. Enjoy every moment. Congratulations! And thanks for letting us know. :)
29. Laura 
    February 23rd, 2013 at 2:54 am
    I’ve been following your blog for a while now and just wanted to say congratulations! I just repinned that second picture on Pinterest this morning but didn’t look at where it came from – so only just now found out that it was in fact your baby! She is absolutely gorgeous :)
30. Diane 
    February 24th, 2013 at 11:32 am
    Oh congratulations to you all! Such a lovely family. Thank you for sharing such adorable photos.
31. Debbie 
    February 24th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
    I have never commented here before, but I follow your cooking blog and use several of your recipes regularly. I checked over here to see if your baby had been born. I have to tell you congratulations and that she is honestly very, very adorable. I know you will enjoy these special days. Newborns are exhausting and the lack of sleep for parents is taxing, but the dawning of that special new love is the most amazing thing ever. I love snuggling a newborn and was happy to sit for hours with each of my three when they were tiny. Each time I had a baby I thought it would be my last so I cherished each moment of holding them. So many of the other duties of life can wait. Babies are tiny for such a short time. Happy snuggling!
32. Abbie 
    February 24th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
    Congratulations Erica and Reuben!
    What a beautiful little girl and I’m so happy that all went well!
    God’s blessing on you all!
    Abbie
33. gift4gab 
    February 24th, 2013 at 10:39 pm
    Congratulations! She is beautiful. I am so happy for your family.
34. JMN 
    February 25th, 2013 at 7:41 am
    I’m another reader who uses your recipes regularly (in fact my husband is making your meatballs for my birthday right this minute!) and I too wanted to add my congratulations on your beautiful little girl. And, yes, I fully agree with your assessment of giving birth – I have not forgotten the pain or the wonder and it has now been ten months since my little boy was born. In any case, many congratulations and thank you for the many recipes we’ve enjoyed from your blog over the years. All the best for these first weeks!
35. Menaka 
    February 25th, 2013 at 12:56 pm
    First time leaving a comment here.
    Congrats! She looks adorable, isn’t she? And that hat in the first picture, is it the turban style hat?
    I am due on April 12th; my 4th baby and I have 3 little ones at home. My first son turns 4 on the 3rd of April so we will for sure have a big celebration:)
    I loooove reading about people’s pregnancy (yeah yeah I am nosy) so I have been following your pregnancy update for a while.
    God bless you and enjoy your bundle of joy.
36. Rebecca 
    February 26th, 2013 at 6:01 am
    She’s beautiful! Congratulations and blessings. She’s looks like her Dad, hey?
37. Vanessa 
    February 26th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
    Oh my goodness, she is so beautiful! :) I love that second to last picture. ;) She is precious- congratulations!
38. Abigail 
    February 26th, 2013 at 7:40 pm
    Your baby is so beautiful!!!! :D How do you like being a mother? :)
39. Manu Grice 
    February 28th, 2013 at 11:06 am
    Warmest congratulations on the arrival of your gorgeous baby girl! I love reading your blogs and your rice pudding recipe has become a family favourite. Enjoy this precious time with your beautiful daughter!
40. Jelli 
    February 28th, 2013 at 10:54 pm
    Congratulations! You both made it through birth well, it seems. I’m so happy that you’ve got a healthy gorgeous little blessing girl to enjoy now. Yep, I agree that birth was pretty intense–more than I’d expected to be sure, but 110% worth it. God knows what he’s doing, and being a mama is beyond words incredible. Enjoy this new phase with Helen and Reuben. (Isn’t it great watching your husband in “daddy”mode?)
41. Moriah Mari 
    March 1st, 2013 at 11:25 am
    Oh, congratulations!! She’s precious! I am so happy for you and your husband.
    ~ Moriah
42. Madeleine 
    March 2nd, 2013 at 12:54 pm
    Hello, Erica. I just discovered your blog a little while ago, and have been so enjoying it! I am fifteen, and delight in so many of the same things! The Lord bless you and your darling little one. She is very sweet. I will continue to read your blog, because it’s so inspiring. My Mama said,”That will be you in a few years!” :)
43. Melanie 
    March 2nd, 2013 at 5:16 pm
    Congratulations! She is a beauty. Enjoy every moment. My baby is just over a year now, and on the one hand, the time has flown right by; on the other hand, it has crept by with so many precious, sweet moments. :)
44. Lauren @ Beautiful Fight 
    March 3rd, 2013 at 10:56 am
    Awww! She shares my birthday! :)
45. sarah marie 
    March 5th, 2013 at 10:25 pm
    Congratulations! What a beautiful girl with a beautiful name!
46. Cait 
    March 7th, 2013 at 8:05 pm
    Congratulations and blessings to you, Reuben, and baby Helen Adelaide. She is beautiful. Well done mama! My baby just turned one and I love to look back on her birth. What an incredible gift and experience, however painful and hard.
47. DessertForTwo 
    March 9th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
    Congrats, Erica! She’s beautiful! And what a sweet name :) Many congrats to you & Reuben :)
48. Sarah K. 
    March 15th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
    Aw,goodness. She is so perfect. I saw the first picture pop up around Pinterest, and I didn’t even realize she was yours!

My Year in Photos 2012 Part 1

And so 2012 has come and gone. It all seems a bit of a blur in my mind. Every year I’m so glad that I took the time to document little parts of our days with photographs. They help me to remember moments that would otherwise be completely lost.

Here are some of my favorites from 2012:

January

New haircut! That was the shortest I’d had it for quite a while. It was fun for a change, but I’m growing it back out now.

We took several ski trips. This is Reuben, being awesome. The norm.

You can watch a short video of us skiing here and here.

February

I hosted a tea party at our house. So. much. pretty. hair.

Since our uncle was traveling to Indonesia, we decided to have a Rijstaffel (Rice Table) for him, a traditional Dutch/Indonesia feast.

Grandpa’s lilies. Frosty tree. Handsome husband. My Valentines Day orchids. American flag. Pretty sister.

Various captures.

March

I can’t believe how much younger Reuben looks without his “affectation” (what we call his beard).

We did some rustic camping. You can see more photos and read the story here.

I did a mini session for my pretty sister, Amanda.

My adorable niece and nephew, Judah & Elinor.

New skirt.

April

Snow in April!

First sign that spring is truly here: the hepaticas, or Mayflowers as we used to call them.

With the warmer weather comes volleyball!

May

I love fixing little Elinor’s hair.

New addition to the family: baby Susan. Watch a film and read more about it here.

I got very sick. Kind of a scary time of my life.

Springtime. See more photos and a short film here.

My kitchen garden. See more photos here.

June

Corn coming up.

Enjoying the warm weather by traipsing around the yard barefoot.

For our first anniversary we took a trip to the cities. I got to try out some new lenses and settled on a 28mm.

For supper one night we ate at Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza. It was delicious and different from anything you can get at a chain, but the service was (much) less than spectacular.

Tuesday, June 19: I learned that I was pregnant!

STAY TUNED FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR…

4 Responses to My Year in Photos 2012 Part 1

1. Caitlyn 
   January 1st, 2013 at 2:07 pm
   Gorgeous pictures, Erica!
2. Elizabeth 
   January 2nd, 2013 at 12:16 pm
   I have been in love with your blog since I found it a couple years ago. What a lovely life you have. Thank you for sharing. Happy New Year. Feel Good!!!!!
3. Kathryn Grace 
   January 5th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
   I really enjoy your captures of your everyday life! Those purple flowers are just too pretty… I remember you posting that picture the first time.
4. Abbie 
   January 7th, 2013 at 5:18 am
   So lovely to see these glimpses of your year – look forward to seeing the rest of them too! :)