Hudson turns three next week! Can you believe it?! Excuse me if I get nostalgic around here come next Thursday. We’re celebrating this Sunday with a little party for him. I’m so excited. I keep asking him what he wants on his cake and the answer is different every day. Chocolate, most commonly. But also: “Red.” “And white and blue and lots of cakes.” “Animals, like a skunk and butterfly.” “Nummy one.” “With a stop sign.” (Me: “A stop sign?”) “Yes, a tiny one.”
Full of surprises. Like… (fancy transition here): getting up on a bike last week!! We gave him his present early because a screw came loose on his balance bike—so we thought, why not?! It was awesome. He was up in maybe 30 minutes! I couldn’t believe it. (And yet I could because we always remark that one of Hudson’s skills is motion. Constant motion.)
But it really is stirring to watch them take off—and to have to let go! You’re holding on and telling yourself… “Okay, let go. Okay, let go.” And your hands have to cooperate, but it’s really hard! Oh… full of so many life metaphors, that bike-riding thing.
I’m certain that Hudson was up and pedaling so fast thanks to his Balance Bike. Follow the link for more on that, and an interesting article about balance bikes versus training wheels.
Also, on the subject of biking: Raluca put (figurative) pen-to-paper much more keenly in this post about watching her daughter learn to ride a bike.
Love this wonderful round-up of shared kids’ rooms. Do your kids share a room?
Uncharacteristically, there are two giveaways on the site right now: Win a Cuisinart baby food maker (find a recipe from here and leave a comment on this post). And win this necklace (directions on Instagram).
Finally, next week I’m sharing a collaboration with Target—hope you’ll follow along!
I love the look of a fun necklace with a simple summer tank or tee. It’s a way to layer without raising the temperature! And they pack more easily than a change of clothes.
Here are some to toss in your suitcase…
The one that I’m wearing up top (number 6) is one of eight exclusive summer necklaces created by BRIKA makers that was sent to me to try. If you’d like one, too, good news: They’re offering the same one as a giveaway on Instagram—check the details @AshleyMuirBruhn.
P.S. BRIKA has been a favorite shop of mine since they opened. I wrote about them here, and routinely check the site for good gifts (and baby announcements).
Have you seen JCrew‘s catalogue set in India? I recognized the setting immediately as Udaipur—our first stop in Rajasthan when we visited a few years ago.
The entire state of Rajasthan was such an explosion of color; it was incredible. I think my favorite city from our brief tour was, however, Jodhpur—or “the blue city.” I wrote extensively about our visit in Part two of our India Travelogue, but a highlight was ascending to Meherangarh Fort. Incredible in its own right (ramparts of the fort extend from a massive sandstone outcropping and are themselves made of finely carved sandstone), the Fort also afforded us beautiful views of the indigo-hued homes below (apparently painted so because indigo was thought to protect the buildings from insects and help with cooling, and caught on after the Brahmin caste used the color).
At sunset, the dwellings truly glowed and the cool air filled with birds and the sounds of prayer from the temples.
It was just one of the highlights from this vibrant and generous city.
