Wedding Cake Entirely Made of Fruit

This has been an insane few weeks, but as of Saturday evening my baby sister is married!

The wedding was stunning and genuine and full of love.  My mom and I made all the food (for 120 guests!) and we worked our butts off, but it was so worth it and came out so well.  We had many willing helpers - my sister and her new husband have a wonderful, sweet group of friends - and even with some last minute snafus it all came together beautifully.

The bride and groom during their first dance.  Isn't my sister gorgeous?

But I do have to say that of everything we made I was the most proud of the cake.  My sister has multiple food allergies that include (among many other things) most grains and sugar. So Mom and I created - using her cutting skills and my design - a wedding cake entirely made out of fresh fruit.
 

The Aiken Wedding "Cake"!

 
A cake the bride could actually eat! The base is 4 watermelons shaped very carefully. (Two on the bottom layer and one on each other layer.)  It is covered in blueberries, pineapple rings, and strawberries and topped with a pile of raspberries. We surrounded it with a bed of grapes.  I had a picture in my head as soon as they announced their engagement and it happily came out just as I envisioned.  It was a labor of love and my sister is so worth it!

All in all, it was a wonderful day and I know their marriage will be even better.  Congratulations you two!  

The Block Stage

And Declan has discovered blocks!

Specifically, knocking them over!  Luckily he is so cute with his "Boom!" and laughter that his sister has been obliging him by building towers for him to knock over.  Such a good big sister.

Declan is a Stinker

I think Declan's goal right now is to only walk when Mommy (and Daddy) aren't looking. Little punk.  Seriously, he only does it when we are in other rooms and sits down immediately if we walk into the room.  

Walking! Sorta ....

Declan took his first steps!  Then he was laughing too hard to do it again!  Now he's being all stubborn and crawling. And Daddy had just pulled down the driveway and just missed it by about 3 minutes. He's very disappointed.

Reading Time

I can't tell you how happy this picture makes me.

This has been a common view this summer.

Claire has been a "struggling reader" for the last few years.  She has always loved books - but looking at booksm not actually reading them.  I am a voracious reader and always have been, so this has been difficult for me, but somehow this summer everything clicked.  I am finding her in her bed reading by flashlight when I go to bed and she is snatching moments when she can to dive into her books.  She went from barely reading a few month ago to chapter books that she is eagerly giving me a synopsis of multiple times a day.  Even with her busy play and chore schedule she is reading at least 5 chapters a day.  Today she told me that she she can't believe how easy it is for her to read inside her head.  She still struggles at reading out loud.  I think she's a little too much like me in that department.  I read too fast and my mouth can't keep up and it confuses me.  She tells me everything that happens in the books (trust me EVERYTHING) so I know she is getting them.  It makes me so happy to see my little bookworm deep inside a book.  

Declan's Independence Day

Declan crawled to a toy this morning! There was much rejoicing and excitement from his siblings. I think that was better to him then actually getting the toy.  He was able to crawl on the carpet, I haven't seen him attempt on the hardwood floor yet! Happy Independence Day everyone!

3/4 Birthday and the Park!

I'm a slacker mom - but Declan is 9 months old!

He is a total mama's boy with 2 teeth and has just started getting on his hands and knees. 

And one of all my crazies!

Then we headed to get froyo and the park!  Everyone had a lot of fun - even Declan!

Declan is 6 months old!

Yesterday Declan turned 6 months old!  He is smiling and laughing and adores peekaboo.  He is also at the stage when you put him on his back and he immediately flips onto his belly and then is "stuck" there.  Declan is also almost 17 lbs already.  He is my biggest baby! 

First Food!

 

 Declan had his first food today! He turns 6 months next week and is completely acting ready. We started with millet.  I like millet as a first food because it is actually a seed and low allergen.  It's a mild flavor too.  He swallowed well and seemed to enjoy it! 

What's Been Going On

Summer is coming to a close.  School is fast approaching!

Declan is growing fast!  He's a strong little guy.

Fiona adores her little brother.  She always wants to be near him and help take care of him.  She moved to sit at the table with us this month and loves it! 

Claire and Chandler have spent their summer using their imaginations and playing outside.  Inside fun has included making robot "masks" and cars with cardboard boxes and lots of art projects. 

Some pictures:

Fiona telling Declan all about life

Fiona the princess

Ahhh!  Robots!

Fiona likes the swing

Best big sister ever.

They are creative about seating.

Handsome little guy

Fiona's at the table!

LOVE this picture of them!

Declan's First Bath!

Sleepy boy

We have a little boy!!

I am busy and tired and completely in love. 

Declan Elliott James L. was born on August 3rd at 10:28pm after 16 hours of labor!  He was 8 lbs even and 20 inches long. 

I was scheduled to be induced on Monday morning, but woke up Sunday at 6:30 and realized I was having contractions about 3 minutes apart.  We got to the hospital around noon and ended up reading our books most of the afternoon.  It was a slow, easy labor, but super fast and intense at the end.  He was born after only 3 pushes!  Daddy was awesome the whole time. 

Declan was fussy and whiny the first few days which was really scary for me, but the day my milk came in he settled right down.  He's apparently a lot like Daddy and was just hungry! 

He's here!

Ready to go home!

My four babies!

Sucking his thumb

My precious little guy