Lisa Leonard

i was reflecting this morning on how life with david is different than it would be if he was a ‘typical’ five-and-a-half year old. day to day i can honestly say he is a joy and pretty darn easy-going. besides being very small, he needs help eating, dressing, bathing and with most other activities, but he plays happily and loves to explore every room in the house. he is not a picky eater and has made great strides with beginning to feed himself. i change his clothes at lease twice a day because he’s drooling a lot. he never used to drool, so i attribute it to teething. he loves his bathes again (yay!) and is very good at splashing me and matty. he doesn’t mind car rides and enjoys his teachers at school.

two the most difficult things we are facing are reflux and gas pains. he has struggled with reflux since birth and recently seems more gassy. we often give him maalox and spend a lot of time helping him burp. he takes prevacid for the reflux and his esophagus isn’t damaged. i suspect his reflux will be something we deal his entire life.

i notice a lot of people looking at david when we are out and about. most days it doesn’t bother me. he’s a tiny guy with two fingers on his left hand, so of course they are curious. i feel honored that he is my son. i think he’s pretty great and if they got to know him a little, they’d think the same thing.

i guess, i’ll never know what it would be like if david were a typical 5 year old. it’s okay to think about what might have been–but i don’t want to live there. he smiles easily, is fascinated with the world around him, loves to snuggle and makes messes much faster than i can clean them up. all i have is right now, this moment, and i want let it be imperfect and beautiful.

we’re all sick. all four of us, sniffling, achy, coughing, watching movies and ordering in. it would be perfect, if only we didn’t feel so yucky!

I created this necklace for the Inspired Conference. {Which sounds like sooo much fun!} If you can get away for the weekend, it promises to be a time of refreshment and idea overload!!

There is a lot going on with the business. Some really exciting things (like designing a necklace for this conference). It’s a little too soon to tell you all about it…but I’ll share as I can! Thanks for all your encouragement–I seriously appreciate you guys.

I’ve been getting some requests for a chunkier piece and something that uses multiple charms–so here’s what I came up with…

This piece is made with mother’s day in mind. BTW Sarah and I are working together to create a really fun mother’s day necklace–so keep watching for that. Anyway…this piece has five words stamped on three hammered charms–nurture, grow, home, love and mother. It is made with some AWESOME new chain that I am totally loving! It also has a glass heart charm and a faceted crystal. Overall, it has a slightly more dressed-up feel and it’s gorgeous!
Here’s a close-up…
And another close-up of the reverse side of the charms…
And a pic of me wearing it to give you the overall feel for the necklace.Mama’s Love Necklace. $92

What do you think??

so david woke up with a major boogie nose this morning. my heart sunk, not because i was worried about him, but because i am so selfish! a sick kiddo means my schedule is out the window (i am a TOTAL planner, so this is difficult for me). it means lots of breathing treatments and decongestant. time spent snuggling when i might rather be more productive (i know, it’s time well spent, but sometimes it doesn’t feel productive…). this morning he had some medicine and breathing treatments (and a bath to get him all nice and clean) and he perked up and wanted to play. but we still need to take it easy and let him get lots of rest. these colds are much harder for him to kick than for most kids. so i need to get into slow-down-and-stay-home mode. i’ll put on my big, comfy sweatshirt and get ready to take it easy. i’ll make lots of his favorite vanilla pudding and push him less for the next few days. okay, let’s snuggle!

the tour of california came into san luis obispo on thursday, so we met steve downtown to greet the riders. it was very wet and cold.
the kids went from deliriously happy to seriously grumpy in the span of an hour and a half. we headed home early and didn’t get to see the riders finish their race. oh well!
then yesterday we drove over to solvang to see the time trials. here are chris horner (foreground) and levi leipheimer (background) warming up. we were standing about a foot away from them–so cool.
when chris horner was done warming up he handed his hat to our little david!! what a thoughtful gesture. we were so touched, and david was honored, too.
on the menu yesterday…hot dogs, soda, huge cookies–you get the idea.we had so much fun!

I strung my rings on a 24″ sterling chain the other day-just for fun! Now I can wear them on my finger or next to my heart. Perfect! The chains alone are
16 or 18″…$15
24″…$20

Feeling much better today. Must be those three bowls of lucky charms I ate. Yum. And no, Penny, I’m not pregnant! That could be fun, though…

behind that sweet smile is a troublemaker. and i love it!
i am down a cold or flu or something. i don’t feel too awful except i have zero energy. there is lots of movie watching, pajama wearing and cereal eating going on. and, of course, lots of snuggling.

It’s Tuesday after a long, wonderful weekend. We got to play a lot this weekend which means lots of work to catch up on and a messy house. Oh, but it was so, so worth it! Okay Tuesday…here we come!

I love this necklace *sigh*. These pea-size charms are stamped with an initial and hammered a bit. Each necklace comes with two charms, a freshwater pearl and is strung on 18″sterling ball chain. Additional charms $10. Love. $44

wake up. make pancakes (with chocolate chips, please.) go to church. eat lunch. fly kites. read go, dog, go. get the kids down for a nap. make a fresh pot of coffee. work.

Chrissie and the girls are visiting and we had a sweet morning at the beach. The air was cool but the sun felt so good. The kids are having a blast together and I am soaking up every minute with my sis.

this evening I was sitting on the floor working on my laptop and david came up behind me, put his arm over my shoulder and leaned in to give me a few wet kisses. It was the MOST precious and INTENTIONAL show of affection i have ever seen him display. and it made my heart overflow with happiness and love.

happy valentine’s day.

the master at work.

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Winners for the “you melt my heart’ necklaces are…

Judy who loves a pink afghan

Gen who loes a little girl’s tutu

and Sara Gibson who loves ‘double bubble’ bubble gum

Email me your mailing addresses ladies! Thanks everyone for your fun, inspiring comments!