Trend Alert! Hipster Coachella Babies!

Dear Junebug,

Part of attending the annual Coachella Music and Arts Festival is "looking the part". 80,000 hipsters converge onto the polo field of Indio, CA to see the coolest bands play and to look the coolest doing it. You never made it to the show this weekend but back at the hotel you were workin it anyway. Cleo let you borrow her Hello Kitty shades and they worked perfect with your pink tutu. Of course, no Coachella look is complete without "rock and roll attitude" which you've got in spades. Cleo is also looking pretty amazing as is your bestie Ruby who spent all weekend rocking Ray Bans and a killer panama straw hat. I'd like to get myself a chevron striped one piece bathing suit - I mean, come on, Ruby... you are too cute and always ahead of the baby fashion curve. You put Suri Cruise to shame!

XO

Mommy

P.S. check out Susan's blog for more of Ruby's fashion picks for Coachella

Meanwhile... back at the ranch...

Dear Junebug,

We came prepared to take you to Coachella for your first Birthday (Ruby gave you these awesome hot pink baby noise blocking headphones). I had this fantasy of being able to say you watched your first concert, Gorillaz, the day you turned one. But you know what? Hanging out at the pool at the La Quinta Resort and Spa with your nanny waiting on you hand and foot is not too shabby either (that's what your Daddy said). Meanwhile, your Auntie Susan and Uncle Timmy were a little more ambitious and brought Ruby down to the show. I'm sure it won't surprise you that Ruby stole the show. Not only did she get to meet all her friends from Yo Gabba Gabba but she stormed the stage in the middle of Ed Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros which was SO great that it made the PAPERS! That's right! Your little 18 month old bestie is a total rock star!

XO

Mommy

P.S. of course Ruby was rockin the oh so awesome Stella McCartney line for Baby Gap. (but don't worry Mommy went cookoo and bought you a lot of it too).

Bunnies are good too!

Dear Junebug,

It's a little early for you to understand the true meaning of Easter and why we celebrate it. So for now, candy (with wrappers on), easter eggs and easter bunnies will have to do. Though by the look of it, rock stars disguised as bunnies don't impress you much!

XO

Mommy

Stressed!!!!

Dear Junebug,

Who knew that putting together your 1st birthday party would be so stressful? It's not your fault, of course. I'm bringing it on myself because your Mommy is a crazy, neurotic Martha Stewart wanna-be. When trying to come up with a "look" for the party I've driven myself bonkers. You know it's a fiesta because I gave you a hint before. Just so you know, I'm now dreaming about pinatas... counting pinatas to go to sleep at night... obsessing over PINATAS! I'm blindfolded, trying to hit the pinata and keep missing, I finally hit it, the candy goes spilling everyone but by the time I get the blindfold off and get down there to grab candy - it's all gone! Everyone gets candy but meeee. Wait a minute, was that a dream or a flashback to a traumatic kid's birthday party experience? AAAARGH!

XO

Mommy

Inspiration...

Dear Junebug,

Richard Avedon is one of your Daddy's greatest photography inspirations. Here's a shot he took of Elizabeth Taylor (one of Mommy's fave icons) that is just breathtaking.

XO

Me

You are my sunshine...

Dear Junebug,

I'm sorry to say this but you have become quite "difficult" lately. It's practically impossible to get you to stay still for anything. You don't want your diaper changed, you don't want to get in the high chair, the car seat... and you get quite violent about it. The only thing that seems to get your attention is when I start singing "You are my sunshine... my only sunshine..." All of the sudden the screaming stops. "You make me happy, when skies are gray"... now your tightly gripped eyelids start to open. "You never know dear, how much I love you"... a tiny little smile starts to form... "Please don't take my sunshine away" and magically I have my little angel staring back at me.

XO

Mommy

Strike a Pose!

Dear Junebug,

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and your first time going to church! You had so much fun at Sunday school with the other children. When I came to pick you up you were doing donuts around the room chasing another kid. It was quite hysterical. You passed out the second you hit the car seat which allowed Mommy and all your grandparents to hit the In N Out drive thru which was an extra added treat. Mommy learned about relationships and marriage during the sermon which was nice. When Daddy came home from his business trip I reminded him that I am truly honored to be his wife and excited that we get to tackle this life together. We heart DADDY!

XO

Me

P.S. I hope you made our friend Bobbie proud in the way you wore this dress (she gave it to you). She is a BIG fan of Audrey Hepburn and I'm sure when she picked this little number (signature Hepburn silhouette) out for you she was hoping you would be channeling her timeless, sophisticated style. And how nice to have friends who get that babies can be stylish too!

sunny day, chasing the clouds away...

Dear Junebug,

Mommy made a new friend yesterday. Elmo!

XO

Me

P.S. pretend you don't see that guy (Kevin Clash) crouched down in the corner...

Art Appreciation

Dear Junebug,

Mommy has been working very hard on your art collection. It was so nice of your Auntie Paige to give you this amazing print by photographer, Gregory Malphurs for Christmas. It's finally been framed and is hanging in your hallway. Your Daddy finds it very disturbing that every time you walk by it you start furiously waving and jumping up and down. I agree with you, it's way cool! And please assure Daddy that your love for this picture will not turn you into a "Lindsay Lohan", just a person with really great taste in art!

XO

Me

Mommy Tips: Batteries not included.

I could have every toy known to mankind in the room with Junebug but if there's a remote control or a cordless telephone in sight, that's all she sees and all she wants. I'm not sure what the obsession is with babies and things they're "not supposed to have". I came up with a great solution to my problem. I found old remote controls and phones that are not in use, removed the batteries and voila! It's very very key to REMOVE BATTERIES. They are incredibly dangerous for babies and you can never be too safe. It may seem like a baby can't get to the battery but it's better safe than sorry.