Love Song To Ivy

This is one of my favorite things to hit YouTube...

Present/Infant

lately i've been glaring into mirrors
picking myself apart
you'd think at my age i'd of thought
of something better to do
than making insecurity into a full-time job
making insecurity into an art


i fear my life will be over
and i will have never lived it unfettered
always glaring into mirrors
mad i don't look better

but now here's this tiny baby
and they say she looks just like me
and she is smiling at me
with that present/infant glee
and i would defend
to the ends of the earth
her perfect right to be

so i'm beginning to see some problems
with the ongoing work of my mind
and i've got myself a new mantra
it says: "don't forget to have a good time"
don't let the sellers of stuff
power enough
to rob you of your grace
love is all over the place
there's nothing wrong with your face
love is all over the place

-Ani DiFranco

THIS is what I call "art modelling."

I just really love the process, you know?


Mommy's use of light and...paint...during this shoot was just so
amazing!


I did my own make-up for this series...








As an artist and model, I really enjoy shoots that challenge me...I call the piece I'm working on here "Mother's Day Fingerpainting." I got to eat a lot of the purple, which was truly exquisite.

Happy Mother's DAY!!!

Great-Grandma Simdorn's Birthday at Lake Okoboji

Last weekend we went home sweet home to Iowa and stayed with Grammi and Grandpa at the cabin at Okoboji! We saw Uncle Joe's new house, walked on the beach, but most importantly, celebrated Great-Grandma's 86th birthday! We loved seeing our family, and Matt got to meet the whole fam-damly!

Here's Ivy Mae with Grammi, and at Great-Grandma's party!

An Amazing Mother's Day

How could I be luckier? It was my first Mother's Day, and what a perfect day it was!
I started the day off with pancakes and eggs and the Beatles on vinyl! As a lot of you know, pancakes and The Beatles are the surest way to my heart...:) We then went to pick up Miss Ivy Mae for a trip to the Minnesota Zoo! What a button!
Ivy had a big day. She spent the morning at the MOA with her Daddy at the Race for The Cure, then Mommy and Matty took her to see the animals!
It was Ivy's first trip to the zoo, and we weren't sure what she would think. It didn't see like she could really see everything very well, so we skipped the animals that weren't moving. She got face to face with a goose and lamb, but DID NOT like when the mama ewe said, "BAAAAAAAAAAAA!" right in her face! We had to have some hugs after that. :(
After seeing the reindeer, Ivy decided she was having a blast, and called out to everyone we met on the path, "Heeeyy!! OOOO!!!!" She laughed hysterically!

Thank you so much for such a wonderful day, especially to Michael and Matt. You both made me feel so loved and appreciated! :)

And OF COURSE, the reason for the day is our SUPERSTAR!!!

Blueberries for Baby!

Yesterday was a Blueberry Day! Blueberries abounded...in the hair, in the pants, under the fingernails, in the ears! YAY BLUEBERRIES!!! Today Ivy scooted like a worm across the entire living room, after a nice morning of more blueberries, (Mommy learned this time to just leave her in her diaper!), saying goodbye to Daddy, getting a birthday present ready for Grammi, and now having a "tea party" with Bunny, Moose, and Crazy Dolly.

This weekend Mommy, Matt, and Ivy are going home to Iowa for Great-Grandma Simdorn's birthday party at Lake Okoboji! We are going to stay at our cabin and take lots of walks. If it's nice, we'll walk on the beach!

Happy Thursday!

Tips for Maximum Meal Enjoyment, By Ivy Mae Kennedy-Schwartz

Greetings, friends, Grammas, Grampas, Aunties, and Uncles!

Mommy is taking the day off today! Something about "cleaning this place before your Daddy gets home!" and "looks like it's been pillaged by pirates." I LOVE pirates! Mommy is so funny.
I am writing today to give you tips on eating. Eating is very fun! It is pretty much my favorite thing to do, besides chewing on shoes and bouncing.
First of all, you have to make sure that you are being fed by a spoon. This is very important! You will need it later.
Okay, so open your mouth, because someone will be slipping mushy stuff into it. You will have to endure this for a little while, otherwise you will miss the best part:


SPOON!!!!


Spoons are amazing in every way. Apparently, you can place food in the little round part and use it to toss food onto the floor, or down your pants, or down Mommy's shirt! Amazing invention!

This part lasts for as long as Mommy lets you do it. I enjoy a nice lukewarm oatmeal down my pants, back, or even as a fun hair product. This is for a maximum eating experience!!!

When Mommy finally decides it is time to clean up, it's DESSERT TIME!!! And by dessert, I mean the washcloth she uses to clean your face. It is delicious! I don't recommend it for actual face-washing; yucky.

This is a best way to enjoy a meal. For some reason, though, I'm always still hungry afterwards...

Here are some pictures of me eating...I am so good at it!

Bye bye!