A Busy April Week

Spring has officially sprung, and with it our calendar has bloomed into something that feels a little fuller each week. This one, in particular, was packed. It felt like every single day had something going on—but the good kind of busy, the kind that comes from doing things you love with people you love.

We kicked things off on Monday with cake. Not just any cake—Alison’s birthday cake! After the Easter carrot cake got a solid “meh” review from us (not bad, but not quite the dream), I decided to return to the Cakes by Courtney playbook and give it another shot. This time: funfetti. Because sometimes you just want sprinkles.

I definitely learned a few lessons from the carrot cake trial—like give yourself enough time—and I felt way more confident this time around. The layers came out beautifully. Madeline, who is suddenly very into baking (or at least watching the mixer whirl around), was totally captivated. She sat wide-eyed in Alison's arms as the batter came together, grinning like it was magic. Of course, she didn’t get a taste—raw eggs and all—but she loved watching the layers rise in the oven. We left the decorating for later in the week.

Tuesday was a bit of a marathon. I had to go into the office, and Alison had a haircut that evening, which meant the window to get out the door for the Bees game was tight. We weren’t quite sure if we’d make it, especially when Madeline fell asleep on the couch before we even left—still waiting for Alison to get home. She stayed asleep during most of the walk to the ballpark too, which had us questioning whether it was even worth going. We had one of those “Should we just call it?” moments.

But then we ran into some neighbors on our way—who, fun twist, are expecting a baby this August—so of course we stopped to chat. Baby talk always pulls us in. By the time we finally rolled into the stadium, we were about 30 minutes late, but my grandparents were already there and it turned out to be a perfect night for baseball. Warm air, soft breeze, great company. Madeline woke up refreshed and in the best mood. Honestly, the second she heard the announcer and the hum of the crowd, she lit up. She started bouncing with excitement, like she knew where she was.

She spent a good chunk of the game snuggled on my grandma Sue’s lap, clutching her little Bumble stuffed toy and smiling at everyone nearby. It made me so happy to see them together. She did surprisingly well.

The game itself was a fun one—even though the Bees lost 4–3 to the Oklahoma City Comets. There were stolen bases, a dramatic bases-loaded strikeout, and even a few home runs. It moved quickly but had just enough action to keep it entertaining. We caught up with my grandparents (they’re looking and feeling much better than they were on opening day, which was so good to see), and made it through the 7th inning stretch. We all sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” together, then called it a night.

Madeline didn’t make it to bed until almost 10pm, which had us bracing for a rough night, but to our surprise—she slept great. We’re still kind of in awe.

It’s moments like this that make us so grateful to live where we do. Being able to walk to a baseball game, share these nights with family, and watch Madeline soak it all in—there’s just something really special about that. Baseball might be the backdrop, but the real magic is in how much joy we get from doing it together.

The week didn’t slow down from there. On my daily walk with Tex around Daybreak Lake, we spotted a really cool bird—an American white pelican, just sitting there on a dock. You don’t see that very often around here! Spring is the best time of year for birdwatching at the lake. I love seeing the cormorants perched up, drying their wings like they’re putting on a show, sometimes gathering in big clusters on the docks. And those bright yellow-headed blackbirds always make me smile. But spotting a pelican? That felt special. Just another reason to love where we live.

Wednesday night brought a brand-new adventure: Madeline’s first swimming lesson. We wanted to help her start getting comfortable in the water, especially with a beach trip on the horizon for July. It… didn’t go great. She screamed and cried through most of the lesson, which the instructor had warned us might happen, especially with younger babies. The water was also colder than we expected, which definitely didn’t help her mood. Poor kiddo. She got dunked a few times, practiced floating on her back, and even managed a few small victories—but by the end, she was done. She clung to Alison like a little koala and wouldn’t let go. We learned a few important things from the experience: for now, we’re going to hit pause on official lessons and instead take her to a local Daybreak pool where we can go at her pace, in a much more relaxed environment. No rush—just making it fun.

And then on Thursday, we finally decorated Alison’s birthday cake! (Well, mostly Alison did—I was more in charge of moral support and sample testing.) It turned out so beautifully. I seriously can’t wait to dive into it and celebrate Alison properly. She deserves the best, and I think this sprinkle-filled, love-infused cake will be a perfect centerpiece for the occasion.

Busy weeks like this remind me that sometimes the most ordinary days—cake baking, baseball games, birdwatching, swimming lessons—turn out to be the ones you remember most.