This will be my last post dedicated to Beki’s gut-wrenching departure for at least the next 72 hours. Because frankly, my gut could use the break.

But I had to show you the cupcakes I brought to their farewell barbecue on Friday. The cupcakes are — gasp! — store-bought (something I rarely EVER do, since I love to bake), but the decorations are homemade. I used PhotoShop to crop and print some pictures of our escapades together and mounted them on toothpicks, which I stuck into the cupcakes.

It made for a very tasty stroll down memory lane, as the following pictures will attest:

Here’s Noah holding a picture of “Uncle Todd” holding him when he was just a few days old.

And here he is polishing off his little delicacy with expert skill:

For the record, I have no idea what they put in blue icing, and I don’t want to. All I know is, you had better be prepared to sport a set of blue lips for at least half a day, leaving most of your party guests looking like they need to be resuscitated. Which, a for Pity Party, seems entirely appropriate (though mine has now officially concluded — thank you for coming).

… to reveal the results of my recent sewing project with the ever-fabulous Allie.

TA-DAH!!!!

Doesn’t every child need a superhero cape?

Super-Noah has hardly taken it off since Saturday afternoon, when Allie and I unveiled custom-made capes for all three of our boys at Iain’s 2nd birthday party.

Did you ever see a cuter crime-fighter?

I’d say he looks quite pleased with himself.

Guess I’ve got to make room for two Supermen in the house!

Inspired by this entry on Michele’s blog last month, I decided to make a “diaper cake” centerpiece for a baby shower I helped organize for a woman in my Bible study. Don’t you think Martha Stewart would be proud?

I recruited my friend Allie to help me (lest I take all the credit), and with the aid of some helpful instructions, an 88-pack of size-1 Pampers, rubber bands, ribbon, dowels, and the most adorable little baby booties you ever saw, we created this masterpiece in under an hour. (Oh, and let’s not forget the Curious George DVD we used to entertain the kids while we were working. Another essential ingredient.)

Here’s how it looked at the shower—not bad, eh?

The mommy-to-be got to take it home as a present (the Pampers being fully functional), so this lucky pack of diapers got to have its moment in the sun before proceeding with its less glorious tasks.

I would tell you this project was a piece o’ cake, but I want all of you friends who have yet to bear children to be really impressed when one of these shows up at your baby shower. These Martha Stewart moments must be savored and stretched for all they’re worth, since they are few and far between!

Thanks for your help, Allie! Nobody ties a bow like you!