Christmas Pictures

I have really enjoyed taking my own pictures of the boys instead of doing studio sittings... reason 1- we aren't in a position to spend money on that, and reason 2- I like being creative and pretending I can take good pictures.  Well it was easy when Oliver was a wee li'l babe... got a little difficult when he started rolling and crawling... got REALLY difficult when he could walk... and now that he's a little lunatic jumping around, it's just about impossible to sit him in a small space for a picture.

So here is what I got out of my Christmas "photo shoot" of the boys...not at all what I hoped for!

I was so angry!  Nate was trying to be my voice of reason "He's nearly 2...you're not going to get him to sit still...he's doing very well for hardly napping today"

Yeah yeah yeah.  But I wanted to get a picture that makes everyone tear up at the beauty of my two little ones this holiday season... so I was pretty bummed that my vision and the realities of having a toddler were (once again) out of sync.



At least I have Owen who is too little to ruin my photography aspirations.

I didn't get what I wanted but I did manage to get some passable photos for a Christmas card.  I can't wait for them to get here and to send them out!

Here is a sneak peek...

Halloween Part 2: Anniversary & Reality Checks

Monday was kind of special around here.  It marked 2 years of wedded bliss for Natey and I...AND... it was Owen's first halloween.

We kept things pretty chill.  Oliver had yakked twice the night before so we spent the day relaxing and keeping an eye on his behavior.  He seemed pretty normal.  Phew.  He was in a very helpful mood actually and helped feed the baby his second ever bottle (Nate gave him his first bottle the night before).

Oliver seemed to nap well that afternoon, but then he woke up whining... which is never good.  It usually means an antsy, hard to please, still tired mood.  So I brought him out to the couch, propped him on the pillows and cuddled him up with a blanket.  He loved it.  Too much.  If he forgot how comfortable he was and moved, he would get upset and need me to tuck him in again.

This made me nervous.  He was so not himself.  But I kept telling myself the mood was emotional, he must have had a nightmare and it through him off...not illness related (turns out the kid had a case of mud-butt on the way, gross!).  This mood was a serious threat to my perfectly laid plans.

I could only hope that Nate's arrival home would pep up our boy a little bit.  And it did.  A package from Mema and Pepere in NH helped too.  Oliver got an awesome Monster Mash sound book... he totally gets a kick out of it!  Owen got a giraffe... can you tell how super psyched he is with it?!

So here's what was SUPPOSED to happen. Well first of all, it was supposed to be warm. Not so much. Nate was supposed to get home early and we'd take Oliver trick or treating early, before it was too dark and too cold. He was going to love it, walking down the sidewalk like a big boy and going from house to house holding up his pumpkin bucket and saying "Cheek-chee" (trick or treat) and "Buh-bye." Then we were going to come home and hand out candy to adorable children in adorable costumes.

What did happen:

Oliver was mellow.  We were concerned.  It was getting colder and colder and apparently Halloween doesn't start around here until it's pitch black.  Doesn't anyone have young kids around here?  We couldn't wait that long to bring him out... but we also didn't want to be the only schmucks ringing doorbells at 5:30.  So right as we decided to stay in for the night and sit down to dinner the doorbell started ringing.  FINALLY!  It was only pitch black out!

Oliver had a BLAST running to the door when the bell rang and handing out candy.  He said trick or treat, thank you, and bye bye... a very friendly candy hander-outer.  Eventually he let us put on his batman PJs...his costume for the evening.

It turned out to be a great night...totally different than what we expected, but once again our toddler taught us a new way to appreciate and enjoy things on a simple scale.

And after Batman (and the stupid group of teens ringing our bell after the light was off at like 9:30...WITHOUT costumes! grrr) retired for the evening, Nate and I plopped down to watch a movie together.  He had stopped at a Red Box on the way home and surprised me with the new adaptation of Jane Eyre.  So not his cup of tea... just another example of how much he loves me and knows that hauntingly romantic movie would be perfect for Hallowedding Hallow-versary.  And of course being the old folks we are... we couldn't make it through the movie and had to resume it the next night.

(PS- I didn't love the movie...wanted to... but as always, book was MUCH better!)

This picture cracks me up.

Drinking out of a cup like a big boy, while sitting in a baby seat with the illusion of muscles and monkey socks....priceless.



I'm Just THAT Fabulous

I make no pretenses- I am a bum.  If I have no plans to go out...I don't get dressed.  My hair has been TERRIBLE since about 4 months postpartum with Oliver when it started falling out around my hairline and grew back in like a friggin circus clown. 

I admit there's truth to the "look good, feel good" train of thought.  Sometimes I need to get dressed to force myself to think up some errand to run.  But today I looked like hell and still felt good. 

I thought my belly looked fabulous in my husbands BoSox tee (from the 2004 ALCS, the series during which we met).  And my frizzy hair was perfect for spending the day uncluttering the bedroom and doing some laundry... I even washed the morning and afternoon dishes at lunch time instead of waiting to pile dinner dishes in my ridiculously shallow sink and forcing myself to get to it before bed. 

I spent today barefoot and pregnant and loving every second of it.

It doesn't get any REAL-er than this! 

I decided to cheese it up and take some selfies like any good pregnant lady would do. 

32 weeks...Don't I look great!? (no answer necessary)

The Not-Quite-As-Glamorous Life of a REAL Real Housewife.

Much to my husband's dismay, I am a fan of Bravo's Real Housewives series.  I love the glimpse into high society life and the drama that comes with having big bucks, (not an issue I need to be worrying about).  But I find myself questioning the title of the show.  "Real?" Oh, I don't think so.  Even "Housewife" is an inaccurate portrayal for quite a number of the women filmed in the various cities.  As far as I am concerned, a REAL housewife doesn't lead the glamorous life these ladies lead.

I, on the other hand, am a REAL housewife.  I am with my child 24 hours a day without the help of a nanny, au pair, or baby nurse.  If I don't cook dinner there sure as hell is no chef picking up my slack.  My closet is entirely devoid of designer labels, which isn't much of an issue as I am not attending any of THE social events of the year.

My home is messy, but filled with love.  I have been known to spend the entire day in my pajamas.  On the days I do get dressed I cannot guarantee it includes doing my hair and makeup.  I hate cleaning and I hate cooking which makes my role as homemaker just a little bit difficult.  I'm not perfect- not nearly.  Yes, I can go days at a time without leaving the house, and yes, we probably watch too much TV.  There are days I doubt myself and whether I am a good enough wife and mother, but I must be doing something right.

My son is just beautiful, and his eyes SHINE when he smiles, (and he smiles a lot).  His laugh is music and nearly breaks my heart with its perfection.  He is smart and happy and confident.  My husband loves me, and I never question that.  He laughs at me in a way that makes me happy.  He thanks me for little things like doing the dishes and he's not being snide or sarcastic.  We are comfortable with silence and comforted by each other's presence.  Sometimes we dance to no music, (and neither of us can dance).

I know that there are women far more together and energetic than I am.  My best friend is a mother of 3 under age 4 and is always dressed, made up, running errands, and all with dinner cooked by lunch time.  But I am pretty positive that there are just as many out there who can relate to my life. 

There is no shame to living the life that works for you.  We all have our insecurities, and we all have room for improvement.  Step back for a minute and take stock of the overall picture.  Your home is a mess, but is your family happy?  Your child is running around in a diaper, but are you chasing and laughing with him? You're tired and disheveled, but does your husband make you feel beautiful?

Consider this my introduction.  Nice to meet you.  This blog is my attempt at exercising my brain and writing something longer that a Facebook status update.  Follow along and share your own opinions and experiences as I share some of my own thoughts, experiences and challenges.