Bostonia

I am not a woman whose hair looks perfect all the time (or clean), makes a home-cooked meal EVERY night, and knows exactly how to answer all of the "Baby" questions I ask myself daily....but, I am a strong person. I am a Mom...and in that I am invincible!

Thanks for the hilarious Birthday!

As you know, well some of you, my Birthday was yesterday. Let me just tell you that it was an interesting one full of hilarious moments from friends allthe way from Cali, and Louisiana!

My friend Leanna, who lives in the heart of Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks) drove all the way to Sprinkles (Rodeo, Bev Hills) to get me a cupcake, that she ate for me...and took this unforgettable photo. She said the old grumpy lady woudn't smile, she asked, and believe me, I know she asked her!

This was a great suprise to find waiting in my hotmail account!

As for Megan...she called me not to say Happy Birthday, but to sing it in her version of 'opera'. I was crying when she finished. I have never laughed so hard in my entire life. Really...you had to be there to understand how crazy Megan is.

My dear sweet friend Anna, also from Los Angeles sent me a beautiful bouquet of Gerber Daisies, my ultimate favorite flower, and they smell so wonderful in our home! I was sooo suprised to get flowers!

Russ and his family also helped me add to my Vera Bradley collection by finding the large duffle bag I have been needing! A Baby Bay, and a purse, the Lola bag for all of you VB fans. I was so excited, and I cannot wait to pack it all up and go to Florida! His family is taking us all to Florida in October for a beach trip, Yay!

Thanks to everyone for the special moments that made my birthday! Love you guys!

Going Green!! well, trying to at least

Living in a major city really shows you different aspects of the economy, or lack there of. For us, living in Los Angeles for two years was a culture shock, but we soon adapted. Everyone recycled and used certain types of bags, and donated here and there. We recyceld plastic water bottles, and by "recycled" I mean we used them over and over again (washing them of course). So, here in Beantown, we decided to do a little more for our country and REALLY recycle. So far, we have made $1.50. Ha! I know it is not about the money AT ALL, but it is hilarious to me because when you buy a coke here, it is about $1.29, but then you have to pay a taxed state recycling fee of about 10 cents as well. And, a twelve pack of cokes might be 4 for $10, but then you add on another 5 dollars for the state fee. Coming from the least economical state, Louisiana, we had no idea about this fee, or the fact that Louisiana is also like one of the ONLY remaining states that taxes every item of food in a grocery store. Go figure! Anyway, we are trying to recycle everything now: paper, plastic, cans....and we got to the grocery store to turn them in, and the machine will not read a single bottle, so we have all of this trash to dump off (that we have been saving for three weeks), that we then get to return home with. This was a fabulous time, and even better that it has happened twice. The second time was when we racked in the dollar fifty on the cans!!! Woohoo! So, if anyone can give me some helpful hints on how to get rid of all of this recycled mess, please pass it along :) So far, I am not loving being green!

So, It's been a while....

I realize I have not blogged in a few days, and everyone keeps letting me know, so among the few things I have to do on a daily basis, when H finally reaches sleepy time I can choose from the following: Eat, Sleep (yeah, ok!), clean up (my FAV!!), or blog. Sadly, blogging is of the least importance, I know i know, it is not fair, but I speak the truth.



So, here goes, I have a lot to tell you all:



The past two months I have really enjoyed getting to know my little H. He is growing and changing; everyday brings new humor. It really is amazing to see a wee-tot become his own person. I honestly feel sorry for everyone that is missing this too, because he is just the sweetest little guy. I thought the fourth month was my favorite. He was turning over and starting to try crawling (after he saw Kinsey do it). He was starting to make little noises more, and really playing with his toys a bunch...which is so precious...for everyone that has kids, you know! I love to watch him connect to a little fuzzy monkey, or hug his glowworm like he is his best little friend, and he is, let me just say. I know everyone tells you being a parent changes your life, but it is more than just that, it changes who you are and who you become, daily. I think God gave us the opportunity to have children so that we could see the smallest glimse of how he cherishes each one of us. And, until you feel that, you will never be completely full....my opinion, anyway.


After the fourth month passed, and more stinking immunizations (which i would boycott if legal), we moved on in to month 5. H started crawling on his 5 month birthday, and I about lost it. Of course I was excited to start this new journey with him, but my goodness, could we have waited a few more weeks? Then, we moved to Boston, a huge trip, but such a blast to see family and all of the Eastern section of the country :) When we got here Harr-bear decided he was over crawling and needed to learn to walk, so then he started pulling up on EVEYTHING IN SITE! This part was even more difficult for me b/c everyone knows this is when they start getting hurt, A BUNCH! I cannot tell you how many times he has hit his little bean on something. H really started getting vocal this month, and let us know about his thoughts in mini conversations. He especially loves to chat in his new car seat, for whatever reason??? We had to branch out and buy bigger, different toys for him as well. He was getting bored with all of those that just sit there with a permanent smile. The best part of this month for us was that he really started to enjoy us. He would laugh and smile everytime you said his name. He is too funny. We will call his name and he will not always turn to you, but he always smiles so big and giggles. For sure this month was my favorite!

Six Months: Oh, how I love being a Mommy! H is now laughing and loves to be tickled on his back, right where I get ticklish! SO cute. He brings his arms in and tucks his head down. His giggle is like no other! It is so geniune, like he really is just tickled to death. I love it! So funny how he already acts like a big person. He is transferring from couch to chairs and exersaucer and playard. He also loves to transfer to Mommy, and hang on with my hair. That feels nice :) H hates the vaccuum....not a favorite thing of mine to do either. H is really in to balls now, everything that looks like a ball he loves, and is so sweet how he reaches for his toys, he is so gentle. We got him a tractor that moves around, but he just like to knock it over and hug it!

Harrison loves to hug us now also. This is the sweetest thing yet. To have someone so innocent love you whole-heartedly, so much that He wants to sqeeze onto you, oh, it just fullfills me!



We started baby food this month, and he is hilarious. The faces my child makes are classic. It reminds me of when my mother made me and Alyssa eat sweet potatoes and collard greens ONCE. I think Alyssa actually got sick in her plate at the table. It really was a tramatic experience, and obviously a lasting memory for me. Thanks Mom. H actually tried to gag himself to get rid of the green beans. He was so not convincing me. Hilarious. Everyone should have a child just to see what we went through when we were small! He did like the squash, well, it was better than the green beans. Russ hates green beans as well. He loves that Jan always makes them, with every dinner. There is just something about that "beef broth." Hmmm.



We are loving getting to enjoy our little man, and I am pretty sure he will be walking before little Baby 2 arrives. I hope that is God's ultimate plan, because I really think I might not survive it if he isn't.



Six months is definitely my favorite so far...but, we do have vaccines again next week, so I might change my mind again!



Today is my 25th Birthday, yeah yeah. Excuse me but how did I get to be 25? And, I will have two children by the age of 25 as well. Old Lady! I can't wait to turn 70, what a treat. There better be some sparkling somethin somethin if I have to be old and wrinkled for that long. I hope the purple hair-do is back in style....I always wanted to try that, once.



So, I am already looking pregnant. Last time it took all of 6 months to get a belly. This time Belly is ready to Rock and Roll. She is perky and out there at 4. Hoorah.



Hope you guys are having a great week!

Photo Op

Today, we took our teething little fellow to take his BOSTON RED SOX picture. It was an event; I realize that is a shocker. Bless Patti's heart (our Photographer). I'm pretty sure that besides milk, my child is allergic to professional photography....which is just fab seeing that one day we are planning to start our own photgraphy business and he will be the main man for all first-time shots. I can see that going well. he had to have abottle before shooting, and a nap. She was nice enough to wait on him.

The first time we had pics taken, he was 7 days old, and I'm pretty sure they were glad when we left. The poor little guy ate twice while we were there, peed on Daddy three times, the lady once and managed to somehow poop when we were trying the one picture I chose this photography group for. How lovely....and, no we did not buy that one, BECAUSE WE NEVER GOT TO TAKE IT.

Then, we decided to try another round in San Antonio with cousin Kinsey Anne. Thank goodness Kinsey smiled, bc H was not enjoying the visit with JCPenneys. Then, for some reason, a young innocent girl was learning how to take pictures (still when we were in San Antonio) and she wanted to give Kinsey and H a free 8X10. Let me just tell you that was the most LEAST-FREE 8X10 ever taken. It took one hour for one shot, we had to buy a $20 outfit, that shrank the first time we washed it, and he screamed like he was having a nightmare awake. Once we calmed him down (35 minutes later) out in the car, we tried to take him back in to try once more, and he started the entire screaming fit over again. This is in fact the ONLY time I can account for my child ever doing this. It was a wonderful time for everyone.

Getting to today's events. All I can say is thank goodness for Patti....but I'm pretty sure he still hates that RAINBOW feather duster. I just can't stand that thing either. I just want to put it in the photographers face and go "Weee-hee." Do you think they would smile? I hate it, but all I can think about is, "Do you realize that you are going to give my child HIB?" "This twenty dollar print is going to cost me a hundred in Pediatrician bills." I soooo used to not think like this. I realize now that being a Mommy has made me even more crazy than I was before I was pregnant. If that is possible. What will happen when I go through menapause, my children graduate college, move far away and get married???? Who will I be then? That pysch patient in ward 6. Can't wait for that; let me pack my bags now!

So, everyone, enjoy the first picture of our child smiling and somewhat happy (after I had to hide the duster from Patti)!

He had a rough day. His second little tooth is coming in (right next to his first one), and you can tell he is really feeling the pain. He must have my teeth. Poor guy.

I must say, in this picture, he looks just like his Daddy did at his age, and that really hurts my heart. I was hoping that one day he was going to turn a corner and resemble the lady who carried him in a warm and happy place for those short ten months, and enjoyed 24 hours of natural labor. Who am I kidding?

He still has my heart :)

Cupcake Fiasco

Yesterday, Russ was off from work, so we decided to take little man H to South Boston, and our Atlantic Coast beach (2 big blocks over from our place). We loved it there. The Marina was loaded with huge yauchts, and lovely restaurants & shops. I practiced photography with the beautiful seascapes and open water shot of Boston across the Bay. This is like a vaca dream everyday. We had an ice cream cone. Russell loved his, I'm pretty sure. He was doing that awkward ice cream cone dance with your tongue, you know, where you have to keep licking or it is going all over you? Yep, he was doing that. I told him he sounded like Toby eating. He was not as entertained and me and H. Too funny though.

The REAL reason we were going to South Beantown is because I have an enormously, yet somewhat controllable craving for CUPCAKES! Yes, cupcakes, any kind, any amount of cash, any icing, I love them all. In Bev Hills, where we once lived (tear) my favorite cupcake bakery resided, "Sprinkles." Almost every time we went to Rodeo, ok EVERY TIME we went to Rodeo, we would grab some. The infamous Black and White still has my heart. I recruited many new lovers to the dessert while living there, and they are very grateful now. Everytime a friend had a birthday, guess what I would bring??? The funny thing is that they are 5 bucks a pop! I know, I know, rediculous, but oh how delicious!

So, Mom is now working for a lawfirm, in which some of the attorneys are Harvard Alum. If you didn't know, Harvard is the oldest University in our country. Pretty cool. When she told them I was moving to Boston, they wanted me to try "Flour," a bakery. (Woohoo!!) So Yesterday we went, well, I personally went to find this place. It's no LA, but hopefully they can work an oven.

So the journey began. If any one of you have ever lived in a MAJOR city (there is not one in Louisiana) you would know that when a navigational system tells you something is 5 minutes away, it really means an hour and a half. So, five minutes away we went. Once the traffic slowly manuevered us to the South End, we were stuck in a one-way street gymnasium for about ten minutes trying to park in a tow away/Thursday street cleaning zone. Yesterday was Thursday. When we finally got our frustrated 5 month-old out of his car seat to then holster him into his five-point harness of a stroller, we were ready to find a stinkin' cupcake. Ya know?

The streets were like a clean vision of Sex and the City, and immediatley we found a home for sale so we could call and see what the going rate in this wonderful housing market would be...not too shabby, 450, 000. (We do this in every city we live in). Back to reality, we went on to Flour. Every building was maroon brick, and had beautiful, strategically placed iron-rod window coverings and window flowerboxes. I WANT ONE! It was gorgeous! Here we come to the main road, Washington, where I could only dream of my cupcake patiently waiting in it's glass case, overflowing with buttercream icing. I'm coming little one, I'm coming!

The stupid place was closed. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

Off we drove into the five o'clock Boston traffic. Gotta love the city.

Another story for the novel.

Beantown Arrival

WE ARE IN BOSTON!!! After a trip to Louisiana for twelve weeks, we are finally moved to our next job. All the way from Los Angeles, we arrived in Boston, Mass.

And, together we decided to really get this Blog together. The last time I attempted to post, no pictures were compatible to the site, so hopefully it was a fluke and it will be an easier task for me this time??? We shall see...if I can work Myspace, then I should be able to do this, right?

Our H is crawling, but more importantly, he is pulling up on everything in sight....basically, He gave me one week of "less-stress" compared to what I am now enjoying. I was sure there was like a one or two month minimum to go from crawling to pulling up and banging our little Blue-eyed face on just about everything hard as stone, only to then begin the screams, (my absolute LEAST fav thing I have encountered since Mommyhood began) but again I was fooled. Go figure.

While in Louisiana, we had the joy of celebrating our 2nd wedding Anniversary. I was so excited to eat dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant, Genusa's. The meal was deliciouso as always, and we had Russ' family keep little H for us so we could also enjoy a movie, our first since the birth. During the night, I had the strangest dream, that I was pregnant and I could feel something moving in my belly. I woke up in laughter only to realize I was about to be very ill. And I was. The next day I told Russ about my dream and how real it was, he laughed as I did. Funny us. The next day we had scheduled to spend with my closest girl friend, Crystal and her husband Daniel, and their adorable 10 month old beauty, Holland. It was a horrible time for everyone I'm sure, because I could not function I felt so terrible. I could not figure it out. On the drive back to Shreveport from Monroe, we had to stop in Minden to buy a pregnancy test....just to see if that was what I was getting sick from, and it was VERY POSITIVE. Again, we are having a January baby, 4 days apart to be exact. It is only fair to say that birth control and the month of April do not mix with us. So, the children will be best friends, we hope it goes that way, for our sanity.

I was in the middle of my last few quarters of PT Assistant school in Los Angeles, but now that will have to wait another year.

We are very happy, and are sure this one will be a little girl, only because it would be way too easy to have another boy :) This we all know, is how my life is, always a rediculously hilarious challenge of once-in-a-blue-moon occurrences to share with others around me.

I am convinced God is writing my novel for me, and one day it is going to be a New York Times Best Seller.