It's a Wrap.

Well kids, that's a wrap. 2013 has almost come and gone, and I have to say I don't have any strong feelings one way or another about this year coming to a close. This year was probably the best that we've ever had as a family, but I have a feeling things are only going to get better as the boys keep getting older, so really I'm just excited for what is coming next. I spent the year surrounded by my family and friends, and while there were definite ups and downs, I can look back at the last 365 days with nothing but fond memories.

 I'm not a big resolution kind of girl, I find you usually forget what your resolution was sometime in the middle of January, so instead I try to document a few goals for the year ahead. There will be nothing groundbreaking here, but this year I'd like to write more, run more, and yell less. I'd like to spend more quality time with my boys, and more time by myself. I'd like to talk to my friends more, and in a dream world see them every day. I'd like to be less harsh on myself, while continuing to grow as a person. I'd like to buy less, and appreciate what I already have more. I want to spend more time in the real world, and less time in my virtual one. I plan on reading more books and less blogs, and ultimately decide once and for all what I would like to do with mine. I want to sign up for more things at my kid's schools, but I also want to be careful not to over commit. I'd love to learn how to take more beautiful pictures, and cook better meals. I want to focus on getting strong,  and not care about what that looks like for my body. I'd like to stop obsessing over my hair (but I'm pretty sure that is never going to happen). I'd like to find a way to give back more, and lead by example for my children. I want to spend more time as a family of four, and more time alone with my husband. Oh, and I'd really like to sleep more… there's always that!

Whew, have you got all that. I suppose I'll start to tackle that long (never changing, never ending list tomorrow). For now, I'm just going to remember the year that was, with my husband and a bottle of wine. There is a lego set to finish, and lobsters to be cooked. 2013 was a great year, and I plan on sending her out with a bang.

For those of you who are interested, here is a little look back on our year that was. 

Happy 2014, my friends! I look forward to spending another year with you all!

The Next Step.

 With the LM starting kindergarten in a few weeks, and Gray following soon after (for a whopping 6 hours a week) I've been thinking a lot about what my next step is going to be. Granted, it is a few years away, but soon, both my kids will be in school full time, and I am going to be left with quite a bit of time on my hands. I realize that things will be busier in a different way, with car pools, school responsibilities, after school sports, homework, etc... but I can't deny the fact that from 7:45-2:45 I am no longer going to be pushing a stroller for miles a day, wiping butts, spending hours at parks, museums, play dates all on a pretty steady cycle, and knowing myself, this is going to leave me feeling a bit restless. Sure, I welcome the idea of daily yoga classes, photography classes, gardening classes, cooking classes, leisurely lunches with my girlfriends (who, as it is now, I don't see nearly enough), and learning more languages (something I've been dreaming of for years) but neither of these things is going to fill my days completely, and I know soon I will be longing for something a little more challenging. Already I am trying to figure out what that will mean for me and my family.

There are two things I know for sure; 1) I do not want to go back to practicing law in any shape or form, and 2) I don't want a full time, year round job. I realize that being about to put these disclaimers out front is a complete luxury, one that I most definitely don't take for granted, and I also recognize that in this economy, especially, it means I'm going to have to get creative. My husband and I talk about this all the time. I am in the incredibly fortunate position where I can pretty much do anything I want, so long as it doesn't disrupt our family balance too much. When I quit my job after I had the LM, we both agreed that their were pros and cons, and one of the cons would be that I was signing up for our arrangement for the long term. Unless I was truly miserable, there was not going to be any take backs, from either of us. The fact is, that since that day, I have been happier than I have ever dreamed, and my husband and my children have benefited from this happiness by being able to rely on the fact that whatever it is, Mom will get it done. I enjoy being that person, as much as they enjoy having it. Family balances are so tricky, and no two are alike, so for us to find one that everyone approves of is not something that I am going to upset without real cause to do so.

I've considered possible enrolling in some sort of teacher training for yoga, or my beloved core fusion, along with wardrobe consulting, interning with a design firm, clothing designer, or media outlet. I've thought about the endless number of volunteer opportunities, how I could possibly use my legal background for a beneficial purpose, rather than for a paycheck. I thought about trying to grow my blog brand, and seeking partnerships with various established "mommy" blogs. Believe me, I've pretty much thought about it all, and there is one thing I keep coming back to.

I'd like to be a writer.

A novelist to be exact. A purveyor of literature geared to women. Yes, I'm talking about chick lit, but something more along the likes of Emily Giffin, than E.L. James. When I think back to all I've ever really wanted to do, it was this same thing. When I graduated from High School. my family gave me books on how to make it as a writer and I had planned to be an English major. My first year of college I became convinced that only a few people actually "make it" as such, and quickly switched over to political science and law, as being the only "safe" career choice. Read: paycheck.

Now I am at a completely different point in my life, where I don't have to play it safe, and working to finish my novel is something that I can do on my own time, at my own pace, without disrupting any part of our family life. So what if I, and maybe some of you, are the only ones who ever reads it, or the one that I am already plotting that will come directly after the first. What do I need to be afraid of?

Failure of course. This is why I have been sitting on my first 100 pages for almost 3 years now. Those of you who have been reading this blog since its inception know that I've thought about doing this all before. At the time I wrote 100 pages, and then began researching book agents, and how to self publish and I got so overwhelmed by the whole thing that I just put it away. Around that time we were in the middle of fertility treatments, then I was pregnant, and then I was juggling life with two kids, and I had almost completely forgot about the whole thing. It was only when I started having trouble with my computer and had to desperately save my pages to transfer them to my beautiful new 2 lb machine, that I realized what it meant to me. Now that I have it back, and on a portable piece of equipment, there is nothing standing in my way and I feel like this year is the perfect time to try to give it a go, even if it is only to say I finished.

Yesterday, I went back and read the first chapter again, and I am right back where I was three years ago. Hooked, obsessed, determined. I read a lot of fictional literature, and some is incredible, and some is crap, and I truly believe that what I'm writing is good, and will make for one hell of a beach read. With my husband riding my ass (as he likes to do when it comes to finishing this thing) and you all holding me accountable, I'm hoping that maybe I can actually do it, and how great would it be if this led to something that would be a fulfilling enterprise over the next few years. That really is the dream, isn't it?

AND if it doesn't work out, and no one but my sister wants to read it... there is always this:

So begins the next chapter... literally.

On Sleep.

 Question: How much do you all sleep? 

I ask, because my husband has me convinced that I sleep way more than most people. I'm not sure if that's true (I'm guessing it is) but when I sleep less than my usual, I truly feel sick all day (like I'm dying a slow death,) and it makes being with the kids so much more challenging (are they always so loud?) that I rarely, if ever, sleep less than 8.5 hours. In fact, if I know I have something coming up, like a concert with friends, or a dinner out, I actually have to psych myself up for a few weeks before, so by the time 10pm rolls around, I'm not falling asleep. For real. I have to wonder if this is normal!

Now, It's not that I'm all that concerned I sleep too much. On average, I go to bed sometime around 9:30-10 and get up between 6 and 7, depending on the kids. Without them, I would probably go until 8, but that hasn't happened since the day the LM was born, and I'm pretty sure I have about another decade before it does. But the thing is, I wish that I was able to sleep less. There are books I want to read, things I want to write, shows I wish I didn't have to cut from my life, but doing most of those things would mean I would have to sleep less, and there are very few things that interest me enough, that I would cut in to my eight precious hours. 

My husband used to be on the same sleep schedule as me, and with work and the kids, he found he couldn't "waste" some of those precious hours, so now we go to bed together, and he will stay up writing until after midnight, and is usually up before me. He said it just took some getting used to, but I feel like I have tried to sleep less (mostly when getting up with the babies when they were little) and there was nothing great about it. It sucked, and I'm not quite sure I want to try it again on purpose. Plus, isn't sleep good for you? It's supposed to keep you thin, sane, young?

Are/ were any of you life long sleepers. Did you ever find a way to scale back long term? I'm not interested in doing anything drastic, but I would like to find a way to slowly cut back to 7 hours. I feel like having 7-10 extra, kid free, hours a week would be such a gift, but I just don't want to do it at the cost of not having any energy throughout the day. I'm wondering is it better to start cold turkey, or slowly cut back over time. I have to ask, as I always say to my husband when he asks on Saturday night at 9:30 if I'm a baby as I head down the stairs, do some people just NEED more sleep? I think they do, but I would love to be proven wrong. 

As an aside, what it is with kids not wanting to go to bed or sleep in late. There has to be some way to convince them that they have it so good. Man, what I wouldn't give for a solid 12 hours! (Haha, I can just hear Gray laughing loudly at my suggestion that he sleep in!)

Holiday Card 2012.

Our annual holiday card is in, and I'd like to virtually wish you all the happiest of holidays and a spectacular New Year! Thank you for reading every day!

xx

It May Be Time.

 Ever since I chopped my hair off, right after the LM was born, I have vowed to never again take more than 2 inches off. EVER. Seriously, I planned on being buried with hair that went to my to my belt. Well, after seeing myself in pictures lately, I think it may be time for a snip snip. I think I may have made the turn from boho chic to hippie dippie about 5 inches ago and now I am fiending for hair cut... like tomorrow!

Tell me what you think. So, these incredibly awkward pictures were taken by the LM in a failed attempt at "how I wore it." I never post the outfits, because I can't seem to figure out how to pose for the camera, without looking totally geeky. Plus, we have very low light in our apartment, and taking nighttime pictures is pretty impossible. Poor quality pictures + awkward posing = not fit for blog viewership. Anyway, this time I am willing to make an exception if you tell me it's okay to cut my hair. If you promise to hold my hand while I do it, I'll even email you the outtakes. 

Please delete this image from your mind as soon as you look at the hair. 

See what I'm talking about? WAY too long. Right?

Don't you think something like this would be better?

Like way better?

So much more chic and sophisticated. 

I know you agree.

I'm not kidding about the tomorrow piece. I have an appointment on the books. 

Please help me. 

P.S. I wish I had better pictures from last night because that outfit may have been my favorite of all time. It didn't hurt that gray couldn't stop petting me ;)

Cozy.

 The past few weeks, it feels like I have been drowning in laundry. Seriously, I don't know how a family of four (two of whom wear a significant amount of dry clean only) can produce so many dirty clothes. Then, today, as I was folding my umpteenth load, it hit me. It's because all of us go through two or three outfits a day. No, it's not because we have such amazing style, that we need various wardrobe changes, like some kind of celebrity. Rather, it's because the second we get home, we all go directly to our rooms and take off what we have on, and slip into our cozies. It doesn't matter if it is 10 am, or 10 pm.

Is that weird?

I don't know if it's because I wore suits for such a long period of time, but I just cannot sit home in anything that is uncomfortable. For me, this includes jeans, yoga pants, shorts, dresses... you name it. I don't care what the material is, or how loose it is, nothing will ever be more comfortable than a pair of sweatpants and big socks. Nothing. I actually consider this to be my greatest luxury as a SAHM. While writing this post, I thought what I wore today. For drop off and baby class, I left the house wearing jeans, boots, this silk shirt, a cardigan and a blazer. When I got home I rushed downstairs and slipped into my usual, an over sized T and sweatpants. The kids and I will probably hit the indoor playground this afternoon, where I will go out wearing some mixed version of today's outfit(s), jeans/ over sized T/ cardigan. Tonight, I will then change in to my pajamas and robe. 

Damn, that's a lot of laundry. 

Now, certainly not everything will need to be washed, but the sad fact is, that is only my part in the clothing game. The kids leave the house in an outfit. Nap in hybrid jammie clothes, and then for bed they slip into yet another (warmer) pair of pajamas. Don't even get me started on my husband, who like me changes the minute he walks in the door, but unlike me, likes to wear 10,000 layers.

Gah. No wonder there is so much laundry.

Clearly, there is no solution. None of us are going to give up our comfys. It's just not going to happen. 

So, I guess these means I'm destined to spend 10% of my life, washing and folding clothes for the next decade. At least, the clothes, like the boys will get bigger... nothing is worse than folding and sorting a dozen pairs of baby socks!

Do you all go through multiple outfit changes a day? Do your kids? I hope we aren't the only weirdos who find normal clothes completely uncomfortable!!!

P.S. These are my favorites. I buy a pair every time J. Crew has a sale, which they are having right now ;)

Fall 2012 Picks.

Remember, last month when I was complaining that it seemed like summer was lasting forever. Well, that is no longer the case here in New England, and in the last few days it has gotten COLD outside. This is usually the time of year where I post a "why do we live here" comment, but given my non-maternity/ fit back in my entire wardrobe/ can't wait to dress up for fall status, this time around I am embracing the drop in temperature, and I am determined to make a real effort at dressing up daily (i.e. actually changing out of gym clothes after the gym a.k.a. not wearing yoga pants 24/7.) Here are my top fashion picks for Fall. Wearing any of these, I am happy to say, bring on the apple picking, pumpkin carving, leaf peeping, hot chocolate kind of weather... this year I'm ready!!! 

(Click link in the text for sources!)

This coat haunts my dreams. It really is perfect in every way. If I didn't already have a great army coat, this would be mine. Like yesterday. 

 Need I say more? This sweater is the perfect layering piece. I would wear this with a T, a boyfriend jeans and oxfords, as well as over a great patterned blouse and leather pants (my new must have staple item.)

See above. This pattern will never get old and I'm loving the boyfriend fit. Oh, and it's Gwyneth approved ;)

How great is this peter pan collared T from J. Crew. It's back ordered until November, but so worth the wait. How cute would this be with a wool pencil skirt and tights for work, or for those dreaded elementary school interviews (i.e. how I will be spending the next 3 months of my life.)

These oxblood heels (the color of the season) just arrived in my mailbox last week. They are amazing. Dress em up, dress em down, they are suck a great alternative to the traditional back pump. I especially love that natural heel, and living in a city lined with cobblestones, a solid heel can never be under appreciated!!!

Another of my favorite purchases (ever) a great leopard alternative (is this cheetah???) this super soft clutch goes with anything and everything, and it's large enough for every day use. The fold over is such a great way to secure your belongings, avoiding "the Robin" which is when you spill the entire contents of your clutch on the floor while searching for your phone or wallet in a dark restaurant. Yes, it's named after me for my clutch (pun intended) move. 

Oxblood + Rag and Bone = the pant for Fall. My 16 year old self is feeling pretty proud of herself for discovering this trend 18 years ago. If I ever thought that burgundy jeans would ever be "hot" again, I can promise you I would have held on to those babies a little bit longer. Same goes for the flannel shirt I spent the better part of my sophomore year in. 

Finally, How amazing are these timeless flats? Cap toe, nude, studded. Really, you had me at cap toe. 

There you have it! What are your pics for Fall this year? Please share!!!

 

New Blog, New Attitude!

Welcome to my new and MUCH improved blog!!! I have always felt like my little spot in the Internet was like a part of my home, and now it actually looks like a room in my house!!!!  (Gray's to be exact) I couldn't be happier with the design, and now when I see my little page, I want to scream that this is so ME!!!!! My little makeover has totally inspired me to blog more, and I already have a list of things that I've been writing down that I am dying to share with you. Assuming we get in some good naps around here, I'm hoping to be much more present!!!!

To kick things off, I thought I'd take part in one of my favorite features that shows up on some blogs every now and then... a little Q&A. Has there ever been anything you've wanted to ask me personal, or just silly? Feel free to send your questions on over and I promise I'll answer all the nice ones!!! :) Now is your time to ask about anything from IVF to my favorite baby products, to how and when my hubby and I met. You want to know it? I'll answer!!! You can email your questions or just ask in the comment section... I'll try to do my best to help with wardrobe questions, home decor, baby issues... etc... etc...

Until then, I'd like to thank you all again for reading, can you believe that for some of you it's been almost 4 years!!!

A HUGE thanks goes out to Michelle of Shabby Creations for taking my vision and making it real, and the biggest thanks goes to one of my best friends, Jaimie, of Jaimie Arnold Photography for taking the beautiful pictures that you see here. Can I just tell you that these pictures were taken in her home, in less than five minutes, during a group play date with 8 kids under 5 running around!!!!! Now that is some serious talent... and patience! If you are in the Boston area, and are looking for an amazing family and child photographer, I cannot recommend her services enough!

P.S. Check out those nifty little buttons at the top... now you can easily follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest (where I spend most my time) and email me if you desire! Come early and come often!!!

The Days Are Long....

A few days ago I stumbled upon this quote about raising kids and I can't think of anything that better describes what it is like to be a parent.

'The days are long, but the years are short.' - Gretchen Rubin

Lately, like most parents, I feel like I am living in some version of Groundhog's Day.  Everyday is the same. Nothing too bad happens, but also nothing really unexpected occurs. Some days when the LM finally goes to bed around 8 I feel like I have just finished running a marathon, and other days I can't even remember what it is that we did all day because it went by so quickly. Each week seems to be soooooooooooo long from start to finish, and then I turn around and my baby is already a few months away from turning a year old, and my little man is almost big enough to start kindergarten.

When the heck did that happen??????

Somewhere in between all the diaper changes, rides to and from school, and play dates, these kids just keep growing, and sometimes I am honestly just surprised we all survived the day. I often wonder if it is always going to feel like this, or if things do get easier as the kids get older? I imagine in some ways the day to day gets some relief, but emotionally things must get much more intense. They don't say "bigger kids, bigger problems" for no reason.

You will find no complaints here, just the musings of a mother who wonders where the time goes, and sometimes feels as though she didn't "see" her children all day, even though neither of them was more than a foot away at any given time.

Maybe I just need a little more of this....

                                                                  

Source: Uploaded by user via Robin on Pinterest

Meh.

This week has just been one of those that I'm happy to see go.

On Monday, we found out that the LM didn't get into the school that we were so ridiculously in love with. I, of course, was devastated. Cried, yelled, pouted, made calls... the usual freak out. It turns out that they had a lot of boys and they think it would be beneficial to him to spend another year at his {awesome} school that he has been attending for 3 years. In the scheme of things this is no big deal. In the moment it seems as though we (I) have failed him and now he is destined to spend the rest of his life wondering what it would have been like if he had spent that one more year in the "new school." I know, that's some seriously crazy talk and as the week progressed I was able to get some of this in perspective. Now I've succumb to the whole, "it is what it is thing,"  I  can take solace in the fact that the LM told me last night that he is "not going to another school.... EVER..... and that his school is the bestest ever." Who can argue with logic like that? So we do nothing. He stays where he is. Next year we apply again... and to a few more places, and hope that we can find him a place that loves us as much as we love them.

meh.

In other news, I'm pretty sure that the LM and I have the relationship of a 80 year old married couple. for reals. For the past few weeks it seems like all we do is bicker at each other. I am as much to blame as he is. It always starts with him talking back (which seems to be something new that came with turning 4 1/2), and then not listening. I usually make two crucial errors, 1) I try to reason with him, or 2) I try to get a reaction out of him by threatening something dramatic i.e. I'm going to take away ALL your toys. He then fake overreacts, I thrown my hands up in frustration... the moment passes and we are both totally over it. We then make some grand declaration of love, to wit, you are the best little boy in the whole world, and I love you. Then we move on. This seems to happen about 10 times a day. I have to say it's exhausting and tomorrow I'm going to try to deal with things differently. Have you ever spent the day arguing with someone who is totally irrational? I definitely don't recommend it. Looks like one of us is going to have to be the grown up (I'm guessing that's me) and keep things from escalating in such a dramatic fashion.

meh.

To top it all off, I think my baby has his 200th cold this year. Normally I would just say, this is what happens when you are the second child, but given that we just had our 2nd stomach flu of the season a week or two ago, I'm just thinking a little break from all the germs would be nice. If it were just baby, I could say, "well at least his immune system is getting a boost," but you all know that these things go from one kid to the next, then eventually to Dad (who reverts to a kid when he isn't feeling well) and then eventually to Mom, who gets over it just in time for another bout with something else. It really is a vicious cycle.

meh.

Speaking of the season... what is up with this New England weather? Look I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth (what does that even mean?) but can't it just stay warm? or cold? or something in between? We spent last weekend planning our annual Costa Rica trip, and right now I am itching for some sun and sand. Soon enough I know.

meh.

Since I'm really bitching here, can we just talk about daylight savings? Why does one hour throw things off so dramatically, and why aren't my kids as affected as me? This time change actually worked in our favor, allowing baby to stay up until 7pm, and not wake until 6:30... but the problem is that 6:30 still feels like 5:30, and then the flip is no one wants to go to bed on time. I have a feeling I was asleep before the LM last night and it was 9:30!!!

meh.

Okay, enough whining. I recognize that NONE of these things even register on the scale of bad, sad, or even abnormal... so I'll just quit my bitching, play the debbie downer wah wah in my head and move on. The weekend is here, the warm weather is coming back on Sunday, and we are all healthy (sans gray beans) so what more could we need?

Sulking done. Bring on the weekend and hopefully a better week next! I hope you all had a better week than us!

p.s. This is what I plan on doing the second this rain stops. You all remember my plea to Santa for this? Well, he, my hubby, and the amazing people over at Zigo all got together and made all our Christmas Spring dreams come true! And yes, it is absolutely as good as it looked like it would be!

J'adore Paris!

Source: celebinspire.tumblr.com via Robin on Pinterest

Okay, clearly the above is not me, but let me tell you, this is exactly how I felt during our marvelous 6 days in Paris (or as I now call it Parisdise!) I've been back 4 days and I am still unable to put into words just how amazing our trip was. People keep asking me what was my favorite part of our visit, and I feel like a fool because I just stammer on about every little detail, because I can't possibly pick just ONE thing that was better than the other. If I had to say what I will always remember, it was our last night there. The Hubs and I were all fancied up, and we were in the back of a car, having just left the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz. We were both a little buzzed from the giant martini we had just consumed, and I was staring out the window babbling on about how amazing everything was. It was at that exact moment, that the Eiffel Tower began to sparkle, and soon after our driver took a turn under a bridge and we were speeding past the Louvre. Everything was so quiet and so beautiful, and I swear I had to ask my husband to pinch me, because I couldn't believe we were actually there. The whole evening couldn't have been more picturesque, and it was the perfect end to an already perfect trip. Soon we were back in our hotel, Skyping with our boys, who were also having the time of their lives. I  really couldn't have asked for anything more! In fact, the next day, when we surprised the LM after karate, he turned to us and said, "I wasn't bad when you guys were gone, I was fine, I had fun." The baby, of course, just looked at me, smiled like I had been gone for two hours, and went on playing away." Talk about a dream homecoming! 

If any of you are planning a trip over there 1) I am so jealous, and 2) feel free to email me and I'll send you our itinerary with links. For those of you who emailed me tips, I can't thank you enough! A special thanks goes out to Coralie, a lovely reader, living in Paris, who combed through my notes to make sure I wasn't missing anything!

I am so happy to be back, but I have to admit, in my head I am already planning our next trip.... where else but back to the land of wine, cheese, chocolate croissants, steak frites, and fashion! I'm thinking next time, maybe a girls trip ;)?

Oh, how I J'adore Paris! 

P.S. Have you all seen this book? It comes out today, and after our trip, you know I had to pick up a copy! I have to admit, the kids I saw over there were VERY well behaved (and equally as beautifully dressed) I'll let you know if I pick up any tips!

The "Mom's Away" Calendar.

This Christmas my Little Man became obsessed with his Advent Calender. Obsessed. The kid doesn't even like chocolate that much, yet every morning he would jump with joy when he got to open a new door. I figured if I made him a "mom's away" calendar then he would have a little something every day to get excited about, and the bonus is that he will know exactly how many days are left until we come back. Each little envelope contains a mini skateboard, a sweet treat, and a little note with an inside joke. With this to look forward to each morning, I'm pretty sure the little guy isn't even going to miss us! I, on the other hand, haven't even left yet and I already feel like I've been away from my babies for weeks! Oh, and you know it had to be Paris themed!

Since I am going to miss you all too, I figured I would also leave you a little something something. Here are 6 links for the next 6 days. No peeking early ;).

1. The funniest video that I have ever seen. For reals. Like, I might have peed a little, funny. (Oh, and I'm embarrassed to admit I've said like 80% of these things. I'm SUCH a dork!) 
2. These are the best thing I have ever tasted. I have to stop buying them. I have a 2 bag a week habit, and so does my husband. Last week I went to Trader's and the ONLY thing I bought was 6 bags of chocolate covered pretzels. Yes, they are all gone. Someone has to stop making them. Please. 
3. If I could live anywhere I would want to live here. Anyone want to loan me a few million dollars? Jenna Lyons will forever be my style icon. Word is she and the hubs are still living here together. Wonder if her girlfriend lives there too? Who can blame them? I wouldn't want to move either!
4. This bedroom makeover on the cheap is awesome. Just goes to show what some talented friends, and an uber popular blog can do. 
5. My new favorite recipe I make this about 3 times a week. I traded the chicken for beef broth (don't tell my hubby please) and it's as easy as it is perfect for those cold winter nights. 
6. Leave it to my sister, who knows me better than anyone, to find the most AMAZING baby gift for my little bean. I cannot wait until he fits in it! (Does anyone else remember the day he died? I was 14 and was devastated!!!!!!!!!!)

So there you have it, a little pressie from me to open each day! I'll try to get a few pictures of our trip up while we are there, but if not, I'll see you next Friday!

Au Revoir!!!!!!

So.... Now We're "Those" People.

My husband used to tell a story about a guy he was in Residency with, who was so addicted to his noise machine that he absolutely could not sleep without it. One night when he was sleeping in the call room, the thing broke, and his mother had to bring him another at 3 am (let's overlook the fact that the dude was married with two kids, and it was his "mommy" he needed to save the day) so he could sleep.

We would all have a laugh about it, and would question how someone could be so crazy that he couldn't sleep without the sound of running water, chirping birds, or a rain forest somewhere in the background.

... and then we became one of "those" people.

You know. The sound machine people. Oh, and it's not just us... it's our kids too. I don't know exactly how or when it happened, but a few years back we became hooked on this, and last night when the one in our room broke, and within about 5 seconds I was on amazon overnighting a new one, while also purchasing a "back up" I realized that while there some things I can live without; a noise machine is not one of them. I also discovered that I am not alone in this addiction, when my husband spent 15 minutes with the noise machine app on our phone trying to get the right "tone" of white noise before he could go to sleep.

Yes, we are crazy.

It's just not us.

My kids, and my Sister all cannot sleep without this thing. When we travel together we bring three of them with us, one for each room. For someone who hasn't tried one it's hard to explain just what it is that is so awesome about them. It's not like they help you to fall asleep faster, and living on a busy street, you still hear noise in the background, but your actual quality of sleep is just SO MUCH BETTER. I swear this thing just lulls you from one sleep cycle to another. I am fully convinced this little humming machine is why my LM is such an awesome sleeper, and why baby Gray (despite the fact that he still wakes up once a night for feedings) as equally as awesome when it comes to napping, and going to bed.

The downside is, of course, that they can break. Which is why you need a back up. Or a mommy who can bring you one. Or amazon express delivery, which made my day by bringing us a new one, just in time for nappy (I seriously considered sleeping with the LM just to share his.)

I actually feel like I should bury the old one, I loved it so much. Look at it, all sad and alone in the recycling. RIP Sleep Mate.... you were a great companion.

Twenty Twelve... The Year of the Patient Mum.

I am not usually one for New Year's resolutions. I generally eat pretty healthy (sans my minor baked goods addiction.) Exercise as much as I need, to to keep the body I want. Spend within my means. Be grateful for the things I have... and I try to have as much concern for those around me as I have for myself. It seems like most resolutions fall into these categories, and while I can certainly pledge to do any one of them, it just seems like making such a resolution would either be too easy or would only be so I can say that in the end I was successful. Where's the fun in that?

This year I figured I would do something hard. Something that only I would know if I was able to accomplish. Something that would really be beneficial for me, if in fact I managed to succeed at my goal. Something that needs to be worked on. Badly.


This year I will have more patience. 


This mostly will apply to my kids, but in reality it needs to apply to them, and everyone else I come in contact with on a daily basis. I admit it, I am not a patient person. Not at all. When it comes to strangers, I am typically able to hide it behind a smile (and sometimes a stink eye) but in my head I am thinking of all the ways I would 1) do it differently, 2) ram into their car if I could, 3) punch them in the face, or 4) call corporate headquarters and try to bring down the wrath of the big guys on them. Of course, I wouldn't do any of these things, and instead, I am only hurting myself while wasting (valuable) energy thinking only negative and toxic thoughts, which are ultimately forgotten, as is the reason for my annoyance, some 15 minutes later.

Well, not any more.

Whether I'm in traffic, line, on hold, or working with the sllloooowwweeessstttt checkout individual on the planet, I will try, try, try, to take a deep breath, realize that this will soon be over, and dig deep down to find the patience to manage any situation with a real (or close to it) smile.

Then there are the kids.

I love my kids. My kids are my world. I live for my kids. Sometimes (often) they drive me absolutely insane. Most of the time it is my fault. Why? Because I don't have enough patience. I usually try to do way to much in a day, and then freak out when I don't get something done, or when they inevitably meltdown. Now that there are two of them, I find that the meltdowns tend to be tandem, and at the end of a long day. A basic recipe for disaster. Sometimes I can go to my happy place (i.e. a nice glass of wine, after 6pm of course) and sometimes I react (a parenting 101 no no.) This usually involves sending the LM to his room, or trying to reason with a 5 month old about why he won't eat/sleep/poop/ stop crying, both things that really benefit no one. What I need to do is take a deep breath, count to 5, and think of the picture above (I might actually frame this in my kitchen.) This man, is in fact, living my worst nightmare, and somehow seems to be keeping it together (whether it's staged or not.)

This year, I vow to remember, my kids are only young once, these are the only ones I'm going to have, and in reality, this is as hard as it's going to get (fingers crossed.) Sadly, these boys are only going to get bigger, and more distant, and one day I will long for a time when my baby is literally spitting peas in my face, while my four year old demands that I watch every single move he makes while he refuses.to.stop.talking.for.one.second.not.even.to.take.a.breath.

I realize Rome wasn't built in a day, and I can imagine that things will be easier when baby is again sleeping through the night (this will definitely be a post coming soon) but I fully recognize that this is a personality flaw that I have lived with for years, and there is no time like the present to start trying to better myself, for my kids, and for everyone I come in contact with.

Twenty Twelve... The Year Of The Patient Mum?  Stranger things have happened.

(Photo via Pinterest... that poor man)

P.S. I realize I have been a bit slack here on the blog. With the kids out of school, that nasty stomach flu, and now a family cold, I just haven't found a way to keep up my momentum. This whole not sleeping thing is killing me and I've been trying to sneak in a nap when the kids go down, hence my lack of time to write. I'm hoping this soon will pass, and I'll be back to my usual bloggy/chatty self. New week I'm hoping to get up some "baby centered" posts including some of my new favorite things, and also a great giveaway from What To Expect When You're Expecting. We also have much to discuss re: the upcoming Paris trip, and of course there is winter fashions for kiddies and mums, some new recipes, and I've still been meaning to share some personal posts including our birth story, and what my hubby and I have decided about whether or not we should try to expand this little family of ours again (hint: we're not :)) Bear with me... there is still much to come!

Dude, Where's My Picture?

I don't know why, and I'm pretty sure it defies the law of physics, but for some reason I am finding it impossible to get one photograph, where both my kids look even semi picture perfect. This is no joke. I uploaded almost 1000 pictures this morning, and I can't find even one where I have both of them looking at the camera, let alone, smiling AND looking at the camera. Am I missing something here?

Individually, they are both adorable (yes, this is coming from their mother who thinks the sun shines out their little butts.)

But together?

I get a lot of this...

(This is what happens when I say "smile")

and, a little of this...

but mostly, I get this...

I have a newfound respect for all of you photographers out there. Without you, I have a feeling my Christmas card would end up looking something like this....

(How'd that baby move so fast in the background???)

Do any of you have any tips on how to get a good picture of two kids that refuse to smile on cue, and/or sit still? I have a feeling the answer is take A LOT of pictures... there's got to be a keeper in there somewhere, right????

To think, our parents used to do this with film. Whoever was developing all those pictures must have been laughing all the way to the bank!

A Grown Up Apartment... On A Budget.

I'm ending my hiatus! I thought it would only take me a week to get my s**t together, and couldn't believe it when I went on the blog and saw it had been over two weeks since I had last posted! Where has the time gone? I wish I had more detail regarding what we've been up to, but the last few weeks have been kind of a blur. A blur that involved endless diaper changes, feedings, and (sadly) sleepless nights... oh, and lots of similes too (melt.) I packed up and said goodbye to my two big boys, and have spent more than my fair share on Skype, hearing about all of the fabulous adventures they are having. I re-organized most of my house, and am finally getting some use out of my dream nursery. There was a mid-week trip to the cape with my sister, and squish which was definitely the highlight of my Summer. Lots of girl time, lots of kid time, even more pool time, and I even had my first legitimate New England Lobster Bake (the steamers were by far my favorite!) We even had a hurricane (err tropical storm) to boot!

You would think taking care of a newborn would have consumed most of my time, but alas it was my first born (aka my sister) who took up most of our "free time." I knew I'd owe her for all the help she has been with the kiddies, and as planned she collected by way of moving/assembling/ and decorating her new apartment that I procured for her. (Which just so happens to be right around the corner. Coincidence? Yeah, I don't think so ;))

She moved out a few weeks early, and straight out of college, the girl had nothing. NOTHING. We figured that since she was moving across the country it would be cheaper to buy everything new, than to ship, and we were working with a VERY strict budget. A under 1,200.00 budget. For EVERYTHING. When I say everything, I mean everything from the mattress, to the light bulbs. At first we weren't sure it could be done, but after hitting my favorite budget shops over the past few months (Ikea, Target, Urban Outfitters) we saw that it could be possible.

How did we do? You be the judge.

The before: 

5 hours into the assembly: Gray was overseeing the construction.

7 hours in: A much needed beer after realizing we put the wrong piece in about an hour earlier. (I blame Gray, he was supposed to be keeping track of the directions.)

Some two days later... the final (and fabulous) result!

A grown up apartment... on a budget!!!

I couldn't be happier with the end result and the best part is that it totally reflects my sis's young and bohemian style. Every pice of furniture does double duty (drawers are built in under the bed, a bookcase in the headboard, and wheels on the desk) and we can't believe how much storage she has in one tiny room! It is such a happy place, and perfect for a girl who, in my eyes, deserves the world!!!!

What do you all think??? Such a fun girl's room, right?