Adventures in Closet Land

Today I returned to my closet to organize and pare down my wardrobe, and found myself at the start of a trip down memory lane.  My clothes spent a lot of time in discussions with me, and their conversations went something like this: "Don't get rid of me. We went to some awesome Halloween parties and spent our first Halloween with Lucas"; "I was your favorite blouse during that Goth phase"; "Keep me- I got you sooo many compliments at the office for how professional you looked!"; "You were pregnant and not even showing and I helped bring out that glow"; and my fave- "You have to keep me- I was a gift from someone special" (even though 1. no longer fits; 2. and 3. outgrew in style; 4. doesn't fit style OR body; and 5. you did your job and its time for a new home. 

 

My trick to dealing with the dreaded Closet Overhaul is to picture your closet space as real estate market.  Every square inch needs to be treated like its paying rent, and if something is taking up space and not being used, it needs to go so you can make room for the things you love and will wear. 

 

While I can't exactly peg this one as a "Zen Moment", it IS a work in progress.  One giant Goodwill bag later, I feel secure saying that its in the works, and hopefully my new wardrobe will reflect my new phase in life- wearing clothes that fit my body AND spirit, and the place where I'm at now- new mom, nonstop adventures, creative and able to cleanup messes in a single bound  ;)

Milestone: Nate officially turned 6 months old last week! It's incredible to think that a few short months ago, he was a newborn infant who could barely keep his eyes open, and my mind traveled over the ground we've covered together since then as a family- the hard times (colic, sleep schedules, teething) and the good ones (baby's first smile, introducing him to friends and family, our daily adventures together, feeding Nate his first solids, and many others).  I have watched this li'l man grow into his personality- and his happy feet!- and it has been amazing, exhausting, scary, wonderful, and never boring! Each month I write down on the calendar my "Dreams for Baby"- this month's include a short road trip, a visit to local farmer's markets, and upgrading Nate's mealtimes from two solids a day to three- so he'll be officially having breakfast, lunch and supper like the "big folks".  It's a happy time for sure!

 

We are now fully on our way to the "Dog Days of Summer"- speaking of which, I've started a group on Facebook called "Dog-Mas", a place for my female friends who have dogs to meet and discuss our furry kids.  This Sunday we'll have our first group walk- I'm looking forward to it, and so is Mr. Beau!

 

Wishing everyone cooling soaks in the kiddie pool, sprints through the sprinkler, ice tea, floppy hats, and barefoot-through-the-grass afternoons!

xoxo, 007

 

Memorial Day 2013

 

This was a great Memorial Day- our first with Baby Nate, and a relaxing & mellow one (well, as much as being new parents with a li'l man can be "relaxing" haha).  We had a small cookout at home, and enjoyed family time and reflected on our many freedoms and how good life is.  I bought me and Lucas some colorful "stars" and "stripes" flip flops to lounge around in, and some funky patriotic sunglasses (pictured above).  We took some family photos, including the one on this page.  I love this one the best because of li'l man's feet and the family theme.  The red, white & blue doesn't hurt either ;)

 

Interestingly, while going through old email accounts, I accessed my Myspace page for the first time in at least a year, and found this old blog that I had posted on- you guessed it- Memorial Day a few years ago.  I found it to be as insightful now as it was then, and decided to share it here for the rest of you.  Hope you enjoy it. 

 

Current mood:grateful

 

"Freedom isn't free" is the old adage we hear when it comes to Memorial Day and fighting wars.  Its the simple truth.  In a time honored tradition, men and women have stood for their nation, and for their families and friends and the freedom we experience here at home, since the beginning.  Memorial Day is the smallest gesture of gratitude that we can give.  Our soldiers- including the very young who were technically not old enough to vote, or drink- put their lives on the line to protect our nation and the myriad freedoms that many of us take for granted.  Freedoms including what books we can read, what movies we may watch, who we can marry and what careers, groups, presidents we may choose.  They fight these bloody wars so that we can go to bed at night secure in the knowledge we will wake up to the same world we fell asleep in.  They did so and continue to do so, not for the pittance paid them, or the glory of the profession or the excitement of traveling to the far corners- but for family and home.  They march out on the battlefield, whether it be a barren desert or a lush and dangerous jungle, decades ago or this day and age.  They move in ranks, our modern day warriors, and face down death with the ice of fear in their veins and the knowledge that it can all end in the time it takes between heartbeats while time marches on and steals precious weeks, months, years, from the lucky ones who survive to make it back home.

When the Memorial Day barbecues are over and the patriotic parades have passed, I hope we all remember our fallen, and those who served for us throughout the years.  A final quote: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but choosing to act despite it." 

God Bless America. 

Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon was my first official return to volunteer work post-baby.  It was a short one for me, 9:30-12:00, but enough to get my "paws" wet and get back into helping out.  I made the most of my time and helped set up the tent and table, sell merchandise, and get the word out about the Sula Vaccination Clinic being held the following weekend (April 13th). 

It was a beautiful spring day.  The humidity was low, the sun was out, and it was cool and balmy- in other words, perfect weather to be outdoors.  In New Orleans, we have a very short window of perfect spring weather, and this was it.  I was at the Sula Foundation tent, and we were lucky enough to obtain a spot under the oaks and out of direct sunlight.  As far as the volunteering went- it was difficult to get back into the swing of things at first- my mommy brain had a hard time doing the simple things like taking inventory of tee shirts (anything involving counting must be done two and three times these days, because its hard to focus.  This new mom is still burning the midnight oil and running on sleep deprivation and reduced caffeine!).  But as the morning marched on, things got easier.  The folks I volunteered with were super-nice, and it was fun comparing "furry kid notes" with the others.  Here's a shot of my new Sula friends, and the adorable pitbull Leo:

 

It was heartwarming to see so many folks out with their "best friends".  There were so many different types of dogs, from the tiniest that would fit in a purse, to the leggy Great Danes and greyhounds.  Some were dressed to the nines. like the duo in the shot below; most were decked out in leashes and colorful collars.  People from all walks were there, and having a great time roaming around, checking out the tents set up by the various rescue organizations, and listening to the music belting out in the background.   

 

 



We had quite a few visitors at the Sula tent, like this adorable pitbull, who stopped by to check out our selection of books (and treats on hand):

The Louisiana Boxer Rescue, my other volunteer group, was also out participating in Dog Day Afternoon.  I was able to steal away and visit for a few minutes; my only regret is that I was unable to take pix and visit the Boxer Kissing Booth, because I ran out of time.  But it was lovely to see the ladies out, and the adorable pups.  And the Kissing Booth had a very long line by the time I made my way back to the Sula tent.  Cooper the Boxer knows how to steal the show every time ;)

 

It was great catching up with my fellow volunteers and dog lovers yesterday.  Its good to know that I can be a mommy and still be a volunteer/dog lover.  My only other regret about the day is that Beau wasn't there with me to enjoy it.  Seeing everyone out with their furry kids made me miss my own terribly.  But I made myself a promise- next year, I'm taking Beau to Dog Day Afternoon to show him off and enjoy some quality time together.  We might even make it a family outing and bring Lucas and Nathan along to enjoy family moments. 

 

Hope everyone was able to get out, even for a little while, and enjoy this year's Dog Day Afternoon.  Congrats to the hard working volunteers and animal organizations that make this event a success each and every year!!

 

Have a great week,

Jamie

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."- e.e. cummings

Fooled by April

Today is April Fool's Day.  It brought a smile to my face, remembering this time last year.  Last April Fool's Day was special because I had learned the news a few days before that I was officially pregnant.  We hadn't told anyone because we wanted to bask in the news before sharing it.  And, being the cautious type, I didn't want to "jinx" my pregnancy by sharing it prematurely.  April 1st arrived, and a small part of me was tempted to share the news, trick everyone into thinking it was an April Fools prank, then come back the next day with the news again.  Instead we waited, which was for the best.  But the unplayed prank was a fun secret my husband and I shared, and today I thought about it, looked at Nate and smiled :)

I was listening to Stevie Wonder this evening, and a song caught my ear.  It was perfect for today, with the lyrics "You've been fooled by April".  Here's the video of "Summer Soft":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv2dSAYtb5c

***************************

Nathan is now four months and three days old.  Here's the latest shot of li'l man:

Yes, the old saying is true- it goes so fast! Yet at times I can hardly believe this sweet little man is real.  Life is good!

April showers are around the corner, but so are May flowers.  Wishing each of my readers a rainbow after the storm has passed...

xoxo,
007

Carnival Time; The Littlest Dragon

Well, its officially Mardi Gras time, and we will be celebrating our first carnival season with baby! It's traditional (both locally and at our house) to wear costumes on Fat Tuesday, and this first year with Nathan will be no exception.  I was at a complete loss about what theme to choose, so I hit the thrift store with no expectations and an open mind.  There were lots of Halloween costumes, and I was in for a rude awakening when I tried on a skeleton jumpsuit, and saw my post-pregnancy body illuminated by the fitting room's harsh fluorescent lighting.  I had to laugh, but it was painful laughter :/  Back to the racks.  About a half hour later, I stumbled across a gorgeous silk kimono-style robe, reversible, black with an embroidered dragon on one side, and bright red print on the other.  At a mere $6.99, it was a steal- I bought it with Lucas in mind.  The next costume piece I found was a ladies' silk blouse, Chinese-style with a mandarin collar.  I tried it on and, miracles, it fit! Now it was time to find baby's costume, and fortunately I was able to find a bright orange hooded cape with a dragon's face printed on the hood, and wings on the rest.  Feeling like I had struck gold, I brought everything to the checkout and left $16.00 lighter and with a complete family theme in tow: Chinese Food For Thought :)  We'll "Carnivalize" it with beads and our masks.  And while we won't be going out on Fat Tuesday- the weather reports are predicting all-day rain, and baby is still too young- we will dress up and have a photo shoot to document the day, and eat king cake, and watch parade coverage "front row" on t.v.  And I've planned a 2013 mask design based on the above shot of the king cake- an abstract translation. 

 

Life with Nathan is becoming a big adventure, now that the colic is almost over.  Now, we are in the beginning stages of teething! Never a dull moment ;).  In all seriousness, I love my baby so much, and he has transformed my world.  My life is all about taking care of his needs, and doing what I can to make sure he's not only comfortable but smiling and happy.  Some days, that's a bigger job than others! (Case in point- I'm rocking his baby seat with one foot while working on this blog- once the rocking stops, the crying begins.  It's a balance!)  These days, I'm starting to feel more confident in my parenting.  My biggest challenge is that balance- I'm performing my mommy chores and housewife chores with success, but at a frantic pace.  I would like to get to a point where I get everything done, without breaking a sweat.  Still not there yet! But every day is an adventure and a learning experience, and Nathan and I are on this journey together.  And baby is growing so much, both in appearance and personality! He is starting to really talk his "baby talk", and I can practically hear the exclamation points in his baby sentences.  He also has discovered a new, piercing shriek that grabs you by the hackles ( no idea where that came from, lol).  That shriek means business!

 

Another challenge is eating healthy.  I'm a big fan of chocolate and sweets, and its been tough to cut back due to breastfeeding.  I need more fruits and veggies in my diet.  We are looking for local and nearby farmer's markets to stock up on healthy, organic produce for our family's dietary needs.  It might be a good way to meet other young families in the neighborhood too. 

Now that the weather is getting milder, we are finally able to venture out of the house together, and have been taking strolls around the neighborhood.  I love the stroller, and the fact that it has a little "sunroof" that I can keep an eye on Nathan while we walk around.  I've been introducing him to our neighbors and the street where we live, and its been fun!  People stop us to admire li'l man, and when he's not sleeping on the walk, he's charming them with his big smile and waving hands.  And we're meeting other families with babies of their own.  The other day, we met a young couple with a five month old baby girl named Riley.  She was so gorgeous, and looked the quintessential baby fashion plate with her crocheted hat and pierced ears.  I couldn't help but wish we could set up baby dates and put the two little ones together- maybe develop a friendship, or find Nate's future girlfriend lol.

 

While we are on a "bedtime routine", a "feeding routine" and a few others, there are always new experiences tucked in each day.  We are working on exploring our world more, and not getting stuck into too much of a "routine".  I give Nate different toys to snuggle and play with each day, and have finally mastered the art of the burp.  And whoever said that girls are more fun because you can dress them up, obviously never had a baby boy.  This little man has a wardrobe fit for a prince, and I get a kick out of changing his outfits and dressing him up for our outings and visitors.  Almost makes me forget how much I miss my own fashion sense, lol. 

 

The big payoff of having a baby: it's gratifying when Nathan looks directly into my eyes and smiles at me.  Makes every drop of blood/sweat/tears worthwhile! And Beau, our furry son, has been so good with the baby boy- keeping a respectful distance but very sweet tempered when he is nearby. People are already asking when we'll have our next kid.  What next one?  We have a baby boy and a furry son, and as far as I'm concerned our family is complete. 

 

I have a baby calendar that has a block of space in each month for "dreams for baby".  It helps make me mindful of what I want to accomplish, and what to bring to Nate's life adventures each month.  This month's dreams are:  (1) Take baby to the park where we got married; (2) Dress up and celebrate our first Mardi Gras together; (3) Sort through and organize baby's clothes- he is slowly growing out of the "itsy bitsy" wardrobe and into the 3-6 month range.  And we are contemplating baptism, and Easter outfits, and age-appropriate toys to let Nathan play with.  I am also keeping a baby memory book and trying to document all of the important stuff along the way.  I don't think I'll forget a moment, but its good to have it in a safe place. 

 Life is awesome, no matter how hard the road.  I am honored to be the mommy of this special little person.  I look back at the ultrasound photo posted on my memory board, and remember when Nathan was just a wish, then a "li'l sprout" in the womb, and Lucas and I wondered and imagined what he would look like and how life would change with a new addition.  Then he was finally here, and he exceeded every hope and dream we ever had.  He is truly the light of our life, and every smile, every kick of those happy feet, makes my heart burst with love.