Back in Action

....and we're back. Finally. I am so excited to have the computer back home and be in touch again. I would like to claim that I have a ton of photos to catch you all up on taken during the lapse in blogging, but I don't. My little break from technology was a total break I guess.


Slacker? Most definitely. 


Life is good though and we are really enjoying getting ready for the holidays. 

Elsa loves the Christmas tree, which has become her new hangout. She gazes at it, rearranges the ornaments, and or brings them to me with the tops pulled off and says, "Heego Mommy".  

George doing the honors since both girls were in full meltdown mode by angel time. And yes, it's going to be a Bud Light Christmas.

Jude is still not sleeping. Ever. And since no sleep makes me a horrible person, we finally resorted to force feeding him rice cereal. 


Nyah has become chief Jude feeder. She reminds us all of feeding time (which I appreciate because I often forget) (not because I don't feed my baby but more because I am used to just nursing him). She pours the rice, tells me what I am doing wrong, gets the spoon, and makes every attempt to independently feed Jude but usually settles reluctantly on holding the spoon with me or being in charge of wiping what he spits out. 


She is in her glory. Who would have known feeding her brother would bring her so much joy but it is her new hobby and its wonderful to see.

We got an awesome surprise guest over the weekend. My Dad (better known as Pop around these parts) arrive Sunday fresh from the West coast at the end of some awesome road trip. Yes, I am envious. 

The girls have maintained a constant high pitch scream since he arrived and are doing their best to entice him to chase/tickle/flip them at all times. 


I always enjoy having my Dad around. He is the best at doing the little things that make my life so much easier, like hanging clothes lines, sharpening my dull knives, fixing Jude's swing, hanging stuff, and he hasn't even gotten to the list we have for him yet. 


I have enjoyed having someone to hang out with during the day. We have been working the GPS and exploring Baton Rouge, getting out and doing things I am usually too scared to do because I am afraid of my own two year old(s tantrums). It is absolutely amazing what is out there, restaurants, book stores, Whole Foods, I am in awe. 


I know it is going to take some time to get back into my blogging routine, but for now, it is so good to be back. 


Hope everyone is well.

Are You Still There?

I really could never find the right time to give up the computer (hints the procrastination) but as much as I miss blogging, the break from technology couldn't have come at a more perfect time. 

The break has given me a chance to get ready for the holidays, finalizing shopping (what little we are doing, going homemade as much as possible), getting ready for Elsa's second birthday, decorating, cooking, catching up on Martha shows, snuggling my babies and just relaxing. And I must say, it feels good.

A few updates. It was a little touch and go for awhile but I think we managed to avoid a lice outbreak (grose) in the house, thank you so much for the tips. 

We made a visit Santa, who happens to hang out in the mall here in Lousiana as opposed to the hardware store, like in St. Croix, which Nyah found interesting. All went well, no crying, terrified children this year. One very sceptical child, but thankfully no tears were shed.

This years photo goes like this (since I can't share), Nyah looking off at something unknown, Elsa sitting perfectly still, not moving an inch the entire time she sat on the old man's lap, not even to smile. And then there is Jude, laid back in Santa's arms with the biggest grin on his face. Classic.

As I went to retrieve my children from Santa's lap, he stated that, "This is about as much fun as hurting cats." Hmm, not sure what that meant but lets just say we have come across some interesting Santa's in our day. All part of the fun.

We got the tree up and all of our newly purchased Christmas ornaments (our old ones still reside in a box in St. Croix) were hung with care, mostly around the bottom of the tree right on top of each other, by Nyah and Elsie.

I finally gave in and added the box of pink ornaments and colored lights to our perfectly color coordinated tree, which Nyah found at Nana's house. The kids love it and I must say, it's growing on me. I have George to thank for convincing me that helping the kids have fun Christmas memories is way more important than having a coordinating tree of silver and blue hues.  Disco Christmas for sure. Lets party.

Finally, Elsa's obsession with her blankie has reached new heights. I was on to her a few weeks ago when she kept tossing her newly washed blankies (receiving blankets) to the side prior to her nap but thought nothing of it. I then conducted an experiment last evening when she was really tired and ready for bed. I pulled one fresh blankie after another out of the dryer and handed them to her. She caressed each to her nose and quickly rejected each and every one of them. Dirty, smelly blankets only for her please. I am sure the longer they are dragged across Baton Rouge the better.

Anyway, computer should be back in my paws next week (not that I've been stalking Best Buy or anything). Looking forward to working her keys to the max. Until then...

A Little Lost

Bummer. I finally made myself do it this morning. I reluctantly turned my old computer over to Best Buy for a little tune up. I have been procrastinating trusting my computer in the hands of another for the better part of this year but the warranty expires in a few weeks so it was time to be a grown up and give it up.

Unfortunately, turning a computer over for service is nothing like turning a car over. No rentals available. So I will be giving it a go on George's work computer which I feel so awkward using. I am a Mac girl through and through. I am not sure how picture uploading will work on this guy but hopefully I can keep up the blogging (with photos) until my bff returns home in an estimated 3-4 weeks.

This Dell and I have gotta make this work because the Christmas tree just arrived and the girls are over the top, and Jude turns five months tomorrow. Hope to have a post with photos up soon.

A Week of Family

Family has just left the premises and I am sitting here counting my blessings because we really have the best family, all around. I am still buzzing, unable to come down from it all. The hustle in the house was perfect, meals cooked, kids screaming and running around, and now it is just so quiet. 


Thanksgiving, birthday, and now taking the day to celebrate our love (anniversary). We don't mess around, gotta get it all in in one weekend. Beyond thankful for it all.

 Momma's boy

Momma's boy

Thanksgiving dinner.

Johnny cakes, oh yes.

The cousins

Priorities

Hot chocolate with marshmallows. One of the many perks of living in a place where the temperature drops below seventy degrees. 

And also the thing she confessed to her teacher she was most thankful for in life, just above puzzles, playing with her sister, and Mommy fixing her hair. 


I'm just relieved I made the list. Rupunzel's mommy has been redeemed.

I Can't Believe I am Writing This

As I dropped Nyah off to school one morning last week, her teacher rushed out and started picking through her hair with absolutely no warning. I was a little taken aback but before I had time to ask questions she broke the news to me. Another student's mother had just called and revealed that the boy had... lice. 


As in head lice. 


As in bugs crawling around in his hair and reproducing. So she was checking each kid before letting them enter school and I thought that was that. Thought she was nippin' the bugs in the butt and avoiding an epidemic of grossness.


Jump to yesterday afternoon, as we entered school to pick Nyah up. The teacher breezed by me and nonchalantly just happened to mention to me that she wasn't sure if I knew, but five kids now have lice now, no big deal. 

Um, what? FIVE?! Which at this point means bugs must live in the school and could be taking up residence on us as we speak? 

I immediately wanted to grab my children, pick them up under my arms and run the heck out of there. I am not sure what shocked me more, the thought of my children having lice or the fact that she had no doubt we would have to cut the girls' hair if they contracted the little problem.

I'm itching as I type this.


Can you even imagine if either of our girls got lice? Do you realize how much hair they have? I mean, it's a struggle to comb Elsa's hair with a regular comb, let alone a fine tooth one. When I say that washing hair and combing night is a big in our house, I mean its a huge, has to be scheduled in advanced and takes a good hour of our lives to complete. Combing our girls' hair with a fine tooth comb would result in WWIII & WWIV up in here and is not a battle I ever,ever want to wage. 

So I don't know if I should take this as a sign that the over priced preschool is dirty or just roll with it as one of those things that happens in schools and a part of childhood. And for the record, the school is great and I am sure the teacher is living out one of her greatest nightmares that could ever occur in her sweet school. 


The teachers explained that this was the first "outbreak" in nine years and the best thing to do to avoid the problems was to put product in the girls' hair because the bugs do not like dirty hair. And at that point, even the teachers and the assistants were in the restroom showing off their sprays and products to me which they apply each morning as some sort of defence. 


So I just said a little thank you to myself, as we bolted out of there, that our girls have the hair they do which can't be washed more than once a week (you think we're weird now) unless really dirty. Because I am convinced Nyah's only defense against infestation (I don't even like that word) are her dirty curls. 


And you better believe she left for school this morning with her hair completely loaded with lotion, serum, oil and hairspray in hopes that she doesn't bring any little friends home. And I thought we just moved away from all the bugs I could ever want in my life.

She asked what I was doing as I obsessively drenched her hair in any and everything I could get my hands on. My reply was something along the lines of, "Bugs. Don't want to let the bugs get in your hair." I can't wait to see how she repeats this information as her imagination runs wild with it all day.

And I can't believe I am writing this because our family that is en route to our house for the holidays suddenly just realized that something has come up and they won't be able to make it. 


Seriously guys, no issues here. I promise. Please, don't turn around.

Our ERGObaby

I am sure I have mentioned this before, but I have to dedicate an entire post to one of our favorite baby item. Because it is our life saver. Something we use daily, and is absolutely an item I can't do without.

So here is how our love affair with the ERGObaby carrier began. I first heard of the carrier in St. Croix when my brother and sister in law were staying with us. We wanted to take a challenging hike to some tidal pools and we wanted to take Ny along, naturally. Since she was just over year old, the thought of her walking just wasn't an option. 


At the time, I only had a sling to carry Ny in and honestly my neck would hurt after extensive use, especially with a heavy babe. So my bro suggested the ERGO, his friend had used one and loved it. I did my research and forgot about it. 


Then when Elsie joined our party, Nan gave us an ERGO as a baby gift and that was it. We were hooked.


From dropping Nyah off to school, to competing a grocery run with three kids (one being a little on the rebellious side which speaking of, I broke my promise to myself and tried a store run with her yesterday and it was a success. Thank you Doritos!), to enjoying a family walk, or an afternoon in the park, the ERGO is part of us and allows us to be comfortably hands free to keep up with the spunky ones in our lives. 


And there is really nothing better than having your most treasured close to your heart.

And George even wears Jude, though the adjustments have to be let way out to account for his XL shoulders, it still fits us both perfectly. Women old and young just can't help themselves when they see Jude so close to George and have to stop and aww all over our guys. 

George overheard the woman behind the pastry counter profess to her co worker the other day that, she was, "Going to make her husband wear her baby like that," which might be the best we've heard yet. Hopefully George is contributing to the idea that baby wearing is the cool thing to do as a guy.

Giving Elsa an easy lift while wearing Jude.

My mom even took to the ERGO this summer in Indiana and often requested if she could "wear" Jude when we were out together. Its just so comfortable, even with a big heavy dude like Jude. 


But most importantly, the little buddy is so cozy and in pure bliss when he is in his perch and sleep usually greets him within an instant.

Our Ergo is old (but still going strong) and now that I am checking out the website, I see many updates have been made which is great. Here is our ERGO, minus the stylish fabric. Our ERGO has a grey hood.

The ERGO. Jude's automatic mode of transport when we are out and about and a baby item we absolutely couldn't live without. Thanks ERGO!

Click here and here to see some of our other must have baby items.

*Follow up: Click HERE to see photo of George with Jude in ERGO.