Playing Dress Up

Ever since we got married we've talked about going on a big romantic vacation for our five year anniversary. Somewhere hot, with a beach, maybe the bahamas, at the very least back to Hawaii. It was always the plan, but sometimes you just can't plan everything. And last year we decided to have a baby, and that baby decided to spend a week hanging out in the NICU/special care nursery. So we got medical bills instead of the beach. But that's ok, because he's ok, and that's all that really matters.  

And also, let's just face the facts here, even with all the money in the world there's no way I'd be ready to leave my baby for a week already. It took me until Wes was two and a half to leave him and that was only for four days. So, there was no vacation this year. But what we did get was a beautiful anniversary photoshoot by Katie to honor the day. We went back to the same old house where we were married. I wore my old dress and (even though it's sleeveless) the weather was ridiculously nice for a January day and so we even managed to sneak outside for a few shots. It was lovely, and we can't thank Katie enough. Below are a few of the photos I wanted to share if you'd like to take a peek.

BTW, we left the pocket square at home for this one ;)

This is Happening Right Now

Monday afternoon and both boys are asleep.
In their own beds. In their own rooms. 

This, like, never happens. 

Actually, I think this is the first time that it's ever happened.

I am celebrating by eating an entire sleeve of oreos all by myself.

And now you know. 

Sh*t the Internet Says

I normally don't do this, but the internet has been killing it lately with trendy videos that have me LOL'ing for real. I thought I'd post a few of them because there have been so many good ones lately I've wanted to share.

First of all there's the original shit girls say video

then of course, immediately following the release of this there were a

hundred million knock offs and two more follow ups to this one.

Mostly crap, but there were a few funny ones. 

I've seen shit medical students say, shit brides say etc etc etc

 here are a few of my favorites

(shit gay guys say)

(shit nobody says)

I also googled shit interior designers say, but no such luck.

Come on all you designers out there, get on it!

(isn't that a bit trite?)

(oh, that color's... nice)

(if that's what you want, I mean you have to live here, not me...)

It would be so easy.

next up...

the Marcel the Shells!

I loooooooove these videos

and I think the second one is even better than the first.

aaand part two...

treats and snoozin', snoozin' and treats

Then on a more serious note, there's this 13y/o girl's take on slut shaming.

Amazing.

Please tell me how I can raise my kids to be this thoughtful and intelligent?

A+ to her parents.

Well, that was fun.

Hope you've enjoyed wasting the last 15 minutes of your life with me.

Let's do it again some time!

and to send you off, here's an oldie but goodie and one of my all time faves

(so what am I forgetting?
Any other internet gems floating around out there you'd like to pass along?)

Someday

Oren turns nine months old this week. How can that be? I am in wonder of it all. Was he not just two lines on a pregnancy test? Was he not just a flutter of my abdomen? Was he not just that crying, colicky little ball of a baby, red faced and fists clenched? Was he not just a hope for a someday, tucked away inside my very deepest dreams and desires?

But he is real, and here and finally. And he is waving and standing and jibberish and he is just  so  much.

****

What is it about having kids that makes you so acutely aware of the passing of time? The old adage, "they grow up so fast" is suddenly so painfully, irrefutibly true. So much so, I feel the realization of it sneak up behind me some days, creeping, striking, knocking the wind right out of me. I lay there for a moment gathering myself, grasping to recover from it's reality, breathing big gulps of air, begging time to slow down. And not just them, it's me too. I've grown up. It actually happened. It happened so fast. And I feel so old some days. And I have wrinkles around the corners of my eyes. And it's strange how suddenly, unconsentingly, one day you're just here.

****

You know how when you're a kid and you have literally no idea where your life will take you? You have all these blanks waiting to be filled in someday and life is full of wonder and great anticipation. When everything is still unknown. Anything is possible.

What will I be when I grow up?
Will I fall in love?
Will I ever get married? Who will it be?
Where will we live?
Will I have kids? I wonder what they'll be, boys? girls?
What will we name them?
What will they look like?

And here I am, 28 years old. And I have all the answers to those questions.
All my blanks are filled in.
Faces and places and names. All here, all accounted for.
Somehow it's someday.

And when Wes asks me when will he get to be a grown up, like mommy and daddy, I just swallow hard and answer "someday". And I kiss his cheeks, and hold him against me and breathe in every single fleeting moment because I know someday will be here far, far too soon.

Mostly Just Cute Pictures Of My Kids

We've finally been able to enjoy some legitimate snow around here

and Wes got to try out his new sled for the first time

Oren stayed inside and got to play in another kind of white stuff.

Mashed potatoes.

 Aaaaand then there's this set of pictures I took this morning

(come on!)

I know, I know.

overkill.

sorry!

(kind of)

(not really)

Hang Outs

Marisa's birthday was actually last week, but we celebrated again 

last night with chinese food and a chocolate tart.

It just so happened that Josh's sister Lisa was home from Colorado

for a short visit and Adam was up from Columbus.

I wish every Thursday night could be like this one.



From Our (Anniversary) Weekend

 josh sent me flowers to work on friday

(all togther now... awwwww)

then we had sushi at big eye - the BEST

 i gave him this watch, he gave me this bag. (it's my bag soulmate guys!)

FINALLY saw GWTDT. worth the wait... go. now.

 this guy tried to walk all weekend. i kept pushing him down.

i kid. (but seriously, stop yer growing!)

saturday, our dear friend katie did an anniversary photoshoot

 for us at the o'neil house where we were married.

i got my hair did by stephanie.

and i wore my old dress - (2 kids and 5 years later and it still fits!)

then (to ensure it will not fit in another 5 years)

we tried menchies for the first time.

and after ori's 9 month check up on monday

(can you even believe he will be 9 months old in a few short days?!) 

we spent the rest of the day doing this.

mondays rule.