My Maternity Style Must Haves {From the New Orleans Moms Blog}

Every other Tuesday you'll find me writing over at the New Orleans Moms Blog.  I hope you'll join me in today's piece on my favorite maternity style finds!

 

{During my first pregnancy, it took me a shopping trip or two to realize I was better off with fewer items than more if it meant the items I added to my wardrobe were classic pieces that I would wear had I been pregnant or not. So I’ve come up with a few style staples that I have found make me feel stylish no matter my size.}  Continued here...



Look-A-Likes

This weekend, I walked into the family room to see Jane watching Dora with my glasses on.  It was hysterical.  I was able to snap a shot of her without her paying attention.  I kept feeling like she looked like someone in the photo, but I couldn't put together who...

 

 

and then I saw this picture.  I mean could they look any more like twins...

 

 

Jane's Got Moves Like Jagger

For the third year in a row, we took Jane to Jazzfest.  While it seems crazy to take a kid to this event to many people, I just can't imagine not exposing her to it.  She ate cracklins, second-lined with the Mardi Gras Indians, and danced the day away.  Here is an out take from one of her many performances jamming to String Cheese Incident.

 

 

Now, I know I'm her mother, but seriously, have you ever seen anything cuter?



Four Things I'm Excited for This Weekend

It's Friday!!!!!!!!!  Even though Mark is both on call and has drill this weekend, we are making the best of the beautiful weather and the adventures New Orleans has to offer us this weekend.  Here's five things I'm looking forward to...

 

 

It's my favorite way to spend a family Friday.  We'll be walking down to the Kingpin bar with Jane in her stroller to meet up with the folks from Taceaux Loceaux.  We come with our Coleman chairs in hand and set up on the neutral ground for a taco picnic that's Naturally Nawlins.  If you haven't tasted these amazing treats, you simply must.  I cannot go without the Messin' with Texas brisket taco and I usually go for the Kermit Ruffins BBQ Pork taco with Pineapple salsa, but if they have the Chubster (hard shell with ground beef), I think I have to try it.

 

 The pool at the club we belong to opens up Saturday!!!!  We are all so excited for the summer season to begin. We'll be heading that way for some lunch and a dip in the water Saturday.

 

Jane will be starting swim lessons there in June, and I am aprehensive but excited for her.  Is there anything cute than a tiny tot in her swimsuit?

 

 

 Saturday evening, after drill in concluded, everyone will be joined by their spouses (that's me) for a very celebratory promotion party.  Mark will be all decked out in his Air Force tuxedo.  How handsome!!  Here's an old picture from his brother's wedding when he was in his Navy tuxedo.  What is it about a man in uniform!  I am always humbled when I am surrounded by the men and women who choose to serve our dear country. I look forward to spending time with all of them.

 

 

 Jane will be sleeping over at her grandparent's house Saturday evening.  Which means....  we can sleep in.  Woohoo!!!  Of course, I am sure that I will still wake up at 6:30, but I can lay in bed for a bit and dive further into the new book I'm reading called Party Girl by Erin Shaw.  It follows a recent graduate on her move to The Big Apple to follow her dream of gracing the Broadway stage.  Along the way she finds herself strapped for cash and finding ways to survive the concrete jungle that include starting a princess part planning company.  I am about a quarter of the way through and dying to know what happens next!

 

Have a great weekend!

And Then There Were Two

I know it's been ages. I don't even know how many of you there are left out there who check in with my un-updated blog. Life got the best of me, I suppose.  And as much as I wanted to keep up with things here, I just couldn't find the time. And forget about the energy!  Sometimes when I see Jane running from one thing to the next, I wish that I could bottle that enthusiasm and shoot myself up with some when I need a boost.

I don't suppose I'll be getting any more rest in the near future as we are excited to announce that our family will again be growing. Come November of 2014, Jane will be a big sister.

Please join me over at the New Orleans Moms Blog where I share my second pregnancy experience and the challenges I faced connecting this second time around.

Dear Baby Jane- Happy Second Birthday

Dear Baby Jane,

Today as someone asked me how old you were, I heard myself respond, she'll be two tomorrow." And I almost gasped out loud.  How is that possible?  Just yesterday you were growing inside my tummy. It's was you and me kid! And now, two years later, it's all about you.  

You are so joyous and expressive. When you hear us describe what you did at school like "today the children went outside and explored their mud kitchen..." your face lights up as if you were there. If we ask you to roar like a tiger, you grin, wide-eyed and in a soft hush, with mouth open wide say, "whawhhhh..."  There is no R in your roar. For now, it is mellowed by a slurry wh sound but it is no less ferocious!

You love to read books.  You can choose Madeline off the shelf just by looking at the spine and you giggle when she tells the tiger, " poo-pooh!"  You love to read about the big ole caterpillar and can identify everything he ate from chocolate cake to shawami (salami). And if we say, "he ate the plums BUT..." You will answer, "he's still hungry."  And we smile and laugh to one another.

You love your friends at school.  Your teachers say that you are smart and kind and very much a leader.  And for that I am so thankful. Every morning on our way to school I ask you to raise your hand if you are four things...  Smart, kind, sweet, and funny.  And every morning you raise your hand and repeat each one. I hope that you always remember that these are the qualities that represent you. Your beauty is inherent.  You choose to be the others. Life is full of choices, but if you choose to be these things, you will be an amazing young woman.

I love you more than chocolate cake and salami.  I love you more than Elmo and Madeline.  In fact, baby Jane, I love you more than anything I've ever loved. You are the greatest thing I have ever done.

And as I sit here in Chicago returning from a work conference wishing I could kiss your one year old cheeks one more time, I want you to know that you are in fact the most important thing in our life.  At the end of mine, I may never be known as the worlds greatest CPA but I hope you consider me the worlds greatest mom.

Two years ago, you stole my heart. After many years I found myself praying again because there was no doubt in my mind that you were a gift from God.

I love you through and through my sweet baby girl.  Happy second birthday,

Mommy

Well, Hello October!

Anne of Green Gables really got it right!

Jane is in love with all fall decorations.  She thinks "punkins" are very fun!  And she loves to point at black cats and say, "Hi kitty cat, meowwww."