Visiting Las Vegas

Last week we finally flew to Las Vegas to meet our newest nephew, Asher, and see Jeff's brother's family. It was so much fun to get the kids together (okay AND the adults). I love this family so much, and wish we all lived closer and got to have playdates and cookouts all the time! I can't wait to watch our kiddos grow up.

[caption id="attachment_1546" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Sweet Asher[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1547" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Love this little guy.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1497" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Harper and Cooper. Born a week apart.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1498" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Carson and Harper.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_1504" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Coop loved the water. Can't wait for summer swim time![/caption]



[caption id="attachment_1507" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Uncle Chad.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1511" align="aligncenter" width="490"] The whole crew.[/caption]

And, I threw in some quick shots from our Memorial Day BBQ. Next time I will take some photos of the actual ADULTS at the party, because they are pretty darn cute too:).

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me. — Lee Greenwood

[caption id="attachment_1543" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Sweet snuggles.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1542" align="aligncenter" width="490"] These two...[/caption]

Happy weekend y'all!

Lauren

WW: Nostalgia

Happy Wednesday y'all!

“Nostalgia is a necessary thing, I believe, and a way for all of us to find peace in that which we have accomplished, or even failed to accomplish." - R.A. Salvatore

Over the past couple days there's been a running theme during my days...I've been nostalgic. This Monday, as we do each week, we watched The Voice. And...OMG can we take a minute to talk about this? Does anyone watch that show? Because this household is obsessed. You should check it out. This week a 16 year old contestant sang this old gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RatHpjyjd8

It brought back...I don't know, a feeling. It reminded me of a simpler, different time. A different type of people, society, way of life. Religion being the center of households, marriage being sacred, commitment, honesty, morals...well you get the point.

Also this week, Cooper keeps picking the book Love You Forever to read. It's his new thing. Starting around 6AM, unless we're outside playing, he is picking out books and bringing them to us to read. Today I read Love You Forever at LEAST three times. In tears. I remember the book from when I was little, and Y'ALL- it's a sob-fest.

And finally, Edward and Bella broke up, y'all, in real life. I can't believe it. I looked at my husband this week and said "You know what I think, Jeff, I think my fascination with those two wasn't really about them this whole time, but about the movie, about happy ever after! About Twilight!" He stared at me for a long time after that comment before nodding his head, "Uh. Ya-ah honey."

Alas, this week I keep thinking about the "good ole days." I can't help but wonder what it will feel like, 20 years from now, when I look back at life "these days." I bet I will be nostalgic, sentimental, and smiling.

"Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge the future." -Mattie Stepanek

 What makes you nostalgic?

Weekend-in review.

Unlike last year, my very first Mother's Day, I wasn't on a plane traveling. I wasn't emotional when the flight attendant said the standard "Thanks to all the mom's out there" over the loud speaker and I haven't been watching the Johnson and Johnson commercial on repeat, either. I know I'll be sleeping a full 8-hours tonight. I know Cooper will wake up at 6AM no matter what time he goes to bed. I know what to expect tomorrow.

I know myself more as a mom this year.

"Mothers are all slightly insane." -J. D. Salinger

This year, year two with child, it's kinda all about the humor. I mean, it's funny right? Us moms, our day-in, day-out...is hilarious. The other day,  Cooper was in his crib (sorry if you are faint of heart), pooped and then took his diaper off. I'm sure you can imagine what happened next. He was terrified! I mean, mom, what is that stuff in my diaper?

Another sweet mama I know shared this article which is sort-of perfect. Now I can't relate to all of it, but I especially appreciate the part where you get to use the facilities in private. Warning: it's a little swear-filled. Just take-out the F-word and reads pretty hilarious.

Ten Things I Really F'Ing Want for Mother's Day



I love Mother's Day, but it's kind-of a tease. I mean, here we have one day (let's be honest, weekend) all about mom, and then we have to wake up Monday to a week that's not at all about us? Totally unfair. You better believe I took FULL advantage.

Saturday, we hiked and had dinner with friends...









And Sunday I slept in til 8 y'all. For real. And woke up to THE most perfect breakfast of all times. Thanks hubs

 We churched, napped and than brunched:

[caption id="attachment_1472" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Future heartbreaker. He's taken ladies, sorry. (Betsy Harrison).[/caption]

Then mommy got a few hours to herself and Daddy took Coop to visit his great-grandma, Genny.

[caption id="attachment_1473" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Loves his Great Grandma.[/caption]

You know those times when you don't want to be anywhere else in life, other than right where you are? It was that kind-of weekend.

When Cooper turned one, my mom sent me this page out of a book she had, and obvi I was a weepy mess. It describes my perfect wish for this little boy, which if it boils down to one word, is love.



I hope all those human mamas, pet mamas, grandmamas, aunties - all women who make a difference know how important they are. After all, where we would be without our mothers?

"I got to grow up with a mother who taught me to believe in me." -Antonio Villaraigosa

Thanks mom.

Happy week, y'all...Lauren

WW: Change

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we enter another." -Anatole France

I wouldn't call myself scared of change really; however I've always been oddly aware of it.

When I turned 10, I remember writing in my diary about how old I was getting, I mean nine to ten was entering double digits y'all... how EPIC. When I left my job in New York City I stayed late into the night just sitting in my dark office, looking out onto Midtown Manhattan, watching the people milling about and taking it in, knowing that this was the close to a remarkable adventure that I'd one day tell my kids about.  And now, here I am, a hot mess over weaning my baby, my toddler, from the bottle.

"When we are no longer able to change a situation- we are challenged to change ourselves." -Viktor E. Frankl

I'm heartbroken. To those that don't know, there's a protocol: 12-months - that's when you're supposed to get rid of the bottle. But can I tell you my two favorite times of the day? When Coop first wakes up and we snuggle on the couch while he drinks his morning bottle, and at night before he goes to bed, when we snuggle in his room while he drinks his nighttime bottle. Giving up the bottle means giving up the sweetest moments of my day; how could I want that?

“You can't stop the future
You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret
...is to press play.”

I'm sad to see this time with Coop go. This is one more way he will be less dependent on me, and it feels like I'm just giving away this time when I could be purposefully delaying it. (I mean, who would it really hurt if he had his morning bottle into his teenage years)?

"If we don't change we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living." -Gail Sheehy

I know what you're thinking: this girl is depressed over a bottle? And it's okay. For you it may be a relationship, a move to a new city, new job, who knows - there is always an emotional attachment to something that meant something to us, no matter how big or small. The new thing-to-come around the corner is likely just as sweet.

And you may be wondering how this process is going?

[caption id="attachment_1437" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Clearly having a tough time.[/caption]

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Wayne Dyer

Well it turns out I am the one who has become dependent on the bottle, not him. I mean, I'm kinda embarrassed. We quit cold turkey and had no problems. Not-a-one. It turns out it's not the act of change that is the hard part, it's the anticipation of it.

Cheers y'all....Lauren