2013 in t-h-i-r-t-e-e-n

2014 then, huh? Pretty epic. I've completely fallen out of the habit of putting dates on anything, so the '13-'14 transition has yet to resonate, however I remain faithful to Dwija's link-up of a year in photos. It's kind of a trip seeing what's happened from January to January. And so:



I'm just barely pregnant with Weston James here. We know, at this point, but nobody else does.

 

 

I look at this picture, and I just know. Jordan still wears those butterfly jams; she still loves the slide like a mother; she still doesn't have much hair to speak of. But she's a baby here, and she's not anymore. Much is the same, but more is different.

 

 

Ah. That disgusting patio pre-revamp. Still one of her favorite haunts though. And this face says - even if her vocabulary can't - "I know you asked me to get off of the filthy floor. But I'm just going to look at you like this instead."

Worth noting: I am looking at those EXACT socks at this EXACT moment on my EXACT fat son. Jordan is a year and a half here; Weston is four months. And they're still cutting off his cankles' circulation.

 

 

Hawaii for our babymoon. A tiny rental car, a huge pregnant woman, and a hot pink inflatable. Paradise nonetheless.

 

 

Beach season with beached whale.

 

 

Pretty much the perfect metaphor. Sean is Jordan's constant shadow.

 

 

Here's me taking a huge risk that Jordan doesn't pee herself over firework excitement/terror. She's 100% nakey, which the funky lighting masks rather artfully. 

 

 

Jordan turned two, and I turned sad. Well not really, but you know. A mother's nostalgia. She certainly isn't 5 tiny pounds anymore, but she displays the same stubborn self sufficiency she did on Day One of Jordan.

 

 

Oh hey Bud.. You're fat and tardy. Still love ya.

 

 

New dynamic. On the left: leery. On the right: creeper.

 

 

Shamelessly employing 2013's word of the year.

 

 

At my family's huge Christmas gathering - the time of her LIFE. Bouncy houses abounding.

 

Oh! Bonus shot for 2013 in THIRTEEN photos:

 

 

Weston is blissfully unaware of the clenching and imminent threat on his life.

 

 

And that is a wrap, friends. Fare thee well 2013. 

 

Here is my 2012 in 12 photos - and go see Dweej for all the '13 in 13's. HAPPY 2014.



simple saturday, simple birthday

I received an email invitation from Iris to join her Simple Saturday link-up, and thought, why not do a short and sweet and simple post for my always too short, oftentimes sweet, and generally simple Saturday? Further, guess why this is just the perfect Saturday to link with her? Because this boy

is 27 today. It is the husband's birthday today, and he is still every bit as hick as portrayed in this photo. (Current favorite beer: Pabst Blue Ribbon. Current favorite music artist: Eric Church.)

Sean and I have been together eight years and married for nearly three. While I have seen him make significant, formative changes from the college-partying good-time-charlie that I first knew as just a friend, he is still in many (important) ways still this boy

oh he is going to kill me for this one. isn't it delicious? SIDEBURNS

He is still my bestie. He still (sometimes infuriatingly) maintains his cool when I want to freak! out! about! stuff!... that may or may not be particularly related to my pregnant hormones. He is still my most valuable confidante. He still makes me crack up with his ridiculously unique and totally quirked out sense of humor. And I still love holding hands with him as much as that time on our first date when he leaned over in the theater and shakily asked me, "Hey, is it cool if we hold hands?" (That was such a moment for me, you guys.)

And he has overwhelmed me with how great a dad he is. I knew he would be a good one (heck, I wouldn't have married him if I didn't think so) but I guess, with his utter lack of any experience with children whatsoever, I didn't expect the excellence that he exhibits every single day. Man he loves this girl

and man, she loves him back.

So, I guess I simply want to say, Happy Birthday Sean. I love you, and may we always be 19 together (minus perhaps the beer-chugging capacity...)

(oh hey, eyebrows.)

Now go and link up with Iris!

fave five

While gallivanting through tropical paradise last week, I pretty much neglected all bloggerly duties and therefore have not yet congratulated Hallie on her delicious baby Charlie. CHEEKS!! So here I am now, the prodigal daughter, ready to round up five of my favorites for this week.

1.

Who's that lady? (who's that-a-layday?)

That fine, fine lady.. (who's that-a-layday?)

I'm glad you asked. That's my mama. Look at her in all her '80s glory. Farrah Fawcett feathers et al. 

It's my mama's birthday tomorrow. Inspired by the occasion, I'll write into internet eternity something I don't say nearly enough to her: my mom is bomb. She bore and raised eight children with more grace than I've been able to do with one. She has always been the "fun mom" and all of our friends always wanted to hang at our house growing up. She does the most ridiculous dance to any tune but don't get her started on Tears for Fears (Sean does the most spot-on impression of it; it's kind of like her whole body moves in backward momentum while her arms swim forward). She's my favorite person with which to sit on the patio or the couch or in my parents' spa with a glass of wine and gossip importantly or unimportantly. She is the best mom I've ever seen - really. And a little bit better of a grandmother than I'm comfortable with. I can't say I'm joking about Jordan preferring her to me and I'm more than a little resentful.

Merm, thanks for all the years of mothering and schooling and patience and fun. I aspire to be to Jordan and my babies the mother you were to us. Eight kids and not a gray hair to show for it. (L'Oreal Honey Blond will be our dirty little secret.)

 That tub in the tub on the left is me.

Am I crazy, or does my older brother Luke as a devious 2 year old look like my Jo-friend?

 2 under 2 and the foxiest ever.

If you can't tell, I'm less than pleased about my new sister.

As far as I know I actually loved all babies, I think I'm just mad here because we interrupted 

a reading of "Are you my Mother?" to stare at a blob of cute.

2. Cheeeeeesecake.

In honor of #1, I whipped up a cheesecake for a family celebration tonight. The recipe will be forthcoming. It warrants a full post because not only is it the creamiest and the easiest cheesecake in all the land, but I think I can produce better than this afterthought of a photo. I'll try to capture its full glory at my mom's little party tonight.

PS that baby cheesecake on the left was made for my sister, who left this morning to scout out colleges (shout out to Meg for letting Auds crash with you in San Fran! And you two have fun at Sigur Ros - JEALOUS!) and will be missing our party tonight. I made her a to-go version. In case you were curious which you probably weren't...

3. Old Navy Maternity!!

I asked my good friend and coworker confidante Kimmy if anyone would notice if I wore this skirt EVERYDAY until I gave birth, and just switched out the tops. She said I could probably get away with it. Joking aside, I wore this skirt four days in a row. Not at work though. In Hawaii, over the weekend, and then at work. Still gross? Yes. If you are pregnant - and heck, even if you're not, because the material just conforms to your body - get yo'self one of these. I will live in it to infinity and beyond.

Oh, here's how I styled it, because I am knowledgeable about fashion stuff and things.

I kind of lost track in Hawaii (WORST MOTHER EVER) but I think I'm 21 weeks.

Bigger than I should be, is all I know.

Crimson maternity shirt - GapMaternity

Pale gray maternity cami - GapMaternity

Charcoal maternity skirt - Old Faithful Navy

maternitymaternitymaternity. This is happening.

4. Melaleuca Body Wash

I wish I could say this is my front porch

I'm a Melaleuca member, and it's great and everything but I probably can't really keep it up. It's kind of a financial commitment. However, before I leave the folds, I'll have to stock up on their Body Satin body wash. I lerve it. I got the original scent and it smells glorious, and it makes my skin feel kind of satiny. It does what it says it'll do - WHAT? They also have a really good lotion for Jordan's sandpaper skin. I'm sorry for not linking any of this stuff but you have to be a member to enter the site...so this is my sales pitch? This is pretty much a very not helpful favorite. Sorry.

5. Jordan's haircut.

She looks so upset in those photos but believe it or not she's singing. Really enthusiastically and slightly melodramatically. 

Ok, now that I'm used to it, I love Jordan's haircut. I totally love it. I'm making sure to dress her extra special feminine lately because the whole cut has really masculated her already slightly boyish features, but she just looks so dang cute. I think. Sean thinks too. Parents don't really know things about their own kids though, I'll own that.

and Jordan hasn't been too eager to show off her freshly shorn look, so I could be wrong on all counts

Get thee to Hallie's for more! Bye now!

Happy Easter! and a linky

He is Risen

Happy Easter, one and all. The little beauties shown above (help me out anyone? I have no idea what they're called.) are popping up all over our apartment complex and indeed all over the city I live in. They must not be very elite or fussy little bushes, because they are in every nook and cranny of grocery store parking lots, alley sidewalks and the like, but dang it, I like them. I like slum flowers.

Today I'm linking up!

Grace and Kayla and Ericka are letting us in on their Open to Interpretation game, which sounds like my kinda fun.

You'll find that my Easter outfit is sufficiently underwhelming, given my almost 19 week bump is selfishly eliminating half of my wardrobe choices and...maybe I should think about maternity shopping soon? But isn't it so much fun to see what you can squeeeeeze into and make believe that it's so impressive that your very pregnant body can still handle that Anthro skirt and maybe no one will notice the straining seams? No, the answer is it's not so fun, it's emotionally taxing. Buy maternity, Jess.

On the other hand, you'll find that Jordan has risen to the challenge with a beaut of an Easter dress, compliments of Sean's parents. Dear Jordan: it pays to be the first grandchild on both sides. Your closet is a wonderland. Relish it now, your nemesis is baking as we speak. Love, Mom.

Probably should have snuck our photographer/husband/father into the mix but he's suffering from a rather sore to searing to awful throat right now and may have very nearly OD'd on NyQuil last night so his eyes were slightly crossed allll 1 1/2 hours of Easter Mass and even his current cup o' boldest joe hasn't unblurred them.

My Easter Best (really, this is the best I got)

* Old Blue: ancient Anthro that I squirmed and shimmied and twisted over the bump

* Shawl: Target

* Shiny Flats: Macy's

* Danglies: really really old Target, like high school status

* Chalky White Calves: haven't seen the sun in eight months

Jordan's ImpressFest:

* Except for her gold jellies (Old Navy) I really have no idea. It's from Sean's parents and I think it was from a specialty type shop in Northern California, where they hale from.

* Sumo Nub: never-been-shorn twenty months of luscious locks/her mother can't help but mock her.

* Grumpy grumpy mug in the top photo: she wants my chai.

Happy Easter everyone! Enjoy your Cadbury eggs and watching the under-5's frantically scatter for sweets. That's where I'll be. Go link up with all the rest!

fave five

I have lots of random things piling up in different pinholes of my brain that I want to blog about, but dear Lord, these last two weeks. I've been struggling to find a spare second to pee (slightly important these days), so blogging has taken economy class in the Boeing of my life. But these last two weeks aren't really what I wanted to blog about; I'll spare you the sob story <---- with my ever mounting hormone levels, that's not even really a figure of speech. No really.
The other day I called my mom to confirm that she could pick Jordan up from her sitter's and I started crying. I. Am. Losing. It.

Instead, I thought up some shtuff to rather tardily throw in over at Hallie's. It's fun! You should try it.

1. 1920's

via

Why Clara Bow, the original for which the term "It Girl" was coined? My mind is a mysterious beast, friends. Since I've been helping out with the preparations for the Life Centers' big fundraiser, the Silent Auction and Dinner-Dance, my imagination has been compelled to wonder how I  would decorate and theme the gala, were I in charge of that aspect of things. (I'm pretty sure this has to do with nesting. I've been planning events in my head fairly nonstop lately and have thoroughly mentally designed three of my five sisters' bridal showers and weddings. Only one of them is in a relationship.) For the Life Centers' charity event, it would be a swanky '20s affair. Guests would sip on mint juleps while a Gish or Fairbanks silent masterpiece played out on a large screen during cocktail hour. The bar would echo the decor of a speakeasy, and while flapper dresses and bowler hats would not be required, dang it, they'd be welcomed. 

Anyway, when I think roaring twenties, Clara Bow just about sums it up in my mind. I mean, seriously. Look at her.

2. In that same vein, look at this iPhone cover:

via

My iPhone cover broke ages ago and I just spent a good while browsing Etsy for a killer case. I haven't ordered one yet, there are freaking tons on there. Anyone else sick of the "KEEP CALM" crap? Cuz those  are everywhere. The best one I've heard, though, is one that Kimmy told me about that she saw on a card at Paper Source: "FREAK OUT AND THROW STUFF" Classic.

3. Alright, you've convinced me. ("You" being a bunch of my blog crushes and the media in general.)

Sidewalk Skimmers from Madewell. And oh my gosh, in mustard too. I flippin' love mustard and don't own a single article of clothing in the shade. I don't know if I could pull it off...

4. Do you guys watch Jimmy Kimmel Live? I don't, but my sisters showed me this skit which you very well may have seen because it's three years old:

and I just about died. Plus they got like 12 cameos from super famous actors. Jimmy Kimmel must be well liked.

5. My sister is in town from Colorado. Which means these types of shenanigans are going on

Anna also tried attached one of those Pretty Pretty Princess earrings to Jordan's tragus, eyebrow, and nipple. Jordan is clearly less than amused.

Ok now off with you to Hallie's! I'll see you later.

fives

I have been a little hard up for blog material lately. Perhaps life has been a little...samey, recently. Or it could be that growing a baby blocks my creativity glands. Understandable, I think, since my body is being sufficiently creative, in the literal sense.

Then a bunch of my * favorite * blogs started doing this Five Favorites with Moxie Wife and I thought, I want in. I can always name a bunch of favorite things.

(@ Jamie - wink.)

And then THEN, Grace tagged me for Five Things which has been floatin' around the 'gram, but I haven't heard of it before now because...I don't know things. But it was fateful and perfect. I'm doing a post about fives, making a post about ten total. (<----- I went to college.)

First, I'm gonna Moxie.

1 - Daughter

This is my favorite daughter. We don't know what we're expecting yet, so I can still say that. However, I will say that I keep on (accidentally) referring to this in utero baby as "he" or "him." So Jordan may be my favorite daughter for awhile?

2 - Breakfast (currently)

Call it a craving. Jordan and I have had pancakes 3 times since Saturday. This morning will make 4. I've been using this recipe and it's perfect. I just add cinnamon. (Honorary Favorites: cinnamon.)

3 - Show (currently)

Hands down. Sean and I are addicted. We burned through the first two seasons and now have to wait until the summer with the commoners for it to come back.

4 - Song (currently)...it's a toss up

Stubborn Love - The Lumineers

Madness - Muse

(Honorary Favorites: Matt Bellamy)

5 - This whole Design*Sponge post

Someday I will I will have a guestroom like this. Look at that wall. I'm in love.

Thanks Hallie!

Now to Grace's F-I-V-E things!

1 - A year ago I didn't even know what a blog was, really. I'd heard the term thrown around like, "oh, she has a blog." or "Dad's reading that football blog again." My friend Meg told me I have to read Camp Patton so I was like, ok.... I'll try it.... Boom. I was opened up to the world of blogging. From CP to link-hop after link-hop after link-hop, I was introduced to the world of blogging. Six months later I started my own. Grace is a gateway drug. Careful of that one.

2 - I'm fifteen weeks today. Fifteen weeks is legit, yo.

3 - I know zero things about cars. The other day I told Sean I saw a sporty little Subaru that looked like a cross between a Mustang and a Porsche, and I think he almost served me divorce papers. However, I work in truck insurance, so I can rattle off the first 6-8 digits of the VIN of just about any tractor or trailer made in the last ten years (they mostly all start the same.) Freightliner: 1FUJBBCK. Volvo: 4V4NC9TG. Kenworth: 1XKWDB9. Useful, right?

4 - I love physical humor. It's probably my favorite. My sister just told me a story about how the other night she went over to a neighbor's to borrow something, and the neighbor didn't have their porch light on so as she was walking up, she tripped on a step and full on whacked her head on the front door. She popped up really fast and started knocking, hoping the head-thump would just blend in. I couldn't speak a sentence for like 2 minutes, I was laughing so hard. I'm laughing right now, recounting it.

Jordan must have her mother's sense of humor, because we were both over visiting a friend (Meg, incidentally) the other night, and Jordan was horsing around on the couch and fell off the side all willy-nilly. She landed on carpet, and she falls all the time so I knew this one was ok, so like the good mother I am I started laughing at her. I'm sorry! She looks really funny when she tumbles. Arms and legs and huge belly flailing about. But she started giggling right along with me. I think Meg was a little shocked at my insensitivity.

5 - I didn't know UGGs weren't cool in 2013. I went to a concert with my sister Audrey last Friday night and everyone was wearing these types:

via

via

via

It was kind of a hipster crowd and I deffffinitely looked out of place. And my boots were radiating the year 2002. Amidst floral print short shorts with ripped tights underneath, medieval cloaks, high HIGH waisted jeans (right-under-the-boobs high), and Chloe Sevigny (no kidding, she was there. I told you it was a hipster crowd), I was a time warp. Everyone likes a time warp right? Anyway, I shall not relinquish my UGGs. These come with me to the grave. 

By the by, we saw Body/Head, and I didn't really get them. (I hadn't heard of them before, I was simply escorting Audrey.) They were...weird.

Thank you, thank you Grace, for the tag. I'm supposed to tag five others now, which will be tricky because I don't personally know (read: internetly know) too many other bloggers that I didn't just tag for something else (and I don't want to come off as clingy, you guys.) 

Here goes, I'm tagging: Dwija and Chalayn and Camille and Kelly and Jenny and only about two or three of those people have even heard of me so I am being the profound stalker right now in tagging people that don't e-know me.

But it was fun! Big thanks to Hallie and Grace. (I don't think Hallie knows me either...I seriously need to work on my creeper tendencies.)