Road Trip!

Last week we made the 3.5 hour drive over to Chelan, WA to spend a sunny weekend with friends. 

Both girls did really well and took long naps on the drive both ways (Ryan even joined the snooze on the way home!) Sleeping all in one room with a teething baby was not the greatest thing in the world, but luckily good friends, good food, and good wine outweighed it all. It reinforced why we don’t normally co-sleep, especially as Lily has a tendency to yell out in her sleep and slowly drift horizontally. Nothing like a good foot to the face at 3am. I did enjoy waking up to her tiny hand on my shoulder and her little smile like she got away with something by sleeping between us all night. 

 

This was our first trip with these friends since we have all had babies. One couple does not yet have kids… I think the weekend was good birth control for them. At one point they went out alone and I was fairly certain they weren't coming back (they did, thank goodness.) Five kids ages three and under can be a little crazy at times, but the house was spacious and the pool was warm. 

Cam and Lily were basically just on a date the whole weekend. He is a tiny gentleman. I put Lily’s hair up before we went in the pool and when we arrived Cam greeted her with “your hair looks nice!” to which Lily replied “thank you!” Oh to be three and in love. We can’t wait until next year.

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with The Paper Mama, 5 Minutes for Mom, Parenting By Dummies, Project Alicia, Live and Love Out Loud, Naptime Momtog, and Jenni from the Blog.

Friends without Kids

I remember when I was pregnant with Lily, my mom told me that pretty soon my friends would mostly consist of other people with kids. I was a bit appalled by the whole idea. One, because I didn’t really have any friends with kids so I was about to be SOL if that was true and two, I didn’t want to become THAT girl who couldn’t hang with her old friends. 

Now, I’m not here to say that I am no longer in LOVE with my (amazing, beautiful, intelligent) friends who don’t have kids, because I am. I am so in love with them it hurts, but the honest truth is we have grown apart. I truly believe it is a temporary distance and I can already feel it closing as I come out of the intense haze that tiny people create in their first couple years of life, but the reality is that the people I see, the people I relate to, are my friends with kids. I haaaaaaate being that girl. I don’t think my life is better, or worse, than my friends’ lives. I know they love me and they love my girls, but our lives are just so different. 

I’m still in the place where your kids are so little and all your brainpower is focused on their every need at every moment. I guess it is just easier to relate to other people who are also in the thick of it (they too are amazing and beautiful and intelligent, for the record.) It is nice to talk to someone who thinks it is normal to discuss poop for 45 minutes, who understands my fears about starting pre-school, and weaning, and I don’t know, semi-sharp objects? 

I have no doubt that I will reconnect with my other friends in good time as I am able to reclaim a bit of my own identity separate from my kids. I chose to do this and I am happy to be able to be there completely in this intense time of motherhood, but it makes it a bit difficult to get out, you know? 

I miss my friends. I miss sitting around and laughing about silly things and crying about serious things and then laughing about crying. Friends, if you read this, I miss you! I’m not gone. I’m just taking a leave of absence from my life as a regular human. Don't give up on me.

  Linking up with Mandy:

PNW Blogger Meet-up

A few weeks ago I attended the PNW Blogger meet-up in Seattle and now that the lovely Linnea from Linnea Paulina Photography has given us the use of her beautiful photographs, I thought I would post some here.

This is the third meet-up I have attended and, as always, I had a great time. We met at Von Trapp’s in Seattle for some beer and brats (or in my case wine and pretzels). Every time I go to one of these things I have a bad habit of just talking to the people I already know. To be fair, most of us have small children and rarely get to see each other. Even when we do see each other, we can only half participate in conversations while managing toddler disagreements over whose seat this is and baby disagreements over whether it is truly time to nurse right this second. So to be honest, I mostly go to these to hang out with my friends. I am of course excited to meet new people and I usually do make a few new friends, but I am not into awkwardly trying to get people to read my blog and stuff like that. Hopefully I don’t come off as rude, I’m mostly just lazy.

It also happened to be the day after my birthday, so when the event ended at 8pm, Ryan, my sister, and a few friends met up with us and we had a mini celebration. It was great to see some of my favorite people and stay up a teeny bit past my bedtime (thanks Mom and Dad!).

Steppin Out Saturday: June 23, 2012

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This Saturday we stepped out to Lily's cousins' second birthday party. What is cuter than 2 year old twins!?

 {Birthday parties are her element.}

 {We see slumber parties in their future.}

After we put Lily to bed I realized I had zero pictures with me in them, so I ran outside to catch the dying light with my trusty iPhone self-timer. Please excuse the iPhoneness of these pics.

 {Shirt and tank: H&M// Skirt: Target// Earrings: Nordstrom (gift). PS - I got my hair cut!! This happens maybe twice a year if I'm lucky. You might not be able to tell but I cut off like 4 inches! Ok baby girl, I'm ready for you to arrive. Also, hello 36 week belly! Whoa.}

 

Now I'm not kidding, go enter this giveaway.

Road Trip!

They are here! The professional photos from Sara Gray Photography! I haven't talked much about my trip to the PNW blogger meet up in Portland, but it was an absolute blast. I rode down with the wonderful Emily and Melissa and we pretty much talked about anything and everything you can think of while desperately searching for a rest stop (Melissa and I both have babies sitting on our bladders!) When we arrived we immediately did some solid tax-free shopping and stuffed our faces with Chipotle. While Melissa got her hair cut, Emily and I wandered around the cute little Portland boutiques and drooled over way-too-expensive-but-totally-adorable polka dot maxi skirts. All I have to say is it's a good thing I can't fit into cute clothes right now. After a quick swing by the hotel for a costume change we were off to the meet up!

I was so excited to see so many ladies that I already knew and loved, meet some that I loved and had never met (Libby!) and also get to know the rest of the new shiny beautiful faces! 

Ok, time for a photo explosion:

{Upon arrival. What? We were hungry! I know what you're thinking, I'm SUPER attractive, I'll teach you someday.}

 {Get the girl a glass of wine! She had to represent for the rest of us who could not partake due to growing tiny humans.}

 {Aren't they adorable? Libby and Lauren.}

 {I mostly avoided all photos like the plague, but look how cute my friends are! Pictured above in some fashion: Emily, Melissa, Chelsey, Fiona, Mandy, Amy, Jill, Gretchen, Libby, Mandy, Carolyn and Lauren}

 {<3}

After the event wrapped up we were armed with our swag bags and I was all about getting some dessert. Well, once we got the SIX of us into our hotel and actually sat down, there was no moving. We slowly got ready for bed as we talked and then turned out the lights and continued to talk for literally the whole night. I would doze off, wake up and make a comment and then drift back to sleep. It was like sleeping with the TV on only I could participate! Needless to say we were all very tired when our natural I-have-a-kid alarm clocks went off just after 7. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. These women are fantastic people and I am so glad to call them my friends.

{Amazing brunch at Mother's Bistro. Go to Melissa's blog and read the recipe for the crunchy french toast we had, I mean...cornflakes is all I'm saying. These pics and the one below courtesy of Emily.}

 

 {Baby factories, apparently.}

Thank you to all who helped plan this event and to all the lovely friends old and new who gave great hugs, laughs, and belly rubs. A special shout out to Weston for letting me snuggle him at brunch. I needed some baby cuddles.

Steppin' Out Saturday: December 17, 2011

I actually stepped out this weekend! One of my favorite people turned 30 and we hit the town to celebrate. I even stayed up past 11, that is saying something.

{Dress//Target, Shoes//Ummmm Zappos? I don't remember what brand, Sequined jacket//Urban Outfitters (Thanks Mom!)}

It was so nice to feel like more than just a mom for a few hours. I needed that.

Linking up with Mandy at Harper's Happenings:

Steppin' Out Saturday: November 5, 2011

This weekend we stepped out to... our house! 

One of my only other friends with a baby lives in AZ (why cruel world!?) and she was in town so we had a little get together with some of our friends. Another friend brought her little girl to complete the tiny baby party of three. I was planning to go out in Seattle later in the evening (a real "Steppin' Out"), but I totally went to bed instead. I hate backing out on plans, but I have never been so happy to slip under the covers. It has been a rough few weeks with a sick teething kiddo. Plus, they weren't even meeting until 10:00! That is like the middle of the night.

Enjoy some pics of our Steppin' In Saturday!

 {On Chelsea// Shirt and Jeans: Urban Outfitters// Tank: H&M// Boots: Steve Madden// Jewelry: Banana Republic. On Lily// Shirt: Some kids store in Colorado {it has ruffle shoulders!}// Jeggings: Target}

 

 {My teeth hurt and my hair is crazy.}

 {Stella is blurry, but oh so cute.}

 {I love friends who make you laugh until you cry.}

 {Riley and Lily getting to know each other.}

 {Stella and Lily having a chat. Sad I didn't get a picture of the 3 kisses they gave each other.}

 {These two could be sisters!}

 {ShoooOoooes!}

 {Lily, if I give you this Big Bird will you give Auntie Jess her keys?}

{Patting, not attacking.}

We had so much fun catching up and watching our girls love each other. I think they forgive me for going to bed instead of the bar.

Linking up with Mandy at Harper's Happenings:

An Island Wedding

{I'm guest posting today over at the ever lovely Mama and the Dudes. If you haven't already, check out her blog because she is hilarious and has TWO adorable babies. What more do you need? I'm giving my number one tip for traveling with a baby. It may not be what you think. Go! Read it! No wait, read this, then read that! Or read that then come back here! I'm confused.}

Get ready for another wedding photopalooza! This was wedding number 6 of the 7 weddings we are attending this summer. See weddings 3 (San Fran), 4 (McCall, ID), and 5 (Arlington, WA).

Each wedding has been beautiful and unique. This weekend was no exception.

Orcas Island, WA

A quick two hour drive north, drop the car, hop a ferry and pray one of your friends will pick you up on the other side.

Our trip was short, but packed with wonderful people and heartfelt celebrations.

The bride asked us to sing with her as part of her vows, which meant we needed to start the day with a little champagne. (It sounded great by the way... we were surprised too).

The evening ended with dancing until our shoes came off. Who says you can't rock out to Journey in your wedding dress?

 

  

Oh, you can't survive going another day without a picture of Lily? I thought you'd never ask!

 

{Love Monkey says Mama needs a new camera}