Change is Afoot

I've been batting around the idea of a pixie cut for over a year now. Today I put my money where my mouth was and made my musings a reality. Maybe it was the post-baby hormones surging through my veins, perhaps it was the urge to feel a little lighter (literally and figuratively), maybe it was wanting something extremely low maintenance, or maybe it was the fact that I've been girl crushing on Anne Hathaway, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Michelle Williams' haircuts for so long that I finally added them to my pinboard so I could have something to bring into my hairstylist. Whatever the reason, the deed is done and I really like it. Ben did a double take when he came in the door. Andy said it was cute (good answer). Now if I just had a personal stylist to make it look as good every day.

In other news, here's a picture of Miss Lauryn, also known to Lucy as Sissy Boo. She mauls the baby multiple times daily, smothering her in kisses while she's in her swing. Lucy is struggling with adjusting to our new version of crazy, it being manifest in the fact that she refuses to get dressed and only has one or two outfits she'll wear and never any socks or tights. 

 But they are funny little bugs and I'm excited for things to calm down a bit and to get into some semblance of a routine in a few weeks.  Here they are wearing some funny glasses that my mother-in-law brought for them.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I definitely don't have my pre-baby body back yet (yep, still in maternity clothes - shrink, uterus, shrink!!), but couldn't resist a little online shopping in anticipation of the days of normal clothes again. I've also decided to revamp my wardrobe a bit as a push present to myself, taking into account my new shape after three kids.  For me, the awkwardness of nursing boobs matched with the tummy sag of nonexistent abdominal muscles require more forgiving cuts. Plus, all my clothes are at least five years old so it's time to embrace reality.

A few purchases:

Courtesy of Tar-jay and JCrew

Recovery is going well and I've been lucky to have my mom here for ten days and Andy's mom just got here for another ten. We're enjoying Lauryn, although Ben and Lucy have gone absolutely nutso. Any advice for how to handle the older ones once a new little arrives?

The Jersey Girlz

Note: Since others are much faster to post pictures/updates, I am lifting the next few posts about our October 5-8 girls' trip to Boston entirely from Heather's blog (you can see her beautiful picture below). Thanks for letting me coast by on your efforts and wit. :) Any notes I add will be in bold.

Miraculously, we found flights that arrived in Boston within five minutes of each other, although mine was a red eye.  (She came all the way from Spokane. The rest of us just flew out at the crack of dawn from OH).

After buying our week-long Charlie tickets to ride unlimited subway, we rented a car for one day.  The subway doesn't go all the way to Rhode Island, people.

Our rental had Jersey plates, and thus the nickname. So without further ado, I'd like to introduce . . . the Jersey Girlz:

Nollie

• Almost 9 months pregnant 
• Relief Society president
• speed walker, and
• top notch Boston tour guide

Ellie

• Bishop's wife/widow
• Trip dossier compiler
• unlucky "T" rider, and 
• loyal friend

Amy

• Oldest Ohio connection
• Primary President
• Eagle Eye Spotter, and 
• cook/decorator extraordinaire

Heather

• Homeschool Mom
• Guardian of Siri
• Ignorer of foot fashion, and 
• Collector of free hotel samples

From the Archives

Yesterday while I was standing on a chair, putting some glasses away on the top shelf in my kitchen, I saw this little beauty - a gift from my darling brother three years ago when I was pregnant with Lucy. Being almost 30 weeks pregnant, I thought it was very serendipitous and pulled it down to use again. It will be perfect now the weather is turning chilly - just right for toasty beverages. I'm now on a Pero kick instead of my usual hot chocolate. Does anyone else like Pero or Postum? Anyway, I thought it would be fun to look back at the original "Maternity Mug" posting from the blog archives.

Super Glamour Mom

When you look this good and are ready to roll in your minivan, it's hard not to feel like you're rockin' it every day.

Especially when you have fabulous varicose veins...

 That require you to stuff your painfully engorged legs like sausages into prescription strength compression stockings every day.

 Sorry friends, you can't just run out and snag a pair of your own at Nordstrom. I had to get these babies specially fitted at a medical supply store. They're the height of geriatric chic. I kid you not.

Funny story: I was in the workout room at the Sun Valley Inn when a cute white haired lady approached and said, "Can I ask you a question?" Sure, I replied. "Where did you get your stockings? They're so flattering! They match your legs so well." Why thank you, I'm blushing. We proceeded to have a conversation about their brand, pricing, and benefits, as well as the fact that I made sure to get ones without toes so that I could still wear sandals in the summer. A fashionista has to keep her wardrobe options open.

And getting your all-important beauty rest is super romantic when you're ensconced in a ginormous maternity pillow that takes up more than half of your bed. Nothing says "cuddle time" like a quasi-womb that prevents your spouse from getting within a foot of you. We jokingly refer to this as the third member of our marriage and have lovingly dubbed him "Herman."

 So in honor of my 28 week doctor's appointment today and to distract me from the fact that not only do I have to have my blood drawn, but also a dreaded Rhogam shot (#seriousneedlephobe), here are a few looks that I wish I was rockin'.

 Polka dots!

 This one might actually be long enough.

 Love the pattern.

Mom prom, anyone?

Maybe we'll snag a spontaneous wedding invite so I'd have a chance to don this beauty. After all, I did attend my sister's wedding 32 weeks pregnant with Lucy.

Cheers to pregnancy in all its glory.

The Party Continues

 We got home from Sun Valley and the following day was Lucy's actual birthday: August 20th. She was excited to have a present bag from Grandma Lori to open, which included the glow necklaces.

If you can believe it, it got even more exciting than the psychedelic glow stick party. I was thrilled to go to a friend's house for a little lunch get together and she was kind enough to make one of my favorite desserts in honor of my birthday a week earlier: Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle. That stuff is pure heaven, I tell you. Ellie = Trifle queen.

Ben's First Day of School

We now have a second grader in the house

The bus stop crew plus the newest addition: Two Bernese mountain dog puppies owned by a family around the corner.  We've all fallen in love with them, except for Ben who's a bit wary of dogs after breaking out into a wicked case of hives when licked by my little sister's corgis a few years ago. You know the scene from the movie "Hitch" where his face is all disfigured? Yeah, that's what Ben looked like. 

Mr. Too Cool to Smile for his Mom

Off he goes! Lucy misses him and runs to give him one last hug each day before he boards the bus. The first week was one of ups and downs, we're hoping things even out and he has a good year. His teacher seems great, so that's promising.

How did things go for you if you have kiddos heading to school this month?