8 weeks

Baby is looking good in there. I've had two ultrasounds, now.

Last week, after spending the entire day in bed, barely able to stand for more than a minute, throwing up, and then spotting, I finally called the doctor and was promptly told to go in to the ER and get fluids and an ultrasound. So, off we went. I was pretty dehydrated, pulse was high and blood pressure was low. Baby appeared fine on the ultrasound, no explanation for the spotting. After two bags of fluids, and a dose of zofran, I felt somewhat better. 

One week later, I'm still not great. I've seen my OB now, we've seen the baby again (right on track, heartbeat of 175!), and I'm taking quite the cocktail of meds. Zofran, b6, unisom, Pepcid, prenatals only at night before bed (when I can manage to choke them down - I gag when I try to take them - that's never happened before). I'm trying to keep food in my stomach, and force liquids and Gatorade and even Pedialyte. 

I'm miserable. 

I'm counting the days. The weeks. One hour at a time. I just want to not be sick anymore.

Tonight I took a shower and all I could think about was fall. By fall, I'll be past this misery. By fall, we'll know if we'll be welcoming a girl or boy. 

It's only June 4th. *sigh*

Here we go again!

Well, I'm pregnant. 

I'm just gonna leave that there. Maybe it will sink in eventually. I'm 7 weeks, 2 days today. We've known since I was barely 4 weeks. I was pretty much in disbelief for the first two weeks. I did run out that very morning (my initial plan was to only buy the digital pregnancy test to confirm) and bought all the necessary vitamins and supplements. I bought a grocery cart full of healthy foods pregnants are supposed to eat. I bought decaf coffee. I packed away the bottle of prosecco I had put into the fridge the night before.

But I still didn't believe it. I waited each day for the cramping to start, for red to appear on the toilet paper (TMI, sorry but it's true). I took more tests; the positive line only got darker. 

Three weeks later, here we are. I'm sort of coming to terms with this. It changes everything in our lives. I mean a new child always does. But as much as the baby fever had kicked my ass a few months prior, I had come to terms with the fact that welcoming a new addition wasn't the best choice right now. Finances are tight (to say the least!!), my stress level is high, I was excited to go back to working a job outside the home once both girls started full time school in August. I had come to terms with the fact that having another child was not the answer to whatever longing I was feeling. We have two wonderful and perfect daughters. Seeing them grow and experiencing these new stages of their lives is exciting. 

I was good. 

Then, surprise!

So, now we wait anxiously for my first OB appointment, which won't be until I am 8 weeks 5 days. 

I feel like crap as well. The morning sickness is seriously kicking my ass this time. Yes, I did have it for both girls, but not to this extent. I have a prescription for zofran waiting at the pharmacy, but I'm scared to take it for fear of the headaches I've read are common with it. *sigh* I'm taking the unisom/b6 combo which seems to be highly recommended , but it only takes the nausea/dizziness down from a 10 to a 4-5. It still sucks to drive, or do anything standing. Ha. Thank god there's only one week of school left. One week left of that god awful commute. 

Our poor kids. I spend most of my days laying around. :( we haven't explained to them why I am sick every day. They'll be coming with us to the first doctor appointment for lack of available sitters,  so they'll find out then. I'm hoping I can find a sitter before then though. Boy oh boy. 

I won't actually post this until after the first ultrasound. Still in denial, you see. 

June 2, 2014

Today, my project du jour was to quickly go through all of the kids' clothes I had packed away (ok, stuffed into garbage bags and threw in the closet) quickly, and only keep those items that meant something to me or brought out an emotional/sentimental/physical response. 

I'm proud of myself. I only kept 1 full (medium sized) bin and another only a third full, to save room for additional clothes I find worth saving. I sorted a box of shoes and clothes to pass on to our niece who is younger than our girls. And six garbage bags full of clothes from newborn to 4T to give away. Six bags! And this is after I had already gone through these clothes probably a year ago and couldn't bare to part with them. Yeesh!

I went through quickly and easily enough, but I had those moments where it was hard to look at the little onesies. My kids were that small?  

I showed them individual pieces. "Genna, you wore this the day we came home from the hospital."  "Gabby, look at how tiny you were! And this thing was big on you!"  They smiled or "oohed."  But they didn't see my heartbreak each time I folded a dress or tiny hat and stored it away, never to be worn again.  How did it go so fast?

Some things I kept, only thinking that maybe one day they will have their own daughters and think how cool it will be to put them in one of their outfits.  Or maybe just because I still can't part with it all. 

Gabby asked why I was keeping them. "Why are you keeping those shoes if we can't wear them?"  

"They were your first pair of shoes, ever. You learned to walk in these.  I want to keep some things so I can look at them later when you're all grown up and I can remember you."

"But you can just look at us.  We'll always be here." 

Heart clinching moment number two of the afternoon. 

Next up is clearing out the toys from the play room. And not just boxing them and stacking them in the closet. Really deciding what goes. That seems just as hard as the clothes. 

The puzzles Gabby mastered at 12 months (total brag but who cares, my kid's a friggin' genius).  The baby toys that I can't seem to get rid of. Why can't I do that?  What is it about the toys my girls had from 0-12 months that holds some kind of bond?  

I guess I miss that age more than anything. Most of the clothes I kept were little ones, too. 

Wish me luck, friends, because the next few days of sorting that is gonna rock my world. 

Stuff My Kids Say

A drafted post from over a year ago that I never posted. 

Looking at our sad potted plants that I tried to plant and grow with them. 

Gabby:  Aww they don't look good. 

Me:  No, they don't. *frown*

Gabby:  Maybe they need water!

Me:  With all the rain we've had this week, I think they had too much water. 

Gabby:  Oh, well then they need more sun. 

Me:  Yes...

Gabby:  And love!

Making a card for J for Father's Day. 

Genna: How do I draw a picture of Daddy?

Me:  Start with his head - draw a circle. 

Genna:  *draws large circle on paper*

Gabby:  Mommy, Genna drew the circle too big!

Genna:  Well that's ok 'cause Daddy has a big head. 

As I was getting dressed. 

Me: *checking myself in the mirror, the usual yoga pants and tshirt*

Genna:  *watching me* momma you have to be FASHIONABLE!

Me:  oh, I'm not fashionable? 

Genna:  nope. 

Me:  oh, well that's not nice to say.

Genna: you just need a dress!

Six months later

Aaand and I'm blogging again. :)

It's summer. My oldest will be starting kindergarten in August. And my youngest will start a two-day-a-week mom's day out program.  I cannot express how amazed I am at how fast time has passed. They were *babies* yesterday. 

I'm hoping to enjoy this summer even more than last. After a full 9.5 months of routine and bedtimes and morning and afternoon commutes. Making lunches and forcing breakfasts. Snack days and the evening rush-rush-rush. I want to embrace this summer.  Especially if it means I will be sending my littlest little on to school as well come fall. 

We're only two days in, so it's been easy thus far. One laid back-wake up late day, another with a visit to a play place. 

Genevieve is beyond excited to have Gabrielle home everyday.  My poor kid - I've obviously bored her to tears up until now.  The main reason I'm happy to send her to the two-day-a-week program. She needs the play and structure and socialization that I just can't offer by myself. 

Otherwise, we are looking forward to our first family vacation this summer.  We're headed to Pensacola Beach with family later in June. I cannot tell you how excited I am. We haven't been to PB since 2008, and then it was only because we were evacuating due to a hurricane. I miss the sand and sun. The lack of schedule and work. The family time. The water.  And I am so happy to allow our girls to experience it this year. 

I want to write more. But this has become a long post and I'll have to gather my thoughts and try a few themed posts in the coming weeks. 

I'm glad to be back - even it it's only to document my journey with my littles. 

January 3rd

In an attempt to blog more...

I took the girls to see a movie today. We did this over the summer and it was a fantastic success. All of my well intentioned plans in my head of keeping us active over Gabby's two week winter break have fallen to the wayside. Between bad weather, or my own obligations, or any of us being sick - we've done very little. I have, however enjoyed the fact that I have not put gas in my car for two weeks. 

Win. 

But last night I promised Gabby we would do something, anything, today. Not that the coolness of the Christmas toys has worn off yet, but they needed to be OUT.  I didn't realize it was going to be 34 degrees when I woke up this morning. Ugh. 

So we saw Frozen. Easily the best movie I've seen in a long time. But I like musicals. And Disney.  I told Jimmy it was better than any of the live action films I've seen in a while. I keep humming the songs and I want to get the girls Anna and Elsa dolls. 

Back to the kids - they enjoyed it. They actually watched the movie. We then escaped the warmth of the theater and went to the park. In the freezing cold. 

Ok it was like 45 degrees. But good lord, we were all frozen. 

Ha. 

We fed the ducks. I panicked when Genna went too close to the edge of the pond. We swung, and went down slides. We came home and drank hot chocolate.

Dinner was mostly done when we got home (sometimes I embrace the crockpot). It was an easy evening tonight. No rushing, no begging or pleading. Gabby asked to go to bed. That never happens. Never. 

After story time and our bedtime chat, they both easily fell asleep. I feel like a good mom tonight. 

I know everyone has those days - where you feel like an utter failure. But I am just happy to say that today - it was easy. It's a re-energizing feeling. 

I can handle tomorrow. 

Missing Elf!

First, let's ignore my lack of posting the last few months.  Moving on!

Ya'll - it's November 30th, and I can't find our elf.  Our ELF.  You know, our version of the Elf on the Shelf tradition.  It's 7:00pm and despite my threats over the last couple of weeks about our elf showing up on December 1st, I've got nothing.

Last year, I shopped early, I found a girl fairy doll on clearance at Target.  I sewed her a jacket and leg warmers and even a HAT, and voila - we had our own unique elf.  We named her Ella.



I was a lazy Elf mom, I'll admit.  She did a few things, she hid sometimes, but mostly she just moved around and sat serenely in different places around the living room.

I really wanted to get into it this year.  I really did.  I actually have marshmallows on hand this year.  I have books she can present to them as gifts.  I have IDEAS this year.

I'm seriously contemplating heading out to Target or (omg am I crazy?) Walmart (**shudder**) and buying a blasted real Elf.  Ugh.  Then I'll have to come up with some reason why she looks different this year.

Cross your fingers, ya'll, that Ella is just hiding on ME this year.

Lately

What's been going on around here lately? I'll admit I'm not great at blogging frequently, and it's probably easier to see what we're up to by following me on Instagram. But here's a little summary of life on this side of the fence.

Summer vacation is over. I was counting down the days for two reasons: 1) a three year old who seems to do better with scheduled events, with busy days, with the socialization school offers, was driving me nuts. Ha. 2) I was terrified. School starting back meant my first born is another year older. And sometimes I don't know if I can handle that.

I realize that's part of being a parent. Watching her grow and become her own person. I marvel at it, then I cry because I can't hold her in one arm anymore. She doesn't fall asleep on my chest anymore. That baby sweet breath? Yeah that's gone. I'm struggling.

Lately it's been hitting home how fast these girls are growing. Their play habits, conversations. I hold on to what I can. Still want to sleep in our bed? Ok. Sure I wake up cranky and with a stiff back or neck because c'mon how are four people supposed to actually fit in a queen sized bed??! But I give in every.single.night. Because, I can't let go.

And I'll say it again - I'm struggling to get through this.

And good lord, do I have the mom guilt! Dropping her at school, I wonder every day: am I doing the right thing? I remind myself over and over that I can't teach her what she is learning; that I am doing what I always said I would - give her better than I had. But I'm still just a mom and she's still just my baby and it's hard.

So. School started: pre-k4 this year. More French for us all.

Look at this face!

Another nine months of commuting some 60 miles a day back and forth to school and home, then back again. That's exhausting, friends, I won't lie. I dream of moving closer, but it's only dreaming. One day... One day.

Until then, I'm embracing learning my way around "my" city. A city I really do love, despite all its shortfalls. A city I don't even reside in, but that I relate to so much more. I'll try new parks and playgrounds with the girls.

Is it sad that I've lived here 90% of my life (and all of my adulthood) and today was the first time I went into Audubon park?

I want to explore City Park next, but I'm terrified. I've only ventured to those places close enough that I can still see my car. I'm afraid I'll go in and lose my way. No, really, you don't know how glad I am to have GPS on my phone - I'll surely be using it. Hell, I've used it just to find my way back to my car after parking for a parade in Metairie. No sense of direction here, y'all. None.

So we're getting back into routine. Early mornings and nights for the girls and me.

I feel like I've bad a busy week and introvert Stephanie needs a break. I need to recharge. Socialization doesn't come easy for me. I'm breathing each day and enjoying the quiet at home - and the chance to nap(!!!!) in the middle of the day.

It's funny how I'm actually happy the school year has started so I can see and talk to other adults (other than the husband :-P) everyday. But I also need my chances to breathe and refuel regularly.

I forced myself out of my comfort zone last week and went to this Mom's Night Out event. And seriously: it was pretty awesome. I was afraid to go alone, afraid to park in the city alone... but I did ok. I parked legally, my car was still there and not broken into, I didn't get lost even once - and didn't even need GPS (what what??!!). I even surprised myself, because I had fun. :-P

It's been a while... obviously.

I stole that pic from Myndee's blog (proof I was there! Lol) - you should read her, she's totally cool and has even been featured on Scary Mommy (um, hello!). Oh yeah and this happened (via NOMB's Facebook page). I did not tag myself in that photo... :-P

The next day, I had a baby shower to attend. Then the next day, the girls and I met up with Myndee to check out a new play place, and that afternoon we had Gabby's school orientation (where I hung out a little longer to catch up with some other moms and help decorate the school for the first day).

By the time Tuesday came, I was beat, and with a head cold on top of it all. When MIL called to invite us to dinner, I gladly declined and let Jimmy take the girls on his own. I enjoyed nearly three hours of quiet and watching whatever I wanted on TV. I mean - I was totally sick and that sucked, but I was granted that refueling I needed.

Tomorrow is day three of our first week back on a schedule. And thank god it's Friday. I will sooooo sleep in Saturday morning. And I know my little introverted Gabby is feeling the same way. She's asked several times, "how many more days until I can stay home?" *tear*

So yeah...

Let's wrap up this ridiculously long post (that was all done from my iPhone - gah!!). Sleep is calling.

And if you read through this novel? Thanks for keeping up with my wandering brain tonight.

Celebrate the wins

Jimmy told me this yesterday.

After texting about a nice afternoon seeing a movie with the girls. It was a successfull afternoon, despite running late (I felt), and the drenching rain, we made it to the mall, still dry, and early. The girls actually watched the full movie (we saw Monsters University!) and we stopped for some gourmet chocolate afterwards downstairs. We came home and they both took three hour naps.

Celebrate the wins.

We've had a hard week. It's been stressful and making us feel downright beat down. Like it will never end.

Today, Jimmy went to get an estimate on the bodywork needed on our Escape. Caused by that damn tree branch. Our insurance estimate offered barely any help because of a high deductible. Boo. But after today's estimate we were hopeful. The main piece needing replacement (it's all cosmetic) is doable.

Then, an unexpected check in the mail from our mortgage company: an overage in our escrow. Enough to cover the work needed and then-some. In addition, our monthly payment will be lower because of the escrow decrease.

Then an email from Gabby's school confirming her placement at our preferred campus.

Celebrate the wins.

Then I made some pretty awesome chocolate cupcakes.

I woke up this morning dreading my day. What else can go wrong? But clearly, I woke up looking the wrong way.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go have another a chocolate cupcake. :)

Rain cloud

Do you ever feel like you've got one of those cartoony black rain clouds hanging over your head? It just follows you around, pouring on you, a little lightening here and there. Sometimes the rain will let up a little and you think, oh! This is what relief is like... Then it thunders and laughs at you and you're drenched once more.

This is our life lately. It's one thing after another. And maybe it's just part of every day living, and homeownership, and being an adult. But I'm having a hard time adjusting.

One car dies, then another. Repair bills build up, the cost of buying a new one builds up. The oven goes out, the vacuum and lawnmower die. Then, today, a damn tree branch nearly the length of our house falls ON our house... and the new car. Holes in the roof, dents in the car, messed up porch and gable. *sigh*

WTF life??

Pray for me y'all, cause I don't know how much more of this I can take.Or at the very least, put down the damn voodoo doll.

tonight

Dear self:

Ten years from now when your girls are sneaking out and speaking a language you don't understand; six months from now when you just can't handle one more second of being Mommy alone because your husband works to allow you to be home; one week from now when you're bone tired and sweaty from a long day at the zoo with a two and three year old; tomorrow night when they just won't go to sleep: please look back at tonight.

Tonight, when you laid in bed with your two babies to help them go to sleep. You rubbed your first's back until she drifted off. And your second looked up at you, smiling in the blue night-light light, and stroked your cheek. And you felt so overcome with love - for them and from them.

Please look back at tonight. Remember their faces, their soft baby skin, the smell of their breath and hair, and the way they want nothing more than to be near you. Remember how you cried thinking of how fast it's all slipping away. The monotony of day-to-day life, but already they speak in full paragraphs and second languages, and soon... will they even need you? Cherish it, momma. Please.

Remember tonight, laying in bed, and holding them both.

End of year one {pre-k3}

We made it. One full year of school is officially under our belts.

Not just for Gabrielle, but for us as parents, too. It was all totally new and eye opening.

I am a mix of emotions over it.

Happy: my girl is growing up! Oh thank god we don't have to commute five days a week now! She's grown so much - I'm so unbelievably proud of her!

Sad: my girl is growing up.

Nervous: my girl is growing up.

Freaking out: omg you mean I have to entertain her MYSELF all summer?!?

Confession time. It hasn't even been a week and I'm in a summer vacation slump. I totally did not change either kid (or myself, duh) out of pajamas today. Jimmy went to work, eventually we had dinner, showered, and put fresh PJs on.

Thankfully, I have a full week lined up for the rest of the week because I think both Gabby and I are about to go crazy. Genna doesn't seem to mind staying home still, but she hasn't been exposed to school yet, so she doesn't know what she's missing. Ha.

ANYWAY!

I still can't believe it's been a full school year. It really flew by. Between school breaks (omg, I don't think I ever realized how many days off kids get! Fall break, thanksgiving break, Christmas/winter break, mardi gras break, Easter/spring break - each a full week or two long!), that whole month where I broke my damn foot and my parents lived with us, and just life in general... Where did it go?

And my god... She grew. She's not a baby anymore. Seriously. She had barely turned three on her first day (literally the day before!), and here we are only two months away from having a four year old. I can't express anything other than awe. And grief, too, because c'mon. My first baby...

Look at her (August 22, 2012 vs. June 4, 2013):

I covered this in one of my recent posts, but her understanding and speaking of French still blows me away. It is part of everyday life for us now, though. Genna even speaks and (I think...?) understands little snippets of the little bits I speak.

She's more social now. There are days when I second guess our decision to enroll her in school so young, but then I see how she's grown and I realize that I alone wouldn't have been able to give that to her. Jimmy and I are not naturally social creatures and we have a very small circle of friends. Making friends or getting involved in social groups is hard for us, so without school, our children just don't have access to a lot of other children on a regular basis (playgrounds/play centers/zoos and the like aren't what I mean - we frequent those places - but play dates, social gatherings - we don't).

Gabby and her teacher, Madame Nathalie.

And to hear from her teachers about her progress, that's reassuring as well. She's always been shy (I don't like using that word because I was labelled as "shy" for all of my childhood and most of my adult life, but it's the best way to describe her demeanor, I suppose), And I don't foresee that changing about her, but knowing that she can and does open up - it makes me happy.

So, with summer upon us in full force, I have activities planned for us, including visits with school mates and one of Gabby's French teachers, and I hope to detail those more here as we go about them.


My darling girls... What will the next year bring?

Five Years

Today, Jimmy and I have been married for five years.


On May 25, 2008, I walked down the aisle to Songbird. 

  

We walked back up, husband and wife, to All I Want is You.

We danced to Baby's Got Sauce, and Angel. 

We hand picked our music, expressing our excitement, our joy, our love though song. Hoping those in attendance (and paying attention) could feel how we felt. 

Five years later; two children, a couple vacations, a few cars, the same home, less money, more years behind us. They haven't been easy, but there's not much I would change - especially knowing that we were gifted with our two precious daughters in the process.

And while Jimmy and I may not be spending the day together (he had to work... such is the life of a chef on a Saturday night), on the off chance that he's reading this (*ahem*), I want him to know that I love him more today than five years ago. Sometimes it goes unsaid, and is hidden beneath the stress and exhaustion of daily life, but it is there. He has been my best friend for eleven years, we've grown up together, and I cannot imagine my life without him in it. 

I might toast myself tonight, but we'll make up for it when we can. Happy Anniversary, my love.


{Our wedding video recap. What an evening!}

 

Photos courtesy of Matthew Foster Photography.

Video courtesy of Dyle Films.

11 Years

On this day, 11 years ago, Jimmy and I went on our first date.

I was 19, he was 22.  We went to see a horrible movie (Changing Lanes, anyone?), then laughed at how bad it was.

a few weeks later, on an impromptu beach trip .. july 2002

This month we will celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary.  Wow, how time flies.

Welcome back.

It's May. I always have the best intentions of keeping up a blog. But obviously it falls to the wayside. Between daily life, major life changes, holidays... Well I don't have a proper excuse. I opt to zone out on Facebook or re-read Harry Potter. But I opened up my blog tonight and read my last entry (discussing Gabby's first few weeks at school) and it made me sad that I didn't document anything since. And here it is: May.

I could overwhelm this entry with photos of our past few months, but I won't. Instead:

Gabby enjoys school - she understands a lot of French. She corrects my pronunciation. She speaks it. This afternoon at the bookstore we found a book her class has been reading and doing projects around. Elmer the Elephant.

"Elmer est beaucoup de couleurs!" she said.

It stopped me. It's still funny to hear random French phrases from her. "Does Nathalie [her teacher] say that?" I asked her.

"Yes. Because he has lots of colors, he's not grey. Non gris."

At least I understood all of it. Then she said, "Nathalie says, 'Ehl-mehr.'  That's how you say 'Elmer' in French."  Her French accent was perfect.  

There will come a day when she and Genna will be talking and I am terrified that I won't understand them. We really need to invest in either some classes or Rosetta Stone. Ha.

Jimmy started a new job in January. It's offered us a much better home life/work balance. And he seems happier.

I started marketing myself as a baker selling decorated sugar cookies and cakes out of our home. I think I've done well in the three months I've been "advertising" (hello Facebook page).

Both girls are growing leaps and bounds. Aside from Gabby's Frenh education, she's changed so much in the last few months. Sure, we are in the midst of the terrible threes (lord it's been rough!), but she's so smart. And funny. And observant. Oh, her observations and memory are intense. And boy can she read between the lines. No spelling words in front of her, or leaving out keywords in sentences. I've come to realize if I don't want her to hear something - I just can't be anywhere near her and say it. She understands so much.

Genna turned two one month ago. TWO! I know they are both babies in the whole scheme of things, but my god, I don't have an infant anymore. I am deeply saddened by this. I nursed her until she was almost 18 months, and I'm sure that had a lot to do with me not wanting to let go as much as her. And now, she speaks sentences and practically paragraphs. Full on conversations. And man is she funny. Personality like you wouldn't believe. She likes to wear costumes and princess dresses as much as possible. She doesn't enjoy books as much as Gabby did at this age, but instead plays with baby dolls and puts on full pretend stories with Little People or princess Barbie dolls. She's amazing.

I turned 30 in January. I'm having trouble with this, as well. I'm 30. I say it to myself often just trying to get used to it. I'll be 31 before I do, I'm sure. My "bucket list" (I hate that term) is an actual thing now. And it keeps growing. But I'm still sitting here in the same place. My babies are growing, and time is flashing by, and I'm still here. One day I may post my list. But it only depresses me to read it.

And now I will say goodnight. Because this is staring me in the face:

And I told myself I would take 30 minutes to write before tackling that. And the laundry, and the dishes in the sink (neither of which you will get a picture).

It's a quiet house, with Jimmy at work and the girls in bed and before I know it, it will be next year.

Preschool Begins

On Wednesday, August 22nd, one day after she turned three years old (!!!), my first baby started preschool.  Grade pre-K3.  At a French immersion school.

she was saying "I'm three years old, now!"

I don't think that "grade" even existed when I was a child.  Not to mention. she's at a language immersion school.  God help us, we don't really even speak a lick of French.

The night before, we got everything prepared, we went to bed late (oops), but sat down together with Daddy and her little sister and read bedtime stories.  I cried while reading Goodnight Moon (really?  oh yeah, really.).  The next morning, it all seemed easy.  We got there on time, we dropped her off, there were no tears.  That afternoon, we asked her how her day was.  I'll never forget her answer: "I didn't sing French, I didn't talk French, I didn't learn French.  I didn't do anything Frenchy."

Well, okay.

first day of school

Genna gets in on the action.  Although she was probably saying, "I'm one!"

The school had a staggered schedule for the three-year-olds, so Gabby didn't attend the next day, but she did go that Friday.  Another fairly easy day.

Then Hurricane Isaac came our way and threw us all for a loop.  Gabby was out of school for a full week, plus the Labor Day holiday.  And with weekends that meant she was back home full time (in all the power-outtage and living with family weirdness that was the aftermath of Isaac) for 10 days.  This week has been her first (almost) full week.  It's Thursday and we're only down three days, but lemme tell ya - I am exhausted!

I seriously didn't realize that putting my kid in school would be so exhausting for ME.  Hopefully, I can get used to my new schedule.  I now wake up at 5:30am.  What?!  I was very used to waking at 8:30 or 9:00a, taking a leisurely approach to our mornings with a drawn out breakfast, late lunch, late nap (if any), random errands or trips to the gym, starting to think about dinner at 6:00pm and bed for the girls between 9:30-10:00pm.  Oh, we're in a whole different ball game now.  Waking up at 5:30am and spending a total of three hours a day in the car commuting between Gabby's school has left me just drained.  I'm not used to this.

Poor spoiled stay-at-home-mommy.

I had these grand dreams of going to the gym, preparing great dinners, having time to do craft projects, organize and clean the house better.  Overall, more freedom with only one toddler (who naps for 2-3 hours!), but obviously I haven't figured out how to do any of that yet.  Genna isn't used to the new routine yet either.  She falls asleep on the way to school, on the way home, and then again when we go out to pick up Gabby.  I'm hoping today's insanely long nap (at home) will show that she is getting into a better schedule.

French books

Gabby's stuff.  We're prepared.  haha

Gabby seems to like school.  Although every day this week she has cried at drop-off.  :(  By the afternoon, she's happy to see me and talks about her day.  She has repeatedly told us that she wont learn French.  Hmm.  Although between school and the lessons she watched at home on the computer, something is sinking in.  She calls random objects by their names in French (une pomme, une banane, une fourche) and after eating a clementine the other day she looked at us unprompted and said, "Mmm! C'est bon!"  She also now says, "Bonjour!" and "Au revoir!" to her two teachers upon entering and leaving class.  Genna can even be heard trying to say "au revoir," although it comes out more like "wah-wah!"

It's kind of amazing.

Stay tuned for more updates as we get through our first school year (for Gabrielle, and for us as parents!).

11. 15 favorite things

(in no particular order, tho the kiddos and husband do belong at the top 😉)

My kids

My husband

My city (New Orleans)

Cameras/taking pictures

Reading a good engrossing book

Wine (how did I make it to no. 6 before listing this?)

Coffee

A pretty beach

Hawaii (even tho I've only been there once, I'm pretty sure it's a favorite thing)

The rainforest (cloud forest?) in Costa Rica. But not Costa Rica as a whole. Because obviously. But I did love the rainforest. It's one of my happy places I escape to in my head when I'm über stressed.

Football season. We're Saints fans, duh.

(writer's note: this post has been in my blogger+ app for well over a month, unposted and obviously unfinished. I give up and am posting as is... Only 11 favorite things.)

Photo-a-day 16. Sign

A sure sign that I suck at dieting: this is in my freezer right now. I bought it last night.

Photo-a-day 15. Finger

Hey, here's a random one from the camera roll on my iPhone: Genevieve had a mosquito bite on her knuckle. What a poopy spot.

14. If you won the lottery

If I won the lottery. This feels like a topic for a 10th grade English class essay. I hated writing essays.

Hasn't everyone dreamed about this? To have unlimited funds without the hard work to go with it. To spend your days free of worry, other than what you should spend your money on next.

I used to think I would buy several homes, all complete with maids and personal chefs and gardeners and butlers and nannies for the children. The mansions, the cars, the extravagant trips and purchases. Designer clothes and $3000 purses.

But as I get older I realize how little of the materialistic items I really need to be happy. Oh yeah, it all sounds wonderful, but I'm just as happy in our 1200 sqft house and two little girls. My only wish is to not have to worry about income. Sure we might still work if we won the lottery, but it would be carefree work. There would be no concern about whether we can buy this or fix that this week or next month. Just an easier life in general.

I wouldn't go crazy. We wouldn't take extravagant trips. We would just live comfortably. Heck, I get too much of a rush out of finding good deals anyway.

Of course to WIN the lottery, you must play. And I'm both to cheap and not one for losing money to play. So this dreaming is of course all for naught.