glad my last name is Williams...

Today I had a very inappropriate but funny thought about last names.  I have this acquaintance/friend from High School who popped up on my news feed on facebook today.  It was about how she had put a new entry on her blog so I looked at it for a minute. She is married and her last name has now changed to Ball.  Simple enough, yet at the same time, easy to make fun of.  Why? Because with the two of them, they are plural. Just like we are "the Williams'".  So I was thinking, how could they turn this around and make fun of themselves? Or what are ways their future children may get made fun of or could make fun of it themselves?
Halloween. It is coming up and thus, it popped in to my mind.
Maybe since they are conservative people, someone should tell them to stay away from dressing up as Avatar characters... either way if it was me? We'd be dressing up all in blue.

secretly excited, outwardly embarrassed...

So, although I read all of the Twilight saga a few years ago, most people know I wasn't all that impressed. I LOVED the concept of it as I am a fantasy nerd but just didn't think it was written to it's full potential.  I have to admit though, that I enjoy the movies. The first was a little slow for me, but other than that I have felt that they did a good job! Typically I don't enjoy the movies as much as books because they have to skip around, speed things up and leave things out...(perfect example to this would be the Harry Potter movies) but maybe that is the reason I like these movies, since I felt the books dragged on?  Nonetheless, Brian and I have not missed a midnight showing.  Sad? Perhaps. But there's just something about going to the first showing, feeling the excitement in all the crazies who are obsessed with either Edward or Jacob, and seeing Brian's reaction to everything since he hasn't read the books, that I love.
So here it is. I am excited.
This one looks good....

Month 3!

Legend, you are THREE months old now! I can't believe it.  13 weeks has gone by since I delivered you. Time goes so fast!   You weighed in at a whopping 18 pounds when we weighed you this last week! My friend has a 9 month old baby who doesn't quite weigh 17 lbs yet... you are a big boy!

Here is what I have recorded about you this month:

- For most of this month 6 month size clothes fit you best, but by the end you were wearing 9-12 month sizes! What am I going to do about the wardrobe you are outgrowing so fast??
- This month you found your fist and you LOVE to suck on it. Sometimes I can't even get it out to put your binkie in or to feed you...
- Speaking of your binkie, you are DEFINITELY a binkie baby. At first we thought maybe you wouldn't be but once we tried the NUK brand, you were hooked. (maybe I will regret that later?) You don't use it all the time but it is helpful when you're getting hungry or tired and we just have to make you wait for a few minutes...
-You always eat at least 6 oz of formula but it isn't uncommon for you to eat between 8 and 10.  You always like to click your tongue after you eat like you are satisfied.
-You have also started sticking out your tongue. It is so cute because you do it when someone is talking to you, like you are trying to find the way to make words but just can't quite get it!
- You smile and coo very easily and love it when mom and dad sing to you.  You are especially smiley in the mornings!
- You are definitely a mommy's boy.  Sometimes you won't even eat for other people (including your dad who gets tired quickly and will give you to me.)  Sometimes dad will take his shift in the early morning (because mom is getting ready for work) and if he can't get you back to sleep he will give you to me, I'll wrap you up tight in my arms, rock you and sing to you and in a matter of minutes you are fast asleep.
- We are practicing "self soothing", where I put you in your crib when you are not fully asleep. Sometimes you will talk for a little while but then put yourself to sleep, and other times you get mad and cry until I pick you up and rock you to sleep.
-You kick and move your arms and legs, then get surprised every time you bump in to something!
- Your eyelashes are SO long and dark... (is it bad that I am a little jealous?)

- You seem to only like to sleep in your crib or in your car seat. You have a hard time taking naps and Grandma's but when you slept over night at Grammy's you did a good job at night; you just wouldn't take any naps!
-You figured out how to splash in the tub and sometimes I let you take 30-40 minute baths at night so you will wear yourself out. You get so in to your splashing and it's so non-stop that by the time we get your pj's on, eat and rock you fall asleep fast.
- You still have the most expressive face and your dad and I always get a kick out of it.  One of your most entertaining faces is when you life one eye brow. I'm pretty sure you can do it on both sides and it cracks us up because we can just see exactly what you're thinking right on your face. (plus it's something your mom does so that makes it even better!)

- You are almost giggling! You have had a few short, quick giggles that I don't think quite count since you haven't been consistent and it hasn't quite been a deep belly giggle that babies are known for.
- You are much more aware of what's around you and you always love to watch what's going on as well as make eye contact with anyone close to you until they make you smile.
- Sometimes you smile so big your eyes disappear, and other times you smile and turn your head away like you're shy. It's so cute!

Oh September, I'm Falling for You....

I LOVE the fall. Today was officially the first day of fall and I am getting excited for the cooler weather that October brings. (Although September cooled down significantly already).  Why do I love fall? It is definitely NOT because it leads to winter, in fact, that is the down side. But I love everything else. I love the changing leaves, the crisp air, hot wassle, soup, warm bread, the smell of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and the start of all the holidays. Fall brings all of these lovely things but one thing not so lovely that it also brings is one of my greatest weaknesses.... it happens every year about this time and I can't stop it and I usually can't give in to it either. What am I referring to you ask?  Shopping. Fall clothes. I love to transform my wardrobe (as much as I can depending on how our budget is doing) with new sweaters, layered shirts, boots, mittens, scarves, etc all in fall colors such as burnt oranges and mustard yellows. It doesn't help that some of my most favorite colors year round ARE fall colors. This happens to me every year. I see the stores starting to get in new clothes for fall and at first you're thinking, "what? It's way too early for those clothes!" but that is when the itch starts... the itch that I usually can't scratch but I love to covet anyway.  If money was no object, I think that my wardrobe would be a lot bigger year round, but especially this time of year.  Some of my FAVORITE stores right now include Anthropologie (which I've never purchased anything from because I can't help but think how many things from Ross I could buy for the price of that one sweater...) and Bohme Boutique. Bohme is a little more expensive but some of the things there are definitely affordable. Although that store was the first time I ever spent $30 for one shirt, I definitely wore it enough to get my money's worth. Including while I was pregnant, until I just couldn't squeeze in to it anymore. Which took a while, because I refused to let it get too small in my mind.
Speaking of fashions and shopping, for the last year or so my taste as definitely taken a turn (for the better in my opinion, of course) to a more vintage feel. Unfortunately it's a lot more work and often more money to look vintage chic than would be expected. Many of these looks I love are from the two, aforementioned stores. But here are some of the looks I have been eyeing the last little while...
Palazzo Pants. I swore before I'd never wear anything like this, but all in all I thing they are quite chic; especially with a frilly ruffled shirt tucked in. This, perhaps, goes along with my next new love...


(pretend the shirt would match those pants and you get what I'm saying..)
High waisted pants...


This picture is perhaps a bit extreme but I still adore.  In fact, this has been going on for quite some time. Two years ago while living in Maryland I went to a store in DC and saw some high waisted pants that I LOVED.  I didn't try them on because of the price and because they weren't exactly "in" but later regretted it. I went back a week later to find them again and they were no longer in stock. Drat! I could have been the trend setter. Sometimes I feel like fashion is like, a year behind what I'm thinking. I should start a business or something.


also high waisted skirts


Another thing I swore off ages ago but am eyeing lately?  Wedges. Yes! I said it. I used to be a flats or stiletto gal only, didn't really like the chunkiness of wedges but lately I am love them! Well, strappy wedges. There are still some out there I would never be caught dead wearing.
exhibit A: GOOD


 
Exibit B: Dreadful


and exhibit C: just some I would never wear....

B and C NOT to be confused with something I would ever wear.

another style of shoe I have been trying to find but haven't had much luck with, are a modern twist on something old school/vintage. Remember the oxford shoes? Combined with 2011 and you get...



(incorporating the wedge we like)...

or flat
For Fall I am also loving ankle boots (also new to my taste)


I've always loved cardigans but now have been thinking of different ways to wear them.
One being a LONG cardigan with a skinny belt and a skirt...



I have definitely joined the feather revolution...



and shirts cinched at the natural waist line...




(again with the skinny belt)

I am in love with Maxi dresses


Last but not least is something I have NOT been brave enough to try yet, but when I told my mom they were back she laughed out lout...
JUMPSUITS






I LOVE THEM!!!!!

SpLiSh SpLaSh He LOVES taking his bath!!

It is official... Legend discovered he could SPLASH in the tub tonight! Although it was a more wet and wild night for me, I couldn't help but want to leave him in the tub for ever just to watch the excitement on his little face!  It may seem silly but it was actually kind of a neat experience for me to see this simple thing "click" for him!  Lately when we take baths I have been moving his legs trying to get him to see that it could be fun to kick around in the tub, and although he would move a little I could tell he wasn't quite understanding the joy of splashing quite yet!  Now and then  he would kick a leg or move an arm on his own and his face would get this surprised expression like he wasn't quite sure what had just happened.  Then I would try to show him again and that was what we'd do over and over... but tonight, he did it all on his own.  It was a funny thing to watch him figure it out.  At first he was doing his normal, small splashes without much reaction and then all of the sudden, it clicked.  His face just lit up and it was like a whole new world of fun for him!  He started out just kicking a few times, then he'd stop and get excited, coo for a bit, then do it again.  After about five minutes though, he was going to town! It was so cute I actually made him get out of the tub for a minute so I could grab the camera.  He was SO upset that I pulled him out and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get him happy again and would just have to get him ready for bed. (I could tell he was already getting pretty hungry).  I put him back in the tub and let him cry for about 10 seconds and then it was like he remembered what he had been doing before, quit crying, started kicking again and those tears were history from there. He kept getting more and more intense with his kicking. I had his head laying on a towel at the far end of the tub (away from the drain) and pretty soon he had kicked his way to the opposite end and off the towel! He had so much gusto, I couldn't help but just laugh and smile watching him.  We ended up taking probably a 20-30 minute bath and I knew he was getting hungry and tired, but he didn't want to stop!
 I know the bigger he gets the more I will probably regret teaching him this trick but for now, I love it!
Can't believe how in love I am with this little guy!

sweet lullabies for babies

Today I got an email from Parent magazine of the top ten lullabies to sing to your little one.  They all consisted of things such as, rock a bye baby, hush little baby don't say a word..., and other classic lullabies we have all heard and come to associate with singing our child to sleep.  I had to kind of laugh a little as I thought of the songs that I have been singing to Legend since day one.  Don't get me wrong, we sing our fair share of kiddy songs while taking a bath or playing in the mornings.  Songs that MY mom learned from her mom such as, "skidamarinkadinkadink..." (however that word should be spelled), How much is that doggy in the window?, the "Jean Pier loves Anne Marie" song, and a few other silly, make you sound like a goon type songs. But the songs I like to sing Legend to sleep with are not quite so kid related but all in all, I think the lyrics are more fitting for the love you feel for your child than most traditional lullabies.  Some of my favorites include;
At Last
      At Last, My love has come along
      my lonely days are over, and life is like a song...
When I Fall in Love
      When I fall in love
      It will be forever
      Or I'll never fall in Love...
I Love You for Sentimental Reasons
      I love you, for sentimental reasons
      I hope you do believe me
      I've given you my heart....
Don't Ever Leave Me
      Don't ever leave me now that you're here
      Right here is where you belong
      Everything seems so right when you're near
      When you're away it's all wrong....
A Kiss to Build a Dream On
Dream a Little Dream of Me
and whatever other jazzy love songs I can come up with that particular night.
I also frequently try to sing Goodnight My Someone from "music man", selections from Wicked, and what few random words (along with some made up) that I remember from Les Mis selections. I decided to memorize the lyrics to my favorites in High School, when my never ending crush played the role of Jean Val Jean and I tried to live vicariously through all my friends who were much more daring than I when it came to acting, since I chickened out when my audition time came up.  I will regret that decision for the rest of my life. Now I'll never know.  I think I could have been Eponine.
Anyway, is my child any less loved or at all deprived because I choose to sing MY favorite songs to him at night? I think not.  In fact, if anything, I think I am helping him have a wider appreciation for a variety of music; mainly being old jazz love songs and a few broadway musical selections as well.
Now if only I could sing like Cosette....