THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

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THINKING ABOUT: Last week I stumbled upon this Mother's Day card, and I was reminded why Mindy Lahiri and I could be the best of friends. Upon seeing it, I immediately wondered if I should buy one for Max and then 16 years from now I could just nonchalantly leave it around the house so that he could give it to me—a mother so great he could only compare me to THE Meryl Streep! Now I know this sounds overly confident, but I think my girl Mindy would understand. Obviously it gives me a goal to work toward.

FEELING: While I may wake up each morning with every intention to be THE Meryl Streep of mothers, I typically fall short by 9 am. For example, on Tuesday Max got his six-month shots. They sent the us off with two superhero band-aids—one for each milky thigh (his, not mine). Everything seemed fine and dandy. In fact, the gentleman at the clinic even commented on how well he handled the pain. I puffed my chest as any proud mom would (because you know, I made him that way...) and we went our merry way. The day seemed fairly normal, but that evening was an absolute train wreck. Max has been a great little sleeper, but he screamed off and on for over two hours. Naturally, I consulted Lady Google for advice because that's what any helpless parent does. I didn't find much, but I did notice a pattern among moms who mentioned hearing their baby cry, which in turn made them cry. I don't know if the colic has made me stone cold, but forget about the crying baby for a moment. If I'm going to sob, it's only because I'm soooooooooo exhausted and I'm running out of tricks. I have a feeling if Max ever reads some of these posts I can kiss that Meryl card good bye.

THANKFUL FOR: A few months ago I mentioned plans to paint our living room white. How daring?! The hunt for the perfect hue required some assistance from my expert mom, so we gathered a bunch of paint chips during our visit and I was eager to make a decision. After five days of hemming and hawing, I opted for Benjamin Moore's Simply White. Flyboy and I spent the bulk of last weekend with roller paintbrushes in hand, but we're really excited with the outcome. It looks so fresh and so clean! I probably should have known this would give me the urge to move into the kitchen. Let's see how long I wait before tackling that to-do...

EATING: You know how I told you about my parents and how they had the fridge and pantry stocked with goodies? Well my mom sent us home with far too many bags of Trader Joe's Gummy Tummies and I can't say I hate it.

LISTENING TO: After spending two weeks with my dad, my mind is all about karaoke. While I have no intentions to pick up a microphone anytime soon or invest in a machine of my own, I can't help but hear a song on the radio or shuffle through a playlist without thinking of him. There's something unforgettable about the first time you hear your dad sing Dark Horse. Katy Perry and Juicy J were so right when they said there's no going back.

WATCHING: Max is so close to crawling, and I can't decide whether to be excited or nervous. Seeing him kick his feet in pursuit of toys (and Beesly) in the distance is a riot. Of course I can't wait to watch him in action, but I know that also means life is about to change in a really big way. With each day he becomes more independent and mobile, which I love, but that also means I need to begin arming myself with new tips and tricks. Holy baby proofing, this is coming faster than I expected!! Where's the pause button?

READING: I read a recent article about J.Crew in the New York Post, which led me to this comic from The Hairpin titled An Open Letter to Jenna Lyons. I can't say I was impressed with either. Is Jenna solely to blame for the company's dismal year in 2014? Clearly it's hard for me to criticize our beloved boss lady. While I understand a capsule line offering $500 pink lace pants might not be for everyone, that doesn't mean I want to return to a style guide that could be confused for Vineyard Vines or LL Bean. Thoughts? 

LOVING: While we were in DC, I engaged in a little retail therapy and it was magnificent! The ol' mom-semble got a few spring updates that make routine trips to Wally World and HEB extra exciting. Who doesn't love that?! I especially adore this stripe tee, which seems to be on constant repeat. Thank goodness I don't know a lot of people; they might think it's the only thing I own.

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!

ART I HEART: CHARLOTTE LOVE

This is going to sound terribly bossy, but it's with good reason. I promise. Do me a favor and brighten your week by following the brilliant London-based interior and prop stylist Charlotte Love on Instagram, and do it stat!! Her work is whimsical and wonderful and totally worthy of a Wednesday shout-out. Trust me. I'm particularly smitten with Love's "faces" series, which is created from normal grocery store foods. If you're as obsessed as I am, then you'll want to check out Charlotte's blog and her interview with Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day. If you stopped by m' blog for a midweek pick-me-up, then I'd say my work here is done.

TRIP RECAP: PART TWO

Growing up military, home has never been about any one location. Instead, it's the comfort I feel when I'm surrounded by my people. Time may pass, but when we're reunited, it feels as though nothing has changed. I don't think there's a feeling much greater than that! This visit was a bit different because it was our first time reuniting since our family grew last October. I couldn't help but wonder how it might differ from trips of the past. I'm typically that girl who mourns change of any kind, but adding Max to the mix gave so much life to our brood and made room for more love. Having a baby will shift your perspective in every way imaginable. For almost thirty years, I've known no other love than this. Now, as a mom, I appreciate these tight familial bonds and the comfort of going "home" in a whole new way. I so badly wish our family could come together more often, but I feel blessed to know that Max is loved and adored in a really BIG way by the people I'm so proud to call my own. I think we really hit the jackpot with this quirky crew!

Alright, enough of the mushy-gushy details and on with the silly memories I don't want to forget....

• That moment you get off the plane and you're thrilled to hug your parents, then you realize they just want you to get the baby out of the carrier and stat. Being second fiddle to 18 pounds of cuteness isn't so bad, I suppose.
• Speaking of carriers, we opted to travel sans stroller. We didn't think it would be all that user-friendly while getting around DC. Let's face it, my father was going to hold Max the entire time anyway, and he did. Watching Flyboy get my dad strapped into the carrier is an image I'll never forget. Precious is an understatement. After dad tested it out on our walk along the Potomac, we knew we were set for future outings. Max and Gampy were total troopers!
• While mom and I went shop hopping in Georgetown, the guys opted to hang outside. We learned later on that dad and Flyboy kind of liked the attention they got from onlookers. My dad says toting Max around is a chick magnet.
• Whenever we visit, my mom ensures that we all eat like royalty. The fridge and pantry are stocked with every goody imaginable. We're talking fancy granola, my favorite Noosa yogurt, an assortment of hummus, M&Ms, etc. I don't think I went a night without some sort of cocktail or sweet treat (some nights even BOTH). Trust me when I say my snug fitting pants will agree. Oops! Oh, and I finally got to try Trader Joe's Cookie Butter Ice Cream, and it was just as amazing as I'd hoped. While it's delicious on its own, I can't help but think it would complement apple crisp quite nicely.
• While FaceTiming with family in Iowa, we began to play around with my dad's hideously awesome reading glasses (mom says they're hideous, dad says they're awesome). Upon setting them on Max's face, he instantaneously passed out. The timing was too perfect. We all erupted in laughter because it was equal parts adorable and ridiculous. Note: We later tried the whole glasses trick again to see if this was the secret to napping, but it was definitely a fluke. Aw, shucks!
• For many people, Sabbath is synonymous with hymns and worship. One could argue that our first Sunday at my parents' house was spiritual in its own way. Ha! You see, my dad purchased a Party Pack for his karaoke machine and I encouraged him to get it out so we could hear the assortment of songs that came along with the new set. Imagine my delight when Katy Perry's "Roar" blared throughout the house while my dad belted the lyrics and my mom danced along.
• If you like your dinner with a heaping side of sarcasm, you'll want to head to Dick's Last Resort. Somehow Flyboy and my mom left the joint unscathed while the rest of us donned silly hats with scribbled insults. When (hangry) in Baltimore?!
• My dad is a man who digs routine. For as long as I can remember, there have been certain daily duties that he tends to religiously (write in his journal, make mom's hot tea, load the dishwasher, etc.). After we arrived, I could see that Max was cramping Gampy's style and I don't think my dad necessarily hated it. That being said, some of the chores weren't getting done, and I had no choice but to step in (the Danny Tanner in me didn't hate that either). I knew hell froze over when I was allowed to load and unload the dishwasher. Then when my mom asked my dad if he wrote in his daily journal since we arrived, he said "No, I'm barely even taking my beta blockers!!" We all died laughing and it became a running joke throughout the trip. I can assure you it was hilarious if you were there!
• One night while the ladies colored Easter eggs, the guys opted to imbibe and indulge in a little karaoke. After we were done with our colorful crafting, we brought Max into the living room so he could join in on the Party Pack fun. Just as we placed our carrot cake into the oven, my dad announced that Max had another blowout. Clearly he was going to need a fresh diaper and a new outfit. For some reason or another, I asked my dad if he had any preferences regarding Max's singing ensemble. My dad blurted out "A tank top!" and I giggled. As mom and I changed his diaper, I got the idea to cut off the sleeves from one of Max's white onesies. Paired with grey sweatpants, this kid looked like he was straight out of the movie Raising Arizona. For the record, I opted to leave the makeshift tank top with my parents. I don't think Max will be sporting a shimmel shirt around Swell Rio any time soon.  

I could ramble for ages about the fun we had and the memories we made.
I'll hold these moments close to my heart until we're reunited next.

TRIP RECAP: PART ONE

In an effort to ease back into the bloggie groove, I thought I'd share some photos from our trip out east where we visited my parents in Washington DC. You guys, let me just tell you, it was a good one! This trip was just what I needed. We spent 13 days with my family, and my heart is SO full. In fact, it's a little hard to come down from a high like that, but I guess that's what Max is for. 

Two weeks away from Swell Rio allowed us the opportunity to visit some of our favorite museums (art for me, planes for Flyboy), frequent a few stellar shops, eat WAY TOO MUCH, and finally witness my dad sing hours of karaoke. Hot mic! Speaking of which, you have probably noticed by now that most of the photos include my father holding Max. That's because they were inseparable. Other than changing the occasional diaper, Flyboy and I did very little in terms of parental duties. My mom and dad had us covered, and I think we got a bit spoiled in the process. I would say there were times I almost forgot we had a baby, but then I'd catch a glimpse of my mom making Max giggle or my dad napping with the babe—such beautiful reminders that our little guy is incredibly loved. 

Tomorrow I'll share another round of photos including some memorable highlights and stories. Stay tuned.

TGIF Y'ALL!

CHILLIN' OUT MAXIN' RELAXIN' ALL COOL...

Happy Friday, m' dears! I wanted to pop in and let you know that regularly scheduled blog posts will return Monday. 

Until then, take some advice from Max and have a fabulous weekend! Make it count.