She Likes Purple

Just like that

Week seven.

Week thirty-nine.

The rocking chair series I started at week seven is continuing to blow my mind, even though I've missed a few weeks here and there due to sickness and parenting error. 

We're already planning his first birthday party (um, what theme would YOU choose for a boy's first birthday?). He's inching closer and closer to standing unassisted and waving to us on a regular basis. He belly laughs at more and more things these days, including when I sing Miley to him.

I head out to NYC bright and early tomorrow morning for five straight days of a little work, a lot of fun. (Hey, any tips on what I should see/do/eat there?) I'm excited! New York City in my new (half-off!) Old Navy coat! Still, I already can't wait to come home to my boys. They're fun to come home to.

(The dishes and laundry that will be waiting for me on the other hand, not so fun to come home to.)

Happy week and weekend all!

Whenever days get overwhelming...

...I search out photos from our honeymoon, a nine-day vacation on the island of St. John over two years ago.

This is where we stayed, a sweet little villa that was so secluded and private, we felt alone on the island for much of our week away. We got pruney in the hot tub, grilled burgers outside, napped and relaxed. 

We also enjoyed the views.

 

I read somewhere, ages and ages ago, that Trunk Bay (the above beach) was once on a list of the top ten beaches in the world. I was easily convinced.

We're dealing with some money woes -- nothing too bad, just ordinary day-care-is-HOW-MUCH? concerns -- and we're juggling a lot at work and home, too. That's just how it goes as working, breathing adults. Nothing we can't handle, but still a lot that's bringing on early worry lines.

It's nice to have a happy place to go back to when stresses add up at home.

It was on that trip we decided having a baby would be fun. I even thought I might have gotten pregnant one drunken night during the trip. I didn't and wouldn't for almost another year, but I sometimes like to believe even though Kyle wasn't created on that trip, his spirit was, or our desire for him was, at least. I like to think he was there with us, in some way. I felt so connected to Mike during those nine days, it's nice to think Kyle was somehow born of that time, even though it's a stretch, I know.

Regardless, it's nice to have such a perfect place in our memories that reminds us why we work so hard the rest of the time.

Good morning?

I'm a bit all over the place this week (and next, I'm here to warn you). I had a lot to catch up on at work and home after the week of woe and puke, and I still have a little more catching-up to do before I head off to NYC next week for work. I'll be traveling with the entire office, something I'm thrilled about as we're an office that gets along well (the commute makes more sense now, doesn't it?), but leaving Mike with a baby for five days for a book launch party takes a little preparation at work and home. I'm busy!

So, yes! My mind, it is a'scattered! I got to thinking about something this morning, though, as I was rushing to find nail clippers and then rushing to grab socks for Kyle and then rushing to peruse the cupboards for a granola bar. My mornings are the most frantic part of my day, and I hate that. I'd like to get off on a better foot first thing, and although I know waking up earlier is the first step, there's got to be more to it than that. 

I'm interested, what's your morning routine like? Does it work for you or are you also looking for ways to get the day started a little better, brighter, calmer? Share your tips! Your annoyances! I'm genuinely curious.