Friendship

I have been so fortunate my entire life to have such great friends. Friends you talk to everyday and some you don't. Friends that understand different aspects of your life because they have experienced it. I've found friends in all different places and stages in my life.
Here is a good example of friendship:

Friendship has never been more important to me since, now, I am a mom. Especially since I am a stay-at-home mom.

I cried on the phone many times to my bestie back home about not finding friends in New Orleans. About feeling isolated in my home. About not knowing ANYONE. I mean, Andrew is awesome...but I need good girlfriends like peanut butter needs jelly.

So this brings me to all of these pictures. They are from a party at my friend Musi's home. She and her family are wonderful. Have you seen Modern Family? She is Gloria thru and thru.

It was a NOLA mommas party. That's our mom's club that we made up!!  You see, I've met so many awesome stay-at-home moms here. And we all kinda met up at the same time so it wasn't like I was entering into a group that already had a bond. Each of us have our own story. How we "got in" to the club. Who we met that said...hey, I want you to meet my friend so and so. And you should be a NOLA momma!!

All our kiddos are about the same age, too!!  Its so perfect! There are six of us...so far. We do "thirsty-thursdays" once a month (minus the kiddos of course). We work out together. We have playdates at our homes. We swim together with the kiddos. We do gymnastics together.  We have parties at each other's homes.

Most importantly, we talk. About being a mom. About all the challenges it brings. About all the responsibility it brings. About potty training, snotty noses, sales on kids clothes, cool toys or games, snacks, and everything in-between.

Having these girls (who come from all over the world!!) has really made my transition here so much easier. I thought I would have too much time on my hands. Turns out....I have no time because I am always doing something!!  Coop loves it too, because he is around other kids his age almost everyday.

So, thank you NOLA Mommas. (all of which are not pictured) May we all be friends forever.

Gymnastics day Wednesday

Wednesday is gymnastics day for Cooper. He has been going for about a month now and is loving it!!  He gets so excited everytime we arrive in the parking lot and does not want to leave when it is over.

Since we started, I have noticed some improvements in Cooper. He is learning to wait his turn (he actually did this today!)

He is learning to follow directions.

He is learning to jump (which he can now do) and has better balance.



 He loves the trampoline, the balance beam, and anything he can tumble on. The good thing about the gym - everything is padded. It's hard to get hurt even if you fall.

 We have made many new friends...both Coop and I...so its always good to get out and talk to other moms while Coop is releasing some energy.

It's already up to 60 degrees here. When Coop wakes up, we are headed to the park with Jack...gonna go by Whole Foods to pick up a chicken (they are on sale on Wednesdays) and head to the gym with daddy!! 

Whew I'm gonna be tired tonight!!

See y'all later!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and other

I hope y'all had a great Christmas....we sure did! My parents drove down from Knoxville and spent a week with us in 'Nawlins. I think we are all still recovering from all the fun stuff we did while they were here (more on that later).

Cooper loves his new tools he got from Avery for Christmas.

They go perfect with this workbench daddy Santa built for him. Isn't it cute?

Santa brought mommy a gift card to Anthropolgie and a night out by herself!!  All you moms out there know what I mean!!

We spent this morning at the Parenting Center just down the road. Basically, its a giant playroom (indoor and outdoor) where kids can play and mommies can chat. Every city needs one of these. I swear, if I ever move back to Knoxville, I'm starting one. Membership is $100 bucks a year. And totally worth every penny. We go there at least once a week....sometimes more. They also have free apple juice and graham crackers for the kiddos.

I have met some great moms there that I now can call "friend". They have made my transition to NOLA so much easier.

I hope to blog more in this new year.....I know, I know. I say that every year.

I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for our little family!!!

ps- andrew is going to the sugar bowl game tonight at the dome!!!  he got free tickets from someone he played golf with the other day!!  whoop whoop!!