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!!



Merry Christmas Eve

Cooper is obsessed with Santa this year. We show him Ipad apps, pictures, videos, etc. all of Santa. He gets super excited, shy, and a little confused when he sees Santa in pictures.

Seeing Santa in person is a different story.

He is terrified of him. He only enjoys looking at him from a distance.

We were lucky enough to go to brunch with Santa at English Turn last weekend.

Look, momma and dada, there he is!!!

Cooper would only eat grapes for brunch. That's it. Each one of those grapes cost us about $2.

But he loved them.

 

Cooper is also obsessed with balloons. Here he is with Andrew.

They also had train rides, which was really cute. Cooper loves to go choo-choo!

Our family....one of the few shots of the three of us together.

And here's the evidence that Coop only likes Santa from a distance.

Can you see his tonsils??

I can.

Some stay it's torture to do this to your kids.

I think its essential to have a picture of your baby with Santa every year.

ps- this Santa was such a dud. he didn't move or talk. i'm pretty sure he was hungover.

Changes and back in time

Well, we have finally settled into our little home in NOLA. It has taken some adjusting, but I think we are there. So many things have been happening since our move, so I will have to slowly update you on what is going on.
It is my goal to update this more...especially about our new adventures in 'Nawlins.

The night before we left Knoxville was...Halloween!!  We were so lucky to spend this last night with my parents and all our friends and neighbors. All the kids in the neighborhood looked so cute dressed up.

Cooper's best buddy in the neighborhood, Mason (I mean, Woody):

We really miss seeing you everyday!!

Kisses for Mason

our dog mows our yard, too!

Coop's big brother and partner in crime, Jackson. boy, I miss this guy. he made my days better...everyday!!

our first stop, at Mrs. Marilyn's house

drew and reese

ayden....another buddy of cooper. and a bigger buddy of jack

pretty girls

sweet pressley

one last hurrah and mrs. barb's house...mason leading the way!!

Cooper's dog costume he borrowed from his buddy/BFF Mason...aka Woody (whom he misses very much and claps when he sees his picture) fit perfect and he looked so cute!!!

I have so much more to post about!!  Hopefully I'll get caught up before Coop's 2nd birthday!!

Our new old house

We finally found a house in NOLA!  Real-estate is....let's say....very different there. Things come and go so fast. And it's expensive!! Andrew and I drove around alot calling about different places we saw that we liked. Responses included.. $450,000....$629,000....etc. etc. etc. So, to say the least, we are happy with our little rental for now.

Our new old house has lots of charm!  It must be at least 100 years old. There are huge glass doorknobs, a fireplace in every room (5 total!!), huge 9 foot windows, 12 foot + ceilings (the things are high!), and updated kitchen and 2 full baths (which, believe it or not, is rare in New Orleans and in old homes), original hardwoods throughout the entire house. Its on a really cute street within walking distance to the park, streetcar, library, etc. We are only a few blocks from the Mardi Gras route which is exciting!! (No...not in the Quarter...the family friendly Mardi Gras in Uptown!) Tulane is only a few minutes away. We are living right in the heart of Uptown New Orleans.  I mean...we practically live in the same neighborhood as Drew Brees. Haha!

Believe it or not, we found our new home on craigslist! Technology these days...I'll tell you what.

Please excuse these pictures...they aren't so good.  And its been "staged". I promise this isn't our stuff!!

Last day

my last day at work is kinda sad

but it's time to move on

looking forward and not looking back

happy monday y'all