i got nothin'

We are definitely in a blogging slump at Casa Ninness these days. A mobile almost 9-month-old + heavy work week+mops consignment sale has equaled very little downtime. I have some blogs brewing so hopefully more substance will come soon. Until then, just some quick thoughts on life these days. Riveting, I know.

• the other morning, Mary Kate got up on all fours, looked straight at her daddy still asleep in our bed and yells, "dada!" To be fair, it's one of 3 words in her daily vocabulary but it sure as heck looked like she knew what she was saying.
• I have met most of my cultural care families and au pairs and I can say that I am loving this. The au pairs are fantastic young women, so fun and vivacious. And the families are unique and wonderful. So far, so good on the part-time work front.
• As stupid as it is to utter these words out loud, I feel like I am totally getting this motherhood deal. It took me a lot longer than I arrogantly anticipated, but I love it. Almost every minute of it. The other day, Mary Kate started to turn into a 5:00 pumpkin and I turned on music and danced around the house with her. She laughed at her ridiculous mother and I was proud of stepping out of the box and just enjoying my kid. I stopped and whispered thank you to God and my husband for being able to be home to enjoy that very moment.
• We are so excited about the summer and fall. In two weeks I'll venture out for my first night away from the gremlin to celebrate a fabulous gal's upcoming wedding. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about leaving the babe but I know how ridiculous that sounds and trust me, I'm way more excited than nervous.
• Flights and hotel are booked for that same gal's wedding weekend in Florida. Thank goodness for friends getting married giving us an excuse to take a vacation. I am MUCH more nervous about leaving MK for those three days but after seeing our hotel and ordering a fun sundress yesterday, giddiness is making gains on nervousness.
• Really, really awesome things are happening in some of my best friends' lives. One is going back to nursing school to prepare for long-term overseas missions. The other should be in Africa at the end of the year. Another is getting to start her new life in one of my all-time favorite cities. Another is in looooove and another is getting a new baby boy this summer. Another turns the big 3-0 tomorrow and I might leave Mary Kate with Monty to drive to Chattanooga to see her.
• MOPS has quickly invaded my life and I couldn't be happier. As I take on more responsibility there, I am so excited about the opportunity to really serve the women of Smyrna, Mableton, Vinings (and a few stragglers from east cobb and Atlanta :) I have not forgotten the deep breath I finally took on my first day there and how it profoundly changed my outlook on motherhood and staying at home.
• There has been lots o' talk around here about baby Ninness number 2. Don't choke. We are not pregnant. But we have talked lots about our faith, how much we trust God's picture of our family, how much our own selfishness plays into our plan, etc, etc. I am thankful for a faith that encourages these discussions often and for a God that promises to care for us no matter what that picture looks like.
• I have recently started Mom's One Line a Day. It's a beautiful little book that helps you quickly journal your babe's life. The best part is that each day has 5 years on it (20_, 20_, 20_) for the year. I know I will treasure looking back and seeing what MK was doing March 30th of 2011, 2012, etc).  I am AWFUL at routines so the fact that I'm only 2 days behind on this shows its value. Give this to yourself for mother's day!
• If MK wakes up in time today, we are doing an easter egg hunt at a local nursing home. Having spent lots of time in nursing homes with hospice patients in high school, I so look forward to bringing my smiley (hopefully) girl to these precious people.
• I was talking to a friend this morning about the financial impact of having a baby. I know it will get much more intense, but right now, I really haven't felt any change in our lives after baby and loss of a my big ole fat social work income. Other than wanting a bigger home that no one is getting right now, I don't feel deprived. Hands down Ross and I attribute this to the very hard discussions we had during Pre-Cana. Throw in some coupons here and there and pulling some Dave Ramsey ideas that work for us, we are making it. I truly believe that "the less you have, the less you need, the more you have, the more you need." Maybe not true for everyone but for us, unless I go gallavating around Phipps (bad idea), I am okay (for the time being :)
• I have four pair of yoga pants in the washing machine right now. That is pathetic. Even more pathetic, the number of them still in my drawer. Maybe I should up the ante on what "getting dressed" means over here to be more than shower, toothbrush and lip gloss."
• Thanks to Faith and Family Live, I have two books on their way and one recently zapped into my kindle. Mary Kate has promised 2 long naps a day so mama can get inspired.
• Lent is halfway over and while we definitely need to raise the bar in this house, I do feel the sacrifies more this year and am relatively happy with the connection between what I miss and why I am choosing to miss it. Plus I feel like taking small children to Mass alone during the week means I get a free pass to Heaven.
• We are watching some of Braves spring training and are so excited for this baseball season. It's the one sport I can watch and enjoy with Ross. See below for MK's opinion!  

Okay- that's plenty of narcissim for one day. Just a few photos that may be repeats but they make me laugh.

Maybe this year MK will be more excited about our Braves!!

MOPS Consignment Sale

Hey y'all~ Last fall, I attended this consignment sale. So impressed with the group, I joined this Mothers of Preschoolers Group and my life has been so blessed by these ladies. For the first time, we are doing a spring sale and it looks amazing. Cumberland Community Church is 5 minutes off the Cobb Parkway exit at 285/75 in Smyrna at Cumberland Church. Come get some great Spring clothes for your babes!   

    March 25~ 9am-7pm, March 26 ~ 9-12

                                                   

We offer high quality, gently used clothing in sizes newborn through 8 years, maternity clothes, toys, baby gear, books, bedding and much more!

Check out some of the highlights of the CCC MOPS Consignment Sale:

■Strollers are always welcome! Plenty of Room!

■Amazing Goody Bags to the first 500 shoppers!

■Electronic Tagging System!

■Many items 50% off on Saturday!

Hope to see you there!

Eight Months

Dear Mary Kate,

If I had to use one word to describe you this month, it would be BUSY. Lady friend, you are on the go with people to see, things to do, stuff to shove in your mouth. You have earned yourself some extra naptime nursing because it's the only time your little body is still enough for me to rock and hold my growing baby. Today I looked down at you, finally asleep in my arms and rocked and rocked. I ignored my phone telling me I had a 9:30 call and stared at you, trying to soak up every bit of you.

This weekend we went to Greenville to celebrate your Busia's 64th birthday. While you are hardly the ideal dinner date, you looked beautiful in your ballerina smocked dress and you made your grandparents very proud. While we were there, I was changing you into your pj's and for a few minutes you had on just a white onesie. Is there anything cuter in the world than a baby in just a white onesie? I don't think so. I "held" you (as in, held onto you while you squirmed your way out of my arms) and looked in the mirror. I thought, I had this fussy, non-napping, nocturnal newborn, and now I have this little PERSON. You didn't stop at 'baby-hood' for me. You have your own (aptly expressed) opinions, desires, wants and needs. This month, you turned into your own little being. And while I do not want to label you this early, I will say that we see the beginnings of a fiercly independent (perhaps stubborn and willful) , active, adventurous little girl. I am both immensely proud of that budding person and sad that I only got a teeny, tiny glimpse of baby life with you. Someone (aside from the 2,000 people who tried) should have told me how fast it goes.

So, little person you, a few things about you from month 7-8.

• since your inaugural tooth on January 29th, you have gotten 3 more. Dad thinks you look like a cartoon character with your bottom and top two teeth- the top with a cute little gap in between.
• teething is not my favorite stage (insert DUH). You are a loud vocal, opinionated little gal on a good day. On a teething day, mommy purchases wine by the box.
• You are 'crawling' everywhere. While not on all 4's all at one time, you army crawl and scoot yourself toward anything that does not resemble a toy. Examples include our blackberrys (your fav), my pump, the computer, the remotes, or Monty boy. Note to grandparents, save your cash. Toys keep her attention for about 3 minutes.
• You know what you want and you know how to let us know if you are not getting it. For example, when the bottle is finished or I am finished feeding you, you get very upset that there is no longer milk flowing into your lips. You cry like your feelings are truly hurt that we should be such awful people. Not gonna lie, it's funny.
• You have just started really using sounds and 'babababa' is our first. Despite dad and I both trying to make that into 'dadada', B it is. You make this funny face with your mouth, tucking your bottom lip way in so your top lip looks like a beak.
• You eat. everything. While you don't inhale mom's peas or carrots, you still eat them. You inhale most everything else. You are either getting 10 more teeth or are the most orally fixated child on earth because unless you are truly exhausted, food in your hands saves the day. Hence the box of mum-mums that stay in the car and the containers of puffs in my purse, in the cabinet, in the car and in the bathroom (mom showers, you eat puffs).
• You have your first BFF. You get to see sweet Joy Elizabeth almost every day and when you see her, you kick your legs and smile at her. She smiles back and you guys are really cute together. Her mom and I think you guys talk about fun things like skipping naps, not pooping (sorry), and general ways to make the mommies go nuts. I hope you this is the start of a lifetime of best girlfriends.
• Your legs are super strong and we get through many Masses by letting you stand up and look over the back of the pew at whomever is lucky enough to sit behind us. I hate that you are a distraction but you usually throw them some big smiles so I'm cool with it.
• You're still not a big tv watcher, despite getting excited when I turn the TV on in the mornings. This is probably a good thing because this lazy mama might take too much advantage if you loved it. It buys me 5-10 minutes once or twice a day and for that little bit, I'm thankful.
• Traveling still stinks. Sorry kid, but oh how much I detest traveling with you. And had your memaw not bought you a beautiful claddagh dress for St. Patrick's day, we would not be traveling to Savannah again next week. However, I can't let that beautiful dress go to waste or break your memaws heart,  so we are making one last roadtrip to celebrate St.Patrick next week. And after that, we are parking the car. (Good thing since gas is $3.50 a gallon?!?). I am excited that after next week, I will not have to endure you in the car for the foreseeable future.
• Your 8 month birthday fell on Ash Wednesday. I wouldn't mind dad writing a guest post about his time with you in Mass (hint hint Ross). We met mom's old roommate (and the gal who introduced mom and dad) Becca at Christ the King (along with 20,000 other people. holy moly.) We sat in the overflow room in the back row of chairs. Dad walked in and you were done. You beamed at him and you were in his arms for most of Mass. I didn't even have to break out the puffs, you were so happy with dad. Melt your mama kid. Dad said that there was an elderly usher standing behind us that you kept smiling at, maybe because he resembled your granddaddy. According to dad, the gentleman talked to him after Mass and was quite taken with the little firecracker smiling at him through Mass. Dad and I agreed, as I've said before, that watching you bring joy to someone else is probably the best thing about parenting you. It wasn't the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last time but you made your daddy so, so proud.

So happy 8 months to my precious, precious gift  from God. Every cliche is true. Time flies. The love grows bigger each day. Each new stage is my favorite. I could have never imagined I could love you so much.

Some photos of your 8th month, m'love.

Your first ashes on your 8 month birthday, and a shot of those chompers

hanging out with granddaddy after the Irish Festival in Savannah



love this sleep position, and those crossed ankles :)

I love you little gal. so much. love mom





Shameless plug

Hey y'all,

So in addition to my riveting roles as laundry folder extraordinaire, expert diaper changer and milk factory, I am adding local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair. If you or anyone you know is looking for affordable, in-home childcare that offers the added benefit of cultural exchange, please let me know. Over 80% of families who host an au pair through Cultural Care go on to repeat the program, demonstrating the awesome benefits of this form of childcare. Regulated by the Department of State, it one of the largest and most experienced au pair organizations in the world. Here are some frequently asked questions and some fast facts to help you consider (or to tell your friends to consider). 

With all the heirs Ross wants to produce, I will need to go back to work one day and would love to host an au pair in our home for so many reasons, the least of which is to produce multi-lingual Ninness heirs :) 

Let me know if I can answer any questions for you about this program. I am so excited to work with them and hear nothing but praise from current host families and the au pairs. Email me at kerilyn.ninness@lcc.culturalcare.com if I can send you any information!

Happy Tuesday!

Keri