My sweet Valentine

Mondays

Happy Monday! 

I had a busy little weekend - Saturday I had a newborn photo shoot and lots of errands to run when I got home. I spent the evening editing images and burning DVDs for my client. Busy, but good - and rewarding. 

But you know, there is something about Monday mornings - I used to dread Monday mornings, but now...I love them. It's just me and my little man - sipping coffee, watching the headlines on GMA and playing with toys in our pajama's. It really doesn't get any better. 

Happy Monday! 

New Orleans - Part Deux

It's Thursday and our family is back together again. Stew arrived home late last night and slept in this morning to spend some time with IV. 

I sound like a broken record, but I have to say...this was one of the best trips with Hubs. We had so much fun...got to let loose, enjoy each other, be goof-balls and have no responsibilities. It was a nice change of pace for us.

Ok - as promised, here are some iPhone pictures:

Checking into Harrah's 

First night

After a night on Bourbon St.

Second night - dinner date

Night two - another night on Bourbon St.

Sight seeing

At Finnegan's for the Super Bowl 

Flying home on Monday

New Orleans Trip

I'm back! I had to leave Hubs in NOLA for a few more days, but it feels so good to be home and to hold my little one again.

This was one of the best trips I've been on. Stew and I had some much needed alone time together. We laughed so hard every day and had a lot of fun together. The memories I will take away from this trip were worth all the tears I shed when I left IV. Speaking of IV...he's such a big boy...hardly missed me and had a blast with my parents. He was very spoiled while at their house for four days.

So, in NOLA - We rented a car, toured Oak Alley Plantation, walked and shopped Magazine St, toured the Garden District, ate, drank, walked Bourbon, caught beads from the balcony's, threw beads from the balcony's, ordered room service at midnight, got a tattoo, walked more, took pictures and slept in.

Ok. If you follow me on Instagram...you saw a ton of pictures from my phone. These are not them. These are from my camera. Phone pictures to come...

OAK ALLEY PLANTATION:

LANDSCAPES OF LOUISIANA: 

THE FRENCH QUARTER - AT NIGHT:

THE FRENCH QUARTER, MAGAZINE ST, JACKSON SQUARE: 

MY NEW TATTOO: 

Ok - that's all for today. More to come, including phone pictures and my favorite moments from our trip.

Happy February

February reminds me of Subway...their commercial Feb-u-any. Any sub for $5. That's a lie. Last year at this time I was pregnant. I was craving a hot pastrami sub. I ordered and the total came to something ridiculous like $18. I said, "I thought it was Feb-u-any?" "Oh no...not on that sub" What a rip! 

I'm swamped with work, both professionally and personally. Everyone knows at work that I'm leaving for NOLA in a few days and they need everything done immediately. Wonderful. 

I booked not one but two more photography sessions yesterday! Eeep! So excited. The first shoot is the Saturday that I get back into town. 

IV is a little devil lately. He is all over the house, crawls on EVERYTHING and walks from furniture to furniture. It's insane. I can't turn my back for a second. He loves it. He loves getting into mischief. It's very cute. 

It's almost time for IVs nap, which means I must get some work done. I doubt I'll post again until I return from our trip. Happy Wednesday.

Mom Anxiety

I'm having anxiety. To be honest, it's not something "new". I've had it almost a month now. I think it's a mix between the calendar flipping to 2012 - in 2012, my baby turns a year old. That makes me slightly anxious for some reason. But the underlying cause of my extreme anxiety is that next weekend we are going to New Orleans - without IV. Eeep! I'm getting butterflies just typing this.

I'm looking forward to our trip to the Big Easy, but I'm not looking forward to leaving IV. Did I mention that it's not just for the weekend? It's for the loooong weekend. Our flight is Friday morning and I get back Monday night.

I feel horrible. 

IV will be staying in the comforts of my parents home, where he has his OWN room! Yes...full on, his own room. Everything about it is similar to his own room here at home, from the blankets to the bath stuff...everything is the norm for him. He loves my parents and lights up every time he sees them. I know he won't have any problem being there with them. I however, I'm different. I'm going to have a very hard time. IV has been with me in one way or the other since August of 2010. That's a long time. We have never been apart for more than 24 hours.

I'm dying inside with guilt.

I worry that after a day or so he'll wonder where I am and think I left him for good. I know that is not the case...it's just how my crazy Mom brain works. I know that my parents are worried - not about taking care of IV for the long weekend, but they are worried about me. They know that I'm the type to get so upset that I'd land in New Orleans - turn around and get back on the plane to come home.

I'm going to be ok.

I'm going to get through it and enjoy myself and my time with Stew. I have to. What's the point of going to a city that I'll probably never go back to again and NOT enjoy my time? We have some tours set up, fancy dinners out and plan to watch the Pats in the SUPER BOWL at a cool bar.

It will be good for me.

I'll be able to FaceTime and Skype with IV and my parents - I'll send him plenty of pictures and love on him so much when I get home - he'll be sick of me.

But until then, I'm going to sit here with butterflies in my belly and tears in my eye. Hmph!

9 Months

Happy 9 Months Love Bug!

I know I'm speaking like a typical parent, but you are amazing. You are such a joy to be around. Even on those days when you are super whinny or refuse you nap by standing in your crib and pulling your monitor down...you are still such a riot. You crack me up 90% of the day...the other 10% I'm ready to pull my hair out.

You can't sit still...you are always on the go. Sometimes I will even say, "don't you just want to snuggle?" And you don't - you are a lover though and adore your Mama. Good thing, because I adore you as well. You are our world.

You love music - Adele, Kelly Clarkson and J-Lo. You enjoy screaming and hearing your voice. You can eat, boy...you love everything I've every given you. You name it...you'll eat it.

You have four teeth now. Two on the top and two on the bottom. And you GRIND them...all. the. time. Ouch.

Happy 9 months - you've almost been on the "outside" as long as you were on the "inside!"

Thank you for being you little Man. We love you.