Month: April 2012

Long Lost Friends

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Hooper
There were summers in high school where it felt like I lived at the beach. I’d drive down nearly everyday in my 1982 Turbo Diesel Mercedes with the moon roof open and Tom Petty blaring through the speakers. We’d bask in the sun, with no care in the world, checkin’ out the boys, eating french fries, and gossiping about this and that. Then there was a lull in my beach combing days when I lived in San Francisco for 5 years and traded the sun for the fog. When I moved back I was in school and my relationship with the sand and sea continued to suffer.
Now I’m a mom and it’s important to me that Hooper get out and about. I’ll do everything in my power to steer him away from the video-playing-couch-potato phenomena that seems to have sucked up much of the youth today. So, I turn back to the sand and sea and it’s like our relationship always was: sweet, peaceful, and warm. I could watch him run those little fingers through the sand all day long.

 

Friend Kim and baby Emerson joined us. Isn’t this little girl just as sweet as can be? Beautiful mom, beautiful daughter.

26 Weeks

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Pregnancy

 

I’m officially on leave from work, which came more abruptly than planned. I’ve been having so much low back pain that the back-up OB and myself decided taking off now would be safest. I planned on feeling that rush of excitement similar to the feeling when you walk out of school on the last day before summer break, but I don’t feel that way at all. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.
In other 26 week news, I’ve been having some braxton hicks. They actually started a while ago and if I remember correctly I think I suspected the first one as early as 13 weeks. There is no denying them now and it’s comforting to know my uterine muscles are getting their workout on before the big day. I’m trying to keep hydrated in an effort to keep em’ spread out and so far it’s worked, as they come only every now and again. I can also palpate little parts. I feel what seems to be miniature elbows or knees and can clearly feel when his back is pushed up against my abdominal wall. The kicks are getting stronger so I know all that protein I’ve been consuming is doing it’s job. I’m sleeping somewhat better. If it weren’t for the back pain, I’d sleep like a baby. Luckily, Hooper is such a good sleeper that he gives me a good 11 hours to get whatever kind of shut eye I can in and with the exception of a rare day here and there I feel quite well rested.
As a complete side note, how does the house get dirty so fast? I swear it’s been my goal to keep this place clean now that I’m not working, but I’m learning it’s an everyday job and things pile up faster than they can be put away. I’m sure ya’ll feel me on that one. In any case, I have some spring cleaning to catch up on.

My Best Friend’s Shower

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Pregnancy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I first arrived at college eons ago, I was a wild lost soul. A wild lost soul in all the best kinda ways. A wild lost soul hungry for answers to all life’s hard questions, hungry for adventure and exploration and pushing of boundaries, hungry to learn about myself and this crazy world I lived in. My heart was an open book and my soul had that “let’s go!” kinda energy. Janet was there for it all and she had the same kind of energy. 
I nearly drowned in my tears last summer at her wedding rehearsal dinner as I gave a speech detailing my love for and admiration of her. It was last October that she called me with “exciting news” and I shared the same “exciting news” with her too. In fact, it was news that resulted in the birth of this blog. You can reminisce with me by checking out our first ever post here. 
Today is her baby shower and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The two of us have rode camels in Egypt and elephants in Thailand, we’ve camped in Mexico, took a 24 hour bus ride together in India, drove all the way to Louisiana and back again, been sky diving together, gone on double dates together, shared bunk beds in college, and it almost seems in line with fate that our due dates would be within days of each other. She is bound to be the most beautiful mom around.
Here’s a few things I collected for part of her gift, though they’ll be many more along the way.

A Vintage Easter

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Holiday
Here are some vintage Easter/Spring outfits for the kiddos that I’m swooning over. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Lishyloo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Oliver’s Forest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Oliver’s Forest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Fibbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Twitch Tots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Twitch Tots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller 1 Sweet Dream Vintage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Alma Vintage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Miskabelle Vintage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Nap Time Makings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Hart & Sew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Toadstool Vintage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Blue Bird Lucy’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Etsy seller Blue Bird Lucy’s

 

Then & Now

by Ashley filed under Uncategorized
My apologies for the poor quality photo. I cannot tell you how many home re-dos we’ve done where we looked at each other when we were finished and said, “we should have taken a before photo”. So just as Willy was about to break out the hammer and nails I said, “wait wait wait”, grabbed my camera and snapped this one crappy before photo. As you can see, I didn’t even bother to pick up the tin with Hooper’s blocks. Schwhatever, I got my before photo. And…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am going to make a confession on behalf of Willy and myself. We love buying new furniture. We love the look of something new-to-us, we love the hunt for something new-to-us, we love re-arranging, and we don’t mind selling our old stuff. It’s a recipe for a garage full of things that have been swapped out for something different. In light of spring cleaning, we opted to do a little spring re-arranging. We rearranged much of our furniture and found these lovely wall shelves that used to be part of a much larger wall unit. It’s our favorite addition yet and one we’ve had on our to-do list for a while. We still have some work to do as far as decorating the shelves, but that will happen in due time. I also have plans to paint the yellow wooden piece a different color. I’m thinking turquoise. It’s amazing how different it all feels. We love our home and we love making our home our own.
Next on the list is Hooper’s bedroom and the new nursery. And ya’ll know how I’ve been itching to get by hands on these projects. I’m waiting until the end of April, as we’re still planning on using it as a guest room for when Willy’s parents come to visit around that time. After that, it’s game on! Oh ya, also on the list is selling that stuff I mentioned in the garage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The larger shelves fit our records beautifully. Score!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We picked up this darling needlework at an estate sale. The woman we bought it from had made it for her father years ago, who has since passed. It warms my heart to know where it came from and it warmed the woman’s heart to pass it on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are all Hooper’s records. There is quite an assortment. Several are hand-me-downs from when I was a child. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The globe will eventually make it’s way into Hooper’s next room, but for now it’s staying put. It’s so lovely.
Have you done any Spring cleaning or re-arranging?

Mr. Personality

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Hooper
Can I be candid for a moment without being judged? Here comes honesty: I’m not looking forward to having a newborn. Wow, that sounds harsh, right? Let me expand on that. Newborns are miraculous creatures, they really are. They are fun to stare at while marveling over their creation and existence and ability to survive. But beyond that, they don’t really do much. I mean puppies are born with the ability to walk. Isn’t that crazy? I mean you think about all the stages a newborn goes through and it’s like a freaking celebration when they roll over for the first time weeks after their born. Willy and I have said time and time again that we wish we could birth a one year old and start out at the fun stage immediately. Instant gratification.
And that’s based solely on our experience with Hooper. Because 11 months after he was born, a personality started to flourish. Who knew he would ever be anything more than a blob? And since that time, his personality has grown exponentially. And it is so. freakin’. fun.
I embrace the newborn stage wholeheartedly because I know now what it leads to. Dear 16 month old little humans, you guys are so rad.

Underwood Family Farm

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Hooper, Uncategorized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A co-worker of mine told me about Underwood Family Farm a while back and I’ve been waiting for Hooper to be old enough to enjoy it. After our last successful trip to the zoo, I thought it was time for some more goat petting. This place is awesome and I highly recommend it to anyone in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In case you’re wondering, there were numerous goats and sheep waiting to be brushed but of course Hooper was more interested in the “broom” instead. I’m telling you, there is a special relationship between this boy and brooms. He’s destined to be a janitor. A very successful janitor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was also interested in the goat’s water. But come on now, who wouldn’t want to slap their hands around in some goat water. I know I was dying to put my hands in there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey der babee goatz. Want to pway wif me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Oh no! Babee goat go b-bye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dis goat tis my fwend. I touch his nose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    I also give my fwend keeshes. Don’t worry, I didn’t use tongue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mommy wheels me around in my little wred wagons…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I like to pull the wagon too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dis twas my forst pony wride. I arch my back when I ride da pony. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    In case you’re wondering, yup, I even got to drive the wood train…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND pway in da sand box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped at the produce section on the way out and picked up some fresh fruits and vegetables. Man o’ man are those strawberries good. We have a return visit already planned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25 Weeks

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Pregnancy

I’ve mentioned it many times here on the blog, but I’ve wanted to be a mom since the days I started sporting pig tails. I mean people would talk about growing up to be dentists and doctors and veterinarians and truthfully, the only thing that ever seemed like the perfect fit for me was to be a mom. Even as a full time nurse, I consider myself first a mom then a nurse. I used to marvel at pregnant woman. I’d smile at them and think to myself how beautiful they were. It’s like they say, I’d see a glowing ring around pregnant woman. Part envy, part awe. They embodied everything I wanted out of life. Pregnant woman were like walking miracles to me. 
And here I am, pregnant once again and I don’t feel that way at all. I always assumed I’d feel the way other pregnant woman looked: graceful, strong, and angelic. Instead, my back hurts. And that’s all I can think about. Maybe this is why not every pregnant woman would smile back at me. Maybe their backs hurt too.

Style de Hooper

by Ashley filed under Ashley, Hooper, Uncategorized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bought this little vintage outfit on Ebay so long ago that I cannot even find any record of it. It’s from the 70’s and it came with tags still attached. Total score! One of my favorites. I’ve been waiting for Hooper to grow into this number. And, of course, his new Vans. Gotta love em’.
Sidenote: Thank you to everyone for their kind words in response to my last post. Sarah is practically back to normal. If that dog didn’t have bad luck, she’d have no luck at all but boy does she bounce back fast. I’m back at work today, crossing my fingers that my body can handle it and that I’m not a complaining mess of a pregnant woman by the end of my 12 hour shift.