Number 104

The boys and I are in Los Angeles, visiting my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. We’re all loving the mild weather, and I love that Ellie made another appearance in the monthly pics.

I really wanted to use one of the pictures I took against the hedge wall they have alongside the driveway, but this is the kind of tomfoolery I had to deal with.

So. Sitting on the front porch, it is.

Little girls

My nieces are in town! (So is my nephew, but he was running in circles so no picture at the moment.)

Quite the change from 8 years ago…

Oh I mean also their parents. Miles adores Uncle Evan.

Well, his Apple watch, anyway.

120 months!

Ten years ago today, my first niece Eleanor was born, and I never thought I’d love another child as much as I loved her. I really worried that my own children wouldn’t measure up. Well, you know, I do love my boys a lot, and my Emily and Andrew, of course. But Ellie will always hold a very very special place in my heart.

Happy birthday, sweet girl! I love you so much!

Then and now

My brother and niece came to visit in August 2012, when Ellie was 7 years old (plus a few months.) We took a walk around the LSU campus (where my brother and I both went to school) and I took a picture of my brother with his daughter and nephews.

Today, Ellie is almost 10, and the boys are 7 (plus a few months) and we went back to LSU, visited Mike the Tiger again, and found the same bench in the quad for a reprise of that old photo.

Looking at the boys’ legs dangling above the ground in the first picture compared to today’s kind of kills me.

Linus and Mommy go to California

I could make this a very long recap, but so that I don’t put everyone to sleep, I will make it snappy. But we did a lot, so it will be sorta long.

Friday
Got up while it was still dark out. Sob. Got Linus up and dressed and to the airport. Had much fun lugging 24 lb baby in Bjorn (over the weight limit, shhhh), suitcase, huge carseat, and diaper bag. Made it onto plane without incident. We were moved to Economy Plus (yay!) and had our own row, as well as empty rows in front of and behind us.

Linus was pretty good on the plane. Finally fell asleep as I rocked him while walking up and down the aisle. Whew!

After arriving, met up with some friends at a cute little park. That was awesome. Linus was the oldest kid there and he enjoyed showing off his walking skills. Nearly stole his friend Declan’s truck. After leaving that, I thought I lost my wallet. Found it. Whew!

Went with Evan to pick up Ellie from daycare. Cute story…she was sitting in the front office when we arrived. Evan thought she was in trouble. Turns out, the principal said she kept saying she was “waiting for Linus.” Principal thought Linus was imaginary friend? Didn’t know who she was talking about. Evan pointed out Linus, and confusion was cleared up. But how sweet that Ellie didn’t want to play with her friends, she wanted to wait for her baby cousin! Gaah!

Went back to their house, went to Trader Joe’s (why why why don’t they have them here? Hmmph.) and Evan cooked dinner. Linus likes slurping spaghetti noodles. There was much playing going on.

Friday
Went to Disneyland! Met up with Jennifer’s dad and brother and sister in law and nephews. Fun! Linus liked: teacups, cotton candy, fast rides. Linus did not like: strollers, lame baby rides that don’t do anything, mouse ears. Linus LOVED: It’s a Small World (it may be slow, but it’s eye candy for babies.)

Saturday
Went to the beach! Linus did not enjoy the water nor the sand, but did like the swings.

(he would not let go of my cell phone for practically the entire trip)

That evening, Linus and I took a trip to visit our triplet friends and their parents. So fun! I got really lost going to their house, though, and a trip that should have taken 15 minutes took almost an hour. Dang! So we didn’t get to hang out as long as I would have liked. But it was so great. I’m so glad we got to meet up! The kids played together, it was ridiculously cute. Brian and Cindy have genius babies, too. And next time I go, I may swap out one of my boys for Alexis. She’s such a girl! Ack!

Anyway, their triplets are just a few days younger than the boys, so Cindy and I were pregnant at the same time, and would comment on each other’s blogs all the time. It was so awesome to finally meet her and Brian and Alexis and Zachary and Jackson in person. I already felt like I knew them, so it was v comfortable, not awkward at all.

Sunday
Just a relaxing day. My old high school roommate Betsy came over, and we took a walk to Trader Joe’s. I’m telling you, it’s my second favorite store in LA (first being Paper Source.) Later, Jennifer and I went to Old Town Pasadena to go in some of the shops (like Tiffany) and have a snack at a cute little bakery place.

Meanwhile, Evan turned Linus into Linda.

Monday
Linus and I took the shuttle to the airport and had a thankfully uneventful flight home. He fell asleep literally as we took off, and woke up 3 hours later. Thank goodness there was a movie on the plane, even though it was about football. Better than nothing!

So now we are home. Linus was definitely happy to see his Daddy and his brothers, but I’m not sure Miles and Oliver even noticed he was gone. Ha!

One year ago today…

Okay, I’m not going to be able to make interesting posts every day about what happened a year ago. I was on Day 2 in the hospital. Yeah, yeah. It was still a novelty. I got lots of visitors. I found out that the girl next door to me was having quadruplets. (Oh yeah, show me up, why don’t you? Ha ha!)

In up-to-date news, I am very excited to go pick up the boys’ birthday present from my mom today. She said it ws okay if we started using it a little early. It’s the Choo Choo Wagon! Oh man, this is going to be fun. I’ll be taking it to my uncle’s tomorrow for Thanksgiving, so all of my relatives can take turns pulling the boys around the block. I can’t wait to see them in it. Dang, it’s going to be cute!

Friday, I’ll be doing the unthinkable…shopping. I hope. I at least want to get to Babies R Us to stock up on diapers. They’re having a really good sale. Boxes of their brand for $10! So if you happen to find yourself in a BRU (or, god help you, a Toys R Us) on Friday, pick up a few boxes! Size 4 or up, please. Heh. Kidding. Sorta. I mean, diapers make a great birthday gift! Or wipes for $5! Man. Too good to pass up.

Today I ordered Emily and Ellie’s Christmas presents. I found a deal I absolutely couldn’t pass up. I hope they like their presents. Obviously, I can’t say what they are here, but just wait. The best gifts ever. Seriously. I think. I hope.

California and pictures

Aww, isn’t Emily cute? Here’s a picture that Jenny sent me a LONG ASS TIME AGO. NEED MORE PICTURES, MOMMY!!!

Who’s a bunny???

Eeeep! Isn’t she cute?

Speaking of cute…

Now, you can’t deny that I have the cutest nieces in the whole wide world. Don’t even try arguing with me! I can’t wait, less than four weeks and I get to hug them both at the same time. Woo hoo!

Also, want to apologize for lack of posting. We were in California last week for fun/work. Fun first – we went to San Francisco, and then work in Monterey. It was friggin’ COLD but we had fun. Just so dang busy!

Here we are at the Golden Gate bridge. Wearing fleece jackets. IN MAY.