what happened in vegas...

Well, here it is - the Vegas roomie trip recap.

aka Mamas Gone Wild*.

(Just kidding!  Hereafter in this post the term 'wild' is referring to a wildness relative to a group of parents of babies and toddlers who are now pretty responsible Christian adults.  Which is not to say 'tame' but rather a muted thirty-something 'wildness' that basically involves drinking and not being used to such drinking combined with being overly tired from not getting full nights of sleep for the past two years due to babies and being in a subsequent haze for several days.)

Anyway, I told you about my cool former roommates in this post, 

and our Vegas trip came and went and it was so, so fun.

I know that 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas' 

but I thought a trip recap might be fun - 

from my perspective.

This was my first time in Vegas with friends 'for fun.' 

It is definitely easy, a la The Hangover, to lose track of an entire day/night.

If you are traveling from the eastern US the time change is pretty rough.

In the spirit of our former college craziness, being in Vegas, and just being kinda psyched to be free of all parental responsibilities for several days, the first day was rather wild*.

Since only one couple actually had a room when we arrived (Beth and her husband arrived the night before) we congregated in their room to 'party.'

Beth is a graphic designer so first thing she hands us all is one of these travel mugs to commemorate our 'Roommate Reunion' weekend.

Rather than coffee they were filled with tiny alcohol bottles, 

reminiscent of former flight attendant Kristina's 'treats' she would 'borrow' and bring home to share with us.

Very crafty, Beth!

You can't go wrong with a craft filled with alcohol, I say!

Anyway, we had fun with the shots and mixing a few other drinks, 

while the guys got to know each other and the girls did some catching up.

Then it was pool time so we got on our bikinis

(yes, this is worth mention since we all worked very hard on our post-partum bodies, probably in part for this trip!  Half marathons for all three ladies!)

Sorry, no bikini pics.

Not sure why but I think we were afraid to bring any expensive devices like cameras and phones and such to the pool.   

After several hours lounging in the lazy river, drinking beers, and just hanging out we headed back in the hotel to check things out check in to our rooms and get all gussied up for our first night out in Vegas.  We had no big plans for the first night.  We bought our show tickets, ate some pizza to try to absorb some of the alcohol we had been drinking, and then got dressed up and drank some delicious wine from a box back at Beth's room (the mecca for pre-drinking.)  

Here we are in our dresses and paper cups of wine...

In case you were wondering, our husbands were with us this entire night...they just hardly made it into any photographs.  Sorry guys!  Next trip we need to take a million group photos.

But here they are that night, at the craps table.

They didn't win any money - I don't think.

At least mine didn't.

This photo had to be included.  My husband miiiiight be the best dancer ever.  Don't be jealous.

After eating some Mexican food at this restaurant/bar/club which conveniently was in our hotel

and then briefly showing off our amazing dance skills when no one else would come out on the dance floor, the group disbanded.  

(Points to Beth's husband for staying out the latest.)

The next morning after our wild* first day in Vegas.  For some reason I went to bed around midnight and still woke up at 3:30am (the time my inner clock in set to - 6:30am EST)  So I took a sleep aid and thankfully got a couple more hours of sleep.  Then I got a text at 7am from a very chipper Kristina asking if I wanted to walk down the strip to the Stratosphere!  (ie a long way away) Why, um, huh?  SURE!  Knowing we had limited time together I dragged my tired butt out of bed and met them at the coffee shop downstairs.  They both looked radiant and I looked a hot mess, but we managed to have an enjoyable walk with Kristina's hubby Mike down the strip.  

Mike was awesome to take some pics of us -  but again, being a guy, he didn't make it in any.  

Us and a giant lizard.  Beth is really into lizards.

I made them pose with these odd versions of Elmo and Cookie Monster with me.

(Hey, I posed with the lizard so I don't feel too bad!)

We ran out of time/energy and never made it to the Stratosphere.

Next we met the other two husbands at Cosmopolitan and ate at a buffet called The Wicked Spoon.

There was a pretty amazing selection of food, okay quality, and terrible coffee.

I still contend the best hangover food is a giant Chipotle burrito.

Then it was nap time, clearly.

After a nap and a clothing change (and makeup!) so I could feel somewhat like a human again

we headed down to watch the Kentucky Derby!  

The guys had bet some money so we got a few "free" drinks out of the deal.

We watched the short race, cheered, sighed when all our guys lost, 

then got to hear the cheers as some other guy won $11,000.

Next we went to ride the roller coaster at New York, New York.

So fun!  I closed my eyes for most of it because I thought for some reason we were on top of a giant building.  Then I opened them and realized that nope, we were not.

Phew.  Enjoyed the rest of the ride without fearing for my life.

(Yes, I go on roller coasters even though I am scared of them.)

post-coaster ride at new york, new york

Then it was time for our "big night out."

We had planned for forever to all wear sequined dresses, go to a show and a fancy dinner.

Check, check, and check.

We donned our fabulous sequined frocks and were ready for a wild* night.

We found a fun lighted backdrop to show off our 'sparkle.'

Then it was showtime!   We wanted to see a Cirque show and settled on Zumanity.  It was pretty racy, but to be honest I was a little buzzed and remember nothing specific...except a 'little person' who kept flying above the crowd and was pretty amazing, and the woman in front of Beth and I getting mad at us for talking and laughing too much. 

After the show we were pretty hungry, so we tried to find a nice restaurant.  For some reason most places were already closed (???) I guess the show ran later than we expected.  However, we found a place (again, in our hotel) that just barely kept the kitchen open for us.  It was pretty swanky - very cool vibe. We ordered wine, drank water to attempt to rehydrate, ate a ton of bread, had our dinners, and then got the bill.  Eep!  $40 for the water.  That is all I will say.

That was enough to make the guys call it a night.  (or at least mine did.)

However, we ladies were still ready to party!

We had been talking about going to an ice bar for months, and conveniently there was one (of course) in our hotel.  So we paid our cash to enter, were each given a huge coat, faux Ugg boots and mittens, and went back to a room with ice walls, seating, bar, glasses - you name it.  It was cool, er, awesome!  We drank yummy iced coffee drinks (with alcohol, yes) and then the photographer came over to us and had us pose, some with our giant coats, and then some without, in our lovely sequined dresses.

Oh, and with a random girl from a different group.  No idea why she wanted to be in our pics.  We referred to her as 'the fourth roommate' and "Agnes' stand-in" (We briefly did have a fourth roomie named Agnes.)

Clearly we had a good time!  We left the ice bar and went off to see what other kinds of "trouble" we could get into.  Wandered through the casino getting some interesting looks - I think we were quite a sight with all those sequins!  Photo-bombed some other people's photos.  Had some wine at one of the bars there and met some European guys who were like 21 and made me feel I was at least fifty.  Kristina played some video poker (I think the only one of us girls who gambled at all) and won ten bucks.  Then we really wanted to go back to this bar we saw earlier with all these amazing crystals hanging everywhere - like the entire room was a chandelier.  

So we walked down the strip, had some laughs, feet started hurting,

never found that bar, headed back, paid ten bucks to get into the same dance club/bar we went to the first night, stayed a grand total of ten minutes, realized we were too tired/old to be out dancing at a club that late (it had to be nearly 2am by that point - 5am EST - eek!) 

So we abandoned the 'clubbin' idea and hobbled over to NY, NY again and ate pizza.

I was so hungry I finished my pizza before I even paid for it.

Sad, I know.

We took off our high heels sat a bit, then walked back to our rooms and called it a night.  

Well, it was morning by then, but you know what I mean.

Early the next morning Kristina and Mike flew out,

the official end of our reunion weekend.

Beth and Ben and Paul and I walked around 10am to have brunch at a little place off the strip, which had great food.  Plus, the walk felt good. (Not in heels.)

Back at the hotel we took one last dip in the pool, and then it was farewell to Ben and Beth.

Left to our own devices Hubby and I spent the Sunday doing what we would typically do on a vacation:

loooong nap in the hotel, went to see a movie (yes, we love going to movies),  took a leisurely walk down to see the Bellagio fountains,  grabbed some food and headed back to our room where we laid in bed, watched a silly movie, and probably fell asleep at 7pm.

It was awesome.  No really - finally got some rest after all that partying.*

love this guy - my most compatible travel partner (we are lazy!)

So that was our trip!

It was crazy and a lot of fun - will remember it (sort of) always!

I would say that babies have done us nothing but good!  :)  But seriously, these girls have worked super hard post-pregnancy and look really, really amazing.  This photo does no justice to how tiny they both are and how good they look in bikinis!

Plus, I think we are all happier, calmer, more motivated women as mothers.  

Cheers to growing up!   Cheers to Vegas!

And here's hoping we don't wait four more years for another Roommate Reunion,

Love you ladies!

my fave pic of the trip 

mama confessions : what makes the battle(s) worth the fighting?

My son loves the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

So do I.

Even more so now that I have two little blond-haired kiddos.

My own little Jeremy and Jemima.

Anyway, since I introduced Cormac to this classic musical about a year ago, just after I had Finola,  I completely fell in love with one of the songs in particular.  

"You Two"

I now sing it regularly to both of them.

They adore that.

They don't yet their mom breaking into song and serenading them is weird.

I will relish that as long as I can.

If you need reminding how great this song is watch the clip below.

Just picture me as Dick van Dyke

(but with shorter legs and far less musical ability.)

* * * * * * 

Anyway, yesterday was Mother's Day, and nothing went exactly as planned.

There were various meltdowns.  Several frazzling moments.  Plans that got abandoned.

I mean, let's be honest...

motherhood can be hard at times.

There are battles - particularly with a strong-willed, spirited toddler.

Some days end and you feel like you've lost them all.

Then there are the times you feel victorious.

Whatever the outcome of the day, or the battle, 

the day starts over and you are still a mother.

So, "what makes the battle worth the fighting?"

As a mother, you know.

The aching love you feel for those babies.

The joys you get to experience, 

again and again,

through the simplest things.

The knowledge that they are solely dependent on you

(at least when they are tiny.)

The hope they represent.

Despite a few little battles yesterday, 

it ended up a beautiful, simple, memorable day.

Nothing fancy.

Sweet cards, church,  Jimmy John's, family photo (that I didn't have to orchestrate) some alone time, 

and then a carnival down the street.

Here are some pics from our late afternoon excursion: 

getting cormac to cooperate for a 'mother's day photo' was one of the day's tiny battles

eventually he warmed to the idea

kisses for sister

we walked to a local carnival - just like last year (except this time I was not pregnant!)

first ferris wheel ride - he loved it!

finola got tired but was a trooper

I hope all the mamas out there had a beautiful day.

Keep fighting those battles.  

Totally worth it.

throwback thursday blog edition : my college roomies!

I am on the verge of my first baby-free vacation since Finola was born.
Actually, we haven't been anywhere without the kiddos (more than an overnight) since our trip to St. Maarten when I was sixteen weeks preggo.

I am so, so, so ready.
We are headed to Vegas for a reunion with my roommates from my second year of college.  We lived in the type of apartments where you are matched up with roommates based on age/interests. Having worked in the business office of said apartments I can honestly say it was an act of God that we were matched up so well.  Honestly, these two are awesome.  I am grateful for the year we lived together, in our crappy apartment complete with severe lack of air-conditioning, mandatory rope lighting in the living room, 'sexy guy' magazine pics decorating our kitchen cabinets, and Beth's gecko lizard.  Oh, and Bacardi Breezers in the fridge, of course.

When I first moved in with Beth and Kristina I was, well, pretty naive.   Probably our year living together could be considered my "coming-of-age."  I definitely felt like I became an adult through various things that happened in my life during that time period.  Both women were good friends to me then, and even now - despite the fact that we rarely see each other.

Both had pretty important influences on my life.  

Kristina introduced me to my husband, way back then when we were only twenty.   Well, she was the one who met him and then was ballsy enough to invite him over to hang out and meet her roomies.   So basically I have her to thank for the three most beautiful things in my life  -- Hubby and the two subsequent babies.  :) :) :)

Beth is the one who got me to finally start blogging.  I had been reading blogs for several years and really wanting to start one myself, simply as a creative outlet I was lacking at the time.  It was Beth that told me to just do it, in her blunt, matter-of-fact, yet very encouraging way.  So I did, four years ago, and have been writing and loving it ever since!

So thank you ladies!  Here is what I will do for you...a trip down memory lane.  You're welcome.  Ha!

+ + + + + + + 

Here are the three of us - the night we threw a "wild party" in our apartment.  In truth, there were only four people there : us, and my future husband!  (He may have been slightly disappointed in the turnout at first, but our alcohol-soaked watermelon and awesome white girl dance moves won him over quickly.)  

Here we are hanging out on the playground outside our building.  No idea who took these photos or why...but we always had a blast together!

After we lived together that year we kept in touch, saw each other when we could, despite leading busy lives and moving to various parts of the country.

Then we started getting married.
Beth was first...

...then me, only a few weeks later.

dancing the dollar dance...with my uncle

Before Kristina got married we had our first "Roomie Reunion" in 2010 in Destin, FL...

we tried our hand at deep sea fishing

rented a condo, wore coordinating outfits, and drank lots of wine! (well, not beth, she was newly preggo.)

This photograph was the last time we were all three together - Kristina's wedding.  Such a fun weekend!   Again, Beth was still pregnant...so we haven't hung out without one of us being pregnant in a REALLY long time.    Not that that matters!  (But yes, yes it does.)

Now, five, yes FIVE babies later, we are headed to Vegas!

This time our amazing husbands will be joining us to hang out and catch up.

(I am promised that no one is pregnant.)

Trip recap to follow.

Or not.

What happens in Vegas...

;)

finola - eleven months!

Dear Fin, 

Only a month until you are one!

Where did this year go?  

A blur of breastfeeding, diaper changes, and hauling two little blondies around everywhere.  

Awesome, tiring, and so sweet.

It is hard for me to remember who I was before babies.

I guess I had lots of free time.

Yet somehow I was less productive.

Let's just say, you and your brother inspire me to do a lot.

Write more, run more, run farther, cook more, nest more, 

get out more, make more friends, take more photos...

phew!  

It can be exhausting!

But so much fun.

Eating:

Gosh, you are a good eater.  I mean, you will eat pretty much anything (except avocado) and will eat quite a bit.  Mac n cheese is your favorite, which I guess I could have expected.   Or really, any pasta.  (Just like your mama!) I can tell you are done eating when you start throwing things to the dog.  Oh, speaking of the dog, you like to try to eat his food, too.  As far as the bottle, well, it is getting trickier to get you to drink your formula.  If there is other food present it will simply not happen.  You are sure to be a shot put thrower someday because you launch that bottle across the room with great strength and skill.

Sleeping:

Great!  Finally.  Sleeping through the night is where we are consistently at now.  There may be the occasional night waking if you are sick/teething.  You go to bed at 7 and wake up around 6:30.  Still taking two naps, the morning one shortened slightly.

Milestones/Development:

• You will occasionally push off something and stand on your own, for about five seconds.
• Your words are : Mama (yes!!!) Dada, Nana, and Babababa (???)  Lots of babbling.
• Have gotten braver "walking" while holding only one of my hands.  Very wobbly, though!  No solo steps yet!
• Love to clap and stomp when we sing "If You're Happy and You Know It"
• You are a climber - every bit as much as Cormac was.  You are fearless when it comes to climbing up stairs, ladders, playground equipment, etc.  Getting down?  Not so much.
• You LOVE going down slides, whether it be baby slides or big ones on mama's lap.

• 

  I think she really wants to walk.  This is her expression every time she uses one of her walking toys.

Health/Measurements:

• You weigh 21 pounds.
• You now have four (almost five) teeth!
• Went to the doc about your feet - x-rays showed nothing abnormal in the bone structure, but you have extreme pronation and small yet wide feet.  So buying shoes is gonna be super fun!
• Your hair has gotten much longer and you have curls in the back!

curls

This month's memories...

• Your first UK championship game watch!  
• Your first Easter!
• Your first "race" 

you and your partner in crime, Carter -- watching the elite 8 game

she came to watch my first race in forever.  so, so lovely crossing the finish line and having the family there!

we pretty much go to a park every day

Cormac got behind the camera for this one -- don't mind my makeup-less, crazy-hair state.

Guilty!  This is now unfortunately one of her fave places to be.

easter morning in bunny pjs

                                                                  Sibling Relations:

We definitely have our daily challenges.  I have really had to be conscious of making sure Cormac gets enough quality alone time with me, as it is easy to get distracted with a baby and kind of just get through the day.  But despite the vying for attention and you getting up in his personal space a lot, The love between you is evident, and I pray it always stays that way.  

my little squishy faces.

learning the art of back massages at a young age.

isn't it fun when mama forces you to dance together???

Well, that is month eleven. 

(Here was your brother's month eleven - and here.)

I expect this next month will be a lot of me prepping for your party, 

taking you and your bro to the park and on lots of runs 

due to this beautiful weather (finally!) 

I am excited for all things to come this summer!

Here's to hoping you love the pool!

Love you, girl - 

Mama+Dada