island time

I think I was made to live on island time. Fifteen minutes late is on time in the Bahamas and that works out well for me. We've been back for a few days now and have been soaking in every minute we can get with these girls. No amount of sun, sand, food, sleep, or ocean breeze can compare to two smiling 11 month-old faces. 

We missed them for sure but our vacation was truly wonderful. And traveling, for me, would not be traveling if it didn't involve some sort of mishap, missed flight, lost luggage, completely closed airline {that's a good one}, or some such nonsense. 

This trip involved two such circumstances. We were traveling with Paul's younger brother, Josh, and had a connecting flight. P-dubs insisted we pack only carry-ons which is perfectly doable and helps you to NOT lose luggage. But our first flight was so full they asked for rolling bags to be checked to their final destinations, free of charge. How nice. But then we were delayed for 45 minutes because of fog so we landed 20 minutes before our next flight left from the complete opposite terminal. And I had worn my espadrilles instead of packing them because 1.) I would have more room in my carry on and 2.) I wasn't lugging around two 11 month-olds and felt like a completely different woman. But I'm not a completely different woman. And I haven't worn heels for any length of time since a few months into my pregnancy. 

Honestly, this would have been fine except we needed to run. So we sent Paul's very tall brother ahead {'Run like a gazelle!'} to see if he could catch the plane. At which point a woman near us exclaimed, 'He DOES look like a gazelle!' We watched his head bob one way and then the other above the crowd as he searched for the correct route to concourse E. We got on the tram and at the next stop noticed Josh get on the car BEHIND us. {What?!} 

He acted like he didn't even see us waving like a bunch of lunatics. After I almost fainted from laughter, we arrived at the gate literally as the jetway was being moved away from the door. Shoot. Not a big deal. This gave me time to eat the world's tiniest piece of pizza. 

We finally made it to Nassau and met up with the rest of P-dubs' family (who had nonstop flights. luckies.) Our poor little carry-ons didn't make it, though. So Paul's mom bought me a sarong (cheapest thing in a very expensive land)  and I learned how to tie it 7 ways, just in case. But I only needed to wear it twice and our luggage arrived. 

 I spent the next week at a loss for what to do with all this free time while at the same time feeling like something was missing. All the time. Our first night there we saw a set of twins with our exact same stroller. But a nanny was pushing it. A nanny is a game-changer, y'all. 

I pinned 147 ideas on Pinterest. I read a book. I read 3 magazines. I read another book. About green smoothies. (So.much.free.time.) We spent time with three of my favorite kids ever.

. 

We lounged at the pool and beach and talked about the girls and Skyped the girls. We went on lazy rivers where P-dubs should have been corrected about his incorrect and unsafe positioning on his raft (every single time) but the life guards were too busy calling out to Josh asking if it was his first day because he was looking a little white. Hilarious. We went on water slides that look deceivingly mellow from an observer's point of view but are actually so fast it takes your breath away (and sometimes almost your swimsuit, too). We ate lots of good meals and saw a lot of fish. 

Amazing buffet. The most important parts: conch salad and Nutella crepes. {After Paul somehow managed to get the crepe lady to go in search of Nutella. He's really persuasive.}

We watched four movies in the resort's complimentary movie theater--Snow White and the Huntsmen (which made me want to learn how to fight), Safe (which made me feel like it was completely necessary for me to learn how to fight), The Avengers (again, I should learn some basic self defense moves, at least), and The Five Year Engagement (which made me want to wash some mouths out with soap).

TMI warning. I pumped and dumped. Which went against every natural feeling in my bones. I now empathize with how Frodo felt when he had to throw the ring in the fire at Mt. Doom. Except my Mt. Doom was a drain in the villa bathroom. It was almost physically painful to watch that liquid gold go down the drain. Almost as painful as getting a blocked milk duct, which also happened. Those new-fangled pumps just aren't as efficient as a bonafide, real-life human baby. 

We traveled into Nassau and had fresh sea food. Like, 'catch and crack the conch on the deck right here' fresh. 

We cooked breakfasts together, walked, shopped, and brought the party to the party bus (resort shuttle).{Well, at least Caleb, Kaite, and I did.} We slept like it was our job. We spent some wonderful time together as a couple and together as a family.  

I'm so thankful for this week and I'm so thankful to be back. Thank you, Miriam and Nick for making it possible! : )

Favorite picture of the trip. Poor child has no hips and no booty. Suspenders just don't look right with a swimsuit. 

Hmm... Funny, we thought mom and Dionne were watching the girls but, apparently, the opposite was true?

Get ready, babies. We're rested and ready to gear up for a little thing called a first birthday!

Thursday Things

While Devan is out of town I thought I'd keep tradition alive and put together some Thursday things from my day with CG and Lamlam...

1. I have been on more walks this week then I thought possible. These girls love the sunshine and the fall breeze we are starting to get here. We've been blessed with some great weather this week and we are LOVING it.

2. NAPTIME. Let's just say I have a new respect and appreciation for mother's everywhere. These two girlies wear me out! LOVE them to pieces but I love me some naptime too.

3. This came today. I have always wanted a subscription but because it's weekly it's like a million dollars. Then came along a sweet livingsocial deal and a wicked awesome sister{& brother in law} who bought it for my birthday. Love them...and some celebrity gossip. obvs.

4. Um. They nap twice so it totes gets two spots on my list. The morning nap was so peaceful I could even drink my whole cup of coffee with out having to reheat it. I now understand why my sister is still drinking the same cup of coffee at 4 pm. SO sorry Dev, I now know how rough that is. I also had my computer open with out 4 little hands attacking it. These girls love 'em some technology.

5. Free Coffee! Today we ventured out to help Aunt Karen with some car issues but got a call saying she was good...but we were already in the car and I had a coupon from my birthday. So, off we went to sbucks where the cute little barista convinced me to get a VENTI. 'It's free!' she says. oh boy. {Just a side note, I had two number 3 points on here and had to go back and fix it. A week with her kids and I'm turning in to her.}

6. We love to snuggle around here. These babies have a little of the McLean snuggle gene in 'em. I am constantly getting kissed, cuddled and loved on and I couldn't be happier. Sure I may have drool running down my cheek but I don't mind. I'll take a sloppy kiss from these girls a thousand times a day.

7. I have had the best Thursday and I am a little sad it's our last night with our two little babies. Tomorrow they will be happily sleeping with their Momma and Aunty Noney will be missing them and their sweet little sleeping faces!

we may have been left at home....

Okay, so you've probably heard,we've been left home ALONE! That's right, our mom and dad are somewhere in the Bahamas having a fun filled vacation without us. (Fun filled without us, a contradiction in terms.)
We on the other hand are having a wonderful time! No rules. No bedtime. Ice cream for supper, baths in the kitchen sink, dress up for church, shopping (love wal*mart), 2, sometimes 3 walks in our stroller a day, and our own fisher price app on Grammy's iPad!

Don't you just love auntie noney's new chandelier? I do.

Uncle Gabe drove us around. He's so sweet.

Fall weather in Charlotte. Mom's missing it.

We love the app auntie noney got us!

 Well, maybe there are rules (no knocking each other over and stuff) and bedtime is practically set in stone and mommy made us some really tantalizing dinners but, the other stuff is pretty much true.

We, of course are cuter (way cuter) than we were last week and smarter (way smarter)! We've learned sooo much! You know, stuff like - who we have wrapped around our tiny little fingers, what face says *no thank you or i'll pitch a fit*, how to cry without really crying and how to get what we want with the power of a baby smile.

Grammy bough us some new stride rite shoes...we love them!

We're doing great and loving our tiny 11 month old lives! We can do this! (Only 2 more days!)
                               Mommy's Guest Bloggers,
                                                       Charleigh and Logan


P.S. Love you Mom! Hurry home...and don't forget to bring Dad!

bahamas

*I wrote this on our flight down to the Bahamas on Friday but forgot to post it. That's what pure and utter freedom from responsibility does to you. It just makes you almost lose your mind...

My toes are ready for the Bahamas. But my heart is not. Oh, I forgot to mention we are goingonatripandleavingthegirls? That's because, if maybe I don't say it, it won't be true. When we started planning this trip 9 months ago, it seemed like a good idea. Leave the babies with my mom and sister and enjoy some time with Paul's family. We figured they'd be almost 11 months and we'd be ready. I am not ready. I know they will be just fine but I don't know if I will. People keep saying it will be a nice break for me but, the thing is, I don't feel like I need a 'break' from my babies. {Well, maybe like a 15 minute one where I can use the bathroom, maybe read a chapter in a book, or paint my nails without fearing that one of them has crawled into a highly un-baby-proofed area where they will, without a doubt, find an electrical outlet, find something to eat off the floor (even if it's just been vacuumed) or courageously climb...anything that can possibly be climbed.}

Actually leaving them wasn't the hard part. It felt like I was going to the store or running some errands. Except then I got on a plane to fly 700 miles away from them. And, since then, P-dubs and I have been those people who get away from the kids and then only talk about the kids. 'I think Charleigh's hair is going to look like that little girl's.' 'Do you hear that baby? She sounds just like Logan.' And those people who look at pictures of their kids they just left two hours ago. And those people who are already hanging on every little update from home and then chuckle about it again 20 minutes later. {Our babies are hilarious, don't ya know.} We are lame like that. But that's ok with me. I know we'll have fun and enjoy time with each other. So. Much. Time. But if Logan even  starts walking while we're gone or Charleigh starts standing on her own without me, I may never let them leave my sight again. Not even for kindergarten. Or college. 

So,Grammy and Aunty Noney, if my children achieve any major milestones while I'm gone, please pretend that these things did not happen. And just feign surprise and act thrilled when they do these things in front of me for the first time Friday night. It will bode much better for the sisters' future social lives. And for the little, tiny part of my heart I did not leave in Charlotte. 

walkers: full circle

{Blurry iPhone pictures but precious to my heart anyways.}

'Hey. How come hers doesn't light up and sing songs?'

'I have a turtle one, too. Wanna try it?'

'What? She wasn't talking to me?'

'Let's race!...you're going the wrong way...'

'But I'm still beating Gigi!'

{For the record, Gigi would like a rematch.}

twenty-nine

I have almost zero recollection of my birthday last year. I do know I looked a little something like this and thankles (thigh ankles) were in my near future.

{September 25, 2011

32 weeks

The Beautiful Mess}

 P-dubs looked like this: 

??????

{TBM}

 I can't remember much of my actual birthday. My last before I became a mom. But I know I'll remember a few things from this one. My first as a mom.

  

- A quick goodbye/happy birthday kiss and he's off to work too hard to treat his three girls too good.
- Starbucks in the pouring rain from a sister who's the best friend I don't deserve.

- Nearly identical 'sleepy songs' from a car seat filled back seat.

- Beets and sweet potatoes.

- A 'Happy Birthday' from my mom and a 'Happy Birthday' to my mom. Because now I understand how she treasures her children's birthdays more than any other day.

-Four little hands pulling on my skirt clamoring to be picked up.
- A surprise mani/pedi with a best friend who is a sister to my heart. With Starbucks. All arranged by my husband. 

-Bad tomatoes, a fly in the sweet tea, and a hilarious upscale dinner.

- A whisper-yelled 'Surpise' from a kitchen full of family trying not to wake the sleeping sisters. 
-A happiest of birthdays to begin my last year in my twenties. 

The birthday (husband) that just keeps on giving. Strawberries and Nutella the morning after. He knows me. For real.