To my Dad ♥

…and Max’s Dada ♥

How did we get SO lucky?!

LOVE YOU and HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!

XOXO

p.s.  (He gets goin’ at 20 seconds…but I couldn’t cut out that cute smile at the beginning!)  Max says…

High Temperature: 84° 

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Well, there I am.  But, minus the dumbbell and tan.  And…if I’m being honest…minus the flat stomach.  And shoot.  Who am I kidding?  I avoid whisk-holding like the plague.

Otherwise, it’s practically me.  Really!  Like looking in the mirror!

Except that Max is CRAWLING now.  Holy on-guard-every-second, Batman!

If I’ve learned nothing else from Motherhood (yes, I capitalize this word on purpose!), it is how to multitask.  And when I say “multitask,” I mean do things ONE-HANDED.

The days of propping this little man up on the bed with toys are officially over.

Less of that, and more of THIS…

He ain’t mad about it!

Kiddie jail is where it’s at.

But for reals, I could win a one-handed competition.  Max on right hip (held with dominate hand) with left hand accomplishing it all.

Make a bottle?  Duh – 4 times a day!  Take apart the exersaucer, including unscrewing 9 screws?  I did it this morning!  Toothbrushing, makeup donning, dressing oneself?  Piece of cake!

Luckily, Scott is the best Daddy in town…so it is not all me.  But sweet Jesus, having one-handed skills is clutch.

I think multitasking is at its finest when getting ready to exit the building.  Our biggest challenge yet?  Going to the beach with said adorable baby in tow. Oh.my.heavens.  Packing up the car, unloading the car, and then setting up our sandy real estate.  For an hour/hour and a half TOPS of keeping the little man from shoveling sand into his mouth?  Oy – this subject deserves its own post! (Hubs – AMIRIGHT?)

We WILL get better at it!

Juggling 40 bags (okay-at least 3!) with baby simultaneously on hip while trying to unlock the car (where are those keys again?), putting fussing baby into the car seat while checking to make sure you have the stroller, highchair/shopping cart cover, diaper bag (preferably with diapers inside), toys, water, bottle, food, bowl, spoon, washcloth, bib, burp cloth, change of clothes, picnic blanket, baby’s hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and at least three pacifiers (we’re going through a I-throw-my-pacifier-when-I-most-need-it phase).  MOTHER!  Did I lock the front door?  [After pulling out of neighborhood - "Where are my sunglasses?!"]  Yup, I’ve lost 2 pairs in 2 weeks. #FAIL

And imagine – there are people out there with more than one baby.  AT A TIME!!!

I bow down to you, Moms of multiples.  I bow down to you hard.

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I know tomorrow is Father’s Day, but today I salute all the Moms out there. While you’re enjoying your cocktail of choice at 3:00pm this evening, imagine me clinking your glass.  And then me chugging mine.

Cheers!

High Temperature: 86° 

• The different shades of your skin remind you of cotton candy and lobster and strawberry frosted doughnuts…and then you are suddenly hungry

YUM!

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• You say “Allo, aloe” four times a day…in a terrible accent [FACT: day 3 and I still crack myself up!]
• You lie on your bed, naked, slathered in aloe, cursing the fan for the windy pain it’s inflicting
• You thank your lucky stars that you were too lazy to flip over and burn BOTH sides of your body
• Underwear and leg-shaving are optional…as in not.going.to.happen.anytime.soon
• You look forward to the peeling process, because then, it doesn’t hurt anymore.  Right?  Tell me I’m right!

So – turns out that piling on the sunscreen twice in three hours is NOT ENOUGH.  At least for this lady whose skin hadn’t seen the sun since summer of 2011.  Yes…remember when I was this pregnant last summer?

Oy!

Yup.  Last summer was all air conditioning and Oreos.  The good ol’ days.

So now the sun has been seen and kids – it ain’t pretty.  I’m a Southern amateur…all over again.

No bueno.  No bueno at all.

At least I don’t look as bad as Tan Mom did…

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Nailed by Kristen Wiig, by the way!

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And I was NOT going for Ross’s look from when he just couldn’t quite figure out a spray tanning technique…

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Ah well.  You live and you learn.  I guess I was too busy relaxing on the beach with the hubs, baby-less, to feel the burn!

Moral of the story is…SUNSCREEN IS BOSS!  Ya need more of it than you think!

p.s. Laying flat on my back for the past two nights has reminded me of pregnancy…and not sleeping.  Thanks for the reminder, sunburn.  #nothanks  #notreadyyet  #bellysleeperforlife

High Temperature: 87° 

…MY CHILD IS OFFICIALLY CRAWLING! 

But I suppose before I get into that, I owe you all an explanation.

I’ve been gone for a while.  Like over 6 months, awhile.

“helping” with laundry

I know.

I KNOW!

The longer I was away, the harder it seemed to come back!  Where to start?  How could I fill you in on endless stories and feelings and…ugh.  There is so much to tell!  And with each passing day, new stories and new feelings arose and I just couldn’t figure out where to start.

So I didn’t.

I was overwhelmed enough and something had to give.

It’s no surprise that my blog disappearance coincided with the dreaded event of going back to work.  Oh and never mind that I started a second job at the same time that I went back to work…alongside my biggest job yet of MAMAHOOD.

But guess what?  Today.  Right now.  I surrender and start anew.  (hopefully with a new blog look, sooner rather than later!)

loving sand…especially eating it!

I have missed this place.  MY PLACE!  My space of documenting memories, keeping friends and fam in the know, and letting these littlish fingers vent.  (No, my fingers never resumed pre-pregnancy size.  Bummer.)

So the only explanation I have for my absence is that life got in the way of documenting it.  Funny how that can happen!  No regrets here…I wouldn’t take back one minute.  Once I catch you up on my life as a mom to this incredible little boy, maybe you’ll forgive me.  Let’s just say that the last 7ish months have NOT been filled with thumb-twiddling and Facebook-stalking.  Okay.  That statement is only 50% true. 

I have continued to follow all of my favorite blogs, even though I haven’t commented.  like–at all.  I still love you and will try harder to be a better blend in the future (blogger+friend=blend…and I did not make that one up!)

could you be mad at this face?!

Now that I’ve somewhat explained-slash-apologized, I present this video recorded yesterday of my little munchkin.  #hewasjustbornyesterday  #WHAT

You will have no choice but to forgive me after seeing this sweet face.

Max is 10 and half months and has been crawling backwards and “scooting” around on his sweet cheeks for weeks.  But now.  NOW.  Crawling ain’t no thang.  So proud of this little Boo Boo.

Until next time, loves!  No promises, but let’s say…in less than 7 months?  DEAL!

XOXO

Beach Count & Pool Count – returning soon

High Temperature: 97° or something cray!

Well – I didn’t actually ignore the month, just ignored blogging about it.

“Neglecting the world is the sincerest form of Max-flattery.” ~ Sarah Trottier

So deep.  So wise.  Ha!

I actually miss blogging terribly and am trying to figure out a way to fit it in at least on a weekly basis.  It’s truly this Mama’s preferred form of “me time.”

Anyhoooooo!

October came…it went.  We laughed, we cried.

No really – we all did.

ALL THREE OF US!

Check out why I haven’t been able to peel myself away from my new life.  (Blame, you will no longer place.)

I mean, just.stop.it.right.now.child.of.mine.

October was a great month.  I shall show you why via a poop-ton of pictures. You’re welcome.  Ready?  Set?  GO!

Not an event, just every day cuteness ’round here!

My littlest love ♥

“So nice to meet you, Auntie Christina!  Where is it you say you’re from?  New Fork?”

Before Coleman Public House and Taco Mamacita

Game day – WHAT a snoozer!

My boys! 

Self-pic after my 30th birthday party

“Yeah, yeah – it’s Mommy’s birthday.”

Before Zac Brown on my bday (which was heaven on earth, by the way!)

Pumpkin patch!

Laughs with Nana

Snugglin’ with Dada in Asheville (a post on Max’s first road trip to Asheville to come!) 

Baby boy not feeling a photo shoot – oops!

Sweetness

“My first Halloween – I was a bat!”

“I tolerated this costume all of 5 minutes!!!”

“A not so great picture of my Halloween pjs!”

Okay, one more from Asheville.  A family pic =)

In conclusion.  I’m back and Max is adorable.

End of story.

LOVE YOU ALL, HOWEVER MANY OF YOU ARE LEFT READING!  

XOXO

p.s. My maternity leave ends in a little more than 36 hours.  What’s that you say?  You can hear my sobs from there?  Oh.  Not surprised.

Beach Count & Pool Count are retired for the seasoned (sigh!) 

High Temperature: 55° or something – brrrrr! 

Max and I visited his Dada at work yesterday.  We organized matching outfits (big thanks to Nana and Grandpa for traveling all of Mount Pleasant to find Scott’s tie!).  We’re a matchy-type family.  I can see Scott and I wearing matching Christmas sweatshirts with bells on them in 20 short years…and I’m not even sorry about it.  Anyway, the result couldn’t be cuter!

OH…my goodness.

Max was a hit (obvi).  I’m pretty sure productivity was cut in half, but what’s a better distraction than a cute baby?!

We’re hoping to spend some time downtown with Max this weekend and to hang out with my parents’ good friends visiting from NY.  What’re y’all up to? 

HAPPY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!  

XOXO

p.s. Happy wedding day to our friends, Trevor and Laura!  Can’t wait to see you in CHARLESTON soon!  =)

Beach Count: 77  

Pool Count: 32 

High Temperature: 79° 

This past Sunday was a BIG day in the Trottier household.

All of our fellow New York Giants fans can thank our little man for the win.

Max wore his too-big-but-even-more–too-cute Giants jersey onesie.  But that’s not all folks.

He ALSO gave us his first purposeful, reactionary smile.  I am SO HAPPY that I caught it on camera!!!

This is how it went…

Yes.  Heart melted.

{love sigh}

So – you’re welcome Giants fans.  Let’s see if Max is their lucky charm again tonight.  

GO G-MEN!!!

XOXO

p.s. We took a little trip to Dada’s work today.  Check back tomorrow for Max and Dada in matching work outfits.  No – seriously.  

Beach Count: 77  

Pool Count: 32 

High Temperature: 82° 

In the Spring – Scott and I went to Charleston Repeats, a semi-annual consignment event, and struck out big time.  We were overwhelmed and under informed.  I’m pretty sure I was hungry and Scott’s eyes hurt (baby paraphernalia is BRIGHT!).  We were not ready.  Imagine – deer in headlights.

This time around I was better prepared, with a fellow Mommy friend, and felt like I actually had a clue.  I was on a mission, but was prepared to leave empty-handed (if I got caught up in all of the madness again).  Sarah’s head = on straight.

My goal was to look for a bouncy seat for Nana and Grandpa’s house and a Halloween costume for Max.  Success!  I also scored a boppy pillowcase, a changing table pad (also for Nana and Grandpa’s), a puzzle, cloth stackable pails, and all of this clothing…

FOR $78!

The clothes were $38 and in GREAT condition.  The little jacket alone was probably $38 brand new.  The labels are Gap, Old Navy, Circo, Carter, and Oshkosh.  I was very pleased with these Fall/Winter finds!

I will DEFINITELY go back to this sale in the Spring.  My advice?  Go with a plan, patience, and a full belly.  Be ready to commit, but don’t be impulsive.  It can be VERY overwhelming, but VERY worth it!  (BONUS: Admission and parking are FREE!)

TEAM CONSIGNMENT!  I didn’t think I’d be into it, but babies grow so fast and I’m a sucker for a good deal.

Did anyone else go?  What was your best find?

XOXO

p.s. The highlight of my time there?  Meeting someone who follows the blog! SO SORRY that I was totally awkward when you asked if I was Sarah from Charm of Charleston.  That has never happened before…please comment and at least tell me your name!  No, this dummy didn’t even think to do that.  <insert embarrassed face>  ::kicks rocks::  THANK YOU FOR SAYING HI!!!!!!!!!

p.s.s. Max’s Halloween costume is mixed in there as a teaser.  (Um yes, it was $3!)  I’m keeping it a surprise…for now! 

p.s.s.s. Cutest pic of Max on the blog tomorrow, so come back!

Beach Count: 77  

Pool Count: 32 

High Temperature: 83° 

Well hello there, friend.  It sure has been a while.  Boy, have I missed you.

Welcome back into my world…in very small, planned-out doses.

I will fight for you and do what it takes.

I will sip you slowly, savor you, and whisper you sweet nothings until kingdom come.

Forevermore, forevermore.

 Mommy’s Time Out – Thanks, Mom!

And NOW…all is right with the world!  ::wink::

XOXO

p.s. Fall has arrived in Charleston.  LOVE this weather!  (Max has gone on some walks!)

My boys at Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant!

Beach Count: 77  

Pool Count: 32 

High Temperature: 86° 

You don’t think you’ll be that way or that you’ll do that thing (or that you’ll buy into that), but then ::listen up::…ya do.

If you’re me anyway…you end up being THAT Mom.  the hypocrite.

Guilty.as.charged.

And guess what, I’m embracing it.  Being a Mom is a humbling experience that forces you to regret the judgment you ever impressed on other Moms.  Because, lemme tell ya sister, you don’t know until you’ve been there!

Here’s what I’m up to as a 6-week-new Mom, doing the things I was sure I wouldn’t…

Pacifier…needed (dang!) -

I made it 16 days before we (along with Max’s pediatrician) decided that Baby needed to try it out.  Luckily, he’s not obsessed…yet.  The fact that it helps him to calm his little body when he gets himself all bent outta shape makes it SO worth it.  [Don't expect it to stick around for long, though - I've got my eye on the prize!]

Video Monitor…yup…bought one -

I didn’t want one.  I didn’t want to be that Mom that stares at their child at every little sound (from arm flail to little suckle). Well, now, I guess I do.  It’s peace of mind that’s worth it to me…for now at least.  Thanks to a Groupon deal, we got one that didn’t break the bank (because man, those things CAN ABSOLUTELY break the bank!).  We haven’t had a reason to use it yet, though, because of the next “oh no I di-ent” move…

Mr. Man is 6 weeks old and still sleeping in our room - 

Listen, our bedroom’s downstairs and Max’s is up.  It’s far and we’re not ready. Sure, we’ll miss being able to look over and see him at any moment (seriously, we miss him while he sleeps).  But more than that, in the middle of the night we’re – well – TIRED!  Let’s just call it a safety precaution for me and my already beat up body.  He’ll enjoy his beautiful nursery soon enough!

Speaking in 3rd person…specifically, calling myself “Mommy” and “Mama” -

“Mommy needs to peepee”

“OH NO, Mama’s sah-wwweee”

“Give Mommy a second, bud”

“Dada’s getting impatient with Mama” ← direct quote

Ohhh, the pukey list goes on.  I know how annoying this is.  I annoy myself.  But still…I continue.  It just feels right!

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My kid IS the cutest kid…ever -

Okay so I’m guilty of thinking this, but have not done the whole vote-for-the-cutest-baby-in-the-world (who happens to be MINE!)-so-we-can-win-this-contest thing yet.  You’re welcome.  [Side note: I am not being judge-y of my Mama friends who HAVE asked for me to vote for them.  I'm sure I'll get there someday.  I'm just letting the Mommy juices marinate.]

I mean…!

I’ve become somewhat of a hermit -

It takes a lot to leave the house with a baby.  It’s more my than Max’s issue…which I fully acknowledge and accept.  However, this time RIGHT NOW is so precious that I want as much time at home as a little family as possible.  The rest can wait. or shove it.

I’ve lost my “give a sh…00t” (and it feeeeels so goooood)! -

I wear a different version of the same outfit everyday.  Yes, it’s a tank top and jeans.  okay jeans OR pj pants.  

I still wear grannie Mommy panties 6 weeks post c-section.

I do my hair every other day (and it mostly ends up in a ponytail).

At least one boob is out.  A lot.  Sometimes I even forget to put it away.

I still have a LONG way to go in the “getting my body back” department.  I’m not sweating it.  yet.  Slow and steady wins the race?

If you’re frumpy and you know it, clap your hands!  ::clap clap::

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I’m sure this is just the tip of the Motherhood Hypocrisy iceberg.  Oh well – I love being Max’s Mommy and I’m learning as I go.  

Acceptance is the first step, right?

Any Mommy moves that you swore you wouldn’t make…and then did to the fullest?  I won’t judge you, I swear.  Not anymore!

XOXO

p.s. 11 years – never forget.  

Beach Count: 77  

Pool Count: 32 

High Temperature: 83°