A Day in the Life

A day in the life of the Vasquez Tribe,

as told by the one they call "Mama"...

6 am:  Daddy is up and ready for work.  Brees wakes up right with him, slobbering on
Mama's face and giving sweet baby kisses.  She nurses and Mama drifts in and out of
sleep.  We kiss Daddy bye-bye and cuddle in bed for a while.

7 am:  Reluctantly out of bed we go, settling in the living room.  Brees has just discovered
TV and likes to glance at it from time to time while she's crawling around.  We had to
put a quilt on the fireplace because she has started pulling herself up into a standing
position and her favorite spot is the brick fireplace.  ER visit waiting to happen.  We
play on the floor and wait for Isabelle to wake up.

8 am: Isabelle AKA The One Who Sleeps comes down the stairs and is greeted by a
very happy little sister.  They play together while I get breakfast ready.

8:30 am:  Brees is ready for her morning nap.  Off to bed she goes.  Isabelle and I sit
down and have breakfast together.  I drink my first cup of tea and will the black circles
under my eyes far far away.  Isabelle watches a few morning cartoons, I catch up on
emails and blogging, laundry and dishes.

10 am: Brees is up, nurses, we all get dressed and ready for the day.  We put her in her
Jump Up in the bathroom doorway.  Otherwise, I would be wearing my old Grateful
Dead t-shirt and dirty hair all day.

10:30 am:  Off we go to run errands.  

Post office, bank, grocery store.  Riveting stuff!  Isabelle asks me a million and one
questions and tries to convince me to buy everything in the store.  I forget the Ergo
and am too germaphobic to let Brees sit in the cart so I put her in the infant seat on top
of it.  Germaphobia goes into overdrive when every single passerby then walks up to
our cart and touches her.  She seems pretty happy with all the attention.  

12 noon: We arrive home and have lunch.  Isabelle feeds the baby while I get
everything ready and unload all the goods.  Thank God for little helpers!

1 pm:  Brees goes down for her afternoon nap.  I sneak in a few more chores.  Belle and
I head up to her room to play a game of Monopoly Junior and discuss important topics
such as her love for Justin Beiber and what color she wants to paint her nails
after bath time.

2:30 pm:  Brees wakes up, nurses.  We do some laundry and play in the
girls' rooms.  Brees likes to crawl back and forth between her room and Belle's, when
she's willing to unglue herself from my hip, that is.  

3 pm:  We head outside for a swim.  We live in Louisiana where its 97 degrees outside
with 100% humidity.  The water is our only salvation.  

4pm:  Brees goes down for a nap.  Isabelle and I grab the baby monitor and head
back outside.  I read a book and/or write while Isabelle rides her scooter on the drive
and plays with the dogs.

5:30 pm:  Brees wakes up, nurses.  We gather in the kitchen.  The girls play while I do
dishes and prepare supper.  This is what I refer to as "The Witching Hour".  It's loud and
a bit chaotic.  I do my best to keep them entertained, thus avoiding any melt-downs.
When in doubt, bribe them with treats.

6 pm:  Daddy's home!  He is smothered in hugs and kisses and then grabs a quick shower.
We gather around the table for dinner.  That night was pizza night,
Isabelle's favorite.  

6:30 pm:  Bath time for the littles.  

7 pm:  Time for a little music before bed, courtesy of the very talented Daddy.  We all
lounge around the living room, talking about our days, reading, singing, dancing, watching
the few and far between family appropriate TV shows. 

7:30 pm:  Bed time for the littles.  Teeth are brushed, stories read,
lullabies hummed.  

8 pm:  Shower for Mama.  Time to hang out with Daddy, catch up on our day.  We
usually watch a little TV, Shawn plays guitar, I catch up on emails/blog, we read.  No
photo for this one, Daddy is tired of my camera.

10 pm:  Brees wakes up to nurse one more time before its officially lights out.  We all
climb into the big bed, Daddy leads us in our prayers, we kiss each other good night,
and get ready to do it all again the next day!

Wordless Wednesday

P.S. Head on over to Anonymous Was a Woman to see my favorite photo!  Sarah has
the greatest feature where she shares her readers' favorite shots and the stories
behind them.  Today, it's my turn to share a special shot...

Also, check out my guest post at one of my favorite blogs, Pamplemousse.  I'm sharing my

favorite summer pasta salad recipe while Maryam is enjoying her brand new baby girl! 

Congrats to Maryam and her beautiful growing family!

Milestones

Look who's standing up!!

I have no idea how time passes so quickly, but our teeny tiny baby girl is standing up
all by herself!  She's been pulling herself up on every piece of furniture, especially
her favorite drum.  Banging on instruments and standing:
she's not a little baby anymore!

The Girlfriend Guide: Mandy

Good morning and welcome to this week's edition of the Girlfriend Guide!!  This week, I
am so excited to introduce you to one of the nicest, most caring women I know: my
sweet friend Mandy.  Mandy and I have known each other since junior high, growing up
in the same small Louisiana country side.  We became great friends in high school,
spending lots of time together on the side lines of the football field, performing on our
school's dance team.  After high school, as we all went our separate ways, we
unfortunately lost touch.  Years later, we were reunited when I moved home and was
in my junior year of college.  I was in my maternity rotation of clinicals for nursing school
and Mandy was my patient, having just given birth to her second daughter!  We were
so excited to see each other again as it had been too long, until we realized that part of
my assignment for school was to examine her breasts and perform a
post-partum assessment!  Now that's what I call a reunion!  Mandy has since become
one of my closest confidantes and one of my favorite people to spend time with.  We have
girls the same age and share many of the same interests.  She currently lives in the
same town she grew up in with her two daughters, working as a hospice nurse.  I look
up to her in so many ways and hope that you enjoy the insight I am lucky enough
to receive from her!

1. What is your personal definition of friendship?

A friend is not only a friend, but also a sister. It is someone who you can turn to when
you're sad, scared, or happy. You can cry together, laugh together or just be goofy with
and know that there is no judgement, jealousy, or envy. You are truly happy when they
are, and sad with them. A friend is someone who is there when it feels no one else in the
world is there for you. They are a part of you and you them, like family.

{Mandy and I on our high school dance team.  Aren't you jealous of
our sequinned leg warmers?}

2. What qualities do you look for in a girlfriend?

I don't know of specific qualities I look for. Of course there are the obvious trusting,
honest, and caring. These are the most important qualities to have not only in your
friends but to be a true friend yourself. What I look for most is someone who is just
true to their self and accepting of who you really are.

3.  How do you balance spending time with friends and fostering relationships with work and family?

Balance?? I don't think I have worked out the balance yet! As a single mom of 2 girls
and working full time, I find it hard to remember that I need 'me' time. I have set some
goals in my life and balancing is one of them.

4.  What advice would you give other women about having healthy, happy friendships?

Having friends in your life helps to keep you sane when you are going insane. No
really, having true friends helps you to remember who you really are not only as a
person, but also as a friend yourself. Friends are jewels in your life who help you shine
when you are feeling dull. Laughing with them when you are down makes your day
brighter, but also doing the same in return. Keep those close to you who make you
happy and feel great about yourself. A true friend will be there for through the
good and bad.

5.  How has having strong friendships enriched your life?

Friends are my backbone. Having true friends in my life has helped me to overcome
so many obstacles in my life. Having such great friends in my life helped me realize
who I am and that I can be true to myself. 

6.  What is your favorite girlfriend memory we have shared? 

Just being together is always a fun time with you! From hanging out at your house
and listening to Shawn and Alfred play and the kids singing, to partying at Mardi Gras,
to sitting at the park and birthday parties. Oh and I almost forget the 'great' memories
at Dubuis! All memories with you and your family are precious!

Girlfriends like Mandy:

Girlfriends like Mandy are one in a million.  She is the most selfless person I know,
always giving of herself to the people around her.  She is compassionate and
understanding and incredibly patient.  I always think of her when I feel stressed and
anxious and try to emulate her laid back attitude.  She always puts her family first,
not because she feels obligated to, but because she genuinely ENJOYS the gift of
motherhood.  She makes everyday tasks fun and reminds me to appreciate the
simplistic beauty in life.  Her sound, practical advice is invaluable to me, keeping me
grounded  and focused on what's important.  Mandy is sincere, honest, and loving in
every way.  She is the kind of friend who will throw you a beautiful baby shower, spend
all afternoon watching football with your family, help you clean your kitchen even when
you tell her not to.  Every woman should have a friend like Mandy: a friend you can count
on, someone you know will always be there for you, no matter what.  I love you, my
sweet Mandy, like a sister!  Your daughters have my heart and you are all an extended
part of our family!  I look forward to many more nights in the back yard, celebrating
life and all this love!

Water Babies

So far, our summer has been an amazing time of relaxing in the sun and enjoying each
other without the rush rush rush of school.  On my days off, we spend our mornings
cuddling in bed, lingering in the early light and each other's arms.  We spend as much
time outdoors as the Louisiana heat will allow, swinging under the trees, blowing bubbles
on a picnic blanket, chasing the dogs through the pasture.

And, best of all, we swim in our back yard pool, floating in the cool water and splashing
each other through little girl squeals and giggles.  Brees has always loved bath time, since
the very first time we placed her in the water, so I had hoped she would feel the same
way about the pool.  My dreams came true when we dipped her tiny feet in for the first
time and watched her sweet little face light up!  She smiled and oohed and aahed as we
gently swam her from one side of the pool to the other, her hands splashing excitedly.

Isabelle inherited the swimming bug as well and has been a water baby from the start.
She has taken swimming lessons for the last few years and is very strong in the
water.  Hopefully, this will be yet another skill this sweet big sister will pass on to
her younger sibling.

These days are what summer is all about: spending time together as a family in our big
back yard, doing what we love to do.  We are the happiest when we are out under the big
blue sky, our bare feet in the cool green grass.  I cherish these times so much because I
know that when school starts again, with all its schedules and homework and activities,
we will be limited with how many lazy afternoons we can enjoy.  These are the days
of summer, the days of roaming carefree with the ones you love.  And with this being
Brees's first summer, I really want to make the very best impression, creating the
most magical memories to fill her heart with.  I'd say we're off to a pretty good start...

The last photo is my entry for this week's Paper Mama photo challenge.  The challenge 
this week is "My favorite photo of June".  Brees flying through the sky in her 
swimsuit is definitely my favorite.  
For obvious reasons:)

Steppin' Out

This week's Steppin' Out is actually from earlier this week when I ventured out for
THREE job interviews!!  I couldn't resist featuring this ensemble as it is SO out of
character for this flower child mama.  I am not a slacks and heels kind of girl, I wear
scrubs and New Balance to work everyday and jeans and bare feet at home.  However,
it's always fun to get a little dressed up and strut your stuff!  I was extremely happy that
this outfit even fit as the slacks are a size 6 and these hips haven't seen anything smaller
than an 8 in months.  Shawn and Isabelle crowded into my closet with me and held out
one suggestion after another, encouraging me as I anxiously prepared for such a busy
day.  We snapped a few photos before I left, resume in hand.  The girls stayed behind
with Daddy, waving enthusiastically from the front window as I put on a brave face
and drove away.  

Here's what we wore...

I have been contemplating a job change for a few months now and am now in full on
job search mode.  Although I love my current job and the fabulous people I work with,
12 hours shifts are just getting more and more difficult.  My heart has been seriously
hurting for my family lately as those days seem to stretch on for way too long.  It is time
to listen to my emotions and make a change, find something with more reasonable hours
that will better suit our family.  I am extremely nervous about starting over somewhere
new but also excited for the possibilities that lie ahead.  Being a nurse offers me so
much versatility as far as job options go, there are just so many different directions I can
take my career.  All I can hope for is a position I feel passionate about that offers me
better hours for my family.  I know that something amazing is out there, waiting for me,
and I just have to be patient.  That's always the hard part, isn't it?  Please keep us in
your prayers as we work through this transitional time!