Happy Fall!
I cannot believe it is already fall! We have been in zombie/crazy/bliss mode as we try and navigate through life with a newborn AND a toddler. I may have lost my mind when I thought that this would go smoothly-ish.
A couple of weeks ago Matt went out of town for an entire week {even over the weekend}. I honestly thought he would come home and I would be unconscious on the floor, with a toddler jumping on me. It was a tough week and we may have watched the movie "Cars" a few more times than I care to admit, but I made it through alive and even wrangled Abram to help me make brownies for us Matt when he got home.
I am told it gets better and is even fun once they are a little older. That being said I do love both of my babies and life right now, and will even more once I am getting a full night of sleep. I am one of those people who knows I don't do well without sleep, but watching Abram smother Julip with kisses always brightens my day!
We try not to bring JP anywhere crowded until she is vaccinated {1 more week...I keep having to remind myself}. It has also been deathly hot and humid, monsoon rainy, and mosquito infested here so we haven't been able to go outside...cabin fever. We mainly enjoy football games and baby photo shoots during the games we are losing. It reminds me of why I love fall; it's not about the pumpkin spice latte's {not my favorite}. It's about football and weather I can go outside in after a HOT summer.
Today, mother nature got the memo. There aren't beautiful colored leaves everywhere...it's Houston people...but the weather is about 5 degrees cooler and 80% less humid so I celebrated by taking Julip on her first run! She fell asleep for 2 hours!! RECORD nap...
It gave me time to work on Abram's 2nd b-day party decor; we are throwing a Halloween/monster themed party the day after Halloween. I don't have a lot of Halloween decor because before I was a parent I was never that into it, but this party is giving me a reason to stock up...even if the old women in Micheal's called it evil and gave me the stink eye as I pushed my 6 week old through the aisle of witch hats and trick or treat signs. :/ Don't worry I hate anything scary so this is a happy, candy-filled, festive party.
Happy 1st day of fall and yay for me for managing to get this post up with 30 minutes to spare!
Nikki
Watching our Tigers Play at 31 Weeks
Sleep: pretty good
Belly Button in or out? Still flat as a pancake
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I have my moments
In all the excitement of last week, I forgot to mention that my best friend's premature baby got to come home from the NICU! Sam was born in August, at 34 weeks, in a surprise delivery that began at the nail salon and me rushing Leigh Ann to the hospital, and ended with a sweet baby boy that was 5 lbs. 10 oz. They threw a little celebration the night he came home and we got to see him for the first time. He is so tiny and so sweet...he never cries! (I can only pray mine takes note). I am sort of in LOVE with the little doll! They also came over for the LSU game, on Saturday, and I got to hold him for the first time. It has been so long since I have held a newborn...it will take some getting used to. Welcome to our clan baby Sam!
29 Weeks
Sleep: good except for my itchy rash
Belly Button in or out? It is slowly flattening out
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Both…too busy to really think about it
I got a text from Matt saying that he is sorry I am so itchy, but maybe it is because of the fact that LSU's first game is this Saturday. He says I have the "college football itch". Honestly, I think he may be right...thinking about football season sends a rush of adrenalin through me and makes me want to do a happy dance. We are on the verge of my favorite season!!! I have already gotten the clear to go to College Station when the Tigers play A&M...I will be 37 weeks! The dr. may change his mind as it gets closer, but for now he is saying, "yes, but if you start having contractions you have to jump in the car and head back"...love my doc.
Happy Non-Holidays!
Our House's Mascot
This girl!
Well it was not really purchased by me. If you've read some of my posts you know I have a secret obsession with gnomes and random objects with character, I hate my HOA, and I love my Tigers. We were in an LSU store in Baton Rouge this fall looking for cool shirts, and I saw something I had to have! The conversation went something like this...
Nikki: "Matt, look at these awesome LSU gnomes...it looks so cute and would totally tick off the HOA"
Matt: "Haha...oh wait you are serious? Oh lord..."
Nikki: texted about 4 different ones to Debbie Faye
Debbie: "hahaha...love them, you should get one!" (she knows me so well)
Nikki: "Well I want this shirt too, so not right now" :(
2 months later: An LSU gnome arrived on my front porch...from Debbie (Merry Christmas) :)
I accidentally opened the box which I wasn't supposed to do until Christmas, so I re-wrapped it to give to Matt on Christmas. He opened it and just started laughing...his mom said, "There has to be a story with this!"
Matt placed the gnome on our mantel, next to santa, and it has been there ever since. It may just have to go in the front yard, next to our LSU flag for the weekend....take that HOA!
We leave tomorrow to head to New Orleans...20 friends in a house near Bourbon, with the Saints and Lsu games thrown in the mix...this should be interesting. Matt had a free ticket to the Championship game, but it fell through...typical :/. We might just grab our favorite drinks and head to the house to watch the game so we don't have to stand at a crowded bar the whole time. Bijou will be staying at a kennel...this girl is taking no chances! Have a great weekend and Geaux Tigers!
Back to See Our Tigers Play
First of All...It's Fall ya'll!
My favorite season of the year. The summers down here are fantastic when on the water, but every other time of the day they are miserably scorching. This is something I thank God for sometimes because it makes me appreciate when the weather cools off and you can open your windows and enjoy the Fall air (Today)!
Another reason I love Fall is Football Season!...I might eat my words come Thanksgiving when Football has been on at my house EVERY weekend, ALL weekend for 3 months...but for now, I love it!
Last Friday, we headed east...
We could barely stand being in Houston while the Tigers played at home the weekend before, so this weekend we decided we were going. We spent ALL Saturday at a tailgate for some oil companies that Kristen and my dad know. It was not quite the same as when we get together with our friends, but was still fun non-the-less. On the way to the tailgate I HAD to get my chicken shwarma salad from my favorite greek food place near LSU...later I ate the jambalaya that they made haha. The day of tailgating consisted of beer pong, LOTS of food, music and a little dancing...you know, the usual.
We were late getting to the game so I missed my favorite part...the band playing the fight song. Just thinking about it gives me the chills. The game was ok...not as much fun to watch as usual considering we have no offense, but we survived. Until next time LSU!
Nikki
Is there a game on tonight?
I'm getting my homework done so that I can take tonight off to enjoy a (hopefully) good game. Win or lose, this is a historical game and it is such a great feeling to know that the Saints got this far! When I moved to Louisiana I always thought, "Why is everyone so into this sucky team?"...well it took a few years, but I began to understand. The spirit of this great state and New Orleans in particular is unlike any other. I have spent some time here in Houston arguing against others that tell me New Orleans should have never been rebuilt! I cannot even believe I am hearing that, and know that these people have never experienced that great city (which is more than just Bourbon Street). To let the waters wash away a city with some of the most culture in America would have been inexcusable.
I think this is the same thing felt by many in that city. It is their home and the Saints coming back home when it looked unsure gave them hope. So this game is more than just about football to them...
Let the brass band play...Laissez le bon temps rouler...all the way until Mardi Gras! Everyone at home, see you next weekend! Who Dat!? Geaux Saints!
Nikki
A Southern Fall Weekend
Spent as one should in the South, this past Fall weekend Matt and I traveled to Baton Rouge to see the Tigers roll over Auburn.
At the beginning of fall Matt promised to bring me to an LSU game during my wine-fest about how much I miss it over there every Fall. I then stated, "make sure it is a good game." Because it was too hard to get Florida tickets he went for the Auburn game; proudly winning the ebay bid in the last 2 seconds after a week of watching it.
I had been on my food regime now for 2.5 weeks and planned on breaking it for one day during the weekend so that I could tailgate properly. We stopped in Lake Charles on the way in to grab some shrimp etouffee which was delicious.
We enjoyed the day of tailgating and then went to the game to see our Tigers play in Death Valley. This was our first time not sitting in the student section so it was weird not having to stand and dance to all of the band's songs throughout the game. I kept catching myself doing the dances while sitting. The Tigers played better than expected, stomping Auburn, and I got to hear the fight song which gives me chills every time. I left a happy camper, stopping at my favorite burrito place to top off the night. O how I love a Louisiana tailgate!
Nikki
It is almost here...
Only across the world from me; unable to talk on the phone and rarely able to e-mail, being 16 hours ahead of me. It has been a hard week and a half so far. Sakhalin Island, Russia is where Matt has been working for two weeks and I think he is ready to be home. I have not talked to him much, but when I have he said it would rain off and on all day...I am interested to sit down and have a conversation with him about the cultures and customs there. Him being gone has also made me realize the lack of a support system I have in Houston thus far. In Lafayette, I never minded being alone because I knew so many people around me and stayed fairly busy with everyone. This past week I had to go get blood work done and give a local emergency number and I sat there for about 20 minutes until I just decided to put a classmates name down. It is a very weird feeling when you realize you are somewhat alone...that needs to be changed!
Gable and I have been taking care of each other at home while he has been gone. She is my little protector dog and I try to pet her as good at Matt does haha. Every time she hears a truck she waits by the door with her tail wagging, only to be disappointed. I have been trying all week to get everything done so I could ride with a friend to the LSU/ULL game in Baton Rouge. I have been missing Tiger Stadium very much since football season started and am so irritated with the lack of school spirit at UH. Unfortunately, my homework kept piling up yesterday, and I had to cancel my trip to stay home and do school work :(. I am hoping to go to a game soon, but a lot of wedding meetings are scheduled for the next few weekends, including the wedding dress I have been waiting to try on in Austin the first weekend in October. Anyone want to make a weekend of it? Hopefully Matt and I will get to go to a game... Until next time...talk to you in Fall!
Niks
Louisiana Tailgating
My goal of the trip was to visit my people from Baton Rouge since I had been promising them I would. I stopped first at my old job and only got to see two of my co-workers (oh well...guess I will have to make another trip soon). I found out that right after I left they landed two movie studios for the producers of Mr. Brooks in New Orleans...dang it! They have already grown so much since I left and as soon as I walked into the office I instantly missed it so much. It is so easy to be comfortable there because everyone is so nice and fun.
I then drove to LSU and walked my usual route past the stadium to visit my old studio buddies. I miss them too! Things have changed in studio a lot since last semester...and some things havent.
I ran some errands and waited for a friend to pick me up on her way in from Alabama, and we drove to Lafayette...yes lafayette again! We met the girls my other two best friends for a 24th b-day and caught up on everything for hours.
Saturday morning started in Baton Rouge (yes Baton Rouge again). We walked to the Am Mart (some of the best sandwiches you will ever get your hands on...and my Baton Rouge past time), then to our tailgate spot for the day. Tailgating sure has changed since last year because many of our friends have graduated...but was still fun!
It was your usual Baton Rouge tailgate in the cold weather. You walk up to the purple and gold tents with the flags flying and hear the competition of music from your tailgate and the one next to you. Instantly you see the huge pot of Jambalaya cooking that you will be able to eat shortly and then the smell of Gumbo mixes in from the tailgaters to your right. There is a tv with chairs for people to watch other games, a keg for you to start off your morning, beer bong and/or flip cup going on, and a game of washers.
As the tailgate spot gets more and more crowded you and your buddies decide to take a walk around campus to visit others and have your first of many trips to the port-a-potty. You hear music and people already drunk on the microphones and see the kids sliding down the Indian Mounds with boxes.
The band marches down the road on their way to the stadium as they always do and everyone gathers on the streets and cheers...much like a Mardi Gras parade, but with out the beads.Then the buses drive by..and people get rowdy. An Ole Miss fan in red walks by and gets Tiger Baited (only to find out it is us that would lose).
We get into the student section of Death Valley and the band starts their LSU fight song that still gives me chills. The football players run in with the fireworks and flags, and the announcer says the weather with the chance of rain...NEVER! What a bad game...but it was still fun to do all the dances and chants that we always do.
Even after the game we tailgate...drowning our sorrows in fun and friends... just cannot get that in Houston. Cannot wait to go back next season!
xo,
Nikki