Small Town Chic

Today

2012-01-22T20:18:00.000-05:00

Since I haven't had the time in the day to do any kind of outfit shots, I have been sneaking pics here and there of a top-down view of my outfit and sharing them on instagram (smalltownchic) and twitter @smalltownchic1. Here is an overview of my most recent todays...

New Year's Eve

2012-01-09T18:45:00.000-05:00

Hi!
Happy new year (a little on the late side). We had a wonderful New Year's Eve this year. We wanted to do something with Max so we had some friends come over with their little ones so that the babies could all play and the parents could play too. Halfway through the day it dawned on me that I really wanted to get dressed up for the occasion and so a few texts later it was decided that we would all wear our Sunday best. I made dinner, complete with menus for both the adults and the kids, and we had champagne, wine, and beer to make the evening complete. Oh, and cheesecake!

A friend of mine lent me this dress and I wore it without the black dress underneath it on NYE. I was so hot from running around all day that I didn't really need anything else. I wanted to try it with something else to give it a little more contrast with the black tights so I added this Modcloth dress underneath. I think it makes it that much fancier. I have to get better at jewelry though. I have so much of it and just never take the time to put it on.

Hope you all had a wonderful New Year's celebration and beginning to 2012!

green dress- borrowed from a friend

black dress (worn underneath)- Modcloth

belt- remixed from tunic

black nylons- Target

taupe booties- Marshalls

The best part of our outfit shots are the ones that I get to snap of my boys...

We had quite a busy week as you can probably see by Max's forehead. A fall at daycare, 2 trips to the ER, and a stomach bug later, the little guy is healing up pretty nicely.

2011 style

2012-01-08T19:37:00.000-05:00

I didn't get to do too many outfit shots over the last 365 days, but I did get some and I wanted to post them all together, as a year in review. I have noticed a few things in going back through all of my old photos:

1. I smile way more now in my pictures (I think I am finally (somewhat) comfortable in front of the camera).
2. I look down/left/right a lot.
3. I put my hands on my hips a lot.
4. I had some pretty rough hair days in a few of these.
5. I need to be easier on myself. It's so hard when you go through pictures right after they are taken and you pick out all of the negative things (see #4 above) but I have to keep in mind that these were taken starting just 4 months after my son was born and I was going on zero hours of sleep in many of them.
6. I have a lot of clothing. One thing I am working on is purging things. I mean a real clean sweep of my closet. I have such a hard time with this and always end up hanging on to things that I don't need or that don't fit me well anymore. I have struggled with what to do with all the clothes (I generally pass them along to my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law or the Salvation Army). I did attend one clothing swap and it was a great time. A friend of mine has held Naked Ladies Parties (it's not what it sounds like) and I am thinking of doing one with my friends. Everyone brings unwanted clothing, accessories, etc and you do a big swap. Everything left over is donated to the local Salvation Army. I would like to get my closet(s) under control this year.
7. Damien is a really talented photographer.

2011 was a very slow blogging year for me. It was, however, one of the best years of my life. I am happy to have these memories on here to be able to look back at, but I am even happier to have the time to create these memories with my family.

Happy 2012.

Max, Mr. Claus and some Christmas Spirit

2011-12-13T20:30:00.001-05:00

When Max was 3 months old, we took him to meet Santa Claus for the first time. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, but I just can't seem to recall that night. I am pretty sure we took a picture, but honestly, couldn't tell you. So for all intents and purposes, this was the year that Max met Santa for the first time. And I have to say, he did well. He walked right up to him and when we put him on his lap, he just sat there, as if to say "What's this all about?" Of course it helps that we knew this particular Santa and he happens to be one of the best around.

The following evening was the Santa Parade. It started around 4:30 and was a good 45 minutes long with floats, music, clowns, (really loud!!!) fire engines, and of course, Santa.

We've also been prepping the house for Christmas, putting up some hand-me-down decorations from my mom and decorating the tree.

This weekend we were out in western MA for Damien's birthday. We brought my mom along so we could go out Friday night and see my brother's band and she could stay in with Max. We walked around downtown Great Barrington on Saturday and got a most perfect family photo.

And we finally finished our Christmas cards. If only I could find the time to address and mail them!

Happy holidays!

tan grey white denim black

2011-11-29T19:43:00.001-05:00

This was seriously the best picture taking weekend. The weather was unbelievable and my fall clothing, which would normally be covered up by now with some kind of coat, kept me comfortably warm throughout each photo session. This cardigan was really popular for me this weekend. I also wore it on Thanksgiving (and Thanksgiving eve). It was another full priced ticket item but from Target, so it was certainly reasonable. I think that I could wear a cardigan every day, like here and here! And a scarf. I have accumulated many scarves over the years and I go in waves of wearing each one.

Damien keeps giving me directions while taking my pictures. I've been doing a lot of walking towards him and this time, he had me jump. I think I look a little ridiculous...

cardigan- Target

striped shirt- Old Navy

scarf- Target

jeans- Marshalls

boots- Old Navy (last year)

off-white orange blue brown gold

2011-11-28T20:28:00.001-05:00

A few times this gorgeous weekend we were able to get in some outfit shots. On Wednesday, a friend of mine and I went out shopping for a few hours and ended up at Old Navy. I honestly haven't shopped there in a long, long time. All of the women's clearance items were an additional 50% off, so it was hard to not walk away with a few items. Of course, one of the first things that I tried on, and fell in love with, was this top, which was not supposed to be on the clearance rack and I ended up paying full price for it. All of my other purchases totaled around $12 so I didn't pass it up. I paired it with an old pair of skinny cords from Delias of all places. They are old! The pocket book is even older, either my mom's or gram's from many, many years ago.

top- Old Navy
cords- Delias
coat- F21
bracelets- gifts from Damien's mom
necklace- F21
pocket book-vintage
booties- I can't remember!

and Max waited so patiently for us...

Stella and Dot giveaway winner

2011-11-28T20:19:00.001-05:00

yanswim888 said...

I love those earrings! They are so chic and put together and cute! I just got an internship that I hope to turn into a job (fingers crossed!) and I want to look put together but still fashionable and chic. So, I would love to get some jewelry that add a little bit of pizzazz to my outfit while still looking professional and put together. I love what jewelry can do for my outfits when I put together simple things and then pair it with that perfect piece of jewelry!

Congratulations!

Thanks for entering everyone.

Max

2011-11-27T20:21:00.001-05:00

The craziness of the Thanksgiving holiday has settled and as I get ready for another crazy week ahead of me (final exams and new classes starting) I want to take this time to catch my blog up with all that has been happening with Max these past few months. And a lot has happened....

Max is walking. He is quite fast now too. He does still prefer to crawl a lot but he can walk all over the house now. He is especially fond of stairs. Going up and going down. We need to do some serious baby proofing in that department.

Max is talking. He has 12 words or so (hi, bye, mommy, daddy, doggie, kitty, Aubrey, uh-oh, shoe, thank you, bubba, aunty). Doggie is the word he uses for every animal. Aubrey is every child and bubba is any food or drink. So it is still a guessing game but it is so fun to listen to him talking. He seriously says thank you so clearly and with such intention that it is hard not to crack up laughing every time he says it. He also says baa and moo for his sheep and cow sounds and when you ask him what sound a car makes, he makes an engine sound.

Max is an awesome eater. I hold my breath on this one because I know it can and most likely will change, but for now, it is wonderful. He eats just about everything we put in front of him and we only put healthy things in front of him so I know he is being well nourished. He still likes to have a bottle of milk in the morning and evening but uses a straw-sippy cup for milk and water throughout the day. We probably could cut out the bottle but we still enjoy that time together.

Max has 6 teeth. He had his bottom 2 for a long time and now 4 top ones have come through, all at once! He definitely has a few more poking through now as well. He's been a champ about it.

Max's favorite things are his books (he loves flipping through the pages), his blocks, his cars and chasing after the kitties. He likes playing with his Fisher Price radio and record player and will hold any phone (fake or not) up to his ear and say hi, hi, hi. He also loves this bowl that we have that is made out of a record. He will push that thing all over the house.

Max is a complete mama's boy. Poor Dame! Believe me, when it comes to Max, everything is 50/50 with us. We both feed him, change him, bathe him, play with him, read to him, put him to bed, wake up with him. That still doesn't change the fact that he is a complete and total mama's boy.

Max throws temper tantrums. Full on, on the floor, head back temper tantrums. They are generally quick and usually predictable but they are a clear sign that my baby is now a toddler and he gets mad!

Max is a happy little guy. And that makes us the happiest we could possibly be.

grey+red plaid denim brown

2011-11-21T19:42:00.001-05:00

Somehow this weekend, we found time to do a few outfit shots. I have been wearing this scarf non-stop and love the way it looks paired with this jacket that I picked up a few seasons ago at Marshalls. The red in my shirt is not an exact match to the scarf but it too compliments it well. I really like the way that these photos came out. I think it's the fact that this is the kind of outfit that I am most comfortable in: shirt, cardigan, skinny jeans and some boots. I do love dressing up but on a day-to-day basis, this is way more me.

jacket- Marshalls

scarf- Target

red v-neck- Marshalls

skinny jeans- old?

fringe boots- Target

gloves- my gram's

I will announce the winner of the Stella and Dot giveaway tomorrow!

Stella and Dot Giveaway! CLOSED

2011-11-14T19:05:00.001-05:00

One of the best parts of putting together any outfit is finding the perfect piece of jewelry to compliment whatever look you may have opted for on a given day. Earrings can be a subtle addition, especially with the perfect ones.

Well folks, I have the perfect earrings for you! If you haven't yet heard of or checked out Stella and Dot, go! Now! Such great stuff. I have partnered up with Rebekah, an independent stylist for Stella and Dot, to offer this amazing giveaway... a pair of Soiree studs! Aren't they just gorgeous? Do you want them to be yours? All you have to do is:

Leave a comment below-this automatically enters you into the giveaway

for additional entries:
Like Rebekah's S&D page on facebook (leave me a comment letting me know that you have done so)

and/or

Follow Rebekah on Twitter- @rebekahcb (leave me a comment letting me know that you have done so)

The winner will be able to pick whether you want the gold or the hematite earrings!

That's it. Three easy ways to enter. This giveaway will be open until Saturday night at midnight. It is open to anyone, anywhere! I will announce the winner on Monday. Good luck!

gingham, red and gold

2011-11-13T20:41:00.001-05:00

It really has been quite some time since I have done an outfit post. It was fun to do one today but I was feeling a little camera shy at first. Damien did my pictures in this locale once before and I loved the way that they turned out so we headed back there today, a day in which we had nothing really that we had to do. It's been dark before 5 every night and as sad as that can be, I kind of like how long each night feels. I tend to go to bed on the early side and sometimes it's only been dark for an hour or so when I am crawling into bed. I really feel as though I am getting a lot more out of each night this way.

We have been busy here lately. Max is in such a fun stage right now. I'll be back this week with an update on him. I have a few adorable videos of him. He's walking now and talking up a storm. More on that later. I will also hopefully be able to do a recap of our Halloween party. Our costumes were awesome and the party was a blast.

It was exceptionally warm today so I opted for a shirt sleeve blouse that has been in my closet forever. I have had it in my "to go" pile many times. Each time, though, I take it out and it ends up being the perfect shirt for whatever look I may be going for. I found a few beautiful scarves up at Target the other day and I wanted to wear this bold red and gold one today. There is nothing more comfortable than jeggings (even if it is a terrible word) and I am still loving my mom's old boots. So here are my first outfit pics in a really long time...

gingham blouse- old!?
scarf- Target
bracelets- gift from Ireland
jeggings- NY&Co
boots- my moms

Our anniversary weekend part 2

2011-10-24T21:06:00.000-04:00

We spent last weekend in the White Mountains and besides the fact that it rained the entire weekend and every place that we tried to go to was closed, it was the perfect weekend! We left Thursday after work, from a house that was in complete disarray. We finally had the hardwood installed in our house and we had to move everything out of the living room/dining room, kitchen and den. We couldn't get out of there fast enough! Of course, we ran late and didn't actually make it to North Conway until close to 10pm. Our friends had made it up there a few hours before us and were settled in nicely when we arrived.

The next 3 days were spent relaxing, laughing, playing, swinging, shopping and driving to locations that were closed for the season. First up, Storyland. Luckily, it was only 5 minutes down the street and we sort of had a back-up plan. Sunday was a slightly different story. We decided that we would make the trek to Santa's Village, even though it was in the opposite direction from our house. It had to be open; it is Santa's Village after all and Christmas is right around the corner. Well, needless to say, it wasn't and as we pulled into the parking, tears running down our faces from laughter, we realized that Max would never even know the difference and so we spent the next half hour, getting family and friend shots in front of the magical (closed) Santa's Village. I think it's a good time to note that it was the only weekend in the fall that it was in fact closed. Like everything else so far, it was an adventure and a wonderful one at that.

(poor Jacob slept through Santa's Village...looks like you guys are going back:)

Thanks Jamie and Rob:)

Halloween preview

2011-10-24T20:52:00.001-04:00

I can't help myself with this one. This was a completely impromptu costume, since we hadn't worked out the particulars for Max's Where the Wild Things Are costume. A friend let us borrow this one for our niece's Halloween Party this past Saturday. We weren't really sure if it was going to fit or how much Max would like to be in a lion costume, complete with mane and paws. Not only did it fit, but he absolutely loved it. He just kept crawling around, trying to make his way through the cat door, clapping and batting his binky all over the place. We even got a signature "uh-oh spaghetti-o" and a perfectly placed "bye." Now all he needs is a crown and a cape to complete his Max costume.

Be sure to check out this adorable video of the little guy...

Bye and uh-oh spaghetti-o

2011-10-20T20:49:00.000-04:00

The other night at my mom's house, we were able to finally get a good video of Max saying "bye". It is the cutest little thing and he does it with such intention. We have also gotten him to start saying "uh-oh spaghetti-o!" He's been pretty good at uh-oh for a while but now he has started to add in his own version of the ending. The other morning while watching this video, I realized that he actually says both "bye" and "uh-oh spaghetti-o" in it. We didn't even realize it at the time that he was saying the latter until this weekend when he was saying it over and over again. I decided that it was too cute not to share. He also plays a great game of peek-a-boo and at some point has learned to do the Home Alone impression. Hope you enjoy the little guy!

Our anniversary weekend

2011-10-09T21:21:00.000-04:00

Three years ago this weekend, I married my best friend. Technically, our anniversary is the 11th of October but since we got married over Columbus Day Weekend, we tend to consider that our anniversary. We decided this year, we would celebrate it for 2 weekends. We just got back from Portland, ME, where we visited my brother and his girlfriend. My mom came with us and we spent yesterday at the Fryeburg Fair. Actually, we spent most of yesterday going to the Fryeburg Fair, but we had fun nonetheless. I guess ridiculous traffic is to be expected when it is the second to last day of the fair on an 80 degree day in October. We ordered Indian food for dinner and then headed out to a bar down the street with another friend who lives up there while my mom stayed in with Max. It was a late night and then an early morning today but well worth it. We had a wonderful trip and can't wait to make it up that way again.

This coming weekend, we have rented a condo in North Conway, NH for 3 nights. We are going with our good friends and their son, who is just 3 months older than Max. I am so excited to go! We have been wanting to do this for a few years now. It all started when we got back from our honeymoon and I admitted to Damien that I kind of wished we had just rented a place in the White Mountains for a week instead of heading to the Dominican Republic. He agreed. We just are not resort/beach kind of people. I would so much rather pack up the car and go on a road trip and explore and hike and well, you get the point. So now, we are going on the honeymoon that we should have taken 3 years ago, but this time we get to take Max. It will be worth the wait.

The stink face

2011-10-01T21:31:00.000-04:00

At some point, in the last month or so, Max has mastered his stink face. I am not sure where he got it from, but his daycare provider has informed us that he has been the class clown on more than one occasion with his new found talent. He does it to be funny. He also does it now whenever we tell him "no" which has been happening more and more lately. I can only assume that his stink face will continue and he will learn to use it to his advantage.

Doing it all

2011-09-27T17:46:00.001-04:00

It's been a little quiet over here, I know. I've been struggling lately with the concept of doing it all. Each and every day, I ask myself how do people do everything that needs to get done in the span of just 24 hours? Between caring for my new family, working full time, cooking, cleaning, getting to the gym, having fun and sleeping, I am finding it very hard.

When I start to feel overwhelmed with it all, it is usually because I find myself comparing myself to my mom when I was growing up. She always had a clean house. Home cooked meals. A good amount of fun. But then I need to stop and remind myself that while my brothers and I were little, she didn't work. We were her full time job.

And although I started this blog as a style blog, outfit pictures are not that important to me right now. I will get back to them, when the time is right. It might be tomorrow. It might be a few weeks, months, who knows. Right now, I need to focus on the important things. The fact that I am a wonderful mother to an even more wonderful little boy. That I have 56 students every day who depend on me and are learning from me. That my husband and I get to spend time together, enjoying each others' company and making plans for our family. That I have been cooking up a storm and hitting the gym, running an average of 6 miles a week. My house may be a mess and I might be exhausted but for now, I am doing all that I can.

Ireland with the Browns

2011-09-14T21:17:00.002-04:00

There is a spot in Max's baby book called My First Trip. I so wanted to be able to fill in the blank with Ireland. We started talking about taking this trip sometime after he was born. Originally we wanted to go in April but that came and went and we realized shortly there after that if we didn't just book the trip, that the summer would come and go and Max would be over a year old before he got to meet his Irish family.

So here we are, one month to the day from when we left, and I am at a loss for words to describe what this trip meant to me, what it meant for my little family. These pictures are just a glimpse into the week that we got to spend with these amazing people that Max and I get to call our family. Thank you all so much for giving Max the best possible My First Trip that there ever could be.

hanging around the house

Kilmore Quay

Hook Lighthouse

Driving around County Wexford

Johnstown Castle

Ballycross Apple Farm

Ireland style #2

2011-09-14T19:58:00.000-04:00

I had picked out some great outfits for our trip but once we got there and I remembered what 60 degree and rainy weather felt like, I decided on going more for comfort than fashion. I brought two jackets with me and this one definitely got more face time. I bought it a few years ago at Marshalls for around $30 and it has been a staple in my wardrobe since. It fits great, is comfy and best of all, is not real leather. Black and white were kind of my go-to colors on this trip. I guess I needed my outfits to match my (borrowed) sling!

jacket- Marshalls
blouse- Marshalls
jeggings- NY & Co
shoes- hhmmm, I honestly can't remember

Ireland style

2011-09-10T23:41:00.000-04:00

This has taken me a long time to post. I have 799 photos from this trip to go through and it's a little overwhelming. I'm going to keep this short and sweet; I have another Ireland style post to do sometime in the next few days. Unfortunately, the look isn't all that different than this one. Turns out it's cold in Ireland in the summer. Luckily we had called ahead to see what the weather would be like. No sundresses for me on this trip. This is downtown Wexford, where Damien is from. I love the colored walls; they make for a great backdrop to our photos.

jacket- F21
scarf- gift from Damien
blouse- F21
black jeans- JCrew
boots- my mom's

Max's style 9.04.11 (and 1 year old)

2011-09-07T20:40:00.001-04:00

Before Damien and I headed off for the wedding on Sunday, we were sure to snap some style shots of Max. Somehow, I forgot to do them at 11 months...so here is he, 1 year old! I bought him a few of these button down shirts and I think that they make him look like such a big boy. We decided that just the shirt and diaper were enough for this photo shoot. He also got his first Bla Bla Doll for his birthday, Socks the Fox. He has the fruits and veggies rattles but we thought it was time for his first doll. He clearly loves him.

We are off tomorrow to the doctors for Max's 1 year checkup. I am excited to see how much he has grown in the last few months.

Max's first birthday party

2011-09-06T21:35:00.000-04:00

Max turned one on Sunday. A whole year has passed since he first came into this world. So many changes, so many firsts, so much fun. We had his party on Saturday since we had a wedding on Sunday. When we first started planning the party, there were a few things that I was sure of. I knew I wanted it to be in our backyard. I knew I wanted pinwheels, bright colored balloons and old-fashioned sodas. I knew that I wanted it to resemble the kinds of birthday parties that my brothers and I had when we were younger. And I knew I wanted to be surrounded by friends and family. There were a few blips along the way. Damien's mom was stuck in Ireland. My dad couldn't make it until the next day and one of my brothers couldn't make it at all. It was hot, humid and full of mosquitos but at the end of the night, I couldn't have asked for a better day. Max was a champ, laughing and playing the entire time. We got some very nice things, books, clothes, some wonderful toys and the memories of spending the day with our baby boy. I will let the pictures tell the story of the day.

Weekend threads

2011-08-30T21:29:00.001-04:00

Nothing special, just an old t-shirt, favorite pair of jeans (with a busted zipper) and my mom's old boots. If I am home, relaxing, I am usually dressed in some combination of these three items. I love getting dressed up but there is nothing comfier than a 25 year old t-shirt. Especially with the kind of weekend that we just had. I have to say that we did not lose power or have any destruction to our home and I am grateful for that. So many of my friends and colleagues are without power and somehow, are still able to do it all. I am in awe of them right now. To my Quechee friends, you and your wonderful little town are in my thoughts.

t-shirt- very old, my brother's I think
scarf- gift from Damien
jeans-old
boots-my mom's
umbrella- Target

Date night

2011-08-28T16:26:00.002-04:00

Friday night was date night for the Gaudets. My mom watched Max for us and we headed out to our favorite city, Worcester, uh hem. Ok, maybe not our favorite city but we do have a soft spot for it. We both went to colleges in Worcester and our first two apartments were also in the city. We got married there and Max was born there. So, it may not be our favorite city but it is certainly our most memory-filled one.

We had dinner at a small mexican restaurant, Tortilla Sams. Our first date was there nearly 9 years ago. We go back every year, on the night of our first date. We had our rehearsal dinner there. It is tiny and good and we just loving going back. From there, we headed to our favorite bar, Ralph's Diner. This is seriously the best bar around. Great jukebox, decor and beer. Not much more to ask for from a bar. This is where we had our bachelor/bachelorette party, a black and white party, 3 years ago. In fact, I'd have to look back but I am quite certain that this date night was exactly 3 years from the night of our party. We had a beer each and planned out our annual Halloween Party. We want to do Classic Monster Mash. I'm going to rock the 50 Foot Woman costume. Can't wait to start making it!

From Ralph's we hit another favorite spot, The Dive Bar. We shared a beer here and then decided to call it a night. It was barely 9:30. Our first date didn't even start until 10:30 since I was chaperoning a dance that night and Damien was working at a small independent theater, in Worcester! We headed home to get Max. It's always so nice to see him and hold him once I've been away from him for any period of time.

School officially starts tomorrow with meetings all day. It has been a wonderful summer, packed full of family and traveling and I am excited to head back to work. Here are some outfit shots from date night.

*I have so many photos from Ireland to sort through. I am going to be doing posts on our trip, some outfit shots and my thoughts on traveling with a baby (thanks so much to Melissa from Dear Baby for some great advice!!!)

scarf- old from my mom
dress- Ruche
belt- off another top from F21
boots- old from my mom
bracelets- gifts and ?

My to do list

2011-08-23T19:29:00.001-04:00

at the Hook Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse in the world!

I am a big list maker. My phone is filled with lists from the past 2 years. Shopping lists, packing lists, music lists, movie lists, theme party lists. You name it and I have a list for it. As this summer winds down and with my two vacations behind me, I am starting to think about my yearly to do list. What I want to accomplish this year. I tend to go by the school year and not the calendar year; it is just more natural for me. So here is my to do list. Somehow I feel like posting it here will make me more accountable for it:

1. Return to drinking H20 morning, noon and night. I was never, ever a coffee drinker. I held out in high school when many of my friends started drinking it. I held out in college when even more of my friends started drinking it. I even held out post college and into the working world. And then I had a baby and went back to work and was getting 4 good hours of sleep if I was lucky and I couldn't hold out any longer. It is nearly a year later and I do have 1 cup of coffee a day. But when we were in Ireland, I had none. And I felt fine. No headaches. My usually sleepiness but that's another story. So I want to return to my days of being coffee free. Well, at least Monday through Friday. Maybe I'll let myself have a cup on the weekends.

2. Return to the gym. This is something that I know that once I go once or twice, I will get the itch to start going 4-5 times a week. I actually enjoy going to the gym. I know some people hate it but I always find it super rewarding and a good time to clear my head. I have an easier class load this coming trimester and I will make myself leave school everyday with time to get to the gym before I pick up Max.

3. Make home-cooked meals a minimum of 4 nights a week. Most nights, before Max came along and even up until recently, Damien and I would rely heavily on packaged vegetarian food. There are some great options out there for fake chicken and fake meatballs or veggie burgers. The problem is that they are still processed food. Now with Max eating many of the things that we are eating, I am realizing the need for us to be cooking our own food, from scratch. Damien generally does most of the cooking but I want to become better at making meals for my family. My mom cooking every night is such a part of my childhood memories and I want Max to have those memories (of mom and dad cooking!)

4. Buy new music.  One thing that Damien and I have in common is our taste in music. From Boards of Canada to Radiohead to Bob Dylan and the Beatles, we have a love of good music. It varies from genre to genre and we go in waves of obsession (My Morning Jacket's newest right now!). We were always going to shows and concerts and scouring the internet or magazines for good new bands. And I haven't been doing much of that at all lately. I am kind of in a music rut. I will change that.

5. Rent/Go to more movies.  Damien and I used to be avid moviegoers. Or at least moviewatchers. We'd watch at least a movie a week, if not more. A few years back, a group of friends including my brother and other people that we worked with would do a weekly movie night. We'd either stay in at someone's house and make dinner and watch a movie or head out to the theater and then out to eat. It was usually a Wednesday or Thursday night and it was such a nice way to break up the week. I miss that. And I miss my brother.

6. Listen to more NPR. When I lived in Worcester, I had a nice 40 minute or so commute to and from work every day. It was my time to catch up on what was going on in the world. I felt connected. I never, ever watch the evening news. I actually never, ever have the television on. Ever. But listening to Morning Edition every morning and then PRIs The World or All Things Considered every afternoon was my lifeline to what was happening daily. No bs. No wondering how my salad might kill me, but only if I tune back in at 6 to find out. Now with a 3 minute commute, I don't have my scheduled NPR time. I need to fit it in.

7. Send more cards/letters.  Being in Ireland and spending the week with Damien's grandparents made me realize how easy it is to lose touch with people. In a time of such a wide variety of communication, somehow it gets lost. Yes, I happen to know what my 400 friends on Facebook are doing at every moment but I haven't written to or called some of the most important people in my life in a long time. It is so nice to get a letter or card in the mail. An unexpected one. One that just lets you know that someone is thinking about you. I need to let some people know that I have been thinking about them.

8. Deal with health issues.  Thankfully, I am a healthy person. But I do have some lingering health problems. I have had to have at least 3 mammograms by the age of 32. I have a large lump in my left breast that is painful at times and uncomfortable all of the time. I need to have that removed. It is not cancerous but it is worrisome for me. I have a chronic problem with my right hip that has been ailing me since college. I think it is a result of so many years of running on pavement. It definitely flairs up with certain foods. No one has ever been able to help me with the pain. I have been told by countless doctors that they do not know what is wrong with me. I need to find new doctors. I have been dealing with the stress of parents that divorced late in life (I was a senior in college) and a mom who is not over the divorce. This is a huge one for me. I know I need help with this one.

9. Stop biting my cuticles. Sorry, this is a gross one. I have been doing this since I was little. In fact, I think nearly everyone in my family less my mother has been doing the same thing. It is painful and ugly and I need to stop it. It is an anxious habit. I did stop for a period of about 3 months shortly after we got engaged. But then I started again. Now I need to stop again.

10. Be nicer to myself.

There you have it. Ten things to do this year. I'd better get started...

The weekender

2011-08-11T21:01:00.002-04:00

One of my best friends from college came to stay with me at the beginning of the week and we decided to head into Providence, RI, which can be a very fun city to go shopping in. They have some good stores and it is not super expensive. I hadn't been in an Urban Outfitters in quite some time and I generally shy away from there simply because I find many of their items to be overpriced. Five minutes into looking around, however, I spotted this bag. I. had. to. have. it. No questions asked. It wasn't terribly expensive and I knew that it would be the perfect carry-on bag for our trip. So here it is, with a tunic that I also picked up there off of the clearance rack. I think that this may be another example of a dress that just isn't a dress on me. With a pair of leggings, however, even the shortest dress can be made somewhat modest. But who cares? Everyone is just going to be looking at the bag anyways...

I couldn't resist the green manicure for Ireland...

Damien got me this wooden polaroid necklace a few years ago...

A few things before we leave...

2011-08-11T20:19:00.000-04:00

I can't even believe that it is the middle of August, that I head back to work in a few short weeks and most importantly, that we are off on our trip in a few short days. I am excited, but I also have tried to not be completely preoccupied with going. I was careful the last few months not to wish away summer by wishing for this vacation. I know that it will be amazing. I know that the bond that will be instantly created when Damien's grandparents meet their great-grandson for the first time will be so strong, much like their bond with him when he was born 30 years ago. I know the love in our little family will continue to get stronger and stronger as we share this amazing experience with Max.

I also know that we are very fortunate to be able to take this trip. We have both worked very hard to ensure that once we had Max, we could continue to live our lives the way that we always had. We love to travel. We love to eat good food and buy nice things once in awhile. When we got married, we did it on a budget. We didn't want to be broke before we started our lives as Mr. and Mrs. Gaudet. When we bought our house 2 years ago, we bought a place that we could afford on one salary if need be. We have prioritized to enable oursevles to do the things that we love to do with Max. We are both very lucky to have our jobs and for Damien to also have his photography which he loves and with which he is able to make some extra money. And I know that during these tough times, any one of those factors could change. But for us, for now, this trip is about more than traveling. It is about family. For Damien, he is going home. And although it has been nearly 25 years since it was his home, there is so much love and family there that it may be hard to leave after 7 short days. I know that Max will not remember this trip. But we will. We will cherish it forever. It may be a long time before we head back to Ireland. There are many other places that we want to see. A cross country trip next year...South America...Spain. The list goes on and on. Tonight, though, my heart is set on Ireland and I know she will not disappoint.

rust

2011-08-04T22:03:00.000-04:00

My best friend is here visiting from Austin. We spent the day seeing some other friends, doing a little shopping, getting ice cream and doing some outfit shots. Here they are! I love this rust color, especially with this light blue top and salmon sandals. I have a feeling this is going to be a staple cardigan throughout this fall and winter. What are your staples?

Swapping uncapped

2011-08-02T22:41:00.003-04:00

On Saturday, Damien, Max and I headed home from our week at the beach and then got right back in the car again and headed into Boston for my first ever clothing swap. It was put on by the Swapaholics and Jessica from What I Wore was there, promoting her new book. It was a great event. I went home with some new things, most notably a few wonderful pairs of shoes. It was a fun experience and it is always nice to see Jen and Kev, and of course, little Rowan. Max has yet another crush!

If you haven't already, be sure to check to see if there are any swaps in your area. The cost is minimal ($10 with a bag of clothing, etc to donate) and you really can walk away with some amazing stuff.

Life as a high school teacher

2011-08-02T21:42:00.001-04:00

One of the best things about my job is definitely all of the wonderful kids that I get to know throughout the years. When I tell people that I teach high school, I usually get one of 2 responses from non-high-school-teachers. The first: Wow, I could never be a teacher. The second: Wow, I could never be a high school teacher. I don't think that I could teach any other grade level. I mean, sure, there are challenges that come with older children, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. I love that I can talk about music with them. I love that I can talk about politics with them. I love that I can talk about health and fitness with them. I love that I can talk about goals and dreams and love and commitment with them. I love that I can talk about life with them.

And certainly one of the best things about being a high school teacher is getting to be a high school advisor. More specifically, a Student Council Advisor. Our council does so much volunteer work within our school and within our community. Whether it is the food pantry, the senior center or a needy family in town, these kids give of themselves and ask for very little in return. They truly serve their community.

This weekend was their annual Lock-in, although it became more of a lock-out. They had workshops and games throughout the day and then a carnival outside in the evening. There were games, food, a dunk-tank and a palm reader and they made a backdrop and Damien came with Max and took pictures for them. Max and I were sure to get our picture taken and last year's STUCO President stopped in for a visit and we had a few pics taken together. They all had a wonderful time. I worked from 8am until 11pm. I had breakfast, lunch and dinner with these kids.

These pictures are the reason that I am a high school teacher. It's these events and these memories and these children. And even though I have to leave Max every day, it's because I know that one day he is going to need a high school teacher who will give up a Sunday to play and laugh and put on ridiculous glasses and have their picture taken with him.

Just the two of them

2011-07-20T21:38:00.003-04:00

Even though there are 7 years between these two cousins, you can already see the similarities between them. I keep telling Jayde that Max will always do everything that she does. Jayde has been such a large part of our lives since she was born. We have watched her grow into an amazing little girl and Max is so lucky to have her as his big cousin. Tonight is the first of many nights that the two of them will spend playing and laughing together, enjoying this special bond that just the two of them share.

Just a quick post...

2011-07-20T20:26:00.000-04:00

Our niece is sleeping over tonight. We had ice cream before dinner. We made mini pizzas as our dinner. Now we are playing on the floor, toys everywhere, Max and his big cousin Jayde. Here are some pictures we took after ice cream. Jayde is the perfect little fashionista.

Polka dots

2011-07-19T17:12:00.000-04:00

When I bought this blouse, I knew the look that I was going for, even though I wasn't 100% what I would pair it with. I recently got a pair of skinny red jeans that I had on earlier today but with the temperature quickly rising, I knew that I had to resort to either changing out of this blouse to don a dress, or finding a pair of shorts or a skirt to compliment it. I opted for shorts again, although they do clearly have the same style as the last pair that I wore. I must say that I like this style a lot. They could pass for a skirt but are in fact, shorts. This blouse is actually quite long and has some pockets towards the bottom, but I chose to tuck it in, otherwise it would have been far too long with these shorts. I guess maybe I am a shorts girl after all.

I cannot believe that it is already over halfway through July. Man, summer break always goes by so quickly. Next week we are off to the beach for a week and then 2 more weeks and IRELAND! It is coming so quickly and I haven't really had all that much time to think about traveling with a baby. I know that it will be fine but it is just an added element that we have never had to worry about before. Luckily it is an overnight flight and Max will actually have a bassinet seat so hopefully he/we will sleep. I have already been putting together some outfit ideas in my head and am excited about the amazing backgrounds that come with an irish landscape.

A little secret

2011-07-14T21:52:00.001-04:00

I have been wearing these boots for the past 6 months or so. I wore them here and here and here, along with countless other times. I mentioned that they were my mom's, so many years ago, when she used to dress up just as much as I do now. That time has since passed but this pair of boots remains. Well, not exactly. Truth be told, these boots are two completely different sizes. One's an 8 and one's a 10. I wish I were kidding. When I got them from my mom's house months ago, I took them home and put them on the next morning for work. I found it odd that my right foot was slipping around a little while my left foot was quite snug. Pre-pregnancy, I was always a 7.5 shoe size. Now I am closer to an 8. But a 10, never. Unless it is this pair of boots. I asked my mom what happened and she has no idea. I thought maybe she and her sister each had a pair and the pairs got mixed up but she said that her sister's feet are even smaller than hers, no where close to a 10. So it's a mystery and up until now, it's been my little secret. It's quite evident in these pictures however that there is a difference in size. See for yourselves...

Mad Men Party

2011-07-13T21:30:00.002-04:00

I did not wear this today. In fact, I have not worn it yet and if you were to look at the back of it, the tags are still on the dress. I found it the other day up at Marshalls and I hemmed and hawed about whether or not to buy it. That is one of the big disadvantages of shopping alone. I can't always tell if I love something in theory or on me. I decided to get it, since it was under $20 and to save the receipt just in case. I have a cocktail party to go to for some friends on Saturday night and it is Mad Men themed. It is their Jack and Jill party and they love themed parties as much as I do. I bought this dress with the idea that I would wear it there. I wouldn't normally go with white for a cocktail party but seeing as though it is a theme party and it is a Mad Men theme party, I do think this dress works. I won't be carrying such a large bag for the evening and I may have to bring some flats because I know there will be lots of dancing. Unfortunately, Damien can't come with me. He is photographing two weddings this weekend so I am flying solo. Well, almost. I will be going with one of my nearest and dearest friends. And this is what I'll be wearing...

*The colors look different from picture to picture because these were taken close to 8:30pm... sometimes it's the only time we have to sneak outside and do my style shots!

Goodnight baby, I love you

2011-07-12T22:00:00.000-04:00

Each evening, whether it be after a full day of errands, play dates, ice cream or just one spent at home, we have pretty much the same nighttime routine. Sometimes it starts around 7pm, or if we have spent the evening adventuring, it may start a little later, but it always involves 3 key players, Damien, me and Max. It starts off with some playtime in his room (tonight we finally got some video of Max crawling around!), followed by a bath if it's bath night, one of us changing him and putting on his pjs. Then I usually read him a book while Damien spends his time on Max's floor, catching up on the days news via his iPad (sometimes falling asleep right there on the floor) and I start to give him his bottle. He used to fall asleep during his bottle but those days have long passed. Eventually, if he does fall asleep, I rock him a little longer and then hand him off to Dame, who kisses him and puts him in his crib. I always put my hand on his chest and say "goodnight baby, I love you" before leaving his room. Lately, he hasn't fallen asleep with the bottle or flat out refuses the bottle from me and the handoff to daddy takes place a little earlier. On those nights, I sneak downstairs so Damien can finish feeding him and put him down in his crib. I have tried to stay in the room with them but if he sees me, he just cries and wants me to hold him. He has become a true momma's boy. He will cry and cry until I take him and then he just starts smiling, as if nothing in the world is wrong. If Dame has put him down, my evening still ends with my hand on his chest and the words I will probably utter to him for the rest of his life..."goodnight baby, I love you".

Here are some pictures documenting our nighttime ritual. They are not all from the same evening, but are a good inside look at how most evenings go around here....

Max is crawling...

2011-07-12T20:49:00.000-04:00

The little man is on the move...

Simply shorts

2011-07-11T21:31:00.000-04:00

I never wear shorts. Well, hardly ever. I have never felt all that comfortable in them and I just have the hardest time finding ones that I think look good on me. I own a few pairs and on a super hot summer day (much like today), I will put a pair on. I would much rather wear a skirt or even better, a dress, but sometimes they just aren't all that practical. So today, I put on a pair of shorts. This is what it looked like.

Here goes nothing...

2011-07-10T21:08:00.006-04:00

http://twitter.com/#!/smalltownchic1

Hot hot heat

2011-07-07T21:49:00.000-04:00

It has been ridiculously hot here the past few days. When it's this hot out, all I want to wear is the lightest dress that I can possibly find. This one is perfect! I love the colors in it and the style is perfect for my (mom) body. I always seem to rely on Damien's hat no matter how many I have in my closet (I have a lot). I am in the process of trying to clean out my closet and get rid of so many things that I never wear. I have a really hard time doing that for some reason. I will put a shirt in the "going" pile and then I'll think about it, imagine a scenario in which I might at some point in my life want to wear it again, and then take it out of the pile. Inevitably in ends up sitting back in my closet until I start the whole process over again. What are all of your secrets to cleaning out your closet? I know some people have a 1 in/ 1 out policy but that never seems to work for me. Any tips?

Why, yes, that is a piece of tofurky stuck to my face

2011-07-06T20:02:00.000-04:00

We've been trying to give Max a wide variety of food lately. He loves hummus, avocado, and hasn't minded the chunks of tofu that I have been adding to his dinnertime meals. I thought for sure he would balk at the red lentil-veggie-tofu-hummus concoction that I whipped up for him but he ate it like a champ. So tonight, we started some tofurky. I certainly don't want to rely on prepackaged food but most kids end up having deli meat and I don't want Max to feel left out when all of his friends pull their turkey sandwiches out of their lunch bags. Once in awhile, I think a nice piece of (fake) meat is a good dinner choice. Max actually liked it, so much so that he is saving a piece for later...

2011-07-05T20:58:00.002-04:00

Here are some shots from yesterday. It was a wonderful day spent with our closest friends and Max just loved being with his best friend Zooey. Isn't she just the cutest? I love the series of pictures in which it looks like she is lounging next to him, then she gets his attention by pointing and then finally pushes him over. True love.

For the past 4 years, we have been going with our friends to their parents' lake house to celebrate the Fourth of July. Last year Zooey was 3 months old and I was 7 months pregnant. This year, we both had our little ones there to celebrate with us. It has changed over the past 4 years but like most things, it just keeps getting better. Thanks guys for such a fun day.

Max's style 07.04.11 and 10 months old

2011-07-04T20:57:00.001-04:00

Ten. months. old.

It really seems as if everyday, Max is learning something new. He is now crawling...backwards. It's the cutest thing to see him get into the position and rock back and forth, willing himself or whatever it is that he is going for, closer. Sometimes he just changes his mind and goes right back to his seated position. Other times he's off, in reverse. He is usually smiling as no matter what the outcome though. He has been really talking up a storm. It looks and sounds like really bad Japanese movie dubbing in which his mouth is moving in one way, at one speed but the sounds coming out are from another way, at another speed. He does a good job at keeping himself entertained and just loves being around other kids, especially any one of his many girlfriends. This is such a wonderful age!

Today we celebrated the 4th at our friend's parents' lake and Max had his first boat ride. He was so great on the boat. He fell asleep and missed going in the water but he played on the boat and then pretty much relaxed the rest of the time. I have many pictures to sort through from the day; I'll be posting them soon.

Here are the photos from this morning's photo shoot. I've been meaning to get some good pictures of him in his g-diapers, mainly because they and he are so darn cute. I seriously smile every time I look at these pictures... And if you haven't checked out the remakes of the old Fisher Price toys, you have to do so! They are wonderful. He has the record player, the radio and the clock. I'm thinking the piano will be a perfect 1st birthday present.

You do it to yourself

2011-07-02T22:05:00.000-04:00

(Just happen to be listening to Radiohead)...

I have always enjoyed the fact that I am tall. Always unless I have bought a new dress (or tried to wear an old dress) that is just too darn short on me and I am reminded of the fact that unless I plan on wearing leggings or tights with it, I simply cannot wear it. Enter red skirt. Yesterday I wore this skirt with this dress and today it reappeared with this dress that I absolutely love but can't get away with barelegged. I had to add a belt because the skirt sits lower than the waist of the dress and the denim kept poking through. I think it looks a little bulky but overall, I like the outcome. Damien and I had some fun taking pictures today after attending a friend's daughter's 1st birthday. Max was pretty bored by it all and fell asleep in the middle of it... It's tough being 10 months old, you know.

Summer vacation 2011- Week 1

2011-07-01T23:13:00.000-04:00

I have officially been on summer break for one week. And it has already been a busy one. Busy in a good way though. Provincetown and Narragansett at the beginning of the week and then last night we had a reception for the grant that Damien won and tonight it was off to Great Barrington to see some live music. My brother is in charge of booking the music for an awesome restaurant in the Berkshires called Route 7 Grill. We have been out there a bunch of times to see his band play and tonight his best friend played. It was a perfect summer night with family, food and good live music and a nice beginning to the long holiday weekend. Enjoy your fourth!

Mom style with a mom body

2011-06-29T21:41:00.001-04:00

Nearly ten months have passed since Max was born. So much has happened in those 10 months and I have this blog to reflect back on and see how he (and I) have changed in just shy of a year. One thing that I can say is that my style has not changed all that much from pre-Max. I mean, some things have obviously changed (hello one-piece bathing suit) but as far as my actual style, I think I have stuck pretty closely to how I dressed before. I do feel more confident in what I am wearing, however. It's kind of hard to explain but once you have grown and birthed a baby, you can have a whole new confidence in your body, in yourself. I have also learned what looks good on my body type (big chest, big hips, big legs, big butt, ha) and how to hide what needs hiding. There are certainly days in which I get a little down on myself (especially after receiving my first truly negative and mean comment on this blog) but I think doing this blog and making myself get in front of the camera as often as I do creates a piece of mind with who I am and who I have become.

Right before I got pregnant, I had lost some weight. It's kind of funny because when I was younger, I was severely underweight. I don't just mean thin; I mean really thin. So much so that I used to wear 2 pairs of pants to school so that people wouldn't make fun of me. I remember always just wanting to gain weight, to be able to wear shorts without someone making a comment that would make me want to go home and put on a third pair of pants. I was also an athlete, most notably a runner and very good at it. I will never forget the summer before my freshmen year being told that I may not be able to be on the cross country team because I was just too thin. My mom and I both explained to the doctor that I did eat, I was just picky and had a super fast metabolism.

As I got older, into college, I was still underweight for the majority of my time there. I did get to a place in which I was happy with my weight, although I don't know if at the time I really understood that I was in that place. Then somewhere around my mid-twenties, I started to gain weight. At first I welcomed it. I loved not being the skinny girl. But that certainly does something to someone's psyche. Before I realized what had happened, I was actually starting to pack on some pounds. Don't get me wrong, I have never considered myself fat. I did, however, consider myself out of shape. So, I started going to the gym regularly, running, and really putting a lot of stock in what I ate. I became vegan for just shy of 6 months. I also became pregnant at the same time. I was healthy though, being sure I was getting enough calories and all of the vitamins and nutrients that I and my baby needed. I never dieted. I just changed my eating habits.

I gained a minimal amount of weight for most of my pregnancy. I think I was around 28 weeks and I had only gained 8 or 10 pounds. Shortly after I stopped being vegan, I started to gain more weight. I don't completely attribute the spike in weight gain with starting to eat dairy. I was in the last trimester of my first pregnancy. I was going to gain some weight no matter what. But, I do think post-pregnancy, the combination of exhaustion and reintroducing dairy into my diet made me keep the weight on longer than I thought that I would.

So, here I am, 10 months later with a my mom body and my mom style. Both are only slightly different from who I was pre-Max. I have full intentions of going back to the gym and to start running again. This year was an adjustment for me. Having Max. Going back to work. Accepting myself as a new mom that maybe can't do it all. But I think I can do it all. I just need to be patient with myself and allow myself to love the woman I have become.

Here are all of my style shots since giving birth to Max. The first one was taken on our 2nd wedding anniversary, 5 weeks after Max was born. He truly was the best anniversary gift that Damien and I could have given one another.

Toys of tags and zippers

2011-06-28T20:48:00.003-04:00

Dear Max,

Sometimes, no matter how many wooden blocks and handmade rattles and hand-me-down Fisher Price toys you have, what you want to play with the most, more than any other thing in the world, is a good old fashioned soft, silky tag or scratchy zipper. And who can blame you? Tags and zippers are fun, they are different and they come in all shapes and sizes on nearly everything you own. Plus, with a tag and a zipper, you can make them be anything you want them to be in that ever-learning, ever-growing little mind of yours. So from now on, no more toys. Whenever anyone asks us what you want or need for a present, I am going to cut to the chase and tell them that you would be the happiest little guy around with toys of tags and zippers. You'll be the envy of all of the little boys and girls in town and when they come over and open your Spider Man toy box, their mouths will drop open and their eyes will get big, at the sight of the biggest and best toy collection around, and maybe, just maybe, they will get to go home with a tag and a zipper of their own.

All the love in the world,

Mommy

I feel so wonderful

2011-06-27T22:01:00.002-04:00

Damien and I have joked that this will be the summer in which we pretended like we were rich. Today was certainly one of those days. We stayed over last night at the Provincetown Inn after Damien and our friends completed their bike ride. It was an exhausting day for all of us, them because they had just ridden 150 miles in 2 days and me because I was in charge of getting Max and our friends' son, who is just over a year old, to Provincetown. They made it in 7 hours, me in 4. We spent the evening walking around P-town, which we decided is the happiest place on earth. We even saw a rainbow on the walk back. We had mexican food, ate gelato and then all passed out by 9:30pm.

Today, we headed over to a house that our friends' uncle and aunt had rented after they, too, finished the ride. What an amazing house. We spent the afternoon by the pool and then once again made the trek home. This time, it was Damien and me together with only one baby and we made it home in 2 and a half hours. Tomorrow, Max and my mom and I are heading out to the beach to visit some more friends. Then it's Charlestown RI and then Ireland...

*today's title comes from the new My Morning Jacket CD. It was on my entire trip down to P-town and back. It certainly suited these past few days and it is an amazing album. Be sure to check it out!

Early morning snapshots

2011-06-25T22:06:00.000-04:00

Max and Damien are both asleep right now, Max upstairs and Damien halfway to Provincetown. I always miss Damien when he does this bike ride, and now, so does Max. I took this series of photos the other morning as I was getting ready for work. Damien had stayed up until 4am to work on some long exposure photographs for a project for a grant that he won. Max was just loving sleeping with his daddy. I can't blame him. I'm not loving that I have to sleep without him tonight. But boy am I proud of him...

If you are interested in donating to Damien's ride, please click here.

And if you like this blog, please click here to vote for me on topbabyblogs.com.

Thanks!

Welcome summer vacation...

2011-06-24T21:08:00.001-04:00

This is who I get to spend the next 2 months with. Between a week renting a beach house in Charlestown, RI to a week staying with Damien's grandparents' in Ireland, I don't think a summer break could be better. Max is just resting up for it all...

MS Bike Ride

2011-06-24T20:47:00.001-04:00

My husband is a pretty cool guy. Not only is he an amazing father, but he is also an amazing son. For the past 5 years, he has ridden in the Cape Cod Getaway, to raise money for the MS Society to help find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. It is a 150 mile bike ride from Boston to Provincetown and he does it for his mother. He has ridden alone, with a friend and this year, has joined a team that together, has raised over $90,000. He rides tomorrow and Sunday. Max and I are meeting him in Provincetown to cheer him on as he once again crosses the finish line. It is a tough race but it in no way compares to the difficulties that face someone living with MS. Someone like Damien's mother.

There is still time to donate! If you are able to and would like to make a donation, please click here.
Damien and his mother thank you.

Max saying momma

2011-06-22T21:11:00.001-04:00

He's been doing it for awhile now. But now more than ever, when I put Max down, even for a second, he calls out for his momma. We are still working on the crawling thing but he is getting so close. Check it out...

And if you have a second, please vote for me! Just 2 clicks, that's all it takes. And thanks.

Dinner time

2011-06-21T21:54:00.000-04:00

When I first imagined starting solid foods with Max, I envisioned mealtimes filled with homemade food that varied from night to night with all sorts of different concoctions that I had made for him. I thought I would be able to stay on top of making all of his baby food. In reality, that didn't really happen at all. So, as a good substitute, he has been getting the Nature's Best food since we started him on solids nearly 4 months ago. He moved from stage 1 to 2 and now onto stage 3. Since we have decided to raise him vegetarian, there have been some difficulties with the stage 3 foods, mainly because a lot of them contain meat. By stage 3, the food is thicker and contains more protein. I want to be sure that Max is getting enough protein without the introduction of meat, so I have been mixing in hummus and avocado with his food. I also have been giving him some cheese and he loves lentils which is wonderful. I have some tofu which I will be preparing and adding to dinnertime meals as well. And edamame, one of my favorites! All of these are wonderful alternatives to meat protein and are easy enough to enhance an already healthy meal.

When I was younger, I was such a picky eater. I know that my parents did their best to introduce me to different foods and to try and vary my palate, but I just never cooperated. And I know that is a possibility with Max. But, that won't stop me from trying. I have started to add different spices to his food, mainly basil and curry powder so far. He really has enjoyed both. I am excited to continue to add to his meals, even if the food itself isn't homemade.

Over the past 9 and a half months, I have realized that there are certain things that I had always thought I would do as a mom and certain things that I had ideals about. And then once I became a mom, I soon realized that things don't always turn out as you had imagined them. So instead, you find what works for you, what works for your family, what you can live with, what you can live without. And you adjust. One of the biggest lessons that I have learned so far with this whole parenting thing is that the best you can do is the best that there is. And I am giving my best to Max.

Morning time

2011-06-21T20:58:00.001-04:00

These are the moments in which getting out of bed and going to work are difficult....

Happy first father's day Damien

2011-06-18T21:38:00.000-04:00

Dear Damien,

Forty one weeks have passed since you first became a father. And what a father you have become. A loving and hugging and singing and laughing and playing and caring and snuggling and kissing and wonderful man of a father. Happy first father's day.

Love,

Sarah and Max

The boys of summer

2011-06-12T20:55:00.000-04:00

This moment

2011-06-10T21:58:00.000-04:00

There have been more than a few occasions when I have come across a picture of my baby that is so sweet that I feel a rush to my heart. A full fledged wave of emotion that stops me from what I am doing and makes me just sit, think and smile. Not being home with Max every day is a decision that I made and for me, it is the right decision. Do I have to work? I am not entirely sure. I think we could possibly get by without my salary, at least for a little while. But quite honestly, I love my job. I am good at my job. I want my job. Of course I love my baby. I love every single inch and roll and strand of hair that makes up his beautiful baby body. I love his smiles, his giggles, his belly laughs. I love his tears and his whines and the way he fights off every nap that he takes. I love his babbles and his coos and his sweet baby songs. Coming home from work everyday and spending the afternoons and evenings with my husband and our little boy is exactly what makes going off to work every morning worth it. The moments we spend every evening, as a little family, in his room, with Max in my arms and his daddy by my side make me the happiest momma in the world. The most perfect moments as he drifts off to sleep and I drift into my thoughts of days, and weeks and years to come. Those moments. This moment. That's what it is all about.

June 10 2011

2011-06-10T21:26:00.000-04:00

There is something so simple yet elegant about this dress that made me immediately drawn to it. I have a rather large collection of accessories including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, scarves, glasses, hats, you get the picture, but for this dress, I decided to keep it simple. I did wear my feather earrings but I had to take them off at school (it's tough wearing earrings in the language lab with a huge pair of headphones on) and I accidentally left them there. I did add a bracelet which complimented the gold shoes. I tried a few different shoes but in the end, loved how the gold looked with the grey dress.

Max at the park

2011-06-10T20:42:00.003-04:00

Hanging with Max at the park.

June 9 2011

2011-06-09T18:39:00.000-04:00

I wore this yesterday and it was the perfect hot day outfit. This skirt is so comfy and light and paired with a classic white v-neck, I felt ready for the 90 degree weather. Of course my classroom is air conditioned and I froze for most of the day. Only 2 more weeks of school though and then 2 months off.

It is shaping up to be a busy summer. We are finalizing our trip to Ireland for the first week of August. We are in the process of trying to rent a beach house in RI for a week at the end of July and I am busy making plans for Max and me for all of the time in between. I can't wait!

June 7 2011- outtakes with Max

2011-06-08T15:41:00.001-04:00

A few shots with Max...