Spring Break 2011!

This year for spring break we went to Akumal (just south of Cancun). Heath and I left Bloom with his grandparents in Newcastle, WY and took off! Heath's brother joined us for the fun. It was glorious! I don't think that I have ever appreciated vacation, heat, and the sun so much. We stayed right on the beach and woke up to the sound of the ocean. I found my new favorite sport, surf kayaking, it was a blast. Heath and I sat in the airport watching all of the families with strollers, diaper bags, wagons,....and we loved walking onto the plane with one tiny little personal item. The question I get asked the most is, "did you miss Bloom?", and yes I missed him, but not too much. I really appreciated the time to relax and sleep...he was in good hands. In fact, I was kind of afraid that his grandma might keep him forever. Here's to the ocean, the warmth, sun, sleep, and being fortunate enough to take this vacation!

Since it was So Fun the First Time

Let me start by saying...
This is not a joke.

It turns out, I'm knocked up again. In case you are still in disbelief I'll clarify, I am pregnant...again. I suspected something "fishy" at the beginning of January which led to a positive pregnancy test (which was then thrown at Heath). I think I said something like, "I'm **cuss word** pregnant!. So, needless to say, it was quite a surprise. We definitely wanted more kids, just a little later. It has taken awhile to warm up to the idea (especially for me). The baby is due in the beginning of September which means I have to be big and pregnant all summer. No mountain biking for me! It seems like for awhile the list of "negatives" went on and on...

But really, when it comes down to it we feel so blessed. We have had so much fun with Bloom and it will be so great to see him play and interact with a sibling. I have talked to many women who have had children close together and they all talk about what good friends their kids are. And so our Brown family continues to grow, fast. We can't wait to meet our new little bean and experience the joy and laughter that he/she will certainly bring!

Here's to the Brown family band!

The Places Youll Go Now

A New Kind of Busy

It's noon. This barely marks the day as half over. Bloom discovered the concept of shoveling everything into his mouth. This morning he found a piece of a carrot from last nights dinner. I used my finger to scoop it out of his mouth. I guess I lost a bead, but found it in his mouth! A piece of bark! Where did that come from? Who knows, but it ended up in Bloom's mouth. I go to the kitchen to rinse a few plates and suddenly Bloom is gone. Not to worry, I found him in the bathroom unrolling the toilet paper. I put a basket of clean laundry down and before I know it the clothes are scattered all over the living room floor. I bundle him up, put him in the car seat, and we arrive at the grocery store only to find he has peeled off his hat, shoes, & socks. I could go on, but you get the point. As exhausting as life feels at times, it is so much more amusing with Bloom around. For now, I find his "mischief" humorous and delightful.

That Kind of Father

Soon after Bloom was born, Heath and I were sitting around with our new little family, and Heath said, "I want to be the kind of father that kisses his son a lot". I think about that statement so often. It honestly makes me melt. I think it speaks so much to who Heath is. And yes, he IS that kind of father! He openly loves and kisses and adores his son. Both Bloom and I couldn't ask for more!

Month 9 in a Nutshell

I made this video for my parents so they could watch it while they are in India. I know this trip will be quite difficult for them, and I wanted them to take a little piece of home. This is a good summary of what my days now look like.

New Year, New Me

I cleaned out my closet yesterday, and here is the pile I am getting rid of! Yes, this is for real. This translated to 6 loads of laundry, 6 garbage bags of clothes, and 1 box of shoes. My closet it really bare for the first time in my life. With the new year I have 2 new rules for buying clothes:

1) Don't buy it unless you put it on and L-O-V-E it! (don't just buy something that is "ok" because it is cheap, and if you totally love it, buy it, no matter the price)

2) If you L-O-V-E it, only buy it if you can think of two things in your closet it will go with.

This is my strategy for having a kick ass closet...and this is only the beginning of the simplifying that will take place in 2011. Let go of the old! Done & Done.