Bella Tunno 40% off SALE!

Too good of a deal not to share!!

Bella Tunno is a "Neccessory" (necessary accessory) line of baby products that is locally owned an operated here in Charlotte, NC. (((They actually made the aforementioned headbands for Ellie Potvin.))) You can find baby bibs, binkers, changing pads, hair accessories, burp clothes, play smocks... etc. in fun fabrics and patterns. Their adorable diaper bags just started selling at Nordstroms and the Gap, too!

Tomorrow, July 1 from 12pm until 6pm the entire website is 40% off when you enter the discount code VICTORY when you check out. Some supplies are limited, so purchase early if you are interested!!

And while you're here..... sign up as a follower or leave a note!

MY FAVE OF THE DIAPER BAGS:

The only thing harder than raising a child...

Is planning a vacation to Maui.

There is an over-abundance of information for such a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific... and it never fails: I sit down to do some research and find myself two hours later in a daze, not remembering one thing I've read. Wish us luck (we need it). The ONLY thing I've confirmed is that Sophie's two grandmothers will be able to share babysitting duty while we're gone!

One day soon, I hope to actually taste food again. Sophie doesn't just pass out in her car seat when we're out to eat anymore, she needs entertainment (or bottle, or food, or just wants to play with your face). So I either wind up inhaling what's in front of me simply for sustenance or I let the meal pass with hardly touching my food. I almost ruined dinner with friends last night by just being an anxious mess trying to take Sophie out past bedtime. Good thing they are good friends :) Once we got home I actually had to think about what I ordered (ate it so fast I didn't remember).

Happy Wife, Happy Life. I can literally hear Bryan's eyes rolling over this phrase. It's the kind of thing you see stitched on a kitchen towel (the stiff kind that doesn't absorb a THING) or etched in a little wooden plaque in a touristy gift shop... but this is one happy wife... and we have a great little life! Another wonderful weekend is drawing to a close; planted flowers, ate out, got a massage, dinner with friends, vacation planning and I sort of feel skinny today.

Some of the flowers I planted in baskets (collars are model's own)

Another day of World Cup games. My mommy brain doesn't stop just because Sophie is napping upstairs. "Watch out for the soft spot!" Every time I see the players go for a header, I cringe, thinking they still have soft spots in their skulls... which would only apply if we were watching baby soccer... and that probably wouldn't have 19 times the viewership of the Super Bowl.

Lift Up Ellie

Words just can't even describe. But I'll try to, briefly.

Every neighborhood store, every mommy group, even the local Borders has put on events and fundraisers to raise the awareness of Ellie Potvin's battle with childhood cancer. I started following her story when I heard about the adorable headbands that were being made and sold locally to put money into Ellie's trust for exorbitant medical expenses. Yes, this story has a sad ending. Ellie got her angel wings earlier this week. Though I don't know the family and I never had the privilege to meet Ellie, I wanted to share her story because I have a feeling her family could use an extra prayer or two. There is even an address to send her surviving twin sister a card... which I WILL be doing this weekend. My love and prayers are with the Potvin's as they make it through the coming days and weeks and years without their beloved Ellie.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliepotvin
http://www.liftupellie.com/

When did your age slap you in the face?

When we decided where we were moving after sellng the house, I joined a mommy network and the specific forum for the new neighborhood hoping to make some connections and meet some other SAHMs. Another one of the groups required access as it was a private, moderated forum....... Young Moms. So, I filled out the form just like before to join the neighborhood forum and subsequently opened my acceptance email. Then - BAM - that's when my age slapped me in the face. The moderater cooly asked me how old I was and I realized, sadly, that I would not be gaining acceptance into the "Young Moms" group. This was honestly the first time I felt, not old, but definitely not young.

I remember in my early 20s thinking, I'll always be this hip, wear stylish clothes, know every word to every song on the radio by heart, be a cool mom. In my late 20s now with my first baby, I wish girls would wear more clothing, that "artists" would sing about more than undressing and drinking, that kids would appreciate the classics and stop looking like people in magazines in general. I sport a momiform, sing along willingly to Kindermusik cds (bounce hello to Sophie....) and my hair is ALWAYS in a ponytail. I literally just released a heavy sigh as I wrote that.

Mommy makeover? I'll have two.

Mixed bag Wednesday

Butternut squash was on the menu yesterday. I bought one at our local farmers market (the sticker proclaimed imported from Mexico, sigh) to make Sophie some baby food. One squash goes a long way, I probably made enough to feed an army of babies, plus had leftovers for butternut squash soup last night. Today, I'm tackling green beans. The kitchen shears are tucked away; I decided today to be more authentic - snapping off the ends and pulling the strings like little zippers the "country way" as my Dad would call it (I laugh because these were labeled "stringless beans" at the market). Outside I hear the police helicopter circling overhead yet again. We love our new neighborhood, which, ironically is also our old neighborhood. But Papa John's won't even deliver here because it's too "dangerous" (exhibit A: circling police 'copter).

Today is a mixed bag for me. A mixed bag of veggies from the farmers market that I still have yet to sort, excitement for the USA soccer team, and sadness for my family back in Pensacola for their loss of the beautiful white beaches where heavy oil washed ashore today and a more personal loss of a family member. One of the Brazils has left to cross the Rainbow Bridge into doggy heaven.

Little Miss Moose is the fluffy white ball of happiness in the center of the picture below. She lived to be almost 17 years (people years!) old and was the recipient of a lot of love, tummy rubs, pig ears, treats, kisses and snuggles. She will be deeply missed by the family and her litter mate Muffin who is still kickin!

Just some other pictures from the week so far to end the post on a little brighter note...

Papa and Soph in the pool at swim lessons.

Happy little swimmer in a cute towel wrap from Aunt Kristin (and Kaelin and Hannah).

Sophie in her soccer BabyLegs cheering for the USA as they advance in the World Cup!

Big time sits

Sittin big! Sophie started sitting by herself at Kindermusik on Monday (do we need ONE more reason to LOVE Kindermusik?)! Everyone was so proud of her - she is definitely the smallest in the pack but can now sit close to the drum with everyone else :) I was really excited for her, but some fear/sadness crept up inside, too, as I realize that her milestones are going to start coming faster and faster.

Showing Papa my new trick!

Sitting up for the camera!

Gittin 'Er Done

Some days, I actually impress myself (despite the momiform - more on that another time).

At six minutes to twelve today, I had completed an impressive amount of tasks. Given three bottles, taken one nap (for myself, Sophie had taken two), served one meal of home-made baby food, went for a walk, spent $16.28 at the local farmers market (South Carolina squash, tomatoes, peaches and green beans, butternut squash, imported avocado and mango... yum), made myself breakfast and lunch, washed two and folded three loads of laundry, got our HBO back through Time Warner (at a discount, mind you), purchased a kit of Think Baby bottles (was given two at a baby shower and Sophie looooooooves them) and edited the German resume of a good friend (I know, you think my writing is nothing short of bad, just add it to the list of things I used to be good at).

Does this mean the second half of my day will be a bust? Hope not. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest addition, the Baby Jogger Summit!

Be Here Now

Towards the end of my pregnancy, everyone under the sun began saying, "I bet you are SO ready to have that baby already!" Of course we were, and we just wanted to see the little hiccuping, kicking, squirming babe. I wasn't ready to wish away my last few weeks of quiet and unlimited opportunity to sleep and be alone with my husband, however. We did a really good job of spending QT together, traveling, eating out and being with friends. No regrets on our life pre-baby.

Much in the same way, after the birth everyone immediately asks, "When are you going to go for number two?" I looooove babies and I think Sophie is the tops, but I realize that even on my toughest day with her, that life will never ever be this easy again as we add to the Barber brood. I do not, for a second, want to wish away our sweet little simple life or to fast forward to when naps are predictable and she is walking and talking. So when her nap interferes with my lunch date, or she rejects the gym daycare, I try to just be here, now.

Be Here Now

Ray LaMontagne

Don't let your mind get weary and confused
You will be still, don't try
Don't let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there's a strength that lies

Don't let your soul get lonely child
It's only time, it will go by
Don't look for love in faces, places
It's in you, that's where you'll find kindness

Be here now, here now
Be here now, here now

Don't lose your faith in me and
I will try not to lose faith in you
Don't put your trust in walls
'Cause walls will only crush you when they fall

Mama's Little Yella Pils

A shout out to one of our favorite new (new to us, anyway) breweries! Oskar Blue's - notables are Mama's Little Yella Pils and Gordon Clone. Enjoyed these frosty adult beverages over the weekend, part of a Father's Day gift to Bryan from a dear friend. Don't know enough about beer to give a thorough review, but, we drank it, and we liked it. 'Nuff said.

First day of summer! Yay! After the brutal winter we had here in Charlotte, I vowed not to complain when the heat rolled around. UGH, I hate it when I promise things like that. It's hot. There. I said it.

Sophie rang in at a whopping 15lb 8oz, 27" last week at her six month check up. She is in the 90th percetile for height and 50th percentile for weight. Girls-a-growin'.

Dad's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!

And to my man, aka Sophie's Dad:

You are one of the hardest working men I know. You spend all day working - selling and entertaining doctors and the like - only to come home and make lists of house and yard projects you want to tackle (we're renting now, remember :) ) and errands to run. You always listen intently as I talk your ear off about Sophie and all the ah-ma-zing things she did that day. You eat my cooking, complement my cleaning and tell me I'm beautiful. You recognize and appreciate how much work goes into being a SAHM - for that I'm infinitely thankful.

You've been the best Dad that Sophie could ask for from the first moment she was born. She has brought more joy to our lives than we could have possibly imagined, and I have you to thank. Happy Father's Day, Beb. I love you.

Some pics from our walk in the park in Elizabeth for Father's Day.

Daddy and his girl.

Daddy and his three chil'rens.

Daddy doing BBBB time (bath, bottle, books, bed routine).

Lifestyle change... still getting used to it

I'm not talking about life with babe, I'm talking our diet (ah-hem, lifestyle change). Bryan and I have adopted an anti-inflammatory diet for two reasons: reason one because of a health issue that sent Bryan to the doctor, reason two because he's now lost over 20lbs and I want that, too, damn it! Check back later to see how I really feel after I give it a go for a solid month.

I only have one bone to pick. The single immoral part to this diet is that I'm deprived of every woman's need for eating chocolate on demand. Ever since I was preggo with Sophie I wrapped my swollen fingers around every morsel of delicate dessert I could find - any excuse was a good excuse to eat sweets. Never having a sweet tooth before, I became addicted to chocolate, sugar, desert-in-general when I was with child. I tried to prove to myself that it wasn't true chocolate love by boldly ordering the vanilla cake (it had a much fancier name than I can recall at this time) at Amelie's at the end of our"treat" night from the diet (Saturdays the diet goes to hell and we eat whatever we want). I had asked the server what her favorite item on the menu was and she bounced up and down, excited to give me this vanilla cake recommendation. I devoured half of it, and with each bite hoped I would actually enjoy the next. But sadly, I was up 1000 calories for the day and disappointed. The dark chocolate mousse cup is where it's at, and I won't stray again!

Firsts

This has been a week of notable "firsts" around the Barber household.

First swim lesson - Sophie used her arms to get to the rubber duckies, even kicked a little! She "floated" on her back, too. Who knows what other swim skills my infant would have excelled in next. No, really. We'll never know because our first swim lesson was cut short by some toddler up-chucking in the pool.

First Kindermusik class - this was the first class we actually paid for. She loved the free class. I went to Egypt and back instead of following the GPS to class and got us there 30 minutes late, Soph missed a nap, and the only song she liked was Mama Paquita (fussed through the rest).

First trip to the gym baby-drop-off - didn't go as well as planned. Mea culpa because I went to check on her and she saw me (unbeknownst to me) and she cried hysterically as I walked away.

First trip to Target with not ONE impulse purchase. Baby steps.

First homemade baby food - apples were food of choice (partly because I bought a giant package of them from Costco and knew by Tuesday that we weren't going to be eating them all before they spoiled). And she actually liked my apples, but doesn't like the jarred apples.

How you like them apples? :)

My little swimmer happy as a clam after swim lessons!

Reasons Not to Write a Blog/Intro

Top five reasons not to write a blog: 1. No one will read it (except my own mother ((love you Mom))). 2. Unintentionally rub people the wrong way (SPOILER ALERT: this is my blog and you will be subject to my opinions should you chose to continue). 3. Time consuming - do I really need another reason to sit in front of the computer? 4. Can't think of a catchy title. 5. How permanent are these things? Will my daughter be reading this in 16 years and have more reasons to be horribly embarrassed by her un-cool mom?

I've been considering writing a blog for almost a year now. My life has changed dramatically in the last 12 months which I'm sure to catch you up on throughout the posts. Most remarkably, I went from a career woman to a stay-at-home-MOM. Today marks my little one's 6 months on the Earth; and while she naps upstairs, I'm entering into the unknown... the world of blogs.

Being a new mom, my view on the world can shift on a dime as I experience things for the first time again through her eyes - or I see something that screams "Danger!" like never before (i.e. the IKEA metal lantern by the fireplace that she rolled into this morning). I posted something on FB recently about wanting to lose the baby weight and a quip on my distaste for raisins which garnered 28 or so comments (but who is counting)... so I thought... people might actually read what I write and find it mildly entertaining.

What to call my blog? Well, my universe now revolves around a little one I like to call Sophie. And her universe revolves around a rubber teething giraffe also named Sophie. It was the only thing I could think of on the fly, so, Sophie en Sophie was born.

What should you expect to read here, you ask? Good question. Expect the unexpected, I guess. Just my random thoughts as they come - daily, weekly, who knows. Please don't expect grammatically and punctually perfect prose (I promise to use the spell check though).

The Characters

Our firstborn, faithful Boxers Cooper (bouncing boy) and Maddox (all girly and snuggly and stuff).

Miss Sophie Kate. Born December 17, 2009 (5mo in this pic).

Papa - Hubby - Bryan - Sophie's Dad