Baton Rouge!

French for "red stick", Baton Rouge is a wildly diverse, alternative, but somehow cozy college town. Melissa and I headed up there to see a documentary on birth in a community center that also hosts meetings for Quakers, has daily yoga sessions, and is spiritually diverse. *grin* I forgot to wear my birkenstocks, but there were really nice people. The film was very eye-opening, and I do recommend that you see it. Perhaps not with small children.

We also went shopping! Poor Ize...we subjected him to quite a lot. Needless to say, it was a LOT of fun.

This kind of explains the community center we were at.

Isaac decided he didn't need socks anymore when we were shopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Shop.

More to come...I promise!

Baton Rouge Numbah Two!

I found this picture while shopping at The Royal Standard...and I really like it. I love the boldness of the red, and that grass usually isn't that color. I want that to be in my house. *grin*

This is Melissa, looking fabulous, and Isaac...smiling...and some guy in the background at McDonald's on the way up there...Gosh, doesn't Melissa look great? She is the most chic, tolerant, stylish pregnant woman I know...(and I include myself in my own time of waiting in that group) She was so easy to be with. Yay Melissa!

Next up? Trip to Arizona and New Mexico! And yes, Dad...I know you think I'm out of my mind. I'm not. Love you.

Soon it will be March! Can you believe it?

My sweet husband...

James sent me this card today...and while it doesn't apply to me as much, the fact that he thought about me at work? How sweet! It is too funny too...

Scroll down and click on the Friday card...

It's Friday...I don't care!

Getting ready for two trips!

My car is small...no...it is microscopic. I love it. Other people, not so much. It fits in any parking space you dare it to, with speed and agility akin to that of a...a...small VW. HA! If you don't fit in the front seat, don't ride with me! I prefer being alone sometimes anyhow! (Sorry...there's history there.)

Isaac and I got it ready for it's upcoming trips today. We gave it a bath (so much fun! All wet, Mom!), vacuumed the inside, moved his car seat base and installed the 2nd mirror...now I can see everything Ize is doing in the back seat while I'm driving. A plus when I'm going to be traveling long distances.

Here's what it looks now, with a few baby pics. Who can resist a baby AND a VW?



Soon we're off!

I found this at Lowe's...

I kind of want one. This is so affordable...and black. What a shock.


Only 48.00 for a huge mirror! I'm thinking right next to my armoire...so I can check my outfit. Hopefully Isaac won't tip it over. *grin*

On another note, Happy Valentine's Day! James and I traditionally write each other letters every year. It's such a neat tradition, and I get to hear all kinds of beautiful words from him. I love you honey!

Have a blessed day!

This weekend is going to be so much fun!

Melissa and I are running away. Forever. No, just kidding. Just for a day or two. Dane wouldn't forgive me if I didn't bring his girls back. *grin*

We're heading to Baton Rouge to see this movie: The Business of Being Born. It's a documentary on the "birth industry". We're so excited to see it!

So we're heading out of town Sunday and driving back leisurely on Monday. Perhaps we'll go to the outlet mall and look for baby stuff. *grin* See you soon, Liss!

Thrift Store Goodness...

I know I use that durned ellipsis too often. Apologies... *grin*

Here's what I found today at Goodwill!


These nifty yellow shelves are probably from the 70's...but they're very sturdy and colorful...5 dollars for great storage for Isaac's room! I'm so excited! They come apart too...a useful feature.



I bought this sweet rocking horse for Katelyn's room. Her mommy doesn't know it yet. If she doesn't like it, it didn't cost very much, so she can donate it. It just said "little girl" to me. *sigh* I'm terrible.

I love getting a good bargain, and finding one-of-a-kind things!

The weekend in pictures!

Well, what a wonderful weekend! James and I kicked it off with some good old quality time with Dane and Melissa at the Met Love and Laughter Valentine's Banquet. We ate good food, we all talked a bit, and were generally romantic...lol! We listened to a funny comedian, Carlos Oscar, and enjoyed it...but I think the best part for me was that somebody else cooked dinner and I got to dance with my husband! There is nothing more romantic to me than a good dance, whether it be waltzing, swing dancing, or a nice slow dance...and James delivered!




Saturday we did: Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. I wish we could do this every day for a week...it would be such a vacation! We watched movies...we talked...we ate dessert for breakfast. We got dresses late late late in the day. It was so nice. (I have no pictures because we did...nothing!)

Sunday was church, and a baby shower, and staying up late talking with friends...something we haven't done in a long time. It was really nice. (This is James carrying Isaac to the car after church...he is up so high!)

Here are some pictures from the uber-fluffy pink and red Valentine's shower for Melissa and baby Katelyn. We're excited for her to come, Liss! Only 40 days until she is due!

(Isaac enjoyed the balloons most of all, I think. See? He wore his red outfit. There aren't any pictures of me, because...alas...I did not manage to wear pink. I wore red. I am ashamed. I couldn't manage to leave the house in pink. Maybe I should give up that life goal...is black really so bad? More on that later.)

What's on the schedule for everyone this week?

p.s. They wore vests. Melissa can tell the vest saga much better than I. For the full vest story see Melissa's blog...

Ugliest...phone...ever...

EW! And guess what? It'll only cost you a little over 3 grand. Sad, eh? I'm different than most...I'm not big on the latest "thing". All I want in a cell phone is the ability to store numbers and call people. That being said, I do have a Sidekick III that can do a lot of nifty things. The best thing about my sidekick is being able to HEAR! It is amplified and the loudest phone I have ever owned...so I can hear people. That's the best thing of all. But if I had a phone that only had a phonebook and a speaker and I could still hear, I'd be okay with that too.

On a random note, did you know that the Pillsbury Dough Boy's name is Poppin' Fresh? Dude!

Thursday!

Rachel and I went on a run last night. *laughs* I am SO out of shape. We enjoyed it though. I'm hopeful that this will give us more time to talk and just spend time together. I'm really happy to be in her "schedule". It's nice.

I'm planning a trip to New Mexico and Arizona. It is going to be a really fun time...I'm so excited to be traveling again. I am most excited about eating out and watching cable tv. Is that sad, or what? I'm simple!

Rollerblading!

Cutest. Baby. Ever.

We went rollerblading yesterday! Isaac sat in his groovy stroller/trailer and I zoomed us along the streets of Jersey Village. We had so much fun! I think he just looks really quite *mpfh* here. That was a squeeze noise, if you didn't get that. My thighs were sore, I'll tell you that. Mom and Chris went with us, and we had us a grand old time. I was huffing and puffing a bit. That was a bad feeling. :)

I'm trying to get in shape sooner rather than later. It has been more than 6 months since Ize was born, and I'm ready to feel athletic again. *grin*

Rachel asked if I would be interested in competing in the Iron Babe Super Sprint with her and I was so pleased to be asked, I immediately said yes! We're going to run as a sister team. How cool is that? Rachel is very athletic, and just a wonderful sister. She's in awesome shape, from diving 4-5 days a week and working as a gymnastics coach, to biking in various MS-150s, and running as often as she can. I'm going to have to work to keep up with her. :) Here's to getting in fabulous shape and acing this mini-marathon! *clink* Wait a minute...I probably shouldn't be drinking that...

To sign up, go here. I need to remember to register before it gets too expensive...that way I'm committed!

My Ize...

Now that is a happy baby.

L is for Lion!

As Melissa would say: "So stinkin' cute!" I like that phrase so much, I hijack it quite often. These are completely organic baby tees that I wish wish wish they made in adult sizes...



See? If kids look down they can see the word presented right side up, just for them! What a neat idea! Head to www.biome5.com to get yours!

I'm enjoying having a blog where I can ooh and ahh over the things I like and chat about the things that I have recently forgotten about...

*grin*

I think I might have to get one for Ize and Kate...


We'll see...

Cracker boy...

It is *incredible* how crackers disintegrate and go *everywhere*. They get into nooks and crannies that I would never imagine crackers being capable of. How do they do that?

Ize is in looooove with crackers. You should see his face. It lights up. His eyebrows reach astral heights. He starts worming and wiggling towards you with arm stretched...two more inches! Then the cracker is MINE!

Needless to say, I now have a cracker boy for a son. Doesn't matter what kind...they're all good. Preferably the one that YOU are eating. *sigh*

We've now gone to a you-get-a-bath-every-night routine. Why? Crackers. And that's all I have to say about that. That's not how the cookie crumbles...that's how the cracker disintegrates.

*sigh* High fashion is silly...

I just had to share...from one extreme to the other.
On the one hand, we have a woman encased in plastic...like a gift, perhaps?

On the other hand, a specially designed "ready to wear" outfit from a men's collection...complete with hood a la executioner and blood smears...

Oh well. I am not into high fashion. It just seems unrealistic. Why can't clothes be functional, attractive, but affordable too? The lady in plastic could surely get a job somewhere where she could move, or *gasp* be able to go to the bathroom. :) Maybe the guy in leather is really ugly without his mask.

This is why I can't read Vogue, or the fancy clothes magazines...I like high fashion to degrade into something a little more reasonably before I can ooh and ahh over it.

Make sense? Rant over.

What to wear?

So the controversy begins...

I've been invited to a shower next weekend (a baby shower, in case you were wondering...) and the invitation specifies what to wear. WTF? *laughs* Actually, I think it's cute, because it follows the theme of the small bambino-to-be's nursery. Well, the mother-to-be, mother of the bambino-to-be, is my best friend...and she is wearing red. Not to be too matchy-matchy, I'm going to try (notice I say try) to wear pink.

*garden gnome peeks in window and makes a disdainful snort*

Yes, yes, I know. I need to give the history behind my struggle to dress myself in a particular color. As you may have noticed, the name of the blog is Why The Black Shirt Again? Why? Because it is safe. And, it happens to be my favorite color. *grin* I have a hard time wearing pink. It is so...girly. I'm a girl, I know. I'm just not a pink girl. I own a pink jacket. I wear it to be different...plus James likes it. It is nice. It just isn't excellent. I want to look excellent.

I was thinking of going for some nice fitting black pants with killer stilettos, to retain the Lynne-ness, and topping it off with a...pink...shirt.

All right...so, angst filled search ensues...flattering pink shirt that isn't too...cute. *shudder* What do you think?A little too gingham?

I like the peacoat style a lot! Maybe in blue? Wait...that tisn't the point...

Very drapy...maybe too drapy...I don't like the center part, but the color isn't too bubble gum.

This is my favorite.

*sigh* They're all so...pink. Maybe I'll be a rebel. Wear black. What a shock.