Not feeling great.

Sit tight for that post I promised...

I'm not feeling so hot.


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Got.them.

Our overnight trip to La Paz was a success!!!

**Writing this on Monday night:

After an overnight trip to our State's capital, La Paz, I'm pretty much exhausted. Our two little Mexican ladies got their passports (yes!!! My Español worked!) and we had a GREAT time at Costa Baja.

Now, instead of writing Tuesday's post... I'm resting and doing nothing. Stay tuned!


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Saturday morning lounging

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EtsyLove: Just bought this.

I've been looking for a replacement "Momma" necklace that also includes Vivienne. (I've been wearing a Lila disk (that I ADORE) that I received from a good friend since before Lila was born.)

It was time to include Vivienne.

I'm soooo excited to get it.

See here.

Where you say, "Nate '02", it'll say, "Vivienne". On the heart, it will say, "Lila." Then the heart behind will have KBC -- my Monogram with Craig.

I'm quite pleased about this purchase. Yay Etsy.

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Lila adores her cousin, Chloe.

For the past two days, Lila has told us (repeatedly), "I want Chloe."

I taped it yesterday. Er, or so I thought. As it turns out I just held down the "take a picture" button and I wasn't really recording anything. (Tell me that's happened to you, too.)

Well, I got it on tape today. Check 'er out.




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They oddly look like the back of a thong...

...but they work perfectly!

Check out the new triangle sun shades we got for our courtyard. Better yet, check out the price: only $19.99 on amazon. Click here.

They're fantastic.

The courtyard is already degrees cooler and I believe that Lila will no longer be able to complain that the tile is, "otttt". (hot.)

Nicely done, amazon.

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Lila & Vivi's cousin is cute. And expressive.

Meet Eli. He's about 3.5 months old.

Look at that finger... I didn't even notice it at first. Tee hee.


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Gracias, Oprah.

You knew this post was coming. Admit it. You knew it.

I feel a bit of ... sadness?... about Oprah's last show airing today. I'm uncomfortable with it. For as long as I can remember, she's been a staple in my life. Sometimes a daily pleasure, sometimes not.

I remember watching Oprah from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. all through junior high and high school (maybe even before that? I was a 40-year-old 10-year-old.)  In college I watched Oprah with my roommate and my girlfriends. Post-college, I remember setting my VCR (score!) to tape episodes that looked far too good to miss.

Ah, memories.

Why do I respect her? It's hard to answer that because it seems ridiculous not to respect Oprah.

She is a woman who has succeeded.
She has changed lives.
She's empowered millions.
She's encouraged the country to read.
She's taught lessons and brought to light professionals, poets, authors and downright awesome people that we might never have known about.
She works hard and isn't a shrinking daisy.
She knows what she wants and she does it.
She gives back.

I could go on and on.

When I was growing up, I don't recall having had a professional woman to look up to. Oprah's changed all that. She plays with the big boys. She's heard by the big boys. She's respected by the big boys.

Sure, there were a few years when she was absolutely un-relatable. I sensed it, too. A change in her priorities, maybe? She seemed to have a ridiculous regard for couch-jumpers and other celebrities. She dropped names like they were hot, it's true. But she brought it back to where it needed to be and went on to again air shows that made positive impacts in so many folks' lives.

But again, you can love her show, or you can hate it. But what you can't deny is her impact on a generation of girls and women who now see that they can do it, too. It's a modern-day, realistic Horatio Alger story for girls.

It's the same message I want my ladies to know: Girls, work hard. Work harder than most. Be open.  Be respectful. (ALWAYS.) Be open to change. Learn to listen to your heart, your conscience and your God. Then do it. Move. Don't be lazy. You can do it. Believe it. Be the change.

You can't deny that Oprah has been the change.
 

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Shopping success.

Bought these a couple of weeks ago. They were $20.

Didn't know if I was going to like them.

I sort of love them.

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Crazy is still for sale.

This just in:

Apparently the rapture has been rescheduled for October.


Last Friday was just a silent dress rehearsal. (Article here.)

Seriously? It's easier to reschedule the rapture than it is a doctor's appointment.


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Just an FYI

1. My baby is four months old today.
2. Bare Minerals Foaming Cleanser smells like powdered donuts. I'm not sure if I love it or hate it. Review is forthcoming.
3. I got my TOMS and I love THEM. They're so comfortable and CUTE.
4. I cannot get enough oatmeal.
5. I want to change the world but I'm not sure how.


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Movie Review: Black Swan

I can succinctly sum up my movie review of Black Swan in one almost-word: "blech".

I'd like to elaborate, if you'll allow me:

If I were a professional ballet dancer and I saw this movie, I'd be annoyed. And appalled. And I probably would have rolled my eyes a lot.

This movie was ridiculous.

Natalie Portman is a doll. (I will forever love her for her character in Garden State.) However, her character, Nina, was juvenile. It was silly. It was tough to watch: the constantly being tucked in and coddled by her crazy Mom, her relentless naivate when it came to sex and relationships, her tremendously disturbing body image, her inability to ever open her mouth and speak up for herself -- it was all too much.

The plot chugged along, for me.

I was incapable of having empathy for Nina. She annoyed me. She behaved like an 8-year-old in a woman's [questionable] body. I rolled my eyes throughout so much of the movie.

And the sex scene between she and Mila Kunis? Gratuitous. And silly.

Overall, the movie annoyed me.
The music annoyed me.
The weird neck-cocking and awkward, yet intense stares into the camera? Stop it.
The flapping of the bird-like wings all.the.time? Enough.
I truly could go on and on.

But this movie?

Blech. Two thumbs down.

Watch The King's Speech.


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Lila Lunes: She turns 2 in less than a month.

I just can't believe it. I can't believe that little sassy lady up there is going to be turning two in less than a month.

The time has gone by so quickly. I'm uncomfortable with that.

Q. What's new with Lila?
A. Lila is talking so much more. Favorite phrases at this point:

• "I go." as in, "I go to Aunt Trish's.' Or just "I go!!!" Lila hates to be stuck in the house. HATES it. She brings your her shoes and literally says, "Lila go! Lila go! Lila go!"
• "Eye" "Luff" "Ewwwwwe" (I love you.) It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.
• "I wanna meat." Translation: "I want to eat." (That's my girl.)

Q. How does Lila feel about her baby sister?

A. Really? She adores her. She's her biggest cheerleader. When Vivienne does anything noteworthy (rolls over, smiles, jumps in the jumperoo, etc.) Lila exclaims, "Yayyyyy VIVI!" 

So cute.

Q. How does Lila feel about her Daddy?
A. Oh boy. Somebody adores her Daddy. She prefers him right now for everything. "I want Daddy. No. I want Daddy."

This makes somebody smile hugely. (It's cute, those two.)

Q. How's potty training going?

A. Pretty well, actually. She's definitely "trained" with some accidents. 

I highly recommend this little gem. It's a portable potty AND it sits on top of normal-sized toilets as a little seat. Lila uses this at the park (hidden in the trees... and it works perfectly. I highly suggest this thing. It's also perfect for the car. And it's $14 on amazon. (Thanks to my cousin for recommending!)

Let's move on to the pics.

Lila adores her washable markers.

When asked to smile, that's the face she makes.
(And the black marker under her nose? It's there because Lila likes to smell her non-smelling markers. That'll leave a mark.)

Coloring is a big deal here.

Wearing Daddy's hat.

Computing.

This is literally the face she makes when she says, "eeeeeeYay!" (She doesn't just say, "Yay." She says, "eeeeYay".)

Lila and I enjoying the official popsicle of summer: otter pops.

She likes to trade.

And there she is: there's my baby.

Our little waitress. Muffins and desserts. That's my girl.

Yes. That's a taco in her hair. (Thank you, Shannon!)

My sweet cupcake.

Ugh. Can you see that face? "What Mommy?"

My girl.

Someone tried her first mini oreo cakester this week. Someone loved it.

Someone also became a big girl this week. The deal was, after she was potty trained, we'd buy her a kitchen set to replace the changing table that's in her room. So, out went the changing table and in went this. (Was this more for me or Lila? Hmmm... I'm not sure.)

No matter what, she loved it.

My favorite pictures of the week. Wearing, "Da Da's hat."

"Lila, smile!"

...and that's what I got.

Have a great week, everyone.

kb

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Vivienne Viernes: 16 weeks old

Sweet Vivienne Kate is getting kinda of fun.

Highlights of the past two weeks:

• We took the infant seat adapter off the stroller and took our first walk without it. Very exciting. (Lila's on the phone below. Vivienne looks "full.")

• She's rolling, rolling, rolling all over the place.

• She's amped up the thumb-sucking. Big time.

• Speaking of rolling, she's a belly sleeper. [gasp!] This is hard for me to handle. (I worry...)
• She's growing up and now is a big enough girl to take baths with her big sister. (SO cute. It's too much.)
• She's sleeping great. Usually from about 8:00-8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. she sleeps. She eats at 11 p.m., goes back to bed and wakes up anywhere from 6 a.m. - 8 a.m. We're lucky.
• Laughing. Oh, the laughing. The smiling and laughing is so great. And, someone just found out that her sister is who-larious.

• Her U.S. birth certificate abroad and her U.S. passport were "lost" in Tijuana then allegedly "found". We're hoping to get them in about 2 weeks. (When I say "hoping", I'm actually meaning, "praying".)
• She's grabbing everything. So fun to watch.

• Vivienne had a "bohn's nodule" that has gone away. Had no idea that existed. And, she still has her clogged tear duct. I'm also hoping/praying that clears up, too. 
• The drooling has started. It's big time, all the time.

I think that's about it! On to the pics.