Per Request

I'm alive.  Just thought I would make that clear seeing how long it's been since the last post.  Life with a first year Dental school student and an 8 month old is pretty exhausting.  Especially when the 8 month old no longer likes to sleep and the Dental student has classes all day and can't help at the midnight and 4 am scream-fests anymore.  I'm really hoping Grace is teething and those suckers poke through soon!
Getting adjusted to life in a big city hasn't been as difficult as I would have thought; but everything takes longer to get to, traffic hours have to be avoided and all these one-way streets are kicking my butt.  I have not caused a crash or been involved in one yet, although Jonathan says it's just a matter of time because I'm a woman. (That's his kind of joke, most woman get offended when they hear him say it but it's just a joke, calm down)   Jonathan and I have re-discovered our love for snow-cones aka SnowBalls here in Nola.  I don't understand how those BahamaBucks can charge such ridiculous prices! I get a medium stuffed (with ice cream) for $2.00 and it's huge.  Because they're so cheap we get them most everyday.  I've learned you can always justify some things :)  We also eat a lot of po-boys which are basically sandwiches for really poor guys I'm assuming.  I'm learning to like seafood, heavily battered and fried of course.  

Jonathan's family came in town this past weekend and we got to do the downtown thing and had dinner and a boat ride on an old steamboat.  Grace ended the ride naked because it was so dang hot.  I can't wait till fall, July in New Orleans is almost unbearable, another justification for daily snowball trips.  

baby meeting the silver man

baby being cleaned by aunties after being covered in silver paint

Steamboat

naked baby enjoying the ride with her aunt

Sorry this has all been such a random assortments of ramblings but the baby is actually taking a nap and it is blowing my mind. I guess I should get the vacuuming done before she wakes up and tries to eat everything she can find on the ground.  Then I'm guessing a trip to the snowball hut :)

I'm going to try and get back to regular posting.  No promises but I'll try!

new sleeping position

pulling up

crawling

ASHLEY

House and High Chairs

Ok, so she's a little rough right now.  It's a Katrina victim and needs some much needed attention but give it a few months (hopefully no more than 3 more months because our lease is up then).  Everything was striped down to the studs and built back up again, new roof is on and windows and doors are going in this week.  

Looking into the kitchen from the dining room

Looking into the living room from the kitchen

dining room, the pink studs frame out the walk-in pantry and yes that pantry will be painted pink :)

 Since we moved to New Orleans about 2 weeks ago we haven't had more than a few minutes to just sit. Moving, unpacking, repacking things for storage and building decisions among just a few of the things going on.  So I hope to get back on a normal routine of blogging because I know some grandparents out there are very eager to see baby girl!

She likes to watch us in the kitchen. I'm looking for a high chair because she's started trying to eat the carpet.  Wierd. I'm thinking this Boon Flair Pedestal High Chair. It's one solid piece so crumbs and junk doesn't build up in the cracks, it rolls and the height adjusts.

Plus it matches her bow.

ASHLEY

NOLA

So we are official New Orleans residents.  It's the 4th of July and we can see some amazing fireworks displays right outside our window, beside a church dome and above the cemetery.  Did I mention we live directly beside a cemetery? Not the type where people are buried below the ground, but above in marble tombs.  About 40 feet away from the back door.  We may also be some of the few residents under the age of 75 in our apartment building which is nice that there isn't a ton of parties going on but there are a ton of yappy lap dogs walking around.  We are living in a one bed, one bath place for the next 3 months until the house is finished and surprisingly it is much bigger than I expected.  I had never seen the place, no pictures, nothing, before I walked in the door with Gracie and our suitcases.  Grace is sleeping in the dining room aka the nursery.  I'm not quite sure where exactly we live but someone said we live right on St. John Bayou. We're directly on the water, what type of water? No clue. A bayou I guess but I'm not sure what a bayou is so...  But across the water is an amazing children's playground based on all the fairy tale characters that Grace will love when she can walk in talk and get into trouble.  
We are absolutely exhausted and would like nothing more than to sleep for 3 days but with a baby I guess you can't do that.  I plan on exploring our neighborhood tomorrow, hopefully I can find my way back home.  
Ashley

Still here

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted, sorry guys! We have been busy packing up again.  3 days until the big move and I think this is the most organized move yet.  Have I ever mentioned this is the 5th move since we've been married. We've been married 2 years.  Just 2.  


We each sent a big box of shoes and clothes to goodwill (aka my mom who brings it to a place called Trade n Treasure to sell it) and we've been purging all the junk and misc, things that:
a) don't know what it is but have held onto it thinking we would figure it out 
b) high school clothes we always held out hope that we could fit into again (I'm 23, if it doesn't fit now it sure won't fit in 5 years) 
c) those clothes that are really cute on the hanger but nowhere else  
d) boxes of random loose paper (where did this come from)
e) 100's of notebooks and notes from college science classes
(I could go through the entire alphabet but I'm sure you get that we had a bunch of junk)


Bye bye college papasan chair- i loved it, he hated it and Grace will kill herself trying to climb it.  Adios the first sofa I ever bought, a $400 Ashley's Furniture score that was only worth about $50 seeing as the cardboard arms have caved in.  I saved for months to get that thing too.  Peace bookcase, side table and tv stand.  But now we have room for the beautiful dresser Jonny re-finished! Pictures coming soon.  


So Wednesday morning with our little family packed up, a truck, a volkswagon and a u-haul trailer we're driving across Texas and down the Louisiana coast to move into our tiny 1 bedroom apartment 2 minutes from dental school.  If you think of us by chance please say a little prayer for us. Thanks and here's some swimming pictures, as you can tell she is becoming quite photogenic.

Ashley 


ps. feel free to leave comments :)

Chaos Complete.....for now

So these past 2 weeks have been hectic.  My floors haven't been touched, laundry is miles high, bathrooms...let's not go there.  Why the nasty living conditions?  I've been crafting my little heart away for Trade Days this past weekend.  I started MG Creations (Madison Grace Coulon...MGC....get it?) trying to earn some money since I don't want to go back to teaching and leave little one at home but soon realized that preparing for a booth at a trade show in just over a week isn't the brightest idea I've ever had.  I had piles of baby leg warmers, baby sweatpants, onsies, bows, earrings, shoes, not to mention the tablecloths I sewed from old sheets.  Going into it I thought "oh this will be fun and easy", coming out of it I'm thinking "I'm insane."  It wouldn't of been too bad if I hadn't been directly across from the live "entertainment" for 8 hours, if there hadn't been a mild tornado trying to crush my petite tent, 100 degree weather and a pestering neighbor.  It also would have helped if I had sold more than 3 items.  That's right 3 ITEMS! That's it. 2 pairs of shoes and a pair of pants.  Why the pants? A child had an accident in their pants and the mom needed something to throw on him.  I felt so bad for the kid that I sold them for $5 instead of the $12 they were listed for.  I'm not a great business woman obviously.  I had been so worried that I didn't have enough stuff and didn't think "this is all coming home with me."  My sweet husband sat out in the heat with me behind our 2 little tables, under a tent that could come down at any moment and reassured me that I wasn't an idiot, people just don't know the good stuff.  I watched for hours and hours as people walked by with crap and ignored my humble little tent.  Plastic guns, fried chicken on a stick, cheapo paper umbrellas, Walmart goods.  C'mon now people!  
But that's enough whining... I have decided to keep at it.  Anyways, I have all this stuff and only know so many babies to give it to.  So NOLA markets beware, MG Creations is coming and you will drool over the cuteness I have in stock.  A little over-confident maybe...  I have a blog MG Creations that I am currently the only follower of so, if you want to join the craft train there's the site. I'll post crafts I'm working on, things I'm selling and whining sessions when I don't sell anything (not really).  


On a brighter note: Grace turns 6 months old today! 6 months ago I was in labor, oblivious to the trials, sleep depravation and joys to come.  A lot of people say they can't remember life without their child, well I can.  It was easy and carefree but I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything.  I will take days without showering, nights with 2 hours sleep and baby kisses over my pre-baby life any day.  She has grown so much in such a short time, I can't imagine what she will be like in 6 more months.  Maybe a head of hair, waddling around the house talking to herself? 


Jonathan turns 24 this Thursday! We met at 15 years old, just kids.  I've watched him grow into an amazing man, attentive husband, joyful, loving father, serious student and serious hottie...a wonderful God-fearing person. Happy Birthday babe!


Baby girl just fell asleep in my lap so I've got to put her down.  Here is a picture of baby girl. She has to sit up in the tub now, we can't get her to lay back....no more itty bitty baby for us :(

Ashley

The Emotional Journey of a 5 month old

These were all taken in the course of about 30 seconds...

It's very emotional being a baby apparently.

So, daddy is away in New Orleans for the week and Gracie and I are really REALLY missing him.  He's never been away for more than 2 days so these 5 days are going to be tough. 2 days down, 3 to go.   I've been keeping busy crafting. I'm doing Stanton Trade Days! MG Creations is going to have a booth full of baby goodness and cute cute jewelry compliments of my sister-in-law.   So I've been sewing, painting and ironing my fingers away.  Puh-lease check us out June 12-13th at Trade Days!  I don't want to bring home 50 onsies, pants and legwarmers.  I only have one child! 

Thankfully the crafting has kept me inside because West Texas has recently become a sauna. 105 today and 108 tomorrow.  We've been swimming each night around 6 but that may come to a stop the next few days seeing as the water has turned into boiling hot lava.  I think I might fry an egg on the cement tomorrow, just to see if it actually works; my 8th grade science teacher would be so proud.  

So it is almost 10 on a friday night, first night of summer for Midland schools.  Baby is asleep (for now), hubby is away, fox news is on in the background and I decided I would try making italian soda.  I was surprised to find out how easy it was.

1 ounce Half and Half

2 tbsp syrup (I used raspberry)

top it off with sparkling or club soda.

Just don't add the soda in too fast or you get a foamy volcano like mine.

Give it a try and let me know what you think, it's delicious after you clean up the mess.

Off to bed

Ashley

Itty bitty sleepy bundle

As I held Grace tonight with her eyes filled with sleep and her face lit up with a toothy grin I couldn't help but tear-up thinking how quick these 5 months have gone by, how much more I love her tonight then I did 5 months ago, 1 week ago, even just this morning.  I now know why people cry when they're happy, sometimes it's just unavoidable when you look in those big, innocent eyes filled with wonder and love.  It's amazing how she has already turned into a tiny person who can sit up on her own (momentarily, but hey it's sitting), laugh at something funny, get mad just because she wants to and snuggle into my shoulder.  So there is my sappy mommy moment in all her glory.  

In other happenings, Jonathan and I have been treasure hunting this week looking for cheap ugly things that can be made pretty and still be cheap.  Can you tell we're cheap? I think I'm going to start using "thrifty," it sounds much nicer doesn't it?   So our thrifty selves rummaged through consignment stores and good-wills looking for anything cool.  I must confess: we didn't really rummage as in digging through piles, getting knee deep in junk type rummaging. We walked carefully through aisles, avoiding contact with anything we didn't have to touch, side-stepped anything gross looking (pretty much everything) and disinfected ourselves once in the car. We found a bedroom set: headboard, footboard, dresser, and vanity for 85 bucks that would be awesome painted but decided to pass for some reason, still kicking myself.  Also found an entire aisle dedicated to McDonald's happy meal toys. Why? I don't understand either. Goodwill was next. Found a glass lamp $3.99, set of 4 china mugs .79cents each. Silver serving dish $3.99, and hot pink old-school suitcase $5.99.  The suitcase was a hard-sell to the husband.  

him: "Why in the world would you want that old pink thing?" 

me: "It would be so cute in Gracie's room for dress up!" 

him: "It won't fit in the shopping cart though"

I somehow manage to shove it in the bottom of the cart

me: "Sure it does"

him: "Why do you want to haul more things to New Orleans in a few weeks when we move?"

me: "It's a suitcase babe, we can put stuff in it."

Suitcase came home with us :)

Wiped it down with clorox-wipes and shoved it full of dryer sheets to make it smell of this century and it's sitting in Gracie's make-shift room, pretty and pink as can be.  I'll show you in another post, there's a sleeping baby in there and I would be crazy to do anything to wake a sleeping baby.

The dresser Jonnys been re-finishing is almost done and it's super cute.  Creamy white with cut-out drawers and crystal knobs. It's going to be the most adorable changing table ever.

BEFORE:

this is what the fronts looked like before.

Can't wait to show the afters! He's super meticulous and it's taken a lot of time but it's worth it because it's the prettiest piece of furniture we own.  And only for $60.

  

This picture sums up what my day was today, sewing some pillows (I have a love for pillows at the moment for some reason), feeding baby (green beans and peas today, made a batch of carrots to start tomorrow) and home-made pita chips and hummus (yum).  No, I don't a good excuse for why there is a man with a 1978 afro and beard on my tv. 

Well, it's time for this old lady to get into bed. 10:30 on a Saturday night, aren't I a party animal.  It's actually pretty sad, I'm only 23 and I have the night-life of a 63 year old.

Ashley