hunger

there's a hunger in her eyes that i've never seen before...a hunger for more, more, more...more action, more life, more learning, just more.

xo

mamasaysom.com

calling all clothes

i have a strange request. first let me say that i'm a firm believer in "ask, and the universe shall provide". it usually works for me...for example, the other day john and i were having a conversation about how we don't have a carseat for his car, and what a pain it is, etc...and later that day, my dad came over with not one, but TWO carseats for us. with that being said, i'd like to put it out there that i need new clothes. yesterday, as i stood in front of my closet almost crying because i have nothing that fits properly or doesn't have visible holes in it, i thought to myself "why not ask?!?" . i started spring cleaning yesterday (read: spot cleaning the floor with little wet pieces of toilet paper) and getting stuff ready to drop by the salvation army, and i was thinking if any of you ladies are doing the same thing with your clothes, and feeling extra generous...can i please have them? really what it is is that i'm in desperate need of shirts. especially t-shirts. anything, really. if you've seen the way i dress, you know that i'm really not that picky at all.

thanks for listening.

and maybe if you need something, i can provide it, too. :)

self portrait tuesday part 2: time

Photobooth
Originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

the passing of time as seen through a photobooth

self portrait tuesday: time

Photobooth2
Originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

we are a photobooth family...a family who documents the passing of time through photobooth pictures.

my view

DSC06452
Originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

hope everyone had a great weekend. listening to l word podcast and working on a little birthday giftie for one of my very special girls who just celebrated their day. john took grace away to get rid of some of her energy, and this is my view of joey sleeping on his boppy, except i have him sitting up on my bed. i'm sleepy, i'm sick, but i'm filled with homemade bbq pork that cooked all day and hot chocolate and everyone's taking caramel. love love love.

xo

cheesy weekend love

DSC06455
Originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

looking forward to lots of this tonight-
coldcuts, baked lays, and family sandwiches.

dear boo

DSC06458
Originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

we here at the gilbert household love you and hope you have a wonderful weekend. thought this picture might make you smile.

and to everyone else, enjoy the weekend...the beautiful weather! i hope we can get outside and get some use out of grace's new garden clogs (the cutest things ever, purchased today...stay tuned for pics).

and can i just state for the record that i have the best dad in the world (he doesn't read this...not so computer literate). just putting it out there. he made me (from scratch) my most favorite delicious italian treat ever today called crispellis...and if you've never had them, you're missing out. dough, deep fried (punished), filled with double anchovies. holy good god, the best food on the planet.

xo

luck be a lady

so lucky for daddy and pum...naked bonding time



lately i've been battling the replaying of the song "anything you can do i can do better" song in my head, over and over throughout the day. it's total baggage and i find myself telling it to stop over and over. to stop the comparisons, whether it be to other mamas, to friends, to people who work outside the home. the grass never really is greener. my hormones are all over the place and the days are filled with high highs and poopy lows of energy. which is why the coffee thing never really panned out. i just love it and need it too damn much. and the cream and sugar makes it taste like liquid dessert (thanks for pointing that out, boo).

yesterday was amazing. it started off with breakfast at al's (thanks again, boo!) and then complex and elaborate food shopping that hurt my brain. then various other errands done with the help of boo (tire refilling, etc.) and then outdoor playing in the park with shannon's clan. so nice to be out in the sun and active (scary slides...i don't remember playgrounds being this scary when i was little). then boo made such a good dinner of lime and pork roast and onions in the crock pot. we burned some serious incense and read the new mags i picked up (found, venus) and drank margaritas and ate and watched american idol and project runway finale. we also made a bad attempt at making frozen chocolate covered bananas but they came out like poo, literally. so i had to resort to eating mint chocolate chip breyers straight out of the carton. twist my arm.

grace is finally potty trained. she's now convinced that it's cool to take a ride of the potty train every time she has to go. i have to say hands down it was the hardest couple of weeks i've ever been through. for her and me. it sucked. so al, keep your head up...it gets better. when they want it to. when they're ready.

joey's starting to grab and interact way more. did i mention that i love to breastfeed? i know i was feeling conflicted and sad about it a couple of months ago but we're golden now...things are so good. it's the best feeling in the world seeing his little face look up at me and smile while he's eating, milk spilling out of the corners of his mouth. wonderful.

so despite my rollercoaster emotions and constant comparisons, life is good. in the meantime, i'll keep reminding myself that "happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want." -mark twain

xo

self portrait tuesday

DSC05637, originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

time time time
john and i examined each other's faces this past weekend for the evidence of passing time
wrinkles and veins and sags and memories all over here and there
our faces are tired with the passing of time
the births of our children
the joys and smiles and tears
we are older
happier
wiser

time

listie

tried to detox from coffee and soda for seven days...it lasted a little less than one

listening to michael buble

reading "my friend leonard" by james frey, who i still like no matter how much people hate him

debriefing morning with dad

eating raspberry fruit leather

purchasing tea tree oil soap

watching seasame street

anxiously awaiting pr's season finale on wed.

loving clean sheets

dear boo

the above pictures were found on my camera. i'm just putting them out there because you're always picking on me for taking too, too many pictures. mostly of myself. looks like i'm not the only self-portraiter out there...oh!

the language of love

grace's new favorite thing to do is to speak in tongues (i've never been good at spelling this word, and the spellcheck is down for the moment, so we'll have to let this one slide). she is constantly jabbering to her brother in made-up languages. her most used conversation is as follows:

"jojo da nina
roka roka
seeka seeka"

over and over again, all day long. my best guess is that gray mastered the english language long ago, and she's become bored, so she's decided to make up a new language to express her love to her little one. i'm constantly in awe of the way she chooses to exert her independence, show her love, and make her mark in this world.

seeka seeka!

say what?!?

DSC05629, originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

welcome to the poo house. our house is covered in poo. welcome to the poo house. can i offer you a piece?

tasting life

DSC05704, originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

trying my best to appreciate every taste- learning from gracie that some days are easier than others.

self portrait tuesday

hot hot heat

here's a bit of a virtual footbath for all my tired peeps out there- snugs and warmth on this frigid day.

pumyum

yummy yummy pummy

i wish i could sleep with this abandon

waiting for jo and lib to come for jo's headshot photoshoot session. and she's bringing a real live makeup artist! hopefully i can do a half decent job taking the pics. stay tuned for some, but only if they come out good!

xo

trippy recap

for more on our visit, check out em's post at www.kindergartenerinme.blogspot.com

here are some pics i stole from her...thanks em! these are the best of the best...stay tuned at my flickr account for the rest.

hope everyone has a snowy and snuggly day!

happy humpback

DSC05537
Originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

happy wednesday and happy humpback coctails! looking forward to PR tonight and to possible crafting sessions and coffee and trip in the morning. thanks to boo for our breakfast at al's and 50 cups of coffee and the merlot with ice last night and american idolatry.

off to see the wizard

DSC05483
Originally uploaded by Nina Marie Gilbert.

hello peeps,
just checking in to say hi. trying to be productive today and get out to the library. joey just started crying downstairs so my time is limited. al, we would love to see you this week but we're headed off to see friends in NY. so sorry to miss you during your vacation! all the car problems seem to be somewhat fixed, but we'll see. looking forward to crafts with tracy and trip to emily's...need a break from the normal routine.
peace!

n