Baby

Our Day Date in London…

~ Aub ~ Leave a comment

was the perfect remedy for a couple who had barely seen each other in two weeks and were in need of some alone time to reconnect and just, have some fun!

Last Saturday, after taking a 7 hr long flight home with an 8 month old, Geo and I spent the morning sleeping, unpacking and eagerly awaiting the arrival of our babysitter, Jenny. I had made the decision earlier in the week that having Jenny come would be a nice way for us to rest, eat out, take a breather and I was right – it allowed us to do all of the above. We had Jenny for 4 hours and spent the first hour sleeping… pure bliss. We then headed out for a mini adventure.

First stop, a photo with my two new besties:

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Next we headed to London’s South Bank in search of a good place to eat. Along the way we couldn’t help but take a few pics like this one:

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We then came across a restaurant called Bill’s, a small chain in London. It was cosy, warm and had a great menu. I ordered a Mint Iced Tea and had NO regrets (might have been the best part of the meal!). Here’s a peak of our visit there:

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I got the veggie platter and between the falafel and spicy hummus I was in heaven.

After indulging in a late lunch we headed to the highlight of the day date, the Clink Prison Museum! Dun dun dunnnn. It was spooky, grotesque and basically everything you’d expect it to be. Next date we’re heading to the National Portrait Museum, probably a little more worthwhile :p

We made a couple friends though! (the sort of friends nightmares are made of… creepy.)

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When we were finally done with the museum we headed back home feeling refreshed, reconnected and just excited to see Miss Lucy. But of course we had to stop to take in the Thames one more time. It’s amazing to me how busy it always it. I wouldn’t say it’s the most beautiful river I’ve ever seen but there’s something magical about all the commotion that seems to take place on it – always moving, always different, always with a backdrop of London. We will certainly miss it.

Geo asked me to pose, so naturally I gave the best Kardashian look I had… #Fail #HowDoIDoPoutyLips?

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Grateful: For this little pipsqueak who finds amusement, wonder and happiness in just about everything (especially my phone!). I hope she holds onto this for a long long time (the wonder, not my phone!).

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Right Around the Corner…

~ Aub ~ 1 Comment

from us is the cutest, coziest little coffee shop. Verde and Company is the perfect spot to stop in for a coffee, or in my case, a late-afternoon hot chocolate 🙂

Their hot chocolate is voted best in London for a reason – it is truly delish! Dark, creamy and sweet; just what you need after a long day with a baby who is jet-lagged :p Lucy enjoyed her teeny little baby sip so much that she wouldn’t stop grabbing at it! Like mother like daughter. #ChocolateDoesTheBodyGood

Grateful: For our construction worker friends who are always around to help me lift the stroller into our apartment complex, give us a friendly wave as we walk by and/or come chat with us during those witching hours that we so often spent sitting on our front stoop watching the people walk by 🙂

Bring On The…

~ Aub ~ Leave a comment

catcalls. Yep, I said it – bring. them. on.

They may be degrading and gross but I got whistled at for the first time in maybe years (ouch, I know) and I kinda loved it. There I am, pushing a 7-month old in a stroller and some guy in a truck (sleezy as it may have been) checked me out! My 10-pound heavier, postnatal bod and liked what he saw enough to shoot me a whistle. I will take it.

Note: I actually felt really awkward when it happened and refused to make eye contact (like the mature woman I am lol) but it was kind of nice to know I’m still noticeable and don’t blend into the world of all things baby that my life has recently become 🙂

In other news we just moved back to London after visiting the States for a couple weeks. It’s great to be back in our own space and have our own routine but I certainly cannot complain about our living accommodations while home… Thanks Mom and Dad for letting the three of us crash as Casa Burke!

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Grateful: For my occasional moments of brilliance… Having our babysitter come for the afternoon after a night of traveling made all the difference for Geo and I. We’re feeling refreshed, happy, united and ready to take on a night that will no doubt be a long one. #JetLagSucks #PoorBaby

It’s Never Too Early…

Image ~ ~ Aub ~ Leave a comment

To drink coffee with Nana, or is it? 😂🙈


To share secrets with your bestie 👭


Or to fall asleep during a walk (seriously Lucy, it’s never too early for that ☺️)


Grateful: For taco salad. It’s healthy (well it’s got veggies), easy to make and pleases just about everyone! It’s clearly what we had for dinner tonight 🙂

Gone Are The Days…

Aside ~ ~ Aub ~ Leave a comment

Of looking forward to traveling and in are the days of dreading it with every morsel of my being. Dramatic? Maybe a little but honestly traveling is not what it used to be. What it used to be was “do I read my book, watch a movie or take a nap during the flight?” What it is now is “do I try to get her to nap (enter hours of frustration), entertain her with toys (each toy keeps her occupied for approx. 1.2 minutes) or just hand her off to the hubby and take 3 minutes to find my inner buddha before Geo looks at me with desperation in his eyes and hands her back over?”

Lucy has brought so much joy into our lives and I can literally feel myself loving her more and more every day but geesh, flying from London to NY with a 6 month old is not for the faint of heart! Luckily we made it out alive and I’m hopeful our flight home, which is a night flight, will be full of zzzz’s and downtime because she’ll be peacefully sleeping… a girl can dream 😀

In other news, this girl seriously is so lucky to have so many knitters in the family! How cute is this skirt?!

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Grateful: For being back home in the states for two weeks. I’d forgotten how nice it is to have the love and support of so many loved ones, we’re so lucky to live near our parents 🙂

Why Is It That…

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I spend half my day throwing away dirty diapers? I find them thrown about throughout the house. They’re rolled up (we’re not that gross – most the time..) but still, why don’t we throw them away right when the mess happens? Maybe because we have a squirmy, easily distracted 6 month old? Yea, perhaps.

I wake up every morning excited to head out and buy my daily cup of Starbucks (with Lucy tucked into the carrier), but oftentimes get home and totally forget about it until it’s chilled to the core?! Funnily enough I’ve noticed I don’t get around to drinking it until Lucy is down for a nap… Hmm I think there’s a pattern here 🙂

I dress Lucy in weather appropriate attire and only once I’m out the door do I notice I’m decked out in summer gear when it’s 50 degrees outside?! I’m thinking it has something to do with the hustle and bustle it takes to simply get out the door with a baby (do I have a paci, bottle, toys, blanket, diapers, etc – all while she’s screaming her head off because I’ve dared to turn my back on her :p). By the time it’s all said and done, we’re outside and I’m surrounded by people dressed to the nines (we are in London, afterall) and legit winter coats, scarves and hats on. Then it dawns on me how crazy I look. I don’t care that much, but maybe a little 🙂

Layers and a cute hat!
Shorts and unshaved legs!

And just because this little lady has my heart, here’s a couple cute pics! #MomLife #CantStop #WontStop

Hello, Sweet Girl 🙂
Getting ready for takeoff!

 

Call Me a Bad Mom but…

~ Aub ~ 5 Comments

I’m psyched Lucy is tuning into the television. Even though its typically 5 minutes or less, it’s still a few minutes I have to get shit done! What can I get done under 5 minutes, let me tell you.

  • Fold laundry
  • Throw dirty laundry in the wash
  • Make the bed
  • Tidy the kitchen
  • Empty the dishwasher
  • Figure out dinner (or where takeout will be from :D)
  • Respond to emails
  • Stuff my face with any crap I can rummage up in the kitchen
  • Take a 5 minute cat nap. I kid, I kid. But sometimes I lie next to her and MAYBE rest my eyes for a minute or two, that’s when I dream about bedtime)

*Note: These things can be done individually, not collectively. But oh how nice it would be if that were the case!

So yea, I’m excited my 6 month old is watching tv (#badmomalert) but as a person that was brought up in a “no tv during the week” household I also look forward to telling miss lucy, “no tv, go read.” Until she can do that I don’t think a little Horrid Henry is going to screw her up too much. My Little Pony is another story…

Oh and when we’re watching tv together I try to make it a documentary (us watching one on the ocean, below). This is more for my sake than hers but it has to count for something, right? Earning my good mom stripes left and right!

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And because she just looks so darn cute, here’s one of my missy showing off her new hat! Thanks H&M 😀

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How Cool Are We?

~ Aub ~ Leave a comment

We got this whole selfie thing DOWN.

Ha. Someday we’ll be cool. Someday.

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Grateful: For the construction worker who saved the day! Lucy and I went to get coffee this morning only to realize we were locked in the apartment. The keys had been left in the door from the outside (oops!). Geo called down to the man who was on the street and voila, he came up and we were saved!! Phew, close call.

Yes, I slept in the dress I wore all day.

~ Aub ~ Leave a comment

Friday night was:

A screaming baby from 8 to 10 pm.

A screaming baby from 1 to 2:30 am.

A screaming baby from 4:30 to 6 am.

Saturday day was:

Feeding baby.

Travel.

Sightseeing.

Shhing to sleep.

Playing.

Repeat x 4.

Saturday night was: 

A screaming baby from 6 pm to 9:30 pm.

So yes, as my little one (Lucy who is now 6. 5 months old!) finally fell asleep on top of me I quickly realized I would not be changing into my comfy pjs (aka: an oversized t-shirt) but would instead be sleeping in a pull-over dress I’d worn all day; one that had spit-up, drool and snot from a sick baby on it. None of that bothered me though, it didn’t even make me flinch. All that mattered was Lucy was comfortably sleeping and that meant mama would be doing the same, shortly (minus the “comfortably” 🙂

*Warning: Sleeping in a wire framed bra is not recommended. #ow

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Grateful: For how wonderful this little one was during our 3 hr+ car ride home today. Making mama proud.

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The name game

~ Aub ~ 1 Comment

When I found out I was pregnant my thoughts and concerns leaned towards my health, the baby’s health, the labor, how active I was going to stay, my diet, what I’d wear, and blah blah blah. Never did I imagine that choosing a name for our baby would become the main “thought” and “concern.” At almost 27 weeks preggers we’re still up in the air about names. We made a mistake, a very rookie mistake… we told people about the names we liked.

Never. Again. :p

Here’s our top contenders:

GIRL: Evelyn, Riley, Madelyn, Adalyn, Adeline, Eleanor, Edytha, Cora or Maeve

BOY: James, Sawyer, Finley, Eivan, Miller or Rowan

Feedback from our family and friends on some of those names:

Evelyn – “I knew an Evelyn back in college – she was a stripper.”

Madelyn – “That’s a really popular name. I know at least 3 of them.”

Maeve – “Hmm. Cute.” (super convincing…)

Sawyer – “Sawyer Schwartz – that’s a tongue twister.” Person then proceeds to say the name in a drawn out, mentally handcapped fashion… great.

Finley – We both love that name but it’s the name of my best friend’s dog – is that weird?

So, anyone have any names for us to add to the list? We’re struggling here!

And yes, we know many of our names are also on the 2015 top list of baby names. We like what we like and clearly we’re not unique in those likes!

http://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2015

And just for fun… my body is changing and I’m doing my best to embrace it. (My best is sometimes hiding my boobs and belly in all black, or as my brother called it the, “moo moo” look).

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