Jeans

I would be willing to bet that jeans are a girl's second least favorite thing to shop for. They are for me at least. First would be swim wear- yuck! I took care of that last summer though and shouldn't have to update it again for at least a couple of summers. Considering it won't get any use this summer, it will still be brand new next summer!

Jeans were the mission for last night. I have three pair of the exact same style jean that are all out of style now. I bought the first two pair in the store before Widdle was born. The third pair was ordered off the Internet either before or after Waddle, I can't remember. The first two pair were "regular" length, which is about 6 inches too long for me. One pair is practically brand new because they are so long and hardly worn. The second pair, I cut off to the "right" length, then they unraveled a bit and now are only the "right" length after I've worn them for a day and they've stretched out. They are great for rolling up to capri length though. The third pair were my "nice" jeans. You know, the jeans that are to unraveled or worn, they looked decent with ballet flats, flip-flops, just about anything. Well, apparently I've started being a lot harder on my jeans. In the last three years I've worn a hole in the right knee of three pair of jeans. The last two holes came over the last month.

Last week I was going to write about how I was totally out of style with my jeans and that my last good pair were one good floor cleaning, owie kiss, toy clean-up away from a hole in the knee. Well, I am too late and they have fallen apart. I am now completely out of style. At some point, I think while I was pregnant with Widdle, they stopped selling my jeans in the store, I could only get them on-line. That was fine, I knew my size and shipping was cheaper than the stress counseling I would need for going to the mall for one pair of jeans. (just kidding) But I'd rather save the gas and order anyway. After Waddle was born, they were still available on-line. Now, after Piddle and a hard winter on my knees, when I am desperate for a new pair, they are totally unavailable and I am completely out of style. So, with no other option, we went jean shopping last night.

When we were in CO, b/p (before pregnancy), I did a little jean shopping. Albert and I went to G@p and I found a cut that I really liked, but they didn't have my length. Length is almost as important as waist size for me! So we left, jeanless. Yesterday I had a coupon for The L1mited, so I thought we'd shop around before heading to G@p, where I was pretty sure I'd find what I was looking for. The first three stores we went in were totally trendy, NOT me. I can not wear and refuse to try on the skinny jean. And jeans that are called leggings mean nothing to me. Almost every pair fit in my waist and hips (which is a miracle in itself) but the cut of the leg was just crazy. Some were snug to the bottom of me knee, then flared out. One pair looked like I was ready for a flood whether they were rolled down or up. It was just one thing after another. We headed into Dill@rd's and found that nothing in the Juniors department appealed to me, so we headed up to the Ladies. With great anticipation I tried on some of Reb@'s jeans. She always looks so classy and stylish. The moment I fastened them, I felt like this. I took them off immediately! The first time I felt like this was when I went into @E and asked the sales girl about my jeans and if they started selling them in the store again. She replied, "No, but if you are looking for a mid-rise jean, we have these that are a little higher." We left immediately and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

So last night I tried on pair after pair and was starting to wonder if the problem was me, the jeans, my old jeans what? I certainly wasn't comfortable in new jeans that are stiff and snug. My jeans haven't fit like that in at least two years. I had one thing in mind and I wasn't finding it anywhere. Finally we headed over to G@p and they had my exact size. It was so exciting! They fit great, though I am 12 1/2 weeks along. They were comfortable from the beginning and just fit exactly how I want my jeans to fit. My sweet husband bought me two pair. I should be set for the next 2-4 years!! Yeah!!

Meet Little Quack

Yes, we have been thinking about having another little one.

Yes, we have been thinking it would be soon.

Yes, we knew we were pregnant when we started looking into adoption.

Yes, it's going to be a long, hot summer.

Yes, I know some of you have just been waiting for the news as the timing is later then it was with our last two.

God's timing is good and we are excited for "Little Quack" to join our family sometime in September.

Fresh

Since moving back to the beach I have often struggled with the way I look. Of course I don't look the way I did before. I've had three children and walked through more than a couple of situations where I could feel the wrinkles setting in. I just can't have the fresh face of a 20 year old any more. When I lived here before I had long curly hair, but it just doesn't curl the same now. So, after about a year and a half or more of growing my hair out, it is time for it to go. If you've seen me recently, you know that my hair is pretty long. It hangs down my back, nearly to my waist.

Well, it did, until yesterday. I've been planning and "working" on growing my hair out to donate a ponytail to Locks of Love or Pantene. A couple of factors led to now being the time to chop it off.

1. It was long enough. LoL wants 10 inches. I never officially measured, but if they can't use it, they can throw it away, it had to go! Pantene wants 8 inches.

2. Every time I nursed Piddle, she was getting poked in the eye by my hair.

3. While nursing, Piddle would pull my hair and wrap herself up in it.

4. Some days my hair would just look crazy.

Since we are back at the beach, my trusted "hair girl" is in town! Every time I have come here for vacation, I have had her cut my hair. She did my hair for my wedding and is reliable and always great. Plus I enjoy the conversation. So, last Friday I was ready to cut my hair off myself, and I gave her a call. She couldn't get me in until yesterday. My hair pretty much stayed in a pony-tail or bun all week. I was done. Yesterday I was nervous to get all of my hair cut off. I have had short hair before and this "hair girl" has cut my hair short a couple of times and it always looks good and I am able to maintain it later, but I just was nervous. Plus, my hair looked really awful. (No, there aren't any pictures of me with really horrible hair, sorry.) In order to be able to use the donated hair, it can't have any product in it. This means no mousse, no gel, no hairspray....... these three things are what hold my curls together.

I walked out of the salon looking and feeling much better about my presentation. I feel like I look my age, in a great way! I feel comfortable. And, I think I will be able to maintain this cute cut and if not, I'll wear a ball cap for a while!

What do you think?

Edited to add:

I forgot to mention my family's responses. Widdle came running to the door when I opened it screaming, "MAMA!!!" As soon as he saw me he started walking backwards and said "What happened? Why is your hair like that?" I asked him if he liked it to which he responded while rubbing his neck, "I like it like this."

Waddle could care less.

Piddle came right to me but would not smile. She hasn't been feeling well, but I think she was uncertain of what happened to her mama.

Albert really likes it. Out of the blue he'll say, I really like your hair. Hopefully I can duplicate how it looks now!

Meet the flock

With turning this blog back to public access, I thought some nicknames for the littles would be good for their protection. I'm pretty sure everyone who reads at this point knows our family personally, but you just never know. So, if you are having trouble figuring out who in the world I am talking about, check out my side-bar. The pictures are labeled there. And FYI the names are coming from Lauren Thompson's "Little Quack's Hide and Seek". Don't they just fit us perfectly? Enjoy the confusion.

Funny!!

I was browsing the blogs that I love today and ran across this post: sling. I nearly died laughing. I do love my babies and I love the sling. I don't have a ring sling, but I've made a couple of knock-off Hotslings. They work well enough for me for right now. This evening Albert was showing the boys several videos of guys drumming and everyone was enjoying themselves when I remembered the music video in Courtney's post. So I showed it to them. Now, there is a bit of suggestive dancing, but being done by a mama wearing a baby, it just looses it's edge. Albert was nearly tearing up he was laughing so much. He and Big C just left to pick up dinner and Albert was humming, "If you love 'em then you shoulda puta sling on 'em." Now that is something funny to hear coming out of your husband!

Nick Name

I just told Widdle that I was going through all of the old post and changing his name to a nick name. He whimpered and said, "I don't want my name to be Nick, I want it to be 'Widdle'." Ha, that boy keeps me laughing!

I'm going public

So, I opened this blog back up to the general public. I am a tad nervous about it. You just never know who might find you and who is lurking. I know that God is sovereign and if I use a bit of wisdom and caution, He will protect me and my children. With that, I hope that some newbies find this blog and see a glimpse of HIM while they are here. It would probably help if I wrote a bit more often and talked more about HIM....... I'll have to work on that. Until then, keep reading and maybe leave a comment or two to remind me that I am not talking to myself!

4HIM,

Robin