tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339038092024-03-07T00:08:22.680-06:00NOLA BABYI was once a NOLA baby, now I have two. This is what it is all about.Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.comBlogger1019125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-4154834455404277582014-08-10T22:23:00.002-05:002014-08-10T22:23:34.550-05:00This Hurts My Head & My HeartSomeone please teach me how to make time slow down a bit. It is just like I was warned, those sweet-sad eyes said it all, but I was oblivious. And now here it is, racing by, and I have to remember to try and catch my breath, make the memory, and have some hope for whatever is infinite.<br />
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2009</div>
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2010</div>
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2012</div>
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2013</div>
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2014</div>
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I completely forgot to pack the "real" camera and had to take the 2014 pic with my iphone. All things considered, it is not too bad (I did not even get a chance to edit it). James looks like such a big boy in this picture. I am not sure I will be able to convince him to pose for these annual pics in the future. This one took some effort and was groan inducing. Mamas can be such buzzkills.</div>
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Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-10921642379237474782014-05-04T22:35:00.000-05:002014-05-04T22:38:12.907-05:00How Freakin' CuteIs this lil' guy...<br />
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The Jedis (oh yeah - May the 4th be with you)<br />
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Spring baseball started this weekend and I love love love seeing the little dudes out there chasing after the ball. They are starting to understand the basics of what is supposed to go on out there, but really it is just like watching the bad news bears and it totally warms my heart. & I love having Luz with me on the sidelines, breaking down the at-bats, sizing up the players. My girl loves sports, but (for better or for worse : /) she LOVES softball/baseball. This is her last year of coach-pitch, and (at least I am hinting at it) maybe the last year of softball.<br />
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We bought a pitch/catch/return net for the front yard and - as awesome as it is (and it really is super-cool) - after less than an hour of some game that Christian invented, we experienced the absolute worst fit of poor sportsmanship I have ever witnessed in my entire life, courtesy of James. No question Christian completely egged it on, but James was absolutely out of control when he lost. I was thinking that being part of a team and playing a variety of sports from from age 3 on would create a healthier approach. I suppose some of it is just nature. Needless to say, I don't know how much of the pitch/catch/return net I can take if this is what I have to look forward to each time.<br />
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-92109104699643017042014-04-30T21:47:00.000-05:002014-04-30T21:47:39.240-05:00Spring & if then Summer<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has been so long that it took a few tries to get the password right when I logged in the Blogger account. I somehow convinced myself that life was much more hectic when the kiddos were newborns and toddlers. People told me otherwise, but I never believed it. I was sure that when they became more independent, started evolving into their own little people, it would free up time for me. I would read more, run more, work more, clean more, REST more. Wow. I was wrong. I have, perhaps, learned to prioritize a little better than in the past. What that means, however, is that blogging falls in a place that is near the bottom of the list, close to putting away clothes and cleaning/dusting the baseboards (yes, that one is actually on my list).</div>
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So, here's what has been going on, just in case you don't feel like you have been properly updated via Facebook and Instagram.</div>
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Soccer season ended and both kids ended the season on high notes. Luz improved a ton over the past few months and even got a few goals. James spent most of his season dancing around the ball, but moving quickly and with great gusto. Here he is at his last game, getting some serious sideline coaching from Christian and more interested in my camera lens:</div>
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Here he is, post-trophy ceremony. I think it is absolutely insane that every kid gets a trophy, but that is a blog post for another day. The shelves are already filled with trophies that just were not earned. The trophy only lasted a few nights on the bookshelf. James called me into the room and told me it was glowing and freaking him out because it looked like scary, golden eyes. The trophy is now in my room and I don't plan to hold on to it until he outgrows his nightmares (James' unhealthy sleep hygiene is also a post for another day).</div>
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Post-game pile-on and snowballs:<br />
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Then there was Easter and time with cousins and lazy afternoons in Thibodaux and crawfish and corn-hole and egg hunts and baseball practice:<br />
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Lucy with cousins, Jack and William<br />
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James, yes that's his Thanksgiving headgear:<br />
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When I looked back at the pictures that I have taken over the last few months this one in particular caught my eye and made my heart ache a little because he looks so old. Maybe it is because he is drinking a Coke (I was not the adult that allowed him to have this - one guess who it was)?</div>
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James & Jack, waiting for the next round of corn-hole:<br />
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Ready to hunt:<br />
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Luz w/ Walker, playing with stickers:<br />
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Family Easter Sunday pic - what is up with all of the dogs!!! They were everywhere, and really wanted in on the photo:<br />
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Jamesy, blowing bubbles:</div>
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There are many more pics and stories to tell. I promise I will get to them soon, but I have a few more things on my list to tackle before bedtime, you understand!Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-56429927143953725282014-02-03T21:37:00.000-06:002014-02-03T21:37:03.569-06:00Two-Wheelin'<br />
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Just in case you missed it when I shouted from the rooftops and it happened to sneak past you in the Instagram and Facebook (and, gosh, maybe even Twitter) feeds, here it is - Lucy riding a bike WITHOUT training wheels:</div>
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If you want more advice about how to get your kid to ride happily on two wheels, I cannot help much. I can only share my experience and maybe from that you can, at least, extrapolate what not to do. It took 3 years, two bikes, one helmet, more bribes than I can count and one patient uncle. And what Christian and I were not able to accomplish in 3 years of trying, Uncle Richmond accomplished in about 30 minutes on a quiet street. </div>
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Lucy's first bike was a really cute, multi-colored trike. Although she was never too enthusiastic about riding it, she did, occasionally with much prodding. Christian campaigned for one of those itty bitty two-wheelers with training wheels for Lucy when she turned 3. I put my foot down thinking it was just one more unnecessary toy. When Lu turned 5 we got her a Schwinn with training wheels. We got her a new helmet. She loved them both. That is, she loved the way they both looked. She did ok on the bike the wobbling made her nervous and the cracks on the sidewalk made it tough for her to every get up much speed or confidence. We took her to Audubon Park now and then and sometimes she looked comfortable on the bike but she never really asked to ride. When she was 5.5 we started experimenting with two-wheeling without the training wheels. The practices usually occurred at the park near our house where the sidewalk is (relatively) even and there is a large grassy area. The first attempt was lousy and she shrieked the entire time and let go of the bike and grabbed whoever was holding it and running alongside her. She stopped pedaling, she insisted she would fall and never once, not a single time in about 20 different attempts over the course of the next 3 years did she ever pedal more than about 3 rotations without someone holding the back of the bike. </div>
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Let me also add that this was not for a lack of kindness and encouragement. Christian and I were both incredibly patient and sweet (at least in front of Lucy). We took breaks. We didn't push it. We only took the wheels off when Lu said she was ready. None of it worked. </div>
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One of my 2014 goals was getting her on two wheels. I knew she would love it. I just couldn't figure out a way to convince her. My mom recently rehabbed a 30 something year old navy blue Schwinn that is a little lower and a lot heavier/sturdier than the one we bought Lu. I think my sister and little brother both learned how to ride on this bike and so maybe mom was right to bust out the old clunker and bank on some good two wheelin juju. </div>
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After wasting most of the day on my MLK, Jr. holiday I decided I needed to accomplish something and I couldn't run (due to the IT band injury I mentioned in my last post) and didn't feel like working or going to the grocery or cleaning the house. So, at that point it made sense to get Lu back on two wheels and make it happen. It was not a total coincidence that I planned it when Richmond was in NOLA. </div>
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There's no question that things felt different when I got Lu out there on the blue Schwinn. Was it as simple as just a different bike? Was it the passage of time? Who knows...but I did get her to pedal about 20 feet without anyone holding her bike. And then she started to get nervous and I ultimately had to throw in the towel. At that point Richmond stepped in, I forced myself to keep my mouth shut and about 30 minutes later I walked out on the front porch and took the video I included above.</div>
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I remember pushing Lucy in the BOB when she was a baby. I would circle Audubon Park and point out birds and trees and dogs and bikes. I remember seeing moms running along side older kids on two wheelers and thinking, "boy, I am going to love it when Lu is riding her bike and I am running right next to her". Last Saturday we did just that (my IT band injury is improving, slowly, and with the help of acupuncture - more on that journey later)...I ran, she rode and we passed a young mama pushing her baby in their BOB and my eyes welled up with tears.</div>
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Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-62330590584896217072014-01-30T22:55:00.001-06:002014-01-30T23:09:06.416-06:00Newtons for RunningHave you ever spied these guys on the well-toned calves of a runner and thought you just had to have them?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaPcPI-eQzrXhfyhC0huFJoLtf7TohoBqqAPVurdhvieEujnySyFc0oFiUHaskuz6p3BsRYeLmOL5sPNd2S3kW42JJt5wLeuBGGR2jTzjlpgWp8scAbdXbdTnM6JRONki5FBI/s1600/Newton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaPcPI-eQzrXhfyhC0huFJoLtf7TohoBqqAPVurdhvieEujnySyFc0oFiUHaskuz6p3BsRYeLmOL5sPNd2S3kW42JJt5wLeuBGGR2jTzjlpgWp8scAbdXbdTnM6JRONki5FBI/s1600/Newton.jpg" /></a></div>
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It happened to me frequently for about a year and I just put off the investment for many reasons - 1. I am a Brooks girl and I have always run happy in Brooks, 2. Newtons are not cheap (relatively speaking), and 3. I never felt like a serious enough runner to wear them. Two full marathons, more 1/2 marathons than I can count, an average 8:30/9:00mm pace, and a weekly regiment of anywhere from 10 to 30 miles over the last 20 or so years (depending on work and babies and spirit) just didn't seem to place me in that upper echelon of runners deserving of such a super-hot shoe. But I talked about them all the time, coveted them on others, read about them, and fantasized about running in them for so long that I finally decided to get a pair. And, sadly, the decision coincided with my first ever running injury, the dreaded IT band (I am slowly getting back to my old running routine 6 weeks later thanks to acupuncture, stretching, more stretching, yoga, and foam rolling - more on my injury and recovery soon). The injury sidelined me mid-way through the training for the Mardi Gras Marathon, this one would have been my third. The MGM is this Sunday. I will be standing on the sidelines, green with envy, but trying to remember how good it felt to hear the cheers and shouts of encouragement up and down St. Charles Avenue. Oh, and I will be wearing my Newtons with pride, because I finally realized that I deserve to.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9p9AD2zekP10RVKvqpmuyaVP6pqabRp-iLbhcqfnVsbmqJ_tYh9KCxmUVvBHite19x-zqd9UvAy1b1x7bTdyo5XmgsD6rCuz56w75CGvY-LAouFXcVyWIEG7SdzIyGKnG1an/s1600/IMG_2534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9p9AD2zekP10RVKvqpmuyaVP6pqabRp-iLbhcqfnVsbmqJ_tYh9KCxmUVvBHite19x-zqd9UvAy1b1x7bTdyo5XmgsD6rCuz56w75CGvY-LAouFXcVyWIEG7SdzIyGKnG1an/s1600/IMG_2534.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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And have you missed seeing these guys?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZQKLkZ4SvgSXPwzgBeKk1-OqK63kTUFbeH9i4WQy6kQi500P90HQaK-3kdjhzkn6XgSNl2B46zSdUjX8idHtfVR7giDCWrVCqcRjDnse5Y_-wEUNOY1hOCjm9EokB-n4ALtD/s1600/IMG_4666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZQKLkZ4SvgSXPwzgBeKk1-OqK63kTUFbeH9i4WQy6kQi500P90HQaK-3kdjhzkn6XgSNl2B46zSdUjX8idHtfVR7giDCWrVCqcRjDnse5Y_-wEUNOY1hOCjm9EokB-n4ALtD/s1600/IMG_4666.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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These photos are actually about 2 months old! They are getting so big so fast, but what's new.</div>
Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-78021424740411148942013-10-20T22:39:00.000-05:002013-10-20T22:39:07.595-05:00Sports 24/7<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I was younger, and even into my college years, I had very little appreciation for professional sports. Even though I grew up in a house where Sundays meant football was on t.v. all day long and even though I actually played sports in middle and high school (ok, well, 'played' is a bit generous; I was on teams), once I went off to college there were likely weeks, months and maybe even a year there when there was not a single football or baseball game on t.v. And then one day I met Christian and tolerated the occasional game on in the background while I read a book because I had fallen in love. And then a few more years passed and I might have watched a few minutes here or there and paid attention for one or two of those "you have to see this" plays because I was actually starting to enjoy it. And now it is 17 years later and there is an 8 year-old who hasn't met a sport she doesn't like and a 4 year-old who already knows the colors and quarterbacks of most of the NFL teams. I suppose what that means is that all weekend long there is a cacophony of sports noise - games on tvs and radios and ESPN highlight clips and You Tube videos capturing the incredible moments we missed - and lots and lots and lots of discussions about who we want to win. </div>
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So, if your house is anything like mine and you were paying attention last night you probably busted out your favorite Red Sox shirt early this morning too:</div>
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-81383922338049160802013-10-08T21:47:00.001-05:002013-10-08T21:52:33.196-05:00More Summer?<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unreal. It is October. It is actually starting to feel cool (ish) outside and yet I still have not found the time to post the rest of the summertime pics I wanted to share. The 7th blogiversary came and went and (I suppose) the hectic pace of life over here in the Vaicius house made it impossible to celebrate the occasion. Maybe this is just the natural progression of things over here. I think about it all the time. Eight year old Lucy has some strong opinions already and the start of preteen angst and those things taken together remind me regularly that she just might not want me to broadcast her life over the great interwebs. There is no real roadmap for this sort of thing. So, perhaps the occasional update for posterity is just about right for everyone.</div>
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And on that note, I give you a few of my favorites from our lovely beach vacation:</div>
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-82030123981377720752013-09-15T22:56:00.002-05:002013-09-15T23:03:31.134-05:00These Days<div style="text-align: justify;">
The school season is in full swing and we have (mostly) adapted to the chaotic routine - and really a routine would be lovely, but it is actually nothing like a routine and it feels like every day brings some new plan(s). Quite often we send one or both kids off to school and say "someone will pick you up, eventually." And there is really no way it would work without endless amounts of help from friends and family and after care and job flexibility. I long for weekends and holidays and nights of no homework and school hot lunches, because it is all so incredibly time-consuming. I am often reminded, though, by those who have been through it, that these are wonderful days and rather than allow the chaos to stress me out, I should embrace it and appreciate every wild moment of it. So I do. Correction, I try to. </div>
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As a result of all of the above, I find that there is very little free time in the day for extra-curriculars and even some vital needs - reading still happens (although not frequently enough), running still happens (but only when I wake up at 5:30 a.m.), taking pictures happens (but mostly with the IPhone because I cannot ever seem to remember to grab the real camera), and blogging rarely happens. Fortunately, I think the winding-down or down-sizing (or whatever it is) of the blog is - in some ways - a good thing. Luz is 8 now and is starting to appreciate privacy and it makes me wonder, how much sharing is too much? Is she going to be an angsty teenager who is disgusted that the first decade of her life was put out there for everyone to see? There is no road map or guide or litmus test for how this sort of thing plays out, but I have some doubts about whether I would have appreciated having my life on display in front of people I did not ask to share it with. So, maybe sporadic posts and less detail is the way to go. I don't know. I am not ready to wrap it up entirely; I am just thinking more about this person Luz is becoming and what impact the blog will have on future Lucy. </div>
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While I am figuring it all out, here are a few more pics from the Disney Cruise. The first couple are from our day trip to Nassau where Christian basically made us walk the entire city in 100 degree heat so that we could see all of the important landmarks - the Queen's staircase (and according to Lucy's count it was 64 steps, not 66) and the old British fort. Christian could not understand why the kids were not psyched. I totally got it and, like James, looked like I was a part of the Bataan death march. Some nut-job, local even stopped us at one point and told us we needed to get our kids something to drink because they both looked dehydrated and miserable. But while we were there I figured out that Nassau is really all about shopping in the a/c, high-end shopping. Needless to say, we didn't do any of that. </div>
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The remainder of these pics are from Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. The only way to get there is to go on a Disney cruise, so you better enjoy every minute of it - I don't care if you are hot and tired and don't like the feeling of sand in your toes or sweating while you eat. We did though, it was actually a blast - starting with a 7 a.m. 5k and ending with closing time at the beach around 5 p.m. Lucy's favorite part - snorkeling with Christian and searching for the hidden Disney treasures underwater. James' favorite part - the BBQ and endless soft-serve ice cream.<br />
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Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-6747796517012139052013-08-27T21:39:00.000-05:002013-08-27T21:41:18.253-05:00Summertime <div style="text-align: justify;">
It is still August and in some parts of the country kids are continuing to enjoy the last few days of summer vacation, so I think it is somewhat excusable that I am just now getting around to posting some of the highlights of the summertime.</div>
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After a quick 4th of July in Atlanta (where we were rained on every single day - including before and after the Peachtree Road Race) the kiddos geared up for our Disney Dream adventure. We spent two days in Orlando before the cruise departed (one day at Hollywood and one day in the Magic Kingdom) and then 3 nights on the Disney Dream cruising to the Bahamas and Disney's extra-special, private island, Castaway Cay. </div>
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I was a totally reluctant cruise-goer. I protested this cruise for a few years and last December, during a weak moment, I said I would go. Papa-T called my bluff and 6 months later there I was on the veranda, staring out at the beautiful water, wondering why I ever protested.</div>
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Here I am with Jamesy on Castaway Cay - doesn't it even look fake (that's because it basically is):</div>
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More to come - there is only so much time in the day. </div>
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Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-50036009171214597302013-08-25T22:40:00.003-05:002013-08-25T22:40:42.183-05:00Yikes...Time Flies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I never did this with Lu and am really kicking myself. I love taking and seeing these photos of James in basically the same place each year almost at exactly the same time (give or take a few days). It is always amazing to me that time passes so quickly. I was warned. I said I understood. I really had no idea. It is so quick, in fact, that some days I feel like I got shorted a few hours. I wonder how it is that the day is over already and it is pushing 11 p.m. and I am gearing up for another week that will pass in the blink of an eye. Oh well, I am a broken record. I know.</div>
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2009</div>
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2011</div>
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2012</div>
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2013</div>
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And the look in the last picture captures this 4 year-old personality perfectly - following mama's orders is such a chore. There is so much sweetness and wonder inside of there, but there is a also a decent amount of boundary testing and patience testing and sleep deprivation (yeah, at some point over the summer J started having nightmares) and insistence that he just be allowed to grow right up and skip all of the years between 4 and 14. Not so fast, little guy.</div>
Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-89589017160032604882013-07-21T21:59:00.000-05:002013-07-21T21:59:27.022-05:00Aaaaah Summer<div style="text-align: justify;">
What can I say, the kiddos and Christian have been on vacation for the past month and a half so things have felt a little bit like vacation for me around here too - late nights, lazy mornings, and relaxed responsibilities. As a result, I have not spent much time blogging. Another reason for the absence is that I have been using Instagram much more frequently and the blog just seems duplicative. There are only so many cute pictures of the kiddos and brief updates about our lives that the public can tolerate, or so I imagine. I did not (yet) make the decision to stop blogging altogether, but the kids are older and tougher to photograph, the days (and nights) are much busier now that they are older and I seem to have much less free time. So, maybe this is just the natural progression. I will continue to try to post periodically, just to keep track of the goings on around here for the kiddos, for posterity.</div>
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And for those of you who are wondering how the kiddos are doing and what we have been up to this summer, I can catch you up to date in just a few pictures. While Christian was grading AP exams in Cincinnati, Luz and James spent two weeks in Atlanta at Nana and Papa-T's house. They loved every minute of their time in ATL and spent it swimming, hanging out with their cousins and learning Tai Kwon Do. And me? Oh, I worked (and enjoyed having the house all to myself, no cleaning/cooking/laundry/etc). With the exception of another brief trip to ATL for 4th of July, the rest of the summer has been filled with softball and summer camps. The softball season ended (finally) last Saturday and Lu was selected to represent her team (along with 2 other kids) on the Allstars team. I missed the warm ups but by the time I got to the game it was clear Lu's head was not in the right place and Christian said she was totally nervous and feeling completely incapable. My heart ached for her because that is such a tough feeling but she pulled it together and her first at bat was a beautiful double (and just the confidence boost she needed to get through the game).</div>
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We have a few more trips planned (Disney cruise, Houston for Red Sox v. Astros, Pensacola) before school starts but the summer is racing by and it is hard to imagine that in a month it will be back to the crazy school-year routine around here. </div>
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A little glimpse of summertime:</div>
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Luz, in the hole, ready to pat</div>
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It was always hot at the ballpark and James quickly learned to improvise:<br />
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Ready to swing. She is better than I ever was at softball:<br />
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Playing at the zoo with sweet baby Walker:<br />
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Last trip of the summer to the concession stand:<br />
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Allstars & 3rd place trophy:<br />
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Ready to jump in the Thibodaux pool:<br />
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-28602835007272000562013-06-09T21:51:00.001-05:002013-06-09T21:51:15.291-05:00Slugger<div style="text-align: justify;">
James is playing Carrollton t-ball this summer and somehow Christian ended up coaching the team. All this after he swore he would never coach softball/t-ball again at the end of Lucy's season last year. But, for better or worse, he found himself in the particular position he wanted no part of and with a much less dutiful child. What Lu lacks in athletic prowess is balanced beautifully by her coach-ability and diligence. James is the opposite end of the spectrum and completely takes advantage of the fact that his dad is the coach. The incessant whining and begging "just to bat, instead of playing outfield" and the exhausting excuses, 'the sun is in my eyes'; 'this hat is itchy'; 'it's so hot', only fall by the wayside when he fields a grounder and easily beats a runner to the base or knocks the ball too far for 4 year-old legs to chase - those are the moments when he actually has a good time and, for a second, we can all enjoy an hour at the ballpark. </div>
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Swinging<br />
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Lu, coaching 3rd, full of advice and motivation<br />
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Feet don't fail me now. The kid is actually fast if he tries.<br />
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Post-game team drink, best part of the afternoon, apparently<br />
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-15520373151934444872013-05-27T20:13:00.002-05:002013-05-27T20:15:21.207-05:00Jawbone UpDo any of you have one of these?<br />
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If so, do you love it?</div>
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I am fascinated. A few friends have them and are hooked. </div>
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I love my Garmin and am a recent convert to the Nike Running App, but I think I am ready for the Jawbone Up. This little guy will record all of the things in life that fascinate me most - movement, sleep, and nutrition. I don't know though - am I going to become even more obsessed? Is this overkill? I sense I might go a little crazy once I see how little I move (seriously, I sit at a desk ALL DAY, most days) and that I am actually an inefficient sleeper (mama ears will do that). And then, of course, there is the dilemma of the color choice. Why so many tempting options? It is just setting me up for buyer's remorse. I am still on the fence, but I will give you a full report if I decide to do it. </div>
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How was your Memorial Day weekend? There are few things in life I love as much as a three day weekend. This one was perfect - lots of sunshine and time outside and running and swimming and snowballs and long walks and bbq and time with friends and even a little organizing/cleaning and work (although not nearly enough). All of that and I actually feel relaxed, truly. I hope you do too!</div>
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Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-30068015603950847882013-05-12T22:09:00.002-05:002013-05-12T22:09:15.608-05:00May DaysWe are already half way through the month of May and it feels like I have not had a moment to catch my breath. I have had to travel a bit for work this month and that, coupled with the end of the year activities for the kiddos, has made it slightly more chaotic than what is customary around here. May has been filled with wonderful things - softball is in full swing, which means many nights and days each week at the ballpark (when we are not rained out - which has happened quite a bit), Lu made her First Communion, and we celebrated Mother's Day! <br />
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Lu and James with GG and mom-mom:<br />
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And w/ Nana and Papa who came to NOLA to celebrate Lucy's First Communion:<br />
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So, yeah, things have been crazy, but we have managed some quite moments and some of the usual stuff of life that barely bears reporting. There have been afternoons on the porch enjoying the cooler than usual May weather. James had two cavities filled. Lucy learned how to write in script and has the most incredible penmanship ever when she writes in cursive (and this is the kid who did not even figure out she was left handed until she was 5). Christian and I are finally going to be the same age again tomorrow (39, for those of you keeping track). And we are all eagerly awaiting summer break and all of the magic in store so stay tuned! </div>
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-87464712331972546872013-04-28T22:41:00.004-05:002013-04-28T22:41:50.384-05:00All Weekend Long<div style="text-align: justify;">
NOLA's 2013 Jazz Fest kicked off Friday and what was going to be a peaceful, kid free visit to the Fest on Saturday afternoon for Christian turned into a family affair. Luz had been begging to go all day - dreaming about mango freezes and strawberry lemonade, but James was initially content to spend a quiet afternoon at home with me. At the last minute he worried that he would be missing out and changed his mind, so we all headed out there for a beautiful afternoon. There are many NOLA favorites in my life, but sunset at Jazz Fest is very close to the top of that list and I got to experience a beautiful one on Saturday evening. After spending the entire day outside - starting with a 7:30 a.m. run/bike/dog walk outing, followed by a few hours at the park for James' t-ball practice, and ending with JF - the kids crashed the second their heads hit their pillows.</div>
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Today was another long and fun-filled day. We headed to the Northshore to pick strawberries with some friends. The strawberry fields were covered in mud thanks to a torrential downpour, but the kids were not deterred. We ate our weight in strawberries as we picked and came home with 12 pints. I am curious to see how long it will last us. The kids loved picking strawberries and playing on all of the toys in one of the most bizarre playgrounds I have ever seen. There were castaway swing sets and merry-go-rounds that have been outlawed for years - the land of the misfit play sets. There were see-saws and a zip line and a gigantic dome-like, in-ground trampoline that is a total liability. Of course the kids loved every minute of it...and I have to say, I enjoyed it too.</div>
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Luz, enjoying her ice cream snowball:<br /><div>
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Staring at the clouds, listening to Andrew Bird:<br />
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Picking strawberries:</div>
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My girl, so grown up:<br />
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In the fields:<br />
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Strawberry mouth:<br />
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James, zip-lining:<br />
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Having fun, despite the potential liability:<br />
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Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-19432474548604559312013-04-21T21:28:00.001-05:002013-04-21T21:28:18.980-05:00I'm Still Here, Really<div style="text-align: justify;">
I apologize for the relaxed approach to blogging I have been exhibiting lately. Facebook and Instagram are so easy and, well, instant, that I end up sharing everything over the course of the day instead of an in an end-of-the-day post. I am going to try to keep up with the blogging, at least for a little while longer, so that I can maintain a journal of the adventures of Luz and James. That said, if you are in need of more consistent updates, follow me on Instagram and Facebook and occasionally on Twitter.</div>
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The last few weeks have been filled with school and work and fabulous weddings and soccer and softball and school fairs and bike riding and long afternoon walks with Noah. Work has been busy for me and even busier for Christian as the end of the year approaches. It is hard to believe, but we are already mapping out the summer, filling empty days with camps and classes and trips to Atlanta to visit Nana and Papa. When I was a kid, at least when I was a little kid, I went to camp but I know that I had more than a handful of unstructured summer vacation days. It just isn't the same these days.</div>
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These days Luz is obsessed with an old Razor scooter I bought on a lark for $5 at a garage sale. Christian refurbished it as much as possible and she rides it all the time - to and from school, all around the neighborhood - I wish her approach to the two-wheeler was as enthusiastic. She finished out the soccer season with 2 victories and 2 goals - which meant lots of smiles and a BIG feeling of accomplishment. It was a great season for her, mentally and physically.</div>
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James is obsessed with his bike and will probably be tooling around on a two-wheeler long before Luz. He rides it every afternoon and all weekend long. I love seeing something like that catch his attention as much as Star Wars and playing the Ipad. He and Luz are both looking forward to Jazz Fest, the start of the Carrolton softball season, and summer vacation.</div>
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Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-54352109258960389632013-04-01T21:56:00.003-05:002013-04-01T22:04:31.934-05:00Happy EasterI still have trouble adjusting to the idea that Easter is just a weekend these days and that Holy Thursday and Good Friday are special, particularly for Catholics, but business as usual for most of the rest of the country. I suppose it was the 14 years I spent in Catholic school, enjoying a Spring Break that aligned perfectly with Easter that has set me up for disappointment each year when Holy Week rolls around. So, while Christian and the kids were lounging around in pjs, watching cartoons and enjoying some incredibly beautiful weather, I was working. But, I enjoyed a peaceful Saturday and Sunday in the country, visiting with family, eating crawfish, and relaxing. The only stressful moment came when I realized that the Paas egg dye stained...what, you say...seriously, James' hands are still green hued.<br />
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The kiddos, with sweet baby Walker, getting ready to hunt for eggs:<br />
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Lucy and James enjoyed a few rides on the newest addition, Buster:<br />
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-72999016339464030612013-03-19T21:33:00.003-05:002013-03-19T21:33:48.924-05:00Mardi Gras 2013 PhotographsI did not take many pictures during Mardi Gras this year. I forgot the camera a couple of times, found the flash particularly problematic ruling out using it at night parades, and just flat out declined to lug it around on some of our multi-hour excursions to the parade route. So, I have a few pics, but not many, from this year. Fortunately, my cousin, Laurie, did a much better job of documenting the weekend and sent a few pictures to me today. She sent this one in particular that I love.<br />
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I do not have the type of kids that can fall asleep anywhere. I always wished for it to happen when they were younger. I'd state slack-jawed as I watched other kids face-plant into pasta bowls, but it just was not in my kids' DNA. But then on this night there were a series of parades at the end of many long days and late nights and lots of sugar and bribes (because one little boy would rather do just about anything than watch a parade), and he finally decided sleep was a good idea. Lucky for James, his sweet Papa did not even budge and kept the beads away from his head. Don't worry, after smiling and feeling my heart fill up with love and laughing for a float or two I took him down and brought him home and put him to bed. I will not ever forget that night though.Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-62738884993539280072013-03-17T22:45:00.003-05:002013-03-17T22:45:48.252-05:00Our WeekendIt was 75 degrees and sunny all weekend long. We spent as much time as possible outside, soaking up the sun. Hours and hours of cool fresh air and blue skies, filled with sports and long walks and chasing tennis balls (Noah and James) and watching sun sets and swinging and reading and napping in warm sun rays (James and Noah) and playing make-believe. <br />
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Dorothy taking Superman on a ride around the world or Oz or Camp Street:<br />
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-34862497371600413812013-03-10T21:41:00.002-05:002013-03-10T21:41:27.714-05:00Miss These Guys?We are still here...busy with the usual stuff of 4 and 7 year olds...but enjoying (almost) every minute of it. The last few weeks have been particularly crazy as we had two out of town weddings and still had not completely recovered from the Mini Mardi Gras - Super Bowl - Mardi Gras trifecta. It has all been wonderful, but slightly exhausting and, even though we were in town this weekend, it was filled with (finally) cleaning and organizing and unpacking and grocery shopping and soccer and play dates and Girl Scout Cookie sales and all of that sort of stuff.<br />
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Now we are gearing up for Catherine's wedding and Easter and crawfish season and Jazz Fest and I really need to start mapping out the summer, because I know I am going to wake up sometime soon and it is going to be June and it will be too late to scramble for camps at that point. <br />
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So, yeah, it has been and I guess it will continue to be the usual 'life just racing on by' over here in NOLA. But I am trying to remember that a leisurely 30 minute walk to the park with the kiddos to watch Noah chase a tennis ball can slow things down at least a little, and, even if it means pushing bedtime back an extra half-hour, it is totally worth it.<br />
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Lu and James, Lawrence Square 6 pm (enjoying that extra hour of sunshine)<br />
<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-15954773374235859312013-02-17T23:11:00.000-06:002013-02-17T23:11:30.373-06:00Hi ThereIt has been busy, very busy around here in NOLA. I promise I will tell you all about the exciting things we have been up to around here but it is Sunday night, already passed my bedtime, and I have the yeoman's task of motivating the kids after a week of Mardi Gras vacation on my own tomorrow morning since Christian is in Atlanta for a bachelor party weekend ( I know, yes, he is 39). And it is no ordinary morning, I have meetings starting at 8 a.m., which means we have to be out of the house even earlier than usual. Wish me luck.<br />
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I leave you with a beautiful, feathery, beaded wonder donned by a Mardi Gras Indian on Fat Tuesday...probably my favorite sight of the day other than the kiddos' smiling faces and frantic waves for trinkets:<br />
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-29057606953611230232013-01-27T21:20:00.001-06:002013-01-27T21:20:53.991-06:00How Was Your Weekend?<div style="text-align: justify;">
Everywhere else in the world it was just a regular-old weekend, but here in NOLA it was the start of Mardi Gras 2013 and it was 75 degrees and the skies were blue. So, for a handful of hours, I celebrated with friends and family, remembered why I hassle with all of the cons, and reveled in the awesomeness of the place where I live. Sun up until sun down and beyond, on the Napoleon Avenue neutral ground, you could see a little something like this...and it made me smile:</div>
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-81175789481051171792013-01-24T22:38:00.000-06:002013-01-24T22:38:15.950-06:00Carnival Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The beautiful picture below is Rex's 2013 Proclamation. The Title, All Things Great and Small. The artist, Shelley Hesse. I love it and it certainly puts me in the Mardi Gras spirit.</div>
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If you enjoy this sort of thing and find yourself in the NOLA area, I highly recommend a brief stop at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts to check out the Mardi Gras exhibits where you will be treated to some lovely MG themed artwork, including a few incredible "Proclamations" from years ago.<br />
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And, in case you were curious, here is my all-time favorite, courtesy of Auseklis Ozols:<br />
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My favorite part - the kiddos in the ladders - of course - it pains me to think that I only have a year or two more of ladder usage at parades. I think Lucy has totally moved into the painter/step ladder phase this year.Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-27596528838336889932013-01-13T23:19:00.002-06:002013-01-13T23:19:53.183-06:00Jamesy, Haircut...For RealWe finally (and at long last) got a bona fide haircut for James. We had been dancing around this for the better part of a year, trimming back bangs, taking up the sides here and there, but James had never had a real haircut until last week. Right around the start of Christmas break, one of James' buddies commented about his hair and how he has to cut it for school. This was not the first reference to the school's haircut policy (yeah, there is one, and it says that hair needs to be short), but it was the first time we finally realized that it was a good idea. So, gone is the sweet, baby boy hair and now when I look at him I just see this 4 year old kid, someone ready to tackle me and race me around the house and dodge my kisses....just like that...<br />
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Well, not exactly 'just like that'...it took a ton of patience and love and skill (and courage)...all thanks to the amazingly talented Aunt Susan:<br />
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<br />Julie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33903809.post-72916523282716548012013-01-08T22:27:00.000-06:002013-01-08T22:27:00.316-06:00F O U RRemember this little fella?<br />
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<i>Jamesy, first kiss, 1.9.09</i></div>
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Yeah, me too, like it was yesterday. He turns 4 tomorrow and the whole thing is totally bittersweet for me...a gigantic mix of sorry and glad together. I just wish there was some way to slow it down a tad, you know? Alas, there's not much else to do but celebrate, so Happy Birthday James, and thanks for being the best baby boy ever. Love, MamaJulie Vaiciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021381430924836711noreply@blogger.com1