The other night I was knee-deep in writing my to do list for the next day when my attention was needed elsewhere. In jest, I asked Garth to finish my to-do list for me. He did. Here’s the list:

-make ultrasound appt.
-call SkyOne about transfer
-make books
-spring bow ties
-purple bow ties
-sing a song on the porch
-do something fun for myself
-listen to the birds.
-leave love note for garther to find when he gets home and plays the “hot and cold” game to find it.

The last four entries were written by Garth, and I did my best to check them off. A few of them I completed today- Jack and I went to the park and spent the afternoon on a bench swing cuddling and singing (and listening to birds).

The above love note was hidden in the fridge and it was the first place that Garth looked when he got home.

much goodness.
elle

one. the weather- I think I got a tiny sunburn at the Port City Market this morning!

two. these tiny handsewn terrariums by My Paper Crane.

three. this Rube Goldberg machine in the new OK GO video. a. m. a. z. i. n. g.

four. that the Disney & Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland is finally out.

five. dear Jenny of frecklewonder reminding me that green grass and bare feet are almost here!

six. my boys giving me kisses and making me laugh.

Newly thrifted items that’ll soon be bow ties and journals! The books I purchased at Bienville Books on our recent trip to Mobile, and the ties were all purchased at a single thrift store on a single trip- makes me wonder if they were all owned by the same person.

I haven’t been that great about posting- I am right in the middle of the early-pregnancy-tired-and-grumpy syndrome. I don’t ever feel good, and the number of things that I’d like to get done hasn’t dwindled, so it makes for a frustrating situation for me (and Mr Jack, who is as sweet as can be and just wants to play with everything and hang out with Mom all day). I am not enjoying my life right now- and that makes me feel guilty. Guilty that I can’t keep the house clean. Guilty that I take Jack to daycare for 12 hours a week, just to get time to work on my little business and devote some uninteruppted time on projects that require it. Guilty that by the time Garth gets home from work I am wiped out and am not a charming or gracious wife. In fact, I make him get me snacks in bed just about everynight.

It’s temporary, and this pregnancy funk is mostly in my head. I know this because the following are all from this week:

My life is pretty darn fabulous. I hope that I can remember that this week.
I hope all ya’ll remember how fabulous your lives are too.

xo
elle

You and I got to visit Washington State and hang out with grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. We both got sick, but it was such a nice trip (and warmer than it was in Florida!).

It’s been really cold here this month and so we bundle you up often. You own at least 5 winter hats and 3 pairs of mittens. I always try to keep your feet covered in socks, but your crawling and jumping wiggles them free and I find them all over the house, just stranded.

You’re trying out all kinds of new foods. It is clear that you like cheetos and doritos. You take a full three minutes to eat one chip, and most of the cheesy orange coating ends up on your face. One morning, I gave you a whole chocolate chip cookie and you nibbled on it contentedly. You also got it all over your hands and face and used it as a sort of hair gel for your precious little blonde locks. Foods that we know you like: chocolate, any of the gerber 2nd foods, tortilla chips, slices of apple, paper, multi-grain cheerios, and paper. Foods that you don’t like: cheese, french fries, diced peaches (they’re too slippery and slimy!), teething biscuits, any kind of cheerios other than multi-grain, lettuce, and yogurt. You’re always very interested in what we’re eating, and we like to share, but more often than not, you make the Mr. Yuck face before the adult food reaches your lips and block any repeated attempts we make to give you another taste.

We’ve established a bedtime routine for you to help you sleep better and we all really enjoy splashing in the bath and then bundling you all up in clean jammies and reading to you from our library of awesome children’s books. You’re favorite so far is a teeny little board book about Buzz Lightyear that you’re Dad now knows by heart. The last page of the book reads, ” but most important of all, I always believe in being a good friend. Mission Accomplished”. You often want us to read it one more time.

There’s always fun to be had with you in the house. You picked out a drum at a thrift store and the joy on your face when you hit it and it made noise is unparalleled. Now you like to bang on everything to see what kind of sound it makes: toy bins, doors, mirrors, your face. You also dance when the radio comes on. Your lower half wiggles and shimmies and your arms raise high in the air and you grin from ear to ear. In fact, we can even find you dancing when there’s no music at all.

We love you little man- you’re gonna be a year old before we know it!
xo
mama

Pinch-proof bow ties are now in the shop.

xo
elle

Happy Mardi Gras ya’ll! Today was very un-fat for us here. Garth returned to work after a four day weekend, Jack cried his way through 6 hours of daycare, and I made 16 bow ties and caught up on some e-mail. We’re living a short card-ride away from the big easy so it’s always tempting this time of year to drop in on the festivities. Three things kept us from nola this year: it’s freaking cold, Jack needs a stroller and stroller + mardi gras crowd= ahhh!, and baby number 2 doesn’t like it when I stand for more than 26 seconds, or go more than 2 hours without a meal. So the short of it is- we’re domesticated- we’re grown up- we’re a small family trying to keep the laundry and dishes done. Life has changed.

We couldn’t just let our responsabilities limit our carnival fun though, so we went to Mobile on Monday. We found a sunny spot on the street and watched an afternoon parade- we caught moon pies and beads and Jack caught a little purple bat. We meandered down Dauphin street, stopping at Bienville books to peruse (amazing collection of used books!) and purchase a bag-full for journal-making. We ate lunch at Spot of Tea where I had a sandwich called “english cucumber”. It was a toasted croissant with cream cheese, cucumbers, toasted pecans, and a green leaf. Surprisingly delicious.

We also visited the USS Alabama and USS Drum on the way home- two WWII Navy vessels preserved and available to tour- it was awesome! I couldn’t believe how much of the ship was open for us to wander. Garth loved walking through the USS Drum- a sub- and commenting on how things had changed/were the same. And Jack, well, he was so excited that he peed through all of his layers of clothing and had the opportunity to be naked on the USS Alabama. I guess that’s not a big deal- thousands of sailors can say that very same thing.

We’re only planning on living on the gulf coast until the end of this year and there are still so many places that I’d like to go! Birmingham, Atlanta, the Louisiana swamps, Savannah (again- when I’m not so sick), Memphis, Charleston, Orlando (for the third time….), and on and on. Guess I’d better start planning those weekend trips!

hope all ya’ll are living it up.
elle

Hello dark ash brown. It’s pretty close to my real hair color, and it reminds me of that glorious time a few years ago when I was living on Banker’s Hill in San Diego and I met a super cute bow-tie-wearer that took me on dates on his motorcycle. I was dark ash brown then too.

Ya can’t go wrong being reminded of good times like those. =)

We found out that we are expecting baby number 2, and even though you don’t know what that means, we like to pretend that you’re excited. I’ve been pretty miserable with the pregnancy, so lots of mornings, you and I just hang out in bed while I try to sleep and you try to throw anything you can find behind the headboard. When we pulled the headboard away from the wall, we found 6 pacifiers, a bottle of tylenol, a calculator, and an empty bottle.

You’re pretty adept at standing and take every opportunity to exercise those little legs. We know that it’s only a matter of time until you’re running all over the place and we go to bed weary each night from chasing you.

Oh happy, happy little Jack- it is my challenge to be patient enough to keep up with you and keep you smiling. I am constantly reminded that you are such a blessing by your sweet smile and constant curiosity. I can’t wait to see what the coming month brings.

loves!
Mama.

hello long lost friends!
My absence these past few weeks can be explained in the news that Mr. Jack is so eagerly sharing with everyone. We found out shortly before Christmas that baby #2 is on the way. And for me being pregnant= months of nausea, fatigue, and sparsely attended pity parties. So I’ve been hanging out in my bed as much as possible and expending all of my energy to keep Mr. Jack fed and changed and played with at the park. This of course means that non-essential activities like changing out of my pajamas, preparing meals, and doing laundry have been cut from my schedule. I’m considering getting a to-do list that only contains space for one item a day.

Luckily I have an amazing husband (have I mentioned that he has his own website?) that has cut out his non-essential activities to keep up with mine. He makes a mean smoothie, and always separates the darks from the whites. He even mailed out my bow tie orders when I was accross the country hanging out with my family. Totally rad.

This little blog o’ mine and my shop have been sorely neglected. Hopefully I will feel better soon and be able to add a few more spaces on my daily to-do list.

hugs and naps,
elle

ps. The baby’s due date is either July 27th, or August 27th, depending on who you ask. I’m voting for July 27th since my darling brother is getting married August 31st, thousands of miles away from where I’ll be delivering. Golly.

Charlie, of wolfie and the sneak fame, sporting an xoelle bow tie.

New bow ties are being added to the shop daily after a crazy holiday shopping season that left only 5 bow ties in stock. It’s difficult work here behind the scenes, but I’ve been listing new bow ties this week, and will continue to list until I reach 50 bow ties or so (or Garth gets tired of trying them all on for photos!). I’ve got hundreds of journals to list too- and can hopefully list a few of those everyday.

There are so many things that I had planned for the xoelle universe this year- and most of those things are going to have to wait, I think. My mind is trying to outwit itself, devising a way that I can accomplish all that I want with my shop and still be a stupendous wife/mother. I have the feeling that something is going to have to give- and it most certainly won’t be my family. I will be able to maintain what I am doing, but probably no building or expanding. Once again, cute boys rule my life. =)

ps- anyone else out there have photos of that someone special sporting an xoelle bow tie? I’d love to see ‘em/put ‘em on the blog. You can sand them to me at elle@xoelle.com. much thanks!