2 minutes

Two years ago, from this exact moment that I write, Quinne was born into this world.  It was the greatest thing I've ever accomplished and I'm thankful for her each and every day.  There are days when I feel so run down and can't bare another meltdown or hysterical toddler.  And there are days when I am so overwhelmed with love it physically hurts.  Most of the time it's the latter of the two (thank god!)  and I count myself extremely blessed.

Quinne is are amazing.  Seriously, she is the coolest little person I know.  (Of course I am bias, but in all seriousness she is so cool. )  Her sense of humor is hysterical for someone so new to the world of comedy.  Any question you ask the answer will be a simple 'sure'.  And coming from her croaky little voice it's hysterical.  She talks about tooting all the time.  Yelling across the table to MoMo that she tooted.  If you ask her how old she is her response is a silly 'two minutes!'.  It's so funny I die all day long.  If she were a real life version of the Truman Show people would flip.  Obviously, we would be her parents and life wouldn't be in a giant fake moon.  I just really think people would get a kick out of her adorableness.  Ok.  I'll stop now, it's late and I'm ridiculously tired.  

Quinne We Love You!!!!  I hope you know that.  From the deepest most bottom places of out hearts, we love you.

Happy Birthday! 

boxes and fall

Thank goodness October is here!  I can start baking and eating everything pumpkin!  And hopefully we get some cool fall weather over here.  I want to bundle and feel that brisk air.  

Life is crazy.  And we are just doing what we can to stay sane, calm and collected.  David's way better at that than me.  But all in all it's moving along.  My friend Erin came over yesterday and encouraged me that it wasn't as big of a disaster as I was making it out to be (And that I wasn't as big of a disaster as I thought I was!).  Sometimes you just need someone to remind you that things are good and it will all be fine in the end.  And that I am so grateful for!

I can hear Quinne calling my name from her room.  Not mommy, but my actual name.  (I wish computers could do emojis.  They really bring home my feelings and express what I'm thinking all on that little yellow face)

It's almost Friday!  Woo!!!

Love,
Noelle

Living in escrow

As of right now we have to be out of our house by October 22.  That's in less than a month!! And I'm stressed to the max.  Our house went on the market last Thursday and papers were signed the next Monday.  To say it went fast is the understatement of the year.  I spent the last few days in shock and total confusion of where to start.  How in the world am I supposed to pack up a whole house, work, and take care of Quinne in this small window of time?! 

My life is consumed by Americanos and boxes.  Quinne tearing through piles I make and basically making packing impossible.  Finding old  pictures, letters and memories that leave me a sentimental blob on the floor, in a bigger mess than when I started.  Let's just say I'm going to be happy when this is all over.  And then really sad because it means its all over.

another day at the beach

Indian summers, how we love you so.

Love,
Noelle

Three years

On Wednesday we celebrated our wedding anniversary!  Three years has really flown by.  It has been long during some parts and a blink of an eye in others.  We have had so many ups and downs but through it all we have loved each other.  And more importantly, we like each other so much.  We love the company and the laughs we share together.  We are in it together and I'm comforted by that each and every day.

I love you David.  I really really do and I'm so excited to see what this next year brings.  Now take me back to Barbados! 

selling & tears

It is official, we are selling our home.  This has been something that David and I have been talking about for a really long time and now that it is here I'm overwhelmed with emotions.  Imagine that.  

Our house is so great.  It is spacious, roomy and always open to our friends and family.  I met this house before David and I were together and have so many good good memories.  The only downside is the area that the house lives in.  We are on a really busy street and that I hate.  We have so many people walking by all day long and most of them look on the suspicious side.  I won't miss the loud sirens or the Big Gulp cups in our yard that's for sure.  If only we could magically transport the house to another part of town!  

Here's where the tears come in.  I've been bitching about this place for so long and now that there's a for sale sign planted in our front yard I'm extremely sad about moving.  On Thursday we had our first showing and I got a text from David saying it was happening at work.  I couldn't help the tears that were streaming down my face.  Having someone in my home inspecting it was too much.  We've put so much thought and work into this place.  Offering it up to the public to scrutinize and pick apart is so hard to do.  Imagining someone else making memories here is so hard to swallow.  But, I know it's for the best.  It's for Quinne, it's for our family and that is all that matters.  I want her to grow up being able to play in the yard without me being a hawk, thinking everyone that walks by might come back a steal her ( that is a real life thought I've had, call me crazy).  I want to feel safe and know my neighbors when David is out of town.  And we want Quinne to be in a school district we are proud to send her to.

I know that this is an amazing opportunity and look forward to the future.  I just have to allow myself to feel the  emotions and process this how I need to.  It is after all just a house and as long as our family is together that is all that counts at the end of the day.  

Quinne says

>>At our friends wedding the other day, every time Q saw the bride:

"She naked!!" 

Obviously, this is not true!  She had on a strapless dress and apparently Quinne has never seen bare shoulders before.

>>While standing in line at the grocery store the man in front of us had dark slicked back hair.  Clearly he was going for the gelled look:

"Man! wet hair man!!"  Over and over again.  Poor man.

>>"Quinne big pooped!!  BIG poop"  Pretty much anywhere you don't want your kid yelling 'Big Poop'.  She actually talks about poop all day long.  And I find it completely hilarious.

>>  She calls my dad "Grandpapa"  which KILLS me!!  It's so funny and formal and she called him that all on her own.  If you could see my dad in his slippers and baggy sweatshirts you wouldn't think a fancy name like that would work.  But it totally does.  HAh!!

>> "Sawsaw on it" Translation: 'Salsa on it'  We pretend, or in most cases put salsa on it.  Breakfast.  Lunch.  Dinner.  

>> In the mornings when David goes to get Quinne out of bed

D: Hello
Q: I love you
D: Won't you tell me your name
Q: Qwiin!!

This kid is hilarious and makes everyday worth waking up for.  

new pages

A change was long overdue around here.  And lucky for me I have a friend who happens to be an incredibly talented graphic designer.  Coming from someone who can barely email without having to ask someone for help (I'm almost serious!!) designing something on the computer with all those letters and symbols and numbers sends me into a panic.  How in the world do you do that!?  I really don't understand, and so I'm completely impressed and thankful for Carly.

I met her years ago and fell in love with her quirky personality.  She is hilarious and so very nice.  It was a time when wearing slips over jeans was cool and going to shows to hear your friends band was the social highlight of the week.  I have many good and funny memories of her and even though we don't call each other after a crappy day or when we fall in front of strangers and everyone looks the other way I will always love her.

Oh and did I forget to mention she is beautiful, has amazing style and lives a dream life with her babelicious man and Frenchie named Danger?  Ya that too.  I'm a total creep on instagram, spying on her and whatnot.  So thank you so so so much my friend for helping me out!!!  You are so talented and I'm lucky to know you.  

Love, 
Noelle

hello out there

It has been so quite here on the blog.  In real life it has been the opposite, hence the stillness.  Between friends weddings, parties, work, husband, an almost two year old(?!!)  and an overall laziness that came with the constant heat waves my motivation has been down in the dumps.  But alas, I'm here to share our life lately! 

This summer has been filled with so much fun.  Having a kid makes you realize how much you love summer and how much you want to be in the sun enjoying every last minute.  I love it so much!  Life doesn't get much better than a long day at the beach with friends and way too many good snacks.

We've witnessed some friends share vows of commitment and a life of happiness together.  Making me tear up and remember our own wedding.  So many good memories and reminders of the special words we shared a few years back.  I'm a sucker for a wedding and I've had my fill of them this summer.

We've watched Quinne turn into this little kid that has many, many opinions!  She is the sassiest, most determined little lady and with all the challenges that come with those qualities, it makes for some really good laughs.  Quinne says and does the funniest and weirdest things.  I could write a book about how silly this girl is!  I have laughed, cried, wanted to down a bottle of wine and gone to bed way too early.  Being a mom is really hard!  It's equally challenging as it is amazing.  Seriously its nuts!!

I'm happy to welome the start of fall.  All I can think about is pumpkin flavored things and leather jackets.  

very into Tangled these days

Favorite food: chips and salsa

pool party!

getting way too big

weekenders

The weekend was filled with so much fun and friends I'm sad that it has come to an end.  It was packed with activities and hanging out that it flew by so fast.  On Friday I got to meet up with some of the girls from work and enjoy good drinks and ridiculously good tapas.  I love tapas!  You get to sample many flavors and get stuffed off of mac and cheese and calamari, but in small quantities so you don't feel like a total pig.

 Up next was a dinner at our house with some dear friends who just got back from their honeymoon.  I love seeing couples after their wedding and vacation.  It's so fun to hear about the amazing time they had, and David and I get to reminisce about ours.  A win win!  I made a whole chicken from scratch in the dutch oven for the first time.  It was tasty and I'm now going to use a dutch oven whenever possible!  The night ended stuffed and relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine in hand.  Perfect.

Family doughnut date.  Enough said!!

My favorite part was Sunday.  We celebrated summer and friends with a fabulous garden party, and did a little grocery shopping while enjoying the most delicious food.  The only thing missing was daddy.  The weather was good, the company was even better and Quinne ate a whole watermelon to herself. (well, not a whole one but pretty close!)  My dream in life is to have a garden to live off of and chickens and a goat.  I was in heaven at this party and saw my future and how much fun we're going to have.  Thank you Palmers for being such amazing hosts!  

Until next weekend,  hello Monday!

Love, 
Noelle