Quotable Parenthood

I generally love a good quote and was perusing about and found these amongst many on parenthood. I think they are a cute look at life as I now know it.

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back." (this one just made me laugh..b/c it's true!)


"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." (I have read this one many times before, but never actually understood. But NOW:  I. get. it. wow.)


"When you have brought up kids, there are memories you store directly in your tear ducts." (i thought I cried alot before Joseph came along....ha!)


"Parenthood: That state of being better chaperoned than you were before marriage." (good grief!)


"There comes a time when a woman needs to stop thinking about her looks and focus her energies on raising her children. This time comes at the moment of conception. A child needs a role model, not a supermodel." (this was in reference to the "hot mom" trend. can i get an amen and THANK YOU to whoever said this!)

A New Look, a New Class, a New Cooking Job

It was time to simplify. Trying to bring some structure and organization to my life. The blog was a very easy place to start. If only there was a template that I could use to point and click my closet, refrigerator, bedroom, bathroom cabinets and junk drawers to organization--that would be grand.

Why this sudden need for more organization?

I'm about to be a 30 yr old, "non-traditional" student. Did those students always drive you absolutely crazy when you were in undergrad? they did me and my friends--sitting in the front row, asking questions, engaging the professor right at the end of night class...the daggers I shot them were unbelievable! But, front and center is where I plan to park myself b/c this time my education is actually about getting an education--not about what boy I am not hanging out with while wasting all my time in classes that totally cramp my social life. I'm hoping that lack of distraction will make studying easier.

Meanwhile, I also had the brainy idea to become a Pampered Chef consultant. I have a four month old. I work. I'm about to take A&P and Microbiology simultaneously (note: the last science course I took was in 2000 and was titled "Plants and People" and I got a C b/c I talked and wrote notes that had nothing to do with the many uses of peanuts in society.). I'm feeling a little crazy. But, what's new. I'll give it a shot.

If you, or someone you know, would like to host a Cooking Show or Bridal Shower--Call me!! Marjo Labonte, Pampered Chef Consultant. Finally, I have credentials. I will have my own ordering website in February. My thirties are shaping up nicely. ;-)

Talk again soon,
Marjo, PCC

Baptized into Christ

As many as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!!

More to come soon on a most glorious day in the life of a parent--seeing your child yoked unto Christ in the Holy Mystery of Baptism.

What in the World....

Have we been up to? I know that is the burning question on all of my avid readers' minds! ;-) Well, life has been a blur since the last post in August. We have settled into our new normal, finally. I have been back at work since mid-September, working 3 days a week. Billy has changed his schedule to work 3pm-11pm (which usually means 1am) so that he is home with Joseph during the day, dropping him off with our dear friend, Christine, for 3 hrs a couple of times/week. It is the best situation we could come up with at this point and we are so thankful. I am waiting to hear if I got into nursing school and should know in the next couple of weeks. Then in January, Iwill cut my hours back even further at work, which will allow for more time at home with Billy and Jos and to start the dreaded studying!
  Other than that, the main thing we have been doing is just enjoying our little fella! He is so happy and truly a joy to be around. He LOVES people and is becoming very social and interested in everything around him. He has the biggest smile I have ever seen and we go to great lengths to entice them from him! His laugh makes my heart soar and even getting up in the middle of the night is not as much of a chore as I would have expected! He still wakes up to eat one time at about 3:00a, but goes to bed at 7:00p, so hey! He's a great sleeper, I just need to go to bed earlier!
Here's a look at what Joseph is up at 4 months:
- Weighs in at 15.5 lbs and 25.5"
- He's got a killer grip and loves to grab everything he can reach and put it into his mouth...current faves--his big toe and Leo his stuffed lion
- He plays great on his own-- loves to lie in the bed or on his fuzzy frog mat kicking his legs and talking as loud as he can
- All it takes is a look in his direction to be rewarded with a big smile most of the time
- Definitely knows who "his people" are and loves to be with them
- likes taking walks/runs with me and Billy and we are sure he loves going to the zoo as much as we do!
- His hair is still wild and crazy and points out in all directions which always cracks us up
- Already has such a sweet demeanor and we are so blessed to watch his personality unfold daily

The Big 3-0

It's official. I have joined "The 29 Club", as a dear friend put it. Starting a new decade has not been nearly as traumatic as I thought it would be. Probably b/c I already have gray hair, wrinkles, stretch marks, and a wide assortment of delightful characteristics, none of which I can blame on baby J. But seriously, some people I know are shaking off their twenties, ready to embrace a better set of years, you know 30 is the new 20, and that is great. I love the optimism, but I leave behind a beautiful 10 yrs. They weren't always pretty, but they were beautiful and I will miss them. Here are the most memorable moments from each year:
20- lived in my first apartment with friends--Beauregard anyone?
21- graduated from Mississippi College, armed with a BA and a set of irreplaceable friends and memories
22- got my first real "i'm on salary" job--Recruiter at MC (then i thought salary was a good thing!)
23- had an incredibly fun year of friends/roommates, work and just being out on my own--even a budget seemed fun back then
24- trained for and ran the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon with 2 very dear friends--we still talk about it like it was 6 months ago
25- moved back to Memphis, met this cute guy named Billy and got engaged
26- got married a week after my birthday to my younger man, traveled to San Francisco, became Orthodox
27- traveled to Boston and just had a fun year of married life--footloose and fancy free!
28- bought our first house in Evergreen.
29 Took an amazing out West vacation with my husband; Had my sweetest baby boy, Joseph John
So, twenties, cheers to you. Thanks for the mistakes, the regrets, the lessons, the love, the growth and the gray hair. God is good to allow all of it to work together for His plan. I'm thankful for the path traveled, but even more so for the one ahead. So, as much as I will miss you the people and circumstances that made you so truly one of a kind, I'm ready for what's next. Good thing because ready or not...I'm 30.

ENTOURAGE

Time Flies

Time flies when you are having fun. Or feeding a munchkin up to 8 times a day. Or changing 12 diapers and just as many miniature outfits.
I heard that this would happed--days passing in succession, not quite knowing which one you've landed on b/c they are all the same and pass so quickly. It's true. For example...I think today is Monday. The start to a new work week. But happily, i'm not 100% sure--Even though I was up early enough to make the 7:00a every other Monday start time. My new boss is much less concerned about productivity, dress codes and time constraints and much more focused on company lunches and promotional opportunities, as seen above. I'm hooked. And while these weeks have passed more quickly than any other month in my life, the have also been the sweetest, most fulfilling. Joseph has pretty much spoiled us this first month. He eats and sleeps like a champ. He even slept for 5 hours straight during the night 2x this week. That is a full night's rest in my book. He has gotten to meet so many special people over the last month--he is blessed to have 4 living (and very spunky) great-grandmothers and has gotten to meet them all. He has also been to Chattanooga, attended a wedding, been to a birthday party and visited our favorite restaurants. He loves going on walks when it's not 120 degrees, staring at the fan, staring at the polka dots in his bassinet, snuggling, smiling and scowling! Now, we're off to try and slow things down.

Stay tuned, next week, Joseph goes to Church!