Reasons Why Henry Makes My World Better

Henry is the center of my universe, obvsies.  I love him so much for the same reasons every parent loves their child, but being a mom has led to a few unanticipated perks.  Here are a few:

I eat better.
Pre-preg, I was a pretty shitty eater.  I've always loved fast food (sue me) and I never finished a salad until long after college.  Now that I have my picky little Henry, I get to eat his leftovers, which are particularly handy in the morning (banana, blueberries, other yummy fruit).  I'm more full in the morning, and crave the bad stuff less.

I work out more.
I gained 50 lbs when I was pregnant.  It sucked.  I became very self-conscious of my body postpartum and forced myself to go to Pure Barre classes beginning when Henry was 2 months old.  Henry's 15 months old now and I weigh 10 lbs less than I did pre-preg. 

I call my parents more.
I constantly want to tell them about the latest cute thing he's done, but mostly I call to ask for parenting advice.  And I enjoy (most) every conversation.

I work at an insanely efficient pace.
Grad school is tough and requires a lot of time management.  I thought I was good at juggling things before Henry, but now that I have the little monkey, I insist on making the most out of the time that he's in day care so I can devote my mornings, evenings, and weekends to him.  I get more done by lunch than I used to in a full day.

I think beyond grad school.
Pre-Henry, I was pretty content to couch everything in the name of my program.  I get heart palpitations when I think about the Saturdays I spent my first year holed up doing statistics labs, or the miles I logged driving to see my first client almost daily.  Granted things naturally eased up after that first year, I've definitely gained some perspective on where I see myself and my family in a few years.  It's not just academic journals and evidence-based practice.  It's also family vacations and trips to museums.  Walks in the neighborhood and family hugs. 

At first, I thought having Henry was going to throw me completely off track.  Instead, he's put me on the right one.

Mardi Gras Threads

We're big on costumes here in New Orleans -- especially during Mardi Gras.  My first year here, I didn't have a clue how to "do" carnival.  We lived in the Broadmoor (way off the parade route and terribly inconvenient, I was a first year PhD student and didn't get that work could (and should!) wait, and didn't understand that carnival was essentially one really long awesome colorful tailgate.  My second year, I was pregnant and still concealing it.  My third year, I was breastfeeding and still feeling baby fatty.  This year, I tried a little harder.

Behold my homemade tutu, three ways:

Endymion Saturday:  Michael Stars tank, Target tights, and chucks

Bacchus Sunday: Corset from H&M, Matt Bernson ankle strap ballet flats, Peacock headband made from a plume purchased at Michael's.

Mardi Gras day: American Apparel bathing suit.   Notice the tutu gets progressively more ratty.  Also, it rained on us.  Which explains the hair.

A carnival tutu is pretty standard; next year, I'll be more creative.  And I'll dress my baby up more, too. Not that he needed it - he got so many throws from just being little and cute.

No Longer Shoe-less

I got a shoe at Muses this year!!!  4th time's a charm, I guess? 

Unless you are from here, have been here for Mardi Gras, or are otherwise awesome, you probably don't understand how cool this is.  

This little post on GoNola sums it up pretty well.  

Isn't it pretty?  I feel so special.  Also, I can't believe this is my 4th Carnival season.  Time sure flies...

King Cake Every Day

Like Girl Scout cookies, King cake is a seasonal indulgence that I look forward to every year.  My lucky husband gets to eat it basically every day, as his kindergarteners' parents send their kids to school with one the day after they get the baby (look it up).

My favorite place for king cake is Cake Cafe - their Raspberry cream cheese filled is perf, as is their apple goat cheese.

The New York Times ran an article on king cakes recently - check out the photos for some food porn.  I've never had one from Domenica but it's on my list.