Post 99

So, long-time blog readers might remember my 100 things about me for my 100th post on my old blog. Somewhere a cricket chirps.

So, you might remember how completely narcisstic it was, but what you might not know is how much fun I had writing it. Seriously. It's very therapeutic to find out what makes me, well, me. So, I am about to reach my 100th post for this blog and I would like to know, would anyone like to know 100 more things? Especially if you go back and read the prior 100 things entry? Would that be too much for ya'?

And I leave you with the latest photo of Ava (thank you mama and Steph for always sending them to me!). Have a great Labor Day weekend!

My nieces!

Here's a photo-heavy post for Wednesday. You have to make it to the bottom of the post. The best part is at the end. Happy Hump Day!


A special moment right after Nola was born.


Smiling on the light treatment table. Nola was born with Jaundice, but is doing fine now.


This is just a beautiful photo.


Pretty in pink. This was Nola's special outfit when she left the hospital.


Finally home with daddy!


She's being swallowed by my favorite color!


Look how tiny!


I think she was full.


Grandpa holding his newest grandchild.


Doesn't it look like Nola is trying to cover her ears?


"Here's the 411. You cry, they pick you up. You cry, they feed you. You cry, they change you. You scream, you get whatever you want."

Things that have bugged NiKole

Things that have bugged me this week (and it's only Tuesday):

(i) After standing in line at a Subway for 30 minutes with people in front of me waiting the same amount of time, the people directly in front of me still didn't know what they wanted to order when their turn came. I understand it's a difficult decision, but come on. You had 30 minutes to decide on that foot-long tuna fish with lettuce, no mayo, just mustard;

(ii) loud co-workers; and

(iii) driving through a flood (though I am grateful for the rain).

And from the mouth of Kole (this blog's very own advice guru)

(i) not being allowed to telecommute when your physical presence is not necessary in the office;

(ii) people cutting you off in traffic; and

(iii) my Blackberry not charging properly though I think it might be because I have dropped it one too many times.

What's bugging you this week?

Ava had a good weekend

My oldest niece is a photo princess. Wow. It's so cool to be able to type 'oldest niece'. Nola is also doing well I just don't have any new photos of her. But I shall soon!

And here's Ava - through night vision goggles apparently!









And here she is a wee bit sleepy.





And with her mama. :)

My girls

Sweet, sweet Nola at three days old.



More chubby-cheeked goodness coming from Ava.



She now loves sucking on her thumb and fingers.

Happy Hump Day

Ava has been staying with grandmama and grandpa while Steph goes back to work.



Wouldn't you want to keep her too?

Happy Hump Day!

And they named her Nola

The following is a photo of my beautiful sister, Barb, on Saturday night.

Two and a half hours before her water broke. At O'Charley's.


On the baby's due date.

This is Barb and me Sunday morning. Barb was such a trooper.



Barb did so great. She waited until she was dilated 6 cm before taking an epidural and then she only pushed for six minutes - well, as Barb put it, "six, hard-ish minutes" - before my beautiful niece came into the world.

Please welcome Nola Ashlyn. Isn't that a gorgeous name?


Doesn't Barb look great? And I can't believe my baby sister has a baby!

Nola is so beautiful. And tiny. She weighed in at 6 lbs, 8 oz. And she is just 18 inches long.


I don't know if you can tell, but I am such a proud aunt. I couldn't get over how tiny she was.


I think dad was a little overwhelmed.


Ava couldn't take her eyes off Nola. Well, until we decided to take a photo.

I can't believe I have two beautiful, perfectly healthy nieces! And they will be just three and a half months apart. Maybe I will get in on the second wave of babies. Steph? Barb? What do you think?

Happy Friday from Ava

Ava wants you to have a relaxing weekend.


Watching TV with grandpa is a good option.








We think she is flipping us off here.











Happy Friday!

Kole's Weekly Pearl of Wisdom

"If you're battling between the person that you know you are and the person they want you to be, then of course you'll be exhausted. That's a 24-7 battle." ~Kole giving me my daily pep talk Wednesday morning

My sweet Ava

It's been too long since we have seen an Ava photo.



This was taken last week, and while she is now two feet taller and speaks both English and Chinese, we can all still appreciate her adorableness.

Happy Hump Day!

Pet Peeve Tuesday

This could just be a case of road rage on my part, but I have a very strong pet peeve that involves slow drivers. Namely, slow drivers who are pulling up to a red light at such a snail pace that you are unable to get into the turn lane that is just left of them. And you miss the turn light because they refuse, REFUSE!, to move their car forward six inches.

What is your biggest driving pet peeve?

Training wheels off

I've been seeing a fabulous trainer at my gym for about a month now. We only have two sessions left and then I can't afford him again for, oh, another six months or so. But he is totally worth it because he totally kicks my ass.

I always thought purchasing personal training time was a pretentious expenditure. How judgmental of me, eh? But then I began using one and I have totally changed my mind. When you have a good one, it can totally motivate you to do things you didn't think possible. Like chin-ups. Or 100 crunches. Or bear walking your way across the gym floor (totally embarrassing by the way).


Bear walking example. Not me. I hope you would know that by now.

But my most embarrassing moment with the trainer? Getting into a screaming match with him. In the middle of the weight area.

How did this happen? Because I was being a wuss. And my trainer didn't like wuss.

So, at the end of one of my sessions, I am lying on a stability ball while fabulous personal trainer is holding arm bands behind me so I can do crunches while holding said arm bands. Like so:



Looks easy enough, right. Um, no. Trainer dude tells me to do 40. Cool. I think I can; I think I can, is running through my head. At about 20, I believe I am going to die. Or at least my abs are going to EXPLODE OUT OF MY STOMACH. So, I tell trainer that I can't do any more. He politely tells me I have 20 more to go. I say no. And he loudly says, Yes! I do like three more and then I tell him I'm done. He shouts at me to do 17 more. I yell back, I can't! He yells, Do it! Me: It's not possible! Him: Come on!

At this point people are stopping what they are doing and staring. So, now I have an audience of people who think I am a wuss. I can't take it.

I killed the last 17, though I seriously don't know how. It probably helped that the trainer was shouting encouragement the last 10 while I yelled, I hate you! to him. When I flopped on the ball after I finished, he smiled and said, I knew you could do it as I received some applause from around the room.

Now that's motivation.

Kole's Pearls of Wisdom

Kole is one of the smartest persons I know. She is also one of the best listeners I know, and she gives the best advice.



So, I've decided to dedicate one day a week to Kole's Pearls of Wisdom. You will become a better person for checking these out. I promise.

Today's nugget, overheard last night.

"Nicole, A and B just go together." ~Kole

KEY:
A = Assholes
B = Bitches

Ain't that the truth?

Ava's road trip

I know you don't come here to hear about me. It's all about Ava. And her proud mama sent me photos of her strapped in for her first road trip.


Looking a little uncertain about going to the beach.


But then she began blowing bubbles in her excitement.


And then - hooray!

Photography weekend

This weekend I shot my friend Katie's wedding. Katie is the little sister of one of my best friends, Julie. I have known them for a dozen years, and I totally teared up taking the photos.

And as beautiful as Katie was, and after taking no less than 900 photos, I am not going to share a single one until I am able to hand over all the photos to the bride and groom. I am that cool.

BUT. I also visited my dear friend Michelle this weekend. And she has three GORGEOUS children. And we did an impromptu session outside. And here are a few of my faves. There are a lot.