How do YOU eat an Oreo cookie?

Eating an Oreo

By Kennedy LaPierre

FIRST, open the cookie and scrape all the yummy white filling off the one side that managed to get it all.

NEXT, dunk the chocolatey goodness into a glass of ice cold milk.
FINALLY, try to hold your mouth closed while you chew the cookie and get ready for cookie #2!

No More Peas!

This picture needs no explanation.....

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys

Or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not

My plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind

And my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child

So doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night

Watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby

Just because I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

When I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small

Could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

Before I was a Mom,

I didn't know the feeling of

Having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel

To feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond

Between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small

Could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

Every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,

The joy,

The love,

The heartache,

The wonderment

Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

Before I was a Mom...

History

I am teaching Kennedy about politics. She is like a sponge and wants to learn about everything she sees. She's is constantly asking questions, so in the past few months I have actively started teaching her about the basics of policitical science. I started by teaching her who our governor is and who our senators are for Louisiana. She gets little tripped up on Bobby Jindal, but she knows Mary Landrieu and David Vitter right off the bat.

For Christmas, I bought her a book called "Grace for President." I probably like the book more than she does, but the premise of the book is that while her opponent campaigns as the best man for the job, Grace campaigns as the best person for the job. Students in her class cast their electoral votes, just as it's done in a presidential race. It's a great introduction to how elections work.... (not to mention the bright, colorful pictures!)

So earlier this week, I DVR'd the inauguration of Barack Obama. I watched it live at work, but I wanted Kennedy to be able to see exactly who this man was. We did not discuss that he was the first black president because that doesn't matter to her. Kennedy does not see the color of a person's skin as being anything "different" and I love that about her. Our next door neighbors are a mixed couple and she adores them both. One of Kennedy's best friends at school is African-American. I will raise my daughter to recognize that all people are created equal.

So I pointed out who Barack Obama was... who Michelle Obama was (Kennedy commented on how pretty her outfit was)... and who Malia and Sasha Obama were. Kennedy LOVED the fact that the new president had little girls just like herself.

So I wonder if Kennedy retains the information I give her because sometimes her mind is somewhere else as we're talking. But the next morning, Kennedy ran into the kitchen and announced, "Mommy! I just saw Michelle Obama on TV!"

She was so proud of herself.... and I am extremely proud of her.

So much to report...

So much to report... so little space. We had an eventful weekend!


First, Kennedy and Brady had their first bath together and it was so much fun! Brady kept reaching for Kennedy to play with her... and Kennedy kept giggling because it tickled. She was showing him the toys, he was grabbing them (and eating them), she soaped him up and especially enjoyed putting soap on his head! Now, a joint bath for the kids has become our nightly tradition. Both of them love it! Not to mention convenience for mom and dad!!



On Saturday, we all piled in the car and drove to Texas... our home for five years. We had a quick reunion with the "Great 8" and their families. Except we were missing two of the girls and their kids. Angela and her sweet kids were sick. Kelly S. had a weekend without the kids, so she stayed in! It was so great to see the girls again. We hadn't seen each other in a very long time and there are five new kids in the mix since we were last together! We all exchanged stories about our kids, jobs and personal lives. Some of us have been through some unbelieveable challenges in the past few years and I will be praying for them (You know who you are!!). This picture is of all our kids, minus Evan (who didn't want to sit in the picture), "Blade" (who was out with his dad), Rex and Randa (Angela's kids), and Shelby and Cooper (Kelly's kids). There are 17 kids between all of us! WOW! When we met, none of us had children and look how much has changed!

We are all in different places in our lives, but all share one bond that brought us together - our sorority Phi Mu. I met these girls in 2001 right after Chris and I moved to Dallas. I was looking for some new girlfriends and found out about the Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Phi Mu. I went to my first event that fall, which was at Stephanie's house (pictured here in the purple shirt, to my left). There were about 30 people there, but over time - a smaller group came out of our "official" events. Several of us started having children at the same time and before we knew it, our coversations changed from the latest Happy Hour to changing diapers. Even though it's been two years since since we've lived in Dallas, it was like we picked up where we left off.

The car drive home was interesting. I climbed in the back seat to feed Brady and calm him down as he started to get antsy.
And then Kennedy and I started having a little fun with the camera. She was taking pictures of the road, cars, herself. We got this one of daddy driving.....
And what's a car ride without a quick self-portrait?







And then on Sunday, a family adventure to Wally World (Chris' least favorite store). And our big boy Brady sat in the grocery buggy seat for the first time! He LOVED every minute of it. He looked around and smiled at us as we pushed him up and down the aisles. He went an hour past feeding time with all the colorful distractions.


He has grown so much in the past few weeks with sitting up, eating baby food, playing with toys on the floor. He's getting up on his knees like he wants to crawl and smiles and anyone and everyone. He has been so much fun to watch... and even more fun has been watching Kennedy develop into a loving big sister. She comforts Brady when he's fussy and gives him his binky when he's sleepy. She loves to dance for him and make him smile. I might have been worried about her not being the only child anymore, but she has amazed me. She loves her role as a big sister.



And to top off the weekend, Kennedy got a sassy new big girl haircut! Her long locks were becoming far too much to manage with the tangles and food stuck in it. So we cut about five inches off the length and she loves it. If you know Kennedy, then you know she's telling everyone she sees that she got a new haircut. She's twirling her hair and tucking it behind her ears. That's MY girl!

Self Image

I had a breakdown this weekend... about weight.

It's no secret that I have fought 20 to 25 pounds for quite sometime. I started gaining in college, then moved to Maine where it's cold ALL the time and wearing big, bulky sweaters and coats made it easy to hide even more weight... what I like to call my "fat coat."

Having two children in this body has been a miraculous blessing and I do not regret those added pounds. Getting them off... another story.

So here I am, with two kids and luckily, not the heaviest I've ever been... but still not where I want to be. And I find myself thinking about how much I hate this body. I look in the mirror and think "Yuck... you look awful in those pants!" "Suck it in, girl!" "I wonder how much liposuction costs?"

But right as I was on the verge of tears Friday night, I was watching television (holding my sweet, sleeping Brady) and heard someone say... "While I constantly criticize my body, this body has done some amazing things for me."

You know, my body is not my ideal body... but it has done some amazing things for me, too.

When my spirit was unsure, this body took me to Maine to meet my husband - who I could not live without. In the past five years, I carried two precious gifts from God in my body. I gave birth to both of them with no complications or health concerns. This body has run a couple hundred miles in the past two years and in the past few months, this body has endured training for a half marathon! Just Sunday morning, this body led me in a 11 mile run in a little over 2 hours.

So rather than beat myself up over the areas of myself that I hate, I will continue to work on improving them - but I'll also try to appreciate what my body has done for me.

The Future Mrs. Greene

I have known Shelley Anderson for 12 years and on February 28, 2009 - my dear friend will become Shelley Anderson Greene. She is marrying the perfect guy for her. Rick treats her like a queen and while it was a long road to get to this point, I can see the lasting love that has grown over the years.

Shelley amazes me because she has patiently (most of the time), waited for the right man to come along. Every girl has their idea of the perfect guy, the perfect wedding, the white picket fence. Shelley was no exception. She knew what she wanted and wouldn't except anything less. I admire her for sticking to her guns. That's what makes Shelley the person we all love.

What's even more amazing is that she will be a step-mom to Rick's three kids. Twin boys (Manning and Driscoll) and a sweet girl (Kate Douglas). It takes a big heart and a lot of patience to become a step-mom, but Shelley has tackled this head on. She loves those children with all her heart and they absolutely adore her as well. Kate Douglas (Kiki, as Shelley calls her) will be a junior bridesmaid in the wedding... so precious!

I have no doubt that Susie and I will be crying during this ceremony. As her matrons of honor, we will be standing behind our best friend in awe of the person she has become.

"Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together

Be calm

Love me today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell.

Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.

ever thine
ever mine
ever ours"

~ Ludwig van Beethoven

New Year... new approach

I felt a major transition in myself towards the close of 2008. It started when we moved into our new house. I could tell that life was about to be different for the LaPierre family. We became a family of four last summer and at six months old, Brady is a pretty easy baby to take care of. I enjoy every minute I have with him. Kennedy is a bubbly personality who could have fun in a paper bag! Chris worked a lot from home in the fall. Life = fantastic.

But I didn't begin to appreciate it until some of my friends began to deal with some monumental challenges in their lives. A friend had a miscarriage. Another friend was diagnosed with Leukemia and fought a hard battle for a month month before she passed. Another friend had twins who were diagnosed with a developmental disease that will only allow her boys to live to be 5 to 7 years old. Another friend is struggling through divorce.

So how did I get so lucky? Why me? While I don't know what is in store for me and my family, I do know that EVERY DAY I look at my life and feel extremely blessed to have such healthy children, a husband who loves me, nearby family, and friends who I cannot live without. I have felt like this for the past month or so and I hope I continue to feel like this through as much of 2009 as I can. I know life gets hectic, but I will try to not sweat the small stuff... because life is too short to not enjoy every second of every day.

My dearest friends

We often refer to ourselves as "902"... from our glory days of living at 902 Dogwood in Ruston. We even have scarves and cups with our infamous description. We might also refer to ourselves as the Golden Girls or Sex and The City girls. But whatever we call ourselves, we are truly best friends. I am extremely grateful to have these amazing women in my life. True friendship is hard to come by.... but we three are pretty lucky to have shared so much over a 10-year period.

What I love most about our friendship is that we all are so different and in different places in our lives. I've been married for nearly eight years and have two kids. Susie has been married for five years and is enjoying life without children. And Shelley is getting married in just a few short weeks and will be a step-mom to three wonderful kids. And even with these very different lives we live, we still act like we're 20-something from our days of college.

I have a feeling that when we're old and grey, we'll still be acting like we're in our 20s.