Where did all my bridesmaids go?!

I was blessed to have 9 beautiful ladies next to me on my wedding day.

But what makes me incredibly sad is other than my family- my sister, sister-in-law, and nieces- all of these ladies live out of state or country.  What is up with that?!  My favorite ladies in my life are MIA.

Starting from the left of the above picture with Kathryn.

Kathryn and I go back to the early days of diving- around 11 years old.  We shared most of our after school hours together and all of our summers, practicing and traveling for diving.  Kathryn went off to USC in California and met her husband Mike while in college.  And sadly for me- she still resides in CA.  I'm beyond excited to welcome Kathryn and Mike's baby next month!  I'm hopeful that this adorable family will make it back to MN some day so I can see her more often and our babies can grow up together!

Next Stephanie, my sister in law

Well no one lives closer than Stephanie and Rose (my niece) than these two.  We live in the same neighborhood!  Yep and I love it!  We get to see my family a lot and I'm pretty happy that I love my brother's bride like a sister.  So let's drop the in-law part and say sister?!  My brother always talks about moving to Wyoming to have lots of land and solitude.  Don't you dare go- then I'll lose this special lady too!

Just in front of Stephanie is her daughter and my niece Rose

Again I'm so glad we live in the same neighborhood.  I can open my door and see this beaming smile at my doorstep!  Rose is one of the funniest people I know- a quick wit and beautiful personality make her a sincere joy!  I'm sad to know that some day she will be off to college and busy with boys I'm sure!  But for now, I love the time I get with her!

And then we have Friend (aka Annie)

Ugh I just lost this friend to Colorado and I'm less than thrilled.  Annie and I coached together for a while but really we did lots of mani/pedi, coffee dates followed by delicious cocktails.  She is my go to friend for a good night out and reliving the younger years!  I guess I will just have to pony up and take a trip to Colorado to see Annie and her husband Reed!  Sounds rough right?

Behind me is Ryan's friend Ashley

Ashley and Ryan go back to their college days and have remained good friends even though she lives in St. Louis.  Their stories are ridiculous and its obvious they had a good time together!  Each have traveled to see the other one but unfortunately we haven't seen Ashley since our wedding!  We are hoping to see her this summer!

My oldest Niece Laura looks so young in the wedding picture and she has blossomed into a GORGEOUS young lady!  Oh my word.  Watch out boys!  Thankfully Laura lives about 4 minutes from me so I get to see her often- when she isn't dancing or doing DECA.  She will get her license this summer and I'm sure she will be crazy busy with her social life!  And like Rose, I'm sad to think that some day she will go off to college- she's hoping for Madison- and I won't see her as often!  Madison is as far as I will let you go Laura!

Next to Laura, is my oldest friend Kristin (maid of honor) and the one bridesmaid currently out of the country!  Yep she is living in Australia right now with her husband Cole!  They have been gone for over a year now but I'm thrilled to say they will be coming back this summer for a few weddings and then home more permanently around Christmas!  YAY!  I have to say that when I realized how much I missed Kristin was the day Colin was born and Kristin's parents came to visit in the hospital.  Not having Kristin there was weird- definitely a moment you usually share with your best friend.  So before baby number 2 comes (someday!  not pregnant by the way now!) Kristin has to have her roots back in MN!

My best friend from college, Allison has moved all over the country with her adorable family and I sure wish she would come to be MN!  She has moved from Chicago to Arizona to Alabama back to Arizona and now to New Jersey!  Come on MN!!  I can't tell you how much I wish she lived in MN so we could enjoy a glass of wine and so that our boys could play together.  Her son Austin will be 2 (!) in June and he is such a stinking cutie!  Allison gets me and understands me so well- she gives advice that makes me think and I appreciate her sincere care for me and my family!

And last but not least, my sister Allison!  Thankfully Allison lives just a hop, skip and a jump away AND she nannies Colin so I am guaranteed to see her two days a week!  If she ever moves more than 10 minutes away, we might have a fight!  My sister and I are so close- at least 2 phone conversations a day that revolve around her love life (it's exciting!) and my mom life (it's so fun!).  I can't imagine my sister being far away so let's just not go there :)

I'm so blessed to have these ladies in my life but I would love for them to be in town- all of them!  But I'm thankful for easy communication and that I get to see them as often as I do!  Love you ladies!

4 Week Fit Challenge

So my good friend Kristin is doing a 4 Week Fit Challenge and I thought I would jump on board.  It took me about 4 months to completely loose the baby weight after Colin was born but now it's time to get toned up and summer, bikini ready!  So I have 4 weeks to make some habitual changes and see some good progress.  This is what I propose...

1. Get to the gym at least 3 times a week.

This used to be really easy back in the pre-Colin days.  In fact even when Colin was a newborn I was pretty good about this but now the week gets busy and Colin is so fun to hang out with that I would rather take a walk with him then get to the gym and get my sweat on!  

2. Make 2 Gluten Free meals per week.

I'm not gluten free nor will I ever be.  However, I can tell a difference when I go gluten free- I feel better.  So I'm going to make a valid effort in my meal planning to plan 2 gluten free meals a week.

3. Wine or beer only once per week.  

I'm no lush but I do enjoy a glass of wine with dinner a few times a week.  And I'm excited for a Summer Shandy since I was deprived last summer during pregnancy.  However, Bob from Biggest Loser says you should never drink your calories so I'm going to try to keep my calorie consumption from liquids to once a week!

 So I will check back in the week of May 26th and let you know how this goes!  Hopefully I've stuck to it and made some progress towards this body...

Six Months

Hi!  My name is Kari and my baby is six months old.  What?!

Baby Stats:

Weight: 18 lbs.  

Sleep: We are doing SOO much better with this.  Colin goes to bed between 8:30-9pm, wakes between 5-6 for a bottle and sleeps again until 7:-8:30.  It is glorious!  Naps are still really flexible- I'm just happy if he naps for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.  Otherwise, I don't care when or where naps happen as long as Colin isn't cranky!

Feeding: I am officially done nursing and pumping!  It is wonderful to be free!  Colin finished the last of the stored milk I had this last weekend and now he is completely on formula and solids.  We just introduced Sprout cereal and peaches.  Now that he is 6 months old he has lots of new foods he can try.  Let the mix and match begin!

Diapers: size 2
Clothing: 6-9 month clothes but edging towards 9 month clothes

Hair Color: Brown

Eye Color: Brown

Milestones: Sitting up on his own
Nicknames: Noodle and Goomba
Favorites: Johny Jump Up, stroller rides, being outside, sitting by himself, playing in front of the mirror, Dupree (Colin found Dupree this month and it is adorable), bath time

My Sweet Little Colin-

Can you please stop growing?  Can I freeze time?  Life is flying by and I feel like we just brought you home from the hospital.  When I think about the last six months I can't help but smile.  I'm beyond in love with you.  You are getting busy and I love it!  I love that you are learning and growing.  My favorite is the morning with you- opening the blinds together, playing on mommy and daddy's bed, and snuggling before your nannies come over.  But I can't deny that I rush home to get back to you!  You are such a good baby and so happy.  You are simply a blessing.  And I love you.

XOXO Mama

Linking up with Kristin at

Colin's Six Month Pictures

It feels like we just took Colin's newborn pictures.  I'm not sure how it was time to take his six month ones but that is what the calendar said- so we did it.  Brett Dorrian once again did a fabulous job- styling, makeup and photography!  I can't say enough good things about Brett!  She really has become a good friend and we are blessed to have her lend her talents to us!  

So we ventured to the Guthrie Theatre and we got lucky to have a sunny day by the Mississippi!  Again, I will let the pictures do the talking...

 

And that's a wrap!

Two hours of pictures and not a single tear.  Way to go buddy!

Thank you Brett for your capturing these memories!  

Happy Monday Friends!

Ryan's Top 5 Surprises About Having Colin

Last June I did a post about Ryan's 5 biggest surprises about pregnancy.  Find it here!

So I thought it would be fun to follow it up with his 5 biggest surprises about having our baby.  And here is what he said...

1. Ryan was surprised at how easy Colin has been on a day to day basis.
I have to say we are really lucky that generally speaking Colin is a very easy baby.  He is only fussy when he is tired, hungry, or needs a diaper change.  Usually fixing one of those three items can make him happy again.   Day in and day out is fun with Colin and it makes these fast changing, soon to be gone infant days so great!

2. Ryan was surprised with how much the accumulation of raising a child can wear you down.
I find this to be so of funny after Ryan's first comment however I understand.  It is exhausting being a parent.  We have how many more years of this?!  Again we are lucky Colin is an easy baby but his constant energy and lack of needed naps, doesn't give us much down time until he goes to bed and by then we just want to go to bed ourselves.  So it seems that dishes, laundry, and other house chores fall to the wayside more often than not.  And those I have a large accumulation of these pictures...

 

 

3. Ryan was surprised at (and I need to quote) "how awesome my wife would be as a mom/home maker."
Awwwww- thanks babe!  I'm not sure how to expand on this other than I appreciate this statement!  It's funny that when you date and marry someone you dream about what they will be like as a parent.  And while you can have a pretty good idea, you really don't know until it happens to you how they will actually be.  You don't know how they will react to 2am feedings, blowout diapers that require an outfit change for everyone, the constant lack of sleep, and you don't know what it is like to see the person you are in love with love on your child.  It's amazing!

4. Ryan was surprised at how quickly Colin grows and learns.
It is simply amazing to see Colin learn new things all the time.  And even though at almost 6 months old, the things he is learning now are much more visible, it was so cool to see him learn the little things in the beginning- how to nurse, how to follow with his eyes someone walking in a room, how to recognize a voice.  But now the development is more interactive- sitting up, taking food and putting it in his mouth, reaching out for someone to hold him.  It is amazing to watch Colin take in the world around him.

5. Ryan was surprised at how amazing the littlest things seem to become when it is your own child.
It's true that when friends would tell us that their baby found his hand, or she "sort of giggled once"- you give the obligatory, "aww that's so great!"  but you really don't find it all that exciting.  But when these developments happen with your own baby, it is world shaking news-- worthy of an instant Facebook post!

I'm linking up with Kristin today for Baby Talk!

Cheers,