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"You can live in any city, New Orleans is the only city that lives in you"

So we just got back on Tuesday from our 6 day vacation to Nola.  It was wonderful!  Boston got to meet his aunts and other relatives, we got to catch up with and have fun with our friends, and we did a bit of wedding planning.  Boston went on his first plane ride and did really well!  Plus i won $1500 worth of Laser Hair Removal at the wedding expo. haha
The generosity of people down there is so humbling.  My friend (and sorority big sis) Jordana let us stay in her house the entire time.  We felt very at home and had lots of comfort and space!  Flip's sister, Nina, gave us her car for the whole trip.  She doesn't even live in New Orleans but came in, took off work for the whole week, and just gave us her car.... as well as a carseat, packnplay and four suitcases full of clothes for Boston!!!  Oh yeah, and she bought us two meals!  My old manager and her husband bought us dinner and drinks, Flip's old coworker and his wife bought us dinner, and while at Cafe Amelie the owner gave us a free meal.  I know it sounds like we probably didn't spend a dime, but trust me, we did!  Still, these people are so amazing, I can never explain them how thankful and lucky we feel.
The day before we left I found and bought (well, mom did) by wedding dress!  We went to Des Moines to look at Schaffers with Hayley and were able to buy the sample to get a discount... it is amazing and I can't wait to get it altered and wear it for the wedding!
We decided to plan our wedding for October 22, 2011 at the Omni Royal Orleans in the French Quarter.  We will have the ceremony and reception on the Garden Terrace.  There is an indoor part for the reception, but we use the terrace also.  It is beautiful and really fits the theme we are going for... Funky Vintage New Orleans.  We want to have the rehearsal dinner at K Paul but haven't finalized those plans.
Despite loving the venue and the fact that going back made us realize just how perfect getting married in Nola is for us.... we started to have some worries about money.  We really don't have any savings to help out at all.   So we came up with a plan to elope and save my parents some money.  We didn't really feel comfortable asking for that money from them when we couldn't contribute anything. When we talked to my parents about it, however, they said they really want us to have the wedding we dream of, and it will make them happy to help us do that.  So... we are going ahead with the original wedding plan and are going to keep costs as low as we can.  We are making our own invites, save the dates, and probably programs.  I hope there are other ways we can cut costs too.

Our Song :)

Briana Leigh Lopez!!

directly to the right of this picture is where he proposed

Needless to say, he put a ring on it.  And not just any ring... my dream ring that we discovered at a New Orleans antique jewelry store before we moved to Iowa. We were in Des Moines on Labor Day weekend for Hayley's first football game as a Drake cheerleader.  My entire family was there because Marnie was finally back from Africa.  On Sunday we ended up just the 3 of us at Gray's Lake Park, walking around the Lake and hoping to take some outdoor pictures of Boston.  Well it started to sprinkle so we took shelter under a tree right on the water.  All of the sudden Flip was telling me how I was the best thing to ever happen to him, and all the amazing things he feels about me.  I started to blush and tried to get him to stop embarrassing me!  I took the first out I had and went to check on Boston, which is when Flip got down one knee and opened a ring box containing not one, but two rings!  He had the promise ring he had given me last July, which I thought I had lost, and the amazing engagement ring.  " I just have one question for you, will you marry me Briana Leigh Thomson?" By the time the words were out both rings were already on my fingers... answer implied!!
     We have already started planning and are SO excited.  We are going to get married in New Orleans in October 2011.  Our theme is Funky Vintage New Orleans, which we are having so much fun with.  We are going to make our own save the dates and invites.  Flip won't let me post pictures of our inspiration because he wants the recipients to be surprised :)  I already found a dress I love (not the one pictured on a previous post) but am still looking... just to make sure it is the one.  I want to be as sure about the dress as I am about the man!  Although it is a much smaller commitment of course. 

Garden Terrace at the Omni Royal Orleans

     We are headed to NOLA with Boston Oct 6-12 and will do a lot of planning and confirming then.  We are going to settle on a rehearsal dinner location (the two contenders are K Paul and Muriel's right now).  We are most likely going to have the wedding and reception at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel on the Garden Terrace.  It is where Flip worked and where we met.  Plus it is in the french quarter which is our old stomping grounds.... and close to everything fun and amazing about New Orleans!! Nobody would need to get transportation for the rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception, or to go out afterwards.  So just from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport again.
     I think I'll need to find hair and make up people, and a cake place, while we are visiting next month.  All of the planning will certainly be fun but the best part of the upcoming trip is that Boston gets to meet his Aunts and Cousins finally!  He will almost be 6 months when we go!  

Celebrating 90210 Day!

Marnie politely informed me that today (9/02/10) is 90210 day! 90210 is by far our favorite tv show of all time.  She sent me a link with an article of the author's favorite episodes. I have decided to create my own list of favorite 90210 moments, because there are a lot!!!

1) When Kelly and Dylan cheat on Brenda.  FINALLY! I had always wanted them to be together because Dylan was SOO dreamy and Kelly was my idol.
2) When Steve breaks into the school with his dorky young friend.  During this episode he runs around frantically waving his hands in the air... a vision that I think of frequently.
3) When Emily Valentine goes crazy over Brandon.  I can just picture Dylan saying "Bren, this chick is crrraaaazzzy (or did he say loco?)" while Emily sets fire to the yard...
4) When Brenda and the Peach Pit get burglarized.  So dramatic!!!
5) (This one is later... high school years are by far the best, but this one is unforgettable...) When Dylan is on heroin (provided by Gina) and knocks Donna into the pool, where she hits her head and is unconscious.  All the makings of a wonderful 90210 episode- drugs, near death experiences, warped relationships, how refreshing :)

Those were really hard to narrow down.  Please comment with your favorite 90210 episodes or moments and let me know how you are going to celebrate this momentous, once-in-a-lifetime holiday.

Boston's winter gear from Old Navy came today!  I love it.. his coats were $35 each and the cutest I've seen for someone his size!! I love the shearling lining in the green one and the bright blue fleece in the puffy!  They are both very soft :) And since he works at the gym with me, he needed the muscle machine sweatpants!  I can't say I'm looking forward to winter, but this makes me a little more excited.  

I wish I had a picture of Boston after he rolled over today.  He hates tummy time and gets mad when I put him in it.. but I have to because its good for building his muscles.  Well anyway, he was in tummy time and I looked away for one second, and when I looked back he had rolled onto his back and was staring at me as if to say "HAHAHA I got out of it! Now what!!??"  

Today's frustration: I have my work phone transferred to my cell so when I'm out of the office I can still answer calls.  The problem is- nobody calls during regular business hours!  Everyone either calls at 7 am or after 5... I have had 4 calls in the last thirty minutes (it is 5:49 right now) and each person wants me to be at the gym.  Well I was at the gym all day!  I guess people want to come in for tours after their workday... but I have a family and if I didn't come home Boston and I wouldn't see Flip.  Nothing I can do about it, just wanted to vent and let it go. 

Has anyone read the book "I'd Know You Anywhere"? I think it is by Laura Lippman.  I think I'm going to check the library for it... need some new reading material, not that "Goodnight Moon" and "Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you See" aren't captivating :) 

5th call ... and I have to go back to work for 2 tours at 6:30 pm!  Oh well, we cater to our clients :)

I can't wait for the weekend for our trip and to see my sisters! Then next week I get to see Megan and her adorable boys! Something to look forward to to keep me going...   hey, it's hump day!! 

Did you know you're mine?

Because Boston is definitely going through a growth spurt and always hungry/tired/being held, we've been talking a lot.  I find myself asking him "did you know you're my baby and I'm your mommy and thats why we are always together?"  I guess I really am telling myself... reminding myself that I made something so perfect and it is not all a dream (or nightmare that .002% of the time).
Yes, it is correct to assume that Boston thinks I am just as weird as you think I am.  Because these questions I ask him are on top of the fact that 50% of the books I read to him make me cry!  Who writes these things- they are tear jerkers!! Even Flip cries at some (our little secret....oops!).
I guess being a mother has really brought out my sensitive side...

My ChildBirth Coach

Flip: Whats that lasso thing on the left? Me: Baby... those are forceps...

Why my best friend is my best friend

Nora texted me today that she is so excited about my blog and is so impressed with me trying new things and always being so conscious of working on myself.  Personally, I feel narcissistic blogging (but I like it and have posted 4x today... what does that say about me???).  Nora said my humbleness is evident in two posts AND she said cut off jean shorts are a staple for my style and I am allowed to wear them for years to come.  Even if she is wrong on all counts... This is why she is my Best Friend Forever!  She makes me feel ok blogging  AND wearing age-inappropriate outfits because I feel good doing both :)
I <3 NORA

Nonie and Me at Marnie and Matt's wedding!

Mama Boston

My older sister, Marnie, does her anthropological dissertation research in Tanzania with Congolese Refugees (Wow that is wordy!).  While she was there this summer, she informed me that in Swahili a mother is called Mama + the first name of her first born child.  That is why I am Mama Boston.  If I remember right, Marnie is Big Mama Boston because she is my older sister.  I think we will just call her Big Mama though. In that case, our little sister Hayley must be Little Mama Boston. 
Boston must be going through a growth spurt because that boy nurses (and sleeps) constantly these days!  It is interesting how nursing makes me feel ever-powerful and completely helpless at the same time.  I feel very special in the fact that I can give life (by giving birth) and continue to nourish him after, but then I feel like I am paralyzed from accomplishing anything because there tends to be a child attached to me.  I guess it is a good lesson in parenthood- you are powerful and powerless all at once! 
We are so excited for this weekend!  We are going to Des Moines for Little Mama Boston's first football game.  She is a freshman (cheerleader) at Drake University.  We were inseperable this summer and it has been hard having her gone.  She is doing great at college though!  Also, the highlight of the weekend is that we get to see Big Mama Boston for the first time since the very beginning of summer!  Cannot wait.

Boston's first time in his highchair.

This is my dream wedding dress!

First Blog Post ever!

I've never done this blog thing before.  After watching Julie and Julie I decided that it could be fun.  And maybe (BIG maybe) people would read it.  I always have a lot of things going through my head, so why not drop them here and clear my mind every so often?
Boston turned 4 months this weekend :) I am so amazed at how every single day I love him more.  My current passions are wedding planning (for my not so near future), organizing EVERYTHING at work, eating healthfully, and exposing Boston to something new everyday.  I used to be a shopaholic (obsessed with a good deal!) for my own clothes, and it has switched to being obsessed with finding a good deal on Boston's clothes.  I am forever attempting to perfect my own casual, comfortable, still stylish and unique "mom" style.  I wore cut offs this summer but feel I may have to donate them now... I'm 25 and a mother ya know... But I refuse to give up and succomb to the Talbots mom style!  Since I work at a gym I don't really feel the need to dress up for work.  I will express my style even if it is just wish an accessory or on weekends :)