Thank God Christmas is over.

We're back! The Husband, Baby Jack, and I have been so busy with the Christmas season that I haven't had time to do anything. Oklahoma caught a blizzard on Christmas Eve giving us the gift of a white Christmas and hazardous roads. At first, Baby didn't quite know whether to like or dislike playing in the snow. By the second day he figured out riding in a laundry basket pulled by The Husband and the dog, Lucy, was pretty fun.

Christmas was great. Baby got so many toys that they won't all fit into his room. We got a pool table, among many awesome things, so for the past few days it's occupied much of our time.

As for New Year's Eve- The Husband and I are trying to agree on something to do. He wants to go to his parent's house where they're throwing a party which will, no doubt, be fun. But I would like to stay around here where my mom will keep Baby overnight so we can dress up, go to dinner, and see some friends. I feel like I haven't seen anyone in so long. I have major cabin fever. Major. Just the thought of chasing after the baby all night on New Year's is exhausting.

Here are a few cute photos of Baby Jack that I've taken in the past few months while I was away from Sweet Action Paradise.

Baby Santa

Baby goes to Sun Studios in Memphis, TN.

Baby goes to Stax Records, also in Memphis.

Baby dances at a party in Alabama.

adios,

♥ jp

Where the Wild Things Really Are

In Oklahoma, of course! The Baby seemed at home in his "Max" costume. Serious as ever. However, in the town we live in, football is quite serious. And it so happened the Sooners were playing on Halloween evening. So... our trick-or-treat night was on Friday instead of Saturday. Baby started feeling bad on Friday evening and by Saturday morning, he was full on sick. So no real Halloween for him. He cried and cuddled. Sunday we dressed him up and took some photos of him with his baby cousin in her giraffe costume. See below.

Husband came home one day and seemed surprised that I can actually sew. (i made Baby's costume) I've told him several times that I can but I guess he thought that meant hemming pants or something. Which is fine. If you've read this blog at all, then you know my husband has only known me for about a year and a half. And honestly, in that time, there is no reason i would sew. Or be creative at all. I was pregnant! And tired. And more pregnant and more tired. Anyway. I can sew! 

I thought I could use the Baby's naptime to blog but I was grossly mistaken. His naptimes are few and far between these days and i'm now using them to run to the shower and partially dry my hair before he wakes up and wants Mommy. He is obsessed with Mommy. He wants Mommy to hold him when she's in the room and to watch him while he does things when she's not holding him. It's a lot harder than it sounds. I'm on my feet, holding a 26 pound baby ALL DAY LONG. My back hurts. My brain hurts. My soul hurts by the end of the day. I'm tired. 

♥ jp

Walk for miles, my feet are hurtin

U2 and The Black Eyed Peas played down the street from our house (in Norman, Ok) last night. We bundled up Baby and walked around the stadium while a wheat cracker and people watching kept him happy. This is the Husband and the Baby. Both super cute.

This ring has been my favorite since i spotted it in a Tacori ad in a magazine.  I want it.

until i have the tiniest amount of time,
♥ jp

Baby Gap Baby

The Baby went on a little fall/winter clothing shopping spree yesterday in search of a new baby coat. On our way in to The Gap, I saw a poster for a GapKids casting call online. I entered these photos. I checked out his baby competition and i'm not trying to be mean but he's got this one in the bag. He can't help it if he's exceptionally cuter than all of the other babies. I know, it's not fair to them, but- hey babies! That's life. When I get the link to his pic for voting, i'll be posting it on here so you can vote for your favorite rock'n'roll baby.

He walked away with a new baby motorcycle jacket, which i'm sure you'll be seeing soon, and several shirts and a pair of jeans courtesy of his grandparents. Everything he's wearing in the photo is from The Gap- except his socks (Gymboree) and his diaper (Huggies size 4.) He also scored some stuff from Old Navy and Babies'R'Us. What a lucky little boy he is.

This week is halloween costume week. Have to go to the fabric store and bust out the sewing machine for Baby's costume. I'll let you know how that's going later.

Got a flu shot yesterday and now have a pounding headache so i'll leave you here. I need to drink some wine before we (Bulletproof Tiger) start recording session number 2 tonight.

♥ jp

When it rains...

This week has been a blur. Seems too long, seems so short. Not sure which. Tuesday night The Husband and i met up with his best friend (my bandmate) and their friend, Drew. Drew happened to be in town to play a show at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Big venue. Biggest one here. He's in One Republic. Really nice guy, cool stories, 11 year vegetarian, down to earth. We talked about guitars and Colorado. Bandmate and Drew came back to hang out at our house. By the time they arrived, Husband had fallen asleep- after building a raging fire in the chimenea on the back porch. It's getting very cold here in Oklahoma. So i ended up hanging out on the back porch, which made the next day very sleepy. Not uncommon- our back porch has the ability to turn a quick cigarette and small talk into a long night of playing songs and telling stories and before you know it, it's 4am and you're counting the hours you have left to catch some sleep.

The next day, The Baby wasn't his usual playful self. He seemed tired and just wanted to lay on me and cuddle. He woke up from a nap and he was burning up. Babies should not radiant that amount of heat. I was worried. Took his temperature, it was 101. Took it again 5 minutes later, it was 102. I was very worried. Loaded him up in the car, called his pediatrician and got an answering service. Called a local nurse hotline, they said DO NOT take him to the ER because he was sure to get the flu. Turned the car around and went home. Got his fever down and a doc appointment later that day. I have never been that scared in my life. Turns out he picked up a virus, probably from chewing on everything. Glad to say, he is much better now, no fever, very playful. Today was dreary and looking out the window this morning, i assumed it was freezing outside. Silly me. It was 80something, cloudy, and humid as hell. ugh. The town started flooding late this afternoon. Still pouring.

This is my sick baby, trying to muster the energy to play. Poor Baby.
All is well again. Or getting there at least.
I have much more to write but The Baby had a long night last night and i'm tired. And tired of all of the things i have to write about.
♥ jp

Where the waving wheat (and indian tacos) , sure smell sweet...

Ok. So lots of things have been going on lately so i haven't quite had the time to post anything new. Baby is crawling- he is very fast. He is very impatient. He is teething. He cries and wants Mommy to hold him all the time. He is also a 25 lbs!

The Oklahoma State Fair started a couple of weeks ago. The Husband and I went on opening night with some friends. It was fun. There was beer, cheese on a stick (my fav), the smell of cinnamon buns and funnel cakes, and rickety old rides with crappy techno music playing in the background. We brought a flask of whiskey. It was a good time. I went back the next week but this time- during the day and brought The Baby, no flask. His nap seemed bothered by the sunshine and he caught a glimpse of a weird looking dude and a rather hefty black woman. He screamed bloody murder for absolutely no reason. I felt a little embarrassed, apologizing to those poor people, but then again, after all of the things I went through during pregnancy, not to mention actually giving birth- I decided it wasn't embarrassing and i'd better just get used to looking around at people in public, giving them a nod with a slight smile and mouthing "i'm sorry" because, after all, I am the person with the screaming baby. The photo above is from our first Ok. State Fair day together. The photo below is The Baby wanting me to hold him during our entire State Fair day together. He wore a red, white, and blue print baby hoodie from Old Navy, Ralph Lauren baby polo jeans, black shoes with gray stripes, and a baby mohawk.

A week and a half ago, my dad had knee replacement surgery. He has 6 kids and no wives. (he's been married 4 times and divorced 4 times) We've been taking turns taking care of him and let me tell you- it isn't easy. There are lots of things to remember! Meds, leg machine dealie, meals (he's diabetic), nurses, lots of doctors, etc. Not to mention, he just moved to Norman. (which is where i live, thankfully!) And we've all been busy unpacking his house, buying things he needs, taking care of bills, and hanging his massive art collection.   The doctor asked my sister and I a question about something and we said the other sister probably knew- i told him that there are 6 of us and he had us so we could be his little post-it notes. 

I know The Baby always has this look on his face in these photos i post, but trust me- he's a VERY happy baby. He just also happens to be very serious. Here's a funny photo to round out this post. We went out to eat mexican food later than our usual dinnertime and he was already in his jammies. I brought along a furry blanket for him to cuddle up in while sitting like a big boy in his highchair!

Well, i've been taking care of my dad all day and i'm so ready to get that Baby, get home, get in the shower, and then sit on my back porch with a glass of wine and my trusty old acoustic. Baby willing of course.

♥ jp

Hello Pronovias

I love this dress. There's really nothing else to say. Went to the dentist today. My jaw is killing me and i have an enormous headache. Just sitting on the couch with The Baby, browsing wedding crap. I have no idea why i do it. I should be working on new songs but right now i'd rather find out how Martha Stewart makes big flowers out of crepe.

and i found this on instyle.com


i wouldn't mind if my regular table looked like this all the time. i have a major weakness for a good ol' hot pink/gold combo.  And what goes with that theme better than a fluffy, curly side-ponytail with a big Billie Holiday gardenia?



The Baby is crawling as of yesterday and i'd better catch him before he gets my phone. More pics of The Baby soon.
♥ jp

Dreamy Baby

Oh the life of a little baby girl. I forgot to mention the baby photo shoot. This is Baby's new cousin. She's one week old in this photo i took of her. 
♥ jag paw ♥



all photos on sweet action paradise are copyrighted by moi (Festival City Films 2009) unless otherwise noted.

Dancin Baby

So we started off the week with red high-top converse and a coon skin hat to go with Baby's favorite (my favorite) guitar t-shirt and new gray jeans from Target. We played, we laughed, we bounced, he drooled. Baby is trying so hard to crawl but can't quite figure it out just yet. He gets into crawl position and somehow ends up going backwards.  Men.



Baby likes to chew on things. He tried to sneak a taste of his new cousin's headband and luckily i caught a photo of it. Baby secrets.





Nothing new really going on this week. The Baby is getting heavier and heavier and i'm almost certain i'll have to visit the chiropractor again soon. There's a shooting pain from my neck to the middle of my back. Not good. The Husband and i are going to the OU game on Saturday in Dallas. Looking forward to getting away for a day.
♥ jag paw ♥

Home Sweet Oklahoma

If i were a wedding cake, what kind of wedding cake would i be? This one.  The one i would have picked if i could have picked. (we did have a cake and it was delicious and pretty, but if i could have picked it out... is all i'm saying) Not neccessarily in this pink- maybe, i do love pink- but perhaps in white or creamy yellow. I'm not sure what the words on it say, but mine would be lyrics from a song. Maybe something by Otis Redding. Maybe something by me.  I found this cake on marthastewart.com. 

So Saturday we went to the Dustbowl Arts Market. It was small but nice. I bought 2 pairs of earrings (from Erin Turner of Feather Revolution- one with turquoise that i used as a charm on a gold chain and one with striped feathers) and the husband bought me a cool vintage-y looking tank with brown and green stripes. It says Oklahoma. I love Oklahoma and want the world to know.
This is Hannah and Bandmate.



Baby loves being outside and he loves people, girls in particular, so this was a perfect little family afternoon.
♥ Jaguar Paw ♥

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away

I played guitar in a band called The Oh Johnny! Girls. I had a dayjob too but i spent most of my time writing songs and playing shows at clubs and bars and occasionally we would do small regional tours. I lived in Oklahoma City with 2 roommates at the time. In March of 2008 I met a guy i referred to as "future husband" and by early July 2008, he was my real husband. When we got engaged, I was a month pregnant. This sped things up a little to say the least. We originally planned on having a bigger, more traditional wedding the following summer but just never got around to it. Now, a little over a year later, we have a baby boy, Jack, who is almost 8 months old. He is my little buddy. I just thought this little blog would occupy Jack's naptime and would be a nice outlet for baby things, music things, dream wedding things, life things, and fashion things. ♥