The Road Goes On Forever and ....

This week we are featuring an unexpected and very special guest writer: our Dad. Recently retired, Dad aka Jimbob, calls himself a "professional leisurist". Dad doesn't just stop to smell the roses, he lives to smell the roses!  After Grace's baby shower this past Saturday, Jimbob felt compelled to take the helm at bohoBlack and so we let him take it away... 

"Real people, real love, real lessons learned! 

I was taken aback for it was right there to see... Sometimes we miss the forest for the trees." 

-Jimmy 'Jimbob' Salinas

I'm guest writing on bohoBlack for the first time, could be my last! You have seen my photos (I included this one to refresh your memory), most of which were courtesy of a government-supplied Blackberry that finally transitioned to a personal iPhone. As a former, part-time contributor for a company newsletter, I figured this would be easy, however I found myself a bit intimidated by the concept of writing something that would "click" with the readers of bohoBlack. I decided to follow the concepts of the owners and keep it real-life, relatable, positive, and hopefully entertaining plus educational at the same time. Wow! Now that's a challenge!

One of Dad's famous sunrise photos

Recently, I attended a baby shower for bohoGrace. This was not your traditional baby shower, but fit right in with the norm that defines these ladies i.e. funky and eclectic. This was a pool party/baby shower where opening gifts was secondary to enjoying the faces, voices, and presence of incredibly loving people. If you were having a bad week, this was your prescription for relief. Take this one with your favorite beverage, and there were plenty!

Family (I believe friends are family too) congregated, and enjoyed a wonderful atmosphere in one of the most unique homes I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Robin and Jeff shared this great blessing with us, and little did I know that Robin was one of the bohoBlack readers who enjoyed the Quintana Sunrises! Robin, you motivated me!

The lessons of love were everywhere to be found and the one that totally blew me away was when it came time to eat. I anticipated that finger foods would be the order of the day. Eh! Negative!! There in the covered kitchen/serving area that was part of this palatial pool was enough prepared food to feed everybody in The Woodlands community! The menu included:

• Cajun Pork 
• Cajun Rice Dressing
• Cajun Mac and Cheese
• Cajun Spinach Dip
• Cajun  Bread
• Cajun Love

Stoney and Sarah Delcambre (pronounced del-come) for your edification, labored days making this feast. Stoney, a true Cajun from Delcambre, LA (I think his family owns the town) and his ability to cook is only circumvented by this couple's ability to show love! When I asked them both about the food, they said, "Anything for Grace! We love her!". I walked away telling my self, "Self, you just saw God!"  

Go out and show some love to someone today. It's contagious!

"The road goes on forever and the LOVE never ends!"

The hostess with the mostest: Robin

Let the fun begin!

The parents-to-be as babies. Guess which one is Josh and which one is Grace...

The only picture we captured of the amazing cooks because they were too busy partying to pose for pics. Clockwise from left: Stoney, Sarah, Josh, Grace, Keather, Michael & Natalie

Josh and  boys from A&M plus the new grandparents-to-be: Gigi & Grumpy

     Julie's Godfather Mike, his granddaughter Audrey & his daughter Natalie, our long time friend

Sarah, Grace, Keather and Grandma Big Mar

Swan and Big Marc. Family.

Grandma Big Mar (she's probably telling Jimbob to quit taking pictures).

Uncle Rich, Jason, Joe and Mike (the Godfather)

Meredith, Aunt Helen and Jason

Our long time friend Rochelle, Jason and Sarah

The A&M Boys: Josh Chance, Albert, Josh Bearden and Brent

Mike 'Swan', Daron & Stoney

Swan. Such a Romeo...

Sarah Devon, Jason Devon, and friends Kyle & Eddy

Husband of the host, Jeff

Meredith, babymama Grace and Robin

Our very fine friend, Angela

Julia enjoying the pool!

The Bertillon family! 

Chow time!

Our future sister-in-law Meredith & Grace

The most awesome service squad! 

Joe, Gerry, Julie and Aunt Fran

Swim time!

These daddies are the best!

Ew.

Grace & Cousin Tamara

The newly engaged Joe & Meredith

Stoney, Sarah, Grace & Swan

Brother-in-law trio Jason, Daron & Joe

Lovely ladies: Miranda & Meredith 

Our long time bestie LeAnn and her sweet angel Valentina

 Keather did the best job ever putting together this yummy dessert table!

Our Godfamily

Grumpy with his cool nieces Jordan and Alexa 

Initials for our baby girl: Julia Monroe Bearden

Tamara and Jimbob!

Must Have: bohoBaby Products

I. Forget. All.The.Time. I don't know what it is, but I think most mothers would agree with me, the first year is a blur. Between the zero sleep in the first weeks, the growth spurts, the teething, and just the sheer fear that your child isn't breathing, it's no wonder we can't remember what we did yesterday.
The point is, my baby sister is having her first baby and I want to remember, I need to remember!
I realize she will learn most things on her own, but those little tips that might make her journey a tad bit easier are the things I'm trying to hold on to. So before I forget it all, bohoG$ and Joshy-Poo please read below.
Note: Just because I forget doesn't mean I don't want my phone # on speed dial!

Mustela// Oh this scent. I even put it on my hands before work so I can smell my babies at the office. Yes, it just got weird. Seriously though, it makes waking up in the middle of the night to go snuggle that baby all the more better! You can thank Sarah for this one.










DoTerra Essential Oils + Diffuser//
There are so many different things you can do with these! Here are some of my favs:
>Apply Lavender + On-Guard to the bottom of her widdle feet at night
>Spray Lemon + On-Guard on her swing/mattress/toys to kill germs
>Blend Melaluca + Lavender (dilute with coconut oil) for baby acne

Latch Bottles// This bottle is great for switching between nursing and bottle feeding. Sweet baby has to suck to get the milk out so you don't have to worry about her rejecting your breast and leaving you ugly crying in the rocking chair with your tits full of milk. (I clearly know from experience on this one)


Desitin// I've tried them all. It's the best, and no, the Target brand is not the same. Trust big sissy on this one.

Rock N' Play// An easy to travel bassinet with an incline that makes it a perfect place for baby to sleep if she ever gets the sniffles.

Lansinoh HPA Lanolin// Remember when you were hauling butt to the hospital to see Keather before she had Karter and I screamed, "DONT FORGET THE NIPPLE CREAM!"?  Well, don't forget the nipple cream.

The Happiest Baby On The Block// The 5 S's. I have the DVD, it's a must. I can picture Josh taking extremely thorough notes so you will be 100% prepared when the time comes. (Ask Sarah or Carla to teach you their swaddle, they are PROS)




That is all I have right now. It may not seem like much, but you will be amazed at all the loving mother's that will come out of left field with bits of advice for you that will help you so much. I know you and Josh are going to be the best doting parents, and just remember, your sisters are on stand-by whenever you need us! (Trust me, we are dying to help!) ~bohoJulia

Mustela// $12

DoTerra// $Ask Grandma
Diffuser//$50

Latch Bottles//$10 

Desitin// $3.50

RockN'Play// $60

Lansinoh// $6.40

Happiest Baby On The Block// $YouTube 

              Photos by Brooke Schwab

Most Guys...

Man it's been a while since I've written anything. In fact, my last post chronicled an embarrassing dating situation that I had experienced as a single woman. How things have changed! 

Over the last six months I met the love of my life and got pregnant. I am now five months along (yup, do the math) and we are expecting our baby girl in September. Although this pregnancy came as a surprise, I could not be more excited to be a mommy. The father, my wonderful and sweet Joshua, is the best man I could have never imagined. If you asked me to chalk up my dream guy before I had met Josh, he still wouldn't be half the man Josh is. 

Most guys would run for the hills if they found out their girlfriend of one month was pregnant. Not Josh. He hasn't missed a single dr's appointment. He read aloud to me a six-page booklet of pregnancy FAQ's while I slept, and never once has he flinched at the lifestyle change and journey that we are embarking on. By the way folks, the pull-out method does not work.

Most guys would not be able to endure a woman's pregnancy psychosis. Not Josh. He apologizes for the irrational reason(s) I'm upset then tells me I'm beautiful and that I'm the love of his life. I'll sit there smiling and swooning at his words. I probably look ugly and creepy AF as I transition from one extreme mental state to the next. Yet there he sits, cool as a cucumber, waiting for the next episode. 

Most guys would grumble when their pregnant girlfriend asks them to take the trash out every hour because she thinks it stinks. Not Josh. He runs the bag to the dumpster then smells the empty can and gently remarks, 'It doesn't stink.' 

Eventually I lost my shit anyway and demanded that he throw the entire can away. And he did. 

My dreamboat. 

They say that God works in mysterious ways and I think 'they' are right. I wasn't planning on having a child til I was in my mid thirties. I had an entirely different idea for how my life would unfold. I knew I would meet the right man, but I didn't think it would be until I was past the age of 30. It's laughable now. 

And when I say 'most guys' I don't mean to insinuate that most guys are incapable of being loving, caring individuals. What I am saying is that most guys I had ever known before never loved me like Josh does. 

I believe the whole 'when you know you know' saying rings true... at least I hope it does. Otherwise I'll be stuck up shit creek with a screaming newborn and no paddle. 

Cheers to another bohoBaby!

-Grace