...some party pictures!
You've been holding out Mommy, this is yummy!!!
My little four year old!!
After writing about my cake obsessions I was offered the cool train pan which made the perfect cake - thanks to my hubby and to Grandma for assisting with the decorating. I also receive a wonderful easy to frost recipe from Linds thanks you guys!
You can see the cute little butterfly cupcakes in the first picture before it gets torn apart. All in all I think a successful day!
I took a break. Imagine that, I'm editing pictures and reading blogs when I hear little feet above me. I actually thought he would nap today since we've had four late nights in a row already.
Of all the ways to word things I ask, "Why are you not asleep."
And the little almost four year old voice answers, "Because I keep going downstairs and eating blueberries."
Ah, we will survive this day - at least we've gotten plenty of antioxidants!
This weekend we'll be having a birthday BBQ for our little ones since their birthdays are eight days apart. I'll be trying my hand at a Thomas the tank engine cake as well as making a bunch of butterfly carrot cake cupcakes.
My husband says that once I get something in my head I obsess over it until it happens. He's never going to let me forget my obsession with baby carriers during my last pregnancy, every time he would look at my computer I'd have another style that I was looking at. I did find all different kinds of styles that I wanted even though I already had two. Ahem, I think it's up to six now but who's counting anyway! (Yes, all of them are well used.)
Back to my point, I'm now obsessing over which cakes to make, what kinds and how to decorate. I'm obsessing and I need someone to share it with since my wonderful and loving husbands eyes glaze over the instant I begin sharing details of the entire thing. Since I can't see all your eyes glazing I thought of all my dearest friends in blog land. So my friends, here's what I've found.
If I were more like Martha Stewart I'd make my son his Thomas the Train cake to look more likethis one at Glads Passion. Isn't it just gorgeous? As it is I'll be lucky to make one that looks anywhere close to this one. Which I do think is very cute!
I really do enjoy the way fondant looks on a cake, but I just don't enjoy eating it. Since taste is at least half of reason to make the cake I'm just not motivated to even try to use it. It seems like it might be fun, like working with clay so who knows, maybe I'll have to try it once.
As for the butterfly cupcakes, there are a couple of different options I've found. I really like these with the chocolate wings. It just seems like a bunch more work having to make those delicate little wings. Especially, when these would be half as much work and still very cute.
I think it will depend on time. Especially since I need to do a total overhaul in every room of our house, cleaning wise. I should be obsessing about that! Not to mention that every evening this week is vacation bible school at church - late nights, busy chaotic days and early mornings = we might just be eating plainly iced cake and cupcakes not that my kids will really care.
I put a ton of importance on a home made birthday cake. It's something I remember feeling really great that my Mom usually did for us. Last year since I had a 12 day old baby at my sons party my hubby overruled and bought a cake. (My wonderful Mom still made my son one for his real birthday!) So for me it doesn't matter whether it looks like perfectly frosted perfection. It is a challenge and work from the heart that will in some small way show my love for them.
I enjoy several blogs who include Sundays with bible verses and or devotions. I've always wanted to start something like it but I always doubt my own knowledge. Today I started realizing that it could be a good way to increase my knowledge, imagine that, learning by doing!
So I'm not committing to every Sunday but I'm going to try for a couple a month matching up some verses to what is going on in the Butterfly home. For this week it's one I've put above my sink where I'm our dishwasher!
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, as children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Philippians 2:14,15
Seriously, my dog eats the raspberries. Hello! And he nibbles away at the ones just before they are ripe enough to pick. Between him and my son I think I've eaten two!
But seriously today at the mall I parked my daughter in the stroller next to a table with folded shirts on it while I was looking at another item. I turn around and she's dumped them all on to the floor. (Mental reminder of why I usually carry her around.)
After I've unloaded kids and items from the stroller back at the car in the 95 degree heat I see this random shirt in the bottom of the stroller. Hello! I stole a shirt.
Kids were already buckled, it was nap time, and I had apparently already got away with it so I decided not to go all the way back. (terrible!?)
Good thing my hubby works just down the way so Children's Place you will be getting your little shirt back tomorrow!
Hopefully we're done with the confessions!
Anyone who's ever planted them in the garden knows that before long there is more zucchini coming off the plants than we know what to do with. We pick them small and tender at first eager for another years harvest. Steaming, sauteing, and then eventually they get big and huge and we stuff them and grate them into breads.
I thought others might be interested in trying some new recipes I've come across this year that my family is just loving. If we're gonna eat it all week long might as well add some new recipes in there!
Savory Pancakes (This recipe lends well to rice flour and rice milk to make it dairy and gluten free) 1/2 cup flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 egg 1/4 cup milk 2 cups grated zucchini* 2 small scallions, diced vegetable oil sour cream and salsa (optional)
Stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl, whisk the egg and milk, then stir in veggies. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine thoroughly.
Add 1 T oil to a skillet over medium heat, when oil is hot, spoon the batter into the pan, about 1/3 cup per pancake for approx. 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
*Can also substitute one cup carrots for one of the cups of zucchini or 1 cup yellow squash.
My other recipe, isn't really a recipe, it's more like something I just throw together. Veggie Lasagna. Basically I just make the lasagna noodles (we use gluten free ones) and while those are cooking I make my pasta sauce. In another saute pan I add maybe 3 cups of 1/2 inch zucchini slices, olive oil, garlic (lots of it - yummy!), onions, pine nuts really whatever I have around (I've thrown in leftover broccoli and spinach too). Season with your favorite spices or herbs. Then I layer the noodles, veggies and sauce (you can add cheese if you eat it but we all enjoy it without.) and bake just for 15 or 20 minutes to let the flavors blend together.
Yummy, I was just thinking that this might be yummy with pesto sauce too. I am so addicted! We are having pesto on our homemade gluten free pizza now too and it is SO yummy!
My almost one year old is finally jumping onto the solid food bandwagon! As our weaning road begins to take shape, she nurses almost exclusively before naps and at night. Naptime is simply perfect. I never want to give up this opportunity to lie down with my little beauty.
Yes, usually I'm pestering my almost four year old to keep it down and that quiet time means Q.U.I.E.T. or impatiently waiting to do one of the million things on my to do list. Recently however, I’ve been overwhelmed and I’m finding solace in the simple. Time where I am just there with my daughter. Thinking about how much bigger her head is than it was almost a year ago. Breathing in the sweet smell of her while tucking a stray wisp of hair back behind a tiny ear, knowing it will never again be this small.
Sometimes she is so busy that she'll begin attempting calisthenics. Rolling onto her tummy, keeping her head fairly still, she’ll walk her feet up actually lifting her bottom off the bed. Softly I place my hand on her chubby, rosy cheek whispering a reminder that it's time to be going sleepy. Gently I'll pull her lower body close, letting the weight of my arm rest there, holding her still enough for sleep to wash over her.
While last week I was comforted skimming words and silently turning pages, this week I find myself scanning a gorgeous face, memorizing the exact hues of blue in her eyes and beautiful red of her lips. My thoughts wander a bit to the sandy blonde wisps of hair, curious if the hint of strawberry will fade away as more years pass.
Tiny fingers clasp my seemingly giant index finger so softly at first and then strongly they pull my finger toward her chest right below her chin. Tiny toes tickle my pale stretch marked tummy as her little eyelids do touch and goes.
I linger a bit longer, knowing that dishes can wait for a Mommy to marvel over a miracle of life. My own breathing a bit slower, my spirit revived and my heart full, admiring the innocent look of peace sleep brings over my daughter’s face. I soften my footsteps out the door and down the stairs knowing that so much more than perfect nutrition was just shared.
Ashlee from mama's nest tagged me to play along and share six random facts about myself.
THE RULES: Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on your blog. Write six random things about yourself. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website. Let your tagger know when your blog entry is up.
I'm gonna break the rules and say if you feel like you want to share six random things about yourself - please do and let me know in the comments.
I'm apparently on the other end of the parenting spectrum, the last couple of days have totally rocked. I'm starting to self diagnose with a common disorder called Teething psychosis/Mommy guilto-sleepyphrenia!
I thought I would share a few milestones from the last few days since there have been quite a few.
My son (thanks to a new sticker book from Grandma) can now sort things from smallest to biggest (and reverse) and has learned several opposites as well as the seasons. He also sat there and concentrated on the book - would ask me for the instructions - for about an hour. I think homeschooling preschool this year is going to be fun. We bought a couple of work books the other day to help us and he's already asking to do school.
My daughter has a list of fun new skills. Today she said MAMA for the first time (not counting when she's said it in a screaming fit). To ice the cake, she said it all day long - ah, it was great! She's signing all done at meals and says her da-da with an occasional wa-da sound for water. Her voice has the cutest little inflection when she says uh-oh (big brother was very proud to teach her how to say that one.) She's getting the knack of going downstairs on her tummy and (this one's a bummer for me) she can open up all kitchen (and bathroom) drawers and cabinets. Oh my goodness is she a busy little one!
Alas, I have a kitchen full of dishes to scrub - I can't believe that my Grandparents never had a dishwasher. I can remember being home from college and up at my Bobo's house and helping him with the dishes. I said to him, "I never realized that you don't have a dishwasher." He replied, "I do", he paused and I looked around again "it's me."
So now I'm our dishwasher and it's sort of fun when I can put it in perspective. At least I'm in great company. When I'm making lots of stuff from scratch there are quite a lot of dishes so it's a bit of a challenge that I'm prepared to keep doing. I really am not motivated to buy another cheap one that's not going to work for very long or very well AND I'm certainly not ready to part with the amount of money it will take to buy a nice one that will polish them to a clean mirrored shine.
Oh, and Linds...I thought I had your email, but I can't find it. I think the only thing other than teaching three pilates classes a week that's helped me to loose all my baby fat is nursing my little one on demand. No pacifiers, or bottles etc. not to mention that she's just in the last couple of months become interested in table food. I'm sure that has been the key, since I'm the smallest I've been in my adult life. As she weans I'll most likely put on a little more pudge again! After my son started eating solids(quite a bit earlier than her) I gained back a full size. So we'll see what happens this time. Sorry, I wish I had a secret that everyone could take part in!!
...where my baby girl went??? And how is it that she's already climbing and standing???
She is up the stairs in a blink if the gate isn't up and her brother cheers her on. (Like it's a good thing the baby can get to the top all by herself in 30 seconds flat.) I'm encouraging him to teach her how to come down safely.
She's in her last month being zero and (I know I constantly say this) but I don't know where the year has gone. It's hard to believe that last year at this time I was almost 70 pounds heavier than I am now (yikes!)
Luckily she still lets me wear her around much of the time which give us both some extra time together now that she's so busy! Even though from the set of pictures at my sister's wedding it looks like she's still very interested in what her big brother and the rest of the big kids are up to without her.
It helps to write stuff out, listen to encouraging comments and talk to other Moms ...you find out that some stuff you are certain only your kids do is just not the case.
I've decided that since I am in this for the long haul, I'll need a life jacket! 'Cause Lord knows, I can't do this alone.
Oh, and today while my baby was fussing and not wanting to nap I was rocking and singing to her while my son ate a snack. He turned all of a sudden and said "Mommy, you're doing a great job." So we're going with Great today!
for goodness sake my son told our entire church during the kids story on Sunday that our house has no dust!!! God bless that boy! I've been meaning all week to show him what it is and teach him how to get rid of it...then he'll be telling the truth!
"I planted these seeds Mommy and now they are zucchikinnis." (kinnis for short)
Dinner tonight was a new Alton Brown favorite accompanied by the first real zucchini crop and corn yummy!! We've had the last two wonderful days with Daddy home, done some housework and even got out just the two of us.
So why am I in a bit of a funk, I just don't know for sure. I do know that I'm incredibly blessed - I know it with every fiber of my being. Why then do I get so, angry/upset/hormonal about stuff? I live in a house - not a bungalow, have all the modern appliances that one needs (including a dishwasher that does nothing but bake the food onto the dishes so that's the only - by hand.) But at least that is in a sink with hot running water - not a river bed or something.
It feels fake to leave everything on this blog so happy-go-lucky fluttering up in the clouds about life when really I'm down here on the ground.. scratch that.. I'm down here in this ravine just trying to keep my head above the water.
There are days like the last two before today that I can barely tread water, I'm sinking and I have to yank out a reed to get a screeching gasp. Keeping up with the essentials seems like racing in a triathlon.
Overwhelmed is a feeling I deal with daily almost as far back as I can remember. In college, since I also procrastinate, I can remember just sitting in the library looking at a stack of books not knowing where to start. I feel constantly like I'm making the wrong decision - over analyzing, under analyzing, not researching some parenting thing enough or just not being consistent with the type of parenting from day to day.
I keep thinking someday I'll have to apologize to my son since he's the oldest for being the guinea pig. Then today I realized that while I have more tricks up my sleeve the second time around, a different child calls for even different facets of parenting. Tonight I learned that my daughter will fall back to sleep by me simply slightly bouncing her (her laying on her tummy) with my hand on her bottom. So much shorter than a huge nursing session - seriously it takes me humming just one verse of Amazing Grace! Not that I'm done nursing or anything but she's almost one (instert pathetic little cry here ;0) ) and has been waking up every hour or two and I'm sore and she's teething so we can use a few less nursing moments.
What it comes down to is encouragement and commitment and attitude and love. Among others, lots and lots of love! The days like today have there struggles, in spite of those (or because of them) we learn, grow and wonder about what tomorrow might bring. Yes, almost four year old boys are too rough and yes they push the boundaries but isn't that what they are supposed to do to learn themselves. Maybe in their own way they are telling us that if they are still making the same mistakes after many months, Mom might need to change her approach?
These times when we struggle to keep from drowning and win the parenting battles are rough but how much brighter the sun will look when find sure footing looking up at our beautiful kids growing in the blink of an eye.
We have been doing some thinking outside the box with our parenting lately because some things just ain't workin' any more. Probably having so many changes - traveling without Daddy for 10 days didn't really help anything. Then coming home to no regular routine isn't helping either, late nights early morning swimming lessons, it's a lot for a little boy to take in.
Last night Adam left him in his vacant bedroom (from efforts the night before) and said, "Well honey I told him that his bed was a really cool ship and the room was the water. I told him to stay on the fun ship until morning. Then I swam out of the room" I told him that was a great idea, hopefully it would work.
About 15 minutes later we hear pitter patter of feet above our heads, Adam walks to the bottom of the stairs and says, "What are you doing out of your ship."
Our wonderful son simply replies," I pulled the plug and the water went down the drain."
Next.
I am constantly visiting blogs that make me feel like mine is just a glorified picture posting board - I do love photos after all. So many people in this world have been gifted with a wonderful talent to write and I'm grateful they do.
One such blog that I have been enjoying for awhile is Green Inventions Central and the last post describes exactly what I feel when I go shopping for myself (which I generally dread) It's titled Deliver Us From Me-Ville if you want to pop on over for a read and I'll be putting the referenced book on my wish list! ;)
I used to think that I didn't like to shop because no one would ever come over to help me. Adam and I would both go to Nordstrom's say and he'd have someone help him in all of the departments. After awhile, I'd come up with my stuff giving his guy the commissions on my items too - since no one would help me.
With age I've learned that sales people can read me from a mile away. They know that I'm not going to by those $500 shoes and that nothing they say will convince me that my feet are worth it. Now I do have had a pair of $50 black flip flops that are on their fourth season, some people would say that's an expensive pair of flips. I wear them ever day - all spring and summer long (at least 6 out of 7 days seriously) that's only about $12.50 a season and they are still the most comfy shoes I've got.
My point is go read LL's version - it's way more better!
Happy anniversary, my love! It's hard to believe it's been six years! What a wonderful day it was and each one after have been. I'm so forever grateful to have found my one and only. ILYM!!!!
Giving Uncle Mike cuddles - the day before the big day!
She's such a beautiful bride!!!!
My Gram is quoted as saying this and it's so true but now it seems strange that it's already over. Months of planning becomes a busy weekend of fun filled memories.
When I say everything was perfect - it really was. We all had a fabulous weekend with her and her now husband. Funny thing is that in six years of them being together I had never met him. It was a nice excuse to finally do that!!!! It's nice to have my son yelling over my shoulder as I look at pictures, "That's my Uncle Mike!"
My sister looked gorgeous and the ceremony was beautiful. Both the bride and groom wanted it to be overcast so that the weather wouldn't be too hot. They got what they wanted and the rain held off until the reception was over and the band packing up. Like I said perfect - I loved all the rain on this trip- nothing like a few New England thunder storms to make the air smell sweet and the mosquitoes thirsty.
Back to the wedding..it was virtually impossible to do both bridesmaid stuff and parenting stuff the morning before the ceremony. Somehow it was done however, my daughter slept through much of the getting ready and I hurriedly gave my son a snack and got him dressed in his shirt as I got dressed. When he was ready and Melissa was getting her dress on I felt it was time for him to go out with my brother and his cousins but he was resisting me greatly. I was literally trying to shove him out of the small dressing room but he kept saying that he wanted to say something to Aunt Melissa. So reluctantly I gave in backtracking into the room and my little man got her attention and said, "Aunt Melissa you look so pretty." Talk about starting off the water works.
The timing of everything was perfect. A couple guests were late so they waited a few minutes to start, during which time my daughter threw a crying fit. Thankfully right when we started walking down the aisle she calmed down - thanks to my fabulous sister in law!
Here's a few pictures of the happy couple and the rest of us. I don't have any pictures of the ceremony on my camera - that would have taken super woman abilities. (Or at the very least Adam's tripod and remote clicker.)
We've returned from our adventure over many rivers, through the woods, to Granny and Grampy's, visiting aunts and uncles and many cousins, rehearsal, wedding and reception!!! Sleepless nights, tired kids, many cuddles, car ride giggles, teething, lots of playing, long days, eating lobster in a Maine thunderstorm. Altogether tons of wonderful memories - I hope I can remember it all.
My baby sis is married !!!! I'm so happy to for them - everything was just perfect.
It's late and I have about 300 pictures to go through - ahhh, I love pictures! So for now I hope all of you have a terrific holiday with your friends and families. We will begin to catch up on our sleep!
We all arrived safe and sound! Saturday was a long day but everything went as smoothly as it could. We flew in over the river looking at buildings boats and bridges. My boy says to me "Mommy an airplane is just like a bridge." Confused I look down at him and ask, "how?" He replies,"They both go over the water."
I guess they are similar then.
Back to that imaginary cup o'joe - cream, no sugar please. Oops, dairy free something I meant. Boy jet lag is a funny thing. You'd think a little two hour time difference wouldn't throw two kids into a time warp. They are both up late and then early. Both fell asleep just before 10pm last night (8pm at home) so not too bad. I could have skipped placing me had in warm goo at 4:15am when my daughter woke up to nurse for the how-ever-many-th time.
Finally getting us put back together and back to sleep I hear rustling from the corner where my son is supposed to sleep. I think I've only just closed my eyes since the diaper fiasco but then I also hear quiet movemets out in the kitchen so I know it's closer to 6am (yeah, 4am at home).
Without opening my eyes wider than the cover of a cheap paperback mystery I ask my son to grab the blanket that fell off the air mattress durig the night and cuddle behind me. Next thing I know wool over my eyes (actual wool), baby arms flailing and eye's pop open. Have I never mentioned that we don't throw blankets over sleeping mommies and babies. I have now!!!
My daughter seems to be taking a decent nap currently but I've tried every thing (short of glueing his eyes shut - I don't know where my Mom keeps it!) he just won't go to sleep. (current time 2:47pm)
I've already taken a bunch of pictures. Yesterday we went to Lasdon and walked the memorial trail as well as around the grounds. Then we went to muscoot farm. It was a fun morning and my nephews birthday party in the afternoon. Maybe I'll get some pictures up if my kids go to bed tonight, but of course - don't hold your breath!!!
Well, We're pretty much packed and ready to fly out. Going to NY first to see family and friends then to NH for my sister's wedding. You can see my yellow dress in the picture was one of the first things packed.
Both the kids really wanted to be involved with the packing which was nice but my daughter thought it was hilarious to dig pair after pair of her brother's socks out of the suitcase. Then she would make a dash across the room holding them. Not to mention crawling into my suitcase and tearing it apart. Despite the minor obstacles I think I've got everything (still have to go up and do the bathroom stuff after my shower.)
First we fly to Denver tomorrow morning and then to NY - since the "we" is just me and the kids I'm praying for smooth and peaceful flights. Hopefully my hubby won't get to lonely at home all alone. We'll miss him terribly.
I'll be gone for 10 days so I'll try to get online to post some updates now and then. Happy Summer travels!
we were singing This Little Light of Mine. When we were finished my son asked me, "Mommy what does shine means?"
After my answer of bright sunshine and lights filling the room. I said and in the song it means we let the lights in our hearts shine for Jesus.
After a brief pause, he replies, "But Mommy mine can't shine right now because the batteries are dead."
and carrots, avocado, banana and squash!!! Yummy!
Yes, she's officially started eating regular stuff. And sleeping worse! Well not actually sleeping worse but trying to get her to sleep at night for about the last week has been rougher. She doesn't want to nurse to sleep so we rock and cry and cry and rock for awhile. Teething?!? I don't know 10 months old - will the first one break before a year? We'll see! It sort of puts a damper on Mommy's blogging time when the baby's up until 10pm - yes she's so much more important than my little computer habit!
I've been so bad about putting stuff in her hair. Mostly because not much stays but today I braved it. Got the palm tree (as my Mom called) to stay in it today. My son and I started calling it a "baby spout" - like a porpoise spout ya know. Anyway, she looks cute and it's got to be nice for her to not have whispies in her eyes.
She would not sit still and smile - all her big smiles were on the move!
Happy 10 months little one. You've begun to slow down gaining and only gained 1/2 pound this month bringing you to 21 and a half pounds of wonderful love! If you could call a crawling baby running you're doing it. And along with a baby push up position you have started to lift your hips into a little down dog pose too. It's just adorable. You want to be right in the middle of the action and are such a happy baby. Totally content as long as Mom, Dad and big brother are not far away! Last month I was doing this!
Thanks for all the birthday present ideas. Really great! Thank you!
I log on tonight and think - I've got to be then only person in blogland that has a contest that only one person enters!! LOL. Then I log onto my bloglines and see that my last two posts haven't been picked up by bloglines. Weird.
Maybe this one will and you might so be moved to go here and give me your opinion so you can have a chance to win!
I think I have become known by my friends and family as the one who wraps presents in her son's artwork. It's cheap, easy and it seems to give them some purpose. Recently though I was sent a sample of this adhesive wrapping paper made by Hallmark.
I didn't know what to think when I first heard of it but it works very well. It's really not that sticky or anything - I had envisioned getting stuck into it like a spider web! It is tacky on the back side and in fact when I cut it I got distracted (baby stuff!) and when I came back to it I thought the adhesive wouldn't stick anymore but it did.
The seams seem to hold nicely and if the ends do need a bit of help seals are included with the roll. At $4.99 a roll I still don't know if I'm spendy enough to buy it for little kid birthdays and such but for wedding gifts and the sort it is nice to have real paper.
Want to win a roll?? Leave me a comment on this post letting me know your ideas for the best kids birthday presents (either ones you've given or received) by the end of the day Friday June 13th and I'll randomly pick a winner.
My thoughts on kids presents...books and games are best - but again my oldest is only 3 I don't have many under my belt yet! Let me know what you've found the most appreciated gifts are for your kids...
This morning started out a bit rough, I forgot to eat breakfast when my son did. The baby woke up and two blow outs later and nudging my son to get dressed for church I begin to get ready myself. Then got frustrated with my hubby for some little thing and remembered my bowl of oatmeal, berries and granola.
I'm so grateful to have food to eat when I need it! So many others in the world aren't so lucky.
Not five minutes after sitting down in church I had to take my son out for a little talking to and afterwards he was playing with a stick on the playground and Adam told him to put it down and leave it alone. Soon after another Dad comes over and tells him our son is swinging it around other kids...ugh.
I am grateful that our church is small!
After lunch my hubby went to work and had already instructed our son that he needed a nap today. Well, after standing guard at his door for 30 minutes he was forced to succumb to sleep.
I am grateful for some time to think.
Peace for 50 minutes- both asleep laundry folded and put away a room picked up, kitchen cleaned. Baby crying wakes up said son who is almost more whiny than earlier. Baby back to sleep, son feed a snack and sent outside to hopefully get a better outlook.
I am grateful to be reminded that whining is not acceptable - from kids or adults!
I decide I could use some of the same fresh air so I go out to weed in the garden. My son, still acting a bit ornery was playing with our dog (who didn't look all that thrilled about the whole thing.) I suddenly jump up and say let's play soccer. What fun we both had passing the ball back and forth and running the length of our yard time and again. Then after our dog popped the ball it made a perfect second base for our t-ball game.
I am so grateful that 15 minutes can change everyone's outlook on the entire day.
When the baby wakes up we head to the park - it seriously was California weather here today - 70 mostly sunny big puffy cotton candy in the sky - perfect. On our way out the door I finally remember to bring the camera along to capture some pictures of the wee one in the swings. When we get to the park I realize the battery is dead. I've seen Adam remove the battery when it dies, replace it and then it will take another picture. I did this about 8 times and came out with a few cute ones.
I am grateful that I have a resourceful husband to learn from.
After more t-ball with one of the boys from next door, a pretty yummy dinner and a visit with some friends to watch the basketball game. (Even though they lost) We had no need that wasn't provided for in excess.
Boy am I grateful to live without want for any need and then plenty! Life is good.
Should I not be so tickled when Jesus Takes the wheel comes on the radio today and I hear my son from the backseat saying, "Mommy that's you singing so pretty."
And later when I was laying in bed nursing the little one down for a nap he puts his chin on my shoulder and whispers,"She's so cute, just like me when I was married." Confused I reply, "You mean when you were a baby?" He says, "No Mommy first I was married and then you were my baby and you were so cute and cuddly." Alrighty then.
Just felt like writing about some other stuff going on around here. Adam is in the third week of his job and he really is enjoying it!!! He was out of town for training the first week and my kids and I were just thrown into going it without Dad around to help out. Astonishingly it went well except we all obviously missed him. Even our little baby woke up the first morning, crawled onto his side of the bed saying "DaDa? DaDa?" like where could he be!
We are also getting used to him working weekends and having two weekdays off which is different but I'm certain we'll grow accustom to it all. We are grateful that God has provided a good job for him and one that he is enjoying.
We are all getting excited for my sister's wedding in New Hampshire in three and a half weeks. You'll all get to see pictures of me in this dress. And no there is no backless nursing bra in the world so I have not a clue what I'll be wearing under the back of the dress yet!
Another kicker is that it doesn't look like Adam is going to be able to come with us and I'm in the wedding. I'm sure my son will be fine sitting with another family member but my daughter has me concerned. I may be looking to make myself a sling out of some matching yellow fabric! Everyone she's attached to is going to want to watch the wedding not hold a wiggling baby and if she's in the least bit crabby she'll just cry if anyone other than Mommy or Daddy has her anyway. So I'm thinking that me holding her might be just about the best option since a screaming baby and wedding don't generally mix well! Oh, but I'm still praying that since Adam's manager has commented numerous times that he is performing well and really turning the store around I'm hoping he has a change of heart and lets him come. The first and last weekends of the month are blacked out for managers to take time off so now we know!
My son and I finally have planted everything in our little garden this year. It took so much work to clean out all the junk that our renters had thrown in there as well as weed the massive weed pit it had become. While doing all that work I thought why not add another foot to the garden so I ripped up 12- 18 inches of grass along the 22 feet of garden. But finally the seeds have been sown (and resown since my son went in and raked a hill of cucumbers!) I purchased already started plants for my tomatoes this year since this spring we were getting our house painted and ready to sell. BTW I don't think we will be selling now that we have a job! PHEW! Now our house is just a bit cleaner and we have less stuff around which is nice.
I'm pretty sure that's the bulk of the major things going on lately!
I've mentioned that for the last six weeks or so our house has been tv less and honestly we really haven't missed it. We've been watching movies on my hubbies laptop and recently watched csi season finales online - hello do the writers of Miami and the original one talk to each other it seems silly to end both episodes with a shooting... but I digress.
My poor husband is a Los Angeles Laker fan, it's in his blood as much as I'm a Yankee fan (not that I get to watch many games anymore.) I can't tell how lucky I am that basketball is the only sport he really watches - and he really only watches a few games here and there - except for during the play offs. He likes to watch when his team is doing well and of course this year they are in the finals playing of all teams the rivals from his childhood - the Boston Celtics and well, we still have nothing to watch it on! Every once in awhile he's gone out to watch them but it's fun for all of us to watch together.
I'm sure we'll survive. What an unnecessary luxury item it is but as entertainment goes, it's fun to watch a movie, PBS documentary or the food network once in awhile. As we are saving up for the tv we want instead of just running out to get any old one it might be another month or so before we have one. Not to mention my hubby's been tracking the price of it online and it keeps coming down in price so we might as well wait until it's hit bottom. It just humors me like someone is playing a joke on Adam with the Lakers in the finals and all!!!
Another benefit is that when within a three minute span you pull paper, dog hair and something unknown out of your crawling baby's mouth you don't think twice before putting her into a carrier and continue about your day. The sad thing is the length of time that goes by before it occurs to you that you should probably clean the floor!
Thought I would share some pictures of my son at nine months too, just for fun. My daughter weighed in at 21 pounds about two weeks ago and is starting to really master crawling over the last few days. Still no teeth and will have nothing to do with any food besides mama's milk. Oh, it's so much fun all these stages!!!!!
Remember back when I was still pregnant last summer and completing some projects I'd always wanted to do. My worm bin was one of them and I wanted to share my results. My hubby is giving me the hardest time because I'm happy that these worms made dirt but I am! I wish I had three times as much compost as I do but now I think I've got twice as many worms than I started with so they should be able to eat way more of our food scraps faster now.
Seriously the bin started out feather light just with a pound of worms and dampened shredded newspaper. By winter it was quite heavy and when I took it outside to "harvest" the compost a couple weeks ago it was almost too heavy for me to carry by myself - partly because it was a bit too damp and I probably should have done it way sooner than I did. But all seems to be going well and the worms seem happy enough! I'm happy to have to buy one less bag of compost for my planters and garden so it seems to be a win win situation.
Since nothing around here is complete without pictures here are a couple to show you how we separated the worms from the compost. It's been a preschool boys dream science class around here lately! Wroms, digging, planting, watering, it's great to have a little helper.
First we separated the contents of my bin into piles out on an old shower curtain (since I had one that just ripped through one too many ring holes.) you can use anything - even just the driveway. The worms don't like the sun so the scurry down in the piles. Every so often (20 minutes or whenever we'd remember) we'd remove the top layer of compost until we exposed more worms. Then we'd wait for them to move further in again.
Pretty soon we were left with a bunch of compost and a ball of wriggling worms. We weren't too concerned with letting a few worms stay in the compost that we used for pots and to amend the soil. The mass majority though will be going back into the bin to do it all over again. You can see ground egg shell pieces as well as squash seeds, small pieced of newspaper and other scraps that didn't get fully composted and none of it bothered me as it will all continue to decompose and or give me some random volunteer plants neither of which I mind very much.
Fully Rely On God
Said the paper that came home from Sunday school many months ago last fall with a picture of a big green frog. I accepted this with almost no thought like humph of course I rely on God. Well, these last few months God has once again been reminding me to let him be in control.
I have been seeing Him at work in many ways and it's been awesome as well as humbling and honestly strange.
Of course I rely on God but it's the first word there fully, F-U-L-L-Y that challenges me daily, hourly, and constantly. It means, Heidi that you don't doubt God's plan! It means being confident in times of stress and upheaval, there's plenty of people going to bed hungry tonight and you've eaten like a king.
It means standing tall even in sinking sand since only God knows where and when I'm supposed to be going. Or even if I'm supposed to be going. Sometimes the sand's pull seems unrelenting and exhausting but trusting in Him to lift me up means that it is truly possible to have a happy heart even in times of turmoil.
It's no secret that we haven't had a job since January but we are all healthy, happily fed, clothed and sheltered (all well above the world standard). I try to keep this blog positive so I haven't been dwelling on things here - nor have I been posting or visiting too much either. Sometimes life feels a bit surreal and sometimes I think I try to make life feel surreal so I don't have to deal with what ever it brings.
These last few months however have been absolutely captivating. I have been (more) likely to turn to God for answers and even though mostly these turn into more questions I'm learning to be ok with the answer.
My Adam has been leading us well. He is seriously a wonderful inspiration to me. Maybe not really growing up Christian has enabled his couple year old relationship with Jesus to be more "like a child" than mine. He's just at ease, letting God take his time and being patient about it - while knowing and trusting in His provisions. I sometimes feel that I am the biggest doubter when times get even just a little tough. Asking why, of God like a three year old, relentlessly asking why now, why us, instead of being thankful it's not us with a dearly loved one dying of cancer, or sleeping in a hut or not even. YES I am thankful!!!
Anyway, without rambling on too much, I have seen in various aspects of my life (even in my random on line readings) that God has used this time in me to make me slower to anger, quicker to laugh, less doubtful, more giving, less worrisome, and more trusting. We are always praying about our major life changes and decisions but we are learning to pray also about the small seemingly insignificant things as well.
I think the biggest change has been finding God in those small moments - praying that my hubby's back wouldn't hurt while we were painting our house, praying for wisdom during a rough patch in parenting, or that we'd make it through our errands without needing a diaper because the diaper bag didn't get restocked.
Sometimes the larger life decisions, health, family, safety, jobs, houses, money seem to be the stuff we get caught up in prayer with yet the small things are not so. I've been trying to get caught up on the laundry for well, too long to admit so I'm going to say a prayer about that too.
To us a three year old crying over a broken marker seems quite trivial but to that kid on that day who wanted to color the school bus this particular shade, it was everything in his whole world. Sometimes that's how those 'little' moments catch us off our guard, we have the life experienc to know they are not the the BIG stuff - but truly for us in that moment, it is big - and really are we to judge which parts of our lives are big enough to pray about or shouldn't we let God be the judge - ah, that's a whole other post!
As always I just kind of ramble my thoughts down to see what's going on and I actually wrote much of this several weeks ago. We currently have a job offer on the table now and a tentative start date next week so things are looking up - oh what an answer to prayer! And even though it amazes me His timing always seems to work out - ah, to have that child like faith - stepping down a curb reaching up to find the already stretched out fingers strong and steady waiting to help me across the street. His hand is always there.....
Since our little baby sister is going through so many stages I feel like my focus tends to be on her on this mommy blog. Not today. Today, it's all about my spirited rough and tumble, dancing, singing wonderful three and a half year old son.
Yesterday when I was putting him into his carseat he took my necklace between his growing fingers and said, "a heart" then looked up with his gorgeous eyes and said, "Mommy you are my love!" And he grabbed onto my arm and snuggled me. Can I just say he totally melted my heart!!!! Oh, I am so incredibly blessed!
The other day my husband and I looked at each other at the table and said we are getting to that imaginative stage. Everything and I mean ev-er-y-thing is a question. Mommy why? Mommy who is this and what does this do and why is there a yellow spot on this paper and what are you doing and what are you eating. It is exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. He retains so much information it is daunting to me as I have no idea how on earth I am supposed to keep up.
Somehow he thinks being a "super villain" is as fun as a "super hero". When I ask where he learned something he ALWAYS answers on TV. Yet at least once a week he asks to have school where mommy is the teacher and I will whip up some paper for him to trace lines on or counting or letter matching game. I even taught him a joke to go and tell his Daddy and when Daddy laughed and asked where he learned it - yup he answered on TV. I guess it's a good thing that we sold our TV two weeks ago and haven't yet replaced it.
He likes to pretend our house is full of booby traps and lions or giants. There is always some problem that needs to be solved. Yeah, maybe we have been watching too much Little Einsteins or Backyardigans two of his favorites (again good thing we are getting off the tv addiction.) He'll come up to me while I'm doing the dishes and say mommy how are we going to do? I can't get to the other side of this room how can I do it? Then he'll proceed to find a key and say a magic word or climb over something and figure it out. I'm glad to see his imagination at work - overtime.
Sometimes I feel like I am actually in episodes of the Cosby show however, saying "Come here like five times" - that's got to be one of my favorite episodes. And having to specify that soap is used when we wash our hands.
I do love how the simplest answers are accepted as truths. When he starts getting a bit too rough with his sister lately I've been saying now what does Jesus say? Be kind and love one another, he'll reply. And I know that I'm getting through the real stuff
Well, not quite yet but it sure is great!!! I'm sure you all know what book my title is from....
It is so fun to go through all these baby stages again with my little girl! She is so much busier than my son was at eight months. He was content to sit and observe everything while she just wants to dive right in. Happily she'll roll around finding fun things to play with - anything paper is her favorite. She's still gagging on baby food but I found some bits of paper - letters on them and all in her diaper. As far as food goes she apparently has a very good gag reflex so that's at least intact.
Those of us that know and love her the best have affectionately nicknamed her "grabby". One example is pictured here!
She is literally days away from crawling. She lurches forward - it takes all she has - but she does it and she knows she's supposed to be up on all fours, it's just what she has to do while she up there she's questioning. This is fun but boy was I spoiled with big brother, he hardly moved before he was a year old! She's giving her Mama a run for her money.
When I just had one child I would sometimes question whether I would have enough love for another child and boy do I ever. It's as if my heart doubled in size the first time we heard her little heart beat and it's just welling up more every day. Love is one of those feelings that can be exponentially increased it seems!
I updated her six month post with stats and another picture of her back then. You can follow the link to get to the last baby update and one each post all the way back to birth!
Indeed, we gave our dogs away, but like a boomerang at high speed they came back. The woman we gave them to was surprised to find out that they chased her chickens. Go figure!
On Saturday we drove Molly to her new family who seems very nice and loving and we are keeping Tyler for now. He hasn't tried to nip at me since those last episodes and is content to be outside for the bulk of the nice days so it's a win win so far.
On the home front we have been painting the entire inside of our house for the last week and a half. Talk about an undertaking. It is hard enough to keep up with all my daily chores without tearing things up room by room to paint. I'd say we are two thirds done now, we just have bathrooms and the master to finish. I wish we had done this when we moved in (I briefly mentioned here about the lack of cleaning our tenants did.) The baseboards and walls have been full of nicks and holes and now everything looks so nice and homey! Alas, we are getting our house ready to go on the market for another move and I can see how the new paint will make a huge difference. Hubby is still faithfully searching for work and we're praying a lot more can happen this week!
For about three months now we've been wavering on the decision to give away our dogs. When we lived in San Diego we had one trainer ask us "how much do you really love these dogs?" in response to how we could better train them. Basically, they are not trainable. To make matters worse in the last couple weeks our older dog Tyler snapped and bite me twice for no reason other than my hand was in the air.
They only listen when we raise our voices and we are sick of our kids being around constant yelling. Without going into the whole thing we decided today it was in everyone's best interest (including Molly and Tyler's) to find them a new home. It came almost instantly. It was one of those God things the woman called and it just seemed a good fit.
It was weird tonight when I came down from putting my daughter to bed not to have dogs to feed and let outside and I will miss them dearly. Before we had kids they used to sleep at the foot of our bed but now they spent much more time in their crate. They will be happier with bigger kids around to give them more attention.
I almost can't get over the mommy guilt. I know that when you adopt a dog they become your responsibility and I feel a bit like I failed. I know however that I am being honest with myself that amidst all the other stress going on having two high maintenance dogs with my wonderful two small children was just more than I could handle.
My son threw quite many a temper tantrum in the two hours before the woman came after we had told him but since they've been gone he hasn't mentioned them once. I'm sure it will come up but for now it feels peaceful.
