January2nd
Happy Three Month Birthday Chloe! This is your pirate face. This month, you drool. A lot. You also fidget like you are going places. And you just started baby talk. You especially like it when you get a bit of saliva in your throat and gurgle. You are your very own sound effects machine.
Watch me grow…
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Yes, that is Chloe’s rocker and crib moved into another room. Always adapting and changing around here. Will show you the changes very soon.
January1st
Sometimes I talk too much, sometimes I like to let the pictures do the talking. We spent Christmas and New Years at home this year. We spent a lot of time cuddled up on the couch by the fire. Last night we did fireworks for the kids. Some made me scream like a girl as they spun around and shot straight towards us. We set off bottle rockets until we realized they were all going towards our neighbors house who lives on the hill above us. It kind of felt like we were invading him by firing upon the castle. We stopped at three. Then we rang in the new year, each one of us asleep on the couch. Until Keegan fell off and that woke us up to count down to 2010.
This morning we are all a little under the weather. This Texas weather, going from 70 degrees to 30 degrees gets the best of us at times. But we didn’t feel so bad that we couldn’t partake in the neighborhood polar dip. ‘We’ meaning my hubby and us standing by as support. To hold the towel, the baby, and take pictures. It was 50 degrees outside and Lake Travis was 56 degrees. This is an annual New Years Day event that has been taking place for 15 years. And those who jump have to sign the scroll and are forever known as the ‘dipsters.’
Reviewing the scroll, those who have jumped before us.
That’s my man on the right. Mr. Twinkle Toes!
He survived the jump!
Happy New Year friends! May you feel a sense of PEACE and HOPE today.
December24th
As I sat in church this evening for Christmas Eve candlelight service I realized how truly blessed I am. We got there early to get a good seat, and found the perfect one right next to the fire burning in the fireplace. Holding my 11 week old I moved from position to position to attempt to keep her noises at a minimum. Bounce the baby. Rock the baby. Show the baby the flicker from the fireplace. Plug the baby. Shsh the baby. Shift positions. Bounce the baby. Rock the baby. Walk out into the lobby. Plug the baby. Walk back in. Grab a faux-candle. Smell baby poop. Hand back over the faux-candle. Walk back out.
Makena sat with her daddy and Keegan slept peacefully. Lulled to sleep by the Christmas lullabies in my brother’s lap. The service ended with the congregation singing Silent Night. It took me back to when Makena was a newborn, only a couple of days home from the hospital. She had an extended stay in the NICU. I remember, just like yesterday, holding my first born. Holding her as tight as I possibly could. Singing the same very song to her, home with our new family of three.
Right now we are home, tracking Santa online. He’s in Puerto Rico so it’s about time to hurry the kids along to bed. He’ll be here shortly. Here is a photo, taken only moments ago. Makena precariously holding Chloe, while I’m holding my breath. Keegan, not wanting to take a picture but rather wanting some juice. I love these moments. The frustration from a boy who is tired of his mama taking his picture. The joy of a big sister to have a little one to dress just alike. And the new baby, who we are just beginning to know.
Friends, may you treasure every moment of the season and hold these memories close to your heart. From our family to yours we hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
December21st
Up for some last minute crafting? Or do you want to get a head start on next Christmas? Well check out the new downloadable book from Lark Books – Fa la la la Felt. The book includes 45 decorations, ornaments, and stockings made out of felt.
The book isn’t in stores until next year, but you can buy it now at Zinio and download it as an eBook. How cool is that?!? The book is chock full of super cute patterns to deck your halls. I know you’ll want an actual copy to hold in your hands, but this is a great way to get started on your holiday crafting. Plus, the Craft Hope book may become an eBook as well so you might want to take this baby as a test drive before you check out the Craft Hope book.
And as a special gift, Lark Books is offering a free tutorial for this cute little mushroom ornament from Cathy Gaubert. Click on the image above to download the .pdf file.
Happy holidays!
December21st
I wanted to show you a few things that make my life easier having a newborn in the house again. Since I am clearly outnumbered I rely on these things to make it through the day. Many of them travel with us whenever we leave the house because we simply need them.
Chloe sleeps in a Miracle Blanket, a swanky swaddling device also known as a cocoon or a straight jacket that she cannot break out of. We tried many swaddling style blankets and she would wiggle and squirm until she was free. She would sleep for thirty minutes, wiggle around, break out, and then be wide awake. At 10 weeks she is sleeping through the night, snug as a bug in a rug. They are pricey so borrow one if you can. Fortunately, I have two friends that own them and they both let me borrow them. This time around I have borrowed more baby equipment than you can shake a stick at. Chloe naps, during the day, swaddled in her swing. It’s like she doesn’t want to miss out on anything so she likes to nap where she can keep an eye on all of us.
We just received a Sleep Sheep as a gift for Chloe for Christmas. Actually it’s more like a gift for me so she can sleep. It’s a sheep that is a white noise machine to drown out the other noises in the house. Before getting the sheep I downloaded a white noise app for free on my iphone. We both slept to that for almost a week. The rain sound knocked us both out in a matter of seconds.
Chloe likes to be worn when she is not sleeping. So I go back and forth between the Baby Bjorn baby carrier and a Hotslings (pictured above), depending on her mood.
I use the Target brand Up & Up for just about everything. Most items are budget friendly and work great. I especially love their diapers which are green and blue polkadots. I have never had a problem with them and they are about half the cost of the brand name diapers.
My favorite stroller to use when the babies are around 6 months is the Maclaren Triumph that we bought when Makena was a baby. And when I found out that Maclaren came out with this Easy Traveler I knew it would work well for us. In driving terms, it handles remarkably well and doesn’t seem as shaky as the other snap n go options available. Plus it’s compatible with most infant car seats. But I always keep either the Baby Bjorn or the Hotslings with me in the basket since you never know when they’ll want to be carried.
I had a double jogging stroller when the other two were smaller. It was like pushing a Hummer through the mall. And I was always the mom pushing the empty stroller, wearing one and chasing after another. Fortunately, I bought it at a resale shop and needless to say we sold that stroller on craigslist for the same amount that we bought it for. Not a bad deal. When Chloe gets older we’ll probably get another Maclaren. I really like how compact and sturdy they are.
Like I said, I borrow a lot of baby items from the car seat, activity gyms, and clothes. They just go through them so fast and it’s nice to be able to get a little more life out of them. I also find things at resale shops, garage sales, and craigslist so they don’t make such a dent in our family budget.
December19th
I got a new toy. Can you guess what it is? Santa, scratch that red shoe request. It can wait until Valentines Day.
“Gersh gurndy morn-dee burn-dee.” My hubby got this ornament from my sister because he LOVES the Swedish Chef. He does a GREAT impersonation. (Insert video here… if I had one. Note to self, record hubby doing Swedish Chef impersonation.) Alas, this is not my new toy. But did you see them do the Muppets on Saturday Night Live a couple of weeks ago? Hilarious!
At night, I was able to capture the classic ‘Keegan take your fingers out of your mouth’ from his daddy. Couldn’t get that before. You get it yet?
A just bathed baby. I got a new camera, a Canon Rebel, and I’m over the moon. Mostly to be able to take shots like this.
And capture pictures of our Christmas with my mom’s side of the family today. Inside. Without a flash. Christmas comes early around these parts. We actually celebrate Christmas four times with our family. My mom’s family, my dad’s family, my hubby’s family, and then at home.
Here are the cousins. My kids are blessed to have so many cousins that are also their friends. The little brown haired blue eyed cutie is Phoenix. Keegan calls him ‘my Phoenix.’
My beautiful sister Chelsea, Phoenix’s mama, loving my baby Chloe. I try and try to do that to my hair but no dice. Seriously, she’s gorgeous right!?!
I really love the camera because I can capture moments like this. Nana has a pond in her backyard and the kids balance precariously close to the edge tossing in the landscaping rocks. Sooner or later we knew it would happen. And of course it happened in December. Poor Phoenix. But seriously look at those eyes. That’s all the camera, oh yeah and his genes!
This is my first big girl camera so I’m still learning all of the ropes. If any of you Canon Rebel owners have any tips or suggestions I’d love to hear them. Until then, I’ll just be clicking the day away. Corny. Sorry.
Have a wonderful weekend my friends.
December14th
Some eye candy to get you in the holiday mood. I was browsing through my flickr favorites this morning and thought you might like to see them too. Inspired? I think so.
Realizing it would take me a gazillion years to link to each photo owner individually I have provided the link to my flickr favorites page. You can click on the photos to find their owner. I think they are all fabulous and want to jump right inside each and every picture.
And Santa, if you are reading this I really really want some red shoes for Christmas. Like these or these. I swear I’ve been a very good girl.
December11th
It has been unseasonably cold here in Austin. This summer it was unseasonably hot, and now it’s cold. It even snowed this week. Not enough to stick of course, but just enough to make us stop everything we were doing and run outside to play. Then quickly realize that pajama pants are not the best snow frolicking attire. The kids ran and twirled under the snowflakes. Savoring every last bit of it. And then the sunshine came out, not five minutes later, and we all returned to our normal routine.
This week my big girl celebrated her fifth birthday. I can’t quite put into words what she means to me. Being my first born, the thoughts of how my life has changed since becoming a mama gets me all choked up. This weekend is her birthday party and Christmas program at church so maybe after all of that is over I can sit down and write it out. I’ll probably need a box of tissues.
The newest member of our family loves her some Christmas lights. We all do. And I have to say that so far this has been the BEST holiday ever. Our little family of five. For the first time in my life I feel complete.
December8th
Happy two month (and a few days, but who’s counting) birthday Chloe!
You are alert, squirmy, and attentive. You strain your neck to keep your eyes on your big brother and sister. You want to be held. Still. All. Day. Long. I don’t mind so much. Until we run out of clean underwear. Then it becomes a problem.
You sleep best swaddled, wrapped up in a little cocoon. Or a straight jacket (that was for you Chris!). You are sweet, cuddly, and have the prettiest smile.
We like to call you our little Fraggle. You don’t know about Fraggle Rock just yet, but your eyes make you look like a Fraggle. I’m just sayin’.
You can’t really perform any tricks yet. You are just happy to be here. As long as you are being held. I love you sweet little bit.
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Watch Me Grow :: Month One
December8th
I like to make things. In the middle of the night.
Since my days are now spent baby holding I have very little time to do anything crafty. The free moments I get I jump on the computer and work on Craft Hope. And check Facebook. It’s an addiction really, Facebook not Craft Hope.
So last night after all of the babes were tucked in and the dishes were neglected I made this JOY sign to hang on my mirror in the dining room. I had been wanting a new larger mirror for the dining room and since they went on sale at Hobby Lobby for 50% off I had to get one. Just had to.
You know you wanna make a sparkly sign yourself. It was very simple to make, although carrying a huge mirror while directing your four year old in stroller pushing in the parking lot, with your three year old dangling behind was somewhat of a challenge. Some ideas for this holiday season would be hope, joy, wish, and peace (if you have a very large mirror).
I found all of the supplies I needed to make the JOY sign at Hobby Lobby as well. Making the sign itself was very cheap, if you don’t buy a mirror. The story of my life. Go into a store for a small craft project and come out with a new pair of shoes.
These are your necessary supplies:
Place your letters on the backside of the glittery foam paper and trace. Cut out the letters and glue them onto the wood letters. Next, hot glue the ribbon to the top of each letter. Spacing is important here. Hang in your favorite spot. We ended up draping the ribbon over the backside of the mirror and tacking it into place.
You could also use this idea for sparkly letters for your kids rooms spelling out their names or words such as PLAY or DREAM.
Sparkly!
