Memorial Day 2010

Yes, I agree, they are VERY cute kids. *grin*

feeling holy

This morning I'm expressing milk while Jade is eating breakfast in the other room. With out realizing it, she comes in the room I'm in and stands watching me. I look at her and smile, just as I see her eyes get big and she gasps "Mom! Your boobs have holes in them!!"

thinking about my life

My kids are both sleeping, it's only 12:30 in the afternoon. Both up early means early naps, not to mention having had company over for brunch makes them extra tired.

Sitting here in my quiet house I've found myself feeling nostalgic and reminiscing about things in my past. Sometimes it freaks me out a little bit when I stop and see where I am today. What happened to that young teenage girl who felt like life and all it had in store for her was so far, so very far away?

Wanting to "grow up" and get married, have kids, those were pretty much my biggest hopes and dreams. I'm not sure I really thought about what I'd do after I got those things I wanted. Kind of like the fairy tales, they only seem to take the story to finding Prince charming, then they usually end there, as if happily ever after can only be achieved by finding ones Prince.

Many women give up great dreams and ambition to marry their prince, then raising children and being a wife take the place, but usually still lingering in the back of their minds are those dreams they gave up for love and family. What things did I give up?

I think part of me only allowed myself marriage and kids as my dream because I felt it was something achievable. Not as daunting as completing college or pursuing a career. But I don't know, maybe not. I love my life and I love my kids, but when the house is quiet and there is no work to be done, I can't help but think about my life as a single women, caring only for myself and not having to worry about duties of wife and mom. I miss my old friends, I miss my old hobbies, I sometimes miss that girl I use to be. Why? It's so stupid. If we always stayed the same and life never changed how horrible would that be?

I guess it's good these times in my life are rare. Because thinking about my past tends to make me gloomy. I'm always happier looking towards the future and wondering what else the Lord has in store for my life.

However, it might not hurt to bring back some of those old hobbies I use to love, make me feel "young" again...ya know? Okay, who wants to go rock climbing with me?

My secret sister/friend

Today marks the last MOPS meeting for the Spring. We break for the summer and will start up again in the Fall. I was on the Steering team and part of the perks of being on Steering was we each were given a fellow steering member as our "secret sister". Each MOPS week (twice a month) we were given some kind of theme to follow in giving a present to our secret sister.

I got everything from hot pink capri leggings, to a crazy, awesome mix cd. A mug with m&m's, toe rings, "organic" Trader Joes chocolate bar, a salad spinner, family recipes, coffee gift card, edible body butter, a crazy picture poem...and then today..today my secret friend "reveled" herself to me. She said to me "Missi, when I bought this gift I thought you needed something more spiritual, something deeper. I thought of John the Baptist and think...I think you need to be more like him". Then she handed me a small box. I opened it joking she was giving me milk and honey...a near by MOPS mom said "hey, maybe it's crickets". As I opened it, I realized with horror...it WAS crickets! CRICKETS! Salt and vinegar flavored crickets! Slowly I became surrounded by other MOPS moms coming to see what I had, as my dear friend Crystal began chanting "eating one! Eat one! I wanna see you eat one!"

Now, there pretty much isn't anything I won't try once. But "Food" that is really an insect or bug...not gonna happen. Right? Wrong. The peer pressure and Crystals hopeful, expectant eyes got the better of me. I'm here today to share with the blogging world that I ate a cricket. A nasty, salty, horrible, cricket.

I love you Crystal and I think I do feel a bit more holy now. Or at least empathize with John the Baptist. hee, hee

My silly baby

After his morning feeding, my little Cutter loves to just laugh and smile and gurgle and talk with me. This usually lasts a good 5-10min. It's hard for me to always remember to get out my camera, but today he was just being to cute, had to get some pics of him laughing.


laughing and stretching at the same time. He's a keeper:)

I love cloth diapering!

So I never thought I'd hear myself say "love" and "cloth diapers" in the same sentence, but after one week of using my super cool bumGenius 3.o one-size fits all diapers...I'm in love. I have only had to change an outfit due to a leaky diaper once (disposables I had to change ALL the time, they always leak!) and it had been MANY hours between diaper changes, so it was really my own fault. I'm also using these velvety soft cloth wipes, so everything gets washed in the end...NO diaper trash needed!!

The diaper works just like a disposable diaper, put baby in it, velcro to size to close. Ta da! Baby is all diapered. Used diaper gets folded up and put in wet bag to wash later.

I feel so earth friendly using cloth diapers and I feel like the cutest Mom ever wrapping my little babies bottom in super cute pastel colored diapers. It all just feels so sweet and natural. I have so many diapers so I only have to do a load every other day and the outside part of the diapers line dry in like...an hour. So far, I find these just as easy, or easier, then disposable except I'm doing a few extra loads of laundry a week. His clothes are staying stain free and his little bottom is avoiding baby rashes.

I also purchased a few of the Flip diapers, which are fabulous (snaps instead of velcro!). They are a bit clumsier to use then the bumGenius, but once you get the hang of it, they work just as well and you don't need as many since the liners are changeable in between diapers (as long as the cover doesn't get any poo on it)

I have two of the cool wahmmies wet bags one for my diaper bag and one for my babies room (found one in a nautical print for Cutters bedroom). They hold the stink in and the lining keeps the bag dry...so you can keep it in your diaper bag while you are out and about.

Oh, I also purchased some of the flushable liners for when/if I need to put baby cream on his bottom. You don't want to use baby creams by themselves with cloth diapers, as the build up on the diaper reduces the diapers absorbency.

Anyway, unless the following weeks show me otherwise, I'm totally sold on cloth diapering.

For any Mom who doesn't mind doing a few extra loads of laundry (I mean, come on, how many of you already do a few loads a week?), and loves to save money on diapers and wipes every month (not to mention tons of room in the trash can) you may want to look into cloth diapering. Granted, like all things in life...cloth diapering isn't for everyone so this post isn't to say everyone should do it...I just think IT'S GREAT!

Visit with Autumn

Aunt Autumn was able to come out to visit with us this past Wednesday (she leave in the morning). We spent most of the week just hanging out, going to parks and walking around down at the Market. But today, Saturday, we made an outing to the zoo...and boy was that fun! Beautiful weather, great time! Below are some pictures from our fabulous visit.

Cool sunglasses from Uncle Joe, if you push a button they light up!

downtown Olympia

Downtown Olympia park

At the zoo

Camel ride!

picnic time!

little pumpkin

silly Mommy and Cutter

This morning I love...

....I love my daughters white milk mustache from drinking her milk from her cereal bowl and my sons silly little faces where he sticks his tongue out of his mouth and looks around taking in the world.

Feeling very happy this morning:)

Getting to see Danny and Cutter six weeks old

My brother Danny was out visiting family in Michigan this past weekend to celebrate Nate's graduation. On his way back to Alaska he realized he had a layover in Seattle for about four hours. So, he gave me a call and asked if me and the kids could come keep him company. I haven't seen Danny in a LONG time...perhaps more then a year, so I was really excited to get to see him. We picked him up at the airport and went out to Red Robin for a late lunch and some hanging out time. Jade LOVED getting to hang out with "Uncle Danny" and spent most of the time poking at him and asking to be picked up. After lunch we walked around the South Center mall and Danny picked up a birthday gift for Vicka (Happy Birthday Vicka!). Sadly he couldn't stay for to long, so after that we took him back to the airport and away he went. I seriously think Jade thinks all family lives at the airport. lol
Yesterday, Tuesday, was the official six week mark for little Cutter. He smiles all the time now, especially after feedings when he wants to coo and talk or when Jade is paying him extra special attention. Like this morning when Jade dressed him up to "look like a person" with her purple blanket and his burp cloth. He seemed to think that was quite fun.
I'm loving life with my two cute kids and feeling really good. Rest comes and goes, but normally I get 4-5 hours of sleep, at a time, at night, so I'm doing pretty good for the most part. In case anyone was wondering:)

All dressed for church

I decided to have a little photo session with my two cute kids this morning before church. Yes, I think my kids are super cute and I want to kiss them both to pieces
Jade took this pic of me with baby Cutter, he's getting so big. Tuesday he'll be six weeks!

Wonder Pets Cape

My little super hero of a daughter has been going around the house lately with her purple blanket on her back playing one of the Wonder Pets characters. She'll go from room to room saving baby animals only to come to me and say "but mom, I don't have a "W" on my back". Her sheer cuteness inspired me to look up Wonder Pet Cape making tutorials and I found this one

After quite a bit of trial and error I finally figured out how to get my sewing machine set up to do the zig zag applique for the logo and finished off her two sided cape, so she can be Tuck or Linney:)

Cutter smiles

Cutter has been giving smiles to me for a good two weeks now (at least what seems more purposeful and not on accident) Every time I try to catch his smiles on camera though, the flash throws him off and he stops smiling. So this morning I turned off the flash and got the below picture
But then while having a fun conversation with his big sister, Jade, he started laughing and I was able to get it on camera!
Here is Jade petting Cutter "like a Kitty"
And just a cute shot of my super, sweet boy:)

Vanessa came to visit

Vanessa came out to visit this past week to keep me company while JB was at a conference for a few days. Most of the time we just hung out at home lounging around, chatting, watching movies and painting our nails. So we didn't really take that many pictures of our visit.

It was wonderful having Nic here, she kept the baby upstairs in her room and as each night past we found we got more and more sleep. By the time she left he was sleeping for 4+ hours at a stretch! So nice!
Sunday was our picture day, I finally pulled out the camera to take some pics. Here we are before heading out to church
Then after church we did some gardening and took a walk. Nic demonstrates her mad jumping skills in the pic below.
sisters self picture taking:)
Jade got tired out so Aunt Vanessa gave her a piggy back ride
And a picture of daddy and baby Cutter outside of Cutter's Point coffee shop:)
So nice having Nic here visiting us! Hope you can come again!!

New looking chairs!

My sister spent the whole morning recovering my dining room chairs for me. Before they were a weathered beige color that had become highly stained and old looking. I'm thrilled to have a bright new print on my chairs, makes me feel like I got a new dining room for the cost of fabric ($18 is all I spent on the fabric, hurray for sales at JoAnn's!) Thank you Vanessa!

Hurray I'm four weeks old now!

Here is my little munchkin, he is officially a month old as of yesterday (Tuesday). He's so cute and big now!

My first home video with two kids in it! :-)

I have two precious kids

I still can't quite get over the fact I have two little, amazing kids right now. Seeing Jade interacting with Cutter has been such a joy. He is her "cute" baby and she makes sure to tell us that every time she see's him. And I mean EVERY time. She has also started to point out the fact that "he has eyeballs, there are his eyeballs" she'll say.
Granted, she still needs her Jade time with Mommy, so having had Grandma M and then Grandma B visiting has been VERY helpful. Not only have both the grandma's helped me with the cleaning and cooking, they have also kept the kiddos happy and let me take afternoon naps EVERY day. Grandma B left this morning and I have to say I'm not really sure what I'm going to do now.

Yesterday we all went to the Farmers Market. We walked around and enjoyed the warmer weather. Oh and Peggy bought some "Jerusalem Artichokes" I had never heard of one before yesterday...so that is why I must post about it.

After the market we took a stroll along the harbor and ended up at the little park downtown. Jade played her heart out, enjoying this twirlly toy with the help of Grandma twirling it for her:)
Grandma also held baby Cutter so I could play a bit with Jade, and to keep him from getting to grumpy.
This morning after feeding baby and just hanging out in bed with my super cool lap top, I took some time to talk with Cutter and smile at him. To my sheer joy he responded with a smile back. I figured it was a mistake, but kept right on smiling and talking back to him and he smiled at me TWO more times!!! I'm so excited. It is wonderful when your tiny baby starts to smile at you!

Needless to say I'm one happy momma right now!

Making my own "Hooter Hider"

Following this ladies blog tutorial I was able to make my own nursing cover on Monday. It didn't take to long to do and for a third of the cost of buying one, I'm feeling very thrifty and creative:)

Hanging out with Cutter

Jade is napping right now so it's just me and the little guy. I've been trying to keep him wakeful during the day to aid in his sleeping at night. Not sure if it's actually working, but I'll keep trying.

so far we have spent the afternoon doing dishes, folding dish towels, picking up Jade's toys, watching Project runway, reading "timeline" and now we are getting in some computer time. Cutter doesn't seem very interested in the computer. No, he'd much prefer laying on my shoulder getting his back rubbed. So in between sentences that is just what I do.

He lets out a pitiful scream if I wait to long to pay him attention, so we shall keep this short for today...

Fourteen days of being a Mommy of two

It's only been fourteen days since my little angel joined our family. I have to admit it does seem like a lot more time has past. I mean, we are already getting out and about, have already had company (mom and sis, jo) already had doctor visits, been peed on, had a baby bath, been to church, etc...just seems like life is already back to where it was before, just with an extra little tag along.

Aside from a few very sleepless nights, most things are going very well. He eats, sleeps, eats, sleeps, etc...Jade is still quite the little helper, jumping to get his pacifier or blankets or whatever he may need. If he's crying and I'm not right there she will dance around in her greatest attempt to entertain him to keep him from crying more.

Today I took them both to the post office, while standing in line his pacifier popped out more then one time and immediately Jade popped it back in for him, assuring him that he was "such a cute baby".

I'm doing very well myself. Feeling strong and healthy, a bit sleep deprived and perhaps forgetful and clueless at times, but good. My Mother-in-Law come to visit and help this weekend and I'm looking forward to her time out here. I know Jade is going to love the extra spoiling. She still seems confused as to why Grandma M had to leave already. Asking questions like "she had to go to her home? To sleep in her bed? When is she coming back?"

I'm sitting here, sipping my chai tea and listening to the quietness of my house full of sleeping babies. I did try to nap when they napped, however, as soon as I feel into my deep slumber the phone rang. Really must looking into unplugging the phone when I try to nap. Now I'm up and planning to tackle some light house work and do some reading.