Life without internet. March 17, 2009

I’ll be honest, if I set aside the part where I had go to the library to pay bills online, it was wonderful. The house has changed, the kids have grown, and I’m enjoying my mom to 3 role.

We finished our renovations. The upstairs room is a playroom, and a kickass one at that. Originally it had 70’s paneling and a funky, non usable, closet. Paul tore it down, drywalled, textured, and then we painted. There is a reading center, a play table for trains, a work/craft center, a pretend play area, and of course, a sewing area. It’s in a bit of a disarray this morning. I still need to organize the sewing area, get stools for the work table, and there are a few things that still need to be unpacked.

All 3 boys are getting so big. Chris is doing SO well in school, even with the change we had to make. 4 is proving to be a bit rough for Joey, both on us and him. But, it all goes away when he interacts with Ethan. He was born to be a big brother . Ethan started rolling last week, and he doesn’t look anything like a brand new baby. The fact that he is already 19 lbs may have something to do with that. A couple trips to the ER last week took a toll on us, but we have a breathing machine and he is getting better as fast as he got sick!

He made it! December 9, 2008

And we are in love. Today he is 2 weeks, 2 days old, and growing so fast. His cheeks are filling out, he is outgrowing clothes, and he is staying awake just a bit longer. Long enough for me to stare at all of his beautiful features… especially his eyes.

He is a fabulous baby. Seriously. He knows night from day, a concept my older boys didn’t grasp until at least 2! He sleeps form 10-8, waking every 3-4 hours to eat. During the day he is content to relax with me all day.

The boys love him. Watching those sweet moments when Chris leans on the side of the cradle just to look in on him and pat his back. Or when Joey asks to hold him, and then rubs his cheeks with his own. Mommy bliss, I tell you.

Oh! We had his pics taken on Sunday. Our photographer was wonderful, and the pics turned out unbelievably sweet. If you’d like, go to Tara’s blog and comment on them, 10 comments = a free 5×7

Tara’s Blog

Back in the swing of things! July 24, 2008

Vacation was good.  It had it’s issues, but for the most part we all had a wonderful time.  I need to get my photos organized and write all about it.  I am happy to be home, and am really working on baby stuff now (since I only have 16 weeks left!!!!!!!!)

I love making him things while he is kicking away inside.  It’s the most wonderful connection.

Up first, a woolie outfit.  Knit, dyed, and sewn by me.

And the diapers I’ve made (aren’t the umbilical fold downs the cutest?)-

I’ve been working on these a bit at a time.  I think I may finish up the 3 I have cut out, and move on to sewing the next size.  I will have 26 fitteds (14 made by me) & 18 prefolds (6 by me) for the newborn stage, and I am hoping that’s enough.  I used cloth on Joey from birth, but I had a diaper service that dropped off enough diapers for a week, so running out wasn’t a concern.

I am kind of getting antsy about what I need.  I got rid of almost everything, since Joey was our last .  We are handing down Joey’s carseat to the baby, so I need a new cover and straps for it (for a small fortune, since they have to come from the manufacturer).  So, Joey needs a new one.  We are probably going with the Britax Frontier, since it’s a 5 point harness until 80 pounds…. I tell you, the joys of carseat comparison shopping are just endless.  And to add to my list of requirements for a seat, Joey is VERY particular about the color of it.

And I need to get a couple of missing pieces for the cosleeper I got second hand.

That’s my list.

What else?  You would think that I would have this baby thing down pat.  But I feel totally lost.  I guess that’s what 4 years between babies will do to you.

The boys got a craft area!! March 4, 2008

Well, the last month was very full. My brother needed a temporary place to stay, so we provided . He moved out on Friday, and we added to the sewing room (which was already in a upheaval from him staying).

Joey loves to play on the floor while I sew and wind yarn. He plays trains, reads books, plays memory, etc. Chris needed a good creative place for his drawings and story writing. So, what does a mom -who has an ikea within 15 miles- do? This.

They are in love! It may be the newness of it all, but they have been at that table for hours each day. And they play well…. well, except when Joey uses the dot-dot stampers to jump on Chris’ shark drawing. That almost caused the world to come to an end.

This makes me happy. February 27, 2008

Don’t those little beauties make you want to smile?

My poor, poor Winston. February 11, 2008

The wonderpug is down. Not only does the poor guy have 20 stitches in his knee (yes, knee.), he has to wear a satellite dish.

See the square of bald pug butt? From the right angle, he looks like a chinese crested hairless.

60 days of no running, jumping, playing, off leash exercise, etc. Yeah, doc. You tell that to the 1 year old who hasn’t even come remotely close to leaving the puppy stage.

Oye.

And since I am updating, I have to show some stuff I haven’t been able to. One was a belated gift, the other I kept forgetting to upload.

The patchy wristlet-

Inside

It’s piece, quilted and put together by me . I wish I would have used a lighter thread on the front, but still, I love how it came out.

And some super soft yarn-

It’s the little things. February 7, 2008

You know, those things that make your mommy heart swell up with pride and love?

Chris was telling me about a boy at school. The little boy asked Chris to play transformers. Chris promptly told him that Mrs. Osborn does not allow that game, and suggested they play something else. He was so incredibly proud of himself when he told me. We talk often about making the right choices, about making yourself an example to your friends, and following rules. He has been so successful this year (Nov. and Dec. were rough!).

And Joey. My sweet Joe. He loves trains, and will play for hours. He loves to count them too and can count to 12! After that he skips a few, and the twenties sound like “twenty-seventeen” and “twenty-thirty”. But that’s ok. I am in no hurry for that to change. I love hearing him count. Oh, and the kid can write his name!!! I will keep those first few forever.

I think I may be doing something right after all.

I just have to tell you… January 30, 2008

I love my yarn club. It seems to arrive when I need it the most. I didn’t get a chance to show off last month’s loveliness, but here are my last 2 months of goodness-

December-

and January-

Last month was Bambewe, the colorway, Moonshadow. I am going to work up these with it, cause I think it will show off the colors beautifully. I don’t have any clue what I will do with this month’s, but Angelina did send a great pattern to go with it. It’s a tencel blend and just luxurious!

Oh, and in case you were wondering, these beauties came from Zen String, one of my most favorite yarn stores (though there are a couple more than I window shop at daily!). Paulie got it for me for Christmas. That man knows how to please a lady .

I am so mad. January 17, 2008

This is what I woke up to.

That thing has to weigh 500 pounds. It was drug about 20 feet, and then came crashing down. I don’t think we can fix it (or Paul doesn’t), nor do I want to replace that pricey thing. Everything else in the photo, minus the race car, was relocated by the wind as well.

Seriously, check out the tree behind the slide thingy. It’s permanently leaning!

Grrrr. So much for outdoor summer meals.

One word. November 14, 2007

Yarn.