Get your Hanna Dresses Now!

Moms of girls!!! Hanna Andersson is having a sale and most of the dresses (specifically the playdresses) are on sale! These are the softest, most comfortable, long-lasting dresses made of cotton that has been tested for lots of different chemicals. They were $25 a few weeks ago and I got a few. I also have some from ebay that are still in great condition, they will last a long time so they can be passed down, so it's totally worth the price! The girls have quite a few matching ones and with leggings it's a cozy, cute outfit!
(I got the girls christmas dresses for there also, they have lots of really cute christmas outfits on sale still!)

Perfect Timing

How do grandmas know just what you need?? Jameson is running a fairly high fever today and complaining of a headache, so pretty early this morning I realized we would not be able to do the fun activity we were planning, but instead would be camped out on the couch in jammies. I got a call from my grandma that she had some things to drop off for the kids, and it couldn't have been better timing. New books for everyone, just what we needed for a day spent on the couch. Yummy apples from Oak Glen (did she know we just ran out of apples??). Jello, perfect for the boy that doesn't feel well. Not even 11am, and we have read a few chapters and enjoyed the apples. I feel so blessed by her today! It's going to be an ok day afterall.

The televisionless kids

This is what happens when kids don't watch t.v. They imagine, create, play and explore. It's been a year or so since they have watched television shows, but we did allow certain movies every once in a while, it's been about a month since they have seen tv or movies and I can't imagine ever letting them watch anything again. I am really proud of breaking our tv ways, and wondering if I will see a difference in Adeleine since she will basically grow up without/very little tv watching.

At least it's all clean

I have kept up on the washing, but clearly not the folding. Last night we didn't even sleep in our bed, I was too tired to fold and slept with Jameson. Please tell me I am not the only one who has ever done this??

Catch-Up

I didn't quite realize how long since I have blogged, it would really be impossible to catch-up on all our happenings since then. So in a nut shell; 1st grade, apples, vegetable soup making, trip to North Carolina, baby growing, ballet, swim lessons, room re-doing, baby preparing, book reading, knitting, knitting and more knitting, bonnet making, farm visiting.

Most recently, it was the insect fair and pumpkin festival. 3 pumpkins, 2 hours, 90 degrees, 10 tired legs, 457 pictures later and 2 Madagascar hissing cockroaches later we were home. I am realizing that having baby number 4 will make leaving the house even harder. It was a fun outing, but so exhausting and all I was thinking about was how this would have been if there were 4 of them.

So, for now we try to stay home, read our Autumn books, eat apples, and enjoy the time before the gentle rhythm is disturbed, and a new rhythm is created.

Perfect Day

Yesterday just might qualify as a perfect day in my book. If I had a checklist, yesterday could have checked everything off.

Mass (during which everyone behaved)...check!
family grocery shopping...check!
quiet time (included nap for me)...check!
time outside...check!
time to knit...check!
early bedtime...check!
time with hubby...check!

If only everyday could be so lovely!

Finding Our Rhythm

As the summer is drawing to a close, we are settling into a new rhythm. It is quiet and peaceful. Our time is organized and our days are thoughtful, how I think they are intended. I have found time to read, knit and stop to savor all the little moments that pass too quickly. I have lots of hopes and dreams for this year, praying that I can bring them to life.

Consuming my thoughts

Homeschooling my 1st grader is all I can think about. (Yes, she is barely 5, but she finished a kindergarten math book at the age of 4, can read almost any book she wants...including mine, and was begging me to start first grade.) How could I tell her no. I take this responsibility pretty seriously. Just like we consider our children's eating habits, exposure to tv, (or lack of!) vaccinations with great thought and consideration for what is best for them. Bill and I put a lot of thought and time into choosing books and curriculum for Abbie (and Jameson.) This time around, we didn't choose a "boxed curriculum" where everything but the kitchen sink is included. I have to use the books we chose to make my own lesson plans and plan out library visits, field trips, and schedule our morning. I never understood what was so hard about being a teacher until now! So this is what I spend my evenings doing, and I never really thought I would enjoy it as much as I am. I am looking forward to starting in a few weeks after swim lessons are over. Now, I need to figure out what to do with the 15 month old during school time. Thoughts?

Prayers Coveted

I received news today at my ultrasound that I have complete placenta previa. I was pretty devastated, even though I know that it is likely to move and make another homebirth a possibility. The 10% chance that it won't, and that I will be scheduling a c-section is very frightening. The baby looked fine (still waiting official word from the radiologist though) so that is the most important news I could have heard. I should have listened to my husband when he told me not to read about it on the internet though, I am really scared now! I will have another u/s at 28 weeks, so for a few more months I get to sit and wonder what my placenta is doing. Great :( So please pray that my uterus gets nice and large and that placenta moves out of the way, making a vaginal birth a possibility again.

Lost Addict

So yesterday, during the Ikea/Costco shopping extravaganza, I purchased a whit orchid at Costco. We have this massive tall, long dresser in our room, so I thought this massive tall orchid would fill some room nicely. But, everytime I say the word "orchid", either to my self our outloud I think of Lost. Then I get sad, bitter and angry that I have to wait 6 more months for it to come back. Then I remember that this is the final season, and I am really sad. The silver lining is, this season, I will get to watch with a newborn snuggled in my arms.

Summer

So I will do a quick re-cap of our summer.

May
-Adeleine turned one!
-Carly turned 19!
-got a pot-bellied pig
-found out I am pregnant
-got rid of pot-bellied pig
-felt very sick and tired and did nothing for the rest of the month

June
-Abigail turned 5!
-7 year wedding anniversary
-Camping for Abbie's birthday
-ballet recital

July
-Independence day
-finished Abbie's floor
-lost the chihuahua (sad, but yea!)
-thought we were having twins
-pretty sure I am just having one baby

Oops, I just realized that I can't add any pictures since, they are all still on the memory card, all 1000 of them, maybe tomorrow!

Loser Mom

So, it's been awhile since I have blogged and part of that was purposeful, part of it was lack of time. I have this thing that happens to me every so often, maybe it happens to others too. Reading other people's blogs makes me feel like a loser and a failure. Seeing and reading about other people's peaceful, creative days filled with delicious homemade meals, crafting galore, and the pictures to prove it makes me wonder what I am doing wrong when dinner is grilled cheese and a can of soup and I haven't sewn a stitch in weeks, let alone documented any of it with pictures. I have been settling arguments, feeding mouths ALL day, wiping butts ALL day and nursing a toddler ALL day!! There is no time for sewing, knitting, making fabulous meals and heaven forbid I takes any pictures because that would mean having to use my messy, disorganized house as a backdrop. Then I have a few days to ruminate on all of this, and I realized that no matter what people say, this happens to everyone. Not everyday is as perfect as they may blog about. When I spend most of the day reading books to the kids and making forts out of blankets, I realize that I am doing what really matters. They will remember the hours spent on the couch reading fighting over who sits on what side of me, and all the card games we have been playing. It makes all the guilt from the unfolded laundry go away, when I think about the guilt I won't have when they are grown. So it's ok with me that this is where I am in my life, I think my days are spent with three amazing little people, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Growing up is hard to do

Adeleine is walking. Starting today, her primary means of mobility is walking. I knew this day would come, but I didn't think that it would come so fast. She is showing me in many ways that she is becoming her own person, and I am so blessed to be her "mama".

There's a first time for everything...

and today, the kids and I shared a first. Their first taste of Kool-Aid and my first time making it as a mom. I had leftover cherry kool-aid (which wasn't used to make a drink) and it sounded good, so I offered to make some. At first they weren't too excited, but as soon as they saw the big smiling pitcher on the side they knew it must be good. It tasted just as good as I remember and I was quite nostalgic. Remembering my childhood, and the excitment my brother and I shared when getting to pick out our own packet of kool-aid. ( I was a cherry or grape kind of girl, hew was more the strawberry kiwi or raspberry type which I am sure was blue) This happened about once per year usually in the summer, when I guess my mom was feeling quite nice. Other than that kool-aid was one of many forbidden foods in our home. I am going to have to do damage control tomorrow, I am sure of that. I am quite certain that Jameson will request kool-aid for breakfast, and I just might say yes :)

I love IKEA

I really, really love Ikea, and do my best to fill my house with their goodness. I look forward to the whole experience from the underground parking lot, to the golf pencils and marketplace. I read the catalog at least weekly looking for something that I didn't see the last time I looked at it. Bill cannot stand the store. There are always lots of people (which creep him out) and I make him walk around the showrooms everytime we go, even if we need nothing up there. I am constantly changing what style of rooms I want, and whenever this little house stats to get to me, I know that one thing will help...a trip to Ikea. A few new pillows, curtains, or a vase will help me love my house again for a few $. I decided to count some of the things purchased at Ikea in my house. Keep in mind that I didn't open any cabinets or drawers, this is what I could see just walking into a room. My Ikea count was 124. That is a lot for my modest 1250 square foot home. I love thee Ikea and I hope my love continues to grow.

Meet Casey & Quack

All I want to do

is curl up between their velvety skin and sleep. They are the sweetest pups ever, seriously...ever.

Ice Ice Baby

We all lived through the days of "mixed tapes". Bill is still fond of making them, only in 2009 they are in CD form. We stumbled upon a "mixed cd" entitled Rap 1 made by Bill in approximately 2005. (I guess there was a Rap 2 in the works maybe?) Bill popped it into the cd player and I was instantly taken back to junior high. Songs such as Kris Kross-Jump, Paperboy-Ditty, House of Pain-Jump Around, Snow-Informer and Vanilla Ice-Ice Ice Baby. I suppose that since ice ice baby was one of the only songs that the kids could understand, it became an instant favorite. Now when we get into the car, before the buckles are even buckled, I have two requests for ice ice baby. They have no idea what the song is about, but their favorite part is the "boyyyyyyy" at the end of "yo vanilla, kick it one time boyyyyyy". Who know..maybe their generation can bring him back.

Dishwasher Love

Whenever I need to cook or clean the kitchen, all I have to do is open the dishwasher. Adeleine will sit and pull all the spoons and forks out and play with them for a long time. It keeps her busy longer than any toy we own, and these days I need to keep her busy. Not only do I love my dishwasher because it scrubs nasty dishes so I don't have to, it entertains my 10 month old.

That kind of day

We just had Irish oatmeal for the second time today. I did change it up for dinner and added bananas instead of the blueberries we had this morning. Does that make me a bad mom? It was just that kind of day.

Blessed

A dear friend of mine had her third baby in the wee hours of the morning, and I am so happy for them that she and baby boy are doing well. Makes me remember my third baby, and how it seems like it was just a few weeks ago I was in the same place. I will admit that my womb aches a wee bit when I look at old pictures and remember the days I spent curled up in bed with Adeleine. I wanted the whole world to go away and leave us alone, I was totally in love. I hope that one day I am blessed enough to experience it again.

It is starting early

The mud play that is. It seems that our 80 degree weather in January has tricked them into thinking it's June. I love the ideas of kids digging, smearing and wallowing in the cool mud on a hot summer day, but in reality it is my own personal hell. The dirty laundry that it creates means a daily rinsing, soaking and washing or their clothes and my rugs. They come into the house stand on the rug, wipe their feet and leave huge skid marks behind them. Shortly after I wash hands, arms, legs, feet, faces and dress them in clean clothes, they go out and do it again. This happens everyday, several times per day x 2 kids. It just happened today....I won't tell them to stop playing in it, but I must control my OCD tendencies. Go away hot weather!!

Sleep, Prescriptions and Puzzles

That's what we have been doing, or trying to do. A few nights ago Ada was awake from 2:30am-6am. Bill had left earlier that night on a business trip, so I was alone alternating between pacing the house and sitting at the computer. She was screaming anytime I would sit or lay down with her. I spent a lot of that time also crying, wondering what to do to help her. Taking her to urgent care wasn't really an option, so I walked the house and surfed the net. The next morning, after wheezing and coughing so hard she was gagging, I took her in. Double ear infection with pus, fever, and pneumonia. No wonder she didn't want to lay down. A breathing treatment, antibiotic injection, cough syrup and tylenol later she was my happy baby again. Her regular pediatrician thinks it could also have been RSV, so I am glad we stayed home from all our playdates.

During all this time at home we have done lots of puzzles and trying to catch up on sleep. Bill will be home tomorrow and hopefully life will return to normal.

Birthday Boy

Yesterday was Jameson's third birthday. It is quite hard for me to believe that my sweet, sensitive boy has been with us for three years. I remember very vividly all the details of his birth, but shortly afterward the memories start to become blurry. I want time to stop so I can snuggle with my boy, thats what he likes best! We had a good day yesterday and I tried hard to make it special for him. Breakfast was his favorite, waffles and for lunch we went to John's Incredible Pizza. Dinner was mac & cheese, peas and salad. He loved his presents from us, especially the sword and shield and his razor. He slept with his sword and took his razor in the bathroom woth him this morning. It was a great day...Happy Birthday sweet boy!!

Last few weeks

I am in love.....

with this and this. I have a new addiction to photography...I cannot stop taking pictures ....HELP ME!!!