Spring 2013!

Happy Spring! It doesn't matter that it's freezing outside, or even that I saw a few snow flurries this morning--because the calendar says that it's SPRING TODAY! We'll see tulips and bunnies and rainbows within the hour, I hope! (Okay, okay, within the next month would be nice....)

Since we've been holed up in the house, I've spent the last two days getting a head start on Spring Cleaning by clearing out/rearranging all of my kitchen cupboards. ("Wait, that expired when?" and "Who thought this should go here?") The boys have kept themselves busy with cars, cars, and more cars! Also, a school bus and a tent. Eric has been going to work, which reminds me of Nate's other recent play. He rides his trike around the house often, but has just recently begun telling me that he's going to work when he does. I always get a big hug and a goodbye kiss before he leaves for "work". Then, he rides off to "school" like Daddy, where he teaches "Spash" and "Frsh". Ironically, Eric teaches Spanish and French (they must be similar, right?). After a hard 3 or 5 minutes of "work", Nate rides his trike back home, where I am rewarded with another big hug and kiss. Love this boy!

Oh, and in other exciting (but semi-old) news, my little Levi is now mobile! (See? I don't even keep this blog updated with the big news anymore....he's obviously the second child.) Levi doesn't crawl yet, but he can scoot, spin, and roll! You'd be surprised how far and how quickly those modes of transportation can move a little guy! I love watching his mind work as he figures out how to get himself to a specific place, and his little personality is really begining to shine. He's silly and content, and just a tiny bit mischievious! (Love this boy too! And, oh that chub!)

Nate, who is still in love with his "Yiyi Baby" has had numerous meltdowns during the past few weeks as he realized that Levi can, indeed, reach all of his toys--including his prized cars. We've been working on the concept of sharing, and it is going as well as can be expected between a 2.5-year-old and a 7-month-old.

Happy Spring!

And, again...

Well. Here it is--the obligatory "Hey, I've been so busy that I abandoned the blog, but here's an update on all the cool things that we've been doing instead!" post. Except that, you know what? I can't really think of much that I've been doing lately. For me, blogging simply takes a backseat to life sometimes--and that's okay! I feel twinges of blogger guilt when I happen to log on and see new entries on all of my favorite blogs, then notice that my own hasn't been updated in 10 (er, 11?) days. But, that's just how life goes. I've got a busy life, and blogging isn't always at the top of my priority list. (On the other hand, there are days when I can't wait for naptime so that I can sit down at the computer and pound out an entry or two!) I guess you could say that I've just been in a blog rut. I haven't finished Nathaniel's 2 1/2 year post, Levi's 7 month post hasn't even been started, and I've got a whole list of "Hey, I should blog about that!" ideas in my brain. Eventually, they will make their way into my little corner of cyber-world, but, until then, a bunch of pictures of my sweet boys will have to satisfy.




Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Mom behind the camera.

My camera has about a million pictures of my kids saved on it. And, the computer? Well, there's got to be at least 10 zillion photos of the boys there! I take pictures of them playing...


and eating....


and sleeping...


and just plain being cute....


It doesn't matter if they're grumpy or happy or dressed up or even wearing pants!




But, you know what never seems to make it into the photos? Me. And, on the rare occasion that someone takes a picture of me, I usually don't like it. My hair is always mussed, or I'm not wearing any concealer on that zit, or I look fat. Since I spend most of my days at home chasing babies and cleaning and cooking, I am most often clad in yoga pants and t-shirts. (And, we all know that "yoga pants" is simply a fancy term for "stretchy comfortable pants"; I don't even do yoga!) I don't wear makeup on a daily basis, and I'm lucky if my teeth are brushed--let alone my hair!
In all honesty, I avoid getting in front of the camera most days. My boys are cute every day, but their momma? Not so much.
And then I read this article: The Mom Stays In The Picture by Allison Tate. And, oh, what she writes is so true and so poignant. My boys don't care what I look like; they simply care that I'm their momma.
I don't remember my own mother's flaws when I was a child (although I'm sure she thought she had them), but I do remember spending time with her. I remember helping her plant flower bulbs, and learning my way around the kitchen with her, and proudly presenting her with bouquets of wild violets. I remember that I knew she loved me and was proud of me. When I look at pictures of us together from all those years ago, I simply see my mommy--a beautiful woman who was/is an amazing mother.


And, so after this realization that I might not ever look like this mom or that mom, I decided that it doesn't matter. I am their momma, and that is enough. I want them to have photos of me with them right now--despite my extra baby weight and the circles under my eyes. Then last night, when I snapped a few pictures of them together right before bedtime, and Nate patted the spot on the floor between, and said, "Momma, right here?" I hesitated for just the briefest moment; I definitely wasn't "ready" for a photo session! But, then I remembered that it doesn't matter. This is what I look like now, and this is how my boys will remember now. Am I perfect? No, but I am still their momma. And, this is our perfect reality.

Forgotten: a lesson for momma.

Wenesday nights are unusually quiet around here. Eric and Nate go to AWANA Club at our church, and Levi usually takes an evening nap. I am left with my thoughts and a toy-strewn living room. This particular evening, I was straightening up, when I noticed Nate's sippy cup of water sitting on the end table. He'd forgotten it, and I felt an immediate pang in my gut. Why? Because I'm his mother, and I want to make sure that everything is perfect for him. I don't want him to ever forget his water because I want to be absolutely, positively certain that he's never thirsty! Yeah, there's a drinking fountain about 8 feet from the door of his classroom. Sure, he can drink out of a little dixie cup like the other kids during snacktime. And, sure, I know that he's having juicy mandarin oranges for snack. And, let's face it, even if he is thirsty, an hour and a half isn't going to dehydrate him. And, hey, no water to drink lessens the likelyhood of a potty accident!
But still, no matter how many logical things I tell myself, I hate that he forgot his drink! I know that I'm a little crazy and a lot overprotective of my boys, but they're my kids! This momma love is something fierce and wild--far beyond my comprehension before I felt it. Without a doubt, I would do anything for my children. Anything. And, sometimes that anything isn't fun--it involves time-outs and no treats and even the occasional swat on the tush. But, it also involves snuggling sweet babies, and getting an "I wuv you, Momma" at bedtime, and baking birthday cakes, and wrapping the perfect car on Christmas Eve in eager anticipation of his face when he opens it. And, whether I like it or not, motherhood involves letting these little ones grow up. And, as they grow and become independent, they will learn lessons on their own. Maybe a few of those lessons will sting a bit. Maybe they'll even forget their drinks! And, even though I can't take away every bit of pain from their lives, I can be here for them. Always. I'll be here to hug them and kiss away the boo-boos. I'll be here to listen and to talk and to comfort, and to offer a drink of water--just in case they're thirsty when they get home!

Wordless Wednesday.

Blessed to be Sleepy.

Between the never-ending teething, stuffy noses, sharp little fingernails, gassy tummies, RSV, learning to roll over, and just plain being hungry, Levi hasn't slept well in, oh, about 3 months. And, that means, in turn, that I haven't slept well in at least that long. (Come to think of it, my last solid 8 hours of sleep probably occurred in the spring of 2012?) I'll admit, some nights are better than others--occasionally, Levi only wakes up once during the night to eat. Those blessed nights are when he has no new teeth bothering his sore little gums. And, since we have been graced by the addition of two new teeth within the last four days, the past week and a half has been sorely lacking in the sleep department for me.
If you know me well, you are very familiar with the fact that I don't function well without at least a little decent sleep. Getting up every one or two or three hours all night long doesn't make for a very cheery momma in the morning. (And, we won't even talk about my mood at 3am when I'm awake again after only 45 minutes of sleep since the last wake up call!)
But, last night, I realized something as I was sliding beneath the sheets at 4:30am, crossing my fingers that the snuffling and tossing in the pack 'n play across the room only meant that he was settling down to sleep for a nice long stretch. I was reminded that I am so very blessed to have this opportunity to be a momma. And, the honor of being his momma is not something that I'd trade for anything in the world--not even a full night's sleep! Waking up every few hours to tend to my grumpy little one is part of being his mother, and I do love it. I love the sleepy snuggles and the midnight smiles and the quiet nursing sessions. I love the peace and comfort that I can bring to him, and I love that he wants only me. I love the weight of his body in my arms, his sweet milky breath, and his soft little head on my shoulder. Yeah, sure, I do love my sleep, but oh, I love this special time with my littlest one even more! I know that these sleepless nights are truly short--no matter how they feel now, and I know that maybe, just maybe someday I'll miss waking up four times a night to tend to my baby.
Besides, who can stay crabby when you wake up to this face?!

Life.

Well, once again, I've abandoned this old blog for life. Update? Life here has been busy and full recently. Most importantly, Levi turned 6 months old, and Nate turned two and a half! (Time flies when you're having fun, eh?!)
In other [not so fun] news, I cracked a tooth, and it subsequently became infected. Ouch! I still have no idea when (or on what) I cracked it! Anyway, thanks to a visit to both our dentist and the oral surgeon, all is well now.
Nate is almost fully potty trained during the daytime now (including naptime). He still has some accidents when he's too busy to pause for a potty break, but overall, he's doing very well. I keep telling myself that we'll work on bedtime training soon too, but I just can't get motivated. There's plenty of laundry to keep me busy as it is--without throwing in an extra load of sheets daily!
Levi just popped through tooth #4 this morning, thank goodness! We've had quite a few terrible nights of sleep (or lack thereof!) thanks to this tooth, and I was quite excited to see it appear through that poor swollen gum this morning!
The boys had doctor appointments on Wednesday; they're both healthy and growing like weeds! Nathaniel is now 37 inches tall, and he weighs 32 pounds. Levi is now 28.5 inches tall, and he weighs 19 pounds and 5 ounces. My big boys!
I've got several fun projects going on right now--just enough to keep me busy, but not overwhelmed (yet!). Thanks to Pinterest, planning is so much easier, and my creative juices are a'flowing! I'm still working on my crocheting skills, getting plans/decorations together for a bridal shower, planning Easter activities, collecting new recipes, and trading out all of our chemical-laden household foods/items for more natural alternatives. Those may/may not sound interesting and fun to you, but I've been enjoying them all!
February is almost over, and we're eagerly looking forward to springtime and Easter around here. The cold temperatures have given way to a few warm days here and there, and they've been quite a tease! Nate cannot wait to get outside with his trike on a regular basis, and I can't wait to let Levi play outside. We've got several outdoor projects planned for this year, and we're itchin' to get started on those too!
Hope all is well with you and yours. Happy Friday!

2 1/2 years old!

Nathaniel is two and a half years old today! It's as though he turned from a toddler into a BIG BOY within just the past few weeks. Now that's he's not wearing diapers any longer, he doesn't seem to have any "baby habits" left. He's a happy, silly, and confident little boy.

Nate loves, above all other things, to play with his cars. He's got quite a collection (I think it quadrupled for Christmas!), and he knows each and every single car. He lines them up into parades, builds mega-block garages, and takes two cars to bed each night. Some of his favorites are the fire engines and ambulances, and he's always impressed when we see real emergency vehicles on the road.

Some of his other favorite activities include playing with play dough, riding the tricycle, coloring, cooking in his play kitchen (or, even better, helping Mommy in the real kitchen!), and looking at books. Oh, how this kid loves books! Sometimes he will sit and look at the pictures all by himself for a half an hour or more And, he's always in the mood to have someone read a story (or 12!) to him. I've even seen him "reading" books to Levi, the dog, and his stuffed animals!

6 months.

Levi is six months old already! (Holy smokes, when did that happen?!) He has a such fun little personality, and I love getting to know him a little more every day. He laughs at everything, "talks" back to us, and reaches for everything! He is so silly already, and loves to make us laugh!

And, of course, anything he can get his hands on goes straight into his mouth!
He is still content to play in his baby gym for short periods, but prefers to be on his tummy. When he's on his tummy, he scoots himself backwards--eventually too far away to reach any of his toys, and he does not like that! He loves to roll from his belly to his back, but gets frustrated when he tries to roll back over (he's done it a handful of times, but usually can't remember how!). Levi is learning to sit up on his own, and he's doing well. He can keep his balance for a minute or two, but usually topples over when he lunges his body toward a toy that is always just out of reach!

Levi's favorite toy is is grasping caterpillar toy that we gave him for Christmas. He also loves rattles, balls, Sophie the giraffe, and his stuffed tiger. As always, his very favorite form of entertainment comes in the form of his big brother. No matter who is in the room, Levi always keeps an eye on Nate! And, no matter what his mood, a tickle or silly voice from Nate always results in big smiles!

Levi is a great sleeper now. He goes to bed around 8pm, and usually doesnt get up for the day until 8 or 9am. He does wake up at least once/night to eat, sometimes more often when he's teething. He takes three naps daily--a short morning nap, a long afternoon nap, and a short evening nap.

My little guy has three teeth already! He has two on the bottom, and one on the top left side. Despite more frequent night wakings, he's been a champ through teething so far. He's not been fussy or crabby; he just chews on his fingers a little more!

We let Levi start pureed foods about a week and a half ago because he seemed to be ready. And, he certainly was ready! So far, he's eaten both avocado and butternut squash. Both were a hit, but the avocado seemed to be his favorite. Until I added a sprinkle of cinnamon to his squash today--he LOVED it, and gobbled down every little drop!

Wordless Wednesday.

It's potty time!

I'm slightly ashamed to share that Nathaniel has been showing "readiness signs" for potty training since August. When he started (showing an interest in the potty, telling us when he peed/pooped, etc), I ignored it because Levi was ready to be born. And then, Levi was born, and I had a newborn to take care of--there was no way I wanted to add the stress of potty training a toddler. And since then, I've continued to put it off for every ridiculous reason in the book.....I suppose I've really just been waiting for him to train himself!
Well, yesterday, Eric was home from school for a snow day, and we figured we might as well give potty training a try. What could it hurt? As it turns out, not a thing hurt--Nate was ready! Within just a few hours (and 6 glasses of juice!), he had mastered the potty! I know that we've still got a ways to go, but I am so proud!! (Not that I did anything to help--I think he really did potty train himself!) With gummy bears and matchbox cars as incentives, and lots of whooping and jumping around every time he went, Nate was thrilled to be using the potty! He is doing so well (going without being reminded, and no accidents all day long today!!), and I love seeing him beam with pride! My little guy is growing up...!!

Whole Wheat Garlic Herb Pretzels.

It's Superbowl Sunday! And, since I don't even know what teams are playing, I'm participating in the festivities in the best way that I know--by making gameday foods! This recipe for homemade soft pretzels is outstanding. If you want regular pretzels, simply omit the garlic and herbs. (I had already started the recipe when I realzed that I didn't have any kosher salt, so my pretzels were "unsalted".)

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
4 cups whole wheat white flour
4 tablespoons butter, melted
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons parsley
2 teaspoons thyme
1 teaspoon black pepper

10 cups water, boiling
2/3 cup baking soda
1 egg yolk, whisked with 1 T water

kosher salt for sprinkling
vegetable oil to grease bowl

Mix water, sugar, salt, and yeast in a mixer on low speed.

Add flour, butter, garlic, parsley, thyme, and pepper. Mix until a smooth dough forms (and clears the sides of bowl), probably 3-5 minutes.

Transfer the dough to an oil bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and let rise in a warm place for about 50-55 minutes (until doubled in size).

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, and grease a baking sheet. Boil water and add baking soda (stirring until disolved).

Divide dough into 16 pieces, and roll each until about 18 inches in length. Fold into traditional pretzel shape.

Drop pretzels into boiling water a few at a time, for about 30 seconds--turning once. Remove from water with a slotted spoon, and rest on greased baking sheet.

When all of the pretzels have been boiled, brush them with the egg/water mixture and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake pretzels for 12-14 minutes at 450 degrees. Serve with cheese sauce or mustard.

Recipe adapted from Soft Pretzel Bites at Annie's Eats.

First foods: AVOCADO!

Since Levi is almost 6 months old, reaches eagerly for food, and almost always imitates us chewing, we decided to let him start on some food of his own. Like Nathaniel, we fed Levi mashed avocado for his first food. And, after a few initial funny faces, Levi eagerly finished his entire bowl! He even yelled for more every time I was too slow getting the next bite into his mouth! (Nate, of course, was much quicker to help feed his baby brother!)