Taking it all In

I think God created babies with the need to eat every few hours for a reason: it would give Mom an excuse to sit down for 20 or 30 minutes and take a break. If it wasn't for those times during the day, too much time would pass and at the end of the day I would realize that I hardly observed my kids at all. The imaginations of a 2 and 4 year old are so creative and watching them while I'm nursing, hearing their miniature conversations, listening to giggling or bickering is priceless. 

 It's taken three kids for me to really start to enjoy them and take it all in as time flies by without a thought to the priceless moments that are swept away with it. I'm slowly learning to stop and enjoy the little moments that would otherwise go unnoticed if I wasn't paying attention.

We enjoyed lots of fresh pineapple this week. I finally learned how to cut one properly (thanks to the diagram on the pineapple tag) and we got a lot more bang for our buck!

Nathan turned 8 weeks yesterday. He is out of newborn clothes and fitting perfectly into 0-3 month clothes now. My guess is he is a good 12 pounds, according to my scale--my other two were tiny for a long time, so this is something new for me!  He is sleeping longer stretches at night, still nursing a lot during the day which allows me lots of breaks that I won't complain about one bit.

He is a very, very smiley baby. I don't remember off the top of my head when my other two started being so responsive, but at 4 weeks this guy was smiling up at Mommy with his eyes wide open and hasn't stopped since!

I had my first post-baby photo-shoot this past week. It felt so good to get out again, doing something that I enjoy and love. They were new clients and had the cutest kids, but it felt even better to get back home to my babies again. 8 weeks at home with them, not going many places or doing much, has made me grow even more attached to them. My photography business is awesome but my real job as a Mommy is even better.

The weather is warm, in typical Texas fashion. The pool opened and Anna and I took the kids down the first chance we got. 

He was adorable in his tiny swim-suit, but that material doesn't breathe very well and he ended up with a little heat rash on his belly. So until he's ready to get in the water (which probably won't be for at least a few more months when the water gets super warm) he'll be sporting his cotton rompers. :)

The front of my stroller has a little foot rest that Brookie fits perfectly on, which solves the problems of three kids in a double stroller. For longer walks I use the moby wrap, but this works great for the short trips!

These two were rearing to go the second we told them the pool was open. Brooklynne loves the water and Joe is happy to run around outside the pool, giving me a heart attack every 8 seconds when think he's about to topple in.

My mother taught me well. You don't go swimming without snacks. You just don't. I am passing on this sentimental tradition to my children, because there is nothing like sitting dripping wet and dipping sun chips into hummus on a hot day.

Take a second to stop and observe your loved ones this week and you might just see something that you would have missed in the whirlwind of this crazy thing we call life. Make all the little moments count.

 Have a great weekend!

A Day in the Life: Week 16

Well, it's Thursday, which means it's perfect time to post last weeks picture of the day post! Yeah, I'm just a little behind, but that's OK. Last week was crazy. I emptied my house of all things not wanted or needed and had a huge garage sale, spending 2 days washing baby girl clothes that were stained with some sort of mildew from the Texas heat. Lesson learned: don't store clothes in a non-climate controlled environment. We were able to get a lot of it out, but not before several washes, almost an entire bottle of oxi-clean, and quite a bit of detergent.

 The garage sale went great, but man, it was a lot of work. I'm so thankful my sister was here to help out--there is no way I could have gotten it all done and kept my sanity intact without her here. I think I'll be having a garage sale every year from now on--and maybe even another one this year.

Monday, April 16th: Bought the big box. These are my new love.

Tuesday, April 17th: Cuddle time with Daddy

Wednesday, April 18th: Painting Anna's nails. (she's much more fun than Mommy :)

Thursday, April 19th: A-midst the garage sale chaos, the kids were having a grand ol' time

Friday, April 20th: Why hello there, Cousin

Saturday, April 21st: He's been smiling since he was 4 weeks old but I was finally able to capture one!

Sunday, April 22nd: Siblings

Yesterday was in the 90's and today should be the same. The kids are very excited about pool time today :). Have a great weekend!

It's Good to be a Mom

My two-and-a-half year old is my most popular form of entertainment throughout the day. He makes me laugh and keeps me wondering what he'll get into next. A big thing we are working on right now is whining and how it's something we shouldn't do. 

 Today before we went outside, I ran upstairs to grab a few things and check on the baby. As I came back down the stairs, he was sitting there, slumped over in defeat and sniffling dramatically.

 Here we go again, I thought. Preparing my self with the usual speech about whining, what happens when we whine, why are we whining, God doesn't like whining, I asked in a firm but rather whiny voice myself, "What is wrong now Joe-Joe?"

His clear brown eyes looked up at me and another little sniffle escaped his nose before he replied quietly, 

"I miss you Mommy."

Of course at that point, my heart melted and I had to mop it up off the floor. It was just one of those moments when it felt good to be a Mom, and when nothing mattered at that second except that sometimes whiny two-and-a-half year old who missed Mommy because she was upstairs for 48 seconds.

A Day in the Life: Week 15

I'm just a little late in posting this week. I got behind with downloading, organizing and posting but I finally got my act together and here were are! I can't believe we are over halfway through April already!

Monday, April 9th: We're taking walks again!

 Tuesday, April 10th: Picnic outside...and dressed as a princess, of course

                                   

 Wednesday, April 11th. I'm so cool I didn't remember to take a picture until 11:30pm which at the time the only thing I could think to take a picture of was my kindle because I reading in bed. I know this is your favorite picture ever.

Thursday, April 12th: It's rare that I catch a candid moment, sweet moment between my boys

Friday, April 13th: 6 Weeks Old!

Saturday, April 14th: Picnic at the park. The Volley ball court makes a great sandbox!

Sunday, April 15th: Eating at Wendy's after church

My sister arrived late last night...let the work I mean fun begin! ;)

The Season of New Life

Spring has sprung in all of it's glory here. The days are warm and breezy and beautiful wildflowers have sprouted up between luscious blades of green grass. Green. That's something we haven't seen in a while, but because of the generous amount of rain we've gotten this year we're now seeing it everywhere, taking it all in before it turns crunchy and brown again from the heat.

Our nightly walks have resumed

Baby is 6 weeks old so I'm up and around more and resumed my normal workout routine this week. I'll do it for a week or so more before I start a Jillian Michael's dvd. After no exercise for 6 weeks (and just walking for the last few weeks of pregnancy) I need to work my body back up to where it was before I take on that much of an intense workout! 

This week we had a picnic outside, the first of many before the weather gets too hot.

I love my quilt that makes me feel all picnic-y. Best $3 I ever spent!

Thankfully he only got a hold of half of a turkey sandwich. It could have been worse.

Brooklynne requested to wear a princess dress this day, with a shirt underneath of course, because God forbid we "FEEEEL ITCHYYYY!" and have a meltdown.

She hates pictures these days, so I have to sneak them here and there when she doesn't know. My little girl is almost 5 and is so grown up and mature--my biggest helper with the baby and around the house!

What would spring be without bugs? Rolly Polly's abound and must be shown to Mommy, but I refuse to keep them as pets. Sorry kids. Mom has limits!

I love having a spring baby. The outdoors calms him right down and he usually falls asleep immediately, but if not he sits contentedly, observing the beautiful world around him. I am blessed with a happy, content baby!

My cousin bought the kids bubbles, a perfect activity for them while I fed the baby and watched, taking in motherhood and the warm fuzzy feeling it gives me.

Those chubby cheeks get kissed. A lot. 

I can't decide what my favorite season is in Texas, but right now I would have to say spring. We're spending it outside, enjoying friends, walks, the park and play dates. It's a good time to reflect on new life and how the Lord Jesus Christ will give us new life if we only believe and ask!

Happy Weekend!

The Easter Run-Down

This post is short and sweet with lots of pictures because I'm in a rush and it needs to be posted. So here it is--the run down on our fun Resurrection Sunday!

Who doesn't love Easter? I have memories of new dresses, white shoes, white gloves and white hats, (that's a lot of white) celebrating Christ's Resurrection at church and then going to Grandma's where we had a big dinner and egg hunt in the back yard and, of course, peanut butter eggs. That ended when they went to Florida for the winter, but now we've started our own traditions! Peanut butter eggs being at the top of the list. Besides Jesus rising from the dead, those are the best thing about Easter! ;)

This year I thought it would be fun to make birds nest cookies that I found on pinterest. I made and molded the "nests" and the kids got to fill them and top them with peeps. We talked about the real reason for Easter and had lots of fun together!

On Sunday morning, I had visions of a gorgeous picture of my kids to post, but it didn't start out so well.

Despite the red eyes and sliding baby, we managed to get a "Good" one--although I love the other one best :)

The Family Easter Picture! (The one on my blog header is from last year--I just might have to use this one to change it)

My cousin and his lovely girlfriend got to spend the day with us, as well as Nate's family

All the older cousins before almost all of them changed--the fruit tray before brunch was being devoured and resulting in strawberries on pretty white dresses.

The kids look forward to the Easter egg hunt every year. Of course they know that it's not the Easter bunny who hides them, but it's just a fun activity that they love!

Do NOT steal eggs that are not yours. Fits will result! ;)

Sweet Joanna and I watching our crazy 8 kids hunt for eggs :)

Pretty Girls!

It was a really fun day spent with family and eating way too much food but most of all we were so thankful that the Lord rose from the dead so that we could have eternal life! What a wonderful reason to celebrate!