Our Newest Addition

We just got the best Christmas present ever! Here he is!

He came in the biggest snow storm the Portland area has seen in 30 years on Sunday, December 21st. B and I trekked over to Alma Midwifery Birthing Center in full winter gear, mom pausing a few times on the steps outside for contractions, standing in a foot of snow. We made it there a little after 7 am and he was born at 8:41 am, weighing in at 8 lbs. 5 ounces and 21 inches long. We are so blessed, and fully in love all over again.

Lil' B was so excited to finally meet her new brother, who she lovingly calls "Moose Truck" or "Jo-Jo", and on here he will just be "moose". Bug is surprisingly accepting of his new little brother who he refers to simply as "baby".

We're snowed in for the holidays, reading lots of stories, changing many diapers, cuddling a lot, drinking plenty of tea and cocoa, and playing in the snow. Papa B built a six foot snow slide in our backyard with Lil' B. Our neighbors built snowball fighting forts at two strategic locations on our block. I love watching people skiing through our neighborhood streets, and families pulling kids in sleds to go to the grocery store.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Making A Gingerbread House

We made out first gingerbread house over Thanksgiving break with Grandma Mern. It was so fun and adorable. It was just a kit, but still fun and really yummy(Trader Joe's rocks!! :).



These pics below are pictures of our Safari Hunt. It's a really fun game for the kids. You hide stuffed animals around the house, turn off all the lights, have the kids climb on Dad's back, give them each a flashlight, and you search for the animals. They had a blast, although Bug is still a little small to fit on Dad's back.

Conversations with Lil' B

Overheard this afternoon, conversation between Lil' B and her dearest friend Sam.

Lil'B: Don't squish my baby!

Sam: Ok, I'll squish my baby.

Lil'B: I can squish my baby.

Sam: Can I squish your baby?

Lil' B: No, my baby only likes it when I squish her.


Four year old females are are so fun.

Wordless Wednesday: My Little Man

"I Could Kick Your Butt" and other thoughts

Recently, while perusing the Target aisles I found my daughter some clearance undershirts that came in a pack of three of white, pink, and lavender. I'd been wanting some ever since my mother in law bought her some when she was 2, but those undershirts are a couple inches above her belly button now. At the time, I thought they were useless, but they turned out to be extremely handy during the winter season. Anyways, she finally has some more, and wears them under her clothes almost everyday. Each time I see them sitting in the laundry basket I think, I should sew something on them, but then I feel silly because nobody will see them under her clothes. Tonight while sweeping the floor, I thought of a shirt idea for them. I was thinking about embroidering on them "I could kick your butt" and "I ain't no sissy." This gave me a good chuckle while I worked away, and then I thought, "No, that's a good idea. That really sums up Lil'b."

Someone reading this might assume that I am very modern and maybe a "little gender bending," if I may use the term, but the humorous thing is I am not. I am also known to have read and enjoyed Mary Pride's The Way Home, devour my "No Greater Joy" magazine when it comes in the mail, and frequent blogs of Christian women known as "living the grid," keepers of the home, help meets, homeschooling etc.

Still, I think that it is a great shirt idea, especially for any energetic little girl, which I happen to have. If you know Lil'B, you know what I mean. I do not think it means she won't be feminine. It's just that she CAN kick your butt and it's sometimes funny (other times not :). I also thought of a shirt for my son, who is quite the momma's boy which would say, "I am a sissy." I think these things are funny. I'm sure someone else might not, but stay tuned for her new shirts. If I ever get around to them, I'll post them on my craft blog.

Other thoughts:

I've been reading a lot about "Off the Grid Living" recently, I find it very intriguing. Could I ever live with a compost toilet or wash my clothes with a bucket and plunger or grow all my own food? I think about these things a lot recently and I have no idea what will become of these thoughts. I like aspects of off the grid living like: low environmental impact, no mortgages, less city government dependence, lots of outdoor times, simple life, more time at home for everyone. B said no compost toilet, and he likes a washing machine. We'll see if he changes his mind.

Where Did We Go?

Happy Birthday Lil' B!!!

My little girl is 4! She's so big now. I am really loving each new stage with her. A mom recently told me that she cried when her daughter turned 4. There were no tears over here! It was party time! That might be due to the fact that she is the oldest and there are two younger than her, so we have plenty of tiny years still ahead. We had a little party which involved fairy wings, swords, a treasure hunt, and a dance party. Before the party we surprised her with bunk beds!(She's still on the bottom and Bug is still in the crib, but exciting none the less.)

Some things I love about Lil' B:
I love that she plays hard!(If anyone knows her, you know what I mean:)
I love that she loves her brothers.
I love her light brown eyes.
I love how she snuggles.
I love that she has an imaginary family of penguins living with us! Not kidding.
I love that she makes up words like "cumbers" for friends.
I love her feet.
I love watching her dance.
I love being her mommy.

Happy Birthday little one. You make my day brighter, keep me on my toes, and constantly challenge me to be a better person. I love you!

What happened today?

Where did my sweet little boy go? Today was a new day. The tables have turned. Bug, my cuddly 18 month old, has taken over the territory his sister, lil' b, used to hold. Household terror, I mean, Cute Mess Maker, as we like to call it.

Today started out a little usual with lil'b fighting off some sickness, and Bug and I locked indoors to help take care of her. The day must have gotten to him, because around 11am, after sitting with lil'b and taking her temperature, I realized Bug was missing. I found him in the kitchen, with a chair up to the counter, slathering butter and jam on his arms. Not little bits, gobs of butter and jam. Until now he hasn't been prone to this level of mischief or curiosity. It was shocking and quite a mess, but things happen in the toddler years and you clean em' up and move on, or so I thought.

As the day went on, Lil'B proceeded to get more demanding and moody, taking up most of my attention. So between me running between the kitchen to cook and nursing sick daughter, Bug found his way into another round of naughtiness, dish detergent. I had loaded the dishwasher, and somehow in between my rounds of the house, Bug had found it and stuck it off to the room with his sister, while I returned to the kitchen to cook.?!! How this happened, I do not know. Our house is quite small, it's embarrassing really that he made it past me, the mama patrol. I located him sitting on our futon, pouring soap all over the futon and his sister's blanket, and rolling it with the rolling pin he had also looted. Lil'B, laying right next to him, had said nothing, even till this point!! Obviously showing how sick she was because she is usually my junior patrol. If Bug is spotted getting into anything, she always sounds the alarm. She just laid there and let her brother dump dish detergent on her!! Can this be my night? Really. I felt furious not knowing who to be mad at: he's 1, she's delirious, and I am the one in charge. Thankfully, I did act quickly and take some pictures, because even as frustrating as this moment was then, I knew I might laugh someday and want pictures. So here you see the little culprit below, fully in action.
Where has all the innocence gone? My sweet little one, we have turned a new leaf. You were more a boy today than you have ever been. Life was just getting a little quieter around the house as Lil'B started to slow down, and now you have just run right up into her spot.

I have a feeling our house will not be insanity free for quite sometime. It can be maddening, but it also is an amazing time. Childhood is a wild ride. All that crazy curiosity can be scary at times, but it also is so fun to watch their mental development, and to see that curiosity spring up. You have to enjoy it all. They are only little once, right?

Summer

These are some pics from a romp in our front yard one fine summer evening. The lighting was so beautiful, but kids will be kids. Tthey seemed to be uninterested in the fact that this was momma's perfect chance to take some pictures, but I fought them for a few. Lil' B was way too Mary Catherine Gallagher for me that night, as you will see if a few pics. And Bug literally ran from the camera, so he's only in two. Then the last few are random pics from a photo class were I learned "panning", which was fun! Enjoy the heat!

Flower Girl