Happy Easter!

I'm linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter for {Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}. And since there is a wholelotta {pretty, happy, funny, real} going on around here, I'll let you choose what is which.

So, remember this gem?

a.k.a. my issues with committing to a paint color

After much weeping and gnashing of teeth, I finally committed to a color. Easter was our goal (which we thought we'd meet easily...ha...haha) because we were hosting family from both sides for the weekend and Easter lunch. We managed to get the trim and two walls painted. At least, the walls that did get painted were the ones that had the paint samples on them. They were starting to make us twitch. Of course, now that they're gone, I'm starting to lose motivation to finish the other two walls.

Ah :) no more paint swatches :)

I think that I've mentioned that we've started milling our own wheat? Well, I tried using our wheat for my Easter cake, which calls for AP flour and I didn't do any research, yadayadayada and....

almost completely hollow but tasted good

I was pretty determined to make the cake since it's a family recipe, and I don't have many of those, and I knew my family would love it (which they did), so I hacked around some forums for about 10 minutes (which I should have done anyway), and after braving a three-and-a-half-our-priest-skimps-on-nothing (including using full-sized drink pitchers for baptisms)-vigil-mass with our two year old and getting to bed around 1 am, I got up early and made cake #2.

Ah, much better. 

We had a blast with all the family, ate our traditional lamb, risotto, homemade bread, salad, etc meal (my husband is a beast in the kitchen; I did the cake), and then enjoyed watching the kiddos hunt for eggs.

hunting for eggs

My niece and her Easter stash

Grandma hid them well in the bushes

Mommy getting in on the action

My nephew and his eggs

hustling to find more eggs

adorable

Cousins 6yrs, 3 1/2 yrs, and 2 1/2 yrs.

Cousins with babies at 37, 22, and 17 weeks gestation

Grandparent and Great Grandparent love

After all of the egg hunting and the food eating we just enjoyed hanging out together. So what do you get when you cross one entertaining cousin with a deliriously silly cousin?

We got to enjoy some low key time with my sister's family after everyone else left. The kids had a blast playing in the yard (watched by us through the window). Before we realized what they were doing, the cousins had discovered a fun way to go down a small hill in our yard.

We hope your Easter was as wonderful and joyful as ours! Happy Easter from my family to yours!

Big Announcement and The Gory Details

Linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter for Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real and This Ain't The Lyceum for 7 Quick Takes.

All you wanted to know, and some you didn't, with a few gratuitous pictures thrown in for good measure. 

~ 1 ~

Happy

In case you missed it, we announced our big news on social media earlier this week!

He only has 6 more months to practice reading for baby brother or sister. He's gonna be a great big brother. ‪#‎beingpromoted‬ 

~ 2 ~ 

But if you did miss the announcement or just saw the video and were confused, you were not alone. Apparently the power outage and my serious lack of social media skills prevented several people from hearing our great news. The Hubs posted the above announcement right before the power outage and then when I shared it so it would be on my Facebook wall, I didn't realize it would not share his comment as well so the people that did see the video had no idea it was a pregnancy announcement. My bad.

Pretty!

~ 3 ~

We had been putting off announcing it because we wanted to do something adorable and fun like last time to announce the news, but it took a while for us to come up with an idea. We had recorded the heartbeat at our appointment and was going to share on Valentine's Day a picture of us all with paper hearts on our chests and one on my belly, along with the recording, and the caption "Growing our family by one heartbeat", but capturing a good family picture by ourselves with a squirmy two-year-old is quite a challenge these days. So alas, our announcement ended up as above and got trumped by the power outage. The second kid always gets the shaft.

~ 4 ~ 

So now that you know, some of you have been asking all the questions. So to the answers. Matthan is going to have to share quickly because Baby is due in August. Matthan says he is very excited to be a big brother. He is strongly voting for a brother. You all with have to wait along with him to see if he gets what he wants because we are not finding out the gender until Baby decides to make an appearance. Same with names. Some are in the running from last time, some are new, but nothing has been decided on for sure. We're taking name suggestions.

Funny - Little rascal isn't allowed on the coffee table but tried anyway

~ 5 ~

I'm now into my second trimester, the using-office-supplies-to-hold-my-pants-closed phase. The first trimester was similar to last time with some debilitating nausea. I finally googled "pregnancy nausea" came up B6 deficiency, popped a multivitamin and drank some Vitamin Water, and was playing soccer with my nephew that evening. I'm keeping that one in the tool box for any future pregnancies.

I'm pretty much past any nausea but now I've entered the weird-smells-send-me-to-make-sacrifices-to-the-porcelain-gods and food issues stage. On the list of no-no smells include poop, brussel sprouts, sour cream/Greek yogurt type smells, bad breath, and anything that strikes the nose as weird in the moment. I have a hard time eating anything I've cooked, but can eat the same foods if someone else cooks them for me. The first couple months, cold foods were awesome.

Lent began this week

Real

I eat about 4-5 peanut butter and honey sandwiches a week, not because I particularly like them, but because it's one of the only things I can get down that will help me sleep through the night, otherwise I wake up in the middle of the night dizzy, shaking, with elevated blood pressure which I assume is due to low blood sugar. This kid better not be allergic to peanut butter.

The only major food craving I've had was for Doc Chey's, an Asian fusion restaurant we use to go to in college. The craving went unsatisfied for a couple months until at last week's doctor appointment where I discovered there was a Doc Chey's a mile from the office. I might have teared up a little with excitement...I'm blaming it on the hormones.

~ 6 ~

There have been a lot of similarities to my pregnancy with Matthan, including people's oh so encouraging (eye roll) statements of "You're due in August, you're going to miserable in the heat!"...Thanks...you can go away now. I don't think there is ever a time of the year when being nine months pregnant is comfortable, and I prefer my nauseated stage to be in the cold months, thank you very much.

I've had a touch of heartburn already like last time. I don't remember being quite as tired last time though. Symptoms have hit around the same times as last time, but in varying degrees.

He wants snow, me too.

Matthan has been sweet and helpful. I had my head in the sink the other day, and he asked if I was ok. I asked him to bring me my water bottle and when he couldn't find mine, he brought me his. He has helped me keep from wallowing in pregnancy symptoms :)

~ 7 ~

And since the other takes weren't quite so quick, here's the first belly pic.

Half the bump is baby, the other half is peanut butter sandwiches.

Family Camping ~ Part 3 (phfr)

And we continue with Part 3 of the camping saga, {pretty, happy, funny, real} style.

{Pretty}

We could not have asked for better weather this weekend and I just love waterfalls.  So my "pretty" is Part 1 of our Family Camping saga.  Click on the picture to read more about our hike in Part 1.

Click on picture to read Part 1

{Real}

I would definitely have to say the "real" of the trip was my probably unreasonable high expectations for the trip which were disappointed several times.  I also didn't realize how much work chasing a two-year-old was going to be when our camping trips have usually been relaxing, slower-paced ones; not to mention we were coming off a week of several very late nights, so sleep deprivation probably had something to do with my lack of patience and energy.  So if you want to see cute pictures of animals and read about how much my expectations set me up for disappointment, go read the details of Part 2.  It includes me being able to spit on my neighbor (but didn't) and has been updated with pictures of me learning how to milk a cow.

Click on picture for Part 2

{Happy and Funny}

I have to say that Matthan slept really well in the tent.  He started fussing around 4am because he had kicked his blankets off and it was cold.  He quieted as soon as I covered him up and slept til 7am (not bad).  Our plan was to pack up and go for a quick hike before grabbing lunch on our way home.  This meant that I had to find entertainment for Matthan while Tim packed up all of the gear.  Our camping neighbors were playing in the stream that bordered one side of our site and Matthan wanted to join.

After he walked around for a while with the kids next to us, he went for the (almost) full immersion route...

...I'm pretty sure he spent at least an hour in the water.

"Plunking" rocks

Playing with mud

He needs a haircut 

"wash hands"

We finally pulled him out of the stream, which was timely, because I think that a few more minutes would have turned him into a Matthan popsicle.  I got him all changed and cozy.

Watching the trout and ducks

There was a tiny lake (i.e. glorified large puddle) that was stocked with trout.  Tim said it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.  We just had fun watching the ducks.

There were a couple of waterfalls to hike to and we were told that the coolest one was a five minute walk.  So we started up a path...that quickly turned into an 8inch wide, 55 degree angle, heart attack high intensity cardio workout.  So, you know, five minutes if you're a professional athlete.  So we tossed Matthan into the backpack, not wanting him to fall off of the narrow path, and continued to climb to the waterfall.  The path landed us near the top of the waterfall, and we did not have it in us to climb down to the bottom, because we'd then have to climb back up.  So a quick "that's a neat waterfall...ok, let's go get lunch" and we headed back to the car trying not to fall down the crazy path to our death.  

We stopped in Helen for lunch.

Completely unrelated, but does anyone else find it amusing that the Oktoberfest parade is not in October?  

We were eating lunch when I saw this sign that said "The City of Helen is a Nose Sensitive Area..." and I made the comment that I thought it was funny and that I wasn't sure what to think of a sign like this.  Tim just gave me a funny look. 

Thirty minutes later as we were leaving I snapped a picture to send to my sister, and finally Tim said, "You do know that it says "NOISE sensitive area"."    

Nope.  

I do now.

We stopped at a creamery, that I had heard was good, on the way home, and I felt a little guilty eating ice-cream while Matthan was sleeping in his carseat.  But then he woke up and I gave him the last couple bites.  The smile on his face was priceless... like a kid in a candy shop...or a kid...eating ice-cream...you know.

Go visit the ladies at Like Mother, Like Daughter for more {Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} themed posts.

Bonus Video

Autumn and Two-Year-Olds in Dinosaur Towels (PHFR)

Autumn is my favorite season of the year.  It makes me so happy.  Of course, in Georgia, autumn lasts about two weeks with a couple of teasers thrown in.  So don't blink or you'll miss it.  I have been savoring the cooler weather with outside projects and crockpot meals.

{PRETTY}

The weather has been gorgeous!  Matthan has enjoyed his new sandbox. 

Autumn also makes me want to do little random projects that I've been putting off like making cards. I don't get to spend much time doing this, but I discovered that I really enjoy making homemade envelopes and hand-stitching cards.

{HAPPY}

We've been trying to tackle our garden beds little by little.  I ripped out the weeds and pruned my rose bush and realized that the pine straw we had was not adequate to cover the area.  I stole some from around Little Man's sandbox and of course he wanted to help...

... five pieces at a time :)

{FUNNY}

I love this "windows open" time of year"... which has nothing to do with two-year-olds running around the house in dinosaur towels... 

{REAL}

I was re-layering my compost pile (such riveting things to tell you, no?) when Little Man (in so many words) asked if he could smell the flowers.  I did not realize that his method of smelling the marigolds included picking them off of the bush one by one, smelling them, then tossing them in the yard before finding his next victim.  This picture does not do the flower graveyard justice.  My yard was scattered with marigolds.  

Once I realized what was happening, we had a in depth instructional session on how to smell the flowers without picking them.  He finally got the idea, and then asked me "May I smell flowers?" followed by him bending down and exclaiming "Leave on bush!".  Repeat 1,347,568 more times.

Head on over to Like Mother, Like Daughter, the hosts of the "Pretty Happy Funny Real" link-up.

The Terrible Twos and Photobombing Like a Parent (PHFR)

Today's post should be entitled "Lots of pictures that have little to do with each other and lots of rambling without any real focus"... 

...but that would take up a lot of room.

We have been busy with visiting with family, visiting with friends (two get-togethers in one weekend! Love you Chelsea, Caroline, and Jonathan! (of which, of course, we failed to take any pictures)), bike riding, parish picnics, and keeping up with all of the things that we keep up with.

You'll have to excuse the lack of entertaining text.  You can just look at the pictures if you wish :)

{Pretty}

"Lay down!...Daddy...look clouds!"

Stopped to smell the flowers

{happy}

One of Matthan's favorite songs is "How He Loves" and he can pretty much sing the whole thing, as well as the Winnie the Pooh and Veggie Tale theme songs.  I'm working hard to get a recording of it...unsuccessful so far.

{brings Daddy his ukulele and capo}  "Sing song!"

Coloring at the parish picnic

Matthan selfie, photobombed by Mommy

{funny}

First time I've ever seen him do this!

He's been sticking his blanket over his head since he was a baby

Matthan selfie photobombed by Daddy

Matthan selfie photobombed by Mommy

Matthan selfie photobombed by Daddy

Matthan selfie photobombed by Mommy kisses

I saw Matthan stick his blanket over his head while I was driving and I guess he was trying to block out the sun.  When I got home, he was completely asleep under there.

{Real}

We are about to enter a new phase of parenting called "The Terrible Twos"... although I think Matthan decided a couple months ago that he was an over-achiever and would enter into it early.  There has certainly been new challenges, like the "NO!" phase, and the "I'm going to use a whiny voice all day long" phase, but, I can tell you, he is also, SO MUCH FUN.

Matthan is a very verbal child, but when he doesn't have the words to communicate, his actions speak volumes.  Do you remember those roller coaster wire toys with the sliding beads?  Matthan was playing with one at the chiropractor's office.  I had warned him that we'd be leaving in a few minutes to which he replied "NO!", which I ignored and went to finish at the front desk.  When I was done, I went to collect Matthan and told him it was time to go, to which he replied "NO!", shaking no with his whole body...

... and then in final protest, SMUSHED his face between the bendy wires of the roller coaster toy. (Kicking myself for not getting a picture!)

He looked something like this

I started laughing which attracted all of the ladies from the front desk to come over and see this toddler protest.

I pried his face from between the wires and held him as he cried on my shoulder because he didn't want to leave.

The rough life of an (almost) two year old.

Don't let this angelic face fool you ;)

Mixed in with the minimal rough moments is a lot of smiles and songs and so much cuteness.

When life gives you an (almost) 2-yr-old, sometimes you surrender and make a tent with the clean laundry

Happy Thursday!  Go see the ladies over at Like Mother, Like Daughter for more "Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real" themed posts.