Kid Pics Galore, Wedding, and Bike Rides

You should definitely visit Kelly for 7 Quick Takes because 1) she's an awesome blogger and 2) she's doing some great giveaways.

~ 1 ~

Technically it's 7 Quick Takes "Friday" which clearly I'm behind, but you know, newborn in the house and all that. I feel like Kelly would totally understand. 

So how 'bout some nice pics of my girl?

~ 2 ~

My Little Man is not seeming so little these days. At some point I'll record the hilarious things he says but my tired sleep-deprived brain forgets them before I can jot them down. One of his latest phrases, if he really likes something, he says "____ is the best I ever had!!!" 

Example: Tim made bread and gave Matthan some, to which Matthan exclaimed "this is the best bread I ever had!!" His enthusiasm makes it that much more awesome.

~ 3 ~

Matthan also really likes to hit "send" for me when I'm texting someone. He also likes to text selfies and random letters to Daddy. Exhibit A

~ 4 ~

Matthan likes to play "sleep". He also likes blanket "nests". A boy after my own heart.

~ 5 ~

The weather is cooling off which means the beard is back! I'll get a pic one of these days. Until then, I found The Hubs' Christmas present ;)

~ 6 ~

We went to the wedding of Tim's coworker. Getting two little kids ready for a wedding was an all day exhausting process. His coworkers that attended the wedding doted on Matthan and Lucy and allowed us to break out our dancing skills. I came home with some killer blisters but it was totally worth it.

~ 7 ~

We've been taking Matthan on bike rides. Our neighborhood is very hilly but that has not slowed him down, and he likes to go on the same long route every time. We got half way through the route (not a short distance, I assure you) and Matthan decided he was done. He told me to carry his bike. I told him I wasn't going to carry his bike since I was carrying Lucy, and he was going to carry his own bike or ride it home. I was holding my breath for a complete melt down, but instead... he decided to carry his own bike. 

I admire his gumption. He made it about ten feet, and then pushed the bike the whole way home. 

That stubbornness and determination did not come from me. He is his Daddy's son. I'm sure it will serve him later in life...or something like that. 

That's a wrap! Happy (belated) Friday... or Wednesday!

The Infection, The Cake, and The Wardrobe (7QT's)

It's seven quick takes time!

~ 1 ~

Last Friday, I decided to brave library story time. It was a smashing success despite the grumpy look on Lucy's face and that this picture looks like our library doesn't have books. I'm not in love with the idea that our kid's section has iPads, but it allowed me time to nurse Lucy while not fearing that Little Man was pulling books off the shelf and rearranging the entire library. He was even disappointed when I opted to not check out books this week (because I can't rely on my postpartum brain to remember returning library books right now), so book nerd momma for the win. Lucy slept beautifully the whole time, except for this picture. Thanks little one.

~ 2 ~

 I love this little girl. She sleeps great...during the day. Then wants to party from 8pm-12. We gotta work on this.

~ 3 ~

Sorry to those who follow me on social media, but a few repeats are a must this week. I posted this picture with "I use to pin weekly chore lists on Pinterest, and now I just laugh as I scroll by."

When you have to sit for a significant portion of the day nursing a baby, you notice the cob webs accumulating in the corners. Sometimes I get squirmy about how dirty my house is, and then I just laugh at myself because who am I kidding, like I'd clean if I had the time...nope.

~ 4 ~

We decided to go to a Bluegrass Festival not far from us, but come Saturday, I woke up with pain in my...chest area. More on that in a second. The festival was a little disappointing with one mediocre bluegrass band, one pretty terrible barber shop quartet, and another band who didn't play bluegrass. However, Little Man won his first cake walk! I'm not sure he grasped the concept of a cake walk, but he quickly understood that he got a cake.

Mommy easily coaching him towards the chocolate cake.

Ever the graceful picture taker - blowing hair out of my face

Holding his prize, hair still in my face

~ 5 ~

By the time the above pictures were taken, I was in some serious discomfort. By the time we got home after lunch, I had some serious fever and chills. I could barely nurse Lucy because I was shivering so bad. We quickly realized that I had some serious mastitis and jumped into action. I had mastitis after Little Man was born and it ended in a surgical removal of an abscess (another post for another time, maybe), so we took this really seriously. I was prescribed an antibiotic by that evening and had a very very miserable weekend. My symptoms continued into this week, so it's been rough. 

~ 6 ~

We had friends bring us meals and I asked for prayers on social media and was blown away by the response. I'm so thankful for community (on and off the internet) that we have. Thank you to everyone who offered prayers for me. I have slowly been improving all week.

gratuitous picture, but you know you love them ;)

~ 7 ~ 

The Hubs rescued this from the side of the road because he can't stand the idea of something being thrown away. It ended up being too deep for the space he wanted to put it. Little Man has commandeered it as his personal play thing. It's going to a very nice home at a friend's house.

Quality craftsmanship there

Happy Friday everyone! Now go see Kelly for more quick takes.

Inappropriate Use of Hashtags ~ A Week's Worth

It's Seven Quick Takes Time. Here's a glimpse at our riveting week with all the glorious hashtags and grainy iPhone pics to go with it.

~ Saturday ~

I don't even remember what happened on Saturday. There was sleeping and eating and baby feeding. 

~ Sunday ~

Lucy slept through mass. #secondchild #angelbaby

~ Monday ~

My husband went back to work today. My sister in law goes home tonight, which means I'm on my own tomorrow for the first time with both kids. #IwishIdrankcoffee #Imighthavetostart

#excusemewhileIgocryinacorner

I think I struck fear in the heart of my 3 year old when he realized that I was willing to stop feeding the baby to discipline him. #mommydoesntdodefiance #timeout #cansomeoneputmeintimeout? #mommyneedsanap

~ Tuesday ~

I kept myself and the two kids alive all by myself. #weareallstillinpajamas #maybewecandothis #Imighthavetotakeupdrinking #coffeeImeandrinkingcoffee

~ Wednesday ~

Got the kids ready and in the car all by myself #twice #applauseplease

It's Daddy's 30th birthday! 

#gotdressedup #butnoonetookapic #adultdrinkswerehad 

 ~ Thursday ~

Got a few minutes of outside time. #wasonthevergeofbecomingahermit #sunlightwhatsthat

~ Friday ~

Mommy got a shower. #becausetheinsurancemaniscomingovertonight #bothchildrensleeping #cantdecidewhattodofirst #blogofcourse

That's a wrap. Go visit Christy, who is hosting Seven Quick Takes for Kelly. 

Happy Friday!

Postpartum Status Update

If you follow me on social media, you'll have to excuse the recycled taken on my iPhone, weren't that great to begin with pictures. But recycled pictures are better than no pictures, right? Sure. On to the quick takes.

~ 1 ~ 

My days have pretty much been filled with this: 

and this:

~ 2 ~

I attempted to go for a walk with the boys and Lucy, and I made it just around the corner before feeling lousy and had to return to my bed. Lucy thoroughly enjoyed her first outing in the Ergo carrier snuggled up to Daddy. Daddy didn't mind either :)

 

~ 3 ~

Things have been going pretty smoothly recovery-wise, but last night I lost a lot of blood and started feeling really lousy. After a somewhat frantic call to my midwives, I was told that I was too active too soon and I overdid it, and to go back to bed for several days. Which everyone knows is hard to do, especially with a three year old running around. Prayers appreciated.

~ 4 ~

So, even though my days weren't much more than adventures out to the living room, attempted walks, and laundry mountains, for now, my days are back to looking like this:

Which really isn't so bad.

~ 5 ~ 

Now that the grandparents are gone and birthday excitement is over, we think Matthan has taken more notice of my absence in his daily routine. His excitement over Lucy has waned a bit, and he has been acting out. Again, prayers appreciated as The Hubs returns to work next week.

~ 6 ~

We've had a few visitors this week (some who brought food, yum!!) including (almost) 4 month old Cousin Avonlea. Lucy doesn't look so sure about her cousin.

~ 7 ~

Lucy is sweet as can be. She has been really stuffed up since day 3 though, and we've tried a few things for that. She's a good eater, but the nasal congestion makes it complicated sometimes. She is a REALLY LOUD sleeper, and she currently sleeps in our room so we are getting use to her noises which often times sound like a congested puppy or an old man snoring and occasionally a seal pup (according to The Hubs). She loves the swaddle, but will sleep without it especially if she's on my chest. And she seems to sleep better with big brother acting crazy around her, which he does willingly without being asked. Her days are still spent mostly like this.

Happy Friday everyone! Now go see Kelly for more quick takes, and tips on traveling with kids.

~ 7.5 ~

Update: Since some of you have asked about The Hubs. He's good, slightly sleep deprived but thoroughly enjoying his time with the munchkins. I think he's going to have a hard time going back to work. Because he's not a sitter, he's a doer, he's tackled several house projects while wearing out the 3-yr-old with long bike rides and trips to the park. He's also keeping me sane and in good humor while I try not to go crazy at the thought of all of the laundry piling up. I'll leave you with this latest gem:

Me: (referring to the milk life commercials) " The commercials with milk spewing out of people are so weird."

The Hubs: "Hitting to close to home right now?" 

Me: ............maybe

Baby Blankets - I Know Just Enough To Get Myself Into Trouble

This post is brought to you by my iPhone from my couch.

I asked my grandmother for her fish chowder recipe a while back and I got the quintessential "Grandma recipe" that read something like "I put this and this in with a handful of this and sometimes I put this in it if I have it in the cabinet. Boil it until it's just right. Then I taste it and I might add this. Then I say the magical words and stir the pot twice and it comes out amazing."...yeah...mine tasted nothing like hers. I did bug her for more details through about 6 more e-mails, but I'm still convinced that the secret ingredient is you have to be a grandma. 

Anyway, my grandma asked me about the baby blankets I made and funny enough I have only slightly more detail than a "grandma recipe" to offer. I know how to knit and crochet (theoretically, anyway), but I know just enough to get myself into trouble. When I made Matthan's blanket, which is when I taught myself how to crochet, I think I threw it across the room several times due to it (unintentionally) taking the shape of a triangle. There may have been curse words uttered. 

Both times, I made a boy blanket and a girl blanket since we didn't know which we were having, but this time I actually used a pattern. Well, sort of. 

For the boy blanket, I used this pattern, except I altered the row colors to add an extra row in order to make it a bit bigger...because I can't be bothered with things like gauging. 

For the girl blanket (modeled by our sweet Lucy) I used this pattern, more or less. I crocheted strips until I was happy with their length, then determined 5 strips was adequate, and crocheted them together. I made up some way to connect them (single crochets?), but it created ridges on the underside (pictured below) which I'm not thrilled with. I would have put more thought into how I connected them, but I was under a time crunch (read very pregnant and grumpy). And then Lucy showed up a day shy of 42 weeks so the joke was on me. The border is one row of single crochets, one row of double crochets, and a row of picot stitches (which I picked out of a book at the last minute). 

So there you have it, my only slightly better than a grandma recipe details about the baby blankets I made. I think I'm better at making cute babies ;)