learning to drive

Owen is finally learning how to steer his car and walking toys. YAY! This means not quite as many crying fits when he runs into something and can't move on his own. This is definitely a grandparents video. read: not too exciting.

an awesome visit

This week, I was SO lucky to have my dear friend Sara come and visit. She is a brave woman, road tripping 3 hours by herself with little miss Liana. We have not seen them since right after Liana was born, so it was high time our cutie patooties got to hang out together. We really didn't do a whole lot because of napping kids on different schedules. But I love friends that you can just hang with and still feel like it's treasured time. Here's their visit in pictures:

her first time in a high chair!

I'm not so sure about you

ok, I'll hold your hand

Oh those eyes.  Her and Owen would make some pretty dark eyed babies.  Just saying.

isn't sure just the cutest thing you've ever seen?  and those lips. 

umm, mom.  put the focus back on me for a sec, will ya?

The 3 munchkins enjoying the breeze as it was FINALLY cool enough to open the door this morning.

Thank you so much Sara for driving up and enduring the heartbreak of listening to your babe cry from the backseat.  We can't wait to come visit you in the fall!

the new kiddos in my life

Well, we made it though 2 days this week of childcare with one more to go tomorrow. I've been praying so much for Owen that he'd do well with the other kids and that his health would also be protected since he hasn't been around tons of other kids except in the nursery.  He seems to be taking it in stride.  There have been a few meltdowns, especially involving his current favorite truck, and we're still working on how to get him to sleep without my help as much.  And he's also taking up biting again while nursing.  Payback for mom?  Not sure about that one.  But anywhoo, here's a few pictures from our first day on Monday and then today.

last minute prep to try and help A's (dads) cat allergies

the boys didn't waste any time getting almost every toy out

milk break

snack time!

Time to color.  ok, well Owen ate the crayons, but C colored!

*disclaimer - you will notice food or milk in almost every picture. No, we don't eat and drink all day long. This is the only moment these boys are still enough for me to grab my camera. :)

things are a changin'

This little man is about to have his world rocked tomorrow morning. After a lot of talks and prayer, I'm going to be starting to childcare at our house tomorrow!  It started off with one gal asking and it snowballed very quickly.  I guess I should be flattered that so many people trust me with theirs kiddos!  Now through December, I'll be watching kiddos from 4 families throughout the week (luckily, never all at once).  I'm really excited for Owen to make new friends and to have a few older kids to use my teaching skills/materials on.  Of course, I've been praying a ton that he transitions well and that he learns how to go to sleep without me by his side since that won't really work with other kids needing me.  We're easing into this week with only 2.5 days of kids.  He'll meet A and C tomorrow morning.  Here we go buddy!

my little reader

Oh this video melts my heart. He would sit all day and point to his books and "read" if I would let him. I also love that this video shows how Sophie is never too far from his side. There was a short week there that we were looking at giving Sophie to a new home. But I couldn't do it.  So, despite the increased vacuuming and making sure my sister is stocked with allergy pills when she comes over, she's staying.

cleaning

Owen loves to "help" with whatever cleaning tasks are my list for the day (another post to come about my new system). He loves to chase the vacuum and play with the brooms. And even though it's not cleaning, his new favorite thing to do is empty my purse and then try to put it all back in.

this is fun

At least he didn't figure out how to put the coins down the vent.

i make these floors pretty dirty

your votes please

I NEED YOU. . .

 . . .to vote that is.  So here's the dilemma.  We have the perfect handles for all the kitchen cabinets.  They match the curve of our appliance handles perfectly.  And my parents used the same ones and have a few left over that we can have for free.  Every little bit helps.  So here's where you come in.  Do you like the tall ones or the short ones?  I honestly go back and forth, so you won't hurt my feelings any way.  Take a peek and then vote.  And don't pay close attention to the placement where I was holding them!

short ones

tall ones

shot of part of the kitchen

we'll use the short ones on these for sure

Which handle?
	tall - how modern!
	short - it looks more balanced
	start over on your handle search
= see results =

little blog makeover

I know most of you read in google reader. But I hopped on the gray and yellow design train and gave my blog a little makeover. Whatcha think?

his first haircut. . .

was a FAIL. Ok, let me backup. Owen barely has any hair. But he has these 2 little wings over his ears that were driving me batty (pun intended). So when Jenna came over to give William a cut, we thought we'd try and get Owen's little hairs cut. No such luck. William held him. We bribed. I held him. We let him play with the combs. Not happening. Oh well, at least I got these pictures of the first attempted hair cut.

And another positive of the attempted hair cut: Jenna's multi-million dollar idea. It's the Puree and Spray: only slightly messier than a spoon. I think she could make a bundle!

Owen's speech

I absolutely love all the talking Owen's been doing lately. Tonight at dinner, he gave quite the speech. Don't mind the spaghetti sauce hanging out of his nose.

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday was William and mine 4th anniversary! It feels like it's been so much longer than that (as in I've known him forever) and yet also like it went by in a blink of an eye. We agreed to not spend any money on each other since we're saving for a list a mile-long of house stuff. But I still wanted to do something small. I've seen this idea all over craft blogland and Pinterest. Quick sidenote, if you're not on Pinterest, go. But be warned it will suck your life time away.  So here's what I did: a 52 things things I love about you booklet.

 

Supplies:

• deck of 52 playing cards (I also used the 2 jokers for my front and back cover)
• 2 metal book rings
• some way to write on the cards

 What I did:

1. I started by punching holes in all the cards using one card for my template.
2. I used this lovely blog's template for my cover and back plate.
3. Then I just created text boxes in word and typed out 52 things I love about William.  
4. I printed it on sticker paper, cut them out, and slapped one on each card.  You could easily print them on regular paper and glue them.  Or print on mailing labels. Or just hand-write directly on the cards.  Whatever suits your fancy.
5. Then clip all the cards together and give to your sweetie.  It's a fun little thing he can look back at when he's having a rough day. :)

I was going to write out my list of 52 things, but then I realized that's just for him.  So here's just a few of the things I wrote:

We had an amazing dinner at Kofusion which is where we had our first date and where he introduced me to the wonderful world of sushi. Yum. Then we went all crazy and went to Target. Wow, are we old married folk or what? Thanks to my sister who watched Owen while we were gone. And I literally mean watched as in watched him on the video monitor since I put him to bed before we left. :) 

*ETA - he did wake up once for her, so I do want to credit her for getting my wiggle worm back to sleep.

pool time!

When your weather channel app tells you that it feels like 117 degrees outside, it is time to hit the pool!  Thanks Joanna and Anne for letting me in on the secret that Sholem is open to mommies from 9-11ish for only $3 (well, the baby pool is).  We met up with Anne&Alex and Becca&Charlie to cool off on this hot morning.  Owen loves splashing in the water, but definitely told me when it was time to go home.  It was a super fun time and my skin is starting to not look *quite* so blindingly white.

 

 

new favorite toy

Who knew the gate could provide so much fun?

*video warning: long and boring after the first couple seconds :)*

what I've been up to

Hi all.  Owen here.  While my mom is busy unpacking a few more things, I thought I'd hop on her pretty pink computer that I'm always trying to get my hands on.  Mom's been pretty crazy these last few weeks, so I know her updates about me have been a bit slow.  So, I thought I'd share a few of the things I've been up to this last week.

Along with mastering the skills of typing, I am now proficient at one game on my mom's phone.  PS, have you seen her new phone cover?  It's a picture of me of course.  Great picture if I don't say so myself.  Now, where was I? Oh yes, my new favorite game on mom's phone is called Peekaboo HD.  It's a farmyard and when I click on the hay bales, a farm animal pops out and makes it's noise.  I totally dig the cow and mom gets pretty excited every time I say moo.  Check out the game here.  It's a free app and I know my mom likes free.

So, what else have I been up to?  Well, I got to hang out with my new favorite babysitter last Thursday night while my parents helped Holly celebrate her birthday.  They went to their favorite restaurant, Radio Maria.  I've heard stories about the rehearsal dinner they had there.  I guess that was the night before they started practicing for me.  Whatever that means.  I had fun and they said they had an awesome dinner with great friends.  I think my dad looks weird in this picture from the night.

My mom's not the only one who's been unpacking.  I'm a huge help, especially with the things she's already put away.  I was just making sure we had a lid for every tupperware.

Mom's also been showing me lots of fun stuff that used to be in her classroom.  I've gotten tons of new books, puzzles, dinosaurs, and blocks.  And look at my little reading chair.  This used to belong to Sarah's classroom, and then got passed to my mom.  It's a perfect little reading chair for me!

Let's see, what else is new?  I'm finally getting some hair.  That's pretty cool.

I was tugging on my ears a lot one day, so mom took me to the doctor to see if I was sick.  That wasn't very cool.

At our new house, I can see the road from this big window.  I LOVE to look outside and point at all the trucks that go by.  I get kinda mad when mom stops naming them though.

I've also been entertaining my mom with lots of peekabo games, hiding behind anything I can.  I'm also doing a great job mom says of drinking my milk.

Ooo yeah, and my highlight of the week: Grammy came!!  I love it when my Grandma comes to play with me.  Ok, so I think she really came to help my mom.  They were busy unpacking things, cleaning the windows, and scrubbing the floors.  But I got lots of hugs and kisses and some great time with Grammy.  Here we are playing in my little pool.  Mom put a couple holes in my nice big pool, but she promised me that she'd patch them this week.  So my little pool had to do for the day.

Oh, and I almost forgot.  I got to go see Dr. Melby and get adjusted for the first time.  The chiropractor wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be, even though I may have cried just a bit.  I think my mommy's praying that maybe it will help with my sleeping habits.  I'm not sure what's wrong with my sleeping habits.  I mean, she gets to see me all day and all night, so I don't know why she'd want that to change.  But, anywhoo, I go back on Monday for another check.  The trucks in the waiting room were definitely my favorite part.

 

 

And that's what I've been up to the last week or so.  Can't wait to show you my room and my bathroom that mom's been working on.  Ok, gotta run.  It's snack time!  Lots of love and sloppy baby kisses.  Peace out.