Happy Baby

This baby is always full of smiles.

I just can't get enough of him.

You can't fake this kind of happy.

You Capture: Happy

Happy Baby

Look-Alikes

Can you tell they are siblings?

Wordless Wednesday

Look-Alikes

My Little Love.

Dear Tadpole,

Shhhhh, let me tell you a secret.

On Sunday, you turned 8 months old. But I didn't say anything.

I guess I thought that if I didn't tell you, we could just pretend it didn't happen. And you could stay my little 7 month old.
But of course, it doesn't work like that.

You're crawling now. Well, you do the butt-scootch. It gets you around.

You're eating solids, and lots of them. More than both your sisters were at 8 months. But you still love to nurse, love that down time when we sit down together and touch base again after all that crawling around.

You have just a small bit of separation anxiety. Or maybe it's just that you love being held so much. You crawl over and wrap your arms around my legs, looking up at me with that look. How could I not pick you up? I swing you up into my arms, and your literally wrap your arms around my neck and hug me. You give kisses, too.

You are by far my snuggly baby.

You have so much joy within you. You're so mellow and calm and happy. I take you everywhere I can, and you sit in my lap and go along with whatever.

And you are such. a. flirt. Tilting your head to the side, you give a confident grin that melts any one's heart.

Eight months old, my little one. And you are not so little anymore. Something I am not ready for.

I adore you, my little love. Happy eight months.

My Little Love.

Good Chaos

I didn't blog at all last week. Things were so chaotic.
Not the I-just-want-to-leave-some-Doritos-out-for-the-kids-to-find-and-lock-myself-in-the-bedroom chaotic. A good kind of chaotic.

Chaos that was full of a whirlwind of smiles, laughter, joy, and plans. Lots of plans for the future. Lots of exciting things happening, and more exciting things that are right at our fingertips.


The kind of chaotic that wakes you up at night, not with worry, but with a smile and a girl giggle of anticipation for things to come.
And of course, in the midst of all this, they are there: smiling with their beautiful smiles, adding more joy to the pile.

So please forgive my absence. The Joy was overwhelming.

Good Chaos

The Third Wheel

We drop the girls off at their grandparent's and use our Christmas gift cards to go on a "date".

The Tadpole tags along, but cute as he is, he makes a fun "third wheel."

And The Knight and I talk. First it was mostly about the past, but it has gradually shifted to talks about the future. Plans we are making that involve us staying together, our family intact.

We've learned to listen to each other. To pause and think before responding in anger. To re-phrase our wording, so our talks have less blame and negativity in them.

Is everything perfect? Far from it. But, it's getting better. We've had arguments, but....they are different from the ones we had before we filed for divorce. Before, we would yell, lash out, try to hurt with words sharpened like barbed spears. Now, when we have an argument, our voices may rise, but we don't yell. There are lots of pauses, lots of thinking, lots of concessions and compromises.

Our date nights are enjoyable, we laugh together. Like before. And when we leave the restaurant, he slips his hand into mine as we walk across the parking lot and I think, This almost feels like it was when we first got married. Almost.

When we first went to counseling and discussed with the counselor what had happened between us, she told us that it was one of the hardest things for a marriage to survive...but if the marriage did survive, it would be stronger than ever. Secretly I mocked her. But now, I am thinking that she was right.

But there's a lot of hope in that statement, too. I hope she was right.

The Third Wheel

Doorways

The previous owners of our house had some cats, and they "installed" a cat door in the door leading down to the basement stairs. Soon The Tadpole will be crawling, and we will probably block it off. But when I saw this week's You Capture challenge was doorways, I couldn't help but give it a nice send off through photos.

You Capture: Doorways

Doorways

Almost There

The Tadpole is so close to crawling!

He tries so hard, he wants so badly to be mobile.


I cheer him on, but in my heart, I tell him to take his time. Let's not grow up too quickly.

Wordless Wednesday

Almost There

He Feels Pretty

They play games with him, making silly faces and jumping around, anything to make him laugh.

They set up a hair salon. He is their "prettiest" customer.

The Mermaid looks up at me and says "Thank you mom, for giving us such an awesome brother!"

And my heart melts

Until I am a puddle on the floor.

A pool

of

Love

For them to splash in.

He Feels Pretty

Cozy Joy

My latest completed knitting project: The Mermaid's hat. This is the third hat I've knit from the pattern, one for each of my angels. It's so fun and easy to knit!!



More about this project can be found on my Ravelry page.

Cozy Joy

This is Good

Yesterday I went grocery shopping with a two page list.

I got 98% of my groceries from the produce section. This felt really, really good.

I've been studying nutrition lately, specifically how it relates to health. And as a family, we've started the slow process of becoming vegan. Healthy vegans who get the bulk of our nutrition from nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables (and beans, etc.).

As someone who does not like to cook, this has certainly made for an interesting experience in the kitchen. But, I'm getting better. I'm actually starting to enjoy cooking. And shhhh, don't tell anyone, but it is even starting to become a little relaxing for me.

I did tell The Knight that our next house needs to have a large kitchen. No compromise there.

It's been a nice way to start of the new year. Doing something for myself and my family's health.

Any other vegans out there? Would love some tips, tricks, favorite recipes....

This is Good

Best of 2010

A picture of my girls sleeping. It's one of my favorites. I had it enlarged and it hangs in our hallways.

I remember that moment. The Guppy had trouble falling asleep for her nap, so The Mermaid lay down with her and sang her a lullaby before falling asleep herself. I had been grouchy and irritable that day. But listening to her sing, I swear my heart swelled so large it hurt in my chest and made my eyes water.

I was thinking last night about 2010, and what my favorite day or event was. I couldn't think of one. There were LOTS of amazing and incredible days in 2010, The Tadpole's birth for example, but although I will cherish those memories, they are not what made 2010 so special for me. It was the little moments of peace and joy and love, like the one above.

No, there isn't one big favorite event of 2010 for me. But I have plenty of little moments that I cherish, and those little moments add up one big event....my life.

And I am loving my life!!

Best of 2010

OSV Tradition

I took this picture a while back while we were on our annual trip to Old Sturbridge Village. It was our first "vacation" outing as a family of 5.

These kids are my world.

Wordless Wednesday

OSV Tradition

Hugs For A Book

My latest completed knitting project: A traveling book cover.

A Christmas gift for my SIL.
I find my SIL was fun to knit for, because for one I know she will appreciate it, and for another we have the same interest, so I knew that she would like this.
I'm participating in a handmade gift exchange for 2011. I have to send 5 people something handmade by the end of the year. I can't wait to make my gifts! <3

More about this pattern can be found on my Ravelry page.

Hugs For A Book

Welcome, 2011

This past year certainly was a unique one.

It started out both badly and with blessings. I had new life inside me, and was eagerly awaiting the arrival of our new baby. But at the same time, my marriage was ending. The Knight had moved out, and I was trying my best to stay brave and calm.

The Tadpole's birth was so amazing, so special, so beautiful. And I finally had my baby in my arms. My son. Sitting in that birthing tub, holding my beautiful baby son in my arms, surrounded by people who love me, I truly began to believe for the first time the mantra I had been chanting to myself to get through the days: Everyone is going to be okay.

The Tadpole has brought so much joy and happiness in our lives. Sure, we had a rough time after the birth, with trouble latching and mastitis and colic and me trying to figure out how to be a single mom to three little ones...but we worked it out. We got through it, and there were a lot of smiles and laughter in between the tough moments.

And I wasn't scared anymore.

Then The Knight got served with the divorce papers. And he came to me and said....well, the details aren't important. What is important is that there was sincerity in his words. And so far, he has followed through with every promise. So he's living with us again, and we are slowly and cautiously, but happily, re-building our life together.

We are entering the New Year as a family who is truly blessed.

I look forward to 2011. I can't wait to see what comes next!

Welcome, 2011