Weekend favorite...

 

Brother and sister. 

This weekend we welcomed our sweet baby girl, Ellington Rose! She is our littlest baby at 5 pounds 4 ounces and 17 inches long. 

We are all in love. The boys want to hold her and smoother her with kisses. They talk sweetly to her and say she is so cute. 

Our party of five has just begun and I couldn't imagine it any other way!

Three...

Rhys, you are 3!

You are a dude. Everything about you is dude. You work hard and play hard. You love with all you might. 

You are great at being on your own but you also love having lots of friends. 

You love dressing up and pretend play. Although, dressing up embarrasses you you still give us good laughs with small props. 

Your best friend is your brother and you love him. You always want to be where he is and we love hearing you tell him you love him. 

Your personality is pretty easy going with great moments of intensity. You do throw some tantrums that are basically you laying on the floor yelling, "No, I don't want to....". They only last seconds because it just doesn't work for any of us. 

You are determined and independent with some stubbornness. You are smart, funny and kind. Most importantly, you are loved by your mom and dad beyond measures. 

Happy 3rd birthday, Bubba! I hope this year, the year you become the big brother, is your best year yet!

The first week of summer...

*I wrote this during the first week of summer. Just now posting. 

I love this week of the year. Eric and I met eight years ago this week, we got engaged six years ago this week, Emerson stood up on his own four years ago this week, Rhys was born three years ago this week, he then stood up on his own two years ago, we have had a lot of great moments happen during this week for us.

This year, Emerson rode a bike without training wheels for the first time and jumped off the diving board for the first time. 

While we were on our last camping trip before the new baby arrives, I saw Emerson riding another kid's bike. I told Eric to go over to the park and find out where he got the bike to make sure he didn't just take it. That was when he noticed it was a bike without training wheels. We were completely shocked!

Earlier that same day, while at the pool, Eric got Emerson to try going off the diving board. He made three attempts before finally taking the plunge. The first time he went off, he jumped off the side. The second time, he jumped off the corner at a diagonal. His final time, he went off the end. 

Both of these accomplishments are big rights of passages for kids and pretty cool items to add to our list of favorite memories for the first week of summer.  

Weekend favorites...

Grandma Hotrod!

My mom stayed with us this weekend to help me finish nesting by cleaning our house from bottom to top. I was so happy that for the first time in months the entire house was clean all on the same day. As well as, the boys were beyond thrilled that Grandma was here to show how they can ride bikes, go for walks with, watch movies and have a sleepover. Thanks Mom! I love you!

Our gardens are in full bloom! Everyday something new is popping and everyday I  stare in amazement. I haven't been able to capture the full beauty, yet. 

A sprinkle for baby #3! My super sweet friends that I have made through work and our kids being in school together threw me a sprinkle. The camping theme was prefect and the little details they put together were amazing. I am blessed to have met these ladies! Love and thank you!

We all had a great weekend and we are ready to meet this baby. 

 

Weekend favorite...

Sunday evening swim. 

After driving all over and going to many stores to find new camping chairs, these two needed to play. Some time on their pool, riding bikes and swinging was just what they needed to do. 

Easy, simple Sunday evening. 

Things I love...

Strawberries, summer camp, silliness and sweetness. This week we were busy crossing items off our summer to do list, nesting list and regular weekly task list.

Strawberry picking was first on our list this week. The boys were most excited that their friends were coming with us and the ice cream they would get when we were done. At first, I thought it was going to take us forever to fill our flats because Emerson dumped his box and Rhys was busy eating and giving away the berries I picked. Somehow, we managed to collect 11 pounds of the sweetest, juiciest strawberries I have ever had. Those 11 pounds turned into several quart bags to freeze and a strawberry rubarb pie, that I have been craving for months. 

This was our first week of summer camp. I look forward to these weeks because I am able to knock out all my summer home tasks. The boys love it because it's two weeks of play with their friends. The goals this week were to get all of our gardens trimmed and weeded, the deck and front porch cleaned and the downstairs carpets cleaned. I crushed them!

The boys love for being outside and being themselves makes being their mom pretty fantastic. They help remind me everyday that I cannot control everything and not all rules are rules to live by. Wearing cowboy boots with sport shorts, why not. Getting a cute picture when growling cheese, impossible. The silliness in the end, makes it worth it. 

Then times like this happen. Emerson was sharing a snack with Rhys in the car and when I noticed that he was being very helpful I said to Rhys, "You have a pretty great big brother." He agreed and then Emerson said, "Well, Rhys you're a pretty fun little brother." I melted! They are pretty sweet to each other without missing an opportunity to pick at each other. They are developing a strong bond that as a parent you pray to see. 

As this week comes to an end, we are excited for our weekend adventures yet, oh so ready to slow back down and enjoy our time. 

Get out and go...

CAMPING!!! Finally, we were able to pack up our car and head to Lincoln State Park for a long weekend of smelling like campfire, bug spray and sunscreen. 

We left Friday in our over packed car excited to enjoy our time with friends. I was a little nervous with being 7+ months pregnant, that the heat and my patience would both stay mild. As well as, the rain would stay away, the boys would listen, no one would get hurt and my feet wouldn't swell! 

When we arrived, bug spray was applied, camp was set up quickly, then relaxing around the campfire started. The boys devoured a bag of powdered donuts and Rhys smashed six barrels of juice within the first hour. So, the weekend had definitely begun. 

One reason I love camping, the nonstop exploring and playing. I feel like our boys grow leaps and bounds after any of our trips because we are able to let their world become a little bigger through trusting their actions. We took their bikes, at first riding on the rode in the middle of the camp area was allowed and by the end of the weekend the loop around our area was acceptable. Having our friends' big kids there helped. I am always amazed at how kids form bonds quickly and watch out for each other. We are very lucky to have some great friends with great kids whom help us with our boys. 

Another reason, hiking. I love hiking or walking anywhere we can go. Not that you have to go camping to hike, it's just that most activities or destinations are accessible by foot. We depend on our cars so much for our day to day activities that it is nice to slow it way down and depend on our bodies. Each day, we went for manageable three to four mile hike with our kiddos hiking the whole time. Rhys did play the game of get in the pack, get out of the pack on the return trips but he is definitely building some great endurance. 

We hiked Lincoln State Park and Lincoln's Boyhood Home National Park, located side by side, with both parks having great paths to walk and places to explore. 

Lastly, moments like this, the four of us out on a paddle boat. I am sure it was a lot of work for Eric because I sat in the back to keep an eye on Rhys, so he paddled us around the lake. Emerson had a hard time because he was scared about falling in. He kept asking and at times begging to go back to the shore because he was so fearful. We kept reassuring him that he wouldn't fall in and he would be ok if it happened because he had a life vest on and knows how to swim. Rhys loved it. He climbed all over the boat and even climbed onto another boat to ride with his friends. This moment was a new experience for not only the boys but me, also.

I love that each trip we have been able to have a new experience that pushes us outside of our comfort zone. I, too, was nervous about falling in the water mostly because of the possibility of a fish touching me but also having to be ready to jump in to help a kid. 

We did experience two minor injuries both happening while our boys were playing. Emerson decided to roll down a hill and ended hitting his head on a wrought iron hand rail. Rhys was working on learning to ride a scooter and fell hitting his mouth on the handle bars. Emerson's head was scraped and had a goose egg, Rhys had fat lip and bruise. Both incidents caused minimal tears and a week later no sign of injuries. 

Camping at Lincoln gives us the opportunity to see my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece. We love that they are willing to come hang out with us and not to mention pick up some supplies that we needed. I mean, who would have thought that the boys would have drank an entire case of barrel juice drinks in less than 24 hours which most of those hours were spent sleeping!

The rain stayed away, the kids listened as well as they could, my feet didn't swell and my patience stayed intact. We had a pretty successful camping trip with lots of laughs and great memories that left us all wanting to do it again. 

Weekend favorite...

Rainy day naps. Our Saturday was full of a whole lot of nothing, if you don't count potty training and laundry. This guy was probably exhausted from fighting the idea of wearing a pull up, sitting on the potty and not wanting to get his diaper changed. He talks about wanting to use the potty and wearing underwear but when it comes to actually trying he is not willing. So, we will keep talking about it, asking him to try and hoping that he will at least be partially trained by the time the baby comes. 

Summer Break...

is on! We started our summer break a couple weeks ago and have already done some of our favorite summertime activities. We have had water balloons fights, played in the sprinkler, "canon splashed" in the pool, picnicked on the deck, played in the sand and rode bikes. 

We have fallen right into our easy routine of summer and I love it. 

This summer is going to be bitter sweet. We are fastly approaching the arrival of baby number three and every time I think about Rhys not being the baby anymore I get a little sad. He, on the other hand, is excited about becoming a big brother and when asked if he will always be my baby, he says, "No, I want to be a big brother."

So, my hope is that these next eight weeks are full of little moments, somewhat insignificant moments, that when added up are memories for our lifetimes. 

Splashing in our pink kiddie pool in our backyard and washing all our outside toys are just the beginning of those moments. 

Having picnics on the deck, listening to their made up stories, silly sayings and attempts at rhyming the word poop with everything they say can be added in, also. 

Emerson will turn five right around the time the baby arrives. He is a kid now, his independence pushed him past being a baby long before he ever became a big brother. He already has the big brother role down and I am sure he is going to be the leader of his siblings. Yet, when I ask him if he will always be my baby he says, "Yes. Even when I am big like you, I will still be your baby." 

It really is amazing to watch them grow and become more and more independent but for now I will watch these last few moments that I have with just the two of them and hope that the memories made last forever. 

Weekend favorite...

Watching these two play. This was a few weeks ago, before school was out and before haircuts happened. When you ask them who their best friends are they include each other in their lists, making my heart happy. Simple moments like this is why I love my life. 

Weekend favorites...

Family traditions. We don't have many traditions set yet but Saturday mornings are for pancakes and making breakfast with Emerson. 

Emerson loves to "make recipes." So, while we were mixing up our pancakes he asked to make something. I said yes and modified a cake recipe so he could make some chocolate chip mini muffins. I lined up his ingredients and he mixed it all together like a pro! 

The end result, 36 prefect mini muffins that were gone by breakfast on Monday morning! 

I am loving this tradition and that each week it gets easier and easier. Especially, in the coaching through the steps. Sometimes being on repeat with saying, "no, not yet," "that's too much," "make sure you get everything in the bowl," "wait for mommy," and "please, be careful," mixed with the occasional yell of "stop," "what are you doing," and "knock it off," makes me not want to teach the process at all but the time spent with Emerson makes my heart happy. Maybe we have a budding baker or pastry chef on our hands but for right now I will take our time together with me practicing patients and him learning the love of baking as my reward. 

Things I love...

Warm Weather! 

Finally, finally, finally, we are having consistent warm weather. Most days, the boys are begging to go outside and play which is welcomed because every night is met with a bath and a solid nights sleep in their own beds!

Spring Flowers

These flowering trees are unbelievable every spring. When the petals start floating to the ground, I watch with a love struck look. It is beautifully romantic. 

My Town

The past few weeks I have been working on collecting donations for our preschool's carnival and silent auction. It's always a little nerve racking to start because I am going around asking shop owners and managers for free items but I love that I am getting to know more and more people in our community. 

Our Yard

This is a sign of a day well spent. Even though cleaning up is still a struggle with the boys and picking up the yard is back on the evening routine, I would not change it for anything. 

Spring Cleaning

I have been spring cleaning and nesting. I know it might seem a little strange to love cleaning, but I do. I love how accomplished I feel when done. Plus, for a few days everything has a place!

Baby, baby, baby...

Baby #3 will be here in late July. I am super excited and somewhat superstitious at the same time. I have wanted to talk, write and photograph my way through this pregnancy but can't quite get up the nerve. I am somewhat superstitious in that when I want things to go well, I don't talk about them even though I am bursting with excitement. 

Pregnancy, is one of those things. It's not because of fertility or miscarriage, it's because I am not good at being pregnant. My first pregnancy was hard. Hard like being in college and showing up for class and having to take an exam that I hadn't studied for. Instantly, I gained a bunch of weight, had horrible aversions and developed hypertension. I felt like crap the entire time but didn't know because I didn't know how I was supposed to feel. I couldn't ask or answer any questions to be any better off than I was. 

I had to be induced to prevent pre-eclampsia. I had a pretty great experience delivering our first healthy baby boy but still was not well. I ended up with pre-eclampsia after the fact. The doctor who treated me told me he thought I was going to kick his ass when he was trying to convince me that I really should be admitted to hospital for treatment. Finally, after three days in the hospital, I was better and could get on with being a new mom.

I knew going into my second pregnancy that the same exact things could happen but I could advocate for myself better and was prepared to monitor my health better. Again, I gained a lot of weight, had horrible aversions and hypertension. I laid on the couch almost the entire pregnancy. I was tired, nauseous and stressed. Somehow, I went into labor on my own and delivered our second healthy baby boy with ease. I mean, once I had an epidural and I was lined up to deliver. I felt well and was excited to leave the hospital healthy to be a new mom of two.     

So, being pregnant isn't something I do well. 

This pregnancy, my third pregnancy, pretty sure my last pregnancy, has been completely different. I have gained weight at a normal rate, mild aversions, lots of morning sickness, and my blood pressure is where it's supposed to be. All of which brings me back to my superstitious ways, if I talk about it, it will be bad. In turn, making it really hard for me to share here because so much of  my "get out and go" spirit has got up and went!

These next fourteen weeks will be exciting as we prepare our house, our boys and ourselves for our baby to get here. Yet, everyday I will be searching for a rabbit's foot, four leaf clover, horseshoe, rainbow or ladybug that reassures me that everything will be ok. 

Spring Break favorite...

Playing cars and play dough. 

The past two weeks we have enjoyed our time away from our regular routine. We slept in most mornings, hung out around the house, had lunch or dinner out, had a day trip to "the big city," played with friends and cousins, had lots of ice cream, played outside as much as we could and plenty of moments where we all wished we were back to school. 

Overall, we had lists of fun!

Weekend favorites...

Spring officially started this weekend!!! 

I love this time of year, the days get warmer and longer and sweeter. We have been very lucky with a pretty mild winter, that has given us some warm weather each month since the beginning of the year.

We spent our Saturday morning talking to a bunny and looking for eggs. This year was a great success because the boys both loved the bunny, neither were scared or disappointed. Emerson was pretty mad his first year that he didn't get to see a real bunny. This year he told the bunny he loved him!

Then on Sunday these superheroes helped keep the world safe!

Weekend favorite...

Rolling down hills at the park. 

As our weekends get warmer and warmer, we are spending more time outdoors. It makes all of us happier and healthier. This weekend we headed to the park with some friends to hike, roll down hills and play at the playground. It was just what we all needed to do!