Garden Tutorial

Here's my take on "how to" have a nice landscape and lawn:

Step 1 - Get yourself a family member with killer garden / landscape skills.  Mine happens to be Ed/G.  He has mad skills when it comes to all things outdoor.  He has an eye for landscape and he is some kind of plant whisperer.  AND - he is incredibly generous with his time and plant materials!    

Step 2 - Marry a man who works his @$$ off around the house.  Derek has developed a pretty amazing eye for landscape too....plus he has just enough obsessive compulsion to work until things get done -
p e r f e c t l y.  

 

 

Step 3 - Be grateful.  Repeatedly offer water/lemonade/alcoholic beverages to your laboring gardeners.  Tell them 'Thank You!'  Feed them well.  Let them know how much you appreciate them.

Thank you guys!

Maxine @ Home

We got to come home on Monday morning. Getting home and settled in felt SO good to me. Having all of my loves in one place filled me with joy. Our first days home as a family of four were relaxing and peaceful (except for my hormone surges that made me feel like I was not being 'good enough' to Cole. Luckily his wonderful daddy was picking up all my 'slack' and then some.) Here are some shots of our first week....

Maxine's first car ride.  She hated the carseat until the car started moving.  Derek and I were amazed by how badly other people on the road drove....didn't' they know we had our brand new baby in the car!?!

Welcome home, Maxine! 

Phoebe checking her out.  I think Phoebe approved.  She has done well with transition.  She did hurt her leg - not sure if this is an effort in attention seeking or legit (JK ;-)). 

Lita gets introduced to her new competition.  She has been Daddy's girl.  She senses her drop in the food chain.  Derek is now smitten with another girl!

We have all taken turns holding, snuggling, and staring at Maxine.  I get feeding shifts obviously.  Derek vied for all other times when he was not busy with Cole.  Watch out Maxine....I have a feeling you will be *very* protected by these guys!

Cole snuggling his sister.  He loves to talk about her little parts.  We have talked with him a lot about when he was a little baby.  He reminds us often that he didn't cry when he was little (he points this out mostly when Maxine is fussy).  He also tells us that she is "beautiful" often.  He melts me with his sweetness toward her.

Julie, our doula, who helped make natural childbirth (hence, a much more peaceful and relaxing postpartum) experience possible.  Julie came to visit and check in with us on Tuesday morning.  She showed me how to use our wrap, answered questions for us, and encouraged our instincts in parenting.

Maxine in aforementioned wrap.  This is bliss for me.  I enjoyed pregnancy, but carrying her on my chest and looking into her sweet face is amazing.

Cole has spent time in this way many times over the week.  He helps entertain Maxine when she is getting her diaper changed or swinging.  He has been such a good big brother and helper.

We LOVE Maxine's awake time.

Cole has adjusted to being somewhat more independent.  Here is an example.  I could not help but laugh at him when he dressed himself in this getup, tie and all.  I love his little personality that is constantly blossoming!

Derek and Cole were inseparable this week.  I quickly remembered that having a baby with someone makes you see them differently and fall in love with them all over again.  Derek has not only been wonderful with Maxine, but been outstanding in going above and beyond to make Cole feel included, entertained, and loved.  We are all so lucky to have him as the daddy of our family.

<3

Other unphotographed highlights of our week:

-Derek and I took Maxine to her first visit with Dr. Sandy, her pediatrician, on Wednesday. She is growing nicely and jaundice is working it's way out of her body. We got a good report!

-We woke EARLY to have photos taken by Jill Heupel Photography  at 8 am in Edwardsville.  This felt like a huge accomplishment!

-Cole and I made up various songs about Maxine and her constant desire to eat.

-Derek finished many yard jobs while hanging out with Cole outside.  

-All of the trees in our yard were in bloom - our yard will always be pretty for Maxine's birthday!

-We four spent every single day together.  I am so grateful for Derek being home this week.  It was an awesome week for our family.

Spring!

Within the last 24 hours our temperature has dropped 30 degrees.  Prior to the bottom falling out of spring, we got out and enjoyed it!  Derek did his thang in the yard, patching spots on the lawn ruined by dog-potty-breaks through the winter, and cutting in some beds with mulch through the yard.  His work looks amazing!  I can't wait until the weather is reliable enough for us to put some plants in the new beds!

Cole and I did our thang riding Hot Wheels, walking, and running around the yard/neighborhood.  Okay, so he did all of the riding, walking, and running.  I waddled.

Okay, come back now Spring.  We miss you already!

Reason #4972 I Love D.

He's nesting.

As I sit here and blog with my feet propped, he is sanitizing shampooing the carpet through the entire house.

He's the best!

Home Made Play Dough

Cole's time as an only child is drawing to a close.  I am trying to soak up these last days as a family of three and focus on him.  Today I pulled out a few old tricks...from one of the VERY few things that I have saved from high school, a folder from my Parenting/Child Development class.  (Thank you Mrs. Carnahan!)  We decided to make some home made play dough.

Here's the recipe:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
3 tablespoons oil
Kool-Aid (we just used food coloring, but Kool-Aid would smell yummy!)
1 cup boiling water
Mix all together until smoothe (and cool) and enjoy!

The recipe came out wonderfully!  The home made version smells much better than the store-bought version of "doh" and the oil actually made my hands feel nice when we played with it!
Note: if you chose to play with play dough, make sure NONE gets dropped or that your dogs are not around to eat the dropped bits...Pretty aqua play dough makes for ugly dog puke stains in the carpet.

Other (unphotographed) fun highlights of this Sunday included a visit with Opa, playing with vinegar and baking soda to make "magic tricks," and Cole learning to play Uno!

a pretty good Wednesday

Wednesday was pretty good...not your run-of-the-mill, mid-week evening. 

Nope.

Cole got his first poster hung in his room.

...and I got my gift-card ordered Cuisinart food processor!

Ice. Ice. Baby.

With t-8 weeks until bebe arrives, we have started on the changes that have to happen to accommodate a family of four in this house!

After he completed, I told Derek in shock that he had just painted the kids rooms!

Have a look at the mess progress:

There are many other things that need to happen before this child arrives...such as choosing a name, organizing, remembering how to change a diaper, laundry, laundry, laundry, etc.

We are on our way though!

Ice Day

We got freezing rain followed by sleet all day today.  They called for tons of snow on top but it never formulated....so far (fingers crossed that it stays away!).  

Here was the view for us today...

 Phoebe did NOT do well in the ice.

She moved in a way that reminded me of the "Elaine" dance from Seinfeld! 

 For the most part we stayed in and relaxed.  I cooked three meals (snow makes me feel domestic)! 

 Cole played and watched some 'toons. 

 Derek shoveled!

Eventually it stopped coming down long enough for us to go outside and check it all out. 

It was a nice day at home.  However, I am hoping Spring finds us soon!

Happy Birthday, My Love.

Last week was Derek's birthday.

He doesn't make a fuss of birthdays.

I do.

my version of D's favorite Maple Blondie Sundae

We celebrated him through the week because on his birthday he had knee surgery.

He is recovering well. 

We spent the weekend at home relaxing and "RICE-ing." 

D has been doing great in his recovery - he is walking with no crutches today and is basically released from PT already.  It's a good thing, I am going to need his help 'cause it's looking like we are going to be ice/snowed in for a day or so!

Happy Birthday, Derek.  I wish that we could have celebrated with more style - - I guess life happens though.  I hope you know that I want to celebrate you - on your birthday and every day.  I am so grateful for you and I truly love you more each year.  I am so happy to spend my life with you, sharing our life and love each other and for our growing family.  I know that you are my partner for life.  Here's to many more birthdays together to celebrate you!  And - here's to many more hours of Mario Kart with your boy!

Missed Moments: Cole's THIRD birthday

 Cole's third birthday also marked his last day at Miss Dawn's house.

As a big-boy, potty-trained, three-year-old, he was ready to begin KinderHaus daycare & preschool.

Miss Dawn celebrated Cole with a birthday cake and balloons and some cool gifts from the Busch Stadium gift shop where she took the boys on a field trip earlier in the week!

What a fun last-day, birthday, celebration day!

PARTY TIME

 As mentioned, we celebrated Cole's day on Friday after work in Yo-Gabba-Gabba style!

Cole was so lucky that his family loves him so much and traveled that afternoon/evening to celebrate with him.

 We kept it simple with salad, Pizza Hut pizzas, wings, and cake & ice cream!

Gigi & Alberta; Grandma, Grandpa, Adam & Rachel, & Aaron; Na & G all made the evening so much fun!

 Homeboy is spoiled.

Homeboy is lucky to have such an amazing family.  

We all are.

 Saturday morning we headed to Carlinville to spend time with Oma & Opa...and of course, celebrate Cole some more!

Of course, the material things and party are insignificant in the grand scheme.

(They sure make the celebrating fun though!)

I hope Cole always knows how much he is loved.

He has lots of family and they all think the world of him.

Not such a bad way to be spoiled....

Happy Birthday, Cole.

It's been amazing to watch you grow and become yourself.

You are spunky and loving.

I am so proud of you and so proud to be your mom.

I can't wait to celebrate you year after year.

Missed Moments: Birthday Preparations - Yo Gabba Gabba style!

Cole's birthday fell on a Friday this year. I thought this would be the perfect time to have a small birthday party for him with the family....not thinking about preparations for a party!
With the help of my buddy (and ordered pizzas and a low key family) we pulled it off.
Cole and I made his Yo Gabba Gabba cake for his party and cupcakes to take to his last day at Miss Dawn's the following day. It was a colorful and sugar-full evening!

We're doiks!

"doiks" = dorks

We are leaving for Florida on Saturday morning (Cole and I flying after Opa and Daddy drive).

I started packing way in advance because I am a geek/nerd/"doik" and because I am excited!  

I don't think that Phoebe is too excited to see us go.

In the packing process I needed to dig through some of Cole's summer clothes to find him suitable warmer weather clothes. 

I ran across a wetsuit. 

He tried it on.

We laughed!

He wore it for the rest of the day.

We are doiks!