Winter Can be Over Now

 

Winter. Bleh.

This Winter has seemed like the longest winter ever. Near the end of Fall Matt had said "I want to get a bunch of snow this year, like we used to get when we were kids".  Be careful what you wish for! We got it.

It was nice to finally have a white Christmas and be able to make a pretty awesome snow fort. And although Winter is almost (should be) over, we have yet to go sledding or make a snow man. But with the amount of snow we have? There's still time for that.

I don't hate Winter. It has it's moments of beauty and fun (occasionally), and every time it snows I watch for a long while, appreciating every snowflake. The uniqueness of every one, slowly falling from "the heavens". But? Still, I'm kind of over it.

It is hard lugging a 20+ lb. car seat out of a Jeep (that even I have troubles getting into sometimes) into the cold Winter air, walking through snow. Or the snow pants and snow boots. Every single morning. That's, like, five whole minutes longer it takes us to get ready to leave.

And the sickness. Oh, the sickness. Running noses, coughs, whiney babies. Sickness has not left our house since this cold weather hit. It has not let up. Poor James has been sick the whole 5 months of his life so far, pretty much. But, of course, I am grateful and thankful that this is all my children suffer from. I know there are parents out there sitting in a hospital room somewhere with their terminally ill children, eagerly waiting morning. And I think of them, and pray for them. Because, I can't even begin to imagine.

The wind is howling loud now and the trees are swaying, snow is falling and blowing so you see only white. And I just want health in this home.

 

  

Been Busy Bakin'

I love my sweets and homemade goods! But I haven't really been one to do it myself. I didn't even cook most nights, but I'll blame a newborn for that. We mostly ate quick things I could throw in the oven or something I could throw together in a dish and pop in the oven. Or pizza.

But lately? My oven has been getting spoiled. [speaking of which...I should probably clean it.] I've been baking lots of yummy Banana Blueberry Buttermilk Bread and muffins! So, so good!

 

Its kind of a family thing, since my great-grandmother, as far as I know. But I'm sure even before that. Homemade bread! By hand, not a bread maker. The old-fashioned way. The best way! I've never made it before so my mom came over to teach me the techniques. And lets just say it's MUCH harder than it looked growing up. But I'll be definitely getting her over here more so I can be just as good as her. We tried something for the first time though (my idea, obviously -cheese!), we made a cheese loaf. I also put some of the dough aside for a homemade, cheese-stuffed-crust pizza! Go ahead, drool. I won't judge. My house has been smelling heavenly!

 

 

And, I've also given the good 'ol Lactation cookies a shot. They turned out so so good. I'm now a new rolled oats fan. The recipe made so many cookies (48), I ended up freezing some. Although, that didn't make them last any longer. They were still all gone in less than 2 weeks. :)



My newest attempt? Cinnamon buns! Also from scratch. Also mouth wateringly delicious. Pretty simple too. Just look how pretty these are...

 

 

Tortillas! Not in the oven, but still, from scratch! And that's huge for me, especially with another baby...rolling out paper thin pieces of dough and frying it up in a pan. But they really are yummy and pretty! I don't think I'll buy the expensive store kind anymore - as long as I can help it anyways.

 

 

 

I'm kinda loving the whole baking-homemade-from-scratch thing! And I plan on doing it as much as I possibly can from here on. So you might just see more posts of my delicious successes!

 

4 AND 5 Month Update (oops!)

Life has been all kinds of hectic here lately. We've been sick (who hasnt been?). Matt worked 31 days in a row and most weeks pushing 55+ hours.

Also? Ive been cooking! Ha. Yeah, that New Year goal of mine is happening. We've been trying new recipes for suppers and baking cookies and tortillas. All kinds of fun stuff. More on that later. Back to my baby:

So, at his two month check up he was over 16 lbs. At his (late) 4 month check up only days away from him turning 5 months, he was over 19lbs and 27.5" long. Biiiiiig boy. It is so so relieving to know he is getting enough to eat and growing steadily. He has had a cold for a while now with broncitis prior to that. He's been put on antibiotics again now for a sinus infection (hes been getting bloody noses), although we are 7 days in and he's still getting dry bloody crusties in his. He sleeps with a humidifier so im not sure if this is something I should be concerned about since its cold and dry these winter months. For the last month though he has been the crankiest most grumpy baby. Its frustrating to say the least. For a few days he was terribly gassy but now he seems fine, just whiney. I think he's just about to cut his first tooth.

He has started to sort of roll over from his tummy to his back, only a few times. He seems content with not moving from his back though. He coos and chats up a storm. He can also sit up on his own now, although he will occasionally still topple over. His favorite person is Leah. Also, still waking up every 2-3 hours a night. He's a chatter box too. Sometimes when I put him back in bed he coos for another 20 mins. I love it.

He really truly loves his sister. And she really truly loves him. He lights up becomes a different baby when shes here.

I love being their mom. And most days I feel so complete with this family God has entrusted me with.

I cant believe he is almost a half a year old! Seriously. 

New Year Ambitions

New Year Resolutions are always so cliché. Lose weight, get healthy, get fit etc. etc. There's nothing wrong with it but I'm just not going to set the same goals that I strive to accomplish every. single. year.

2014 is going to have to be awfully juicy to live up to the amazingness that was 2013. I mean, I got pregnant, engaged, married, my little girl started school and had a birthday, and we had our sweet baby James and more. It was filled with so many amazing memories. I'm really just so thankful that 2014 is here and we are all happy and healthy (as far as I know... despite baby Bronchitis).

My new year ambitions are (in no particular order):

• that we do more things as a family
• read more books
• write a book
• spend less time on cell phones
• have more date nights... okay, okay...have a date night
• worry less
• be more patient
• get more massages
• trim some belly fat 
• read more of the Bible
• spend more time with God
• eat out less and cook more (I'm too lazy)

Let's see how much of this I can accomplish. Welcome 2014!!

 

My 3 Month Old Has Bronchitis

Three months new. Thats all he is.

It all started with a common cold. My cold. Then a stomach flu swept through our house. Luckily that skipped over James. With my cold still lingering even after the flu, my antibody casualties were probably at an all time high. Maybe thats why he got my cold...I didn't have enough antibodies to share, to help him. Or maybe he just got it. But it makes more sense to me this way. Why else did his little body not get the highly contagious stomach bug? Whatever. He got sick anyway.

But then the cough became more than a typical cough.

He started gagging when he coughed. More and more. I'm really not one to rush off to the doctor at the first sign of a cold, even though my mom always insists. It usually and almost always is just that. A cold. Something they get over. Grin and bear it. But when he started to gag and gag and cough at the same time, and turned dark red, I started to get concerned. He couldn't catch his breath. I wasn't sure if it was just the way he was coughing but I knew it wasnt right. And the next morning we were off to the doctor.

Going in I really didn't expect anything, but I was hoping the doctor could do something for his cough. For the chest congestion. The doctor seemed so relax and procedural (not our family doctor). Then he says "Bronchitis". It might not be a big thing to you, and ive never even had it myself, but I know what it is. And I wasnt expecting it. I was floored. And thats probably where my heart had fell to as well.

The doctor prescribed antibiotics and suggested I get a cool mist humidifier, so I did. This is something that he will always be more prone to getting now.

The poor little guy is also lucky enough to be teething, and bad. Red cheeks, drool for days, more poops, more cranky.More hard to please.

We are on our fourth day fighting this thing. And I haven't seen an improvement. He's still having coughing/gagging/hard to breathe episodes. I still wish I could just breathe for him. Cough for him. Clear his throat. He looks at me and knows I'm his Mama. I take care of him. I'm his. And I'm doing all that I can do. But its so hard not being able to do more.

Please pray for him. :)

Happy 4th Birthday!!

To my sweet, funny, and excitable little girl.

 

Today is your day. The anniversary of your coming into the world. The day you made me a mommy, and him a daddy. Four years. Four years we've had you, grew you, watched you, loved you.

 

You are so unbelievably unique. Which i admire. So unlike me. So like Daddy. But so you.

 

This year your personality has really shined bright. Really surfaced. You like - no, love - to make people laugh. You are sensitive but daring. Loving but mischievous. You're the life of the party and a social butterfly. Your competitive but a real sweetheart. You love your baby brother and your an amazing big sister.

You're unstoppable and I'm so proud of you.

Your teacher said smiling, "She's the smallest and the youngest, but she's definitely not the quietest!"

I love that you're not afraid to show the world who you are. There is nothing at all wrong with a little more fun, and little more positive, and a little more you in this world. What a party this place would be if more people were like you. I'm so honored to be your Mama.

I wrote this for you before you turned 2. It brings a warmth to my heart to read it again:
This place is her garden. To grow and be unique.
To dig in and explore. To learn and embrace.
This world is her dance floor. She goes wherever the wind blows.
Chasing butterflies and gone-to-seed dandelions.
You are on stage my darling. Be who you want to be.
 
Happy 4th Birthday Sweetheart!
 

6 Years.

So we've officially been together for over half a decade! We're off to a pretty good start if I do say so myself. A lot of marriages don't even last that long. Especially having become parents only a year into a relationship. After 3 moves and two children we're still here, loving just the same - if not more. We have had our fair share of trials and tribulations. Some we're still facing. But? We are doing good. We aren't perfect. Definitely not perfect. We are bestfriends. Him and our children both bring me equal joy. Equal love. Equal laughs. ...equal frustration.

 

He's my Prince in shining armour. He makes me feel safe and loved. He's my soul mate and my person. And he makes doing all this so much easier. God couldn't have picked anyone better to have me live this life with. Raise these two children with. I love that [one of] God's plan[s] was him.

 

Every morning I get to wake up next to that big-hearted man sleeping, mouth open, chest rising and falling with that strong heart beat l know, that heart that full of love for me, too. Always warm. The man I knew as a boy. The boy I loved first. And the man I loved last.

 

Im thankful. And blessed that God made him who he is, despite all that was against him. I love who he has become. He's mine.

Thank you Lord.