I went through Emerson and Jax's 2-month pictures and found two similar sets of the three of them. I really do think that Hayden is a mix of her siblings. So here are my three munchkins, each at two months old (Emerson is pictured first).
Thursday, March 31, 2011
2-month comparisons
Baby Hayden was 8 weeks old yesterday! That little girl's personality is really starting to show... she's cooing, smiling, and making little birdie sounds just like Emerson used to. Every day I fall more and more in love with her, and as my stress level from the house goes down and my hours of sleep go up, I'm really getting the chance to enjoy her. I absolutely love spending the day with her on the other kids' preschool days. She's just such a precious little gift.
I went through Emerson and Jax's 2-month pictures and found two similar sets of the three of them. I really do think that Hayden is a mix of her siblings. So here are my three munchkins, each at two months old (Emerson is pictured first).
I went through Emerson and Jax's 2-month pictures and found two similar sets of the three of them. I really do think that Hayden is a mix of her siblings. So here are my three munchkins, each at two months old (Emerson is pictured first).
Monday, March 28, 2011
Musings of a tired momma
I have nothing really of substance to blog about, so this will probably end up being a random assortment of this and that. Feel free to quietly make an exit and spend the next few minutes doing something of value. Really.
My friend Terra stopped by today to drop off some shirts that she had embroidered for Jason. After she left, I found myself feeling really happy-go-lucky and almost bouncing off the walls. I think I actually laughed out loud after telling myself I really need to get out more. Poor Jason... I've come to the conclusion that I must totally wear him out when he gets home. He's done nothing but communicate all day long, and all I want to do when he comes through the front door is have an adult conversation. About anything. Sometimes I find myself talking just to talk, and I start to see his eyes glaze over. Just kidding. He actually does an amazing job of putting up with me. I do think it is really interesting that we live in such different worlds during the day... I have come to understand that making an effort to connect with each other each evening is key to being on the same page. I mean, what he does every day is really important. And what I do each day is really important. They are just SO different.
I took Jax to Trippets yesterday to see if I could find anything for his fat little feet. Alas, there were only two pair of shoes in the whole store that were wide enough, and I came home with one of them. The other was a brown leather sandal that was way too girly for my liking. He doesn't have anything for summer yet.. the warm weather last week had us outside in the back yard most of the time, but he was always barefoot. I just couldn't bring myself to put socks on him in 80-degree weather.
I currently have 68 videos on my videocamera. For the love, when am I supposed to find time to go through them?! I used to be ON THE BALL about keeping my videos current on my Vimeo page. *Sigh.*
Today Jax had two big plastic bowls in the living room that he was using as drums, and out of nowhere he decides to take one of them and hit Emerson squarely in the back with it. He had to apologize and spend some time in timeout, and Emerson came and sat on the couch with me to cry it out. She finally wiped her tears and said, "Mommy, when Daddy comes home, I have some very important news. I'm going to tell him that Jax hit me in the back, and that was NOT a good choice." I just love the way 3-yr-olds communicate.
It's official... Hayden is sleeping through the night! Her last feeding is usually right around 9:30, then after swaddling that little girl until she looks like a burrito, she sleeps until 7:30 a.m. It's a beautiful thing. Emerson has still been getting out of bed most nights, but her princess fashion shows have ceased. Now she just brings her pink OU blanket, her favorite baby doll, and a little mini doll pillow with her to the top of the stairs. We find her there, fast asleep, covered in the blanket, the little doll right beside her with its head perfectly placed on the pillow. I love that she takes the time to get her baby all situated while being completely disobedient.
My sister is potty-training Avery and going through the normal frustration of it all. I'm kind of dreading starting with Jax. The plan is to get it done the first week he is home from preschool. I'm thinking I'll have to recruit Emerson to help me at times, especially when I'm nursing Hayden or changing a diaper, etc. We'll see how that works... he is currently expressing his independence with such phrases as "No, Mommy, stop it!" and "My do it!" I can't believe that boy is about to be two.
Hayden's crib & furniture made it to the OKC furniture shop that our Wisconsin contact had it shipped to. So Daddy is renting a cargo van on Thursday to pick it up, then pick up our small breakfast table from the old house. Did I blog that we have renters?! They move in April 1st and signed a 2-year-lease! We are thrilled to be finished making two mortgage payments. Anyway, I'm really excited to begin working on Hayden's nursery/future guest room. It's not going to be baby-ish at all so that I don't have to do a total overhaul in two years when I move her upstairs. I'm in the process of deciding on fabric for the window panels that my friend Sarah has so graciously offered to help with. The girl can SEW. I'll keep you updated on the project. I'm just thrilled that I'll now be able to diaper that cute baby bottom on an actual changing table. Currently I have wedged a standard changing pad on top of the pack-n-play's changing station. It's way too big, but somehow we make it work even though Hayden lies on an almost 45-degree angle. Livin' on the edge, people. It's how we do it around here.
My friend Terra stopped by today to drop off some shirts that she had embroidered for Jason. After she left, I found myself feeling really happy-go-lucky and almost bouncing off the walls. I think I actually laughed out loud after telling myself I really need to get out more. Poor Jason... I've come to the conclusion that I must totally wear him out when he gets home. He's done nothing but communicate all day long, and all I want to do when he comes through the front door is have an adult conversation. About anything. Sometimes I find myself talking just to talk, and I start to see his eyes glaze over. Just kidding. He actually does an amazing job of putting up with me. I do think it is really interesting that we live in such different worlds during the day... I have come to understand that making an effort to connect with each other each evening is key to being on the same page. I mean, what he does every day is really important. And what I do each day is really important. They are just SO different.
I took Jax to Trippets yesterday to see if I could find anything for his fat little feet. Alas, there were only two pair of shoes in the whole store that were wide enough, and I came home with one of them. The other was a brown leather sandal that was way too girly for my liking. He doesn't have anything for summer yet.. the warm weather last week had us outside in the back yard most of the time, but he was always barefoot. I just couldn't bring myself to put socks on him in 80-degree weather.
I currently have 68 videos on my videocamera. For the love, when am I supposed to find time to go through them?! I used to be ON THE BALL about keeping my videos current on my Vimeo page. *Sigh.*
Today Jax had two big plastic bowls in the living room that he was using as drums, and out of nowhere he decides to take one of them and hit Emerson squarely in the back with it. He had to apologize and spend some time in timeout, and Emerson came and sat on the couch with me to cry it out. She finally wiped her tears and said, "Mommy, when Daddy comes home, I have some very important news. I'm going to tell him that Jax hit me in the back, and that was NOT a good choice." I just love the way 3-yr-olds communicate.
It's official... Hayden is sleeping through the night! Her last feeding is usually right around 9:30, then after swaddling that little girl until she looks like a burrito, she sleeps until 7:30 a.m. It's a beautiful thing. Emerson has still been getting out of bed most nights, but her princess fashion shows have ceased. Now she just brings her pink OU blanket, her favorite baby doll, and a little mini doll pillow with her to the top of the stairs. We find her there, fast asleep, covered in the blanket, the little doll right beside her with its head perfectly placed on the pillow. I love that she takes the time to get her baby all situated while being completely disobedient.
My sister is potty-training Avery and going through the normal frustration of it all. I'm kind of dreading starting with Jax. The plan is to get it done the first week he is home from preschool. I'm thinking I'll have to recruit Emerson to help me at times, especially when I'm nursing Hayden or changing a diaper, etc. We'll see how that works... he is currently expressing his independence with such phrases as "No, Mommy, stop it!" and "My do it!" I can't believe that boy is about to be two.
Hayden's crib & furniture made it to the OKC furniture shop that our Wisconsin contact had it shipped to. So Daddy is renting a cargo van on Thursday to pick it up, then pick up our small breakfast table from the old house. Did I blog that we have renters?! They move in April 1st and signed a 2-year-lease! We are thrilled to be finished making two mortgage payments. Anyway, I'm really excited to begin working on Hayden's nursery/future guest room. It's not going to be baby-ish at all so that I don't have to do a total overhaul in two years when I move her upstairs. I'm in the process of deciding on fabric for the window panels that my friend Sarah has so graciously offered to help with. The girl can SEW. I'll keep you updated on the project. I'm just thrilled that I'll now be able to diaper that cute baby bottom on an actual changing table. Currently I have wedged a standard changing pad on top of the pack-n-play's changing station. It's way too big, but somehow we make it work even though Hayden lies on an almost 45-degree angle. Livin' on the edge, people. It's how we do it around here.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Cousins' Visit
I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of my siblings' visit from a week-and-a-half ago.
But first, I have to share a few funny things the munchkins said today. Emerson's preschool teacher told me she had to go to time out in music today, so on the way to the car, I asked her what she did to get time out. She didn't want to tell me, so I told her she was going to her room when we got home... no snack, no playing. After a while, she decided to go ahead and fess up, and this is what she said: "Mommy, my teacher said 'Sit in a circle or go to time out,' and I chose time out." Hilarious. Then when we got home, Jax and I were sitting on the couch while I was nursing Hayden (Emerson doing her penance in her room), and he looked over at Hayden and said (quite loudly), "No, Baby Hane! No biting Mommy!" I told him she wasn't biting me, that she was just getting milk from my nipple. After a few seconds, he grabbed his shirt, lifted it to his chin, and shouted, "Bite MY nipple!"
Speaking of all things breast, the thrush is almost completely gone now. Hayden's mouth is clear, and I'm down to one last crack to deal with. Woo hoo! She has also slept from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. the last two nights... praying that this time it's gonna stick! Uninterrupted sleep has been amazing.
Okay, on to the pictures. The first one shows the whole crew. From the left... Emerson, Jax, Avery (my sister Miley's daughter), Jason, Eric (Miley's hubby), Jace (my brother), Miley is standing and due with baby Hudson in mid-May, Liz (Jace's wife), then Vance, Parker & Addison (Jace's kids). Can I just quickly point out our neighbor's dining room window directly across from ours? Our first night in the house, our neighbor was eating dinner in her dining room with some guests, and it was hilarious because we didn't (and still don't) have any blinds or curtains, and her blinds were down but not closed, so all of us were trying to have a normal dinner and not look at each other out of the corners of our eyes.
Now for dinner close-ups of each of the kids (minus Hayden):
I love this picture of Addie and Hayden.
Jace and Addie at Bounce U. Jace, Miley and I took the oldest 5 while Liz took sweet Vance to urgent care... poor baby came down with pneumonia.
This last set of pictures was taken by Liz in the backyard. Oh, how I love natural light. Good job, Liz!
But first, I have to share a few funny things the munchkins said today. Emerson's preschool teacher told me she had to go to time out in music today, so on the way to the car, I asked her what she did to get time out. She didn't want to tell me, so I told her she was going to her room when we got home... no snack, no playing. After a while, she decided to go ahead and fess up, and this is what she said: "Mommy, my teacher said 'Sit in a circle or go to time out,' and I chose time out." Hilarious. Then when we got home, Jax and I were sitting on the couch while I was nursing Hayden (Emerson doing her penance in her room), and he looked over at Hayden and said (quite loudly), "No, Baby Hane! No biting Mommy!" I told him she wasn't biting me, that she was just getting milk from my nipple. After a few seconds, he grabbed his shirt, lifted it to his chin, and shouted, "Bite MY nipple!"
Speaking of all things breast, the thrush is almost completely gone now. Hayden's mouth is clear, and I'm down to one last crack to deal with. Woo hoo! She has also slept from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. the last two nights... praying that this time it's gonna stick! Uninterrupted sleep has been amazing.
Okay, on to the pictures. The first one shows the whole crew. From the left... Emerson, Jax, Avery (my sister Miley's daughter), Jason, Eric (Miley's hubby), Jace (my brother), Miley is standing and due with baby Hudson in mid-May, Liz (Jace's wife), then Vance, Parker & Addison (Jace's kids). Can I just quickly point out our neighbor's dining room window directly across from ours? Our first night in the house, our neighbor was eating dinner in her dining room with some guests, and it was hilarious because we didn't (and still don't) have any blinds or curtains, and her blinds were down but not closed, so all of us were trying to have a normal dinner and not look at each other out of the corners of our eyes.
Now for dinner close-ups of each of the kids (minus Hayden):
I love this picture of Addie and Hayden.
Jace and Addie at Bounce U. Jace, Miley and I took the oldest 5 while Liz took sweet Vance to urgent care... poor baby came down with pneumonia.
This last set of pictures was taken by Liz in the backyard. Oh, how I love natural light. Good job, Liz!
We are hoping for a late summer reunion after baby Hudson arrives! It has always stunk that my siblings live so far away, but now that these 7 kiddos are in the picture, it's just that much harder. They're starting to get to know each other, and I'd give anything for them to grow up together.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thrush from Hell
So I've heard of thrush before and figured it would be no big deal if one of my babies ever got it. Wrong answer. I mean, technically, it's no big deal to Hayden that she has an overgrowth of yeast in her mouth. The little white spots don't seem to bother her a bit, but the medicine she is taking has been giving her a little bit of diarrhea and upset stomach. Momma, on the other hand? I don't think I can quite describe the condition of my nipples right now. (Wow, that's a sentence I never thought I would actually put in writing). To say they're painful is an understatement. I have cracks in them that are so deep, I can see bloody raw skin exposed. And when Hayden latches on, her mouth feels like what I can only imagine a piranha's bite to be. Wowzers, does it ever hurt. I'm also on medication because I know we're just passing the infection back and forth to each other. I'm just praying this all resolves soon... the good news is that I have felt a little relief yesterday and today.
I know many of you are wanting to see pictures from my siblings' visit this past weekend. I promise they're coming soon!
Tonight the in-laws kept the kids while Jason and I got sushi take-out and watched a movie here at home. It was a fantastic date night! Sometimes there's just nothing quite as great as snuggling on the couch in a quiet house with no children. We find ourselves thinking and talking about them when they're away, as I know pretty much all parents do. In fact, Jason found Jax's pajama shirt on the floor and brought it in to me and told me to smell it. At first I thought it was going to reek of tinkle, but he simply wanted me to smell Jax's smell. Mmmmm.... it was heaven. That little boy, as rough and tumble as he may be, is so precious.
Emerson has been getting out of bed the last two or three nights. And I'm not talking 30 minutes after going down. No, the girl has been making an appearance down the stairs anywhere from 9:30 to 11 p.m., and she is gracing us with her presence in full dress-up garb. I'm talking the dress, crown, and high heels. Last night Jason found her lying on the floor at the entrance to her room with her pillow and a blanket. Last weekend when my sis-in-law and I were watching TV, Emerson crawled from Hayden's nursery (where she and Jax were sleeping) all the way into the living room and behind the couch. I don't know if it's a phase or what. She seems to really enjoy sneaking around late at night!
House update... our painters stained the big desk that was upstairs, so we moved it down and have slowly been putting the office together. I'm starting to get overwhelmed thinking about the area rugs, chairs, window panels, etc., that are on my to-do list for each room. I know it's going to be a slow work in progress, but I just wish I could snap my fingers and have a magical decorator appear and do it all for me. I truly don't enjoy it because I don't have an eye for it. I can copy with the best of 'em, but coming up with the design ideas myself just doesn't happen. The hubby actually has more of a creative/artistic eye than me. It's not fair!
We're planning on visiting another church in the morning... hoping to either really like it or really not, just so we can make a decision and plant our little family somewhere. Making it to church in the morning, however, depends quite a bit on whether Princess Emerson makes it through the night without a fashion show and whether Hayden the Piranha lets Mommy sleep. Keeping my fingers crossed. :)
I know many of you are wanting to see pictures from my siblings' visit this past weekend. I promise they're coming soon!
Tonight the in-laws kept the kids while Jason and I got sushi take-out and watched a movie here at home. It was a fantastic date night! Sometimes there's just nothing quite as great as snuggling on the couch in a quiet house with no children. We find ourselves thinking and talking about them when they're away, as I know pretty much all parents do. In fact, Jason found Jax's pajama shirt on the floor and brought it in to me and told me to smell it. At first I thought it was going to reek of tinkle, but he simply wanted me to smell Jax's smell. Mmmmm.... it was heaven. That little boy, as rough and tumble as he may be, is so precious.
Emerson has been getting out of bed the last two or three nights. And I'm not talking 30 minutes after going down. No, the girl has been making an appearance down the stairs anywhere from 9:30 to 11 p.m., and she is gracing us with her presence in full dress-up garb. I'm talking the dress, crown, and high heels. Last night Jason found her lying on the floor at the entrance to her room with her pillow and a blanket. Last weekend when my sis-in-law and I were watching TV, Emerson crawled from Hayden's nursery (where she and Jax were sleeping) all the way into the living room and behind the couch. I don't know if it's a phase or what. She seems to really enjoy sneaking around late at night!
House update... our painters stained the big desk that was upstairs, so we moved it down and have slowly been putting the office together. I'm starting to get overwhelmed thinking about the area rugs, chairs, window panels, etc., that are on my to-do list for each room. I know it's going to be a slow work in progress, but I just wish I could snap my fingers and have a magical decorator appear and do it all for me. I truly don't enjoy it because I don't have an eye for it. I can copy with the best of 'em, but coming up with the design ideas myself just doesn't happen. The hubby actually has more of a creative/artistic eye than me. It's not fair!
We're planning on visiting another church in the morning... hoping to either really like it or really not, just so we can make a decision and plant our little family somewhere. Making it to church in the morning, however, depends quite a bit on whether Princess Emerson makes it through the night without a fashion show and whether Hayden the Piranha lets Mommy sleep. Keeping my fingers crossed. :)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Hayden's Newborn Pics
Our wonderful photographer Kelly has done it again... I love, love, LOVE these pictures. Take a peek here:
http://www.kellystocksenphotography.com/
Click on Enter-the-Site, then Proofing, then enter 030311vanvalkenburg as the password.
The gorgeous blanket was made by my sweet friend Sarah using Amy Butler fabrics. I had no design ideas yet for the nursery when we moved in, but now I'm definitely planning on using this blanket as my starting point. H's nursery is a warm, creamy yellow, and these fabrics go so well in there.
We have had the best weekend with my siblings and their families! My sister and her family left this morning as did my brother who had to get back to work tomorrow. My sis-in-law and her kids will probably leave Tuesday evening. Having seven kids under 6 was so much fun... I loved the noise and the chaos and the giggles. It makes me wish so badly that all of us lived close together. It would be so incredible for our kids to grow up together.
I'll try and load some pictures from this weekend soon. Right now I need to get in bed! Momma's tired!
http://www.kellystocksenphotography.com/
Click on Enter-the-Site, then Proofing, then enter 030311vanvalkenburg as the password.
The gorgeous blanket was made by my sweet friend Sarah using Amy Butler fabrics. I had no design ideas yet for the nursery when we moved in, but now I'm definitely planning on using this blanket as my starting point. H's nursery is a warm, creamy yellow, and these fabrics go so well in there.
We have had the best weekend with my siblings and their families! My sister and her family left this morning as did my brother who had to get back to work tomorrow. My sis-in-law and her kids will probably leave Tuesday evening. Having seven kids under 6 was so much fun... I loved the noise and the chaos and the giggles. It makes me wish so badly that all of us lived close together. It would be so incredible for our kids to grow up together.
I'll try and load some pictures from this weekend soon. Right now I need to get in bed! Momma's tired!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Yes, I'm Alive!
But just barely. Life is crazy with three kids, y'all. I'm on Jason's laptop right now because mine was infected with a virus this morning, so I took it to the repair shop and hope to get it back in the morning.
Kids are good, hubby is good, and this weekend my siblings and their families are coming in town and staying with us! Woo-hoo! Can't wait to see my nieces and nephews... I haven't even told Emerson and Jax yet. It's just easier that way.
Hayden is getting a huge toad belly just like Jax had, and her little thighs have some sweet rolls on them. How I love my fat babies! Emerson literally can't keep her hands off her little sister, and it's so awesome to see.
I'll post more later... hopefully before this weekend, but if not, I'll post pics of all the relatives from this weekend.
Kids are good, hubby is good, and this weekend my siblings and their families are coming in town and staying with us! Woo-hoo! Can't wait to see my nieces and nephews... I haven't even told Emerson and Jax yet. It's just easier that way.
Hayden is getting a huge toad belly just like Jax had, and her little thighs have some sweet rolls on them. How I love my fat babies! Emerson literally can't keep her hands off her little sister, and it's so awesome to see.
I'll post more later... hopefully before this weekend, but if not, I'll post pics of all the relatives from this weekend.
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