Boys

I can't really remember what he was doing here. I was making dinner and it had something to do with the setting sun. He is such a silly boy.

Finally spent the gift cards that Grandpa got them for Christmas.

Boys and Legos. See how Liam is concentrating? Wait...

Sweet slingling

I have tried a few different baby carriers in my parenting career. I have had ones that I didn't like at all and ones that I have loved and have been used a ton. Different ones for different uses- my stretchy wrap for newborn and little baby cuddling, my mei tai for hiking. Well, Adelle is a mover and a shaker, so I needed something that was good for easy in and out. I was at a friend's house and she had a Slingling pouch on her chair and I asked if I could try it out. LOVE! Quick to put on. Easy for in and out.

So I bought one and it is so beautiful:

My little one snuggling with her dolly in our sling.

Gah! No more!

If breastfeeding icks you out or simply doesn't interest you, skip this post.

(And general disclaimer: My following feelings about breastfeeding are just that- my feelings. Your mileage may vary.)

Breastfeeding has been an important part of my mothering. It has been more than food delivery system- it is snuggling, it is bonding, it is physical sacrifice to further share my body after pregnancy is over. It is about a gazillion other things that are hard to articulate. Simply put, it helps me to be a more attentive, loving mother.

Oh, I mean, there are downsides. Issy and I had quite a rough start and I was quite sore on and off the first two and a half months. But we got through it and at some point I remember looking at her adoringly while I was nursing and thinking, "These are all those warm fuzzies that people talk about when they talk about nursing." Ahh, gotta love those good hormones. It was tough nursing Isaac through PPD, but I am so glad I did. It gave us a connection when that bond seemed tenuous. There were times in Liam's second year of life when the demands of breastfeeding seemed to outweigh the benefits, but then we got past the hump and it really eased his transition through moving and becoming a big brother and moving again.

Then this February happened. Apparently February of 2010 was destined to be one of those "valleys" in my breastfeeding journey with Adelle. I am sitting here with my fourth plugged duct since the beginning of the month. Two of which got infected, one of which required antibiotics. I am feeling very frustrated. It is really painful and time consuming.

I just don't know what I am doing wrong. Because while I have dealt with plugged ducts a few times between my other children and mastitis one other time, it has never been like this. I think it started because she had an ear infection and she wasn't nursing well on the one side. But then she was nursing fine the next week and it returned. And then the week after that I got one on the other side. And today I woke up and it was on the first side again and it is getting ridiculous.

The variables, oh the variables. I got my first one when her ear hurt. She is also teething? Does her ear still hurt? She just started solids, is her tummy bothering her? Is my bra ill fitting?

GAH!

This is just a valley. We will get through it and I will be looking at her adoringly and kissing her fuzzy head while she nurses and will be thankful that we persevered.

Right?

Justed wanted to share....

This was taken in August of 2008.

From the archives: Isaac

The husband's new blog

For those who were fans of my hubby's blog (that he was somewhat sporadic about) head on over to his new blog! He promises it'll be worth your while :)

Joe's Photo Journal

From the archives: Issy

Hats and pants and messed up soakers, oh my!

A hat knit for Isaac in December. Clementine ate his hat last year. Simple and handsome.

I actually knit two identical ones for my friend and my sister-in-law who had baby girls in October and January, respectively. Some handsome little longies knit up for a friend who just had a baby last month. Some Manos I bought at the yarn store in Jackson when we first moved a couple years ago. The yarn is so beautiful!

Stupid soaker, lol. I knit it in August, in one day working at the yarn store. Took me forever to do one cuff. Forever and a day to do the second cuff. Right after I finished the second cuff, I realized that I did it in the wrong needle size (about 4 sizes too big, to be precise) and I just haven't ripped it out and did it all over again. Seriously, it would take me about 45 minutes tops. Sometimes my ridiculousness about things astounds even me.

Lent

I like sleep. A lot. When I was in high school and early college, I used to sleep as much as humanly possible while still being a productive person. Too bad you can't save sleeping points, because I would have been set well into my thirties.

You say, "But wait, Erin, your blog title is Lent. Why are you talking about sleep?"

I still love my sleep. I don't remember the last time I slept through the night on a consistent basis. When Issy was an infant? At any rate, a long time ago. Because I still get up with Adelle 2-4 times a night, I usually roll out of bed about the time that Joe is going to work.

So my Lenten resolution is to get out of bed early and spend a half an hour on prayer and reflection before starting my day. It is going... interestingly? I am hoping that this will help me to work on spiritual and physical self-discipline.

So there, I said it. Ask me how it is going in a week or two.

Edited to Add: It was brought to my attention that perhaps this post might be kind of like what Jesus was talking about not doing in the Gospel on Wednesday Not my intention. I am only putting this out here because frankly, I am lazy. And I need accountability. I figured if I wrote it down, I would be more likely to follow through instead of rolling over in bed when my alarm goes off.

Some knitting

Mr. Bear. Made him for as a baby shower gift for a friend who is having a boy in March/ April. My first knitted toy!!

Swiffer cover. I haven't actually used it yet, but i am nerdily excited about this. Now I won't have to pay out the nose for the disposable ones!

Beautiful daughters

Thank you all for your words of encouragement regarding my last post. It really does help :) Now some pics of my cuties.

She lost her first top tooth. What a big girl!

Oh, my sweet Adelle. She is really so wonderful and brings so much joy to the family.

She finally sits at almost 8 months old! She was so busy learning to crawl and pull herself up that she couldn't be bothered with sitting in one place until now. And she still doesn't stay long before she is off on her next adventure.

Evidently, I need to take some more pictures of my boys. Noted.

Ok, I am putting this out here. No overthinking- just writing.

Life is weird. Just weird, sometimes in a bad way and sometimes in a just different way. I am having a harder time adjusting to this move than I had anticipated. I miss Idaho/the mountains more than I had imagined I would.

I miss the mountains (and clear water, solitude, my old house- the list goes on ...) I feel guilt for missing the mountains because I feel like being here should just be enough. Lather, rinse, repeat. Let me break that down for you:

I feel bad--> I feel like I should feel differently--> I feel bad for feeling bad.

And the problem is, I am not sure what to do with myself. This doesn't feel like "home" anymore. Perhaps it is just the adjustment period. Maybe it'll get easier when spring comes. Maybe not. Do I want it to? If things get easier, will I get complacent?

Here is The Positive. The children are beautiful. They are smart, they are kind (um, most of the time), creative, their smiles brighten my days. They love being by their aunts and uncles, cousins, friends. I love that for them. I love being by them too. I have the opportunity to start my midwifery education. Joe's job is better.

Allllright. Thanks for listening to my "vent". Feels better to get it out :)

I know. I know.

Yup. Over a month.

I don't know what is wrong with me, I just haven't much felt like blogging. I mean, I guess I have. I compose some great blogposts in the shower or when I am laying in bed at night falling asleep. Sometime between the shower (and bed) and the computer, it usually gets lost though.

Life is fine. Christmas was busy. Homeschooling is going well, even Liam has been very participatory lately. Adelle grows and grows, though no teeth yet.

Bah, I don't know what to say. I'll post pictures:I love this little sleeper on her, it is one of my faves.

She is finally outgrowing her newborn/small soakers so I needed to make her a new one! This one actually has the circumference of a small but the rise of a medium. My sis gifted me the yarn which is three ply purewoolMy sweater is (and has been for a couple of months!) finished. I have yet to get a satisfactory picture so this one will have to do.

Six months!!!

Mmmmm, tasty toys. Let's see some teeth!

She is now very seriously off-blanketing it. See that blanket to the right? Yes, she was on it only about a minute before. She is even trying to turn the corner.

What we have been up to in school

Working with oil pastels in art

We made a paper chain of things are thankful for before Thanksgiving. Issy and Isaac wanted to take pictures of it, so these next two are courtesy of them.

The Annual "Christmas Tree" post

Big news: This last Saturday we put up our Christmas tree.

Well, that isn't really that big of news, right? Because we put up a tree every year. And we are known for being slightly excessive in the Christmas tree department.

The reason this is big news is because it is *gasp* an artificial tree.

I know, I know. But Joe's parents bought a pre-lit tree this year. And their gorgeous, tall, symmetrical, doesn't have to be watered, doesn't get dried out tree was just sitting in their basement. It was waiting for us.

I miss two things about having a real pine tree. One, I miss the experience of going and picking one out. Two, I miss the piney smell. Other than that (see list above of the pros) I am very pleased. Thanks for the tree, Mom and Dad Marney!!

Liam decorating the tree. Or admiring the ornament.

Oooooo, what is this? I am so glad I am mobile just in time for them to put a big tree in our house!!

What? I wasn't doing anything.

Random things that make me happy

I got this fabric the day after Thanksgiving. It is going to become a blanket for Adelle. My love for it is twofold: I love the print. The owls are adorable and I have a thing for purple. AND. It was on super sale. Call me cheap (or frugal if you prefer) but getting a deal on things I like anyways makes it even better for me.

The refinished crib. I got the crib from my friend three years ago and it had seen better days looks-wise. So I asked Joe if he would paint it for me. Soooo much better. The sleeping baby in the crib makes me happy too ;)

My holiday mug that my niece got me for Christmas a couple of years ago. I am drinking tea out of it as we speak.

My new tablecloth.

It is the simple things in life, right?

I miss the snow

Playing in the snow, Christmas 2008

I know I know. I should be grateful for an unseasonably warm November. And I am. But one of the things I really liked about living in Idaho was the amazing snow we would get in December and January. I wasn't particularly fond of driving in it, but we didn't leave the house very often, so it wasn't a big deal. And I was about done with it after February, and it didn't really melt until April. But it was so gorgeous during the Advent and Christmas season and it made me feel all festive and like snuggling in the house with a warm cup of tea and crafting and all that fun wintry stuff.

Is there a place in the US where it snows in December and January a fair amount and then melts? And has a moderate climate in the summer? Sign me up ;)