Snuggle

My word, these kids are cute! Libby doesn't actually like cuddling while she sleeps (much like her mother). But Lucas would be completely content to just sleep right ON TOP of you. And all night long. Don't bother trying to slip out, either. He'll find you. And smother you with his "love."

While I'm Sharing...

As punishment for rule infractions, I've been having my kids do pushups. Mostly because it's hilarious with their chicken arms. Libby (age 2) loves to count off her pushups.

Skillz I've Not Got

 Oh yay! It's an ice cream. Though, not really. It's actually a cupcake. Have you ever tried to make these? I did once a couple of years ago. Made a HUGE mess. Fortunately, my neighbor is much more skilled in this area. She brought over a tray of them for my kids.  They were quite tasty. 

I only know this because once Libby had removed the frosting portion, she handed it to me. 

Yay me!

Holes for One

 It's amazing what a little thing like donut holes can do for your day.

Especially when Daddy is the one doing the treating.

Is this the way it is at your house? Mom's the meanie. The enforcer. Dad's the one who brings home a gargantuan sized box of donut holes for you to stuff yourself with. (She had five and was mad when I told her no more.)

 Also notice her "tatt/sticker sleeves?" She really likes stickers. I've mentioned this before. And she never lets us remove them. I thought for a long time that it was because she really likes to hold onto her stickers. But no. It's because after wearing them constantly for 3-5 days, they basically fuse to your skin. Removing them is painful. 

 What? You don't eat with your feet on the table? You haven't lived.

Pretty sure she's flashing me some gang signs here. Be wary of this one.

Routine.

The way things go around here is what I like to call casual.  Other people call it lazy. I'm okay with that.

 I'm up with the school kids (and often the littles) by 7am. I spend the next hour hustling and yelling, reminding and harassing. By 8am the big kids are off to school and I have just the littles.  Shamefully, I usually turn on the TV and nap on the couch (yes, lazy). But on this particular morning this week, the light was just right and the little ones were being agreeable. We sat at the table and finished our immediately after breakfast snack of pound cake and apples. Healthy? Eh, whatever.

 Their joy at having my undivided attention was obvious. 

And it made me realize that I need a new routine. One where I spend more time making sure these two littles know that their Momma loves them more than she loves her morning nap. I know. Those are big words. 

  But so is my love for them. REALLY BIG.

 Lucas will start a half day preschool in August and while I am positively giddy at the idea, I'm still sort of baffled at how he went from a tiny little mini baby to my tiny little mini child. 

 The good news is that these two are thick as thieves. 

 Which is another reason I'm having to give up my morning nap. This week alone I woke up to find them: 

1. Eating sugar direct from the bin by the teaspoonful. 

2. Dumping 1/2 gallon of Kool-Aid on my freshly mopped floor.

3. Eating chocolate cupcakes.

4. Coloring on their sister's homework.

5. Playing games on my Kindle Fire. 

6. Riding bikes in the garage.

I think I should be more concerned about who is going to keep Libby entertained when Lucas heads off to school. I can't possibly keep up that pace.

And for your viewing pleasure: Video proof of their relationship.

Partytime. Excellent.

We are not a big-time fancy party people. But we like friends and we love food, so when it came time for Libby's 2nd birthday (that we knew she wouldn't remember anyways...) we went casual. 

We invited a couple of neighbor friends to come over and do what we normally do: Ride bikes, play with sidewalk chalk, blow bubbles, play with balloons, and just generally enjoy each other's company. 

 Only this time we provided some cupcakes. Libby chose chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

Yum. The chocolate buttercream frosting recipe I used was AMAYZING! (The Y is for Yum.)

Libby and Marley (our sweet neighbor girl) pretending to like each other. Mostly, they love each other... from a distance. As in, they like to wave "Hi" and "Bye" but don't expect them to share anything or you'll have some of this on your hands.

 Hey, it's her party. She can cry if she wants to.

 Lemme tell ya. The cupcakes were to die for. 

 As in, my mouth is watering just looking at these pictures. Please go make some. 

And think of my heartbreak at my youngest babe turning 2 years old. Cry a tear for me.

If you are not quite two...

...it doesn't matter if you wear pants...

 ...or blow your nose ever...

 ...or have a disgustingly dirty face and baby mullet...

...because when you flash that grin, it's all Mom can do to keep herself from eating you.

Don't Pick It!

Libby is absolutely obsessed with stickers! Today she is wearing about 25 stickers in various locations on her body.
And don't even think about trying to remove them...she will scold you, ”Don't pick it!” The green heart sticker on her hand has been there for four days. Yes, we have bathed her. I'm assuming it has formed an impenetrable bond with her skin. Disturbing.

I knit stuff.

So, I mentioned at the beginning of the year, that I was hoping to knit through 5 miles of yarn in 2011. By mid August, I had met that goal.

Obviously, I haven't posted many of the finished objects I've knit. That would be because I haven't photographed them. Two of those items are sweaters which, frankly, it's just too dang hot to be wearing long enough to get pictures of.

But I do have two items to share with you.

 The first of which is this adorable sweater vest which I knit for a colleague of my husband They just had their first little baby boy. And if we're being honest with each other, we can admit that there isn't anything cuter than a baby boy in a sweater vest. Right?

 And the back. It ALMOST makes me wish I had a teeny boy to wear it.

 As it is, Libby looked adorable in it. This was just so I could make sure of sizing. It's about 12 months.

The other project is probably the most favorite thing I've ever knit.

 This is the Clara Dress. Unfortunately, you can only get the pattern by purchasing it as a kit. But I was desperate. I had to knit this tiny dress.

I think you can see why.

 I only wish I'd have made it a couple inches longer. I was worried about running out of yarn, but I totally shouldn't have been. I could easily have knit another 2 inches and still had plenty left over.

But I actually adore the length. I just put a pair of frilly bloomers on her and we're good to go. And I think she can continue to wear it as a tunic type top for quite a while.

I'll be back with more knit items soon.

Footage.

Just a quick catchup post... Libby had a birthday nearly a month ago now. We gave her a cupcake.

She did not fail to entertain.

We even took a video of the whole thing. It's pretty long, but the first minute and the last minute are fun to watch... we are video editing dunces.


The best part is that this is what she looks like after almost every meal.

Wordless Wednesday - Verve

One Year.

It's not fair. Consider this my tantrum.
I used to have a baby.
She looked like this:

 Once upon a time. Or exactly one year ago today. Oh, I miss this little girl. Sorta. I miss the sweet sleepy smiles and snuggly soft cheeks.

 I miss the juicy lips. Why on earth do babies have to grow up? I'm fairly certain that the reason is so that we'll have more babies, but that plan has worked on me five times and I'll be damned if I let it work again. Maybe.

 I miss the squishy cheeks. This is probably the fattest Libby ever got. 2 months old. I imagine she might weigh 15 pounds now. MIGHT.

 Ah yes. Three months. She looks almost exactly the same today. I miss the tiny clothes.

 For example, this dress which I knit her with my bare hands (and needles) no longer fits. What do you do with a handknit item that your child has grown out of?? Seriously. Four months old and already slimming down.

 She's a skeptical one, that Libby. Not really. But it's really a wonder that I accomplish anything during her waking hours, simply based on the amount of time I spend snuggling with/on her. (5 months).

 At six months old, it was as if someone flipped her personality button. All my other children vie for her constant attention. Special points awarded to those who can make her laugh.

 By seven months old, Libby has fallen in line with the other kids. She's just one of the crowd.

 And at 8 months old, she turned on the major cutes button. Unfair advantage, Libby.

 Nine months old and breaking hearts everywhere. Especially Daddy.

 Ten months marked the "I refuse to be seen and not heard." Girl got loud.

 Month 11 blew by in a heartbeat. She started walking all over the place and didn't look back. I miss that old baby. The one that crawled. The one that avoided the stairs. The one that only had eyes for me. I miss the squishy soft baby they handed me that day one year ago in the hospital. I miss her bad.

 Because now I'm left with a big, grown up baby. A walking, jabbering, mess-maker.

 A baby with no regard to her momma's feelings. A little love that doesn't care if mom needs her baby girl back. Desperately.

 That's right. I'm having an extremely hard time coming to terms. Someone stole my baby. And I'm ticked.

 Of course, they left me with this totally fantastic, hilarious, adorably precious toddler who makes my heart explode daily.

 But I'm still pissed. Only not really.

 

Sad, yes. Happy, yes.