mommy moment:: life

I used to.....

Stay out till 2am
Sleep till noon
Do laundry once a month
Clean house once a month
Read books, knit, and lay on the couch for hours at a time
Drink beer, wine, and the occasional cocktail or two (or three, four, and five)
Got dressed up every day, make-up and everything

Now...

I get 2 hours of sleep at a time. 
Bed at midnight, up at 2, 4, 6 and 8 (for real this time)
Clean house EVERYDAY (it neverends)
Laundry EVERYDAY (again, it neverends)
Read baby books and run up and down the stairs umpteen times a day
Drink a whole pot of coffee daily
Dressing up means clean sweats and shirt


Worth it....

To see my boys sleeping in the same room peacefully
To see Kannon give Clark kisses for no reason or real understanding
To see Clark smile big gummy smiles at my sight every morning
To hear Kannon babble in his carseat as though he is talking to us
To hear Kannon laugh as he rolls and growls pretending to be a dog
To get wet, sloppy kisses from both Kannon, the dog, and my husband
To have Kannon bring me a book and sit in my lap with it
To be a mom to two wonderful boys

photo therapy:: brothers

And so it begins...brotherhood.

mama confesses:: Thanksgiving

It has been a challenging year.  A year of growing up, taking risks, and learning from mistakes.  I has also been a wonderful year.  A year spent with family, growing, loving, and living each day with wonder.  Undeniably, this has been the hardest year of our life, as people, parents, and partners. 

There were days when I didn't think I would make it.  The fatigue, chaos, and stress often got the best of me.  There were weeks where we didn't go anywhere because we didn't have money for gas.  There was a month that we didn't know where we were going to be living....remember that month?  That sucked!  It has been hard.  Everyday was a test of my patience and strength.  No sleep, stress, a newborn, and an unexpected pregnancy....it was  tough year!

But we got through it.  Amidst the chaos, Dale and I stood strong.  We supported each other in the darkest of storms.  We were supported by our families and our friends.  We were loved and encouraged and at the end of the year, we wipe our hands clean and look forward to our future.  

It was the hardest year of my life, but it was also the best.  Dale and I both grew stronger.  We became better people.  We became better parents.  Our marriage grew stronger.  We created two beautiful children.  And, we have a wonderful family and wonderful friends who continue to support us in our adventure.  Without them, without YOU (yes, mom, dad, Nana, Papa, Heather, Angela, Dale, Mark, Kristie, Jarred....any of YOU reading this blog!) we would be nothing. This year would have been harder if it weren't for those that stood beside us in our happiest and darkest of times. Thank you for supporting us, for sharing your lives with us, and most importantly, for letting us share our lives with you!

So at a time of thanks and giving and I am reminded of life, love, family, and friends--there is nothing greater. 

What are you thankful for? 

Cyber Monday! Free Shipping! Woot!

I have got dryer balls rolling around my house.  Kannon is in love with these fuzzy balls and so am I!  It is time they find their new homes and as part of Cyber Monday, I am offering free shipping on all dryer balls!  These make great gifts for every body!

Why Use Dryer Balls?
-Reduce your drying time, saving energy and money
-Reduce static and wrinkles
-Reduce the appearance of lint and pet hair
-Eliminate the need for dryer sheets and fabric softener
-Avoid harmful chemical residues left by dryer sheets
-Avoid sensitive skin allergies caused by dryer sheets
-Better for the environment, Better for you

Dryer balls, as silly as they sound, are necessary in any home!

We use dryer balls in our home and have noticed a dramatic difference in our laundering (and we have big loads between our cloth diapers and heavy jeans!)

Go green and stock up with some handmade dryer balls!

Each ball is approximately 10 inches in circumference and comes in a set of 3 balls and a storage bag.

They are handmade from 100% recycled wool yarn and come in a variety of earth-toned colors that we have in stock.

For maximum effectiveness it is recommended to use at least 3-6 balls during your drying cycle. The more dryer balls you use, the bigger a difference you will see.

Balls can be washed and dried to maintain appearance. Overtime fuzz will build up and can simply be removed with a sweater shaver or scissors.

Scent these balls by rubbing your favorite essential oil into the wool!

***If you are interested in purchasing several sets, please contact me for more information on pricing.

mama confesses:: my little wish list

Over the years Dale and I have learned to budget, make-do, and get creative.  We very rarely buy things new.  We very rarely buy things (aside from food) ever.  If we want a new hat, I make it.  If Kannon needs a new toy, I use what's on hand.  At first this was purely a budget thing.  Being a VISTA last year living in Montana we really had to make our tiny budget stretch but the more I saved pennies and got creative the more I realized how much stuff we had.  Dale and I grew to hate the clutter, the packaging, the waste that accompanied any new purchase.  So when we moved, we rid ourselves of all our junk and swore off buying new things.  It feels great.  Everything has a purpose in our house.  But.....

....these boots would keep my feet dry.  

and this would make dinner time a little easier when we make soups and purees.

and this would also make dinner a little easier when we to slice cucumber, potatoes, and beets.

....and I am tired of hunting after our one and only cordless phone.  Maybe two, or three, would help.

and when both my boys are fussy, this would help me wear both (especially now that Kannon is too heavy for the mei tie).

....maybe this teether would keep Kannon from chewing on my coffee table. 

....this tunnel would be fun for Kannon.

.....Clark would enjoy this.  So would Kannon.  

....And as much as I hate the double stroller, this one (and only this one!) would be wonderful for my sore back, quick trips, and when wearing two babies just isn't possible. 

I have a wish list.  Sometimes, I just want a few new things.  Things that I could live without but things that would definitely make my life a little easier.  Yes, I am being totally indulgent and unveiling my desires to the world.  Being a mom to two boys, I think I am entitled to a little fantasy. 

So what are your wishes? 

mama vents:: one hot mess

Its been a while.  I haven't vented to my computer because when I need a good long vent session, its usually drowned by screaming children or barking dogs.  Tonight, at almost midnight, I feel the need to vent.  Scream. Shout.  Jump around.   

I have no reason to vent.  Its just one of "those" days.  Remember that birthday card Dale got me last year?  My life suddenly looks like the picture.  I barely have time to get a few sips of coffee in before babies call for my attention.  Lets look at the numbers.

Cups of Coffee in a day: 4, sometime 5 of which only one was hot when drunk.
Hours of Sleep: 4 1/2, maybe 6 if I get to sleep in.
Loads of laundry in a week: 6
Pee-breaks in day: 3, maybe 4....I know this is bad, I just forget!
Meals eaten in a day: 1, 2 if you count the mini-sized snicker bar
Showers in a week: 1...ugh it smells in here.
Time not attached to a baby: 2 1/2 hours during naps...if I am lucky.
Warm meals eaten in a week: none
Items fished from toilet: 4
Shirts dirtied by spit-up: 6....then I stopped counting.
Cups of coffee::  NOT ENOUGH!

Okay, there really is not enough caffeine in the world to wake me up some days.  I stumble around half-awake avoiding kids toys, dirty clothes, and trying my hardest not to lose my cool.  There is so much I want to vent about (my husband's closet, dishes in the sink, spilled milk, blah, blah) but there is no need. Tomorrow, it will be the same.  Some days, I am bothered by this, and other days I walk around like a hot-mess but absolutely elated with my life. But on both days, my life looks a lot like this.

photo therapy:: Dr. Fin, Medicine Fish

I posted these on my photography blog today.  Somehow, our fish became known as Dr. Fin, Medicine Fish and our floor became a sloppy slippery mess.  But Kannon had fun playing with the fish and I had fun documenting his adventure. 

photo therapy:: call me supermom

 We had a slow rainy weekend.  Saturday we walked to Fremont and made an awesome dinner.  Today, I woke up to Dale's cooking, coffee, and a naked baby.  We are enjoying the beautiful colors of fall, the smell of fresh rain, and the darkness that shows winter is near.   Oh, and I am supermom.  I wore my two babies and walked my dog this weekend.  Proof that I can live without a double stroller! 

trying to catch one of his smiles!

 one in back....

 ...and the other in front

...supermom!!!!

mama cooks:: persi-what?

This week is a little late as we were busy planning a party and my mom was in town.  I will admit, we didn't plan any meals this week so I don't have many recipes.  Most of the stuff we received in our CSA was familiar--ie broccoli, brussel sprouts, bok choy, etc.  However, we received some persimmons that had me scratching my head.  I have never heard of them or tasted them.  They looked like a tomato but were hard like an apple.  So I started doing some research and by 10pm my mom and I were standing over the counter cautiously digging in to this mysterious fruit.  They were delicious.  Sweet and delicate.  They would have been delicious in a salad or a jam, but we ate these babies in their pure form--much like the rest of our produce box.

Here is a look at this week:

Yukon Gold Potatoes, Organic - 3 pounds
Baby Bok Choy, Organic - 3 each
Arugula (Greens), Organic - 1 bunch
Broccoli, Organic - 1 bunch
Brussels Sprouts On The Stalk, Organic - 1
Delicata Squash, Organic - 1 bunch
Zucchini, Organic - 1.75 pounds
Purple Top Turnips, Organic - 1.5 pounds
Lemons, Organic - 4 each
Fuyu Persimmons, Organic - 3 each
Red Radishes, Organic - 1 bunch
Cremini Mushrooms, Organic - 0.66 pound Monday:: Pan Seared Chicken in Lemon Sauce with Stuffed Zucchini Tuesday:: Brussel Sprouts sauteed with bacon and garlic, Turnips, and Chicken-Apple sausage Wednesday:: We had dinner at Joule!!!! Thursday:: Pork Chops with Mushroom Mediera Sauce and whipped potatoes and Persimmon Prosecco Sparkler Friday:: leftover Saturday:: Seared Opah with bok choy, grapes, and lemon Our highlights for the week were the seared Opah. It seems like a weird combination, but it is seriously delicious!!! It was light, refreshing, and took 20 minutes to make.  Seared Opah with grape salsa 1/2 sliced red onion 1 handful of red grapes chopped in half 3 bunches of baby bok choy 1 lb of Opah (or other favorite fish) 1 tlbs garlic 1 juice of lemon handful of cilantro salt, pepper 1.) Season your fish with salt and pepper. Heat oil and sear fish until med-rare.  Remove fish and let rest. 2.) In the same pan that fish was seared, add more oil.  When heated, add the red onions and give them a few minutes to soften up.  Add garlic and bok choy, and saute for a few minutes.  Add grapes and lemon juice and heat for 1 minute more.   3.) Serve the bok choy mixture over your fish.  Enjoy!

compare and contrast

what do you think? 

 Kannon                                                               Clark

                       Kannon                         

                   Clark

                         Kannon

 Clark                                             

                       Kannon                                                                 Clark

 Kannon

Clark

Updates

Okay, so I am a bit behind on the updates.   My mom was here, we celebrated Kannon's 1-year birthday, and I have just been catching up.

Kannon
12-months
21 lbs  5 oz
29 inches

Kannon is doing great.  Our pediatrician is wonderful and had fun flirting with Kannon.  He is walking, clapping, waving hi and by.  He says mama, baba, dada, lala, nemma and random babbles.  Kannon hates cauliflower and refried beans but eats everything else.  He loves his legos and nesting boxes.  He LOOOVEES books, and spends most of the day looking at them.  Kannon now has 6 teeth.  Twice now, he has tried to bite us.  He is also noticing Clark more and starting to bring him things like food, toys, and clothes.  He is a little small for his age but we aren't surprised as we are both short people.  Kannon got his MMR and Hep A vaccine and we went our merry little way....granted Kannon was a little pissed about his shots but he recovered quickly.  We will go back when he is 15 months old!

Clark
1-month
9 lbs 5 oz
21 (22 ??) inches


Clark is growing like a champ!!! He is already growing so much differently than big brother Kannon.  During the day he nurses every 1 1/2 hours.  At night, he sleeps 5-1/2 -6 hours, wakes to nurse and then wakes up every 2 hours after that.  Clark has started smiling and giggles in his sleep :)  Twice this week I have found Clark sleeping on his side.  He is already so different from Kannon as a baby.  He loves to be swaddled, sleeps well everywhere, except his carseat.  He is alert, quiet, and loves to be around us.  He is still sleeping most of the day but when he is awake, he smiles, coos, and stares at us with his big brown eyes.  We love our little guy!