mama confesses:: reflection

(I am pretty sure this will be Kannon's Senior Picture in about 18 years....hehe)

I can't believe at midnight tomorrow we will be barreling into 2011. A new year.  If its anything like this year, it will pass by in a blink and I will be writing this same blog on the 'eve of 2012. Time flies.  It disappears before you realized it was even missing.  2010 started with a peaceful slumber of a new babe and the snowy nights of Montana.  From there it got crazy, blew by us like a tornado, and all of a sudden we are in Seattle with 2 kiddos.  I can barely catch my breath. 

2010 was the craziest, busiest, most sleep deprived year of my life.  It was also the most wonderful, purposeful, beautiful year of my life.  We kept a family together.  We nourished one child while nurturing and growing another.  We made a plan--a future.  We grew up.  Our children grew up.  We fell in love over and over again each day.  This year was the best year.  I can't wait to see next year and the many years after that. 

I have so many resolutions for the coming year.  I want to be a better mom, to focus even more on my children as they grow.  I want to visit family and friends that are often separated by distances.  Much of my family has yet to meet Kannon, let alone Clark.  I want to a better pet-owner and return to my once daily trips to the dog park for Emma.  Most of all, I want to continue growing and loving my husband and the family we created. 

But for now, I am happy to share each day with my crew and enjoy the most of what is left of 2010. 

photo therapy:: the holidays

We have been busy wrapping, unwrapping, and finding a place for all presents that were under our tree.  We loved everything we received and are so grateful for all the wonderful family and friends that surround us.  Here are some photos to brighten your day!

The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse.

And then there was screaming,
and then there was crying,
a baby was fussy
and so was his mommy

I went to the room,
and swaddled my baby
First there was laughter
and then there was thunder

An explosion down under
soaked through a diaper
down to his toes
and through my blue robe

An outfit ruined,
A robe in the trash
A quick shower for two
and that was some gas.

A minute later,
there rose a great clatter
A toddler was waking
with excitement and wonder

He gave a great hug
and then a big kiss
Both kids are now sleeping
and work is to be had

The presents are out,
Cookies for Santa,
Coffee is ready
And fun for the morning.

Life with two kids
isn't so bad.
I crawled into bed
dreaming of 'morrow

ho, ho, ho
merry christmas to all
and to all a good night!

Dear Kannon:: Merry Christmas

Dear Kannon,

Last night at about 8:40 I went into your room to feed your brother and you promptly jumped up in your crib and signed "all done".  I said to you, "all done with sleep?  I dont think so?" and laid you back down.  You jumped up again and shook your hands harder and shook your head no and signed "all done" again.  I gave you a book and let you rest.  Then I put you back in your crib, laid you down, and kissed your head, and you signed "more". 

More what?  More kisses?  More reading? Or more sleep? 

I closed the door and thought you are a big boy now.  You eat giant meals, you play with blocks and trucks, and even a light saber.  You walk down the stairs like a big boy.  You walk to the car by yourself.  You demand to things all on your own.  You are very independent. You are now 14 months old and showed me today what a toddler you are. 

So, I thought, the best early Christmas gift I could give you was your own space.  Your freedom to roam.  Your room. (Its not just your room, you share with Clark).  We set up a full size mattress for you, put some simple white sheets on it, and grabbed your favorite quilt.  You quickly grabbed 3 more blankets, your monkey, your sippy cup, and your turtle and you laid down.  Apparently, you didn't have a big enough party, because you got up a few minutes later and grabbed a book, your nighttime dog, and your seahorse.  And then it happened.  You slept.  Peacefully. 

I can't wait for tomorrow to see you wake up.  No longer are you bound by the rails and bars of your crib.  You have books, animals, and blankets waiting to greet you in the morning.  I hope fore once that we are awoken by laughter instead of screams.  You are big boy.  Now its time to see the real you.

Merry Christmas.


Love,
Mommy

sleep.

We aren't getting much sleep lately.  Between Dale's late night schedule, the etsy orders I have been cranking out, and Clark who can't decide what his schedule is, I am lucky if I get 5 hours.   The lack of sleep leaves us a little less than 100%.  We lose things, snap at each other, and fall asleep 5 minutes into Top Chef.  The sleep issue has somehow created a black hole for things to fall into.



Like the cinnamon rolls I bought from the store and have a receipt showing their purchase.
Like our cell phone charger which was here and then gone.
Like Dale's work apron which apparently walked its way out of our house.
and sadly, like the ipod touch we got new just last week.  Lost. Stolen.  Whatever you call it.

Alas, I digress. I have spent the week addressing the sleep issue and I think I have it down.  If Clark goes to bed at 8pm, I have to wake him up at midnight to nurse, otherwise he will sleep till 3 and then wake up every hour after that.  If he goes to bed at 10, he sleeps through the night.  What a weirdo!  

The boys are sharing a room and have been for the last few weeks and it is going remarkably well.  Kannon, formerly a light sleeper, doesn't even stir when I come in to nurse.  And lastly, Kannon just moved into a real bed.  That's right peeps, I kicked him out of the crib and put him in a queen size bed on the floor.  His first reaction?  Grabbed a blanket, his monkey, and rolled around.  I think he gets the idea.  We will just see how the rest of the night goes.

Anyways, I apologize fore the lack of postings lately, things are just to effin' busy around here!!!!  I can't wait for Christmas so I can recover.  Santa will you bring me sleeping pills and a breast pump?

mama confesses:: 12 days of Christmas

Honestly, I am burned out.  I didn't want to shop online because I didn't want to pay shipping.  Well, today, I went out and faced the holiday crowds and walked away empty handed.  Paying shipping is way better than wasting gas, getting shoved around, and standing in line.  We have been a little busy, tired, cranky, and honestly, I am kind of feeling a little grinchy.  But here is something that made me laugh:

12 Days of Christmas

12 gifts unwrapping
11 poppers popping
10 babies laughing
9 parents drinking
8 boobs a leaking
7 cats meowing
6 children swearing
5 mooooooooooooood swings
4 Vicodin
3 grease fires
2 broken eggs

And a nap underneath the Christmas Tree.

Cheers!!!!

(Thanks Kristina!)

funny story.

Sorry I have been MIA lately.  With Dale's restaurant opening and the holidays, I just haven't had time to jump on the computer.  But, here is a funny story---

After getting frustrated with my OB about birth control options because he wouldn't listen to my needs I decided to make an appointment with Planned Parenthood.  Well, Wednesday I drove myself down to their office and was so excited to find a doctor who actually LISTENED to what I wanted.  After one oops, Dale and I aren't taking chances.  We decided on Implanon-- a matchstick sized rod inserted in your arm that is good for 3 years! 

Thursday, I went in to PP again for the actual insertion.  They asked me to give a urine sample.  No problem, I said.  I peed in a cup for 9 months, so what's one more!  I did my business and waited in the office.

An hour went by. 

And finally, 2 people walked in, with very serious faces.

"Well, unfortunately, we can't give you the Implanon today because you had a positive pregnancy test".

Me, after nearly scraping myself off the floor, told them this was impossible.  VERY impossible. In fact so impossible, I was willing to pee on 30 sticks to clear the air.  They asked me to wait a few minutes.

A few minutes later, they came back and told me that it was their error.  There was another "Katherine" in the office and they switched the cups.  Just to be sure, I re-tested. NEGATIVE!

Whew. 

So after resting on the table for 30 minutes waiting for my heart rate to return to normal, I am happy to say that I am indeed not pregnant and won't have to think about pregnancy for 3 years thanks to the little rod in my arm. 

christmas cards are on their way!

Full Of Love Christmas 5x7 folded card

Shutterfly has classic, elegant Christmas invitations for your party.

View the entire collection of cards.

mama needs:: christmas cards

When Kannon was born I had his birth announcements and our Christmas letters stamped, sealed, and out the door a few weeks after he was born.  This time around, I am a little late.  I have yet to send out birth announcement and I have yet to think about Christmas cards.  But 'tis the season and thanks to Shutterfly (and their holiday blogger promotion) I have more of reason to pull it together and finally order those cards. 

Sad story, I actually designed Clark's birth announcement but never got around to ordering them.  I love the design and picture but I feel a little lame sending them out two months late.  I have recovered and designed a new Christmas card that will be arriving in your mailbox soon!

I love Shutterfly and have used them for everything from wedding and birth announcements to photo books and Christmas cards.  As a busy mom, I don't have time to upload to a million different websites and Shutterfly has teamed up with Picasa, so ordering pictures is always at the tip of my fingers.  Last year, we sent photo books for Christmas which left both our moms in tears flipping through the pages. 

I can't promise I will be sending out photo books again this Christmas (as I barely have enough time to drink my coffee without getting cold) but I will be sending out Christmas cards (as soon as I finish this post). Be sure to send me your address if you would like a card and be sure to check out Shutterfly for their fun and funky cards, gifts, and photo books.  Christmas is just around the corner, but it is never to late to get those cards out! 

Here are some of my favorites!
Christmas photo cards -- http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
Photo cards--http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery
Personalized calendars-- http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/calendars

oh....and this is still my favorite card.

photo therapy:: 2 months

Our little boy Clark is growing so fast!  We had his 2 month well check and no surprise to us, he is perfect.  Our little guy is weighing in at 10 lbs 13 oz and 23 3/4 inches long.  He is long and lean compared to his big brother who was 11 lbs and 22 inches at 2 months.  Clark is smiling more every day and is starting to sleep longer stretches at night.  Our pediatrician showed us an awesome new swaddle technique that I can't wait to try tonight to see if this will keep our little guy sleeping longer!

bliss.

Very rarely do we get to combine all our favorite things about life: kids, dog, beer.  You see most bars and restaurants (per law) do not allow children.  So the last time Kannon got to see the inside of a bar was in Montana on New Years Eve.  Its been a while.   Until we found Fremont Brewing Company. We packed up the dog, kids, and Jarred and headed there on Saturday.

Not only was the beer delicious, they had a toybox for Kannon, free pretzels, and dog treats for Emma.  We couldn't have been happier. So we slapped a few beers back and headed home in the rare Seattle sunshine.  I don't this weekend could have been sweeter.

....and of course Clark was there!

photo therapy:: smile!

Clark has been smiling big, real, gummy smiles for weeks now but I have been too busy enjoying them to get a picture.  Alas, here is the goofy kid!  You can see more photos of him on my photography blog or on Facebook. 

mama confesses:: the magic hour

There has been a lot of chatter amongst baby boards, facebook, and relatives about the "magic hour".  I am referring to 8pm, bedtime, goodnight, when parents finally start "their" day.  I am ashamed to admit that I start getting antsy if its 8:02pm and my kids are still awake.  Sadly, two hours later, I find myself missing my kids and go upstairs to check on their sleeping bodies. 

Nonetheless, 8pm is a special time.  We spend all day chasing kids around, dedicating every ounce of ourselves to our kin.  It is only fair that when the lights go out.....we get the party started!  Okay, half the time we are too tired and end up crashing early.  Most of the time, there is cleaning, laundry, and recipes to be made.  And the rest of the time, its me, a bottle of wine and my lovely husband.  So 8pm is special--almost sacred to those with kids.  And when the magic hour flies by with both kids awake.....

Disaster.  Sadness.  Frustration. 

Unfortunately, this is how the last week has been in our house.  Me, running up and down the stairs every 10 minutes to check on crying babies.  Kannon has a staph infection (thanks public pool!) on his well, hmmm, penis.  The infection has left him enjoying quality naked time (and peeing everywhere!) but also creating some bloody, blistery diapers.  Of course, the poor guy is in pain and won't sleep!  When Kannon does finally fall asleep after being rocked, consoled, and hydrated, Clark wakes up.  So lately, every ounce of my mind, body, and soul is devoted to comforting my children and "our" time no longer starts at 8pm.  Instead, when the whole shebang is all said and done, it 10pm and I am pooped. 

Don't get me wrong.  I love comforting my kids.  But its going on day 7, where I have yet to have 15 minutes to myself to shower, let alone an hour to just relax.  We are on the upswing.  Kannon was eager to sleep to night and Clark only had me run up the stairs once tonight. 

So who's ready for a party???

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?