Somebody start the coffee and put an IV in me. We are soooo tired today. Dale stayed up working on his BarSmarts course last night until 2am meanwhile I was nursing Clark every 45 minutes until 6:15am. Just when Clark finally decided to doze off, if was time to head to his circumcision and 2 week well check this morning.
We were running late. So without my coffee, I left Dale at home with Kannon, and braved rush-hour traffic at 8am with a screaming baby to get to Mercer Island by 9. Sometimes, I hate the city.
But we made it. Clark got his tip snipped without even a peep and passed out just in time for another jaunt across the city for his 2-week well check.
We just love our pediatrician who is likewise in love with both our kids. She said that Clark is very alert and observant for his age....which explains the lost sleep :( She suggested moving him into his own space instead of co-sleeping---it might be less distracting. So tonight, we will shift things around and put Clark in his bassinet and see if that means more sleep for us. At two weeks old, Clark is weighing in at 7 lbs 7 oz and just a shade over 20 inches long. He just keeps growing!!!
We are taking a break from doctors for a while. Kannon goes in for his 1-year well check in November and Clark won't go back until December. This might be the first 2-week stretch that didn't involve a doctors visit for one of us since.....March?????
Until then, I am attempting a nap before our next adventure.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
...and we are off!
I can't keep Kannon still!!!!
One minute he is crawling up the stairs, the next he is walking across the kitchen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZajv1qZvxc
He is already such a big boy!
He eats pears....whole, with the skin on.
He waves bye and talks with a mouthful.
He loves pushing little brother Clark across the house.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0S4nxzEYKA
They just grow up so fast!!!!
and this little guy keeps growing too....
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
mam cooks:: csa love
Now that we seem to have our routine back it is time to get back to the kitchen! For 2 weeks my diet consisted of oatmeal cookies, cheerios, and ice cream. By the time I get both kids asleep, I am too tired to think about dinner let alone make it! It is time to say goodbye to those habits and return to kitchen where produce and protein call my name.
First, we joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) in September. We chose to go through Full Circle Farms which simply put is an organic produce delivery organization that receives all their produce through local farms and families. Once a week, we get a box of delicious organic and local produce delivered to our front door.
We made the decision to join a CSA for many reasons. We both agree that organic, local, and sustainably grown food is better for us, our bodies, and our children. By joining a CSA we get the benefits of organic food at a reasonable cost that supports both us and the farms it comes from.
For $44 a week, we have enough fresh vegetables and fruit to prepare meals for the entire week for 4+ people. It saves us trips to the grocery store and when we do go shopping its a few dollars for protein or a few staples. We used to spend about $140 a week at the grocery store and we constantly faced with the "what's for dinner" questions. We rarely bought fruit and vegetables and those we did buy were nothing special. Even though our fridge was full, we never felt there was anything to eat.
Since joining the CSA, our grocery costs (including the CSA fee) has gone down to $65 a week for 4+ people. We get to try a variety of new foods and creative about our cooking while at the same time supporting organic, local, and sustainable practices.
Better for us, our children, and our community. Enough said.
Now that I am back in the kitchen armed with new vegetables and fruit, its time to start sharing our weekly cooking adventures. So, here comes another blog series. I plan to share some of our highlights, recipes, and photos. Bon appetit!
I am a few boxes behind. We got to try turnips, collard greens, and pluots. I made a delicious Italian kale and sausage stew, roasted turnips and carrots with poppy seeds, napa cabbage potstickers, and braised collard greens and roasted turkey. Kannon loved the pears, pluots, and cinnamon-braised apple slices. Our fridge is still full of romaine, broccoli, and green onions and I am just dreaming of creations for this week's box.
This week's box included the following:
This week, we made Stuffed Green Bell Peppers, roasted Delicata squash with lime butter, roasted chicken and pear salad, creamy spinach, potato leek soup, apple-braised cabbage and pork chops, and more to be decided!
First, we joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) in September. We chose to go through Full Circle Farms which simply put is an organic produce delivery organization that receives all their produce through local farms and families. Once a week, we get a box of delicious organic and local produce delivered to our front door.
We made the decision to join a CSA for many reasons. We both agree that organic, local, and sustainably grown food is better for us, our bodies, and our children. By joining a CSA we get the benefits of organic food at a reasonable cost that supports both us and the farms it comes from.
For $44 a week, we have enough fresh vegetables and fruit to prepare meals for the entire week for 4+ people. It saves us trips to the grocery store and when we do go shopping its a few dollars for protein or a few staples. We used to spend about $140 a week at the grocery store and we constantly faced with the "what's for dinner" questions. We rarely bought fruit and vegetables and those we did buy were nothing special. Even though our fridge was full, we never felt there was anything to eat.
Since joining the CSA, our grocery costs (including the CSA fee) has gone down to $65 a week for 4+ people. We get to try a variety of new foods and creative about our cooking while at the same time supporting organic, local, and sustainable practices.
Better for us, our children, and our community. Enough said.
Now that I am back in the kitchen armed with new vegetables and fruit, its time to start sharing our weekly cooking adventures. So, here comes another blog series. I plan to share some of our highlights, recipes, and photos. Bon appetit!
I am a few boxes behind. We got to try turnips, collard greens, and pluots. I made a delicious Italian kale and sausage stew, roasted turnips and carrots with poppy seeds, napa cabbage potstickers, and braised collard greens and roasted turkey. Kannon loved the pears, pluots, and cinnamon-braised apple slices. Our fridge is still full of romaine, broccoli, and green onions and I am just dreaming of creations for this week's box.
This week's box included the following:
This week, we made Stuffed Green Bell Peppers, roasted Delicata squash with lime butter, roasted chicken and pear salad, creamy spinach, potato leek soup, apple-braised cabbage and pork chops, and more to be decided!
some updates
I have been so busy blogging about our family adjusting to life with 2 babies that I have forgotten some major updates!
First, Kannon is walking!!! He still mostly crawls, but everyday he takes brave steps that are getting longer and longer. Today, he walked almost 15 feet before he decided to give up and crawl. Here is a video of him in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkiZBP_0JwI
(Please excuse the sideways video and those adorable baby cheeks!)
Kannon is turning one next week and not a day goes by that I dont think about this momentuous occasion. Kannon can drink out of his own cup. He can open bottles, especially my Gatorade bottles that I thought were foolproof. He speaks nonsense all the time. Mostly bababa's, dada's, and mama's but they are slurred together in long sentences that we are still translating.
Our little boy who used to eat everything seems to finally be developing his own tastes. Whatever he doesn't like goes to Emma (the dog). These days, it has been tomatoes, carrots, and turkey. He still loves his blueberries and while they are messy they certainly keep his diaper habits regular!
Kannon finally understands 'no' and he pouts his lips out when he say it...but he does stop whatever it was that deserved the 'no'. He is one rolly-polly kid and spends a lot of time rolling around on the floor from the dog bed to the couch. No one knows why. He has transitioned fully to whole milk and the cup. He is becoming a toddler! What a big boy!!!!
Did I mention he also became a big brother?????
Which brings me to Clark who is growing bigger by the day. His umbillical cord fell off at 8 days....Kannon held onto his for 2 weeks! Clark got his first bath. He was hesitant at first but finally warmed up to the notion when we started rubbing his feet. Here is a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xi3fXeCrkk
Clark is still eating like a champ. He nurses during the day every 2 hours but sleeps in 4-5 hour stretches at night which is heavenly! Kannon and Clark have very similar schedules already. They both pass out hard around 8pm and wake up for good at 8am. Clark obviously still spends most of his day sleeping, but he is most alert between 8-10am and 3-5pm. Clark has his 2-week check up on Friday and *gulp* is also getting circumcised. We will be sure to share his stats when the day comes.
I am adjusting well to life with the two. We have made a lot of sacrifices that allow me to stay at home for the time being. However, I am beginning to start the job search for something part-time starting in January. We are very lucky that Dale goes to work at 5 or 6 most days because that means we have all day together with both kiddos. The few hours that I have both boys without Dale are chaos but each day is getting better and better as I learn how to keep them both happy.....sometimes it means lollipops before dinner or 15 trips up and down the stairs to pop a pacifier in Clark's mouth. Whew. But before I know it, it is 8pm and both are asleep. More updates to come.
First, Kannon is walking!!! He still mostly crawls, but everyday he takes brave steps that are getting longer and longer. Today, he walked almost 15 feet before he decided to give up and crawl. Here is a video of him in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkiZBP_0JwI
(Please excuse the sideways video and those adorable baby cheeks!)
Kannon is turning one next week and not a day goes by that I dont think about this momentuous occasion. Kannon can drink out of his own cup. He can open bottles, especially my Gatorade bottles that I thought were foolproof. He speaks nonsense all the time. Mostly bababa's, dada's, and mama's but they are slurred together in long sentences that we are still translating.
Our little boy who used to eat everything seems to finally be developing his own tastes. Whatever he doesn't like goes to Emma (the dog). These days, it has been tomatoes, carrots, and turkey. He still loves his blueberries and while they are messy they certainly keep his diaper habits regular!
Kannon finally understands 'no' and he pouts his lips out when he say it...but he does stop whatever it was that deserved the 'no'. He is one rolly-polly kid and spends a lot of time rolling around on the floor from the dog bed to the couch. No one knows why. He has transitioned fully to whole milk and the cup. He is becoming a toddler! What a big boy!!!!
Did I mention he also became a big brother?????
Which brings me to Clark who is growing bigger by the day. His umbillical cord fell off at 8 days....Kannon held onto his for 2 weeks! Clark got his first bath. He was hesitant at first but finally warmed up to the notion when we started rubbing his feet. Here is a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xi3fXeCrkk
Clark is still eating like a champ. He nurses during the day every 2 hours but sleeps in 4-5 hour stretches at night which is heavenly! Kannon and Clark have very similar schedules already. They both pass out hard around 8pm and wake up for good at 8am. Clark obviously still spends most of his day sleeping, but he is most alert between 8-10am and 3-5pm. Clark has his 2-week check up on Friday and *gulp* is also getting circumcised. We will be sure to share his stats when the day comes.
I am adjusting well to life with the two. We have made a lot of sacrifices that allow me to stay at home for the time being. However, I am beginning to start the job search for something part-time starting in January. We are very lucky that Dale goes to work at 5 or 6 most days because that means we have all day together with both kiddos. The few hours that I have both boys without Dale are chaos but each day is getting better and better as I learn how to keep them both happy.....sometimes it means lollipops before dinner or 15 trips up and down the stairs to pop a pacifier in Clark's mouth. Whew. But before I know it, it is 8pm and both are asleep. More updates to come.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
mama confesses:: breaking the rules
my kitchen helpers :)
Kannon is my baby. My first. I cry thinking about how quickly he is growing up. I am overjoyed at the little man he has become. And I laugh when I look at Clark realizing how much parenting style has changed. I am no supermom but I try. My kids are happy, healthy, and sleeping soundly, as to how they got there.....whew. After Dale goes to work and I am on my own, it is chaos.
I am breaking all the rules.
Kannon sometimes get dessert before dinner.
I leave the house without hats and blankets.
We co-sleep--with Clark in between us (something I was too afraid to even try with Kannon!)
We have long overdue diaper changes. It is hard to keep track when there are two kids in diapers!
I gave Kannon my undivided attention for 11 months. Now I find myself having to leave both kids unsettled, crying, at one point or another, because I am trying to juggle Kannon's bedtime routine and nursing Clark at the same time.
We refused to give Kannon pacifiers but Clark is addicted to the pacifier--something that we have given him from day one because we were busy dealing with a Kannon-tantrum.
Baby Einstein has become my best friend. I swore I would never let Kannon watch t.v. and now I find myself plopping the kid in front of the t.v. so I can nurse Clark and keep Kannon occupied.
When Kannon was born I stayed indoors until he was 2 weeks old. I was afraid of germs, people, the cold, etc. Now, Clark has been all over creation. He toured a college campus, enjoyed a fancy restaurant, visited the park, the gym, and even a consignment store. He is only 10-days old! Whew!
I used to be an over-attentive mother, answering every little cry and whimper in an instant. Now I put a pillow over my head when I hear not one but two little cries alerting me to the morning hour.
My house used to be clean. Everything in its place. Dishes, laundry, and food all prepared. Lately, those things have gone wayside...much like my shower, my breakfast, and even my hairbrush.
We may be breaking the rules. Our parenting styles have definitely changed. We have learned how to merge our desires and dreams with practicality. Yes, I should change that diaper....but who is judging?
photo therapy:: two years
October 18th marked our 2-year wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that just 2 years ago we were jumping on a ferry with a dress purchased on Craigslist, a few friends, and an internet ordained official to get married.
Its even harder to believe that in 2 years we have moved from Montana, Idaho, and back to Seattle. We got a dog. We have created 2 beautiful children. And we continue to fall more and more in love with each other.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
mommy moments:: two
Awhile back I complained about the second child syndrome that had been troubling me. It seemed that we were all so busy preoccupied with Kannon, life, and other business that we forgot about the second bean in my belly. While Clark may have gotten slightly ignored while in the womb, he is certainly not ignored now. Rather, he has become another star in our lives, always bringing a calming air to our insanity.
We are in love.
With Kannon in the care of grandma I spent the week hibernating with my new love. Already, I have taken note to how different Kannon and Clark are. Kannon is exuberant, silly, and independent. From the very beginning Kannon made it clear that he needs his own space. While Kannon slept the first few weeks away, Clark spends hours awake each day, staring at world, alert and calm. But really there is no comparison, each child is so different from the other and I love getting to know both of them.
It has been a challenge learning how to balance the two. Grandma went home yesterday and for the first time I had to tackle getting two kids in and out of the car, fed, bathed, and to bed. I found myself on the freeway with two kids crying in the back seat singing as loudly as could, if not to calm them, to calm me! My life has begun to look a little crazy!
While it may be crazy I am in love. Second time parenting is so beautiful. It is full of snuggles, cuddles, and kisses without those first time parenting fears that you are doing something wrong. We are enjoying every moment, knowing how quick it all goes by.
My quiet time with Kannon is all the more precious now. He is walking more and more, learning how to use puzzles, and push and pull toys. He is turning one in 11 days and growing up way too fast.
Even Clark is growing too fast!
And 8pm could not come soon enough each day, when Kannon and Clark are both asleep, and I can finally focus on me before I crash into a dreamy abyss.
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