Bittersweet Moments

Yesterday was such a bittersweet day. I put away all of Ari's newborn diapers thinking that will probably be the last time they are ever used by us. While the thought of not changing diapers and washing them sounds great since I have done it for 3 and a half years it was sad. It was sad in that he has already gotten so big and also that he just might be the last. I don't know what the future holds but I do hope God gives us the chance for one more baby just not so soon as Ari.

Speaking of little Ari. Well he keeps me on my toes. He likes to be upright all the time and poor little guy screams a lot during the day. I know it is the time when they start colick but I am losing my mind at times. Thank goodness for an ergo and ring sling because we go from slowly drifting into dreamland......................

to screaming his head off.................

then if I am lucky I can get him to take a pacifier and it depends on the day as to which one he will take.....................

He finally gets all his gas out and goes to sleep.

Look at those CHEEKS! My kids have the best chubby cheeks!

We will get past it though. His brother and sister adore him and really would love for him to be able to play with them.

They try everyday. He is loved.

Lilliana has turned into a little mom since Ari has arrived. She brought me my ring sling and a baby yesterday. She wanted it on just like me.

Eli did not want to be left out. Since I only had one I had to rig up another sling but he didn't care. To him he was just like Mom and Lilliana. They have become big helpers and like to help me any way they can and mimic me. It is really cute although at times very time consuming as they make things take longer.

Yesterday we came home from the bank and saw this little guy.

The kids thought it was really neat. After some googling it was deteremined it was a dagger moth. The caterpiller is much more spectacular than the moth.

Then I took photos of the mushrooms.

The first photo is from Wed when I first discovered them. The second one is from yesterday. Unfortunately some punk kid walked in our yard and knocked this particular mushroom over.

The top picture is from Wed. The middle picture from Thurs. and the last picture from Friday or today.

Unfortunately the punk kids walked in our yard again after taking this and knocked that one over too! So annoying. Anthony caught them this time and followed them and told them to be respectful.

Yesterday when I was out the neighbor lady came to take pictures. She was so amazed with them. We had people stop last year and take pictures too.

Yesterday Eli's head compared to the first one that was knocked over. Don't mind the marker on his arm. All I am going to say is he is THREE!

All of them yesterday before they were ruined.

Top view of one today.........................

Hopefully they are left alone now.

I have a busy weekend ahead with a newborn session tomorrow morning and Eli's pictures tomorrow evening. It feels so good to be behind the camera again and editing! I am feeling good about it.

Happy Weekend!

Play

Finally we are getting into a good routine. Eli is being great and taking the kids out by myself does not seem daunting at all. We made a grocery trip yesterday in an hour and 15 minutes. That may seem like a lot but I have a 20 minute drive there and back so for leaving and getting home in that time that is pretty good. Eli was great and helped so much while we were out. They ran out of bubble bath, so for their reward they got bubbles. I even jumped on the band wagon and got the colored tablets for the water. Who wouldn't want to take a red bath?!? Ok, really I wouldn't but they loved it!

Today as I was folding and doing laundry early in the morning with a fussy baby on top of the dryer I had the bright idea for another outing.

He is getting so chunky. He also getting to the stage I called the "old man look" or "creepy clown." Eli went through this. Their faces are so round and their heads are getting big and so their hair is spread thin like a bald old man and then he has the baby acne still going on. It makes for an interesting combination. I think I have said this before but when Eli went through this I could hardly look at him and call him cute. I should never admit it but it was true. Ari is getting to that stage but I still adore him. He is good company for chores as long as he is not screaming.

Back to my outing idea....... I knew I needed diaper soap and to exchange a diaper. So it was off to the diaper store. I also remembered that there was Play right next to the diaper store. It is really cool eco friendly play area you pay to use and the kids have a blast. I honestly had never been into the actual play area as I had not had a chance to really take the kids yet. After talking to Eli about it we all got ready and away we went. The kids were great.

When we first walked in there were so many kids and chaos. They kids looked a little nervous. Finally they found an area they wanted to play in. Eli chose something familar I think for comfort. When we left he was playing blocks and that was where he went first.

After a few minutes of adjusting and checking everything out he was off to play with everything else.

Ari hung out in the ring sling with me. He slept, pooped, and cried. Such a surprise. He was the talk of all the other mom's though. That and how I was nuts for bringing all three out by myself etc. We were an oddity apparantly. I was told I had my hands full at least 4 times. Yep I do but its wonderful!

They really were great and didn't even throw a fit for when we came home. It is getting easier.

I also had a nice surprise as I came home and looked in the front yard..............................

Our mushrooms are back again this year. I didn't think it would happen as it has been such a dry year. It is also hard to believe around this time a year ago I was talking about them. Time has flown by. I am sure I will be watching their progress everyday.

Milestones and Adventures

I woke up this morning thoroughly tired!! It was just one of those days! Some mornings I make coffee and some I don't it just depends on how awake or not I am. This morning was a I NEED COFFEE morning!! I also remembered when I was at the grocery store on Sunday I had just ground some fresh stuff so I was very excited about that. I have not been buying it since  it is nearly $9.00 a lb up almost two dollars! I got it on sale though so I bought some. Needless to say the smell and taste was amazing! It was well worth the wait of not having it for a while and resorting to can coffee. My friend Jennifer made me the cup several years ago at a pottery place. It still is my favorite cup and if it ever breaks I will be soo upset. It says, "Somethings are just better Rich Men, Chocolate, and Coffee...."

Eli got to go to Aunt Toni's today which normally does not happen as she works on Tuesdays. From what I hear he had a blast and got to play with a new little boy. We sure missed him today to the point I put off my walk and run until this evening so he could go with us. I am glad he got to go though. It is good for him and I love that Anthony's family loves him so much. I also love that he is sooo good so they are willing to take him whenever.

That meant Lilliana and I had time to play and we took a nap together. She loves sleeping in the crook of my arm. I got up before she did so she continued to sleep. It did not look that comfy but this child amazes me as she will sleep anywhere!

I have been talking about doing this for a week now. I have a mental list of milestones I want to capture of Lilliana. Well she has been doing awesome baby push-ups for a bit now and I wanted to capture it before she stops. I wish I had been better about things like this with Eli. Then again I did not have nearly as nice of camera so having a new camera helps so I can capture her fast movements. Oh well. I remembered certain things I have forgotten with her. Everyone can't be the same. All that to say I did get some cute ones. They may not have been  what I originally pictured but they did come out pretty cute
Of course by the end she was trying to wrap herself in her blanket and chew on it. I had to stop as we were taking these on top of the kitchen table and I did not want her rolling off. I think I need an assistant sometimes!!:) I also would like to point out how much I just love her little fat rolls on her arms. Four perfect little rolls and creases!! How could you not love a chubby baby like her?!?


When Eli came home we at and went for a run/walk and then visited the park for about 30 minutes. Eli had a blast. Although he was getting frustrated with another little girl who was  very well Ill just say it annoying and had no manners and was being a bully. I had to get after her a few times but Eli held his ground for which I was happy.

Finally he is tall enough to walk across these bars. He has tried last summer and the beginning of spring and finally he has started doing it. He is getting to be sooo big!


The other day I spotted this in our front yard when I was leaving to go to town.....




Today I took pictures of this great mushroom. Eli was beside himself in the stroller strapped in as I made him sit there so I could get a picture before I let him pick it. Finally I let him out and let him pick it! What do you know that kid thought it was a sucker and took a big old lick!!! I had to stop him so he did not get sick! Silly kid. I wish I had gotten a picture of that. It was too dangerous to try to recreate so we settled for some other ones.



After all that fun we came in and Eli got to play before bath and bed. He asked for my headband and this is what he did with it. He also wanted his camera to take a picture of it!! This kids catches on real quick! His camera was full from him just holding down the shutter button so after he went to bed I took this! This kid has such an imagination and is just too smart. Everyday he amazes me!



I love my kids! They really make days so fun and worth it. In the past I have been overwhelmed but I am getting into the groove of things and Eli is getting so big and learning so much I am loving every minute of it. I would not change my life or job for a single thing! I AM BLESSED!