while the waffle maker works it's magic . . .

This is my "waiting on the waffle maker" post.  

I could be loading the dishwasher while I wait for that "beep" and the green light but instead I am holding a baby girl and writing a blogpost.  

My mom put together this collage of Cora.  I love her expressions.

I have seen so many beautiful big yellow butterflies lately.  One just landed on my pink cosmos flower outside my window.  

We went to Chick-fil-a last night.  Hooray for summer reading program coupons for free kids' meals and coupons for free nuggets from a baseball game.  We were hilarious parents trying to sneak eating an ice dream while David played in the play area!  We thought we were busted when he came out at one point but he didn't even notice!

BEEP!!!

I'm back.

Ate waffles with my boy, baked up the rest of the waffles to be frozen for future mornings - still have the waffle maker clean-up ahead of me - ugg - anyone have any great tips for this?

Got Cora down for a nap, got that dishwasher loaded and it is merrily humming along, got the sticky blueberry cleaned off of David (although there are parts of him that are presently stained blue!) and started the Wee Sing Train video for him at his request.

Whew!  Do mornings feel hectic for you even when you "have nothing to do"?  In this season mornings are feeling very hectic.  

I have started setting my alarm for eight hours after I go to bed (even though I have to get up for a middle of the night feeding) to try to get showered and dressed before the kids are up but that is only sometimes working.  Last night it was my fault for not making myself go to bed early enough.

Well, I should get started on the to do list for the day . . . 

there is that waffle maker to clean

laundry

I want to take pictures of the nursery to post

got some new books from the library and a reading break could be really nice and relaxing

need to clean out the car to get it detailed soon

etc., etc.  

oh and I think I'm making this for dinner tonight so I should prep that

How is your day going?

What are you having for dinner tonight?

Any tips you have for making mornings smooth?

Waffle maker cleaning tips?

Okay!  Have a GREAT one!

Kelly

Cora - three months

Happy Three Months Baby Girl!

Time is flying and you are getting so big!!

While our friend from Missouri was here this month we went on a picnic and you got to be down in the grass for the first time.  You didn't seem to mind it.  

{David's first time in the grass}

You went to your first VBS at church this week.  You usually made it through the worship time but when the speaker started each night you were ready for a diaper change and to go eat.  

Mrs. Bonnie and Mr. Lance sent you these cutie, cute cute flip flops!

and this little outfit!

You wore it to Freddy's for Daddy's birthday dinner.  

You are still sleeping well.  Sometimes you go all night, sometimes you don't . . . 

You put yourself to sleep fairly well.  Sometimes for naps in the bouncer or swing (or even once on your activity gym mat) and often at night now.  We change your diaper, put on jammies (or often just a onesie with as warm as it's been) and tuck you into your swaddle.  You like to have your paci and you will be laid down and drift off to sleep.  

One day I came in during your nap to check on you and you had your feet propped up on the crib side. So cute! 

We had a good time going to Bluegrass and BBQ (which your brother called Bluegrass and Barbecue Sauce!)

I'm still having fun with your clothes.  People have been so generous to us and have blessed us with many, many gifts and hand me downs.  In fact your closet is FULL.  You are starting to outgrow things and I am happy to be able to pass them along to the pregnancy center to give to new moms and we will also be sending some of your things to Zambia through our church to bless tiny babies there.  

Your brother continues to adore you and let you know so oh so enthusiastically.  

We had a couple of playdates this month and you always do great!

Happy girl in your cute little summer sunsuit from Mrs. Leita Rue!

You have started sitting in your bumbo chair some and you really, really seem to enjoy it!  You smile a lot when you're sitting in it.  

Your brother had to check it out too.  

and fill it with toys . . . 

You are such a sweet, peaceful sleeper.

You are just barely starting to hold toys but you love to move all around and have turned over from your front to your back a couple of times.  

Pretty girl!

You had your first "girls' night" this month with Mama and Nana, we went to eat dinner at Whole Foods and then shopped some.  You were good at hanging out in the dressing room with Nana while Mama tried on clothes. 

i love the way your hair is starting to stick up in a little curl on the crown of your head!

You smile and grin at us A LOT and talk to us now and then.  It is so, so much fun!  We are having such a good time with you! 

Reading together

At the end of June we went on a Sunday evening family picnic to the park and had to bundle up it was so chilly!  You continue to enjoy being outside.  

You continue to really enjoy being on your changing table and that is where you will talk the most usually.  You have begun doing a little "dance" where you wriggle your whole body around.  It is really cute.  I think you'd like to roll over from your back to your tummy as well but you're still working on that.  

When we come in to get you up in the morning you reward us with a huge grin!  You're very social and like to be in on the action and hanging out with us.  

You started chewing on our fingers and drooling big time this month.

You really enjoy sitting up (supported) and facing out.  The other day you were trying to raise your head up in your carrier.  

You weigh just over 13 lbs.  

Unfortunately we finished off the month with a trip to the ER.  

You were running a fever of 102-103 and the pediatrician's office told us to take you in.  You were still smiling in the waiting room so we were thankful that you didn't seem too, too sick.  

You gave Daddy's camera this face too though and I think you were beginning to get skeptical of this place and the rest of the evening I will admit was NOT fun as they poked and prodded you.  It looks like it was just a virus and you are back to being your normal self.  We are so thankful!  

We love you baby girl!  

You are a special, special gift!  

photos by Mama and Daddy

just for fun, David's three month blogpost

seven minute post

This is a new development in our lives.  David LOVES digging outside!  It has provided hours upon hours of entertainment and I love that for him.  These pictures were taken in early May.  He is digging in the raised garden bed here but NOW are garden beds are full of plants!  Don't worry though, Daddy made a new digging spot for him.

Yesterday we enjoyed a salad with our own Bibb lettuce, arugula and Italian parsley for lunch (as well as some green onion not from our garden and some campari tomatoes from Costco) . . . BUT it won't be too long until we have tomatoes of our own!!  There are at least 11 on the bushes right now, small and green but they are growing!

AND . . . we are getting rain!!  God is so good!

It has been incredible to get four straight days so far of some good rain showers with no hail to pummel a garden or rose bushes.  I have been enjoying cutting roses and bringing them in to grace table tops and counters.  

Our weekend was good.  It seemed to go by FAST, especially Saturday!  One fun thing that happened on Saturday is that I had my first snow cone in Colorado Springs!!  You may recall my love of snow cones and the fact that they apparently didn't exist in Colorado Springs the first two summers we lived here.  

I got peach and egg custard.  It was yummy!  The ice wasn't quite as amazing as it could have been (being a snow cone connoisseur and all) but it was WAY better than the basically just crushed ice kind of snow cone you find at school carnivals and such.

If you're local, the snow cone stand is set up on Academy close to the Dublin intersection by the Spa and Oak place.  You know what I'm talking about?  He said he would be there through the end of September.  I don't know the hours or if he's open 7 days a week or not.  Let me know if you go and what kind you get.  :) 

Okay, I'm off to work on my to do list including trying to figure out preschool for David for next year while Cora is napping in the swing and David is sitting in here with me reading books.  

What's on your to do list right now and what are you up to today?  

Kelly

three minute post

Three minutes today . . .

This is a picture of the amazing meal that Adrian made for my birthday last night.  

It was SO yummy!

Today I am starting a dairy free diet to see if it makes any difference in Cora's eczema.  Since David has a dairy allergy it is pretty likely that she will too.  :(  boo . . . 

Do your kids LOVE watching videos?  Right now David is begging me to let him watch a video.

This morning we headed out the door early to hit up a garage sale by 8 a.m. that had vintage fisher price little people listed in their craigslist ad.  They weren't horribly priced but they weren't in great shape/great prices either.  

I am hoping to go to an estate sale this afternoon but these things are much more daunting with two kiddos.

Three minutes are up.

Thanks again for all the birthday wishes and also for the comments letting me know you're still reading.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend!  

What weekend plans do you have?

Kelly

birthday happiness

This baby girl slept eight hours last night and I got to sleep 7 glorious uninterrupted hours of that!

We had a mops playdate in the park and I received fun cards, e-mails, texts and phone calls.

Adrian is making my requested birthday dinner of homemade pizza and cantaloupe and prosciutto and a yummy blue cheese and candied pecan salad!  

Yea!

We're going to meet up with my family for ice cream later.

Thank you to all of you who commented on the last post and let me know you're still around!  Great feedback.

Hope you are having a happy day today.

Kelly

seven minute post

I'm attempting a seven minute post with a sweet girlie sitting in my lap.  She is all about sitting up these days (not on her own yet of course) and last night she was SO close to rolling over on her own!  It seems like this growing up stuff is all going so fast!

Sorry to not have updated about the wildfires.  It was a tough time for our community but thankfully the fire is now under control.  People, including the family from our church who lost their home are beginning to pick up the pieces and figure out where/how to go on from here.  They could still use your prayers.

Unfortunately there are still several wildfires burning in Colorado right now and the smoke does affect us some. The man who shared thoughts around communion during church yesterday shared something extremely interesting.  

I knew that huge planes are used to drop fire retardent on the fires but what I didn't know is that the tiny 10th of an inch (I believe) of rain that God sent down on Friday of the week the fire broke out equalled many, many, many (I think maybe thousands) of drops by that airplane.  Amazing!  God is SO much bigger than us!

Let's see what else is going on . . . 

well, Google Reader is going away and I think many of you used it to read my blog.  I'm actually not really sure how many of you are still reading.  

Throw out a comment if you don't mind just to say you're still around. 

In other news,

this is my birthday week!  I love birthdays!

Oh, seven minutes are up and my arm is covered in drool . . . 

last tidbits . . . 

David is trying to fit into the bumbo seat.  

Adrian has been putting a new roof on our house and he is almost done!!!  So excited!!

I think Cora's ready for a diaper change . . .

exciting times

let me know if you're still around

Have a great day and a great week!  

Kelly

Colorado Springs wildfires - please pray

Thank you so much to those of you who have heard about the current wildfire in Colorado Springs and have checked in on us to see if we're okay.  We are quite far from where the fire is but my extended family here in town is either in the voluntary evacuation zone or close to it.  

We have one family from our church family who has lost their home in the fire already.

It is crazy how these wildfires just spring up and suddenly you're monitoring air quality conditions, changing plans, trying to help those effected, etc.

Please pray for our city as stress levels are very high.  Please pray for the firefighters and all of the first responders who are working round the clock to save everything they can.  Please pray for rain and most of all that the love of God will be shown to people all throughout this hard, hard time.  

Thank you so much!  

Kelly

photo taken in North Colorado Springs somewhat near where the present fire is on my birthday 2009

ten on ten - June 2013

After a few months I did ten on ten again for real and used my big camera and everything!

We've enjoyed a really low key day at home.

This is pretty much my favorite way to spend a day lately.  

Cora gets her naps, David plays creatively and I get to hang out with them, rock Cora for her naps and get a few things done.

my little "fireman" watching Letter Factory

bathrooms need cleaning - getting ready for company this week

sweet baby girl napping in her carrier all snuggly 

getting ready for Father's Day

I can get dressed by myself (even if I do often put my clothes on backwards and my shoes on the wrong feet)

first day to "play" with Sophie, actually Big Brother did a really great job entertaining her for a while with the giraffe (it's his favorite animal)

Mama has some homemade pizza from the freezer for lunch

back to that bathroom cleaning business

hanging out, kind of at loose ends after lots of play, maybe ready for a nap?  (and yep that shirt's on backwards and no the mirror has not been cleaned)

This one's ready for a nap!  

just hanging out with Mama, tummy full of milk

menu planning 

first ride in the trailer!!

frantically trying to finish photo books before my living social deal expires!

What did you do today? 

Kelly

p.s. linking up here

one minute post :)

So, before having two kiddos, I would do seven minute posts.  :)  Today I'm making time for a ONE minute post.

Hey, whatever works, right?

So a couple Fridays ago my mom and I hit up a couple garage sales together.  I spotted this yellow tennis ball holder and thought I'd turn it into a table.  I'm really liking it.

Sweet baby girl has been sleeping through the night several nights lately!  What a joy!

David is full of fun and imagination.  He could play with cars and trucks and dig in dirt all day I think.

Okay, well I went a little over a minute . . .

I hope you're having a good day!

Kelly

happy two months, Cora!

Happy Two Months Old to you, Cora Girl! 

You are such an easy and lovable baby.  

I am enjoying being your Mama so much.  

Cousin Caleb loves to hold you!

We went to Nana's this day to drop Big Brother off to play with the cousins and you and I went to some garage sales and ran some errands.  It was your first day to wear an "outfit" and we coordinated with our grey and yellow.  That was a fun "mother/daughter" thing to do.  

I really enjoy wrapping you up snugly in a nice soft blanket and rocking you to sleep for your naps.  

It is a joy that I am indulging myself in especially since "they" say it is impossible to spoil a baby this early.  :)  

Our friend, Mrs. Rena, from our church in Dallas made this blanket for you.  Your brother calls it your "colorful blanket" and he has a colorful blanket that Mrs. Rena made too.  They are so soft and really special to me.  

On this night we were wishing we had some Bluebell Ice Cream after dinner and we knew Nana and Ducca had a freezer full of about four different kinds from a gathering the night before so we just spontaneously called to see if we could come over for ice cream.  We had a good time and you and Daddy took a little snooze together while we were there.  

You really like to nap with Daddy and I think he likes it too.

You've had a lot of baby acne this month but thankfully you're outgrowing it now!  Hooray!

When you can't sleep with Daddy, you tend to take some good naps in the swing or the bouncy chair but you're also starting to nap well in your crib!  Good girl!!

I waited a little too late to put you back in this outfit as you had pretty much outgrown it by this point but I wanted to put it back on you since this is the outfit you came home from the hospital in and I didn't have a really good picture of it.  It is the same outfit that I came home from the hospital in nearly 37 years ago.  It is special to me that Nana kept it and I got to use it.

Grandma taught us to hold you like this and you really seem to like it especially in the evenings. 

At the beginning of the month it was really hard to get you down for the night although you were already starting to sleep some 5-7 hour stretches.  Now you go down a bit easier but how long you sleep at any given stretch is still unpredictable.  

We had another playdate with your sweet little friend this month and you guys were holding hands and sharing sweet smiles.  She also let us play dress up at her house and borrow an outfit for our church's baby blessing.  

You also went to your first estate sale with Mama and David this month.  You rode around in the Ergo carrier.

The Saturday of Mother's Day weekend our church hosted a Mother/Daughter Tea and we had a good time going and sitting at Nana's table.  You wore a beautiful light pink dress and the pearls that Nana gave you.  

Your Nana is very proud of you and enjoys holding you any chance she gets.  

A picture of all of us in our pearls

You and I came home and crashed after this while the boys were out.  A tea party can wear girls out!  

The next day was Mother's Day and Baby Dedication day at church.  There were twelve babies dedicated that day and it is wonderful knowing you are going to have some sweet friends to grow up with.

Your brother loves you so, so very much and likes to touch you and kiss you and hold you all the time. He says hi to you and calls you cute girl and all sorts of sweet endearments.  He sings Jesus Loves Me to you in the car when you're sad. 

We went to dinner at Ms. Donna's house and you got to meet all our fun neighbor friends.  They love you already.

Your brother likes to hold you every chance he gets.  

Daddy does too.  :) 

I love this little dress that is a hand me down from Dallas friends.  You've already outgrown it though along with all of your other newborn sized clothes! 

We celebrated Mother's Day at Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Mandy's house and Annma got to hold you.

Then you got to go to Secret Sisters with Nana and I.  It was a garden party theme and you wore your flower dress.  

That week Nana and Ducca's house was being painted so Nana came over and spent three days with us  holding you and reading to you and David (Big Brother picked out this book, Are You My Mother? as the book he thought you'd like to read) and helping us with things around the house.  Mama was very thankful!  

You look really pretty in purple!  

You are starting to enjoy your baths a lot!  

We have a little family tradition of going to a plant sale each year and this year was your first time to go with us!  You loved being outside and were so content!

We took a family date in the middle of the afternoon to Hacienda Colorado and the weather was beautiful so we got to sit out on the patio.  You were as content as could be in your carrier.  I think you enjoy being outside just like your brother did at your age.  

Last week we did a really big thing.  You took your first trip!  Daddy had to be away for a conference so you and David and Nana and I flew to Houston so all of our family there could meet you!

Your first airplane ride!

Giving Nana smiles on the plane

You traveled like a pro.  You were easy as pie.

Everybody enjoyed holding you and you barely got put down the whole time we were there.  

Sharing smiles with Sweetie

You also made out like a bandit in the clothes department.  People like to buy little gir clothes.  :)  Such nice gifts!

On Friday morning several of our friends came over to meet you!  Mrs. Barbie used to hold me when I was a little girl your size. 

"hmmm . . . I think I like my Sweetie"

I know she likes you!

Sweetie rocked you and rocked you and sang to you while we were there.

These pictures are special for a couple of reasons.  The outfit you are wearing is one that I wanted to buy when I was expecting your brother.  We didn't know if he was a boy or a girl until he was born so I didn't buy it.  After he was born I still liked it so much that I thought about buying it to save in case I had a little girl one day but I talked myself out of it since I wouldn't know what size was right.  

One of our friends at church gave me a bag of hand me downs before you were born and this outfit was in the bag, new with tags (it hadn't been the right size at the right season for their little girl). God takes care of us and shows His love in big and small ways!

The quilt you are lying on is very, very special because it is made from your Poppy's shirts.  I wish you would have gotten to meet him but who knows maybe he held you first in Heaven.

Mama loves you sweet daughter!

I like to dress you in some of the dresses that Nana saved from when I was a little girl.  This one I also used to dress my dolls in when I was bigger.  

The blanket you are lying on is a beautiful handmade gift from another one of our wonderful friends from our church in Dallas, Mrs. Carol.  It truly touches our hearts that people continue to love us from afar.  

All wrapped up and ready for another nap

Your first shoes and a hand me down from our friend Ruby!

And finally we did a little photo shoot with you and your brother the other day.  Such fun!

I love the two of you so very much and am happy to be your Mama!