Picture and cuteness overload

Here's a few pictures from the last 3 weeks.

Kisses for sissy.

Showing Maemae how to use this toy.

Fixing Mom's dishwasher with his assistant, Uggie the dog.

April 1st and Mom and Dad still had snow around their house.

Pretty girl's big smile while clutching her blankie.

Peanut's gigantic egg after hitting the side of my dresser while reaching for something. The open wound part is from his skin splitting about 30 seconds after the sickening dull thud I heard. I was imaging the stitches scar across the forehead but thankfully that was not the case.

Side view of that bad boy.

Future ball player.

Movie snack. We love us some kettle corn.

Maemae looking oh so adorable in her Easter outfit a month after Easter.

Enjoying playing outside while Mom and I work in our new garden. One the 1 day that has been 80 degrees. I think it rained the next day and has been raining every day since.

Quad time with Papa. And before I'm yelled at for no helmet, nothing cracks this head. See above pictures for proof.

Bath time fun from tonight. Before Mom washes his hair.

After hair washing.

The end. (Sorry Mom if you can't load all these. Guess you'll need to come in and use our lightening fast internet cable. Hahah.)
~Crys

Quilt show

Maemae and I met Mom and Sonya at the Clark County Quilt show a couple weeks ago and perused the quilts hanging up with awe while wondering where the women (and a few men) find the time to make such creations. Maemae slept through the show after eating and managing to stay awake for about 10 minutes. But I enjoyed the time being toddler free and able to take my time and not have to rush like the last quilt show we went to with Peanut before Maemae was here.

I took a few pictures of my favorites. None of these are my creations, but they do give me tons of inspirations. And I get hope from them that once my kiddos are in school (if we're not homeschooling) I'll have some time to expand my quilting comfort zone and become more detailed in my quilting.

My favorite and just my style. I did take a close up of the quilter's information that had the pattern's name in it for one of my next purchases.

Simple-ish and very springtime-y.

I stared and stared at this one and could not make my eyes see that it is only 2 dimensions. We were given white gloves when we entered so we could touch and we did....a lot.

I really like this design and have seen many variations, but really don't have a burning desire to make my own. It kind makes my head hurt after a while because I try to figure out where each block is and it's not a block pattern. From what I understand, how it's sewn and cut is where the design comes from. Pretty but not my thing I guess.

Can't wait until another quilt show is in my area to go get inspiration from. They certainly do give me a boost to get working at my machine again.

TTFN ~ C

Another in the same day!

Yes, I know, I am amazing. Another post when it's been 40 minutes since my last. Photobucket is being very quick so I uploaded some more pictures to share and brag about.

Quick panel quilt for Jonah's 4th birthday.

Peanut's apron that I sneak onto him when we're baking.

Purse/bag I sewed last month but am not sure if I like the style of it enough to use it. I love the fabric and have enough to make another style that I know I'll use.

Lounging in Peanut's bed after Peanut's naptime.

Pretty pretty girl.

Maemae 3 months old.

Peanut at 3 months. Wow, Maemae is much more cushion-y than Peanut ever was.

That's all for now and probably the next week or so. :c) ~C

Quick catch-up

Whew, I haven't posted in a while. Life has been quickly going by and I find myself tied to my cranky baby at the end of the day waiting for her to fall asleep so I can follow. Just last night, Maemae fell asleep right after Peanut (and stayed asleep!) and I was able to clean up a little and play with my sewing stuff. I have gotten a few things off my ever growing to-do list in the past week. A quick panel quilt for my almost nephew Jonah's birthday, a start on a mystery quilt, a small quilt quilted and bound for Peanut that I started at the September retreat, and tonight blackout vampire shades whipped up in the last hour for our bedroom. Hopefully they do the job and Mike can get some better quality sleep.

As usual, I think of several things to blog about throughout the day and then forget most of them once I have a few minutes to actually blog. It's been a trying week for me and the kiddos. Mostly due to having a cold again, Maemae has a small snotty nose, and Peanut is working on 2 year molars. The second one finally cut through a few nights ago, but they are huge so take him many days to get all the way up and out of his gums. So we're all sleeping crappily and it makes for a pretty bitchy, exhausted Mama who doesn't have any patience and a Peanut who watches 2 or 3 movies a day so we can rest.

Peanut is very active, always wanting to play and seldom sitting quietly so I can build up my energy. I've heard this is the beginning of the terrible twos, but my child is not terrible (so don't say that, it makes me snarly). He's a healthy, beautiful 2 year old who is exploring his world and has unlimited energy. He behaves (mostly) and listens well (again, mostly) and that's not terrible. It's terrific! I am reminded again and again to view the world through his eyes and to slow down and enjoy what God has given us. I no longer worry about what a mess my house is and how desperately it needs to be dusted and vacuumed. I think it's a good day when I get the laundry washed and dried. Folding that mountain of clean clothes is always last on my to-do list and usually it's pawed through until they are gone.

Peanut springs new words on us every day or so. Latest is doctor, airplane, donkey, and tonights was "now drink" at dinner. Just when I start to worry about his speech and start thinking about speech therapists, he whips out a few new words and makes us clap like maniacs while we try to entice him with praise and whooping it up to say it over and over. He then just looks at us, calmly drinking his sippy while thinking Mama and Daddy are crazy and if they weren't listening the first time, I'm not saying it again.

Maemae is growing perfectly and is getting more beautiful every day. She had her 4 month appointment today and it went very well. First thing her doctor said was that I have great breastmilk (Yes, I know, look how well Peanut did on it) because shes a whopping 13 lbs. 1 oz and 25 inches tall. Her 6 month one-piece outfits fit her with little room left over in the height so I think it's going to be tops and pants until it's warm and then dresses for her. I picked up a few patterns last week for adorable little girl spring and summer outfits that I can't wait to start sewing up for her. I'm so excited and can't wait to get a few done so I can play dress up.

Maemae has a very distinct belly laugh that is pretty easy to get out of her. She still gets the super surprised look on her face once she gets going and then she busts out with it again. And she's a rolly over girl. She can go from her back to her tummy and then kinda shuffles herself around in a circle so she can watch someone. Sometimes to amuse myself once Mike goes to work I move out of her vision just to watch her shuffle...at least until she cries in frustration and Mama has to swoop her up for snuggles.

That's about all. It's only 10pm and I'm going to sew for a little bit on another project then go to bed. Lately 4:30 - 6am has been party time at our house so it makes for a tired Mama. And tomorrow we're off to Sonic for dinner. Woo hoo! Strawberry lime-aid how I have missed you. Sonic is on our short list of what we miss about Arizona and there is 1 in Hillsboro. Mike timed a job out there around dinner time and the fam is going with him for a treat.

Here's a picture from last month of our precious kiddos. I have tons more pictures waiting to be uploaded to photobucket, but you'll have to make do with just one in this post.

TTFN ~Crys

Long time no blog!

I haven't sat down and done a blog entry since I started back to work at 911, and everyone else in the house is asleep...I should be too, but I tried one of those new Pepsi Maxx drinks today...you know, the "invigorating" soda. It's a "diet" soda, cause it has no sugar in it, but it does have a good amount of caffeine and some other stimulant, but the name escapes me right now. It escapes me, or my head is spinning so fast I just can slow it down long enough to read it off the old hard drive.

Anyway. Today I had a repair job down in Bend, Oregon
View Larger Map. I've never been there (that I could remember) and Crystal had never been there, so, last night we went out to Crystals Mom and Dad's and asked if they would mind keeping Elliot over night so we could get up at 5 am and drive down to Bend. Being the awesome people that they are, they agreed. After getting an "ok" nights sleep (I woke up at 1:30 am with my left arm pinned under my body and alseep...not just numb, but totally dead, after 30 minutes of the "needles" poking me while my arm came alive again, I was back to sleep) we got up at 5 am, showered, feed Clella, got her loaded in the truck and were on the road. 4 hours later, we arrived in Bend. What a long drive. We went down thru the Santiam pass on the way down, and came back up and over Mt. Hood after seeing how clear the roads were. I got my repairs done and was out of the shippers house by 1. While I was working, Crystal and Clella went off and checked out a local quilt shop in town and looked around. After they came back to pick me up, Crystal said "go this way, we are going to lunch". Being the best wife ever, she managed to find a restaurant that has long ago gone out of business here in the Portland area that we both loved....Skippers! We sat down with childhood giddiness on our faces and hunger in our bellies, and were not disappointed. DELICIOUS!!!! They have the best clam chowder ever! We talked to the manager while we were there and got the low down on why they all closed up here. Turns out Greed made its way into one of the corporate leaders of the company and they embezled millions of dollars from the company, then left the country. Good times. The company has now been purchased by a man who used to work for the company many years ago and is slowly making a comeback. 29 stores are due to re-open this year alone, please let one of them be opened with in an hour of our house!!!! PLEASE!

So, after we ate, Clella ate one more time, got a dry diaper and we were off for home. 4 hours later, we pulled into the driveway, ran in the house, used the bathroom, switched Clella's car seat back into the mommy missle and were off to Crystals folks house to pick up Elliot.

It was a really great day, the weather was awesome, and I had the best time hanging out w/ Crystal and just talking. We both did alot of laughing, some of which we owe to the great Adam Carolla, his morning show is the best! "I once had some yeasty on the peckaroo" was used over and over thru the day, and applied to all situations. We had a great time. Clella was an absolute storm trooper in her chair, only fussed a few times and that was mostly cause she was hungry. We made 2 stops on the way home to feed and change her and otherwise she slept the whole time.

I can't thank Judy and Ernie enough, well, Judy anyway, Ernie got Elliot out of bed at 0545 then left for work. The time "alone" we had today was something we both needed to re-charge our batteries and have some us time. I miss that...sometimes I wish I'd had kept my "peckaroo" in my pants...but then I wouldnt have 2 of the best looking, acting and fun to be with kids. I gotta go try and sleep, I have the next 2 days off and plan on spending every second with the family!

Here is a couple pics snapped from the passenger side window thanks to Crystal and her speedy fingers. Taken at 60+ mph, so sorry if they are a bit blurry, but I think they turned out pretty good. As you might notice, none of the tree's have any tops to them. There was a good sized forest fire down there last year (we think it was last year anyway, not sure) that destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of trees and forest floor vegetation. Having the snow on the ground helped make what I'm sure is a bleak landscape look rather peaceful and pretty.

Happy St. Paddys Day

Just a quick update since I can't sleep despite Maemae being OUT for the last 3 hours. My days are filled with the kiddos but it seems like when I think back to what we've done, it's really a whole lotta nothing that looks like this.

We did go to the zoo last week. It was $2 Tuesday and so worth it, even through the little Peanut meltdown and the couple of showers that passed by. I plan on going back next month again, but with a little more planning and organization on my part. And we did go to mom and dads to see their new kitchen and help out a little bit. Other than that, we've been home hanging out, waiting for it to warm up a little outside so we can go the parks more often without getting wet butts from the slides.

Maemae and Peanut had doctor checkups today. Maemae is up to 11 1/2 pounds and is 22 inches tall and Peanut is 32 pounds and 37 inches tall. I can now take Peanut to the fabric store and use him for my yardage stick. Both kiddos are doing very well and the new doctor was so much better than the last vaccine pusher we visited. She didn't even try any scare tactics or spout off like she's a CDC vaccine brochure when I said we're declining most if not all vaccines. Just said that was fine as long as we'd discuss pros/cons (which we did) but I left feeling like we found someone who is accepting that the parent is making the best decision for their family.

On a sad note, today I had to dump all of my frozen breastmilk down the drain. I cried and still feel like crying a little more. Somehow it all went bad. Either the freezer door was left open long enough to let it partially thaw and then refreeze or the bags I used were bad. I tasted some from multiple days and it all was bad so I know it wasn't just a funky aftertaste from something I ate. So this explains why Maemae fought so hard when I tried to teach her to drink a bottle and why Peanut took a drink and threw his sippy on the floor while trying to wipe the taste off his tongue. If you've never breastfed, it's hard to understand, but that milk is precious. And I worked hard to get my stash in the freezer. I felt good opening the door knowing there's enough for 3 or 4 feedings if something happened and I couldn't nurse Maemae. Breastmilk is best and I had to dump my emergency stash down the drain. I feel slightly panicky when I remember I have nothing in the freezer for our pretty girl. I now have to decide if I want to add a pumping session into my day to build a small stash back up or to just have faith that nothing will happen that prevents me from being able to nurse her when she needs too. I'm leaning towards building up a small stash again and then having faith that it's not needed and can be given to Peanut when it gets close to the end of it's storage time in the freezer. For not breast feeding over the last 8 months, Peanut still loves his mama milk. Who knew that I'd turn out to be such a breastfeeding advocate but I am, and a huge one at that. I think every mom should do it for as long as their babe wants to and feel sad when not everyone can.

Happier news: Peanut had a vocabulary explosion over the past week and is using more and more of his new words. Of course, most of these new words are told to other people and then I get to hear about them but he did tell me "ball please" which is so sweet and heartmelting to hear. And he loves to bellow GO at me when I'm driving. Not sure if he means to actually tell me to get going and drive this missile to the next stop so I can get out of this dreaded carseat or to tell me he's excited to be going somewhere, but it's still pretty cute. And Papa is a favorite when we say we're going to my parents. Gramma is sometimes mentioned, but not nearly as many times as Papa (sorry Mom, but you already knew you were 2nd place to Dad and close to being replaced by DeeDee). He loves his Papa and looks past Mom when she comes over to see if Dad came to visit us with her.

A few new pictures from the last couple of weeks.

Mike and I washed our cars.....Peanut washed his monster truck.

Standing on a chair to help make cookies.

Taste testing to make sure the chocolate chips were worthy to be in our cookies.

Look good don't they?!

Enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Mild Mama heart attack to turn from putting the bowl in the sink to seeing this on our island. Yes, with another cookie in his hand.

Sweetpea looking uber cute like usual.

Cuteness with spit bubbles.

That's all for now. I'm finally sleeping so I can pass out next to our babe. Tomorrow is a date night for us. Going to the Cirque du Soleil Corteo show in Portland with our friends Steve and Ronda. Thank you guys again for the tickets. Maemae gets to go with us but Peanut gets a night with Gramma and Papa. (Mom you remembered that right?)

TTFN ~ Crys

Bitching and Cuteness

Yep, that's why I'm posting. So I can do some bitching. This shitty cold moved from a head cold to a chest cold and the cough is enough to bring up both lungs....but only when I'm almost asleep. And of course it is wicked enough to wake up Maemae with each episode. Bitch #1 over.

Bitch #2 -I read a forum for pregnant women and moms. I hate people who post their questions or ask for advice and then post the same question again and again. Gawd you idiot, if you didn't take the advice or answer the first time or even the second time, why do you bitch no one responded to the third (or fourth) post you made with the same damn thing?!

#3 Bitch of the day - idiot telemarketers who cannot say my last name correctly. Yes, I know it's 2 names....I made it that way on purpose and yes, I know my kiddos have 2 last names or one really long funky looking on depending on how the doctor's office put it in their system. Don't get snotty with me when I correct you and then ask you to get to the point as if you can't hear Elliot playing in the background and Maemae fussing right next to the phone. And don't huff your fat donut eating ass breath into the phone when I tell you if there's no message to be left for Mike then don't bother calling back.

Three bitches is enough for now. Believe me, I could go on but I don't want to be any more petty than I already am.

Now for the cuteness portion of the post.

Adorable baby feet to go with Maemae's adorably clad cloth bottom.

All smiles all the time now.

Happy Valentine's to me. I love this book. I need recipes for almost everything I cook and this is perfect. It also does great at explaining all kinds of techniques and how-to's for anal wanna be chefs like me.

That's all. I'm off to shape and bake my first attempt for bread out of my beloved cook book. Hopefully it turns out well enough we can stop buying the dried out crap from the store.

TTFN ~ Miss Bitchy Crys

Baker in the Making

Peanut and I mixed up some cookies this morning. He helped with dumping the ingredients into the bowl and with some stirring. But not with the hand mixer, that freaked him out a little. It's like the vacuum - ok to be near when it's turned off, hiding behind the chair when it's turned on.

These pictures are crap from my phone. My camera was upstairs and I wasn't brave enough to leave the chair Peanut was standing on near the counter to run up and get it. Plus I'm sick again so running would have me passed out at the top of the stairs due to lack of oxygen.



And some other news......I'm sick AGAIN. I just had this shitty cold a few weeks ago and it took me days to get over it. Maybe because I coughed up a lung every 6 minutes and was awake every 3 hours trying to not spit that lung out onto my beautiful baby girl while she nursed. Sick enough that last night, I was so grateful Mike was able to take sick time so he can stay home and take care of us. Even though we (Peanut, Maemae and me) were passed out by 9:30, he still stayed, taking care of us when we all were awake again and crabbily crying at 12:30.

But on a good note, Maemae went to sleep last night without her normal 2 hour crying fest so WOO HOO.

TTFN ~Crys

I curse and love you Paula Deen

So I'm addicted to watching Paula Deen. She cracks me up and has some really good recipes, usually always loaded with a stick of butter or more.

These cookies will be the curse of me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. Made them last week for the first time and it's uber easy peasy. The recipe makes 2 dozen; I ate 18 of them....all within 2 days. I have no self control or willpower when it comes to these cookies. I was strong for 4 days before being summoned to the pantry again to get the ingredients and being forced by my humongous sweet tooth to make them again. So far, my cookie count is at 2 and I just pulled the last few out of the oven.

They are called Chocolate Gooey Butter (of course butter is in the title, it's a Paula Deen recipe) Cookies. I call them Sweet Delicious My Ass is Getting Fatter I Can't Stop Eating Them cookies.
This is before you add more powered sugar to the top of them. And a quick piece of advice, don't get the cookie close to your mouth, inhale to cough or laugh or breathe because you'll choke on powered sugar forcing you to cough until tears are streaming down your face. Then you have to soothe yourself with a few more cookies, like 17. :c)

Off to iron some fabric and make my next project. Cloth Diapers! That's right, cloth diapers and not the ugly old fashioned ones with the yucky plastic covers. Stay tuned for updates on how the diaper production line is going with Peanut running around and Maemae demanding her boob each time I sit down for more than 3 minutes without her.

TTFN ~ Crys

Quick update

We haven't blogged in a while; life has been busy enough to keep me away from the computer and I'm loving it. Peanut, Maemae and I have a good routine down on Mike's work nights and his days off from BOEC are filled with Guild work and play or movie time with Peanut.

Peanut had his 2nd birthday and a birthday party since our last update. Maemae is now 2 months (and a few days) old. Both kiddos are doing very well. We go to a new doctor next week for the 2 year and 2 month check up and we'll find out if she's the doctor we keep or if the search is on again. After my last experience with Maemae's 2 week checkup, this visit can only be better.

Both kiddos are napping and Mike's at work so I have to cut this short.

Valentine's day. I embroidered and appliquéd both their shirts.

Maemae - 2 months
Elliot having his birthday breakfast. He loves to stab his food with his fork, especially scrambled cheesy eggs.

Off to do the dishes and clean up the kitchen. FUN!
TTFN ~Crys

Last day being 1

Peanut had a great last day being 1 year old. He wanted to start it at 6:15 am, but after a diaper change and cuddles and kisses from Mama, he was tucked back into bed and slept until 8:30. Then it was a morning filled with playing, watching a couple shows, dancing, eating and drinking, kissing Clella and bringing book after book to Mama to read only to want a different book after one page.

Time sure flew past. I can clearly remember details from this night 2 years ago, even the ones I'd rather forget. Like barking at Mike he couldn't turn the tv on and to not touch me. And insisting the nurse was wrong and I wasn't having my baby when I was already 75% on the way there. But even with all the stress of Peanut being a preemie and his NICU stay, there's nothing I'd change. To me, he's perfection in a 3 foot tall, 32.5 pound body.

Now for the picture portion of our blog....

To properly eat tuna cassarole: throw fork on the floor, dig in with both hands, make sure to get it in your hair, ear, nose, eyebrow, shirt, pants, and both the chair and booster. And for good luck, throw a little at the cat...it makes her like you more.

Now you see me......

Now you don't. HA, didn't know Peanut was so tricky did ya?!Mini mohawk in the tub.

Maemae looking adorable in her Mama made hat.

Maemae is doing great. She's a awesome booby baby, our scale says she's at 8 lbs 6 oz. Not bad for only 7 weeks old.

TTFN, off to make a birthday cake and watch some adult tv now that Peanut's in bed. And for my dirty bird husband, I'm not talking about porn.

~Crys (and Maemae since she's on the boob as I type.)