Cheese!

I sometimes wonder if this kid knows she is so photogenic. She sometimes acts like it :)

Adios

So we are headed off to Pullman tonight. I'm going to pick Mike up at 5:30 then we are driving across the state. I am looking forward to it now, although I wasn't too thrilled about such a long drive at first. The reason we are going is that our priest at the Newman center is being transfered to another parish. For those of you who don't know, this is typical for Catholic parishes. Unless there are special circumstances, most priests get moved every 6-7 years. But it's up to the bishop, so it could always be more or less. He was our priest for the entire time that we were in school, not to mention that he was the priest who baptized me when I became Catholic in 2006. So, a pretty important person in our lives. We are going to say goodbye and to be there when he celebrates his last mass in Pullman. Also, as an added bonus we'll get to visit with uncle Pat and other friends and even some alumni who will be in town. It should be fun!

So, say a prayer for a safe trip over the mountains and I'll talk to you Monday. Have a great weekend! (Aubri, hope your house warming party is lovely, I'm sorry we can't come!)

Here I am on my baptism, Easter 2006. Interesting note, Mike was at mass that night. At that point we hadn't talked much. But I love that he got to see me become Catholic!

cookies

Lou continues to be tricky at night. For the last few nights, Mike has gotten up with her at some point and helped her fall back asleep. This morning, it was too close to morning for me to justify waking him up to put her back down. She cried for a bit even after I got up with her , and wanted to be held which makes me think she might be getting a cold, or teething. I feel bad for her, but I also feel bad for us! We are tired! Oh, I hope this does not last long. I might need a nap today. Poor Mike though, he does not get to take naps anymore these days.

So yesterday, I made oatmeal cookies while Lou took her morning nap. Standing in my kitchen (I'm pretty sure I was barefoot :) I realized how much I enjoy being a housewife. Most days I am unbelievably happy and can't believe my luck. There are challenges and periods of stagnation, as well as growth; just like in any job outside the home. Every day is different, yet there is always a rhythm of playing, resting, cleaning, organizing, caring, visiting. I get to set my own pace and make small goals for myself daily. Ultimately, it is my job; I am the CEO of my home and I honestly can't imagine having more job satisfaction. Anyway, I know I've only been doing this for a year, so I'm sure I might go through times where I'm worn out, or possibly even bored. However it's totally comparable, again, to any job a person might have. My vocation is definitely to be a wife and mother, and I am excited by the thought of doing it with excellence. Anyway, these thoughts just occurred to me as I did domestic things yesterday.

Then, Mike came home, and after he kissed me I wanted him to try my cookies. He said, oh you mean from the fungus jar? Ha! The fungus jar. I suppose it is a terribly ugly cookie jar, but I got it for free! I kind of like that it's ugly. :)

Milk....

It does a body good...

...umm, doesn't it?

I took this video a little bit ago and I just had to share. Looks like someone is going to have to get used to the taste of cows milk :)

Evening News

Well, this is strange. I am posting at 10:30 at night. Highly unusual for me. But I'm actually not that tired right now. Part of it may be because I actually worked out tonight so I might be energized from that.

Today was a fairly nice day. Lou and I took our daily walk and because I ended up chatting on the phone, our walk was almost an hour and a half. It's funny because up until now it's been a mostly mild winter. Lately though, I've noticed the temperatures dropping and a light coat no longer will suffice. Especially at night. Brrr....

Oh, so did you want to hear the exciting news? Did I keep you in suspense? Hmmm, did you think I was pregnant? Many of you cheated and contacted me by phone asking me if this was the case. Hehe. I must have had you suspicious. Well no, I am not pregnant at this time. No, the good news is that Mike was offered a full time position at the company he has been contracted at. It is exciting because we feel we can start to move forward on some things, plus it's nice knowing we can settle in a little more without the chance of him getting a different job. This is what we've been waiting for since Mike graduated. Nothing is ever perfectly secure, but we are definitely grateful for his employment and feel like God is taking care of us. Sometimes it is hard trusting God, especially with the big things in life. I sometimes feel like it's a moment to moment decision, because if I start to think about it too much, I begin to waver. But as of right now, we are confident that He answers prayers and knows what we need even more than we do.

Does anyone else have this problem?

...I don't know if you can tell but that is my coffee maker. So the coffee has been brewing for almost 80 minutes. It takes me forever to drink my morning coffee. I get easily distracted and so my coffee sits and sits and sits. Then if I remember to turn it off, I end up having to heat it up because I can't stand luke-warm coffee. I almost got a little single cup warmer (like a hot plate) for Christmas but Pat wouldn't trade me...(I hope he is using it!) That might be one solution to my problem so I suppose I could buy one myself. Anyway, I just have to chuckle at myself when I finally am able to finish a cup of coffee because it's usually a three hour affair. I've got to wonder, what's going to happen when we have more kids?

We had a great weekend! I've got some good news to share with you later. Maybe tomorrow :) Have a good one :D

Another header

I know I just changed my header. But I couldn't resist - I love this photo :) I especially like the color composition...I think it fits in much better with the overall blog. So there.

Ah, sleep

Check out the belly hangin' out

Some of you might be surprised to hear that I go to bed late now. Very late, for me. I'd say this is probably one of the biggest challenges of parenthood. Not that this is a huge revalation. Everyone knows that babies = less sleep. Really, it's about the time it takes getting her down, but also choosing to spend any time with my spouse. I could go to bed when Louisa does...and I have many times. But then I know that I am cheating my husband out of time. He has been working very hard so he's not been getting home until 7pm. That only leaves an hour to an hour and a half before it's time for the baby to go down. Which honestly, by that time I'm tired too. I've always been an early-to-bed person by nature (like 9 oclock and I'm done.) But again, I do want to spend time with the DH, or often there is also a little project I want to work on or a movie I want to watch. So we've gotten into the habit of going to bed much later than I ever thought I would. Mike tries to encourage me to take an afternoon nap with Lou so that I have more energy at night. The thing is, it doesn't always seem to have a direct correlation. Sometimes even if I take a huge nap, I'm still just as sleepy at night. So, it is a challenge. If I am able to drag myself up after putting the baby down, I'm always happy that I did. But you all know that feeling of overwhelming tiredness...it's hard to fight. Actually, Mike has been rocking her to sleep more and more now. She kind of resists being nursed to sleep, initially (later in the night, she wants me.) She really loves sitting in the rocking chair with daddy.

This is something every parent deals with, so I'm not really complaining. It's just one of those life lessons. And if parenthood wasn't hard, I wonder, would it still be as rewarding?



Um, this is totally off the subject - but where are all my blogger friends?? Seems like no one is blogging. My Google Reader has been quite empty lately...you all need to be blogging regularly :) thank you.

Stealing kisses and more headbands

Louisa likes to give kisses now. But, she has to be in the mood. Today I was trying to get her to give me a smooch so I could capture it. She was not going to cooperate though....oh well. I'm sure you know what a baby kiss looks like. Open mouth, slobbery, and sometimes a little raspberry thrown in too :)
Also, I made more headbands. Ta Da! Okay, not terribly exciting, but I like how they turned out so I wanted to show and tell. Especially because this time instead of sewing on the flowers, I used a glue gun. Much much better and easier. Just after I wrote about how she really only says dadada and maybe hi, she started saying "uh oh!" It's so cute, she says it over and over when she's really concentrating on playing. Again, she has to be in the mood, so she won't just say it if you ask her to. She's growing so fast!

Nighttime parenting has been a tiny bit tricky lately. Louisa still nurses pretty frequently at night. She wakes up 2-3 times looking around wanting me. We are starting to wean her out of our bed but it's going to be a slow, gradual process. Right now we are just concentrating on slowing the nursing at night. Neither of us is ready to wean completely. I am still getting a good night's sleep, though there are definitely days when I wake up with a kinked back. Any suggestions on this process?

Hello?

"Hey mom, I need the phone...what's daddy's number?""Hello, dada? I want you to come home right now. I miss you. Okay, love you, bye bye!"
Click!

Later that day...

You may recognize Lou's hat from the pictures that I posted yesterday. That's because these pictures are from later in the day when an exciting package arrived (and I had gotten some clothes on her ;) I was interested in the contents, while she was clearly interested in this:
The thing that was shipped to me were some stamp sets I ordered from my friend Aubri. She came over yesterday to work on invitations for a very special event that is coming up February 8th..... :D

While we were busy cutting, stamping, taping, etc....Lou got to hang out with my mom, who had also come over. Louisa had such a fun time. Aubri and my mom are convinced she said "hi" while she was out on a walk (so I didn't hear it) Maybe, I say. This morning I was pretty sure I heard a distinct "bu-bye." We can't be sure, though. Mike and I agree that we are holding off on declaring her first word. My first word, so I'm told, was "light." What was your first word or your kids'? (Besides mama and dadah)

Small finds

First of all, some of you were asking if I knew Molly. (Please visit her blog one more time - her family has done a post) I did not know her personally, but as it turns out she was very much apart of a larger Catholic community here in the Western Washington and Portland area. Basically, she was loved by many people around here, and obviously by people internationally as well. Did you know that all the children that she worked with survived??? The orphanage building itself remained in tact, while the dorm she was in at the time was completely flattened.

This story hurts every time I think about it. I can't imagine how her family is coping.

Even though so many aspects of daily life seem relatively unimportant right now, I still feel the need to keep posting about them. On second thought, maybe it is the ordinary parts of life that do matter. The small joys in our lives can be the things we take for granted (I know I do.) Church on Sunday morning. A dinner with family. A cozy nap with the baby. Kisses at bedtime. A cup of hot coffee and a leisurely breakfast. These are the events that filled my weekend. On the one hand I almost feel guilty talking about them...but on the other hand maybe I am honoring Molly, and all the others who have died, by counting my blessings and remembering that life is a gift. Usually it hurts too much to think about the big picture, so I will choose to focus on small everyday events and simple joys. Now what is it with kids and baby wipes? Louisa loves to pull them out of the box and suck on them. Next to nursing I think this would be her preferred source of nutrition.

So much

As I was making our bed this morning it occurred to me (not for the first time) that I have so much. I get to sleep in a warm bed every night. I can take hot showers and eat healthy food. I have loved ones close and safe. How is this fair when there are people suffering everywhere? I thought specifically of those people in Haiti who will be sleeping in the street tonight - so many will be hungry, thirsty, uncomfortable, scared, and in despair. My life is so comfortable, by comparison. Again, I have to ask myself, how is this fair?

Mike had to remind me that this life is not about comfort...even though it is easy to slip into that way of thinking. Yes, some of us may be comfortable physically, but this can actually be a distraction from our real purpose here; to prepare to be with God in heaven. It is all very lofty to think about. I can't understand why some people get to live comfortable happy lives, and others are born into extreme poverty and intolerable suffering...I guess the only thing I can focus on is that one's spiritual life is ultimately what matters more.

This story has really affected me. I had heard about this young woman, around my own age, who most likely thought the way I am thinking now and she decided to do something about it by going down to Haiti to serve abandoned orphans. This is her blog...which I spent time reading before her family found out that she did not survive the earthquake. I can only pray that she is gloriously happy in heaven now, praying for us and all those who are suffering this day.

Walking, talking, and pooping

Most of what Lou does these days is pretty cute. Especially now that she is growing up and doing more. She can walk, with help!

Also lately, Mike and I notice that she is much more talkative. She likes to babble when we are having a conversation. It's very clear she wants to be included. She will also "talk" to herself while playing.

But not all that she does is cute. This morning she, er how should I put this? She pooped in the sink while I was giving her a bath. It was gross. I know I'm a mom so I should get used to it, and already I've dealt with poop more than I ever cared to. But guys, this is the first time she's done it in the tub. I kind of panicked when she started grabbing it and so I yelled, "DON'T TOUCH IT LOU!" This freaked her out and she started bawling. But yeah, it was gross and quite un-cute. Poop is just never cute.

Don't worry; I won't include a picture. That would be inappropriate; not to mention that I see no way that I could have had snapped a picture in the midst of the incident.

Gray Day

It's a gray day here. Not that I'm not complain'. I'm actually grateful there hasn't been any snow so far this winter. Today is a perfect day to do some sewing, while the baby sleeps....so I guess I better not dilly dally and go before she wakes!

Happy Gray Wednesday to you!

Oh, and if you have nothing to do, I recommend going and watching this movie. Beautifully made with a good message.

Baby carriers

My experience with baby carriers has not turned out to be what I thought it would be before I had this baby. Honestly, I don't remember while growing up actually seeing any moms who carried their babies in anything other than their arms. This baby-carrying business seems like it's a somewhat new trend (at least in America) and I have to say I like it and agree with the philosophy behind it. Babies, especially newborns, need to feel secure and safe. It is not spoiling them to carry them often. It actually aids in their brain development and helps them form better emotional attachments. Why else would we swaddle them if we didn't know that they preferred being tightly bundled? The next logical step to swaddling is to carry them with you and not leave them by themselves too much. It generally leads to less crying, and more productivity if your hands are free!

So, when first brought Louisa home, we had two types of carriers in our possession. The Baby Bjorn and the New Native. The Bjorn worked best for going out on walks, going to the store, etc. We both liked to hold her in this when she was super light. After a while, she began to outgrow it (I'd say around 6-7 months) so I would recommend getting one of these if you only plan on carrying your baby for a few months. Also, they are nice because the baby can either face you or face outward - which Lou started to prefer as she became more observant. This is not good for nursing, unless you nurse your baby upright...which I've personally never done but I've seen women do.

Now, the New Native began to be our best friend once we figured out how much Lou loved it. The biggest advantage, as far as we were concerned, was that Lou felt so comfortable in it that she would often fall asleep instantly (especially with her daddy). Wherever we were; it didn't matter, all we needed to do was whip out the new native, and we had a sleeping baby. (It was funny because we would start to feel panicked when we forgot it at home!) The only problem with this is that Lou has pretty much outgrown it now. I noticed at Whole Foods that you can buy different sizes, so we thought about getting a larger one (the one that was given to us is a medium) however, we just couldn't justify spending the money for another one (they are pricey) So, the New Native is absolutley great and I recommend this to all the pregnant mom's I know! (I often tell strangers about it too, even though I'm sure sometimes I'm offering unwanted information...hmmm, oh well!)

Later, I made a sling using 5 yards of fabric. This guy worked o.k. but it was never my nor Louisa's preferred carrier. It would be nice for someone who didn't want to spend too much or if you wanted to take it on a trip with you (they are easily transported) Also, they can be fashioned so that you can nurse in them. This is cool if you have a frequent nurser, and are tired of being tied to the couch all day.
The real reason I'm bringing all this up now though, is because Anne has recently renewed my interest in carrying Lou around with her amazing hand-sewn mei tai. She brought it to church last week and let me try it out - and I was surprised to find that it worked so well for a near 1 year old! Granted, while Louisa is still pretty petite, she is getting heavier and so consequently I had not been carrying her around as much. I really love this carrier though. (Thanks Anne!!) I would say it's more similar to the Ergo, which many mama's out there have and it was something we were going to save up for (since they are pretty expensive). But I like Anne's because of the adorable fabrics. I also like all the padding and the level of support I feel while she is in it. A few additional things to note:

-Yes, Lou is much more active and getting close to walking, so I don't carry her nearly as much as I did when she was a newborn
-Still, it is ideal for going on walks outside, or when she needs a snooze and I don't feel like spending the time to get her to sleep in her crib
-Good for church, too. Although lately, she's been wanting daddy to rock her to sleep, or wants to nurse
-I like using it while doing certain chores - like vacuuming (for some reason Louisa is going through a phase where she is deathly afraid of the vacuum cleaner...) and putting away clothes

-I've never held anyone else's baby in it before (or any other sling for that matter). I've heard that all babies are different in their preferences. Louisa has been more than obliging to be held in all four of the types of slings we've owned. I'd say she prefers the New Native above all, but this new mei tei is better for the size she is now. She is sleeping right now, as I type, and seems more than content :)
"Yikes mom, this is a long post! You've put me to sleep...I wonder how many other people are being put to sleep, too?"

Finally, I just want to mention (perhaps I don't even have to) that there is something sweet, so sweet about holding a baby close to your own body. I'm convinced God designed it this way for parents (and others) as one of the consolations to them for all the hard work they do while raising children. When you are holding a baby, (especially a sleeping one :) next to your skin, I swear it releases all sorts of endorphins. It makes you feel content. It fills you with love. It renews your faith that for all the chaos and suffering in life, there are still some things that are right in the world.

...and not to mention that when you have them in a carrier, you can actually get some things done :)



...a special thanks to Anne, who inspired this post. I can't wait to pick out fabric with you!*

Come sail away with me

Late Saturday afternoon I happen to look out our window toward the Puget Sound (we have decent view) and I spotted a bunch of colorful sail boats! It was such a pretty sight! I decided I would take Louisa down to the beach to see what was going on. I realized I'd have to go more north, toward Seattle, because they were going so fast they were already going to be beyond where our view is. So I hurried out the door (Mike wasn't feeling too well, so he stayed home to rest...) stooped by and got my grandma...and this is the delightful sight we encountered....




I found out that it was an actual race. I'm not too sure how many there were...maybe 30-50? It was just very cool.

I am so happy to live here! There is always something happening, and it's so beautiful. My great-grandma used to say that no matter where she traveled (and she did her fair share of it) she could never find another place in the world as beautiful as the Pacific Northwest. I happen to agree with her. But that's partly because this is home. And that makes a big difference, too.

11 Months

Today Louisa is 11 months old.
She just wanted me to let you all know that. :)

Hangin' out together on a typical type of morning.

Life is so wonderful.

A Beautiful wedding

We went to a beautiful wedding this weekend.

Oh, I was so impressed by all the planning they did and how everything came together. For all of us who have planned a wedding - we know that it is not a romantic affair. It is hard. work. And what kills you is that many of the guests either don't appreciate all your efforts (like casually tossing your wedding favors into the garbage after you slaved over them for hours into the night) or, they nit-pick every aspect of your wedding and critisize how you did this, or how you did that. Yes, I know that the most important aspect of a wedding is that the couple walks away married. I am very much aware of that. And that's exactly how I felt about my own wedding. But the fact remains that it is a stressful and emotional and difficult affair, planning a wedding. (Oh, and expensive :) So, great job Beth and David, you did a wonderful job and it was a real delight being your guests.

What are some of the details you guys remember from a. your own wedding, or b. weddings that you have attended as guests?

The Couple from Iowa Visits

And Louisa wears a cute outfit.


Fun times!

Still bald? That's ok.

I am always on the lookout for cute head ware for my little baldie. I'm sure you've noticed that she rarely goes out without something on her head. I have been wanting to do this for a while, especially now that I have a hard time finding ribbons that fit her big head. :)

It was a simple matter of picking up some elastic ribbon by the yard, some crafting flowers, and viola!
I know you're asking yourself...does she actually keep them on? She does, about 50% of the time.
Alot of times, she just forgets about it and I don't have to worry. But yes, there are definitely times when she does not want anything on there and then it becomes a game between the two of us. I am stubborn though, so I won't give up just because she takes them off sometimes.

(Last night we played Loaded Questions. One of the questions was, what will probably happen to you as a result of karma? I answered; Louisa will turn out to be a tomboy ;)