Happy 1st Birthday Ernest George!

Sweet little Ernest came into the world on the morning of June 28, 2010.  Don't ask me how big, how long, or the time.  I do not know these things about my children.  Let's just say "normal", mmkay?

And now he is ONE!  I'd have to say that the first six months were pretty trying.  He nursed exclusively for the first six months and wanted to be fed every.two.hours. for the first five.  For real yo'.  I don't remember much, just that we are all still here by the grace of God.  Then after I introduced baby food he wanted to be fed every three hours.  Not much of a relief but it's a start!  Finally, at 10 months I moved him to formula due to the pregnancy.  I haven't figured out how to do both, be pregnant and nurse,  because my milk wasn't as filling anymore to Ernest and he was cranky more often.  I needed to do better in the vitamin/eatting department.  At least I know if it happens again to eat better than just "good enough". 

Let me tell ya, I'm still pretty stinking proud of myself for nursing for ten whole months.  Considering we packed up and moved across the country, went through 3 seasons, and raised a then three year old, not too shabby.  My original plan was to nurse for a year, the move on to whole milk and start to wean.  We'll see how it goes with this one.

Ok, so now the internet knows all about Ernest's infant eatting habits.  Moving along now...

Happy Birthday Ernest!

We had his little get together with Kendall's sister, brother, future sister in law, one set of grandparents, three cousins, and over tired brother (and mother for that matter).  Just a simple cake and some presents while the kids played.  It was EXACTLY what I wanted!  Being with friends and family is all that mattered.

Ethan had been telling me for a few weeks that he was going to help Ernest blow out the candles.  He is SUCH an amazing big brother.  I'm in the hat (and yellow shirt.  Not the blue shirt thankyouverymuch).  My future sister in law is in the red, and my sister in law/Kendall's sister is in yellow.

Yay!  Ethan's super happy for helping blow out the candle, Ernest is just waking up from a nap, and Sarah's trying to balance Ernest and a cake.  Whew!

Ernest opening presents.  He actually did a good job and got the hang of it. 

Can you tell we read books together?  This card sang, so it was a definite hit.

Heather brought a chocolate cake for him to dig into.  He managed to get it everywhere and on everyone.  He's definitly my child- he loves chocolate :-).

And here's the "I need a nap!" face.  Attitude = melt down = nap.  Amen and amen.

Sweet "Hard Lotion" giveaway!!!

Doing my duty of blogging about a Hard Lotion giveaway.  It's always fun to try new things and if your hubby drives a hard bargain on lotions, maybe this is something he'd be interested in.

Raising Arrows Lotion Giveaway

Plus, this is one of my all time favorite blogs.  She homeschool, has a crew of kiddos, and is sooooo down to earth.  I wish I knew her in real life too :-).

The butter incident

This is one that Ethan is famous for.  The pictures tell the story and yes my kitchen floor was greasy/slippery for about 2 weeks afterwards.

This was before we put velcro on our fridge.  Lesson learned ladies, lesson learned.

The orange Sleepy Wrap

I have a sling that I purchase from Once Upon A Child back in 2005 for Ethan.  That thing is AWESOME for traveling with a newborn.  I went from south Texas up to Minnesota with a 6 week old and we all did just fine and dandy.  However, he outgrew that thing at about 12-15 pounds because it really wears on a gals neck.

photo credit

It's kind of like this one.  But you get the idea.

Then I moved on to the snugli.  It wasn't really comfortable and it hurt my back.

 

Plus it dug into Ernest's face and it'd get all slobbery and icky.  I had bought it for Ethan, never used it, and used it sparingly with Ernest.

BUT I WANT TO WEAR MY BABIES!

On a field trip to the zoo I met a lady with a sleepy wrap and she said it was pretty easy, good on the back, and her baby slept 'like a baby' in it.  Well, amen.  I ebayed and by golly they aren't too bad on ebay.

I know some ladies are way cool and make their own.  Good for you but I'm not educated on types of fabrics, what type is best, setting up a sewing machine, finding time to sew without someone playing with the  foot pedal (for real yo'), and on a n d o n a n d o n.

So I bought an orange sleepy wrap and have fallen in love. 

 

We go on walks in it, use it when I need both hands, all that jazz.  This is Ernest at 9 or 10 months.  I'd wear it when I knew he was tired but wouldn't take a nap.  At 13 months he now sits in it up right and is able to see the world.  I do have him facing me in it after reading up on why it's better.  If you want your baby to face outwards then 'to each his own'.  

And a picture of Ernest asleep in my arms.  Just because it's a cute picture.  You're welcome :-).

Marshmallows and Math, woo hoo!

Marshmallow Math!  We use marshmallow's and toothpicks to learn different shapes.  So cool, Ethan had a blast.  We try to do this several times a month.  As far as I can tell, the octogon is his favorite, probably because it's a stop sign.  "Look mom! Oct-o-goooooon." 

 

Then at the end we eat our masterpieces.  It's a favorite had by all!!

We made our own index cards, they are not store bought.

photo credit

All work and no play (except for ice cream)

We are planning on moving to a new home.  Hopefully by the beginning of October because Eleanor is due October 14.  For the moment we live in a one bedroom apartment.  It houses children, children's stuff, grown up's with grown up stuff, homeschool stuff (which takes up 2 bookshelves for the moment) and my husband's ebay stuff.  Needless to say we have a lot of stuff.

The plan is to have a garage sale to downsize on some stuff, ebay some stuff, and then while living on a prayer find a place to move to that has heat and/or electric included to house the remainder of stuff.  There is no faith in thinking that we can heat a home to a livable temperature to accomadate a newborn, toddler, 4 year old and the parents this winter.  For two whole months the temps are around ZERO with a big fat NEGATIVE when discussing wind chill. 

Although our kids are good "helpers" when it comes to packing, I'd better git'r done while I can still somewhat manage getting up off the floor in under 3 minutes (well, when highly motivated I can do it under 3 minutes).  Plus, I'm a 'futuristic planner' and I'm aware that babies come when THEY are ready, not when mom and dad are ready.  What if she comes at the end of September?  Or makes an unplanned appearance the end of AUGUST?  I know I have contractions due to the heat and the inability to "rest" and man oh man it keeps me focused on my goal.

While we would like to stay close to the area, we are willing to move out a ways if necessary.  We really REALLY like our church.  My husband really REALLY likes our church, which is the biggest reason I want to stay close by.  It has taken YEARS of prayer to get him to attend Sunday mornings with me, I'm not about to give it up.  However, I know where ever we land God will give us a church.  For the mean time, I'm holding on tooth and nail to this place.

We look mainly on craigslist of openings at apartments.  That's where we have found the last two places we've lived.  Why reinvent the wheel?

Air Conditioning and super cool friends

A picture of Ernest after eatting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

 This picture has nothing to do with this post, just sharing the baby love. :)

1 part cornstarch to 1 part cold water
5 to 6 drops of food coloring


I think this would be so much fun!  Maybe tomorrow morning as it's going to be SWELTERING.  I was sweating buckets by 9:00 this morning unloading the minivan from out camping trip this past weekend.  Buck-ets.  Oh and lemme tell ya, God is good.  Why?  My beautiful friend Audra drove by with a honk and wave this morning while watching me unload the minivan.  A few minutes later I recieve a beautiful call from my beautiful friend Audra:

"I'm in your driveway and we are on our way to the park.  Do you want me to take Ethan to the park so he can have something to do while you unpack and stuff?"

*choke slobber snort* "What?!?!?!?  YES!  Huh?  YES!!!!!  I'm about to give him a haircut, let me put clothes on him and send him upstairs!"  I slapped some clothes on the boy, gave him a bottle of water with some stern talking to about "AUDRA IS THE BOSS" and being good, then I sent him off with my beautiful friend Audra.

(Because, yes, I give him haircuts in the nude for easy cleanup.  It's how I roll.)

With my oldest gone and the youngest going down quickly for a nap, what to do?  I CLEANED!  UNPACKED AND CLEANED LIKE THE WORLD WAS ENDING.  My oh my how much you can get done quickly when it's just me myself and I. 

THEN- my friend Regina calls: "It's so hot and humid out today and I know you don't have an air conditioner.  If you and the boys want to come over to sit in the air conditioner then feel free to.  We also have a slip and slide if Ethan wants to play."

*choke slobber snort* "What?!?!?!? YES! Huh? YES!!!!! When Ernest wakes up from his afternoon nap we'll come over!  THANK YOU!"

We have a window unit but we live in a basement so we do not use it.  Plus we are cheap frugal.  And in being so we close up windows and turn on fans during the heat of the day to keep it cool.  It stays pretty nice down here considering it's a cave.  However, if offered air conditioning, you'd better believe this preggo isn't about to hesitate to pack up the crew and head on over.  Especially when there's a slip and slide.  And a cool friend named Regina who is so amazingly wise in all her glorious wisdom.  I just sit and listen and try to understand and keep up.  Like when I asked "Sooo... who exactly is Elijah in the Bible?  I haven't gotten to that part yet..."  Whatever, I'm at least trying to learn about all forty bajillion characters in the Bible.   Rome wasn't built in a day, yo.

Tomorrow is Tuesday and at 1 we are headed to the library for their end of the summer reading program thingamajigie.  Pizza and fun had by all!

Plus, the library has crisp air conditiong.  Just sayin'...