Took Me Long Enough...

I think I speak for everyone when I say we could not have survived another weekend without a picture of Hannah in her new tutu. You can all enjoy yourselves once more. Hannah's slacker mother has finally provided the princess with a tutu. Phew.

Victory!

Hannah can feed herself bananas now to go with her cheerios and gerber puffs. She is well on her way to being a fully independent eater...any day now she'll pick up a spoon and eat some yogurt.

She's doing great at 7 months. Refuses to crawl. Won't even lay on her stomach for more than a couple minutes or even her back for 5 or so. She doesn't roll, she's capable (we think), but she does not. She sits and plays and talks up a storm and laughs. She has two teeth. She cries if she needs something and someone hands it to her. Zero motivation to become active. I love my children moving about and gaining independence, but Hannah just has everyone at her beck and call, so she sits and gets just what she pleases. She also loves her binkie in upside down.



Hannah and me in matching sweaters...Hannah's made by my incredibly talented mother, mine bought at Banana Republic for $7.

One last update on Hannah is illustrated by the words of a Safeway cashier...

Cashier: How old is he?
Me: She is 7 months old.
Cashier: Oh. A girl? She doesn't have any hair.

Snuggle Bumper

Taylor finally talked me into selling some of my homemade items. I chose baby bumpers for my debut. Check out Snuggle Bumper on etsy. More will be up as soon as I get sewing. I really enjoy making baby bumpers and just think they are so cute...I'm thinking of changing out Hannah's decor every week with a new bumper from my growing collection. =] Pass the word on to any of your friends or theirs who might be looking for a cute and soft baby bumper!

Second Child

So, in my family growing up we were great at labeling people and generalizing. One of our great labels is age order. First child studious, hard working, etc. Third child perfect in every way.

And that second child...well, you better watch out because the party never stops. Ever.

I've told many people that Matthias is the reason 2 kids was easy for me...he was such a great baby. And the reason 3 has been exceedingly difficult...he learned to walk at 9 months and my life has never been the same. Many people have asked me what it is about him that makes him so high energy. Here are some examples...

Last night James comes running inside "You better see what Matt did! He pooped in the tree." Not just any tree, but a pine tree...right on the branch. Umm, ow?

He chucks a 2x4 at Taylor. After already having 2 time outs for throwing hard toys.

Every night at dinner he races around the house jumping, hollering, tumbling, etc. One night I say if you get off your chair again you will not get a cinnamon roll.
Me: Matthias what happens if you jump off your chair again?
Matthias: No cinnamon roll!
At which point he leaps off the chair.

At 7 pm each night he begins laughing hysterically and dancing around thus causing James to follow suit turning bed time into a rowdy ordeal.


He gets his own food, sometimes at 4 am. He climbs on counters, stoves, anything he can find. He is dangerous and crazy.

We all know he's been waking up at insanely early hours his whole life. He began leaping out of the crib at 15 months, not climbing, leaping.

He began changing his diaper himself at about two. Now he thinks he can wipe his own bum 3 weeks after potty training which pretty much means we have to sanitize the the toilet seat after each potty trip because poop is smeared everywhere.

He can't stop moving and he can't stop talking. He has no idea of what a whisper or a quiet voice is.

He is just so ridiculously silly and crazy and funny and nutso. He keeps us running and laughing at the same time.

You all are now thinking of one of your children, maybe the second, maybe not. But each of you have one just like Matthias. If you don't yet, you will. You will.

Homemade Baby Food

Hannah is my spoiled child who, among other things, is getting homemade baby food. I thought it would be fun to give it a try and I've actually had a blast doing it. Never couldn't have pulled it off with my other kids, had no desire to even. But with Hannah it has been a great project! Takes about 3 hours a month or so for vegetables, fruits I just smash each morning. She does do Gerber cereal, puffs, and Kroger's applesauce, but everything else is produce we mash for her. So much yummier than Gerber and I'm so proud of my food cubes. =]

I thought I had more pics of the process, but apparently I just have incriminating shots of me letting my two year old use a sharp knife...



I read Super Baby Food (very intense...)and I use Wholesome Baby Food. But mostly I just cook vegetables, food process them, and freeze them. Try it with your next baby...it's fun!


(as you can see our freezer is stocked with the essentials...baby food and ice cream)

James Speak

James: I'm planning to go to Europe.
Taylor: Can I come?
James: Yeah. I'm inviting everyone.
Taylor: How many lawns are you cutting to earn money?
James: You're paying for it.


(I slept from 10 to 5:13 with no interruptions...it was heaven, I was so rested. I woke up to use the restroom and climbed back into bed. Just as I was falling back asleep...)
James: Mom. Mom.
Kristi: Yeah?
James: I need to use the bathroom.
Kristi: Ok.
James: I can go by myself. You can keep sleeping.

(unfortunately Matthias and Hannah both woke up within 10 minutes of this...)


Kristi: Did you play with anyone at recess today?
James: No. I was thinking about playing with my girl friend, but she wasn't nice so I gave up on her.

No More Diapers!

A couple weeks ago I woke up and decided I was sick of buying diapers and we still have approximately $836.42 left for Hannah...assuming she potty trains in two years from now. So Matthias' time had finally come. I knew he was ready, but just not totally motivated. And I just had been too overwhelmed up to that point to add something new. But that morning we started the refrain, "No More Diapers!"

He put on some underwear, we shouted "No more diapers!" over and over all day long. Randomly while eating lunch, or while walking to the car we would all shout. Plus I took him to the bathroom every 90 minutes or so. He had two accidents that day and has had a couple here and then since then, but he has been fully in underwear during the day! Hopefully nights will come soon. Still while sometimes Matthias will just shout, "no more diapers. I wear underwear!" And he stayed dry the whole drive to and from the farm which was 4 hour stretches at some points. Such an exciting day!

I'll just say I love waiting until my kids are ready to potty train because it was the same with James...two accidents the first day and then pretty normal kid potty habits...accidents here and there, but mostly good. Hopefully Hannah will be ready even earlier than the boys were!

Labor Day at the Farm

We went to visit Taylor's paternal grandparents over Labor Day. (Taylor's mom and dad also met us down there). We always love going to the farm. It is so peaceful and relaxing and beautiful. The drive was only 7.5 hrs and we just stopped once...unless you count the side of the road 10 minutes from the farm where we stopped for Matthias to take care of some business, then it was twice. Our kids are really amazing travelers.

We just hung around the house reading, relaxing, playing in the dirt, riding tractors, etc. The boys were in heaven with all the farm equipment, sticks, and dirt. Plus add in Chipper (Harvey's dog) and the toy guns they found. Life could not be any better. We were able to eat Grandma Harvey's famous whole wheat pancakes, fresh tomatoes, grapes, peaches, and colorabees from the farm.

It was a wonderful weekend!

Playing Pirates

While reading in the other room I hear the boys as they play pirates...

James: (in a menacing pirate voice) Drink coffee!
Matthias: NEVER!

Mom & Matt Preschool

With James gone four mornings a week, Matthias and I are able to have Mom & Matt preschool. Something James and I did (well, James & Mom) for many years. We are really enjoying the time together. I feel Matthias gets very little one on one attention by being in the middle. Hannah demands it and James is awake during nap time. So the last week and a half has been fun for us to spend time together and play. We just read books, do art projects, have themed play, etc. A whole hour of just me and Matthias! Here are some pictures of our safari lessons last week.