September in Review

Note: I was just skimming through my last few posts. They were all written when I was home with a sick kid. Hahahahahaha.

Anyway, today I'm home with two sick kids. So here's another post for you.

Pictures from September. Ready, set, go!

We had a few more beach days before the school year and fall rolled in.

one of my favorite pictures of all time

We played in the pool in the front yard a lot

we played in the playhouse in the backyard a lot

our pal Leo turned one, so we went to his super amazing birthday party

these two

for facepainting he requested "Captain America's shield". Not Captain America. His shield.

the neighborhood gang of kitties

We got annual memberships to the Aquarium. Love.

Ben got picked to be the squid in the play

Emma does not share attention with anyone.

18 months (ish)

On Sunday Miss Emma turned 18 months! (Poor second child. Emma's birthdays and milestones just slip on by.) Since I never really talk to you anymore and I'm home again today (this time with a sick boy), I figured I'd take this opportunity to tell you all about The Girl.

She is full of spunk. This little gal is going to give us a run for our money. But I guess we could have guessed that from when she was in the womb. She is fiery, independent, and goofy. She loves to be in the center of attention. Everywhere we go people stop and watch her and comment on how she's the cutest little baby they've ever seen in the whole wide world, and now that is her baseline expectation for human interaction. Thanks a lot, General Public. The other day I had some friends over for book club. When Matt and the kids came home we were all standing around in the living room. Emma just walked right up into the center of the circle and started pointing out her shoes, grinning, and spinning around like a model. When the last friend walked in the door, Emma ran up and lifted up her shirt (her own, not my friend's). You know, as a way of greeting. "Hi! I'm Emma! This is my belly!" God help me in middle school.

 She loves to take off her clothes, read books (at the end of which she says "Amen"), color, play with her babies, dance, and play with her Little People princess castle. She knows a million words and talks like a two-year-old (sass included). This is real and true. Her vocabulary kind of blows my mind, and she even says some sentences, like "I cute" and "Look at me". She's also quite the daredevil. I'm not sure at this point how many bumps, bruises, and scrapes she's had on her face. She likes to climb on things and run like the wind, and her freakishly small feet are not an asset there.

 She worships her big brother, except when he tries to hold her hand. She refuses to hold anyone's hand. As if she's telling the world, "I can do it myself!" Oy.

She does, however, love to give hugs and high-fives. And recently she has added "I wuv you" to her vocabulary. Swoon.

I love this crazy girl, and I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to raise her. Let's hope I can train her to use her powers for good and not evil. :)

Mental Health Day

You know those days where life is just getting to be a bit much and you just need a little break? You're not sick, but you've just hit a wall and it's a bit challenging to function? Yeah...that's been the last couple of weeks. I've had A LOT going on. Nothing bad, just a lot of things. Did I mention at any point that I had at least 10 pregnant friends who were due during February/March? Well, January arrived, which meant the baby shower invitations started rolling in. That's when I realized--whoa. This is exciting. And hectic. Every weekend I have at least one shower, at least two. And now the babies are starting to be born! Yay! First up was my neighbor/friend Lizzi. Her daughter came three weeks early. Meet Laila Pearl:

I know, right?!?!?! Ridiculous. All 5 lbs of her is adorable.

Then came Kim. Her little guy, Kellan, came a week or so later. (I haven't met him in person yet, so I don't have a picture at this moment.) But I've seen some pictures on the internet, and let me tell you: my friends make beautiful babies.

This week was a big one. My bestie Erin texted me a couple of days ago and said she was being induced. Erin was one of my maids of honor. She was there for almost my entire labor with Ben. I mean, she's a big deal. So as soon as I could I headed to the hospital. I wasn't able to be there for the actual birthing, but I got to be with her for the first leg of labor, and I've been able to spend a good bit of time with her after his arrival. Oh yes, here is Mr. Cannon Jeffrey:

Sigh.

But it hasn't all just been baby showers and baby birthings. There have been birthday parties, sick children, mid-trimester, and so much busy-ness that my head started spinning. And because I'm an introvert who needs alone time to recharge my batteries, my batteries were dead. And once the adrenaline of it all subsided, it was all I could do to stay standing. So I called in a sub for the next day and dreamed of its arrival.

The universe tried very hard to ruin it at first. But I persevered, and with some coffee (and my mom's generous help) I was able to spend most of my day doing many of my favorite things all by myself.

After dropping off the kiddos, I went home and finished crocheting Emma's hat while I watched Cougar Town.

Then I went to visit Erin and Cannon.

Then I went to Old Navy to spend the gift card that I got for Christmas (and use my super cash--double win!)

Then I whipped up a little holder for my new crochet hooks so they won't keep getting lost. (I also made a few other things.)

My mom brought Emma home for her nap then went to see Erin. During Emma's nap I watched 1 1/2 episodes of Dawson's Creek and started knitting the second piece of a pair of legwarmers for Emma.

 

When Emma woke up we cuddled and watched Baby Einstein.

My mom came home with Benjamin and we cuddled too.

Then the hubs came home and completed my happiness.

So that was my day. In the beginning I was cranky and tired and grumpy and mean and on the verge of tears. And now I'm happy and healthy and ready to interact with humans again. :)