Last week

We've been busy lately.

Jeanie girl turned 3 months a couple weeks back

oh my gosh, these two <3

This guy cracks me up (he wanted his monkey to give him a hug)

We started potty training!

And failed.

He was squatting on the couch telling me, "I not poopin', I not poopin'." Turns out he WAS peeing. Whoops!

Love being with my babies. I have been back to work a couple weeks now, and it is busy. I am busy at work, and I am busy at home. Both places I am struggling to prioritize who needs me the most and managing time effectively! So that kinda stinks I can't really get a 'break' from that. But oh well. Two days a week does seem to be a good amount to work. (Unless it could be one day + health insurance, I'd do that in a second!)

Our biggest adventure this last week was being without power from Saturday to Wednesday.

After it had been 24 hours, closer to 48 we went out and got a generator. (under the tarp because of rain)

This beast was much more $ than it would've been to replace all our food, but 3 months frozen pumped breastmilk = priceless. It was also nice to have lamps and be able to use the toaster, haha. It was crazy how often I would go to switch on a light, over and over and over. It was also kind of nice because everyone was out of their houses walking, riding bikes, talking more with each other, very 'neighborly'. Anyway, power back on and back to normal life- with the lesson to be thankful and to look out for others.

Play date with friends:

This sweet innocent face woke me up every 2 hours all last night.

Such a pretty girl.

Summer family fun

After dinner family walk at this little nature area by our house.

Downtown Detroit morning on 4th of July

Doug's parents came over on Saturday to hang out a bit with both kiddos since they would be babysitting the 2 for the first time on Monday when I went back to work. We had asked them to spend a couple hours and were dreaming of going out to brunch or a matinee movie, but they got here and somehow didn't think they were going to stay more than an hour.... ok... no fun for us. Anyway, no fun for anyone actually. Jeanie was SCREAMING and wouldn't take a bottle or nurse or sleep. Everyone was very worried for Monday, I was even thinking I might have to quit. But, by the end of the day Doug got Jeanie to take a bottle, AND the binky! He says his secret was prayer! I don't doubt it. Anyway, off I went to work yesterday and so worried, Doug called in a couple times to check in, and they reported that Jeanie was "easy". Woohoo! It's already a struggle being away from them, and I'm so blessed that if they're not home with me they're either with Dad or their grandparents, so I was just glad that it was going well. Hoping it stays that way!

Sunday we went over to a friend's for dinner and lake fun. It was our annual time out on the lake, wish it happened more often!

I got to wakeboard (and am still SO sore 2 days later)

Jeannie and Jeanie!

And we had a little family tube

Pictures from our walk to the park today:

freshly picked roadside black raspberries!

Last week of maternity leave

These 12 weeks have flown by. That phrase the days are long but the years are fast is so true. My baby girl is 11.5 weeks, and on Monday I go back to work. I am 'ready' for some adult interaction and being challenged at work, but I know I will miss my babies. I find myself often wishing I could work just 1 day a week, but in all, I feel pretty blessed that I can work 2 (long 13 hr days) but be home 5 out of 7 days a week, that is a blessing.

I was reading this on facebook and it stuck out to me:

A lot of times that's 'all' I feel I do. But it makes me tear up just reading this. (Not that I'm searching for worth), but I matter to my children. So many times a day I hear "mama come play with August", "mama kiss it", "mama help you", "mama read it", and I'm so happy that I am here to do those things. Even thought a lot of our days seem like diapers, making food and cleaning up, household chores, and naps, it feels good to do life with my family. And I'm sad for the end of our 'carefree days' I've had during this maternity leave.

Last night I was sitting in the rocking chair with August during our bedtime routine, already he won't sit on my lap, "I sit next to mama", and I just looked down and see his little legs sticking straight out next to mine, and he hummed along while I sang our bedtime songs. He's growing so fast. It seems like just yesterday he was a little baby. And now my real little baby is already growing so fast too.

She learned how to rollover already

Doug put up another wall on the co-sleeper to keep her safely on her side.

This past week was fun with a playdate at Liz's new house build:

And we will have some family time together and see friends over the 4th, and then back to work.

We try to keep our expenses low so that I possibly can go down to contingent (only work 3 days a month), but I'd lose the health ins. for me and the kids (Doug's is terrible), and that would pretty much eliminate any extra padding in the budget for vacations or extras. Our house is starting to feel a bit tight with 4, but same issue, do I want to make-do with less and be home? Or 'have more' material things and have to work more. Anyway, this is a current conversation that Doug and I have quite often. For the time being, I am trying to be content with what we have, and to be thankful, and make these days matter with my children.