weekend update

This past weekend was a good one.

On Friday we got to celebrate with my friend Kelly as she married our college friend Ed. She had lost her husband a few years ago suddenly and it has been beyond inspiring to see her steadfast trust in the Lord to get her, and her three children, through such a heart-breaking time. The theme of the wedding was 'faithfulness' and He truly is faithful.

It was fun for us to see lots of our old college friends too, eat delicious food, dance the night away, and celebrate with Kelly and Ed.

The next night was my 20 year high school reunion. Wow, that makes me feel old!

I found myself as I was in high school, but I guess I still am like that today too, waiting for others to approach me instead of reaching out. So, due to that, I didn't get to talk to everyone and left a little disappointed. But I did get to talk to a lot of people and have some nice conversations. Out of a graduating class of 49, about 21 came so not too shabby. Actually several more still live in the area and didn't come, so too bad. It was odd having some classmates with kids in high school and there was us with Jeanie, so I still felt young :)

It is crazy how time flies!

catching up

I feel so behind on life. I have stacks of dishes to wash, stacks of receipts to enter into the budget, a dishwasher to unload, a dryer of clothes to fold, and two little babies who are happening to have their nap overlap which seems like a miracle lately. My poor boy had a fever last night so he was up at 1:30am screaming, but luckily baby girl went down pretty easily and then after her 5am feed, slept till 9am. Awesome.

Anyway, time to wind down a bit and write. I still like writing the blog, I just wish I could do it faster! I've never found this blog interface to be very user-friendly.

We had a great start to June with my brother and his family being in town. We went to the zoo, and then we all rented an Airbnb by the lake and had a good weekend away. (Except for when Jeanie was awake from 1pm to 11pm and was crying on and off the entire day from being overtired. I just don't understand this phenomenon, just close your eyes and go to sleep!) But overall it was a great visit and good time together.

Love our zoo

August was surprisingly not into this splash pad at all

My siblings, together again at last!

The boardwalk from the rental home to the lake

Grandma & Grandpa with all their grandchildren <3

August did love this big bucket o' sand toys I got for him, he could've scooped sand for hours

This month Jeanie also met her Uncle Brian who was home from his trucking duties for a couple days

And August has been eagerly checking the garden every morning for any new ripe strawberries :) and to check on the presence of a couple resident toads.

The first flower from my boy, awwww

And baby girl is 2 months already!!

Feeling busy but blessed.

Life lately

Watching:

So into this tiny house show. Could I do it? Probably not. But I like watching it.

Loved this movie, totally recommend.

Frivolous fun.

Reading:

A good read so far.

Eating:

This instant pot shawarma recipe. It was pretty spicy, but tasty!

week on my own

I survived my first week at home alone with 2 kids!!

Doug worked out a pretty neat schedule with his work for after baby. He was home the first week all the time, then the next week he worked from home 6-8am, again at nap, and an hour in the evenings, the third week he went in to work one day and did the work from home the other days, then the fourth week he worked 2 days and from home the other days - so it was a very slow transition. I think it was helpful, although maybe it would've also been better to be 'thrown into the fire' because I did have a lot of anxiety in those days before he went back to real work. But anyway, we have a week or so under our belt so I'm feeling more confident.

It also helped to have had a couple friend play dates with another mom friend who is on maternity leave and with Liz and her kids.

So I've made it out of the house to playdates, but nothing too hard like being somewhere at a specific time or to a grocery store or anything with two. I feel a lot more anxious about it, which I hate feeling like that, but it is what it is. Jeanie is a carseat-crier, she just doesn't like it. And August, is mostly well-behaved, but also 2. It also is logistically hard getting out of the house. Physically it's hard to get the car doors open in the garage to get the carseat in if the other car is parked, and I can't both carry Jeanie in her carseat and hold August's hand while going down the steps into the garage (while also carrying diaper bag, purse, and anything else I always seem to have). So we've started doing one kid at a time, which I also don't like. Anyway, I don't know how twin moms, or moms of more than 2 do it!??

I know it seems like I'm complaining a lot. It has been a big adjustment for me one to two. Missing sleep, sitting around in pjs all day until they finally both miraculously sleep at the same time for 1/2 hour so I can try to squeeze in an exercise video and/or shower. I feel guilty also just 'passing time' till naptime for a little free time. I'm hoping it will get easier.

She was laying like this with her arms up for a good 10 minutes

1 month already!!

play date girl-time

outside watching brother

he can't get enough of this car

Mother's day brunch :)

sweet baby

She's like "you sure you got me?!"

play date this morning at a play place.

monthly recap

What a month! Baby girl is one month today already, and it has been busy. Some of the big things:

First bath!

First Easter!

This little hat I got in Peru back in 2009, and just saved away for a little wanted baby someday.

I'm pretty sure this was his first ice-cream cone all to himself!

Big brother turned 2.5, so fast!!!

Her little onesie was the one we bought for the gender reveal for ourselves, when we found out she was a girl <3

Like big brother, she also has a heart murmur. Had to go to a cardiologist to get an EKG and 2D echo, thankfully all normal findings. Praise God!

I made this sunbonnet for my neighbor's little girl and she gave it back to me :)

Baby Jeanie meets her namesake, my college friend Jeannie.

August's room got a little updating, I bought and framed this super sweet Etsy print about treasuring your children. Makes me tear up. And we hung his banner of him from birth to 11 months.

I love his room, we are still planning on the kids sharing several months from now, but he still has his own for now.

My matching jammies photo shoot didn't turn out as I planned, and both kids are almost too big for them!

My cousin got married last weekend, a couple family shots:

4 generations! Spanning 1 month to 98 years old!

our family (minus my siblings)

Big brother playing in her swing.

Ok, got to go, kids needing attention :)