5 Minutes or Less

Oh My...it's been too long. I find some nights as I nurse Olivia after Lauren is in bed, or being put to bed by Matt, that I wish is could nurse and type at the same time(remember when I worked and I wished I could drive and type)! Instead I find myself enjoying a show on Netflix or watch one I've recorded. Once I'm done nursing then I'm too tired or lazy to get back up and write something. So much going on and not enough time in the day. Hoping Lauren will stay asleep long enough for me to get somewhat caught up on here (I have like two or three other half written posts that I'd love to get up today too).

I find that if I have to do something it must be doable in 5 minutes or less. Because it is inevitable that if I go to do something, within five minutes I'm being called to do something else. Then on the weekends, when Matt is home we seem to be busy, busy little bees. If Lauren blesses us with a nap on those days Matt and I drop like overworked mules onto whatever couch or chair is nearest. I have lots of Saturday pictures like this on the computer these days. 

We've been up to a lot. We've enjoyed some nice weather. Even though this spring has been so unpredictable. Sunny and almost 70 one day and then two days later it's snowing. We've visited the park a handful of times on the nice days, braking in the double stroller.

This past weekend I enjoyed my first girls night out since Olivia. Heather's birthday was earlier in the month and so some girls I use to work with meet up on Friday evening. I didn't get home until a little past midnight and I wasn't even as tired as I thought I would be. In fact, while we were out I was just enjoying the time and only once wondered how late it was. Then Saturday night Olivia officially slept through, giving us a nice seven and a half hours of uninterrupted rest. Can I hear an AMEN! Then she repeated it last night. It won't be long before I'm transitioning her to her crib at nights. Starting last week she's been napping in her crib during the day to get her and I use to it. I'm just struggling more with her than I did with Lauren about just doing it. With Lauren we were just five more steps down the hall, and now I'm all the way down stairs (it might not seem like too big of a deal, but this mama isn't ready to cut that cord just yet). So I plan on keeping her in our room, in her bassinet a little longer.

Then Sunday was our church's annual Easter Egg Hunt. The crazy unpredictable weather had us indoors this year, but it was still lots of fun. We were excited to have Esther, Kieth, and Caitlyn join us again. Lauren got a whole basket full of eggs. She even found one for Olivia and put it into her basket. She's such a sweet big sister! Here are some pictures from all the fun we had there.

I was able to coordinate our outfits this year. Lauren's dress is a wonderful hand-me-down and Olivia's dress came as a gift. I had a black dress and borrowed the pick necklace from Heather. I just told Matt to wear black and white and he had the pink tie from his sister's wedding. I was glad we got a family shot! I love seeing us as a family of four!!!!!

This sweet cutie is why I haven't been able to write as much. Her and her sister keep me on my toes and I wouldn't have it any other way! And off to get Olivia out of bed...and the fun goes on. 

6 Weeks and Lovin' It!

TOP TEN LIST:
OLIVIA'S TOP TEN LIST AT 6 WEEKS...

10. Her sweet baby smell, oh I could sniff her all day 

9. She L. O. V. E. S. the bouncy seat
8. Houston we have a farter! 'Nough said. 
7. The projectile spit up makes for a fun clean up at 2 am in the morning
6. Her creamy bottom, oh so many creams and still not all healed, poor thing
5. She loves her tummy to be patted or her legs to be played with
4. Her chubby little cheeks and soft hair 
3. The sweet way she snuggles after she nurses
2. Her sweet noises, she has a cute cry that says "hey mom, I'm over here"
1. When she looks at us and smiles

Lauren and her Shenanigans

TOP TEN LIST:
Lauren's Shenanigans at 27.5 months

10. Playing with her animal friends and pretending with them. I enjoy listening to this over the baby monitor, even if she should be sleeping instead.

9. Running each night from her room to the nursery and then asking daddy and Sharky to come find her (even though she's in the chair every time)
8. Laying in the tub face up listening to the noises dada makes on the tub wall
7. She's been more independent (a blessing and a sad thing) as she wipes herself after meals and after using the pot
6. Being nervous of the dark and noises she doesn't recognize.
5. Helping mommy wash dishes and vaccum and putting her dishes in the sink when she's done with them
4. Playing games, especially Candy Land
3. She is in LOVE with Kroger and the car carts
2. Being a big sister, all the up and downs that go along with it
1. Saying "I love you mommy/daddy" and giving the best hugs in the world!!

A Brief Moment

For a brief moment the house is quiet. This is the only peace I get all day and I cherish it so much. No demands being made of me, I have to involve myself in a quiet activity, and not quite time to think about dinner yet. Yesterday I spent this time writing out thank you notes and cleaning off the desk- both VIP items. Now today I decided to put off writing in Olivia's baby book, reading, or working on my cross stitch to come on here and share my ever so "interesting" thoughts.

First things first. Last night was my first night of Zumba. It was so nice to be back. I decided it's at the perfect time of night too- a 7:30 start time gives me plenty of time to eat dinner with the family and get Matt all organized for my departure. I was pretty nervous heading there- as I always am with stuff I've never done before, not knowing what to expect and all. But I loved the instructor; she was fun and vibrant and had a good variety of music and moves. One instructor I had once did the same three moves for a whole song, it bored me. It was a nice size class so it wasn't too crowded (some of the classes at the Y, during peak time, were huge and you couldn't move, not cool). I worked up a sweat and enjoyed myself. I felt energized when I got home. Too bad I couldn't say the same for Matt. Poor guy was tired to begin with (which might I add is his own fault for staying up so late Sunday night). But he fared just fine. Both girls were happy and sleepy when I got home. I told him again how grateful I am that he so graciously takes over the hardest part of the day (everyone is tired at night, and sometimes that makes for our roughest hour of the day) so I can get out a bit. I'm looking forward to going back Wednesday and looking forward to getting this booty back in shape!

I also wanted to write down some of the very awesome blessings we've received around here in this past month. I'm afraid I might forget one or two since I haven't been able to write them down but I'm going to try my hardest to remember each one!

*The first blessing is the biggest. Matt and I are still, like most people, paying off our student loans. We've been blessed by having some extreme generosity shown to us and now they will be paid off much, much faster. Because we've been diligent and put extra money towards them before kids and me staying home, they aren't too much of a financial burden to us, but having them paid off faster sure allows for our budget to have some wiggle room. It allows us to save up for extra things, like a new car or a new shed (our ever expanding family needs more storage!). This one made me cry tears of joy and thanksgiving. I can't tell you how unexpected this was and how much we appreciate it. This is not something I've been praying for, but oh God must know something we don't. I pray that Matt and I always remember the generosity that was shown to us and that we may always show the same generosity to those around us. We thank God for the gifts He has given to us through some very wonderful people, that we're very lucky to have.

*The second thing is food. I can't tell you, oh wait I can, how many people have so graciously brought us dinners since Olivia has been born. Just shy of 20 separate people have brought food for us, and this doesn't include my mom and Matt's mom who supplied us with prepared food for a week while they were here. I think I might go into shock when the food stops rolling in. The few times this past month I've had to cook, it's been a joy to do it. It has helped out with our grocery bills too. I never even thought about that, but all that extra money had gone towards diapers and creams, hahaha (read this post and you'll understand my 'funny' joke). It's also neat to see what other people make, and get ideas to spice up my dinner menu. The down side (or upside), the deserts have been rolling in too. Oh so hard to resist deserts. Hence, my extreme need for getting my butt moving with Zumba again. 

*Gifts for the girls is my third blessing. People have been extremely sweet in bringing gifts for the girls. This past month has felt like Christmas times ten. Lauren is going to be confused when people start coming over and they don't have a gift bag in their hands. We have received beautiful handmade blankets, clothes, toys, and more for the girls. And this time around I've gotten a handful of gifts for me as well. I was sad that I didn't have a shower for Olivia, sad that we didn't get to celebrate her in the same way we did Lauren and sad that she doesn't have a lot of her "own" stuff. But let me tell you I think we've gotten plenty without a shower. Olivia has gotten lots of clothes and I'm so glad she'll have stuff that is 'hers'- I know that might sound weird  but now not every picture of her will be her in one of Lauren's old outfits. I guess it's a second kid complex I have, so pardon my quirkiness. 

Just to show you how God was working in this, we went to Kohl's to return some pants I got Matt online that he didn't like (so picky) and while we were there I saw a "Little Sister" onesie. I wanted to get it since we have a "Big Sister" outfit for Lauren I thought it would be cute to have them wear them together. Well Matt said we didn't need it, and I guess I agreed it wasn't necessary. Then on Sunday one of my friends dropped off dinner and she gave me a "Little Sister" sleeper, size three months (just Olivia's size). The best part is they're both coordinating colors!! Don't worry, picture will be coming soon!

Oh, my quiet time is over. Miss Olivia is calling my name. I'll have to add a few more blessings in the next post! Until then...off to be a happy mommy!

SPICE

Yesterday I had my annual visit to the eye doctor and on the way there I had the most interesting sighting (please note, I don't have much of a life, so my definition of interesting might be a little different then yours). I was enjoying my ride, very excited I had gotten dinner ready for Matt and Lauren AND pumped dinner for Olivia prior to leaving the house AND left on time - like I said little things excite me - when I noticed the licence plate of the car in front of me. 

The car was a 1980's era Buick with the licence plate "SPICE." I chuckled to myself as I noticed the little old man in a hat and the even littler old lady, in a hat as well, in the car. We tend to have a lot of vanity plates around here and I often get frustrated at not being able to decipher them, but this one was mighty clear. I'm laughing now as I picture those old people and their apparently SPICEy car. 

When I came home, after helping Matt do bath and bed with the girls, I told Matt that when we're old I want to have a licence plate that says "spice." I hope we're still spicey at that age, hehehe.

Just thought I'd share this random, cute story!