Sleep Like A Baby

People complain about the phrase because babies really don't sleep very long at any one stretch.  But the funny thing is, when they do sleep it doesn't really matter where they are or how they're positioned...

And I couldn't get my camera out fast enough this morning to catch one like the above, but with both arms above her head...

I have a lot more pictures of Joy... because she sleeps more, generally, and isn't as fussy.  So I can take pictures of her when she's down and I don't have to hold her.  Here's Hope, wide awake and probably going to scream in a few minutes!

A Little Treat for Father's Day (Giveaway)

Papa.  That's what my boys have christened my dad.  I still call him Daddy most of the time.

And sometimes he still calls me Widget...

He's not a big talker, but he loves to fish.  One of these days I'll get around to posting a few really old pictures on here out of my scrapbook.  You know, in my spare time?  I have so many memories of fishing with my Dad and hopefully the boys will enjoy it just as much.  Oh, and maybe even the girls too!  Fishing rules!

While I can't really go fishing with him this year for Father's Day, I have hopes that in a couple more years I may be able to go again!  In the mean time I'll probably get him a card with a fish on it.  And we might have fish for dinner if he's caught any lately!

And where will I get my fishy card?  From Tiny Prints new card site called Treat.

If you've been around here for any length of time I'm sure you've noticed I kind of have a love affair going with Tiny Prints.  See, I'm one of those people who really likes stationary and cards and especially getting things in the mail.  And Tiny Prints just has such cool stuff!

Now they've gone and created a site that's entirely dedicated to greeting cards and it's called Treat.   It functions just the same as it always has, with cool customizable cards that you can have sent to you or directly to your recipient.

Treat is giving away 10 tokens good for one card each.  So if you'd like to make some special Father's Day cards, birthday cards, or just Thinking of You cards please enter by leaving me a comment below.  What do you call your dad?

Also: You can get your first card free by signing up and using the code: FREETREAT at checkout.

Giveaway will end next Monday the 4th at midnight.  Please be sure I have a way to contact you!
 
I have been compensated by Treat for this post, but all memories and opinions are my own!
Find Treat on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.

10 Week Old Smiles

Hope

I want to make photo books for the girls like I have for the boys and I realized I just don't have as many photos of them... so here's to remedying that every few days!

I'm sure you all will mind seeing more cute baby photos, no?

Joy

 

The State of Nursing

So... I feel like I haven't written on here much lately because I'm not even sure what's going on.  For at least the past month nursing has been extremely painful.  To the point of crying (and sometimes screaming) at 3am and being ready to give it all up.

We've been to the chiropractor.  I've given up eating anything with gluten in it.  We've been to an ear nose and throat specialist.  The La Leche League leader has been to my house.  Next week we are going to visit a specialist in Seattle.  Right now the only thing helping me keep on is the hope that something will change next week.  If it doesn't?  I may very well give up.

We think that Joy may be tongue tied, a very particular kind called posterior tongue tie.  And perhaps to a lesser extent Hope as well.  Which means that they can't get a good latch unless they are in the exact perfect position and even then it doesn't last long.

It's so bad that Joy hasn't been getting enough to eat (which I didn't realize until last week) and so weighs significantly less than Hope.  I'm not sure how much, but you can tell by looking at them and picking them up.  When you're only dealing with 10 or 11 pounds to begin with a significant weight difference means a lot.

It's not a fun place to be in and I really hope we can resolve it next week.


On a slightly happier note... I have been enjoying working in my yard a lot.  And we have a wild rose in the back corner of our yard (that the renter before we bought it tried to kill so this is the first year it's actually bloomed).

As well as this gorgeous white blooming bush on the fence in our neighbors yard!

And I planted some wildflower seeds which I hope will come up... I don't seem to have much luck with planting anything, all we've got is what was here before we moved in!

Perspective...

9 weeks... of little sleep and screaming babies.  Of boys staying too long with loving grandparents and a house full of crazy.  Of short tempers and giant piles of laundry.

It's all a blur.  9 weeks feels like 9 months, but all too soon it will really be 9 months and I will wonder where it's gone.

Perspective is seeing my 5 year old reach 4 feet tall and teaching him to read.  Seeing my 2 year old learning new words every day and enjoying outings without me.  Knowing that soon they will be 5th and 2nd grade and I will wonder where it's gone.

Trying to remember not to get bogged down in the little things that are so frustrating and remember where they fit in the big picture.  Time.

Perspective.

This is a post prompt from The Gypsy Mama. Join in?

Two Month Old Girls!

My babies are two months old already!  It of course seems like forever and also not like forever since they were born.  The last two months are mostly a blur... good thing I have pictures to help me remember!

The girls are starting to make sounds now (other than grunting and screaming) and it's almost startled me a couple times to hear them coo!  A smile here or there, but not too much interaction yet.  Although they have started to notice and stare at the toys on their bouncers a bit more.

The past couple of weeks have been really hard.  I think they may have a gluten sensitivity as well so I've gone gluten free (that's another post in and of itself!) and Joy is having a LOT of issues nursing.  To the point that I've started pumping and feeding her a lot more from the bottle.  She has a doctor's appointment on Friday to see if she's tongue tied.  I kind of hope she is because it's a simple fix and hopefully then we can move on.  If not... I am not a fan of pumping.  Poor girl weighs less than her sister because I didn't realize she wasn't getting enough to eat.  It's amazing how long she'll sleep now that she has food in her tummy.

They have both outgrown the newborn clothes though and are in 0-3 and 3 month clothes now.  Lots of cute clothes!

Here's to a much better report at 3 months...

Beyond Coastal Review and Giveaway

It's starting to get warm around here; we put the AC in our window last night!  That means summer's just around the corner.

One of our favorite treats in the summer is to go to the waterslides.  Now normally I don't put sunscreen on myself or my kids every time we go outside.  I prefer to try not to be out in the heat of the day and just wear light clothing to cover up.  But going to the waterslides you don't really have that option!  They don't open until 10 and the hotter it is outside the more fun it is to be in the water.  So, we really need a good sunscreen.

Now, I'm pretty particular when it comes to sunscreens.  Cory reacted badly to a sunscreen the first time he wore it when he was just a year old so I did a lot of research and finally found one that has worked for us.  This means it has no fragrances, no extra ingredients, and we are limited to the mineral sunscreens.

If you know me you know how important it is to me that we limit the amount and kinds of chemicals we put in and on our bodies.  This sunscreen that we use on our boys is still available (although it's rather expensive), but the one that I have been using is no longer available in the formulation that the Environmental Working Group (EWG) lists with a good rating.  So now I need a new one for me, too.

Recently I was introduced to a new sunscreen company called Beyond Coastal.  They sent me a trial package of their sunscreens as well as information on the company.  I was thoroughly impressed by the fact that I can read all the ingredients and actually have a clue what they might be (Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, Shea butter, etc.).  None of their sunscreens have a rating higher than 3 and the Natural line all have a 2 rating (on the EWG Skin Deep Database). 

This makes me super confident that when I do need to put sunscreen on my kids I'm not doing more damage to their little bodies by adding yucky chemicals.  When I used the Natural Kids SPF 30 I liked that for a mineral sunscreen (that's the white stuff) it actually rubbed in fairly quickly and really didn't feel greasy.  Usually I have to wash my own hands after applying it, but with this sunscreen I didn't notice it was nearly as bad.

And, if you absolutely can't stand the white sunscreen you can try their Active line.  They use the least toxic of the UVA blocking chemicals; avobenzone, plus all the other ingredients are natural just like in the other line.

Finally, all their sunscreens are fragrance free, paraben free, and even gluten free!  They have a slight scent, probably due to the various oils used, but I found it to be light and pleasant.

I'm happy to have a new family of sunscreens to add to our arsenal for fun summer days!

WIN IT!


If you would like to win the same sampler pack that I received all you need to do is answer this question: What does your family like to do in the sun?

• Leave the answer in the comments!
• Please be sure I have a way to contact you or I will have to choose another winner. 
• Contest will end next Tuesday (the 22nd) at midnight, or whenever my mama brain remembers to close comments!  

I received the sample pack of sunscreen in order to facilitate my review through the Global Influence network. All opinions are strictly my own.

First Family Photo

Wherein no one told me to stand up straight and Noah's shirt is wet because Cory sprayed him with the hose.  And Cory's shirt is wet because then Uncle Kevin sprayed him with the hose!  But it's Mother's Day and the boys are both wearing their favorite colors and we had a yummy dinner... once we all got there on time!  Sorry Mom!

Wordless Wednesday: Fun with Chalk

Noah and the balloons, a fun idea I've seen online!

Boy Quotes #10

At my parent's house:
"Cory, are you ready for a nap?"
"No, I'm ready to Rock and Roll" (said with attitude and body moves for emphasis)

Noah got a piece of cheese and Cory asked for some:
"Nana, can I have a piece of cheese..........................please?"
By which time, Nana had already gone back into the kitchen and didn't hear the please so she says,
"What's the magic word?"
Cory to me: "But I already said it"
I replied that I didn't think Nana heard him.
He says again, "But I already said it".
Nana comes out and he says to her, "I already said it".
She replies that it's nice to hear more than once.
He finally acquiesces and says,
"Nana, may I please have......." and now he's forgotten what he's asking for!

We had friends over awhile back and they were trying to teach Noah hide and seek.  A few days later he climbs up in the chair, puts both hands over his eyes and says, "1 2 3 4 6 5 1 2, Here Tum Me!"  Then he runs down the hall and "finds" brother playing in his room!

Wordless Wednesday: Nana Love

Warning: overwhelming cuteness ahead! 

I was getting ready to go and my mom was holding the girls... so I had to take a picture!  Then Noah photobombed too.  Unfortunately Cory declined to join in, but I love this picture!