the chronicles of us

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

A little of our week {in photos}

This is perhaps the best kind of post.. one with lots of pictures.

I got a little emotional when a friend at work mentioned going to a funeral for a young person who had young children. And I thought about what a gut-wrenching fear that is for me. I pray, pray that my boys won't have to be without either me or Hector while they're little. I want them to remember us, and remember the good times we had, and the love we had/have for one another. I'm getting nauseous just typing these words. BLECHHH. Ok.

Anyways, I also thought, I need to get in more pictures with my kids! How 'not fun' would it be to get older and look back at photos and only see pics of you by yourself?? No. I want them to see Mom and Dad in pictures with them. As Emily Anderson (of The Anderson Crew) calls it, "Embracing the Camera", getting in pictures with your kiddos. It really is special. Do it.

On to the happy!

This baby boy.. getting increasingly uneasy in his jumper.. he'd rather be roaming the house, getting into trouble! Look at those sweet teeth! Two on the bottom.

He crawls up to me EVERY chance he gets. He's kinda smitten with me.. and I kinda thrive on that!

Pulled him into a "selfie"... But hey! We're together!

Coco and Daddy... lookalikes much??

Daddy with Liam! Blurry, but together. :)

Granna and Pop dropped in last night for dinner! Love when they're here!

She is so fantastic, and he is her BIGGEST fan.

Switched the 'ol camera into manual mode for these next shots. You're welcome.

My sweaty boy on our walk today.

Baby bro at least had some stroller shade... Rosy cheeks :)

Those feet...... I just can't. I kiss them everyday. Because, why not?

Nature boy, he wanted me to eat that, I think.

I refused and his 16 year old attitude came out.

His face kills me. So big.

Wonder when they'll both look at the camera? At one time, I mean?

Liam totally ripped that page right outta the magazine Hector was looking at. Baby gets what baby wants.

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week... nursing a 9 month old! I don't mind showing this photo, because you know what? It's not inappropriate at all. Nothing is seen that 'shouldn't' be.

Anyways, I'm proud to still be breastfeeding, and I want to remember this forever (as if I could forget). And it's just a few more pictures that I get to be in with my sweet baby. Thanks, Hector, for the pictures. While taking them he said, "Just a beautiful mama feeding her baby." I really appreciated that.. and not the compliment.. but the observation.

After he removed my glasses, as he does during most feeds nowadays.. because that's super fun for him. :) Love the eye contact.

Then I snatched up this guy! How is he so big?? Coco starts 3K in few weeks. He's ready, I'm so nottttt. :(

Well, I'm super impressed if you made it all the way to the end of that long post! Hope you enjoyed!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Liam ~ 9 months old

Well, our tiny baby is not so tiny anymore! He turned 9 months yesterday! **pats self on back for getting a picture and a blog post done on time**

This was a month of milestones!! But first, his Tonka picture:

He changes so much each month--I can't stand it!!

Listen to what this kid accomplished this month:

1. Got TWO bottom teeth!

2. Started CRAWLING like a BOSS.

3. Started pulling up on furniture and in his crib.

4. Can feed himself PUFFS.

5. Can halfway sign "more" when he wants more PUFFS. :)

6. Can crawl up stairs. *heart attack*

7. Got a double ear infection on his 9 month bday. O_O

8. Loves to hug his brother!

9. Went swimming in the big pool--loved it!

Still no words.

He is still breastfed, though, he is way more distractible. His best feeds are in the middle of the night and right when he wakes up in the morning. In addition to nursing, he gets solid food several times a day. He loves pretty much all the fruits. And some veggies, if they are mixed with fruit. ;)

He is 20 pounds, 1 ounce. So big! (Cohen was 20 pounds, 15.5 ounces!) Crazy how similar they are! His thighs are so big and chunky!! PERFECTLY SQUISHY.

He goes to bed between 8 and 9 (We aim for 8) and wakes up somewhere between 2-4am to eat. He honestly likes to go back to his bed, where he can spread out, but I'm sleepy and lazy and usually keep him with me, until he fights it too much. Then he's pretty much up by 7:30. He takes a 1-2 hour nap after he's been up for about 2 hours (unless he has an undiagnosed [yet] double ear infection, like today) and then another 2 hour nap when Cohen naps (around 2 or 3 pm.)

He's loving sound toys now, and trying to push the buttons. :) We're training him to love his lovey ;) by tucking it in with him each night and at nap time. (Cohen still very much needs his, and treats it like his baby now.. putting it for naps, feeding it) :)

Here were some outtakes:

Ummm.. I think this is the last one, Mom...

Yup, I'm outta here!

Ok, one more. :)

Buh-bye!

That elbow, though!!!

It is the perfect age right now. Perfect. Stay little, my sweet boy. Please??? We love you!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Liam ~ 8 months old

Yaaay! A week late! We've been busy, okay?? There was the Fourth.. there was work.. there was Cohen going to Granna and Pop's, then US going there.. there were home repairs..

Anyways, I took his picture today.. at 8 months and 10 days old. Oh well. At least I took it. :)

I. just. can't.

This has got to be the best age. He's figured out how to scoot backwards, so that's fun. He rolls every which way, so that's also fun. He's for real teething (for real, this time), so that's not very fun. No seriously, I can SEE a tooth coming in on the bottom, right middle. :)

He is still breast fed, and we've added in 2-3 meals of baby purees each day. He's a fan of them now. He's had everything from carrots to sweet potatoes to beets to mango to pineapple and everything in between. He also loves the puffs. (who doesn't??) He likes to drink water from a sippy cup, but he thinks it's real funny to let the water run right out of his mouth, while smiling real big. :) Silly boy.

He wears 9 month to 12 month clothes.. although, I got him into an 18 month onesie the other day...

He shows no interest in standing up or cruising. And I'm perfectly fine with that.

No words, lots of babble. No "ma ma" yet. Still pushing for that one.

Oh, and he hates napping. I hate that he hates napping.

outtakes:

Funny boy!

Still likes sticking that tongue out!

I told Cohen to jump in with him and Liam immediately moved in for a hug. :)

Mr. Soon-to-be-crawling!

What baby brother does, big brother must imitate... >_<

Mama with my baby boy! Cohen is getting pretty good at snapping pictures ;)

I like to chew on everything.

Look at that boy, playing with his truck!

(remember Cohen at 8 months? started taking interest in his truck at this age too!)

(and look at Coco wearing this outfit at almost the exact same age!!)

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

I did the No-poo.

Y'all.. I've been thinking about it for a while now. Hearing about how shampoo is basically cancer in a bottle. I'd read on some crunchy blogs, talked with some hippie folks.. yes. I was ready to try and "No-poo" my hair.

In case you're not familiar with "no-pooing", it's the act of washing your hair with baking soda, and conditioning your hair with apple cider vinegar. Yea, you read that right. Apple. Cider. Vinegar.

I can already see your faces, thinking about the smell, but trust me. It's not that bad.

To No-poo, you'll need to gather a few things:

Baking soda and a squirt bottle (like hair dressers use)

Apple cider vinegar, a spray bottle and some essential oil if you want. I used Rosemary.

Rosemary essential oil, when used on hair, can stimulate hair growth and help your scalp. It helps curb the smell of the ACV (apple cider vinegar). Helps.. not eliminates. :)

My hair had been a couple days with no washing.. so I was excited to try this.

I mixed a bit of the baking soda (I just eye-balled it, but you could do 4-5 spoons full.) with warm water. Just filled to the top with water. (Leave enough space at the top to shake and mix it up)

I dunno... maybe a centimeter of soda?

Almost embarrassed to show this "before" picture!!

Crazy waves.. Am I an auburn?? Because I always considered myself a brunette!!

Anyways, wet hair like normal. Then squirt the baking soda-water mixture on the scalp, by dividing in sections. I read in several places to keep it to scalp as much as possible.. because it can be super drying to the hair if it sets on the length of the hair for long. I didn't focus on that much.. just squirted it on the scalp and rubbed it in. Use the whole bottle. After a few minutes, rinse it all out.

THEN.. You're ready to "condition". Before your shower, you would have mixed up your ACV and water. I did 1:4 ratio of ACV to water. Then I dropped in like... 7 drops of Rosemary EO. I wasn't really measuring. So, after the baking soda is rinsed out, spray on the ACV. I probably used 1/4 of the spray bottle. Looks like I'll get a lot of bang for my buck on that! I just sprayed it all over, dividing in sections and rubbing in. I sprayed on all lengths of hair, not just roots.

It. Is. Strong. Smelling. Also, don't get this in your eyes. There was a minute, y'all, when I wondered if I would ever see again. O_O I don't know if it was the ACV or the EO that burned so bad, but something did!

After a few more minutes, rinse it out, and you're done. Now, my hair felt matted and heavy.. not very clean after I was done. But then, I dried it and it was soft as a baby's bottom. And kinda smooth, since I normally straighten, to get smoothness.

After! Looking particularly red-headed here..... Smooth and shiny!

After drying.

So, it's not like a night and day transformation, but it is clean hair with natural ingredients! And I know, because I made it myself.

Unless it begins to affect me negatively, I'm planning on continuing this. And, no, I didn't walk around smelling like vinegar after this. The smell pretty much rinses out in the shower. :)

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Charlie's Rustic Glam Bridal Shower

A couple months ago, I had the huge honor of hosting (with my Mom) a bridal shower for our precious family friend, Charlie. When Charlie and her family moved to our church, she was probably in 3rd or 4th grade (???) and I was a sophomore or junior in high school.. Anyone remember?? ha.. That long ago. +10 years ago. I used to babysit her! Our families used to go on outings together (our parents still do..) and we still spend Christmas Eve with them every year. I love them so much.

Then Charlie grew up and met Colby, and fell in love with him. And he's just great for her. I don't think anyone could ever be opposed to their union. It's perfect. :)

So, knowing that their wedding was looming in May, I started thinking about her shower in like January, I swear. Love me a party. I decided "Rustic Glam", because I think it suits her very well.

Here were the invites:

I went with her color of mint green, and I threw in gold. :) For the Glam factor. Her other color was peach. These were from Etsy, DesignsByDee.

"In lieu of a guestbook, please address an envelope to yourself!"

because busy brides need all the help they can get, in the midst of planning a wedding!

A beautiful "R" for the new last name!

Photos of Charlie and Colby in thrifted gold frames graced the tables, with gold painted Mason jars full of gorgeous spring flowers. And all my hand stamped gold and turquoise confetti hearts. :)