Little people friends

I am so very thankful for friends for my little people. 

Lucy is getting old enough to almost be a full part of things... 

Babies and hats

Okay, first of all, let me just tell you that I'm brimming with excitement because one of my very dearest friends had a healthy baby girl today. And I can't wait to get my hands on this little nugget and am resisting the urge to post the pictures she texted me because it is her business to announce sweet Hannah Beth to the world. But Emily, I am so thrilled for you and Paul (and, of course, Lily) and can't wait to come hug all of you.

Now, don't be angry with me, Emily, but here's another post about a hat. I know, I know, it makes no sense that a woman living in Texas has such an infatuation with knitting and crocheting, but let me just tell you, it's either that or stress eat, and I can't afford any more of that. Working on projects keeps me sane. Plus we all know Milo loves a hat, and was literally sitting next to me asking, "Mommy, is it done yet?" Look at this face and tell me if you think he's pleased...

Success, don't you think? And even if we do live in Texas, where a knit hat is only legitimate about two weeks of the year, I think this one will be a little more versatile. (Or I'm just saying that to make myself feel like I've actually accomplished something worthwhile.)

Can you believe this sweet face?

Side view, just for fun.

This was Milo's favorite picture, so I included it.

Heard around my house...

There is never a dull moment around my house. In fact, some days I find myself wishing there were, but that's neither here nor there. I thought I'd let you in on just a few snippets of things I hear all the time.


Lucy, pointing to her heinie, "Daddy, I just toot."

Milo: "So, Mommy, we are the children of God?"
Me:   "Yeah, Milo, isn't that cool?"
Milo: "Well, yeah, but that's a LOT of children!"


Lucy: "Mommy, Milo in trouble."
Me:    "What? Why is Milo in trouble?"
Lucy:  "Milo eat his boogies."
Me:     "Oh no! Ewwww! We do not eat boogies."
Lucy:   "Well, Milo does."


Milo, holding up the mittens I just crocheted him, which are clearly different sizes despite all my efforts to the contrary. "Umm, Mommy, maybe you should fix these. Aren't they supposed to be the same size?"


Lucy:  "Mommy, I need a haircut!"


Milo: "Mommy, I've been in my room playing garage sale. All my cars are at the sale, and I'm selling them. And then I'm also someone coming to buy them..." (insert puzzled expression) "Should I just go pick up?"


Milo:  "Boogy boo toooo moooshoo...." (add whatever gobbletygook you like) "Mommy, I'm speaking Spanish. Would you like to hear it in Hebrew, too?"

Friday already?

 WOW, have I not posted in over a week? Perhaps you can imagine how busy it's been around here, then. Poor Lucy ran a fever on Monday and Tuesday (which completely freaked me out given the febrile seizure she had last year), and I was hoverMom to the millionth degree. Seriously. The poor girl was so tired of me chasing her around with the thermometer that she probably got well just to avoid it. She's been after-sick cranky and coughing ever since, and I feel like I've been a full-time referee breaking up fights between Milo and Lucy... Anyway, in the midst of my stressed-out non-stop headache kind of week, I did a little project to chill a bit. Pardon the atrocious lighting and just look at my sweet little lady.

I know. She's perfect, right?

I'm still learning to crochet, and I made and re-made these little mitts at least four times. I was getting better at pulling out the entire thing than I was crocheting it.

Also, just in case you were concerned about not having seen Milo in a bit, here's a little photo montage for you. This little man is sunshine and giggles all the time. And he does toilets...

Spring project

Just working on a little project around here...

All different kinds of hats, and all with pink flowers instead of pink ribbons. 

One of my friends asked if I would be interested in knitting/crocheting some hats for a breast cancer support group. Um, YEAH I was interested. I think it's been helping me work through things with my Grandma a little bit, mostly because knitting is therapeutic to me, but also because I knit some of the hats Grandma loved when she was going through chemo. Let's be honest - I've cried on more than a few of these hats, but I've also prayed over them, too, so I think that evens out. Don't judge - I tried one of them on because it was a new pattern, and yes, Lucy and I will both be getting one eventually...

No makeup and messy hair always makes for a super-flattering picture, right?

Beautiful little people

I have some beautiful little people. I'm not bragging, and I do have a point, so stick with me here. Everywhere I go, people comment on these little people. And yes, they talk about how cute they are, mention the ridiculous eyelashes, giggle at some cute mannerism... But more than that, they talk about how well-behaved and smart they are. They notice that Milo is learning to be a gentleman and holds the doors for people. They see Lucy patting Milo, or Milo helping Lucy up after she falls down, or both of them saying "please" and "thank you" to store clerks. People take note that these two don't scream or whine or fight (well, most of the time). And so when I say I have some beautiful children, more than anything, I mean they are beautiful inside. They're kind and sweet and good-natured and loving, and I am so proud that they're mine.

I used to explain all of this away. Strangers would compliment them and I would mention one of their flaws, as if to counteract the nice thing they were saying. Why in the world did I do this? These little people are amazing. Yes, we have days where I think long and hard about screaming out loud. But I'm to the point where I just know that these are some special kids and I'm not afraid to agree with anyone who says it.

Hair story

Yep. This pretty much summarizes life right now.

Lazy days

My little people are incredibly lucky to have this guy right here. Nate is literally the most amazing daddy I've ever known, and I know that he makes our little people feel one hundred percent safe and loved at all times. And, to make things even better, he's the most amazing husband of all times - he shaved Bruiser as short as that little guy could get. Now I don't even have to consider vacuuming him (Bruiser, not Nate). 

My sweet Lucy

This is my sweet Lucy.

She scowls at strangers, but waves and giggles at little old men.

She mostly wants Mommy, but she always has extra snuggles for someone whose spirit needs it.

She waves her arms when she's frustrated, but she pats my back gently when I rock her before bed and tangles her tiny fingers in my hair when I hold her.

She has the most amazing, high-pitched scream when she's upset, but is the first to follow Milo around, clapping her hands and telling him, "Good job, Milo!"

She's a whirling dervish of energy, dancing and singing, jumping and shouting, "Watch!" to anyone who's near, but I hear at least ten times a day, "I hold you, Mommy?"

She talks in complete sentences, but loves to use one word at a time, always with "ha" in front. "Ha-juice?" "Ha-fip-fops?" "Ha-Mommy?"

She will climb or tackle just about anything, but she'll do it with a purse in her hand.

Her smile is like sunshine.

Her voice is strong and sweet.

She's my little Lucy light, and though she may be tiny, she shines brightly.

Sometimes you've just got to run.

A sick day

My body is officially no good at being still. Want proof? Yesterday I woke up SICK. Like, I stumbled into the bathroom and scared Nate sick. So sick that Nate got special permission to work from home and take care of our still-recovering-from-being-sick little people (isn't he dreamy?) and let me sleep all day. I'm not joking. I slept all day long.

Problem? I slept so long that I literally hurt my back and my hips. That's how long and hard I slept. Now, I realize that part of the sore body was just being sick. But I could barely sleep last night because I was in so much pain. That's serious business, people.

And the way I know that my body was just fed up with being still is that I woke up this morning and got right to work (despite the fact that even breathing hurt). I swept off the back patio, watered and sprayed our little plants, stripped the bed sheets, and started laundry... And every second that I've been moving my back has felt better. Well, the movement mixed with the absolute bliss of IcyHot slathered all over my back. It's going to be a great and productive day. I just feel it.

And now on to things you actually care about, like adorable pictures of my little people.

#1 This face. Is it just me or is she WAY too young to be looking at me like that? #2 Perhaps you could tell that Lucy figured out how to put on Milo's undies while he was in the tub...

Note to self: Next time you give your children a piece of unleavened bread for a snack, don't try to stage a photo shoot. No matter how cute they are curled up in the corner together.

I'll give you one guess as to where DADDY is sitting...

For real, though. Have you ever seen such cute little people?

A Beautiful Mess Documentary

I can't even explain to you how much I can't wait for this documentary to come out...

How many times can you say the word "vacuum" in one post?

Would it be considered animal cruelty if I vacuumed my dog? Just hear me out here...

My backyard is like a pollen factory. We have twenty plus trees, and I'm fairly confident that all the pollen in Lufkin is produced right here. And my dogs love to frolic in it. And poor Bruiser is like a Jerry Garcia-headed brillo pad, dragging in the pollen pods at all times of the day. My floor is covered in them and I'm vacuuming at least twice a day.

And all of a sudden I had a brilliant plan. If I just kept the vacuum by the back door and vacuumed Bruiser every time he came in, problem solved, right?

I know, I know. Not kind. Practical, but not kind. These are just the thoughts I have when I'm trying frantically to keep a clean house and two dogs and two little people have other plans. I read somewhere that in some cultures people clean their homes to the nines before Passover and then just leave and go on vacation. So the house is perfectly clean and no one is there to mess it up. It's a genius idea if you ask me.

Hope your weekend is pollen-free.