The week started off with older kids enjoying the tail end of their 4 day weekend. 
For the youngest one, it meant a special trip to the Dr. for what turned out to be an ear infection. Of course, it was on the heels of a 2 wk lingering cold.
Here's her in a happier recent moment:

Our week did not go as planned & unfortunately was full of cranky baby tears and a few tired, cranky mom moments too. Thankfully those seem to be becoming a more distant memory as she seems to be on the mend. I've really been relishing the extra, sweet cuddle sessions this week. I feel so bad for the littles when they don"t feel well. No easy way to tell us other than to be cranky & out of sorts.  


Lil J had her well visit today. She'll be happier tomorrow I'm sure. Shots aren't exactly the greatest follow-up to an ear infection after all. The house came in about 4th or 5th place all week so it looks quite a fright at the moment. Hoping to spend some quality time putting my troops to work helping me get it back under control this weekend.


Hope everyone has a wonderful and warm weekend in out of the cold!.

OK...
I've obviously forgotten what it's like to have a lil one in the house 24/7. It's simply been way too long and I've gotten quite a bit longer in the tooth. I'm kick starting the New Year with a new blog post. Kinda funny when one thinks about my last blog post.

New year, new blog look. Having scooped up some good deals at Victoria Secret's Semi-Annual Sale, I was inspired and moved to feel the pink. Love is in the air with upcoming Valentine's Day and our Anniversary. February 2011 will be extra special this year. More on that to come...

Sweet big, baby girl J is kicking my mommy butt! I love her to bits (does that go without saying?). We ALL love her to bits around here!!! She is so very funny and such an imp at times. Here are some recent outtakes from life with baby J: she said "dada" and with all our prompting for a "mama"... for wks her response was "dada", suddenly she said "mama" and added "baba" (bottle), then as suddenly as "mama" started she stopped the "dada"... this went on for wks, just last wk she found "dada" again; inside 2 wks time she went from army crawling, to scootching on her bum pulling herself with her arms, to inchworm crawling, to pulling herself up to standing (making me wonder if she'll walk before she full out crawls), to yes full on crawling after 4 days of almost no horizontal movement- all pulling up to stand; loves peek-a-boo... imitates the vocal inflections to "say" it with us and pulls blanket up in front of her face on her own; oh the fabulous open mouthed baby kisses (is there anything as sweet in the whole world?); baby kissing games- daddy asks for a kiss and she kisses N, N asks for a kiss and she kisses daddy; in the middle of family dinners at home she starts "the wave" (and yes we all join in, it's a such a hoot, so far she doesn't even attempt it in restaurants); about 3 wks ago she started letting go and standing on her own while distracted with a new toy or dad's cell phone, in the past week she has walked a step between furniture or one of us and a piece of furniture repeatedly; just yesterday she started this odd half smiling/ tilt her head back thingy- looks sweet, odd & inspired all at the same time; today's thing is pulling her arms straight out & behind her almost like she's channeling a proud penguin in another life; tonight she clapped... another 1st and she was super proud of herself (love, love, love those first moments of self pride... there's just nothing else like it in the world).

Big sis C has been so adoring of little sis J. She waited such a looooooooong time for a full time lil sis. Makes my heart melt to see them interact and C be so loving to her. I knew that side of her was still in there. Good to see more of it these days. Really hoping it's a turning point for her. C has picked up the viola and really seems to enjoy it. It's good to see something else she's interested in and it seems to come pretty naturally for her. Still the avid reader and writer. She's growing up too fast. Would spend all hours on the phone, if we'd let her.

Big brother N has such a special way with lil J. It's almost magical the way those two click. She simply adores him & lights up instantly when he pays her attention. N's newest sport he's tackling is basketball. He did pretty well for the first round of games, going back for another set soon. Still the avid video gamer, loves his PS3.

Big brother J wants so badly for lil J to light up for him the way she does the other two. At times she does, but she doesn't fully trust his sure footedness with her yet. He gets frustrated so easily and it's terribly hard to see him hurt especially since it's not for the lack of his trying. I know he'll win her over soon. She does love him as a playmate like no other! Htried his hand at basketball and did well, but his heart seems to be still with soccer, so he's going back for a round of indoor soccer this winter too. Jaymes loves building legos, drawing & coloring. He found a new affinity for cross country skiing this winter too. Both boys love to be outside.

You know the sayings: "Trying Two's" and "Terrible Three's". I think I'm adding "Tremendous Teen's". Some days it's good, some days they amaze you and they're absolutely awesome, some days you hardly know they exist (they can be so MIA), some days it's bad, some days so awful you wonder if you'll live (or if they will) to see the end of the teen years, and some days you just never know from one moment to the next which it is or what note the day will end on. Oh, I might add "Twixting Tween's" to the mix too. Yes, I think I can say N is officially on that horizon now too. What happened to my sweet baby boy? God grant me strength and more patience than I can fathom. While touching on God and asking for things: please grant me the wisdom to handle more Ex drama... just when you think it's all behind you and you'll get a bit of a breather... well let's just say wonders never cease.

RENEWAL
That's my word for the year. Renewing family bonds; renewing our home functionality; renewing friendships; renewing faith in ourselves, each other and the Lord; renewing our health; renewing our way of living; renewing our perspective.
Maybe my word for the year should have some assistants, meet: Reclaim, Prioritize, Declutter, Organize, Simplify, Laugh and the catch phrase: Live Large.

Our first household project that falls in line with renewing our home functionality is our laundry room/family closet. I'll touch on the progress more soon. It's inspired by the Duggars, but we definitely have our own spin on it (we don't have nearly that many kids and plan not to). All I can say is I am truly loving it!!!! It truly is the best functioning room in the house (at the moment anyway).

Home projects on the horizon: command central revamp, bedroom swaps, buffet/scrap desk, pc desk revamp, bedroom add-on, partial porch conversion to a mudroom, hallway, half bath reorientation, storage room clean up, wiring upgrades, shed organizing, paint, paint & more paint.

Self projects on the horizon: eating well, staying hydrated, intentional exercise, cleansing, toning, stretching, getting back to my former strong self, creating again and praying with more intention and more often.

Couples project is to get back to date nights. Aiming for one a month to start. We love spending the time together, there's just never enough of it.

Well I think that pretty well sums things up. Hope to be back by this time next week.

I posted a decluttering update.

Well honestly, I'm way overdue.

So here's the rest of January's purging:
Week 2: some duplicate kitchen utensils, paper purged from files, magazines that had been read and didn't need saved, dish towels that had seen better days, an entry console table that just doesn't fit our space well.
Week 3: a bag full of old clothes that I knew I'd never wear again, a bag of clothing the boys have managed to outgrow again already (going to their little cousin), blankets to the camper that aren't needed at home now that the kids have new to them duvets (thanks grandma & grandpa G!), a few pairs of shoes that don't and won't fit anyone in our household.
Final Week: a comforter DD has matured beyond, an ironing board holder and full size ironing board (we now have a fancy schmancy ironing board cabinet), old sheets that were thread bare or worse had holes in them, a water pillow donated to my mom (never worked well for DH or I), boots that don't and won't fit anyone in our household.

Are you taking the challenge? Decluttering Challenge 2010 @ FL&M

January's resolution (getting back to our basic routines) worked nicely. We still have a ways to go with the kiddos and their routines but we're off to a great start for the year and that's what counts!

February's resolution (scheduling me time):
Week one: Taking it a little easier this week in general. Penciling in naps. Last week was a whirlwind and I feel like I'm gradually recovering. Had a couple nights of contrax for a few hours each night. Followed by a weekend filled with birthday parties to attend and a closet project plus readying the nursery kick-off. Topped it all off with a sick kiddo.
Week two: Planning "me time" moving forward on a daily and weekly basis.
Week three: Planning a day each month to have a mommy getaway for a few hours (library/bookstore/coffee bar with a BGF, etc).
Week four: Penciling in an annual girl's getaway (probably scrapbooking retreat). I so miss those.

That's the plan, we'll see how well I do....

OK I got a bit ahead of myself or so it would seem. See I found this really neat feature where one can write up their blog post ahead of time and schedule it to post on a specific day and at a specific time. I thought: "oh how fabulous! I can have things post at the real beginning of the day (12:01 a.m.) so no matter who reads it on a given day, it'll be updated.". Nice thought isn't?!

The reality was a bit different. I think I need a calendar to keep track of my blogging. Yup, seriously. Sounds really sad doesn't it? It definitely made me rather frustrated with my new blogging love. I was so stoked that I'd figured out how to upload photos to my blog originally. So here's where I goofed. I'd write up my posts and plan them out and then life would get in the way of my getting decent photos (or any photos) to go with said blog posts. The behind the scenes of real life blogging is that to have pretty pictures one needs A- a relatively clean/decluttered space to show off whatever it is the post is about -and- B- some daylight streaming in our NE OH windows would be nice on the days that I have time to orchestrate a display or two and have said clean/decluttered space ready for a photo opp.  So here's where the calendar comes in... oh yes and a shortcut to the weather channel online. It all has to be coordinated during our wintery time of year here, something I was obviously rather oblivious to starting out.

As soon as I can get those missing photos taken, my last few blog posts will be all pretty and not so plain jane, empty looking. Yes, I'll be back to my regular posting again soon too. Real life has just overshadowed things a bit of late and this little baby has been kicking my butt and she hasn't even arrived yet.