Family.

Apologies for disappearing for a spell - we had family in town!  :)

My most adorable and favorite niece is growing like a weed!  11 months already!  Can you believe it!?  Peanut has the most gorgeous blue eyes and toothless grin EVER.  :)  I think we'll keep her.

See.  Gorgeous.  I told you.  :)  

Little Dude (Squirt) is turning into quite the little charmer.

 

We dedicated him this past Sunday while Husband's family was in town.  I cannot wait to see what the Lord does with this little life!

He's very shy.  :)

Peanut and Sesame enjoyed a brief trip to the Children's Museum with Grammy and the Mommies, while Ezra snoozed with Yia Yia and Pappy.

This face.  Yes, the one pictured above, is the exact same face her Daddy makes when he's concentrating and her Grandpa.  Love it.  Love.

Who went and planted Sesame's in the garden?  Don't spread it around, they'll all be picked!

 After the museum Sistah and I decided we needed to exercise.

Here is Sister looking all fit and flawlessly executing the zumba moves.  I, on the other hand, am flailing about like a poor man's Richard Simmons.

Let's recap:

Sister's Zumba = Professional Dancer

My Zumba = Beached Whale

As if my postpartum body needed more of a workout - the girls woke up from their nap and wanted to play.

Notice Sisters gleaming smile.  Notice my flushed cheeks, lack of a smile and Sesame's skeptical stare.
Thus is my first Zumba experience.

We're all tired and falling back into normal routines - with the addition of a bit of Zumba.  :)

Total Clearance Score!

This:

was the ultimate Clearance Section score today.  I've been pining away for a leather topped bench with storage inside for a year or two now.  It's the perfect place to plop down and put on shoes while hiding laundry or random crap that is lying around my house before unexpected company appears toys.

The kids and I were winding up a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond, aka "The Sheet Store" to Sesame, when I spotted a random clearance section.  And there it sat, calling forth with blissful angelic sounds, "the leather bench" (said with the SNL Sean Connery accent.*)

The bright yellow clearance tag read "retail price 149.99 clearance price 20.98"  I looked over my shoulder thinking I was on candid camera.  Nope.  No cameras.  Upon further inspection I found the purpose of the drastically reduced price.

A broken hinge.  No big deal.  Even I could fix that.

Two scuffs and a slight puncture.  

On the back.  

The part that faces the wall. 

The part that will not be seen by anyone.

I whipped out my cell phone, thankful A) I had it with me and B) it was charged for once.  Husband agreed this would be a wise purchase.  I mean, seriously, you can't even buy plastic storage tubs for 20.98!?

So.  There I am.  My cart is full with a 2.5 year old Shirley Temple look alike, a Care Bear and a floral print purse in the front; and, a large infant carrier, complete with 9 week old slumbering babe, in the back.  I already squeezed the 10 tray/organizers under the carseat in an effort to not carry them in my hand.  So.  Out of necessity, I scooted the brown leather bench across the entire front of the store, with my feet, whilst dragging a cart full of children behind me.  I wasn't about to leave the bench just sitting there.  Hello!?  Someone could snatch it up!

Also, watching my mild TV obsession, American Pickers, paid off.  I chose a line with a young male cashier and politely asked, "There are a few other damages that aren't mentioned on the sticker," points to the small puncture (on the back!) and scuff marks on the front, "Would you take 15 for it?"  And what does he do?!  GRANT MY REQUEST!!  AND I had a 20 % off coupon?!  Jigga what?!  Take that!  

Leather bench total cost: 16.00

Score.

Another project I've been working to conquer before we house family for a week:

Sesame's Big Big Girl Room.

Theme: Polka Dots.  :)  Love

Progress is slow but looks better everyday.

 

I'll keep you posted as I paint.  I saved a ton of money by purchasing paint samples in all the colors.  The circles don't take up too much space and thusly, saved money.  Sweet.  Money that I can buy more sweet, cheap leather benches with!?  Just kidding.

If you've made it this far in this post you deserve a cookie.  Thank you for putting up with my overflowing joy at saving a few dollars.  :)  Have a great day!


*If you get that reference then we can be friends.  If not, we need to talk more.  Note: This does not apply to family members.  I love you always and anyway.)

A Note.

I love my kids.  :)
They rock.

Sesame was twirling around the house with a Sunday straw hat on and an open umbrella yesterday, singing "Let's Go Fly A Kite" at the top of her 2.5 year old lungs.  She told me she was Mary Poppins.  I told her I was Bert.  She said "Mommy you are a gurrrrrrrl.  Bert is a boy.  You can be the penguins that dance."  I said "Okay." and waddle-danced around the living room.  Lil Dude just tooted and cooed at the crazy dancing penguin people.

Squirt urped on me 5 times yesterday.  Five.  Times.  These five times were the only times I had to actually change my clothing because of the copious amounts of fluid that erupted out of his teeny, tiny 9 week old mouth. There were other urp incidents that were not wardrobe change worthy.  It's amazing what I deem acceptable with number two.

Squirt is totally rockin' the old man expressions these days.  His strained peas smile spreads across his face more and more frequently ever day.  His falling into mild patterns that are allowing me to plan more effectively for outings and quality time with Sesame.  I love the special time the Lord grants me between 5 and 6 am with Squirt.  He wakes, eats and is happier, more satisfied and animated than any other time throughout the day.  I'm eager for him to be a bit bigger, but am cherishing moments such as these.

Sesame lined all her stuffed animals and dolls up on the couch today.  When I inquired, "What are you doing?"  She proudly reported, "Sending them to school."  "Oh," I replied, "Are you the teacher?" She looked at me like an alien "Mommy, I am 2, I cannot teach them school.  I will teach them Sunday.  About Jesus and dying on the cross."

I cried a little.

My sweet Sesame is growing into such a person.  A person who shares the gospel message with stuffed animals, grocery store clerks and her little brother.  I don't mind that potty training is taking forever - she's picking up quickly on what's important.  :)

If only we were all so bold as Sesame.

Ninja Homer Clone and Reptar

Now that  is a title.  :)  Right.  So after my last post Husband dearest asked about the "chasing the not my dog" story.  Upon ceasing my re-telling of the episode, he immediately begged me to re-tell the story, once again, to the world via this tiny little blog.

So.

I had Little Squirt up on my shoulder/against my chest venturing around the house picking up Sesame's loose toys.  It's quite the task.  I must say, I feel closely related to primates when I do this.  I tend to use my feet much like hands so as not to disturb Little Man's cozy, content place on my shoulder.  If only I had thumbs on my feet.  Moving on...

As I picked up what felt like the tenth naked doll baby I realized Homer had been outside for an extended period of time.  I thought to myself, "Self, it's probably not the best idea to leave a black, longish haired dog outside when the heat index is 110."  Thusly, I decided to let him in.  I opened the back door and whistled to call Homer inside.

Only he was outside of my yard.
Down the easement.
Far away.
Between to houses.

I immediately frantically screamed like a crazy lady losing her mind called his name.  He turned and looked over his shoulder as if to say "Come and get me Momma."  Then turned away.

At this point I freaked.

I went bounding across the yard in my bleach stained, too small, post partum T-shirt and yoga shorts - Squirt in tow.  And, by "in tow" I mean still being held on my shoulder.

And he's 6 weeks old at this point.
With decent head control.
But not enough for a sprint across a prairie-like 1/2 acre yard.

As I bounded, dodging dog poop and sand toys, I half yelled at Homer half tried to protect my son's head from banging into my shoulder, or head, or chest or pretty much anywhere that his floppy neck muscles would allow.  I am fairly certain he looked like a Dwight Schrute bobble head on crack.

He was a trooper though.
Cooed the whole time.
I think he's going to be laid back.  :)

We neared Homer when I noticed something odd.  This dog was smallish.  Homer is not.  This dog had no collar.  Homer has a choke chain collar.

This dog, was not my dog.

Yes, it's true.  I ran, with my newborn son, across our yard in clothing that should really be at the bottom of a trash can, only to find that the dog I was chasing, was not mine.  Fail.

But at least my dog was lounging on my bed, legs flailed about haphazardly, snoring in obedient domestication.

Thus ends the dog story.

               

 This Reptar.  I dubbed Squirt "Reptar" because of his reptile like skin.  It's all in love kids - all in love.  In all seriousness though, his skin is so terribly dry that we might have to see a pediatric dermatologist.  Poor kid.  Keep your fingers crossed that detergent switches, olive oil, hydrocodone and insanely thick lotion goo will do the trick.

Growing Boy.

This won't be long.

No, really - it won't.

I'm not going to elaborate on how I'm typing this in the kitchen, standing up with a pile of asparagus in front of me while Sesame is playing in a sink full of water, pantless.

I won't spend my precious moments of time recounting the tale of why my couch cushion is sitting in the middle of my dining area, covered in baking soda and seltzer water.

I don't think you even want to know why I'm on my fourth shirt of the day and why the only pair of summer weight pants that fit me have been washed twice today.

Even though you would most likely cackle uncontrollably if let you hear how I chased after my dog.  Only to find out that it was, in fact, not my dog - I will not tell the tale.

Why?  

Because this little dude:

has been waaaaaaaaaaaaay too fun today to think about any of that!  :)  

Have a fabulous day!

Rain, Rain - Yay!

It's been a teensy bit dry for the past month or so in the Mid west.  Dry as in our lawn is yellow dry.  We've even heard thunder and lightening yet been denied a cool, summer rain.  All that changed yesterday.  :)

Sesame, Squirt and I were outside on the swing set when the thunder started.  Loud, bone-rattling peals that sent Sesame into rigid, robot-faced scared mode.  I may have laughed at her "scared face."  I'm working on capturing the moment on film.  Anyway.  No rain.  We decided to return to the fabulous-ness that is air conditioning.  

::Begin Sidenote::  How did people survive in Indiana without air conditioning?!?  I mean, really?!  115 with the heat index AND the air is so thick you can barely breathe.  I'm an admitted big, fat wimp when it comes to heat.  I'd rather go without heat in the winter and huddle around a fireplace. ::End Sidenote::

Not ten minutes later, husband came home.  Not ten minutes after that, it started to pour!  :)

"Mommy." pauses in thought, "May you take me outside in the rain, please?"

For the briefest moment, I considered saying "No." 

We had people coming over in an hour.

The house looked like a pre-school day care arena without a janitor.

My favorite couch pillows were drowning in a sea of laundry and Little People.

There may or may not have been a bottle on top of the laptop perched upon a pile of coupons.

Then I looked at Sesame.

She's had a fair bit of change to deal with lately.  One being the loss of attention.  She has transitioned magnificently.  She loves being big sister and seriously helps.  Without her, I would probably be de-hydrated and bored.  (She brings me water and "reads" books to me while I feed Squirt).  

I thought: Why in the world would I give up this opportunity to say "Yes." to my girl?

Katie @ Heart Gone Walking wrote a great post about "saying yes" at the same time I began writing this post.  It says everything I was thinking.  

As a stay at home Momma I have to say "No" about 7,082 times a day.  And Sesame is a good child.  The times when I get to say "Yes," at this age, seem very limited.  So, why not soak myself in some rain drops.  :)

"Yes, Sesame." pauses so as not to cry, "I would love to take you out in the rain." 

So...It's Been Awhile.

Forgive me, but we've been adjusting around our home just a bit.  :)  Little Dude is rockin' sleep time.  He's fairly consistently sleeping 6 hours waking, eating, and sleeping for another 2 hours.  :)  Ahh...second babies.  :) Also, I love my job.  Just sayin'.  I think it's the only job that involves poop and crying I would willingly tackle.  It just so happens I some fabulous examples of why my job rocks.

Numero Uno:

The first baby smiles and coos.  Love.

Also - how much they love each other.  It's pretty great.

Secondly:

Sesame came into the living room and loudly stated, "I need lotion - for my belly." "Okay sweet heart, Mommy will be there in just a minute."  Five minutes pass.  No sound from Sesame.  A nervous "I'm going to have a ginormous mess to clean up" feeling birthed itself in my belly.  "Sesame?"  I called out.  No answer.  Where was she?  In my bathroom.  "Lotioning" herself.  With conditioner.  "Look Mommy - I'm a big girl - I did it by myself!"

Love it.

Can't blame her - except for the ruined rug - which I didn't like anyway.  :)

Thirdly:

I'm pretty sure this one needs no caption...


...but I've been silent too long.  :)  I LOVE how these two already love each other.  Ezra smiles at the sound of Nellianne's voice.  He coos at her.  He turns his head.  I know being the big sister isn't always easy (nor the younger brother) but I am amazed at the bond they are already forming.  Maybe it's just Momma's wishful thinking - but I really think it's there.  Sesame and Squirt rock the house together.  I can't wait to see who they become!  :)

Anyway.

I'm hoping to not be so silent.  We have projects in the works and already a drove of stories to recount.  They had both pooped and were wailing the other day at the same time.  Good gravy.  What does a person do with twins!?  :)