Family Visit

Last weekend we had Grandparents visit who we've only seen a few times in my lifetime!  We were so excited to see them again, for them to meet the kids, and to see where we live.  They flew into Omaha so the Sierts brought them down for a half-day.  It was a lovely visit!

the kids received several gifts.  this doodle pony was super fun for them!

the kids LOVE their Great Uncle Ward

group pic (I could NOT get a good one!)

Grandpa, such a SMART man!

super cute

 I got several pics of Uncle Ward

Kitchen - Phase 3

Phase 1: New light fixture and painting (see the original and updated pictures here)

Phase 2: New fridge (took out cupboards above and next to it to make it fit, but by golly we got it in there!  Just getting it through the doorways was an ordeal!)

Phase 3: Install dishwasher and add an "island" (or is it a peninsula?)

I've been really really REALLY wanting a dishwasher this past year!  With Kevin's long days and having three kids, it's such a draining chore to keep up with dishes.  We get finally get the kids in bed after a long day, and all we want to do is sit down and breathe.  But there waits a kitchen full of dirty pots and pans and plates and cups.  *sigh*

For quite some time we've had a spot picked out in the kitchen for where a dishwasher would go.  Someday.  But before doing that we needed to figure out how that would work with well water and if our house had enough water pressure  and electrical power to handle a dishwasher.  And then we had to figure where that cupboard full of pans would then go.  We brainstormed about adding a cupboard system in the dining room.  But after getting a price quote about it, we really started considering some other options and how we might rearrange the kitchen instead.

We still need a backing for the cupboards.  It's not a pretty view from here but I like how the "island" separates our shoe/coat area from the rest of the kitchen.

Phase 4: Install new cupboards to the left of the stove. But we're waiting until we put a hood microwave and smaller cabinet above the stove. And new stove??

Phase 5: New flooring and countertops.

And then it will be complete! Someday.  =)

But for now I love LOVE my dishwasher!  I feel like we can clean up quickly and then actually have time to actually wipe down the counters and tables well instead of just struggling on the basics.  Yippee!  Kevin is so awesomely talented that he could do all this on his own!!  AND I'm LOVING the "island" and the fact that the microwave isn't there anymore!  (we moved my potholders and mitts to the big drawer in the island, my cookbooks are where the mitts used to be, and the microwave is now where the cookbooks used to be) It's so nice  to grab milk or something out of the fridge and turn around right to the "island" for a counter to work at.  Love it!

A Wedding Weekend

Last weekend Kevin and I went to my friend/old roommate Emily's wedding to the love of her life Randon.  We drove to my parents' house Friday afternoon, and Saturday my family hung out with our kids while Kevin and I headed off 3+ hours away for the wedding which was located at my ol' college!  

It's always great to be back on campus. So many memories there.  It was my home for an important part of my life, the place I made "family".

Anyway, we got there right in perfect timing with some extra minutes to relax and chat with other friends I'd been excited to see there.  The wedding was beautiful, the reception fun, and the day just perfect.  After the reception we walked around campus with our friends for awhile, touring the buildings that are new since our time there and reminiscing about days gone by.  Afterward I called up another friend in the area and we stopped by for a brief visit before heading on to dinner and then back to my parents house again.  We were so tired, I mean REALLY tired, it's a looong 3 hr drive through nothingness, and we got back at whopping 11:30pm.  We've aged so much since becoming parents!  LOL It was a good day though.  And we're thankful for family watching the kids so we could go and just BE. 

before we left

so beautiful this time of year!

everyone played BINGO at the reception using sweet tart hearts for the markers

us Wartburgers (Angie, Sarah, Emily, Amber, Gina)

Angie's 6-month baby boy Gabe.  A cutie pie!!

Then Sunday was my dad's birthday, so it was convenient that we were going to be there anyway!  We went to church, had snackin's and cake for lunch, then naps, then the annual church fundraiser Smorgasboard.  We ate early and then headed back home to Nebraska.  Busy, tiring weekend.  But GOOD.

3rd baby syndrome??

Well, Carter had his 9-month checkup today.  Passed with flying colors EXCEPT he has not gained any weight in the past 3 months. His weight at 6 months was 17lbs, and his weight today was 17lbs 2.5oz.  He's otherwise growing very well, which I can tell without numbers because quite simply he's completely outgrowing his clothes! I explained his typical feeding schedule.  Nursing 4 times a day, eats puffs/cheerios every meal, and getting baby food (usually 2 bowls full) at dinner and/or lunch. Sometimes. Dr's orders were to really feed him full {baby} meals regularly for the next 2 weeks and come back for a weight check.  {if he still doesn't gain weight he'll have to get blood drawn} So we came home and did just that.  2 bowls of food right away.  And we'll remember to feed him at dinner. And breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. And so on...

It's so hard to be intentional about this stuff, come third baby.  I'm so busy preparing meals, serving meals, fetching things for everyone, attempting to feed myself, then cleaning up ,that sitting down and preparing baby food also {as easy as it is) is just another thing to add into the day.  Too easy to just skip.  Because obviously the baby is happy as he is.  

We don't do baby food consistently, we don't do regular baths, we don't read enough with the baby, we don't have a baby memory book {yet}, we hardly ever take video clips, and I certainly don't do this anymore!  My, how life has changed!

BUT we do love Carter just as much!  SO MUCH!  And so, I vow today to remember to feed the poor child his baby food.  =)


P.S.  I'm not actually worried about Carter's lack of weight gain.  I'm pretty sure it's just the result of him being so mobile now and our lack of consistency with his meals.  Give him 2 weeks of bulking him up, and I think he'll be fine.  But pray that it is just that. 

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Last Thursday we made our annual family trip to the pumpkin patch.  Sort of.  Our calendar fills up so quickly these days with school three mornings a week, naps in the afternoon, and Kevin's wacky work schedule.  So I actually had to write this onto our calendar in order to make sure we got to go; it was about the only day free.  Well, turns out they only do the hay rack rides to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch and apple trees on the weekends, so we just had to select from the already-picked pile in front of the store.  Definitely not as exciting, but I really don't think the kids minded at all. 

 There wasn't a great spot in front of the store for family pictures and I'd dressed everyone up in coordinating colors, so we headed to a nearby park area for pictures...

The kids and I will get to go to a super-fun kid-friendly pumpkin patch next week with our MOPS friends!  We sure love fall!

Brothers

Where did brother go??

I told Eli to give Carter a kiss and he wanted to do one like on the movie Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs where they puffed up their cheeks (super fun movie, by the way)

Carter--9 months!

 

This month's updates:

* Teeth 3 and 4 came in, so now he has two bottoms and two tops and a great smile.

* He pulls to standing with ease now and is sometimes standing in his bed (pack n play or if it's the crib he's always standing) when we get him.

* He likes to put his arms up in the air now playfully and he can almost clap.

* He's been waking early these days, around 5:30/6:00am.  I feed him and he lays back in bed {usually awake} until almost 7am.

* He still naps 2.5 times a day and nurses 4 times a day.  

* He eats lots of different baby foods now, making mmm sounds while he eats, and usually feeds himself Puffs, crackers, or Cheerios while the rest of the family eats meals.

* He's zooming all over the house now crawling and we have to keep a watchful eye to make sure he doesn't {though he will} find eat something he shouldn't.

* He got to meet lots of new people this month.  He met a family-of-family member Mr. Ed early in the month, he met my good friend Lisa, and he came to bridal shower with me in Iowa.