First Day of School! First Day of School!

Hi.

Lets pretend like it hasn't been three weeks since I've posted and just keep on keepin' on, yeah?

So.  TODAY.

Today was THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

The first EVER day of school.

And while I have all these grand ambitions of homeschooling some day and being this have-it-all-together mom with tons of activities and enriching explorations planned for my preschooler, this is what's up: I'm not. that. mom. ...this year, anyway.

Last January when the preschool enrollment began for Fall 2013 I was all roses and unicorns and "my kid's not going to preschool when he's only three years old.  I will tutor him here myself and he will thrive on all of my education pursuits and hands-on happenings."  Yeah, whatever man.  Little Miss Mowgli showed up, and I quickly realized I can't keep up with Newbie's bright little brain and still nurse and change diapers all day too.  So it was a preschool scramble this summer.  And we got him in.

Newbie was psyched out for school a month ago.  Like, can't tie this man down, let me at 'em, bring me that snack in a Dixie cup psyched. out.  A month ago.

The past month has been all "I don't want to go to school" "don't leave me there" and a handful of other sentiments that make it really hard for a mama to pry herself away from that classroom door on the first day.  "Oh sweetie, you don't want to go?  No problem.  Lets just stay in our pajamas like we have for the last three years."  I'm just saying.  It was tempting.

But we rallied.  We swapped kissing hands last night, read The Kissing Hand again this morning over breakfast (if you have a little going to school- get this book!  It is precious times infinity.), prayed together, took the obligatory first day pictures, and scurried out the door.  I don't want to brag, but I also fed the baby and brushed Newbie's teeth and hair before we left.  We were feeling on top of the world, man.

There was a serious run-down in the car on the way to school:

"Remember to keep the sand in the sand table."

"Lets be sure and be a kind and loving friend today."

"Listen to your teacher and when she asks you to clean up, PLEASE HELP CLEAN UP."

"If you have to go potty, just hold it until you get home."  ...that's a lie.  I didn't say that.  What I said was something about telling your teacher and stopping to go right away, but it was all in faux confidence because just this morning it dawned on me that he would be in shoes all day at school, and I'll spare you the details, but shoes just add a whole new world of bathroom drama, and I wasn't convinced we would survive. I was wholeheartedly hoping he would just hold it until we were home so we could practice some bathroom shoe strategies.  (Life with littles is very glamorous.  Nose-blowing instead of nose-picking drills were to follow our bathroom strategy practice.)

When we got to school, he was nothing but brave.  He waltzed right up to the attendance board and found his picture.  After asking me if it was his, he walked through the door.  That's when I had to make the big decision whether to follow him in or not.  I looked around and saw several parents in the room, so I crossed the threshold.  A mom can't just leave a child to fend for himself when it comes to locating a new cubby and hanging up a backpack.  We found the cubby, hung the backpack, and then I kneeled down in front of him.  I asked for a big hug and kiss, then I told him to have a great day and I high-tailed it outta there while he walked confidently over to the slide because I knew we'd both be in trouble if I stayed.

Last I saw, he was having a ball on the slide, and I made a bee-line for some Starbucks pumpkin spice latte therapy because there are some things only over priced coffee can cure.  Like dropping your first born off at school for the first time.

I took my coffee over to a friend's house and chatted for two hours, then headed back to school to pick up my little Einstein. He was all business walking in from recess and into his classroom, then he slowly walked out to meet me as his teacher called his name.  He officially did it.  I was so proud.

On the way home I asked him if he liked school.  "No I didn't. Well, I did NOT yike da singing."

Well, what did he learn? "I yearned about yight and dark."  (True dat.  First day curriculum was the first day of Creation- light and dark. Maybe we were getting some where.)

Was he sure he didn't like school?  Could he name just one good thing he liked? "No, nuffin.  I yiked zero fings."

....[crickets]....

So clearly we have some warming up to do.  Not even the new John Deere backpack could save us in the post-school morale department today, folks.  But I have high hopes for Thursday because this team does not give up that easily. And also, I'm getting the backpack monogrammed, so BAM preschool awesomeness restored.

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In other news, Miss Mowgli has some HAIR people.

And with that, these children are boycotting nap time with a vengeance. Over and out.

Happy Tuesday!!!

Summering 2013

If you're here and reading then it means that you haven't given up on me even though I haven't blogged in years.  Thank you for your patience while I summer with my people. =)

I turn the big two-eight today, and for a birthday present to myself, I'm sneaking in an hour this morning to update my blog.  How's that for commandeering the birthday agenda? =)

This summer has been a blur of snuggles and fun.  Somehow my baby girl has gone from a five day old to a one month old to a two month old, and we've got the two-month well child appointment this morning to prove it.

We've spent the summer with family and friends, soaking up the sun on our warm days and snuggling up on the couch on our (surprisingly numerous!) chilly days.  Newbie is absolutely in love with Miss Mowgli, and the feeling is mutual judging by the coos and smiles he renders when he gets up in her face to sing her a classic Newbie mash-up which always includes a few praise and worship songs, row your boat, and a little free-styling.  She's his biggest fan right now, and we love watching them together.

I have gobs of pictures of our summer, but we just got back from a nice long vacation, so I'm going to take a pass on trying to play catch up and just pick up where we're at right now. The time in between was filled with lots of diapers and family walks and a neighborhood block party, blueberry and strawberry picking, the sweetest visit from my grandparents and uncle, and a trip to the pool with my MIL in which Newbie JUMPED OFF THE DIVING BOARD like a boss.  Also, he's going to start preschool this year so pretty much WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BALD-HEADED BABY?!?  Thanking the Lord that we have another little roly poly to snuggle on while her big brother stretches his wings.  I can't believe how fast time sneaks by when you're raising littles.  It makes me all the more grateful for weeks like last week when we just SLOW this circus down.

We hit the beach house with my family and had a blast.  I have spent four summers at this cottage, and I'm struck by all the life that has happened in that short amount of time.  One thing I can say is true for that passage of time: I have fallen deeper in love with my Lord and deeper in gratitude for the gift that is now.  We were so blessed to soak up some seriously awesome now last week.

Now presenting our little slice of Heaven on earth:

(if you're out of state, please come visit.  our summers are all kinds of beautiful.)

Speaking of beautiful:

(Wanna know a secret?  I can't believe she's mine.)

And then there's this little rockstar who stole my heart three years and five months ago:

(I'm not opposed to arranged marriages.  I have a few ladies in mind already. Family friends- so if it works out, I'll be scoring him an awesome MIL.)

Mornings with my people are my favorite.  He is so sweet and snuggly with her in the morning, and she just beams back at him.  I think having a big brother must be the funnest thing in the world.

So thankful these people are such a big part of my story...

(Uncles are good for shadin' it)

(Kayak date with my man that lasted about 10 minutes because that little guy kept chasing us and I am powerless to resist his request that we stay and play.)

(He was so scared to try the boat, but I was so proud of him for being brave and giving it a whirl!  He gets his guts from his daddy.)

Beach bonfires = the BEST.

(That girl right there? Yeah, she's PREGNANT! We. are. so. excited.)

(that hat?!  delicious.)

Good times were had by all, and now we're counting down to a long weekend vacation at Grandma and Grandpa's cottage before we step into a fall of big boy preschool and pumpkin everything.  

Cheers to the last couple weeks of summer!  

Like Honey

Y'all.  I am shuffling around in a cloud of complete bliss and exhaustion.

I just ate a brownie as a mid-morning snack, and I can hear Newbie climbing up to the counter to do the same and I don't even care.  I am mastering the art of picking my battles.  Brownie for breakfast?  No shame.  Shorty running around nakey while a friend stops by with dinner?  Put. your. pants. on.  With two littles, you can't win 'em all, so you've got to have your priorities straight.  =)

After three years, I had forgotten what its like to try and do life in a sleep-deprived state.  Every night the Hubs and I go to bed singing "Eye of the Tiger" because while the rest of the world might be winding down, with a newborn in the house, dusk is like the beginning of the playoffs.  High stakes, man...will she eat? will she sleep? is there enough coffee in the world? whats my name? Its intense.

I think I've called my mom every day asking her to come over so I can take a nap.

Despite all the sleepless nights, we are absolutely over the moon.  I am so thankful for perspective.  We've done this before, so we know we'll sleep again. (Sort of.)  And we've been so close to doing this and then not being able to that it makes each moment (even the sleepy ones) such a treasure.  We are drinking this girl up and loving every minute of it.

Most days (when I'm not wrangling her brother or playing explorers) I just stare at her, in awe that she's here and that she's mine.  We're not taking a single moment for granted, and the sweetness of these days drips thick and rich like honey.  We are so incredibly grateful for the generosity of her Maker!

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And now for a slew of pictures- I have a trillion more, but they're stuck on my phone until Newbie surrenders it, and right now the Wild Kratts on the PBS app are the only thing keeping me from having to ditch the blog update, so the phone pics will have to wait for another day. =)

Birth Day:

(That right there is a heart swelling with gratitude)

(His first words when he saw her: "Oh, how WONDERFUL!")

(Such a proud Big Brother...I am so blessed by that sweet boy!)

(One of our sweet nurses holding our girl while she hams it up- we were so blessed and well cared for by some very special ladies while we were at the hospital...hi, Sue!)

(Finally going home!!!)

*****
In an effort to combat feeling like a sleepy hermit, we've been out and about a little bit here and there.  We took the kiddos to the carnival last weekend and I felt really human.  Which was awesome after living in PJ's for a week. =)  Newbie was a big fan of the Hawaiian shaved ice and the Hubs got a twitch from all the fried food.  Word on the street is he's high-jacking the grocery list and throwing us on the Paleo band wagon.  Good thing he doesn't know where I've hidden the brownies.

(every last drop, baby)

(All dressed up in our carnival best...every color we could find)

*****
My goal with Sister this summer is to be sure and get outside every day.  Because eight months out of the year we live in a polar ice age and sunshine and summertime are to be enjoyed to the fullest at all costs. I'd be lying if I said I haven't forfeited a few outdoor play times for naps because both kids were feeling snoozy, but we have been out a lot and the sunshine can make such a difference on a sleepy afternoon!  Sister got her belly button about a week ago and was rockin' the sun bonnet.

(The best.  Probably ever.)

(Hi, Grandma!  Thank you and Grandpa for the new double stroller!!!)

*****
We are so tired.  And my hair is so messy.  And the Hubs drinks about a gallon of coffee every hour.  And Newbie knows it and has become a master brownie-sneaker and house messed-upper....but we're loving every minute.  Because theses sleepy, sloppy days are the most wonderful gift we've been given.

Shouting for joy and singing His praises from this sleepy corner of the world!

Happy happy Wednesday, friends!

(Father's Day pic with the littles...Blooper reel, anyone?)

***A big thank you to all of you who were praying us through the high blood pressure and biliruben/blood sugar issues we were combating last time I updated.  Miss Mowgli and I have both been completely cleared and given a double-thumbs up in the health department- praise the Lord!!!

Happy Birth Day, Miss Mowgli!

Last Wednesday we were pleasantly surprised (two and a half weeks early!) with a gift my heart doesn't have the words to describe...

On June 5 at 1:15 in the morning, Miss Mowgli was born weighing 8 pounds and stretching 21 inches.

She has the pinkest cheeks and the sweetest smile and her daddy, brother, and I can't stop looking at her and snuggling her and thanking God for her.

(Hello, Jubilee bunny)

We are soaking in every last drop of the Lord's goodness, and the Hubs and I are so, so grateful for the joy He has given us in these two.

My dear friend at http://www.trudyholtzphotography.com took these amazing images of our two loves yesterday afternoon.  I can't stop looking at the little blessings God has entrusted to us, and I can't believe they are mine.  What a gift!

Big Brother can't stop gushing over her "sweet little hands" and her "cute little feet".  He's thrilled to have her home and the first thing he said when he saw her at the hospital was, "oh, how wonderful!"  That boy is such a sweetheart- we just love him to pieces and think he's the very bravest for saying goodbye to two little sisters and embracing God's plan for this new little lady.  We learn things from that little man every day.

Miss Mowgli had some blood sugar issues and is still working through some bilirubin/jaundice, but the Lord has provided and she is a healthy girl!  Momma is tired =) and being monitored for high blood pressure...little details to work out in the midst of indescribable happiness, but we would appreciate the prayer in both the bilirubin and the high blood pressure departments.  =)  Thank you, friends.

And thank you for praying for our girl and encouraging our little family in this beautiful story the Lord has written for us.  The Author is oh, so good, all the time.

xoxo,

Brittany

Memorial Day

We spent yesterday reflecting and remembering and spending a lot of time being grateful for the freedoms we have and the brave men and women and their families who have sacrificed so much to protect them. Throughout the day our hearts were swelling with thanks, and we made a point of carving out time to remember and celebrate the members of our armed forces.  The Hubs has done a great job making things like Memorial Day a priority in our family, and he got us up bright and early to hit the Memorial Day parade in town.  We want our kiddos to know there are brave people who make our freedoms possible, and we want them to know days like Memorial Day are days to slow down and take a beat to remember those who have been lost and those who are currently serving.

Newbie was thrilled about the parade and was so excited when his daddy stopped at the store on the way to pick up a flag just his size to wave while the band and the firetruck went by.

(Hello, little family of four!)

When the soldiers walked by in the parade, Newbie asked: "Daddy, da soldiers beat da bad guys?" ...just about anything boils down to good guys and bad guys for him these days.  It was a neat opportunity to explain that the soldiers help keep us safe.  And he waved his flag even harder on his daddy's shoulders.

(36 weeks now, Miss Mowgli!)

Once the parade passed, we scrambled to the car to meet the crowd following the parade up at the cemetery where they held a Veteran memorial.  We parked and walked up to Jubilee's place just in time to watch the parade go by and the crowd that followed it up to the hill just beyond Jubilee's spot.

We stood for a while by our girl and watched, and though we couldn't hear anything, it was good to stand with our girl while the crowd walked by and gathered up on the hill.  Its usually just us there, and it warmed my heart to see the community gather in a place that is so close to my little family.  Newbie sensed the reflection of the moment and snuggled into his daddy's neck.  He may be three, but sometimes this kiddo really gets it.

And then he was ready to roll. =)  He played the drums for his sister with some sticks he found in the grass, and we sang her a song before heading back to the car while the ceremony on the hill continued.

We left with hearts full of gratitude.  Newbie left with a new found love for bands and parades.  He got Buzz and Baby Mickey in on the action as soon as we got home, and he directed a parade through the house for a good half an hour before lunchtime.

*****

An enormous and heartfelt thank you to the brave men and women of our armed forces and the families that support them.  We are so incredibly grateful for all you do and have done to protect our freedom.

Happy Tuesday, friends!