MommyCoddle

it ain't easy being green (or being a milking parlor)

I realized yesterday, that since the birth of Elizabeth, I spend my days constantly thinking about five steps ahead of myself. I have to take full advantage of her naps and think way ahead into my day in order to get anything accomplished--like a shower, a load of laundry, making a salad for dinner, or writing a thank you note or two.

I'm doing my best to keep my dryer quiet this time of year and take full-advantage of the clothesline. With all the "green" publicity this Earth Day, I've realized how much little changes make a difference.
I've dumped my plastic grocery bags in exchange for these and I'm trying to get as many loads of laundry on the line as I can. But even this takes lots of coordination--during naps, getting Emma and Mary dressed because no doubt they'll want to accompany me, having the load washed and ready to go out. (And usually the clothes don't make it off the line until close to dark!)

I'm just over the two week mark with breastfeeding Elizabeth and I have to confess that it's really hard. The lactation specialist--my new best friend, a busty woman with a Scottish accent--tells me Elizabeth's going through a growth spurt which explains her need for what feels like contast nursing. (I've never been so up-to-date on world news or Oprah in my lifetime--with all the time I'm spending in the comfy chair by the TV.) I know things will eventually even out, but man it's consuming right now. Especially when I have two little ones running around my feet longing for a little attention, too.
Emma had the horsey pair above set up in the bathroom window the other day and I thought, "Lucky you, Mrs. Mare. No worries about proper latch-on, cradle holds, milk supply or plugged ducts. You just walk along, grazing here and there as your foal suckles away. Piece of cake." 

But, as my mom always says, "this too shall pass." I'm counting on that.

And if you have the chance, I just posted one of my favorite recipes for Walnut Raspberry Salad Dressing over on the farmers' market website. Check it out...

a blur at best...or baby picture overload

This last week and a half has been a bit of a blur--that kind of thing where you feel like the rest of the "outside world" is going on without you while your life remains concentrated inside the walls of your home as you care for a new little life. Each day gets a little easier as I adjust to life with three girls and as I reaquaint myself with all those things I had forgotten about mothering a newborn:
    ::getting their skinny little legs to stop kicking long enough to quickly strap on a diaper
    ::having them fall soundly asleep on your chest...tip-toeing over to the bassinet to lay them down (still           asleep) only to have them wake up screaming the minute both your feet are off the floor and under the       covers.
    ::nursing for hours on end
    ::nursing some more
    ::remembering to dry every crease and wrinkle
    ::that new baby smell
    ::the way they settle down the minute they get into their mother's arms

But each day is smoother and I find myself saying, "okay, I can handle this." I've actually gotten some laundry done, so I know things MUST be getting easier.
Elizabeth came so early I still have little unfinished decorating projects on my brain, but those can wait. For now, we are all about rediscovering "normal" in our newly-fashioned family. It is all a gift and I find that even at a 4am feeding, I still feel blessed by it all.

april 9. 2007

::Elizabeth Paige::

Good. Morning.

38 weeks.

Up early this morning before the girls, but still after Dan has left for work. I love the fact that there's so much light in the morning these days. Between that and general "overgrown-belly-uncomfortableness", there's not much reason to linger in bed.
At dinner at the big house last night several people commented on my dropped belly, so I had to take a closer look in the mirror for myself this morning, even though I'm still in pjs. It looks different to me from above, but not in these pictures so much.
I'm headed to the doctor's office this morning, possibly for the last time. I'm hoping for a "date with the babe" to be given. We'll see...

that beautiful morning light--which a camera can never really seem to capture...

And have you signed up for the International Chapter of the Junior Society at Mahar Dry Goods? Looks like it will be full of good ideas and links.  We signed up this morning....

baby bumper (by lamplight)

I should have gotten my photographs in yesterday when it was sunny and 70. But this morning, the weather has taken a drastic turn--heavy downpours, lightning and thunder, and temperatures back in the 40s. We even had to break down and light the woodburner one more time....and hopefully the last time. We'll be stuck in this cold weather for the rest of the week and into the weekend....

But enough about the weather in a place you don't live....the bumper is finished!!

And really, as you all said, it was very easy. (although it required a little more measuring than I'm used to as a "seat-of-my-pants" sewer.) I just sewed a big tube with velcro openings on each end for easy threading of the old bumper, and then added ties at the same interval as the old bumper.
I added some interfacing to the new fabric to give it a little more stiffness which was really necessary with this tall bumper.
I haven't actually put it in the crib yet. Mary still takes her afternoon nap in there until the baby comes and I'm afraid she'll step on the sides and tear out the ties or something!

The red dresser the bumper is sitting on was an IKEA score that my mom got for me as a changing table. It brings the whole room together perfectly. I love it! Although the horrible story behind actually GETTING the dresser in our posession is enough to make one weak in the knees--multiple store visits, no more stock on the floor, waiting till IKEA closed for them to get one down with a forklift, crabby children in tow, and broken ice cream machines..it was enough to make me leave a negative comment card..it's a whole story of it's own... worth it's own post, if I felt like re-living it.
*******
And on a completely unrelated topic, I need 6 volunteers. My sister sent me a little sticker chain mail letter--you know, send a pack of stickers to the first name on the list, send the list to six friends....
I need six of you moms/kiddos out there to help me out. Any volunteers to be one of my six friends? (that sounds pathetic, doesn't it?!!) If you're interested, just drop me an email with the sticker subject and we'll exchange information. Thank you!!!