Some pictures

Funny story about the second picture (Lucy cutting her fruit): Lucy's first night in her big girl bed, she wanted to sleep with a particular piece of her new kitchen. She asked, "Where's my knife?"

Pattern

Over the weekend, I "took the plunge" and created a pattern for one of the shirts I have sewn for Lucy. I listed it for sale in an Etsy shop, so we'll see if I have any success!

Here's my shop (click). I'm still playing around with the banner on the top (and the name), but unfortunately the real "name" of my shop is katievarela. Yes, very original. Back when I joined Etsy, I registed with that name so I could buy things, never thinking I'd end up selling something. Oh well!

Lucy's new toy

Jon and I had a "lightbulb moment" the other day and decided to replace Lucy's crib with a toy we'd been thinking about getting anyway. I talked about it with her for a couple of days, about how we had a new surprise for her but it doesn't fit in her room unless we remove the crib. She was leery but excited about the surprise. Here's the reveal:



She needed one of us in the room with her the first night to fall asleep, but the next day she napped alone and fell asleep at night alone too. Woo hoo! :)

Left out

I took Lucy and Levi to the Ladera water park with some friends yesterday. It was a lot of fun, and Lucy is just the right age to enjoy it for hours. I was talking to a friend there about how we feel bad when we do something really fun with some of our children while the older one is in school and "missing out." I'm sure this is a transition every stay-at-home mom of more than one child goes through (unless they home school). It's just especially hard during the summer when there are lots of extra fun things going on. Nate's last day of the summer session is July 24, so starting July 25, I'll do plenty of fun stuff with all three kids.

Happy 4th

What a difference a year makes. :)

2008 and 2009:





















And a few more from today (I couldn't pick a favorite):

Skirts

I made three skirts for the cousins this week. I started by looking at this tutorial and then made some design changes. I really like how they turned out!

Skirts for Cami (almost 4) and Julia (18 months):



Lucy's skirt:

Bus

Today was Nate's first day taking the bus in the mornings.

Excitement:


Still excited:


A bit worried:


Lucy looking cute after Nate left:


I didn't follow the bus, but I did get the other two kids ready and drove to school to meet the bus there. Nate had wanted me to do this, and I was happy to oblige.

Waiting for Nate:


Getting off the bus:



And a picture of Levi, just because:


Nate was happy to take the bus and still seemed happy when he arrived at school over an hour later. He was the first to be picked up, since we live far-ish from school, so his pick-up time was 7:15! For 8:30 school start time. That's a bit of a long ride, so we'll see after a few more days if we continue.

RockPaperScissors guest giveaway

If you know me, you know I can't pass up cute stationery. :)

RockPaperScissors GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Little jumper

Jon got out the johnny jump-up last week and put Levi in it. It was love at first bounce! Nate used to love this thing too, but Lucy never did.



Those squeals you hear are Levi. :)

VBS

This has been Vacation Bible School week at church. While it is fun and fulfilling, it's also tiring!--so I'm glad it's over. I've had the VBS music and video at home for several weeks, and Lucy has learned all the words and motions. I let her come in to the opener with me each morning before she went to the nursery.


[Ignore the loud-singing kid and the girl in the swimsuit (today was "get wet" day and no one had reminded her to put clothes back on)!]

Here's a shorter video that was actually during the program (love how little she looks next to everyone else):



And we stopped to smell some flowers on the way back to the car today:

The park

I took some pictures at the park this evening. I wanted to capture Levi now loving the swing, and Lucy was being a ham. :)

Levi laughing in the swing:







Nate and Lucy having fun:

Love this

Jon's mom got this book for Lucy a few months back. I love the illustrations so much that I had to post them. Aren't these sweet? (I didn't post the whole book, but each page is really cute.)

Stressed out Mama

I keep telling everyone that the transition from one child to two was most difficult for me. While I do believe that was true logistically, I don't ever remember feeling this stressed out and crazy. The stress, though, has less to do with the fact that there are three kids and more to do with their ages and stages. It feels like all Nate and Lucy do is fight. I've been talking a lot with them about having a kind heart toward one another (instead of just saying, "Stop taking toys! Stop yelling!"). Nate has been having some trouble obeying at school. I have my own theories on the causes of his misbehavior, but ultimately there is no excuse and he should be obeying. This causes me a lot of angst, as I'm trying to find the right way to discipline for things I myself don't witness but still want to discourage (that is a whole different post). Lucy is in the middle of being very two. Everything feels like a fight with her, from putting on clothes to the carseat to juice. Levi is in a fussy stage (teething? reflux?) and is still not sleeping through the night. I started giving him his Zantac again last night; I had stopped giving it to him about a month ago because he didn't seem to need it anymore and I hate putting medicine in his body anyway. But perhaps his fussiness is the reflux returning. Anyway, yes I'm feeling stressed and a bit overwhelmed.

In the midst of all of it, though, I keep trying to remember what everyone tells me: I will probably miss this stage the most. Nate says the funniest things. Lucy is maybe the cutest 2 year old I've ever known. Levi is so pudgy and squishy. If they all would just be quiet! :)

Lucy's first trim, in pictures

Before




"Oh, this will be fun!"




"Wait. You didn't tell me about this cape thing."




"I have decided I am not a fan of haircuts."





"I can't believe you made me do that."




"I guess it wasn't that bad."




No worries--the curl is still there. Here's Lucy today, "washing dishes."