I’m nesting… September 2, 2008

That would be the reason for the silence on this blog, at least that’s what I’m claiming.  I recently had to shut down my business to customs.  It was a hard decision, because I have major issues telling people no and I enjoy the knitting. But I realized that time was going much quicker than my fingers.  I have this long list of stuff to do for the Little Dude who will be here in 3 weeks (!) and I couldn’t work on all of it, unless I give up something, like sleeping.

So I shut down my store to customs and hope to open it again by Halloween.  I woke up one morning with the incredible urge to either knit every yarn I have in my stash, or to sell it.  So I sold a BUNCH of stuff and started knitting a bunch of stuff.  If you frequent my Flickr account, you probably see how much stuff is coming off of my needles.

I also decided that I needed to work on a homeschooling room.  It turned out really nice and Magdalena is very excited about it.  I have plans to order the rest of her books for this quarter of her curriculum on the next payday.

We are also excitedly anticipating the local Pork Festival.   Magdalena has been talking about going to parades since the festival ended last year.  It’s also the last thing on her calendar before her baby brother is scheduled to make his appearance.  She’s a very experienced and excited big sister you know.

Carmina is also seems to be understanding that their is a baby in my belly.  And I think she gets that he will want to nurse and that she will have to share. Of course, telling her that the baby will nurse, just makes her want to nurse right away.

Anyway, a busy month.  Hopefully I’ll get better about posting.  And Erich will be posting here and there and will also update when the Dude makes his arrival.

Sleeping Sisters April 21, 2008

We’re a cosleeping family. From the very first night Magdalena was born, I could never imagine having her farther than a few feet from me. She eventually moved on to her own room with her own big bed by her own choice when she was around 2. For several weeks she had slept in her own room for naps, and at night we’d ask where she wanted to sleep, with Mommy and Daddy? Or in your own bed? She almost always chose to sleep with us until one day she decided she wanted to sleep in her own room. And there she has slept for the past 2 years with the exception of a few slumber parties on the floor in our room.

Carmina has slept with us up until now too. My plan has always been that Magdalena and Carmina would share sleeping space, since their room has a double bed. For months I’ve been asking Magdalena if she wanted to sleep with Carmina. Her answer has always been an adament “no!” One night Carmina ended up sleeping in Magdalena’s room, and Magdalena slept in the spare bedroom. I’m not sure why we had such a crazy bed arrangement that night, but the next day Magdalena was asked if it was okay if Carmina slept in her bed again. And Magdalena was thrilled! Carmina seemed to be sleeping as good or if not better in her bed with Magdalena, and hasn’t called out for me at all.Magdalena practically begged for Carmina to sleep with her the next night and Carmina automatically runs into their bedroom now and not mine. The arrangement seems to be working and I’ll admit after a few nights of restless sleep, I’m easing into sleeping in a bed only with my husband, if only for just a few months. Not that I really sleep at all anyway, but that’s a whole other post.

I’ve Lost My Brain April 5, 2008

My no brain state has reached new heights. I stand by that whole theory of Momnesia being true. I’m a lot dumber than I was say four or so years ago. I had a conversation with Erich (so he says) that I have absolutely no recollection of. I went to get my laptop to take it downstairs and do a little cleaning (clean the screen etc.) and forgot in the span of about 30 seconds of when the idea popped into my head and when I got to the area of the laptop. It’s amazing and embarassing at the same time.

Magdalena, who is four, has lately been really hard to handle. TONS of tantrums and crying and fighting and just really random behavior so unlike her. After about a week of this, I finally figured it out. She *needs* a nap, but has not been napping. I’ve been making her stay in her bed and read books at naptime in hopes that it will help, but I’ve had to focus on Carmina so much because she gets up and walks around, that I’ve really overlooked getting Magdalena to take a nice nap. I have been able to lay both down and leave and everyone goes to sleep. Today I decided that I needed to probably lay down with them. I can’t lay down with them together though because that just does not seem to work. So we go up to take naps, I tell Magdalena I will be in there in a few minutes. I lay down with Carmina, she falls asleep. I slip out and get Magdalena situated and lay down. She was out in literally 2 minutes of just being able to lay still. That little light bulb went off in my head. She’s just been *tired*. She knows she doesn’t want to go to sleep, but she really does need lots of sleep. She’s like her Mommy, we need our beauty rest. Unfortunately, Carmina woke up and I went and laid back down with her where I fell asleep for like 45 minutes. Oops. I lost my nap quiet time!

We have got to get naptime figured out and without me laying down everyday because come October it’s not going to be so easy me thinks. Hopefully Little Dude will be easy going and lay down with me if I need to lay with either girl.

So why am I still on the couch? January 19, 2008

It’s 9am on Saturday. Today I have to bake cookies, decorate them, and bake two character cakes with decoration. I also need to finish Magdalena’s doll and sew the doll some clothes. Doll clothes shouldn’t take long, yes? To top it off, I need to run to the store to get shortening for icing and veggie spray so my cakes don’t stick to the pan. But I’m really tired, and it’s *really* cold so I don’t want to go out and I don’t want to take the girls out. I need someone to come sit over here for 10 minutes. I should call my Papa. And I should probably finish up cleaning the house for the big Par-tey tomorrow. **yawn**

Is it bedtime? January 17, 2008

Oh my goodness, I am tired. Seriously seriously tired. Magdalena woke up at 2:30 to announce that the dog had pooped in her room, and oh yeah she puked. Great. So I get out of bed, find a pacifier (because those things go missing at the most important times!) and give it to Carmina and tell her to snuggle with Daddy. I put Magdalena in the bathroom and spent the next 20 minutes cleaning up dog poop and changing the sheets. Then I had to give Magdalena a bath and brush her teeth. Not fun. Her long hair is absolutely beautiful, not so much fun though with puke. The joys of motherhood right? She’s upstairs now watching Aladdin and drinking Sprite. I’m making some beef noodles and we’ll have those for dinner if all goes well.

Yesterday she had her second dentist visit. It was 100% successful and she did great. No cavities, barely any tarter (go us!), and beautiful perfect teeth. Thank God. I had horrible horrible teeth as a child. I have good teeth now, but not then. So it’s a relief to know that she may bypass the many hours of torture time spent in the dentist with drill and fills. And you know now, they’ll take you and put you out to fill lots of cavities at once, but not back then. Oh no, I remember all to well sitting in that chair multiple times a month for multiple fillings. Anyway, she has great teeth, a new toothbrush (and she asked for a new one for her sister too!) and we go back in 6 months.

A Week Of Cleaning January 16, 2008

I’m still doing Motivated Moms. The house continues to impress me and come into shape. I’m finding that when I have all my chores finished early that I find the time to declutter little areas. The act of actually cleaning the house is a lot less overwhelming in general. It’s really nice. Last night I did a little extra and decluttered little areas that just seem to accumulate constantly. It looks so nice in there. Things are starting to be dusted off from head to toe; frames, corners, nooks and crannies are all getting clean. Very nice to start to the year if I do say so myself. Of course there is always more, but the more seems manageable and like a light at the end of the tunnel. I also like that motivated moms gets around to the stuff that gets overlooked. Like today one of my chores is to deal with one kitchen drawer. Just one, not the whole kitchen, just one single drawer. Totally doable and will not suck the life out of my day, you know? If you want to get your own calendar, there is a link over there in the sidebar where you can do just that. Really and truly I can’t sing the praises enough!

This week also happened to be teeth cleaning week. Erich went yesterday. The dog has his teeth cleaned on Thursday. And Magdalena and I have our appointments together this afternoon. Last time she let them polish two teeth and that was it. She did let them count and they said her teeth were beautiful (of course!) and that the fact that they were spaced far apart was something they like to see in children because they are all easier to clean well. This time I’ve been talking to her all wee about how we need to let them count her teeth and polish them with the loud buzzy thing that tickles. (like my technical terms? haha) I told her that they would make her teeth all pretty and white for her birthday party on Sunday. And that is a note that rings in Magdalena’s head,we must be our prettiest for the party you know.

Speaking of party, Magdalena will be FOUR on Monday. FOUR. It doesn’t seem possible. She was just that 5# little breathing ball of human we brought home from the hospital during a snow storm. She has been planning her birthday party for months. And has really focused on it since Christmas is over now. She wants another Sesame Street party. For those keeping track at home this will be her fourth birthday party and her third Sesame street themed one! I tried to talk her into something else, a princess party? How about a backyardigans party? Nope. Sesame Street. And who can argue with that. You only turn four once, right?

So she’s been planning this party. She had me write out a list of all the people she wanted to invite to her party, her long list of friends and family including all the new babies. It was really painfully cute to listen to her list off the people. At first she wanted FOUR cakes but I have talked her down to two. Really two cakes is overkill and a lot of decorating work for myself, but it’s her thing and I want to make her birthday special. Her pinata will be here today, it’s a cookie monster pinata. And I’m going to see if my mom will stay and watch Carmina while Magdalena and I go grocery shopping to get all the supplies. Fun stuff, I love birthday parties!

Four years ago… January 5, 2008

I looked like this.

(more…)

Santa Came! December 26, 2007

Santa Came!
Originally uploaded by Mommy2StaufferBabies

It was so much fun with the Santa thing this year. Christmas Eve was filled with much anticipation and activity to get ready for Santa! We made snickerdoodles with Grandma Sue and put out reindeer food in front of our house so the reindeer would see our house from the air. We taped Santa’s Magic Key to the door of the house so that he could get in to leave our presents since we had to cap off our chimney this fall. Then we set out milk, cookies, and carrots on our special Santa cookie plate. We got into our brand new Christmas Eve Pajammies and off to bed they went.

In the morning we woke up to this! Both girls were absolutely thrilled, and Magdalena was thoroughly impressed to find Santa’s Magic Key hanging on the tree. (Since he used it to get in then left it on the tree so we could find it.) All together a very fun filled evening!

Magdalena’s Blanket November 20, 2007

Magdalena’s Blanket
Originally uploaded by Mommy2StaufferBabies

Finally finished! I’ve been working on this off and on now for, well let’s just say a long time! Glad to have it off the needles!

Magdalena’s Blanket Closeup

Magdalena’s Blanket
Originally uploaded by Mommy2StaufferBabies