St. Patrick's Day, 2011

It's that time of year again.
The time of year when everyone you know suddenly becomes Irish.
The time of year when your milk gets turned green by magic leprechauns in the middle of the night.
The time of year when I get to paint shamrocks on the cheeks of my friends and family with green face-paint!

The time of year when I have an excuse to knit for my babies and create adorable outfits of them.
The time of year when we march in a parade and throw candy into the street for children.

I love this holiday!

Last year I made an outfit for Greta that turned out really cute. It wasn't too difficult and it gave me great enjoyment.

This year I made matching hats for my girls- they look a little like something from a Dr. Seuss book- which is right up my alley.

Because Greta is still so lean she was able to wear the dress that I made her last year as a top over a long sleeve tee and a pair of jeans. She looked great!
Because Audrey is such a porker, as I affectionately call her, she was able to wear G's leggings. I knew I'd be carrying her so she looked sweet, all swaddled in our green Moby!

Homemade Granola

So, I made a batch of homemade granola today. And it's awesome! I got the recipe from this lovely blog and decided to give it a go today.
Best part about it- four simple ingredients that you probably have on hand.

Ingredients:
4-5 cups rolled oats (not the quick cooking kind)
1/2-1 c. sliced almonds
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. vegetable oil

Mix everything together and spread it on a baking sheet. Place into preheated 350º oven and bake for 18 minutes or so. You'll need to check on it half way through and mix up all the ingredients again.

Life these days

Oh. My. Word.

It's March 19th, 2011. I sometimes can't believe how fast time goes. I love my life. I find myself telling my man on a pretty regular basis how happy I am and how much I love my life.

Greta Elise will be 18 months on the first of April. I'll officially have a 1 1/2 year old. That's nuts to me. She is absolutely wonderful. Loves to laugh. Dances constantly. Is a very confident walker. She's currently starting to climb objects like our ottoman and the couches but she's very cautious. She knows how to climb the stairs but needs lots of encouragement coming down, which can be difficult on mornings when I'm making my way down with both girls by myself. She has this hilarious hair style because I refuse to cut her hair yet. She is gaining weight quite quickly too- I'm pretty sure she weighs around 24 lbs now and is probably 32 or more inches, we'll find out next month at our dr. appt.

Audrey Louise is a tank. Well, at least in my humble opinion. She weighs somewhere around 14 1/2 lbs, which Greta didn't weigh until she was 6 months old. She is a little over 3 months old now and so much fun. She laughs! It's the best sound ever! She can hold toys in her hands now and insists on jamming them into her mouth. I bet she's teething. She eats like a champ! There is absolutely no pain while we nurse anymore either, praise God! Greta is still her favorite person to look at. It's so fun to see their connection already. In the morning when G wakes up, usually early and before A, she says "Shhh, Shhh, Shhh" and points to A's cradle. She's understanding that A is not going anywhere and I think she actually likes her!

My man and I have been doing some home improvement projects lately too, thanks to Uncle Sam for our tax return and to BCBS for paying us back for our home-birth! Another thank you God! The kitchen was our first project. We added new counter-tops, a new faucet courtesy of my parents, and a new dishwasher, courtesy of his parents. We also painted the kitchen a fun new color and are really liking all the new improvements. In fact, I think I like them so much, that I'm cooking way more than usual and baking up a storm. Next up is a total bath room redo!

I've recently tried a few new recipes and been so happy.

• I made baked mac-n-cheese on my own the other night and loved it.

• Turns out that brown rice and lentils, with some garlic, onion and chopped green pepper, is actually quite delicious. We've had it twice now!

• I inherited a bread machine from my lovely mother-in-law and couldn't be happier. I made a spicy cheese bread the other day that was delicious!

• I've been making ice-cream a lot recently, it's helping to fight off the winter blues! We've recently tried coconut and my latest attempt was a thin mint ice-cream using real thin mint pieces. Yum.

• Yesterday for breakfast I made raspberry white chocolate chip scones that were to die for.

• The other day I didn't know what to make for dinner so I just started throwing things into my crock pot. Whatever came out was awesome. Chicken, cut up carrots, onion, garlic, celery, chicken stock, cream of chicken soup and for the last hour, white rice.
  

• I make these bran muffins that my man loves- Greta has been having them for afternoon snacks recently and she loves them too- it's the only way she'll eat raisins!

So, that's it for now as I've got one baby who wants to eat, one who needs her snack and a man who desperately needs a haircut! Hope to get another opportunity to write again soon.

Quick Catch-Up

So I'm finding it nearly impossible to find time to blog with two little girls. In fact, I've thought about hiring a sitter to play with my kids for two hours so I can get some things done. I really don't want to stop doing all these simple things I enjoy (posting here, knitting projects, creating facebook albums, printing photos, writing cards, mailing packages, reading books, doing my Bible study) just because I'm super busy.

But I'm super busy.

Super busy loving on two little girls now instead of one really cute one!

Audrey Louise joined us on December 8th at 12:26 pm. She weighed 8 lbs 8 oz and was 20 inches long. I "caught" her! She was born in our home, on a delightfully cold MN day! I am madly in love with her. She is stunningly beautiful, smiles all the time, and loves to eat.

Speaking of eating. Can I just say that breastfeeding, for as natural as it's supposed to be, is not always natural. We faced every imaginable problem in the first month of her life outside the womb. Two visits to the lactation consultant, a trip to the ENT who clipped her frenulum, three visits to the chiropractor for Cranial Sacrem Therapy, many emails to friends and supporters of our breastfeeding mission, multiple phone calls to my midwives and LLL leaders, three antibiotics and one pro-biotic for thrush and two boughts of mastitis, bleeding and cracking you know where, and many tears. Around four weeks of age my darling Audrey and I figured it out. We made it! She is now 7 1/2 weeks old and there is zero pain when we nurse! Praise God!

A note about Greta as a sister! What a riot! She absolutely loves Audrey and has even said her name a few times (in her own language of course!). She holds her hands out all the time to "hold" her sister and loves to give her kisses. She's had a few moments of wanting my attention while I've been busy with Audrey but so far, so good. We've even gotten them to rest in their room together a few times!

Well, that's it for now. I'm sure hoping to be able to write more soon as I find I have so much more to share.

Waiting....

That is pretty much the word that describes the state I'm in these days. I am now officially, 4 days past my due date and trying to wait as patiently as possible for her to come. I'm so very ready to meet her, it's killing me.

Last night, as I was having more contractions that didn't hurt, I turned to my man and said, "I'm waiting for them to hurt. What a strange thought. That I'm actually looking forward to the pain because it will mean that my contractions are actually doing something". He just smiled and comforted me.

What's funny about all of this though, is that it is just so perfect. This whole pregnancy was a surprise, one that we definitely thought we weren't ready for, and now here I am, waiting to meet my new daughter. I can't stop thinking about her, the way she'll look, the smell of her skin and hair, how she'll nurse, and what kind of person she'll be. I know that God had a plan when we found out we were pregnant and therefore He must have a plan about this little gal's birthday, but the longer this drags on the more I wonder what I'm not seeing.

So, in the waiting, I'm trying to enjoy these last few moments/hours/days/weeks! with Greta and my man. I'm trying to get my house ready again, because the nesting instinct that kicked in three weeks ago was awesome but my house somehow got dirty again, imagine that. I'm trying to relax, take care of myself, and spend time with lots of positive people that will encourage me in this time as well. I'm trying to notice the beauty of the Winter around me and soak up the fact that I don't have to bundle a newborn up to go outside, quite yet.

I should say this too- I would normally consider myself a pretty patient person. However, having contractions and cramps that started two and a half weeks ago meant that I started getting ready for her to join us, any minute. And then nothing happened. Nothing. Just more cramps, more contractions that didn't hurt, and more time passing by. I'm having a home birth, which is awesome, so we don't have to leave, or pack a bag, but I think it's making me even more relaxed! I'm just ready to get this show on the road!

Please pray for patience for me as I wait for the birth of my new baby.

She's almost here...

Well, I'm officially 39 1/2 weeks pregnant with our second daughter. I'm still feeling great- which is such a blessing, and loving the end of this pregnancy. I think that knowing I'm about to have a major life switch, as opposed to really having no clue what is about to happen, is helping me embrace the last few days I have with just Greta. She is growing up so fast, almost 14 months old now, and loves life. She is truly a "joy-bringer". I can't go anywhere without people stopping me to talk about her and her smile.

We are having a home birth with this babe, as opposed to my un-medicated hospital birth with Greta, and are thrilled! We found two amazing midwives that fit perfectly with us. We also, through lots and lots of phone calls and paperwork, have found a way to get insurance to cover this birth! Praise God.

So, we're in the final stages of preparing our place for her. I've got all the birth supplies here, the babies clothes are washed and ready, diapers are purchased, and I'm in one of the best states mentally I think I could be. Now we just wait! She is not officially due until next Wednesday, 4 days from now, and I've thought all along that she'll probably come late, just like Greta (3 days only though).

Now here's where we come to the dilemma- we have no idea what to name her. No idea. We've been throwing around names since we found out she was a girl and can't, for the life of us, decide on one. A few months ago we decided that it would be alright to wait until we meet her but as the time draws nearer, I'm nervous that we don't even have two or three to choose from, we have 6! So- weigh in if you'd like but here is what we're thinking:

Name Meaning
Violet- violet flower
Mirian- longed for child
Audrey- noble strength
Adrienne- dark one
Louise- famous warrior
Beatrix- blessed

I think they all have a nice ring with Greta- which was important- but we really can't decide. Violet and Audrey might be a little too popular these days but honestly- that doesn't bother me too much- just want a name that fits her!

So- as we enjoy these last few days I'm hoping that God speaks to us clearly and that we are able to name her appropriately!

Weaning

Well, from the title of this blog you'll be able to see where we are at. I'm glad I waited a little while before I wrote this entry however because this decision hasn't been an easy one.

A little background knowledge:
Breastfeeding wasn't easy for us- ever! We struggled for the first 6 weeks to get it right and then once we did, I got pregnant again, and it's been painful ever since. I've tried all sorts of things- new positions, seeing a lactation consultant, creams, and nothing has seemed to work. I think we just got off on the wrong foot and it has been challenging since then.

Greta just turned 1 on October 1st and so technically, doesn't need my milk for nutritional value although, I'm starting to think that there really is no magical date in which a baby changes so quickly.

I'm officially 8 1/2 months pregnant with our new little girl and this belly hasn't been making it any easier for nursing.

Also- I'm preparing myself, both mentally and physically, for what is to come in nursing a newborn again and the thought of nursing two at the same time, isn't so appealing.

So, all that to say, about two weeks ago we started introducing whole milk into G's diet and she loved it! We found this great, hormone free, milk from Cub that I feel good about giving her and she loves to drink. At this point we were only nursing three times a day anyway, first thing in the morning, right after morning nap, and right after afternoon nap. We never nursed to sleep once she was older (around 4 months) and therefore didn't have to worry about giving that session up, which I hear can be the hardest.

We went at it gradually too. For the first weekend we just cut out her mid morning feeding. She didn't even seem to notice. Then the following week I cut out the afternoon feeding and again, she didn't even seem to notice. So, as of right now, we are only nursing first thing in the morning and even that session she is starting to make shorter and shorter.

I'm writing about this because although it's been super easy for Greta- it has been so hard for me! I'm dealing with this thought of Greta growing up and no longer needing me in the ways she once did. I'm dealing with this idea of having a toddler who can be away from me now for any length of time without really noticing. I'm dealing with the part of me that is still grieving my loss of time with just her.

To all those Mama's out there who had to wean before they were all too ready, and even once they thought they were ready, I feel your pain.