I Heart Weekends

I love weekends for so many reasons.  For starters, I get the undivided attention of my handsome husband for two days and three nights straight.  Bliss!  We hold hands in the truck.  We watch movies after Jed goes to bed.  We talk late into the night.  We take turns sleeping in and changing diapers (and taking care of a sick and whiny child).  Weekends are wonderful!

On Saturday morning I showered before noon (gasp!) and headed out shopping with my friend, Kristin.  It was weird to leave the house with only my wallet, cell phone, and keys in hand.  No diapers.  No sippy.  No child on my hip.  Oh, the freedom!  Kristin was leaving her three and a half week old baby for the very first time.  She's still getting used to that hefty diaper bag and being attached to someone around the clock.  So the trip was worthwhile for both of us.  We only had approximately two hours together, but we got a lot of fun shopping done!  The purpose of our trip was to find and explore Real Deals here in town.  It's a mecca for all things trendy and cute in home decor.  And guess what I found?!?  A clock!  It is big!  It is perfect!  And it was ON SALE!  Sweet!  I've been looking for a clock to go on my kitchen wall.  I called Bron just to make sure the dimensions would fit and snatched it up without a second thought.  

Bron laughed and shook his head when I lugged it into the house.  But he was a good sport and put it up for me without complaint.  It was a bit of a feat too because there are no studs remotely near where I needed one, so he used a giant dry wall anchor instead.

 I found THEE clock!  If you think it's big here on screen, you should see it on my kitchen wall!  haha

It makes me happy.  (And it's much more colorful in reality too.)

 Instead of a picture frame, how about some flowers for the wall?

Can you tell yet?  I am sooo ready for spring!

That afternoon, Bron went to work digging up the ugly painted cement cylinders in the back courtyard.  Then he started his landscaping idea by outlining the flower garden area in river rock.  The courtyard is a mess now, but I am excited about its potential!

Bron working in the dirt and rocks.  He was proud of his handiwork!  As he should be.

There's just something about boys and dirt and creating something from nothing that never gets old for them.

Unfortunately, I had to stay inside.  Jed wasn't feeling well.  I have a hard time telling whether he is teething or he is really sick.  But it doesn't matter; his treatment is the same: a dose of medicine, plenty of fluids, and lots of love.  I held Jed through dinner and I held him all evening on the couch.  His toys didn't get picked up and the dishes stayed in the sink overnight, but I was exactly where I was supposed to be: comforting my baby.

Jed is definitely a daddy's boy.  He adores his dad and loves to play.  But when he is sick, only Mom will do.  It's nice to know.

 

Sorry Bud, but this was too funny not to post.

This is what happens on those few occasions when Jed soaks through his diaper and sheets: he goes straight from his crib to the shower.  Jed didn't want to come out!  He was enjoying his morning.  I don't think I would come out either if I was soaking in a warm shower AND had breakfast too!

On another note, I thought I was doing really well lately, staying on top of things.  Then my forgetful pregnant brain reared its ugly head.  This weekend we ran out of bar soap.  Bron wasn't too thrilled about having to use a loofah  and Sweet Pea shower gel.  I just smiled and told him he'd be okay as long as he didn't use the lotion as well.  Haha  Coincidentally, we ran out of toothpaste too!  I thought there was another box underneath the sink... it was empty.  Ooops.  Luckily, Bron had an extra tube in his travel bag.  In my defense, however, I must say that we have NEVER run out of toilet paper.  I am terrified of running out of toilet paper.  There is always a stash.  Always. 

Hope you had a wonderful weekend full of life's normal ups and downs too!

Leah

Leah is a lucky baby girl.  She has the cutest parents!  I am so excited for them and their little family.  Leah was so much fun to photograph.  At just five days old, she slept peacefully the entire afternoon; which allowed me to try to be a little more creative.  Leah, you precious girl, I look forward to seeing you grow!

Love those lips!

I think the picture looks stunning in black and white too.

A little smile!

My first attempt at making a completely black background.

It's not perfect, but I like how this turned out.

P.S.  Happy Leap Year!

How We Spent Our Weekend

I have good days and bad days.  This week I seemed to have more tired and unproductive days, even some crappy and lonely days.  It was a looong week.  But the weekend made up for that.  Why?  Well, mostly because I got to spend time with my two favorite people.  And...

I kicked the weekend off Friday night with a symphony concert.  Very fun for me!

Bron took Jed to the State Wrestling tournament on Friday to see his little brother compete.  Jed must've had the time of his life because now every time Bron gets ready to leave the house, Jed thinks he is going too.  He points for his jacket and says, "buh bye" to me.  Jed loves his dad and riding in the truck.

We conquered Costco for the very first time on Saturday afternoon.  We explored the aisles one by one.  We snitched bites of lunch at almost every little stand.  We spent over $100 and bought only about 10 items, including diapers in bulk (hooray!) and some Irish cheese (yum!).  Costco, you're potential financial death.

We invited some friends over Saturday night for pizza and games.  We always eat, but forget to play games.  We're too busy talking or something.  Plus, I got to hold this sweet girl again.

Jed fell asleep during sacrament meeting.  He was snoring!  It was a small miracle.

I slumbered peacefully for an hour after church!  Bliss.

A gal in the ward invited me to go to practice for the Easter Cantata.  Making music was fun, but getting to know someone new was even better!  She was so much fun to talk to.  Even better was realizing that there are lots of women at church who are in the same boat I am; relatively new and in need of some friends.  I think it's time for me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit.

Bron and I talked and dreamed about what we're going to do to our yard this summer.  It's going to be a lot of work and cost a little money, but I am sooo excited for flowers and lots and lots of color!

Fun with the Self Timer

Jed thought it was really cool that the camera could take pictures all by itself!  He actually wanted to have his picture taken.  And Bron walked through the door just as we were getting started.  How about some random (and very imperfect) family snapshots?  Okay!

 We were laughing because Jed suddenly said "no" and started crawling away!

  My boys.  So cute!

Jed adores his daddy.  And Bron enjoys time with Jed.

An updated tummy picture.

I can't wait for this baby to join the fun!

Nothing of Note This Week, Except...

 

1.  We went to the 32nd annual Home and Garden Show at the local college.  There were companies and vendors representing everything from landscaping to kitchen gadgets.  It was so much fun to grab business cards, brochures, and best of all, glean ideas!  Now that we are home owners, of course.  I am now completely sold on a steamer mop.  I waaannnt one!  Bron gabbed with the owner of a heating and air conditioning company about possible solutions to our outrageous heat bill.  (Propane sucks.)  Then he got some numbers for what it might cost to put up an awning in our back courtyard.  As for Jed, he was content to climb all over the tractors, play in a sand box, and eat ice cream with me.  One vendor even gave Jed a free ball.  Jed smiled from ear to ear and wouldn't quit grinning.  He was so happy!

Needless to say, we came home and measured the courtyard.  The wheels have started spinning in Bron's head.  He has big plans for that courtyard.  The good news?  A lot of the building, cleaning, and improving we can do this summer!  An awning will have to wait a few years, but a good looking backyard won't.

2.  I received an unexpected check in the mail for $500!  SWEET!!!  Apparently, the company I used to work for bought me out of my little bit of retirement.  Haha  I am debating on what to do with it.  Should I buy a new camera lens that I've been dreaming of or save it for something practical, like a lawn mower?  Hmmm... I guess we'll see!

3.  My tummy is growing (exciting!!!)!  I've already busted out a pair of maternity pants, live in anything with an elastic waist, and have even started dipping into my "fat clothes" collection.  Unfortunately, along with my burgeoning tummy growth I've noticed my thighs and arms have put on a little bit of cushioning.  Maybe I should start exercising a little bit?  Problem is I have absolutely zilch motivation.  The weather this month has been pretty gloomy.  Not as gloomy as in New York, but still.  What more can a girl expect from February?  Spring, please come soooon!

4.  I took Jed on a special afternoon "date" to Arctic Circle for lunch and to play at the indoor playground while Bron was away.  We were having fun together--trying to "catch" Jed through the little holes in the tunnels and helping him slide down the big tube slide--until I got my hair pulled and was disrespected by a bunch of four year olds!  All the while their smile-less mothers just sat in the back gossiping away like a pair of sour cats.  Really?!?  I wish I had the nerve to discipline someone else's child.  Maybe I will next time!  I really hope I can raise Jed to be much sweeter than that.