another baby gift

      Geez. I can hardly keep up with everything going on right now. Between holidays, babies being born, and everyday things that need to be done, I am pretty sure that I am going to pass out one of these days.... probably while buying Christmas decorations at Target.

     ANYHOW... I made yet another baby quilt for a sweet little boy due sometime in mid-January.

I am a huge fan of the orange, brown, and blues. Hopefully this will keep that little guys toesies warm this winter.

Also, I started cutting out pieces for our own little guy's quilt. I am still unsure about just what pattern (if any) I am going to go with.... I have pinned a ton of quilts for inspiration. You can see them here if you like. My only real goal is to be done with it before the baby gets here. I don't care if I am still sewing in between contractions... (HA!)

I took a quick instagram photo of the pieces before West ran across them... but I am pretty sure that I am in love with the colors and patterns.

an announcement

It looks like there is going to be a lot of little league, dirt, bugs and blood in my future for a VERY long time....

Baby # 3 is most definitely a BOY.

Picture found here

excuse me while i pretend to be a t-rex

Things have definitely started seeing a change of pace around the home front since the news of the third little amigo being on its way. I can't find much energy to do most things, so priorities have changed. I find myself spending more time focusing on the boys and just enjoying them. I don't want to spend my whole pregnancy thinking of things that need to be done OR being overwhelmed by how much life is going to change by adding another little being that needs all of my attention. I want to remember this time with just the three of us. I want to really and truly enjoy the beginning of the preschool age and the end of the baby stages. Every day seems to bring new accomplishments or discoveries. I don't want to lose those little celebrations in exhaustion.

So, here is to: leaving some dishes undone upon occasion, not fretting over piles of laundry, listening to lots of baby laughs and playing dinosaurs whenever I just so happen to be invited to join in on the fun. I am really in love with my two little misters and just know that life can only get better by adding to the brood.

pink cheeks and other things

right now i am enjoying a little boy who is coming into his own. he has an amazing personality and it's so fun watching him discover everything around him. teeth that are slowly making appearances are making naps (and sleep in general) seem like a thing of the past. it's nice to have quiet happy moments without fussing or crying. he has been extra clingy lately. i don't mind most of the time.... but once in a while i actually have to accomplish something, and that is slightly difficult.

 i am also enjoying some touches of pink that have brightened things up and made spring feel much closer. i bought myself a little 'pick me up' the other day when we were having yet another bout of winter weather in April... APRIL! ridiculous. so i came home with a little bunch of pink flowers and a pair of pink shoes. it worked. i am content and don't really mind the chill outside as long as there is sun coming through the windows, and i am cozy indoors.

"happy birthday, way way!"

That is what Harry has been yelling almost non-stop since this weekend. It's kinda adorable. That being said, here are some pretty pictures of the big boy's big day. *note: this weekend we just had the party. His big day is next week.

Thanks to everyone who could make it for sharing in our lovely day.

quick hello

Hello!
We are getting ready to hit the road to head back down the mountain for a certain chunky monkey's birthday party tomorrow. Coincidentally, Sunday is my mom's birthday and almost all of my siblings will be in town to celebrate. The weather couldn't be lovelier, and I am soooo stinkin' excited about this weekend.

I hope yours is amazing, too. Any special plans for the pretty weather and sunshine?

Source

two months...

pictures by Holly Dwan

Has it really been two months since this little guy was born? I can not believe it.

But if it has... I can't imagine a better way to spend two months than this....

I love that Stephen has come home early almost every night for the past two week.

It's amazing watching him with his sons. He is the best dad ever. I knew that he would be.

I think that is why I am so in love with my life right now. I have an amazing husband, two beautiful boys and a dog that I actually like.

I am really blessed. When Harry was just 8 weeks I was going back to work. It makes me SO happy that I don't have to deal with that again this time. All I can remember is wishing that I could be with him, not trying to get work done. And trying to work out my schedule to allow someone that I knew and trusted to be at the house watching him. I don't miss those days.

one week

It is crazy that just 6 days ago I had a baby.

The past few days have gone by SO quickly.... and yet, I haven't once gotten overwhelmed.

Scratch that. Today in Target I got overwhelmed... but I blame that on my poor timing. I took a tired two-year-old and expected him to remain calm and happy the whole time we were there.

However, in spite of the one meltdown that we have had, the past week has been lovely.

Stephen and I just look at each other at the end of the day and can't believe how easy the transition has been... (watch everything change now....)

I love having my two little guys at home together. It just seems right. Harry loves his little brother and is constantly saying "Hi, baby" or "Baby, where are you?"

It's really sweet.

Today my mother took over Stephen's role of "helper" and hung out with us. Westley had his 1 week appointment and is gaining weight like a champ. 8 ounces in 4 days seems pretty good to me. He is almost at his birth weight and isn't even a week old.

As for recovery, I am not sure how I feel. Tired? Yes. Some pain. Yes. Like I just had a baby? No.

So, for now, life is beautiful. I fully plan on not taking any of this for granted.

as you wish...

we have been very busy for the past 2 days...

meet Westley John Gwaltney. He was born March 25, 2010. He was 7lb3ounces... (he's lost an ounce or two) and is short compared to his brother being only 20.5 inches long.

I hope that I will have a birth story together in the next few days....

but for now........ I'll leave you with these:

is it time yet?

The past few weeks have been a combination of scurrying around trying to get everything ready for the newest Gwaltney and sleeping like I have just run a marathon.
Harry has been a sport and is perfectly happy watching his Nick Jr. dvds that Blockbuster is all too happy to let us borrow (for a small fee, of course). He is starting to really understand how to do a lot of things on his own without me having to tell him 1000 times. Granted, he still doesn't always do everything I ask... he just knows what I am asking.

Stephen has been super helpful. He has basically spent the entire weekend taking care of Harry so that I can get rest. If I don't feel like cooking, he is happy to let us all pile into the truck and find something that might suit my fancy. I'm not sure if I am completely ready for the next big thing, but at least I know that Stephen will do everything he can to make the transition easier on me... He's amazing.

I did actually manage to get the nursery together enough to take a picture or two...

Stephen actually made the yellow shelf (he also made one exactly like it for Harry's room)....
I really like how much I can put on it. It's barrenness is just a reminder that I don't have EVERYTHING together yet... but I'm OK with that.

This week is going to be another long one. Work hours seem to have gotten a lot longer for the mister, and thus my work hours are just as long... although it just doesn't seem the same.

i could be doing something...

but i'm looking at pretty nurseries (like this one) instead...

week end

i am incapable of accomplishing much of anything past getting harry and myself dressed at this point. needless to say, my list is left for next week.

i did manage to start cleaning out the guest room... however, it quickly became an even bigger mess. i now believe that things randomly appear and disappear in my home. oh well, i don't need to make myself feel like a failure just because i didn't reach goals that i set for myself.

the BIG goal is really just to feel semi-ready for this baby and to spend as much time with harry before as possible before our world gets turned upside down....

here is some baby love that i have been drooling over...

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