Patio

I hung up some prayer flags in the backyard and have been itching to make the back patio more like an outdoor room:


I have a sailcloth from Ikea, but the only problem is that they look the best on tall houses (and ones with pretty vines growing on them). We have a low roof and low fences so it will be interesting to try and work different angles to achieve my vision:

Photo

I also envision stringing solar lanterns along the edges or middle of the sail for ambiance (I will never get that beach scene in the background though):

Photo

He's Two

It is Reade's second birthday. So what do good moms do? They leave their crying birthday boy with a sitter and meet a friend for a belated birthday brunch. Quite relaxing and overdue:


Reade got my camera and started taking pictures of me. I love how I look like a complete monster. We told the kids there is a baby in my tummy last night and they are both excited. Cats out of the bag now:


The cake is made and I just have some vacuuming/kitchen clean up to do before dad & grandparents show up for a mini party:


I've enjoyed Reade's birthday. I hope he has too.

Twos

My sister threw a great birthday party (a few days early) for Reade and his Great Nana at her house in Sacramento over the weekend. Her house is so cute and it was great to gather to celebrate a day when two of my favorite people were born.

My uncle mugging the camera:


Grammie doting on the birthday boy:


The photo editor cut off the bottom, but Reade and Great Nana are holding hands:


The lawn mower present was one of many fabulous gifts:


A video:


Reade's birthday proper is tomorrow so I am trying to figure out something low-key and fun for him.

Discoveries

Happy fun Friday to all. Here are two, great discoveries...

1) Triple a recipe for muffins and you will have enough batter left over to pour into ramekins for some mega muffins. I am going to demand coffee shops serve me muffins out of ramekins from now on:

Recipe from the smitten kitchen blog.

2)Drinking wine during a morning play date with other mommies and kids. Why have I never done this before. My past neighbor told me it is good to drink wine during pregnancy because it creates beautiful skin for the baby. Now that is the type of lore I can totally get behind. This wine was bought at Trader Joe's and tastes just like grape juice. Very mild without much bite. I hope they stock it at my Trader Joe's:


Tonight I will pack Reade up for a early birthday celebration trip to Sacramento so he can spend time with his kindred birthday partner, my Nana. Let the festivities begin.

Sharing

My boys now share a room. It is now the boys' room with two, twin beds (I can't wait for bunk beds someday). It was really hard for me to remove the owl/gnome/mushroom tree picture from above the crib since both boys have shared the same nighttime routine story, but I have plans for baby #3.

Last night Reade slept the whole night through without freaking out in his new surroundings:


I am pretty sure Transformers sheets mess with a bedroom's Feng Shui, but the child really, really wanted them:


The crib looks so empty now that I have stripped it of its sheets. Andrew reminded me that it will be very full very soon:


Blake asked who was going to sleep in this room now. I asked who he would like to share it with and he replied, "Another Reade."

Same

These days are the same. I am truly in a pregnancy fog and am having a hard time getting around it. I know my children are safe and life isn't that bad, but mom guilt is getting the best of me. It pains me that I won't remember these days. Blake and Reade do great things and I try my hardest to praise them in those moments. This pregnancy is easier than my first two in so many ways except that my body seems to be giving out on me. My pelvis feels like it has separated in every which way and is only being held together by rubber bands and one, big sciatic nerve. I pray to the sciatic nerve Gods every time I stand up in hopes I will be able to make it to the kitchen or bathroom without exposing my children to new obscenities. Pain with a purpose, right?

Blake doesn't complain. He just draws action figure after action figure with insatiable thirst:


Maybe I need to start praying to the Marvel Comics Gods instead:


Iron Man stands above Blake's bed. I have always wanted to put a photo of Blake there so I call it "Self Portrait of a Soul" right now:


I am really debating whether or not I should catalog how many peanut butter & jelly sandwiches I feed my children. Thank goodness they ate some taco meat tonight. Bless their little helpless souls:

Happy Easter

The Easter Bunny left eggs at Grandma's:


Fun bunnies leave bugs inside of eggs:


Family photo op:


Family and friends:










How we left the place:


Ellen created quite the spread and I am sad that I didn't capture that on film.