Little Boy Stuff

Stay-at-home Day

The sweetest little curls ever.

Feeling pretty (despite feeling sick) in a new shirt and shiny silver necklace.

Workday

Nathan is teaching Thomas how to use the remote control train.

Tip toes

A lot done already, and it's a workday.

Capturing Babyhood

This weekend we hired our wedding photographer for the third time -- to take our family portrait again, now that we're a family of four.  The last time we had family portraits taken was when Nathan was five months old, so in keeping with tradition, we hired Robert again, since Thomas is already (!) five months.  Actually, he's five and a half months. 

In all honesty, I don't know why we don't hire him every year.  I've been taking Nathan for portraits at Walmart each year (I'm sure our photographer would wither up and die if he heard that), and paying an arm and a leg each time.  Some photos came out good and some just okay.  But Robert's photos come out amazing every time, and I love that he shows me what he's getting as he's taking them.  He is such a talented photographer.

It's so important to capture our babies' babyhoods.  They're over so regrettably fast.   In less than two weeks, Thomas will be 6 months old and his babyhood will be half over -- and I'm already feeling sorrowful for it.  Sure, he'll still be baby-ish for close to another year, but how I wish he could stay this little, sweet and innocent (and immobile!) forever.  My heart is already starting to break.

But my mom raised a good point the other day that gave me some perspective.  If babies always stayed babies, we wouldn't cherish this time the way we do.  This really is the best time of my life, even though some days all I feel is the exhaustion, hard work and the balancing act I play each workday. 

I must remember this feeling during those occassional night wakenings that last up to an hour (I know), poop explosions (they're not that bad, really) and the exhausted feeling I usually have these days when I wake up in the morning feeling like I haven't slept at all.  Thomas is such a happy, joyful baby.  I need to capture his babyhood and remember what I'm feeling now forever.  This is what life is all about.

 

Where is the Time Going? Where Have I Been?

Where is the time going?  I wish I could tell you.  Where have I been?  That's a good one, too.

I can't believe our little Thomas is a week away from becoming four months old.  Four months!!!  Time flies by way too quickly when you have a little baby, and I know all the moms out there know it.  He's already reached 17 pounds at three months -- the size Nathan was at six months -- which makes it seem like his babyhood is going even faster than it really is.  I have to remind myself that he'll still be a baby long after he reaches 12 months old.  The magic won't be over yet, but it's certainly a different kind of magic.

I just love this age.

Here's a sampling of what we've been up to:

Looking rather like a kewpie doll

Making funny faces (while I try to admire/photograph his new haircut)

Babywearing

Snuggling

More funny faces

Plenty of arts and crafts

A tiny amount of sewing

I went back to my freelance writing career early this month, and boy is it hard to get your brain to think the way it used to after four months of doing nothing but caring for young children and maintaining a home.  What little free time I had during my maternity leave is now practically extinct. 

So I guess this isn't a great time for me to be thinking about rebranding and relaunching my Etsy shop as a way to earn extra money, but it is what it is.  When I get an idea I have to go for it now, and I love striking while the iron's hot.  Stay tuned for my "big" announcement -- air quotes on the big because it's not, really.  A name change, a few new products... it doesn't take much to get me excited.

I'm so glad to be back in this space, friends!

Living our Lives...Sort of

Hi Friends!  It's been a while since I've posted -- thanks for hanging in there!  We welcomed Baby Thomas in early October, and since then we've been living our lives, only differently than before.  You know, with a newborn in our midst.

Tommy was my Easy Baby, making Nathan look rather demanding when he was a newborn.  What a joy!  After about two weeks he had his days and nights sorted out, nursed on his own regular schedule and wasn't very demanding at all.  And once he could see a little further, he was happy to hang out awake, without being held.  Who knew this was even possible?!

But then, about a week ago, Easy Baby turned into Reflux Baby.  Don't get me wrong -- he's still an easy baby, at least from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  It's the nights that are intermittently difficult, and we're trying different things to help him to feel better and for us (well, me) to get more sleep.  So I've been pretty busy.

But that doesn't mean that no crafting was happening (at least before the reflux).  I sewed Nathan a pair of slippers from an [intentionally] felted wool sweater, made a crayon roll as part of his upcoming birthday present and started sewing Christmas presents for some friends.  I'm also knitting for this fast-growing baby who's already outgrown his newborn hats.  (He's about 12.5 pounds at 6 weeks! Hello, ninety-second percentile!)

By way of Instagrams (my username is kellypatla), here's what I've been up to since Thomas was born:

Nursing - 1 week old

 

Wearing handknits - 13 days old

 
 

Growing extra chins - 2.5 weeks

 
 

Sleeping and wearing handknits simultaneously - 4 weeks

 

  

 

Playing in the sandbox

 

 

Going for walks outside

 

 

Wearing sunglasses at night (like in the song)

 

 

Babywearing in the kitchen

 

 

Drawing with five markers at once. This boy needs a haircut.

 

 

Perfecting my favorite carry -- the front wrap cross carry -- while celebrating cute bear slippers and wearing my Favorite Sweatshirt of All Time.

Being handsome and sweet, respectively

 

 

Being so rediculously cute it almost hurts. While wearing handknits.

 

 

Finger painting like a champ.  Wow, he really needs a haircut.

 

 

Wondering when the next meal will be. This is the look that asks, "You're going to feed me now, right?"  Easy.  God, I love him.

 

 

 

So, what have you been up to during the last six weeks?

 

P.S. If anyone has had success soothing a reflux-y baby, I'm all ears. Please share your tips!

P.P.S. Thanks for reading.

 

A Boy and His First Honey Stick

Happy Friday!

Favorite Things Friday: The Tale of Peter Rabbit

I've been meaining to start a "favorite things"-type post because I've recently come across so many things that I really like and I feel like blathering on about them.  So here's my first one: The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Barnes & Noble brought this book to my attention with a carefully placed display in the middle of the store's main isle -- and I fell for it, hook, like and sinker.  I mean, how can one resist bunnies?  Especially this close to Easter?  Their merchandizers really know what they are doing.

The book is a new (2002) but original and authorized version that uses Beatrix Potter's original paintings and intentions but employs new techniques in printing and design to reproduce the colors and details of her watercolor paintings more accurately than ever before. It even includes two of her paintings that have never been included in the book before.

This little book is printed on smooth, quality paper using a period typface that almost makes me feel like I could be reading it back in 1902 England when it was originally printed. And of course the lesson learned makes it a valuable teaching -- just as soon as Nathan can grasp the concept.

Copyright Frederick Warne & Co. / Beatrix Potter

For now, we're happy to read this book together several times a day.  I can tell by the way Nathan cranes his neck to see that he's enjoying the super sweet illustrations, and I'm enjoying the text and the feel of this smooth, precious little book in my hands.  Some of the language is really great -- some sparrows "implored [Peter] to exert himself" when he was caught up in a gooseberry net.  I mean, come on!

This week, this book is one of my favorite things, and I hope it stays that way for a long time.  Kinda like Goodnight Moon -- I still love it, even though we read it every night before bed.  And I mean every single night.  I just love these old school books.  How lucky are we to have such easy access to these treasures?

P.S. The Tale of Peter Rabbit is giving me some really good ideas for Nathan's Easter basket. It'll probably entail another trip back to Barnes & Noble, plus some creativity on my part.  Stay tuned!!

Just for Me

This week I created a little place in my bedroom that's just for me.  Near the side of my bed I have a simple three-shelf bookcase with some of my favorite books, journals and idea notebooks, and on top I placed some pretty things to look at.  A pitcher of dried flowers, a photo of our little family and a very functional basket of moisturizers, lip balms and pens and pencils, perfect for hiding from Nathan's curious (prying?) fingers.

This little space might not seem like much, but it's a small relief to carve out a little space for myself in a house that increasingly feels like it's no longer mine.  It seems decidedly Nathan's, with all my of breakables and low decorations and artwork stashed away or placed high up where I can't enjoy them as well, and the books I love most hidden in a room with the door always closed.

This space is relaxing to see before I go to bed at night and when I wake up in the morning, and it's a useful place that I think I can actually keep clear (I'm known for stacking piles of laundry folded laundry on my dresser).  It's something I can maintain that's just for me, which feels good, especially after having my house stripped for toddlerdom and spending the last five years continually trying to make our living space work better for me and my family.

A few more views from around the room:

Note that Tennis For Dummies is not among my favorite books -- lol -- I still need to sort through these and personalize this private collection to include my very favorites and let go of the books I no longer need.  Maybe I'll do a follow up post on some of the books I've added to this special collection -- it'll include knitting book recommendations, gardening books and some quick but satisfying fictional reads, as well.  A bedside book for every mood!

Enjoy the weekend!