Pumpking Carving, Market Going, Tasty Food Making.

Yeah I realize it's not quite October and we've already carved our first pumpkin. I'm quite sure we didn't even carve one at all last year. (As I recall, I was pregnant, sick, tired and working and not feeling very festive). 

Wren saw these super cute little pumpkins at the market yesterday so we just HAD to get one...but first here are a few market photos to share..

Ellie and her favourite Aunty Andrea

Red dragon balloon!!

Cmon Wren, just one picture with Mom! Close enough.

Later when we came home, I had to try out this Toasty Nuts recipe from the Sprouted Kitchen. The verdict? Incredibly delicious. Go make it right now. (I didn't have flax so I used chia seeds instead. Same difference, it's a pretty forgiving recipe, and for those that care- completely dairy and gluten free!)

Mmm..I know you want some..

Next, Wren needed to carve that pumpkin. Ellie supervised, as she usually does...

This pumpkin is special because it has a curved stem..

She is constantly talking about getting more pumpkins and carving them all. 

Apparently the next one needs a "happy face" she says.

Spooky!

Room Art

This post has been a slow process of painting, painting again and waiting for the pieces to dry. Then I had to find the nails to hang the canvases on which probably was the longest part...lazy, I say.

Wren and I made some art together. 

She did one, I did another, and then we switched and added onto each others.

Aaannnd then I showed Wren how to paint with her fingers. Somehow this didn't occur to her first.

Obviously she needed no other guidance.

We let the first layer dry and painted a second time on top. You may have noticed Wren's clothing change which gives it away.

Final products!

She was pumped to hang them up...

Not bad hey?

p.s. More fun posts coming- we already carved one small market pumpkin and have a super tasty and perfect fall recipe that we tested and approve of!

Life with Two Kids Pt. Too Many to Count

Thoughts on life with two kids. Pt. 34 or something like that. (Who keeps track anymore)

1. Naps. Nobody wants to nap at the same time. Cmon girls, get it together!

(No babies were actually squished for this photo.)

2.  Everything is dirty to some degree. And you know what? I see it and think to myself, "That is a very dusty shelf. But I have better things to do, like write this blog post. Good idea, glad I thought of that instead."

3. The grocery store is no place for children and the lady at the cash knows it as she watches your toddler try to console your crying baby in the cart.

4. A nice evening out is laced with the knowledge that your husband is having a crappy, nay, total worst night ever at home. Why? Because the baby is in a attached-to-you-like-no-other-screams-down-the-house-but smiles-sweetly-when -you -walk -through -the- door -and -husband's -eye- is- twitching kind of phase right now.

(Stickers are everywhere right now. Even Ellie's head.)

5. The witching hour begins at 5pm and ends at 8 or 9pm. It's baby's last nap time but nearly impossible to get her to sleep and she's cranky all the way until she is down for the night with a hyper toddler that doesn't want a bath and screams through getting her hair washed every. single. time.

 6. Life with two kids is hairy. (Kudos to all with more children, except the Duggars because there is actually something wrong with that family.) And public health nurses at the health centers where you take your kids for their shots, are crazy paranoid. I am smarter now and instead of answering their hundreds of questions (the ones they ask before they actually give you kid the three needles you've been waiting half an hour for in their waiting room) truthfully, I lie so that I don't get a lecture anymore.
Things like:
"Are you giving your baby Vitamin D drops still?" Yeess...wait..oh those drops that I gave her the first week and then totally forgot all about for the last 4 months. Hang on...did I actually ever buy the drops in the first place?
"Make sure they aren't wearing buttons or anything with cords, zippers, flammable material or colors in case a rabid dog sees them and chases them down."* . Nod nod nod while thinking they're crazy because that owl onesie with the button for the eye is so cute you're still going to make her wear it. (*She didn't say that last one, just to clarify)
"If your toddler is sick make sure she stays at least one meter away from the baby at all times to avoid giving passing her cold to her". Riiiiiiiiighhhhhht...do you even have kids? I've stopped listening now because my baby is now fussing so loudly and on the verge of a meltdown but you haven't seemed to notice and I think you are actually talking slower than faster and not taking a hint that this needs to speed the heck up.
Thanks, that rant felt great.

7. You get excited when you dress your baby more than normal because she doesn't protest what you put on her like your toddler does.

8. I'm thankful for girls because if I neglect getting Wren's hair cut it doesn't matter, it gets long and still looks fine. Ellie has no hair, so that's easy.

9. Each day has a schedule of 2-3 hour increments. Wake up at 6am and eat. Eat again at 8am. Get ready and go out from 10am-12pm. Eat lunch and go nap from 12-2pm. Eat snack and do another activity from 2-4pm. 4-6 make and eat supper. 6-8pm Bath, read stories and go to bed while feeding baby every 2-3 hours throughout the day. Wake up 1-2 times in night to feed baby again.
Everything runs this way almost every day. I recently had a whole Saturday for myself and felt weird for not having to rush here or there for a snack, a nap or a baby feeding. It. was. awesome.

10. Fall into bed every night feeling like you ran a marathon...every single day.



Phwef! That list progressively got longer and longer.

Speaking of busy, we have a big weekend planned. Farmers market (I need Bloom cookies..), family photos with Amanda, a visit to a friend's brand new house, and taking in the gorgeous fall days outside! Have a good one :)

Think Pink

Amanda came over to do pictures for the girls so that I could have more like this one...

That seems so so long ago! She did ones for Ellie (which are going to be absolutely to die for, I just know it) and new ones for Wren (which will be crazy to see how much she's changed!)

And then she took a couple of sweet ones of the three of us. Here is one just for fun...

We are also getting family ones with the lovely Amanda on Saturday- I can't even wait! And yes, in case you are wondering, we do use her for capturing most areas of our life as often as we can :) 

Check out her website if you haven't already.

Gorgeous fall days..

The light was amazing all day yesterday. It felt like a dream all the way into the evening. I can't even believe how beautiful it's been outside. We enjoyed a day of it over at Nana & Papa's in their backyard...

Chubby baby just hanging out with Dad...

And Uncle Jordan...

First, look at that face! and then look at those thighs...

Caught her in a moment (the others were the silliest faces ever. Honestly kid.)

First family photo ever as our family of 4. Seriously, it's only taken 5 months to get it! (Good thing we're getting "official" ones done with Amanda this weekend!) The last time we had them done was when Wren was about 9 months old. Wow.

Wrestles and tickles...

For the record, Ellie hates the grass. This was taken about 2 seconds before she flipped.

Squeeze!

And I just have to add that we kept missing photo opportunities with Wren and Uncle Kyle playing together. It happened. It wasn't caught on camera. Next time!

Ellie kicks it up a notch...with cereal

Pretty crazy things are happening at our house...Ellie is starting cereal. Whoa! I know! It's insane!

Okay not really. But it's humorous to watch. Ellie's not a fan. No surprise there. She already has a hard time sitting up in the Bumbo, let alone having to suddenly figure out the "spoon in the mouth" deal and "I'm supposed to swallow like how??" business. It's tough being 5 months old ya know.

And predictably, I hear a little "Wren try??" come from beside me. Why not...

 (Ellie has such a humongously cute little head)

Wren did a great job...

We had some leftover cereal in the bowl and Wren looked at me and said "Wren haf dat ceweal Mom??" So I let her have it and she downed it and said "Dat vewy yummy!"

I'm sort of hoping it helps her sleep a bit better at night, but we also see that teeth might be on their way so who knows....teething is another nightmare stage of it's own!

(The sweetest little sleeper...)

Wren Quotes

When you let a toddler pick out her own shoes...

...she picks out puppy dog shoes :)

Some quotes from Wren lately:

"My bellybutton grumbly! I need a peanut butter sammich." 

"One more stowee (story). Den it's nigh-nigh time. Okay?" Okay boss.

Me- "Wren what's your favourite food to eat? Spaghetti? Pizza?" Wren- "Hmmm...Poop!" Verrry funny.

"Coming Ellie! I help you!" 

"Wren come?! Sure!!" (Favourite places to go include the park, Costco, Home Depot, the library and friend's houses).

"Hi, I'm Jeske!" (Still trying to get her to introduce herself using her first name..)

Me- "Wren, what's your favourite song?" Wren- "Shoe-fly Don't Bother Me!" (a song we learned at the library .

5 Months of Ellie with 5 Thoughts.

Oh boy, how can I already be writing this post? 

It doesn't feel like 5 months yet, especially when I just took Ellie for her 4 month shots today...little late.   

Anyway, I've been trying to conjure up some thoughts about parenting two and any new things I could add to what I've said before about it. 

But this week I've been ultra drained, more than usual. We've all been sick last week and have either caught a second round of colds or the first ones are just lasting forever. All except Wren who is peppy and full of energy and finding me quite boring as I am like Sid the Sloth this week. 

I tried to get outside with her because it's been beautiful out, so we went to the playground and I wore Ellie in the Ergo carrier. After a good 45 min I thought my torso was going to snap off with the weight of Ellie. She's over 17 lbs as of today. That doesn't sound like a lot, but I was waddling down the sidewalk like I was pregnant again. And then I thought...never again... 

If you want a lot of annoying elementary age kids repeatedly asking you dumb questions, just wear your baby in an Ergo. Honestly. All I heard was, 

"Is there a baby in there?"

"Why is that hood up over her head?"

"Why is she sleeping?"

"When will she wake up?"

"Can you wake her up?"

"Can I see her?"

"Can I see her when she wakes up?"

GAAAHHHHH!!!

This leads me into my first thought on being a mom of two. Pt 3 or something of my "series". 

1) I have a lower patience threshold. Especially for irritating kids at the playground or anywhere in public. I feel like I'm Shrek and they're all Donkey. I barely have patience to spare for my own children some days, so other kids just get what I have left. Basically nothing.

2) TV really is the third parent, only better. I can put Wren in front of it and she won't move. In fact, she will barely talk. She zombie's right out. TV is a tool for a parent's bad day, in my humble opinion. I feel next to no guilt using it when needed, like when I'm trying to sneak in a quick shower, slapping together supper or getting 2 seconds to myself in the bathroom.

3) Despite the work of two, Wren entertains Ellie far longer than she would normally be if Wren wasn't around. Wren went to my parents for the day and then slept over, and I actually found myself wanting her back because Ellie was bored so much more easily without having her Wren running around her. The house also feels strangely quiet and weird without Wren, and I miss her quickly, but we're all better for having a break too. 

4) People say that the second child is so much more easy going because they have to be. However, I find myself still feeling like I don't know what I'm doing with Ellie some days, especially with nap/bed time. She doesn't seem all that "easy" in that department and I don't think that I do things all that differently but like I have said before, my memory is shot so I could be wrong.

I can also say along that note that I eat my words all the time. Ideals are meant to be shattered when it comes to raising kids. And don't say "never" or "always". That's not realistic or true. You will break your own rules and how you wanted to do things. Move on.

5) It's not a bad idea to buy appropriate clothing to the season, before the season hits. Don't you hate when the weather changes suddenly and you don't have what you need for your kids? They grow so fast! We have to buy Wren new shoes, she was hobbling around in her size 8's because they were too small. Longer pants in the cooler weather. How come all the long sleeve shirts are belly shirts now?? I can't keep up. That's why Joe clothing is the smartest thing ever. I pick up kids clothes while I grocery shop. Because I don't have time to set aside for shopping otherwise with them. I loathe taking both of them to the mall with me. What a hassle! Do I sound vent-y yet?  

6) (I know I said only 5 points, so you can stop reading now if you like). Play group at our community hall has surprised me. I didn't feel a huge need to go when it was just Wren and I. Since going, it's become like an AA group to me...uh, not like I have ever needed to go to AA...

I used to think I was above needing a "moms" group kind of thing. Who wants to just sit around with other moms and talk about your kids? Laaammmme. 

Except now it's different. It's supportive, helpful, a good place to go for the girls and for me. I've been watching the other kids slowly grow bigger week after week. I've been seeing mom's pregnant and then coming with their new babies. We talk about our struggles among the happy screeches and noise of the toddlers. We get each other, and it's okay if all we talk about is our kids and sleepless nights and the awful time we are having potty training and so on. When I'm nursing Ellie, another mom is helping Wren get a snack. We all need a little spot for something like that in our lives I think, but if you don't, that's fine too. I am happily surprised by what it's done for me. 

That actually sums it right up there...happily surprised by the last 5 months. Even if myself and the girls were all wailing last night at bed time (while Kenton was running an errand) and we were all sad and I hated my life at that moment. Because now I'm excited for a waffle at the market tomorrow morning and to walk around with the girls and him. 

:)

A Review: The Ergo Baby Carrier

As summer comes to a close, I feel this is perfect timing to give a review about the Ergo carrier that I wore mostly outside and probably won't use half as much once we are mostly indoors this winter. Makes perfect sense, I know.

I don't have a ton to say about the carrier, but I like it. I was nervous to buy it (they're not cheap), because I wasn't sure how much I'd use it. 

I wanted one because I predicted I would need my hands free to run after Wren in the spring/summer while we were at parks and outside. I was right, it has been super useful that way.  

Comfort rating: 8.5/10

It's pretty comfy. I read through the instructions about a million times to make sure I was putting it on right and had her positioned correctly, especially when she was very tiny. I used it from when she was about a month old. As you can see in the picture, I bought the infant insert, which was very helpful, otherwise you can't put a baby under 4 months into it really....soo...you kinda have to have that thing. 

After about an hour, my back and shoulders begin to get a tiny bit sore. But usually after an hour, she wants a break from it anyway so I take her out. 

She seems comfy and settles fairly quickly in it once I'm walking or bouncing her a bit. 

Easy to use: 7/10

Sometimes I forgot how to clip/unclip in the heat of the moment- like when she's fussing or crying and I'm trying to get it on or off fast. Using it takes some time to get it right but once you do it's not too bad. It feels clunky and big when I bring it anywhere, like in my diaper bag because it feels huge and awkward. But it's always worth it when I do have it.

Other than that, there isn't much else to "rate" per se. I found my carrier on babysteals.com and paid half the retail price. I bought the infant insert at Bosom Babies. 

I'm not even going to get into the whole topic of "baby wearing", but I have liked "wearing" Ellie when I've used the carrier. I never used one with Wren because she was born in the winter and found I had no use for it with just her. (If we were going out, Wren spent her time in the carsesat and the stroller...like at the mall...)

I do plan on using it into the fall/winter season when we go places where a stroller is annoying and I need to be close by Wren in whatever she is doing. I would say, if you are considering getting one for your baby, go for it! I've read that you kind of have to "train" babies to like it so if you use it from when they're quite small, that probably won't be too hard. 

Because I know this is the post you were all pumped to read on a nice, warm afternoon... :)

"Those" Shows

Do you have one of "those" shows that you like to watch? One that you don't really go around raving about because you know it's lame, it's on Netflix and you like to watch it when you have nothing else to do when you're by yourself?

Mine is Mr. D. I don't know anyone else that likes it and therefore it's my go-to show when I am bored. But the thing is...I actually think it's really funny. 

Do you have a favourite show like that?

(I may or may not be watching it today while I get over a cold...!)