Just using the mobile Blogger app to share a 

few photos I took of us today.

Love this little guy!

Someday I'll come back to this post and see how little he once was and I'll bawl my eyes out. 

Happy Labor Day!

Cheers,

Heather

A random post...with 100% cell phone photos 

...and a selfie or two. 

Or three. 

They call it the 4th trimester. 

The baby's {and mother's!} adjustment from womb to world.

It's true. You don't just go from 9 months pregnant to completely normal again, especially when you're recovering from childbirth {which, in my case, was also a major surgery} as well as breastfeeding, which is a full time job in itself. The 4th trimester: not for wimps.

Paxton is 7 weeks old.

 

Though the third baby was way less of an adjustment than the first and second were, still, the fourth trimester. It's a real thing. We're adjusting. Adjusted.

{Also, I hate the breast pump. It hates me just as much. We hate each other, and yet rely on each other. And that's all I have to say about that.}

Justin and I got out for the first time since Paxton's birth, we went to my friend Kellee's birthday party. It was 1950s attire, and it was awesome. See more awesomeness here.

    

As a new mom, you feel excitement at the idea of going out...then you get out and you feel nothing but anxiety about being away from your new baby and you want to get home asap. It's ridiculous. That, my friends, is the 4th trimester. The connection you feel from the womb & from breastfeeding means it's just that much harder to leave your baby behind.

Tummy time!

Justin went back to work about 4 weeks ago now, and I've been on my own trying to manage the idea of homeschooling, entertaining Eisley and Violet, enjoying motherhood, trying out a completely new discipline style, and keeping house. My days are same as any other full time mom, full of simple moments and emotion. Nothing too different than yours, if you're a stay at home mom. Full of laughter and crying and whining and making lunches and love and anger and being thankful for bathroom breaks that aren't interrupted.

{Violet found the Sharpie the other night and went to town on our beautiful yellow chenille bedspread, our thrifted vintage orange alarm clock, and a baby photo of Eisley that was framed in our bedroom. Justin was fixing dinner, I was feeding the baby. We thought they were playing nicely in Eisley's room, we check on them frequently. We thought wrong. I still have no idea where she found the Sharpie. Contraband. She got a spanking. {Yes, we spank.} She apologized--after prompting. We forgave--after swallowing bitterness at the ruined things. They are just things, remember? She went to bed well, but not before reminding us to pray. {Sweet!} She called to Eisley to come pray with us. {Sweeter!} And then I smothered her in kisses before turning off her light. Ups and downs all day, I tell you. Such is motherhood.}

  

Breastfeeding a baby to sleep in the evenings means I watch more TV. {At least it makes sense to me, if I'm going to be stuck on the couch for an hour, I should at least enjoy a show, right? I'm too tired to read...} I admire the families I know who have no TV in their homes, I really do. I wish we were less into our shows, and I wish we relied on The Lion King and Monsters, Inc. a tad bit less to occupy the girls when we need to really get something done. It's a crutch...we've talked about getting rid of it. We don't completely want to though.

ON the other hand... it was nice to be able to turn our car's DVD player on today and let the girls watch Coraline while I pulled over to breastfeed Paxton when he got hungry during our errands this afternoon. TV...I love and hate it.

Enjoying a cuddle after the 1950s party.

The evenings lately have turned into my TV time because I'm sustaining a small person, and he happens to like cluster feeding these days. I enjoy our time together. While breastfeeding can feel like a big chore and obligation, I've learned that once these days are over, I'll miss the time spent with my tiny baby. I spend a couple hours on the couch each night after the girls go to bed. We've been enjoying The White Queen, Devious Maids, Cedar Cove, and Broadchurch. Anyone else like these shows?

Got my hair done this week.

The White Queen is a definite favorite, as I'm a fan of Philippa Gregory books, the Medieval/Renaissance period, romance, period costumes, scenes of old castles, and men in armour. So, how could this show not be a favorite? Justin called and asked DirecTV if we could get a deal on Starz and we got 5 months free, so now I can watch The White Queen, which Starz apparently co-produced with the BBC. Cool.

Devious Maids is my guilty pleasure show, created by Marc Cherry, who also created my guilty pleasure of the past--Desperate Housewives. A sort of snarky satire/drama/comedy with juicy plot lines, Devious Maids is just fun to watch. Justin likes it too. The maid Rosie is my favorite. And I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out who killed Flora.

Cedar Cove is my "peaceful show". It's been praised by critics for being completely opposite of all the Hollywood flash/drama/gore/sex you see these days. It's also a fictional show about the town of Cedar Cove, inspired by a town we loved and visited frequently in college, called Port Orchard, Washington. An easy watch that makes me feel cozy, like catching up with old friends over coffee, I've been sucked into it's easy going plots.

Finally, Broadchurch, our latest discovery of BBC greatness since Downton Abbey. It's a creepy, modern whodunit from England, sort of a heavy show so far, I'm looking forward to watching more. We watch it with the closed captioning on because, sorry Brits, but you tend to mutter...and too quickly! {They probably say the same thing about us.)

So there you have it. The 4th trimester and TV go together around here. I remember  watching a lot of Big Love after Eisley's birth and Homeland after Violet's. 

I'm so looking forward to September, because not only is it my favorite month of the year, we have NO PLANS! No birthday parties to plan, no obligations with church, no nothing. I'm excited. Because I feel like the last 7 weeks have been go-go-go and get-it-done...but not before pumping a bottle for the baby!

The 4th trimester is coming to a close, I can feel it. Paxton is over 9 lbs now, he's holding his head up, he's looking less like a newborn and he is smiling and cooing and we know we're moving into this next phase...

I'm already thinking about busting out the Exersaucer, for crying out loud! He was just born...or so I thought.

Kids. They grow up on you. Punks. I mean, yay!

 

So, welcome September! You beauty, you! I plan to spend your days cuddling and nursing and sniffing my baby while watching some indulgent TV shows.

I already feel like I've missed out on too much of Paxton's babyhood. I plan to be more selfish, honestly. I plan to cuddle more and share less. Sometimes when they are newborns I feel like all I do is feed them and then hand them off to someone wanting to hold the baby. Of course everyone wants to hold the baby... but, I earned him. I grew him, from scratch. 

We have that baby-momma bond, no one can ever replicate. I just want to treasure this time, it is fleeting. I'm too experienced of a mother to call myself actually experienced, but I'm experienced enough to know: treasure this, right now.

The 4th trimester, it's between him and I, no one else really lays claim to this time. He's mine for now, for this short period of life {like the 4th trimester} he is mine and I plan to be more selfish and love on him as much as I can before he grows up and leaves.

 

I'll just come out and say it: I never knew I could love a son so much. He is wonderful.

Happy September to you!

And now...


Silly selfies!

I hope you enjoyed my cell phone pictures.

XO,

Heather

A handful of people asked me if I was having a baby shower before baby #3 came along, but I kept answering that I didn't think I'd want one this time around. Traditionally etiquette once said you only throw baby showers for the first pregnancy anyway, and I'd had a shower thrown for me with both of the girls. We already have plenty of baby gear {sorry it's all pink with teacups, Paxton} and as you know, I'm a boy clothes fussy pants {though less of one now that my baby is here and I think he's cute in ANYthing}, so I decided to turn down the lovely offers that came regarding a third baby shower.

But some people just won't listen...

Jan & Kellee showed up at Eisley's 5th birthday party with a bit of a "mini-shower" for me. It was the sweetest, most unique way to celebrate Paxton with some of my friends, yet in a simple and meaningful way and without the lame baby shower games.

 

Jan even threw a little Pyrex and some of her sewing creations into the mix--it was just perfect.

Poor Paxton has been brought into a house full of toys that already have Eisley & Violet's names on them. It's really sweet to have something so personal, with his name on it, to start him off with. Behold: a shower of Little Golden Books!

From all my "Lutheran Texas friends" {none of us are actually from Texas, but this is what I call them since we all met in Texas last year}. No child in America did not own at least one of these golden foil spined books as a child, they are classics and loved by all.

They each sent Paxton a favorite Little Golden Book.

Each one inscribed by the giver.

Along with sweet little notes and cards that I'm tucking away in his "baby box". I have a baby box for each of my children, filled with things like their hospital bracelets, ultrasound photos, Baptism certificates, etc. I'm serious when I say I'd actually felt bad that Paxton had no baby shower cards in his, unlike his sister's boxes. {This is the little sister in me, being the youngest, it pulls at my heartstrings when my youngest child doesn't get what the older ones got. And yet, life is full of different experiences, I know, I know...it's silly. I am an emotional creature.}

I was sincerely touched, and it was such a sweet thing to open up, to read the notes, and to set aside a nice little book collection {many classics there!} just for Paxton.

Jan sewed him up some darling burp cloths! Babies are so funny. I keep thinking things like, Here is the only gift you'll ever get that is acceptable to vomit on, Little Buddy!

I never though I'd say this but, what cute fabric with cars on it! Well done Jan! And we actually really needed burp cloths. Perfect.

Along with the Little Golden Book theme, she also made a fabric Poky Little Puppy book.

Inscribed and everything, how sweet. We will play with it and take it to church lots of times and then when he gets too old for it someday, we'll stick it in the baby box with his other baby treasures.

Finally, a baby bath towel. With bicycles. Babies. Baths. Bicycles. {Why did I never make one of these for the girls? The store bought ones we had were flimsy and thin, but the one Jan made for Paxton is big and soft, we love it.}

All presented in a Pyrex dish--the huge, legendary 4 quart casserole--the size and pattern that I've been looking for, no joke.

Hands off, Violet! These are for Paxton.

I may not have wanted a full blown baby shower, but what my friends did do was the bee's knees. I was really touched by the unique and personal gifts.

Kellee brought a little something just for me too. I have to say, when I saw this sitting in my kitchen during and after the party, I thought she'd just haphazardly tossed a teacup on the counter for some unknown reason, she didn't make a fuss about giving it to me, so I wasn't sure what it really was. After Eisley's party was over I picked it up to take a closer look, and it turns out the teacup is glued like this, and it had birdseed inside! A handmade Pyrex birdfeeder!! It's hanging in our tree now. Such a creative use for extra Pyrex dishes. Not that I have much extra Pyrex sitting around. :::cough cough::: This is cute and I might just make some myself. Guess I should go thrift some more Pyrex...


A huge thank you to Jan & Kellee and my Texas girls for the heartwarming mini-baby shower! I am blessed to have these friends.

Cheers,
Heather

Forgive me for this post...

Turns out, I'm a bit of boys clothes snob. Okay, I'm a lot of a boys clothes snob.

I've never been terribly picky about what my girls wear, though I dislike cartoon character clothes in general {Eisley has one character shirt, Olivia the pig} but most prints that are girly and tasteful are fine by me. Most girly things are cute by nature (i.e. flowers, birds, ice cream cones). Boys stuff? Ick.

I've never cared what I see other little boys wearing, I've never even given it a second thought. But now that I have my own little guy on the way, I think of his blonde hair and blue eyes and his pink cheeks, I just find myself nitpicking what I'll dress him in.

Here's what I'm not into: super heroes, trucks, farm stuff, bugs, monsters, sea creatures, "Daddy's Little ____", "Mommy's Little ____", dogs, robots, airplanes, motorcycles, construction equipment, race cars, baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, etc., etc., etc. Those things just don't say baby to me, and yet 100% of the baby clothes made for boys are covered with these things!

Call me fussy if you like, but I'm also not a big fan of dark colors. We're Swedes, OK?! We don't do well in dark, bold colors. Especially when we're babies!

Part of this, I'm sure, is that I have no brothers or boy cousins. I'm just not used to boy things and never thought of boy things as cute. I've been happy to take the girls stuff so far, flowers and butterflies trump monsters and trucks, they just do. As I've said before, my father is currently my only living male blood relative. Dad has always been well dressed for a guy, a Land's End and J. Crew sort of guy. Masculine, modest, classy, clean cut. No golf polos here or graphic tees that say snarky things. This is all I know.

So given my list of dislikes, about 0.02% of the little boys clothes I see available in stores are acceptable for me to think of dressing my baby in. I'm. A. Total. Boys. Clothes. Snob. It's silly, yes. But it's who I am. I've often referred to myself as "aesthetically sensitive", I'm affected easily by colors and textures and such. I think it's part of what makes me artistically inclined, and also picky. That and, I just don't like boy things okay?!

Well, he will be here in a couple short months, so I've started to buy what I can find.

So Justin teases me that these are unisex onesies, but I adore the aqua and gray colors so when I saw these at Target I had to get them. Seriously, who knows what else I'll be able to find before Paxton comes?

Then there is this vintage, but unused, winter suit I found at a thrift store. Again, Justin says it's a girl color. But I don't care. I thought it was simple and sweet.

Khakis are fine and this pair a friend gave me are cute {as long as there are no pleats, long ago I banned pleats from my house, just ask Justin}. I thrifted the onesie, and the gray hoodie I bought on clearance years ago at Gap, in case we had a boy. Well good, now we can use it.

{And Gap, by the way, has more acceptable boys clothes than any other store. I just don't like the dark colors, but they do baby clothes better than anyone else.}

Then there are sweet little getups like this! Can you believe, I thrifted this for $3 at Savers? And it's very obvious it was never worn or used. On one hand it makes me sad that some little old lady probably spent hours on this, only to gift it at a baby shower and have it donated to a thrift store, unappreciated. On the other hand, my score! I've found a few sweet, vintage & non-vintage baby knits at thift stores and I love them.

Frogs and ducks are cute, these are both from Old Navy, but also thrifted. {Yes, Justin, they're unisex!}

And then there are the blankets...

Okay, the blue and white striped on the left has sparkly yarn so I'll probably be teased by Justin a little more that it's girly. The Circo blanket from Target was on sale; and, if you haven't noticed, all three of our kids have one of these blankets {Viv calls it her night-night} which are their best friends through the baby and toddler years. So he needed one of those.

But I'm also crocheting a little chevron blanket for Paxton. I found the pattern here, it's very easy and turning out so cute! I can't wait to have him here and bundle him up in it.

I also want to crochet him these shoes--aren't these sweet?
Oh, and these boots, darling!

So, I have just a few things for Mr. Pax to wear, I keep it tucked away in the little orange suitcase until he arrives.


So if you think all of that is ridiculous and picky of me, don't even get me started on baptism outfits available for little boys.

Let's see, I can pick from...

1. Little Lord Fauntleroy
2. Angelic Babe Ruth
3. Mini-Pastor
4. Tacky blindingly shiny tuxedo

Hmm...those all are just so tempting. My mom already had a good laugh at me one night when I was looking in horror at the goofy clothes they make for boy's baptisms. She told me I couldn't put him in my gown, which both the girls wore, because it has pink bows on the shoulders and smocking. Whatever, mom.

So, I think in the end I'll go with something simple like this. 

Cheers,

The Horribly Vain & Snobby 
Boy-Mom-To-Be Heather

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