Cheaper than a pot

You need heels for this...

at least Eva thinks so.

I wanted to plant some potted herbs and peppers alongside our garden.

Pots are expensive... did you know that?

So instead of $60 pots which were beautiful but pricey,
I bought $5 plastic party tubs...

and made them work.

First I drilled drainage holes.

I thought five seemed like a good number, but no logic there beyond that.

Then leftover landscape fabric and loose rocks were added.

Our driveway is getting replaced in a few weeks,
so remnants of the crumble worked great for drainage.

Fill with dirt.

Liberally spread and share the wealth.

Mix well and pack it down.

We used half peat moss and half potting soil.

I used the peat moss because it was leftover from our raised bed refill.

Plant your plants.

These are basil seedings... grow strong little guys.

And rest.

Because it is hard work... gardening
especially in heels.

Week 20 of 52

Styleberry • Firecracker Mama • Wicked Kate • What We're Saying • Love & Life • Finding Joy
Joining: Communal Global and Sweet Shot Tuesday

Home day

Brewing coffee.

Early laundry to beat the rain.



Updated calendar.

Awake monster... "napping"

Reading a bit before breakfast.


 
Eva drinks her "coffee" too.

Adding and marking off my big to-do list.



Lunch.

Water the baby garden.



Deedle wakes up when Eva naps.



Sun tea brewing.



Trying not to turn on the air, it is suppose to rain.



Laundry off the line, inside and bed made just in time for the thunder.



A bit dizzy, so I lay down for a minute and enjoy the storm.



Clean closet and something to check off my list.



Reading and watching the rain while mommy does more laundry.



A little snack as I get dinner ready.

Once a week I do my best to schedule a "home day"...

no errands, play dates, work, meetings, trips or commitments.

I like to aim for Monday.

Just because the weekends can be so hectic... 

and it gets the week started on the right foot for me.

It is so easy to run around all the time.
Have something planned every single day.
Race around and slide in right before dinner time.

But we don't read as many books.
I don't get as many snuggles.
And my list never gets shorter that way.

On "home day" I can clean and play.
Hang up a laundry and collect dandelions.
So I say no and stay in.

Joining: Communal Global and Sweet Shot

Lately

I feel like we have been really busy but not with anything big.

It has been a bunch of little things...

A few extra days for me at work.

A few more trips to the park.

More daylight and less night.

More time outside and less time inside.

Sweaters and footie pajamas have been packed away.

The hose has made it out and sunscreen applied.

I move a little slower and need more breaks.

Eva moves a lot faster and doesn't understand what a break is.

My to-do's are getting marked off...

but new ones are added just as fast.

Less than 9 weeks until Deedle arrives...

July sounds further away than that, no?

Monsters are sleeping through the night,

and taking extra naps.

Life is full, and good.

Joining: Project52 : Siesta

Week 18 of 52

Styleberry 

Firecracker Mama • Wicked Kate • What We're Saying • Love & Life • Finding Joy

Being taught

One of the things I dreamt of doing before you were born was teaching you.

Showing you how, what, why.

Watching your eyes light up when we were seeing something new...

something for the very first time.

The surprise, excitement, wonder, and joy of those moments.

Brand new and so exciting.

There are so many firsts.

So many ones we have done, and that are waiting to do.

So many things for us to show you, teach you.

But, I am realizing how much more you are teaching me.

Showing me that it isn't all about firsts...

or even seconds.

You taught me that even on the 100th time we blow bubbles...

that there can be just as much surprise, excitement, wonder, and joy...

if not more, than the very first time.

Making each moment mean more than the last.

Watching the world through your eyes...

I am learning a lot.

Joining: Project52 : Green

Week 17 of 52

Styleberry 

Firecracker Mama • Wicked Kate • What We're Saying • Love & Life • Finding Joy

Seeds

Clearanced seed starter tray.

Leftover basil and squash seeds from last year...

 that I was really hoping weren't too old.

A bunch of heirloom seeds I attempted to harvest and dry.

Some from our tomatoes plants last year...

and some from the tastiest tomatoes from the farmers market.

$2 and some hope.

As of this morning... we have tiny sprouts.

Tired but giggling.

And thanks for all the encouraging words on this post guys...

felt like a hug this morning.

 

Week 16 of 52: Things that grow.

Lately

Monster, it has been a rough week...

and I am not sure what is going on.

All of the sudden you don't want to leave my side.

If even leave the room, you shout and cry for me.

I went to leave you at the MOPS nursery Tuesday.

You usually love to go "play" and wave bye to me when I leave.

Not a chance.

Holding your breath and screaming mommy please no!

It was so bad.
I just called it a day and went home.

When we came home, you had the worst tantrum I have ever seen.

It lasted two hours.

You wanted held, but then I would reach for you and you scream louder.

It was two hours of screaming, crying and even hitting yourself.

Finally, you let me carry you and lay you down for a nap.

Today, you had a similar melt down when I tried to leave you with Grammy and Poppy.

Their house is usually your very favorite and you ask to go.

Not today.

You left claw marks on my arm when Grammy helped peal you off me.

I thought for sure I wasn't going to be able to stay at work, but you calmed down finally.

Bedtime has even been disaster.

Last night you cried for me almost every two hours.

At 10, 12, 2 and 4.

Tonight, it has started again.
Mommy please, mommy please.

Talk about breaking a mommy's heart.

Monster, I am not sure what is wrong...

but I hope we figure it out.

Week 16 of 52

Styleberry 

Firecracker Mama • Wicked Kate • What We're Saying
Love & Life • Finding Joy

Sometimes

Sometimes, I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone.

You ask me if 
you can go sit in time-out...
please.

Sometimes, I wish I could run and hide.

You shout, "Hi, Grandma!" 
to the lady at the grocery... 
who definitely wasn't one.

Sometimes, I want to scream.

You hide under the middle of the dining room table, 
half dressed, giggling at me, 
as I try to move my pregnant self 
around and under the table...
unable to reach you.

Sometimes, I laugh so hard I cry.

Your belly laugh is so contagious, 
it gets me every time.

Sometimes, the stars align.

You look right at me, 
when I have the camera, 
and you smile.

Week 15 of 52

Styleberry 

Firecracker Mama • Wicked Kate • What We're Saying
Love & Life • Finding Joy

Today

I worked today.

Normally when I drop Eva off, she runs happily away.

By Bye Mommy.

Not today.

No No Mommy, please no.

It wasn't the first time she fussed, but it was the first time she begged me not to leave.

My heart broke a little.

Then, as I got in the car, it broke some more.

I thought about it all on the rest of my drive.

How things were now...
and how they were supposed to be.

Me, just working a day here and there, for a little bonus money...

instead of 50 plus hours a week as the main earner in our home.

I was feeling really thankful by the time I made it to work.

work bathroom belly shot

Being reminded of our old plan.

Everyday, I would have been dropping her off and rushing off to work.

I know so many people do it, and they do it so well, with such grace.
i had wanted to keep my career... thought it would have been just fine.

But today was a great big reminder on how hard it would have been.

We left the house at 6:45 am this morning...
and we were running late.

I got to work at 8:30...
I should have been there 45 minutes before that.

I left close to 4:30...
Eva and I were home by 6:00.

A normal day I wouldn't leave until 5:30... 

home by 7:00.

Eva in bed at 8:00.

Just one hour with her...

the hospital basement

I sent Michael a message...

thanking him for making our lives the way they are now.

Supporting us, supporting me and our decision.

Giving up our old plan for this new one.

Taking it all in stride and making it work.

Working more hours and sacrificing more of his time so there is more time for us.

The three of us thank you so much.


    

Loving

I am loving...

the sun streaming in the windows.

making my pre-Deedle to-do list of things to sort and clean.

crossing one of those things off the huge list already.

that I have a little less than three months to get everything else crossed off finished.

hearing Eva sing from her crib... even though she should be napping.

unexpected mornings with Michael, even just for an extra hour.

the apple-cinnamon smell lingering from making granola and oatmeal last night.

coming up with fun things to hide in Easter eggs for Eva to find.

that Eva has been to the park more times than there are days this past week.

my short grocery list since my freezer is well stocked.

the morning spent playing/talking with friends not see in a while.

drinking sun tea and seeing another batch outside brewing.

Happy Easter!

Hope yours is filled with sunshine.

  

Melted

You threw your bowl at me this morning.

All Done!

Cue hysterical laughter.

Never mind that I was dressed 

and then had to change out of the yogurt splattered shirt.

Or that it managed to get in my hair.

After your time-out for throwing food, you came and gave me a big hug.

I sorry Mommy.

Hugs and your big dimpled grin.

Then, you wanted to "see" the baby.

Usually that means you want to play with my belly button and giggle.

Up went the shirt...

Instead, you started singing...

Twinkle Twinkle little star

up so high in the sky....

Twinkle, twinkle in the sky.

I melted into a puddle.

Week 14 of 52

Styleberry 

Firecracker Mama • Wicked Kate • What We're Saying
Love & Life • Finding Joy

An Ant

Holding her first ant.

This little guys was fast.

Made her giggle and grin.

Marker still on her hands from a coloring session that morning.

Wearing an outfit that when it was given to us I thought...

"she will never fit into this."

Joining: Project52 : Details
Week 13 of 52

Eight

Dear Michael,

Happy Anniversary.

Eight years of being Mr. and Mrs.

And it is only beginning.

I have been thinking a lot...

our first apartment.

our first house.

Then I go back even further...

our first high school dance.

our first kiss.

It is funny the things you almost forget...

until you think about them again.

Picking out our first green couch.

Packing the last box and standing in our empty apartment.

Looking out over the deck after we were first married.

Looking out from the the hotel roof in Florence 5 years later.

I think about how afraid we were...

to go from two happy married people...

to a family.

Worried it would make things hard.

Promising that we wouldn't let it change us.

It did change us - and we broke our promise.

But in the most amazing and wonderful ways.

How a little person could make two other people so much closer?

Maybe, it is that half of me and half of you, are forever forged...

made into one - right before our eyes.

And here we are...
adding on to our family, again.

Not afraid this time.
Just excited.

Because we know how awesome it is.
Even when it is hard.

We know that the happy days out number the ones that aren't.
That arguments just mean that we care.
And the best is still on its way.



So to my husband...
all my love, my whole heart, and all my tomorrows are yours.

Happy Anniversary.

Week 13 of 52

Styleberry 

Firecracker Mama • Wicked Kate • What We're Saying
Love & Life • Finding Joy

Joining: Communal Global and Sweet Shot