Tutu Cute.

Dressed alike.

Gotta do it while I still can...

...before they get picky.

:)

7 Months: A Letter.

Dear Miss Delia,

Today you turn seven months old!  You are becoming less and less of a baby...and are showing more and more of a sweet little personality each month.  Good grief, you are adorable!  Here are some of your milestones this past month:

Growth:
-You weigh 21.5 lbs, and you are 28.5 inches long, which keeps you at the very high end of the growth charts.  Big is beautiful, baby.  ;)

-First tooth!  Without skipping a beat, you got your first tooth this past week on the bottom right.  Who knew!?!?  You've been chewing on your hands and toys like crazy over the past few weeks, so I'm not surprised...and I bet another little toofer is on its way up soon!

-As the seasons changed from winter to spring, you developed a pretty severe case of eczema on your back, shoulders, arms and the backs of your thighs.  It doesn't seem to bother you, but we've had to start using even more gentle washes and lotions.

-You are able to sit up unassisted for several minutes at a time before you get bored and flop over onto your back.  It's a whole new world now that you can sit up and look around!  You seem to really like it!

-The little bald spot on the back of your head is almost totally gone, and each day your hair seems to be getting thicker and longer....mostly down the middle of your head!

-You can pretty much get to wherever you'd like to go simply by rolling around all over the floor!  You are getting so good at your aim and direction, although you do get caught under furniture and in corners quite often.  ;)

Eating:
-Each day, you nurse around 7am, 10am, 12:30pm, 4pm, and 6pm with a dream feeding around 10pm.  You have started dropping that afternoon feeding though.

-Sometimes you nurse on one side only, and then other times you will nurse on both sides.  Still a fast nurser...usually only about 5 minutes tops!
-These days, you eat breakfast and dinner with us at the table.  For breakfast, you get a fruit puree, and for dinner, you get a veggie puree.

-So far, peas seem to be your favorite of all the baby foods...even over fruit!
-When you are finished eating, your signal is to start blowing raspberries.  Food goes flying, and we get the hint!  You'll also blow raspberries when you're finished nursing...a little startling, my child.  ;)

-Emery loves to try and 'feed' you (after your bowl is already empty...she thinks she's helping), and you seem content to join in the make believe!  You'll open your mouth for each 'bite' that she offers you on the baby spoon, and you guys just giggle and smile at each other.  Pretty sweet to watch.

Sleeping:
-Right now, you wake up for the day around 6:30am, take a morning nap from 9-10am-ish, an early afternoon nap from 12-2pm-ish, a late afternoon nap from 4-5pm-ish, and then you are ready for bed by 6:30pm.

-We read you books and sing a few songs while rocking in your big chair before bedtime, and, once we've laid you in bed, you'll usually flop over to your tummy before going to sleep.
-You love to sleep with your paci...and you've learned how to get it in and out of your mouth on your own!!!  Hooray!!!  ;)

-When you are getting comfy in your bed, you'll sometimes put your hands and arms behind your head as if you're laying out on the beach.  You stretch all the way out, and it is so cute.  Other times, you flop to your tummy and your little bottom goes straight up in the air as you tuck your legs up under you.  Love it.

-You do not sleep in the church nursery, but so far you've been able to hold it together on Sunday mornings.  The nursery ladies fight over who gets to hold you first.  It is pretty cute.
-You'll sometimes sleep in the car, but you do prefer your own bed.  I can't blame you there!

-When you wake up from naps or for the day, you like to flop around in your bed, pull off your socks, toss your paci around, and jabber at the ceiling.  You are pretty content to just hang out in your bed for awhile after waking up.  Maybe you are savoring the peaceful alone time...  ;)

Play:
-"You Are My Sunshine" makes you smile the most out of all the songs I sing to you.  It is adorable.
-You give the best belly laughs and shrieks if I 'sneak' up at you and 'get you'--I love this!!!  Your Daddy gets you laughing pretty hard when he nuzzles your bare belly.  You also crack up laughing when I have to yank on your clothes to get them on and off.  Hilarious.

-This month, you've started making different 'talking' sounds and syllables, and, of course, you blow the best raspberries.  You also love to growl and grunt with gusto.

-You love TV...any kind.  While you don't get to see very much TV, if it is on and you can get situated with a good view, you'll lay still and just watch in awe.  We have to be careful there!  ;)
-While we're driving, you try to crane around and see me, especially if we're singing songs.
-You like anything that rattles or makes a noise, and you are VERY into slapping your hand on things to hear the noise it makes.

-As usual, your favorite entertainment (and entertainer...) is your big sister, Emery.  You just love to watch her, and, now that you are just a bit older, the two of you are starting to interact more.  You play 'kitchen' together-ish, and you'll accept any toy she tries to share with you.  I can't wait to watch as the two of you play together more and more.

Events:
-We celebrated your first Easter this month.  After church that Sunday, we invited your immediate family over for lunch!  You watched as your big sis hunted for eggs around the yard.  Don't worry...you'll get to join in the fun next year.  :)

-Your Daddy had a birthday this month, too.  He loves you so.

-At every family gathering over the past month or so, you have really become your Papa's girl.  You give him the biggest smiles out of all of your extended family, and the two of you are content to just snuggle up together for the duration.  It's pretty sweet.

Oh, my Delia Jane.  You are so precious to me.  The things I've loved most about this month have been your increased laughter, your fuzzy hair, your snugly nursing sessions, and watching you figure out your paci.  You are smart and beautiful and funny and wonderfully made.  We love you so very much, my baby girl.  Happy seven months!

I'll love you forever,

Mommy

Some Things.

--I think my appendix is trying to explode.  The last time I thought my appendix was trying to explode, it was actually a baby turning breech at 35 weeks.  Um...ouch.  As there are no gigantic babies flip-flopping inside my uterus at this moment in time, I'm thinking it could be the real deal.  Again...ouch.  Stay tuned.

--For my husband's birthday, I made Ina Garten's chocolate cake.  Hello, lover.  (The cake...not Ina Garten.  Just so we're clear.)

--Maybe my new lover (the chocolate cake) is the reason my insides feel explode-worthy.  I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to eggs, and I know I'm allergic to dairy.  Ina's cake was heavy on both.  And yet...I munch away....  ;)

--For four long years, I prayed that God would please keep our appliances, cars, and home from falling apart until Russell finished pharmacy school.  Looking back, I should have amended that prayer to "until Russell gets his first paycheck."  Russell's last day of pharmacy school was March 31st.  In the month of April, we've had to get new appliances after the kitchen mutinied against us, the tires on my car were starting to show metal through the rubber, and the garage door no longer closes all the way.  Sigh.  I shall stop grumbling, because technically God answered my very specific (too specific?) prayer, and thankfully our savings account did it's job.  Touche, God.  Touche.  ;)

--Emery insists on referring to her cup as her cylinder.  This created confusion at the dinner table for quite some time.  Now, there is a cylinder full of milk by her plate at each meal.  Duh, Mom.  Cylinder.

--There is nothing that grosses me out more than the Surinam toad.  Disgusting.  The skin holes, the baby toads flailing their rigid webbed feet....GAAAAAAAG!!!!  Oh my goodness, my throat is closing up just picturing it.

--Per my toddler's request, we have listened to Justin Bieber's Christmas album EVERYSINGLEDAY since December.  Christmas music has lost all meaning to me.

--The End.

:)

Birthday Boy.

My man celebrates his 29th birthday today!  One more year till the big 3-0!  ;)

(Side note: Russell had signed up for a 5k for this past weekend, and, when I gently suggested he maybe train at least a little for it, he casually said, "I could go out and run a 5k no problem in college.  I'm good."  Fast forward to the day after the race, and he's limping around like an old geezer.  Did he run the whole thing?  Yes.  Did he pay for it later?  Yes.  Did he get a bloody nose while running?  Yes.  Here's to getting old!  Cheers!)

:)

Anyway, we celebrated R's birthday a little early with shopping, dinner just the two of us, and tickets to go see Straight No Chaser!  

And...we're off!  (Much MUCH thanks to Russell's mama for staying with the girls so we could have a much MUCH needed date night.  Grandmas are the best.)

The concert was in Bartlesville, so, after hitting up the Gap Outlet sales, we stopped for dinner at Frank & Lola's.  People.  You must must MUST go there to eat.  If I had to choose the best entire meal I've ever consumed, it would be the following from Frank & Lola's: artichoke dip with toasted pita bread; crispy catfish and jalepeno tartar sauce with butter sautéed spinach and creamy potato mash; bourbon and pecan bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream and a bourbon cream sauce.  HEAVEN.  Seriously.  Heaven.  Go there.  I'm telling you.  And order the bread pudding early even if you don't think you like bread pudding...like me.  Trust Erin.  :)

After dinner, it was time for the show!  Straight No Chaser!  As Russell's brother puts it, Russell and I  are big, big dorks for them, but he loves it.  And so do WE!!!  They are a men's acapella group, and, as cheesy as that sounds, they are SO good and put on quite the show between their amazing vocals and sarcastic humor between sets.  They mash up a lot of popular songs, funky 80's tunes, and they even did a medley of movie theme songs--so fun!  We've seen them twice before, so this time, we decided to get tickets for the front row.  OH my word, our toes were touching the stage!  It was way fun to see them up close, but it was kind of awkward, too.  I mean, they could see us also, and I felt like a creeper staring at them while they were singing, because they'd look right back at me!  Weird...but so fun.  :)

During one song, the soloist came up to the front row and asked the guy right next to me to sing along with  them...and he DECLINED!!! What the heck, lame guy?!?!  I'll do it!  Gimme the mic!!!  Ugh.  Next show...I'm getting that seat.  ;)

My favorite song of the night was a haunting rendition of Madonna's "Like a Prayer"...Google it.  Russell's favorite was their witty version of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" complete with heavy rimmed glasses. Google that, too.  :)

We had such a lovely night just being husband and wife.  It was nice to take a break from being Dad and Mom...for just a few hours.  It's a good thing to go out and remember why you love each other so much.

Happy birthday, Kernie.  

Love you...

...bloody noses and all.

:)

Mom-ish Questions...Part Two.

"Do you miss teaching, and do you think you will go back to it one day?"

--Verla @ One of Nettie's Girls

"I'm with the first commenter...future career plans?"

--K

(Some of my Seniors and me and Grad Bash 2009...I'm in the pink in the middle.)

Yes, I very much miss teaching.  At the risk of sounding super egotistical, I think I became pretty good at my job over the five years I was teaching, and I was very proud of my work.  Teaching Seniors in high school was an experience, to say the least, and I felt satisfied in my job.  There were rough patches, of course, but, for the most part, I very much enjoyed teaching Senior English.  I honestly have no idea if I'll ever go back to teaching in the future.  If you knew me growing up, you'd think it strange when I say how very satisfied I now feel as a stay-home Mommy...a job description I NEVER thought I'd fill.  I was one of those ladies who wondered what in the world a stay-home parent could possibly do all day without a "real" job...and now I know!!  ;)  As with any major transition, it took awhile to find myself in my new job of raising my kids day in and day out, but, for now, I feel very peaceful right where I am in my 'vocation'.  On the looong, whiney days, I REALLY miss teaching.  ;)  I have residual dreams of returning to school for my master's degree someday, and teaching college used to be my big dream.  Now...my big dream is getting my toddler interested in wearing big girl panties.  ;)  Never know what the future holds, though.

"I want to know about future baby plans!  You guys make such cute kiddos!"

--Lori @ Mama Needs Sushi

"I also want to know about the future kid plans."

--Whitney

Thanks, Lori!  We think our kids are pretty darn cute, too.  Not biased at all, I'm sure.  ;)  As far as future kiddos go, we're still thinking and praying.  I've been told that when you're "done," you know you're done.  And...we're not sure we're done!  ;)  So very very much of this depends on God's plans for our lives, being able to conceive again, financial peacefulness, etc.  Obviously.  This is not news to anyone reading.  ;)  For the longest time, I thought I wanted two kids, mostly because I was raised with one sister.  One kid per parent seemed like a good ratio to me.  ;)  Now that we have our two precious girls, we still have that desire to grow our family.  It's still there, quietly simmering in the background.  For the moment (and maybe forever if God says so), we are on pause.  The hubby needs to get going on his residency year after he takes his board exams, and our sweet little home is about to burst at the seams with two grown-ups, a toddler, a baby, a dog, family that lives far away and stays for overnight visits....and all that that entails!  Anyway, I'm not sure the oven is done bun-baking, but for now...a pause.  :)

"Where do you buy most of the clothes for your girls?"

--Leanne @ My Supplications

Woo hoo for Leanne, the Anthropologie apron winner!  We might need to see a pic of you rockin' that apron while working it in the kitchen!  

Our town has a Target and an Old Navy.  I could live here forever.  ;)  When I was making cakes after having Emery, I used that money to pay for anything baby related: diapers, wipes, doctor's visits...and, you guessed it, clothes.  Oh my.  I played dress-up with that girl like she was my very own live baby doll!  She had so many clothes!  Good grief.  It's a bit embarrassing now, but, eh.  She was my first kid, and I was excited.  Anyway, I buy most of their clothes from Target and Old Navy sales, and we have a Gap Outlet in a neighboring town that has really great clearance deals.  Some of them are hand-me-downs from cousins and friends, and Delia's wardrobe consists of some SERIOUS hand-me-downs from her big sister. ;)  It seems that I like to dress them similarly to how I dress: skinny jeans/jeggings, flowy tops, cardigans, etc.  They have 'play clothes' that are always from the clearance racks, and I could care less if those get dirty or torn.  That's what they wear most of the time while we're just at home relaxing and playing.  Anyway, fun question!  I do love dressing up my baby girls!

"What are the typical meals you prepare for your family?"

--LoriDarlin'

Good question!  Once again, if you knew me 'back when,' you'd get a kick out of my next statement: I really love to cook!  ;)  It's taken awhile for that skill set to develop (let me tell you....), but I do find great satisfaction in cooking for my family.  Each week, I make a menu based off of old favorites, requests from my hubby, and new recipes I want to try out from Pinterest or from friends.  In my current season of life, it is not always easy to find time to cook every night of the week with a toddler underfoot, a baby needing naps and nursing sessions, and a husband with unpredictable hours.  SO!  My saving grace?  Cooking one meal that lasts two evenings.  Hooray!  In one week's time, I usually cook 3-4 meals, doubling up on quantities of a couple of meals in order to have leftovers for the next night.  Voila.  My sanity is saved.  :)

Some of our favorite meals are: pepperoncini roast on Hawaiian sweet rolls, Pioneer Woman's spicy Dr. Pepper pork roast with coleslaw, jalepeno ranch and avocado chicken tacos (shout out to the chef!) with Rachel Ray's black bean and corn salsa, beef and veggie stir-fry, roasted chicken and cranberries with wild rice and shallots, baked pasta with fresh greens, crispy tilapia sandwiches with roasted red potatoes and asparagus, white chicken chili with sweet cornbread and citrus green beans, and we always love breakfast for dinner.  When the budget is there, I try really hard to fill my grocery cart with more items from the fresh produce and organic sections rather than too many boxed or frozen foods.  But sometimes...there's nothing like a frozen DiGiorno pizza.  We have one every Wednesday almost.  I've tried the organic frozen pizzas...nah.  Not cuttin' it in this household.  ;)

"How has having two kids changed your marriage?  Does your life currently look the way you thought it would?

--Mary

I could write on this question for days!  To keep it short and sweet--no, my life looks nothing like I'd planned.  And I'm so glad it doesn't.  :)  As far as my marriage goes, adding two kids to the mix has done three main things: brought us down to reality, made us a better team, and forced us to prioritize.  Having kids has brought us to the reality that our marriage will never be perfect, our home will never be perfect, our children themselves will never be perfect, and that is OKAY.  When you have kids, you are too tired to care about keeping up with every single one of your previous expectations, we've found.  Not to say we've just tossed our marriage and parenting to the wind.  On the contrary, I think we've found a much more realistic groove for our family, and it feels good.

(Back when we were "just friends" in college...I had braces, he had glasses.  So much has changed. ;)

Secondly, my husband and I are a better team in that we are united for a very important common goal: raising non-psychos.  We were a team before, but it was all about us.  What we wanted, dreamed about, desired, had energy to care about, etc.  Now, we have different priorities, which brings me to the third point.  Our priorities have changed, because our lives and situations have changed.  We work very hard at not letting our kids be our ONLY thing in common.  We put them very high on our list, but they are not number one.  After our personal relationships with our Lord, WE come next on the priority list.  An (extra lame but honest) example: our girls prefer to go to bed early, so Russell and I make a point to spend most evenings together, just the two of us.  Our very favorite thing to do is make s'mores on our gas stove, flop in bed, chat about our days, and then we watch an episode or two of an old TV show before falling asleep.  We've gone through Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, and now we're on Wings.  So simple, and we both agree it's our favorite time of day.  Anyway, all that to say...in a strange way, our marriage is better because of our kids.  Who knew?  ;)

Thank you again for asking such awesome questions!  

One more set of answers coming soon...and this one deals with boobs.

Breastfeeding, that is.

;)

Thanks for reading!
I'd love to know what your answers would be to some of the above questions!

The Easter I Realized I Was Old.

What a lovely weekend!  My family came in for a (rainy) trip to the zoo where Emery met the Easter Bunny for the first time...NO FEAR.  She RAN to him for a big hug and kiss.  Hilarious.  ;)  My husband, mom, sister and I got to relax and visit, run errands, cook, and just enjoy each other's company.  On Sunday, we headed to church and were pointed to our Savior through a moving worship service.  That afternoon, my hubby's family joined all of us for a late lunch and a bit of egg hunting.  

While Delia was being snuggled and Emery was busy entertaining her biggest fans inside, Russell and I ran out to "hide" some eggs around the backyard.

THAT'S when it hit me.

I'm officially old.

Eggs were being hidden, and I was doing the hiding.

This means...I'm a grown up.

Yes, yes, I know.  I have been a grown-up for awhile now, and I've done some very grown-up-y things: got married; moved away from home; taught high school; bought a house; sold a house; bought another house; carried and birthed two precious babies; have kept them alive going on two years, etc.  ;)

But still.  To be the one stuffing and hiding plastic eggs for Easter gave me a 'moment'...

...I'm a real, bonafide, genuine grown-up.

And I've got the plastic eggs to prove it.

;)

Cross.

(Totally ripped off my lovely bestie's awesome Easter craft idea.  Read more about it here.  She's like the kid's craft queen, I tell you!)

Family is coming up for the weekend.

Honey ham has been ordered.

Easter baskets 'sponsored' by Target's dollar section have been prepared.

Home is (mostly) clean and awaiting guests.

While all of these things are so very important and good,

I've found myself feeling quite somber as I (try to find the quiet time to) reflect on the entire Easter weekend.  It is right that we should celebrate and gather and remember.  But there is a heaviness that comes with this countdown to Easter because of what Jesus was walking through on this day so many years ago.  I think a bit of somber reflection is a good thing over the next few days.

Obviously, my Emery girl is too young to really understand what this holiday entails, but I was so inspired by my friend's efforts at focusing her children towards our Lord...so we followed suit!  Emery doesn't have a clue at this point, but at least the concept has been introduced.

Anyway, behold the crafty cross painting:

Tape off a cross on a cheap canvas, and let the young artist go to town!

After the paint has dried, pull up the tape, and voila!  He is risen, indeed.

Very thankful for our Savior and what He did for ALL of us so many years ago.

(Matthew 28:6)

Happy Easter, my friends!

:)

Apron Winner!

And the winner is...

...comment number 13 (not counting my replies)!!!

Congrats, Leanne!

Email me and let me know your mailing address!

Thanks to everyone who participated!  Another giveaway coming soon...

:)

Giveaway...Anthro-Style. :)

You know what, a little giveaway never hurt anybody, right?

;)

Many moons ago, I hosted a giveaway for an Anthropologie apron on my Caked blog...and it was a hit!  The apron is one-size-fits-all, and it can be given as a gift or kept just for you!  Secretly, I kind of wanted to keep it for myself...shh, don't tell.  ;)  Anyway, let's do it again, shall we?!

Anthropologie's Tea and Crumpets apron.

One size fits all.

(This is not a sponsored giveaway...just a personal one!)

Here's how to enter:

1.  For your first chance to enter, 

link back to this giveaway on your blog 

(or FB account if you don't have a blog), 

and leave a comment saying you did so.

2.  For your second chance to enter, 

add Superfluities to your blog reader, 

and leave a second comment saying you did so.  

If Superfluities is already on your reader, leave a comment saying so!

3.  For your third chance to enter, 

follow Superfluities, 

and leave a third comment saying you've done so.  

If you are already a follower, leave a comment saying so!

There you have it!

Entry opportunities close Wednesday evening, 

and the winner will be announced Thursday!

Thanks for reading my little blog.

I appreciate you.

:)