Breathing & Blogging

It has been quite a while (for me at least) since the last post. I have had some pics stored up and waiting for me to have a spare moment to sit back and breathe and blog. Well, not sure if I am breathing yet, but definitely blogging! We have been so busy! Everyday is filled with something fun and exciting or work or both! We also just got back from a 5 day trip to Baton Rouge and New Orleans (our old stompin' grounds!). That post will have to follow because I have yet to empty out the pics on my camera from the trip!

The biggest news of all...

We officially have a WALKING BOY!!!! It started happening about 2 weeks ago with two steps here and there. Then by three days later he was walking across the room! He is still a bit wobbly (Paul has titled him our Drunkin' Sumo Wrestler) but he can get around. Some of it is a bit of side steppin'. I believe that is because he spent so much time cruising around the tables and along the couches.

Here is a video that Brian took for us while they were over for dinner one night a couple weeks ago...

And then, by a couple days later...

Just to catch up on other stuff, here are some pictures of some fun things we have been up to...

Loading up in the trailer and meeting Beth & Dexter at the park for some climbing, swinging and snacks! As you can see I loaded up the trailer pretty good! I had some packages to drop off at the post office (some love to Ben and Rachael!) with some work FedEx's to drop and some goodies for Beth & Dex. Zane kept it all in line for me (he uses that shovel to conduct it all)!!

Well, I have been doing some mad fabric shopping! JoAnns had a big sale last week and Beth and I took one evening to go up there and celebrate all by ourselves! No boyz in tow! We both stocked up on goodies and I just had to share a picture of mine because I just continued to marvel at the stuff even the next morning! I just can't wait to see what fun stuff I can turn it into!

A couple of my favorite flowery ones...

and a couple of my favorite ALIEN ones... yes, I ended up with quite an alien theme happening. those will be fun for the boyz in our lives for sure!

Some beautiful limes are finally happening on a tree we planted when we moved into this house. Yum! I just thought they were so pretty all hangin' there together!

I have been making buckle with lots of the co-op fruits that we have been getting! I have a great recipe that hopefully I will post one day for a buckle using all whole wheat flours and it sweetened with agave nectar (no refined sugar in the whole thing... and it is truly good!)! It is so good and a dessert that you don't have to feel guilty about!

Eating ice cream and buckle with Mimi! YES, they are finally back!! Mimi & Papa returned at the end of September and Zane was soooooo happy to see them! He really remembered them which was SO cool! They took a month long trip in their new horse trailer and camper. Check out their travels at Hoof Beats.

Hangin' out in the hammock...

and reading books. Zane is absolutely CRAZY for books (big surprise, heh?). He will look through his whole basket of books. He has a couple throughout the house. We read books so much that I think Paul and I are pretty sick of the ones we have but they are so new and fun every time for him! He will also find the cat or dog on the page now if you ask him and point to them! His big thing now is pointing. He will point to your nose or mouth too if you ask him where it is! He is learning so darn fast it is really amazing!

And he loves his puppy! Check out this hilarious video of him first cuddling with Dylan (when he is laying his head on her check out his one hand how he is scratching her - too cute). Then he is pushing his cracker through his toy and it is driving Dylan crazy! It is so funny to watch his reaction when Dylan finally snags it and eats it!

(This is one of my favorites so far!)

This weekend Zane and I are traveling again! We are off with Beth & Dexter for the Florida Le Leche League Conference - Positive Parenting! It is a great conference hosted by the Le Leche League with speakers discussing different parenting topics. I am sure you will all get to hear what fun times we had there! Wish us safe driving and fun times at the beach!

And just another little video because they are so much fun! What a homecoming, right? Zane is the best welcoming committee around!

This one is for you, Nana!!!

A Matching Game...

Hair Line #1


Hair Line #2

Can you guess who is who?????

This one is for you, Dex!!!

The other day Beth dropped Dexter off to hang with Zane for a short bit while she ran to get her hair cut (that is a "must do on her own" mama thing for sure!). The two of them fully explored the kitchen and cooked up some good eats for sure!

Also, Beth has let us know that Dexter is so into our blog page that every time she pulls out her computer Dex does the sign for Zane (which she has set as the sign for "Z" up near his head because that is where you do the sign for boy - if that make sense to you then you will think to that it is so awesome and cute!) and they have to sit down and watch all the Zane videos. Several times a day as you can imagine! So, this one is for you Dexter! You are in it too!! What a cutie!

"My Looks"

"This is my 'I'm too sexy' look.


"This is my 'I feel sick' look."


"This is my 'I think I am going to cry' look."


"This is my 'Dad, when are you going to stop?' look."


"This is my 'Ya know I could be reading my books or something instead?' look."

He is so happy!

A guy and his new SWEET ride!

Have I shared this??!!??

A couple of weeks ago Zane figured out how to walk behind his walker. I have not really gotten a good movie of this but this is a little short preview. He is so cute toddling behind the walker and he gets so proud of himself!

Applesauce first, then bath.

Last Wednesday Beth Ellen and Sam came down and we made applesauce! It was so cool and so much fun (so much fun that we are so sad they are moving to Utah in a couple of months... too far!). It was my first canning experience and I learned a lot and hope to do it again very soon. We ordered an extra case of organic Fuji apples from the co-op. The applesauce is just that... apples (and a tiny tad of lemon). No sugar and it is the BEST applesauce I have ever had. We left it really chunky (good idea Beth Ellen!). Zane kind of likes it too!

"Aren't these ladies cool?"

"

"Excuse me. Makin' applesauce."

"Yum!"

Sam figured out how those tongs work!

Then it was bathtime for the boyz to get the sticky apple goo off. They were so cute. These are the pictures that will probably be featured one day at their weddings...

Dylan had to join in the action...

Our sweet sleepy boy

On days after the co-op he just crashes from the heat and because he just gets himself so busy!
I loved this though with his butt sticking up in the air. He just started doing this once in a while and I was glad I caught it with the camera.

Tuesdays are fun days...

Last week we had full bags ready for pick-up! Check out the pics of the kiddos helping. AND we got our reusable red bags in and we put them to the test! They worked out beautifully! We ordered four bags for everybody in the co-op and we rotate out the bags, 2 each week.

And so many folks wondered what I was ever going to do with all of those yogurt containers I had been saving. Well... I don't think I really knew either but I finally put them to good use! We got mushrooms in again this week and instead of packaging them all in little paper bags which then just cause more garbage, we put filled the yogurt cups with them. (Yes, I eat lots of large containers of plain yogurt! Lots!) So, everyone is (hopefully) going to wash them out and return them this week for future co-op uses.

The boys can be quite an issue to manage because they just want to explore everything. Well, who can blame them. We manage it quite well if I may say so and I am just so happy that they can grow up around such a cool project!

Yummy gala apples, valencia oranges, bananas, pears, carrots, cabbage, crimini mushrooms, red chard, butter lettuce, and tomatoes... oh my!

Playing with yarn

"Interesting texture."


"Don't you dare think about taking this away from me!"


Crafty Bliss...

What is your winning flavor?

I thought this was cute and fun to think about. Come up with your winning flavor and see if they pick it!!

What's Your Winning Flavor: Wholefoods Market

Protests, Showers & Sweet Rides

Last Saturday was busy and filled with all sorts of playing and political fun. We had a busy day planned in Fort Myers with a Nurse-In to participate in (a protest of Applebees breastfeeding policies) and a baby shower to attend. In between all of that, Paul went to pick up his new ride! He is so excited about his new bike that he bought with his all too generous birthday money.

The protest of Applebees may have been on your local news last Saturday because all over the country protests were planned because of an incident that happened in an Applebees in Kentucky.

Local news clip with video: Breastfeeding Protest

And just to add a little sweetness just to remind us all how important it is and beautiful to breastfeed our little kiddos...

This is my sweet view of him every time he falls asleep. I have to be the luckiest girl around...

This is just an unbelievably domestic picture of me. Taking a break from SEWING to feed the babe! What a day!

What was I sewing? Well, a fun little baby shower gift for our friends Erica & James and their anticipated bambino, Spencer. A cute little bib to match Zane's, a couple of embellished onsies and a crocheted octopus!

Erica's Shower - As you can see, Frankie has fun helping with all the unwrapping!

And after all of that, we still came home with a new bike!! Paul has it in the shop right now getting a tune up so pics will soon come of Paul cruisin' on the new bad boy!

Our little flautist

When Sara, Sam & Maya were here they brought with them a very fitting gift for this household. They brought the super sized band from the great toy company Melissa & Doug!! We love their toys and actually Zane already had a small set they carry but many of the instruments did not overlap! So now we have enough for so many kids to have a super huge band! Well, after they left Zane was still discovering new instruments and as I was in the kitchen cooking I heard the little flute (recorder really but I like to jazz it up a bit!) noise. I thought Paul was playing it for him but realized he was on the phone! Zane had figured out how to make it make noise!! For a few days after that he would pick up everything and try and blow into it to make noise!! Pretty cute! (Sorry the video is a little dark. When the boy plays the flute lighting is just not something I think about I guess.)

AND as you can see blogger has added a GREAT feature where I can load the video directly on the blog page! I am so excited by this! It took quite a bit longer to load but hopefully they will fine tune those things. Enjoy!

Paul Birthday Weekend

Yes, we had his real birthday weekend and celebrated with a wonderful visit from our great friends Sara, Sam and Maya! We spent the labor day weekend relaxing, catching up and eating yummy food.

"Why do we have to wear shirts? Not fair!"

We all took a bike ride up to the playground near our house. Sara & Sam sported the tandem! They were so cute!

... and they were so cute too!

"The big scary Daddy-Monster is after me!"

Our little butterfly.

And then back to the house for some lasagna that Sara made and a plum tart (great recipe. could make it with any pitted fruit) that I made for Paul's second birthday celebration. (Everyone's birthday should last at least a week!)

Snoozin' with her Sadie.

Tired Ladies.

And now for a little photo conversation between Maya & Zane

on their little bike ride...

On the way to the playground I would ride up next to the trailer and just shoot pictures. I didn't know really what I was taking picture of or what they were doing. I didn't notice what their focus was until I started looking at the pictures closly afterwards. Just as a note, we don't really ever put shoes on Zane. I threw some on him this day because I thought just in case he started crawling around in the mulch he would have something on his feet. I think he had issues with the shoes...

Zane: "What is this crap on my feet. They make me look like a dork!"

Maya: "Yeah, those are kind of weird."

Maya: "Look at mine. Mine are much better."

Zane: "I mean, what is this anyway? All the chicks at the playground will think I am a sissy ballarina!"

Maya: "I like shoes. You can give them to me! I will wear both pairs even!"

Zane: "Whatever. I guess this is what they want. Gosh!"

Maya (in her head): "Yeah I will show you whatever when I see you trying to look at any chicks at the playground!"