Fall Fun

We had some beautiful weather last week and The Frog suggested some leaf jumping.  I could tell it was much more fun for him this year because Peach was in on the action as well.

I love how far back they go to get a running start.

Warning: Cute Overload

I'm feeling guilty because even though Hazel is now 19 days old, I feel like I've hardly taken any pictures of her, mostly because I haven't had any "photo shoots". Here are some phone and camera pics I have managed to get.

She sleeps in the bouncer on the kitchen table quite frequently.  I am AMAZED at the commotion she is able to sleep through.  I supposed she had a lot of practice in the womb.

The real camera was already in the car when we put her in the carseat (for the first time) at the hospital.  I picked this outfit because it's the smallest one I own, but I'm regretting it because I think it makes her look like a boy.

I love these elephant ears.  My other newborns heads always flopped around and looked like they were going to break their necks!  I wanted to buy one so I could try to copy it and make some to give away :)

Her pirate face

When not swaddled, her hands always end up by her face.  I love that her arms are too short to touch the top of her own head.  Babies are so funny lookin' :)

I'm pretty sure this is what she looked like most of the time in my belly.

It appears she inherited my affinity for hang nails.  Sorry sweetheart...

Don't you just want to nibble on those toes?!

If I had the time, I would just spend hours watching her sleep.  They make the funniest faces.

Smile preview :)

Hazel's first bath at home

She has super super dry skin and doesn't enjoy  the lotion application...

She is so stinkin' cute when she sleeps!

How It's Goin'

So.  How is it going from man-to-man to zone defense?  It's actually been really great.  Both kids are so loving toward their new little sister, it's night and day compared to last time we introduced a sibling...

But I don't really blame The Frog for being so jealous of his new little sister last time- it must be hard getting all your parents' attention and then suddenly having to split it 50-50.  But this time was totally different and Hazel is getting lots of love  and attention from all.

Peach is borderline obsessed with her new baby sister.  She will often sneak upstairs just to look at Hazel while she's asleep.  (Which would be fine if she didn't also put her stuffed animals in the crib- they need to nap too- and/or violently shake the crib while trying to climb up for a better view.)

I tried to get a good shot of the 3 of them, but gave up and took a picture of Peach's short-lived pigtails instead.  So cute- I wish she'd keep them in!

Peach uses the potty whenever she feels like it, I am completely not pushing the issue because I don't really have the flexibility in my schedule for potty training right now.  But, she will often go join The Frog when he needs to go.  (The Frog just got his hair cut and I styled him into a bit of a mohawk when it was all over.  You like?)

One night, at bed time, they all wanted to be swaddled (or "waddled" as Peach says) like Hazel.

Peach really loves holding her sister.  She loves stroking her face and head and often says out of nowhere, "I love Hazel."

Unfortunately, there has been more than one middle-of-the-night, Hazel-diaper search because they are all mysteriously gone from the changing table.  This is one of the reasons why...

Hazel is a really really easy baby, so far (knock on wood).  We hardly know she's around because she sleeps so much- although because she's so sleepy, she does take a long time to nurse, which can be annoying to be tied down for such long periods of time with two toddlers reeking havoc.  I think they're starting to realize that they can get away with more when I'm nursing.  But that will ease up a bit in a few months when she can go longer between feedings, so for now, I'm just practicing my ability to Keep Calm and Carry On.

It helps that she's soooo stinkin' cute!

I must say I am soooo grateful to all my neighbors who have been so kind and thoughtful to our family right now!  We've had several meals dropped off, many offers to let the kids play somewhere else so I can nap, and even grocery store runs.  We have the best neighbors anywhere!  I'm also learning to do less, and be okay with it- the yard will have to just wait until Spring.  (but thank goodness for the Roomba and Scooba!)

My heart is so full and I feel so blessed!  I'm just trying to cherish every little minute, with all my kids.  I can't believe how big Peach looks compared to Hazel... She used to seem so small, and I can't believe how big The Frog is now too.  They get big so fast and I feel so lucky to get to be with them for this short time.

Don't you just want to squeeze her?!

Quilts!

If you remember my crazy nesting post, two of the things I had listed to do before Hazel arrived were to finish her baby quilt and to finish binding The Frog's twin bed quilt.  Well, I did manage to finish both of those- the latter got finished the night before!  Here are the finished pics I never posted!

I made this using this tutorial for the pinwheel sampler quilt, although I changed the sizes of everything so it would be a crib quilt and had to add an additional pinwheel, to make it work for this non-square shape.  I used 1930's reproduction fabrics from a remnants bin at my favorite quilt shop.  I have soo much extra that I think I'll make another baby quilt, for Peach (yeah yeah, it's a bit late...) but a totally different design.

My mother-in-law traded me her old embroidery machine for my Elna, and this is the first quilt I have quilted using that.  It is SO AWESOME!

Look how perfect the quilting is!!!  I am sooo bad at machine quilting and am sooo excited to be able to use this to help me out.

And here is The Frog's twin quilt.  Sorry about the bad lighting, I was just trying to check this off the list before Hazel...  (I was actually unknowingly in labor when I took these photos :D)

My sister-in-law's mother did the quilting on this for me.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but the quilting says "ABC123".

Lately, one of the kids' favorite things to do is watch a slide-show of pictures of themselves on my computer.  Now, Peach loves being in pictures and she's always trying to get in front of the camera (and then wants to see what she looks like right away), sometimes she won't pose long enough for me to get a good shot before she's coming toward me saying, "I want to see Peach!"

Back Blogged...

I realized as I uploaded some photos today that I have old photos from before Hazel was born (my life right now seems to be divided into two- before Hazel, and after) that never got posted.

Peach being messy and cute with her Family Home Evening treat

The Frog made this fort completely by himself!!

I tried to get the kids playing in the leaves, but there weren't very many yet and they weren't into it for very long.

Ah, yes.  Peach is not wearing pants- a very common state for her lately...

And The Frog is wearing boots.  Also a common state.

Those ear muffs were a hot item all summer.  The kids fought over wearing them so often, I thought about giving them each a pair for their birthdays :)

They spent a lot of time in their sandbox.  I would just come out and sit in a chair and watch them.  They learned to be content with me just watching from a lawn chair, and not participating, towards the end of pregnancy.  That was about all I could muster.