The Harvest

We have succeeded this year in doing what few people are able to do... plant a garden in Phoenix and things actually survive. You can see our pea vines in the background are all dead now, but only after we scored buckets of pea pods.


Here the gardeners are picking potatoes and carrots for our foil dinners that night.








Eating her spoils.


The overseer of the laborers. He runs a tight ship.


Also, Drew's dress is a sample of a new pattern of mine. Just a few adjustments to make and it is perfect. I am slowly (very slowly) getting my shop together again. I have so many things I want to do and negative amounts of time to do it in. Remember... overseer... tight ship:


Who am I kidding? This boy will never do any wrong in my eyes.


Also on the menu this week from our garden:
Beef and vegetable pot pie
Parmesan oven fries
Hashbrowns

Pocket

Nash's onesie had a pocket. Drew and I thought it was funny to put things inside of it.


Like his binky.



His hairbrush.



Crayons.



An ipod.



Finger puppets.



Legos.



A carrot.



A lobster.



And daddy's pager.


He puts up with us.

Drew calls him "her little man". I love this little man.

Note

Drew wrote me her first note. She sat this next to my sewing machine while I was working on something and said, "I love you mommy." Made my day.

Kids

Aren't my kids sweet? I have loved referring to them as "the kids" in plural form. It makes me feel old and mature. (Even though I am in shock that I will be turning 28 this year and should definitely stop the process of trying to feel older.)

Having plural children is a whole new ball game. This morning I put Nash back to bed at 5:45am and was only starting to lose consciousness again when at 6:00am Drew is pulling at my arm for a bowl of Lucky Charms. I keep trying to remind myself that someday I will get a good night's sleep again.

And even though it is crazier, I am enjoying this postpartum weirdness more than the last time. Postpartum weirdness is defined by me as major lack of sleep, up and down emotions, trying to find a new "normal", and choosing between a wardrobe of baggy maternity jeans or tight pre-maternity shorts that won't budge over my hips. I've had to resort to stretchy skirts.

Even though I haven't figured out what is the new "normal", I think we might have the sweetest little baby on our hands ever. He is laid back and cool as the other side of the pillow. Even when his sister is constantly in his face, kissing and mugging on him. I envy his patience with her.

I am enjoying it more because I am not pining for sleep-filled nights, clothes that fit me (well maybe I am), and for Nash to reach all the next little milestones. Because I am almost 100 percent certain all those things will eventually come. Just trying to ride this wave of crazy and enjoy "the kids" and life for what it is right now.

But Lucky Charms at 6:00am has got to stop.

Nash

Nash was born last Thursday night, all 8 pounds and 4 ounces of him. He is the best thing ever. So far he reminds me of the koala bears we saw last month at the Phoenix zoo... he sleeps for about 20 hours a day and is the best cuddler imaginable. Between the three of us he is constantly hugged, kissed, and loved on. We are so happy to have him!

Baby

What have we been up to? Drew has been getting pedis and I am somehow trying to prepare for a new baby this week.

Everyone asks if Drew understands about the new baby and if she is excited. Well she has been counting down the days till her baby brother comes for the last couple weeks with squeals of joy like it will be Christmas. And she is obsessed with her baby cousin Otto so I know she loves the idea of a baby. Unlike Otto, I try to remind her that this baby is going to live in our house and be with us ALL the time. It is possible that he might take some attention away from her. Or get in the way of her managing day to day affairs around here.

She will be a great big sister though. The other day she shared her most prized treasure, her white old blanket, with her 6-week old cousin. I had a sweet vision of what a loving sister she will be. She then impatiently demanded of the infant that he say thank you to her. "Otto, say thank you." So... she has a lot to learn still about babies. But at least she will be teaching her brother and cousin to be polite.

Me? I am thrilled to meet the little guy.