neighborhood baby shower

Most of our neighbors have lived on this road for over three decades. We are the new kids on the block but have been welcomed in with love and kindness. This past Saturday our neighbor, Mary, hosted a baby shower for Harriet and nearly everyone on our road came for the brunch and gift opening. I was so grateful for this sweet time together. Harriet was showered with love and slept the whole time. (You can see her there on the couch in the forefront, being held by the woman who we bought our farm house from...now a friend who lives in town.)

Mary made homemade caramel rolls, egg bake, cheesy potatoes, scones, banana bread coffee cake, pumpkin muffins, an almond pastry, fruit salad and punch. Everything was from scratch and I ate my heart out. And then she sent a box home with us full of the leftovers and I ate my heart out some more.

I left feeling so grateful that my kids have neighbors that love and care for them and will look out for us. There is a contentment found in knowing your community and investing in your neighbors that can't be beat and I believe it is how God intended it from the beginning.

picture update: from the camera

I have been trying to catch as much of our every day on camera as possible. Some of these made it onto instagram, but not all of them. This was from Tuesday, when Hattie started smiling and I wanted to capture her grin so badly. This was the first smile I got...obstructed by Elsie, holding my phone, taking a picture of her eye. Ha!

Lately our days consist of a whole lot of legos. We play and build all day long. Elsie was so proud when she made a lego pacifier! (Not for Harriet!) I figure we have 4-6 months before Harriet starts to crawl and put things in her mouth, so we'll play hard with the legos now.

 Oh sweetness. I am suddenly very sleepy.

Elsie always seems to be a little bit more interested in holding Harriet than Harriet is interested in being held by Elsie. In this shot, Elsie is putting a plastic ziplock on Harriet's head. We never walk away when they're having sister time.

I just found her this way! I believe she was telling me it was time to change her diaper.

More sister time...

And this happens too. Rory read my 6 week update and commented that he doesn't think Hattie is all that easy of a baby, as I had written. So to clarify: Hattie cries like all babies. But her needs can be met quickly. There is a reason for her crying. I consider that an easy baby. A hard baby would be one that cries for chunks of time and is inconsolable. That's a hard baby. Also, I am feeling good and upbeat. You never know what kind of postpartum mood you're going to be in after a baby. But this time around my mood is content and happy. Which colors how I see my baby too. So I still would call her an easy baby, but rest assured, she cries, she gets frustrated and she wakes up every two and a half to three hours each night with needs just like every other baby! And I am tuckered out! But I'm tuckered and happy. Which works for me.

lasagna soup

Monday my mother-in-law came to help me out and watch the kids, and it was awesome. The first thing I did was take a shower and put on a real outfit. Then I made a meal plan for the week...the first time I have done this since Harriet has arrived. I followed it up by making a grocery list and then I went grocery shopping by myself. It was a dreamy day.

I got home, put the groceries away and closer to suppertime I made this soup.

Yum. O. It is a keeper.

It was easy and fairly quick to make. It was delicious. And since I am one who typically doesn't enjoy coming up with suppertime ideas, I thought I'd pass it along to you.

Lasagna Soup
8 ounces elbows pasta (or any soup spoon size pasta)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound Italian sausage (found by the hamburger)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
2 teaspoons oregano
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
6 cups chicken stock (I used 8 cups because that's two boxes)
1 (28-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes (I used regular...it's what I had)
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
For the ricotta mixture
8 ounces ricotta (I used some cottage cheese too...)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and Pepper, to taste

*Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium high heat. Add Italian sausage to the skillet and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the sausage as it cooks; drain excess fat. Add garlic, onion, oregano and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste until well combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chicken stock, diced tomatoes and bay leaves; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.

*In a small bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan, salt and pepper, to taste; set aside. Cut the basil really thin, set aside.

*In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta one minute less than the package instructions say for al dente; strain and run under cold water, set aside. I never mix my noodles in with the whole batch of soup. They get too mushy. I assemble each bowl, adding noodles separately. It means I have the soup frozen right now without the noodles. I'll cook noodles when I pull out that tub of soup...

Assemble each bowl with the tomato soup, noodles and a small spoonful of the ricotta mixture (we got overzealous the first bowl and it was too rich!), some mozzarella and basil.

It's so good! Enjoy!

hattie at 6 weeks.

I've been waiting for a smile! And yesterday I got smiles all day long! Since I'm motivated by affirmation, I am feeling greatly encouraged!

I'd sum up this baby by simply saying: Hattie is a delight. She is pretty calm on the whole, which is very nice of her. And loves to cuddle. When I go to burp her, she tucks her legs in like a little ball and rests her head on my shoulder in the sweetest snuggle. There are lots of times in the middle of the night when we fall asleep like this in the glider rocker. I have a hard time putting her back in her crib when she is so, so snuggly. In the early morning I'll bring her into our bed and lay her on my chest. And she will inch her way up so that her head is tucked right under my chin. She is a sweetheart and I love her to pieces.

Her sleeping has been remarkable being a newborn and all. The big exception would be this past weekend when I had chocolate in some cookies I made, and felt the consequences. She was gassy each  night, sleeping for maybe 45 minute stretches... if I was lucky. We had two nights of this and I was reminded of what true delirium feelings like. What it's like to literally not be able to see straight because I was so tired. And the power of a strong cup of coffee, a brisk walk outdoors (I took three on Sunday) and a fast shower to wake back up.

She sucks on her pacifier like Maggie Simpson sucked on hers. Except that Harriet has trouble keeping hers in her mouth. She sucks in and out with such vigor that it often falls out... which is very frustrating for her. So I will hold the pacifier in her mouth and when I do this, she wraps her fingers around my pinky and pointer fingers. Oh I love that so much.

This third baby is a joy. I feel way more seasoned than with the first. And way more settled than with the second. This time around I am just taking in the snuggles, saying no to a lot of outings and opportunities, and feeling quite content about our every day.

We named you well, little Hattie. You are a complete joy.

family book club

My favorite blogs to read are the ones that inspire me to action. I like the DIY blogs where they post projects that I can actually do myself, or art blogs that aren't just pretty to look at but motivate me to get out my own art supplies. And my very favorite are the mothering blogs that make me want to work hard at this most important job. The ones where I think, "I want to do that in my house too."

Some blogs inspire. Some blogs make me feel like I'll never catch up.

My hope is that this is a blog that inspires. And it's why I'm sharing this next idea. Because when I find something that works in our routine I want to shout it from the mountaintops.

Family Book Club began a few weeks ago when the weather got a bit chilly. We got rid of our television last April which didn't really impact us because the weather was turning nice and we started spending our life outdoors again. The impact of not having a tv didn't really hit until that second cold night when Rory looked at me and said, "so what's the plan with the kids from after dinner to bedtime? because we've got to do something with them." And it was true. When we're home all day the final hour stretch can really drag on. Most tricks and toys have been used.

We talked about this idea, and after three weeks of finessing, I think we've got it. And I want to share how it works with you:

1. The name. I think it's so important to name a shared activity. This is true for Quiet Play Time and Family Movie Night. The kids know exactly what those names mean and what to expect during those times. The same is true with this. They know the drill now when we say it's Family Book Club.

2. We have a bin of books that are out all the time (you can see those to the left of the couch). But for Family Book Club we have a tupperware (with a lid!) full of library books that are only to be read during this time. This is key! These are different books from the same old same old. They are books they chose at the library themselves (They each pick 5 books and I pick 5 books...I try to find fun picture books). And best of all, it keeps all of our library books in one place! Praisealuja!

3. At the beginning of Family Book Club Ivar and Elsie choose one book from the bin that we will read aloud. So I read those two books, and then they have to "read" on their own. Which means they look at the pictures and make up their own words. It is adorable to watch. Ivar can stick with it. Elsie sometimes needs to find another quiet activity towards the end. Totally depends on the night.

4. Rory and I have to read too. So far we've been the weakest link. Usually one of us sits there and reads our book, but the actual problem is that suddenly the kids are totally occupied and this frees us to do something else. Which is absolutely not the point, but people, our kids our occupied! And of course, Harriet sometimes isn't into Family Book Club, which can change things up a bit too.

5. And we don't have a set time limit. Usually it goes until bedtime, usually about 20-30 minutes. But it depends on how it's going. I doubt we'll ever set a timer. I don't want it to ever feel like drudgery.

Two weeks in, and it is nothing but awesome. It is a quiet way to wind down the day. It is sweet to all be in the same room for a chunk of time. And it feels right. We all know it's good for kids to see their parents reading...now it's built into our day. So give it a whirl. I hope it works for you too!