*verano

So far we've had a nice little summer.  It took us about two weeks to recover from our trip to California - everyone was tired and grumpy, not getting along - we were at quite a low.  Over the past couple weeks things have finally settled and I don't feel like our lives are falling apart anymore - now that we are leaving again for a long trip! Anyway here's some things we've been doing...

Riding bikes and scooters to the little local library branch we've just discovered:

I took a picture of this nice moment because it's very rare lately:

We went strawberry picking one morning.  Afterwards we went to the grocery store to get whipped cream and these two were fighting to get out of the door and completely smashed all the strawberries. I was a *little* upset with them. :)

Another farm excursion with our good friends here.  There were some older girls volunteering on the farm through 4H - it was really neat. Vera was obviously really into the bunnies.

Edie was showing me how big she is. I'm this tall, Mom!!

Edie is really getting into being pretty and princessy and pink now - well over a year later than Vera hit this stage!  It's so cute to see her little scrappy self putting on a ballet show :)

Another rare moment of them playing together - making a birthday party for Josie the bunny:

We met some good friends at the Arboretum for a picnic last week.  It was definitely fun and worth it to get out like that, but man it was a hot one!  This picture was taken near the end - Edie could barely handle it, poor babe.  Look how cute Ruth is with her little buddy Iris :) 2 months apart.

We finally got a membership at the Y and Ben takes them several times a week.  They loooove it.

Super rainy 4th! Had a fun lunch/BBQ with friends, but still it just didn't feel like the 4th of July!

at the park:

She was feeling pretty stylish here last week after church:

reading Little House in the Big Woods and eating a popsicle on the beach - this made me incredibly happy!  This was me when I was little!!

Said goodbye to our dear dear friend Ethan and his family.  So sad to see them go but know we will cross paths again.  I met Leah through Megan and felt instant connection - I literally felt like I already knew her the first time we met!

*Rudy turns 5 months

Ruth is such a little joy - all of us just adore her.  She is by far the easiest part of my days ... it makes me wonder whether Vera really was that hard or if it was just being a new parent. I kind of think the latter.  

My favorite things about Ruth are the way she lights up when Vera or Edie come into the room [mostly Vera; Edie still sometimes is too much in her face], how she complains and tries to tell me what's wrong before she actually cries, nuzzling my nose in her ribs and getting her to laugh, how she gets so excited when it's time to nurse, her happy, social demeanor, sweet little voice and incredibly cute little chubbiness.

I did start sleep training the other night. She was actually pretty easy to put down, but I really needed her to be able to put herself to sleep, especially with our trip coming up when I won't have Ben to help. Lately she would wake up between 12-1 and then almost hourly after that, up for the day around 5:30.  So the other night I let her cry to sleep and it was AWFUL. If I had known it would be so hard for her I wouldn't have done it. I also just weaned her cold turkey from the swaddle... which just seemed cruel :( It was really easy when I did it with Vera! She cried 70 minutes and then slept on and off crying in between until 11pm when I was woken up by her cries and went in to nurse her. I felt absolutely horrible.  But guess what? I laid her down the next night in the same way [I wouldn't have let it go as long, but didn't want all that crying to be for nothing] and she cried half-heartedly for 15 minutes and slept till 12:15! Last night for 5. I've nursed her when she wakes at midnight and 3ish and lay her back down in her crib easily. Isn't it amazing how babies learn???  Next up is starting solids - she's shown interest for at least 2 months and is starting to get a little mad when she sees me eating! I've let her taste a tiny bit of avocado and a couple licks of fruit I've eaten - such a fun stage. 

I had fun last night looking through blog archives - I'm so glad I've kept this up!

Vera around 5 months

Edie around 5 months 

taken today at 5 months:

my kids and my cousin's kids loving the baby:

I read her a book for the first time before nap last week - she was totally into it. Especially the picture of the cat, dog, orange and apple [..if I may project] :)

I love the toes in mouth stage - I remember Vera doing this at 5 months too!

First time at the Y - she loved the pool!! So cute. 

[I can't believe I took a mirror selfie]

Vera put Ben's hat on her and we took the obligatory baby in a hat picture:

So peaceful and cute!!! This was a 3 hour nap she took after keeping me up most the night:

The day after I let her cry to sleep - she was so sweet and beautiful it made my heart hurt!  I swaddle her loosely like this now for naps so she knows it's time to sleep.

*¡california!

We've finally recovered from our 2 week trip out to California.  Such a good time, so many fun memories - extra special getting to meet Ilsa Zuzu!  Besides two nights camping at San Onofre to celebrate her baptism, we really didn't do anything other than hang out with family and a few friends.  Well and eat really well, of course :)

This was Ruth on the way to the airport at 4am - she was such a star!! She literally didn't cry until we were on our way to Orange County from LAX.  She nursed to sleep a couple times and once in the sling [which she now hang out of like a hammock-chair].  I was so worried about her.. when of course it was the 3.5 year old I should have been worried about.

First play times with little Zuzu.

Uncles and nieces

trying for an artistic shot of the baby on the anthropologie couch :)

Ruthie, Lola and Great Granny (102!)

I love seeing babies together :)

This is what I would love to do on a regular basis!

Auntie J and Uncle Ben's chickens:

Swiss Family Robinson showing out on the front lawn one night - preceded by In 'n' Out burgers+fries.

Weekend at San Onofre for Zuzu's baptism:

so cute to see them sleeping together :) [wasn't without some trying nights!]

waiting for our burritos - Edie loves babies:

watching Fantastic Mr. Fox - fun movie, if a bit over their heads...

plane ride home - this one had near meltdowns on the way there and back.  The first was clearly due to our 6am departure... the second, well she was just being difficult. Not much you can do on an airplane which makes it a little hard, but to be honest I kind of didn't care what people were thinking.  I tried to just remain calm myself and wait it out, give her a talking-to later.  It's key I think to make sure she's rested and eating well... never again will I schedule a 6am flight!

still fits in the peanut shell ... well with her legs spilling over the side :)

trying to get a cousin shot in their pretty dresses - last day at Laguna Beach:

Night out with these guys - poke bowls and bowling.  We also went out with them the first week to an amazing fine-dining Mexican place in Orange Circle - I miss Mexican food so much!!

Me and Zuz:

Rosie has the touch with babies:

I didn't get any pictures of our time with Megan and her kids - look at the Walla's blog on the side if you want to see! We had such fun with them - it makes my heart a little achy when I get to spend time with good friends like that - just wishing we lived close and could get together whenever :(

*dia de la madre

Here we were on Mother's Day. After church we got some takeout and picnicked up in Boston Common. Later we came home and just hung out - Ben took Ruth on an errand and I cleaned out the stuff at the top of the stairs. Not very glamourous but exactly what I wanted to get done!

 I love my little family of girls - and their good Dadda :) This work of being a mom is hard.  I look at our own moms and friends of mine who are moms, friends' moms [including *but not limited to* Rosie, Sheila, Marilyn, Joyce, Jenny, Megan, Beth, Jessie, Allison, Syndi, Laura ...] and find so much inspiration. Moms who have no end to their creativity, their energy, their sacrifice, their pleasant demeanor, their *fun* attitude, their affection, motivation, capability in keeping a peaceful and beautiful home, commitment to raising kids who love Jesus.  Anyway, praying daily that God would help me with more patience, more gentleness, more joy. I want more than anything a peaceful, Christ-centered home and a good, strong relationship with my daughters.

*

Just some pictures from the last few weeks.  I keep wanting to post things here, but like I said I am feeling rather tired and dull and I just haven't had the energy.  My brain feels frazzled and the thought of planning dinner and a trip to the grocery store sends it reeling.  I keep forgetting where I am in a conversation and have trouble finding the word I need - serious cognitive issues :)  Ok, it's not always all that bad, but really... I can't wait to get a couple good sleeps in a row.  Please, baby Ruth!

Anyway here we are at Flour Bakery on Ben's birthday.  

I miss having a place like this within walking distance.  Afterward we went to a really fun playground next door - nice little family time.

Vera's homework time was getting out of hand - Edie was so excited to have her back home that she wouldn't leave her alone. Super frustrating. So the other day at Target I let her pick out her own coloring book with some new crayons. They stay up high in a cupboard until homework time.  It's worked really well!  Hopefully the excitement of it won't wear off until school's out. [end of June!]  I should have done something like this months ago.

little cutie here dressing up today. I'm having to come up with all sorts of tricks and bribes lately to get them to cooperate lately. sigh. I'm trying to grow her bangs out but she resists me putting it back. From now on, no tv until she has her hair back. I also just decided [30 minutes ago] no breakfast until their pajamas are put away. Am I the only one who has to resort to these things?

we dressed Ruthie up too for a minute:

silly faces:

Outing to the post office. Ruth was in the Bjorn - it was a little stressful hoping she wouldn't cry and  making sure Edie didn't go too fast or too far, but we made it and had a fun time. They were so cute scooting along.