PLAY



EK LOVES this room!  Which makes momma so happy, I love decorating and the playroom is one of the most fun to decorate!




Remember this room, it was a terrible bar area when we moved in. Not my idea of a good place for a bar but they did not ask me.  So it went from a bar to Poppa's storage (I think I posted on this back around EK's 1st) but now for the final product!



Love the colors and anything small is just so much more fun.  I could cook daily at the pink kitchen.

That tent!  A lot of time is spent in there.  EK will have to make room for 2 more in there in no time!

Favorite wall, Builder's fabulous work!

Nothing better than artwork done by kids.  I love it!!  Thanks A for the photos!

Note to EK

20 months and you are a true toddler, and girly toddler at that. You love your babies and you are such a good momma! You carry not just one but two babes all over the place. You sing to them, feed them, bounce them and love on them. You have such a gentle touch. A hug from you makes anyone melt, tight hug and then a pat pat pat....the best! Report from school this week was "Etta Kate gives the best hugs". Loved that report. I always want you to love and keep that gentle touch. Your little eyes just show how much you care. Caring and loving others is so important in life at every stage. As you get older it will be hard to always love but I know you are that big of a person and will always love and care for others. Your heart is so big!!!

20 months and your a talking machine trying to say it all! You love to dance and play with toys. You are always on the go!! You love kids and love school! You love helping with your sisters. You are learning rules and know you sit on stairs when you don't follow them!! You are a ton of fun!!!

Love BIG, momma

They're sent out!

Thank you to Tootie for design and A for the photo shoot!

Note to littles, 3 months

Littles...you are two tiny little bundles but oh so strong. You are strong inside and out. Momma's message to you, always be a strong YOU! Keep strength in family, friendship, faith, and yourself. There are challenges in everything but you will have the strength to push through. You have already proven this at 3 months. Nothing has stopped you and your strength continues to grow!

At 3 months:
Weight check today: mm 7.13 and MF 5.13.
Both of you have found those voices!
You both love had your first bath in the whale and loved it!
We are scheduled, 9,1,5
You had your first day with miss Tina this week.


Lots of love,
Momma

Projects!

When I started this blog it was to track progress on our new house and all the projects.  I heart house projects.  Truly makes my soul feel good to go in and redecorate a room in my house.  Strange to some but I love it.  Some like to read a book and I would rather change pillow colors, change curtains, change it all up.  I move things in my house monthly!  So when I feel like I am need something...bring on a project.  Now I don't love painting but will do it if needed.  This time the painting was kinda put on to builder but that is because of his strong attention to detail.  I started painting but when I was cutting in and water was flowing out of the tub from EK it was time to break.  Then builder came in for the finish.  I LOVE this room now.  I have to credit A with the inspiration.  A few final touches still to come but  a bathroom for 3 little girls!!

Someone loves taking pictures!

builder & bows

New year, new babes...new blog title!!!  Project time now for the blog so there will be many changes until I get it right.  Coding and formatting in this blogger format is tough but we will get it there.  Work in progress!

Uncle Frank stops by!

We got a special visit from uncle Frank this weekend!! Uncle Frank left one year ago for the big apple! Loving life in NYC celebrating a year anniversary is a big accomplishment in my book, 1 year at your first job is not as common these days. Go Frank!! The littles loved meeting him and if course ek loved a new play partner. She and littles are going to love visiting uncle frank in NYC when they get bigger!!

Momma reflect

So it's time I write or reflect on a momma moment. January 3rd I had the moment where you hit the wall and your gut says something has to change. The littles had moved to bottles (which was a smooth and good transition) so as I previously posted back to pumping. I did and would do anything for my girls but my body just could not handle it all. This is real life, no capes, I had enough. As soon as I said the words out loud it was a huge weight lifted. Fear and a sense of failure did set in but deep down I knew no more pumping was necessary. Truly it's not the pumping even though I don't like it, it's combination of everything. I see nursing as a great thing but there is also pressure to make it work. I was lucky it worked both times for me. I did fear what would others say and would they think I'm selfish. Then I thought my response would be just come do it for a few days, I have to take my own advice, do what works for you. To stop nursing/pumping is what worked for us. Remember all the frozen milk?!! That is going to last awhile and then we will move to formula. Few weeks later and I know I made the right choice. Black bag is out of site and this chapter closes.

As a momma I challenge myself and you do the same, don't judge other moms from their choice around feeding. It's a tough and emotional thing and every momma does what works for them and that's what's best!!

Potty Talk

In out house has begun. Ek decided last night that she had to go potty and wanted to go on the potty. She did it!!!! We won't be potty training now but if she wants to train herself we are in. Last few days she is getting so big, guess that's what school does to you. Momma says slow down just a little!!

Little Lamb

EK goes to school! We have been on many lists and we got a spot! Big first day and she did great in the lamb room. I knew she was ready for it and boy was I right. She walks into school with her bags like a pro, put her lunch on the shelf, into the classroom, looks at me and says a big ek 'bye'! A kiss and she was good to go. I stayed talking to teacher a minute and next friend to come ek greets at door and is helping her take off her coat. It is not this girls first day ek (ha!) I got another wave and off I went. There was not one tear, pure excitement. Tells me we are at the right place.

Teacher's Report:
Very social and helpful, acts like she has been here since September.
Already saying friend's names.
First kid she has had that doesn't take out her bow!!!!!!!!!!

Wooo wooo

Where or where did she go?!! Woo woo was a huge help as we transitioned in our first full week back to reality. She does it all and builder even got to spend a night with the boys at the farm. I know lucky guy but I had just as much fun laughing and hanging with wooo wooo (yes best way to get through those moments with 3 littles is to laugh!) and I felt good Saturday am! We were said to see her go home but she will come back.

Project time back at the house, crazy?!! No! Bathroom for 3 girls needs some pink! More to come, step one done this weekend.

Big week ahead, ek goes to school!!! Just one day to start but big girl!!! Momma is excited for all the fun of schools!

Littles are doing great. Monday weight check they were MM 6.13 and MF 4.13. Big gains meant big smiles for a big decision we made last week. (Ill catch up on a post about that). Also poppa took girls alone to this appointment. 1 poppa and his 3 girls!!

One of those moments

I never want to forget. It may be a lot of work and hard at times but I love it. Trying to slow down and soak it all.

Top 10 things EK taught Miss T in 2012

Celebration of Granny's life

Yesterday was a memorial celebration of the great life my Granny lived. I left so proud to be part if the Ott family and surrounded by such great people. It was beautiful to relive so much about Granny. We laughed, listened, cried. The powerful words that Granny lived by are a great challenge for the start of the year. Granny was a powerful women and did it all. When I feel I might burst I will think of her and her words....one foot in front of the next...work hard. Rest in peace Granny, lots of love.