Sweet Adelaide Magnolia

In honor of Adelaide's 4 month birthday today, I decided to take her to the doctor. What a way to celebrate!!

So seriously, she had her 4 month check up today... As if anyone who has looked at her doesn't know, she's a chub-a-chub. The girl doesn't eat as much as she should each day (close to half as much). And yet she weighs 15 1/2 lbs (that's the 90th percentile) and she's just over 26 inches tall (also 90th percentile). So she's a growing machine. She got 2 shots today and was such a trooper. She made me proud.

And now, as I reflect back on these past 4 months and wonder where the time has gone, I look at my beautiful daughter and wonder why me? I still am amazed that God has blessed me with my children. Two beautiful, healthy, sunshine to the darkness children. 4 months ago I labored painfully and brought forth an 8 lb bundle of goop. And now, here she is, 4 months later, one of the most precious things I have experienced. I am a better person because of her.

Happy 4 month birthday sweet girl. Mama loves you.

Siblings

I am amazed how much London seems to love Adelaide. Really, she is the invasion to his perfectly happy, only child life. He has taken to her better than I imagined. When she's not around he asks for her. When she cries he immediately tries to comfort her (either by rocking her or giving her kisses or telling her it's okay). Today Addie was chilling in her bouncy seat, sucking her pacifier. It fell out and London stopped what he was doing and put it back in her mouth. That was sweet. Now I know there will soon come a time when I will hear "Addie stop crying" and "Stop looking at me" and "Stop touching me". And there may even be assaults and wrestling matches. And the sharing... Once Adelaide is mobile and touching London's toys, well, I just don't think he's going to like that. But maybe by that point he'll be a little better at sharing.

Above all, one of our biggest hopes for our children is that they grow up to be the best of friends. And that they are always there for each other, no strings (or judgements) attached. That is one of the things we will teach them. To always love and respect and watch out for each other. Family is the most important thing.

I think they're off to a good start.

FREEDOM

This is the vine, ripped from its lifeline. It can no longer hurt anyone.




I fought the vine... And I won. Though the tree did suffer a loss.




The fallen comrades. A moment of silence, please.

In the beginning

This is a before shot of our front yard. And so the evolution begins.

What once was a picture of beauty

This is the plant that was planning to take over our front yard, back in its glory days of beautiful flowers. They didn't last too long. I should've known better....





Here it is in all its death grip glory. This is actually a combination of 3 things. A tree, the vine and another grass type plant that was also accosted by the vine.

And so it begins

Gabe and I have officially started the landscape renovation on our yard this morning. We had done little plant killings here and there, but this morning was some hard core, sweat filled ripping out of plants in the front yard. I wrestled with a particular vine that we didn't realize was alive and thriving and suffocating a poor defenseless tree. At one time, this alleged vine boasted beautiful purple flowers. It brought a very welcomed burst of color to our yard. Little did we know it was just luring us in, waiting to unleash its fury. It was so subtle we didn't even realize what was happening. I couldn't even believe how big and crazy that thing had gotten. The tree it was planted near is a good 8 feet tall... And this little plant, it vined its way all the way to the top of the tree. It even entangled a weed (as tall as me) that was growing nearby. This thing showed no mercy. As I hacked away at it (Gabe helped me free the tree from its grasp) I realized this plant had also grown over some sort of grass plant. As I started to remove the grass plant, I realized it had become a home, a haven, to many gross and disgusting creatures. The only good thing is the ladybugs it harbored (no doubt because of the nasty creatures). I tell you, there were white spiders, tiny spider-looking bugs (maybe aphids?), rolie polie bugs, and the nastiest of all plant dwelling creatures.. The Nasty Catepillar (as we explained to London so he wouldn't think it was a kindly bug). I want to say it was maybe a centipede, but I am not 100% sure. All I know is it was about 3 inches long, had oh so many legs, and was the spawn of Satan. Oh the horror. They were everywhere. I kept my cool (on the outside) so that I wouldn't completely freak London out (he's just learning about bugs and I don't want him to be scared of them). But on the inside I was SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER and my skin was crawling. I knew my life would end if one of those things touched me. I tried to get a picture of one, but it isn't too visible. Being the spawn of Satan, they kept burrowing deeper into the ground when I finally ripped the plant out. *As a side note, London let a ladybug crawl on him for the very first time today. He loved it. The ladybug had only 1 wing and it couldn't fly. I felt bad. But then it excreted some orange liquid on London's hand and I immediately flicked it into the tree. I'm not sure what orange excrement out of a ladybug means....

I have quite a passion for this gardening thing (I'm no Bob Villa of the gardening world), but I am learning and I love getting my hands dirty. So I have been chomping at the bit to get the MASSIVE project going (the 100 degree weather has been quite a hinderance). The previous homeowner had the entire yard landscaped just 3 years ago.. There are a ton of plants, bushes and trees to take out.... They are not to my liking. It is now my yard, and I want to plant my favorite flowers and trees in my yard. I want it to look exactly how I want it to look. Now we know this project will most likely take us until next summer as we don't have a ton of time to devote to it (what with jobs, kids, lives) and we have the front and back to do. But I am okay with that now that we are underway. I am going to post some pictures of us this morning. Some before shots... And then, if you stay with me, you will eventually see the after photos. Alluring isn't it?

The saga continues

So, Adelaide has cut her second tooth (it actually happened a couple days ago). She turns 4 months old in a week. I think that means in a couple more months she'll start PMSing. This poor little girl (who looks ultra cute with her one big tooth sticking out when she smiles) shouldn't have had to deal with teething this early. Life is hard enough. She's just starting to learn how to chew on things other than her fingers. I don't know what is in our genes that makes our children grow teeth so early. Since London cut his first 2 at 5 months and Adelaide now at 3 months, maybe that means the next one will start at 1 month.. Sheesh. And then if there's a 4th baby, maybe that kid will be born with teeth. That's not even funny.

Other than that, in light of the recent Jude Law scandal, I am very sad. I highly enjoy Jude Law (did you see Cold Mountain?!). What a tangled web we weave Mr. Law. What on earth were you thinking?

Belated

So I totally meant to post on Friday, July 8th... Gabe and I celebrated 5 years of marriage. I really wanted to post that day to wish him a Happy Anniversary (since he didn't let me buy him a gift) and give him a big SHOUT OUT for putting up with me for 7 years. Through the ups and downs (and believe me, after 2 kids, there are plenty of downs), Gabe has held my hand and loved me through it all. And on top of that, he is an amazing father. It is so evident how much he loves his children. And watching him grow in his love for our kids has deepened my love for him.

So Gabe, even though it's late.. Happy anniversary. I love you.

Just the other day

Okay, so here's what happens to me when I finally find an affordable fridge, very close by, that I can purchase for our garage....

So I take a trip just down the street to a tag sale I hear has a side-by-side fridge for sale, $100. I figure I'll go, offer $75 and that'd be a great deal. So, as I'm checking out the merchandise with the lady seller who barely has any teeth (she's easily in her 30s) and can't stop moving her hand (withdrawal maybe?) a Folsom police officer pulls up behind my Jeep. He comes up the drive, a man comes out of the house with a bandage on his nose (with just as few teeth as the woman) and the officer begins his questioning. He's asking for ID, do they live there?, have they ever been arrested before?, what was the situation? Now, as I'm perusing the fridge I start to ask myself "What is the proper ettiquete in this situation?". Do I stay and try and buy the fridge that I really, really want? Do I leave and come back later and hope that the tag sale is still going on? I really didn't want to miss this opportunity to buy the fridge. So I awkwardly stood looking at the fridge and talking with the woman (the cop was more interested in the guy with the bandage). Turns out a neighbor of there's called the cops on them for some sort of assault.. (I saw the said neighbor standing just behind his garage, watching what was going on as I drove by after I made my purchase). I also heard that the said neighbor was tormenting him earlier in the day. As the bandaged guy would put up his tag sales signs, old said neighbor would follow behind him pulling them out. Not sure what's up with that.. But sounds like one of those annoying neighbors who has nothing better to do with his time but fill it with what everyone else is doing. Granted, I'm sure the couple who sold me the fridge was no picnic in the neighbor department (word on the street is they are heavy drug users) but still.. Following behind him tearing down his tag sale signs, when it's not even in front of your house?

So that's my story, for what it's worth. It was quite an experience. Please don't get me wrong, I happen to live in a very nice, secluded neighborhood. Not one known for drug problems. These people happened to be renting that house.. And lucky for me they were. Cause now I have my lovely fridge and freezer out in the garage. And I am happy about that.

Woah Nelly

I really never thought it would happen. My poor little 3 month old daughter has gotten her first tooth. THREE MONTHS OLD and she already has to deal with the torture that is teething. London got his first 2 teeth at 5 1/2 months, so I was hoping Addy would hold out for a little while longer. I love gummy baby smiles. And soon, those will be a distant memory. My little girl, with a tooth. She is not old enough! Not to mention the constant stream of drool, the chewing on her hand (she's not even old enough to want to chew on a toy or teether), and the screams.. Oh the screams......

And so starts the 2 year teething journey.

Only the lonely

I must say, most of you (the possible 3 that actually read this site) are about to think I am the sorriest loser out there.. Today is a happy, happy day for me. I recently purchased a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer this past weekend (during the arrest of the sellers, that story will follow in another post).. And today (here comes the happy part) it was moved into it's permanent home in the garage and plugged in. Happy happy joy joy!! I have pined for years to have a garage to put a fridge in. 6 months ago I got that garage.. And now, my dream is fulfilled. Even though it won't really be cold enough to be filled for 24 hours (at which time the ultimate joy will be reached as I will be assured of it working properly), I couldn't help myself and I put a ton of drinks into the fridge. And I loved every minute of it. Sad, huh? Joy in my life is cultivated in the form of a fridge and freezer in my garage. I don't care. I am in the throws of the benefits of being a homeowner.

A HUGE thanks to my wonderful husband who worked for hours in the hot, stifling, 100 degree Sacramento weather garage (in the afternoon!) to move stuff around to put the fridge where I wanted it. And to boot, he went way above and beyond and did an amazing job clearing out the garage too.. It's so uncluttered, and coupled with the grandeur that was plugging in my fridge, I fell in love with having a garage all over again today. It's a lovely thing.

Okay.. Now, get ready for the story of buying the fridge and the arrest that occurred during my purchase.....