lotsa lotsa

peaches at Applecrest

Life has been going and going. Lotsa stuff has been whirring by without me checking in here. How about a list?

-our internet has been down for a while. I don’t have an email right now. It’s a little crazy, but everything should be resolved soon.



-More ultrasounds and all is well. I’ve got little wiggly people in there with little tiny beating hearts. The babies are growing and they even have their own fingerprints at this point. I haven’t been quite so never-endingly ridiculously sick. Just regular sick and constantly tired. (That’s not a complaint, just truth.)


-We got to celebrate Jake’s birthday this weekend. (man, I really like that guy.) We had an awesome time up at his brother’s house with the family. The kids caught two fish each out on the lake. (I sadly didn’t get to witness it—I was mercifully asleep:) Roger and Kyle took good care of us. (thanks, guys!)

-School starts this week and the kids can’t wait. They’re vacillating between excitement and anxiety. I am personally looking forward to having a schedule forced upon us considering the state of my non-medicated ADD-induced lack of anything that is…see? I can’t even think of what I’m missing now that I’m missing it. I can’t think of what it takes to run anything. Survival. That’s where I am. And school will help with that. want. my. little. pills. back.



-I have a batch of cute aprons coming your way. Stay tuned for the deets. I will start a pre-ordering process soon for those who want a better dealio and if you are interested in a wholesale account with me, email me at brittany[at]cottageroaddesigns.com

-In my weakened state, I have had more time to read as I lay down to conserve energy. I can recommend three books for you: Breaking Dawn (I don’t care about the reviews, I loved it. It was perfection and I think you are a genius, Stephenie.), The Goose Girl and Ender’s Game. It was a kidlit kind of month, and I agree with Laini.



-I did everything I knew how to do my last three pregnancies to avoid stretch marks, but it didn’t work. They still showed up. Does anyone have any ideas? Things that worked for you? My belly is growing pretty fast and it’s getting itchy already. (I’m really in for it, aren’t I?) Help!



-I’m already nesting. I moved the girls into the same room and painted it the most delightful color ever. (oh, I just noticed you can peek at it in this picture--it's a happy blueish and it looks...happy.) I should have taken before and afters. I painted one of Isaac’s walls with chalkboard paint. It is perfect for his “science room” kind of theme. I did take a picture of one of his drawings because it was so sweet. I love the chalkboard paint! I painted some clipboards with it and am making them into job charts for the kids. I’ll post pictures if I ever actually finish the project, because the way I imagine it working is ingeniousJ (Now if my brain was working correctly I might actually follow through and make them DO their jobs. I’ll try. I promise I’ll try.)



Okay, we're off to pick apples. Have a happy day!

embracing the light

Carmel, California

In the past few weeks I have been able to see the gift I have been given more clearly. I have been stretching on my tippie-toes to see the horizon and the beauty that is there. It can be easy to get all caught up in how hard *life* can be, but lately I have been able to see the good that comes from the opposition.

These children are in my keeping; for both of our goods.
They have and will continue to teach me.
They make me stretch myself into a better and stronger me.
Their strength is astounding.
Their wisdom is simple, but sure.
Their beauty radiates, especially when I focus on it.
They have helped me observe my habits and it’s as if I can see myself in a mirror, the good and the bad together.

I love being a mother. I am smitten with my children.

***

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

-Khalil Gibran

4 steps toward happy children

1.take them to Ocean Ave.
2.buy them matching hoodies as souvenirs
3.take them to the candy store and let them choose one thing each (but make sure to buy yourself some chocolate, too)
4.end up at the beach with the softest sand ever (and the coolest trees)