what a day, what a day

I had planned on posting some pictures and stories about our wonderful week on the farm, but I just don't have it in me for tonight.

This was a long, long day.

The craziest news from our trip is that we were hit by a deer Thursday night.

Yes, the deer hit us. It ran straight into our car as we were cruising down Highway 20. I was driving, and by the time I saw the deer, the collision was inevitable. So, I floored it, hoping for more of the damage to end up at the rear of the car rather than the engine. The deer smashed into the front passenger door, crashed and slid along the back passenger door, and bunced off the back of the car.

None of us were injured, the car still ran fine, and neither of the kids woke up. Gabe, who'd been sleeping, just about jumped out of his skin, and I fear the worst for the suicidal deer.

So, the long story short is that I had to call the insurance company, meet with the adjuster, drop off the car, get a rental car, and go grocery shopping all in the same day with two kiddos who wanted nothing more than to stay at home all day. That clearly didn't happen.

Our insurance is covering the cost of the repairs along with the rental car for the six days or so it will take until the work is finished. And apparently the rental car agency takes a close look at the renter and chooses a car that is the complete opposite of their lifestyle. So, that's how we ended up with a jet black Chevy Impala.

...

I'm ready for a nice peaceful evening. Like this foggy morning on the farm. Much better.

we're back

We just got back from a week at the farm in Iowa. Lots of pictures coming soon...

an introduction: chickens and carrots

Last week, I bought River a bumbo seat off of Craigslist. We never had one for Liam, who at 3 1/2 months would have been too wobbly still to manage in it. But the main reason we never bought one for Liam was because he did not like to be set down, which meant I wore him strapped to my chest for most of the day when he was River's age.

I am happy to have a little one this time around who is content to sit back and watch what's going on in the world around him.

And the bumbo seat gives him a whole new view.

River has really been enjyoing morning's spent outside before it gets too hot. It was time for a very special introduction:

River, meet the chickens.

Chickens, meet River.

He wasn't sure what to think at first, but he spent a long time observing our feathered friends.

While River and the chickens became better acquainted, Liam and I harvested our bed full of red! carrots. He was an enthusiastic helper.

And since it was a morning for new sights, sounds, and friends, why not add some new textures/tastes as well?
I am anxious for the cooler weather just around the corner. Both these guys will be glad for the extra backyard time, too.

a sure thing

If I am being completely honest, I'll admit that most days are exhausting. I wake up cranky. I try to distract with toys instead of interact. I just want the kids to sleep. At the same time, please. And when I am feeling fed up and like I'd rather be anywhere but this moment, River will smile. Liam will make me laugh.


And then I love being a parent. I love the challenge. I love these boys.


If I am being completely honest, I am really really lucky to have them.

River is such a happy baby. Ever since he discovered that he can stick his tongue out, he does it all day long.

Just watching a baby discover the world is something to smile about.

Seeing his little personality emerge is so much fun. He is so different from Liam, but still so similar. Hurray for brothers.
And then there is this kid. What a challenge. What a crack-up. Always into everything everywhere at the same time.
He is a lot to keep up with.

He is potty trained (well, most of the time when he feels like being cooperative), but living au naturale still suits him just fine.

And now he calls me Dorth. When did he become such a little boy?

So, all of this is to say that these two little guys make our family complete. Content with what we have.

All along, Gabriel and I have said that we wanted to have two of our own and then after that adopt kids into our family.

That hasn't changed. And now that we have these two, we were ready to make sure of it. Yes, it's a big decision. One we have put a lot of thought into, but also one that we feel very confident about.

There is a bittersweet sadness in it. A finality. But also gratitude for the pregnancy and childbirth we have had the privilege to experience twice, and also a gladness that we are done with that season of our lives.

If and when our family of four is ready to grow again, we want to make a home for children who don't have one. But until then, it's just the four of us.

And, really, the thought of no more birth control... That's an added bonus.

tummy time

dairy free it is

After a week of eliminating dairy from my diet for River's benefit, it is obvious that this boy just can't take the cow's milk.

From the research I've done, it's not that he is lactose intolerant. That would be too easy. It's most likely that he is allergic to casein, the protein found in cow's milk, and he may or may not outgrow it. He fits the symptoms: sudden abdominal pain, gas, occasional congestion, bloody stools, diarrhea. Poor guy.

But going all of last week without dairy, he was like a new person: happy and content all the time, fussing only when he was tired, hungry, or needed a diaper change. He laughed and played, sat back and observed the family's going-ons, and slept really really well.

And then, over the weekend, the abdominal pain and gas returned, along with the inconsolable fussing. We haven't been getting much sleep.

I'm trying to figure out what caused the setback:

Was it the single bite of a bagel with cream cheese on Saturday, and then a bite of green beans on Sunday that apparently had some butter in them?

Could he also be intolerant to beef? I had (cheeseless) supreme pizza on Saturday and roast beef on Sunday.

Or maybe it's *shudders* chocolate. The dark chocolate bar on Saturday and chocolate chip cupcakes on Sunday tasted great to me, but maybe he just can't take dairy-free chocolate either?

Those are the only foods I ate over the weekend that I didn't have during the week of bliss before. So, I'm being careful to avoid beef and chocolate along with dairy over the next few days, and then I'll test them one at a time to try and figure out what else I can't eat for the next year or so.

It's frustrating. But, after seeing how happy he can be when his intestines aren't complaining, all of these foods sacrificed are a small price to pay.

I'm a lucky girl

Look what I got for my anniversary gift:

It's a Nikon D5000 DSLR with the 18-55 mm lens to start with.

I love taking pictures: our boys, the garden, trips we go on, bread I bake. We decided that it was worth upgrading from our little point and shoot to something a bit better, and I am SO EXCITED.

Now, I have to learn how to use the thing... but I am loving it already!!!

What did Gabriel get for our 7 year anniversary? A pretty little hatchet. Well, and I suppose the camera is his also...