1st Birthday!

This is late as well but as they say, better than never right?

WHERE did the year go!?!?! I know every mother asks this especially at the first birthday but this year went by so so fast. I suppose that is to be expected with number six. I know I've said this before but it just seems like I can so vividly recall every detail of Kain's first year and then the rest of them are like the view out of the backseat car window going 70 down the highway.

What's to say about our sweet little EilaEver (aside from her name change if I didn't post about that since I am so very far behind)? Everyone in the family adores her. So is doted on daily and I wonder just how long it will be before the novelty wears off with this one. It seems like it lasted longer with Ozzye than with Brode and I wonder how much of that has to do with the older kids simply being older or because Ozzye was the "baby" longer than any of our other babies. But whatever the reason I don't see it ending anytime soon. She has captured more than one heart in this house and we are all grateful every. single. day. she came into our lives!

She unfortunately was sick on her birthday... so most of the day was spent like this...

I hope I can get over the guilt that she was our first baby to NOT have a party on her first birthday. I know, I know, they are really just a party for us anyway but I still feel bad about it.

I did make her a new dress for her birthday so hopefully that will make up for it?

My attempt to make a "rainbow" cake using only naturally dyed frosting.

Then of course her flourless cake frosted with avocados just for Baby Sugar.

As you can see she perked up a bit when she found out we were actually going to let her play in it!

Baby Sugar our gorgeous little rockstar, you are so very loved... beyond measure!

Birthday Catch Up!

We even had an extra day this year in Feb. and it still some how got away from me! It was busy, busy as usual. Aubriel had a few gym meets and Kain a few basketball tournaments but luckily Gage's birthday stayed open so we could celebrate him turning the double 1s - 11!

Oh how lost we would be (especially Kain) without Gage in our lives. Gage struggles daily for the love and admiration of his big brother but if only he could step back and see what we do... It may not seem like it to Gage but Kain is probably far more dependent on their relationship between the two of them. Kain has only had to sample moments but a few times without his #1 fan around and it is not something that sat well with him. For as much as he tries to act like his little brother is nothing more than a bother those two are thick as thieves and (most often) it is a beautiful thing to watch.

If I'm not mistaken it is Kain that has brought about this bout of laughter... which is common and like a breath of fresh air in our house. Gage's happiness is infectious when he actually shares it with us. Unfortunately far too often his mood is dependent on others. But with each passing year he is coming more and more into his own and I feel blessed to be part of the journey! I only hope the rest of our family feels the same... especially that oh so important big brother of his.

The Perfect Natural Bun

My daughter is required to wear her hair in a bun when she competes in gymnastics. I've been asked several times how I do her hair since I'm one of those "crunchy" moms. We don't even own hair spray or hair gel. My husband styles his hair with aloe gel every day. Which would not hold up to the tumbling that comes along with gymnastics. And since hair malfunctions = points deducted I needed a bullet proof solution for her baby fine hair.

I use egg whites! Not only does it hold excellently but it washes out easily and it is wonderful for your hair. Nothing like a day in a protein mask for your hair to leave it soft and conditioned at the end of the day.

Since my daughter has very thin hair and does not create a very large bun I use a "bumper". You can buy something called "the bun maker" I believe but we just use a sock with the toe cut off and rolled up. A couple bobby pins. Two hair ties, one small one. A basting brush. Egg whites from one separated egg. And some lavender oil.

I like to mix in a few drops of lavender oil to make it smell pretty... and it's also good for your hair so why not?

I start with a healthy dose of coconut oil through her hair to get out the tangles.

After Brushing through it really well I start in the center combing out strands and "painting" them with egg whites.

I continue adding to it, painting and combing so it's smooth.

Once I get it all painted and smooth I put it in a ponytail using my larger hair tie.

Then take your "bumper" and place it around the ponytail.

Starting from the center fold the hair out around the bumper all the way around.

Once you have it all even paint it all with egg whites.

Take your small hair tie and carefully slip it around the hair covered bumper.

Should look like this but don't feel bad if you have to redo it once or twice... happens to me often!

The start twisting the rest of the hair around the bottom of the bun.

Picking up more as you go...

Bobby pin it in a few places, pushing them under the bumper.

Paint all around with more egg whites (of course ;-).

Then you can add scrunchies or any other hair ribbons. These are Aubriel's team colors.

Just recently at a meet she kept losing her top scrunchie so I stitched them together with a tiny loop of ribbon in between so I can put a couple more bobby pins through the loops and into the bun to help hold them on. Otherwise this is a bun that isn't going anywhere! She has slept in it and it looks exactly the same the next morning. Perfect for our early morning meet times!

13 years...

13 years ago today I sat on my sofa cross stitching a square for the baby quilt I was making for the new little life in my big round belly getting ready to make his entrance into the world. Never mind the fact I wouldn't even finish that quilt until the birth of his brother over 2 years later.

It was five days past my due date and my impatience had reached an all time high. The days just seemed to crawl by as hubby worked and I had a lack of friends near me since moving back to the area. In addition at just turning 21 most of my friends were busy with things other than planning for the arrival of a new baby. His birth no longer flooded my mind with fear. I was anxious to meet the baby I waited my WHOLE life to have. I wanted to know if tripping over trucks and baseballs through windows were in our future or if I would bond over painting nails and brushing long hair with this little person entering our lives. I wondered about the color of his hair, if his eyes would stay blue, who's smile he would have, and if I really would fall head over heels in love simply from the smell of his head when I gave him his first kiss. I was scared of what kind of a parent I would be. If I would be loving enough when he would push me to my limits. If I could show kindness to him... Patience... Understanding. If it really would be everything I had always dreamed it would be.

And it was. It was all of this and so much more. Well perhaps I have not always lived up to my intentions of being the perfect parent but he has definitely exceeded the expectations of the little miracle we welcomed into the world 13 years ago. He was loved. He is loved. So much by so many. He was born a bright spark and continued go light a path for Dave and I to follow. A path that has led us to be better parents... Better people. He was not planned. Not in the traditional sense. He was perhaps on our radar in another 2-6 years but not then. Not at that time. But he was never a mistake either. There were but a few times where we may have wondered why or what if but those questions did not last long unanswered. We know why and we know how very empty life would've been without him. He truly has been and continues to be a blessing to us. Every. Single. Day.

Little did I know when I felt that first contraction 13 years ago today that I would not only be thrusted down the path of parenthood but of something that would become such a huge passion of mine. The journey to parenthood. The birth. Kain's birth was pivotal for me in this journey, as I suppose anyone's first birth is. Remember how I said the upcoming act of birth no longer brought fear with it? Well it didn't. Not when my first contraction hit. Not when I spoke with my mom on the phone that "today could be the day". Not even when I labored at home by myself because work forgot to pass along the message to hubby. I was at peace. Complete and total peace. Once he did arrive home the very best moments of my labor were laying on our bed together while he would rub my back during contractions. It was calming, and intimate, and little did I know at the time the only thing one truly needs to birth a baby. But I was the only one that felt this way. Hubby was nervous, who wouldn't be right? He was watching his wife have a baby and could do nothing to help. So he followed an ancient instinct to "protect" his wife by means of a modern way of thought. Off to the hospital we went.

And only THEN did fears start creeping in. I had strangers instructing me on what was "best" even when it didn't feel right. They were taking control of something that was going fine. I was like a fish out of water and I just wanted my mom (whom luckily found us despite being told "no visitors"). I went from being a powerful, confident being ready to birth a baby to a scared 6 year old girl that just wanted her mother to hold her and assure her it will all be okay. It was horrible! But what followed wasn't nearly so bad.

My beautiful baby boy was on his way and nothing was going to interfere with his natural process. Even if everyone else in the room was truly clueless as to what was happening or actually "needed" he was not. He knew the way into this world. He knew the best way. The natural way. And he took me along for the ride. My world stopped when I first saw his face and the people around me dropped off the earth for a split second as I gazed upon his tiny little body. I did it! And he was perfect. He delivered not only himself but me as well. And I didn't think it could get any better. But yet I spent five more births since trying to make it better. In some ways I have. In many ways I suppose. But it was his birth and it was as beautiful as he is.

And I can't believe it's been 13 years already... Or it will be in another 1/2 a day. Happy Labor Day Kain!

My Weekend

There's nothing else I'd rather be doing either. Love, love, love watching my children doing what they love!

First Full Moon...

...of 2012!

First Snow Play of the Year!

More Postings...

Hopefully on the way any how. I've realized just how horribly neglected my blog has been since the baby arrived. I suppose that's normal to a certain extent but it really does make me rather sad. Despite the fact an aura reader recently told me I should start writing more, I've just really haven't felt like I've had anything interesting to report and/or been the least bit motivated. So I've taken that suggestions as a sign I just should be posting *something* rather than finding something profound to pass along to the few readers that maybe out there.

So what will my new year blog bring? Pictures if nothing else! I've been inspired to rekindle my relationship with my camera so I should at least be able to post one mediocre photo every few days... Starting tomorrow. ;-)

Barefoot in November!

It's rare but I can now say that is how I spent today! I believe the high was 60 today which may seem bitterly cold to some to be running around barefoot but anyone that is familiar with WI winters knows this is quite the heat wave we are having. More often then not our cute little tots Halloween costumes are covered up my snowsuits and if our ground has not already been dusted with the first snow fall it is in high anticipation.

I am in shock (although I'm not sure why any longer) that I let a whole month slip away without a single entry. It's amazing how often the movie montage of my life plays in my head without any time to be recorded. Even my personal journal is longing to my pen these days. The last few weeks were spent shopping for a "new" (used) truck I honestly had no desire to invest in. My suburban runs great, it fits our needs (meaning family) and while I wouldn't love the luxury of newer wheels as much as the next guy I do not feel our budget has any room for another vehicle payment. But alas hubby's truck is dying. So rather than waiting for a call from a broken down spouse (most likely at the worst possible time) with 6 kids in tow waiting to be rescued. We made the decision to become a two suburban family. Sure we could have just bought him a little car to run around in but with as many miles as I put on our truck we were not sure we could get a car paid off before I would need a new truck anyway. Plus there is always the joy I shuffling our schedules if my truck ever needs any work done on it.

So I'm now driving around in a 2004 charcoal Z71 suburban and I really do love it. For as much as I was dreading the purchase I'm in love. I love having heated seats again, I love my leather, I love the DVD player for the kids, although I think it is the little things I love the most... top two: the running boards. I constantly slipped buckling the kids in and out on our last truck. And the delayed locks. I am SO in love with the fact that I can immediately press the lock button on my keys, shove them in my pocket, while the kids continue to open and close doors and they will lock 5 seconds after the last door is closed. I am quiet certain (obviously since it's an 04) that this feature has been around for a while and could quite possibly be standard on most new vehicles for all I know, but it is like falling into the lap of luxury for me.

Maybe I will update with pictures if I remember... I thought I had some but I guess not.

6 Months!

Okay so since I'm so far behind in my blog posts (I won't even comment on how my 21 day cleaning challenge is going... let's just say it's going to take a LOT more than 21 days!) and this sweet little 6 month old is under my feet complaining as I'm typing I'm going to keep it short and sweet with a few pictures thrown in (of course).

Our little Baby Sugar (which may end up being her actual name since once again surprise surprise a name isn't growing on me... but that is really a whole other blog post in itself) was 6 months old yesreday. She weighed in at 16# even. I have no clue how that compares to the other kids. Maybe some quiet afternoon (are you laughing at the thought of that too?) I will dig out some notes and check. I never even bothered with height... she tall like the rest?

She's darling and adorable of course and always doted upon by everyone. I can't get a good picture of her teeth yet but she is up to 3 now. The strangest thing was the first one that came in. She got a top lateral incisor first, then followed by the two bottom front teeth... never had a baby do that before but as I always say each one has find some new way to surprise you since you've seen it all before.

As you can see she can sit as well now. Still wobbly but getting better each day.

I'm seriously in love! I was of the mind set that one doesn't truly appreciate having a girl until you've had a couple boys first (and I'm sure that goes both ways) but I think it might be even better the second time around.

I absolutely love how the kids love and care for her. There is nothing more precious!

In other news the sheepdog, I mean Ozzye, did get a hair cut since this picture...

Another this one had an interesting night a few weeks ago which resulted in 5 staples in his head. No it wasn't from this day when his sister was rolling him around the yard in a box... but rather when he was sitting on a folding chair and it folded on him. He opted to catch himself with the top of his head but the TV stand isn't all that forgiving so blood was drawn. I'm kicking myself now for even bringing him in. The bleeding stopped quiet soon after it happened I looking back I think it would've healed fine. Certainly better than the botch job the new Dr did on it. I knew we were in trouble when I told the Dr. he never lost consciousness and didn't appear to have a concussion and he replied saying "well if he had a concussion he would've lost consciousness". Of course, what would I know anyway, I never went to medical school...

Anyway he numbed the area and proceeded to staple into my son's head immediately after telling him it doesn't hurt while he is flinching in pain. Then had to take two staples out and redo them. Dave said after he went in for a third time he was going to grab the stapler and start in on him! The nurse was not any more gentle with with my son's broken head until I actually ASKED him (imagine that) if it hurt when she was washing off the blood and THEN she agreed to be gentle. Not five minutes after the finished up he excitedly said "head isn't stinging any more!" Again I'm no Dr but isn't this when one should start putting staples in a child's head?

Thank goodness it's over now, he's fine, I will be fine. It has healed horribly crooked. Usually one likes to subject their child to pain and trauma when there will be a better end result... I think we just ended up doing it for the hell of it but lessons were learned. Like next time maybe just call a good Dr you know at 9pm, just in case they recently switched their practice to house calls only... which come to find out, a bit too late, I'm lucky enough to have such a Dr.