On Becoming Four & Being Full of Fun

We had a birthday yesterday. Leviah is 4. Un. Believeable. She's been a little short changed with the last two birthdays, for her #2 I was sick as a dog being pregnant with Eliza. For #3 Drew and I left for a little trip to Boston and while we celebrated together a bit, I felt bad we didn't have any real to-do. So, this year we went all out, at least as much as we ever do. There were decorations, games, a theme even. An awesome theme if I'm going to toot--it was a Matryoshka Birthday. They were everywhere. Thank goodness for pinterest and the internet at large. 

The following are pictures.

i made this with freezer paper--such an easy way to make a 'screenprinted' shirt. gonna be doing this a lot more i reckon.  

in this game the kids had to retrieve all the hidden matryoshkas around the yard and then assemble and share the goodies inside. This took place after reading The Littlest Matryoshka, which I had to get Leviah--a great book and with the theme and all...We also hid little tiny printed paper matryoshkas and hid them. There's nothing more entertaining than watching kids scramble around the yard in a great search.

the girls and i made this beauty. sadly, we should have made her with about 4 more layers of paper mache 'cause she fell apart before everyone had a chance to give her a whack. She was falling apart just hanging in the tree...a bit of a bummer, but the candy covered ground seemed to ease the pain. and, making her was really fun. Naomi and Leviah agreed she was way better than the pinatas at the store. 

these are the goody bags, just red lunch sacks stuck with some printed matryoshka art found here. thank you babelisme!

the cupcake set I found at Sur La Table on clearance.

 opening her presents under her matryoshka banner--i made a simple pattern and cut up craft papers.

Here's Leviah opening her gift from me. Drew & I each painted a set of matryoshkas. Mine represent our family, Drew's are more abstract. I got the blank sets from this web store which I was excited is located in Boone, one of our favorite places. And, they had the greatest customer support when I had to call. So, rave review here!

All in all, I think we pulled off a decent birthday bash for Leviah. She's napped like a toddler for 2 days to make up for all the excitement. Big thanks to the Man Upstairs for keeping Sandy at bay until the festivities were over. I hope everyone else is managing that storm alright!

Weekend Fun.

We have had a traumatizing morning. My ears are literally ringing from all the excitement. Somehow--we cannot figure out the logistics, and it happened in my peripheral sights--Leviah fell, holding a bongo and cut straight through her fingernail. The nail fell off completely and she had to get some stitches.

Anyway, we spent all morning either at the pediatricians or the cosmetic surgeon. These type of events are not good for pregnant women...

Leviah is a trooper and even the doctors were impressed with her composure. I'm a different story, but someone's got to do the crying. She's napping now, so we're just hoping that when the numbness wears off she'll be able to manage the pain alright.

Ugh. But, on an upbeat tone I wanted to share these internet things:

Craftgawker. There is a whole 'gawking universe' and it's amazing to peek through. Anyway, look around when you have a minute--you're sure to find something of interest!

and second, this is the sweet song. Leviah was getting the drum to play along with this one...

Less Intense

While the topic of which direction will take in terms of this upcoming birth is still hot around here, I want to switch back to a less depressing topic...

Silly Leviah. She wants to be like Naomi on sooo any levels...this one is particularly endearing.

And Drew turned these blocks into these.

Wood burning is such a reminder of olden days. Thanks Plain & Joyful Living for the idea!

& check this out (if you haven't already!) honored...

{this moment} - swingin' sisters

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. See Soulemama to play along.

{this moment} - a hard day's ride home

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. See Soulemama to play along.

{this moment} - chocolate monster

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. See Soulemama to play along.

I actually have a post for today, but I'm scheduling it for tomorrow because this needs published!

{this moment}-watching big sister

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. See Soulemama to play along.

resistance is futile; a few things I love

When I was a kid we didn't own a VCR. No, I'm not that old, we just lived very un-extravagantly. This characteristic of my childhood always seemed like a misfortune when I was there, but looking back the memories of it all are a blessing.

Unlike anyone else I've ever met, we watched movies via renting a VCR from the local library; something most folks didn't even realize as an option. & once in a while mom would make a very special occasion out of an ordinary day. We'd borrow a VCR & choose one of the movies from our collection of 3--Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, or Beauty and the Beast. Naomi watched the latter this morning while recovering from an overnight stomach bug.

Oh, sweet nostalgia.

I hope that I create moments Naomi & Leviah will try to recreate with their own children, special times in ordinary days that won't disappear, moments that can only be defined by love...

It's a love topic this week, so i'm joining in.

I love

Things growing. (more on that here):

Free stuff in the mail:

Naomi's Self Portraits:

Little Trolls & First (crazy) Pig Tails:

Chicken Escapes & farm girls:

Finding friends with great eyes at local thrift stores:

Not pictured:

Sunshine, challah bread, my husband, ideas coming to fruition, Bon Iver & free internet radio, awesome lists with great ideas, time in fellowship, a day of rest...

And riddles I know the answers to. ;)

What does a person often grow in his garden if he works very hard?

little girls just wanna have fun

so, I heard Naomi singing some Cindy Lauper the other day while we perused a local thrift store--this really is the life I've always dreamed of; & while I almost blogged about my pride of her eclectic music repertoire--which includes your choice of any one of a thousand traditional kid riddles, it also consists of family faves like the Decemberists, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble (her favorite man), Sound of Music, newly added The Princess & the Frog, Sound of Music--did I mention Sound of Music?

:butterfleviah:

BUT, it occurred to me that the clearly charming & adorably mischievous personality of Leviah rarely gets mentioned. Below is a tune that reminds me of her by an artist I just noticed today to be completely delightful--we must download more! (listen to "dream")

so. here are a few things about our little lioness that are really beginning to shine.

1. she gets everything. you say, "go give this to da-da"--she complies

2. she is clever. she plays tricks on us & looks out of the corner of her eye to see if we noticed.

3. she's insane. she climbs, falls, jumps, walks, falls, screams, shouts, tickles, dances, prefers to be upside down, falls...this girl climbs to the top (spotted of course) of our attic ladder with NO assistance & in very slippery footie pjs--might I add.

4. she's sweet. she hugs, kisses, snuggles (temporarily), senses others' pain, welcomes guests.

5. in so many ways I see her dad which is probably why I am much more patient with her sometimes frustratingly strong will than he. But she's a delight to watch grow.

As far as I can tell Naomi is most definitely our pleasantness & Lev is our strong loving lion cub--let me tell you, she can roar!

atl

the peach is actually not in georgia.

Much time has passed...what's gone down? We have ;) Drew & I made a trip last wednesday to Atlanta for an Custom Electronics Expo. Cedia puts this on every year, and since it was within driving distance Drew made the plan to go months ago. He learned all the latest technology that will be in living rooms shortly. The main excitement: 3-d. We're not talking your mom & dad's-postcard-picture-red & blue-glasses-iMax 3-d, soon it will be glasses-that-interact-with-the-monitor-makes-grown-men-duck-on-screen-punches-3-d. More like Jaws 24 eats McFly in Back to the Future II 3-d. Anyway...something to look forward to, i'm sure.

Things we loved in this peachy place (mainly food):

1. the Hive Co-op. Wow. EVERY city in the U.S. needs this, if not the world. it's like my dream come true--literally! craft work-shops, great local artisans, lovely, lovely, lovely.
2. the 5 seasons brewery where they serve all organic & local foods, not to mention delightful brews. our menu: chicken wings (a rare treat), sweet potato fries & beef lettuce wraps. yum...
3. Thumbs Up Diner, oooh. creamy delicious herb infested eggs & omelets & the thickest piece of french toast known to man. We visited the one on Marietta Street--very close to the 5 seasons.
4. As home of the Flying Biscuit, we expected satisfaction & that's what we got! Biscuits, Mimosas, Love Cakes, thank goodness this isn't a place only available after a 6 hour drive! Charlotte & Raleigh both offer this delight...
5. the coffee over ice cream at cafe nineteen has influenced us to mix 2 favorites here at home. it didn't last long.
6. As I mentioned about our trip to Roanoke, the Hyatt Place downtown proved to be the hotel for us. (not to be confused with the Hyatt Regency which has smaller rooms, no internet, breakfast, or accessible parking--all for more $$)
7. warning: as was told us by the mid-60's lady at the info booth whom we disregarded & pegged as a square close-minded worry-wart (apologies), the underground is no place for anyone not planning a criminal act on some level. major bummer--seemed really promising.
8. Leviah. We had a lot of 2 on one & 1 on one time with her, which is another rarity. We wore her out running/walking around, but it was a pleasure to give her some undivided attention for a change. Although she cried for ba-ba a few times, I think she enjoyed it as well.

In other news, Naomi's 5th birthday is fast approaching. & while that notion is still registering we're planning a playsilk dying party! Thanks to several other blog-moms & the internet at large I've been turned onto Waldorf style play & learning, so I incorporate. I'd been wanting to dye some for her, but didn't want to go to all the trouble for just 5 or 6, so this is my solution. There will be several other surprises for the b-day girl if we can pull them off. As with most start-up business owners, the budget is under surveillance so corners might be cut, but I've already purchased one of her gifts from Urban Baby Bonnets (actually traded with a BOGO deal, so snip-snip to corner #1).

A trick I learned from my mother is: buy things she needs in styles she wants & wrap it. 2 pancakes--1 slab of butter. & of course I bought one for baby carrie as well (aka little sister).

27 days after her, Leviah turns 1. no time to exhale before my next round of party planning...

Young fotografer

fonetics are sort of silly. I realize it as I try to teach them. how frustrating it is for there to be exceptions to ANY rule for a 4 year old, but language? should be cut & dry...

and as much time as I spend telling Naomi how things are done, she manages to amaze me on a regular basis by coming up with her own set of rules. She's awe-inspiring, artistically-inspiring, enthusiasm-inspiring, and if I'm not being too braggy, down right breath-taking.

She loves her baby sister in a way I didn't expect and it makes me so proud. She has her share of attitude, perhaps more than her share, but she's tender-hearted when you cut to the chase (sometimes a macheti is required for that kind of cutting)

Here's a recent foto-op with her sister. I had to share.

Leviah Ethel Comes to Town

In case you want to know...

So, I'd had contractions for weeks & pretended that they were "doing" something, when really I think they were preparing me for a HARD fast labor with REALLY intense contracting.

It's hard to start anywhere, so I'll begin with DH getting home on Tuesday afternoon from work & suggesting that we go early vote, which I thought was a good idea. I was having fairly regular & hard contractions every 45 minutes, but I knew they could go away & that sitting around was the worst thing I could do. So, we voted which actually was very quick--we were expecting to stand in line for some time.

Anyway, after voting we went to the mall to walk a bit hoping that would get things moving a bit more. We did this when I was in labor with Naomi as well, I remember feeling my first contraction with her while drinking a cherry Icee, so of course we had Icees (which apparently were just the trick!). On the way home contractions were quite hard, and after reading a story posted on here about a lady who was having contractions nearly an hour apart and still delivered I thought to call our Midwife. She thought that story was insane, but conveniently she was passing by our house on the way to somewhere else & stopped in to check things out. Baby's heartbeat was good & I was 1.5-2cm. (I was hoping for a bit more...). This was 7pm.
After she left things heated up. We went through the normal routine--Naomi to bed, watch a little telly, and I rolled around on the birth ball & called my mom & told her that she may want to come in from Raleigh now, instead of waiting until the middle of the night. (good thing she took that advice).

SO. At this point Drew starts looking at the internet for some "view points" on my status & asking me questions like, "are the contractions coming from the front or the back?" to which I respond with a glare and he proceeds to note that from the front would indicate pro-dromal labor--not TRUE labor. I pretended not to understand what he was implying.

Hobbling back & forth to the bathroom with contractions I don't think I can accurately describe I began to realize the progression of this labor and tried to "focus" on things I'd planned ahead to focus on--mainly prayer and the idea that the Lord wouldn't give me more than I could handle. He pushed me farther than before...

Anyway, because I was so focused Drew didn't realize & when my mother arrived she was also unaware of how far along I was. I sat in our tub for a good bit while Drew interrogated me with every question that popped into his head. Contractions were coming on top of each other & his idea to start blowing up the pool seemed silly as I could sense that he should prepare more for catching this baby without our midwife. Just as this thought came to my head the MW assistant arrived. After about 40 mins. more in the tub they managed to get me on the bathroom floor for a check & I was a "stretchy" 5, although those words were not good to hear because, as they moved me into our bedroom where we thought laying might help me to rest, I knew it was time for more than just contractions. So, upon reaching the end of my bed & leaning against it & Drew I started to push & make whale noises. Leviah was on her way! I pushed for about 20 minutes (at some point I heard my MW arrive who just came from a birth in Charlotte (after having checked me in GSO at 7pm)) and there she was!

Naomi & my mother watched from our bedroom doorway cheering me along (Naomi was amazing & knew, as we'd warned, that the baby would come from my "buh-buht" and then I would feel better). She watched her sister born--but more importantly to me she watched something that may stick with & empower her for the rest of her life. She won't be tortured with the fear I had until she was born. Perhaps this is knowledge she'll spread.

ANYWAY. all said & done, my mother was a skeptic of Homebirth when we told her that was the route we were taking. She is now a convert & wishes she could go back & do it the "natural" way. Her version of the story is great, and also makes me proud of our Homebirth story! 3 generations of ladies bonding over something that was stolen for a few--the beauty of birth...

(not to say it didn't hurt--it most def. did!!)