In the Mud

Asher has been playing on the driveway making mud, mixing leaves, watering plants with such intent for the past 45+ minutes. I hope that this is the type of attention span that comes with having a two year old outdoors.

We all have spring fever big time around here. It is amazing what getting outside for the majority of the waking day really does for your energy level and outlook. I have only had one cup of tea today, indoor days have me up to 4 on occasion. I am even okay without nap time on a day like this. We can stay outside until dinner, hop in the tub and read books while the sun is setting... then Ben and I may have some time to talk.

Asher is all boy, loving the mud, I look forward to River being able to learn from him, to observe and join him.

four weeks

That have at times past quickly...

River is gaining weight at record speed like his brother an ounce shy of 11 pounds at 4 weeks old, he has grown an inch as well. It is fabulous to see him filling out and seeing what his face is going to look like as he gets older. I think we will have another chubby babe on our hands. His hair is starting to fall out in a receding hair line patter like Asher's did, not the cutest way to loose baby hair, hopefully River's will grow back in a nicer pattern than A's did.

He continues to be a great happy baby, sleeping well, through the night for the most part, waking a couple of times to nurse, cozyied up to his mama's breast. I am sleeping pretty good as well, we had a couple of chilly nights and i was wearing a tank top and nursing got a little chilly. There don't seem to be enough hours in the day to get all the things done that we need to do and I am definitely missing my husband this time around. He is on Asher duty at night, I am on River duty, we don't see much of one another. I was feeling like a single mom with a newborn the other day remembering when Asher was born, Ben having more of an active role at night for the first few months, but really things aren't that hard, I just need to give into the lack of sleep and continue to drink caffienated beverages.

And really who wouldn't want to stare at this face all the time?

I think that we are all in love here at the lubchansky home, one day there may be more sleep hours, less crying, and more independant play, but we will take things as they are right now because there is lots and lots of cuddling, hugging and kissing which i know one day we will miss.

Needles Clicking

As my hands seem to be full at most times throughout the day and if it is not my hands it is my shoulder, chest or lap, knitting has become a fundamental part of my day. I can't type with a baby, can't sew or cut, binding books, organizing and cleaning are a bit of a challenge, but knitting is my crafting companion that I can take anywhere- and virtually have. I will admit to driving and knitting, walking and knitting, knitting while on hiking trails- Ben fishing, me knitting and now it is nursing and knitting, cuddling babes and knitting. It is the sanity I am finding in the day... the only problem is not having my knitting close enough when I find myself in the perfect situation for the needles to be clicking. I have a couple of sweaters currently cast on for a couple of cousins across the pond... belated presents are always better really (know you aren't forgotten, we are just slow at the gift giving around here!) and daily new stitches are completed. Soon River will become to grabby to knit with him on my lap or while nursing, so I realize my affair with knitting may be short lived. I will get as much done with the time I have.

Brothers

Asher has been super cuddly with his brother as of late he wants to hold and cuddle him all the time. I much prefer this to smushing him, which he hasn't requested thankfully. We had the most perfect day on Monday, and I was on such a high. Today has been a challenge, although since nap time we are doing okay.

Now it is time to read books though, no more typing.

A Finished Project

It has been a little too long since I reported finishing anything around here. But 2 days before River made his appearance, I finished this little sweater for him. Oh how i loved the pattern and the fact that there was hardly any piecing to do after being knit. It is the plackett sweater from last minute knitted gifts. This is the sweater I intended to knit on vacation in North Carolina when I was distracted by Asher's legwarmers. I am glad that it was so easy otherwise River never would have gotten it and it would have just been an addition to the started projects that accumulate more space than I want to admit upstairs.

I do believe there is an error in the pattern as the opening is not centered. I have another sweater cast on the needles in the 1-2 yr size and will make sure to do my own math. When I followed the pattern it felt off but I didn't want to over analize. It is still a great sweater, so I am not to bothered by it. The yarn is a recycled cotton that I picked up at our cute knit shop, I think A picked out the color as we explored there one day- he loves all the textures of the yarns and the colors and the lovely people that work there that bring out all the knitted and crocheted toys for him to play with.

Officially Done

We still have some more art to hang on the walls, but the only people responsible for changing the kitchen from here on out are members of our family. The dishwasher is secure and all the drawers match. We are so happy to feel like things are complete.

It was fun to get pictures of our blown up and hung (thanks billy). River loves the kitchen the dishwasher and fridge keep him sleeping and he has even put himself to sleep (unheard with Asher). The skylights are the biggest draw as R seems to be following in his brothers footsteps with a love of trees. I think it has something to do with the contrast.

And as a side, I am so happy with the spring like days we have been having... it has been awesome.

Getting Cuter

Here is that little boy, more alert. He is getting cuter by the day.

We are well and lucky to have another visitor to play with Asher today. Eve is here to help out and it is wonderful. Asher is happy to have someone to give him loads of attention...

More text later, have to run... foodnannyday.

2 YEARS & 2 weeks

We have got some growing boys around these parts! Asher turned two, lookin all cute in a most fabulous hand knit sweater (thanks gwen). He had the most perfect day with great playing outside weather.

And a little River that turned two weeks. Some of his serious side. He is getting cuter by the day!

The Mama

I am not to often in pictures, but I guess when you squeeze an 8 pounder out it is a special occasion. We are settling into day 6 of River. Sun shining, papa and babe asleep and Asher playing on his own, singing "happy birthday" I think he is practicing for something to come next week.
We are anxiously awaiting Bubbie and Zadie's return from St. Louis visiting the triplets. Yesterday afternoon was the first on our own and we welcome having help the rest of the week.

River Penn and his Papa Ben

Some shots courtesy of Daniel of River while we were still in the hospital.

All is well, River had a bit of jaundice, but being the kick ass boy he is gained 4 oz in 24 hours and had levels of billirubin decrease from 12.6 to 10.4. Tomorrow will be our first dr. free day!

He is a snuggler and sleeping great at night. And quite the nurser. His rooting instinct is phenomenal.

More pics to come soon.

River

Rachel Dawsey to the rescue. As I have forgotten my reader to download pictures, you are lucky to have a nice view of River, I was going to do a pictureless blog but there you have it.
River joined us at 9:29 am on Wednesday, February 11. Weighing in at 8lbs 1 oz almost a pound bigger than his brother and in a lot less time. My water broke at 8:30 Tuesday night, we were at the hospital by 11:30, dialated to five by 1 am and 9 by 6 am to find a bit of a complication in my cervix, I believe an interior lip that preventing the last cm of dialation, essentially making for some painfully long finishing labor, which instead of taking part of I opted for the epidural and slept for two hours before only having to push for 40 minutes to get the boy out into the world (Asher was 2hours). All facilitated by wonderful midwives at the hospital. It was amazing to get him out and I am so happy to have him here. No eyes bugging out of my head this time, I was quite impressed with how much I could feel even with the epidural. It felt much better this time around, although I had to hold off pushing and let him crown for a long time so he could be birthed all at once to avoid tearing, and while the contractions prior were coming faster, the one between him crowning and waiting for the final push was delayed, to the laughter and irritation of my nurse, midwife in myself oh and the two students... it hurt like hell, and we were all just perplexed as to what was taking the contraction sooooo long, but it came and one final push was all he needed.
That's all for now, we'll be back soon.

Alive and Well

We are just waiting in these parts. I was right to think that I wouldn't be as patient as I was with Asher. I really want to meet this little bugger kicking all around inside of me. I have been walking tons, trying to get some spicy food in me and have been having contractions of the non braxton hicks variety, but nothing seems to be a go.
It is the 10th which is a good day for the grandma and grandpa as all there grandbabies are born on multiples of five in the month and the next one of those isn't until the 15th when the triplets are set to arrive and I would rather not have all the kids born on the same day and I am not holding out until the 20th- so mom and dad you may be out of luck and have to remember a new number with your aging minds!
I think Asher is ready to meet the baby as well. He was very excited today to find the new baby at the home. He came and got me to show her to me. Then of course he wanted to climb in the crib and wake her up- so we will see how much sleep our baby gets.

I am feeling huge, 40+ weeks. Going in for a stress test on Thursday, although I would rather not. And then there would be another ultrasound on the 16th... starts to make me worried that we are going to have kid birthdays soooo close together. I don't want birthday celebrations to become smooshed together shared affairs. I love birthdays and want to celebrate the kids individuality, so I don't want to feel pressured to do shared birthday parties (sure I will get over this as time runs out). I realized that if I am allowed to go two weeks past the due date according to my last period, opposed to conception, this child could be born a day before Asher.... how am I supposed to have his birthday party playgroup if I am still in the hospital as I now have to stary for 48 hours after delivery? Please assure me this won't happen. But really I need to get off my bootie and walk some more.

Please think laboring thoughts.

Time's Flying

I am busy busy and oh so tired, and did I mention soar and uncomfortable. And this is how the days go, so much to do, but only so much energy to accomplish those things. My hips are killing me, I have a done of downward pressure and feel like this baby is trying to claw it's way out and sleep deprivation practice has kicked into gear. Asher on the other hand has gone the opposite way, he has been sleeping less and found new pockets of energy... luckily Ben is here so I am not soloing it these days, but still there are not enough hours in the day. Are there ever?
In addition to preparing for our new one, I am sewing quilts for my triplet nephew/niece combo set to arrive after ours. My sister in law is on bedrest and 8 weeks behind me and we all hope that they stay in longer. I thought procrastinating on the quilts would help. When V was overdue with Henry and I hadn't started his quilt I thought it was a sign that I needed to get my ass in gear. Things are progressing in the sewing world, I have had a few nap time sewing afternoons and a couple late nights while the boys sleep and cuddle. I have some pictures to post but that will be a later post as I am at a different computer.
Asher has been a pain to get down for a nap lately, we have been doing a lot of errand running around nap time, all three of us, so that if he does fall asleep the other can actually do what we set out for. This is definitely not the way I want to have to get him to go to sleep especially if I have to get two kids in the car. I am hoping that a stroller may be the replacement or we may go back to the nursing nap routine. He is still very dedicated to nursing, and while he doesn't nurse everyday, we are not done.

Setting Foot in the New Year

It has been awhile. Mostly because I have hit the stage of pregnancy where I need to nap when A naps, also due to the writer's block and the fact that there is just so much stuff to get done, that most of my down time is occupied with something that takes priority over blogger. You know dusting window sills, replacing pictures in the frames that have hung for years, organizing closets, cleaning up all construction dust (still working on the basement stairs), simplifying the household so it is easier to keep tidy, trying to find an ounce of creativity (also left me when pregnant with A), ordering seeds, waking up early to bake and cook for foodnanny...... I think I could go on forever with what I have been up to which is nice because when I look back at my day I rarely remember that I have accomplished anything (pregnancy fog is dense these days).
The new year started with us ditching Asher with my parents. OH MY GOD, it was absolutely amazing. We had the house to ourselves nothing romantic, but the chunks of time, if you don't have kids and perhaps if your kids are old and you have forgotten, almost two year olds don't give you much time to do something. Having a block of time 2 hours with them while they nap is amazing, doesn't typically work out as you have to put them to sleep, may fall asleep yourself and then waste time trying to figure out how to best use your time (the biggest killer of time). Ben and I had uninterrupted cleaning time and we really did kick ass. We had a huge list made on the drive back from Wisconsin and I think that we have made it through most of it. The basement was the killer. It was more than a mess. Everything has a quarter inch of drywall and other kitchen construction dust on it, and as caterers with equipment we have a lot of stuff stashed down there. I packed up my stained glass studio, it was taking up a lot of space, we got more storage boxes- did you know that they don't even need to be filled to the top and you may actually find things with more ease? The difference is amazing, I was so sick of breathing in all that crap and now despite things being cold the basement isn't a bad place to hang out--well i wouldnt exactly hang out, but you know laundry isn't as bad as it once was... during those eight weeks of construction.

In the evenings I completed the work that my mom started in our craft room/office/Asher sleeping nook. I got rid of 4 garbage bags worth of yarn, fabric and other odds and ends, finished the remaining dusting and made the space a place worthy of my time and creativity. Things aren't perfect (are they ever) but we are getting there. I really need some new lighting, so hopefully before baby that will be sorted out as I have lots of things to make.

Asher's lovely bed underneath the wall of fabric.

The other half, lots of cubes removed, dust free, I think I will mosaic where the hobit door was, I am not up for the room being painted again!

Our living room got a bit of a facelift, has changed since the photo even, the butcher block table is upstairs and the empty space is refreshing. I think that everyone needs a bit of extra empty space in their life. I have new curtains arriving any day and then I will feel happy for this babe to enter our house. Although if it is like it's brother and 10+ days late, I will have to dust again!

My beloved coffee table is back in the center of things. We have been having our morning tea and first meal of the day there, cozied up by the fire... oh so lovely.

And a picture to satisfy those who would like a peak into our kitchen, some of you may have noticed that I haven't posted the final ones with counter tops installed. I was hoping to hold it over some family and friends as incentive to actually come and visit us- we aren't that far away!, oh and a visit not just to see a new baby, ben, kate and asher are important people to you know. But the bigger reason is that things aren't complete. We finally got our dishwasher, but there is no counter top on it and we are still figuring out the best layout and we have nothing on the walls, until yesterday that is when we started making headway there. So, really I don't feel as though I can post final pictures until at least all of the counter top is present. Asher above, enjoying fresh baked bread this morning on our black countertops, which are awesome for rolling out dough, we think the micro dots may actually decrease surface area enough to cause less sticking. And below, clearly demonstrating just how huge the kitchen sink is.

Now to figure out what to do with the rest of nap time...