busy!

after 3 weeks traveling - we are finally home
(3 weeks, 4 states, 1 truck, 2 kids 2 & under - including a 4 month old who strongly dslikes his carseat)

Luke loves sports and right now its baseball (although we were definitely enjoying the first saturday of college football today and he has asked us to teach him how to tackle!) so, our trip included some minor league games


baby likes it too!!

a healthy fear of large furry mascots

august?

how is it already august???

Luke & Greg in the pool

my precious babes

John is getting so big!

pool

guess who learned how to jump in the pool last weekend?!?!
(i'm sitting on a chair by the pool nursing baby John)

mastering the art of "1-2-3- jump"

more of the cage

happy birthday dad!

the fam...

Nana, John, Nonna...such a sweet moment

another precious moment: Luke putting cousins in "the cage" :)

4th of July mini photo-shoot

some more fun photos

another happy baby photo :)

our "Go Ducks" mini photo shoot...

sunset at our house

mama and baby

some recent pics

happy baby John
baking with Nana

Go Ducks!

Luke posing with his camera

playing baseball in our front yard

interview

interview questions from Tammy

Thanks for playing, Sarina! :) Here are your 5 questions...
1. Do you hang most of your laundry to dry, or use the dryer?
-- mostly depends on the weather... today is gorgeous so i did a load of diapers, a load of colors, and a load of whites - and they are all hung up to dry! dear hubby put up an outdoor clothesline for me that makes it so nice!

2. What is one thing your husband does that really shows his love for you?
-- helps me clean the dining room floor! (and brings me flowers and works from home and....)

3. Do you like having a somewhat unusual first name? What does your name mean? :)
-- i love it! sarina means "little princess" in italian (i'm 1/2 italian)

4. Do you have any tips for dealing with postpartum hair loss? I am losing hair constantly and it seems to be all over the floor, everywhere!! :P
-- nope - i have that issue, too. i just try to brush it real well and put it up in a ponytail in the morning.. Oh and make sure i don't leave any in the shower drain for dear hubby

5. What's one of your favorite adult books? Kid books?
-- adult - the Bible, historical fiction novels (like the jack cavanaugh series)
kids - "the best loved doll", "we help mommy", "martha's house"
(or anything Luke is holding when he says "mama read")

If you want to play along:
1 - Leave a comment with your blog URL, saying you want to be interviewed.
2 - I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 - You'll update your blog with my five questions, and your five answers.
4 - You'll include this explanation.
5 - You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.

Cleaning and scrubbing will wait ’till tomorrow,
but children grow up,
as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs!
Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby.
Babies don’t keep.
– Ruth Hamilton

oh, i love him, too!

Luke is two, and a boy, and a new big brother - so he pretty much tests my patience daily :)
today was awesome - we were singing "old macdonald had a farm" (mainly because baby John was in the bouncer seat and we were in the kitchen rolling out homemade pretzels and the baby was starting to fuss and we were trying to entertain him) - and i asked Luke what should be the next animal on the farm (we had done dog and goat already i think) - so Luke says that there is a "Luke" on the farm - so i say ok, and we sing and i asked him what sound does a "Luke" make and he said: "loves mama" - and i melted into a little puddle right there on the kitchen floor - he got a big hug and kiss after that one! those precious moments are what make it all worth it!

gotta love the swaddle!

new haircut (i'm still working on it...) and posing with the baby's bassinet that he likes to climb in :)

the four of us

my two cuties

Luke in our new play pen (the back of our Chevy truck)

baby John with Uncle Tom (i think there was a ceiling fan/light that John was staring at)

pat your head/rub your tummy

totally unrelated to the post, but here's a cute picture from my nephew's wedding... 7 week old John & me next to 11 week old cousin Sal & my other nephew

When I was putting Luke to sleep tonight, I happened to be nursing John at the same time - i guess that's what happens when you have a toddler who needs to sleep and an infant who needs to eat [AT THE SAME TIME!] anyway... John then needed to be burped - he likes his back patted... Luke then decided that he needed me to hold his hand - he likes his hand rubbed... I quickly found out that while I may have a master's degree, I am not able to pat with my left hand at the same time as rubbing with my right!! It took some serious concentration, and still didn't really work. {They are both asleep now :)}

more Mother's Day

4 generations!

the men made us breakfast!!

Mother's Day

with cousin Mackenzie

so precious!

adoption

adoption is awesome. i have seen it increase the quality of life of so many people - professionally, as an "adoptions specialist" for the state of california, and personally, from the experiences of friends and family who have adopted.
placing your child for adoption can be one of the most loving decisions you will ever make. if you cannot or choose not to raise your child there are plenty of people out there who can and will! if you or anyone you know has questions about adoptions, i am always willing to lend an ear and help out wherever i can (especially in california). if you or anyone you know is considering placing their child for adoption i can recommend two great families.
one of these families has an adoption blog set up here.

i wish i knew how to work our new camera...

... because both boys are asleep right now, at the same time, without me holding either one of them!! i have no idea how long it will last (i'm thinking not too long), but the quiet is nice! i feel like i should get some chores done, or cook something, or actually get some sleep myself!!

... since i don't have a clue on how to even turn on the new camera, here's a visual for you:
Luke is asleep on the couch with a queen size fitted sheet that he wouldn't let me fold from the laundry this morning, and 4 little toys he found from the garage toy box this morning, and his pacifier
John is alseep in the bouncy seat in front of the couch, with his pacifier, too (i'm not sure how i will ever get rid of the pacifiers)
and I am sitting on the couch... within viewing distance of both my precious boys, my blessings from the Lord that I am sooooo unworthy to have, but yet love with all my heart. what an awesome gift it is to be these little boys' mama!

ok, i better end this post before one of them wakes up and the cycle of crying, nursing, diaper change, etc.. begins again and i feel a little less thankful and a little more exhausted!! :)