Goodbye Carlsbad

In few days we will be leaving our home by the beach and moving inland. It is the right decision for us right now as we will be staying near family and will be able to save more, but it still feels odd to be moving again. We lived in this place of ours near the ocean throughout the entire pregnancy. I spent my maternity leave walking along the beach and the last 5 months when nothing else will do the sound of the waves and the sway of walking will always put my baby to sleep. Its hard to leave this place where we a couple has turned into we a family.

We have not yet been married for 3 years and this will be our 5Th move. It seems that right when we have finally gotten comfortable with our surroundings we pick and move again. You would think that I would be better at packing by now.

I will try to look forward to the things that come and be grateful for the time we have had here. This is hard for me as my natural response is to become sad and stressed about all the things that we will loose. But there are many things to look forward to. Being closer to family, having more time to work on stuff for the shop, developing new friendships, having a huge yard, having a porch with a view to enjoy my morning coffee, space for a garden and chickens. So my weekend goal is to look forward with hope for what the future brings us.

Here are few things I have been able to enjoy over the last year

5 months

Jude has now been around for a full 5 months! Each month I find myself feeling amazed that another months has passed already. Even though it feels like he just arrived, each month brings with it so much change with a little baby.

Milestones this month:

• a little bit of rolling
• reaching for things
• putting his pacifier in his own mouth (so what if its backwards)
• I'm pretty sure beating the world record for how much and how often a baby can want to eat
• the beginning of separation anxiety
• sitting up with help
• moving to the big baby part of the stroller
• a greater interest in books

I have to admit

Lately there is something that has been keeping me from being the best mom I could be. With much embarrassment i have to admit that this thing, is angry birds. Now I am not the type of person that would usually enjoy playing any type of video game. I have had angry birds on my ipod for over a year and never played more then the first few levels.

It all started last week when my 3 1/2 year old cousin entertained the family with his obsession with angry birds. Every time someone in the group took out their cell phone he would ask in the cutest possible way 'you got angry birds in that phone?'. A quote my husband and I have been repeating all week. His mom let him play a few levels with me on her ipad. Not only did he know how to navigate his way around an ipad with amazing ease, but he was using birds and beating levels I had never seen. I had to beat him.

Source: cutefoodforkids.com via Cynthia on Pinterest

Its funny how sometimes things just fall together to create the perfect situation to develop a new bad habit. I don't believe I would usually think twice about my cousin beating me at angry birds, but this week was different. Jude has been screaming all week. I don't just mean crying, I mean inconsolable outright screaming. Nothing will soothe him. Someone told me these phases are called 'the purple cloud'. After days and days of trying everything I can think of, being awake for hours each night and sleeping in terribly uncomfortable positions as Jude has decided that he will absolutely not sleep in his own bed, I needed an escape. I found it in angry birds.

Source: flickr.com via Becca on Pinterest

Do I feel like a terrible mom when my son lays next to me fussing while I am launching electronic birds and digital pigs in helmets? Absolutely. Did I need some something to help me get through the day without having a major melt down myself? It would appear so. Don't get me wrong, I am not leaving Jude alone for hours on end. I am just taking a little 'me time' when nothing else seems to be helping anyway. Now i really must go. The baby is sleeping and I just achieved 'light feather'.

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

It is right in the middle of summer now and things are hot and the vegetation is looking pretty dry. I had hoped to have planted a summer garden that would be getting ready to provide my family with some fresh veg. but like many plans it never came to be. Since I cant share with you any photos of fresh growing veg. or berries, i will instead share some pictures I took over the last few months (before the heat and sun caused things to shrivel).

Tired

I was trying to figure out a way to post without sounding like I'm complaining, but I couldn't. So I will write how i feel. I have been putting off working on things for the market, writing, cleaning, grocery shopping, packing for our move, and just about everything for a few days now. I have been trying to figure out why it is so hard for me to do...well, anything. I think it all comes down to me being tired. Very very tired. Huge black circles around my eyes tired. I hardly even remember getting up to nurse last night. It does not help that it is HOT and muggy here and our apartment feels like its about 1000 degrees which makes the baby very fussy. He has been keeping himself entertained by his new trick, screaming very loudly and then laughing at himself. Its great. I'm hoping that with a few good naps and maybe a supply of healthier food I will be able to get back on me feet and work on all of the things I need to do.

I only snagged a few photos this holiday weekend, here they are.

Stopped and took a few suset pictures on the way home from the 4th

Tyler and Jude rebelled on the 4th

sunset over Temecula winerys

In the next few weeks I will be packing and moving, working a few shifts, training to be a doula, and needing to do TONS of work for the Hope And Heritage shop. I'm hoping to catch up on some sleep and maybe grow some extra arms this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

road trip!

This last week I drove up to Washington with my parents and Jude to visit my sisters. 20+ hours of driving in the car with a 4 month old was not something I was particularly excited about but my youngest sister had not yet met my son and I really wanted for both of my sisters to be able meet/see him.

The drive went pretty good all things considered. Jude was a litte trooper and did amazing in the car. My sister just bought a house which for some reason I forgot to take any pictures of. The house was beautiful and it was so nice to spend time with family and meet up with a few old friends.

My sisters and I are starting a mustache picture collection, this is picture #3 taken over several years. (Jude had a new diaper problem and we walked around Seattle with him wearing no shirt and his tummy hanging out. Not made for the city)

My sisters in-laws invited us over for dinner and led us around the puget sound on jet ski's

My first time in Seattle, shopping at Pikes Place Market. I'm not sure what my sister thinks is so funny but I had to share

I got to meet up with my friend Clare from college and meet her beautiful daughter Elizabeth.

We had a great time but after a total of 40+ hours in the car and a week away from Tyler we are glad to be home!