- Wake me up! ...whennn September ennnnnds! -

^^ I was about to take a sip of my coffee and then belt that sh*t at the top of my lungs......................until I looked down at the little iCal icon on my desktop and dropped my jaw that it's September-freaking-30th and so! Bad news bears that September -- one of my very favorite months of the year -- is prettttttty much all forms of end/is ending/ended/has ended and time has vanished away in a poof! like never ever EVER before!

Holy chaotic September!

The month started off AND finished with continued "groundbreaking" work at our property... Too much to post here, but more more moreeee than you ever wanted to know about #ourforevahome coming soon! Brian has been out there working most evenings and weekends, which leaves me home with the offspring like bing!

Bang!

Boom!

We've taken a liking to park dates/picnics and library hour/craft time and eeeeven binge cleaning/laundry days because holy! time! alone! without! Daddy!  A summer heat wave was in full force [chilly weather juuuuuust now showing face the last couple of days!], so this month gave us plenty of opportunities to soak up the last bit of the season of swimming, bike riding, and sweating our tushes off in the lovely combo that is midwest heat + humidity!

This month also brought on a miraculous/accidental discovery of my Mother's Day gift from Scarlett crumpled up in the back seat of Brian's truck. Weeeeee! I eat all the words I misspoke back in May! #betterlatethannever <-- My life philosophy forever and ever amen.

Is it true what they say?! This exhausting month is coming to close?! Yes! Yes! Just wake us up...

...whennn September ends! 

- Eight months young! -

Ohhhhh, Scarlett girl... You are a WILD GIRL!

Eight months old and you're on the go! go! GO! Long gone are your immobile days where we could sit you down in a pile of toys and walk away for a few minutes. You graduated from the "rocking on hands and knees" stage literally two days after we snapped your 8-month chalkboard photo; now you are crawling EVERYWHERE and getting your sticky paws into anything and everything! Any morsel -- edible or not -- that you can get your hands on goes straight to your mouth... Yesterday over the course of a few hours, I fished a dime, three slobbery stickers, two stirofoam "berries" AKA beads from our fall garland, a perfect spit-soaked "bite" of a political ad that came in the mail, and Harper's favorite fox ring all from your cheeks! ...At least you're a cheeker and not a swallower, but holy cow, Sis!!! 

You clap your hands when someone else claps [definitely the MOST. ADORABLE. THING. I've ever seen in my entire life] and frantically wave your arms up and down when someone you love walks towards you. You love taking "big girl baths" in the tub with Harper and splishing and splashing until your face and eyelashes are dripping with water + the parent chaperone watching lovingly from the toilet is halfway soaked, too! 

After two rounds of antibiotics this month [you broke out in full-body rash from amoxicillin, so after 7/10 days of that with still an unresolved ear infection, the doctor switched it over to cefdinir], you finally "fully" recovered from your first ear infection. Hand, foot, and mouth has spread through the daycare like wildfire x2 this month, but you seem to have so very luckily escaped it ...x2!

^^ This month, Harper inherited Mommy's "old school" college camera ;) :), and she really enjoys snapping pictures of you [among all sorts of other things around the house!]. You still put up a little fight for your chalkboard pics, though you're absolutely the happiest baby on the block!  We love your sweet soul and your chill disposition. 

Happy 8 months, baby girl! Hearts foreva and eva.

- RIP, Shark -

In December 2016, we expanded our family from 3 persons to 4 membas by bringing home our very first "pet!"

[Video here!]

Harper named him "Shark" and he lived a super swell life inside the walls of our home [minus the few many days he was unintentionally overfed by a very eager and generous 2-year-old and/OR the time he flopped out of the neon pink fish net while Brian was changing his muck water and had to be scooped out of the garbage disposal with an oversized spoon.................. He very unfortunately lost about 60% of his tail feathers with that incident and spent the majority of the following days lying low in the bottom corner of his tank juuuust waiting for the fins to regenerate. Google recommended a betta fish hammock to help him rest and refresh and recoop, but! He eventually made a full recovery sans hammock and surprisingly lived to tell his tale/tail {haha} for another full year! The fish with nine lives who? Phew!].

Life for Shark went on status quo until last week when we noticed he was very lethargic and would only swim/dart around if Harper gently jiggled his tank. Then: .......one day she jiggled it and he didn't move at all.  In spite of Harper losing interest in taking care of him for the last year-ish and always having to be reminded to feed him, the death was very emotional for her and cued several bouts of loud wailing followed by a river of crocodile tears.  Brian suggested we flush the carcass down the toilet so Shark could "swim away in the water," but Harper didn't want his fins to get hurt in the toilet pipes [PTSD from the garbage disposal incident?] and opted for a proper burial right in the sweet spot of our front porch landscaping.

After more tears and a fairly detailed discussion about Shark going to live with Jesus [??!?], Harper dried up her sorrow and loudly exclaimed, "I wan' get TWO new fishes! One from 'da store and one from 'da sea!"

.....And there you have it. RIP, Sharkie-poo. Your low-maintenance care and mild personality fit into our family perfectly, and we'll [potentially eventually probably] miss having you around! :-* :-*

- Out of the mouth of babes: VOL II -

While eating dinner one night:
"Santa comes in 'da house frew 'da fire. We need to build a fire at our new house, Daddy!"


As Scarlett was chew-gnawing on one of her baby dolls:
"'DATSSS not what you do 'da babies, Sissy. You pat 'dem, change 'dere diapers, and 'den wuv on 'dem wike 'dis..."


While pleasantly swinging on the swings at the park right next to a spawn of Satan [loudly]:
Harper: "MOMMYYY, why is 'dat boy being mean to his mommy? Mommy! Take off your gwasses and wook! See 'dat boy right 'dere wif 'da green shirt? Wook at him Mommy, why is he bein' so mean?"
Me: .....

After getting in trouble one evening:
"Mommy, youuuu are a bossy girl!"


While observing me nurse Scarlett:
"Mommy, when I get older I'm gonna have big boobies wif milk in 'da inside. But Daddy will never have milk! Boys can only drink 'dere milk from 'da fridge."


After Brian had been engrossed in his phone for a good while:
"DADDY! You can't be on your phone allllll day, it will hurt your eyes."

After Grammy answered our FaceTime call from the dentist chair:
"'Dat's weird 'dat Grammy go'ed to 'da doctor for her teef!"


...and when Grammy FaceTimed back later at a time when she could talk longer:
"Grammy, you need to brush your teef better. Next time I'm at your house, I'm gonna show you how to do 'dat."


After walking in the house, kicking off her shoes, and leaving the door wide open:
Me: "Excuse me, do we live in a barn ma'am?"
Harper: "What is a 'barn ma'am?'"


Three days later, after Brian walked out onto the deck and left the inner door cracked:
"DADDYYYYY, 'dint I tell you before 'dat we AREN'T farmers and we DON'T 'wiv in a barn?!"

Me: "Why did Daddy sleep with you allllllllll night and never come to bed with Mommy?"
Harper: "Because I was cryin' for him!"
Me: "Well I was crying for him, too..."
Harper: "...........Well, I didn't heard you?"


While packing up at the park because a storm was moving in:
"This is frusta-ratin' 'cause all 'da birds gonna get wet when 'da storm comes!"


...and while walking back to the car as it's getting darker and darker and darker:
"Mommy! HURRY! I just heared some whitening in 'da sky! All 'da birds better fly away before 'da storm comes!"


...and while getting buckled into the kids' carseats as the rain starts:
"Awwww, 'dere a wittle dog in 'da funder! Isn't he so cuteeee, Mommy?"

After seeing an orange peel on the street during our evening walk and discussing how it's against the law to throw trash outside on the ground, she sped up her bike to Brian yelling:
"DADDDDDY, come wook at 'da ground, 'dat's called 'glittering!'"

*****

...Keep on keepin' on, you glittering girl, you! Your sparkle and shine lights up our lives! :) 

- Take me out to the ballgame... -

...take me out with the crowddd! 

YAYAYAY for Scarlett Clare's first Cardinals game!!! [Maybe I'm biased or maybe I'm not, but] she's definitely the cutest little fan around!

As a result of Brian nabbing some LEGIT tickets from his work, we landed four seats in the all-inclusive Champions Club! Harper wasn't mad about the unlimited food and drink situation, and we weren't mad that we didn't have to waste a pretty penny on peanuts OR cracker jacks!

^^ Status post one hot dog, two virgin strawberry daquiris, and three M&M cookies who? This girl is her mother's daughter...! And Scarlett burned a $187 ticket juuuuust to scoop up the free Build-A-Bear promotion and a few snacks during the game from Mom's kitchen. Life with kids..........always exciting!

Even though we sang/yelled/clapped/cheered, "Root, root ROOT for the Cardinalssssss!" on repeat, they couldn't pull off the "W." But! Fun was had by all, and before we knew it it was...

...one!

...two! 

...threeeeee strikes you're OUT at the old ballllllll...gameeeeee!

:)

- Pouring the foundation... -

^^Well, not quiteeee yet, but it's the "figurative" way of proclaiming that our brand new house project is up! and! running!

[[...But pummmmmp the breaks; I'm getting WAY ahead of myself here...]]

And I just need to put it in reverse for a second to explain 'da following: Brian has been sketching and scheming and drafting and plotting and AutoCAD-ing and tweaking and model-building and revamping and envisioning and adjusting and redrawing and and and ANDDDD "every-verb-in-the-dictionary-that-more-or-less-means-PERFECTING" the plans for a brand spankin' new house since we were newlyweds living in our third-floor, one-bedroom, junky old apartment way back in 2011.  Holy whoa. I always kind of giggled on the inside at the way his wheels were turning non-stop, because I knew that building a house -- let alone THE house that would be our "forever home" -- was far far far away into the future. But we were living on top of each other [usually literally, actually] inside a 50-square-foot shoebox, so no wonder he needed something else to dream about...

Next! His thoughts continued all whilst living in our current house, and a few years into life here he transferred the thoughts to paper and the endless drawings/model-building began... [November 2016]

There were lots of hours "wasted" [wasted IMHO only] and wadded up drafts in the trash can in the process of all of this, but Harper was always available to voice a respected opinion and help keep her Daddy's mind on track! [January 2017]

THEN! One random day, we bit a reckless bullet and bought a subdivision lot we'd had our eyes on for a not-hot minute... Quickest/most spontaneous/BEST decision ever!!! [March 2017]

Immediately following the lot purchase, the house planning/plotting kicked into highest-of-high gears and everyone and their mother had a chance to study the unofficial blueprints and point out the good/bad/perfect/ugly. We have lots of family members who have "the eye" for this; so very lucky and thankful to have all their expertise in our corner! [December 2017] 

Some evenings, Harper built a Play-Doh house while Daddy mulled over options for "'da real house"...

Annnnnd lastly! All of the sudden! It turns out that it's true what they say: time flies when you're having fun! Fast forward to current annnnnnnnd voila! [!!! !!! !!! Exclamation points for days and weeks and years! !!! !!! !!! ]

^^ What's that you see? The building permit was approved and posted... The silt fence is in place around the perimeter of the property [installed by our very own Daddy Bear and "Uncle" Jonny...thanks bro!]... The lot is painted/flagged... And as far as literally digging the hole and pouring the foundation?... 

...Welp, that's juuuuuust around the corner, and we can't wait!

Stay tuned for a million and one more updates on #ourforevahome!

- Out of the mouth of babes: VOL I -

Maybe it's because I'm a sucker of a mom and [most of] my kids' imperfections are still adorable in my eyes, but lemme tell ya': they're only little for a little while and so there's NO shame in this game! Those brain wheels are always turning and working and thinking and learning, and I never want to forget allllll the cute things they do and say as they grow! So here goes: an inaugural little #mompost to help me soak up some of life's precious but fleeting moments!  

**********

After putting all her baby dolls to sleep for the evening and turning off the bedroom lights:
"Shhhhhhhhhh, Mom and Dad! You are wakin' up 'da kids!"


Me: "I wonder why Scarlett's being so fussy today?"
Harper: "Maybe she just wants some Daddy wuvins and he's at work..."
Me: "Maybe..."
Harper: "It's OKAYYYYYYY, Mom... Sometimes 'dat just happens, alright?"

While FaceTiming her Uncle Garett the night before he had his wisdom teeth pulled:
"Uncle Ger-Gar, can we come over da-morrow and bring you some snacks after all your teeth falled out?"


After she woke up one morning to find Scarlett chewing on her prized [toy] cell phone:
"Scaritt, gimme 'dat! Nobody will be cawin' you!"

Randomly:
"Mommy, I'm gonna shave off ALLLL my wegs da-day!"


Me: "Here's your headband you were looking for."
Harper [in a high-pitched, sweetsy voice]: "OHHHH! Sank you, my love! Now can you go get my sparkle shoes?"


As we're leaving the park and I'm walking a few feet behind her noticing 10-ish mosquito bites on her legs:
"We better get home 'fore Sissy gets a 'skeeto bite!"

Me: "I wish we could do something to help Scarlett stop coughing..."
Harper: "Maybe we can sing a song 'da she! How 'bout 'My Big Brother John?'"


...later that day, as Scarlett is actively coughing up a lung:
"Awwww, Sis, are you not feelin' really well hun?"


Harper [while playing with Play-Doh]: "I almost just pissed off here!"
Me: "What dd you say?"
Harper: "I almost pissed off 'cause I dropped 'dis roller on 'da floor..." :|

Me: "I wish Sissy liked her sweet potatoes..."
Harper: "Maybe it's 'cause she's a wittle bit wittle still a wittle bit maybe. Maybe 'dat's why she won't eat 'dem, Mommy."


As Scarlett was drooling all over her toy:
"My GOODnesssssss, punkin' boo! You are a bucket drool!"

Brian: "Harper, do you want some cherries?"
Harper: "Yes! But Daddy, we don't eat 'da nut inside, ok?"


After Scarlett's routine well baby visit with severallll immunizations [and as she's still screaming her head off]:
"Scaritt! You gotta be a wittle bit more patient wif 'da doctor!"


While doing a puzzle:
"Wet's put 'dis one away 'cause it's TOO dick-a-cult."

- What's that I hEAR? -

Back to school brings everything cool...

...including germs and coughs and snot and bacteria and ohhhhh, Lawd, all 'da dreaded CRUD.

Boo hiss ugh. 

Nothing is harder on a momma's heart than watching your littles be sick/in pain and not being able to instantly make it better! :'(

Harper had the sniffles/cough for a good week before waking up last Wednesday at midnight crying with  ear pain... Off to the pediatrician the next day, and ear infection was confirmed. Amoxicillin x 10 days [AKA pink yumminess x 10 days!] for the self-proclaimed "older girl."

Her pain improved and all was swell .....until it wasn't swell, because soon Scarlett bit the dust! No sleeping through the night + refusing oatmeal + screaming her head off every time we set her down or walked out of the room = a recipe that calls for another pediatrician visit. So back we went, and double ear infection confirmed for da bebe. Amoxicillin x 10 days [AKA hell in a syringe x 10 days ..........and next time -- God forbid there's a next time -- I'm demanding an antibiotic injection in the office right then and thur!].

^^ Day 1 of 10 of her first round of antibiotics and she's over it. [Me too, girl.]

And when we're sick? That's right -- all rules go out the window...

TV for everyone!

Pacifiers for everyone! [!!]

 And sleep here/there/everywhere polished off with snuggles for everyone!

Get better soon, sweet girlie girls! :( :'(