And it gets a little easier..

Tomorrow is the last day of July. Normally I'm smiling and giddy about the last bit of summer...as the season ahead of us is my favorite! But today I just shake my head when I realize how quickly the summer has flown by and how I'm pretty sure it hasn't really felt like a summer to me. But that's all part of life when you have a June baby :)

Life. It feels easier these last two weeks. Routines are in place and cooler weather allows for open windows & happy children. Jane is pretty much sleeping all night and napping like a champ during the days. {sigh} what is it about good rest!? We seem to have adapted to this family of 5 thing and while I still feel slightly anxious in the evenings - those times are subsiding, too. I fully acknowledge how wrapped in grace we are! Oh, how I sense this so many times in a day.

The month of August brings a good mixed bag of events for us.
- Jane turns 2 months old
- youth ministry kicks back up in full schedule
- our firstborn starts kindergarten!!
- we celebrate 9 years of marriage
- Hubby starts... Seminary. (Gulp)

I have baby weight to lose and house work that needs done, groceries haven't been gathered since before baby was born... In so many ways I feel a mess. But then on the other hand, these days are so very precious and won't last long. Someday I'll be thinner and the house will always be tidy, but that's not today. I'm ok with that. It's getting a little easier - one day at a time.

Happy homemaker Monday

It feels like it's been 100  years since I've been able to join in for HHM'S! I've missed reading and sharing. But, life with a newborn sometimes just kinda runs a little bit differently. :) Miss Jane is 6 weeks old and I'm feeling like my head is a little bit above water now. She is doing really well, getting chunky, and learning this sleeping at night thing. We are so blessed and thankful for baby girl #3! Happy Monday to all of you.

Breakfast time, what is on the plate this morning::::

My 3 year old and I have blueberry bagels with cream cheese, orange juice, and some hot coffee for me! 

On today's to do list::::

Some laundry, some painting (I'm redoing my kitchen), diaper changes, feedings, entertaining the 3 year old, and hopefully an afternoon nap. 

Currently reading::::

"Women of the Word" by Jen Wilkin. GREAT book on bible study and the important of using our heads and hearts while doing so. 

On the TV today::::

Angelina Ballerina. My little girl LOVES this show. It's cute.

The weather outside is::::

HOT. Weather man said expect to see heat indexes in the 105 range. Blah.

On the menu this week::::

As my hubby and oldest girl are at camp all week - I'm keeping it simple with corndogs, PB&J's, mac n' cheese and all things 3 year old friendly :) 

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will::::

SLEEP.

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week::::

Next week I'm going back to pinterest recipes and making Hobo packet dinners on the fire. Yum! 

In the garden::::

No garden. Tho... if weeds were a garden, I'd have a rockin' weed garden.

Favorite photo from the camera::::

From our newborn shoot. LOVE how Shawna captured these shots. 

Homemaking tip::::

Take advantage of neighborhood clean up days! Also known as...Junking. Our neighborhood is having a clean up week where you can put just about anything out on the curb and waste management will pick it up. I found an amazing solid wood desk on the curb - in perfect shape! Score! It helps us to clean out and helps us help others by saving something from the landfill. 

Visiting with blog friends (blog you want to share, blog post that caught your eye)::::

Um, if you aren't following the Pioneer woman. Why not? haha :) Today she has an AMAZING recipe out for Jalepeno cheddar scones. Yum! These need to make an appearance at my house! 

Praying for::::

Hubby and 5 year old at camp. Praying they have a really great time together - 5 year old needs the attention and time away. :) 

Friends due with babies.

That OUR baby would learn some more sleeping skills :) 

Bible Verse, Devotional that is resonating me with at the moment:::: 

I need to dive into my devos today! Might come back and edit this later to share.

My Kitchen redo attempt.

There is one room in my home where I spend the most amount of time. My kitchen. I love being in the kitchen whether its to bake, create, brew coffee or chat with my hubby. It's my place. I'm not a super picky kind of woman - I don't really care much about having a fancy kitchen...but I will confess, that my strange green counters and finger-printy walls (from the last family that lived here) is kind of grossing me out. :) 

So, I'm taking on the task of doing what I can to kind of redo the kitchen for as cheap as possible without any major renovations. For me this means - paint. So my pale, finger-printy, scuffed up, tan kitchen walls will very soon take on the shade stone brown. I saw it at Home Depot and just loved it right away - so warm.

 

My husband and 5 year old leave for camp tomorrow and will be gone for a week - my goal is to have it done before they get home. Here are some before pics:

See that white patch? I fixed a hole all by myself! :)

THE most finger printed wall I have ever seen. Who chooses flat tan paint for a kitchen?!

For now, paint will do. We can't do anything about the green counters or the retro oven...but nice walls will for sure help :) And an idea pic of what will go on those walls once done. :) Thank you Pinterest!

For the wall by the pantry (that has the white patch) - thinking of this idea, on a smaller scale. I love the mini clips that let you change out pics, and that it's BURLAP behind it. My kitchen valance is made from burlap.

 

We'll see how much gets done with a 6 week old and 3 year old :) 

.::6 weeks and a new normal::.

I woke up this morning actually feeling refreshed and alive. My Jane slept until 5:45am and for any mom of a newborn - that may as well be 12 hours. :) So I fed her and rocked her and she was back in bed by 6. Giving me an entire hour to work on my bible study, check my email and just enjoy the quiet of a new morning. It was beautiful - and hopefully our new routine.

We have made it to 6 weeks. This is a big deal because two weeks ago I was almost drowning in my own tears and feeling the weight of our new life so heavily. Every day was hard and I think I was crying more then the baby. Feedings were going well, but getting Jane to nap was horrible - taking her 20 or 30 minutes to even settle for sleep. I felt like everyone else in the family was neglected as I spent hours nursing and getting baby to nap. My two older girls were watching hours of TV a day and my eldest seems to have grown this all new attitude that I can only guess comes from not getting enough "mom time" and too much tv. So all this weird mom guilt was just piling. Add that to sleep deprivation and a hubby that was out of the home often for ministry things.... crazy. Every night I ended the day sobbing - usually on my husbands shoulder (poor man), blubbering all my thoughts and none of which made much sense. Everyone warns you the transition is hard but you just can't know until you are there. We. Were. There.

{deep breath}

But we made it to 6 weeks and things have really turned around, or at least fallen into a pattern of "new normal". Jane is on a great 3 hour routine and going down for naps better and better. I'm getting more time with my older kids, and the evenings are open now as all 3 girls are asleep by 8:30 - so I can actually sit and talk to my husband. What a whirlwind this last month and a half has been. But if I am being honest it has been a tremendous time of growth... as most "valley times" are. My prayer life has grown as really sometimes there was nothing else to do but sit and cry to God. Sometimes it's very sweet as I sit and nurse the babe and pray for her. Other times it's through tears of frustration or loneliness, or just praying for my children as I shushed my newborn to sleep. I have so clearly seen the Lord answer many, many prayers and for that I'm changed and challenged. I've been a part of the "Women of the Word" study put out by Crossway and it has been a HUGE blessing to me every morning. If you are looking for something well put together - join in the study! It runs until the end of July.

Jane is beautiful and getting chunkier by the week. Minus a small set back this week with Thrush (she and I), nursing is going great. This is HUGE for me as my experience with my last baby ended me in the hospital for 7 days with mastitis gone very, very, bad. My older girls seem to have adjusted for the most part and we are settling into our new normal. That is, until the month of August comes and our 5 year old goes to school.  Yikes!

It's almost the end of July and although I don't really feel like I've had much of a summer - I'm just thrilled to be feeling human again and watch things get a bit easier. I confess that during all this time I have seen the idolatry in my heart for comfort and ease. Just another step of growth for me. I'm so thankful for the Lords faithfulness in my life and His leading.

Mid week Faves.

Well, we've made it to almost 5 weeks as a family of 5. I can't say it's been a breeze, but it has all been covered in grace for sure! I'm constantly being tested and feel like I learn something everyday. In lieu of a lengthy (probably emotional) post about my mourning my kids growing up, how tired I am, etc. I thought  it would be more fun to do a quick list of favorite things! These are things I've discovered or appreciated over the last month. Here.We.Go.

1. Favorite book(s):
The word of God and a really, really, great book on bible study.

If you aren't familiar with Jen Wilkin or The Gospel Coalition... take a minute and go check out THIS SITE.
Oh how my hunger for God's word and for non-fluffy TRUTH has been reignited in the last few days. I have found myself on more than one occassion in life basing my view of God on how I feel... dangerous ladies. Very dangerous. This book along with great scripture study through the old testament has really been challening my view of God and how I study His word. I definitely recommend this book!

2. Favorite treat:
Peanut Butter M & M's and regular coffee with coconut creme creamer. Lethal combination if taken together before breakfast...but, sometimes we mothers like to break all the rules :)

When my mom was here 2 weeks ago she bought me this XXL bag. Bad, bad, bad idea to keep around when you are sleep deprived and falling on sugar to sustain you. Delicious. But bad!

3. Favorite newborn:
Obviously - my Jane. Who has affectionately now been called: Janer, Jane Bane, Janie, Jane Ev, Evelynnie, and random other assorted ways of saying her name. :) We love, love, love this baby - who apparently wants held at all times.

She turns 5 weeks old on Friday and I think we are really falling into a nice routine. She is up just once at night and for only 20 minutes max. :) I'm finding myself really slowing down and just enjoying her. Savoring every minute... precious. 

4. Favorite blessing: MEALS!

Our church family is amazing. I'll just say that. Since Jane was born we have been getting 3 home made meals a week delivered to us. What a blessing it is to not have the extra task of prepping meals, grocery shopping, etc.while I continue to rest and adjust. We've had such yummy meals, too! These ladies really do glorify God in their service to us new mommas! :) We get our last meal today and then I think... I think, I'm ready to start menu planning and cooking again. 

5. Favorite NEW thing: Patio Furniture!

We saved the rest of our tax return and bought this 10 piece patio set from Menards. (This is not our yard..)

It's so great to eat our meals outside on the deck and I love the two recliner chairs and side table for extra lounging space after we are done eating. Summer may continue now :) 

6. Favorite smell:

Cozy Home, by Yankee Candle.

(found this pic online... )

The girls and I made a pit stop to a store called Tuesday Morning where I found this candle clearanced WAY down. And for those of you who know me well... I'm ALL about autumn, warm, smells. It's so cozy and really does clear the atmosphere when I'm feeling tense or stressed. :) 

Happy Wednesday! Hoping you can enjoy favorite things where you are!