Blogger Tribe: Sunday Lately: Week 112

What do you need to do when you need to connect to some sister bloggers? Join Sunday Lately!

Sunday Lately is such a great way for us bloggers to share and see what is going on with each other!

Enjoying - They say this stage of life is one of the greatest and to hold on to it? Well, I am fighting to hold on to it so hard. I'm fighting the cranky dragon of mommyhood and trying so hard to just enjoy the kids as they are in this moment. Which of course is super, super difficult! Especially since they are full of attitude!

Delving - Back into menu planning for the week. I found a new way to keep track of what meals to do and I can add to it anywhere I am, and it is always with me!

I've tried a menu on the fridge, a framed one on the counter, one in the planner, several different apps, and lately it's been hard to keep it up. The apps are a little more confusing or, because I use mostly my own recipes, they require me to enter it all in.

I've been using Google Calendar! It's already on my phone, it's on one of the pages (is that what it's called? either way I can swipe and see it) and I use the notifications to remind me to do stuff! Which is super handy since I use google calendar this way already for other things: events with the girls, blog posts, even working on the budget. I've only been using it for about a month, but that is pretty good for me. And sticking to it.

Forgiving - Since I have been that cranky mommy dragon, I need the kids to forgive me more than usual. I need to forgive myself all the time.

Relying - What do you do when the baby doesn't sleep? The dishes have been piling in the sink, the laundry is piling in the dirty clothes baskets, the toys are multiplying before my eyes across the floor. I've been needing help. I need to have someone to rely on when I am a mombie, tired mom zombie surviving on coffee, and I can barely focus on the task of taking the oldest to school let alone everything else. This is probably one of the reasons for cranky mommy dragon. I need to be able to rely on my husband to be there to pick up a little bit of slack as I try to navigate the world of NO Sleep!

Hoping - Please baby. Please, for mommy, get some sleep! Actually, today, she has napped. Twice! SO I got one in too! Yay!

Sunday Lately 109

I'm joining in with Blogger Tribe's Sunday lately today! I actually have some quiet time to sit at the computer! Sure, it's late, but it is quiet time! Yay! It's still Sunday, so I feel super on schedule! Even if there only is 1.5 hours left as I write this! Yay #momlife

Writing: I've been working on getting some "lesson plans" written up for Virtual Book Club for Kids and Kindergarten prep for little S. I did one with her already and she loved it! After all, it involved three of her favorite things: Penguin (from the series by Salina Yoon), rocks, and paint! Check it out here it was fun and I even felt excited by my painted rocks, and I don't paint!

Quitting: I am trying super hard not to sit on my behind while N is in school and/or when baby K is napping. I need to get this house in order, purge a ton of unwanted items, and organize like crazy. I miss sewing, and really I need the house in order so it' not in complete disarray after a mini sewing session. Not to mention I have no place to put my machine! I guess it boils down to: I need to quit saving stuff

Fixing: My organizational skills and hoarding tendencies. I boxed up baby boy clothes about a month ago and need to actually get them out of the house. Small steps, right? Ha! It'll free up so much space! I just need to actually go take them somewhere. My usual line up is consignment, consignment then donate. I should just donate. get it out. But I use the money from consignment to buy the kids the next size in clothes, so... Then it just comes down to having the time to drive to the consignment and hope they aren't too busy. After all I only have less than 3 hours while N is in Kindergarten!

Celebrating: The kids celebrated their 100th day at school! They were to dress up as if they were 100 years old. N wore a button up, with some momma made pants and hat! Loved it! He did not want to wear make up to look wrinkly and had no desire for baby powder in the hair to make it look gray. But her is just too darn cute!

We will be celebrating baby K's first birthday next week! I cannot believe she will be 1 already! She's a little daredevil, spitfire girl and I love her to pieces!

Updating: My bag. I'm weaning myself from the massive diaper bag and trying to work my way back to some form of mom purse where I can carry my planner, wallet, a diaper and wipes and call it good. I usually keep a spare change of clothes in the car for the kids so I don't feel it's necessary in the diaper bag. But, my wallet is falling apart, and I have the envelopes stashed in many pockets in the bag. I need it all in one place. I don't know when I will be able to sew up one but I have a few patterns and tutorials I have gathered. I can't wait to pick one that will work for the system and I can *sniff* throw my falling apart wallet away.
I also need to update my wardrobe horribly. It was a goal last year, but with post-partum everything, it hasn't happened yet. Back to a goal for this year!

Happy Sunday!

Sunday Lately {Week 82}

Jumping in on Sunday Lately today with the Blogger Tribe! It's been a few months since I last joined in! It's been a crazy!

This weeks themes are Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming, Expecting

Doing//
School. My oldest started kindergarten this last week and our days have been driving to and from school. He goes for only a few hours since we do half day kinder out here. We have not adjusted with naps or our eating schedule yet, especially since he goes in smack dab in the middle of the day! Ah, but I am still so excited! We've started practicing sight words as homework every night and he already knows 5/20 of his first quarter words! He has been segmenting well too (he did it on his own the other day!), and I am super proud of him! It's still new though, we will see how we go towards the end of the year when we've burned out on the crazy schedule! Ha!

Appreciating//
Family. I could not have caught up on cleaning, or preparing, for my middle one's birthday party the day before school started. My mom has been coming over to help with the baby's room (it's still not ready yet) and helped get things cleaned up and in order for the birthday party. For once we were fairly ready on time, aside from a few veggies getting cut up, we were set to go on time! For us, that rarely ever happens and it would not have been without my mom's help!

#happy3rdbirthday #lovethiskid

A photo posted by JessiBerry (@jessiberry09) on Jul 19, 2016 at 10:08pm PDT

Designing//
The layout for the baby's room in my head. Where will I put everything? I'm just ready to get her out of my room. She wont fit in the bassinet of the pack 'n play for much longer.

Humming//
"it is well with my soul"
I'm sure there is something God is trying to tell me and I haven't figured it out yet if He keeps putting this song in my head. Until I figure out what it is I will continue to listen to Audrey Assad singing it... And perhaps look for a few more versions.

Expecting//
I have not relaxed this last week because of anticipation. Anticipation of time to leave for drop off/pick up, waiting for the next fit to ensue, the whining to start, the constant demands of "mommy, I want I want I want, need need need, mine mine mine, now now now" (in the voice of Dustin Hoffman as Hook). It's been too much and I cannot wait for my next get together with lady friends over dinner. Seriously it has been too long and I need the time with them! Now that we know a little more of what to expect with school, I'm hoping this dies down a little bit. But, I am going to 'try' to start preschool with Samara. I'm a little scared of this, she is my crazy 'spirited' child and only really listens to her daddy. So, we shall see.

Linking up!

Sunday Lately {week 63}

Welcome to Sunday lately! Given 5 prompts: just write, brain dump, update...
This weeks prompts are: Creating, Finding, Switching, Forgetting, Craving

Creating

I was looking at my goals for the year and my scheduled posts that I have started drafting and I need to finish some of those finish-a-long UFO (unfinished objects)... 

Here are those goals... 2016 FinishALong Quarter 1 Goals

I only have a couple weeks left and some of them are almost done! Well, the top to two of them is pieced, it's most of the work done right there.

Sewing is something that does not happen often for me though, lately.

Finding

Finding... Time. Still working on that one. The kids in the district are on Spring Break and so with MOPS and our bible study we are taking a break too. it would give a little more time to do thing. I have a lot I want to do this week. I really want to start getting the room ready to move the baby into it and out of ours.

I want to focus on husband too. We lost his grandma yesterday. We got to sing Happy Birthday, and she had family with her. I love my family and I just hope they feel at peace. 

We have to find a sitter for Thursday too! We are celebrating 7 years married and 9 years together! We still have no idea where to go. We will be bringing the baby as she has not received a bottle as of yet. 

We did find time to get the kids to the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend which I think they might have needed giving the crazyness of what was going on. I'm glad we got to spend time with family and sing her happy birthday before she left us. But, it's hard on the kids when you have to sit, be calm and be quiet. Of course I didn't think to take pictures until we left (minus the one of little man throwing a "I'm Tired" fit. But, I don't need to share that with you...

Switching

I think I need to start setting the coffee pot for delayed brewing in the morning and grab a cup during the last feeding of the baby before the kids wake up... I need to start getting my day going so I can get things done. So far I haven't really accomplished much. I need to start switching my brain on the morning. 

This last week I ended up turning in some books to the library super late just because by the time I got up and moving it was time for the kids to take a nap. Once the kids wake up from nap, it's time to start getting dinner and other things ready. My house is an utter mess and it is starting to drive me crazy. I think, maybe if I can get my brain running in the morning I might be able to accomplish more during the day...

Forgetting

So far, I think it's been about 3 days total this week, I have forgotten to put beans on the stove to soak in the morning for tacos. Today I have forgotten to do this yet again! It doesn't help that I wasn't fully up this morning until after 9 am. Beans need to start soaking before 9 in the morning. I didn't really start functioning until almost 11 am. I completely missed the boat by the time I even thought about putting the beans on the stove at 1pm. And now I have completely missed the day since it is already after 3. At least the kids ate lunch! Sure it might have been leftovers from the weekend. But hey! That counts. I was suffering a headache borderline migraine this morning too and now am just tired. Coffee only does so much when you are running off of around 4 hours of sleep. No wonder my brain isn't working. I need to start going to bed when the baby goes down at night. She gets 5 hours first thing (sure from about 8pm - 1am)... I just need to start getting the older 2 ready earlier, which means dinner needs to be done earlier. I guess I should start my prep now... Maybe I might be done at a decent time to get us all to bed earlier... Now, I'm rambling...

Craving

I was hoping my chocolate and soda cravings would go away after the little one arrived... But it's just gotten worse! I need to stay away from the carbonation (even the mineral water) as it affects her stomach in a bad way... Horrible spit up, bad gas that makes her super cranky...

Probably one of the worst possible #pregnancycravings ever... #22weekspregnant

A photo posted by JessiBerry (@jessiberry09) on Sep 30, 2015 at 4:25pm PDT

I'm so tired and ready for a nap...

Until next time,

Sunday Lately {week 62}

I'm loving these Sunday Lately posts. I missed this yesterday so I am a day late! I know everything has been about baby lately. But she is our whole world right now, as babies should be! :)

Doing

We have been watching a lot of TV and this has the extent of what we have been doing for the last couple weeks. I sit on the rocking chair and the kids sit on the couch or the floor. Of course, they really aren't watching the tv, but at least they are staying in the room. The kids have been making insane messes while I am nursing the baby and at least with the tv on they are keeping the mess in the tv room.

At the moment, PBS has an info-mercial on about changing out junk food to healthier options... I am honestly considering buying the book "From Junk Food to Joy Food" by Joy Bauer. Really!?! I am usually so good about not even looking into these things, but the library doesn't have it and the Husband does often complain the food we eat isn't healthy... At least I can suggest the library get the book...

Speaking of which, I am going to request them to get one I would really like to read for the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge for the politcal option. Let Us Water the Flowers: The Memoir of a Political Prisoner in Iran.  It's a memior of a political prisoner in Iran. It sounds really interesting!

Appreciating

I am appreciating my husband so much these last several weeks. Things have been crazy and the baby nurses at the end of the day like she doesn't get fed at all. This makes it really hard to make sure dinner is done at a decent time of what we were used to before she got here. Even though dinner has been happening a lot later, Husband has been great about it, helping cook and make sure dinner gets done even if it is a lot later than we were used to. I know he is tired from a really long day at work and he helps me out without complaining (too much at least). 

I have to say, I also appreciate frozen foods! They are so easy to heat up for lunches for the kids! It makes lunch time so much easier! I'm still not for standing for a long duration of time. Dinosaur chickens, taquitos, corn dogs... these have all been a lifesaver for me during lunch time. 

Designing

I am not much of a designer and spending most of my time on the couch doesn't let me do to much... I did take a look at the alphabet pieces I want to turn into a paper pieced quilt.  But since the program is on the computer which no longer accesses the internet and needs to be plugged in during the entire duration it is on and running (not to mention it heats up pretty quick)... I haven't really touched it beyond looking. I can't even remember how I got it into a pdf file from the program I have. Perhaps it is something I should look into working on during those moments I am confined to sitting in the chair nursing... But then it's hard to do with only one hand...

Humming

The kids watched Sleeping Beauty a few days ago, which was one of my favorite Disney movies growing up, and I have been humming the music since. I was standing at my brother's place, doing the rocking standing bounce thing with the baby, and I could not stop humming the music! 

Expecting

I have no expectations for my day to day. I'm living day by day, moment by moment right now. I expect my kids to take a nap. But honestly, naps haven't been happening lately. As long as we survive the day, that is all that matters at this point.

I am waiting for my little guy to start kindergarten in about 4 months! Eek! I am super excited about kindergarten! I need to continue working on his letters, letter sounds and other preschool things since we didn't go to preschool. The miscarriage in Sept 2014 and the pregnancy with baby kind of limited the amount of homeschool we were doing here. I was too exhausted and emotional to be objective with his learning. He is amazing with what he can do, there isn't too much to fill in before kindergarten starts. I think at this point we will just work from a workbook he got for his birthday! Yay! I know he is super stoked too!

Sunday Lately {week 61}

Planning

Husband and my anniversary is coming up in a couple weeks. I've been sinking the fund for this one since a little after Halloween, a little at a time) and I'm excited to get to go out on our annual date! We haven't decided where or what restaurant, but it is one of the few times we eat out at an actual sit-down, serve you food, restaurant. I'd say I look forward to a night where I don't have to cook, but it's usually a grandparent that watches the kids and they are doing such a huge favor to us by just watching the kids, I can't impose on them more and expect them to make dinner as well! 7 years married, 9 years together. It doesn't seem like it's been very long and it really hasn't. But I sure do love this man and our family we have made!

First car ride as a family of 5! Taking the baby for first Dr check up!

A photo posted by JessiBerry (@jessiberry09) on Feb 8, 2016 at 9:08am PST

Loving

I'm loving every minute of having a newborn again. That is aside from the hellions the other two have become! And, the cold that has plagued our house for the last week. It does make it hard for me when I'm already tired.

I am still loving the way my little guy looked in his Boys Can Wear Pink outfit! It's been several days since I took the pictures and I still am in awe. Mostly cause the colors are not me and what I usually sew with, but also because my biased self can't get over his cuteness! I'm pretty sure this picture is going to get framed and hung up. He cracks me up. 

Reading

I have been working on finishing Love Does by Bob Goff since finishing the bible study a few weeks ago, have started The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah for my local book club book for March, and little man, husband and I have started the final book of the Three Doors Trilogy: The Third Door by Emily Rodda. I at least want to finish Love does before the end of this month... 2 days is enough to finish about 40%, yeah? I have my monthly book review scheduled for tomorrow too!

I have missed reading and really enjoy it! Though it's been hard since the colds entered our house and I'm overwhelmed by all holds coming in from the library at once. 21 days is not enough time to read it all... I am still on track for 30 books this year! Seriously though, GoodReads is amazing for finding new books, and keeping track of what you are reading. Little man and I use it as a virtual bookmark. Mostly because his sister is really good at walking off with the one in his book! 

Wishing

That colds would be over with. I am done with it. The baby cries and coughs, I have no energy and can't breathe, and the older two are snotting all over everything. I cannot bleach, lysol, wipe down everything enough! Actually I have done nothing of the sort. I'm waiting for it to run its course, and even then I will probably forget. The older two usually only get sick about once a year (ok at least 2 times for little lady)... So I hope that I'm still good, right?

Feeling

I am feeling... Tired. Content. Loved. Blessed.

Happy Sunday!
Until next time,

Sunday Lately {Week 60}

This week has been a crazy week! We have had something going on every day this week!

Completing

I am working on completing my capsule wardrobe, but I feel like it is more of a dream instead of something that will come to fruition.
I used polyvore (mostly cause I was bored but didn't want to get my gum off the couch). That website is taking some getting used to for me. And I am thinking that pants are never gonna happen... But here they are so far.

Capsule Wardrobe Sudoku by jessicaberry-i

Capsule Wardrobe Sudoku 2 by jessicaberry-i

Once I get some energy to sew, I look forward to having some nursing friendly outfits that will look cute too. This is not going to become accomplished in the crazy wardrobe in a week that is going on with the capsule sew along group! I wish I could, but there is just no way... Those ladies are crazy! Crazy and awesome!

Visiting

I took the kids to see my grandmother this week. She had not seen the newest addition to the family and being on her side of town, I thought it would be nice. She even got to hold the baby! I wish I took a picture.

There was also a bridal shower for a cousin that I got to attend this weekend. We are so excited for them! And getting to see cousins is always fantastic. The theme was Alice in Wonderland's tea party. The table decorations, and everything, was awesome! I wish I took pictures there too. Cousins and Aunts looked so beautiful.

^^ I have no idea why the font went weird here^^

Repeating

Sleepless nights... I am repeating the sleepless nights. I miss sleep. I miss feeling rested. It amazing what little amount of sleep moms need with newborns.

Writing

I finally finished writing the post about baby 3's birth story. I am so happy to finally have that out! Now, once I forget I can go back and read it.

Scheduling

I need to start working time for me back into my daily schedule. I used to have my entire day planned out, from laundry and dishes to computer and sewing time. I need to get back to that. It's part of my "Being Intentional" ... When I did this, I got stuff done. I just need to get back into that groove! I must be crazy, to plan out my entire day this way. But that's what the planner is for, and it keeps me on track. I know I have forgotten tons of things these last several weeks (more like last month) because I have slacked off... no more slacking!

At least I am no longer scheduling weight check visits with the doctor for the baby every 4 days! That was becoming to much; to much gas, to much time driving, to much time in the carseats (it's hard on their little bottoms), and to many missed nursing opportunities. It's about an hour drive to the doctors office for us. But she is gaining well! Yay!

Hope ya'll had a fantastic week!

Until next time, 

Sunday Lately {Week 58}

I joined a group of bloggers and once a week they participate in a weekly update. Getting the readers closer to the writers, an opportunity to share what's been going on, and a chance to put down ideas. 
Every Sunday they post a response, or brain dump if you will, to 5 prompts.
This weeks prompts: Updating, Remembering, Needing, Wearing, Being

Updating

So many blog posts to write, so much to say! It's amazing how much life changes in a day/month/year. Our baby girl decided to join us on Thursday, creating our little family of 4 into a family of 5. I'm loving it, my world surrounds this amazing little bundle. I can't wait to get out the birth story of her arrival. Those stories always fascinate me! And it is nice having them here to be able to go back and reread later!

Remembering

As I prepared for the arrival of our little girl, I went back over the stories of the other 2. It helped me with this one, remembering what it was like even though knowing ever story, just like every person, is different. I was so nervous about how this one would go. 

Now, as I look at this precious little one, I remember what the other two were like as babies. So little, so needy, but oh so sweet! I missed those little noises and coos. I just missed having a little baby in the house!

Needing

I feel like I'm needing so much more rest and sleep after this little one's arrival than the other two. But it's so much fun just sitting and watching the older ones admire their baby sister. So much love in this house! 

Wearing

I'm still walking around in pajamas. After all, it's only been 2 days since we returned from the hospital. I cannot wait to wear a particular dress that will be posted here in a couple days. :) I've been dreaming up my spring, nursing friendly, capsule wardrobe that I will try to start sewing in a couple weeks.

Being

I'm focusing on being a mom. Focusing on my husband, myself and healing, and the kids.