Life of a Homemaker

Our plan this last weekend was to build our patio, but the front yard drew all the attention instead...So, we dug out the front yard (which was actually 90% weeds), laid bricks under the fence (so we don't have to mow up to the edge) tilled up the ground, leveled it out, added sand and rolled out the SOD. Viola!

The fence is also part of our addition, it just didn't happend this weekend! The very first pic is when we bought the house last summer!

When I came to check my blog, I honestly wouldn't have been suprised if my site had expired since it's been so long since I've visited/added anything. The last few months have been keeping me busy. I now have a two year old little man and 9mth old crawler (also a boy). They are quite the pair and rarely give me a quiet moment...oh the joy's of little men!

We have also been making more and more improvements on our home. The fence finally got finished (well, almost), and now we are in process of growing grass in our back yard and will soon be working on the rest of the lanscaping as well. Just in time for summer (at least Oregon's summer : ) I AM going to take pics and post them as we progress, but then after that I might just be too busy enjoying our yard...we'll see (he-he) Well, I hope you are blessed again and again.

  Mommy Mel

It has been over a month since I've posted. Life has been busy and fun in the mean-time and my boys are growing so much!

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. We went home (just a few hours away) and spent time with both our

cherrished families. My fathers birthday was on Christmas eve and he is now boasting that he is able to buy both a senior meal and a kids meal when they go out (He is now 55 and my youngest sibling is 6!)!!!

This year was a bit different for my parents since none of us that are gone were able to spend Christmas day at the house. They still had a full house, mind you. The six siblings that aren't married were home, but for our family, that is rather small.

My dad mentioned that everyone actually had a spot to sit and my 14 yr old sister said it was the first year she got to sit on the couch for "presents" (We all get together and open gifts, in-turn, one at a time)

 

Our Christmas day we spent at my husbands home with his family

and it was the first year Justus really was able to understand and enjoy opening gifts.

He was perfectly satisfied with just one gift, but got many more than just that.

I was even thinking in the future we might just save some of the gifts and keep them for "rewards"

and let him open them as he helps out or is good!

We know it is only beginning and we certainly want to emphasize Christ's birth

far more than receiving/wanting gifts. But it is seeming to be a little

harder than it sounds.

I suppose we have a many more years to practice it,

even for ourselves.

 

Besides that, we are all well and settling in for our raining winters. Gabriel is growing, growing, growing and

such a happy little soul. He smiles and giggles almost constantly and is such a chubby chunk. (nothing like Justus-my skinny baby)

I'll try to post family pics soon to share. Until I find my next chance to blog. Many Blessings to all!

Melody

    Our little man is going to be 3 weeks old tomorrow....My, how fast time goes by! It always seems to drag on when it’s the end of the pregnancy and then when they are born, you wonder where it all went!!!  He is still just a little angel...nursing, sleeping, and observing life. Our eldest is doing much better as well. He seems quite intrigued with our new addition and enjoys talking to him and especially rubbing his soft little head. It is too cute!!!

    I am feeling wonderful and just feel continually blessed with my little family. Last night we all went to the University of Portland volleyball game and cheered away. Justus was especially entertaining...he was walking up and down the rows yelling when everyone else yelled and clapping when they clapped. I think he had a blast! It was a fun reminder of our college days as well watching the college students cheer and goof around...and we’re not really that old yet either! Aahhhhh, memories!

   My latest infatuation...besides my wonderful husband and two charming little men is making my own nursing bras!!! I got a chance to spend some time with my sister-in-law while my husband was in San Fransisco and her husband (my brother) was on a rafting trip and she showed me how to engineer my very own, attractive, comfortable and yes, afordable nursing bra...and it was so simple too.

 

Step 1: find a bra that fits you well...we prefer ones that are not just beige or white, like all the boring nursing bras out there and we often look for them at places like Ross ($5 for a good bra is more my price than 30+)

 

Step 2: buy nursing bra clasps online (web address below), or just take them off of an old nursing bra you don’t like. That has been my method so far :  )

 

Step 3:Cut the strap right above the cup and attach bottom clasp to cup and top clasp to the strap

 

Step 4: Attach a 5/8” thick piece of matching elastic to the slat on top clasp and to the bra just under your armpit or at the side seem to hold the strap on when clasp is undone.

 

Step 5: Enjoy your new nursing bra!!!

I have already made two of them and am going to attempt converting a tank top with built in bra into a nursing tank as well. Such fun!!! 

 

clasps 30cents each but only in white: http://www.sewsassy.com/BraProducts/nursingbraclasps.html

clasps $2 each in white, clear and black: www.bramakers.com  (under bra hardware)     

We welcomed Gabriel Christopher Bondurant

to our family Thursday morning at 1:42am.

He was 7lbs 15oz, and 20 ½” long.

A handsome man indeed!!!

My labor this time was completely different than my first. With the weather being so warm lately, I looked at the weather forecast the following Friday and decided Wednesday would be perfect (It was suppose to rain!) My water broke at 6:30 on Wednesday morning!!! My contractions were pretty spread out, but strong.  My mom drove in around noon and we just got things ready and relaxed while we waited for things to really pick up.

  My husband came home around 6:30, we ate dinner, watched part of a movie and decided around 10 to go to bed and rest. Finally, around 11pm or so I woke up my mom and husband and decided we were getting close. Then just after a few hours of “hard” labor and only 4 pushes we had a beautiful baby boy!!!

  It was truly a different experience knowing what to expect and being better prepared for the difficult parts.  Our older son, Justus, was woken up by the excitement and came in to meet his little brother. He is still trying to figure out just how to handle our new addition, but I think he’ll make a great big brother! We celebrated that evening (after getting some good rest) with Birthday brownies and Tillamook’s Vanilla Ice-cream. Yum-yum!

 

  Oh...I’m being summoned to feed little Gabriel. Enjoy our pics! There should be more to come.   : )

I just downloaded some new pictures off of my camera onto the computer and wanted to share them. First I must comment that I used to think that kids picked up their habits from their parents in one form or another...but I’m rethinking my philosophy.

 For instance, there is a photo of my son leisurely eating his oatmeal with one foot nonchalantly atop the table. I promise my husband and I don’t do this!!! (Though a friend suggested that maybe my husband Does do it when I’m not looking)

The other picture, of him in the car seat, was taken after he figured out he wasn’t getting his way...so, this was his designated spot for the pity party.  Not much room for anyone else to join, but cute!!!!