Baby Boot Camp

Yesterday Norah turned 8 weeks old, which automatically qualified her to begin Baby Boot Camp or BBC initiation (hip hip hooray!!) BBC is a sleep training program that helps you teach your infant to fall asleep on their own and sleep peacefully in their crib for 12 hours each night without waking to eat or be rocked back to sleep. The book is called The Baby Sleep Solution and I have been shouting it's praises on the mountaintop ever since it cured Eli of being a TERRIBLE sleeper as an infant. It is not a cry-it-out method, although there may be some crying, and it works quickly...which is important when you're exhausted and desperate for a good night's sleep(which I SO am). Ok, so enough of my commercial, although I'd be happy to be your paid spokesperson Suzi Giordano.

Yesterday was Day 1. Norah had never slept in her crib since we brought her home, so I was worried. We decided we wanted her bedtime to be 7:30 since this is when Eli goes to bed. We bathed the kids at 7 and then I took Norah into her room to nurse her one last time. At 7:30 I finished burping her and placed her in her crib wide awake. She was still for a bit and then started crying. John and I took turns going in every 3-5 minutes and patting her tummy and whispering to her but we did not pick her up. It took her just over an hour to fall asleep but then she slept 9 hours! Are you kidding me? She hadn't gone more than 5 hours on her best night. At 4:30 she ate 4 ounces and then was back asleep again until 7:30. It was beautiful. I think she's catching on much faster than Eli.

Day 2. Tonight we did the same routine. We only had to go in twice to comfort her and she was asleep within 30 minutes. God bless her! I feel so proud.

Its wonderful being back to the point where both kids go to bed at a specified time leaving the evening open for John and I to spend with each other. I love you Norah, but I can love you even more when I'm well rested and am not seeing your sweet little face all throughout the night.

all things pink....

even cloth diapers. So happy Norah is finally big enough to fit into these. She will be wearing her brother's hand-me-down boy colored diapers with choo-choo trains as well, but at least she has a few adorable pinks bought for her from some wonderfully generous friends.

Happy Father's Day

(Click video to enlarge to full screen)

Weekday Warriors DIY

Ever since we moved into our home, I've always thought it would be fun to put a backsplash in the kitchen. I love the way the perfect tiles and colors can make a kitchen seem so much more luxurious. John and I debated doing this ourselves, but we've always found home improvement projects to be a bit "stressful" on our marriage, not to mention neither of us had a clue what we were doing. Enter my sister Kim, who is never afraid to tackle even the most challenging of home renovation projects and had just finished installing beautiful glass tiles around her fireplace. I jokingly asked if she'd help me do a backsplash, and within a week her and her 3 kids were loaded in the minivan and headed to my front door from Fort Wayne, IN. I told her she would be the foreman and I was happy to be her day laborer. We finished applying all the tiles in one afternoon and grouted the next day. I'm amazed by how smoothly it all went. And it looks beautiful and I'm re-inspired to start cooking up a storm in there. I'm pretty sure Kim and I are ready for our own show on HGTV. Maybe Sister Style? I don't know, just thinking out loud.

Thanks Kim for packing up the fam to come and help me, you rock! I might start thinking of more projects to do in hopes that you'll come back sooner...

Kitchen Before

Applying the mortar

Halfway through applying tiles, taking a quick break Day 2: Grout application
Kitchen After, so pretty Full kitchen view

Going Green

As you will remember here , I promised to keep you informed as to the progress of the garden my sisters and I started this year. And I'm sure you have just been on pins and needles waiting for an update. Well my friends, our little garden is thriving. Thanks to days and days of rain and the perfect sunny spot, the plants are gigantic. In fact, we may have been a little over zealous with how much we thought we could cram in there. So far we've harvested mass amounts of lettuce and in a few short weeks will have enough tomatoes to plug up the oil leak in the gulf. Here is our garden now. It contains strawberries, Roma and cherry tomatoes, green and yellow zucchini, cucumbers, potatoes, green beans, broccoli, carrots, onions, garlic, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, romaine and butter lettuce. It literally smells like you're shoving your face into a salad out there. So yummy!

Marathon of Fun

This past week my sister Kim and her 3 kids came into town for a few days to play and hang out. We packed the hours full of activities and had so much fun. She has Callie who is 3 and twin boys who are 19 months old. The kids all play great together and Eli and Callie are especially hilarious to watch. Eli was so exhausted every night from the swimming, and shortened naps, and late bed times that he would fall into bed and then sleep in uncharacteristically late in the mornings. Here is the highlight reel:

Weekly playgroup splashing in the Easton fountains

Easton has a cool train display that these two were fascinated withWe went to Kingdom of Bounce and let the kids run wild. If you are looking for a good place to wear out your children....Ding Ding Ding! This is it.Such a good Papa, he endured all the sweaty hot plastic with a smile. (so sorry I cut off your head) Charlie and Jack on the trampoline

Having fun Jack?? I think so. And just in case you aren't convinced yet, listen to these squeals

The next day we headed to the zoo

And after an afternoon of swimming and naps, we ended the night at Graeters. This boy is already an expert at the icecream stuff

Come back soon Kim! Eli hasn't stopped talking about and looking for Callie since you left.

Norah Dee-1 month old

Well this post is a week overdue, but our little miss has already reached the one month mark. Wow, that was a total blur. She weighs 10 lbs 4 oz and is just growing away. I love her beautiful blue eyes that come from neither John nor I and her sweet cherub lips the most. She is quite a feisty little one and has a piercingly loud cry that lets you know she wanted your attention like 2 minutes ago thank you very much! It already feels like shes been part of our family forever. And yes, I absolutely cannot wait for the day when shes sleeping through the night. Although I have grown quite fond of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. It aires from 12-1am and then repeats from 3-4am, if you're wondering..which you're probably not.