THE GOOD
* Nicholas has started smiling - I mean the real kind - not the smiles that slip out because of gas or while he's dreaming - but the kind where I tickled him or gave a funny face & he smiles so sweetly at me - makes my heart melt & keeps me sane during the other 95 % of the time when he looks like this . . .
aka . . . grumpy old man
* Ryan is in LOVE with his little brother - I mean can't get enough of him, always wants to be around him kind of love . . . not to mention he is a MASTER at getting that kid to take a pacifier when he's crying (which is super helpful to mommy)
* I've shed half my pregnancy weight, although the whole was ALOT (seriously - ALOT) so I still have a long way to go . . .
* Amazingly I have still been able to scrap - usually the 10PM - 2AM time frame - but a dose of scrappy time is always a good thing in my book :)
THE BAD . . . THE UGLY . . .
* Nicholas is a fussy one - like really fussy - usually the worst is from 3 or 4PM until 7 or 8PM - alot of screaming & crying & nothing seems to really calm him down but the bath - unfortunately giving a 4 hour bath doesn't work so . . . we work through the fussy :)
* My house looks like a bomb went off - I can never keep up these days - the laundry, the dishes, the mess Ryan makes as I tend to Nicholas - it is overwhelming at times but I know eventually it will all get done . . .
* I never feel good about my "mommy day" - I only feel as if I have survived it. Not that every day with Ryan before baby made me feel like a rockstar mommy - absolutely not - but these days I feel pulled in both directions & never feel like either is totally happy with me. There are times Ryan says things that break my heart because he wants more of me than I can give right now, and there are times I listen to Nicholas cry out for me as I try to tend to Ryan & it breaks my heart as well. I keep telling myself that my mother had 5 of us & we never, ever felt unloved - so I plug away - creating imaginary birthday parties with Ryan & his stuffed animals, changing diapers & giving bottles to Nicholas, preparing breakfasts & lunches & dinners for Ryan, try to make Nicholas smile with silly faces & tickles, reading Ryan stories & snuggling, telling them both as much as possible I love them.
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My mom always asks me if I am tired or says "you must be tired" - and yes I am - luckily I have been one who never slept much so I'm used to it. I've always capped out at 5 or 6 hours, never was a late sleeper on weekends, never really took naps . . . so that 10 to 2 time, yes well I could be sleeping and sometimes I do but often I scrap. Why some of you may ask . . . because in those late hours, when the house is quiet & I can think . . . I mean really think . . . I choose to spend that me time reminding myself why all this chaos of my day is worth it . . . every second of it . . . as I create pages that treasure all the wonderful moments that I sometimes forget about amidst the crazy of my day. It makes me happy . . . it helps me remember . . . it allows me start the next day with a smile in my heart :)
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On to some sharing . . .
SEI is running another sketch challenge this month on their blog & as a bonus, one lucky person who particpates & links their layout up at the link party the end of this month will win a $25 gift certificate to shopsei.com where you can pick out your own prize - how AWESOME is that???
Here is the sketch . . .
A close-up of the title work - love these cardstock stickers & how they look layered up behind the title . . .
Oh & the heart die-cuts - so many fun options on the 12 x 12 sheet & piled up they make the perfect corner accent!!!
I also created another layout with this collection . . . tugs at my heartstrings because this is a pic from the day Nicholas was born . . .
The heart sequence on this page was so fun to do - a bit time consuming but super easy. I used a Sizzix sizzlit die to cut the scalloped hearts. They come out in two pieces - the scalloped frame & inner heart. I glued down the frames & then glued just the center of the inner hearts down. Some quick stitching down the center of each column & then some folding of each heart inward created a fun series of heart embellishments. A super inexpensive way to add some fun elements to a page!!
I am still playing with all the fabulous little goodies sent to me by Melissa over at Pretty Little Studio - if you haven't yet checked out her adorable products be sure to HERE!!! I loved the vintage boy flashcards she has created & wanted to use them on a page of Ryan working hard at practicing his letters . . .
I think I am in love with the 8 x 8 notebook lined die-cut & that cute red bookprint paper I used at the top for the scalloped border!!!
By the way - a new collection is coming out called Hopscotch & it is perfect for the upcoming Spring/Easter season . . . check out the sneaks . . .
Just leave a comment on the Pretty Little Studio blog for a chance at winning an 8" x 8" paper pack of the new collection!!!
Alright . . . off to finish up a few things before my bedtime . . . lots more to share . . . just not yet :)
Oh a just throwing in a few extra pics of the new little man before I go . . .
ttyl - julie :)
Julie first of all it calms me down to hear that through all the chaos everything feels right to you!
ReplyDeleteBeing pregnant makes me think a lot these days if I can handle all that. Will I still be the mommy Finn deserves?
But I see in your writing that it is worth it!
Thanks.
And thanks for sharing this adorable pictures of your two boys! Nicolas is such a cutie!
I love the layouts you created!!!
Hope to see more soon! Really? Who needs sleep???
Greetings from Germany.
Julie
Great pages! I will have to scraplift the hearts idea. What a wonderful idea! Thanks for posting the pictures of your little men. They are both adorable. It is ok if the house is a mess. There are more important things right now in your life. If you are anything like me, scrapping keeps your sanity!
ReplyDeleteI remember when my son was a newborn, he would just scream for hours too, just around the same age as little Nicholas. One thing that would really help was for my husband to bundle him up and take him for a walk outside. We had a baby carrier that he wore on his chest and he would stick him in that and wrap him good in blankets and stick a hat on his head and just walk around the back yard - it never ceased to amaze me on how it would calm my son down. And I am talking about the coldest time of winter this would go on - like January. Maybe the cold air had some sort of secret effect on him, those walks were the only thing that kept me sane on some evenings. Don't worry about the condition of your home, no one cares and you will have plenty of time for that later.
ReplyDeleteLoving Nicholas's grumpy old man face!! Too cute!! He looks like Ryan!! Your days must be so busy. I remember those fly by the seat of your pants days. I guess going to bed feeling guilty that someone was left out is one of the downs of motherhood. I remember that feeling all too well. It is just what good mothers do, but they grow up loved. :) Loving this new sketch! It is just what I needed for a wedding photo I want to scrap! Loving your LO's and those hearts are wonderful. I checked out PLS and their vintage stuff is amazing!
ReplyDeleteAww...how cute are those photos! Your boys are absolutely beautiful! About the pregnancy weight, it took me a year and a half to lose all of mine with DS and I gained A LOT! I've been struggling with feeling like a bad mommy too. But you know what? Your A ROCKSTAR mommy! Just the fact that you care enough to worry about that says a lot about what a good mommy you are!
ReplyDeleteFantastic sketch and layouts!
oh little momma let me be one to help your emotions during this mommy time. My last little girl has just left the nest.... it passes all too fast and while my son and I were talking the other day it was not the mess in the home he remembered or that mommy was always cleaning but that I stopped whatever I was doing to play with he and his sister.... the best song to a mothers ears? when my son, soon to be a daddy for the first time said when I have kids I will raise them just the way you and dad raised me.
ReplyDeleteSo yes, I remember the days of not enough time to do what needs to be done and the overwelming feeling that I was just treading water.... seems like yesterday and yet it is done... love your babies the other stuff will and can wait!
Oh, the newborn stage can be so hard! Hang in there, though, before you know it he will have grown out of it and it will just be memories. And give yourself time, it takes a while to adjust to having two kiddos. When I had my second baby I think it took me four or five months to feel like I was finally "on top of it." :)
ReplyDeleteLove your layouts, as always! Thanks for the inspiration!
I love the photo of the boys' hands. Don't worry about the house cleaning! It's tough but you do great as a Mother!
ReplyDeleteWhat a very sweet little face!!!! Super cute layouts too :)
ReplyDeleteLove the new layouts!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute layouts! I love the hearts but the brother love LO is my favorite ;)
ReplyDeleteI too had a fussy second baby, but she wasn't limited to the hour of the day. It was really hard for me since the first had been so easy going! Two years later and my house is still a mess 90% of the time, lol. In the end, that's not what matters though ;)
Oh Julie- as overwhelming as life seems to be, I know that you will get through, and so will those little men... As I read your post I remembered my nephew, my sister's second baby. Your little Nicholas sounds just like him; EVERY evening/late afternoon was just as yours sounds, until his daddy got home. Rough times? yes, now at 32? never to worry- they know they were both loved, and not minimally! I KNOW you and your kiddos will come out shining! A little more tired some days, but too soon it will all just be a bump in the road. check out my blog- maybe it will make you smile...take care and be well.
ReplyDeleteoh, btw, love the LO! It is just what I needed!, not to mention the pics ;-)
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteI've been following you since "52 sketches..." and must say that i love your work!
Congrats for cute Nicholas!! He really looks like Ryan!
I remember when my girl was born (3 years after my boy) ,how hard was my new routine with 2 kids!! My girl also woke up in the middle of the night on her first 3 months. My mother gave me a little pillow stuffed with lavender to put on her crib, just at night- i must say that helped a lot! But don't worry,soon you will find time to do everything you need! For now, you must give yourself a litlle break!
Love all your pics!!