No More Grumpy Gus

Gabe is no longer grumpy when awake. Instead, he is smiley and content (provided he is not hungry or wet, of course). Daddy finally got it on camera:

 Gabe likes watching the animals go around on his bouncer. He also likes bath time now.

He has become a thumb sucker, mastering it more and more every day. For the most part he is sleeping longer too.

Today at his two-month appointment he weighed 11 lbs. 10 oz. and measured nearly 23 inches long! He got 3 shots. I was not looking forward to it, but Gabe took it like a little man. He cried, but was easily comforted and fell asleep, remaining asleep for the rest of our errands. Once fed at home, he was back to his smiley self and then went back to sleep. Caden, on the other hand, would cry for a long time, be cranky the rest of the day, and develop low-grade fevers. They are very different, but I love both my handsome boys!

Featured Seller: Sid from Sid Kassidy

It's been a while since I've done an Etsy feature! This week's seller is Sid from Sid Kassidy Master Jeweler.

I am a 32-year-old Canadian mother of 4 and step-mom of 1. I learned to make jewelry with my grandmother when I was a young girl. Always was passionate about it! In 1998 I perfected my art by taking jewelry classes with the well-known Montreal jeweler Josée Desjardin. Since 2000, my work became focused on metalsmithing.

I provided for many local stores and decided to start my Etsy shop in March 2013, working on projects with my lover, who is a wonderful artist. I mainly work with sterling silver pewter alloy, as I love the way I can abstractly play with it during fusion and I love its non-tarnishing quality. I also model for the photo shoots of my work

Check out her shop for more unique pieces. If you see something you like, use the code BABYLOVE for 10% off! Sid also offers free international shipping and a lifetime warranty. Enter her monthly giveaways on her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter.

Gabe's Baby Blessing

All of our family came into town for Gabe's baby blessing on Sunday. Justin's family arrived Wednesday evening, and we all went out to eat. Thursday all the ladies hung out while the boys went golfing, and then Mom made dinner for us.

Gabe found his thumb!

Friday we went to Toys 'R Us for the grandparents to buy Caden his birthday gift. He picked out a Thomas the Train wooden train set. He's been playing with it every day since.

He napped on Grandma for hours!

Saturday my family arrived and my sister-in-law, Rocio, threw Caden a birthday party. We had it at the park, which was busier than I've ever seen it. Fortunately, we were able to find a table, and although it wasn't shaded, the weather was nice. The main course was fried chicken, and the cake was delicious. I was pleasantly surprised. I think I will get all my cakes from Costco from now on.

Everyone had a good time talking and playing. It went really well; we were out there for nearly 3 hours!

He loved the Cars toys he got from the Lyles.

Trying to ride the dragon (Toothless) I got him.

Taking a picture with his play camera. He also got Play-Do from his friend Lily.

My family came over to the house afterward and played Dance Central on the Kinect with us. I love when the boys do it!

Sunday was Gabe's blessing. Justin gave the blessing, and his father and brother, my father and brother, a friend, and the bishop stood in the circle. Gabe fussed a bit, unlike Caden. Justin blessed Gabe to be a righteous leader and have many children.

He wore the same outfit Caden did, which used to be Justin's. We didn't keep the bonnet on.

(That day we also practiced for the Primary program. It was overwhelming for me. I feel like we are still so unprepared. Or maybe just I am.) After church, we gathered outside for photos, my least favorite part.

Justin's family came to our house right after, and we had pulled pork sandwiches for lunch. It was our first time making them and they came out great. We are making the rest for friends on Thursday. The boys played Kinect golf, and then we all played Catch Phrase, boys against girls, and the boys won (by cheating, of course). Then my family came and brought more gifts for Caden: Cars sheets and Bible lift-the-flap board books. My brother and his family came after Justin's left, which ended up being better. I keep forgetting how small our place is until it's filled with people! I got to spend some quality time with my sister-in-law, Rocio. Ever since I became a mother, I've bonded with her more. I loved seeing her take care of my children so lovingly.

Gabe chatting with his Tia Rocio.

Monday, we and Justin's family went to the same ranch we took Caden to last year. They had some new attractions and different games. Caden's favorite was the train ride, of course. He is really into trains right now! Gabe stayed asleep the entire time, which was really nice.

Hay maze. Caden cheated by climbing over the bales.

Panning for "gold" that he got to trade for candy.

The boys went golfing that afternoon, and we ladies hung out with my family (my brother and his family left Sunday night). We played Catch Phrase again, and then my family left. Justin's family left once the boys came back, and they flew home this morning.

Gabe was so spoiled, being held nonstop, that I was afraid it would be hard to get back into our normal routine. Thankfully, it wasn't. Both boys have adjusted nicely, but I know they miss all the fun and attention! They are both so loved!

Moments with Gabe

Dressed for his first Sunday (9/29). He was already too big for the outfit!

Gabe likes tasting different textures. He also sucks on his fist.

Playing with Gabe

Giving Gabe kisses

He lets me put him down for a little now while I get things done. p.s. Love his hair! It always sticks up in the back.

Spoiled

I am not a high maintenance girl--in fact, I'm very frugal--but some things I prefer high quality. And Justin spoils me. I started a walking routine with a friend and my feet killed afterward. My four-year-old running shoes needed to be retired. I was going to put new shoes on my Christmas list, but Justin wanted to get them right away. So we went to the Nike Factory Store, where I found new running shoes at a great price. I love how they look and feel!

I also needed new nursing bras because my old ones were too big and stretched out. So we also checked out Motherhood Maternity, where I found 3 new bras, including a really comfy sports nursing bra, and a nursing shirt.

A few days later we went back to the outlet mall we visited for Justin's birthday. We weren't shopping for me, but I did want to peek inside the Coach store. Coach is the only designer brand I have a weakness for. They're always passing out coupons, so I didn't think much of the 50-percent-off deal. Still out of our price range. But then they said it applied to clearance, which was already 40 percent off the clearance price, so I thought I'd look. Nothing my style.

But wait! There it was: the perfect size and style. And price--$60 after all the discounts. The only thing I didn't love was the colors. I remembered the line from the previous visit and the somewhat-patriotic colors I did like, but they no longer had anything in those colors, and this was the last purse of its type. I have a strict "if you don't love it, don't buy it" policy, so I was ready to give it up. But Justin liked it and convinced me to get it. I did need a small purse for when I don't need the diaper bag (my previous purse was trashed and too large anyway now that I'm using a diaper bag again; I just needed something for my wallet, phone, and keys.) The more I looked at it, the more the colors grew on me. And I couldn't resist the price. I may never be able to afford a Coach bag again, let alone one I like! So I bought it.

I told Justin he's not allowed to get me any Christmas gifts now.

It Finally Happened

Caden drew on the furniture.

A couple weeks before his third birthday, I finally let Caden use markers. He is good about only coloring on the paper and wipes the table if he accidentally colors on it. Even when he was younger, we only had one incident where he found a pen and drew on his chair when he was about 18 months and didn't really know better. (I got the pen marks out.) I was proud of my good little boy.

Until today.

I don't even know when it happened. He only colored for a few minutes while I was putting in a load of laundry. After that he watched Curious George while I was on the computer. Then I went to change Gabe's diaper and saw an orange streak on the new couch. I thought it was an accident because sometimes Caden asks for help opening and closing the marker lids and comes to us, marker tip exposed. But then I saw another, and another, and then a bunch of scribbles all over the glider footstool. I even found a streak on the baby's burp cloth. I was in shock!

In my surprise and haste to remove the stains, I didn't get a photo. The marker came out of the couch really easily (the salesman wasn't lying!), but the footstool took a good amount of scrubbing. Caden got a timeout and then went straight to nap time without a story and lullaby. Although I was upset and stern, I didn't yell at or spank him. I'm proud of myself for keeping cool. I told him he was in big trouble, and he replied, "Small trouble!" Nice try. He has lost all marker usage until further notice and all coloring privileges temporarily.

I still can't believe this happened! Though I'm glad it was washable marker and came out. I knew a mom whose son drew on their new couches with Sharpie!

Post-Partum Body

Friday was the first day I was able to wear my regular wardrobe, meaning no maternity/stretched out clothes. It felt so good! A lady at a restaurant even told me I looked "fabulous." I still can't fit into everything, and although my tummy is almost flat, it's very flabby, so there's still work to do. But not a lot! Here
I am dressed for church on Sunday:

Yes, I chopped off all my hair! I don't love it though. A few weeks ago we had a fiasco trying to find a salon, so I just went to Fantastic Sam's. I picked out an asymmetrical A-line from a magazine, but the lady had a hard time figuring out the cut and it ended up too short and looking uneven on accident instead of on purpose. Once it grows out a little, I will get it redone at a nice salon.