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.

Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers

For Justin's birthday I made him stuffed green bell peppers (adapted from this Emeril recipe) and they came out just okay. Sprouts had red bell peppers on sale, so I bought some so I could try the recipe again. This time they were delicious!

Ingredients

• 4 bell peppers (I prefer red)
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. crushed garlic (or 2 tsp. minced)
• 1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 8-oz. can tomato sauce

(seasoning measurements are estimated, so feel free to add more or less)

Directions

1. Cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds. Pour enough water into a baking dish to cover the bottom, and stand the peppers in the dish.
2. Saute the onions in oil over medium heat for a few minutes. Add the beef and seasonings and cook until browned. Stir in the rice and tomato sauce. 
3. Spoon the stuffing into the peppers. Cook for 30 minutes at 375 degrees F. Let them stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Five Week Baby Update

Today Gabe is 5 weeks old. It feels like I gave birth to him forever ago. He has grown so much! At his two-week appointment he gained nearly a pound. By now he's probably well over 9 lbs. Gabe's really long too. I love the little rolls on his legs! Caden was scrawny.

He loves being in our arms or on our chests. He almost always falls asleep right away in the Baby K'tan. We also bought a carrier for Justin, and Gabe fell asleep in it too. I'm excited for this carrier because it can carry Caden too, and I want to go hiking as a family once the weather cools down and we get back in shape.

Gabe sleeps a lot, but not for long stretches of time. The most he's ever slept at once was 3 1/2 hours; usually it's about 2 hours. Most of the time he wakes up from a wet diaper, though he can sleep through a dirty one. I won't let him, which means more waking up for both of us. Right now I think he's going through a growth spurt because he wants to nurse nearly every hour! This means little sleep between him waking up from hunger and lots of wet and dirty diapers from nursing so much.
 

Unlike Caden, Gabe will take a pacifier, though not all the time. He's still learning how to keep it in his mouth and gets really angry when it falls out.

During the day he is awake for longer periods of time, but is only a little less grumpy. I love the moments when he is content and listens to me talking to him. He loves the sound of running water too (but otherwise is not too fond of bath time).

I forgot how much attention a newborn requires. On the one hand, I'm enjoying holding such a small, snuggly baby. On the other, I can't wait for him to get a little older so he sleeps longer and is more fun to play with!

The Best Big Brother

Caden has welcomed Gabe with open arms--and lots of kisses--since the day Gabe came into the world. He loves Gabe so much! Caden is such a good helper. When I say Gabe has a dirty diaper, Caden gets everything ready.

When Gabe cries while I'm busy doing something, I'll ask Caden to talk to him. Caden even helps keep the pacifier in Gabe's mouth without me asking. I hope this kindness continues and they become good friends and close brothers!

And just for fun:

New haircut on Friday!