Tough Guy

Do you remember my favorite local photo spot?  The one I take the kids to every year just before school starts for some "new school year" photos?  I did that again this year - the first week of September (when the weather was still nice).  I just barely finished editing my favorites.  It took a lot longer than normal because mr. got me the awesomest birthday present this year - Adobe Lightroom!  Aw, man, I'm excited!  I've been watching tutorials and trying to learn the ins and outs and downloading free presets like mad!  I've still got so far to go, but I'm happy with how these turned out.  And I'm finally ready to share them.

I'm splitting this up into a few posts, though, because honestly, if I put all of them in one it would probably crash your computer and mine trying to load it...

So I thought I'd start with the eldest.

This boy.

This little man who started out as bugaboo.  

This little man who was my first.  Who answered so many prayers and yearnings and heartaches and hopes and dreams.

Who entered my physical world after I knew him for so long as only flutters, bumps and constant movements big and small... after knowing only his heartbeat and outline and stubborn reluctance to be born.  Who entered my physical world and in a gasp and tiny cry flipped everything upside down.

Who changed me.  Who unapologetically, unequivocally, unabashedly changed everything I thought I knew.  About love.  About being a mother.  About myself.

This boy who entered the world so seriously, with such old eyes and so wise a soul that his name changed instantly upon meeting him.  This boy called Ezra.

This boy with his reluctant baby smiles and reserved baby giggles, but his content and good-natured attitude nonetheless.  He, more than anyone and anything else makes me question my world.

Not only because he questions everything himself, searching for answers not easily obtained, but because the very make up of this boy - this serious, earnest, sensitive, inquisitive, brilliant, analytical, literal, boy - is as much a foreign object to me as Saturn or the murky and unattainable depths of bottomless ocean trenches.

He and I, it seems, were not cut from the same cloth.

This logical, stuck in his head, too small for his big ideas and big thinking and big emotions boy.  Our cloth, as they say, is as different as two cloths could be.  Burlap and satin.  Silk and denim.  Chiffon and felt.

But it doesn't really matter, not at all.  Because through the differences and locked horns, the head-scratching and questioning, he's still my first.

And there's something special about that.  About being the first to clutch my heart in a way no one else could.  Being the first to say my calling instead of my name - "mama" instead of "Kim."  Being the first to cry and smile and laugh and hug and reach out for me.  Maybe he feels like a tough guy now.  But he was the first to truly need me.

Do you know how difficult it is to coax a smile from this boy?

Nearly impossible, unless you count this goofy, toothy contortion.

But just in case you worry that he's much too serious for his own good,

I captured just enough of that quirky, silly side which emerges every so often to help you rest at ease.  

It appears he IS still a kid after all.  (and this is, by far, my favorite capture of the entire day.)

 For comparison sake, I've included a few pictures from previous years.

When he was, perhaps, a little more quick with his smile.

There's no denying the twinge of sadness I feel when I think of how fleeting and fickle time is.  When you start your family, everyone warns you that "it goes too fast." And you smile in that smug, knowing way, thinking you know it.  

But you don't know it.  Not really.

*Be sure to check below for all the fun parties I link to!*

How to Craft When You Have a Needy Baby

It seems like only yesterday I was typing up this little post with some cute nakey photos of this adorable newborn.  Awwww!  Remember how I told you all he was so perfect?  Remember that?  

Why didn't you laugh and tell me I was tempting fate?  Why didn't you knock on a lot of wood on my behalf??  Why didn't you tell me to reserve comment until he was not pretty much exactly the same as every other newborn in the world???

The truth is: there's probably no such thing as a perfect baby, is there?  Although some probably come close (bug, for instance.  Then he turned 3 and all heck broke loose.)

The other truth is this: This baby?  He has got to be the most needy baby I've ever encountered.  He requires holding at pretty much all times.  He DOES NOT SLEEP.  No, really.  I mean he doesn't.  The longest stretch this now 5 month old has ever slept is 3 hours.  Naps?  Ha!  He scoffs at naps!

Gosh, I love this little pip and his super smiley smiles.  I love his coos and giggles and the way his babbling sounds like singing.  I love his eyes that STILL to this day look at me like he's in love with me.  I love his little grabby hands that want to cling and clutch at yours.  I really do.  

I love crafting too.  And there's not a ton of time for that anymore.  It's unfortunate, but true.  So, I set up this little tutorial.  How to craft when you have a needy baby.  Do you have a needy baby too?  Well, then, you can commiserate.

First, there are the necessities:
You will for SURE need a pacifier.  Make sure it is the baby's PREFERRED brand, or you're screwed right from the beginning.
You will also need a boppee or other baby type pillow thingy and a blanket.  Preferably "THE blankie" - you know the one.  
You'll also need brown kraft paper.  Or white.
A wood tray to hold your crafting items, 
and all of said crafting items.  

Let's discuss the layout:
You will first settle the fussy baby.  Wrap him up the way he likes (loose, tight, doesn't matter) and pop that pacifier in his mouth.  (note: it's a really good idea to have an extra pacifier on hand, like in your pocket.  That way, when the baby spits the sucky out and it disappears into thin air magically, you can save the day.)  Lay him in his boppee on the couch.
Leave some space on the couch, then set up your crafting - lay down the craft paper, stick the roll into the space between the cushions and back of the couch to keep it in place.  Make sure you have ALL craft items.  As in EVERYTHING you could possibly need.  Because once you sit, you really won't want to be bopping up and down, and neither will your baby.
See that little spot between baby and craft?  That is where you sit.
See that cute little face sticking out of the blanket?  Gosh, he's lucky.
And that craft?  That's going to be a headband FINALLY, gosh darn it.

You'll definitely want to make sure that Needy Baby is touching you in some way.
That's pretty much the number one rule of Needy Baby: Must touch mom in some way at all times.
Especially when she is trying to eat, do laundry, or sleep.  Or any other time it's highly inconvenient, because, honestly, who could say no to that adorable Needy Baby face?  Or the pout?  (Oh, gosh... the pout...)

And this?

This is how far Needy Baby will allow you to craft before being done with the whole scenario.  He'll then spastically throw his adorable coos to the wind and wail until you devote every ounce of your attention back in his direction, DEMAND that you pick him up and rock him until his eyes close, and then FORCE you to continue holding him because gosh darn it, he can tell when human arms have become boppee pillow arms and the latter just won't do!

So, how to craft when you have a needy baby?

When you figure it out, let me know.

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!

Happy New Year!

I know you're used to me disappearing for days, weeks... sometimes even MONTHS (cough, cough) and thus my absence needs no explanation, BUT the past few weeks have been a hullabaloo - first mini's birthday, then Christmas prep (and you know I go totally MIA for that), then Christmas itself, bug's birthday, and our trip to visit the fam in Utah!  It was pip's first plane ride, and tons of other fun stuff that will be discussed later on...

So now that THAT'S out of the way... hello!  Hope your holidays have been fabulous.  It's always so hard for me to just jump back into blogging after a break.  Awkward.  As if I'm not sure how to talk to you anymore.  So let's all just shake it off... aaaaaand, there we go.

It's a new year!  You've probably been on top of that for, oh, say, a little over 3 weeks now, but since this is my first post of 2014:
Happy New Year!

I'd like to start the New Year out all nice and orderly (completely contrary to my normal state) so I thought I'd reintroduce myself, this here blog, my (kinda sorta) schedule, and give you some announcements.  And updates.  And basically the 411.

I'm Kimberly.  

This is my blog.  Yep, I'm the "me". 
It began quietly enough as a way to hold myself accountable for my creative pursuits - since I knew full well I wouldn't finish anything I started unless SOMETHING held me accountable.  
I also decided - upon becoming a blog-reading addict thanks to my sister - that it was important to show the world that anyone (ANYONE.  This means YOU) is/can be creative.  You don't have to be a professional.  You don't have to have the latest and greatest gadgets.  You don't have to be wonder woman.  So I vowed to share my triumphs and failures in crafting, sewing, cooking, photo-ing, and just basically life.  The humble beginnings of my blog are just that.  HUMBLE.  (Please don't go looking.  Just.  Don't.  Really.  It's ugly.)  I've been tempted to "update" the old blog here to make sure every single post looks internet worthy and "pin ready".  But I just can't do it.  Why?  Because every single post on this blog comprises a moment in my life I wanted to share for some reason or another.  Deleting it or changing it feels like rewriting history - and we all know that's impossible!  Besides, I think that however embarrassing some of those old posts are (mostly because of the reeeeeheeelly bad photos) it's fun to look back and see how far I've come.  Most of my projects then were failures, near failures, almost triumphs or a combination of all of the above.  Most of my projects now are almost triumphs, pretty nearly as close to a triumph as possible or triumphs - which is a testament to how working at something, practicing and honing your craft really does pay off.
If you want to know more about me, you can read the "mommy madness" posts in the categories over there, the "me, myself and i" page at the top, or by clicking my photo to read my google bio.

Phew.  Now that we have that covered.  Welcome to my little corner of the web (for any newbies).  I've been at this for... hm... well, holy buckets.  It'll be four years in February!  Anyway, in that time I've managed to eek out a generally manageable "schedule" (in the loosest sense of the word) for my blogging and in the past year or so I've also establish a workable blogging "philosophy".  That is basically this:  I'm a mom first.  I'm also a wife.  That means that the chauffeur, cook, baker, booboo kisser, photo-er, hugger goodbyer, welcome homer, snack maker, lunch packer, bedtime song singer, avid church goer, (not to mention church choir director and sunday school teacher) and of course portable baby breakfast, lunch and dinner provider that goes along with those roles obviously takes precedence in my life. Sewing, crafting, artsy photo-ing, blogging, thinking, showering and doing my hair all come next.  And while I'd love for this blog here to become something more than a hobby for me, at this point in my life it just isn't.  And that's ok.  We've all got busy lives.  Which is why I decided that you'd cut me some slack if I missed a day or two or 90 here and there.  (To be fair, that 90 day thing only happened ONCE and I was sooooo sick...  that's all the excusing I'm going to do.  I swear.)

With that said, here is the rundown on my fairly loose "schedule":
Sundays: *NEW* "This week on bugaboo blog..." - a preview of coming attractions hopefully with fun photos, some from instragram.  Do you follow bugabooblog on instagram?  You should!

Mondays: Yummy Mondays - a continued tradition here at bugaboo blog.  You can get the lowdown here.  It's changed a little over time; to be honest, it should be called Yummy Tuesdays now since that's when the rents come to dinner, but as we know I hate change, so it's staying on Mondays.  When it first started, I tried three new recipes each week.  Now I post one new recipe a week because let's face it, I've become much more realistic in my goals, motivation and energy levels.  Could be the more children thing.  I also always provide a printable recipe card now, too.  You can see a whole lot of yummy and some not so yummy recipes by clicking the "cook" category over there in the sidebar.  Oh, yes.  That's the thing.  The recipes are not always awesome.  In my quest for total transparency on this here blog, I share my failed recipes too.  And my crazy mistakes. And there are some doozies.  Some really, really big doozies.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and sometimes on occasional Thursdays: Tutorials or just me showing off - well, there's really no explanation needed there.  These are the days I show you craft stuff, sewing stuff, or other projects - some with tutorials and some without.  I may miss days here and there.  Especially Thursdays because that is my one night off of Momdom.  SQUEAL!!  (shoutout to the mr.  Woot!)  
SOME Fridays: Tales from the Crib - Ok.  Here's the deal.  I like to write.  You've probably noticed that.  So I started this little ditty I called "Things My Two Year Old Taught Me" because at the time my oldest child was two and I found I was continually being astounded by his wisdom (no, that's not me being cheeky for once) and I wanted to document it.  You can read one of my favorites here.  And another one here.  He was pretty cute.  But he got older, as did my next child and so I changed the name to the more fitting "tales from the crib" to encompass all young'uns in these parts and the stuff I find noteworthy.  Not to mention the messes and chaos of life with kids.  Last year I was not so great at writing these.  (Though I do like this one) But i'd like to develop this idea more, so I'm going to try again!  This will not be a weekly thing.  Cause I just can't do that much learning.

SOME Fridays: Other Write-y type posts -  When I feel like writing, but don't have much to say about the kiddos, sometimes I'll write advice columns like this one.  Or some kind of a rally cry like this.  And if you ever want to feel better about yourself, there's this.  Like I said, I like to write.
SOME Fridays: Round Ups - I know you know what that is.  So, on some of the days I don't do a write-y type post I'll throw up a round up of pertinent stuff - think nearest holiday-related crafty things.  I like doing round-ups.  Don't know why, but I do.  So there.
Saturdays: Give a girl a break - jeez.

I reserve the right to switch this schedule around just to confuse you.  Kidding.  Sometimes I'm just not that great at the schedule thing.


So that's the weekly dealio.  Then there are some "series" I'll be holding on to.  The following are ongoing "series" that will pop up here and there, usually on but not limited to Tuesdays-Thursdays:
Gifts Kids Can Make - Get the details about that here.  (And the recap here).

A Chemist in the Kitchen - HAHA!  Once again, only did ONE of these all year!  BUT I'm hanging onto it regardless!  Get the details here.  (our first one was this one, by the way.)

Hmmm... Very Pinteresting - I try to do this monthly.  Basically I pick a pin from my boards and focus on that as inspiration for doing something that month, then report back about it the next month.  I did this for like TWO WHOLE MONTHS last year (even though I am constantly using my pinterest inspirations...).  We'll see how long I report back this year.  I usually do a pinteresting link party associated with this as well.  And feature links.

There are several week-long series I've done almost every year that I'm going to bring back again.  And again.  And again - bwahahahaha!
Yarn it all!  Get the details on year 1 here.  See the yarn it all year 1 wrap up here.  Get the details on year 2 here.  And yarn it all year 2 wrap up here. (Missed it last year due to extended illness aka pregnancy.)  Expect to see it again this year.  It'll be epic.
Gift it.  Gift it Good.  Get the details here.  See the gift it year one wrap up here (350 gift ideas!) and the gift it year 2 wrap up here (310 gift ideas!).  (They're like the mother lode of round ups peeps.)  I always do it in August and I always need guest posters.  Interested?  Let me know!

I have a new header!  It needed an update after the new arrival a few months ago.  Be sure to come over and check it out.

Oh my golly.  This post is getting looooong.  I promise not all my posts are this wordy.  Don't run away screaming.  Don't be overwhelmed.  I'm really very nice once you get to know me.

So.  Lastly, a few things.  I picked up a gig or two!  Ok, no or.  There are two.  Definitely.  A while ago, I got this gig writing a book.  I loved it, it was awesome and holy man a lot of work.  But remember how I love writing?  (Wait, did I mention I love writing?)  SO!  This is exciting peeps. 
I am happy to announce that I'm writing for a new blog called Tipsaholic.  (It's a paid gig people, the real deal!) You probably know the lovely Cassity from Remodelaholic?  Well, this is basically a sister site to her blog.  There are a few contributors writing for her regularly and I'm one of the tipsters!  It's been pretty fun thus far.  It just recently launched, so go check it out.  And you can let Cassity know what you think too.  (Read her announcement here).
I am also super happy to announce that I'm a contributor for another blog now as well!  It's called Hi! It's Jilly.  Cute blog about mom stuff, multiples stuff (she's got triplets!!), diy stuff, crafty stuff, cooking stuff, life stuff.  I get to be the new photography contributor!  Now, I'm not an expert on the subject, but I am a quick study and I research my bum off when needed.  I promise I won't just be all "uh, here's some awesome photos.  Yeah."  I get to post about dslr photography, tricks, and photography type crafts!  I've got lots of ideas already.  So that's monthly, you'll have to check it out.

Oh.  Wait.  HERE'S lastly.

Lastly, I really do love to hear from you!  Questions?  Concerns?  Want to yell at me for how I misspelled stationery?  email me!  Comment!  I promise I email back!  
bugabooblog @ yahoo . com  (just take out all the spaces)

You can follow me on Facebook.  Or pinterest.  Or instagram.  Or bloglovin.  Or you can subscribe via email.  Or get my rss feed!  (whatever that is).

Thanks for making it to the end of this gargantuan post.  You rock.

Happy 2014!

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!

What I've Been Up To Since February 26th:

A Retrospective

(in photos)

(Some of them really bad/blurry phone photos)

As you can imagine, we've had quite the few months... yes, excitement and sickness.  But I've also made a lot of food.  And not just for myself, either.  And I've managed a couple of projects, sewing and DIY.  Plus family stuff.  And everyday life stuff.  Well, you know, you've been there.  So, here we go.  3-ish/4-ish months of photos just for you...

bug had crazy hair day at school, and mini insisted on crazy hair, too.  They went around the whole day looking like this:

Then it snowed.  A lot.

And then it blizzarded.  Again.

There was a bit of melancholy.

But we made up for it with cute legwarmers.  Plus I documented a few of mini's more extravagant outfits.  That she picked herself.

I made a delicious green drink for St. Patrick's day.  Then I made it again.  And again.  And I may have made it one more time.  You can find the "Shamrock Juice" recipe here.

Speaking of things I love, I also documented some crazy cravings... when I could keep anything down, this is what it was.

top row: pickles, sharp cheddar, and turkey on toasted plain bagel with cream cheese spread.  cottage cheese and peas with "Sunny Paris" seasoning.
second row: leftover mac and cheese with ketchup. grilled sharp cheddar and mozarella on sourdough with a sprinkle of garlic salt.
last row:  pickle, slim jim beef stick, sharp cheddar stick wrap on a flour tortilla with cream cheese.  vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and maraschino cherries right from the carton.  Bam.

But even more exciting, we went to the circus!  The kids loved it.

And then my five year old beat me at wii bowling.

how does that happen??

After all the blizzarding, we were very excited to find our first nest in March, right outside our door.

And mini decided she loved dancing. (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the dance clothes!)

I got a pedicure and took in some theatre (and ate some really delicious food, which I don't have photos of) while visiting my bff, El.

I gave myself a haircut.  More like a trim, but I thought I did pretty well.

AND I started my search for the perfect red.

And got some color on my face!  Ok, so no color, but more freckles!  Can someone tell me why no matter what color or brand I buy, my lipstick always turns magenta?  I need something deep, sultry, whine red...

And then, right after I was so excited about getting some color, er, freckles, we had this crazy ice storm.  CRAZY.  In APRIL.  It was insane.  Our city lost a lot of trees.  And power.  

In the midst of the cold, we decided to get away to a hotel north of here with an awesome slide.  bug was sick and stayed home with dad for the night, but joined us the next morning.  bug and mini both did the "giant twisty slide" by themselves!  But mini's favorite part was the "yittow (little) hot poowoh (pool)".  She warmed up in our bubbly jet tub in our room while eating ice cream.  (???)

Then came a round of illness for everyone!  Yea!  (I'd been sick most of the three months, though, so, no biggie)

mr went to Vietnam.  And China.  He was gone FOR-EVER.  We got by with facetime.

I did actually do some real cooking (like I said before)

all food to be discussed in detail in their own posts.

and worked on some projects (these are just sneak peeks mind you...)

and when the sun finally broke for real, we went to the park again

again

and again!

And then, it snowed!  In April!

mr had gotten me tickets to see the Broadway touring production of The Lion King at the PAC in a nearby town.  Then his business trip was extended and couldn't come with me!  Luckily I was able to wrangle up a date at the last minute.

He loved it.  He requested eggrolls for dinner - I was happy to oblige - and we both loved the music and the acting.  The costumes and puppetry was really cool.  Afterwards, bug got to meet one of his favorite characters in the lobby, Timon!  (I asked if I could take their picture and the guy said "I have to say no if you ask me, but I can't help it if you sneak a shot in while we're talking!")

I was in charge of a family history lesson/craft for a bazillion girls at my church.  They really seemed to like it, and I'm planning on sharing the idea here later.

Oh, and guess what happened then?  It snowed.  In May.

And I shared this bump photo on instagram: (yes, a sweater, in May!)

It finally warmed up enough to visit the beach here in town:

though the water was frigid.

We had a bike race,

played Candyland, (why is that game sooooo loooooong???)

And Ezra realized he actually loves avocados.  So no more complaining!

I made multiple to-do lists:

which have now been swapped out with what I call the "Before Baby List":

(it's long.  Like 4 pages long.  Two columns.  Plus extras.)

bug "graduated" from 4K,

and announced his devotion to his very first "girlfriend".

The kids started (and already finished) their first ever swim lessons

and bug worked up the guts to jump off the diving board after his last lesson.

We accidentally let the kids swim in algae.  It was pretty gross.  EWWWWW.

We watched some sunsets:

did some baking:

broke out the Christmas present from hubby (a nail gun!):

mr did a whole ton of yard work.  Ton.  Like redid the entire backyard.  More pictures forthcoming.

We've used the backyard for a lot of sprinkler fun since it warmed up the past two-ish weeks.  June was cold.  I think we may have finally hit summer though!

We got our house painted!

And re-arranged.  But it's not quite done yet.

You may also be interested in this... mr baked a cake.  With a surprise inside.

It's a boy!

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!