What we found in the barn this morning:

One baby girl

and twin baby boys

makes three new baby goats born in our barn this morning – from two different does.

So, so fun! So far, Eden named one of the baby boys Lamentations. Charlotte just thinks they are a real live snuggle blanket.

This one’s for you, Dad.

After a discussion with my dad during which I realized I’ve done roughly 300 extra loads of laundry this year. About a year ago my two middle children quit wearing diapers – and I started doing laundry. Now, with plans to rearrange furniture… details to come… Dad suggested I make pull-ups of sorts. I haven’t bought them for various reasons, so I’ve just washed sheets almost every day for at least one dear child.

My latest project of the day:

Yes, I just posted photos of underwear on my blog. But tomorrow, when sheets are dry even if children are not, it will all have been worth it.

For the record, everything involved I had. Extra PUL for waterproofing, flannel scraps for the lining and soaker layer, and Blaine’s old t-shirts for extra absorbency. I didn’t use a pattern, and the first is rougher than the second. If they work well though, I’ll make a couple more. Talk about frugality!

Time’s up. Time in. Time out. Or something.

Our new chore cards are working wonderfully. The house is maintaining better than ever before. A good half hours’ warning is politely requested before dropping by… but we’re making progress. Overheard this morning:

“That’s your 10-minute speed clean, Ruby.”

“Well, Sterling, I call it my time-out.”

Ruby really likes the speed clean. Can’t you tell?

Supper prep conversations.

I stepped out of the kitchen while making supper, leaving Ruby at the realm. When I walked back into the kitchen, Ruby was coming out of the laundry room.

“I thought you were stirring this?” I said.

“I was, but I couldn’t for a minute. I was doing laundry,” she says as she throws the dryer lint away.

Precious, multi tasking three year old. I love you.

As Sterling saw me put brown sugar in the sloppy joes he asked, “Are you supposed to put that in there, or are you just doing that so that I’ll eat it?”

My dear boy. Equally loved, to be sure, but you are a goose.

Afternoon giggles.

Liberty woke up feeling the need for her fat pants this morning.

Or we got into a discussion about how I, in my high school years, tucked my shirts in but I never, ever do now… something about that post baby belly that makes that less than attractive. In went Liberty’s dress, into her leggings, and we got a giggle over the view of skinny Liberty with a less than skinny gut.

And then she wanted me to take a picture. To which, like any good blogger, I replied that I would – provided I was allowed to blog about it. She agreed.

You choose the scenario.

Pierce: 5 months

Tomorrow, this blue-eyed boy is five months old.

He gave me a fun short photo shoot this afternoon.

And then, he got bored.

Oops.

It happened. Ever since we got our new van, and every seat is no longer full, I’ve been counting heads before we leave in it. I used to just glance around… every seat with a head peeking up from it meant all was where it ought to be.
Today, headed to co-op in a mad rush because we were bordering on late, I got everyone in, bags in, lunch in, backed down the driveway about ten feet, and put the van in park to go get the sleeping baby out of his bed. Ouch.
Sterling, sitting next to Pierce’s car seat – his empty car seat – didn’t seem to think it worth mentioning that Pierce wasn’t in there. Pierce is in a rear facing convertible car seat, so until I did my mental, “Buckled Charlie. Buckled Ruby. Sterling’s there. Eden’s there. Liberty’s there. Pierce… oh no, Pierce!”
And yes, I looked around to see if anyone was watching. We live in the country… but still, the vision of me backing up, stopping, heading back into the house, and coming back out with the baby… it was a sorry sight.
There you have it, dear friends. I so do not have it all together.
Pierce was in the doctor’s office for his four month checkup. Never mind that he’s flying toward five months at a rapid pace. He was 17 lbs. 2 oz. and 26.75 inches long. He’s by far my biggest for his age – as in, Liberty weighed about that much on her first birthday.
Next up: a four five month photo. Because he’s sleeping now – and I’ve learned to let sleeping babies lie. You know, except when you’re going somewhere. Then it’s good to grab the baby.