Around Here Twenty-Three: 06/03-06/09

A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this minute.

Welcoming our sweet new son into our family last Friday, June 3rd.  Rustin James was born at 8:37p at 7 lbs 14 oz and 19 inches long.  I can't wait to tell you more about it in a post all out our Rusty next week (dependent on my ability to combat the rotten eight exhaustion, obviously.  hah)

Intentional Hours Outside:  208 hours (of 1000)

Pretty limited outdoor time this week with our new babe, only up 5 hours from last week.  I didn't even get outside for almost two days straight while in the hospital, hah, when we left on Sunday afternoon I was so grateful to get out into the real air!  Rustin has been outside a few times this week for a limited amount of time, including his first trip to the baseball field for Greyson's last regular season game last night.  I've snuck outside for a little while to mow with Violet, but it's been a slow week in outdoor time.  I'm hoping to be back to better time next week with a goal to walk the dogs at least three times next week! 

Reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes because I want to get it in book form before I see the movie. 

Adjusting so slowly to life with a newborn.  Oh, the rotten eight first weeks of life, how you are such a weird, tiring, and bizarrely wonderful, short lived time.  The under eye bags, you guys, it's almost funny.  Rotten eight of newbornhood with three other kids under six has been our most challenging yet, already at only one week in!  We are all feeling the effects of a new life and this week there have been random sleeping bodies lying all over our house, including the kids taking sporadic naps, sleeping in late, and falling asleep on the couch at night and having to be carried to bed.  Brandon and I have been doing the same; all of us seem to be moving about sleepily but with smiles on our faces. 

Sinking into the summer haze of long days of free hours to do whatever we like.  The two big kids have been finding all kinds of ways to occupy their days (both creatively brilliant and creatively disastrous).  Lots of giggling, mess making, sibling arguments that end in a matter of minutes, and little feet running all through the house.  Summer has that effect on life, doesn't it?  That blissful haze that blurs the lines between days of the week and stretches out time for kids with dirty, booboo knees and sticky faces.  

Giggling over our Miss Violet and how hysterical and grown she has seemed this last week.  She wakes up every morning and asks, "Rusty?" before coming over and patting his little head.  She's also started saying "No Way!" in place of just a regular 'no.'  She is still our squishy little darling baby biggie girl though.  Requesting to be held and (still!!) drinking bubbas and carrying around her blankies.  We got in some one-on-one time this week reading books together and riding the tractor.  

Making just the bare minimum.  I threw together a family favorite chicken & veggies casserole one night and Brandon made this ground turkey with chinese green beans over rice (yum!) We were lucky to get these best burgers frozen from my sweet friend Carli, delivered just the day before our new baby arrived (thank you! they were delicious and  hit with the kids!)

Grateful for all the incredible support and encouragement we've received this past week from our family, friends, and my online community.  Through texts, comments, phone calls, visits, and special surprises in the mail - it has been overwhelming in the most wonderful way.  Truthfully, it has lifted us up and filled us with so much love.  thank you, thank you, thank you.