floral friday

From Grandma's garden...

the crib crew

Asher has collected quite the crew of paraphernalia in his crib. 

It must all be arranged perfectly before he'll go to sleep. 

He tells Jared where to put things when he puts him to bed, even that the cars must be backed into the corner.

A few days later the crew had grown even more. Kids are so funny.

And what you don't see is his lambie, the most important of all.

He sleeps right on top of it.

slingin' it

Miriam likes to be held. And I like to oblige her. Of course sometimes I need my hands free too so we've become good friends with the sling. I've even figured out how to nurse her in it! 

The other day she fell asleep after nursing and just looked so cute snuggled against my breast. So I had to take a picture of course. 

Doesn't she look cozy?
(and yes I'm posting a photo with half my breast bared. i figure after the naked birth photos, this is no biggie, right?)

Dad has even gotten in on the sling action. I came home from a trip to the store one day to this. 

A man wearing his baby is a sweet sight indeed.

And the mastitis is cleared up! woo hoo! yay for garlic and cabbage!

the dreaded 'm' word

Today is deliciously cool. The pouring rain, thunder, lightning, and even some hail woke us up early this morning. I relished in the cool air coming in our window and snuggled up close to Jared. Miriam slept peacefully on my other side. I also relished in the fact that my entire body wasn't aching. I didn't have a fever. My breast didn't feel on fire when I touched it. A much more pleasant awakening than I experienced two days ago.

Saturday morning I woke up in a feverish aching chill. My whole body hurt. I was cold and then hot. My right breast hurt when I nursed. I feared I had finally encountered something I'd heard nightmare stories about from friends but had never experienced myself in more than two years of breastfeeding--mastitis. I went into the bathroom and turned on the light to see if my breast was red. It wasn't. I took some ibuprofen and went back to bed. When I woke up I felt better but I knew it was just the ibuprofen at work. I was very tired though. I took a nap but woke up and showered for a lunch out with some friends that was already planned. When I got out of the shower I saw that my right breast was indeed red now. Sigh.

I made it through the lunch but pretty much collapsed soon after getting home. I put a warm compress on my breast. The medication had worn off and I was back to feeling feverish and aching. I slept on and off all afternoon. I could barely wake up to eat dinner. And only ate a few bites. I couldn't remember ever feeling so terrible. At 9 pm I took some more ibuprofen so that I could sleep restfully.

Sunday I woke up feeling much better. Jared's cousin who just got home from his mission was speaking in Church so Jared really wanted to go. We went and although not 100% I felt quite good. When we got home I rested and did more hot and cold compresses. Jared ran to the store and got some cabbage and garlic and tea. I swallowed as much raw garlic as I could handle, hung out with cabbage leaves and an ice pack on my breast, and drank echinacea tea. And of course nursing as much as possible. I'm doing more of the same today and resting as much as I can. I'm going to go take a hot shower now while the babies are sleeping.

Mastitis is not fun at all. I'm so grateful I haven't had to suffer from it before and that I seem to be healing rather quickly without antibiotics. (kellymom.com has good info on non-antibiotic treatment) I really didn't want to have to take antibiotics because they make it much easier to get thrush which is a beast to get rid of. I guess this is just my body telling me to rest up a bit more. It's hard to remember that when there is always so much to be done. I don't think I always realize how draining it is to be nursing two little ones. They require a lot of me. Just ask my husband. There's not a whole lot left for him these days.

But doesn't this face make it all worth it?

in black and white

Miriam photographed August 17th.

I admittedly am not experienced in film photography but these photos have something of a film quality to them I think. I love them.

end of summer at snowbird

The day before school started and my parents headed back to NM we drove up to Snowbird. The last time we were there was almost two years ago when we were all in Utah for Asher's baby blessing. This time we took a little hike/walk and then rode the tram up to the top. After that we got pizza for dinner.

It was fun except for all the complaining from the big kids. They were excited about the tram but found all sorts of other things to be pills about. Anyone else's kids do this when you try to do something fun?

I need to remember to get out and enjoy Utah's beautiful mountains more. 

Anyway, enough with the chit chat. Let's get to the pictures!

Asher was loving running up and down the trail.

Trying to chase a bug.

Holding hands with Mommy and Daddy

Grandpa packing Miriam. Can we say precious?

I love the shapes kids make when they run.

The kids were being all grumpy so I asked for their grumpiest face.

And then this one. Grace was just being pouty no matter what and Isaac is a goof.

I took another one where Jared is smiling but I liked this photo better.

Ah, they do smile!

I love my parents.

Asher cared more about the various vehicles at the top of the mountain than anything else.

Not sure why I look so awkwardly posed here.

Riding in the tram back down the mountain.

floral friday

From Grandma's garden...

I don't know what these are called either, but they are pretty!

the barker five

Nick (18), Me in my pjs (27), Lauren (25), Michael (23), Hilary (20)

We are so rarely all together these days. It was so fun to spend the weekend together. Now all of us but Lauren live in Utah. I wish she was closer. We would have some seriously yummy dinners together.

And here's our darling girl sleeping with the blankie her Auntie Lauren brought her.

miriam's blessing

Miriam was blessed Sunday at Church in the same blessing dress that I wore as an infant. Miriam's Great Great Grandmother bought this dress 27 years ago. Me and my two sisters each wore it for our baby blessings and now my daughters (and hopefully future nieces) will wear it too. I love how simple it is with just a few delicate details. And how precious is the bonnet? I can hardly stand the darlingness of it all.

The blessing Jared gave Miriam was really beautiful. My dad, my brother Michael, Jared's stepdad Mike, Jared's uncle Scott, and the bishop were all in the circle. I'm so grateful these men could be there for Miriam's special day. Both of Miriam's grandmothers and her Great Grandma Teddy were also there along with all of my siblings.

first day of school!

The big kids headed off to another year of school this morning. Olivia is now a 5th grader. Isaac is in 4th. And Grace is in 2nd grade. Olivia goes to a different school for the special Extended Learning Program so she left earlier than the others. They all packed their lunches last night and picked out their outfits. It was actually a very smooth morning. Hopefully we keep that up!

A quick story: last night the kids all got dressed in their back-to-school outfits and I overheard Isaac say to Olivia: "You look really cute!"  This morning he informed me that she told him she was much to old to be called "cute"! Funny kids. 

And um, are those shutters dirty or what? yikes! It's amazing what you don't notice until you take a picture.