another project...

A few weeks ago we were offered some free kitchen cabinets from a friend who is upgrading.  Our kitchen has some strange homemade shelves/cabinets/coffin-like drawers so we jumped at the opportunity to have a "real" kitchen {and a dishwasher...YAY!!}.  

This week Paul got the call to pick them up so he started to prepare ... by ripping out the counter :0 and the old shelves/cabinets {while I was at yoga...ohmmmmmm}.  Needless to say, I'm wishing we waited one more week to start this project so I would be happily on my way to Florida instead of trying to cook in a construction zone.

The before kitchen, we will call it "funky function": 

The during kitchen, we will call it "totally dysfunctional what was I thinking craziness":

Everything should be in place by the time we get home from Florida, and we will just need to add a countertop which is being crafted by my very talented brother at RE Blood Boatworks.  Can't wait!

And today I ask for prayers of peace and solace for my extended family as they grieve the loss of a wonderful father, brother, husband, grandfather, uncle & great uncle.  

first bites...

 The little mister is so close to six months old.  I can't believe it!  He's hitting so many milestones, learning and exploring every day.  Since he's been sitting up a bit {and begging for food like a cute little puppy}, we decided to go ahead with his first food.  It amazes me how things change from child to child...the newest craze is baby led feeding {called baby led weaning, although there is no actual weaning from the boob} in which baby receives no purees, only pieces of food so they learn to "chew" and swallow and only eat what they want with no pressure from mom and dad.  So of course, after much research, we decided to give it a go.  Yesterday, Samuel watched as I prepared and baked a few organic sweet potatoes in stick shapes.  After letting them cool for the afternoon and waiting for daddy to arrive home, we were ready.  Little mister looked around suspiciously when we sat him in his highchair with a bib and the tray.  He furrowed his brow at the four of us {plus Uncle Ben} watching, me with my camera at the ready.   I placed three squishy sticks of sweet potato on the tray...and he continued to look around wondering what was going on.  After a few minutes, he grabbed one of the sticks and tasted it, smushed it, tasted it again.  I'm not sure that he actually swallowed any but he sure had fun exploring this new food!  Mama is super proud, and I am totally biased but is he not the cutest little eater?!?

Love this expression!

 As for the baby led weaning/feeding, we don't fit under that label.  From what I read, we are more likely "supportive feeding" parents.  No forcing of foods, watching baby's cues, offering a variety, and finger foods as well as some mashed spooned foods which is almost exactly how we started our girls.  Today I mashed up the sweet potato with breastmilk and he ate a few bites from a spoon.  He also loved grabbing/picking up the spoon and putting it in his mouth. He still held, smushed, and tasted the sticks I put on his tray.  I wanted to make sure that he actually ingested some before declaring it a "safe" food and trying something else in a few days.

blog circle | love

Love has been a hot topic for us lately.  Or, more accurately, trying to explain "love" to Grace.  Since starting kindergarten, she has developed a little group of friends and has even been holding a boy's hand on the bus (I cringe and daddy is not pleased either).  When we asked why she holds his hand she said simply, "I love him".  She also brings loads of pictures for friends and teachers, all signed "Love Grace".  I tried to explain that "love" is usually reserved for mommy & daddy, brothers & sisters, aunties & uncles...for family, and maybe a few close friends.  And in her wise little way she replied, "But why do you say you love a book? Or food?"  

So for now, she can "love" all her friends and teachers, and her bus driver.  And I will continue to "love" mint Oreos and Gilmore Girls.

I'll leave you with a few photos of my wee ones that I "love".  And when you are done checking those out, be sure to head over to see Colleen's post for this month's love theme at Colleen Christina Photography !

friday favorites

A few favorites from this week...

• two hour snow delays = relaxing with stories in bed...Grace has begun reading simple books, sounding out each letter + word.

• this boy in his plaid shirts.  gets me every time.

• discovering the blogger app.  woohoo, so easy to post from my phone!

• the way they process things, as heard from Grace... "I know what a ragtop is!  It's a shirt that's a rag!"

• hehe, and something to make taxes a little more fun

The countdown has started...two weeks until we hit the road for Florida.  Can't wait for warm weather + family time!  

samuel james cotton

Here are the photos from the hospital leading up to and after Sam's birth.  I'll be back with the story of his birth soon...

what happened this week...

He is here!  Our sweet baby boy, Samuel James arrived at 12:01am on August 9th 2013.  Eight pounds fifteen ounces and twenty-one inches long.  He is so sweet and mellow!  More photos to come soon, but I'll leave you with this little snap...

the last few months...

We have been so busy the last few months between the pregnancy, activities, buying a house and daily life.  Easter festivities, Grace celebrated her fifth birthday in April and Caroline had her first ballet recital in May.  Paul has been catching lots of striped bass, we enjoyed a great family Fourth of July and Caroline had her fourth birthday last week.  We also had a trip to Maine, a trip to NH to visit G Jo Jo and Jiffy Pop, and a trip to Roger Williams Zoo!  Now we are just waiting for the boy to arrive...I'm due today so hopefully it won't be too much longer!  Uncle Muffin and Auntie Becca are here to help us until he decides to come, so we've been enjoying lots of family time...mini-golfing, playing with the dog cousins, working on baby brother's cradle.

  Ready to dye eggs!

 The finished product.

 The Easter Bunny is going to have to make a harder egg hunt next year...they found them all in about five minutes!

South Beach with the puppies

Happy Fifth Birthday Grace!  

 Her princess tea party was so much fun!

 Family cookout for Grace's birthday dinner

 First fish of the season 5.6.13

 Grace in her "new" bed.  And both girls at Roger Williams Zoo.

 Ballerina Caroline.  Her recital was adorable!!

 Making Daddy's birthday cake

 Big fish

 On the job site with Daddy...looking spiffy in their hard hats.

 Fourth of July parade

 Bigger fish...28lbs of deliciousness!

 Happy Fourth Birthday Caroline!!

 Fun party with friends!  And she loved her ice cream cake.

Mini golf with Uncle Muffin and Auntie Becca

 Playing with the dog cousins in the yard.  They all wear each other out!