May? Seriously?
Our baby love is 5 months. He is the sweetest sugar baby. He's smiley and friendly, and we all love him to bits.




 Here's a little update on our Ira:
(stats from 4mo appointment)
25" tall -- 25%
15lb -- 30%

Rolling all around, every whichaway -- scooting around in his crib and elsewhere.  He pretty much thinks he's a man, which he is not. I remind him of this several times a day...
I say: Ira doll, you're not a man, you're a tiny little infant baby.
And he smiles his enormous adorable smile at me.

I hope this is still the exchange several years from now.

I think he's teething, too. He's a lot more restless at night, and for the sake of mama's mental stability (read: sleep) he has been spending several hours a night snuggled up close to me. It's been so nice.



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Imogen is a little lovely, herself.



She's so sweet and has a magnificent imagination -- its so fun to watch and listen to her playing...and to be sure to try and make time  when she bellows, "MOM, COME PLAY WITH ME!".
I think she's gotten the hang of this potty training thing, thanks in part to a sticker chart that ends in a trip to Sweet Frog. :)




She says the cutest things, and I try to write them down...like yesterday: "Don't worry about my wagon, Ira. We'll help you get in it." and this morning: "I'm going to be an airplane when I grow up. Or an ice cream truck."
Naturally there are some fits and various other bumps in the road that make this mama want to pull out a few hairs (the gray ones these kids are giving me, perhaps?)...but that's life, huh? And the sweet moments are ever so sweet.




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We're enjoying the sunshine and all the fun that comes with it.  My life is a disorganized wreck...there...I said it... but I'm avoiding organization in favor of having coffee with friends, or meeting up at the park to play. Sometimes I wonder if this is ok? You know? There is only so much time -- and there are oh-so-many things to do. I really do want to be an organized person. I mean, at least I think I do...it seems like it'd make my life simpler. But then I look around, blink a few times, get bogged down,...then go out to enjoy the sunshine with people I love.

Oh life.

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Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

I pray I can make the most of this life -- blessing and being blessed by those around me.
And, if you think of it, could you pray for that, too?

Much love to you all.

steady as he grows

Yesterday was Ira's 3month checkup.  He's a bit of a peanut compared to his sis when she was his age, but who's comparing? Not I.
Height 24" (40%)
Weight 13.7 lb (30%)
The low down...
Ira Clarkson:

• started rolling over (tummy to back) last week


• is as smiley as you please -- and will have a chat with anyone who gives him the time of day 


• doesn't seem to mind his carseat much anymore (a fact that makes me thankful every time we go somewhere...no joke...the sound of your baby screaming will make you crazycrazy)


• sleeps well, most nights goes to bed when his sister does and only wakes once while its still dark outside


• sometimes acts a little crazy at naptimes...I'll rock him to a deep sleep, and he'll go into his bed easy as pie...to wake up 20mins later


• sometimes acts a little crazy and refuses to eat if he'd rather be sleeping but has skipped a nap


• loves playing in his jungle gym and (if fed, rested, and protected from Imogen) will lie there contentedly for a good long while


• loves his paci


• is a cuddly bug


• is adorable and so adored by the rest of us

Thanks, Iranicus, for coming to stay.

sing, sing a song. sing out loud, sing out strong.

Raise your hand if you grew up with this record/tape/cd:




You know, the one where Burt is taking a bath, and Ernie pushes the piano in for a sing-along.
Well, thanks to a sweet sister, I now hear this disc multiple times. A day. Imogen loves it and sings right along...so I try to endure since it makes her so happy.
This gal is a singer, and whatever the song I never tire of hearing her sweet little voice.
Yeah, yeah, even if it's a Big Bird tune.




Oh, and I've nearly fallen off the wagon with the ever changing Ira stats...poor second baby...I'd feel guilty if I wasn't a second child myself, and figure the fewer photos and whatnot didn't scar me too badly...so surely there's hope for my son. :)
He's cute as a little ol button:








At his 2 month checkup he weighed nearly 12lb and measured 23" (50% all around). He is the sweetest kid, super chill (gets that from his Pa), smiles easily, and is as friendly as you please. He really has been such an easy baby, eating well and sleeping well, and doing tons better in the carseat.
We love him to bits.




We've been having lots of fun with friends and have more fun things planned...wish I could stay and tell you all about it, but this nap time is carefully parceled out to several activities...this particular activity was called "drink a latte"...but now my cup is empty.
Farewell for now. With love.
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it's moments like this...

...that make the craziness completely worth it.

oh, life

This is Ira. He's nearly seven weeks old, weighs over 10 lbs, likes taking naps on the couch, loves cuddling, dislikes carseat. Eats well, sleeps well. Quite the charmer.



This is Imogen. She's 2 1/4 years. She loves to sing, loves to make believe, loves using your legs as a slide, likes to color, would use the iPad all day if allowed, is working on potty training, talks continuously. Eats well, sleeps well. She's the sunshine of our day.



This is Anya. She's a nice, old age. Most days she feels like she has 3 things to do every moment of the day. She assumes she will never again enjoy an uninterrupted cup of coffee. Her children astound her all day long and she wonders how she ever got along without them.



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thankfulness and a few fun facts

Ira -- 5 days old
from a photo shoot by Kristy

I'm thankful. Thankful that my little boy is so sweet -- sweet like his Dad, and sweet like his big sister. Thankful that postpartum everything has seemed to go so much smoother this time... 

Yes, basically that's what I want to share. I'm unworthy, but oh-so-grateful that things have gone so much more easily than I was expecting (perhaps shame on me for having such grave apprehensions?? :). Again, I know there will be moments and complete days where I feel like a total nutcase -- but I believe this is called motherhood.

But the sweetness (oh, the sweetness!) of these children. My, my. 

Ok, don't have just a ton of time...Ira is taking a nap on the couch and Imogen is taking a "rest"...but, from the sound of things, I believe she's jumping on her bed. 

A few things, in no order at all, ala post pregnancy brain:

• Yep, T had a great-great uncle named Ira, but he doesn't remember him and I never met him. So, while Ira is indeed a family name, our Ira Clarkson isn't an actual 'namesake' of great-great Uncle Ira.
• However, "Clarkson" is T's middle name and Grandma Lottie's maiden name, so the "Clarkson" part of Ira Clarkson is after 2 very special folks.      So that's the word on the name.

• Imogen Violet is doing very well. Yes, it's been a big adjustment for her, but she's done really well, and really loves her brother.   Have there been a few fits? Well, of course there have been.  But its to be expected, being 2 yrs old and having your world turned on its side. :) 

T found them like this

there've been a few of these moments

 but mostly moment like these

• Biz came to visit. And we had such a fun time. I wish I could find the photo of me holding Isabel when she was a newborn...it's pics like this that make me blink and wonder where the time goes...

• And here's a random photo of the New Years party. These 3 cuties watching the festivities.

Ok. Must go. 

Happy New Year!

I've been looking forward to writing this post for a while now...its just been a little difficult to find a few spare minutes this past week... :)

So our sweet Ira Clarkson has been with us for 10 days now, and its true again, post partum time goes much more quickly than pre - and when it's all said and done, you look back and marvel at all the life changing events that have just transpired. Birth is one of the most amazing things I will ever experience, I'm sure of that.

Labor was easy peasy this time (haha, who am I trying to kid?) -- no really, it was slow to start, but went quickly when active finally started (about 4hrs)... All in all, it was another miraculous experience, and I feel really blessed. 

best feeling. ever.

meeting daddy

We loved our hospital stay, the care was great and the time was quiet. We had nice long visits with family (especially sweet big sister Imogen)...and some friends that brought dinner one night.  There was lots and lots of snuggle time with baby. It was lovely. 

i'm almost certain that they're visiting about golf

a few hours old

We got home on Sunday afternoon and have had a very pleasant week since then. Huge thanks goes to Grammi and Granddad (T's parents) for staying at our house with Imogen and bringing her up to the hospital for visits during our stay (and for generally spoiling her, I'm sure).  And another heaping dose of thanks to Nonna (my mom) for coming and staying a few days last week...I never lifted a finger. No joke. 

And thanks to friends and family for all the food and the visits and the love.

Our new darling is such a sweet and cuddly baby, we've all been loving loving him. :)

love Imogen's face

So, there it is. The responsibility of being Mom of 2 has not set in yet, I'm sure of that. And I can't say that I'm looking forward to the overwhelming days that I'm sure are in my future...but for now, I feel good. I feel healthy. I love my 3.

Yes, I say it again, God is good.

More to come. Love to you all.