I'm finding a rhythm to the day and it's nice.  Sam is surprisingly regular about his feedings.  I even got the boys to take naps up in their rooms at the same time, three times this week!  It's so liberating to have them safely snoozing away from me. 

Our trees are not disappointing in the leaf department.  It's actually fun to help with the yard work. 

After feeding Sam, potty helping Jack, changing diapers, and grabbing my robe, I ambled downstairs to start breakfast.  We had leftover bacon from last weekend and I excitedly turned on my oven.  The display briefly turned on, then went dead.  Well, crud.  The range top worked, and so did the oven light.  Grumbling to myself, I pulled out an iron skillet to cook bacon the inferior way, and reported to Ben that I broke the oven. 

We had a repair man here within two hours.  He just banged on the display and informed me what I already knew.  For $70 we got the obvious diagnosis that the electrical panel was dead and an outrageous estimate for $547 to replace it.  Apparently the part is $400+.  Ben dismissed him and we decided to replace the whole thing.  Until we found out that ranges like ours are $1200 and up.  Cheaper models won't work in our space.  Hurrah for the internet - I found the part we needed for just $250!  I took apart the oven to explore and it seems like an easy fix.  I've upgraded both our car stereos, so I figure this can't be much harder.  Until Monday or Tuesday when the new panel comes, we will have to rely on the stovetop and slow cookers for meals.  I hope my DIY works.  I'm sick of appliances breaking. 

Today was Jack's first of four art classes.  I dropped him off at the rec center and felt a little weird leaving the building.  It's the first time I've left him with strangers while I went away.  Sunday nursery and babysitting don't count for that.  Any twinges of maternal sadness melted away when I entered Target.  Armed with a sleeping baby and a hot chocolate, I slowly browsed ONLY the sections I wanted (no toy aisles!).  It was strangely therapeutic.  I came away with a few practical purchases and a few unplanned, cheap, splurges - typical Target experience. 



I picked up a very happy kid after one hour and we all went out to lunch with Ben, taking a break from his work at home day. 

Tomorrow I look forward to help with the diaper changes (I HATE changing diapers) and a birthday dinner out with Amanda and her friends.

We went to Allendale park again.  It's about a 20 minute walk from our house: ambitious, but not crazy long.  The first time I had Sam in the stroller and had Jack walk.



Jack was worn out by the walk home and had some trouble with scraped knees.  He really wanted me to carry him the last two blocks, which of course I couldn't do.

This time I took Sam on my carrier and pushed Jack in his stroller.


He was thrilled about this arrangement.  I'm on the fence.  On the one hand, I could control our speed and not worry about him wandering off the path.  On the other hand, that's a lot of boy for me to push and carry! 

Both ways, we had a lot of fun.

Jack demonstrates head lifting. 

My baby is one month old today. 



I've been writing about him a lot, so I don't have much more to add.  He's beautiful.  He's a good baby.  He went 4.5 hours of sleeping last night.  He's a big guy and has outgrown several outfits already.  He takes a bottle just fine.  He likes his pacifier but doesn't need to keep it in while sleeping.  He smiles at us more every day. 














I love you, Sam.  Welcome to the family! 

(Jack photo-bombed this one and insisted I take his picture before I could resume)

This weekend my parents came to visit the kids.  Andy and Jenn came too, to get a break from Salt Lake, meet Sam and the new house, and celebrate Andy's birthday.  Sadly Amanda had to spend most of the weekend on a speech meet.  But she was able to join us today for Sam's blessing and to open birthday presents as her day is next Saturday.

I gladly welcomed the help holding, soothing, burping, and changing Sam and entertaining Jack.  My folks also babysat so we could go to a movie at the Alamo.  Once again, I didn't really want to see it (Gravity) but the allure of the theater pulls me there.

Not much to say.  Just some photos and captions.  I'm trying to nap and sleep more.  Sam regularly gets a 3 hour stretch each night.  Last night he even went 4 hours!  He still has a fierce diaper rash that is starting to get sores.  We went on a mini-hunt last night for the heavy duty butt paste. 

Jack seems happy enough, although I feel guilty about how much less attention I can give him now.  Maybe he sees the increase in TV and game time as a fair trade.  I did manage to go on a playdate with some friends yesterday.  Erin has a girl, Nora, who is Jack's age, and her Henry was born the same weekend as Sam.  We were pretty proud of ourselves for getting out.  Stupid Jumpstreet had seasonal hours and were closed when we got there.  But we had fun at the Apex jungle gym instead. 

Besides that: a lot of errands, rocking the bouncer, chocolate milk, and breast milk. 

Onto photos!

Amanda generously offered her babysitting services for us today and I was quick to accept.  I've been clinging to this date all week.  A couple hours out of the house, just me and Ben, with no kids' meals, no car seats, no whining, no wiping bottoms, no crying, no pacifying - sign me up!

We had lunch at a relatively new bar in the Baker neighborhood called Punch Bowl Social.  I hear it's crazy nuts to get in during the popular times.  Lunch was deserted.  We had great service and enjoyed the food, despite piddly reviews online.   (A review of the Portland location called it "Applebee's-esque."  Dude, what kind of Applebee's do you have in Oregon?)  I'm a sucker for the hipster design PBS subscribes to: lots of antlers, exposed brick, bare bulbs, chandeliers, rich upholstery, and mason jar cups.  The red curtains made me think of the Alamo wistfully (can't wait to go back there). 

The food wasn't amazing - we suspect the tomatoes were not truly heirloom.  But I enjoyed everything thoroughly.*   I would definitely go back there so long as it's not crowded.  The whole place is cool, with bowling, darts, shuffleboard, and an array of arcade cabinets and pinball.  Ben dropped a few quarters :-)

A quick call to Amanda let us know the boys were ok and we could stay out a little longer.  We popped in Fancy Tiger to browse and chat with Jaime.  There's extra spin nights every night next week.  Maybe I can make it to one.  I haven't spun yarn in ages!  There were no less than three items I wanted to buy, but I resisted temptation.  Between Halloween and Christmas I must stay focused on already planned projects!

Then we wandered up and down Broadway, killing time until the ice cream shop opened. 


Thank you so much, Amanda!  We had a fabulous date!


*Things I love about not being pregnant:

• Eating deli sandwiches
• Eating bacon
• Sleeping on my back
• Sleeping on my side
• Sleeping on my stomach
• Picking things off the ground
• Fitting in my shower
• Holding my pee for hours