I did this with all of my girls.

But it is never too late right?
Doesn't the youngest always complain that they hardly get any pictures?
For Janey it is seeming to be quite the opposite.
Perhaps because she is so happy.

My sis-in-law made me the most brilliant gift.
She printed out a sign for each of the first 12 months of Janey's life.

It is something I had always wanted to do for both Halley and Lucy, but at the time seemed too much to pull together.  (Blame it on the insane colic and reflux.)  After I missed taking a picture that first month I just threw the plans in the trash.

So now, each month on the 30th, I am going to grab one of these sweet signs, some fun fabric and click away.

Hopefully she won't sleep through them all.

I think the signs would make the best baby gift.  Pick a cute frame and font, plug in the dates, print and you are all set.  Useful, creative and very affordable.


I told you...
I like big buttons and I cannot lie.
But I also cannot stop making these messy flowers.

How would you like a set of three?
A pin,
a hair clip,
&

I want to know what blogs you love to read.
I have a little button on my sidebar that says "avoiding housework".
It was my intention to put my blogroll there.
But I haven't gotten around to it, and I need a little help.

So leave me a link to your most favorite blogs in the comment section.
I will spend the weekend clicking away as I fill up my 
bookmark folder with new and inspiring blogs as nominated by you.

Then on Monday I will pick a winner of this 
big button messy flower extravaganza.

Link away!


Today a super fancy and expensive designer came over to remodel our house.

(Or, a super nice and marginally expensive 
plumber came over to re-pipe our sink.)

This is what he left.

Isn't is lovely?
But I am choosing to embrace this.
To find beauty in the mess.

Why?

Because we have a house.
Because we have the means to fix what needs to be fixed.
Because although there are holes in the drywall, we again have fresh, clean water.
What percentage of the world can say that?



In the spirit of mess, I am loving these crazy flowers.
They are bright, happy and a little bit chaotic.

Just like my life.

I love the frayed edges, the imperfect stitching, the randomness.
The messiness.
Come back tomorrow for a little giveaway starring them in their funky glory.




Lastly, I needed (wanted) a little treat.
So I made my friend Alicia's Lazy Man's Toffee.

I have since renamed it Toffee Crack.

Because it is addicting.

I am mad she shared the recipe.
It is too good and too easy.

Messy, easy, yummy, trouble.

I could eat it every day!
(and I have...)


Here are the ingredients:

Here's what you do:



Look around you, and change your perspective of the mess and chaos.
It's not really so bad!

(Don't get mad at me for introducing you to Toffee Crack.  It's not my fault.)


I hate flying.

Not scared of flying, just hate it.
But I would fly to Australia in a heartbeat.  I love it that much.  Everything about it. I would move there if I could and sweet Jessica just gave me another couple reasons.
She sent this amazing magazine that absolutely makes me want to say goodbye to Martha forever.
It is charming and colorful and much less fussy than Ms. Stewart.  I want to try every single recipe and make every single craft.
To make my care package even better (as if that was possible) she found this fabulous fabric "on holiday".  Do you know how bad I want to say "I'm going on holiday" without sounding like a dork?  If I were an Aussie I could.  Anyway, it is summer down under and this fabric has my mind spinning with ideas.  It is so me, it is so perfect, and I am going to sew the girls little dresses, or even pillows for their rooms.  Adorable.  The butterflies?  You better bet that those will be hair clips before you know it.  Thanks Jessica, you are so thoughtful.  I am dreaming about Australia every day now.



After seeing this scarf over at 30 days I knew I needed to make one.
It has been 60 degrees here lately, and for us wimpy Californians, that means we are freezing.  It was super easy and I stood staring at the washing machine, I was so excited to see how it would look frayed.  On top of it's cuteness,it's super cozy too!  I made it from 6 1/2 inch flannel squares I got here, which eliminated over half of the cutting.  Cute, cozy, under $10 and finished in less than an hour.  My kind of project.



Lastly, my sewing machine has been getting a workout today.  This basket of fabric strips is just a few steps away from becoming Pretty Messy headbands, hair clips and pins.  Keep a eye out for them in my shop, as well as a giveaway later on this week.


Jamie and Anne-Camille posted some of the shots they took on their blogs.

So, obviously I am going to post them here too.  I really just want to gush over the talents of all of these amazing ladies.

Seriously, if you are anywhere near Arkansas, or perhaps are planning a vacation, go spend a day with either one of these fabulous girls!

Then you can fill up your blog with their awesomeness.


I actually let my stain OCD go and let the girls jump in puddles.  
You know what?  
It was worth every single penny that I am giving my dry cleaner.  
Every penny.
(You can find pettiskirts like these here.) 

Lulu's eyes kill me in this one!!!

I love my family.  
I hate high heels.  
Can't even see them because my jeans are too long.  
Should have just stuck with my trusty flip flops.  
Fashion is overrated.

I know that in a matter of weeks I won't even remember Janey being this small.  
I am so glad it was captured for when I forget.



Is it even possible that this is my family?

We had the best day wandering through alleys, being our silly selves, who just happened to have four fabulous photographers with us.

It didn't even feel like we were getting our pictures taken.

That is how wonderful it was.

So indulge me and take a peek at some insane images from Drew and Elizabeth.

I look forward to seeing what Jamie and Anne-Camille shot too!

This was Jason's favorite part of the shoot.  

Drew brought these sweet letters that she painted my favorite shade of pink.  So thoughtful!

These girls love their dad!

Janey preferred working on her beauty sleep rather than posing.

Drew also brought seven balloons for us to send to heaven.  A highlight.

Who would have thought that this alley would be such a gorgeous backdrop?  
The wet ground made it even more amazing.

Sweet Lulu.  She'll pose for candy. 

Halley girl.  She loved running around and splashing in puddles.

If you aren't on Carson overload head on over to Drew's and Elizabeth's blog to see more of their unbelievable work.  
All I have to say, is if you live within say a few thousand miles of either Orange County or Memphis, I think you need to book yourself a session right this second.
It is better than you could ever imagine!


thank you.

for the prayers.
the notes.
the phone calls.
the flowers.
the love.
the shared tears.
today was beautiful,
meaningful and special.
the amazing drewB held a photography workshop
and graciously shot our family.

the girls jumped in puddles,
smiled for candy,
sent balloons to heaven,
and janey slept through the whole thing.

i couldn't think of a better way to spend the day.


tomorrow is joy's birthday.
each year during this time i feel like i am under a raincloud.
i am not myself.
i cry.
i get irritated.
i am impatient.
i am anxious.
i am edgy.
everything just seems more difficult.

even seven years later i see and feel my grief manifest itself in so many ways.
i am so thankful for our three girls, 
but cannot help but wonder what our life would be with four.

janey looks like joy.
i am so thankful for that gift.  
through her i will get to see what my firstborn would grow up to be.

tomorrow we will celebrate her.
in an unexpected way.
an abundantly blessed way.
a way that only God could have orchestrated for us.

for that my heart is happy.

but i really miss her.

so today i am crafting,
while it is raining outside.
under my own little raincloud.
joy's little sisters will wear these tomorrow as new memories are captured.

then we will let seven pink balloons fly to heaven.
and eat cupcakes.
and wonder what birthdays are like with Jesus.


This post could have so many titles.
I couldn't pick just one, so I will go through the options.

1.  I am a hypocrite.
Okay, so I blubbered on about how un-Orange County I am the other day.  Well, there is still a little OC in me.  I really need to get my fake blonde on.

Look at my roots!!!!!!!!
2.  My kid loves me.
Of course she does, right?  Well, she loves me enough to let me get my fake blonde on and not make a peep the entire time we are at the "salon" (read further to see why salon is in quotes.) She came genetically wired to know that a blonde mommy is a happier mommy.

Here is where she sat while I was slathered in bleach.
3.  What I will do to save money.
Look at the sweet wallpaper in the picture below.  Would you like for me to find out where it is from so you can get your own?  How about those amazing pictures.  I am guessing there isn't much demand for those haircuts these days. Probably not, since it has been the same since 1980!  I don't call my fake blonde wonderland a salon.  More like what a movie set would look like if the scene called for the creepiest hair styling shop possible.
So why do I go there?
Well, would I enjoy sipping a latte, reading gossip mags and relaxing?  Absolutely.  Do I like holding my own foils, being in pain at the horribly rigged shampoo bowl and going home with wet unbrushed hair?  No.
But, do I like saving $100 every 6-8 weeks by sacrificing ambiance for frugality?  You betcha.


4.  No, you can't pinch the baby.
So, the average client at this "salon" is 85 or so and is most likely getting a perm.  
Yes, a perm.
When I was there this morning there were 5 sweet ladies with rows and rows of the little rollers in their silver hair.
It brings me back to fourth grade.  Let me just tell you, perms smell bad.  
Really, really, really bad. 
I texted my friend who is also brave enough to get her fake blonde on there too.
"Does perm smell poison babies?"
She didn't text back.  Bad sign. 
So while I was waiting in a rickety chair with my head full of foils and my nose full of perm solution, one of the ladies asked me a peculiar question.
"Can I pinch the baby?"
I sort of just stared at her.  She asked again.  Louder and more serious.
"Can I pinch the baby?"
I have never been more thankful for the carseat tent.  I just smiled and replied "She's sleeping."
"CAN I PINCH THE BABY!!!!!!!!!!!"
Seriously? Really? You can see the baby.  You can coo at the baby.  Heck, you can even touch the babies feet.  Am I weird for drawing the line at pinching?
Hide your babies Orange County! There is a perm getting, baby pinching, grandma on the loose!!!!  She won't take your polite redirection for an answer either.

But we made it.  My blonde is back, my hair is wet and tangled and Janey survived the perm fumigation pinch free.


Back in Spring I got a little crazy with swaps.  

I adore them, but I had to force myself to take a little break.

Well, that break is over, because a girl can never have too many purses.


Suzee over at The Anderson Clan is hosting an Amy Butler Bag swap and wouldn't you know it?  I have some Amy fabric that I have been dying to use.  So hop on over to her blog and sign up by the end of the month.  Who knows?  Maybe we will be partners.


Same question.
August?
Or today?
(Hint:  Janey got salty feet.)

So, yes.  Hate me.  It is warm and sunny and we spent the morning at the beach.

Would have been Disneyland, but our (cheapskate) passes don't work on holidays.

Why don't you dig out your car, pack up and come for a little vacation?
Oh, the economy.  Too bad.  Maybe next year when global warming is only affecting Southern California and my cute winter coats and scarves are collecting dust.  Maybe I will pack up my car and come out for some snow?

So, when you are done with all of the hating, do you want to learn super useless facts about me?

Everything in aqua I have done.

Everything in purple I hope to NEVER do. (Mostly daredevil type things.)

Everything in orange I hope to do one day. (Mostly overseas travel which could prove to be tricky, since I hate flying and don't like leaving my kids.)

Feel free to bore yourself.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars. (Was devoured by mosquitoes.)
3. Played in a band. (Toured with Jason's for years.)
4. Visited Hawaii. (Could move there.)
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. (Dare you to try it.)
7. Been to Disneyland/world. (Whoo hoo season passes!)
8. Climbed a mountain. (Backpacked near Yosemite.)
9. Held a praying mantis. (One died on the porch last week and I put him in the trash.)
10. Sang a solo. (Never.)
11. Bungee jumped.

12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightening storm at sea. (Sounds scary.)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child. (We hope to one day.)
16. Had food poisoning. (Way too many times.)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables. (Maybe this summer.)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.

21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked. (Super stupid, but it was in Gunnison, CO where it is normal...)
23. Taken a sick day when you were not ill. (Spring Fever count?)
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone night swimming in the ocean. (Glad Jaws didn't get me.)
27. Run a marathon. (No thanks.)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse 
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. 
31. Hit a home run. (4th grade softball.  The fence was really close.)
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace or your ancestors. (Ireland is calling me.)
35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language. (Me llamo Julia.) 
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (Trying my best everyday.)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. (Hated it.)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. (Never ever ever.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. (Who would want to?)
47. Had your portrait painted. (Hardly like getting my picture taken.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing. (Without the cleaning and gutting part.)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (Hate it.  Jason loves it.  Jaws is after me.)
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. (As a kid in my parents' VW pop top.)
55. Been in a movie. (See #47)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Visited Russia.
59. Taken a Martial Arts class.

60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone Whale Watching. (Didn't see any.  Threw up though.)
63. Got flowers for no reason. (Happy daisies.)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check. (College was full of bad financial decisions.)
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar. (Ewwww.)
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square. (Just not on New Year's.)
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone. (At preschool and my teacher didn't believe me.)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book. (Does a Shutterfly photo book count?)
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (When I was 19.  All by myself.)
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. (Just the local one.)
85. Read the entire Bible. (The One Year Bible.  You should try it.)
86. Visited the White House. (Walked by).
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. ( I was a vegetarian for 15 years.  This won't happen.)
88. Had chickenpox. (In 4th grade.  Gave them to my softball team.)
89. Saved someone's life. (Lifeguarding days.)

90. Sat on a jury. (Have yet to be picked. But I am pretty biased.)
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one. (Her birthday is Saturday.)
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.  (Come on, it is 2009. Who doesn't?)
99. Been stung by a bee. (Thankfully only once.)


In August?
Or today?

Sorry snowed in friends.  
This is how we spent our afternoon.  
Our January afternoon.

Each time I tire of living here... the Hummers, the Botox, the "Real Housewives", the over indulgence, I step back and remember why I love it.

I grew up here, my family lives here, it is always sunny and the things that the world defines as Orange County are not the same things by which I define my life.

We are different.  We will always be different.  There will always be something breaking in the house or our not-new cars.  I will always be trying to figure out a way to make something for less, or fix something myself.

But that is how it was for me growing up.  I feel it made me appreciate everything so much more and have a more realistic view of the world.

I hope our girls will feel the same way as they grow. That they will focus on our simple abundance, and not what others around them have.

So tonight I am curling up with Jason and Janey, watching The Notebook, and devouring this plate of happiness brought over by this sweetie.  Who doesn't know me, but in a very non-Orange County way blessed our family with dinner tonight.  

I don't need to move away.  I have everything I need and more right here.


I don't like people.

Well, it's more that I don't like attention.
One of my worst nightmares?  
A huge surprise party in my honor.  
Where I have to open presents in front of everyone.  
As they stare at me.

So what did my friends go and do?

Buy me the 

CUTEST CARSEAT COVER IN THE WORLD.

That just happens to scream: 

"Hey strangers! Cute baby inside.  Come look!  Then stay a while and chat with 
the mom.  Yes, the raggedy looking one who hasn't used her flat iron in two weeks."

So what did I do?
Make a cute tent to match.  
But mostly to hide what is inside. 
Hoping that it will deflect some of the attention.
So I can shop undisturbed at Target in my frizzy haired glory.


I found the tutorial here.
I tweaked it a bit to add a little peek-a-boo vent.
Partly to be able to see what Janey is up to, and partly because of my own personal fears of suffocation.  A blanket near my face sends me into a panic.

Seriously, how many issues do I have?


Janey is happy.  
Every second of every day.  
Happy.


I am happy too.  
Plumber #4 figured out a way to fix our water fiasco 
and save us thousands while doing it.  
We big puffy heart him!


So now I can take a loooong shower free from the panicked 
feeling that my fabric and paper are floating away.
The small joys of life.  
Even better than a giant fountain Diet Pepsi 
that I am daydreaming about right now.


I needed to get out of the house yesterday.
I desperately craved a messy, greasy, smelly Tommy's burger.

Jason obliged.

What I didn't expect to do was fall off the wagon.
(print by cakespy)

 The diet soda wagon that I have 
been riding for nearly a year.

I had good intentions.  Number two combo with iced tea.  Easy.  
But what I didn't anticipate was that the iced tea would be creepy.  
Un-drinkably creepy.

Well, since I had paid for my large drink I didn't want to be wasteful, so what did I do?  
Have two glorious cups of the best tasting poison in the whole world.

Was it worth it?
For the twenty minutes that I was in the restaurant drinking it up, 
YES!

For the headache I still can't seem to shake,
NOT REALLY.

I hate you diet soda.
  
Every time I get out...
you keep pulling me back in.



I did it.

I don't know why.
But I did.
I suppose I am vulnerable to peer pressure.
That would also explain why I read Twilight.
Everybody else is doing it, I thought.  I better too.

Do what you ask?
Join Facebook.

Because I am in desperate need of another thing to suck away my time....

So, I thought I would just peek around.  Not send out any random friend requests.  Just a handful to my inner circle.

Boy was I mistaken.

My inner circle of friends seems to have a rather large outer circle of friends.  

Suddenly my inbox is OVERFLOWING with friend requests.

But here is where I get confused.

We haven't talked or seen each other for 15 years and you want to be my friend?
We weren't really even "friends" 15 years ago.

Or worse...

You see me every week at church but won't say hello to me unless I say it first and you want to be my friend?

Really?

I might cave to peer pressure, but I don't crave popularity.  I don't care how big my friend list is.  In fact I would prefer it to be small, thus producing less people I have to keep up with. But, I am thinking that most people do care, and that is why randoms are coming out of the woodwork begging to add me.

Am I missing something?  Am I too cynical?  Any thoughts?

Or do you want to be my friend to look cool and super popular?


Okay, so here in Debby Downerville I need a laugh.  

Or a shower, because they always make me feel better, but then I would have to turn on the water and put my precious fabric at risk.

So, I will share this little video from my fave funny man Paul F. Tompkins.
He isn't the cleanest comedian in town, but isn't the dirtiest either.

If you have a kid, or know anyone else with one, I promise you will laugh.
Or be offended.
Maybe my humor is a bit on the sarcastic side...

My sis in law and I have been pregnant at the exact same time for all  of our kids.  In fact, her due date is one day after mine with Janey, but while I get to have my babies early, she has to suffer it out until the bitter end.  She is sort of hating me right now, as I will be pretty much settled and recovered before her little one even enters the world.

Any-whoo... when I was pregnant with Halley and she was pregnant with her firstborn, we joked about how many people would pull us aside and tell us in complete seriousness:

"When you have the baby, your life is going to change!"

Wow, what a revelation.  That never occurred to me!

What nugget of wisdom will they impart next?
The sky is blue?  Grass is green?  Clowns are creepy?

So with that in mind, watch and enjoy.

I am off to flood the garage.


But I've been swimming in it.
Time to get out and face reality.
Before Christmas I noticed a strange leak in the garage.  Small, but strange.  I tried to convince myself it was due to the recent rains or perhaps the washing machine.

I blew it off.
Then it got bigger.
So I threw a towel on it.
Then bigger.
More towels.  Lots more towels.
Then it started flowing into my craft area and fabric cabinet.
It am not cool with water messing with my stuff.
So we called the plumber.

He was out of town.

We went to the hospital to have Janey and put the leak out of our minds.
When we got back the plumber came over and determined it was a slab leak, most likely in the garage.  Not the end of the world.  He gave us a referral and was on his way.
Today Lloyd, the leak specialist and all around amazing guy, came to fix it.

But he didn't.  

It wasn't in the garage.
It is under our new wood floors.
If we were to fix it we would have to sacrifice the floors and it would most likely happen again.

Gotta love shady 1970's construction.

So our options?
Re-pipe the whole house.  For thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars.
Money I dreamt would make that crummy garage into my dream craft and play room.
Bye bye dreams.  Bye bye craft room.
So as I sit here in my post-natal, crazy hormone induced tears, I am trying to put it into perspective.

I am thankful to have a home.
A husband who has a great job.
A God that always provides exactly what we need, even if it isn't exactly what we want.
Do I want to spend money on pipes?
What do you think?
But what would someone without plumbing, much less a house think of me crying about a craft room?

So until we get this mess fixed, every time we need to wash dishes, do laundry or take showers we head outside to turn on the water.  Then we rush back out to turn it off.  Our new mantra is:

If it's yellow, let it mellow.

At least that can make me smile.


in the world am I blogging with a newborn, you ask?


Well, for starters I didn't expect to bring 
baby Rip Van Winkle home from the hospital.

So as she sleeps the days and nights away in cozy baby bliss I need to find things to do.
The house is clean and the laundry is done (thanks to my mother in law and sweet husband).
I am on a self imposed project and activity break (thanks to c-section recovery).
Abundant meals show up at our door each night which turn into lunch the next day (thanks to our amazing church family and friends).
Halley is at school.
Lulu is on adventures with Jason or the grandparents each day (she is not the stay home and be quiet type of kid).  
I only watch shows that are on the Tivo, and besides, daytime TV is HORRIBLE!  I got a taste of it at the hospital and I never need to again.

Needless to say, this normally constantly busy 
girl has a ton of newfound time on her hands.

So as I sit down this morning with the newspaper, my coffee, glorious fruit that Jason brought home for me and some homemade pumpkin pecan bread sent all of the way from the East Coast (thanks so much Crystal!) I am thinking about what this year holds.  I am not one for resolutions, but I am one for living the life and being the person that God intends me to.

I came across this great post over at Simple Mom (love her) and am going to sit and chew on it for a bit.  It calls for you to put your year in perspective and focus, instead of making a list of things to either check off in victory or failure.  So while I can't be crafty or creative for a bit, I can think and pray about ways to make our family's life more fulfilling this year.

I encourage you to head over there and do the same.


There are so many tags that I have been meaning to get to, but have been too lazy.
Alexandra however tagged me with a really easy one and instead of posting another picture of sleeping Janey I will actually follow through.

Here's the deal:
Pick the fourth photo from the fourth folder in your computer.
Post it and tag four other people.

I just can't believe what picture it ended up being.
It shows how weird and controlling I am.

Here's why:
I didn't take this picture.
Why?
Because I have the most insane popsicle stick phobia.
I simply cannot be around anyone eating a popsicle.  Ever.

(Told you that I'm weird.)

So while we were at my sis in law's desert house she pulled out the demon popsicles.
All of the cousins were super excited. 
Especially my kids who had basically never had one.
All they know is frozen Gogurts that they are only allowed to eat in the bathtub.
I ran inside, but not before demanding that they eat them sans clothing.
Perhaps I should invest in these?  (Thanks Lisa!)

(Can you say controlling?)

Because I hate food coloring stains almost as much as popsicle sticks.
Don't even get me started on Jello!

So I am tagging Casey, Shannon, Marcela and Angi.  (Which by the way, are all super cool friends of mine who recently started blogging.)

I wonder what their pictures will say about them!


Happy babies do exist!

I can't believe that one lives in our house!
Refreshingly shocking.
Janey (rhymes with rainy) actually enjoys life here on earth.
She sleeps, eats and cuddles.

Halley cried, screamed, cried, screamed, cat napped for a couple of minutes and then repeated. Every day for 3 months.
Guinness record breaking sort of colic.

Lucy cried, puked, screamed, puked, screamed, puked, cat napped for one minute and then repeated. Every day for 6 months.
Guiness record breaking reflux.
She single handedly ruined a houseful of carpet.

It is a wonder we were even brave enough to have another one.

So today, as Halley was at school and Jason and Lucy were at Disneyland, Janey and I had nothing better to do than lie in bed reading magazines and napping.

No earplugs, no pacing furiously throughout the house, no rocking and shushing, no cleaning buckets and buckets of projectile vomit.

Just cozy peace and quiet.

I am in awe, and so very thankful.