Bump

Well, perhaps not so much of a bump as a mountain.  Seriously.  Could this belly be any bigger??

I'd been holding off on sharing the belly pictures Melissa recently took for me as Sarah & I also had sister pics taken.  However, those images have yet to arrive in my inbox & I am anxious to share.  

Channing is obsessed with his little brother.  There are many, many belly pats and belly kisses.  We take turns feeling each other's tummies to see who's baby moves the most.  For the record, Channing's always wins. 

It took a little bribery to get him to take this image.  It's awfully cute though & I'm sure if you asked, he'd tell you posing for it was worth the five York Peppermint Patty Bites he was rewarded with.  

And then there's this last image.  I've been all a-tizzy with sewing project after sewing project getting ready for this wee one.  Our collaborative quilt is just awaiting it's 'made by...'patch.  It's lovely as you can glimpse here.  This picture was only partially posed.  I love this green chair.  I love the natural light that fills the nursery in the afternoon and early evening.  I find myself drawn to this corner for hand sewing and book reading and Pinterest gawking.  

Soon.  Very soon.  I'll post images of us rocking a wee babe in this very spot.  

Yea!

(A very special thank you to Melissa for taking the time to take these pictures.  XO!!)

365 Project-Week 29 Thru 33

The past few 365 posts, I've started with an apology.  I make excuses as to why so much time has passed since sharing these daily snippets of our life.  This time, I'm not.  Nope.  We've been busy-busy enjoying these cooler summer days and evenings, busy gearing up for fall & most important, getting ready for the arrival of the littlest Flynn.  It's felt good.  Really good.  Without further ado, this is how we've been spending our time.

1.  Fixings for taco night.  Such beautiful colors, I couldn't help but snap a picture.  2.  Doesn't everyone's three-year-old wear his swim trunks and sit in a sink full of water to brush his teeth?  3.  With a little help from Uncle Joey, Channing blew out the candles on Sophie's birthday cake.  Happy Birthday bitty girl.  4.  Silly watermelon grins.  5.  Yes, it has been shared before, but we're still loving our beautiful new kitchen tile.  6.  Contemplating what to have for breakfast.  At his age, it is a monumental decision.  7.  Still not over the obsession with 'Aunt Kelly's cereal', Channing had to show me nearly every marshmallow in his bowl before gobbling it up. 

1.  All belly buttons like to be hidden now and then beneath a smiley face chocolate.  Cute & delicious.  2.  The state of our dining room table until last night.  Not kidding.  It has looked like this for weeks now.  The good news is that I've gotten a TON of sewing done.  3.  Channing spent the better part of two afternoons hiding in this fort made from our laundry hamper and my chemo quilt.  4.  Lauren & Ben along with mom & dear friend Marcy joined us for play time and sweet treats one morning.  5.  Even Baby Flynn got into the Olympic spirit.  How's that for a baby bump?  6.  A more than welcome rain storm.  Loved it.  Every single drop.  7.  Our little fish at the local pool.  An impromptu invitation by our neighbors equated to a whole lot of splashy, wet fun. 

1.  Doesn't every suburban home have a tractor sprinkler?  2.  Splash time with Mommy.  We spent the better part of a day with friends, the Swoverland's & Gartzke's, at their pool.  It was heaven on earth.  Seriously.  3.  Channing unpacked a box of fabric upon its arrival from Hawthorne Threads.  He changed his mind a zillion times when asked which was his favorite.  I don't think he ever made up his mind.  4.  Nursery prep!!  5.  It was Channing's job to clean the acorns off Walt & Kath's patio.  6.  Toe bling post a sister's pedicure with Sarah.  Both of us, due within a week of each other, thoroughly enjoyed a little pampering.  7.  The peanut butter monster.  I was making a bedtime snack for myself and this guy and his happy little knife kept trying to snatch my jar of peanut butter.   

1.  Little pants and a chevron embellished onesie I stitched up for friends out east who just welcomed the newest member of their family to the world.  Congrats!!  2.  More nursery prep.  Channing put his own chair in the room so he can take his own turn in rocking our wee babe.  3.  Boing-a!!  4.  New buddies for brothers who are sure to become the best of friends.  5.  Quilt fabric all cut up and ready to go.  6.  Stopped at Melissa & Jeff's to pick up a cradle for the little guy and made an about face after finding these being grilled up on the stove.  I just had to run to the car for the camera.  These cinnamon bun pancakes just had to be the picture of the day.  7.  Channing, the fearless fish, on one of his many trips down the water slide during a Kuehl Family weekend get together.

1.  Helping Grandpa Walt put together a new toy for his baby brother.  2.  The beautiful, new diaper bag Kathy was kind enough to make for me.  For anyone else who sews, the Multi-Tasker Tote by Anna Maria Horner is likely one of my favorite bags EVER.  What a blessing to have such a talented mother-in-law  3.  Multiply that blessing by two for having a mom who can knit like nobody's business.  I pet this sweet little blanket every time I pass by the end of the crib in the nursery.  Yes, it's that soft and cozy.  4.  Wildflowers dancing in the wind on a recent trip to Hidden Valley Park.  5.  And they're off!!  A night at the races with Flynn's.  That's Channing's favorite horse, Sassy Cassy, there on his head.  You'll never guess who that horse is named after!  6.  (Sassy) Cassie in the flesh.  Channing enjoyed a bit of a snuggle while we waited for our lunch order to be delivered to our table.  7.  Mr. Hopper hitches a ride in Channing's pocket.  

And there you have it...Five weeks of Flynn Family fun!!  

Epitome of Summer

There's something about summer, especially when you are the mama of a small boy, that equates to dirt, adventures and scraped knees.  Oh, and toads.  If you can find a toad or two to throw into that mix, then you're golden.  Golden.

WM mowed lawn Sunday.  In the process, he came across our resident toad.  Mr. Hopper. 

We've found him on the driveway at night, arriving home after dark.  He's been discovered hiding by the edge of the hose reel in the side yard.  Most recently, he was in the long-ish grass at the back of the house.  WAS.  Then, WM pointed him out to Channing & ten minutes of toad loving began.  

Channing fondly refers to Mr. Hopper either by name or as Little Buddy.  It's usually the latter.  For someone who is nearly four, he's actually very gentle with his friend.  He cups him carefully in his hands.  He usually cups him gently in his hands.  This time, Channing was wearing a shirt with a pocket which meant Mr. Hopper carefully got tucked inside if only for the briefest of moments.  

For the sake of the toad, I did limit the play time to about ten minutes.  Then, he was safely returned to his hiding hole by the edge of the concrete slab in the back yard with promises to play again.  Soon.  

Shining Smile

Channing's smile does so much to brighten even the darkest of days.  It goes without saying that he's a bright spot in our lives.  Radiant!! Perhaps, it's his delivery.  His timing is impeccable.  Take for example, bedtime tonight. He'd gotten out of bed no less than half a dozen times.  My tone, each time I asked him to get back under the covers, was getting snippier despite my best efforts to keep it even and calm.  Through gritted teeth, I explained why going to bed on time is important.  

'When you stay up too late, you're grumpy.  When you're grumpy, I'm grumpy.  When we're both grumpy, we don't have any fun.'  To which he replied with a HUGE grin, 'That's not true.  We always have fun.'  He then added, 'Mommy, I love you.' just for good measure.  I felt my frustration instantly begin to melt away.

Given the importance of his smile in our lives, it was time for a trip to the dentist.  His first trip to the dentist.  You'd think he'd been there a zillion times before.  He climbed into the chair without hesitation, Sophie the Doll tucked under his arm.  He donned the sun glasses offered to him and tried them on Sophie too.  After being introduced to all the instruments, he relaxed in the 'fancy cool recliner' while the hygienist cleaned his teeth, he held still as a statue for a full set of x-rays, and exchanged pleasantries as best a three-year-old can with the doctor when she came in to issue his teeth a clean bill of health.  

I tried to get him to smile pretty for the camera and show off his freshly polished teeth when all was said and done.  He was just too excited about his yellow, glitter tooth brush and floss of his very own.  He insisted they be the primary focus of the photo.  I can assure you, he was beaming and his teeth were gleaming behind his new treasures.