Mac baby...

While Sammy slept ,Amelia got to play with mama and Uncle John Mike on their Macs. She wasn't that impressed:) I have so many thoughts about this visit, so much I want to say...it is too much. I can't decide which pictures, which stories, so some days I'll just put random things like this. Little snippits.

There isn't much sweeter....

...than seeing your babes meet family for the first time.

"We are beginning our initial descent into Houston..."

When I heard those words I knew that the babes first flight was almost over and was going to go down in our history books as a success! It went great. I had Sam on my lap and Amelia was beside us in her car seat. Sam was SO curious about everything(especially the fasten seat belt light) and just looked around and smiled at everyone. Amelia played with toys and spit bubbles and looked at her feet a lot. She cried for about 5 minutes mid flight when she was trying not to go to sleep, but thankfully I had a little bit of milk left in her bottle and that did the trick. I am just SO thankful!

We are here at their grandma and grandpa Hunt's now surrounded by love,love,love. Their Aunt Shanyn spent the night with us and today they get to meet their great granny and papa (my grandparents)! Tomorrow they have a big day as they meet their Aunt Tara and Uncle John Mike and their Papa Joel and see their grammy and Uncle Bub and Aunt Robin! Lots of pictures are sure to follow.

Joel should arrive from his road trip on Sunday, which is good because our little family is so incomplete without him.

Okay, must go for now. Thanks for all of your prayers for our travel! Jen

Hi, my name is Jenny and I am a babywearing addict....

How else can I explain having this many carriers (and three more loaned out!)?

Ah well, you see how it could be addicting when the end result is this, couldn't you?

What? I don't need ten slings to accomplish this? I'm sorry...I can't hear you. Back to packing, Jen

Oh and...

Would you like to read a more, um, rational post about love of wooden toys than the one I wrote about getting all hot and sweaty over a Haba display?
Go visit soulemama and read her post titled, " Acorns are fun" . I know you will all fall in love with her blog and never want to leave, but do come back and visit sometimes okay? :)

ps. Can you tell I am procrastinating? Packing or blogging while the babes sleep? Hmmm....

Remember that big, mean Polynesian I was telling you about?

Well, he actually came over on Sunday after I wrote that post and let me tell you, he is terrifying!
Don't let these pictures fool you...

Yes, he may adore babies and may have held one in his arms the entire two hours he was here and
Yes, he may have baked these delicious rolls from SCRATCH for us to devour...

But, still. Don't mess with him people. Woe is the man or woman who tries to mess with this house while we are gone!

The napping house....

That is what it feels like right now as I sit here alone in the living room. Joel and the babes are sleeping in the bedroom and the house feels peaceful and still. In the living room the XM radio is playing folk music and outside I can hear Willow meowing for her breakfast, the hum of the dryer is rising up from the basement, my heart feels quiet for the first time in days.

I haven't written in a few days because we are preparing for our big trip to Texas. Honestly, it has mostly been me getting my emotions in check after panicking because the babes may not get their RSV shot before we come(it isn't technically RSV season in Utah yet and the insurance companies are not likely to okay the expensive shots until the season has begun) which means even more caution and isolation while in TX. For the first time I had visions of them getting really sick and I just went into mama bear mode and was ready to call the whole trip off! Thankfully, I talked to a very level headed pediatrician on Friday who validated my feelings and yet made me see that staying home from the trip and hiding under the bed isn't the answer. Going ahead with our plan to be oh, so cautious by limiting contact with others, washing hands like crazy, not allowing them to be around children or anyone with cold symptoms and not going out in public with them is. So, onward we go.

Does this all sound a bit over the top? It's just that when your babes start out life like this....


I think it makes you realize how fragile life really is and sometimes that can turn to fear. It is just a reality of parenting former preemies, and a reality of parenting period I'm sure. So, my heart has been heavy and scared. Mom said she could hear it in my voice. The talk with the pediatrician helped, though. Singing "He's got the whole world in His hands"with the babes and really, really internalizing that Truth helped. The thought of being with our families and knowing that it will be a balm to our souls , and theirs,helped.

And so here I sit this morning, feeling stronger and excited as I start to pack and prepare for the big trip. We will be gone for about six weeks(!) and I obviously won't be posting as often, though I do plan to post when I can. (If some stranger from SLC is reading this somehow has figured out where we live and plan to pull a fast one while we are gone...beware! We are going to have a very,very BIG polynesian staying here and you do not want to mess with him! I'm not kidding. )

Anyway, just wanted to let you know what's been going on. Oh, and you know how when you hurt your thumb and it makes you take your mind off of your headache(isn't there a saying like that?!)? That has been RSV for me. I haven't even stressed about that I am going to be flying BY MYSELF with two babies in a few days! Probably better that way:)

Leaving you today feeling thankful once again that we have a healthy baby girl that looks like this now when she sleeps and our lovey, snuggly Sam...



All for now, Jen

Sister to Sister: An interview

I remember when John Mike first reconnected with Tara after high school. He was living with us at the time in San Marcos and she had just moved to Austin I think and they met for coffee. I remember he was so enthralled by her. "I've never met anyone like her Jenny. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, and she is so creative......"

Indeed she is ,Johnny Mike. She is creative, into all things natural, sensitive, a healthy food lover, passionate, a learner,and now one of my closest friends. I'm so glad you brought her into our life and into our family. I love talking "mama talk" with you Tara and I know that will continue throughout the years as our babies grow and we grow with them.

Here for you, loyal readers, is a glimpse into the heart of Tara Shay Schoepf...soon to be mama of baby Echo...

Siblings: An interview: Number 3

Jenny: What is one thing that you love about your life
right now? Please be specific.

Tara: Truly observing the seasons change...
It has been as if i were peering out my personal
window, awaiting my new life. The anticipation that
has come with these life changes, it is all bundled up
inside of me. ah, to say the least of my little joy.


Jenny: Tell me about a vivid childhood memory.

Tara: So often now, i am calling on memories just
moments before I felt I fell into womanhood. It was
fall, and this season makes me think of my own
imagination. And the first season to drive my first
car, a classic. I felt so intimate within myself
there inside, being in control. This was when I first
fell in love with the reality of steering your own
destiny. We could have been anyone we wanted...

Jenny: What is one way you fit creativity into your
life?

Tara: I think about creativity always. Inside every
moment I look at the creative side first...
But particularly at this time I am attempting small
drawings and hand sewing stuffed toys. Art for others
makes me zestful for life, and this also applies to
cooking as best as i can for my sensitive husband...


Jenny : One way you hope to make this world a better
place?

Tara:Live by my convictions.
Everyday, no matter how small. Someone always feels
your actions close to their heart.

Jenny :One thing you love about your husband….details.

Tara: His balancing effect.
How he pierces through all things very organically,
and so true.
From the first moments i felt our love around me, it
spoke to me like the wind calling. Like the first day
you hear the Holy Spirit calling out for you to listen
and be still. I have seen in color ever since that time...

Don't you just love her?! Thanks Tara for playing along. We love you!! Up next is my big brother "bub". I have to say, his made me shed a few tears, so you may want to have your hankies handy. Jen

Haba toys: apparently they completely unnerve me....

Are you a Haba toy fan? If not, you must have not been introduced to them for to know them is to love them ( in my opinion). They are mostly wooden toys made in Germany. They do not have lead in them. There has never been a Haba toy recall. They do cost more but they will last for child after child and are safe for little mouths. They are not a toy you will find at Target or Babies R Us as they aren't interested in mass markets. You usually find them at small toy stores or natural toy catalogs or, in my case, salivate over them at online stores like oompa.com
So, you can imagine my surprise when I walked into a toy store the other day to look for a shower gift and I was face to face with a HUGE Haba display with a large amount of the toys I have coveted for so long.

I hate to admit it, but it threw me for a loop. I'm just not used to being so tempted by baby items. Usually I am saying in my mind, "Too bright, too noisy, too busy, too commercial," when I am in the baby section of the big,big stores. I spend lots of time trying to find something I like for the babes, verses trying not to buy too much. Suddenly, that was not the case. At all. I slowly circled the display looking at each of the toys and then circled it once more. I picked up a few boxes imagining how the babes might like it, if they already had something too similar, if I should just throw the toy and run out the door before the situation got out of hand. Alas, I couldn't tear myself away. Suddenly, I started getting hot. "Is it warm in here?" I asked myself, but I was too distracted even to take off my sweater. The owner of the shop came over and made the situation even worse. He was an older man, wearing an apron and he had a twinkle in his eye. A twinkle I tell you! Furthermore, he had been to the Haba factory in Germany and proceeded to tell me many more wonderful things about the company. He finally walked away and I gathered my wits about me, wiped my sweaty brow, and made myself focus on a shower gift for my friend. Then I said, "One thing Jenny. You can get one thing for the babes." You can imagine how long that took me. A very long time. They already have several of the clutching Haba toys,etc. etc.

Can you believe that the item I chose wasn't even Haba? It was Kathe Kruse, who is equally wonderful, but still! That is how much the whole situation made me feel off kilter, silly as it sounds:) If the store would have had slings and cloth diapers I may have gone into shock or something!

We all have our materialistic hangups right? Right? Well, I came face to face with mine and though I didn't necessarily fail in terms of the amount of money I spent, getting literally hot and unnerved over wooden toys is a bit disturbing in itself and something I may need to spend a little time thinking about.

Ah well, onward we go. Here is a new picture of Sammy from this morning. Hands are so yesterday for him.....feet are the new rage! Amelia is catching on as well and I'm sure she'll be feet crazy in no time. Playing with your feet , blowing spit bubbles and one Kathy Kruse rainbow doll....they are what's new in the Hunt household this week! Jen

Bye bye bakery....

With sadness, dear bakery, I must say goodbye to our daily visits for now. I know you must be asking yourself, "WHY? Why must you leave me so suddenly and without warning?!" Well, there are multiple reasons. One is that the wee babes are growing up, and growing up means that they need a little more of a routine during the day. They used to take good naps when they were in your company but now they want to stay awake and look at the fans and the lights and all of the folks coming and going.

Oh, and about all of the folks coming and going. That's a problem too. The dreaded RSV season is upon us and we must be more careful about being out and about. I know you won't be lonely as it is getting cold outside and more and more people are coming in to drink your warm hot chocolate and tomato soup...mmmm. Believe me, this is hurting me more than it is hurting you.

As we say goodbye to the bakery (sniff, sniff) we are really also saying goodbye to a whole little "era" in the babes life. The life of hours on the front porch in the moses basket and in the back yard on blankets. We are transitioning to naps in bed at more consistent times as they are getting older. It is nice, of course, to have a few hours to myself during the day and yet I loved our days of doing whatever we wanted when we wanted. To everything there is a season, right? So, goodbye season of "Morning Muffins", thank you for all of the mornings of indulgence. Hello......Late Afternoon Lucky Charms? Sadly, that is not a random statement:)

Just for fun, here is a picture for ya...

Love that. Jen

Adapt...

What to do with babes who have outgrown their moses basket?





A little video for you...

Laundry basket fun....

Sister to sister: An interview

My sister in luv Robin is lots of things that I want to be....organized, efficient, a great home manager and cook, as hospitable as you can possibly be, kind, compassionate, and respectful and so very loving to her husband. I'm so glad her husband is my big brother, "Bub"!

So, here is the second in my series of sibling interviews( If you missed out on John Mike's, scroll down until you see the black and white photo of the cutie playing a guitar). Hope you enjoy getting a glimpse into our sweet Robin........

Siblings: An Interview: Number 2

JENNY: What is one thing that you love about your life right now? Please be specific.

ROBIN: Hmmm. Just one? I love being married. I know that’s not so “specific” but it’s new to me. The idea of spending the rest of my life with this person…knowing that I’ll always be there for him and his family and he will do the same for me and mine. It’s a great sense of security and…bliss.

JENNY: Tell me about a vivid childhood memory

ROBIN: The summer before first grade I was playing in the backyard with my neighborhood friends. We dared each other to run up the slide with our eyes closed. I was the last one to go and I fell off the top and broke my arm. I remember my dad carrying me out of the yard to the car and my friends saying that they were just playing – they had their eyes open. I wasn’t really supposed to close them. Heh…either an early lesson in trust or friendship, not sure which one.

JENNY: What is one way you fit creativity into your life?

ROBIN:I love journaling and writing blogs. And I love photography, but don’t practice it enough. I have stacks of “scrapbooking” materials but have yet to start a scrapbook…I can’t wait though. When I see the really neat ones, I get inspired to try it. I guess in order to get it in my every day, I read or listen to music. I know that is not ME creating, but appreciating creations is just as important, right?

JENNY: One thing you have learned this past year?

ROBIN: Ooof. Again with the “one.” I think this was the year of love for me, on so many different levels. Of course, there is the love of my new husband…and how different it is than anything else I’ve ever felt. There is the love of new family, the love of rekindled friendships, love of life, love of relationships developed over the years. And as much love as I experienced, I witnessed even more…love of complete strangers, love in spite of, love regardless of, love unacknowledged, tough love, unwavering love. Lots of love without judgment and even more with patience. *sigh* It’s been a really good year.

JENNY: One way you hope to make this world a better place?

ROBIN: By using all that I have learned the past year (and all the years before, for that matter) and sharing it with others. It’s so easy to be kind, to be patient, to be thoughtful…but no one seems to try anymore. Instead of reaching out we are pulling back…we have become controlled by our fears which makes us reluctant to lend a helping hand…we judge others and their worth before deciding whether to help them. I want to change all that.

JENNY: One thing you love about your husband/wife….details.

ROBIN: I love his hugs. I know exactly what each one means and maybe physically…technically…there is no difference in how he wraps his arms around me, to me each one feels different and special and like it was designed just for the occasion, whatever occasion it might be…sad, happy, tired, worried, missing him…Don’t get me wrong…I know it’s not just the hug that gets to me…it’s what’s behind it. But you said one.

Thanks Robin...we love you!!! I am love,love,loving hearing your thoughts my brothers and sisters. I have laughed and cried and sighed and remembered just why it is I love you all so much, Jen

PS. Next up, mama to be Tara!

A Mama and her chicks...

I love these pictures. The first one because Amelia's face is priceless! The rest because they are just so us. Just us before bedtime. Amelia and I straightening up the bed and Sam and I doing some quality reading while Amelia is having her "spa time" in the kitchen. Every night at around 6:30 in the Hunt house this is what's going on. I am trying to soak it up, these little routines that I so often take for granted. I don't want to forget how we straighten up all of the blankets each night before baths. Each of us has our favorite sleep spot and favorite blanket. Or how Joel usually gives the baths and lets me have a few relaxing moments with the other babe. How we still swaddle them up at bed time and how they like to have a soft blanket or lovie touching their face. How Sam likes his little brow lightly traced by my finger until he gets so sleepy his eyes can't stay open any longer and how Amelia will grab your finger or thumb so tightly while she violently sucks on her binkie until she starts to fade off to sleep. Usually she can fall asleep on her own now without nursing but sometimes she fights it big time and I'll put a soft blanket around her body and then pull her back and forth like she's in a hammock (or sling probably!) until she relaxes enough to fall asleep. And then we look at them in their little corner of our big,big bed and ooh and ahh over them and turn on the fan as we walk out of the bedroom to have our "free time" for the evening. Then around 9:30 we go in and snuggle into bed to see what the night has in store for us:) Last night Amelia woke up around 12:30 and was talking and squealing and laughing for like 30 minutes! Joel was laughing so hard the bed was shaking as we both woke up and were like, "What in the world is she doing?!" Sam slept through the whole thing but finally her talking turned to fussing and I decided the party needed to end so that we could all go back to sleep! She nursed and conked out. Sharing sleep with our babes is not always the easiest way to go. If 8-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep is your goal early on in babyhood, then I wouldn't recommend it for your family. Did you know that babies can smell breast milk up to 50 feet away? Or so a physical therapist told me a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, with mommy being so close to the babes, of course they want to wake up to eat more often than if they were in the other room! But for us, we can't imagine things any other way for now. It's a big part of our family rhythm. We are (gently, patiently) trying to establish some better "sleep associations" etc. that may help Amelia be able to go bck to sleep on her own more during the night, and for that I thank "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" book. It is written by a co-sleeping mama and has been a big encouragement to this mama! Anyway, how did this post become so enormously long? I guess because looking at these pictures makes me want to bottle up all that we are thinking, feeling, experiencing as parents at this stage.....it's an emotional thing, this parenting business! Through the exhaustion, and frustrations, and mama-guilt, etc. thankfulness still reigns and that is something that I hope never changes.

Sammy says hi and Amelia dances a jig...

Here are a few words from Sam....they are both "talking" up a storm:)

Sammy says hi...


Amelia dances a jig...

Why does this make me laugh so hard? The turkey burgers in the background add a nice touch:)

Hope you guys had a fabulous weekend! Jen

I have it SO together....

So I was leaving Paradise (if you are new to the blog Paradise is the bakery we visit, ahem, every morning)and I had yet another humbling experience. I think Motherhood is another word for humbling!

I was on my way out with the double stroller and I saw several people glance at the door like , "Should I go get the door for her? Poor thing, how does she get in and out of places with that thing?" I hate to admit this, but I was having a really smug conversation in my head that went something like this....

I was imagining two customers. One was saying, " Oh man, how is she going to get out the door with that?" Then the other says, "Oh no, she is here every morning and she can actually get in and out the door easily. She is a pro with that thing!"
Why am I admitting this? It is so embarrassing! What can I say, I am a sharer! So, I am having this silly conversation in my head as I confidently back open the door as I have done a million times,and once it is open I swing the stroller straight with one hand and get ready to let go of the door. I am smiling at my smooth maneuver ("No help needed here!") and start to walk away but something isn't right. I can't move away from the door. My back is somehow stuck to the door! Frantically, I try twice more to move forward, hoping that if I just move forcefully enough the whole situation would end quickly, but alas I am pulled back toward the door. What the?! I look behind me and see that my belt loop is hooked on the door lock!! It took a minute, but I managed to extricate myself from the lock and quickly walk away, the proud imaginary customer disappearing completely from my mind .

I don't make this stuff up guys, I just report it. I was going to keep this jewel to myself, but I told my mom and we giggled so hard that I decided to share it with you. Then again,we giggle at a lot of things that many others wouldn't find that amusing at all:) Anyways, here is to another humbling, exhausting, wonderful day of motherhood!

Take-out. It's our friend....

A few weeks ago I was getting take-out from Pei Wei ("Yes, I 'd like a Teryaki bowl with chicken and brown rice. Again." ) and I had both babes with me picking it up(It's within walking distance which makes it even more yummy). The girl helping me said, "Wow, how do you do it with two?!" "Lots and lots of take out!" was my reply.

Those of you who know us well may be saying, "What?! You guys have been eating lots of take-out WAY before babies came into the picture!"

What? I can't hear you.

Anyway, in other news....dads need time to play too.


He went to the mountains and came back refreshed:)

Another sibling to sibling interview coming your way soon! Jen

Speaking of siblings...

Here are some really, really cute ones....

Sister to brother: An interview

Lately I have really been missing my siblings and my siblings- in- love. I just wish they were next door ( or at least in the same state) to chat with, to love on the babies, to enjoy this growing, evolving family we share. I miss their thoughts. So I emailed them and asked them some questions to reconnect, to be able to find out things that I didn't know about them even while being so far away. I haven't been disappointed.

The first to respond was John Michael. Surprised? He's good at that. My baby brother..... in many ways I have him stuck at fourteen, as that is the age he was when I got married. He was still a baby faced boy and now suddenly he is a man that is about to become a papa. I am and always have been so proud to have John Mike as a brother. So proud of his talent, his character, his focus and his heart. I miss our late night talks, little brother, and can't wait to watch Amelia and Sam one day as they chat late into the night about all things under the sun. Here, for you dear readers, is a little glimpse into John Mike.....

Jenny: What is one thing that you love about your life
right now? Please be specific.

John Mike: I love my history of popular music class. It's so
interesting. It's helping me re-evaluate my existence
as a musician.

Jenny: Tell me about a vivid childhood memory.

John Mike: Well there was that time I was going to fake throw an
orange at your face, however it managed to slip out of
my hand and hit you right between the eyes.
sorry.....

Jenny: What is one way you fit creativity into yourlife?

John Mike: Songwriting... Playing instruments....
wearing particularly strange outfits ect.

Jenny : One way you hope to make this world a better
place?

John Mike: Love my little girl. Love my wife. Love my
family. Love my enemies. Love my neighbors. and
create music that somehow pleases our Savior.

Jenny :One thing you love about your wife….details.

John Mike: Tara has great taste in
music, food, movies, books and so on.. She is so very
compassionate and she is already going above and
beyond to prepare herself to become a wonderful
little momma.

Thanks for playing along JM--we love you! Jen

I love this...

"If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would only have courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favorite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents."
Charlotte Mason

My friend Anne and I acted on this quote today and spent a few hours on our own. We were seriously giddy as she picked me up and we left our men with the babes (thanks guys!) and we rolled down the windows and we zoomed away. Now, admittedly, 95% of our conversations centered around our little families and 100% of our purchases from our shopping trip will adorn the wee little bodies of our babies.....but still! It was so much fun and I really think Charlotte Mason knew her stuff:)

Of course, these little love bugs and their papa were wonderful to come home to....they had a great time taking a long walk to the ice cream shop, Old Navy, etc. Joel called and let me know that all was well.....which did a great deal to set my heart at ease.





I also love this random Big Bird video from the 1970's....

Yes, I did just post a video of Big Bird talking about breastfeeding. You know you think it's sweet too:)

All for now, Jen