seasons change.. and so do we:

 I guess it's fitting that I just got this tree mug for "Mother's Day"...(the leaves change from brown to green when hot drinks fill it).  Because the times, they are a-changing.

As I hinted at last week, there's some new developments happening here.

Namely, this stay-at-home-mama is now going back to work!

Only part.part-time that is.

But, literally back to work... at my past workplace ~ Benjamin Moore Paint Store!

It's been a recent whirlwind of coinciding coincidences that brought us to this point.

+ Our baker Ben has been trying to find more work in a city (in)famous for unemployment.

+ Both our Mom's suggested that maybe I could pull a few shifts somewhere - and they would help watch the kids.

+ My old boss kindly (generously) took this prodigal worker back (after the various times I have 'quit/traveled/left' in the past nonetheless!).

+ Ben is also home early enough in the morning to watch the kids for the couple days that I go in to work now too.

So, yah, that was all a bit sudden.

I'm still processing how I feel about it all...

 The mushy-sentimental-mama-side of me is feeling some abandonment issues.

(Yes, especially when I picture them sitting at the window awaiting my return..!).

I want to be home with them.

But sometimes I remember these moments too....

...and am eager to have a small escape from the chaos.

Heh.

But, I do know that I will be so eager to run home and hold them extra tight on work days.

 -----

So, back to work.. for the first day - TODAY!
(So, of course the babe has been up every two hours since 2am.. woo!).

Back to work also means BIKE to work... so that's going to be a great motivator to get me back in shape!

Paint is in my blood.

I'm a 'colour geek' and still have so many names/codes locked in my head.

So I am excited to be back in that creative element.

With ol' co-worker friends I know.

Back downtown in my home city.

A lot of familiar things to return to.

But I feel different.

I've changed... it's been about 7 years since I've been there.

(I ran an art studio for youth after this job, before having kids).

 I've grown, stretched, lived, learned.

Maybe I'll be a bit less of a dork this time around... maybe.

(Oh, and thank you Value Village 50% sale for supplying my back-to-work wardrobe... no more yoga pants and snotty sweaters for me!).

-----

You mamas out there, do you remember your first day back to work (if you've returned?).

I'm really curious - if you need to have you kids watched (i.e. PAID care, daycare, etc) how does it even add up?  I don't get how one works, and pays someone to watch their child.. but still makes a profit in the end to live off?  Am I missing something?
Unless your job pays double what your 'sitters' hourly wage is I suppose?

Just wondering.....

-----

Ok, so there you have it!

Interior design, colour consultant, paint mixer - mama:

Mel ;o)

in the swing of things..

Well here it is, Mother's Day.. and it seems remiss for me not to pop in and say how thankful I am to have worn this 'mama' hat for the past 3.5 years now.

Still learning as I go.

Laughing.

Loving.

And all that other craziness in between.

Speaking of craziness though, that's our life right now (good crazy, no worries) and I'm running off to hang an art show in the midst of it now!

For all you mamas out there, I send you extra hugs and high fives today.

I wrote in my Mom's card "I think God gives us kids as 'payback' for all the stuff we put our parent's through".... because, you know.

Ok, I'll catch up with you all again soon friends!

Hope you're keeping well in your corner of the globe there!?

mama Mel

*P.S - In lieu of the whirlwind here, no Monday Mamalogues tomorrow. stay tuned!

same shirt...

...different day darling.

Ok, holy gushing gerbers Batman! but this mama is having a moment... and I just can't get enough of these adorable 'comparison' shots of our two babes.  I just re-discovered this awesome batman onesie yesterday while clearing out the closet - it fits Hudson perfectly now!

Y'all remember I'm crazy for Batman right?

Not, cr-aaaa-zeee...but just convinced he's the coolest superhero around.

So yah, that cuteness right there just made my day.

Have a super one yourself!
mel ;o)

here + there.

sip + savour.

window watcher.

stripes + swings.

bright blossoms.

colourful crunching. (Hummus recipe below*).

sunlight + shadow patchwork.

finally finished!

--------------

Another week, another peek at the moments in our nest.

Granted, with all this lovely warm weather.. we're more 'there' than 'here'.

Lots of playing in parks.

Swinging in the sunshine.

 Picking fresh tulips from our garden.

----

More sewing, more painting... all my skyscapes are finally done for the start of this show at Black Honey Cafe (up for 6 weeks after Mother's Day!).

<Insert happy dance>

It's been a great chance to experiment again, and I'm really happy with the new collection I've created here (lots more to see at the show, too).

----

It's a busy week/weekend ahead with family *reunions* and mother's day visits... and getting the art all ready to hang.

I may disappear for a bit... 

----

Ch-ch-ch-changes are on the horizon for our wee nest too.

I'm excited.sad.happy.hopeful.unsure about it all.

(Don't you just love vague statements like this..?!)

Sorry.. but I'll keep y'all posted.

All that to say we've been really, really blessed lately.

Seeing God work through His church - our 'chosen' family - to help us, is humbling and wonderful.

God knows our needs.

His mercies are new every morning.

----

That's us, 

how are you doing this week?

Mel ;o)

-------------------------------------------

*Homemade hummus recipe (in the highly unmeasured style of my cooking!)

+ Chick peas (smaller can, rinsed).

+ garlic clove (1-2 if you like a nice hit).

+ lemon juice (2 - 4 tblspns)

+ sesame oil (2-4 tblspns)

+ salt/pepper (dash)

Combine all in a food processor... adding equal parts lemon juice/sesame until it blends to a creamy smooth paste.

Enjoy with raw veggies, pitas... etc.

Mmmmmmm... hummus!

sewing for summer!

 Phew!  Is it just me, or is it getting hot up in here..?

Ontario decided to make up for lost time, diving straight from an extended winter - to summer!  That's all well and good, except for the accompanying *meltdown* of wardrobe issues.

See, after a long hibernation of sedentary living + comfort baking = this mama bear has grown some 'muffin tops' and other such puffiness around the middle.

The notion of 'shoe-horning' myself into my shorts was getting enraging.

...

The solution was nonetheless humorous.

"I'll sew a new summer line of clothing!" says I.

(Visions of flowing, loose, Rita MacNeil-in-a-mu-mu, kind of options danced through my mind).

As I wadded the piles of fabric through the sewing machine... my man walks by,

"I'll call that the widow-maker" he says.

And like rams bashing skulls on the discovery channel, we've been hilariously debating what makes *good* summer attire ever since!

My 'loose and flowy' is his idea of a 'boat tarp'.

I just refuse to grease myself with butter to fit into an outfit.

....

Anyways... here's some of the pieces that I've created lately that we both like (miracle of miracles!):

 One yard of fabric.  Basic A-line skirt with a zipper at the hip.

I didn't even hem the bottom because I'm lazy I love the brown/white spots along the lower half...and the white ragged edge to set it off.

 Mmmm jersey cotton.

Guess where this skirt came from?  Yep, that old sewing fail... I just turned the shirt upside down and cut open the shoulders (removed the lace) and made a funky skirt!

(Yes, life is glamorous here...holding my big boy.. with a creepy Elmo balloon behind us!).

 Oooh, and lastly, here's a sweet simple sewing trick to give your belly/hips a break!

Insert thick elastic in the hip/pockets of your shorts/pants... and all those 'too-tight' pants will fit again!  (I covered white elastic with brown stretchy jersey cotton for those brown cords).

Now you can keep the thrill of maternity clothing with you forever.

I didn't wear a belt... just so you could get the full impact of this heavenly relief.

I may even go eat some more chocolate to celebrate! 

Sew there you have it friends.

Summery solutions and silliness.

Mel ;o)

[M.M.16] when to wean...

Welcome back to Monday Mamalogues:

'Linking up to share the beauty and breakdowns of motherhood'.

 The bond between mother and child is so amazing, isn't it?

I always love to hold, snuggle, cuddle our kids close.

I'm a *touch* love language kind of gal.

So, for me, breastfeeding has always been a beautiful moment to literally flow love right into my baby.  For over a year now, 4 - 5 times a day... we have our little affection feast.

Me, staring down at him with wonder.

Him, gazing up at me with his big blue eyes.

 Now, as most babies tend to do, he's getting bigger... and bigger.

Those pudgy fists are now foraging for food, instead of being the helpless hands that once lay on my neck.

 Those chompers are getting bigger too!

Nothing makes you more eager to wean a kid than when they test their *bite* on your tender bits!

Soooo, needless to say, the time for weaning seems to be upon us.  But to be honest, I'm in no rush.  Because, I really... reaaaallly am struggling to let go of this baby stage with our Hudson.

He's totally a mama's boy.

And I'm just as much wrapped around his pudgy finger.

Maybe that's why he still wakes once (or more) times in the night... because I just can't let him 'cry it out'... I want to hold him, nurse and comfort him.

I think it's the 'last child' factor.

 Since Ben and I are fairly *certain* we're done spawning more kids... its makes this stage all the more significant to me.

He's the last baby I'll nurse.

The final use of the bassinet, and crib.

Clearing baby clothes from the dressers...

Weaning - like change - is sometimes hard to face.

But changes keep coming... some of which require me to wean him sooner than I may like.

 Oh, how my heart does a bittersweet <squish> when I think of how deeply I love these kids.

When I think of how their yesterdays have vanished like hour-glass sand.

When I think of how small their hands once were in mine.

How tiny their bodies were snuggled beside my heart.

They keep growing.

More to love.

They keep changing.

More to learn. 

When will we wean from these things?

Hopefully never.

mama Mel ;o)

A.musing.mama! 1.4

Sooo, I don't know about you, but holding (big) babies isn't as easy as it looks.
I often come out of church (or a doctor's office) feeling like a professional hog wrestler.

the truth.

Happy weekend'ing, friends!

Mel ;o)

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You can catch up on the previous comics here!