Ten on Tuesday - STL edition

Wow, can you believe it's Tuesday already?  It seems like time is flying by.

1.  M and I are in STL (Saint Louis, for those not into airport lingo) hanging out with the Korenaks.  Maggie is just so incredibly busy and into everything.  I am adoring the extra time with her, but also have moments of frustration as she just never stops. 

2. Baby Z is adorable as anticipated.  He is a snuggler and still so tiny when I've just picked up Lady M (who suddenly seems enormous). I'm on the feeding rotation so we're getting a little extra time together.  I'm so enjoying getting to know the little guy.

3.  Just a year ago, almost exactly, M was the baby and I find that already I've forgotten a lot of what that entails.  It feels like Z sleeps a lot and yet wakes quite a bit at night.  All of which seems foreign already.  I think those post-pregnancy hormones are there for a reason (they help with the forgetting) as the parents are just so tired in these early days and it would be hard to say - Yes, let's do this again at this point in the path.

4. I'm trying to be helpful and cooking extra of things to freeze and attempting to keep up with the many messes that M makes.  Zach is already amazed at the chaos and clutter that follows in her wake (suggests, I need to be more quick in my de-cluttering).

5.  The baptism was lovely.  Three sweet little babies and lots of family fun.  Zane got an extra blessing after to help with his healing.  I was the dedicated photographer and will post pictures later along with some additional detail.  (Here's hoping I got some good ones as I haven't seen all of them yet).

6. I am also doing all I can on Zane's baby book while I'm here. Today, we finished the title page and the hospital pages and began work on a two page spread for his newborn professional pictures.  I mocked up most of the pages based on a template from the Baby's First Year class at Big Picture Scrapbooking and gave it to Audra at her shower for easy filling in later.  That said, I know that she would love it even more if I'd just do it, so I am.  I'll try to do as much as I can each time I come.  It goes really quickly as there are very few supplies in the sack I sent and someone else is picking the pictures (plus having the base already created).  She is printing more photos tomorrow so we can continue on. I hope to finish the first month, baptism, first bath, and professional picture pages as well as the ones we did today before I leave and add the first of the pictures per month to the year in review page. I am so glad this gift of "talent" is something I can give.

7. The reality of Zane's heart condition is noticeable, but more so is the occasional flashes of sadness in his parents and family.  Little things happen that bring it back and there is much small prep work to be done even so early.  I wish I could help with this pain, but this is too big for any but God so I'm trying to help with the little things and offering lady M up as a distraction (she definitely requires attention so we keep moving on).

8. I miss my boys. B just won't talk on the phone much and I miss hearing his stories.  Brent has been mostly working on our minor plumbing crisis.  It appears a pipe broke in the front wall of the house during the winter freeze and has been leaking. I think it is fixed and "may" not end up being the hugely expensive disaster I'd worked it up to in my head. (Here's hoping).

9.  You're random cooking tip for the week - When making meatloaf, consider making it in muffin pans instead of a loaf.  You fill each cup a bit over full and then bake.  It has several advantages -- 1) It cuts the cooking time in half, 2) You get more "crust" per piece which is my favorite, 3) it facilitates portion control, 4) they can be frozen easily and quickly reheated, 5) the leftovers can double as meatballs and thus have a secondary use.  I made a batch here today using ingredients from their garden and the recipe from How To Cook Everything, but got the muffin tin idea from B's Elmo Cookbook.

10. I love hanging out with my sister.  I love seeing our kids together.  I adore the sweet pats lady M is giving her baby cousin. (Yes, mostly very gentle even).  I wish we lived closer so they and we could see each other more.  I am so glad I have this time to spend with my sister and new nephew. 

Here's to family and moments shared. I hope you have a great week!