mornings

Mornings in the Pottorf household have been pretty rough this week. More than once Kai has decided to wake up far too early, leaving mama to crawl out of bed blurry eyed and groggy. Last night was particularly rough. Kai's 2-year molars are coming in and we suspect that was culprit. He struggled to go to sleep and woke up crying several times, which is very unlike him. At 5am he woke up and wasn't showing any signs of going back to sleep. Ben, being the wonderful husband and caring father that he is, skipped going to the gym to get Kai back to sleep. Miraculously he was successful and we all got to go back to sleep for a bit.

I'm still a bit groggy and have a lingering headache, but I'm not falling asleep on the couch like a few other mornings this week. Needless to say, we are really ready for the long weekend!

Happy Friday,

Thankful on a Thursday

For a little while this morning I thought for sure that fall had come early. I mean sure, it's officially September, but we should be in for at least 2 more weeks of summer weather. In fact, we are really due another month because of how cool the "summer" has been here in the good ol' PNW. The sun did come out today and there's a pleasant breeze to keep it from feeling too hot. I rather like it, but also hope for a few more days of intense heat that coincide with my ability to get to a pool and float.

I've been busy this week baking, crafting, organizing, and planning...I think it's called "nesting" when you're pregnant. Whatever it is, I feel like I don't enough hours in the day nor enough strength + energy in my growing body to complete my lists. Still, I have a lot to be thankful for...


791. a cool morning to bake cookies for a dinner gathering with friends tonight.

792. budding photographer friends that happen to need family + maternity shots for their portfolios.

{Lydia Gillis Photography}

793. Pinterest, an easy place to find decor inspiration, recipes, and handmade gift ideas all in one!

794. Costco's generic meds, heartburn has come back with a vengeance.

795. growing up. while the sentimental side of me is sad to see my children and even my siblings age, it's such a blessing to be a part of their lives as they grow + mature.

796. the play room. I'll post more about this transformation later, but so far it has (mostly) contained the inevitable toy mess, saving us from poked feet + twisted ankles.

797. lovely friends that I don't see often enough, yet when I do it's as if no time has passed at all. these are the BEST type of friends.

798.  my first red tomato!

799. cold brewed iced coffee.

800. God's provision and love. I am often overwhelmed by the wonderful husband and son he has blessed me with. I'm surely not deserving of how amazing they are.

Tell me, what are you thankful for this week? Post it on your blog and leave me a link, or just jot a few things in the comments.

another summer weekend gone

This past weekend was yet another busy one. After a really packed week of activity we decided to make no plans on Friday and just relax at home. Unfortunately, that plan didn't work out since the a/c went out (again). Ben + his dad spent most of the evening assessing and repairing.

Saturday morning my siblings moved into their college dorms. My brother for his first year and my sister for her 3rd. Ben helped them move some stuff in while Malakai + I wandered around between rooms and eventually played outside with Mima for a bit.

{my husband Ben, my brother's roommate Tyler, and my brother Cody}

{my sister Amanda + Kai}

{Malakai was dancing to the music they had playing in the quad}

After move-in there was a family lunch outside and then some other meetings + activities that we left my parents + siblings to in order to take Kai home for nap time. That's when Ben went to finish work on the a/c. My poor husband up in the nasty hot attic. I'm so thankful and proud of him for repairing the issue himself, and for free!

Once little dude was up from his nap we went to run errands + ended up eating a super cheap dinner at Costco while we were out + about so we could finish getting things done and still have a happy toddler.

Sunday afternoon we stuck around the house. Ben + Malakai had some good bonding time while I worked on blanching + slicing peaches for freezing and for cobbler. 

{Kai grabbed a pillow to be like daddy}

{he still refuses to get in this pool, but loved getting wet from the outside}

Another busy weekend gone and yet another one ahead of us. Time is just flying by!

33 weeks

How far along? 33 weeks 

Total weight gain/loss: up 25 lbs.

Stretch marks? a few little ones

Maternity Clothes: my wonderful mother in law gave me some "Kohls cash" and I got a few better fitting tops + a pair of shorts. Oddly enough all my shorts were too big and my tops were too short. 

Sleep: Our a/c was out on Friday night and I slept really hard actually. It was a nice change from the frequent wakings. 

Best moment this week:Malakai rubbing my belly this morning and saying "baby"

Movement: lots of bumps, punches, kicks, + nudges. He's running out of room, but still tries to squirm. 

Gender: boy

Labor Signs: fairly intense BH all day yesterday.
Food Cravings: fresh fruit cobbler + vanilla ice cream. I seem to always crave sweets.
Belly Button in or out? slightly out
What I miss: being thin. It sounds so superficial but I'm starting to feel huge and like nothing fits. I really do enjoy being pregnant though.

What I am looking forward to: finishing up the playroom, including our repaired glider.

Weekly Wisdom: nothing too wise from me this week.

Baby Brain Moment of the Week: nothing too entertaining. 

Milestones: according to The Bump, we've moved from baby being the size of a squash to a honeydew- where we'll be for the next 4 weeks before we graduate to watermelon!

won't stay fixed...

Our a/c went out in early July and thankfully it was fairly cool so we weren't suffering too badly. Unfortunately it cost us $850 and that was with a generous discount on the service charge, but it was worth it. Then earlier this month it decided to go out again, for a different reason. The people who installed our system 10-15 years ago took a few too many little short cuts with things that didn't matter until now. Another $35 after a very generously discounted service call, plus Ben doing a little bit of work with the repairman on the phone, and we were set once again.

After lunch Malakai grabbed me by the hand to drag me into his playroom. One of my favorite things that he does. On the way over I walked by a vent and the air blowing out was a bit stuffy. I poked my head outside to listen for the pump running, and it wasn't. These were the same indicators that something was wrong the last 2 times. So I called Ben and after a meeting he'll be heading home to see if it's something he can fix.

Meanwhile Kai and I found relief in the kiddie pool out back (more so me than him really) and now we're waiting for daddy to save the day. Sadly for him he has to climb up into the very hot attic to assess the situation. It's highly likely that it's upwards of 120 degrees in there. Pray for him, that he doesn't get too hot or have to be up there long, and that he can figure it out so we don't have to call on our repairman as I'm thinking we've probably run out of favors.

Stay cool + happy weekend,