Just kickin’ it around here!
Mazen’s new booties in preparation for our farm wedding next weekend! I also ordered some denim items from Old Navy on sale – so cute! Hope they fit! Check out the red cords too ; )
Man is it nice to have Matt home in the mornings. I know it won’t last forever, but having breakfast made for me while I fed Maze was so nice!
Matt’s whipped banana oatmeal topped with Nature’s Plus granola and sunflower buttah
Half caf coffee on the side – I made all decaf when it’s just me, but Matt likes to mix it up just a bit.
Mornings are my happiest time. I can usually count on a nap in the carrier or wrap and get my post done, housework and dishes finished and a shower.
Somebody now likes bath time!! I made the water a bit warmer and put a warm washcloth on his stomach while I wash him and no crying at all! I think he might even like it.
During nap #2, I made lunch –
An AMAZING sandwich of smoked salmon, sharp white cheddar and capers on Cville Crunch. The breast [you know what’s on my mind 
] bread was the best part!
Apple slices with cinnamon on the side
Mixed with some trail mix
Lemonade was guzzled down. I need my water bottle strapped to my hand!
This afternoon we met Aunt Faith for a walk. 2-ish miles downtown and back. I’m excited for more walking dates in the future!
We have been ever-so-thankful for all the homemade meals our wonderful friends have dropped by, and that has made cooking a bit more special again!
We put together this tofu stir fry for a quick meal. Farmer’s market beans and garden peppers were sautéed in a wok with some safflower oil, soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic. Tofu was seared in more oil in another skillet until brown on all sides (be patient!) Matt made a reduction of more of the soy sauce + brown sugar mixture with a dash of apple cider vinegar in another small pot to pour on top. Served over leftover white rice for me and leftover whole wheat pasta for him!
Sriracha on top!
KK came over for a visit and magically got the baby to sleep in her arms, so she offered to stay and keep rocking him while we ate dinner and chatted. He loves his grandmother and her homemade blanket!
Andthenitwasbedtimeagain.
{ 118 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my gosh I LOVE Mazen’s boots! Nice job on the two miles–Has it been hard getting back into exercise/walking since having him?
Only because of his unpredictable temperament and appetite. He likes walking until he’s hungry, but I never know when that will be! If I leave the house right after I feed him, then we’re usually good. Wait any longer and we risk it. Physically though, I’m ready to rock and roll!
Oh yeah, I bet that makes it super hard. That’s great to hear your body is feeling well though. I hope I am the same that quick after pregnancy! You are so inspiring Kath!
Heard your ad on the Corner this morning! So excited for the fall treats at the bakery
Oh fun!!! I need to listen for it : )
LOVE those adorable booties! So stinkin cute! And that salmon sandwich sounds like it’s to die for… Ahhh!
Those boots are kickin’! Do they make them in adult sizes??
Haha if so I need a pair! I bet you could commission some : )
Those boots are sooooo stinkin’ cute! Mazen is going to be one sharp dressed little fella.
I like the new KERF copyright on the photos! It looks great.
Thanks : )
Did you order them from Etsy!? I am on the hunt for baby cowboy booties, and thought I’d come across a similar pair. Love
Yes!
Awwww, those boots!!! I would have thought dressing a baby girl would be more fun with all the cute girly clothes but I’m now convinced boy clothes are so much cuter because they are really just miniature versions of adult clothes! So stinking cute!
Isn’t it amazing how the days just FLY? I remember when my kids were first new, my husband would come home and ask what I did all day and for the life of me, I just couldn’t tell him, but I knew I was running around like crazy all day. At least you’ve got some photo documentation!
Looking good, mama. You are born for this! And Mazen is getting cuter by the day!
what a sweetie. looove his little boots-saw them on instagram a few days ago–just adorable.
also, good call on the smoked salmon sandwich–great idea!! is it time for lunch yet?
Hey Kath! Been reading every post but haven’t commented in ages.
First, congrats to you and Matt on beautiful little Mazen. I’ve been enjoying reading about your adventures as new parents.
Second, today I noticed you have watermarks on your photos. Is this new? Something you recommend for bloggers? (Even those of us with small blogs?) May I ask how that came about?
It’s kind of up to you and how comfortable you feel with the potential for photo theft. I admit they detract from the photos just a bit, but I’m dealing with some copyrighted photo theft and this is one step I’m taking to keep KERF (and Mazen’s) photos protected.
Ahhhh, those cowboy boots are the cutest!!! I love the last pic of the nugget with his grandma, so sweet!
Go K K! Grandma power.
And so pleased Mazey likes his baths now!
KK – you are the best – and gee, a grandma’s gotta do what she’s gotta do right?- if she must rock Mr M while you all eat, so be it – have a good day
Those baby clothes are TOOOOO CUTE!!!
omg, those boots! I would totally wear those as slippers around the house
I can see you’re totally digging the smoked salmon again!
Those booties are so cute!!! Here here on the copyright…something I should do myself!
Those boots! Nothing is cuter than baby feet…except for baby feet encased in adorable knitted booties.
Aren’t grandmas the best?? My mom can always get my son to sleep even when I am having the hardest time. And she ALWAYS takes care of him so I can eat/shower/etc. We’d be lost without her!
I had similar booties for my boys when they were little made out of a tie dyed wool with leather bottoms…I just loved them because they were the only booties that would stay on their feet when they started to crawl around…they had a leather tie that kept them snuggly on. The boys loved them too! All your meals look so darn yummy! Aren’t grandma’s wonderful! My boys just love theirs to bits! (Of course they love their Grandpa’s just as much!)
Whoa, that sandwich looks AMAZING! Glad Maze is enjoying bath time now. Definitely makes it easier to do your job when baby isn’t fussy
Just so you know , I don’t think the watermarks on the pictures are distracting I did not notice them until after I read the comments.
Wonderful, thanks!
i didn’t notice either!
wow now i go back and i do see them-can’t believe i didn’t notice. guess i was just entranced by the adorable baby boy and yummy food
didn’t notice it either.
I agree, very subtle yet cute when you notice them.
Same here! I had to go back and look!
I think the watermark looks great! It truly isn’t all that noticeable and is much less “loud” than a lot of seen! Doesn’t detract from your photos at all.
I have a slightly baby-ignorant question: How do you decide when to have him in the Boba for walks or in that baby sling?
Thanks
This was my first day with the carrier and I liked it a lot. It’s more supportive so it’s probably better for walks whereas the wrap is better for household.
You had it MADE with a husband and grandparents who help you out! I had 2 babies 13 months apart (both C-sections), a husband who worked 12 hours a day, and family who lived on the opposite side of the country! And one of our babies screamed all day long, only took tiny catnaps of 10-15 minutes, no matter what I did to sooth him. I thank God for good friends/neighbors who helped me out. I would’ve never made it without them.
Having an extra set of hands makes suuuuch a difference. Something for us all to note for our single or single during the day friends!
I didn’t notice the watermarks either!
Love the knit cowboy boots for Mazen. So cute!
Good idea with the watermark. I don’t think it takes anything away from your great photos and if it protects you and your family from photo theft, then that’s what matters
Those booties are the cutest thing ever! I want a pair
I see the watermarks in the photos, too. So far I haven’t watermarked my pics but have always wondered if I should.
Glad you got to meet up with Faith, too!
I LOVE smoked salmon! I’m craving that now.
Some parts of the day go by soooooo quickly while other moments *usually the screaminghisheadoff moments* go by so slowly! Bedtime is definitely the mark of the day!
Love the boots! Adorable! ……yay for happier bath times!
Didn’t notice the watermarks at all until the comments pointed it out. Probably a smart idea. So sorry to hear you are dealing with photo theft. That, along with all the judgmental comments I’ve been reading can’t be easy to deal with. I don’t know how you do it. I am such a sensitive person I think I’d be crying everyday. I hope you’re able to let all the criticism slide off your back. I’m just amazed at how insensitive people can be. Thanks for continuing with your blog. I admire your loyalty to your readers. That’s one thing(out of the many things) I LOVE about your blog. You are open and honest and care about your readers. Thanks for taking the time to read our comments and respond!
Btw, thanks for recommending Jockey’s Ridge as a place to see in the Outerbanks! We went at sunset with our 2 kids when we were there and had a blast!
Thanks Nicole : )
So glad you liked Jockey’s Ridge!
Love those boots!!
OK random question. . . now that you are breastfeeding do you notice you have more intense food cravings than compared to when pregnant or have the cravings leveled out? For some reason I did not have many cravings during pregnant but breastfeeding has caused my cravings to sky rocket (always want sweets and salty tortilla chips.). Wonder if this is also due to sleep deprivation? Just wondering if I am the only weirdo w/ this experience…
Have a great day!
Hmmm I’m not sure! My taste for cheese and potato chips is still going strong, but most (all?) aversions are gone. I do crave sweets – luckily we don’t have much in the house!
Those boots! Those are too too cute!
Oh gosh, those booties are too cute!
OMG the booties! So stinking CUTE!
Adorable boots! And now I’m craving smoked salmon.
Your lunch looks great! Your blog always reminds me that half the pleasure of a good meal is visual! Mazen looks so sweet and content.
You seem like a proud mama!
That picture of Karen and Mazen is so precious!
I love, love, love the new booties! If I have a boy one day, I’m going to have to invest in some.
And how cool is it seeing him wrapped up in a homemade blanket? My daughter had several given to her and now pulls them around the house behind her at four
The booties= omgsoadorable
Your rockin bod= omgsojealous
Is it possible you are thinner than your pre-baby weight already? You look amazing!
You are sweet, but definitely no
Oh, and also after reading the comments, the watermark is actually really pretty. It fits right into the blog.
That salmon sandwich looks incredible. I know what I’m making myself for dinner! PS LOVE the boots. He’ll be line dancing in no time.
Cute boots!!
Is aunt Faith Mazen’s aunt or yours? Or is it just her name?
Mazen is so cute !!!
She’s just my friend, which makes her an unofficial aunt : )
The picture of Maze all wrapped up in his towel is adorable! The warm washcloth on the belly is a great idea. My oldest hated the sensation of flailing or being exposed, and little touches like that helped a lot to soothe him.
Grandmas have a magic touch! You are lucky that your mom and MIL both seem young and energetic!
Those little booties are so cute. I just love the clothes they have for little boys these days. It sounds like everything is starting to fall into place for you.
Random and off topic comment, but I was in Trader Joe’s yesterday and they were sampling pumpkin soup (sold in cartons) with a dollop of creme fraiche. I normally hate all canned/carton-ed, etc soup (I swear I can taste the packaging or something), but this was SOOOO good. The creme fraiche made it extra dreamy. I picked up a couple of cartons…just thought you should check it out since I’m sure you’re looking for some quick and easy meals these days!
Sounds great! Our TJ’s opens November 1st – I can’t wait!
Those booties are ADORABLE!!! I can’t get over them. Baby clothing is far cuter than adult clothing…sometimes it isn’t fair!
What kind of tub are you using for bath time? How do you like it?
Ours was a hand-me-down so I can’t find the exact model, but it’s like this – a tub with a newborn insert. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12269377
We like it a lot – the newborn insert is great for being able to get under him easily, and he seems to like it. We bathe him in the kitchen sink (the tub fits inside our big kitchen sink). Also loving the Lavanilla bath foam soap!!
Thanks for sharing! I don’t have a LO yet, but I am obsessed with researching and planning baby gear. I had heard about the Tummy Tub (the one that’s like a bucket) and I have wondered if babies really do like it more than regular infant tubs. http://www.amazon.com/Original-Tummy-Baby-Bath-Clear/dp/B000VS3C2E/ref=pd_sim_ba_6 Glad to hear Maze is enjoying his bath time!
If I bought one, I would get one of those! The only thing that makes me hesitate is 1) You have to hold them up and 2) It looks hard to reach their little bottom down there! But people swear by them
Baby clothes/shoes just kill me!! Love Mazen’s new booties.
Hi Kath!
I was wondering if you refrigerate your nut butter? The consistency of yours is usually thin and able to drizzle where as mine is really hard. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
I don’t because I feel like it’s just nuts, which don’t need to be. I think most of the time the rec. is to keep it from oil separation so if you don’t mind stirring a little, then it’s probably fine. *disclaimer though follow the factory instructions please
*
You absolutely should refrigerate nut butter, ESPECIALLY natural nut butters. Nuts go rancid very easily and the last thing you want is to get sick- or sicken your family- from improperly stored food.
Agreed on the proper storage – I advocate following the rules! But I’ve never had it go rancid on me.
That is a whole lotta good food
The baby clothes are adorable! I think boys clothing has become way cuter over the years.
Oh wow, there is WAY too much cuteness happening here!
Those little cowboy booties are adorable!!
Seeing these pictures, reading your posts, it’s just so heart-warming. I love watching your family grow and develop. Matt seems like he’s just such a great partner to have through all of this. I’m so glad you’re enjoying motherhood.
: )
Awww, Mazen’s boots are so adorable!! I love them
All of that food looks quite yummy!
Those booties are really adorable.
Ahhhhh! His booties are too adorable for words!!!
And now I really want oatmeal thanks to your delicious pic!
If any of your readers want to make booties like the ones Mazen is wearing, they can purchase a pattern for similar crocheted booties here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thelovelycrow
I don’t know this designer, I just searched for patterns on Ravelry and this one looked the most promising.
I don’t really understand the purpose of a watermark. Does the presence of one automatically make it illegal for other sites to re-post your pictures?
It’s already illegal. The watermark is a reminder of this.
Got it – that makes sense! Thanks for replying. I’m not a blogger so I wasn’t clear on how these things work. And as everyone has said above, your watermark is really subtle and doesn’t take away from your wonderful pictures at all!
: ) I’m glad!
Hi Kath – I appreciate that fact that you would like to protect your photos, for which you hold the copyright by virtue of being the photographer. However, watermark or no, you may want to brush up on the fair use doctrine, codified at 17 U.S.C.§ 107 – you can read more about it at http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html. Images may be reproduced legally under this doctrine for purposes of “criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.” So the context of the re-posting is important, and under federal law may in fact be legal. The court will consider the “effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work” as well as whether it is being reproduced for commercial v. non-profit purposes. Hopefully this info is helpful!
Hey Emily, well stated
I’ve been meeting with a copyright lawyer here who believes that a few photos posted on a site with no ads would be considered fair use, but repeatedly and regulary posting my photos on a site with ads (= commercial) crosses the theft line.
I LOVE THOSE BOOTS!!
I love those boots! He’s going to look so cute in those with some denim – can’t wait for photos.
Oh, and the watermarks are actually pretty cute on your photos
Those are adorable boots! Did somebody make them or did you buy them that way? Super cute! I can’t wait to see him in his little cowboy getup.
I bet he will start loving his baths. That used to totally relax my kids at night and get them ready for bed.
Mazen is changing so quickly. His face seems to change more and more. What a cutie!
Does Maze cry when you take him out of the bath? My daughter loves the bath but screams her head off when I take her out. We have yet to find the perfect solution. We are currently warming the towel in the dryer while she is in the bath and that helps a little but it still isn’t amazing.
We’ve been lucky – no. I have the towel right there and we just rub him down. Not sure – maybe she just loves it sooo much!
Hey, friend–the booties are adorbs. Just curious–why decaf? Do you prefer decaf? I’m a coffee addict and I was so thrilled to start drinking it again. I probably have 3 cups/day and S. isn’t affected one bit. If you LIKE the caffeine, maybe you could give it a try? You deserve a little pick-me-up.
Perhaps the caffeine makes M. colicky? I just thought I’d throw it out there that it works for me and makes my days 100% happier. 
I’m super caffeine sensitive and get addicted/headaches really easily, so since weaning myself off a year ago, I haven’t wanted to get back into it full time. I do love coffee, just not the jitters! I probably have a real cup once a week or so?
Hi Kath- lovely pictures today as usual! I was just wondering, do you live in a 2 or 3 bedroom house? Just curious as we will soon have our own little one and we’re converting the guest bedroom into the baby’s room, and we’re trying to get creative as to where guests will be staying after that.
It seems that we have a very similar style of house/decor.
It’s a 3 bedroom – working well for now, but I don’t know what we’ll do if/when we have another child!
Loving your blog so much lately! It is now the first one I check every day. I didn’t even notice the watermark until I read the comments (and it is pretty). Also, you look fantastic!
Those are some adorable booties Mr. Maze has there! Your sandwich looks amazing. I adore smoked salmon but only treat myself to it occasionally because it’s a bit pricey. Now if only I could get some Cville Crunch here in Canada, I’d be all set!
LOVE those booties-so precious!
your lunch looks amazing. I aways load up on smoked salmon & capers on wheat toast w/a tad bit of cream cheese while on cruises (since they offer it)! yummm!!
The red cords for the kiddo made my day. I have been obsessed with red pants since a trip to Paris in May and so far the search has been futile. Lately it seems that everyone except me has red pants, and Mazen’s pair confirms that this is indeed the case.
those red pants are too cute! And those boots…and I thought boy clothing wasnt as much fun but its SO adorable!
I have to get those booties for my sister who is expecting in December! A perfect baby shower gift!
Your pictures always look amazing! I just ate and looking at your pic’s made me hungry!
Smart move with the watermarks! Stolen images can be sued for $5000 a pop. Pretty good deterrent for anyone foolish enough to repost them publicly.
Check out that quad definition in the top pic! He’s gonna be a speedy one!
Aww, so sweet! <3 I hope you guys are all having a nice week.
Those little booties! Those little legs! I just died from cuteness overload! Haha
Dear Kath,
I see you are using the pouch. Does the little tiger like it?
That is a nice piece of equipment, when the child is a bit older he can sit in it face forward and enjoy the view.
Yes, love it!
That is a delicious looking dinner that I would dig right into! I love the cowboy booties! Can’t wait to see him dressed in his denims!!
The booties and post-bath faces are adorable!
I saw a Keurig rebate ad in my local newspaper and wanted to share it with you and fellow Keurig-obsessed blog readers. (I have no affiliation with Keurig; I am just sharing the info.) http://www.keurig.com/rebate
Thanks! I still haven’t decided ifI want to buy one
Karen looks so happy just holding little Maze – such a precious photo.