Christmas Blessings

We had a great Christmas! We were able to have Levi's parents, brother, and maternal Grandma here with us Christmas morning. We had a great time with our gifts, and got to share breakfast together, just like our tradition dictates. =) Afterwards, we went to spend the rest of the morning with my parents, sister, and her family. Then Oliver needed a nap, and afterwards, we went to Levi's Grandma's house. We had a nice evening there with his mom's side of the family. All in all it was a family filled Christmas Day.

One of my favorite gifts was a gift to myself...a Keurig Mini Brewer! It inspired me to start a new blog, K-cup Adventures. I am hoping it will lead me to the perfect cup of coffee. Or tea. Or cocoa. =D

Hope you all had a blessed Christmas, as well!

It's a... _____ and other things!

Man, twenty weeks have FLOWN by! I think it makes a difference when you have an 18 month old to chase after.

Friday was our big gender scan! I am pleased to announce that we will be welcoming another little boy come this April! I am relieved beyond belief. Though I would have been happy with a girl, I am glad we are having another boy. As I told Levi, it means that when the kids are old enough, Daddy and the boys can go to Scout Camp while Mommy has a spa weekend! ;o)

Even with the gender reveal, we are no closer to coming up with a name. I'll keep you posted on that.

Next week is our big trip out to Denver! I am so excited to be able to see our family while we're there, but also to meet the folks Levi works with. We're having our first company Christmas party the evening we arrive! We'll be eating at the Cool River Cafe, which I am totally stoked about! Steak? Yes, please. I'm also excited to spend an evening in the company of adults. It doesn't happen much these days, folks.

Christmas is coming up fast, and I am on top of things. Presents are all, *ahem* present and accounted for. Har har. I just got my cards in the mail today and they are addressed and ready to go out Monday morning! Take that, holiday season!

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season yourselves! More to come as the date draws nearer to our big trip. =)

The ball is rolling!

Our plane tickets have been booked for our trip out to visit Colorado! We're flying out Thursday, December 16th just after 8am. We're coming home Sunday, December 19th in the afternoon. It will be the first time Levi and I have both left Oliver. I'm a little terrified about that, but I know he'll be in good hands. Still, it will be hard to be away from him.

After we arrive in Colorado, we're probably just going to do a bit of driving around. We're looking at the South Denver area, and we're probably just going to check out several neighborhoods. So far, the list includes Highlands Ranch, Parker, and Castle Rock for certain. There might be some other areas, but I am most interested in the Highlands Ranch area. It was rated by CNN money by one of the 100 best places to live in the country! Colorado has 6 of 100 of the best places to live. I'm impressed.

Anyway, Highlands Ranch seemingly has everything we need...there's a Sam's Club, a Whole Foods, Target, Wal-Mart, Starbucks...all the essentials. ;o) Parker is another viable option, as the homes I've browsed online are a bit less there than Highlands Ranch. It might seem crazy that I have been looking at homes online, but I figure the more things I have taken care of beforehand, in case we do go, the better. Besides, it's not like it's wasted time. I haven't got much else to do! =)

We also plan on meeting some of the company folks that Levi works with, which will be nice. We'll probably have dinner with them one night. We also have family in Castle Rock, and we'll probably have lunch or dinner with them one night, too.

There isn't much else to say, since we don't really know what else to expect. This is just a go out and look around kind of trip. Other than look around, I don't know what we'll do! We aren't going to bother looking at houses when we're there, because we haven't even got the faintest idea of whether or not we will decide to move there. I doubt we'll look at hospitals, either, though I have found the Cadillac of ALL labor and delivery units at a Denver hospital!! They have an $8 million L&D unit. Wow. It looks like a spa!

I will keep you all updated as the story unfolds. Keep us in your prayers!

Please keep us in your prayers.

We have big decisions ahead of us!

We have been asked to relocate from Georgia to Colorado. We are in early negotiation stages, and are currently slated to fly out in a few weeks to check out the area we would be living, which is just south of Denver. Nothing has been decided yet, but hopefully after the trip out, we will have a better idea of what we want to do.

It is a rather large decision, as we are due to have our baby at the end of April. I would want to move out as soon as possible (if we decide to go) in order to find a doctor and a hospital and such. I am hopeful that things will unfold and God's will will become clear. I have faith that it will...I'm just trying to pray for patience. It's not easy, but it rarely is.

There are so many things to think about to prepare in case we are going, but it is such a weird time to think about it all. With just five months to decide, the time crunch is the worst part, I think. I feel like we ought to go before the baby is born because it will give Oliver a chance to adjust to being in a new place (with a two hour time difference, eek!) before he is no longer the center of the universe. Although I know he could adjust if we moved after the baby is born, I feel like it would still be easier if we went before. And I'd have to find a new pediatrician for both children, which sucks because I totally love my pediatrician here. I'd have to find a new OB (which won't be hard, as a friend of mine from high school is a CNM in Colorado Springs, and she can recommend the best OB in the Denver area) AND find and tour a hospital (Denver is full of hospitals, but I'd have to find the one I liked the best). I would basically be moving and then almost immediately having major surgery. Hooray! =P

I am keeping myself busy trying to prepare for the possibility of going. House hunting, researching hospitals, and trying to talk myself into how great it will be. Not that I'm completely adverse to going, it's just very sudden and such. There are just a lot of things to consider and it hasn't been easy thus far. I feel very strongly that God will give us peace if it is the right choice, and honestly I feel very at ease with the whole situation for the most part. There are some stressors involved, but there always are. I honestly think we'll know when we go visit...that we will either love it or hate it.

Please remember us in your prayers! We need all the help we can get.

Blessings abound!

Today has been so wonderful.  The day started off with some morning cuddles from the hubs.  I checked Facebook to find an apology message from a guy who has been nothing but horribly mean to me for the past ten years (for whatever reason, I really don't know why and he couldn't tell me, either).  It was nice to have that behind me, though I forgave him long ago.  My sister also sent me a text later in the day apologizing for her behavior yesterday, and that was refreshing, too!

After breakfast, the little boy and I headed out to meet Aunt Sesame (Stephanie!) and Miss Ada for some play time at the mall.  We had a great time running and playing, but most of all, sliding.  We were fortunate to be there at a time where there were few kids, and all the kids were small enough or patient enough to deal with two toddlers who wouldn't climb the stairs and had to have Mommy pick them up and put them on top of the slide.  =)  We did a bit of shopping, and had the kids sign up for the Kidgits' Club, a $5 a year program that gives the kids little prizes and such when they go to the mall.  We also get coupons for kids' stores, too!

Afterwards, we were going to eat pizza, but the square had no parking, so instead we went out for sushi!  The kids even got to eat a bit...Jus, one of the owners, knew that Ada loves the crabsticks, so she made her some little rolls with just rice and a crab stick on top...cute!  So of course Oliver wanted a bite.  I ended up pulling all the crab out of my California roll for him to eat.  Oh, and he ate all of his turkey, pears, and apples, too.  Fatty!  lol

I came home to find that one of our $100 rebate debit cards had arrived!  The blessings really overflowed today.

Tonight, Levi and I will be eating lasagna and hanging out.  We're on the last season on Battlestar Galactica, and we also have been playing Kirby's Epic Yarn on the Wii!  Should be a fun night for all!  Praying God blessed you today, too!

Practicing letters, expanding our vocabulary, and a family rant.

I know Oliver is only 17 months old, but we have been playing with flash cards for about six or eight weeks now.  He has a great time with them, and any time we ask if he wants to read a book and go over to the shelf, he says, "Cards?"  =)  It's adorable.

Today while we were doing our cards, which cycle through A-Z twice, we got to the first Y card which was yo-yo.  I LOVE this card...because he will say both the letter Y AND the word yo-yo, and BOTH are suuuuper adorable to hear!  So I started playing around saying, "Y-Y-Y!"  And he loved it!  So we started saying each letter three times, and he can repeat almost every single letter.  My heart!  It's over flowing with pride, for serious.

He has trouble with H, L, M, and W.  We'll keep working on those.  But hey!  That's still pretty good!

We're also trying to teach him names.  He can simply NOT say Oliver, but we're working on it.  He can say "Ada", which is my best friend Stephanie's little girl's name, and that's cute.  He also learned "Robert" (Well, Woe-burt or Wah-burt), which is Ada's Daddy's name!  I doubt he will learn Stephanie's name, because it's just too darn long.  So sad for Aunt Sesame!

I am so overwhelmed sometimes (thank you, pregnancy hormones) by how smart Oliver is.  It makes me so proud!

Today, though, it got me in trouble.  I was visiting at my mom's house, and my sister was there.  My mom wanted to turn the tv on for Oliver, and I told her he doesn't really watch much tv, just one thirty minute video almost every day, but not always.  My sister, on the other hand, lets her 19 month old watch hours and hours of tv a day.  I don't think this is the best thing for MY child, but she can do what she wants with hers.  And my nephew is really really smart, don't get me wrong.  So it went from me saying that Oliver doesn't need to watch tv to my sister saying that I think Oliver is smarter than her son...which is so not true!!  Babies are smart.  They all are!  I don't think there is any way you can rationally say that any baby is smarter than another.  Anyway, my sister  got really upset and stomped off and muttered things under her breath (a habit I LOATHE, because we are dang grown ups, give me a break) about how she couldn't wait to move out of state with her husband (they live with my parents right now and want to eventually move to Colorado...I don't know what is stopping them) and I couldn't help myself...I just said, "Good, bye!   See ya!"

I'm not proud of the way I acted.  However, I feel very strongly that up until the end there, I didn't do anything wrong.  I wasn't trying to be hurtful, and I wasn't trying to tell her how to parent.  Frankly, almost every thing she does with her children I think is almost the exact opposite of what I would do with mine, but as their parent it is her prerogative to do.  It is very hard for me to be around my family and not act a fool like I used to.  My family is very loud and opinionated and...well, rude.  It is hard for me to keep my cool there sometimes.  All the time.  Anyway.  It was very...ugh.  I'm not looking forward to the next time I have to see my sister, either.  I said goodbye when I left, but she ignored me.  Such is life.

It really makes it difficult when I am trying so hard to break out of the habits I developed living at home.  It is not a very positive environment, and it is a very soul sucking, tearing down sort of environment.  It is hard to try to make my own home an edifying environment...to build up my husband and children and to provide a loving environment for my family.  It's not that I don't love my parents and my sister, it's just that I don't agree with the sort of family life we were brought up in, and I will fight tooth and nail to make sure my family doesn't turn out the same way.

Heh..sorry this turned into a big rant and escalated into a deep discussion about how hard it is to be positive when you grew up with just the negative.  I needed to get that out, though...thanks for letting me, internet!

Back to basics: Gushing about my Baby.

My best friend Stephanie and I were talking about all the changes that are happening to our babies.  Oliver and Ada are 17 and 15 months old...and every day they learn something new!  I keep telling myself I will remember it all, but I know I won't.  So let me tell you about the recent cute updates.

Oliver has started repeating everything we say.  I have had to limit my exclamations to "Whoopsie!" and "Uh-oh!", though it doesn't always work.  However, I find when my son repeats when I say, "Crap!", I feel like one of those parents.  No thank you!

His other new game is finding his body parts!  Currently, he can point to his nose, eyes, ears, mouth, chin, hair, head, elbow (Eh-BOW!), foot, hand, belly, and belly button (okay these last two are shockingly similar, but he does say "BE-BO!" when he touches his belly for belly button.  It's from a book eveyone should own called The Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton, an author that every child needs to grow up with.  Other favorites include Hippos Go Berserk and Oh My, Oh My, Oh Dinosaurs!  Sorry for the tangent!).  It astounds me that his little brain can hold all this information.

I keep meaning to make a list of all the words he knows, but it's so long I always quit.  A couple of months ago the list was about thirty.  I'm sure it is more like fifty now, if you include that animal noises.  My baby!  The genius.  You know those are Levi's genes, right?!  HAR HAR, LEVI'S JEANS!

I love that Oliver still lets me tickle him.  We have tickle fights about three times a day.  He also gets super tickled when I scratch his back.  I think it's adorable.

At bedtime, he snuggles up really close and lays his head on your shoulder and pats your back while you sing to him.  We made up this song to the tune of "Oh My Darling" that is silly, but we have sung it for so long it just because part of bed/naptime.  We sing, "Let's go ni-ni, let's go ni-ni, let's go ni-ni punkin boy, we will have us a good night (or nap) now, and we'll wake up later on.  Let's go ni-ni, let's go ni-ni, let's go ni-ni stinker boy, we will have us some sweet dreams now, and we'll wake up later on."  It's silly, but he loves it.  And I love that it's our thing.  Levi has taken to singing it to him too, which I think is super adorable.  <3

Every day at 5:30pm, we watch a video together.  Usually it's Baby Einstein (today we're  watching Baby Mozart!), but sometimes we watch Wonderpets, because it's on the Netflix Instant Q, and let's face it...Levi and I love to sing the songs.  Mock if you want, but you will love them, too!  This.  Is.  Sewious.  After the video is over, Oliver knows that it is time to eat supper.  We eat, then play, then it's off to bed at 7pm.  We start all over again sometime between 7:30 and 7:45am the next day.

Our boy is growing so quickly!  He amazes me more each day.  I'll keep updating about his awesomeness from now on.  I don't want to forget a thing!

Um. I sort of skipped most of September and October. Whoops!

We had some haps goin' on, too!  I guess I need to play catch up.  =)

At the end of September, we visited my in laws in Louisiana.  We spent five days, and Oliver had a great time!  Levi and I even slipped away to visit New Orleans again, and had a great time being together and reconnecting.  Recharging, I guess.  We don't get a lot of alone time these days.

The first weekend in October, we had our annual trip to the pumpkin patch!  We go every year with our friends Stephanie and Robert and their little girl Ada.  This was our second trip.  Last year, we picked the absolute coldest day of the year to go, and had grumpy four and two month old babies.  This year, we picked a gorgeous day, and had happy sixteen and fourteen month old babies!  It was much improved.

Oliver looks super grumpy in a ton of my pictures, but I blame the sunshine.  That, and possibly being a bit confused as to where we were and what all the huge orange things were.  Once we got over to the smaller pumpkins, he yelled, "Ball!!", and had a blast.  We even got a couple of smiles.  =)  Here are some of my favorite shots!

He's not really super grumpy.  It was bright!  This is my fave.  =)

Family pic!

Handsome fella!

"I AM GONNA PICK UP THESE PUMPKINS SO HARD!!"

"DAD I GOT ONE!"

Finally got some smiles!

Baby is doing well.  We have had five appointments so far, and five ultrasounds!  This last one was for our NT test, which normally I would have skipped, but I wanted Levi to get to see another ultrasound.  The one he saw was boring, and then he missed an exciting one, so I wanted him to see what was going on.  We got a great little pic of our little one!

I love the little fist!  Adorable.  We weren't able to tell the gender at this u/s (the tech tried but couldn't get the money shot!), so keep your eyes peeled for that revelation in another seven weeks or so.  =)

Saturday we're having the guys over for Nerd Day.  The fellas get together once a month to play nerdy board games (the ones they can't trick us wives into playing), and it's our turn to host again.  I love having people over!  We live a good thirty minutes to an hour away from all but like, two, of our friends, so no one ever wants to drive all the way out here.  So when folks come, I go all out!  I am making sausage and cheese balls, meatballs, cheesy chicken empanadas, and chicken salad tassie cups.  I tried to make foods the guys could eat with one hand while still playing their game...because the good Lord knows they can't take a lunch break!  I'm not a big baker, so I bought Oatmeal Creme Pies and Nutty Bars for dessert.  Yum!

K.  Bed time.  I'm an old pregnant woman, you know.  Night!

...I'm a little bit terrified.

So, even though we were trying to get pregnant, I have to admit some days?  I'm a little bit terrified.

For several reasons.

First of all, I recall the newborn period very, very well.  I remember feeling like a crazy person because of the hormones.  I remember being tired.  I remember being overwhelmed...which I think was mostly due to having a baby for the first time ever, and not really knowing what we were doing.

Secondly, I am terrified that this baby is a girl.  I know that it sounds horrible, but I have this huge fear that if I have a daughter, she'll end up just like me.  I have never had much confidence...never had much self esteem.  My mom comes from a culture where shame and guilt are prevalent, and I was told my whole life how I'd be so pretty if I just lost weight.  How my mom's friends had such beautiful daughters because they were thin.  I can't blame my mother, because I know this is just the culture she grew up in, but it really runs deep for me.  I don't want to unintentionally instill that in my own hypothetical daughter.

I really think it's mostly the second part that has me so afraid.  I'm afraid that a daughter wouldn't receive everything she needed from me.  And then I feel like a complete failure, even though I don't even HAVE a daughter and I haven't failed her, lol.

I'm being irrational, I know.  My prayer now is that God will give me peace, no matter what the gender of this baby.  Of course I will love a daughter and do the best I can to instill everything my parents did not.  Though I still would love another little boy, I will be just fine if it's a girl.  I wouldn't have been able to say that last week!  Progress.  =)

DRAMA, and baby news

I have been shopping dude date club message boards, and have yet to find one I like.  This is super sad, because I loved my DDC from parents.com the first time around...the only thing I had to overlook were the posts of questions you'd know the answers to if you cracked any pregnancy book ever (or just used google? lol), and this one chick who was kind of crazy.

But I digress.

Parents.com changed their look, and I hate it when a message board doesn't look like a message board.  Call me old.  Fashioned.  Or just old.

I joined up at JustMommies.com, thinking it would be okay, and then this gem popped up on our board about another DDC about circumcision.  Personally, I think circ'ing is a very personal choice, but this post was very inflammatory (the title had something about death in it...come on now!) and someone posted their thoughts about it on our boards.  Well all hades broke loose!  First, it was the first DDC posting about how the second DDC were talking smack about them and judging and what not, and then it was the secondd DDC saying ooooh we need to apologize, should we make a special thread?  Seriously?  People had already apologized.  On several threads.  Also?  They posted this on a PUBLIC forum on the INTERNET.  Are they seriously surprised that someone else read it?

People on one of the boards were talking about how when you're passionate about something, sometimes you come off as rude.  I think that is so silly!  There are many things I am passionate about, especially when it comes to parenting, but I hold my tongue because I know it will only hurt feelings.  For instance, I am a big advocate for using parent directed feeding, which is taught in the book On Becoming Babywise.  Granted, the book is very poorly written (and BW2 is even worse!), the tactics in the book are solid and have worked well for my family.  My son started sleeping from 11pm-7am at 11 weeks, and is now 15 months old, has two 2 hour naps a day, and sleeps 11 hours at night (though I suspect he would sleep longer if we let him!).  Either way, I know that some folks out there consider BW to be super controversial (though mostly I think it's because of misinformation and older versions of the book, but again, I digress), so I don't go around posting topics on message boards about how I think other parenting styles are terrible for babies.  Do I disagree with them?  Sure, but it's your prerogative as a parent to make those choices for your family.

There is a difference between being passionate about something, and being pushy about something.  My motto?  Do your own thing, and let others do theirs.  I understand wanting people to be well read on topics...even controversial ones...but in the end it's not your choice what others do with their babies.

Sorry to rant!  I was really hoping to find a close knit group of women like I had last time...not sure yet if that's what I've found.  Sticking it out to see what comes of it.  There are a couple of ladies that I have semi-connected with.

Had an appointment today...thought we were going to get to hear the heartbeat, but only got to see it on the u/s.  Got another little pic of my punkin, though!  Also got to meet the other doctor at my new practice (the other doc delivered Oliver, so we've met, lol)...he was nice.  Off to bed I go!

Lucky.

A few weeks ago, Levi sent me flowers.  The card said, "I bought you flowers!  -Your Husband"  Sweet, but the card left much to be desired.

For our anniversary, Levi sent me three dozen roses.  They are so pretty!!  This time, the card was much sweeter.  

"You are the love of my life.  Thanks so much for sitcking by me the last seven years.  I pray our foundation of love is mirrored in our children as we raise them to love and serve God.  -Love, Levi"

So sweet!  It's also what I pray...that we will be an example of love for our children, and that they will also love and serve God.


I was wrong about our dinner date.  We went to Scalini's instead!  So. Good.  It's famous for it's Eggplant Parmesan, because it's known to send some women into labor!  If you eat the EP, and you have your baby within 48 hours, they send you an adorable pink or blue Scalini's Baby onesie!  I ate there twice trying to evict Oliver (since he was a week late and I was OVER IT), but it wasn't much help.  I do have a friend who it worked for, though!


After dinner, we wanted to go see a movie, but they all started waaaaay late.  Instead we did a bit of shopping for the kids (I say kids because Oliver needed a new sleep sack, and instead of buying him two, we bought one for him and one for the little one to come!), and headed home.  All in all, a wonderful time.  I'm a lucky lady!!

Seven years!

Today marks seven years of wedded bliss.  =D

Seven years ago today, I married my best friend.  Today is a special day, because there were times where I wasn't sure we'd make it.  Our first year was very hard on us, but every year is sweeter than the last!

I got three dozen roses in the mail today.  They are so pretty!!  I'll post a pic when they have opened up some.  Tonight, we're going to dinner at an undisclosed location (I have an idea, and am hoping we're going to Canoe in Atlanta!), and my sister is sitting for us tonight.  Looking forward to a romantic night out with my beloved!

Love.

Yesterday was the anniversary of my first date with Levi.  Eleven years ago, we met up at his new college digs, had dinner, and went to see Deep Blue Sea.  =D  I fondly remember him NOT holding my hand and shushing me during the movie!  lol  It was an awkward sort of date, because we had been friends for so long, but we had a nice time.

Monday is our seventh wedding anniversary.  I accidentally saw on the bank statement online that he ordered me flowers (for the second time this month!), even though I totally told him never to do so again because it costs so much, and grocery store flowers?  Still pretty.  We're planning on going out to dinner somewhere.  Levi is planning it, and I'm going to be surprised.  Romantic, no?  =)

Things on the baby front are fine, though I don't remember this much round ligament pain this early on.  At least I think that's what it is...or at least it's what the OB called it.  All I want to do is eat (and it's hard not to!!), but I'm trying to eat well.  This morning was yogurt and a string cheese.  Lunch will be a salad and a sammich.  But for dinner, since Levi is going to be at his nerd day all day long, I've decided to order pizza.  LOL!  A pizza with no sauce, add bacon, to be exact.  Basically, it's like cheese sticks with bacon.  So.  Good.

Other than being hungry, I have no other symptoms.  Per usual.  Hooray!  We have another u/s appointment in a couple of weeks. We went from poppy seed baby to apple seed baby this week.  Hooray!  I'll keep you updated!

!!$#%^&$!!

I keep wavering on whether or not to share some news we recently got, and I figure not a whole lot of people read this blog anyway, so what the hey.  Baby #2 is in the oven!  Please be discreet on FB and other such sites, until we're through the first trimester.

We found out Saturday, August 21.  I had high post ovulation temps for 12 days, and my normal luteal phase is about 12 days, so I took a test in the middle of the afternoon and was happy to see two beautiful pink lines!  After two previous stark white negatives, those two pink lines were day-making.  =)

So anyway, I'm just barely pregnant.  My first appointment was yesterday, and everything looks great.  I asked the sonographer, "It's a boy, right?"  lol...I was 4 weeks 4 days along at that point.  =D  I am thinking due to the timing of intercourse, it may be a boy.  I hope so!

I'm due, according to my LMP, on April 29, 2011.  However, I ovulated on day 18 of my cycle rather than day 14, so I'm thinking May 3 is more like it.  The best part?  My brother in law is graduating high school on May 8, 2011!  My poor in laws, lol.  I'm assuming I'll go a week early, since we will be scheduling a repeat c-section this time around (no judgments, please, I've weighed the risks carefully with my husband and my healthcare provider, and have decided that a VBAC is just not worth the risks), I'll have a little more control over when baby comes rather than laboring for over 30 hours last time around.  I'd really like to keep the little bun in there as close to 40 weeks as possible, but I recall what it's like being 38 weeks pregnant (I went all the way to 41 last time!), so we'll see what the OB thinks the closer we get.  I'll also have 2 under 2 for almost a WHOLE MONTH!  lol  I think I can take it.

So!  In all of my spare time, I've of course been obsessing online over every thing pregnancy related.  Message boards, web sites...all things baby!  I remember that this is exactly how I was last time around, only this time I have time and experience on my side.  =)

Almost time for the tot to get up.  More updates to come!

Faith As a Verb.

I've been reading The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel for a few weeks now.  I had put it down and recently picked it back up the other day.  It has a lot of great insights and is a great read...I highly recommend it!  Anyway, I have been reading the section called Objection #8: I still have doubts, so I can't be a Christian.  This quote in particular spoke to me, under a heading called Faith As a Verb:

"You could probably come up with a hundred questions about God that I wouldn't be able to answer.  But do you know what?  It doesn't matter, because I've discovered that this is true.  I didn't develop a silly grin and glassy eyes.  I've discovered it is more blessed to give than it is to receive.  I've walked and walked with this.  Every time I discover a new insight, every time Jesus speaks to me personally in ways I can't even articulate, every time I practice his teachings and experience the results - well, after a while I don't care how many intellectual questions you have about while this can't be true.  I KNOW it's true." -Lynn Anderson, from The Case For Faith by Lee Strobel

There is tons of evidence out there for Christianity.  It's the only religion substantiated by history, archaeology, literature, and experience.  For me, the experience part is the most important.  How do I know that doing God's will is what's best for my life?  Because when I do it, every thing is better.  When I don't?  Things start to fall apart.  When I'm actively seeking God, things just seem...smoother.  Are they always easy?  Not by any means! But when I look back at the many, many (many, many, many) mistakes I've made in my life, I see that the main problem was that I wasn't letting God be Lord over my life...I was trying to do things my way, and live the way I saw fit.  You should have heard some of the excuses I came up with to justify my behavior!  It's appalling.

While my former life may have been more appealing for many reasons (acceptance, excitement, and feeling good to name a few), living for Christ has so much more for me.  It's like the appeal of my former life, but times a million.  The acceptance you feel when you're with other people doing drugs doesn't even touch the acceptance you feel when you're surrounded by other believers.  The excitement of doing something illegal can't touch the excitement of being part of a bigger plan...being used by God for His good!  And well...getting high was nothing like the high you feel when you feel you're in the will of God.

Just wanted to share.

Epic fail, but then win!

This morning, I started with epic fail.  I was planning on getting up at 6am to hit the gym, but alas...that alarm went off, and I said FORGET IT!  I didn't plan well, so I didn't get enough sleep.  Oh well.  Next time!  When I finally DID roll out of bed, I was surprised by Levi AND the little boy with breakfast in bed!  I've never gotten breakfast in bed before...and it was a real treat.  Oliver helped Daddy pick a flower for my tray and EVERYTHING!  Levi made me eggs in the hole, which is one of my favorites.  I woke up feeling loved.  Maybe a little lazy for not getting up at 6am, but loved all the same!

I ended up going to the gym after Oliver went down for his first nap, and I did so well!  Instead of banging out my two miles in thirty minutes, it only took 37:49 this time!  It's a small improvement, but I'm looking forward to those numbers going down...along with the numbers on the scale.  It's been four weeks since I joined the gym, and so far there is no change with my weight.  Slow and steady...I hope, anyway!  I've really been enjoying this couch-to-5K program that  I've been doing from Cool Running.  It's been fairly simple thus far, but hard enough that I feel proud when I complete a workout.  Check it out...you might like it, too!

After my workout, I rewarded myself with a Passion Tea Lemonade, half sweet (my Starbucks drink of choice in the summer, unless I want caffeine, and then it's Iced Coffee, half sweet with *GASP* cream.  Mmm.).  After I got home and fed the tot, it was time to feed the hubs and myself.  Cheeseburger pizza!  Delicious.  Then I met Sarah for another coffee break, because she had called when I was at Sbux the first time but I had to rush home.  We chatted for about an hour, and I'm back home now.

The rest of my day?  I have to make some more baby food (peaches, pears, and green beans...yum!) and possibly throw in one last load of laundry.  Levi and I will probably watch Battlestar Galactica after Oliver goes down for the night.  You read that correctly.  I love my husband so much that I'll watch BSG for him.  That's love, my friends.

And anyway, he was super sweet today.  Brownie points.  <3

12 Month Pics!

SO.  CUTE.  Here we go!

This is my favorite!  Happy boy!

SUPER baby!

Mommy loves her little man.

Daddy does, too!

Family pic!  <3

We had such an awesome time.  Oliver wasn't too sure at first, but we got the job done.  Hooray!  We made it a whole year!  God has truly blessed us.  We couldn't ask for a happier, healthier boy.  <3

Changes!

Big changes around here!  Sorry I've been awol, I have been longing to get back to blogging, but life gets in the way sometimes.  Anyway, here we are!

Do you like the new look?  My friend Jenni over at http://jennibro.blogspot.com/ took on her first blog re-vamp, and I think she did a phenomenal job!  It took a bit of prodding to get the hubs to finally add it to the blog, but we did have vacation and parties to take care of.

Speaking of parties, my little guy turned ONE last month!  I can't believe how quickly the time has past!  He had a party when we were on vacation at St. George Island, FL, and then another one after we got home.  His actual birthday was low key...just a peds appointment and lunch with Aunt Stephanie, Uncle Robert, and Miss Ada Lou.  Good times!

Today was Oliver's first haircut!

We started with this:

And ended up with this little fella (pictured with his stylist, Ms. Lori!):

He looks JUST like his Uncle Aaron did when he was a little tot!!  Adorable.

Tomorrow, we're finally getting 12 month pics taken (after having to re-schedule due to equipment issues at the photography studio).  So there will be a picture intensive post tomorrow.  Glad to be back!  More to come.  Stay tuned!

Coming up quickly...

...this weekend is our annual trip to St. George Island, FL with Levi's family.  I'm thrilled to be having our first family vacation!  Next week is also Oliver's first birthday (I can't believe it!), and we'll be celebrating at the beach, but leaving the day before his actual birthday to come home (four days out of the normal eight isn't too bad, right?), so we'll have a rather low key actual birthday at home with just the three of us, but then the Sunday after his birthday, we're having a blowout here at our house!  Whew.  I'm tired just thinking about it.

Just wanted to check in before all of the craziness.  Hope you're all doing well!  BTW, my blog changes are coming soon, just have to hammer out some code issues!  Big loves.

Mother's Day!

Oliver and Levi did a great job for my first Mother's Day!  Check it:

Mommy Charm

Cable Charm Bracelet

We had a pretty laid back day.  We went to church, out for lunch, and then I spent some time with a couple of friends at Starbucks.  Stopped by mom and dad's for awhile even though mom is out of town, but had a little visit with dad and my sister and her family.  Made breakfast casserole for supper (yum!), and spent a nice evening with Levi.

We ended up watching a documentary called The Case For Faith based on the book of the same title by Lee Strobel.  It was really interesting, and Levi and I are both interested in Christian apologetics, and this documentary sparked  even more interest for me.  In fact, I just ordered the book (and The Case for Christ and The Case for a Creator) from Amazon today.  I also plan on re-watching the documentary, and if you want to watch it, too, it's available on Netflix Instant Q.  =)

I couldn't have asked for a better first Mother's Day.  I haven't got the charm put on the bracelet yet, but I've been wearing it on a necklace since I got it.  =)  So pretty!!

Hope your Mother's Day was great, too!

Also, I have a big blog remodel coming up soon!  Stay tuned!

Verdict?

The verdict, for now, is that we are back to the overnight disposables.  I don't think it can be helped!  He even fills up the OVERNIGHT disposables...and they are about three times as thick in the front as a regular disposable!

I would be willing to try the gRefills at night, but they are so dang expensive that it is not an economical option for us.  For now, the Huggies Overnight work.  It's what we're going to stick with.

Thank you for your encouraging words, though!  You are all appreciated.  =D

Trying cloth again for night time...

Since Levi is gone tonight for his Nerdy Board Game Day (the guys get together and play games they can't trick us wives into playing!), I'm all alone tonight!  I decided (on a whim) to try the Babykicks, which we've used for naps, for night time.  So I stuffed that sucker with a piece of gCloth, a doubled over Hemparoo up front, and another piece of gCloth.  I'm expecting leaks, but only because we're only making it through with disposable overnight diapers.  But perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised...I hope so!

I'll be sure to post results in the morning.  Wish me luck!

Naptime solution for gDiapers! WITH PICS

I decided to stop being a crazy person, bite the bullet, and just use what I had to figure out a naptime cloth diaper solution.  I have perfectly good diapers at my disposal, and buying more wasn't going to do anything but waste money and make me feel even crazier!  So I sucked it up, and figured out what would work for me.

I had some older Joey Bunz that I bought used when I first started cloth diapering, and I rarely ever used them.  After the Twitter party (that I inadvertently stumbled upon) last night, I decided to just see how absorbent they were.  See, the gCloth I have boasts about how hemp "wears in, not out", meaning the more you use it and wash it, the more absorbent it becomes.  I took a 6oz. sippy cup, and poured it on a small Joey Bunz that was folded in half.  That sucked soaked it ALL UP!  Was it wet on the other side?  Yeah...but there is a waterproof liner in my gDiapers.  It didn't have to be dry on the other side!  So my solution?

One small Joey Bunz, folded in half, topped with one piece of gCloth. 

Insert the folded Joey Bunz...

...add the gCloth...

Bam!  Naptime gDiaper!

  I think it will also hold up for his longer afternoon nap, though I plan on trying my Babykicks Bumboo Pocket (stuffed with two pieces of gCloth) for that nap today.  If it holds up with no problems, I might try the Bumboo for night time.  We shall see!

Over all, I'm super pumped.  I feel like I'm doing what is best economically for my family by using what I have and fighting the urge to buy one of everything available (there are TOO many cloth diapers on the market right now!!) and hating most of them.  I feel like I am being resourceful and a good steward.  Woo!

More diaper chatter.

So, I was waiting to see how much I hearted the gDiapers before sending back the Babykicks Bumboo One Size Pocket Diapers that I ordered from Amazon.  I'm glad I didn't send them back, because it turns out even though I love the gDiapers for daytime, we need a naptime diapering solution!

I tried two pieces of gCloth for naps, but didn't get the absorbency I wanted (hopefully after the hemp wears in, it'll be more helpful).  I was using one gRefill and one piece of gCloth at naps, but Levi said that it wasn't an economical solution (those gRefills are EXPENSIVE!), and wanted to just use regular sposies.  We already use overnight sposies at night, and I didn't want to throw away any more diapers than I needed to, so I said to heck with it, I'll try the Babykicks Bumboo One Size Pocket Diaper that I already own.   I have two, but only opened one in case I don't like them.  I can send the other one back!

They are SOOOOO soft and delicious on the inside!  The hemp insert does have to be prepped, but I figured I can layer gCloth with some other Babykicks hemp inserts I have, and see how that works for a nap tomorrow.  For his last nap today, he's in a sposie.  =(  Ah well...tomorrow is another day.

But the gDiaper-ing is going super well.  The gCloth is nice and absorbent, and the little gPants are TOO dang cute.  Too cute!  I plan on modifying the more plain covers if I can find some cute appliques.  We'll see how that goes.  I'll write up a full review on the gDiapers after some more use.

Stay tuned to see how the Bumboo Pocket works out!

gDiapers for the win!

SO.  STINKIN'.  CUTE!!

Not only are the gDiapers adorable, they fit great!  He had both a wet and a messy diaper and the gDiaper held up beautifully.  He's still in a disposable at night, because he is suuuuuch a heavy wetter and I haven't found the right diaper for night time.  Double inserts don't work.  For now, we're using Huggies Overnights.  I feel better about throwing away 30 diapers a month rather than 200+!

I feel so much better now that we're back in cloth for most of the time.  I am loving the gCloth, though I did loathe the prep work.  Ugh!  Like I don't have enough laundry in my life...lol.

I have some super adorable pics to post from my nephew's first birthday, but that'll have to wait.  Night!

gDiapers are the winners. I think.

I remember why I was so overwhelmed before when choosing cloth diapers!!

At this point, it's almost cheaper to use disposables, but I'm willing to give the hybrid a shot because of all that guilt I mentioned before.  I bought an Everyday g's pack from Diapers.com.  I'm super happy with the price I paid for the gDiapers.  Diapers.com had the Everyday g's (6 pack) on sale for $59.99!  You can use the referral code LMID6287 to get $10 more off that, if you are a first time customer!  I also got three packs of the 6-pack gCloth inserts for about $90.  All told, I spent about $150 there, and then I bought two super cute colors off of gdiapers.com (the Good Vibes Stripes and Grateful Red) for about $40.  Less than $200 for what I hope will be an awesome system!

I figured that the gCloth would work for every day use, and the disposable inserts would be for travel, vacation, and longer outings.  We can't flush the liners at my house, because we have a septic system, but elsewhere that would be super handy.  The gDiapers are, according to my friend Margaret, super trim.  That's one of the major concerns I have, because too much fluff makes me feel like my little guy is uncomfortable.

So I think I'll be sending my Babykicks back once they get here today.  I feel like a crazy person with all the waffling I've been doing, but in the end, I feel comfortable with the choice I made with the gDiapers.  Let's just hope they fit him correctly...LOL!

If not, I'll be back with more crazy.  =D