tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76142134390355811512024-03-13T12:18:34.108-07:00Purposeful LivingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-7121475756207199362015-07-17T14:08:00.001-07:002015-07-17T14:08:30.774-07:00Once, I had enough time to have a blog<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been over 18 months since I have been on this blog. A blog, that I so enjoyed doing. So, what happened? Life. Life happens, and we get busy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have added an amazing spunky baby girl to our family. Philippa Jane was born last November, and she is now 8 months old (currently crawling around my feet putting random carpet fuzz and paper in her mouth). I am just now feeling like I can come up for air sometimes. Attachment parenting is so physically intensive the first year (or more!) of a baby's life. Add to that the fact that sweet Philippa is (still) waking up at least 3 times a night to nurse, and, well, you get the picture.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm very excited to get back to blogging, though. Sometimes, you just need an outlet for your thoughts. So, my goal is one post a week for the time being. I'm hoping to get Philippa's birth story post soon as well. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-80009818573426963292014-01-07T12:14:00.003-08:002014-01-07T12:14:47.329-08:00Happy New Year!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been almost 3 months since I last blogged. Time has really flown by. I wasn't taking an intentional break, but little Iris has just been keeping me on my toes. She's been growing, developmentally leaping, teething, and has had a few colds and even a stomach bug that we all ending up catching (the great stomach bug of 2013 as we call it). She even turned one back in November!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here's a little update on what's going on at our house. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The holidays were busy and blessed. RJ and I spent a lot of time talking about how we want to spend our time and where we want our family's focus during the Christmas season. For us, it is on the birth of Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our family, led by our church, is on a 21 day journey of prayer and fasting. This brings about a time of reflection and renewed strength to start the year. We are both new to fasting, so we are each doing it in our own way. RJ is fasting meat. This has proven to be a little move difficult because he recently went gluten free. So, he is having to do a little more meal planning. I am not fasting food because I am nursing. So, I am instead fasting Facebook. It's been harder than I thought it would be! I will confess that I cheated a few times yesterday. I had to do some housekeeping for a group that I administer, and I was sucked into checking my groups and notifications. Today has been much better. Even though I have wanted to log on, I have resisted the temptation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iris is now walking like a champ. She is babbling all the time as well. She is clueless to the fact that she doesn't have any actual words yet, as she is babbling all the time. She for sure knows what she is saying. If only I did! That would help some toddler frustrations. She is also working towards only napping once a day. To me, this seems like such a "big kid" thing! My little baby isn't a baby any more. She is quite the pistol, with her own thoughts, plans, and ideas of what she wants and what she wants me to do as well. She has also turned a corner and is finally eating more solids. This means she is nursing a little less now, which bring about a whole slew of mixed emotions for mommy! Bottom line is that she is happy and thriving, and we give all the glory to God for that. I am so happy He chose RJ and I to be her parents. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you are having as happy and blessed New Year as us!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-43066601464563854362013-10-23T09:26:00.002-07:002013-10-23T09:26:17.349-07:00Weekend Review<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had a lovely weekend, filled with lots of quality family time. RJ works every other Saturday, so when he has off, it's like a special treat. Saturday, we went out to lunch a new (to us) BBQ restaurant and to a Halloween party at the Birmingham Art Museum. Iris got to color with crayons for the first time, and I was really impressed with the children's interactive art area. Iris really had a great time, and so did the rest of us. Sunday, we went to church. Iris was not happy in the nursery, so she and I watched the message from the Mother's Room (I watched; she pulled everything out of the diaper bag). That afternoon, RJ and I had a dinner date at the Melting Pot. It's one of our favorite restaurants, and we used to go there all the time before our little girl was born. So what if we had to eat dinner at 4:00 so we could be back home in time to put the baby to bed. It was still so special to just have some quality time together. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cooler weather is finally here, and I love how all the leaves are starting to change color and fall.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope your week has been wonderful so far!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-77791703405544940482013-10-15T19:37:00.002-07:002013-10-15T19:49:29.823-07:00Our Journey to Parenthood<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had a difficult journey to becoming parents, full of ups and downs. We suffered two miscarriages along the way. When I was going through the first miscarriage, I found comfort in reading other women's stories. I had no idea how common miscarriages are because it's just not something that is talked about often. I also was thankful to read about what exactly happens during a miscarriage. It helped me to prepare mentally for what was about to happen. That is the purpose of this post. I want other women who might be dealing with pregnancy loss to know what to expect and to break the silence.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">RJ and I decided to start a family in December of 2010. We had been married for 4 years at that point, and we felt like we were truly ready. In my mind, I thought it would take about 3 to 4 months to conceive. After 6 months, I began to get a little concerned. We were young and healthy ya know? I sent RJ to get some tests done, because testing the guy is just easier. When his tests came back normal, I was a mixture of relieved and bummed. "It must be me," is what instantly popped into my mind. By July I decided I needed to go to my doctor to start the discussion of what might be hindering us. When the day of my appointment came, I realized I was 2 days late. I didn't think anything of it, because I had been late before. I took a test just to make sure, and it was POSITIVE! I was elated and immediately started crying. That night, RJ and I celebrated. I was on cloud nine. We told our parents and other extended family members. My due date was April 13, 2011. It was just such a joyous time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About a week later, I started bleeding. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough to where I felt like I needed to call the doctor. I honestly expected them to tell me everything was fine and not to worry. I was actually surprised when they wanted me to come in for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed an empty sac. The doctor talked to me about a blighted ovum, but said he wasn't losing hope just yet and to come back in a week. I continued to have light bleeding until the end of the pregnancy. The next week, the ultrasound showed a fetal pole. This is the group of cells that become an embryo. However, by this point I was 6.4 weeks along, and we were hoping to see an embryo with a heartbeat. My hormone levels were also no where near what they should be - not even close to doubling. The doctor wanted to schedule a D&C, but I just couldn't do it. My baby was still alive; it had grown from the previous week. It just was no where near where it needed to be. We were told to come back again the next week for another ultrasound. The next scan showed that our baby actually had a flicker of a heartbeat! We were all so thankful and shocked, but still very much on edge. I was still felt like I was in this horrible gray area. I was still bleeding, and my hormone levels were still way too low. The past 3 weeks had been so emotionally draining. That was one of the hardest things about the whole experience - the not knowing for sure what was going to happen and having to prepare mentally for both outcomes. RJ and I had the conversation about what we would do if I miscarried. We decided we would bury our baby in the backyard by our tree. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was Monday morning, September 4th, about 4 am. I was 8 weeks and 4 days along. I awoke to strong and rhythmic cramping. I knew instantly it was time. These were contractions. RJ woke up when he heard me trying to manage my breathing. **This is where things will get more graphic, so feel free to skip ahead, but remember my purpose is for others who might be dealing with this to know what to expect.** I ran to the bathroom and passed a blood clot. The contractions were back to back. I went to sit by myself (I wanted to be alone) on the couch in the living room. I instinctively would push during the contractions and then I felt something. I went back to the bathroom and passed an amniotic sac about the size of a large grape. I immediately scooped it up and held in my hands sobbing and shaking. RJ came in, and I kept saying "I don't know what to do,". My mind had completely fogged up. He took me outside, and we buried our baby. While we were outside, it started to rain. It hadn't rained in weeks. I felt like it was God crying with us. We decided to name our baby Blue, as sapphire is September's birthstone. We took the next several weeks and months to grieve. Several times, I felt like I was really losing my mind. You see, I still had all those pregnancy hormones to come down off of, but I didn't have the happy ones that come when you have a baby. RJ was so patient with me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few weeks after, I had an appointment with a new doctor, who I had heard wonderful things about. I remember crying in her office telling her of our journey so far. She just hugged me and told me about her miscarriage as well. After talking with her, she told me that she believed I had endometriosis, which creates a harsh environment and makes it hard to conceive. We decided that if I hadn't conceived again by December (which would be a year of trying), I would have surgery to fix everything.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had the surgery in January 2012, and conceived the very next month. This time, a positive pregnancy test didn't bring elation but instead cautiousness. I was so on edge. I immediately started going to the doctor every week to get my hormone levels checked. They were VERY high (YAY!). RJ and I were optimistic. I started have morning sickness around 5 weeks (which is pretty early), and I was never so thankful to throw up. Morning sickness typically means a healthy pregnancy, and it's something I didn't experience the first time. My hormone levels were so high, that I started wondering if it was twins. Twins don't run in our families so I brushed the thought off, but it stayed in the back of my head. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had an ultrasound done at 7 weeks, and it showed the possibility of a collapsed sac of a twin. At nine weeks, we got confirmation through another scan that we had one healthy baby thriving, but we had in fact lost a twin. It's called Vanishing Twin, and it's very different than the typical miscarriage. You don't pass anything. Your body just reabsorbs everything. If I had not had that 7 week ultrasound, we would have never known about our little Twinkie (what we named it).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So if you are keeping track, I have been pregnant twice, with 3 babies, and given birth to one. Some people tell me that I should just be thankful for the baby that I have. Believe me, I am. Iris brings so much joy to our lives. However, that doesn't diminish my grief or sadness over the ones that I have yet to meet. I still mourn them. Writing this post brings on the tears. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want other women to know that pregnancy loss is common (1 in 4). For those who are going through it, every thing you are feeling is good/normal/acceptable. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please feel free to email me if you need someone to talk to. </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">emilysewell0@gmail.com</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-57632941280776425472013-10-02T10:54:00.000-07:002013-10-02T10:54:00.253-07:00Healthy Banana Pancakes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had heard about these amazing two ingredient pancakes, so since I had an over ripe banana, I made them this morning. They were so so good, and Iris gobbled them up!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The basic recipe is 1 ripe banana (mashed up with a fork) and two eggs. Cook in a good fat over medium low heat (I used coconut oil). They cook up really fast. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I added about 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and next time I will do a whole teaspoon because I couldn't taste it very much. Next time, I'll also add some ground flax seed and a pinch of sea salt. YUM!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-66790264234209806722013-10-01T10:47:00.001-07:002013-10-01T10:47:28.397-07:00Morning Walks<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I LOVE this time of year!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-34114946503460731952013-09-17T18:52:00.001-07:002013-09-17T18:52:18.605-07:00It's the little things<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few things that I am excited about these days:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reverse Osmosis water</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: It's the only type of water you can buy that does not contain fluoride. This week, I bought enough for pretty much just Iris to have, but I'm hoping to get better about getting enough for our whole family.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cooler weather</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: It's been cool enough in the mornings (because the little lady rises with or before the sun) to open the windows and get some fresh air. Come on fall! It's my favorite time of year. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New pajamas</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: Ok, this might not seem like a big deal to most, but I haven't been satisfied with my pjs pretty much since I had Iris. Last week, I ordered some off amazon and am in love. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My moby wrap</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: I loved wearing Iris in the moby wrap when she was younger, but she became too wiggly for it. However, I tried it again when she was teething and needing to be close to mommy, and it was a hit! She laughed and clapped, and I was able to clean the kitchen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who's Line is It Anyway?</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">: This is a TV show that started in the UK (maybe in the late 90's?), and was brought to the US when I was in high school. I have fond memories of my mom and I laughing at all the improv skits. Well, it's back on the air, and RJ and I watch it and laugh together every week. It's like a mini date in the middle of the week.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-66878746376957634262013-09-16T20:18:00.003-07:002013-09-16T20:18:48.191-07:0010 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't believe our little girl is 10 months old!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What Iris is up to:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Favorite food: scrambled eggs and plain whole milk yogurt</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning self control by not rolling on the changing table</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crawling all over the house</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pulling up on everything</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking a few steps while holding on to furniture </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Discovered and loves to splash in the dog's water bowl</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking 2-3 naps a day (still napping best in Mommy's arms)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nursing once at night, but waking up twice</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nursing about every 2.5 hours during the day</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clapping to music or just to have fun</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plays the xylophone </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likes to play catch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knows exactly what she wants and goes for it</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spirited</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Determined </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Babbling mimics the rhythm of speech </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning the word 'no'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liking the car more now that we have a van</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Busy</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Intensely studies things</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loves to be chased by Mommy or Daddy</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Laughing all the time</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just got her first tooth</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loves to be around and play with other babies</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love you, little girl!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-16318277179873063882013-09-11T09:59:00.001-07:002013-09-11T09:59:15.642-07:00A tooth!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iris finally has a tooth! I was so nervous about the process, because you often hear these awful stories of babies feeling so sick while teething. Honestly though, I didn't even notice really. Monday morning when I was changing her diaper, there it was! Looking back over the weekend, she was extra clingy, but that was it! She got her left lateral incisor, which is not your typical first tooth. Our little free spirit does things her own way!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-37909932819421124392013-08-15T17:54:00.001-07:002013-08-15T17:54:17.141-07:00A cute quirk that actually has a name<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So ever since Iris was born, she has sneezed when she first goes outside in the sunlight. I think it is SUPER cute, and it makes her laugh. Well, the other day while she was napping in my arms (read..I wasn't able to put her down without waking her, so I was playing on my phone.), I did a Google search for sneezing in sunlight. I was surprised to learn that this little quirk has a name - photic sneeze reflex. It's genetic and scientists have been unable to explain it. Aristotle even wrote about it! Who knew?!? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's your fun fact for the day!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-30440777575227996472013-08-13T08:07:00.000-07:002013-08-13T08:07:47.642-07:009 Months Old<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't believe my baby is 9 months old today! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What Iris is up to these days:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pulling up on anything she can get a hold of (clothes, furniture, hands, my hair)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crawling all over the house</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sleeping in her crib like a big girl</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eating both breakfast and dinner</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feeding herself like a champ</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nursing about every 2 hours during the day and once at night</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clapping to music (newest trick :))</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Explores new objects by turning and looking at them from every angle</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can open drawers</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Very busy and constantly moving while awake</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking 3-4 naps during the day</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Babbling </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Laughing</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likes for Mommy or Daddy to sit on the floor while she plays, wanting that reassurance as she's asserting some independence</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would rather be in the Ergo carrier than the stroller</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doesn't like to stop for diaper changes</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Throws whatever is in her hands if she gets mad</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plays peek-a-boo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No teeth yet</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just now fitting in 6-9 month clothes</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Has a love/hate relationship with her carseat</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and just yesterday, stood up by herself for a few seconds</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pure Sweetness!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-29907961767774345702013-08-09T17:44:00.003-07:002013-08-09T17:44:50.922-07:00"We're adults now!"<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to RJ, we became real grown-ups today. We bought a minivan. I guess the house, jobs, and baby were all just practice ;). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so excited about our new ride. It's a 2011 slate blue Quest. My favorite features are the remote controlled doors. Oh! And I just have to push a button to start it. How cool is that?!? Aside from all the gadgets, I am thrilled for the practicality of it. There's so much more space for when we travel, have others riding with us, and for the almost everyday occurrence of nursing in the car while out running errands (!).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check it out!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-14899833942398968182013-08-08T16:40:00.001-07:002013-08-08T16:40:37.216-07:00One Long Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well to explain my absence from blogging goes hand in hand with my day today. I really think this day has had a few extra hours thrown in somewhere. It felt like it should at least be 3:30...at least. But no, is was only noon. So Iris and I loaded up, and we went to the library for the first time. She had a blast and intently watched a little girl who was about 18 months old. Iris was enamored by her. It was sweet to watch my daughter try to interact with her. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, my sweet little girl, who is finicky about her carseat, cried the whole way home. I thought, "Well, at least she will take a long nap,". Nope. 30 minutes. And that's 30 minutes with me holding her. She woke up when I laid her in her crib. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And thus, my explanation for my lack of blogging. No opportunity during the day, and by night, I am just worn out. Our little lady is starting to sleep for longer periods of time at night, but this has effected her naps during the day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hoping to be back on here soon!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-73171133256137404372013-07-20T15:49:00.001-07:002013-07-20T15:49:16.724-07:00A Little Recap...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some snapshots of our first beach vacation as a family of three!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-23272323772946981582013-07-12T12:26:00.001-07:002013-07-12T12:26:23.279-07:00Vacation!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, I am super busy packing for a fun filled week at the beach. RJ and I were planning on leaving tomorrow morning, but today made the impromptu decision to leave tonight and drive while Iris sleeps (hopefully!). So far, I've done 3 loads of laundry and gotten Iris and myself mostly packed. I just have to pack RJ's bag and few more odds and ends. If I'm really lucky, I will be able to straighten up the house some as well (I hate coming home to a messy house). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are all super excited about the beach. It doesn't even matter that they are forecasting rain every day due to the approaching tropical storm. We are just excited to be together as a family and for a little change in scenery. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a wonderful weekend and a fabulous next week!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Hopefully we will stay sunburn free!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-31870553772170219742013-07-10T15:57:00.000-07:002013-07-10T15:57:07.182-07:00A Little Less Patriotic<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">*Stepping onto soapbox*</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I saw this title on another blog, and I thought, "What a perfect way to describe how I'm feeling!".</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is usually the season on the year where I am loud and proud about this great country that we live in, but lately I feel myself becoming more and more cynical. If you haven't picked up from earlier posts, eating cleanly is something that is VERY important to me. However, with the current political climate, this is something that is nearly impossible to do in our "free" country. So free, we are not allowed to know what all is in the food that we eat. So free, the very organizations that are supposed to monitoring the safety of our food have financial ties to the companies who are making our food less and less safe. So free, laws are being passed that exempt said companies from due process and the court systems. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It just makes me so sad and angry all at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know that in just about EVERY other industrialized country, the majority of the conventional food in American grocery stores is illegal? There's something to ponder.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It really doesn't even have to do with one particular political party or another because the current state of things was set in motion several administrations ago, and it has yet to be stopped. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm tired of living in a country where big business controls the food supply.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">*Stepping off soapbox*</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-38589935063439760822013-07-03T15:09:00.003-07:002013-07-03T15:09:55.993-07:00Taking the Leap Update<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So earlier, I posted about how we were going to be transitioning Iris out of the bed, and slowly make our way to her sleeping full time in her crib.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are two nights in, and I think things are going great! The first night, she woke up twice, and I easily nursed her back to sleep. Last night, I pushed back her second nursing. So even though I got up with her three times (I'm a little more tired today), there was a longer stretch between feedings. Hopefully, that will lead to longer stretches of sleep!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is being such a big girl about everything!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Happy </span><span style="color: blue;">4th </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">of </span><span style="color: blue;">July</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-11986494854276637062013-07-01T16:19:00.002-07:002013-07-01T16:20:05.028-07:00Taking the Leap<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight is the night. Tonight is the night where we are going to start transitioning Iris back into her bassinet, with the goal of her sleeping in her crib soon. I am having to write in down so I don't lose my nerve, because I am seeing a few long nights ahead of me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the past several months, Iris has been sleeping in our bed next to me. It has worked beautifully up until now. However, for the past several weeks, she is waking more and more, and neither of us is getting much sleep. Making this transition now will work for us both in the long run. Pretty soon, she is going to be able to pull up. Once that happens, her bassinet will no longer be a "safe place" for her to sleep, so she will then need to be in her crib.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like I said in an earlier post, CIO is not going to be happening in this house, so it's ok if these changes take a while to set. I have already enlisted the help of Grammy coming over in the afternoons, if I need to take a little nap. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sweet Dreams!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-86622384800908058532013-06-28T10:30:00.000-07:002013-06-28T10:30:57.486-07:00Making Time for Me<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a rough night last night, I decided that I was going to hit the gym and sauna today and have some much needed me time. I went to a Pilates class for the first time and had so much fun! I think it's definitely what my post baby body needs. The time to myself was </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wonderful</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. As moms, it's so important to purposefully carve out some space here and there away from our children to recharge physically and mentally. I am guilty of not doing this enough and then hitting a wall of exhaustion. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here's to a new personal goal. Twice a week, I hope to attend some sort of exercise class or workout on my own. I will then reward myself with some quiet time in the sauna or steam room.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That sounds nice, doesn't it? I think so!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-32798206469495770202013-06-27T13:00:00.000-07:002013-06-27T13:00:08.916-07:00Cloth Napkins Everyday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am always looking for easy ways to trim down our monthly spending, live a little more simply, and a little greener. So, we have started using cloth napkins everyday, with every meal - not just the fancy ones :). I ordered a set of 20 off Amazon for like $15. I keep a reusable grocery bag on the doorknob of our laundry room, and we just toss them in there with bibs and other dish towels. Then, we just throw them in with our whites when doing laundry. Easy peasy! It's so much cheaper than buying paper towels every other week!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-79716707741947915252013-06-26T14:50:00.001-07:002013-06-26T14:50:26.407-07:00The Simplest Way to Cook Veggies<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok. I have found the best way to cook almost all vegetables, and it's sure (in my experience) to please a crowd. Plus, it's so so easy!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ready?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2TB of melted butter (the real thing - grassfed if you can)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">salt</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pepper</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">vegetable of choice</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preheat your oven to 350*. While its heating up, put your butter in the roasting pan and place it in the oven, so it melts. Once it's melted, add your veggies and stir around so everything is coated in the yummy butter. Add salt/pepper to taste. Roast until fork tender (we like ours a little al dente)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's it! (I told you it was easy)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not kidding; every time I cook vegetables like this, I get tons of compliments and requests for recipes. The butter really bring out the richness in the flavors. See cooking doesn't have to be complicated at all! Enjoy!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-37858972154923027262013-06-24T12:49:00.000-07:002013-06-24T12:49:42.365-07:00Checking Back In<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So sorry for lack of posts in the last month. Things can easily feel crazed with a now mobile (!) baby around the house. Iris is now 7 months old, and she sure is keeping us busy. She is so curious and into everything that we have been in a rush to baby-proof. I'm wanting our living room and her room to be completely safe spaces for her to roam free. I absolutely am loving this stage, where everything in her little world is new and exciting. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought that choosing to be a stay at home mom would mean I would be constantly having to ward off monotony and/or boredom. That is so not the case! I find that I am busier now than I ever have been, and I, of course, am loving every minute of it. We spend our weekdays going to nursing group, church small group, mommy & me swim lessons (really it's just playing in the pool), grocery shopping (one of my favorite things to do), and lots and lots of playing and exploring. On the weekends, we usually catch up on chores and hit up the farmers' market, and focus on quality family time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm planning on setting aside some time during Iris's afternoon nap for blogging. So keep checking in to keep me on top of things :)!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Monday!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-36817929994612698302013-05-28T17:06:00.002-07:002013-05-28T17:06:41.926-07:00Aunt Bonnie's Pound Cake<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made pound cake and whipped cream from scratch for a yummy dessert for Memorial Day. It's RJ's great aunt's recipe.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 sticks butter</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add egg yolks one at a time blending afterward</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fold in sour cream, flour, baking soda, and beaten egg whites (stiff)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add flavor extracts</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bake at 325* in a greased and floured pan for 1.5 hours.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-16052446759551937122013-05-21T16:19:00.001-07:002013-05-21T16:19:28.324-07:00Happy Tuesday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope your day was fabulous!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01058629645746565420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7614213439035581151.post-60575555448119804612013-05-16T07:05:00.000-07:002013-06-26T14:58:04.746-07:00Cry It Out: Why We Said No<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a new mom, I am around lots of other new moms. My Facebook is loaded with pregnant belly and baby pictures. One of the topics that often comes up with new moms is whether or not to "sleep train" your baby, and how to go about doing it. There are more books on this topic than you can imagine. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A popular method, being used by lots of new parents is letting a baby cry it out (CIO), or letting them cry for a predetermined amount of time in their crib before you go in and provide comfort. This process is repeated over and over until the baby self soothes themselves to sleep. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me say, that the need for sleep as a new parent is PROFOUND. It has been like nothing else I have experienced. I truly believe it when they say that you will die of lack of sleep before you will die of lack of food. I understand the desire to have your baby sleeping through the night as soon as possible. That being said, after researching CIO and talking to RJ, we decided that CIO was something that we would not do. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, we realized that we were bringing into this world a little baby, not a little adult. In the womb, a baby's need for sleep is met automatically. The feeling of being tired is only experienced after birth. Couple that with a baby who is separated from mommy for the first time, and you have a VERY scary experience. I'm 27, and I don't like to cry alone in the dark. Why would I expect my baby to endure it? Second, crying is a baby's only way of communicating a need to a parent. I did not want to undermine that line of communication. I didn't want to say to my baby that I would only come sometimes when she cried, but not every time. How unsettling would that be for a baby? For a baby to CIO and then fall asleep, they have to "give up" on mom coming in and comforting them. I didn't want my baby to give up on me. I wanted her to know that I will ALWAYS come when she cries for me. Third, the need to be close to and held by mommy is a VERY real need for a baby. Mommy equals safety and survival. It's a primal need. It is my job to meet her needs. I believe God has given mothers wonderful instincts. The physical discomfort we feel when our baby cries is no accident. It makes us go to the baby even when we are tired, hungry, or have to go to the bathroom. I see moms crying because during CIO they are having to ignore their instincts to go to their baby, and that causes a real feeling of panic inside. I chose to embrace that instinct. And lastly, developmentally, babies are not made to sleep through the night (We, as adults, do not even sleep through the night. We just don't remember the brief awakenings we experience). They wake often to eat, which in turn prevents SIDS. CIO, also, floods the brian with stress. I didn't like that idea either. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what do our nights look like? We bathe, read, nurse, swaddle, and rock to sleep. At 6 months, Iris goes to bed around 8:00 and wakes about 2 times to eat a full feeding during the night (sometimes, like last night, it's just once). During a growth spurt, she will wake up more to eat. Am I tired some days? Yes. But I try to rest when I can, and RJ does a great job of getting up with her first thing in the morning before he goes to work. He also takes her in the mornings on the weekends, so I can get some extra sleep. This set up is what has worked for us. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A great book to read on alternatives to CIO is <i>The No Cry Sleep Solution</i>, and you can get it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Through-Foreword/dp/0071381392/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368712416&sr=1-1&keywords=no+cry+sleep+solution">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here are some research articles about CIO and infant sleep:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2010/02/sleep-training-higher-stress-lower.html">http://www.drmomma.org/2010/02/sleep-training-higher-stress-lower.html</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2009/10/sleeping-with-baby-breastfeeding-night.html">http://www.drmomma.org/2009/10/sleeping-with-baby-breastfeeding-night.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/healthy-infant-sleep.html">http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/healthy-infant-sleep.html</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2012/09/the-dangers-of-crying-it-out.html">http://www.drmomma.org/2012/09/the-dangers-of-crying-it-out.html</a></div>
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