Love

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another, without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms. 1 Peter 4:8-10

Memory Lane

In this beautiful world called photography we learn that photos can be more powerful than the most eloquent words. When taken just so, photos simply "catch" what words cannot describe.

Don't believe me?

Look below.

Thank-you Auntie "Yo-Ya" (as we call her) for the overdue date to Pumpkinland complete with pictures that make me beam with pride about my beautiful little boy.

Thankful Tuesday

Nothing quite like watching the game on a crisp fall evening with my 2 favorite boys decked out in their Patriots gear :) Maybe it's time Mom gets a jersey?!

Eco-Mom

Lately I've been feeling a little green. Not sick green. Green like earth-friendly-tree-hugger-money-saver-green.

Exhibit A. Home-made baby wipes.

Mix 3 cups water, 1 tablespoon baby wash, 1 tablespoon baby oil. Tear apart Bounty paper towels (select a size work best) and fold them. Here's where the Mr. took it up a notch and went all Eco-perfection on me folding them so that when you pull one out the next will automatically pop up.

Show-off.

{grin}

Soak the folded paper towels in the solution and squeeze excess fluid off. Then place in empty baby wipe container and they are ready to use.

(I filled 3 containers with one roll of paper towels. I'm no math expert but I'm pretty sure that saved some hard-earned moola)

Exhibit B - homemade baby food. The "6 month little" (21 lb 6 oz, 28 1/2 in long little) aced his well baby check up today. He protested when it was time for 3 shots, but do you blame him? Ouch, ouch & ouch! Don't worry we settled the protest with a 6oz bottle and a 3 1/2 hour nap {score} Our Dr. said he was the "picture of health" and for that I am thankful to God.

He's literally mastered the whole baby food thing already and opens his mouth like a little baby bird and whines if I don't get the food there fast enough. What.A.Ham. Anyways - baby food is sorta spendy and can be kept on the grocery store shelf for 12 months.

Yummy preservatives.

Ick.

Solution - I now make my own baby food. I'm borrowing a book from a friend called So Easy baby food by Joan Ahlers & Cheryl Tallman. It's as easy as buying the steam package peas at Hy-Vee, steaming them in microwave, adding some water, dumping in blender, and pressing "puree". Freeze 8-10 hrs then pop the cubes out into baggies and use as needed. Fresh, Healthy, and no preservatives. 2 bags of peas filled 2 ice cube trays full to the brim. Did I mention it's much more cost effective too?

I also made homemade baby food apples. Wash, peel, core/cut 4 apples. Cover with plastic wrap and cook in microwave for 5 minutes, the let stand for 5 minutes. Dump in blender and press "puree". 4 apples filled 1 ice cube tray. My kitchen now smells like Martha-Stewart :)

Exhibit C. Cloth diapers. Okay, I lied. I haven't gone that far. But I must admit the thought keeps crossing my mind...

Better hurry and get out of here before you too catch this nasty "green" bug.

Hello Friday

I'm borrowing this idea from a friend.

Hello pumpkin-land. Looking forward to visiting you real soon. I'm sure you won't dissapoint.

Hello newly sheet-rocked garage. Looking forward to not freezing my a*$ off this winter.

Hello September 9. The day that brought my best friend back to Iowa.

Hello forecast. I must say digits in the doubles are much more flattering on you.

Hello Canon Rebel I've been lusting after for far too long. Will I be seeing you underneath my Christmas tree this year? I've been a very good girl.

(photo curtesy of google images)

Hello Thirty-One. Consider me "in love"

Hello house peppered with baby things. I love the eclectic look you bring to my world.

Hello Happy Fall Weekend Everyone.

Sick Days

Sometimes in the world of blogging, we (aka all you fellow bloggers/readers) have a tendency to portray only the good things of our life. The things we are proud of. The things that are "bloggable" for lack of a better world :) In doing this, we miss reality and we miss opportunities of reaching people by portraying the good along with the not-so-pretty.

Deep, huh? Hardly.

Warning - I'm stepping on to my soap box {Grin}

I do not have it all together at all times. In fact I rarely have anything together ever. Case in point - Gavin was really sick this weekend, like completely and utterly inconsolable, fever of 102, crying so hard he was choking, and oh that sad look in his eyes - pierced right through to my soul and made me cry too. You're probably thinking - good thing you are a registered nurse, I'm sure you knew just what to do. My husband thought the exact same thing as we were discussing (hee-hawing) about whether or not to bring Gavin to the ER or wait-and-see when my husband said "well you're the nurse" Wrong answer Honey! Wrong.Answer. And besides I'm not really a wait-and-see-kinda-girl. My husband got the short end of the stick and I yelled at him, loudly, and it went something like this - "I'm his MOM in this situation, not his nurse, and I have already tried everything I advise other people to do in the same situation everyday and nothing is working, blah blah blah, just because you're a CPA and not a nurse you don't have to help decide what to do, blah blah blah??!!

Really pretty and ladylike to yell don't you think? Pretty classy, huh? Ugh. Embarrissing is more like it.

I had this Mommy instinct something was definitely going on with Gavin, and wouldn't you figure he got sick over the long weekend - clinic closed. One of the best parts of working in a clinic (no weekends/holidays) Suddenly this wasn't such a good thing. Anyways.

We waited it out a couple days before I had officially had enough and couldn't ignore that instinct any longer. So I made the executive decision (since I'm the nurse, remember?!) and we headed to the ER. Turns out he was sick; with a double ear infection. Ouch and ouch. Don't worry, little bug is doing much better now thanks to amoxicillin, tylenol, and lots of snuggling.

Moral of the story - I should have been thankful to have a loving husband who cares about me and our sick child. Thankful for a husband who is more than willing to help. Thankful for a husband who values my input regarding our child, nurse or not. The Mr. got up with the little more throughout those sleepless nights than I did when he was sick and crying. Thanks babe, you are the best (even though I did yell at you and say otherwise) So, learn from my not-so-pretty-yelling-frustration-and next time you're in the yelling boat, take a deep breath, count to 10, and be happy you have a loving spouse there to help you, even if he did say the wrong answer :-)

And...

always trust your Mommy instinct. ALWAYS.

I'm now stepping off my soap box. What's that? You're relieved. Very funny. {Grin}

{Don't Blink}

Happy 1/2 birthday my sweet baby boy. My how you've grown and my how my love for you has also grown. You are my pride and joy little one.

6 month stats: 20 lb 8oz 27 1/2 inches long :)

Poor fella is ringing in his big day with double ear infection. Thank goodness for tylenol, antibiotics, and a snuggly Mommy and Daddy.

Giggles

from an almost 6 month old...laughing at his silly Mamma fake sneezing :)

(you will want to scroll down and pause the playlist music on left of screen before starting video)