tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53938027243735195012024-03-05T14:26:13.261-06:00The Planted FamilyJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-87543506590984153802019-06-20T12:47:00.001-05:002019-06-20T13:30:00.782-05:00On Books and Reading Aloud as a Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am writing these words from the library at this very moment. My husband is with the kids and I'm spending this time writing. About books. In a library. What a nerd.</div>
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You know that empty feeling you get when you realize that you have just spent thirty minutes trying to figure out what you're going watch on Netflix? And then you end up watching <i>Parks & Rec</i> or <i>The Office</i> for the umpteenth time? Book browsing does not have that same effect. One of my favorite of all favorites is to walk through a bookstore. Oh, the reading possibilities! The people to meet, places to go, time periods to explore. I love a library in the same way. If they allowed Starbucks inside, I would be perfectly content.<br />
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My Dad is a voracious reader. If I'm guessing, he has read several books a month since he could read chapter books. As kids, he took us to the library often. Even in the remembering, I'm transported back to our small town library and oddly enough the dank musty smell that comes to memory is comforting. Now that I look back, I realize how extraordinary it was to go to the library with my father. You don't see too many dads perusing the children's book shelves with their young kids. This could be for several reasons none of which I'll speculate on here, but what I know is that it was a gift.</div>
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Not too familiar with titles young girls might be interested in reading, my Dad went back to his own childhood and pointed me in the direction of <i>The Hardy Boys</i> series. I devoured them all and turned my nose up at Nancy Drew until I caved and read my mom's old copy of <i>The Clue of the Tapping Heels</i>. Don't you love the titles of those books? <i>The Bungalow Mystery</i>, <i>What Happened at Midnight</i>, etc. To this day, I love a good mystery thanks to Frank and Joe Hardy and their "chum" Chet Morton along with Nancy, George and Bess. From there I met friends for life: Laura Ingalls, Anne with an "e", the March girls and eventually the Austen heroines.<br />
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It makes me laugh to think of my Dad pointing me to the Hardy Boys, but now that I'm a parent I totally understand. I long to share the books that I fell in love with as a child with my own kids. There's something special about the books and the characters discovered when the mind was fresh and the hard lines of experience had yet to cement. These books have a sticking quality. I want my children to experience getting lost in the same stories that had me from page one, to fall in love with the characters that are to me, like old friends.<br />
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There are many things that I have been sadly and terribly inconsistent with in parenting, but reading isn't one of them. My kids may not stay in their beds for nap time or consistently ask to be excused from the table, but by George we will be readers. (P.S. Don't worry, Mom, we're working on habits too) From board books to picture books to chapter books, it's been a joy to share the reading experience with my preschoolers. It's incredibly fulfilling to watch their little faces absorb the illustrations of Richard Scarry or delight in the antics of Amelia Bedelia. When I read to them, my own childhood comes alive and delight in the golden wonder that halos around the books of ones youth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCY-smY9kl4QQOPl1NFDuBIJglQHNs6SfYbSqVv8JrGiO3foU2qlZBHazrwopCINKhE6vatX2WsfHxVwljwrhDHR8ExqjxlDickP5VUR9cPp11Ar77Vnc-Ro4kaYN3eVTZz1zU_isJ78/s1600/IMG_2664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCY-smY9kl4QQOPl1NFDuBIJglQHNs6SfYbSqVv8JrGiO3foU2qlZBHazrwopCINKhE6vatX2WsfHxVwljwrhDHR8ExqjxlDickP5VUR9cPp11Ar77Vnc-Ro4kaYN3eVTZz1zU_isJ78/s320/IMG_2664.jpg" width="240" /></a>One of the best things we've done with our kiddo's reading life is to read "above level", meaning above what they can read. Since my kids are not reading on their own yet, I take that to mean above their language level. If you're a fan of Sarah Mackenzie's <a href="https://readaloudrevival.com/" target="_blank">Read Aloud Revival</a>, you'll know that she talks about this concept often. I think if not exposed to this idea, we would yet to venture far beyond the picture book and short story category. Of course, we still read loads of picture books and even simple favorites like <i>Brown Bear Brown Bear</i>, but we've expanded to include a family read aloud that is usually a chapter book with a few pictures here and there.<br />
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We began experimenting with short stories like Beatrix Potter's <i>Peter Rabbit</i> and the tales of Winnie the Pooh when Claire was around three and Keaton was two. These stories are of course written for young children, however the language is much more deep than often found in children's literature today. Did they pay attention the whole time? Nope. Did they understand every single word and follow the entire plot line? Nope. Did they fall in love with the characters? Get the gist of the story? Stretch their vocabulary and knowledge of the world around them? Yes! As we've continued to work at it, I am truly amazed by what they pick up and how their attention span has grown. I can't believe the number of incredible books we've been able to enjoy together. It's definitely taken time and consistency, but it's been fun.<br />
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Our first "big read" was <i>Trumpet of the Swan</i> by E.B. White. It was my first time to read it as well. We all fell in love with it! When we finally returned it to the library, Claire put it in the book slot and in a sad voice said "Mom, it feels like we're saying goodbye to a friend." Yes, baby, yes it does. My heart melted because she got out of it exactly what I hoped she would.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrlqUQURCVMcn_mHlNmkrqZ5xDmt7RtHIH_7MrUQE_BpE-qEwcLbIH07AqP0HCV_ObqVqiAcMBnHK91aKDkXmj7xqJuRFS5cocVREOl8QR9b2BFEIneGtIeG9_Mn64Bc96h5qKGsppNE/s1600/BA2E3C13-699F-4FE8-B2C9-58BDE39B8088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrlqUQURCVMcn_mHlNmkrqZ5xDmt7RtHIH_7MrUQE_BpE-qEwcLbIH07AqP0HCV_ObqVqiAcMBnHK91aKDkXmj7xqJuRFS5cocVREOl8QR9b2BFEIneGtIeG9_Mn64Bc96h5qKGsppNE/s320/BA2E3C13-699F-4FE8-B2C9-58BDE39B8088.JPG" width="320" /></a>One of my concerns in introducing bigger content books to my littles was that they would not "get" everything in the book by reading it so young and would therefore, miss out on the complete experience. It's true that they're not going to get everything, but the beauty about books is that you can pick them up over and over again. They already want to read <i>Trumpet of the Swan</i> for a second time. I don't know if it will be together or on their own, but we will meet our friend again. We've listened to <i>Little House in the Big Woods</i> once on audio and have chipped away at reading it aloud a second time. Claire requests a chapter often and we chew on it for a week or more before it's requested again. Each time you read the same book in a different season of life you see what you didn't see before - at least with good books. The content of the book remains the same, but the person reading it has changed. My hope is that the favorites will surface again many times over and with each re-reading the discovery will be more rich.<br />
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Jim Trelease's <i>Read Aloud Handbook</i> is a great resource for book lists and the how-to's on reading with your kids. I've also heard <i>Honey for A Child's Heart</i> is great as well. These can be found at the library. If you want to follow someone who has extensive resources for families wanting to create a reading culture in their home, you absolutely must follow Sarah Mackenzie on all the internet places. She has book lists by age groups, gender, special interest, monthly, etc. Her monthly lists are so popular that you'll want to put them on hold at the library well in advance. She also has a podcast that is fantastic. Or get her book <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Read-Aloud-Family-Meaningful-Lasting-Connections/dp/0310350328" target="_blank">The Read Aloud Family</a></i>. Most of the ideas that I've implemented at home around reading have been at her recommendation. There's a lot of "Sarah Mackenzie says..." in this post because she is awesome. Some of her best tips in practice are below:<br />
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<b>Give the kids a busy activity</b><br />
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If you're thinking our kids sit in my lap for longer books, let me nix that idea. I'll pull out blocks, Legos, Perler beads, coloring books, etc. while we read. It keeps little hands busy while listening. When they were very little we read around the breakfast or lunch table. Even when it looks like they're not paying attention they're still absorbing a lot. In fact, if I stop reading they'll usually say "Mom, why did you stop reading?" or they'll ask questions to let me know they're still following the story. They're listening. Keep reading.<br />
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<b>Read around food</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdi8epoNtAbxcbQVRGm1WREUCA3jZ7F9LBoDHTbLID1zll_fiHPUKeGzFeNbBsTJagTVEM-aDAuhZVPPz-WS836gz-NLgt62hSLnf6-Uf1ig8NanJA5wywUxb7EgO8Waxe8nfo4Ldqs4/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><b><br /></b>One of my favorite tips from RAR is to make a pan of warm brownies and then invite everyone to listen as you read and they dig in. Who wouldn't want their kids to associate books with the smell and taste of brownies?! It's not often brownies specifically for us, but I'll simply put out a tray of animal cookies and lemonade. Who doesn't love a good snack? Also, in pursuit of keeping little hands AND mouths busy, I put out a bowl of peanuts with shells that must be cracked or cherries which require effort. My kids absolutely love a good "tea time". It feels special. We'll throw a blanket outside and bring the tea and books into the sunshine. Yes, fights break out around who gets the last cookie. "Tea" is spilled. Cups are chipped. Distractions abound and the reading pace is sometimes slow. But, these are some of my favorite memories with my kids.<br />
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<b>Set out book invitations</b><br />
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I don't keep all of our books on the book shelf. I will pull out a few picture books and put them in stacks or face out in baskets around the house. Think about it...that's what all the book stores do and they've done their research on presentation that sells. I'm so glad Sarah Mackenzie pointed this out. Face out is key! Keaton especially cannot resist the temptation of a lonely book begging to be opened. These little reading invitations are now all over our house. This is something my parents did really well. We may not have had all the latest toys or video games, but book invitations were everywhere!<br />
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<b>Let your children catch you reading</b><br />
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We haven't yet started academic schooling, but I want to make sure our kids don't associate reading with school assignments only. They take a note on this from us. I typically read for pleasure when my kids are asleep or preoccupied, however I've started taking a few minutes to let them see me read. Oh, and can I put a plug in for letting your kids see you read your Bible? This is so important! When they see you delighting in God's Word, they look at the Bible as a source of delight for themselves as well. I still remember waking up in the morning growing up and seeing my Mom's Bible open on the kitchen table alongside a cup of Constant Comment tea. I would venture to say that seeing my parents read their Bibles probably had the biggest impact on my faith because whenever I felt lost later in life I knew where to look for answers.<br />
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<b>Introduce audio books</b><br />
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We started out with audio picture books from the library, expanding to chapter books last year. I'll set out colors and paper and the kids will listen while I'm working in the kitchen. Or we listen as we're running errands in the car. Some of our favorites are <i>Little House in the Big Woods</i>, <i>Little House on the Prairie</i>, <i>The Adventures of Frog and Toad,</i> <i>Stuart Little</i> and <i>The Big Picture Story Bible. </i>We get most of our audio books from the library. I'm sure there are a few more that I can't think of at the moment.<br />
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A note on audio books...choose wisely. One thing that has gotten me into trouble is hastily picking up favorites from my own childhood that call out to me from the library shelf and that I think I know pretty well. I can't resist them! I have now learned that the memories are not necessarily trustworthy in that they were filtered through the lens of my elementary-aged self. With audio books, you can't read ahead or edit as needed. For instance, although I read <i>Little House on the Prairie</i> several times growing up, I forgot that the theme that runs through the second half of the book is the relationship between settlers and Native Americans. Unlike <i>Little House in the Big Woods</i> on audio, I needed editing capability that comes with reading it aloud myself for topics that were beyond their capacity at this stage. The Little House books are also written with language that was acceptable in the 19th century, but not used today. I realized my mistake pretty quickly while washing dishes and I couldn't dry my hands off fast enough to hit the pause button. We skipped ahead as needed and I stayed close to the CD player for the rest of the book. When we re-read it, I'll edit as needed.<br />
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Another similar moment happened with <i>The Wind and the Willows</i>. First off, I even had a tough time understanding the older British language through the narrator's heavy accent. I was wondering how much the kids were understanding when one of the characters called the other "a complete ahhss". We didn't finish <i>The Wind and the Willows</i>. It will be a read aloud that I can edit as we go. If one of my kids calls someone "a complete ahhss", this is why. Rookie mistake. This will help you avoid being such one yourself. You're welcome.<br />
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<b>When everyone's frustrated, read</b><br />
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This is direct advice from Sarah MacKenzie. She is a mother of six and says when everyone is fighting, start reading. If you've created a reading culture in your home, this trick is almost like magic. They can be at each other's throats and if I sit down, open a favorite book and begin to read the little people stop whatever it is they're doing and begin to listen. It works <i>most</i> of the time with the exception of The Great Lego Fight of 2018.<br />
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Here are some of the best things we've discovered thus far about creating a reading culture with our preschoolers:<br />
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<b>Creating shared experience</b><br />
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There is something about reading a book together that bonds the readers to each other. You are gripped by the same characters and experience the emotions together. As Sarah Mackenzie says "It puts everyone on the same side of the fence.". One of the joys of raising readers is to hear your little ones conversing in the language of their favorite books. My kids have named the mischievous squirrel that visits our front garden "Nutkin" after Beatrix Potter's character of a similar nature. We all have a laugh over Nutkin's antics as if he were the exact same Nutkin of page 32. It's a little inside joke we can all share in. Or when Claire tells Keaton to come quickly to see the the papoose at the museum that looks just like the one described in <i>Little House on the Prairie</i>. These connections make my heart soar.<br />
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We live in a world that is now overflowing with consumption choices. Technology gives us the ability to bring any special interest to our fingertips on demand. Slowly, the opportunity for shared experience has diminished. There is much that we have gained and much that we have lost. We develop our own little worlds on our phones or social media circles and tune everything else out, experiencing and communicating in a tailored vacuum. It's an Everyone Has Their Earbuds In kind of culture. I'm an introvert and I love frequent alone time, but there are some things that blossom more fully when experienced together. You find someone who enjoyed the same book? It's immediate common ground, conversation, community. What better place to foster this than within the family? As they grow and begin to find their own personal interests and passions, I hope the shared scaffolding built in childhood is one they can always come back to <i>together</i> no matter where their own personal stories lead.<br />
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<b>Seeing the world with perspective and possibility</b><br />
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Reading about different people, places, perspectives and periods of time is a way to open their eyes to this crazy idea that the world isn't all about them. It also introduces the concept of time and change, that everything has not always been as it is now, nor will it be in the future. That's a big concept for preschoolers and one that comes in layers. One of my favorite family experiences surrounding books was when we were reading the Little House series. We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel not just for the pancakes, but to see all the household items of the pioneer era. It was like watching a hundred light bulbs go off one after the other as they put together the actual object with what had been described to them in the book. They were especially fascinated to see an actual butter churner just like the one Ma used! It's the little things.<br />
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Because of reading, they know that we haven't always had electricity or cars or refrigerators. They know that people have gotten together over time to solve problems and make our world better in many ways. It opens up the world of possibility, expanding time and space without leaving our living room. I hope that in knowing that things have changed over time, they'll see their own potential to be problems solvers, a part of the story for the greater good.<br />
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<b>Opening opportunities to learn</b><br />
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Often these "bigger kid" books, become a springboard to learn about many different subjects. It was also through the Little House series that our kids were introduced to Native American history and culture. As mentioned, I skipped much of the settler's point of view and kept the information regarding the people group as a whole. At their ages, these concepts are too weighty. We went to the library and checked out stacks of picture books on various Indian tribes and learned about their way of life. It brought up big questions about Native Americans now and we talked about how people have not always made the right decisions in the way in which we've treated others. I was so surprised with the other avenues for learning that came with each book. With <i>Trumpet of the Swan</i>, we looked up the musical pieces referenced on YouTube and they're familiar with Louis Armstrong. The kids checked out books on swans from the library. We also pull out our Map Book and find the locations mentioned in a book. If there are things we don't know, we look them up. I learn a lot too!<br />
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<b>Seeing beyond the words on the page to the story</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyhgYk2TreIT5HA4ZBJbCTeUvZt9FZVOmsterFEqnjUVU1-BIgQDY8q5-MfDZ35PR4ZbsAcM86Y-VZ52-nNnv2ixXwKq2AdRDOf5jMcEpJK9AxF1JOmzQPQdXXh6mveWkg69XssXv-GE/s1600/IMG_2667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyhgYk2TreIT5HA4ZBJbCTeUvZt9FZVOmsterFEqnjUVU1-BIgQDY8q5-MfDZ35PR4ZbsAcM86Y-VZ52-nNnv2ixXwKq2AdRDOf5jMcEpJK9AxF1JOmzQPQdXXh6mveWkg69XssXv-GE/s320/IMG_2667.jpg" width="240" /></a>I share all this not just because it has been such a wonderful pursuit and experience for our family. I can't help but wonder if a love of story is ingrained within us all. There is an automatic response to lean in closer, whether it's around a campfire or curled up under blankets on the couch. Quite possibly it's part of a created and inward desire to know and understand the greatest and true narrative that is still unfolding, the original redemption story. He spoke the world into being through words. The written word is a gift from God to his people. Storytelling, an ability given by our Creator. Jesus revealed great truths to his followers through parables, stories. He chose to communicate his love to us in many ways, but chiefly through a <i>book</i>. If we have an urge to share a story with others, maybe it's out of an innate ability meant to share the greatest story ever told, the Gospel. If my kids learn to share beautiful messages told through books with others, maybe one day they'll share the only story that truly matters.<br />
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Aside from all the other positive reasons for raising children to be readers, this is the greatest one for us. It's not about just being well-read or academically prepared. It's about being well set up to read what matters and live in a way that matters. A love of reading can be a springboard to read the most important book of all. This is my ultimate hope for them in creating a reading culture within our home. May the love of the Greatest Story Ever Told point them to know its author. Tales that close with "They all lived happily ever after." don't hold a candle to the story that will go on for eternity. It opens with "In the beginning..." and ends with "Amen.".<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-41396699108120741752019-05-16T10:12:00.003-05:002019-05-16T11:51:24.447-05:00Our List of Summer Hopefuls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last summer our family was finally settling into our newly rebuilt home after Hurricane Harvey. Our adrenaline had carried us through the previous fall and spring. With summer came the exhaustion that had built up over the previous 9 months. Last summer was a lazy hammock season for us. We just wanted "to be" for a while. Get used to our home and just be. We threw together a last minute get away to Galveston, but that was it. Otherwise it was swimming lessons and picking up all the things that had been left undone since Harvey.</div>
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This summer is the last one before we have a kid in full time school (kindergarten!) and will be tied to a serious five days a week school schedule. I want to soak it up! Now, my idea of soaking up a summer would be to read a million books by the pool. Note, I don't want to get in the pool. I just want to read by it. That's all I ask.<br />
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But with the carefree ability to read by the pool comes the passing of all the sweet pre-k kisses and innocent wonder and awe at the world, so I'm going to put aside the books and soak up this time instead. This summer I want to be intentional with our kids. It's not necessarily going to be about big vacations, but more about small and meaningful experiences. Some new to our kids and some just plain 'ol fun things that kids need to do as much as possible. And if I'm honest, there are a lot of things on this bucket list that will be good for mom and dad too. I don't know how many of these we will actually check off the list, but we're going to try our best! And don't worry, there will be plenty of space for summer reading!<br />
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<li>Eat a really cold watermelon (Keats' request)</li>
<li>Make popsicles</li>
<li>Make ice cream</li>
<li>Hit all the Cinco pools</li>
<li>Participate in the Summer Reading Program</li>
<li>Chalk the driveway</li>
<li>Puddle jump in the rain wearing our rain boots</li>
<li>Go to the beach</li>
<li>Have a water balloon fight</li>
<li>Go to the zoo</li>
<li>Go to the museum (Keats' request to see the dino's)</li>
<li>Go to the movies</li>
<li>Family bike ride on the bayou (see below)</li>
<li>Learn how to ride bikes</li>
<li>Watch fireworks</li>
<li>Fly kites</li>
<li>Build a sandcastle</li>
<li>Go on individual kid dates</li>
<li>Run a lemonade stand (Claire has been begging to do this)</li>
<li>Family hike</li>
<li>Family game night</li>
<li>Craft Day (aka, Mommy Takes One for the Team Day)</li>
<li>Feed ducks</li>
<li>Go on a picnic</li>
<li>Make your own pizza night</li>
<li>Go fishing</li>
<li>Blow dandelion seeds and make a wish</li>
<li>Write a thank you note</li>
<li>Have a tea party</li>
<li>Visit the pet store (do not come home with pet)</li>
<li>Skip rocks</li>
<li>Learn a new helping skill</li>
<li>Popcorn and movie night</li>
<li>Do a science experiment</li>
<li>Try a new fruit</li>
<li>Try a new veggie</li>
<li>Puzzlemania (put together all the puzzles we own)</li>
<li>See how many new libraries we can visit</li>
<li>Go to a baseball game</li>
<li>Give away a toy</li>
<li>Family car wash</li>
<li>Bake cookies</li>
<li>Play in the sprinkler</li>
<li>Write a letter to a friend</li>
<li>Build a blanket fort</li>
<li>Eat corn on the cob</li>
<li>Memorize a Bible verse</li>
<li>Find a sunflower</li>
<li>Blow bubbles</li>
<li>Visit a water park</li>
<li>Climb a tree</li>
<li>Have a pillow fight</li>
<li>Go on a road trip</li>
<li>Make pickles</li>
<li>Watch the sunset</li>
<li>Jump over a wave</li>
<li>Press wildflowers and make leaf rubbings</li>
<li>Picture scavenger hunt (take pictures with their Kindles)</li>
<li>Spot a rainbow</li>
<li>Do something nice for someone else</li>
<li>Make a fairy garden</li>
<li>Visit grandparents</li>
<li>Go on a family walk</li>
<li>Collect seashells</li>
<li>Catch a bug (a lizard will do as well)</li>
<li>Dance party</li>
<li>Visit the rock shop</li>
<li>Make something for a friend</li>
<li>Visit a splash pad</li>
<li>Lots of playdates (My "I Live For the Social Life" Kid's specific request)</li>
<li>Two family read-aloud chapter books</li>
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My daughter loves a good fuss and drama. She also appreciates beauty, so practical me is trying to make more of an effort to reach that part of her. As such, the Summer Bucket List was revealed after the last day of school and rolled out with pomp and circumstance. I tend to be the practical type that would write a list on a piece of notebook paper, fold it a couple of times and put it in my bag. However, I've learned that delivery is everything with kids. I took a look online and like most things on Pinterest, the bucket lists were above my skill level. I put in a valiant effort anyway and even included drawings which I really regretted committing to halfway through the list. Also, halfway through the list I wished I had made a shorter list.<br />
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It was worth it! The kids were beyond excited. Claire especially appreciated the bright and varied Sharpie usage. They didn't care that my drawings are laughable or that the letter spacing poor. They didn't notice that I got the wrong kind of paper that is dry-erasable on the reverse side and will most likely roll up like a scroll in a day or two. They're not on Pinterest so they don't know that they could have had customized bucket list posters in their full-sized silhouettes with puff paint and jewels. Or that "Disney" was an option. They're just thrilled to make popsicles and puddle jump.<br />
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I'm also allowing space for "write-in's". Claire has already asked that hopscotch be put on the list. This sounds reasonable. I don't know how to play hopscotch so it's probably a good idea to add this skill to my repertoire as well.<br />
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Is this "50 Things to Do This Summer with your Preschoolers" or "100 Items for Your Kids' Summer Bucket List"? Wouldn't know, didn't count them. It's just a bunch of fun stuff that we can do together intentionally. Watermelon is on tap for the day one!<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-730433136628817102019-02-08T10:39:00.001-06:002019-02-08T11:01:03.480-06:00Our So Called Plant Based Life<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our weekly local veggie co-op haul</td></tr>
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It has been four months since our family embraced a plant based lifestyle. The month prior to that we loosely followed Paleo/Whole 30 guidelines. As you know from my the <a href="http://www.consideringbluebonnets.com/2018/11/winner-winner-lentil-dinner.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, the reasons were mostly due to my husband's recently diagnosed and urgent health concerns surrounding heart health. We have learned so much during this short period, yet I feel like we have so much more to learn. We're in that spot where we have now seen so many health benefits that unless something radically changes, we will continue forward in this lifestyle. Throw in that a plant based diet gut punches so many other risks for disease such as cancer and diabetes? We're pretty bought in.<br />
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I know there are those of you who have questions as we've both had many approach us asking about the details of this lifestyle, whether it's for personal reasons or just out of curiosity. I've tried to break down this post a bit to address these questions. Also, because reading about other's personal journeys in transitioning to a plant based diet was so helpful to me, I want to help others do the same. Although this may not be the eating lifestyle for everyone, if you're interested and are committed to learning and making changes, anyone can do it. I think it's important to realize this because so many blogs, books and social media accounts make it look like you have to already have an out of the box crunchy lifestyle to embrace plant based eating. You do not have to live in Hawaii or Bali. You don't have to be a yogi. You don't have to be an animal or environmental activist. You don't to have certain political views. I do have a fair bit of experience in health and wellness, but I'm learning new things every day. Our family of four lives in the Houston area suburbs. We're from small conservative towns in Texas and Louisiana. We're conservative Christians. We all struggle with the risk of diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer and diabetes. You can add more fruits and veggies to your diet no matter your political, religious or porch view and cut your risk for disease. So if you're interested in this for health reasons, take heart, you don't have to have a certain background or interest to go plant based. If you want to follow our journey just because it seems so stinking weird? Go right ahead! This could be said about so many things that have happened in our life, but if you would have ever told me our family (specifically my husband) would be whole food plant based? No meat? I wouldn't have believed you and would've laughed my head off at the thought. And yet, here we are. A meatless, eggless, dairyless household and enjoying it. Life's funny isn't it?<br />
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Enough with my musings, let's get to the stuff that you want to know.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Results</span></b><br />
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Let's start with the noticeable benefits specifically related to my husband's health goals. Since September he is down 60 pounds (this has been a maintained weight), his triglycerides have dropped from six times over the norm to within the normal to lower range. His cholesterol, which was also insanely high, dropped to within the normal range as well as his blood pressure. He is not on any cholesterol lowering drugs or blood pressure medication. This is all without exercise and in fact, the suspension of most physical activity over the last four months. He will have another CT scan with calcium scoring in the near future to see if any of the previous damage has been reversed by this radical lifestyle change. We are hoping and praying for great things! His cardiologist, who promotes a plant based lifestyle and practices in Houston, is more than pleased with his results and will continue to monitor his progress.</div>
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I too have dropped a size and feel the healthiest I have felt in some time. We both added back in exercise almost four weeks ago, nervous for our first "plant based workouts". That sounds so silly, but truly our bodies have gone through a radical change and we were curious to see how we would handle a strenuous workout on a plant diet. Joey has a bit of a road before him to regain his strength back completely after such a bodily about face, but with three weeks under his belt he is beginning to get his gym legs back. I went to workout classes at our gym fully expecting to be weak, however I was surprised that I was able to hang throughout the workouts. This was a different result than I would have expected from a long period of physical inactivity, not to mention on a diet of plants.</div>
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In fact, both of us have noticed stamina, energy and a feeling of vitality that has truly taken us by surprise. Waking up in the morning isn't as much of a struggle. I honestly feel like I could go for a run each morning (note: I'm not a runner, nor have I taken advantage of this feeling). We both have quiet time before our kids get up and have found that focusing super early in the morning isn't as difficult as it normally is. I'm also not dead at 8:00 PM. That's a benefit, don't you think? Another strange thing is that we can easily miss our coffee and not realize it. We went off coffee for 28 days in October and I guess we broke the habit. We were excited to add it back in around December only to find that we often forget about it and look forward to our lemon water and smoothies instead. So weird. I love to love coffee.<br />
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Note: Joey and I have both had regular bloodwork done during this period and our numbers are great.</div>
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It's not like we've turned into unicorns, but there is definitely a vitality that we haven't felt on any other eating program.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Food Stuff</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple meal of quinoa, lentils, sweet potato, green beans & salad</td></tr>
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You can read the previous post linked above for the details as to what a whole food plant based diet entails, but think no animal products and keeping food as close to its original form as possible. Also, Joey's heart healthy diet is limited to no oils along with a few other nuances. So no olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, etc. And of course, no butter. He stuck with a cleansing raw vegan diet for 28 days and finished up just after Thanksgiving. Not one bit of cooked or processed food for 28 days. The food was mostly provided by the medical facility as part of the plant based cardiology program he has subscribed to and he rocked it! He did not cheat once. I don't think I could have done it. </div>
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I had really hoped to do more recipe experimenting while he was on this part of the program, but it was tough! He had his food and the kids and I would have our food. Our kids were getting used to things and I didn't know what would be a hit and what wouldn't so half the time I would end up eating alone and left with massive leftovers. We were also dealing with extra health issues during this time that compounded with all of the changes we were undergoing as a family. So I scrapped my grand plans and kept it pretty simple. By simple, I mean foods as they are such as whole sweet potatoes, lentils and steamed veggies. I didn't start too much experimenting until we were able to eat as a family again. This is something that I have discovered along the way: eating plant based can be as simple or as complex as you make it. You can eat the foods as they are in their whole form: steamed, baked, sautéed or raw. Or you can veganize beloved recipes and soak cashews and make your own apple butter. It's up to you.</div>
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I have mentioned that cooking plant based has been a learning curve for me. Namely, just the little tricks that I've needed to learn to cook without oil and eggs as well as ways to make our food as nutrient dense as possible. I've learned to make flax eggs, cashew cream, sauerkraut (still learning) and a million other vegan substitutions. Learning about nutrition has also been a camp out for me. I'm learning how much protein, fat and nutrients are in certain plant foods and being mindful of the day's nutrient density for all four of us. Google and I are companions and I'm constantly saying to myself "Huh, who would have thought?" or "Wait, what?" with 7 seven tabs open in my browser.<br />
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We do eat out occasionally and have our go-to restaurants where we know we can find options. Except for barbecue restaurants, we can often find something to eat at most restaurants (so don't be afraid to invite us out). It's helpful to know ahead of time so we can menu scan and be prepared. It's truly not the best option health-wise as we can't be as certain about the quality of the food and sodium, sugar, additives and oil can be hidden in the dishes, but it's nice for a bit of normalcy and convenience. Some of our favorites include Fadi's Mediterranean, Zoe's Kitchen, Chipotle and Nikko Nikko's. Imagine the waiter's surprise when my strapping husband orders lentil soup and a salad with no cheese and dressing...it's priceless.<br />
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One thing I'm still working on is our grocery shopping rhythm. I need the equivalent of a milkman. A vegan milkman, who delivers speckled bananas and perfectly ripe avocados on my doorstep each morning. In the beginning, it seemed like I was going to the grocery store daily. A lot of this was just part of the learning curve, but I'm still trying to work out the details. I would have to go to several stores before I figured out which stores had which items and sometimes I would be looking for certain organic produce and the store where I was shopping would be randomly out of it that day. If I were on my own I wouldn't mind another store drop, but when you're toting two kids AND need to read labels and inspect product...it's tough. We joined a CSA co-op a month ago and it's been awesome. We get organically and locally grown veggies on a weekly basis which ensure that it's both seasonal and picked when perfectly ripe. I get so excited when they announce the options for next week's basket. This is all new, but I think we're slowly getting it.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Does plant based eating break the bank?</span></b><br />
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It can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. Before I say much on this topic, it must be said that for our family and our budget we put a priority on the food that we consume. It was important to us before a heart disease diagnosis, but now it is of tantamount importance. The food you eat truly is an investment in your future health. It's worth it.<br />
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In the beginning, it may seem like it's more expensive because you do need to build your plant based pantry staples. Things like nutritional yeast, vinegars, spices, flours, etc. You may also make mistakes and need to prepare things twice (guilty!) or you may find that while every other plant based foodie loves "ingredient X", you're not a fan and you've wasted money. Once we figured out the basics of what we needed, expenses because much more predictable.<br />
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Here's the thing with plant based eating and specifically our lifestyle to reverse heart disease: we're not buying meat, dairy, eggs or oil which can be some of the most expensive line items on a grocery bill. Lentils, brown rice, oats, potatoes and other legumes are cheap and they are some of our meal staples. Also, and this is where there may be a difference between a whole food plant based diet and a vegan diet, we buy less processed and packaged foods. We do buy the best produce and cleanest products which are often more expensive than their standard counterparts. So it may be a wash in our case. I haven't analyzed the numbers in detail, but as I've mentioned this is a budget priority for us so even if it was more expensive we would continue to make concessions in other areas to make this lifestyle possible (except in the event of zombie apocalypse and then we'll eat Spam if we have to).<br />
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We try to eat in season as much as possible so that means we're buying produce when it's priced the lowest. Berries we buy frozen when not in season for this reason because I'm not paying $5.97 for a pint of blueberries in January.<br />
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We also tend to eat at home more often, which is a no brainer in the money-saving department. When we do eat out it's hit or miss on price. Sometimes it's cheaper because the items are meatless and then other times, they make you pay a premium for healthier or custom items. We also drink water always, so that helps! They kill you on the drinks.<br />
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One thing that may be an extra expense... if you have extra weight, you may need to buy new clothes!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you miss meat...and cheese...and butter...and BACON</span></b><br />
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The quick answer is no, neither one of us truly miss or crave it. But let me elaborate. I was never a huge meat person in the first place with the exception of bacon. I do like a lot of meat dishes, but truly I like them because they're fried in yummy batter, covered in a cream sauce or to be combined with cheese in some way. If it's grilled I don't get as excited about it, but I have always thought that I needed to eat meat for the protein. Now cheese on the other hand... I have learned that the casein in the cheese is highly addictive and it makes sense because the longer it's been since I've had cheese, the easier it gets. Cheese was always the tough thing to go without when we did Paleo or Whole 30. I could still easily go for a jalapeño popper with cream cheese, pizza or queso, but truly I don't crave it. I remain relatively unphased by the Domino's commercials which is something to be said of a cheese lover.<br />
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As surprising as it might seem, my carnivorous ribs lovin' husband also says that he doesn't miss meat much. This is shocking for a guy whose favorite pastime is grilling and smoking meat. He says that it's truly a gift from God. I am constantly amazed by his ability to morph into a plant based eater. His beloved grill and smokers on the back patio are probably developing a complex. Sometimes I got out and give them a pep talk. "It's not y'all, it's us." And yet, they continue to silently brood.<br />
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One thing we don't do much of is "mock meat". So far we have found that things get tough when you try to make something that's supposed to taste like meat or cheese. Comparison truly is the thief of joy. It's better that we don't compare the two or try to make a food into something it isn't. Maybe we just haven't found the secret recipes yet in this department or maybe my vegan cooking skills are subpar, but so far we aren't trying to veganize steak. We may do a Beyond Burger in the future out of curiosity and for a hat tip to past pleasures, but the processed piece of these kinds of products means that it can't be the norm when we're trying to reverse disease.<br />
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The thing that I miss is probably just the convenience when we're in a pinch of getting a meal out. We both keep waiting to really miss meat and we just don't. I keep checking in with Joey from time to time. Do you still want to do this? Maybe some of it is due to the fact that we are always pretty satisfied and rarely ravenously hungry. I can't say the same when I've eaten Paleo/Whole 30. A truckload of veggies fill up a tummy more than a piece of chicken. Our meals really fill us up. This has truly been surprising!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What about protein? What about fat?</span></b><br />
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This is probably the most common question I get from folks. Oh and I'll throw in there, the calcium question. First off, our country is obsessed with protein. We're probably eating a lot more than we truly need, not to mention that the protein often comes in the form of something fried or covered in sodium laden sauces or cheese. Secondly, and this was a surprise to me, you can get all the protein you need from plants. Shocker, right? It turns out that protein (and fat and calcium) isn't just found in the traditional American sources of meat and dairy. Many fruits and vegetables have various amounts of protein, not to mention whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. In the beginning I was concerned with monitoring the amount of protein in our food, but then I realized that we always got enough when we were eating for nutrient density and diversity of plants. But you don't have to take my word for it (I feel like I pirated that line from Reading Rainbow) and shouldn't. Here are two resources that sum it up, but you can find a zillion:<br />
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<a href="https://www.pcrm.org/news/blog/do-you-suffer-protein-anxiety" target="_blank">Dr. Neal Barnard</a> on protein and a plant based diet<br />
<a href="https://www.forksoverknives.com/slaying-protein-myth/#gs.6OHoumOx" target="_blank">Ultra Athlete Rich Roll in Forks Over Knives</a> on being an athlete and the protein question<br />
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We supplement B12 and vitamin D, which most omnivores are low in as well.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Are your kids plant based?</span></b><br />
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I would say our kids eat about 80% plant based. We do not have any animal products in our home so when we're home, they're eating plant based. When we are out, we allow them to eat for the most part as they normally would. If it's a birthday party or we're at someone else's house or a restaurant, we let them eat the snacks provided. They've been through a lot of changes the past couple of months. I don't want them to resent eating healthy because they feel left out or different. For instance, I made Claire a plant based lunch for school that I was really proud of (I have a tough time with nut-free plant based kid lunches). When she came home from school she told me all about her day and how they had the most delicious hot chocolate. She isn't a chocolate fan (I know, how is this possible?) so I was surprised she liked it. Then I discovered the recipe in her backpack. I laughed so hard!<br />
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I mean, who wouldn't like this hot chocolate? You can't win 'em all! We have soul heart issues we're working on that are far more important than a perfect diet. I also will relax the rules for myself if I will be putting a host under too much stress. Case in point, a super kind and elderly Chinese friend made homemade cookies for my kids and brought chocolates to our house a few weeks ago. I let them eat both because our friendship with her is more important than a little dairy and eggs. With that being said, the early stages of heart disease can begin in kids as young as junior high. Just because you have the gene for something doesn't mean the switch has to get flipped. Our goal is to minimize the opportunities to flip this switch. These lifestyle changes aren't just for my husband's health. They're just as much for our kids who have our genes. It may not seem like it matters when they're so young and healthy, but our perspective is to focus on setting them up for good health when they're in their thirties and beyond.<br />
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We've started educating the kids on food. Not in an obsessive way, but in way that looks at food as fuel. We talk about where food comes from and how it's grown. When we're eating oranges we will talk about Vitamin C and how it helps our immune system. Eating guacamole, we may mention how it has healthy fats which are great for our brain. Drinking water we'll talk about how good it is for our body to keep hydrated. I'm hoping this will set them up for making wise decisions in the future about their own health. They may not choose to eat this way as teenagers when they're out of the house, but at least they'll be armed with information regarding how healthy food is fuel for their bodies.<br />
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Maybe forty year old Claire and Keaton will thank us? Who knows! Ooh, if they're forty then that will make us...I'm just going stop this train of thought right here.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Resources</span></b><br />
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Along our journey I have read many books and the resource from websites, listened to podcasts and watched YouTube videos. The books were helpful to provide the science behind eating plant based. The podcasts and YouTube videos have been invaluable for providing practical ideas, tips and tricks. Here are a few resources that have helped me along the way:<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/China-Study-Comprehensive-Nutrition-Implications/dp/1941631568/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1549597000&sr=8-2&keywords=the+china+study+revised+and+expanded+edition" target="_blank">The China Study</a> by T. Colin Campbell<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ornishs-Program-Reversing-Heart-Disease/dp/0804110387/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549597041&sr=8-3&keywords=dean+ornish" target="_blank">Reversing Heart Disease</a> by Dean Ornish<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prevent-Reverse-Heart-Disease-Nutrition-Based/dp/1583333002/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549597096&sr=8-1&keywords=esselstyn+books" target="_blank">Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease</a> by Caldwell Esselstyn<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Die-Discover-Scientifically/dp/1250066115/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549597147&sr=8-3&keywords=Michael+greger" target="_blank">How Not to Die</a> by Michael Greger<br />
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I still have so many plant based books on my list including Ornish's brand new book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Undo-Lifestyle-Changes-Reverse-Diseases/dp/052547997X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549597240&sr=8-1&keywords=undo+it" target="_blank">Undo It</a>.<br />
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Podcasts have been a wonderful resource. I listen while I'm doing laundry or the dishes (which means there is plenty of opportunity) In the beginning I was trying get up to speed fast because we needed to know how to do this plant based thing well and quickly. My hands may have been tied up with loads of chores, but my brain was free to absorb information. If the kids were occupied and I was in the middle of household stuff, I listened. In the beginning, I would find podcasts such as those below and look for episodes that had physicians discussing plant based eating, specifically those specializing in cardiovascular disease. The more stable my footing became in plant based education, the more I branched out. In the process I learned way more about the benefits of plant based eating on numerous disease fronts, but also about the positive impact it has on our planet and sustainability. You may not agree with everyone's politics or may not be a fan of their personality, but if you're interested in plant based eating, these are filled with little nuggets:<br />
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Veggie MD<br />
Rich Roll Podcast<br />
Plant Proof<br />
Lean Green Dad<br />
Party in My Plants<br />
The Plantiful Podcast<br />
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You can search for each one of these in Podcasts. Many doctors do not have podcasts themselves, but you can search for the doctor and find all the podcasts where he has been a guest. Cardiologist, Dr. Rob Ostfeld is an example. I follow many plant based doctors on Instagram, especially those with a cardiology focus. Just as with the podcasts, I also followed a bunch of whole food plant based influencers to learn about the day to day basics which has been invaluable in stepping our plant based game. So many of these influencers are incredibly knowledgeable and have done their research, but it they don't have a medical or nutrition background, I give the medical info the side eye until I see it backed up by a medical professional with research. They provide wonderful tips for plant based cooking and can help to generate nutritional trails that you can research further. This is precisely the reason for this detailed post as well as setting up a separate Instagram, @plantedfamily. Hearing others' experience in making the change to a plant based lifestyle is encouraging when you're walking through it yourself!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The things that are tough</span></b><br />
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Is it all roses? The actual eating part of plant based eating is great. We truly enjoy it and the benefits that have come with it. Areas that are tough can be preparation, convenience and eating socially. The preparation difficulty can actually come from the latter two points.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a "flax egg"</td></tr>
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If you have an active family with a routine that often changes, you have to be prepared ahead of time to eat on the run. Fast food and ordering pizza aren't on the table if you're really going after a change in health. You can still go to Taco Bell and order a bean burrito while being on the vegan train, but again we're looking for meals that are nutrient dense with veggies and with clean ingredients. You need to look at your calendar and find the areas that might put you in a bind for the week, then prepare accordingly. Winging it can get you into trouble. You've got to set yourself up for success and have your fridge stocked with all the good stuff, chopped and ready to go. If you're going out to dinner, you'll probably want to find the digital menu first and map out your choices. If there isn't anything on the menu, come with a tummy full of veggies and enjoy the conversation with friends. We're getting better at the preparation part and like anything it takes practice and practice turns into habit.<br />
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I'm in the kitchen a lot which I actually love, however the amount of dishes can be overwhelming. We cook or prepare most of our three meals a day at home plus snacks and smoothies. I've mentioned the grocery store runs. I wash dish towels every other day! This kind of stuff definitely can pile up but...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Is this extreme?</span></b><br />
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Any inconvenience has been worth it. Our experience so far has been pretty awesome. We don't feel deprived. We look forward to our smoothies and snacks and whole food plant based meals. We're not calorie counting and pretty much eat out of abundance. I want to be very clear about this point, this journey has not been about weight loss. It's about reversing disease. So many diets out there are just focusing on your waist line measurements as the determining factor as to whether an eating plan is successful. Yup, you're going to feel better when you're at a healthy weight, but our goal is this and some. How about your insides? How are your arteries looking? How's your gut health? Are you lowering your risk for disease? I feel good about what we're eating and where it comes from. I love that it's awesome for sustaining our planet and the people on it. We certainly still have a long way to go and a lot to learn, but like many pursuits it's about progress not perfection. This isn't a diet, it's a lifestyle. It's as complex or as simple as you want to make it.<br />
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In the beginning I thought, yup, this is extreme. Now I don't really feel that way. It doesn't feel like we're doing anything crazy. We're just eating plants. I like what cardiologist Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn says about plant based eating being labeled as extreme: "Some people think the 'plant-based, whole food diet' is extreme. Half a million people a year will have their chests opened up and a vein taken from their leg and sewn onto their coronary artery. Some people would call that extreme.</div>
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You can be so fearful of losing your life, that you don't live it. You can also know you need to change your lifestyle because your well-being and vitality are at risk, but decide that you're not going make changes because you don't want to live "in fear". These are extremes. It's not about what you give up. It's about what you gain. So far, we're living in the gain!</div>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-92088884010566586412019-01-21T11:42:00.000-06:002019-01-21T11:42:08.270-06:00Girl, Jesus is EnoughThis post has been a long time coming. Frankly, I'm thankful for a little meme going around social media right now, because it speaks so much truth. You know, this one?<br />
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It sums up conversations with girlfriends and my own thoughts on this subject. By subject, I mean self-help, personal development, self-improvement, New Year/New Me, this constant hum to be more...the labels go on. In the words of James Brown, "Papa's got a brand new bag". Why not leave it at the meme if it sums everything up? Oh, you know I can't do that. You're funny. I'm an explainer. I can't help it.<br />
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So let's unpack. My husband and I are not trendy people. If you know us, this is fairly obvious. I was eating kale in the professional world of alternative healthcare and nutrition many moons ago, way before kale was cool and people wore shirts saying "kale yeah". I've read stacks of personal development books for work and enjoyed many of them. We Marie Kondo'd our house three years ago before Facebook and Netflix introduced Marie to the masses. Now, we're plant-based for health reasons and I'm reading that 2019 has been dubbed by some as "The Year of the Vegan". Ha!<br />
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Many of these things have been awesome changes for our family, namely simplifying our possessions/life (hats off to Hurricane Harvey for speeding the process up) and going whole food plant-based. Kale is now practically a celebrated member of the family. I am also a goal-setter and can be be fairly driven when I've got my eye on a goal. This is part personality, but also part of the learning process brought to me by personal development books on setting goals and going after them. In fact, this blog was the result of a goal I pursued ten years ago.<br />
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All of these things can be awesome!<br />
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However, every one of these endeavors provide only temporal relief if you're trying to fill the gaping hole that can only be filled by Jesus. Over the years I've read books, articles and blog posts by thought leaders in each of these areas and learned much from them, but so often they fell flat. Why? Because most were missing the only thing that matters: Jesus.<br />
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Our hope can be placed in so many other places.<br />
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The guy or girl you're hoping to date. For that matter, your spouse. The house that has the perfect square footage, amount of possessions, all in beautiful order. The body and makeup that's magazine perfect. The ride or die friends and tribe. The successes of your children (ouch). The big career that you've been dreaming of, if you can only just get up one more rung on the ladder. Esteem and a reputation. Enough money to be comfortable, to take this or that vacation and provide a certain lifestyle for our kids. And then a little more just to be safe. Security. I can list a million different things that we interchangeably chase after depending on the season. Putting my hope in each one a little at a time. Gaining a little short-term happiness boost and then as it wanes, moving on to the next thing.<br />
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It seems like the current message when life gets hard is "Well you're just doing it wrong, try my way." or "try harder". Yet when it comes to the only thing that matters, it's not about working harder. Can we all just breathe with this? You're enough, because He is enough. Can I get a Braveheart cry of "Freedom!<br />
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I'll say it again, these can all be awesome endeavors! When they're used to know and serve Jesus. If they help you do the assignment that God has given you more wholeheartedly and effectively? Go for it! Does better nutrition and exercise make you more capable of being a better mom or dad and increase your ability to pour more energy out and into others? It's worth a little time! Does order and simplifying your life make you more efficient and less distracted? Free some time up to pour into Scripture? Yes? Marie Kondo it up, my friend.<br />
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But put your hope and trust in Jesus. Marie has a few great answers for tidying up your sock drawer, which trust me, is a beautiful thing. But Jesus? He has answers that bring you abundant LIFE. (see the Bible)<br />
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It's not about controlling our environment to the nth degree so that everything is perfect.With Jesus, we can have everlasting joy, no matter the circumstance. When our health is failing. When our people are being people and failing us. When we forget to drink 8 glasses of water because we were busy trying to clean up the <i>10</i> glasses our toddler spilled that morning. When we make mistakes. When we fail. When our efforts aren't noticed. When our efforts aren't working.<br />
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It's about being at peace in the chaos and disorder, not necessarily about removing the chaos and disorder. You might as well say being at peace in life. Life is the mess because it includes the world. "But take heart, I have overcome the world."<br />
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We can do all the right things, the good things...yet miss the only thing that matters. Jesus is enough.<br />
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And it's ok if you don't like kale. Girl, just wash the spinach.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-12703146830357431822019-01-17T15:26:00.000-06:002019-01-17T15:26:42.748-06:00Home for Christmas<br />
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It felt right to be in our little home for Christmas. Kids waking up to presents under the tree in the dining room. Reading the Luke account of Jesus' birth in the living room. Christmas breakfast and dinner around our table. Playing with new toys and games and reading books on the rug together.<br />
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Claire has always been a Santa Skeptic. In fact, last year she tricked us. She declared that she didn't believe in Santa and we thought, well there you go. No need to worry about Santa. Then on Christmas Eve at about 11 PM on the drive back to Houston from Louisiana she woke up briefly in the carseat and said something like "I can't wait to see what Santa brings tomorrow." Joey and I both looked at each other in a panic. I think I found some random items at the rent house at midnight that qualified as potential Santa gifts the next morning. This year she goes back and forth. Doesn't really think he's real and then goes through all the logical reasons why he doesn't exist while giving us the side eye.</div>
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Keats believes with all his little heart. He defends Santa vehemently against his sister's anti-Santa points.<br />
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His strong belief is precious. And also funny, because we really don't "do" the Santa thing. What they know about Santa comes from Christmas movies like the Santa Clause, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and snippets of Elf. Oh and the big one. He saw him in the flesh at the Mall. Joey told me that Keats tugged on his arm and said "Dad, look! It's Santa!" He was in complete awe. So for this reason, we followed Keats' lead on Christmas Eve night because he was so excited about it. He insisted we put out milk and cookies for Santa. Did you know that Santa likes vegan sugar cookies? He doesn't like almond milk though. He may have poured that one down the sink just to be kind.<br />
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We also made a Happy Birthday Jesus cake vegan style. Was it healthy? Nope, just no animal products. I used vegan butter for the first time. Did you know that that's a thing? Yup. Vegan butter, it exists. More real than Santa. We talked about the meaning of Christmas and and the kids and I ate cake. I'm pretty sure I ate half the cake one fork sized centimeter sliver at a time over the holiday.<br />
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The next morning, two unwrapped gifts were in bags with their names on it and both kids were Santa fans for at least an hour or so before Claire started to question the Santa fundamentals again. Keats asked me if we could ask Santa to come back again that night.<br />
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On the plant based eating front, holidays have been interesting. Joey is now finished with his raw vegan 28 day cleanse. He finished it a week or two after Thanksgiving. I'll share more about this at some point, but in summation...he rocked it. Didn't cheat once, not even on Thanksgiving and it is one of the strictest eating plans I've ever seen. For holidays we have decided that it is worth a "cheat day", but cheating looks really different. For us, it may mean that a little oil is in some of the dishes as we do not cook with oil at home. Or it may mean whole wheat flour or sugar may be in the food. But it's all still vegan even if it's a cheat.<br />
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Since we were going to be in our home for Christmas, I wanted to try a few plant based holiday dishes. Was it good? Yup, pretty good for the most part! Was I exhausted and did I cook all day? Also, a big fat yes.<br />
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For breakfast I made chocolate chip pancakes. Had to meet the following standards: high quality whole grain flour and no eggs, oil or butter. I know, it sounds like a sad pancake but truly they were a great treat. This was Joey's first baked good since October.<br />
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Christmas lunch turned into Christmas dinner. It became quite the undertaking. Between four burners, two oven racks, a blender, food processor and an Instant Pot, I still had trouble juggling all the cooking times. We had lentils, quinoa, Mac and "cheese", green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole. We were supposed to have a green salad, but I was done. Plant based cooking isn't necessarily hard, it's just different and standard cooking techniques don't always apply. Instead of using an egg, you may need to make a "flax egg" which means that once again I have to Google "how to make a flax egg". Google and I are close friends and we have 100 conversations going on at a time (which is probably killing my battery life, but ironically could be extending my real life....hmm).<br />
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By the time dinner was on the table I looked and felt like the crew from Apollo 13 following re-entry. However the ground crew wasn't quite getting the message. Someone get this lady a chair. And some water.<br />
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But it was finished and on the table.<br />
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The biggest hit was the sweet potato casserole. My kids are still asking for it. It had maple sugar in it, so not surprising! The only outlier was the Mac and cheese. I used chickpea flour noodles and I'm not a huge fan of their flavor.<br />
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Our first Christmas back home in our newly rebuilt home post flood. Our first Christmas after going plant based and gut punching heart disease. So thankful for God's continued provision for our family in all seasons. Hello 2019!<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-1013620873682716852018-12-06T11:00:00.001-06:002018-12-06T11:00:14.097-06:00Our Ebenezer Christmas TreeI haven't seen most of our Christmas decorations in two years. When I boxed them up the last week of December 2016, I probably wasn't thinking twice about what I assumed was the inevitable - their unboxing in December 2017. This is one of those funny questions that I get a lot from people following the flooding of our home, "Oh, your Christmas decorations! Do you have any?" The answer is yes, all of our precious ornaments were high and dry in the attic, along with our Fall decorations. I'm sure my husband would happily and personally have set a few pumpkins from my excessive Hobby Lobby pumpkin hoard downstream, but they all survived. Might I add, that I have a list of a few items of his that I too wish had made it to the curb. While I have a surviving cheap pumpkin patch, he has a t-shirt collection circa 2001 that still exists holes and all. Sometimes you have to laugh at what remains, but we are thankful that our Christmas memories have survived.<br />
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We've added at least one ornament intentionally to our tree every year. This year as I pulled out the ornaments, I was struck by how much they tell the stories of the seasons that have unfolded since we became a family. Ten ornaments. Seasons of varying length and scope. I'm reminded of the song <i>Come Thou Fount</i> and of the prophet Samuel and the Israelites as they faced battle after battle with the Philistines. "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called it's name Ebenezer, for he said "Till now the Lord has helped us." - 1 Samuel 7:12.<br />
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There is the wedding cake. We put this on our tree as newlyweds bright with hope of a beautiful future and a lot of expectations. I laugh at the expectations part. Some would prove true, along with many that wouldn't and were found to not be set in reality or wisdom. The expectations of two imperfect people who didn't quite know what marriage was about yet or what the years would hold. When your marriage begins with the postponement of your wedding for two weeks because of a hurricane, you would think we would have learned a bit about expectations. In fact, we're still learning about what's important and what isn't to this day. I suppose we'll be students for life in this lesson. Thank the Lord for expectations that were not met.<br />
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After our newlywed year, the first few years' ornaments are nondescript. Picked out by two people working on their careers and learning how to become one. I can't even tell which ornaments are from which years.<br />
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Then there is the ornament from our trip to Sedona. I remember hoping I was pregnant for the umpteenth time and finding out again that our hopes were delayed.<br />
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<i>Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart</i></div>
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<i>Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art</i></div>
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<i>Thou my best Thought, by day or by night</i></div>
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<i>Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light</i></div>
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The ornament nestled between the Spider Man and Buzz Lightyear is a reminder of both loss and also of joy not yet realized. It was at this point that I thought maybe the ornaments on our tree would go on as they had in the years before, picked out by a family of two.<br />
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I had no idea we would putting this ornament on our tree the following Christmas. A family of three.<br />
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Or that the next year we would be adding this one. Surprise! A family of three became four.<br />
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The following year we would lose two beautiful women, our grandmothers. My grandmother, a few days before Christmas.<br />
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<i>Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word</i></div>
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<i>I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord</i></div>
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<i>Thou my great Father, I Thy true son</i></div>
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<i>Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one</i></div>
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Last year, we didn't even continue our tradition of getting a family milestone ornament. It was four months after we flooded. We were in our rent house, our decorations in the attic of our home. I bought a few things to make the rent house cheery, put up a tree with some of our ornaments, set out the nativity scene for the kids and called it a day. We were weary of hard work and loss and so ready to be home. Thankfully, I have a friend who came over one day so Joey and I could work on the house together. She and her girls brought craft supplies to entertain our kids and to make ornaments. One survived. (Sorry, Miss Crispy, we did our best.). It's really the perfect ornament for the year. A reminder of our family being held up so many times by our village. He'll hang the ornament even when you can't.<br />
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<i>Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise</i></div>
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<i>Thou mine inheritance, now and always</i></div>
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<i>Thou and Thou only, first in my heart</i></div>
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<i>High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art</i></div>
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Here's the thing about these ornaments. Some joy, some sadness. I wouldn't trade one of them for an ornament without purpose or meaning. You never know what next year's ornament may be. It may be one of loss or one of joy or a mix of both, but it is never without purpose. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28. Our good, his glory. It is through this that we find joy and hope, no matter the ornament that's hanging on this year's tree.<br />
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We have yet to pick out 2018's ornament. I'm waiting until we come across the perfect one that explains where we have been this year. Our tree is next to our dining room table. At least three times a day, we can look at these ornaments and remember God's faithfulness. Our Ebenezer Christmas tree. Sometimes God gives us a glimpse of his purposes in the middle of the hard stuff and that is a precious gift. Maybe it's not until years later. Or we may not understand it in our lifetime. It may not be until we have a perfect mind on the other side of eternity that we will finally be able to grasp the full meaning of both the small and big things that have happened outside of Eden. The beautiful complexity too much for our finite minds to comprehend. So until then, we hang the ornament. We remember his faithfulness. We trust for our good and His glory. We wait with expectation.<br />
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<i>High King of Heaven, my victory won</i></div>
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<i>May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heav'n's Sun</i></div>
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<i>Heart of my own heart, whate-er befall</i></div>
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<i>Still be my vision, O Ruler of all</i><br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-39301948985775597122018-11-08T10:31:00.002-06:002018-11-08T10:31:37.503-06:00Winner Winner Lentil Dinner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You're looking at an empty butter dish, a sad little butter dish.<br />
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We're officially weird. (Oh wait, you already thought we were strange? It's ok, we can still be friends). Our family has been through a bit of a shake up that began in August leading us to completely overhaul our diet out of necessity. No, really. We're going whole food plant based. If you're familiar with this term, you may think 'vegan' and you would be right. Except, with the nuance that all whole food plant based eaters are vegan, <i>but</i> not all vegans are whole food plant based eaters. That's a mouthful! After all, an Oreo is technically vegan, but not considered whole food. I'm getting ahead of myself. But see, I told you...weird.<br />
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If there is one thing that seems to raise an eyebrow, it is when people starting eating outside of the conventional box. Don't mess with the food. Especially not the bacon. We've been on and off again Paleo/Whole30/Yeast-free people for a long time. I would say before it was cool. People don't blink an eye when you use these terms anymore. It used to be "Say whaaa?" when you told them you were eating Paleo. I worked in alternative healthcare for several years on the marketing/education side of things, advocating this very lifestyle so we're pretty familiar with this way of eating. While I was a professional in this arena I also followed the plan fairly well personally. Years later when I took a new job outside of the wellness world I did allow more things to slide, but a lot stuck. Most importantly, I had an understanding of the Standard American Diet versus a whole foods diet. Once you learn something, you can't unlearn it. However, you can purposefully choose to repress it and eat Mexican food and queso (can I get an 'amen'?) for dinner every night because yum, but you're at least aware of the consequences. Don't ask me how I know this.<br />
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Now here we are again, learning new things.<br />
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But why are you doing this? I know that's what you're asking. But cheese...but meat...but bacon? I'm asking it too as I'm looking at my empty butter dish. I ask myself this question a lot and then I look at my husband and my kids. We've had a significant health scare. I'm not going to go into all the details here because it's my husband's medical history. He doesn't mind me sharing truly, but for now we can have that conversation about details in person rather than on this blog. We received several test results that were startling for his age. The options were few and not great. We were looking at medications with loads of side effects for the rest of his life and a poor prognosis even with those. While we went to doctors and figured out the best course of action, everything else has pretty much been on the back burner. There is also a certain amount of grief that comes with knowing such things.<br />
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Now, why plant based? First may I say, the Paleo/Whole 30 diet is vastly better than the Standard American Diet. It eliminates a lot of simple carbs, processed foods and dairy. In fact, when we first knew that things needed to change after receiving preliminary results back in early August, he started back on Paleo/Whole 30. But as additional test results came in and the seriousness became apparent, we began looking for something that would not only prevent more damage to the heart from occurring, but also one that could actually REVERSE some of the existing damage. Modern medicine told us that it was irreversible. A plant based diet has had some success with actually reversing the disease. We're hoping to trigger the body into beginning to heal itself.<br />
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As with so many other times in our life, God prepared us in unexpected ways for this new journey. While we were in the rent house during the Harvey Affair (I think I'm going to start calling it this as it has a certain dramatic ring to it) I just happened to come across the book The China Study by T. Colin Campbell on my library app. I was familiar with this book because back when I worked in alternative healthcare, after reading it my steak-eating boss went raw vegan. References to the China Study came up often during my time working in the wellness world. Not exactly the historical fiction that I gravitate toward, but I downloaded it. The research on the plant based diet was fascinating. After reading this book, we watched Forks Over Knives among other documentaries on Netflix and I was surprised to see so many names that I was familiar with from my days in alternative healthcare. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Rip Esselstyn, Neal Barnard...all these people I was familiar with were proponents of a plant based diet. I don't know how I missed this 15 years ago! What was most interesting to me was the diet's impact on heart disease specifically. Personally, I began to eat less meat and increased my veggie intake, but for the most part I filed it away.<br />
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Fast forward eight months and here we are. I asked the first cardiologist we visited what he thought about the plant based diet and his eyes lit up. He said it would certainly be the best plan if you could follow it and gave me a few more titles to look up including Reversing Heart Disease by Dean Ornish, Michael Greger's How Not to Die and Caldwell Esselstyn's Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. We thought, what the heck it's worth a shot.<br />
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Thus began our trek into figuring out what this whole food plant based diet is all about. It has been a learning curve for sure. We've watched loads of YouTube videos from plant based conferences, subscribed to so many podcasts and have read a ton both on and offline. I still feel like I have so much to learn!<br />
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What does 'plant based' mean? No animal products - meaning no meat, dairy or eggs. This is vegan as well. However, we are focusing on this diet for health so the goal is to make our food as nutrient dense as possible. This means lots and lots of fruits and vegetables. Nuts, seeds and some grains, but they must be whole and as close to the original form as possible. This is where the 'whole food' emphasis comes in.<br />
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I've learned more about food in the last month and a half than I ever expected. I've had to totally throw out my old ways of cooking and learn new methods. In the case of plant based folks who are eating for heart health, they typically do not use oils. No olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc. I've become a professional label reader and I'm also that annoying person who asks people a bunch of questions before purchasing food items. My grocery basket cracks me up every time I leave the store. I buy strange things like medjool dates, bulgur, and swiss chard along with the entire produce section. Also odd, I don't even venture into the meat or dairy sections (sigh, cheese).<br />
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Joey has been eating plant based since the day he received the offending test results. He threw away the Blue Bell and the beer that very evening. Not one cheat this whole time. If you know my barbecue and ribs lovin' husband, this is shocking. But he has truly amazed me. I am so proud of him. His friends have been great and have met him at places where he can stick to his plan. He's become a connoisseur of lentil soup. One can only laugh. When I've asked if he's sure he wants to do this, he responds that he loves spending time with me and the kids more than he loves steak. I love this guy.<br />
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We found a board certified cardiologist who is a proponent of plant based eating and Joey has been under his care for two weeks. He's a little over a week into a 28 day raw plant based detox among other therapies. Thankfully, you have the option to get the food from the facility so the burden is not on us to figure out suddenly how to eat raw vegan for 28 days. By 'raw', I mean no cooking or real processing. Oh, and no coffee during the detox either. Where's a sad and horrified emoji when you need one? It is a tough regimen no doubt, but at the end of the 28 days he'll transition to a "regular" plant based diet. Lentil soup will be like Turkish Delight at this point. So far, he's ten pounds away from the goal weight that the first cardiologist gave him. His blood pressure is awesome and his cholesterol and triglycerides are now within the normal range. This is amazing considering where they were in August.<br />
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In the meantime, I'm testing out recipes on myself and the kids. Joey and I ate plant based last month and the kids ate maybe 70% plant based. Y'all, my kids are eating so many veggies! They try almost everything. I've had some homeruns and a few strikeouts, but I'm proud of them too for being so adventurous. We've been talking a lot about eating foods to fuel our bodies.<br />
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We're taking it week by week, result by result. In the end it will be about works for Joey. Does this mean we won't eat meat for the rest of our lives? Probably not to that extreme, but at this point it looks like it will be more of the trend for our family as we're a team. This isn't a decision based on fear, it's based on hope. It's taking a lot of stuff out, but putting a whole more of the good stuff in. I think we can get used to that. Now, what to do with all my butter paraphernalia?<br />
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Oh and before I forget please, please still invite us to dinner and parties! We'll either let you know what we can eat or we will bring our own stuff. It's not a big deal. We're not your vegan friends, we're just your friends and we still want to hang out.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Hiding in the Closet Eating Bacon (just kidding...sort of)<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-10677194906940935082018-09-07T21:27:00.000-05:002018-09-07T22:39:02.016-05:00Faith Floats<i>Before you read this post, I want to acknowledge that everyone experienced Harvey in a different way. Often in hardship there are varying degrees of past and present suffering which color and shape each experience. There are the first responders and their families who sacrificed so much. There are the families who calmed little ones throughout the storm. And then there are those that lost some. Some that lost all. Bits and pieces of these things may be parts of your experience too. This is just part of our story.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our version of American Gothic</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I read my last few posts below after not having blogged in a year and a half. Sometimes you just have to laugh...and marvel. At the time, we had finished the first round or two of simplifying our life. Drastically minimizing belongings (the word 'drastically' is so funny to me now, but at the time it </span><i style="text-align: center;">was</i><span style="text-align: center;"> a drastic change), shoring up finances and changing our mindset and priorities to that of less for the sake of more. </span><br />
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If you would have told me that within the next six months we would lose our home along with about 95% of our possessions, I could never have imagined it. Minimalist Dabblers would become by circumstance, Minimalist Extremists in a few short months. The 'me' on August 24, 2017 that went to sleep in our bed underneath my favorite fluffy duvet could have never imagined that in two weeks we would be in an unfamiliar rental house while our home dried out from holding several feet of sewage water for a week. The contents of our life and the physical memories of the past nine years rotting on the curb in wreaking, head-high heaps of garbage.<br />
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Different house. Different clothes. Different toys. Different bed. Different comforter. Different pillows.<br />
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Same husband. Same children. Same faithful God.<br />
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This is where I begin to marvel at the ways in which God prepares each us for the trials that we will face. And we will encounter them, believers or not.<br />
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As Peter affirms "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12-13</blockquote>
Christians don't suffer less because we believe, but as believers God uses every bit of our suffering and pain for his glory and our good. Nothing is wasted. To look back and see his hand in our lives is overwhelming.<br />
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I could tell you many stories from this season. The words of an entire year have been building up and are too big. Sometimes the words are so many, that they can't make it to paper until they're processed through a bit. The story that I will share today is more about the thread that connects all the stories. It's not <i>really</i> about a flood or a hurricane. It's not an account or timeline of our journey.<br />
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It's about God's faithfulness. Here are a few of the pieces of faithfulness that have surfaced for us over the last year...<br />
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Almost a year and a half before the weary part of the journey began (read "the wet part"), God gave me a desire to simplify our life. I didn't know why, but I felt like our family needed to get light. By "light", I mean to shed the excess. I thought, 'Maybe we are supposed to adopt or go into ministry or move to Africa or I don't know...prepare for something <i>drastic</i>?' - there's that word again.<br />
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Something that we needed to be light <i>for</i>.<br />
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You can look back at my <a href="http://www.consideringbluebonnets.com/2017/01/how-we-started-minimizing-in-nutshell.html" target="_blank">previous posts</a>, but basically we got rid of a bunch of stuff and pared down. Yes, that freed us up a lot, but the bigger result of this process of "getting light" was the refocusing of our mindset to storing up treasure in heaven versus things of the earth. Do we enjoy things? Absolutely. But, it's a matter of enjoying earthly things without a white knuckled grip. Holding loosely. It was only the beginning of this lesson that I'm still learning, but I am so thankful that God began loosening my grip when he did. It's one thing to pry your own fingers away from something and quite another to have it wrenched away while holding fast. God was teaching me these things <i>for</i> something and it was...<i>drastic</i>.<br />
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In an effort to simplify overall, we had tightened our finances and made several decisions that would eventually help to ease the financial burden of what was to come. One of these decisions was to purchase flood insurance...in July. It takes 30 days for a flood policy to take effect. Harvey came at the end of August. Yeah, I know.<br />
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I just thought we were saving money to pay off our house and make room for whatever was coming. and in truth we were, but I certainly never earmarked anything in our budget with 'in case of flood'. Typically when I think of Emergency Funds (i.e. Dave Ramsey), I'm thinking more like a car breaks down or an appliance goes out, not your home and belongings being under a couple of feet of sewage water. I've said it so many times, I couldn't have imagined this narrative for our family. We were like squirrels storing away nuts, yet oblivious to the coming winter.<br />
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In the wee hours of Friday morning, the night before Harvey's dimensions were really becoming apparent, my husband woke up at 3AM. I didn't know this until 5AM when I walked into the living room to find him watching the news. He told me he thought we needed to go to Louisiana. He felt it in his gut. At the time and much to my discredit, I balked. Really? We're Houstonians, we hunker down. We don't leave. Furthermore, no one was telling us to leave. Yet he felt really strongly about it. So I said ok, thinking we would avoid a few days without power with two toddlers. It couldn't hurt. We left around 7AM with four suitcases, two kids and our dog. Oh, and the kids' lovies, pillows and special blankets (thank you, Lord!). One more thing, an unflooded car! This was an unbelievable grace as rentals would be hard to get in the coming weeks. We weren't here for the incessant tornado sirens over the course of several days, seeing rising water in our home or eventually being boated out. We were spared this trauma and spent the whole time in Louisiana dry and being loved on by family. Yes, the trauma of change and loss is a lot, but we were insulated from the actual storm. And by insulated, I also mean that we gained a few pounds from two weeks of my father-in-law's cajun cooking.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way back to Katy</td></tr>
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After we learned our home was certainly flooded and when we got back to Katy, God's provision really blew us away.<br />
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A family from Denham Springs, Louisiana drove with a trailer load of supplies to help our community. Their entire city had been through devastating floods the previous year. They wanted to help and happened to know our pastor and his wife, who we ended up staying with during the interim between arriving in Katy and finding a place to live. I can't tell you the blessing that they were to us during the whirlwind of the next week. They had the experience to prepare us for what was to come as part of the rebuilding process. He was a builder and had mucked out and rebuilt many homes in their community. This was invaluable. His wife and sister-in-law are so dear to me because they personally cleaned out my closet before the crew was able to get to it. There's something about people tossing your stuff without you that is deeply personal. Such a kindness.<br />
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Generous people supplied money for tools and necessities. We were able to find a rental home (we searched for apartments nearby to no avail) in the same neighborhood as some of our best friends and pastor. Also on that note, I made a new friend with three little precious kids that lived on the same street. A sweet friendship thanks to Harvey. Our church family made sure our rental house was fully outfitted with all the necessities as well as extra comforts. I was so worried about the kids' abrupt transition to the rental house lacking anything familiar, but it had a spacious backyard with a play structure (win!). The kids' rooms were respectively purple (to my daughter's happy surprise) and green. Beds and furniture were provided. Duplicates of previous owned toys were purchased for the comfort of our kids. Food was brought to us every day. Childcare was made available as mom and dad had lots of decisions to make. Remaining clothing washed for us. People helped disinfect anything that made it out of the house. Over the entire six months not one need went unmet.<br />
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The Lord even provided on the day that we were finally able to muck out our house. (maybe 7-8 days after Harvey? It's a blur.) The National Guard had closed off entry to our neighborhood for many days after the rain subsided for high water, sewage contamination and electrical concerns. Our homes sat for days in nasty water and sweltering heat. My husband and a friend were finally able to kayak into the neighborhood and get a look at our house. They brought back some of our most important salvaged possessions.<br />
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Because we left our home without a clue that it would flood, we didn't put anything up high. It's also a one-story home. How many times can I say this, we could have never imagine this would happen! I've mentioned the lovies, but a neighbor pulled bins from under our bed and put them up high before the water entered which contained treasured items such as baby blankets, Joey's A&M stuff, etc. I remember opening each bin on our pastors' porch and being overwhelmed emotionally by each item that was saved. Our Bibles, journals that I have kept since I was young, sweet baby items and a few of my husbands' sentimental family heirlooms were all included. Because we had eliminated so much stuff the previous year, we had little to go through. Picking through the pieces that remain is overwhelming. We were so grateful for the sweet things that made it out, but also the fewer the pieces, the sooner you can move on. Being light on stuff ended up being such a grace for us.<br />
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The following day we were able to get to our block with an F250 and a crew of guys from our church, my sweet friend Tara and myself. Tara and I piggybacked in from the truck. I'm not going to say this day was a blast, but it was the perfect blend of people to walk with you through it. The threat of tears turned into laughter and the humor was easy to find. I quite enjoyed asking people to wipe their feet at the door. This day should have been horrible, but it wasn't. Laughter brings such healing.<br />
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It's one thing to have physical provision, but another to be given internal provision. I'm talking peace. It's something we truly can't manufacture on our own. Were we at peace every day? Nope. There was much to be sad about and a lot of loss. The physical and emotional weariness knocked me over many days in the eight months following Harvey. If you know me you know that decisions in the Luby's line can stress me out! Making large-scale to itty bitty decisions on the rebuilding and outfitting our home from top to bottom, totally spent me. I'm still tired!<br />
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Two mental images stick out to me.<br />
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Picture one. The first time I saw our home since we had left it several days before. We were in Louisiana glued to the TV as we watched nationally famous journalists giving reports from across our street at Creech Elementary. It was a video a friend sent me of a boat being pulled by a jet ski through our neighborhood while the passenger was videoing the devastation. I caught the smallest glimpse of our house as they passed by, the boat making ripples in the water by our house as it passed by. Surreal. The home that Joey and I came home to as newlyweds nine years ago. The home to which we introduced both our babies and grieved the loss of another. The home where I left a half-folded basket of laundry on the couch and dishes in the sink. It's a funny thing...after days of wondering, it was both devastating and comforting all at once to see our little house. I broke down, yet I watched it over and over again just to see it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claire's room looking into Keats' room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Our street many weeks after Harvey</td></tr>
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Picture number two. Seeing your family's ordinary items of daily life all on the curb is shocking and quite the gut punch. Stuff we bought when we were married, kids' birthday gifts picked out with love, my beloved KitchenAid mixer, my daughter's Melissa & Doug princess dress dotted with mold, furniture piled high, black trash bags lining the street. Nine years worth of stuff and life, all there in a rotting pile on the curb. The same picture, block after block.<br />
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This was hard. Very hard. But here's the thing with this stuff. Although a lot of memories were attached to these things, they were all destined to this end eventually.<br />
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"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21</blockquote>
This verse has never been more real to me than in the last year. , I still struggle with it daily!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to move back in</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First night back home</td></tr>
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We moved back into our almost completely rebuilt home six months later. My husband worked nearly every day during that time to get our family back home. So thankful for him and the numerous other people that helped to get our family back home. It was a sweet day.<br />
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Remembrance of loss still catches me by surprise even a year later when I'm reminded of something that no longer exists but in my memory. While in the garage I stumbled across a little jewel from the crown my daughter wore every day for two years. I keep it on the kitchen window sill. It's more than a memory. It's a touchstone serving as a reminder that God is faithful through it all. No flood insurance, he is still faithful. Boated out, he is still faithful. No lovies, he is still faithful.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23</blockquote>
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-19183901155988144042017-02-07T15:25:00.001-06:002017-02-07T20:43:41.914-06:00ISO Ariel Sock - Pls Contact Dish NaziI haven't posted a simplifying update, because things are not simple right now. Sometimes it's just that way!<div><br></div><div>We are semi-camping in our house right now. A plumbing issue has left us without use of our washing machine, kitchen sink and guest bathroom for about a week and a half thus far. It's likely that this is going to be a costly fix. Like really costly. Bill Gates would probably close off that wing of his house to save on that kind of cash. Ok, so it's not tragic and we can swing it, but we are not happy about it. </div><div><br></div><div>Although the thought of having to spend that kind of money was staggering to me, what scared me more was going through an inestimable amount of time without a kitchen sink and washing machine with two littles. You can tell that I have both a love for adventure and that my priorities are in line.</div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We've had different plumbing companies in and out of the house for the past week making bids and killing naps. One to three PM seems like the best time to bang on pipes in the echoing hallway between two sleeping toddlers. Sigh. Anyway, we've been doing ok with it all. I'm now personally acquainted with several of my friends' washing machines and I plan to meet a few more over the course of the week. Talk about airing your dirty laundry. I'm trying to spread out our laundry needs so as not to over burden one person (cough, Phylis). Also, if anyone finds a pink Ariel sock in Katy, Texas - it's ours.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Speaking of Ariel socks, my daughter has had to confront personal challenges of her own this week due to a slower laundry pace. Her almost daily pink polk-a-dot dress is not always clean and mom is not making a trek to someone's house just to wash said dress. The struggle is real, folks. Is it ok to use the phrase '#firstworldproblems' with your three year old? Numerous teachable moments. Ahem.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have also become a Dish Nazi. The children are limited to a daily sippy cup and if I so much as hear the utensil drawer opening, I immediately break into a high-pitched yell. Think battle cry. There is a dish ban in effect, folks. The Dish Nazi is watching. Currently</span><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">, we're washing dishes in a little tub in our bathroom and rinsing in the bathroom sink. (The toilet is in another room, people, so we're staying sanitary here. I know what you're thinking. I'm a germaphobe so believe me, I'm on the lookout. Joey thinks I should be committed for my fear of raw chicken [this is a healthy fear, fear the chicken]). </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Our friends and church family are awesome. They've invited us over for dinner, made no clean up meals for us, offered their laundry rooms and homes and are constantly praying for this issue with us. Such a blessing.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We've really been doing ok with everything, but today I reached my limit. It's the tiniest of things that can throw me sometimes. I was driving home from Bible study...this is so weird y'all...and my one year old started screaming in the back seat. Fortunately at a red light, I was able to look back. He had several giant ants crawling on his body. Claire had them on her too. I immediately pulled into a parking lot and got both kids out of the car, getting ants all over me as well. Keaton had them on his face! When I got us all dusted off I looked into both car seats and saw several of these large ants. They were fast and looked like large fire ants (They were the size of tree ants, but looked different. Any ants on my babies are treated as venomous). I have no idea how these ants got in my car. I'm wondering if one of the kids brought a stick or branch into the car with ants/eggs. This is also how we had an asp in our car not long ago too. I am now instituting a mandatory pat down before entering to make sure wildlife is not included.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">No one was bitten thankfully. I couldn't clean out the car seats without putting my one year old down and we were in a busy parking lot. Thankfully, I wasn't too far from the church and my friend came to our rescue by watching the kids while I searched for and killed the ants. Poor Keats was traumatized and refused to get back in his car seat without a serious wailing fight (I don't blame him) so we ended up eating lunch at Target until the fear passed away and I could get him back in a car seat. Poor little guy is still suffering a little Ant PTSD on our second outing today. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Getting into my car I stepped on a blob of sticky red gum and smeared it everywhere. The gum did it. I didn't lose it with tears, but I was mentally done. I put my head on the steering wheel and said God, I just need something to be easy!</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Thankfully, his grace is always sufficient and perfect in my weakness. God reminded me of what I had just witnessed that morning. How quickly I forgot. A woman who is a refugee from a Middle Eastern country joined our Bible study today. She shared with us how she fled from her country because of intense religious persecution. Thinking about this reminded me of another woman of faith in our group who escaped becoming a child bride in her home country by the grace of God. And here I am, wallowing in my tiny issues of comfort. All because of gum on my shoe.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Laura Story's Blessings came on the radio:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>We pray for blessings, we pray for peace</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>Comfort for family, protection while we sleep</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>We pray for healing, for prosperity</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>All the while You hear each spoken need</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>What if Your healing comes through tears?</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>What if a thousand sleepless night</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>Are what it takes to know You're near?</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>What if trials of this life</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>Are your mercies in disguise?</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>As if every promise from Your Word is not enough</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>And all the while You hear each desperate plea</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>And long that we have faith to believe</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Thankfully, God's response to my cries - even those that are so small- isn't "#firstworldproblems, deal with it". Sometimes I'm not too far off from a little girl who stomps her foot because she can't wear her favorite dress each day. He gently reminds me of those who are going through so much for his name and yet, he doesn't dismiss my somewhat trivial concerns. In fact, he welcomes them and invites me to lay them at his feet. He is sweet to give perspective when we can't seem to see past our own self.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I wish I could say the day was all roses after I snapped to, but I have had to purposefully fight for perspective all day. Come what may - from gum on both shoes to Godzilla Ants in hair, my prayer is that my perspective becomes His. Come what may.<i> And long that we have faith to believe.</i></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-24989030603311217312017-01-14T14:56:00.001-06:002017-01-14T14:56:57.758-06:00How We Started Minimizing in a Nutshell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yup, those are all empty hangers. I couldn't even get them all in the frame. I'm a closet clothes hanger hoarder. Say that five times fast. Makes our moleskine addiction seem tame.<br />
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Alright, so the latest update regarding our minimalism experiment. Today I'm taking another five garbage bags and two boxes to our local charity. These are items we cleared this week and my husband tackled his closet. I've sold a handful of items as well. I shared this post on Facebook last week and received several text messages as well as had many conversations on the topic because of it. Apparently, I'm not the only one who feels overwhelmed by stuff and craves simplicity.<br />
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A couple of people asked for tips and let me be the first to say, I'm new at this! I can only tell you our experience thus far. Also, I think this process will look different for everyone as well as their reason for why they are pursuing less.<br />
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Here's what I'm hoping to get out of it:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Less time tending to our stuff</b>. Such as cleaning, repairing, picking up stuff, researching, cleaning, organizing and oh yeah, picking up stuff. Can I get an amen?</li>
<li><b>Space</b>. Breathing room. On the walls, in the cabinets, in the closets. Most importantly, in my head. Cluttered life, cluttered mind. Or at least that's how it is with me.</li>
<li><b>Time to focus on the things we really want to</b>: time with family, experiences with kids, reading, Bible study, writing, our marriage, our friends. A big one is being freed up to be available to others as well.</li>
<li><b>Focus on eliminating debt</b>. Now, we are not in major debt. We have what's called "good debt" - i.e. car, mortgage. Here's the thing though, it's not true that you will always have a car note or a mortgage payment. At least it doesn't have to be, so this is both short-term and long-term financial goals. We want to be freed up to be open to opportunities for which God wants us to be financially available.</li>
<li><b>Change my mindset.</b> This may be the toughest of all. I want to be more conscious of what I'm pursuing and why. For me, this is pursuing what Jesus wants for our life. Thankfully, I just need to be open and he will do the heavy lifting.</li>
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Regarding those tips...<br />
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I'll start with the first question of where to begin. That's the reason I just shared the list above. Start with your 'Why'. Think about it a while. Come up with a list of why's and share them with someone.<br />
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Read a few minimalist blogs. I like Nourishing Minimalism, Becoming Minimalist and Simplify and Pursue. There are many more that I have been reading, but these are just some of the ones with which I can relate.<br />
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[Actually, you may want to reverse the order of these first two steps simply because you might find benefits listed in minimalism posts that weren't on your radar.]<br />
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I started with one area: my closet. It was a big, yet easy one to tackle. Big as in big return. Easy, because in the past three years I have gone between four clothing sizes (had two babies during this period) and I have quit a professional job. Also, I'm now a stay-at-home mom and what I much of what I wear is on repeat. There were clothes that hadn't seen the light of day in three years. It took me several sweeps to truly clear it out. I think I am probably at 80% of my original wardrobe.<br />
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From there I was hooked and on a mission because I saw so much space and it felt so good! I gradually moved all over the house. The sentimental stuff was by far the hardest and going to have to revisit those. (more on that later) There are a few small spaces that I still haven't touched, a bin here or there. I would also come back to areas I had previously gone through to weed out even more. And then there's the garage. Whoa. It's been my holding area and it was bad before I started this process. It will be the last frontier.<br />
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Also, know that this process will most likely occur in waves. It has for me. Since this process began in October, there have been few days that have gone by that I didn't get rid of something, but I would say I've gone through my house once and now I'm on my second run through. I've become better at this, but I've finished with the low hanging fruit and moved on to "the hard stuff".<br />
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Those are my nutshell starter tips.<br />
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Remember the 'why' list I made above? So far, positives all around.<br />
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One last note. Something that I have discovered in browsing minimalist blogs and considering my own nature. Yes, we can make gods out of our things. But, I also have to be very careful not to make minimalism a god as well. I could become addicted to editing my life because I feel like something isn't right, when truly, it's that I need more. More Jesus. I could use it as a way to control my life instead of allowing God to bring me peace in the midst of chaos. I just wanted to make sure you know that - if you want to pursue peace, there's only one place you can really find it. We will never find true peace outside of Jesus Christ.<br />
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<i>"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." - John 10:10</i><br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-46107776198078482312017-01-07T11:52:00.002-06:002017-01-07T11:52:47.770-06:00Our Life Edited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9oDzmMSnKwPb5Y5aJVbO9zjbGaILoJSO63zCsgD3b0awNc0KyKIN3VRG4HhH2pfBk335lwGC1lnmOYmU8niXBskWGf0GTr0aXmFIX-c25h2_ifKE2f41YFwGxcIQMDBikBCvxBElZ3s/s1600/IMG_3816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9oDzmMSnKwPb5Y5aJVbO9zjbGaILoJSO63zCsgD3b0awNc0KyKIN3VRG4HhH2pfBk335lwGC1lnmOYmU8niXBskWGf0GTr0aXmFIX-c25h2_ifKE2f41YFwGxcIQMDBikBCvxBElZ3s/s320/IMG_3816.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Hello, faithful readers! Oh wait, you need to be consistent in your writing to instill faithfulness? Writing two or three posts a year doesn't count? Oh well. I really want to get back to consistent writing again. We'll see how it goes. I'm not committing to it yet because...kids, but I am so excited about what we're doing as a family and I want to document it. Warning, I may be going crazy - but I think it might be a good crazy. Only time and the ability to persist will tell.<br />
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We are simplifying our life. Minimizing. Editing. Getting to the good stuff.<br />
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I started this process about three months ago when our life was in full chaotic swing. Good, but frenzied. A blogger who writes on preschool education and whom I follow regularly, took a break from her traditional topic of learning to share her journey of having enough. Enough of stuff, chaos and distraction. She began minimizing their life in every area. Pulling decorations off walls, giving away toys, clothes - all of it to get down to what their family really needed and loved. I was intrigued and felt the exact same way. My toddlers' toys were taking over the house, our closets were bursting, counters constantly cluttered. My mind was consistently distracted with the mess. Much of the day was spent just moving stuff. I have been craving simplicity.<br />
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Her post led me down a rabbit trail of minimalist lifestyle blogs. It is fascinating to see how some of these people live. Among the completely counter cultural lifestyle blogs, I came across several that were more in line with doable for our family and goals. There were a few posts that really made me think. One writer said something along the lines of "Instead of getting a bigger house, why don't you just get rid of your stuff?" Wait, what? Why hadn't I thought of this? I just re-organize and re-organize. I look for better storage systems. You do this or go bigger, right?<br />
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Let me go back.<br />
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When we found out we were expecting our second child two and a half years ago, we decided to sell our house. We needed more space as we were outgrowing our home. Or this is what we thought.<br />
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So, we sold our 1690 square foot "starter home". What I mean by sold is that we signed on the dotted line and the verified buyer signed as well, only to find out hours later that the loan didn't fund. (If God doesn't want you to move, you're not going to move.) By this time, I was seven months pregnant and we weren't willing to go further through the process. We were not feeling very Joseph and Mary, so homeless and giving birth was not an option, deciding to stay for at least a year and revisit selling later. We are so thankful God put us in this position. He knew just what we needed and it turns out that it wasn't a bigger home.<br />
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Maybe we didn't need more storage space. Maybe we needed less stuff. Could we live with less? Could we stay in our home and completely pay off our mortgage? Could we eliminate the distraction in our lives and focus on what is the most important to us - our relationship with Christ and our family? So began our experiment.<br />
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I've been working at editing our life for three months now. I'll fill you in on what that looks like hopefully in another post. So far, I have gotten rid of probably near 1000 items, this includes 80% of my wardrobe and 70%ish ('ish' is so helpful isn't it?) of our toys. I've taken things off the counters, walls, floors. I've sold lots of stuff and given away even more. More on that later. I've only just dipped my toe into this, but I am really liking the result. Haven't missed one thing.<br />
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The process has revealed a lot of yucky stuff about my relationship to possessions. I've discovered emotional attachments to things that don't make sense. It has forced me to deal with my "internal stuff" during the process. Like the Rich Young Ruler, I have slowly become attached to my possessions without realizing it. I've put a lot of stock in things that "thieves can break in and steal and moth and rust can destroy". This process has revealed a lot of things about my heart that need adjusting.<br />
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The first couple of edits of our home have had many other benefits as well. Things are easier to clean<br />
The kids are playing more with their toys, yet toys aren't everywhere. I know where most things are so I'm not wasting time looking for things. I'm saving money because again, I know what we have and don't end up buying extra things by mistake. We're also being more intentional with our money and resources because we're conscious of what we're letting into our house. Our house now feels spacious for our family. After the initial big purge, I've had more time to spend on the things that are important. That's the best one of all.<br />
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We're taking one day at a time in this experiment and not planning on becoming Tiny House people who live in a 186 square foot home without an inside toilet (what?!) or all sleep in bunk beds across from each other...yet. Just kidding. We're looking at experiences and time that we can give our kids instead of stuff. I just want to cut the distraction and focus on what's important.<br />
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Am I crazy? Maybe. I could rebound to start hoarding in few months, who knows (oh, please no!). At the very least, I've uncovered a terrible Moleskin collecting habit that definitely needed to be addressed. In seriousness, contentment is a beautiful thing and the best fruit yet is thankfulness. So far, less is more.<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-24384687252988074672015-11-10T21:00:00.001-06:002015-11-10T21:00:58.037-06:00Confessions of a LibibliophobeHave you ever done something for which you are completely and utterly ashamed? Every time you are reminded of the offense you get sick to your stomach? I am about to confess to you something along these lines.<br />
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I am really a book thief. I've been masquerading as a suburban wife and mother for the past several years to keep my library crimes hidden. I turned in a library book late. Before you say 'No big deal.'... like <i>six years</i> late. Worse? It was Corrie Ten Boom's <i>The Hiding Place</i>. In large print.<br />
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When my husband and I first married and moved into our new home and city, we both got library cards. I was so excited! (yes, I get excited about such things) If I remember correctly, I went back that same week and checked out a book, <i>The Hiding Place, </i>which in fact became <i>the</i> book. I never returned to the library again. (oh the shame!) I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but <i>The Hiding Place</i> became, well, hidden. For several years.<br />
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I wish I could say that I just uncovered it this past week, but no. (my cheeks are burning just typing this) I think I came across it during my pregnancy with Claire who is now almost two. Ouch. It was in a drawer. The guilt immediately descended on my body when I saw it. My inner dialogue went something like this: "I've got to return this book. <i>But it's going to be a terrible ordeal and I am pregnant</i>. But it's a library book! <i>It's too far and I'm pregnant.</i> But it's a library book that I <strike>stole</strike> borrowed! <i>Remember, I'm pregnant?</i> It's a library book...for the visually impaired. <i>Then there is the whole public shaming in the library thing, the stocks, who knows! Pregnant people probably shouldn't return library books.</i> I'll return it after I have the baby when things settle down (hahahahahaha! So naive.)." And no, to my knowledge I am not schizophrenic.<br />
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And I closed the drawer. Shameful.<br />
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I forgot about the book for a while until it made a brief appearance when we were getting ready to put our house on the market and baby number two was on his way. I added 'return long over due library book, save up for $5000 fine and remove <strike>speck</strike> giant log from my eye' to my long to do list. It didn't get checked off. The book went back in the drawer while we were showing the house, but I would think about it every now and then and yet it always seemed to be when the library was closed.<br />
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This was also about the time that I was uber pregnant, having a hard time getting around, chasing a one year old and preparing to move. There were no free moments, everything had a cost. Yet the book began to plague me. All I could think about was someone with very thick glasses running their finger across the books only to find it missing. For the last six years. Just call me Lady Macbeth.<br />
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I had Keaton and we decided to stay put in our house. I came across the book again. (insert shame here.) This is ridiculous. I obviously have a fear of returning an overdue book to the library. What is that even called? Libibliophobia? Worse, my neighbor across the street is a librarian and I was beginning to avoid making eye contact with her. Sin, even "little" sins weigh on you. I decided I would return the book that week.<br />
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After the kids went to bed, I headed to the library to turn myself in. No need for children to witness their mother's public shaming. I was a ball of nerves.<br />
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I half expected the Library's Most Wanted List with my mug on it to be on the bulletin board or for an alarm to sound the moment I walked through the doors.<br />
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Nothing happened. Maybe the library's bouncer was on break. Then I started getting paranoid.<br />
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Was that librarian staring at me? She's looking at the book. Does she have an ear piece? I swear she's talking into an ear piece, probably alerting the library crime squad of my presence. It's all over. Joey's going to have to bail me out of Library Jail.<br />
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Rather than have the library crime squad tackle me, I decided to go straight to the front desk. I got in line behind an elderly Indian gentleman who eased my stress considerably by surprising all of us with his inquiry as to when a copy of <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i> would be available. And I thought I was going to surprise them - thank goodness for this guy!<br />
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It was my turn.<br />
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I was going to be really mature and classy about the whole thing and just tell them the truth. Before I even got to the desk, I started spilling my guts and groveling. Really, really I love books! I am a friend of the library, champion of literacy!<br />
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The guy behind the counter took the book and said "2009, huh?", turned to the seasoned librarian next to him and asked if she had received a returned book older than this one. Thankfully, she had - 1999. I asked him about the fine, prepared to write a big one. Ten dollars. Then he asked me if I wanted to renew my library card. What? You still trust me? I was expecting to have my license revoked and was mentally preparing to explain to my children why mommy couldn't take them to library story time until the year 2030.<br />
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Grace is a beautiful thing. The worse of it all was when the librarian said it was a shame that I hadn't been to the library to check out a book that whole time. Now, that was a burn. I felt like I just missed out on the last Book It sticker to earn a free personal pan pizza.<br />
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Why am I telling you all this? We all have our stuff that we hold onto because of fear. Sometimes it's silly like a library book and sometimes it's serious weighty stuff. But it's all extra weight. I just wanted to encourage you to just turn in the book. You'll feel so much better.<br />
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<i>I'm sorry to Ms. Ten Boom, to have done such a disservice to her book and especially to those who needed the large print edition. You can add 'crimes to the visually impaired' to my list of offenses. I must also apologize to my Dad, who has visited the library weekly ever since I can remember and who has also probably never turned in a book late barring an Act of God or because he picked it up for me. And then yes, there is God, we've talked numerous times on this one.</i><br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-90808534583981675312015-09-21T14:18:00.000-05:002015-09-21T14:18:12.513-05:00Canadian VoodooAbout two months ago I opened our front door to find several gently used children's books on our porch. At first I was puzzled as to who would drop off books, but then I opened them.<br />
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I don't know what gave it away first - husky dogs, hockey, Inuit children or Parliament Hill. And then there was the maple leaf on the cover of one. It had to be our thoughtful Canadian neighbors. Don't you love people who love your children? It was so sweet of them to think of Claire.<br />
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Claire immediately wanted to read her new books. Two of the books are counting based, one with a map of Canada and one is a book about a Canadian goose. Most of the content is along the line of "There are six hockey pucks." She thought the hockey pucks were poop. It's an easy mistake.<br />
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She loved the books. We read them several times throughout the day. I added them to the bookshelf and called it a day. Like most of her books, I figured she would cycle through these over the next few days since they were new and then they would most likely fall in with the rest of the books on our reading rotation. Not so.<br />
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These books have some crazy Canadian powers. One in particular, "the red one", we read at least once daily. She's started "reading" in her crib before she falls asleep and asks that "the red one" is in the bed with her during naps and at bedtime. Or "Goose", the one about the Canadian goose (not to be confused with "Duck and Goose", a delightful tale about a duck and goose who team up to find a pumpkin.)<br />
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Claire has been calling black birds "loons" and there's a good chance that she thinks football players play "hockey". She loves me to tell her the name of each Canadian province on the map. She's Canadian obsessed.<br />
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This may be why she also loves a book entitled '<i>Snow'</i>. We like to read practical literature around our house - content that can be put into every day use around the streets and suburbs of Houston, Texas.<br />
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I feel the need to get her a few books with American symbols and maps just so she doesn't become disappointed when she finds out that she is not Canadian. And I better not tell her about their bacon. The girl loves bacon and she doesn't need to know that they have a variety all of their own.<br />
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In the meantime, I'm brushing up on my knowledge of Canadian provinces - every day - several times a day. Eh?Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-42346377491586428962015-09-15T14:05:00.002-05:002015-09-15T14:06:03.788-05:00We Welcome You To Munchkin Land<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At about 3 months after having Keats I felt like we were finally out of the Infant/Going From One Baby to Two Babies Coma. A few reasons for this:<br />
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For starters, we started getting sleep. We got a whole lot more sleep with Keaton during the first month than we did with Claire and overall we shouldn't even complain as both kids slept through the night fairy early. Shh...please don't tell anyone this. I know, there are some 12 year olds who still aren't sleeping through the night and there are so many parents who aren't getting ANY sleep. I am so sorry to bring up the 'S' word. I know it's a painful topic for many. Plus, I don't want any of these folks to kill me in my...not even going to say it. Seriously, I think water boarding may be a lesser form of torture than no sleep.<br />
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Talk about a game changer. One does crazy things without sleep. You may almost take a swig from your child's bottle out of delirium...and not know the difference. You may fight about ridiculous things with your spouse like what's the best way to stir a bottle - clockwise or counter clockwise. You may find non-perishables in the refrigerator...like toothpaste. Like I said, things get crazy. Coffee can only do so much.<br />
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You know that scene in the <i>Wizard of Oz</i> where Dorothy opens the door to Munchkin Land and everything turns from black and white to technicolor? That's how it feels the first time your baby sleeps through the night. 'Whoa! The world is beautiful! Has that water always been blue? Those are some ruby red slippers! Wait, that flower is really a munchkin's hat? What?!' I've watched the <i>Wizard of Oz</i> one too many times. I hope you have too because if not, that munchkin line may be a little strange for you. I can't help it, I never miss a good munchkin reference.<br />
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Keaton has been in his own room for close to two months now. We moved Claire into her room and crib a little after her one month milestone. We took longer with Keaton simply because we didn't want him to wake his sister in the next room if he woke up 3:00AM.<br />
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Do I love looking over at my sleeping baby next to me in his sleeper in the middle of the night? Yes, of course! Do I also like being able to sleep soundly through the night and if I happen to wake, look at my sweet sleeping babies in the <i>monitor</i>? Why yes, yes I do! Either way, I still get to look at my sleeping baby, but the second option gets us all better sleep and the odds of the toothpaste being in the fridge are a little lower.<br />
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There are a few other side benefits of moving Keats into his own room. Joey and I literally could not hear each other talk over the multiple sound machines located at each "sleep station" around the house. And at night we had one sound machine in our room for Keaton and Claire's sound machine blared over the monitor which we cranked up to hear over the in-room machine. Confused yet? We needed walkie talkies just to speak to each from one side of the bed to the other. 'What?! You want to go to the zoo? It's 11:00 at night! Oh...I love you too.' And heaven forbid the electricity blink out, startling us all awake with the default heartbeat setting. (Who uses that one anyway? It makes me feel like I'm in a horror film and brings my stress level up 500 notches.)<br />
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Another awesome thing is that I am no longer a hobo when it comes to getting ready. Prior to Keaton sleeping in his own room, one child was always sleeping near the place where you needed to shower or dry your hair. There was no safe zone. It was chaos getting ready. I couldn't remember where I left anything because I may have showered in the guest bathroom, dried my hair in the hallway, put on makeup in <i>my</i> bathroom and brushed teeth in the kitchen. It was the progressive dinners of getting ready. This may not bother some people, but I felt like I was losing my mind and all too often, my hairbrush.<br />
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We're also starting to settle into a semi-routine. I am learning how to juggle the schedules of a four month old and an almost two year old. Our house is beginning to look less like a bunch of babies had an all night frat party. For someone who craves order, this really helps my every day sanity. There are things that are still a whip, like getting out of the house and the bath/bed routine, but I feel like we have our head above water most of the time now. From what I can tell, there will always be tough stuff in each stage. We just started Keaton on solids and potty training for another someone is just around the corner (maybe, I'm still building up my own courage).<br />
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I have loved the last four months (Who am I kidding? I've been in a coma for the past year! Pregnancy does that to you.), but I am super excited about everything on the horizon. It's so much fun to have two kids in different stages because it doubles the excitment. One of them is always doing something fun. I wouldn't trade one sleepless night or coffee induced wake time for this. They make everything full of life and color and really, sometimes it's practical and doubly refreshing to keep your toothpaste in the fridge.<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-47489715939102753242015-06-26T15:33:00.001-05:002015-06-26T15:35:09.421-05:00I Don't Know My Social and My Name is Epidural {Keaton's Delivery}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's funny, despite delivering a baby roughly 18 months prior to having Keaton, I still forgot what to expect. Ok, I knew a lot more going into this delivery, but couldn't for the life of me remember what the days were like last time leading up to labor.<br />
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'Braxton Hicks versus real contractions'...I can't tell you the number of times I Googled this for BOTH pregnancies. 'Signs that you're in labor' - that was another one of my Google favorites. I really had few signs last time until my water broke. I didn't have to go through the wondering whether or not I was in labor and last time I assumed I would be right at my due date or after with a first baby. Instead, I was ten days early. This time I was afraid I was going to miss the cues. In my opinion (at least having had two kids), labor is not like remembering how to ride a bike. It's more like you know you're going get on something that will take you to the end point, you just don't know what kind of transportation you'll be using. Sure, it could be a bike like last time, but it could easily be a jet...or roller skates. You could have to hitchhike. I'm super analytical. Can you tell?<br />
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We were supposed to induce that Monday, a week before my due date, because of his size. He measured three weeks ahead for much of my pregnancy and with my history of previous gestational diabetes and Claire having been 8.6 pounds at ten days early, the doctor was thinking he would be at least a ten pounder if we waited until my due date. Turns out she was right.<br />
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My water broke again this time and a week early on Sunday. However, instead of a 6AM wake up call it was a 12:30AM alarm. What a difference this made! Instead of having a full night's sleep, we began labor on sleep fumes. Thankfully, my parents were already staying at our house that weekend and my mother-in-law came in a few days prior as well. Claire was well taken care of and we didn't have to worry about last minute preparations for her. This had been a big concern of mine. We made it to the hospital thirty minutes after my water broke, also completely different. Last time I got up and showered, shaved my legs, fixed my hair, put make up on, did a little online shopping...you get the picture. During my last several appointments my doctor stressed that we needed to get to the hospital immediately because of how progressed we were. I took this very seriously for a few different reasons.<br />
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First off, I wanted the epidural. This was a driving force for me. My pain tolerance isn't the best. I admire all you ladies who can labor for two days naturally, but I had to call uncle. Last pregnancy I got the epidural around a 7 and thank heavens because I didn't have the baby for seven more hours. It allowed me to rest and prepare for delivery instead of run into a wall to knock myself out. Mascara, clean hair, brushed teeth...these were all secondary concerns. I went into Operation Get Epidural mode. (P.S. I did brush my teeth)<br />
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And then there is the whole I-Don't-Want-My-Husband-to-Deliver-My-Baby-in-the-Car thing. Or at home. Again, kudos to those who have had home births. I second the words of Prissy from <i>Gone With the Wind</i>. "Miss Scarlett, I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!". Beyond putting a kettle of hot water on to boil, getting clean towels and some twine, I really wouldn't have a clue. (I may have watched too much <i>Little House on the Prairie</i> growing up and I don't think my husband has ever watched any so we would have really been in a bind. What if we couldn't find the twine?)<br />
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We peeled into the hospital parking lot. Parked and ran (ok, waddled) to the door. It was locked. A gracious person walking by told us we had to go around to the back. Last time we just walked in through the front door. We made it to the ER entrance to check in. I think I made everyone in the waiting room uncomfortable. By this time the contractions were getting pretty serious. They were coming very close together and strong so I was breathing like Darth Vadar on steroids. Every question they asked me I wanted to say 'Epidural, yes'.<br />
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After what felt like an eternity, they brought me a wheel chair and took me to the delivery room. Apparently, that night they had several women show up in labor. A lower pressure front moved in and everyone's water broke. The nurses seemed surprised that I was at a 7. Yeah, no kidding. Our main nurse also said that this was the lowest carrying of a baby at this point - whatever that means. Again, wasn't news to me. I was ready to have this baby and had been for a while.<br />
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Things were a whirl in the room and a nurse was asking me for things like my social security number and date of birth - over and over as it was mistakenly deleted after she typed it in - over and over. Were they going to ask me to walk a straight line next? I wanted to yell "Can't you see I'm having a baby here? I don't know my social and my name is Epidural!". Instead, I answered each question obediently through gritted teeth and Darth Vadar breaths. After all, these were the people with the meds.<br />
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That's when I heard it. My ears must have been tuned into the word. The nurses were off to the side in discussion and I overheard them say "I don't think she's going to be able to get the epidural in time." Joey told me later that he heard them say it too and he didn't have the heart to tell me. Wise man. I was in full on denial, kept asking for it and they said they were waiting on my labs to come back. I was trying to stay calm in between tracker jacker contractions, but all I could think was that it's going to get worse and wondering if anyone has passed out from pain during labor. Like I said, I was trying to stay calm and focused.<br />
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Maybe it was because I looked completely desperate or maybe they didn't think I was going to make it, but the the guy with the meds made a Superman appearance even though my lab results never did. I would imagine many a woman in labor would kiss that guy if she didn't have to remain stone still while the epidural was being injected. (It's amazing how you can make yourself sit still through a contraction when you know you are getting an epidural) And this time the epidural worked on both sides immediately. Sweet relief.<br />
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It was all gravy after that. Ok, maybe that's a stretch, but at least I had time to catch my breath for an hour or so before pushing. I also was able to calm down and think about what we were there for - meeting our sweet boy. We had Keaton within around three hours of arriving at the hospital. The nurses were all surprised at how big he was.<br />
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I remember hearing his robust cries and felt so relieved and happy. He's here and he's ok. They gave him to me and I was completely smitten. I got more skin-to-skin time with him than I did Claire. I think they took her away to get cleaned up pretty quickly. They let him stay with me as long as I wanted. It was a sweet time.<br />
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I just remember thinking about it in that moment and taking it all in - at least as much as I could grasp. This little person - has been inside me for the past nine months. This person didn't exist nine months ago. And then they just did and feel like they always have existed. It's crazy. It's overwhelming. It's all worth it. So worth it.<br />
<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-57111464151152024542015-06-19T14:18:00.003-05:002015-06-19T14:27:20.686-05:00About A Boy<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Until April 26th, only one boy has ever had my heart. And now there are two. One is 6'4, tall, dark and handsome. The second, had my heart while he was only 9.5 lbs and 20.25 inches long. It was love at first sight - or even better - love at first breath.</span><br />
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Keaton came a week early (for which I'm so thankful - see 9.5 lbs above) at 4:31 AM, April 26th. My heart melted and somehow grew all at the same time. You know that question you have in your mind as a parent of one - wondering how it could be possible to love another child just as much as your first? Yup, what they say is true. It just happens. You know the minute you hear or see that little one that instead of splitting, your heart will expand. "And the Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day." That's how it's been falling in love with my husband, my daughter and now my son - more love than I would ever think my heart would be capable of holding. God's design for our physical hearts is one of beauty and resilience, but the abilities of the intangible heart blow my mind.<br />
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He looks so much like his big sister did when she was born with two exceptions. His hair has a strawberry blond tint and his skin seems to be more fair. His eyes are blue right now, but we will see which color they land on over the next couple of weeks. This kid has some hands and feet! The nurses kept commenting on his feet and one even made an extra footprint for us because she said she thought we would want to have it. Footie pajamas are out of the question unless we cut holes for the toes.<br />
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We were in newborn clothes for a day or two when we got home, but then I realized they weren't fitting him. I then did the same thing with three month clothing. And then I finally woke up to realize my infant looked like a body builder who wears shirts a size smaller than necessary. At eight weeks he is wearing six month clothing and it's snug. At this rate, will probably be in six-nine months tomorrow.<br />
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<br />
Keats is the sweetest thing. This little guy seems to be laid back. I'm pretty sure it's in his nature, but then again he has to be with a 20 month old big sister "showing him the ropes". He's also a snuggler. So fun! He stops crying the moment you hold him. He smiles all the time and holds his head up very well. You know, I would call his smile more of a grin. It's so cute! He rolled over from tummy to back the today, but I'm unsure if it was a fluke. He is also such a grunter. By this I mean he's rarely quiet, even when sleeping and makes grunting noises constantly. You would think he was climbing Mount Everest or competing in an Iron Man event.<br />
<br />
He slept six straight hours last night. Good morning! It really was. Getting several consecutive hours of sleep is such a game changer. We will see if he keeps it up.<br />
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<br />
I have a feeling the picture above may be a good example of their relationship. Claire loves him so much and Keats loves her enough to take hair in the face. There is something about watching your kids love each other that makes your heart swell. She calls him "Keat-Keat" and asks for him first thing in the morning. She pats her little hand beside her to indicate that she wants Keat-Keat to sit next to her. This could be on the changing table, high chair or in the bathtub. Needless to say, Keat-Keat is not always able to comply with his big sister's demands. We've also found out that infants are not big fans of pretzels by a similar scenario. Claire "helps" burp and feed her little brother at times. The latter brings to mind the phrase "force feeding", but it's still sweet. Claire embraces the idea of sharing is caring and piles all of her favorite stuffed animals and pillows on her brother. She also has an ear out for her brother's cries at all times. He will be napping and she'll run up to me saying "Baby crying". I'll say "Baby Keaton is sleeping." and literally a second later there he goes. Baby crying. I'm not sure if she's in tune with him or he's in tune with her.<br />
<br />
This little guy is precious and is so loved. And then there were two...<br />
<br />
<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-85719522366149867102014-12-10T13:43:00.002-06:002014-12-10T13:43:19.624-06:00Living on Love and Llamas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
About three years ago when our life seemed chaotic and my mind must have been muddled, Joey and I saw a special on <i>CBS Sunday Morning</i> about a couple who moved from the city to Colorado to start a farm and raise alpacas. They knew nothing about farming. Or alpacas. The alpaca ranch was a success and now they have a simple life - living on love and llamas.<br />
<br />
I immediately told Joey 'this is it'. I want to move to Colorado in the middle of nowhere and raise alpacas. And wear a lot of Navajo prints and fringe. That's just where I was in life - ready to simplify. Don't we all have a moment where we want to move to Colorado and raise alpacas? Oh, is that just me?<br />
<br />
Alas, Joey said no. No alpaca ranching for us. Thankfully my wise husband knows that in reality I couldn't be more than 25 minutes from a Target or HEB these days and that the smell of our dogs after they have stepped outside following a bath is about as much animal smell as I can take.<br />
<br />
We just simplified our lives in other ways...like having a baby. Our rustic dreams of solitude are instead lived out vicariously through Alaskan reality TV. Isn't this what everyone does?<br />
<br />
Oh, I see. You would rather watch <i>Scandal</i>, <i>PLL</i> (from what I can tell this is <i>Pretty Little Liars</i>) and <i>Grey's Anatomy</i>. I've not watched these with the exception of <i>Grey's</i>, which I watched religiously in college. An aside: How is this show still on? Is it about Meredith and McDreamy's children?? Or McSteamy? Or is there a new 'Mc'? I digress. Besides <i>Alaska</i>, I watch two other reality shows: <i>Project Runwa</i>y and S<i>o You Think You Can Dance</i>. Apparently I tend to gravitate toward watching shows whose subject consists of something I am incapable of doing, i.e. sewing, locking and popping, or subsistence farming the Alaskan wilderness.<br />
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Let me ask you this: what's not to love about moose hunting, bee farming, out house building or watching a family struggle for survival in the wilderness? It's the height of Alaskan reality TV. What's. Not. To. Love?<br />
<br />
The situation that got us into watching this was not unlike when I binge watched a season of <i>Deadliest Catch</i> over a weekend while recovering from being sick. (Poor Joey. I incorporated crab fisherman lingo into my daily vocabulary the entire following week. I was a <i>greenhorn</i>. What can I say?)<br />
<br />
Claire was only a few weeks old so we were burning the midnight oil and majorly sleep deprived. Joey and I had watched all of our DVR'd shows and our Apple TV was acting up. Enter Discovery's marathon of <i>Alaska</i>. Here were these people, hunting and farming against the elements to feed their family for the winter in the Alaskan wilderness. They're building their own houses out of the timber around them, developing pretty high ingenuity contraptions to solve problems that get in the way of providing for their families, catching salmon, bear hunting, building their own green houses and for heaven's sake - they've even got their own beekeeping suits. These people amaze me.<br />
<br />
It was what we needed at the moment. If the Kilcher family could move their cattle to the head of the bay with a rising tide or Jane Kilcher could catch enough salmon to feed her family 30 dinners in the winter, well Joey and I could survive the first few months of sleepless nights, breastfeeding, bottle washing, crying and figuring out exactly what this little baby needed. While they figured out how to build a bridge over an icy river, we figured out how to swaddle a baby. When they found the bear that was ravaging the herd, we figured out that gripe water helped with the hiccups. You get the picture.<br />
<br />
Now we are serious Kilcher fans. (Side note: this is the family of Jewel the singer.) Not only did the show encourage us as new parents, but now I also have a working knowledge of bear hunting, cattle driving and how to make your own meat smoker out of scrap metal. If we ever need to go off the grid, I'm ready.<br />
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It is also quite clear to me that I would not survive one day in this environment left to my own devices. Every time I see a Navajo print in Anthropologie or at Target (ok, mostly at Target), I'm still reminded of the little family alpaca farm that almost was.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-36152494443930548832014-11-17T10:00:00.000-06:002014-11-17T10:10:58.715-06:00Bumpdate | 16 Weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I was never very good at posting updates about my pregnancy with Claire and I really wished I would have looking back. To add, I've posted a general family update and a 13 month update for Claire so why not throw another update in there so we'll be all up to speed? It feels like the right thing to do.<br />
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<i>Baby Development</i><br />
<br />
I'm not sure what size he or she is in terms of a fruit or vegetable (my app updates tomorrow), but the baby is weighing 3-5 ounces and is 4-5 inches long at this point. Last week we were at the size of a naval orange, so think a little bigger. He or she can hear us now, is developing facial muscles and visual perception. Isn't it amazing?<br />
<br />
<i>Baby Got Bump</i><br />
<br />
"So I guess I'm really pregnant." That's what I told Joey when the bump finally started to look more bump-like. He said "The three ultrasounds you've had showing a moving baby haven't been convincing enough?" Well of course! The first time you hear that heart beat and see that little baby bouncing around on the screen it hits you that you have a tiny human growing inside you (By the way, how crazy is that?). But you know what I mean, once you start to get that round belly it gets real. And the belly is here. It still could be mistaken for a beer belly, but at least it's a more defined beer belly. I think I'm showing earlier than I did with Claire.<br />
<br />
I'm wearing both maternity and regular clothes, but I can see that a full transition is on the nearing horizon as in tomorrow...or after meals.<br />
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<i>Symptoms</i><br />
<br />
I'm through the first trimester so I'm also for the most part over the nausea and extreme fatigue. I regressed a little this past week, but I'm hoping I've hit another upswing. The nausea and fatigue were both worse than I remember with Claire, although it could just be that I'm chasing a one year old all day so there's a little something extra thrown in there.<br />
<br />
I'm also just getting over pregnancy related allergies. Yes, this does exist. Fun fact of the day. It has to do with fluctuations in your hormones and you can have allergy onset during puberty, pregnancy and menopause. I had horrible allergies/asthma with Claire for about a month and a half and have experienced the exact same thing with this pregnancy. I wake up several times in the night unable to catch my breath and dry cough and gasp for air for several minutes. It freaks both myself and Joey out. It can also happen in the evening such as when I had an attack during Small Group and had to reassure everyone that I did not have Ebola. For the most part it's when I'm trying to sleep. Changing positions doesn't seem to help. It's gotten a lot better the past week so I'm hoping I'm almost finished with this phase.<br />
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My moods are returning to normal as well. I had flat emotions during my first trimester with Claire and experienced the same thing with this pregnancy. It's such a weird symptom because you have everything to be excited about, but you're just blah. I don't think I'm an extremely moody person normally (Joey may disagree) and it stinks to feel that way. Meditating on truth from God's word has really helped to say, you know this may be what I'm feeling, but THIS is what is true. Anyway, it's on its way out right now and I am thankful! Hormones. Sheesh.<br />
<br />
<i>Cravings</i><br />
<br />
I didn't have any major cravings during Claire's pregnancy, more like leanings toward certain foods. Potatoes were my food of choice with Claire and with the second pregnancy as well. I could eat a loaded baked potato for every meal and be perfectly content. During the first trimester there were a lot of foods that I didn't want such as Chinese food, meat and especially bacon (!). There was a lot that just didn't sound good to me. With the exception of meat, almost everything sounds ok now. Oh, and I like bacon again. Maybe a little too much. I didn't consider bacon in the meat category. Vegetarians can't turn down bacon, right?<br />
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<i>Movement</i><br />
<br />
I'm feeling little movements now and then, usually at night. I think I started feeling flutters around 13 weeks.<br />
<br />
<i>Girl or Boy</i><br />
<br />
Both Joey and I feel like it's a girl, but what do we know? The only thing I have to go on is that everything is exactly how it was with Claire's pregnancy.<br />
<br />
<i>On the radar</i><br />
<br />
This week I get tested for gestational diabetes. I was diagnosed during the last pregnancy at about 25 weeks so this time they'll start testing at 16 weeks. If I pass the 16 week test, they'll test me again at 24-25 weeks. Up until the 23-24 week mark, Claire's pregnancy had been for the most part cake. The diabetes was a game changer. Several other symptoms began to appear about a week or two prior to the diagnosis that I now know were related to the diabetes.<br />
<br />
Gestational diabetes seems to be different for everyone. Some have to go on insulin right away and others can get away with all kinds of stuff. People also have different food triggers. I was in that hard to manage category, but I was able to stay off the insulin. I was very strict on the diet and actually had to be more strict than the recommended diabetes diet to keep my levels in an ok spot. It's also more than just a healthy eating thing. You have to eat so many carbs paired with a certain amount of protein. You have to eat meals and snacks at certain times throughout the day. You have to test for ketones once in the morning and test your blood four times a day and record all that plus everything you put in your mouth. In my case and especially toward the end, I had to walk for at least 20-30 minutes, 30 minutes following meals to keep my sugars down. This was all foreign to me and very overwhelming. Again, some can get away without following the system strictly, but I could not. Felt like a full time job and I already had one of those. And like I mentioned, there were other symptoms that came with it. Thankfully, I was able to stay off insulin and Claire was born at a normal weight ten days early without having complications or having to be induced.<br />
<br />
So...needless to say, I don't want it again! But...the odds are high. But...not impossible that you may not have it on a subsequent pregnancy. I've heard of several people who didn't have it with their next child and I'm hoping this will be me. The silver lining is that I very well may get to have a diabetes free Thanksgiving if I pass this test and the next test may be the week following Christmas. Skirting this around the holidays would be awesome. If it does happen, well, at least I'll know what to do and hopefully it won't be as overwhelming. And of course, a positive would be that I won't gain as much weight if I'm on the diabetes diet from 16 weeks and on. I'm all the about the silver lining.<br />
<br />
Things are definitely moving a lot faster with this pregnancy. I think this has to do with having Claire to keep us preoccupied. With Claire it felt like getting to the point of 20 weeks to find out the gender took forever. Now, we're both thinking it's only a month away! I'm hoping we get to find out the week before Christmas.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow we get to hear our little one's heartbeat again! Yay!<br />
<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-2224947710048638462014-11-12T15:59:00.002-06:002014-11-13T10:06:12.785-06:00One Year and Then Some<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJydLc-oATlNNQDubcA3II0UlT2FuGnpXTBp7saMMxer5yJjSBYW91YcPBb7XdMLxLfp2I6MZd00LHvI_eMc4QqrVAqycTBWZ9sSDBr1xtlc13HxVUvKWP6jv1ZAKf2NULSTPp7St3P04/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJydLc-oATlNNQDubcA3II0UlT2FuGnpXTBp7saMMxer5yJjSBYW91YcPBb7XdMLxLfp2I6MZd00LHvI_eMc4QqrVAqycTBWZ9sSDBr1xtlc13HxVUvKWP6jv1ZAKf2NULSTPp7St3P04/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Birthday Girl</td></tr>
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Because I'm sure Claire wouldn't appreciate me posting her one year update during her freshman year of college, I'm finally taking care of it today. Have I told you that she is just precious? Joey and I can't get enough of her and we're both surprised her cheeks haven't become concave from the 5.2 million kisses we give her each day. If you see her walking around with concave cheeks in a few years, you'll know what happened. It was out of love.<br>
<br>
The last update I gave was at 10 months so this will encompass from that point until today.<br>
<br>
<b>Eating</b><br>
<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating PB&J</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
Up until about two weeks ago she has eaten most foods like a champ. We must be in some sort of phase. She no longer gobbles down veggies and is now more selective. If cheese is near, she's aware of it. She points at it and looks back and forth between me and the cheese. This Cheese Stand Off happens almost every day. I don't mind her eating cheese, but a girl should only eat so much of it and should definitely branch out. I can see her as a teenager stating that she's a Cheesetarian.<br>
<br>
Despite her mother willing her to like avocados (she's a Texan for goodness sake!), they're still a no go. She also refuses to drink milk. I guess I don't blame her. I have never liked milk. Incidentally, she's not really into her bottles anymore either.<br>
<br>
She tried her first peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She loved it, but I discovered that we have not quite grasped the concept of taking a bite. She wanted to stuff each whole triangle into her mouth. We practiced with a muffin the next morning with a similar approach.<br>
<br>
She prefers feeding herself so she eats mainly finger foods with the exception of yogurt.<br>
<br>
<b>Sleeping</b><br>
<br>
We have been really fortunate with her sleeping habits. She still takes two naps about 1-1.5 hours each and sleeps from 7PM to 7AM. I really thought she would have dropped the morning nap by now, but this girl needs to sleep and surrenders immediately. The time change did of course have an effect, but thankfully her wake up time had been moving closer to 8AM anyway so we were back with a 7AM wake up time within a week. She has been a little more fussy the closer we get to her old nap times and sleep time, but it's starting to even out.<br>
<br>
<b>Movement</b><br>
<br>
Claire started taking steps about 10 months and it felt like she was running in just a few short weeks. She is like the Flash. For a while she would try to run through things and over things, but rarely around them. We had a lot of bruises during that time. Now that she's a veteran runner, she's more savvy. This girl does not like to sit still for more than 30 seconds unless she is reading a book.<br>
<br>
She is also a climber. She pushes things around to use them to climb up to places where she is not supposed to be. I swear she has Inspector Gadget arms because her reach doesn't seem possible.<br>
<br>
<b>Play</b><br>
<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsTheWE8qI-UcddNhT7bkU73RPxD4WVVxI98a1jgW1TSi3UmChfYcK_9-W_FYkSLbQnmto3kdUbKmdAqRqNsY-omxlLjLE36M4E1dX1Nf6R7VadLwva7VIvA394RL9t2MvawtBdBqiJk/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsTheWE8qI-UcddNhT7bkU73RPxD4WVVxI98a1jgW1TSi3UmChfYcK_9-W_FYkSLbQnmto3kdUbKmdAqRqNsY-omxlLjLE36M4E1dX1Nf6R7VadLwva7VIvA394RL9t2MvawtBdBqiJk/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading with Dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
During the last three months she is increasingly truly playing with her toys. She loves books, puzzles, carrying around her stuffed animals, stacking toys, putting items in and taking them out of her purse, and toys that she can manipulate. She also loves playing with empty boxes and bottles.<br>
<br>
She's just started paying attention to the TV. It all started with Neil Diamond on the Today Show. She never watches the TV - couldn't care less. So Joey and I have it on in the morning while we're getting ready for the day and she mostly seems oblivious. Enter Neil Diamond. He played Sweet Caroline and she was mesmerized for the entire song. John Cougar Mellencamp has had a similar effect since then. Apparently she likes classic rock'n roll. My Dad would approve. She will watch a little bit of Bubble Guppies while she's eating a snack, but really it's just during the music.<br>
<br>
She's a pretty rough and tumble girl. She loves to wrestle with Daddy. I'm also wondering if she will enjoy gymnastics. She tries to do forward rolls, although I've yet to see her flip all the way over.<br>
<br>
She also enjoys being outside and running around in the grass. She likes to collect leaves, acorns and sticks which Mommy is constantly keeping out of her mouth.<br>
<br>
Independent play has increased significantly and she will go into her room and sit down with her toys or books and be content for 10 minutes or so.<br>
<br>
<b>Growth and Development</b><br>
<br>
She's tall and slim. I really thought we would go through a chunky baby stage at some point, but it never came. She's 68% for weight and 98% for height. She now has four top teeth and four bottom teeth and finally has enough hair to hold a clip-on bow.<br>
<br>
<i>Language</i><br>
<br>
This has really come along since 10 months. She says "mama" and "dada" and mimics a lot of the sounds we use. She is constantly babbling, talking to her stuffed animals or when "alone" in her room playing. There have been times when Joey and I have thought she has said a certain word in the right context, but we're not positive. When we visited my parents a few weeks ago she seemed to say "Ba" every time the dog was near. Our dog's name is Bo so we're wondering if that's the connection.<br>
<br>
<i>Testing Boundaries</i><br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUmRXE_RFwpbEm67GT9Eb1Amqmnt6PciQn1yxtYShIXlgiWhHfyTzrRgazj9aSPUqxmvYm1L_RxfQVYg_VqeMZD2dZtfcTeOqcaZDERC7V3gEjoqTtZYsVqbMorR6cTCcg7I8Y5prbLQ/s1600/photo+1-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUmRXE_RFwpbEm67GT9Eb1Amqmnt6PciQn1yxtYShIXlgiWhHfyTzrRgazj9aSPUqxmvYm1L_RxfQVYg_VqeMZD2dZtfcTeOqcaZDERC7V3gEjoqTtZYsVqbMorR6cTCcg7I8Y5prbLQ/s320/photo+1-3.JPG" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for cookies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
Whew! We are definitely in this stage. She is aware of what she is not supposed to touch and tests Mommy and Daddy's consistency in enforcing the rules. I have tried various methods of discipline, but I think we're about to have to go to the drawing board because things are getting real if you know what I mean. Currently, I am holding her hands together in mine for about 30 seconds (which she hates) while we talk about obeying. Her response to this is now going limp on the floor. We'll see.<br>
<br>
<i>Affection and Humor</i><br>
<br>
This has developed even more over the last few months. She will now lay her head on Joey's chest when he gets home or when we are putting her to bed. When we hold our arms out and crouch down she will run into our arms and give us a hug. She also occasionally attempts to give us a kiss. It's usually a full open mouth kiss or a lick, but we don't care. We love that we're getting snuggles!<br>
<br>
She laughs a lot now and seems to be aware of when she's acting silly. We've noticed a few different laughs. Her belly laughs are super sweet, but what tickles us is when she does her "Hmmph!". It's eerily adult and it's like she's amused with us all.<br>
<br>
<i>Cognitive</i><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBi7trE8j7m57bil6TRdz7dryWZTvp5extuBvpRX6O9kcw_SdXa9yeg6yalxWzOrCjKB7dCh2Fe9YgLFn6EbZhFPRQZXnauy_2U23Ovf3DHsk4UytTPHu2X-uhVoUWsrujLeKeWcpejY4/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBi7trE8j7m57bil6TRdz7dryWZTvp5extuBvpRX6O9kcw_SdXa9yeg6yalxWzOrCjKB7dCh2Fe9YgLFn6EbZhFPRQZXnauy_2U23Ovf3DHsk4UytTPHu2X-uhVoUWsrujLeKeWcpejY4/s320/photo+2-2.JPG" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at birds with Dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
I really don't know how else to term this, so 'cognitive' will have to do. It's so fun to watch Claire make connections between objects, words and actions. When we read she can now point to animals or objects when we ask her where they are. She knows where her nose, ears and mouth are and points our's out as well. She tries to brush her hair with combs and hairbrushes and "talks" on anything that looks like a phone while putting it up to her ear. She knows that her mirror and bracelet go in her purse and the shape pieces go with the puzzle. She puts utensils in bowls and pretends to stir.<br>
<br>
This all came out of the blue. She points at things and wants you to tell her what they are. If you've ever watched the old movie <i>The Miracle Worker</i>, the story about Helen Keller, it reminds me of when Helen first realizes that hand signs correspond to objects and runs around touching each object and asking her teacher to sign what it is because she's made the connection. I love it! Although, we are ourselves lost for words at times. Umm...yeah, that's a mark on the wall where we bumped it with a chair when we were moving. Or yes, that's some kind of electrical thing that I don't know the name of. That kind of stuff. Her favorites to identify right now are butterflies.<br>
<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfho3fMXcdwRJ6Ask-fgvLWA7oMQ0sojP_seP5kvibHCImcV1P2jCNhtY_D8qYSSmC6eM2RlIudOaJG2sorbbMzx9-0H6Cf-hqIBjrp07uVF4aTT6YeVV17pfAkLvlTWrfAjXaerY2IY/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfho3fMXcdwRJ6Ask-fgvLWA7oMQ0sojP_seP5kvibHCImcV1P2jCNhtY_D8qYSSmC6eM2RlIudOaJG2sorbbMzx9-0H6Cf-hqIBjrp07uVF4aTT6YeVV17pfAkLvlTWrfAjXaerY2IY/s320/photo+1-2.JPG" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupcake for Halloween</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are having so much fun being parents to this sweet girl! She has a lot of change on the horizon both developmentally and for our family in general. The next monthly updates should contain how she reacts as Mommy gets bigger and slower (!) and we prepare for a possible move.<br>
<br>
<br>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-41272005176578862912014-11-10T21:13:00.003-06:002014-11-10T21:13:54.686-06:00What We've Been Up To<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ9pLb_sHNI_WlK4rLcSed-UkL41VjyP18kQxaE-IPMXPaPotuJPZlUpFljpjd1MViPOqSAgJ3tfI6GZ_h7p1ThfgcqRbbAhScmDQAAW-Q9tB8-TVLjzdxsbniCf-MRNxLW0N8E9vUEk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ9pLb_sHNI_WlK4rLcSed-UkL41VjyP18kQxaE-IPMXPaPotuJPZlUpFljpjd1MViPOqSAgJ3tfI6GZ_h7p1ThfgcqRbbAhScmDQAAW-Q9tB8-TVLjzdxsbniCf-MRNxLW0N8E9vUEk/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's see, where to begin? How about we go with the order of things? I'm pregnant! We celebrated Claire's first birthday in October. I resigned from my job about three weeks ago and am now officially a full time stay-at-home mom. We're getting ready to put our house on the market. That's about it in a nutshell. The only anticipated thing was Claire's birthday.<br />
<br />
So, these are all my excuses as to why I have not been posting to this blog. I've been stunned into paralysis for the past three months. A very active paralysis if it makes sense. If it doesn't make sense, I'm blaming it on pregnancy brain. Just go with it.<br />
<br />
I'm about 14 weeks pregnant today. It was an early August night when Joey asked me what I wanted on my pizza to which I responded "I can't even think about that right now." and showed him a positive pregnancy test while balancing Claire on my hip. We ordered the pizza a few hours later when we both recovered from our shock.<br />
<br />
We are super excited! It was pretty surprising news. It took three years for us to get pregnant with Claire and although we had discussed growing our family, it wasn't something on the very immediate horizon as in before Claire turned one year. Or so we thought. God of course, has had other plans all along.<br />
<br />
I was a little nervous going to the doctor. We've had two pregnancies with two different outcomes. We've received devastating news and over the moon exciting news during that first visit. I walked into that office with peace about both, but hoping for that over the moon moment again. There are few moments in our lives that compare to the excitement and thankfulness upon seeing a little baby's heart beat on the ultrasound screen. It was another over the moon moment! We are so thankful God chose us to be parents to this sweet little one.<br />
<br />
This brought us to the point of making a few decisions. Claire's pregnancy was roses up until I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes around 24 weeks. It took a lot of effort to manage my levels and I barely stayed off insulin. I had been working from home part time which was pretty difficult to balance with an almost one year old in the house any way. I worked during all nap times and some while Claire was awake and running around. Joey and I made the decision that it was time for me to resign. I'm thankful that it was an option and fully believe it was the right thing to do for our family. Absolutely no regrets.<br />
<br />
The next decision came to the house. We love our house. We love our neighborhood. It's been the perfect size for our family of three. And although a little tight, it would still work with our new little one on the way. However, it just may be that this is the right time to make a move with the current market. After visiting with our realtor and getting an idea of what we're looking at, we'll be shooting for first of the year. Eek. It was so much easier buying a house when we lived in an apartment and didn't have to worry about selling a house. Anyway, if it all works out then we'll move and if not we're perfectly fine with sitting tight.<br />
<br />
During all this, my baby turned one. I'll devote an update specifically to this Big Girl in the next few days. Watching her personality develop the last few months has been so fun. She's precious.<br />
<br />
Who knew so many changes would be coming our way in a matter of a few months? God has given us peace about each one and we are so thankful.<br />
<br />
And now that I'm fully a stay-at-home mom I have taken up knitting, the Real Housewives of Somewhere, wearing my pajamas until noon and am contemplating making my own bread and soap.<br />
<br />
Claire just runs wild.<br />
<br />
Only two of those are true. Can you guess which ones? Ok, it's the bread and soap, but that's in the Advanced Homemaking class and I have yet to take the prerequisites like Making Dinner Both Parents and One Year Old Will Enjoy and How to Get Smashed Green Bean Stains Out of Toddler Clothing.<br />
<br />
It is also true that sometimes Claire runs wild, but now I get to run right alongside her with a little bit more freedom. Many over the moon moments to come!<br />
<br />
<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-70779420868274298202014-08-28T09:34:00.000-05:002014-08-28T09:34:06.446-05:00Living La Vida Leper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
This picture pretty much sums up the last week. Lots of tears and lots of Mommy holding Baby. <br />
<br />
We experienced our first real baby illness as well as our first after hours doctor visit this past week. Claire had Hand Foot and Mouth Virus. It's pretty much the equivalent of baby leprosy. We were in quarantine for a week.<br />
<br />
Ok, so it's not baby leprosy and we didn't have to live in a cave wrapped up in cloths like lepers. You got me. It did however time itself to be when Joey was out of town for a few days (had to leave the day after she developed symptoms) and following two weeks of myself getting over strep throat and being in a quarantine of my own.<br />
<br />
By the way, because the name of the virus grosses me out
so much, I will be referring to it as 'HFM' from here to eternity or at least to the end of this post. What
is it about the name that is just so nasty? It brings to mind images of the plagues in the Dark Ages or Mad Cow Disease. <br />
<br />
Something that I have found absolutely funny is people's reaction. Ok, I don't remember anyone having HFM when I was young,
but I have heard of several kids having it now. It seems many families of littles that I know have had it. A common
response has been a horrified "Well, where in the world would she have
gotten something like that?" (See? It's totally the name.) You would
have thought it was Dengue Fever. Yup, we took Claire on a tour of the
Amazon last week to pet the piranhas and we think that's probably where
she picked it up. The library, people. I think we picked it up at
library story time. But it's so contagious that it could just have been
from the shopping cart at the grocery store. Who knows? <br />
<br />
It all started last Monday with a little spot next to Claire's mouth, followed by another two or three spots within an hour or two. And then the real fun began. Blisters developed over her feet, legs, hands, arms and a few on her torso. We're talking dime-sized blisters. It should be called Hand, Foot, Face, Mouth, Leg, Arm and Somewhat All Over Virus. I would have had no idea what it was except that a friend of mine posted that her daughter had it on Facebook a few days prior to Claire showing symptoms.<br />
<br />
I called our pediatrician and got an appointment for the next morning. The virus has to run its course so there really isn't anything you can do except bring the fever down. Our child is not really one to be still for long and isn't a snuggler, so when she laid in Joey's arms under a blanket with her lovie and then fell asleep, we knew she was not feeling well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Sure enough, her fever had spiked to 104. Off to the after hours clinic we went. We received confirmation that it was HFM and also found out Claire still had an earache from the previous week. We also learned that after hours pediatric clinics can sound like child torture chambers. I seriously almost had to check on the kid next door and the other kid down the hall. What was going on in there?<br />
<br />
Joey left the next morning and boy was he lucky. Things got rough. Word of advice, unless absolutely necessary do not Google 'HFM' and click on the images. I suppose these pictures are posted in online medical journals or something, but I didn't need to come across that in my GMS (General Mom Search). Unless you are that child's mother or nurse, nobody needs to see that. Honestly, what really got me was when someone told me that their child lost a toe nail. Anyone who knows me well, knows that losing a toe nail or finger nail is a perfect way to send me over the edge. Somebody get the smelling salts.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the sad thing is that there isn't really anything you can do but sit it out and make sure they continue to drink their bottles and fluids. They get blisters down the throat so it can make the latter tough. Claire had a really bad case. She cried for about two days straight and refused food for three days. Poor baby. I had her in long sleeve pajamas and socks for an entire week and bathed her once in the morning with coconut oil and once more at night with Dr. Bronner's Soap. I was so paranoid about her blisters getting irritated and infected from crawling on the floor. Her little blistered body made me want to cry!<br />
<br />
Once they are fever free for 24 hours they are supposedly not contagious, but who can take their child out and not be publicly shunned (see previous leper reference)? She looks like she's had the pox! Parents would have picked up their children and run from us. I would have. So we stayed inside for a full week for good measure. It took at least five days for Claire to return to normal behaviorally, although the blisters are still healing and peeling 11 days later.<br />
<br />
Somewhere around Day 4 both she and I developed Cabin Fever. It's commonly found in both HFM child and caretaker. We looked out the front window a lot. Thank goodness the neighbors across the street were moving so we had some form of entertainment.<br />
<br />
It was also during this time that I tried to develop a love for TV in my child. I know, bad and desperate parent moment. Up until this point, it's been a rare occasion that we have kid's shows on and I have made it a point not to sit her in front of the TV. But...<br />
<br />
Nothing would make her happy because she felt so bad. I would hold her while she cried and she would want down. I would put her down and she would cling to my leg and cry with her hands up. This went on for at least two days. So I thought, what we need is some education on what you do when you're sick. You lay on the couch under a blanket snuggled up with Mommy watching cartoons. This is what all the other sick kids seem to do on Instagram. She wasn't having any of that. Ironically, I ended up finding comfort in Doc McStuffins and Little Bear myself so I just left it on. I needed to be reminded that there was a world out there. Even if it was a world where toys come alive and talking bears have fully furnished houses. (An aside, as much as I like Alaskan reality TV I would never make it secluded from civilization for more than a week. Obviously.)<br />
<br />
I'm sure Joey was a bit alarmed when he returned from his business trip. His daughter was wearing mismatched pajamas and socks and looked like she had gotten into a bout with Tracker Jackers. But she did smell like coconut. His wife meanwhile was just shy of crazy having been on a steady diet of baby tears, blisters, oodles of laundry, work and Doc McStuffins overload. Thank goodness for my neighbor, Seresa, who braved plague exposure to bring this Momma a yummy dinner and let me see another adult face during the week!<br />
<br />
Things are thankfully back to normal around here. Claire is still healing, but seems to be doing great! She is also taking four or five steps at a time. So much fun! We are excited to have been able to get out this week and be social. Ok, by social together we've really only gone to the grocery store and to lunch with Daddy. We are taking a break this week from the library and the Amazon just to be safe. Speaking of Amazon, do you think they make an inflatable bubble that I could put Claire in from now until she graduates college?<br />
<br />
If you would like to add 'Claire not losing a toe nail' to your church's prayer list, this Momma would be forever grateful.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-31950528480951760132014-08-13T19:45:00.000-05:002014-08-13T19:45:15.721-05:00She's 10 Months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAo_XYugn9SS5SOw9giVR4vEj393Gzw2vaXB1zz5AMumtfgjyF5mNt2WpYILTqn0NAXIoXlybJtW-E6PHVlUL31J8tJFnNLJF3v1au4bYNOScjBb1l6R5lKxnxKxj0PlVbT6RRERzDto/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+3+56+01+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAo_XYugn9SS5SOw9giVR4vEj393Gzw2vaXB1zz5AMumtfgjyF5mNt2WpYILTqn0NAXIoXlybJtW-E6PHVlUL31J8tJFnNLJF3v1au4bYNOScjBb1l6R5lKxnxKxj0PlVbT6RRERzDto/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+3+56+01+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I can't believe our sweet girl is 10 months! It's been flying by. Joey and I are constantly surprised to find a little girl in the crib each morning instead of a little baby girl. She's too big! Ten months crept up on us, but a lot has happened during this time. She's so much fun!<br />
<br />
<b>Eating</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPvJFt9o285C74eym1TZVLt_L11uOnOyBbGdGKMPRIS3g0PtIsmtSwMTk0z5Y5JNOYPuKiFgaLNvYsRf2crsRIbJhv4scdfVGm4zWox9xS2oOKisk26jJ_kPPgfUv0S0PYbcYVkUjy3Q/s1600/Photo+Jul+21,+3+55+40+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPvJFt9o285C74eym1TZVLt_L11uOnOyBbGdGKMPRIS3g0PtIsmtSwMTk0z5Y5JNOYPuKiFgaLNvYsRf2crsRIbJhv4scdfVGm4zWox9xS2oOKisk26jJ_kPPgfUv0S0PYbcYVkUjy3Q/s1600/Photo+Jul+21,+3+55+40+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was just a teething biscuit. No more teething biscuits.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last month Claire decided that purees were for babies. Since that time we've been doing all finger foods. She loves chicken, turkey and steak and the girl can't get enough green beans. The green beans must be from a can, none of the fresher frozen variety. However, canned peas are out and frozen peas are in. It's trial and error around here. I have to limit her cheese intake as it disappears immediately from her
tray. Her favorite fruits are mandarin oranges and pears. She also loves scrambled eggs. Oh, and she still doesn't like avocado. I do not understand this. It's the basis of guacamole! <br />
<br />
We have also discovered that she loves dog food. Doesn't like avocados, but loves dog food. Oh, and beets. What the heck is that about? Beets are to be forced upon children, not welcomed! Again, I don't get it. <br />
<br />
<b>Sleeping</b><br />
<br />
Well, we've officially lost the third cat nap (insert Mommy Dinner-Making Tears here). There are pluses and minuses to this development. It enables us to leave the house for as long as we need to after she wakes up from her afternoon nap and she goes to sleep right at 7:00 PM. The only negative is that she can get pretty tired around the old nap time, but refuses to close an eye. I'm sure she'll catch up to it soon. (please oh please!) She is still sleeping a solid 12 hours each night.<br />
<br />
<b>Movement</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyLFb0_hlO97bzsNT9z7vH8ov5hZ1elnF3VTzNRdEGZO1pHnpWsIbUDI9muUYMjUx00AzktFVjQKK56jQZxVFModQrv3ywIOMZYU_VxpyTJ-oWGcF8wNMtmRNJYtWKm_qI4pd50PKmi8/s1600/Photo+Aug+08,+6+57+56+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyLFb0_hlO97bzsNT9z7vH8ov5hZ1elnF3VTzNRdEGZO1pHnpWsIbUDI9muUYMjUx00AzktFVjQKK56jQZxVFModQrv3ywIOMZYU_VxpyTJ-oWGcF8wNMtmRNJYtWKm_qI4pd50PKmi8/s1600/Photo+Aug+08,+6+57+56+PM.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stand on this and fall forward with it to the ground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She took her first steps last week! She's only taken two at a time and then will crouch down, but she does this a few times each day. I'm thankful she's showing some timidity because she's been pretty kamikaze in the area of physical development.<br />
<br />
She pulls up on everything and walks around with support from one hand. She will stand unsupported during these sessions for a minute at a time. <br />
<br />
We think she may be a climber. She tests everything out for foot and hand holds like Cliffhanger. For instance, she pulls out the bottom of the oven and tries to climb up on it to reach the knobs. She will also try to climb anyone who's holding her. I'm a little concerned that the next step after walking will be running up a wall to do a back flip. I guess there are some positives: that would be YouTube gold and maybe we'd be on the <i>Today Show</i>...<br />
<br />
Claire loves to dance. This may be because she watches <i>So You Think You Can Dance</i> with Mommy while drinking her bottles. She hears music and starts doing the Cute Baby Bouncing Up and Down Dance. So precious! Joey and I have also learned the moves to this dance so we can help encourage it. Baby dance choreography is tough. <br />
<br />
<b>Play</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR3ZFhw-JOdCa7Hfgs6JvCHdg1souEt0Lm8JLTQPa1BpctP4qvGDqlG7q6xvlWYqhHkH9mfkAx4rj8wm8Pe3Z2sIXCzwmgJAyTwklrX4GZNQH__vt0cGhtnlI49cIDow0OBfViqtXXkA/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+2+44+43+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR3ZFhw-JOdCa7Hfgs6JvCHdg1souEt0Lm8JLTQPa1BpctP4qvGDqlG7q6xvlWYqhHkH9mfkAx4rj8wm8Pe3Z2sIXCzwmgJAyTwklrX4GZNQH__vt0cGhtnlI49cIDow0OBfViqtXXkA/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+2+44+43+PM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just knocking down a few of Mommy's towers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
She loves to knock down the towers of blocks that Mommy builds. She will cross a room to knock down a tower. It's core to her No Tower Left Standing mission. We will have to work on this before we play with older children. I could see this becoming a point of frustration.<br />
<br />
This little girl loves to play with her Daddy. They're favorite game of late is Claire-o-saurus Rex. Daddy stands up and puts her right in front him like a mask and they turn into Claire-o-saurus Rex and stomp around the house sneaking up on people. It's a family favorite.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mZtC5znd8Jxzs6MhV_4b_VvC7llearSjoJmXIw90uuIvVLx9jHoLxYGMHI6ErVBYAna3FYvtgXzwuIyuZgEJnmErYFzMARfzYzNiY4yV3_JfDEvUfVGjggHBnumRqgYFiwbkn3tAuYs/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+7+04+39+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mZtC5znd8Jxzs6MhV_4b_VvC7llearSjoJmXIw90uuIvVLx9jHoLxYGMHI6ErVBYAna3FYvtgXzwuIyuZgEJnmErYFzMARfzYzNiY4yV3_JfDEvUfVGjggHBnumRqgYFiwbkn3tAuYs/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+7+04+39+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little standing action, dress up with a basket cover and giving Giraffe some love</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lately she likes to crawl under things almost as much as she likes to climb. Claire is the queen of peek-a-boo and also loves to put things on her head or shoulders. Yesterday morning she spent half of it with a pair of pajama pants draped around her shoulders and gravitates toward accessories. She may have watched a few episodes of Project Runway with Mommy in the early stages of life.<br />
<br />
Her favorite books are those with action items for the reader such as Sandra Boynton's <i>Tickle Time</i> or Ann Dewdney's <i>Llama Llama Hop</i> where Mommy tries to illustrate the action words while reading. She thinks this is hilarious. So does Claire.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveXoRf8O4T5-dDVjG8NGWkXsnlsUz1FX-i3F0dBlwMP7ECQ64AVzBGrgNmdAz_7_ZILU0LKtn_ySp-ufwcJWnCSRv3wn4MLEpI8LQTagwzlQ1GmfcKnvtvvVUmA-TBinD4g8oHf8Dge4/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+5+55+06+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveXoRf8O4T5-dDVjG8NGWkXsnlsUz1FX-i3F0dBlwMP7ECQ64AVzBGrgNmdAz_7_ZILU0LKtn_ySp-ufwcJWnCSRv3wn4MLEpI8LQTagwzlQ1GmfcKnvtvvVUmA-TBinD4g8oHf8Dge4/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+5+55+06+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light and Fan Obsession</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She is obsessed with lights and ceiling fans. Her Grammy let her turn the lights on and off at her house and since then she's been hooked. I let her turn off the light in her room when it's time for bed. She loves this! Her obsession can appear creepy to the casual observer as she just stares at the ceiling every so often and raises her hand to it. (insert Twilight Zone music here) Ironically, 'Light' was my first word as a child and I'm wondering if she might choose it too.<br />
<br />
Despite choosing stuffed animals over dolls, Claire is a people person. She loves being out. If she is in a fussy mood, we need to get out of the house. As long as there are people to watch, she's good to go. She will stare at someone and smile until they smile back. Sometimes I think to myself "Oh honey, that person looks like they may not be in the mood to smile.", but it never fails - they always smile back. She'll make you feel pretty good about yourself.<br />
<br />
<b>Growth and Development</b><br />
<br />
Claire is 19 lbs 11 oz and and 30 inches. She is currently wearing 12-18 months.<br />
<br />
<i>Teething</i><br />
<br />
She's had the bottom two teeth since three months and has been working
on the rest for a while. At her check up the
pediatrician checked her mouth and said "Wow, she's going to have
a mouthful of teeth in no time!" And sure enough, the upper tooth to
the right of her middle tooth area is out. It's seems odd the order that
they have come in, but oh well! We can see another bottom tooth and her
upper middle teeth are on their way as well. I'll kind of miss her
smile with only the two little bottom teeth though!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWISYZGIFStu0i9OcqyqnKiHHhLXke-A7EDOFCR4Szs1sbqQ1OXW0tEtWhM0YOka5Ehxil4-AkUfPpCIY3hps1Hr_N5lDF5vb64RJMUnH5qlwzVPuLAS58U0l5m4jTOmYiSicsrOtFk7U/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+2+49+39+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWISYZGIFStu0i9OcqyqnKiHHhLXke-A7EDOFCR4Szs1sbqQ1OXW0tEtWhM0YOka5Ehxil4-AkUfPpCIY3hps1Hr_N5lDF5vb64RJMUnH5qlwzVPuLAS58U0l5m4jTOmYiSicsrOtFk7U/s1600/Photo+Aug+13,+2+49+39+PM.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully aware that this is "a no"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>That's a no</i> <br />
<br />
I feel like she's been sincerely testing me for the past two months and I
go back and forth on what she understands about the word 'no'. These
are the no-no's in our house: the fireplace, trash can, electronics, eating books, standing in the bath tub, getting into the
dog food or chewing or his kennel, crawling into the dishwasher and pulling up
the outer pieces of the play mat and chewing on them. This is typically the daily stuff.<br />
<br />
I distract a lot, but it only goes so far and I want her to learn as we go. I'm pretty sure she does understand that she's not supposed to be
doing some of these things. When she gets mad she will go
straight for the books and chew on each one or she will rip up the edges
of the play mat and chew on them. All while looking at me with a scowl
on her face. I shudder to think about the teenage years. I don't know where she gets this strong willed trait from.<br />
<br />
<i>Affection</i> <br />
<br />
She is also showing more distinct signs of affection. She puts her head
to yours or on you. It's her version of a hug or
kiss. It's precious. She also shows affection toward her stuffed
animals. She will crawl up to her bunny, monkey or frog and bury her
face into them. How many times can I say "It's so precious" in a post?<br />
<br />
A
side note, we bought her first doll a few weeks ago and while she loves
to play with her tiara, bow and the ruffles on her dress, she does not
show any affection toward her. Princess Doll has been scooped and
outnumbered by the native Stuffed Animal Posse.<br />
<br />
<i>Humor</i><br />
<br />
Her sense of humor has definitely developed. Making funny faces always results in her little laugh. Equally entertaining is watching Mommy or Daddy yawn or sneeze. She cracks herself up as well. Usually this happens when she's talking to herself in the car or in her high chair like she's practicing her stand up routine and she'll just break out a funny face and laugh.<br />
<br />
Have I mentioned that this girl is awesome? Each day is more fun and I can't wait for the Fall when we get to be outside more and don't even get me started on holiday fun! Oh and it's her birthday season too! I'm excited about it and sad about it all at same time. Love each new stage, but also a piece of me that wishes I could freeze time. I don't think Claire feels the same way. She's ready to go. So...we are too! Bring it on 11 months! Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-16463091031992885662014-08-06T16:38:00.000-05:002014-08-06T16:38:01.755-05:00All In A Day's WorkSome of you may already know that I am working part time from home and working in the same job, but from my dining room table. I am so thankful that I work for a company that will allow me the option, but from time to time I do question my sanity. I guess I'm a working stay at home mom. (although truly all moms who stay at home are working - no doubt!). It's been a challenging hybrid to make work!<br />
<br />
Here are the things that make my work day a little...different: <br />
<br />
There may be a pea on Friday.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClH2wVf9fzRo6OQXHdiv3MQ1ydF7zF5eV8whSYuMkcekCo0dEcvbtBIWmD9RV3uqiafIcjxvUXgLez-uu55U362tuyb0eAaVHsE7lMWGkZccbDK__hEGfpjATxx0JzwT33oEIfhvzseQ/s1600/Photo+Aug+06,+3+10+50+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClH2wVf9fzRo6OQXHdiv3MQ1ydF7zF5eV8whSYuMkcekCo0dEcvbtBIWmD9RV3uqiafIcjxvUXgLez-uu55U362tuyb0eAaVHsE7lMWGkZccbDK__hEGfpjATxx0JzwT33oEIfhvzseQ/s1600/Photo+Aug+06,+3+10+50+PM.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I am constantly telling the piles of laundry or dishes to "talk to the hand" while I'm working. They're literally staring at me over my right shoulder. I can feel them. <br />
<br />
The high chair doubles as extra work space. I'm sure Google will implement this for all their employees once they see this. (Note for Google - it only works sans-baby)<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbpc-4XdTWYhXYUlwwMqU2_sB1f5Gyk-1PXaIEk82PhSX9yQC5IEp1ZmrGIHoBhM_YkL8ij9zV3cAI_qKQnZA3lMM_Fot4XFlFYxx4WPGRPSDCmjOWF2bR2ZeyjL6LZ0AH6Z9cofa8S4/s1600/IMG_2186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbpc-4XdTWYhXYUlwwMqU2_sB1f5Gyk-1PXaIEk82PhSX9yQC5IEp1ZmrGIHoBhM_YkL8ij9zV3cAI_qKQnZA3lMM_Fot4XFlFYxx4WPGRPSDCmjOWF2bR2ZeyjL6LZ0AH6Z9cofa8S4/s1600/IMG_2186.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
There is a good possibility that I must dance and/or widely mouth phrases to a curious audience while on a conference call. (These people have no idea what's on the other side of the line.)<br />
<br />
I'm ok with my co-worker falling asleep on the job.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJveFDGX-YzlsaO2rCZwOGW8KVPzoF5CeY_rPrb6AdbbZIDVsUXPhxKQW0lnUws1g9xxFtQds7Us7u_H7U5y8cB2AfvplCmB55FdDDa4lvR385ymkIyFAAAgO81-xb6Oo_G5JI9CeFv4Y/s1600/IMG_2280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJveFDGX-YzlsaO2rCZwOGW8KVPzoF5CeY_rPrb6AdbbZIDVsUXPhxKQW0lnUws1g9xxFtQds7Us7u_H7U5y8cB2AfvplCmB55FdDDa4lvR385ymkIyFAAAgO81-xb6Oo_G5JI9CeFv4Y/s1600/IMG_2280.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Although, this same co-worker is a bit of a brown-noser.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I have a second job in surveillance at all times.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtEnZydBa_Se5So-UpWORIzpTg_2ZmCszyv0eFAvzns6DJ2OwDbZH19HpeqZDbD66WQRw70Zbw9DUdMJinuiYXisn69Fe9A4gmbHf5DtU7bgFVvl7TJmR3bBzTjl21OKxQkxfag9ZOg4/s1600/IMG_2419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtEnZydBa_Se5So-UpWORIzpTg_2ZmCszyv0eFAvzns6DJ2OwDbZH19HpeqZDbD66WQRw70Zbw9DUdMJinuiYXisn69Fe9A4gmbHf5DtU7bgFVvl7TJmR3bBzTjl21OKxQkxfag9ZOg4/s1600/IMG_2419.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I truly may whistle while I work. Or sing You Are My Sunshine. Or make raspberries. Or suddenly burst up from my chair while saying "No, no, no, no!" in an effort to re-locate my co-worker to an area that has less problem potential.<br />
<br />
Spin toys and paci's are the new paperweight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1byBRF_B3CP7Wm8s4QqrgkIBEwr2EdRfflJimSEZu3npehzLEWojom_KPKHuCTzkKaDFyUIs5EmXnr4GnLS78RZbeG44MwMU01tdI-p0BJ5-KbXZi5UiqPAdEfjefQkGUvPJqRQd1ik/s1600/Photo+Aug+06,+4+20+37+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1byBRF_B3CP7Wm8s4QqrgkIBEwr2EdRfflJimSEZu3npehzLEWojom_KPKHuCTzkKaDFyUIs5EmXnr4GnLS78RZbeG44MwMU01tdI-p0BJ5-KbXZi5UiqPAdEfjefQkGUvPJqRQd1ik/s1600/Photo+Aug+06,+4+20+37+PM.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
There is a good possibility that spit up is on my shoulder. Or maybe it's yogurt. Or banana. The possibilities are endless.<br />
<br />
By far, the best thing about my new job is the view.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Who needs a corner office?Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-69690638387328173262014-07-18T11:05:00.000-05:002014-07-18T11:05:33.432-05:009 Months and Some Change Update<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDKBOptKt7tFQqYYTBPPC4fM20-eLaceTtIDj4qGZK9cF8ldC-PKhqesD89oZI3CxwZFE7zE5nPJgQtOcQwZGjBzyJ9jRmHt3R2a9qOU3XqutEH0Enw-UYYlCyTw-gTm4yrGNbt8gSMs/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+36+32+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDKBOptKt7tFQqYYTBPPC4fM20-eLaceTtIDj4qGZK9cF8ldC-PKhqesD89oZI3CxwZFE7zE5nPJgQtOcQwZGjBzyJ9jRmHt3R2a9qOU3XqutEH0Enw-UYYlCyTw-gTm4yrGNbt8gSMs/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+36+32+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Things are moving pretty fast around here. Especially certain things, or rather certain people. Specifically, a little girl named Claire. Holy smokes she's fast!<br />
<br />
I haven't updated since she turned six months. Ouch. Maybe this is because I have spent every day since then chasing this little ball of lightening around the house. She started crawling right about that time. She started speed crawling at six months and three days. We're now in warp speed mode. I'm estimating that I bend over to pick her up and re-route her from danger at least 432 times a day. There is a good chance I will look like Quasi Moto within a few more weeks at this pace.<br />
<br />
Here's the 9 month and some change update:<br />
<br />
<b>Eating</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUFciD8Zznqtj09pTTCSYjsZYiUIhCgGWp1sT_1i4Xn3aSS4PA0lvGrDjRt-goXeNBABB4UZeJSG0yMEdwpthBtkXu5vRDih8tvw0oamhBN-zuvf4NJYu5DMT2w3mVZi4Hh0kcPqpeWI/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+39+33+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUFciD8Zznqtj09pTTCSYjsZYiUIhCgGWp1sT_1i4Xn3aSS4PA0lvGrDjRt-goXeNBABB4UZeJSG0yMEdwpthBtkXu5vRDih8tvw0oamhBN-zuvf4NJYu5DMT2w3mVZi4Hh0kcPqpeWI/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+39+33+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>We are just finished with a phase where we didn't like to stop to eat because that means you have to stay in one place. Thankfully we have moved on and are back to a normal appetite.<br />
<br />
She still drinks four bottles a day, but now eats a solid food breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.<br />
<br />
We are making the transition from purees to soft solids. I had fun getting creative in making her purees, but this solid food stuff is just as fun. Her favorite foods are yogurt mixed with fruit puree, green beans, grapes, mozarella cheese, butter beans and chicken. We just tried banana pancakes (banana/egg pancake) this morning. It was a new flavor and texture so she was a little unsure. We are going very slowly on grains so the only one that she has been introduced to thus far is quinoa. Oatmeal will probably be next on the list.<br />
<br />
Favorite snacks are Happy Creamy Yogurt Bites and celery sticks (cut large they're great for teething).<br />
<br />
<b>Sleeping</b><br />
<br />
Very thankfully we are past a rough sleeping phase that last nearly two months. She woke up a little before 5:00 AM for nearly two months. Ouch. We've worked our way back up to a wake up time between 6:45-7:00 AM.<br />
<br />
She still takes three naps a day. I think we're about to drop the early evening catnap though. Oy.<br />
<br />
<b>Movement</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTkzLyK146kC3IjMuWnbUlCHjucZcnwcQhMV8BW5no1GwrUAULbgmqU2g8bOMfeRoRCnCiZlRFRK84t0IRvkjUweT1Wc041_m-PhvJp9o412WcIKy4cRKI45MD1h6UMkqFtJ20aHNbLw/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+22+01+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTkzLyK146kC3IjMuWnbUlCHjucZcnwcQhMV8BW5no1GwrUAULbgmqU2g8bOMfeRoRCnCiZlRFRK84t0IRvkjUweT1Wc041_m-PhvJp9o412WcIKy4cRKI45MD1h6UMkqFtJ20aHNbLw/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+22+01+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>As mentioned, this girl is constantly going. She crawls everywhere. I will say that she has slowed her walking desire now that she's able to speed crawl. Although she pulls up on everything. She climbs on top of laundry baskets, through and over chair rungs and will completely bulldoze over myself or Joey if we're on the floor in her path.<br />
<br />
Diaper changes have also become a battle as she goes into an alligator death spiral when anyone attempts it.We found a magic plastic coat hanger would do the preoccupying trick for about two weeks, but we're now over it. I'm physically worn out after each diaper change.<br />
<br />
She will also stand for about 30 seconds or so. She's had some pretty rough tumbles and has become more timid with each fall. She also likes to walk with help.<br />
<br />
She claps! She loves it. We love it. There is a lot of clapping in our house.<br />
<br />
She dances. Or we think it's dancing. She bounces up and down and gets very excited - especially when music is playing.<br />
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<b>Play</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEXRa0nYgv9N1PwecD4Ga3cq60qsgGFXkSlulhkX89Vpjl7IUiLoHZerWlRNDnQfhke2oEGFpFVvlF8wz_vMkJmLiD-Y1vJi78GBh5gc7Xx4OUxhl2MutkhdzDra3aO8OJGUCx2Pmfys/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+13+11+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEXRa0nYgv9N1PwecD4Ga3cq60qsgGFXkSlulhkX89Vpjl7IUiLoHZerWlRNDnQfhke2oEGFpFVvlF8wz_vMkJmLiD-Y1vJi78GBh5gc7Xx4OUxhl2MutkhdzDra3aO8OJGUCx2Pmfys/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+13+11+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>I love watching her play. She sings to herself while she plays with toys or explores. It's so sweet. She loves her piano and and her new push walker toy. Her favorites are always unconventional toys, meaning things that aren't toys at all like spaghetti scoops, Gatorade bottles and Tupperware.<br />
<br />
Books are still fascinating. I'm afraid I say "Books are for reading, not eating" about 500 times a day. She opens them, looks at the pictures, looks at me and then into the slobbery mouth they go. She loves books with animals and also those that have touch and feel textures.<br />
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She loves to watch our dogs. She'll stand at their kennel doors with hands on the gates and just smiles. Between the three of them there is a lot of drool in our house.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51eTovu3jJLx805K97Qhh1lNSea1uTW0O_nXOaV35d9ibRDaDqnv1uwgWPIQeAdvyCpA_bj8ylpMoeprGac7IiiosWYxq5tlwvkNko9C_gWS4dDvt4OXzxnYovf1sQoC5T1zebKCtXpA/s1600/IMG_2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51eTovu3jJLx805K97Qhh1lNSea1uTW0O_nXOaV35d9ibRDaDqnv1uwgWPIQeAdvyCpA_bj8ylpMoeprGac7IiiosWYxq5tlwvkNko9C_gWS4dDvt4OXzxnYovf1sQoC5T1zebKCtXpA/s1600/IMG_2417.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>Looking out the window is a favorite pastime. She watches the birds, neighbors and looks for her Daddy to pull in the driveway.<br />
<br />
We've gotten into this habit of showing her videos of other kids from Facebook and Instagram. She laughs and smiles. She also happens to love videos of herself. Hence why we started showing her that she's not the only kid who has videos.<br />
<br />
Claire loves going on walks around the neighborhood and meeting new people. A new favorite is going to the library for story time. We read books, sing nursery rhymes, play with new toys and meet lots of new babies. Claire pretty much ignores me the whole time and finds new people to play with and toys to chew on. I don't take it personally. She definitely isn't timid when it comes to meeting new people.<br />
<br />
<b>Growth</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDRK7ytMHX2ELQDVQqN0EiDjgIxuDSmJPpOdtxORqOq3vj0-H8jejtppIBZ76PfpXEyo5o9kfr4ZoPlxJgUWOZN0EdNNiwb2HHFpvUXJ_JvFP4SVQuAmeoUhPJgSo_i24o0-SPRnq4ds/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+16+46+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDRK7ytMHX2ELQDVQqN0EiDjgIxuDSmJPpOdtxORqOq3vj0-H8jejtppIBZ76PfpXEyo5o9kfr4ZoPlxJgUWOZN0EdNNiwb2HHFpvUXJ_JvFP4SVQuAmeoUhPJgSo_i24o0-SPRnq4ds/s1600/Photo+Jul+17,+9+16+46+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>We're still awaiting this update physically. I just know she's lost that little baby look. So sad!<br />
<br />
She's had the bottom two teeth for several months, but just this past week we have noticed that two top teeth are coming through! It's no wonder. It think the slobber to tooth ratio is 32 liters to 1 tooth. She's like a little slug leaving a trail! A sweet little slug though!<br />
<br />
We've also noticed that she is picking up on the meaning of our words. When we ask her if she wants to read books she actually looks to her books. Same thing with asking her if she wants a bottle. She immediately becomes fussy and looks at the counter where we mix it all up.<br />
<br />
She says 'mama' and 'dada', but we're not sure she associates with us. We don't care, we love it anyway! She also makes many other repetitive syllables and loves to talk to herself. I thinks she's fascinated that she can open her mouth and make sounds. <br />
<br />
I know I've said it before, but so far this is the most fun stage! She shows us a new smile or expression nearly every day. She is just so precious and each day we are more thankful for her. Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393802724373519501.post-47429150706197030962014-05-15T09:07:00.000-05:002014-05-15T09:07:31.787-05:00Bananas, Spit Up and Baby Tears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylV8IT63V8nzizSor9hBsQ8MdPOvtULjKc6LrAgZQ9rmEL63WgUB6QUY5edAeqBO3TbDCzjXk1u276h4bDGyHepXgwZxJdGGd4gYgdznDeXm4Favw7tulEP1sEMlFxT2BaN0W8Er3ULc/s1600/Photo+May+14,+1+13+54+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylV8IT63V8nzizSor9hBsQ8MdPOvtULjKc6LrAgZQ9rmEL63WgUB6QUY5edAeqBO3TbDCzjXk1u276h4bDGyHepXgwZxJdGGd4gYgdznDeXm4Favw7tulEP1sEMlFxT2BaN0W8Er3ULc/s1600/Photo+May+14,+1+13+54+PM.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div>
Bananas, spit up and baby tears. It's what I'm wearing today and
all before 8:00 AM. Washing it down with a cold cup of coffee. Claire is
officially mobile as well as asserting her independence in all areas. </div>
<div>
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<div>
A
new crawler and tile floors are just not a good mix. I feel like a baby
concussion is right around every corner. In fact, we already had a
wipeout this morning that resulted in angry tears for nearly ten
minutes. Breakfast was a battle of the wills. She wants to feed herself
and Mommy has to play keep away with the spoon. I feel like I'm playing
some sort of weird Mom video game. Just trying to get the food filled
spoon through to the safe zone, aka Baby Godzilla's mouth. I provide my
own sound effects. Baby Godzilla thinks this is funny.</div>
<div>
<br data-mce-bogus="1" /></div>
<div>
At
seven months and mobile, Claire is into everything. She makes a beeline
for all that looks unsafe. Pulling up on sharp cornered dressers,
unwieldy and germy Diaper Genies or chewing on door stoppers. But then
again, who wouldn't want to gnaw on a 3 inch piece of coiled metal?</div>
<div>
<br data-mce-bogus="1" /></div>
<div>
The
sweet little look in her eye as she crawls toward her Mommy is
priceless. I love it. Out of all the door stoppers in the house to
choose from and she wants to come to me! She crawls to me with her
bright brown eyes and drool dripping mouth and my heart just melts. And
then I realize she just wants to use me as a prop to stand up. Oh well. I
still love it even if I am being used.</div>
<div>
<br data-mce-bogus="1" /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbx932Dx4NrWJRPro8ETH-aHHBARlUKF5AUMdN90I9c0Z4IY6pyFpMxDVaBnK1LtO4qFmUSUqLtbtHuBAZyaoOZz-A5qGgHue3nNkQSWgl44sECqnYCHN0BxcRnpaZQTj15XSP3UcImY/s1600/Photo+May+07,+12+21+18+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbx932Dx4NrWJRPro8ETH-aHHBARlUKF5AUMdN90I9c0Z4IY6pyFpMxDVaBnK1LtO4qFmUSUqLtbtHuBAZyaoOZz-A5qGgHue3nNkQSWgl44sECqnYCHN0BxcRnpaZQTj15XSP3UcImY/s1600/Photo+May+07,+12+21+18+PM.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I
asked her if she might be interested in hiring a stunt double, but she
declined as she likes to do her own tricks. Other valid options are to
turn the house into a padded cell of sorts or wrap her in bubble wrap
like the Michelin man. I'll probably opt for Michelin Baby for cost
effective purposes.</div>
<div>
<br data-mce-bogus="1" /></div>
<div>
Time
to get anything done for myself is incredibly limited as I'm either
working during a naptime or on Claire duty which is now all hands on
deck. Case in point? Yesterday I did my makeup in the reflection of the
microwave door because anywhere else was too risky while Claire was in
play. I am in this very moment lifting my head out of the work and Mom
Trenches to get a breath of fresh air before the day really begins to
pick up speed. You know how that is!</div>
<div>
<br data-mce-bogus="1" /></div>
Will
I change my shirt? Not until after 10:00 AM. What's the point? There's
one more stop on the liquid accessories that have been added to today's
wardrobe. Bubble gum flavored antibiotics is on all the Paris runways
this season. Oui?Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01110941031686938157noreply@blogger.com0