girls' day!!

Although I've been off all summer due to my job as a teacher, on most days Adeline and I are with other people.  Whether I'm at my parents' working or we are out doing and going along with other people too, we are almost always with others except for the time we are at home.  Now don't get me wrong...every single minute I'm with my little girl is an absolute blessing.  Nothing short of it.  However, I wanted to take some time yesterday to have a day planned around just us two and just be together.  It was nothing spectacular or completely out of the ordinary with our plans, but it was a day centered around just us.  It was wonderful.

We took our time in the morning and hung out in bed for a while being lazy.

We started the day at our local library for Toddler Time at the library.  We hadn't gotten the memo that they stopped Toddler Time until fall, but we did stay and play with Adeline's grandma "Gee" and her cousins, Hadley and Gentry.  We had so much fun playing with the books, reading the books, and playing with the toys they have for little ones! Adeline also went crazy over all the book character stuffed animals they have on display.  We hadn't really explored what all they had for little ones...but now that we have and she went crazy over it...we will definitely be enjoying the library even on days when there is no Toddler Time.  We also made sure to check out some board books before leaving to enjoy for the next week or so.

Our next stop was lunch at Chick-Fil-A.  We got a surprise call from Justin saying that he could meet us for lunch if we didn't mind him crashing our girls' day.  What a fun surprise!

It was time for some shopping after that! We headed to Target for some items we needed and to shop for a local student that we adopted to purchase a backpack for.

I forgot to get a pic while we were in Target, but Adeline was pretty happy about our backpack and lunchbox selection. :) She spent the entire time we were in Target, talking and yelling.  Her paci didn't contain the noise.  She thinks everyone shows up places just for her.  Crazy girl!

Our next stop was Homegoods because what's a girls' day without some time to browse through Homegoods?

Again, forgot a pic, but here she is checking out our purchases once we got home! :)

Our final stop was by our local Goodwill.  It was nearing nap time and Adeline fell asleep on our way home, so I just propped her in her seat into a cart and cruised the aisles while she slept soundly.  I was so excited
about our find! A Fisher Price play table for $2.89!! It was only missing one small piece and works perfectly.

Can you tell she was sleepy? ;)

After a nice wash and sanizitizing, it was as good as new and she went to town with her new toy! Goodwill jackpot!

We finished our girls' day by having a quiet night at home as a family grilling homemade pizzas and watching the Opening Ceremonies to the Olympics.

Perfect day!

Long Live Summer!

Summer is here and that means you’ll be taking more photos of your family soon.  Between beach trips and BBQs, photographs are a great way to capture these summer memories.  Shutterfly’s Long Live Summer Photo Contest on Facebook launched Monday July 9th and runs through August 12th!

 

This Long Live Summer contest is a multi-week summer themed photo sweepstakes with instant win prizes!

Win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever.  All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on the theme of the week.  You even get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering! You can enter at any point during the 5-week sweepstakes period.

via

PHOTO THEMES:

•       Week 1(7/9): Americana

•       Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

•       Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

•       Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

•       Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

(This is currently the third week of the contest!)

PRIZES

•  Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!

•  Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week)

•  Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.

•   Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot

•   Shutterfly Sweepstakes - Official Rules

We are having an amazing summer including just getting back from a wonderful family beach vacation and I can't wait to enter a photo from our fun times from the summer! I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures from summer as well!

Enter here! Good luck and Long Live Summer!

This post is sponsored by Shutterfly.

four years!

Today is hubby and mine's 4th Wedding Anniversary! I am beyond blessed to be married to my best friend....the man that chased after me like crazy when we were in college...and continues to chase after me.

We've been through some amazing times within our four years of marriage.  Here are a few highlights!

Year 1- Getting married!, honeymoon, bought a house, my first teaching job, adopted Boone (our Beagle/Lab mix)

Year 2-trip to Texas, trip to DC, Mississippi mission trip with church

Year 3-Trip to Disney World, Justin graduated with his bachelors, found out we were expecting Adeline, a couple beach trips, Alabama mission trip with church

Year 4-sold our cars and bought new ones, Adeline was born in November! (TONS of firsts), turning into "Mommy and Daddy", my transition from full-time teacher to part-time art teacher/part-time stay at home Mommy, family trip (just us 3) to the Smoky Mountains, family beach trips

I'm sure I'm leaving some things out.  And these are the big things in our life.  The in-betweens and all the small moments are where I find myself feeling the most blessed to be married to such a wonderful man.

Nights sitting on the couch together.

Laughing, being goofy, and making fun of each other.

Hitting a drive-through and eating dinner in the car, sitting by the lake.

Walks.

Watching his reaction when he walks through the door and sees Adeline after a long day of work.  Seeing her huge smile directed right back at him as she reaches for him.

Long talks about goals and dreams for our family.

Paper, rock, scissors over small household chores.

I could go on and on.

I love you babe.  Happy Anniversary! Here's to many, many, many more!

xoxoxo

then and now

Feeling the need for a little reminiscing...

Here classic "ohhhhh" face. 

Then-

Now-

Her monthly photo shoots.

Then-

Now-

ps. this is another classic "Adeline" face these days...it's accompanied by loud breathing through her nostrils. crazy girl.

The pool.

Then-

Now-

After starting this, I could literally keep posting these one after another.  Maybe I'll leave others for another day.  But oh my, what a sweet gift it is to watch this little girl grow and develop.  Although, selfishly, this growing up thing hurts my mommy being deep down, it also causes proud and joyful tears to well up in my eyes...just knowing that every single day is such a precious blessing.

Thank you, Lord, for gifting me with this Mommy role.  I'm humbled by this breathtaking, amazing, precious life.

8 months!

Dear Adeline Grace,

            How are you 8 months old?! This was definitely the month that flew by the fastest! I feel like it was just last week that you were turning 7 months old.  This month was full of your personality shining and developing even more (how is that possible?!).  You continue to amaze us!

So what have we learned about you this month and what have you been up to in your eighth month of life?

Here are some of your firsts this month...
 

On 6.10.12, you went to the church nursery for the first time.  You cried a lot.  We are still working on this!

On 6.14.12, you got yourself from laying on belling to sitting up on your own by yourself for the first time.  Now, already, you get up and down like it's nothing.  You are a pro!

On 6.15.12, you sat yourself up in your crib for the first time during a nap time.  You were very proud!

On 7.4.12, you celebrated your first 4th of July.  We went to your grandparents' and had a cook-out and swam!

This month you also:

-started full-on crawling! (belly off the floor!)

-starting waving "bye bye"
-put together two words: "hi da da" (Your daddy worked very hard with you on this...and now you say it all the time!)
-started saying "buh"--we think it's Boone, because when you say it and then we call for him to come to you, you smile and get excited
-tried gobs more food (zucchini, mango, spinach, etc.) so far you are still liking everything
-started drinking from a straw sippy cup instead of the nozzle kind
-started making music with your toys (you love to have a toy in each hand and bang them together)
-brought table food to your mouth for the first time...baked potato (your face was priceless)
-started being able to pull-up on occasion
-using the walker toy
-putting puffs to your mouth (you hoard them with your hands and grab as many as you can, and then will occasionally put a piece to your mouth)
-started showing some signs of separation anxiety (you are a momma's girl!)
-started getting yourself to your knees sometimes and sitting like that while you play
-started crawling or reaching for mommy or daddy when something is too loud
-started laughing when you get tickled
-got a second tooth on the bottom!

So what do you like and dislike?

You love…

-swimming (you are getting such a tan, missy! your little chunky rolls have white lines in between them.  So cute!)
-talking (hi dada, buh)
-being around people/people watching
-making funny faces ("ohhhhh" face and a nose scrunched up face)
-your mommy and daddy (and Boone, of course)
-playing and crawling around on the floor with your toys
-your huge teddy bear that your daddy bought you
-touching people's faces (and pulling mommy's hair)

You dislike…

-diaper and clothing changes

-when you are awake in your crib and Mommy or Daddy leave the room

-sitting still for any period of time

-going down for a nap (unless we're in the car)

-having shoes on (you kick them right off)

-chunky food

 

What are your sizes?

You are in 9 month sleepers.  You are also in 9 month clothing.  You are in size 3 diapers when in disposables and are in second snap setting on your cloth diapers! You still have lots of chunks and rolls....love it!

I'm not sure of your weight and height this month...your next check-up is at 9 months!

What are your eating habits like?

You nurse around 7-8, 12-1, 4, and 7 for anywhere from 5 to 12 or so minutes.  You also wake sometimes once or twice during the night and nurse.  I am trying to now limit you to doing this just once a night so that you eat more during the day.  This happens usually around 3 or 4ish

You are also eating "real food" at each meal. You eat oatmeal every morning, you eat a fruit and/or veggie at lunch, and a fruit and/or veggie as well as oatmeal for dinner.  You are eating everywhere between 4 and 8 oz. a day of baby food.  We have gone to mostly jarred natural and/or organic baby food right now.

You love drinking water.  We have to limit you and make sure you don't do it before your meal...it fills you up! You also still love to chew on items that we put into your little food sack.

How is your sleeping?

You threw us for a loop with your sleeping this month! You have never been a napper, but really started seeming to boy-cot naps, even though you still seemed so sleepy.  We are in the midst of doing some loose sleep training again.  I think you being able so sit up in your crib on your own has really messed with you.  You get very frustrated and mad that you are in your crib and fight sleep like it's your enemy. You also get really unhappy when you wake up and realize we aren't in the room.  So here's what it looks like tentatively right now while sleeping is "under construction" and, knock on wood, we are making headway:

Bedtime routine and down for night: 7 pm

-you wake-up numerous times throughout the night often; we do all sorts of things to work on it right now as we try to wean you from being picked up and helping you through this phase of separation anxiety...patting you on the back, talking to you, shhhh-ing you, sitting in your room, etc.

Wake-up:  between 7 and 8 (you seem to get 12 hours of sleep no matter what.  You tend to adjust your wake-up time according to how much you were up during the night)

Nap: 9ish for around 30-45 minutes

Nap: 2ish for around 30-45 minutes (on occasion this will be a longer nap)

So what makes you, you this month?

You are one spunky, feisty, full-of-life little girl.  You are so full of joy and fun.  You are so smart and inquisitive.  You soak in the world around you and go with the flow as you are introduced to so many new experiences and interactions.  You never stop and are always, always on the go.  You love meeting people and often will make eye contact and talk to people that mommy and daddy don't even see until we hear you saying "hiiii" to them.  You have never met a stranger.  We laugh at you, squeeze you, and kiss you constantly.  We often just sit back and watch you and we stand over you as you sleep just shaking our head in amazement.  We cherish every single memory and day we have with you while we get so excited thinking about all that God has in store for you, little one.  We pray for you daily, that you will love God with all your heart and will find your purpose in life...both in and through Christ.  You have made our days so bright and our life so much sweeter.  We love you so much, baby girl.  You are our world and we are incredibly grateful for this most amazing gift God has given us in you.

                                                                                                    Love,

                                                                                                    Mommy and Daddy (Dada)

jarred baby food and disposable diapers

I wrestled in my mind with what to title this post.

I'm sure you're saying, huh? Such mundane things.

But to me, these are two very small items in my daily new mommy life that have significant messages to how God is currently shaping me and molding me.  How he's digging into my heart and rearranging some things.  Getting rid of some things.  Replacing some things.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

-Galatians 5: 25-26 (NIV)

Or I really like the way The Message words it...

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.  That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse.  We have far more interesting things to do with our lives.   

Each of us is an original.

-Galatians 5:25-26 (The Message)

So let me break this down before I go any further.

Every detail of our lives. (Yep, God is teaching me through jarred baby food and disposable diapers.)

We will not compare ourselves with each other.  (The heart of this post.)

Each of us is an original.  (That means every. single. one. of. us. There are no exceptions.)

This mommy thing is so precious.  The best role I've ever played.  By far.  God designed me to be a mommy.  I just know deep down He did.  It feels so natural to me.  So right.  So perfect.  And how neat is it that He is using this exact same role that I feel so confident and bold in to strip my heart down and humble me.  Our God is an amazing God.

If you've been reading for long or know me in real life, you know that there are many things I have written about or shared about or you've seen me do in action as a mom.

cloth diapering

making my own baby food

"sleep training"

made my own bows

DIYed tons of her nursery

couponed

etc

etc

etc

We could go on.  But this is where I want to explain.  We read blogs, we chat, we see each other in our everyday lives living out this mommy thing (or if you're not one, you may see and read things that churn ideas and thoughts for how you will be in the future as a mommy).  We see the good mostly.  We see the comparisons.  We focus on the "how she does it part".  We get caught up in what everyone else is doing.  How it should be done.

God has been teaching me a lot about this comparison thing.  He said it right there in scripture, it's not healthy.  It's not how we're supposed to live.  Maybe you've seen the quote floating around Pinterest..."Comparison is the thief of joy."  Seriously, y'all.  True story! God is teaching me to let go.  To be the mommy I know is best for my baby.  Not for anyone else's judgements.  To be confident in how I do things and to reflect.  But to know that this mommy thing is different for everyone.  We're all original mommies.  We aren't here to beat ourselves up.  Or to beat each other up.  We are here to fulfill the role God has blessed us with.  So many times, I read blogs or see something or hear something that makes me think, "oh...if only I could do that...could be that....could...." That's not healthy.  I want to live my daily life pointing to God.  He's the one that provides daily grace in my life.  He's the one that makes me the original mommy that I am.  What I am in His eyes is all that matters.

So I don't want to be someone that you may read my blog or see me in person and think, "oh...I wish I could do it that way...or be that way..."

So to help you out.  To keep you from comparing like I often do.  Here's two things that I don't do...

I don't cloth diaper full time.  We've had crazy leak issues with the cloth.  We use disposables unless we're just around the house or heading to Adeline's grandparents'. 

I make some of my own baby food.  Not all.  I am a big believer in organic food and staying away from preservatives and artificial stuff for Adeline for health-sake.  But she eats jarred baby food.  Gasp.

To me...those two things have been huge in how God has taught me to let go.  (Those are just two in a long list.)  Those two things represent something that I have heard so many times from other moms that it's so neat that I do that...that they wish they could be a "good mom" and do that.  Gross.  No.  If you're baby is happy and healthy and you're doing the best you can.  You are a good mom! What works for one...doesn't work for the other.  We are all originals.  The other side of this is, no.  I do not consider myself better than you or that my way is more perfect than yours because of these things.  It's what works for our family.  We are all originals.  God said so.  Not one of His children is better than another.  I believe it whole-heartedly.

So where do we go from here?

We show grace.

To ourselves and to each other.

We lift each other up in the Spirit as He does for us every single day.

We live transparently in a way that points to the Savior.  

He gets the glory for this mommy role.  Not us.

And we let go and live the life of the Spirit in every detail of our lives...jarred baby food, disposable diapers, and all.

7 months! (a week late)

Dear Adeline Grace,

            You've done it now.  You're now closer to being a one year old than a newborn...you are over half way there.  I can't believe it! This month was nothing but amazement and wonder as we saw you grow, mature, and learn new things daily...sometimes it seemed hourly.  We can't believe how fast you are growing up before our eyes and how much you are starting to come into your own and develop a personality.  You even showed this in your 7 month photo shoot! I could not get you to sit still for two seconds to snap a picture.  You are a mover and groover (always have been)!

So what have we learned about you this month and what have you been up to in your seventh month of life?

Here are some of your firsts this month...

On 5.2.12, you started blowing raspberries while eating for the first time while eating sweet potatoes.  This equals one big mess for you and Mommy and Daddy.  You still do this...and you know to do it when you don't want to eat at this point.

On 5.13.12, you helped Mommy celebrate her first Mother's Day with you in this world.  You and Daddy surprised me with breakfast in bed, a picture of you and me in your pool and a "Best Mom" charm for my charm bracelet.  You also tried peas for the first time on this day and like them (still a go-to food).

On 5.22.12, you slept overnight in your crib for the first time! I cried, but knew it was best for you at this point because you were starting to be disturbed in the morning in our room when we were getting ready.  You did great! The second night, you slept from 8pm-8am without waking up at all.

On 5.27.12, you started saying "Dadada" intentionally and you will often repeat it now once someone says it.

On 5.28.12, it was your first time swimming in a big pool.  We swam at your grandparents' and you LOVED it! You floated around in your raft.

On 6.1.12, we took our first family vacation as just us three to Gatlinburg, TN.  We had a great time! You really enjoyed being with Mommy and Daddy and took it all in during the trip! We swam, shopped, hiked, ate out, and did all kinds of things.  Of course, you were a trooper the entire time and did great in the car!

This month you also:

-started blowing raspberries while eating (especially when you don't want to take the bite!)
-started sitting up on own with NO support
-started sitting up in the bath (we still use your little tub inside our big bath tub)
-started army crawling like a pro
-tried all kinds of new fruits and veggies!
-started eating "real food" at each meal
-knowing your name and responding when we say it
-started babbling "dada" constantly
-started playing games with people (i.e. peek-a-boo)
-started showing your strong-willed and stubborn side
-got your first tooth--your bottom right tooth

So what do you like and dislike?

You love…

-swimming
-talking
-being around people/people watching
-chewing on your Sophie Giraffe
-cuddling with your bunny blankie to go to sleep
-your jumperoo and exersaucer
-squash and pears
-the zoo and watching any kind of animal
-crawling/scooting around and grabbing things
-swinging

You dislike…

-diaper and clothing changes

-when you are awake in your crib and Mommy or Daddy leave the room

-being in a bouncy seat or swing

-white potatoes

 

What are your sizes?

You are still in 6 and 9 month sleepers.  You are in mainly in 6-9 and 9 month clothing.  You are in size 3 diapers when in disposables and are in second snap setting on your cloth diapers! We also had to start nighttime, size 3 diapers because you started peeing through your normal dipes almost every single night.

You weight between 17 and 18 lbs. by now.  You seem to be getting long to us...please stay a baby forever!

What are your eating habits like?

This was the month we introduced solids! You now nurse around 8-9, 12-1, 4-5, and 8-9 for anywhere from 5 to 12 or so minutes.  You also wake sometimes once or twice during the night and nurse (because it's easy to get you to go back to sleep ;).  This happens usually around 1ish and 4ish.

You are also eating "real food" at each meal.  By the end of 6 months, at breakfast, you eat 2-3 tbsp. of rice and/or oatmeal cereal and 1-2 oz. of fruit.  At lunch you eat 1-2 oz. of fruit and 2 oz. of veggies.  At dinner you eat 2-3 tbsp. of rice and/or oatmeal cereal, 2 oz. of veggies, and 2 oz. of fruit.  By this point you are eating about 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/2 cup of fruit daily.  Most is made by me.  However, you eat some jarred, especially when we travel.

You are also drinking water from your sippy cup and when we just put a cup or glass to your mouth.  You also love sucking on your food pouch when it has ice or frozen bananas in it.

How is your sleeping?

You go to bed around 8-8:30 and go down really well after our nighttime routine and nursing.  You sleep until 8 or 9 (12 hours).  However, you do wake up usually a couple times right now during the night.  I nurse you and put you right back down.

You nap in the morning usually about 2 hours after you wake up (10ish) and a couple hours after lunch (2ish).  You nap anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.  You still cat nap in the evening and always fall asleep during car rides.
This month I learned that your magic sleep number seems to be about 14 hours (however you get it) and you do great sleeping in sleep sacks (we use that instead of a blanket in your crib).  You also always have a quick, loud cry/whine right before your fall asleep.

So what makes you, you this month?

We are simply in awe of you.  However it's possible...we love you more and more each day.  Often, so much it hurts! We sit and just stare at you and have decided without a doubt that God truly broke the mold with you.  We thank Him daily on numerous occasions for blessing our lives with you. We adore you.

                                                                                                    Love,

                                                                                                    Mommy and Daddy