Top 4 Nursing Tops: my picks
Three weeks after Tanner was born our family was in town running errands. Dinnertime approached so we decided to stop and eat at a new restaurant in town called Wing Stop. I am not sure why, but it seems that the majority of wing eaters are men as Ashlyn and I were the only female [...]
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Breastfeeding fashions, burp cloth blunders & black fly encounters
After visiting Minnesota last month, I was reminded how thankful I am that we don’t have to deal with insects in Idaho, at least not nearly to the same degree. However, all it took was a look through some of the photos from this past June to remind me of a bug encounter in my [...]
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How to make your own chemical free dryer sheet alternative
Finding natural alternatives to chemical household products is something I enjoy so when I recently came across a recipe for homemade dryer spray to replace dryer sheets I was curious to give it a try. As I often find with homemade recipes, the ingredient list was short and it was quick and easy to put [...]
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Vinyl complications and mosquito tests
Hey mamas! It has been a while since I have written a “fresh” blog post. I think I am about ready to open the door to blogging again. We are having a ton of fun around here with new baby Tanner. And lucky for you his presence creates a slew of new blog material. I [...]
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C-Section Recovery – Tips for Recovering Quicker & Easier (part 2)
Thank you to Elizabeth McGee (who is the author of the Worry Free C-Section Recovery guide and C-Section recovery blog) for her guest post on the topic of C-Section recovery. This is part 2 of a 2 part post on this topic. Part 1 was covered this last Monday. Recovering from a C-Section can be [...]
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C-Section Recovery – Tips for Recovering Quicker & Easier (part 1)
Thank you to Elizabeth McGee (who is the author of the Worry Free C-Section Recovery guide and C-Section recovery blog) for her guest post on the topic of C-Section recovery. This will be a 2 part post with the second part following up this Wednesday. Recovering from a C-Section can be tough, although there are [...]
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Homemade Earache Oil Recipe
Earaches are awful. I am well acquainted with their pain having been the victim of many earaches growing up. Thankfully as an adult I have not had very many, but I can greatly sympathize with my children when their ears begin to hurt. During our family’s last bout of ear infections, I was left with a period of a few hours between when my ear began to hurt and when I would be able to see the doctor. I decided to use this time to try out another homemade herbal remedy from my Herbal Nurturing guide. To be honest, I got the recipe started and then my husband was kind enough to finish it up while I laid in bed. Here is how you make it:
Happy Father’s Day to the man in our home
We are terribly blessed to have a great father in our home. I interviewed our kids to ask them some questions about their dad and learned a few new things. First of all, Hunter informed me that his dad’s favorite food is Broccoli and Cauliflower. The only thing that shocked me more than that was [...]
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Tanner Chase is here!
I am so sorry. . . It just occurred to me that while I have been enjoying our sweet little arrival, I have totally neglected to update you on his arrival! Well for those of you who maybe didn’t have a chance to see the news on our facebook fan page . . . Tanner [...]
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Juicing at home: our family’s story
A few months ago, our family was hit with sickness. Everyone except Trent had a runny nose, which then led to ear infections. And although Trent was spared ear pain, he had his own share of problems because he was fighting pneumonia. We were a pretty sad bunch. While vegetating on the couch one afternoon during this time of sickness, we saw an infomercial for a juicer.
We didn’t have to be convinced that the benefits to juicing are extensive, but I will highlight some of the major benefits here:
Honey, it is time. . .
I can hardly believe that it is time! Time to get the luggage sets down from the garage and pack my hospital bag. We are going to have a baby! Today is going to be a big day and after being on bed rest for the last several weeks, I am pretty excited. I am [...]
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Get out of the way
The evening of May 31st.
That is when I will go into the hospital to walk the final steps toward meeting the baby who has been making his mark on my womb for the last 36 weeks.
Two more weeks. It seems close, surreal really.
Too big for the high chair, not big enough for the chair: enter mylittleseat
Growing up is a big job. So many things to learn and do. So many new things to try. . . Quinten is so over his high chair, he is almost two years old after all and the high chair is just too babish. On to the big boy chairs! Oh wait, hold on there [...]
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Intently focused
How is it possible that after writing more than 65,000 words about the death of our infant son Sawyer that my vocabulary has seemingly dried up?
On this 3rd anniversary of his birth, I find myself at a loss for words. I grapple not only for words to describe my feelings, but for the feelings with which to attach my words. My heart has learned how to live with the loss. My mind has discovered ways of processing the pain and I feel secure in my weakness. I have found my strength in Christ. I recognize the inherent frailty of my earthly existence, which is magnified by the chalenge to invest my fleeting time in a deserving manner.
It is a daunting task: to live with intention–one that often haunts me. Not because I fear my days are limited, but because I fear that my potential may not be reached. I fear looking back and seeing missed opportunities and unreached potential.
Diary of a bed resting mom & a fun giveaway
Life on bedrest is a little bit of a change for me. I wanted to share some recent highlights from my time on the couch: Making funny faces with Ashlyn. I know she is better than me but I am out of practice, give me time I will improve. Watching Quinten unravel the toilet paper [...]
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Last Year’s New Year’s Resolution: become a bookworm
I realize that I am about four months too late to be writing a post about New Year’s Resolutions, but don’t let that distract you. You may remember when I shared a few food resolutions with you last year, however, in re-reading that post I saw that I never got around to sharing my personal goal: [...]
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Misson: Get yourself some updated family photos!
(Be sure to read to the end of today’s post if you are looking for tips on getting your own family photos taken)
During our recent trip to California over spring break we stopped and visited some friends who live in our old town of Redlands. This is always bittersweet because we don’t have enough time to see everyone we would want and never have as much time as we would like to visit with those that we do see. That said, it was really lovely to catch up with the two families we saw. As a wonderful bonus, the orange trees were in bloom and the smell is nothing less then heavenly! One of the friends we visited also happens to be an amazing photographer (and an amazing mom—read more about her story here). I happened to come prepared for a family photo shoot and she was kind enough to take us to a beautiful grassy field nearby to capture some memories. She had her work cut out for her as she attempted to get a shot with everyone together and looking at the camera at the same time (a difficult task with three young kids)!
My unexpected trip to Labor & Delivery
My “office furniture” changed a little this weekend. Remember how I mentioned that a few weeks ago I had some spotting? This last Saturday my bleeding returned and my doctor recommended that I go directly to Labor & Delivery and be checked out.
Let’s have that drumroll again: gender discovery part 2
Back in January I had an ultrasound. The gender of our baby was put in an envelope to await the return of my husband from Mexico. After his return, we joyfully discovered that we were having a girl.
Two weeks ago I had some light spotting and went to see my doctor. After an exam and a non-stress test, it was determined that everything looked good. No specific determination for the bleeding was found and I was asked to follow up if it returned. A few days later the spotting did return so I went back to see the doctor once again. This time they did an exam and then an ultrasound. Thankfully, once again, the baby looked fine and they saw no explanation for the bleeding. The ultrasound technician did however discover something unexpected. From what I have been told, this technician really knows her stuff. She has been doing ultrasounds for YEARS and apparently has pioneered some important things in her field. That said, after doing ultrasounds for a few decades, I got to be the first “incorrect” gender prediction she has made. We are not having a girl as we were first told. The shocked technician checked, then double-checked and then triple checked to confirm that we are definitely and surely having a boy! She kept shaking her head in disbelief while saying “I can’t believe it, I had a perfect record until today!”
How to: eat out with young kids
Eating out meant something entirely different before we had kids. Frankly, we had no true appreciation for the joy of simply sitting and enjoying a slow, relaxed meal! Things are different now. Apart from planned “date nights” where my husband and I revisit the “old days” of eating out, we do, on occasion, brave the [...]
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Steering Wheel Lists
Each morning I drive Hunter to school. The drive takes about 30 minutes. Although it is not ideal to have to drive so far, we have discovered many useful things that can be done during our drive time, one of which is homework. Each week Hunter’s teacher sends home a newsletter with his weekly spelling [...]
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The pause after the last period
*ahhhhhh* I just clicked “send” and prayerfully bid farewell to my completed manuscript and book proposal as it whisked away in cyberspace to my contact at D.C. Jacobson (the literary agent I would like to have represent my book). I should hear back within 4-6 weeks. Part of me would love to hear back from [...]
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Let’s organize the rest of our day
Judging from the traffic and views from the last “Let’s organize our day: the evening routine,” post and the fact that it was featured on the StartUp Princess website, my guess is that this topic of routine and organization is one that is of interest to us moms. And who can blame us? Sanity is a [...]
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Boy or Girl? Drumroll please. . .
What a weekend it was! Trent returned home from his two week short term mission trip to Mexico. It was SO GREAT to see him again. What appreciation comes from being apart. It reminded me once again how blessed I am to have him home so much and for those of you military families, wow, [...]
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