Our Life, So Far

Little GIRL blue

2011-11-30T09:55:00.000-08:00

I just finished these longies for Little Miss Raya Sunshine! Blue is my favorite color, so when I see blue little girl clothes, I have a hard time resisting them so when I got this blue wool, I knew exactly what it would be for!
I haven't done the icord (Tie) (Planning on doing it in the white) and they're a little long.. I'm hoping to wait to have her wear them until she starts walking so they stay a little nicer than the ones she crawls all over in!

Meet Ella

2011-11-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

This is Ella, she's our new "puppy". (She's about 3) We just brought her home a few weeks ago.. She's adjusted to life here pretty well and she seems to really like the kids. She loves to play ball and dig holes.

Halloween

2011-11-04T22:05:00.000-07:00

We had a very fun halloween. This was our first year to go trick-or-treating in the small little town we live in, even though we've lived here 3+ years. They do small-town style here and it's great. All the businesses do trick-or-treating in the afternoon so we went... and then we went door-to-door in the evening too. Everybody's so friendly and the older folks loved seeing the kids.. it seems like they get just as much or a bigger blast out of it as the kids!
Jessi was a little shy at first and didn't want to say anything, let alone "Trick or treat" but after a few houses she was tearing up to the door, ringing doorbells and shouting "TRICK OR TREAT!" when people opened the door.
A few pictures from that afternoon:
My dragon and ladybug. (minus the wings.. they were pretty big!)

My witch and one of her best friends, the spider.

Such an adorable witch. She was pretty sure she wanted to be a mean witch, but how can this face look mean?

The meanest witch face she could muster up. Here with her other best friend, the cheeta.

The group of kids we were trick-or-treating with.

Time to go home!

Oh, and much to our disappointment, Wade & I didn't dress up. Maybe next year, we both love to... we just didn't have time to find a costume or two.

Raya's Big Red Longies

2011-10-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

I finally got Raya's Husker longies done!! They're the first pair of longies (besides one doll pair) that I've made. They took forever because I ran out of yarn and the co-op I ordered more from took forever. So, halfway into football season and they're finally done. ;)

She thinks she's pretty smart for pulling herself up on things now.

Since I don't have facebook...

2011-10-06T20:10:00.001-07:00

Here's my two "would be" status updates for today:

~The problem with Jessi and connect the dots is that she always wants to take the long way around to the next number... by the time she's done you can't even tell what the picture was supposed to be.~

and

~Ever find that after having kids, you tend to cross you legs when you have to sneeze?~

The first step.

2011-10-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Project #1

2011-10-05T20:13:00.001-07:00

Before:

During:

After:

Hello World.

2011-10-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. Too long. How are you? I hope fabulous.

Me? Well, I'm doing all right. It's fall and the weather is gorgeous... for now. It's the now that I'm holding on to.

Jessi is 4 1/2. Going on 13. She finally has a best friend in the next door neighbor girl and they're inseperatable when they're both home.

Barrett, he's a little stinker. He's talking a lot more now, it took him a little while. He's loving both of his sisters and is going thru one of those "adjustment" periods to getting a little bit older. He'll be 2 in 2 months.

Raya 7 months old. She's such a sweetheart. She was rolling around by 3 months, scooting at 4 and was crawling and sitting before her 6th month. For a few weeks she's been finding shorter objects that she can use as a prop to stand up.... she's just not satisfied learning one thing and sticking to it for a while!

Wade, he's still himself, still working his butt off for us. <3 He's very much looking forward to a short hunting break in November.

As for me, I've decided to make a few changes in my life. Hunter convention was a little over a week ago and it was so good to be there and just open myself up to what would be for me.

One of my strongest desires I came home with was to close my facebook account. Crazy, huh? But I did it. It's been 4 days and honestly, and adjustment. But a good one. I really need to get my life and home organized. I was spending way too much time online.

I've started a weekly and daily to-do list for myself that includes the simple chores to keep myself focused and on track. I've also started a menu-planner so I can know ahead of time what I'm making for supper, have the grocery for it and get it going.

The biggest reasons for needing change was because I was falling so far behind it was just making me feel depressed about it so that I couldn't just get started. Also, I started a job this past week. I'm working evenings, starting directly after Wade gets home from work. I know we'll both go nuts if things are a mess around here. (and I don't just mean the toys!)

I'll get some updated pictures on here soon! I'm looking forward to blogging again.

Vote for us? Please?!

2011-06-08T13:48:00.001-07:00

Would you guys PLEASE go here: http://bit.ly/mKcj8k

and vote for our picture?

Please?

Thanks!

You can vote once every 24 hours.

What's going on in my life

2011-05-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Hello, Blog. It's been forever. Once again, I'm sorry for neglecting you.
I'd like to tell you that I've just been so busy always cleaning, cooking, changing diapers, feeding babies, feeding kids, playing with kids, rocking babies and kids that I just didn't have much time for you, but.... Wait, yep, that's it.

So what's up with us? Well,

Wade's started on our gardens. We're adding another garden this year.

A little play time...

I've been cuddling babies...

Raya's been being cuddled...

Jessi's loving the warm weather and loves playing baseball.

Barrett's loving the warm weather too. He's just getting over his second round of pneumonia in 2 1/2 months.

As for me, besides (trying to) cleaning, cooking, feeding, playing, etc. I've just recently started selling Norwex products! I LOVE this stuff! I'm going to have to do another blog post for it, for those who don't know what Norwex is. But for now I have to take Barrett to his Dr. appointment.

But here's my website. ;)

http://dalaynamcknight.norwex.biz

Raya Elaine

2011-03-09T12:30:00.000-08:00

Short story: Raya Elaine was born Friday morning into her Daddy's hands, at home. Quite the over-achiever already, she insisted on racing the Midwives--- And won by about 10 seconds. 1:27am. 7 1/2 lbs and 20 1/4" long.
Pics at the end in case you want to skip the story. :)

Long story:
Thursday evening about 9:45 I decided to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. I was having light contractions and they made me feel like I needed to go every time one happend. I was hoping to get some sleep as I was already sure labor was going to be happening soon, so I grunted and groaned my way out of bed and just as I got to the toilet I had a small amount of fluid come out. I wasn't sure if my water leaked or if I wet myself!

I called our Midwife to let her know something was happening and then tried to go back to bed. I started having stronger contractions, but they were only coming every 15minutes and lasting maybe 30 seconds so I didn't think it was much.
I couldn't sleep though so I came downstairs to clean and get things ready "just incase". After a while, I noticed that they were coming quicker, but still pretty short and far apart. They felt wierd to me too. They were strong with a sharp pain, but just in the lower part of my belly.

Finally about midnight I texted my friend Sara and told her I thought this was it. She said she'd head over right away. After a few minutes I got up off my birth ball to unlock the door and had a good gush of water. Finally, the sign I needed that I was ACTUALLY in labor!
I called our midwife on my way up the stairs- 12:10am. She said she was on her way and would call J, the other midwife and tell her to head over.
I made it upstairs and the contractions really started. Told Wade that this is it and I'd want my birth pool asap. These weren't like any contractions I had with the other 2 kids because of the sharp pain with them. I was pretty sure baby was sunny side up, but decided not to think about it.

Made it back down stairs and started timing them - 3 minutes apart lasting 1 minute. Sara was there by then and she & Wade started setting up.. blowing up the pool and the air mattress.
At some point, while the pool was filling, Wade came over and put counter pressure on my lower back. It felt very good.
Finally the pool was ready. But, I got in and it wasn't as warm as it should be. It still felt ok though. Wade put the warmer in but then after a few minutes took it out.

He started putting counter pressure on my back again and after about 2 contractions in the pool, I had one where more water gushed out-- And then I felt her move down quickly.
I told Wade "They'd better get here soon!" He replied, "Who?" LOL!
With the next contraction I felt down but wasn't sure what I was feeling. I knew she was right there, but her head must not have been what I was feeling at the moment because I had a moments worry that she was breech. I decided just to take my hands off and not say anything to worry anyone.
Sara asked if she should call the Midwife and I nodded, but she didn't see me. With the next contraction, her head was coming out. Sara jumped for the phone but the Midwife didn't answer.
I told Wade, "She's coming. Right now." He just calmly replied, "That's ok, we've got this. when her head was coming out I told him "Her head's coming out!" And he said "It's fine, I've got her!" He was SO calm about it.
Her head came out and after a moment, her whole body came sliding out. I didn't even push! I was in a sitting position on my hands and knees. Wade was behind me and camly caught her. He was awesome.
I was able to turn around and grab her right away. We sat there with her for just a few seconds and our Midwife walked in the door! She didn't answer her phone because she was just pulling up!

A minute later the other midwife walked in, heard crying and went "Oh! I missed it!!" M said "I did too!"
Raya Elaine was born at 1:27am, 1 hr and 17 minutes after we knew "This is it!" and called our midwife.
And, she was posterior. I had been right.

Afterwards was touch and go for a little bit. Just like with Barrett, the placenta didn't want to come out right away and I actually wasn't bleeding at all. No blood had come out with her.. there was none coming out at all. After an hour I was given some herbs. We went over to the toilet to try on there and as I was getting there, a huge gush of blood came out.
After I delivered the placenta, they were helping me back to the living room where the mattress was and I got very dizzy, so they laid me down on the kitchen floor. They gave me a spoonfull of honey to get my bloodsugar up. More blood so my midwife gave me a shot of pitocin. After a little bit, she gave me another one in the other leg.
Then after a few more minutes, she gave me a shot of something else-- can't remember what.
I cralled back to the mattress and kind of crashed. I felt like I needed to puke but couldn't. I was starting to think about taking a chunk of the placenta because I was misrable and knew I needed something quick. Just about then my MW said "If I thought I could talk you into it, I'd see if you'd take a bit of the placenta." I told her I thought I should do it as I had already been thinking about it.. I knew I needed something else and soon. She decided to cut a chunk up really small and fry it. So I ate it. And it wasn't bad!! I was able to easily eat the whole thing. It tasted like duck.
I was feeling much better then thankfully. It makes me even more glad that I wasn't in the hospital for that. I know a Dr. would have ended up trying to manually extract the placenta and they would have given me a whole bag of pitocn and freaking out about the bleeding. I am thankful to have a Midwife who could deal with it though.

In the end, Wade & I both got what we both wanted.. Me, a quiet calm birth with pretty much just me and Wade and Wade catching. Wade got his experienced midwives to take care of any problems that could come up.
I am so thankful. In the past week before she was born, I was moved to pray that this would be a gentle birth, that I wouldn't loose control like I felt like I did with Barrett's birth. (His was one never-ending contraction at the end.) That I could accept the contractions and the pain and focus on the baby.
My prayers were definitely answered.

Sara got this shot just after she was born. Right before our Midwife walked in.

Jessi checking her out. Jessi missed the birth, again. There was no time to go get her when we realized that the baby was coming NOW.

That afternoon. First outfit!

Ready to go to town on Monday for a checkup with our Midwife.

This morning!

Giveaway

2011-03-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

No, not my kids. Although.... :D Kidding, kidding.
No, baby has not come yet. And yes, someday I'll do a blog update. You'd think I have all sorts of time on my hands. And I do. I'm just lazy.
So, what I'm here to tell you about is a headband giveaway.
They're super cute head bands for little/baby girls.
You can read/enter the giveaway here: http://jessecabellemarephoto.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/new-headbands-a-giveaway/
And see her etsy shop here http://www.etsy.com/shop/jbphotographyprops?ref=pr_shop_more
so go enter! But don't count on winning. because I'm going to.
:D

It's late at night...

2011-01-23T20:59:00.000-08:00

And I'm tired. And sore. But I have "blog guilt" because I haven't updated in a long time!

Besides, if I go to bed, I'll just lay there and not be able to go to sleep anyways, so why even try? (Pregnancy insomnia!)

December 1st was Barrett's first birthday. We celebrated that weekend.

I made his cake... A monster cake for baby monster. <3

He wasn't too sure about it at first....

But quickly became very accepting!

And begged for more every time he ran out :D

This kid LOVES his baths!

Jessi loves to play outside. (I need a newer picture, we now have about twice as much snow!)

Too bad it's way too cold for her to be out most of the time! :(

Rosy cheeks!

Barrett's favorite thing to do.... Pull everything out of the "diaper dresser"! The little bag he's holding has "booty bits" in it (Soap bits to put in our spray waterbottle for a cloth wet-wipe solution.) and it's his favorite thing to play with! I've had to hide it several times.

Most recent full belly picture.. I think this was at 30 weeks. (33+ now)

32 weeks. With part of my back-fat cut out. Haha.

Things have been going good here. We have about 6ish weeks until Baby time. Her diaper stash is complete. And probably a bit overboard... What?! Did I just say that? No.

I've been feeling very well. Which is honestly a huge relief from my pregnancy with Barrett. It wasn't so much that I didn't feel well with him, I was just in SO.MUCH pain all the time.

I've been very thankful to be able to just enjoy this pregnancy.

Barrett's now walking all over the place. He still can't/won't stand up in the middle of the floor (unless he falls and doesn't go all the way down) but it's now his preferred method of getting around. We gave him a haircut the other day and it makes him look like a different boy! It makes me sad, he's getting so big. And now there's going to be another baby. Which in one way, makes me sad because he's still supposed to be my baby!

He's still nursing. There's been some times (now included) when I've been sure he's just about done because of different things, but each time, we get thru it! My milk has decreased and then came back several times now. Last week I was positive I was "all dried up" but it's getting better now. He has been getting goat milk ever since he turned one. We're about out of it, so after this is gone we'll just go to regular whole milk.

Jessi~ She's a clown, a sweetie, a pest, and everything in between.

Every morning after Wade goes to work, she wakes up and crawls into bed with me. It's our special cuddle time.

She's SO excited for her baby sister to get here. Every time we get something (like a diaper....) in the mail for her, she gets so excited about it.

Her birthday is in 2 days. I can't believe it! We kept asking her what she wanted for her birthday and she always told us, "A party! With everybody there!"

So, a party it shall be.

And hopefully I'll get pictures of it up sooner!

I'm done doing daycare now. 'Nuf said on that. Haha.

So yeah..... there you go.

Step by step cookie making instructions

2010-11-23T06:29:00.000-08:00

First, get everything ready. Including your stool if you're just not tall enough.

Then, mix all your "wet" ingredients. Take a little snitch to make sure it's going ok.

add "dry" mixture.

Add in cheesey smile

And watch the spiffy kitchen-aid mix it all up. Smile again for good measure.

Breath a sigh of relief because Mom says that NOW you can FINALLY add the chocolate chips.

Put them in, hurry! Before she changes her mind.

Throw in another cheesey smile while wondering how many snitches you can snitch before you're told to quit.

at this point, you MUST do a taste test. Otherwise you're whole batch might be ruined.

Hehe, this is not my first snitch. Those stinking cameras, sometimes it's hard to get just the right picture, so you have to keep trying...

Wonder if you can convince mom to forget about baking the cookies and just eat the dough.

Put cookies on the pan and bake for a very looooong 15 minutes

Then put in the cookie jar. Because now it's supper time..

And mom is mean and says I can't have one until I eat my supper.

Just as a warning, she might make you put on your pajamas first too.

But all's forgiven when you eat the cookies.

A goalmark passed...

2010-11-11T12:24:00.000-08:00

We just officially paid of more than 5K of debt.
It took 6 1/2 months. We've also put aside $1,200.00 for our birth fees for this baby.
I know that's not a whole lot, really. But it's much better than what we were doing before. :)
Things will go slower / get tighter soon, but we'll deal with that when we get to it.

How do you...

2010-11-10T14:09:00.001-08:00

Plan a proper 1st Birthday party when you have nobody to celebrate it with.

Stupid hormones.

Ding ding ding!

2010-11-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

Timer has popped!
I think it's timing is a little off though....
It's funny, with Jessi only the very tip-top stuck a little bit out. With Barrett, about half of it stuck out. This is the first time it's come all the way out! And it was all of a sudden.
22w 3d

So, we had our U/S on Tuesday. I was very determined that we wouldn't find out what we were having this time around.

Well, Here's the story.

When we found out we were expecting again, we decided we were going to wait a while this time to tell people. SO, that ment that we didn't tell Jessi either. Because she likes to talk.

About 3 days after we found out, Jessi asked me out of the blue if I had another baby in my belly! I didn't want to say yes, so I just asked her if SHE wanted there to be another baby. She said Yes!

Then, about 2 days later, she started telling me that I had a baby sister in my belly. Ever since then, it's been all about the baby sister. She wouldn't hear ANYTHING to do with "him, he, boy, brother". She would correct you if you said otherwise. (When we finally told her that yes, there was a baby in the belly at 13 weeks when we told family, she just looked at us like "why are you telling me this? I already knew that.")

Wade felt very strong that this baby was a girl. And he's been right with t he other two.

I felt very strongly that this was a girl. But I refused to say so, as I've been wrong with the other two.

So we go in for the U/S. I don't want to find out. Wade does. Jessi doesn't care, because she knows already.

The tech ask's us if we want to know. We kind of laughed at each other and she says she'll wait until the end of the u/s and ask again.

We have lots of fun, they had a brand-spanking new machine and it was awsome!! You could see things you couldn't with their "old" (only 3 years old!) machine. The regular images were almost as good as 3D!

Then, I think I see something. But don't say anything.

I ask Jessi if she really wants to know if it's a girl or if it was really a boy. She answers, "It's a girl." We ask again in a few different ways and she looks at us like we're dumb and says "It's a girl!" She called the baby a "she" or "sister" the whole time. Asked about every 2 minutes what "she" was doing on the screen.

Then, I see another image. And I know. So I tell the tech that she might as well comfirm it becuase I wasn't going to know, but not "know". That's no fun.

Here's some pictures:

The only 3D image we got. The tech waited until the end and by then the baby had put on quite a show and was finished. So here the baby was folded in half, holding it's feet. We couldn't get a face image or anything.

And here's what ended up being the telling shot. I REALLY think that if it had been done on the old machine, we wouldn't have been able to tell. But you could see EVERYTHING with this one, so it was pretty clear. (click to make bigger)

So yes, It's a GIRL!

Blog depression.

2010-10-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

I think my blog is in a great state of depression.

It can't think of anything to say.

It never does anything exciting.

So it sits out-dated and boring.

My goal one of these days is to do a photo-log of one of my days. I don't know why. Maybe to prove to everybody exactly how boring my days are. Or maybe to see my day thru pictures and find things I can appreciate more.

I do swag bucks. Right now I have 2,457 swag bucks, which could get me $25 in amazon gift cards. I need to do more surveys to get more swag bucks if I want to use my gift cards for Christmas/birthdays.

You could sign up for swag bucks, start earning your own AND help me earn some by signing up here: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Dalayna

How's that for a sales pitch?

I'm a huge Nebraska Cornhuskers football fan. HUGE. (I'm not saying I'm huge.. just that I'm a major fan.. you know? Although, I am getting a little huge. But I'm the only one allowed to say that.)

For Wade's birthday I blew a bunch of money that really I shouldn't have and got us tickets to the Nebraska/Mizzouri game this weekend. I'm a little nervous. I'm that person. The one who gets so excited and wound up, yelling and screaming when we watch a game. And that's just when we're watching it on tv or listining to a game on the radio. Imagine how I'll be when I'm there in person!! This poor little baby trying to grow inside me. It's in for a rough day.

My daughter is just like me. Poor little girl. My favorite quote of hers from the last game we got to see? "Run you little freak, RUN!!" (Our punt returner was returning a punt which he ended up running 100 yards for a touchdown.)

She prades around the house on game day in her Husker clothes going "Goooooo Biiiiiiig Reeeeed... GO BIG RED!!"

I'm so proud.

I'm 21 weeks pregnant today. It's going so fast! Our "big" U/S is scheduled for Tuesday. We're not planning on finding out what this little peanut is. It'll be the final surprise.

I want a massage. And a day off. A whole day. (And night) And some really good food.

I want to go to Italy.

I have gorgeous children.

See?

(20 wks)

I've nothing clever to say...

2010-09-08T21:48:00.001-07:00

So I'll just post the picture.

14 weeks.

That about says it all.

New baby gates....

2010-08-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Spoil ALL the fun! (The kitchen was Barretts favorite place to go once he learned how to crawl... he's obsessed with the dog dish)

And then.... create a little bit of new fun!

I guess we're expecting....

2010-08-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Another baby. Or something like that.....

Jessi came to me today and asked me to take her "belly picture".

It looks like it's due very soon too, considering the leg sticking out.

Yummmm!!

2010-08-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

1st popsicle!

And yes, he ate the whole thing himself! (What didn't drip all over me anyways!)

I'm a nut...

2010-07-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

For Eco Nuts :)

Laurel said something on facebook about using soap nuts that reminded me I was going to post about these a long time ago!

I heard about soap nuts quite a while ago, but never looked into them. Then, our local baby store started selling them and I found out I could use them not only on my clothes, but on the cloth diapers too! (You CAN'T use regular soap on cloth diapers! You may be able to for a while, but more than likely, at some point, there will be problems. But that's for another day.)

So what are soap nuts? Well, first of all, the ones I have come from this company: http://www.econutssoap.com/

I've found they work very well! If I have a bad stain, I do have to use something for a stain remover but I'm ok with the extra step. Only recently have I started using them for Wade's work clothes and I do throw in a scoop of my mix of washing soda & borax for my own peace of mind. We wash everything in cold water except the diapers and very dirty towels, etc. so these last us a very long time!

In the box is a little pouch that you stick your soap nuts in and then you just throw it in the washer with your clothes.

I am still washing my diapers in Crunchy clean, just because I like it so much. I did try the soap nuts on them though, and they came out looking/feeling great.

Anyways, I love them because they work and you can't get much more natural than nuts! (Wade says they're perfect for me... lol. He calls me a hippie.)

You try reasoning with a 3 year old.

2010-07-09T12:35:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Barrett needed to nurse and Jessi decided she wanted to feed him. Our conversation went like this:

Jessi: "But I want to feed him!"
Me: "Jess, you can't feed him, you don't have any Mommy milk"
Jessi: "Yes I do, it's in my boob. I want to feed him!"
Me: "No you don't, silly! See, they're small. No milkies in there."
Jessi: "Yes there is!"
Me: "Sorry Jess, but until you have a baby of your own, there won't be real milkies. You can pretend for your babies though. Since Barrett came out of my belly, I get to feed him since I did all the work."
Jessi: "But I do have a baby!"
Me: "Really? where?"
Jessi: "In my belly....
Then she looks out the window and see's the pool.
"Oh! But I have to go swimming first!! I have to go swimming in the pool so the baby can come out!"
Then she walks off, arching and holding her back, moaning and groaning.

All this because she wants to feed her Brother.

Budget #3

2010-07-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Income: $3,120

4 walls:
Mortgage: $615
2 Cell phones: $110
Total Utilities: $113
Home/auto/life insurance: $143

Spending:
Grocerys: $400
Eating out: $100
Gas/oil: $300
Clothing: $50
Blow: $200

Debt: New Bal./Starting Bal.
Car: $202.15 ($6,407.23/6757.46)
Citi Card: $130 (6,811.79/8,278.63)
US Bank: $110 (9,880.50/10,210.50)

Left over: $646.00
$400 will go to the Citi Card
$246 will go into a sinking fund for car/house/etc. repairs as we already know the car will need tires on it this fall, new struts (or something like that.. that's "man speak" to me) and who knows what else.

Wade's moved to the night shift and has gotten the raise that comes with it. I'm not sure what it's going to change our income to yet but it will help a lot to make this go faster. They're trying to find a way to end the overtime at work, but for now we're grabing it for all it's worth.

Oh, and our garden is going to help with this too! We are going to have food coming out of our ears! Next post :)

I'm baaaaack!

2010-07-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

I've finally got my computer back! Back in May my hard drive crashed. On my brand new computer. Thank you Walmart, for strengthining my resolve to never shop there again. (Dell computer manufactured for WM.. not the same as a regular Dell computer!)
My brother in law got it all fixed up for me though, so it's back now! I'm back.

So what's been going on....

Barrett turned 6 months old.. (and then 7...) Pardon my bias, but I do believe he's the cutest little boy ever <3

He's come a long ways and looks quite a bit different than he did 7 months ago!

(Don't know if I ever showed these on here...)

Then, there's Jessi Bear.

She decided she was going to go off to Grammy & Papa's. For a week and 5 days. Hmmm.
Then she decided she was so excited to be there, she didn't want to kiss or hug me goodbye.

But me, being the mean old Mommy I am, I made her.

So she gave in.

For a second.

She had tons of fun but by the time she met up with us at Wade's parents, she was ready to go HOME!

And speaking of being at Jack & Ruths, Barrett had lots of fun loving on Memaw..

We had s'mores.. twice!

And we went jet skiing and Jessi thought that was grand fun!

Barrett just got his first hair cut!! It doesn't show much here, but it was getting a little shaggy!
Before:

After: (I cut it ;) )

And that's all for now folks!

*Oh, and I know that most of you have already seen these pictures, either on mom's blog or on facebook but whatever :) Some day I'll have pictures to share on here alone.

There's something about Jessi...

2010-05-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

There's something about Jessi. We're not quite sure what it is.

She can tell you which place is Applebees, Wendy's, Arby's, McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Taco bell, Chili's, and the list goes on and on. (Now, this makes us sound like we eat out a lot.. we really don't.)
I think that it's the fact that she's really good at memorizing. She knows pretty much all her books by heart and can read them right along with you.

But about 2 months ago now, I put a shirt on Barrett. The shirt said "Cowboy" and had nothing else on it.. just a black shirt that had the writing in white. (Actually, it's the shirt he's wearing in the "Sophie" pictures) It was the first time he wore it and we never said anything about what it said. We went to meeting that night and as soon as meeting was over Jessi told everybody: "Look! Barrett's a cowboy!"

Yesterday I was on Target's website and she came and sat on my lap.. and said "Target, Pay less!" Sure enough, on the page I was on, in bigger letters it said "Target.... Pay less.

(I thought this was a good chance to share these pictures of Jessi on here too, since I never did before! They were taken back on New Years Eve by my sister, Lynisha)

Here we go, Budget #1

2010-04-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

So, with our tax return money, we set aside our $1,000 emergency fund, paid off our stove ($577), our computer, ($600), other random stuff ($244), sent $800 to the Citi card, and set aside money for our trip down to NE, which hopefully we won't use all of!
Here's the budget we worked out:

Total Income: $2,930 (Not including Wade's overtime)

Monthly payments:
Mortgage: $615
2 cell phones: $113
Total utilities: $270 (It varies, so this is based off last months bill.. it should be lower since it's nicer out now.)
Home, auto (2 cars) and life insurance: $150

Spending's:
Grocery's: $400
Eating out: $50 *Not including trip, money set aside for that already.
Gas & oil: $240 *Not including trip, same as above.
Clothing: $40
BOLW/gifts: $375 (It was suggested to keep this high for now to cover anything we go over in, like grocery's, since we're still figuring out our budget)

Debt:
Car: $202.15 ($6,757.46)
Citi card: $120 ($7,478.63)
US Bank: $110 ($10,210.50)

Left over: $244.49.49 to add to debt payment.

Next step is to get all our spending money in cash to use to hopefully prevent overspending!

Barrett Loves Sophie

2010-04-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

Meet Sophie, She's Barrett's new friend. He loves her and I do too!
Sophie is made out of all-natural rubber and her paint is food paint. She's the perfect size for B to get his hands in and keep a hold of her. She's awesome for teething because he can just shove whichever part happens to be the closest into his mouth. He also loves that she gives him a little squeak once in a while.

"Mom...

How am I supposed to play with her when I need my hands to hold myself up?"

Yummm!

Thumb or Sophie?

Sophie wins!

I've got my eye on you!

Sophie's pretty nice to cuddle with too.

Mmmm, A rump roast!

Leg's pretty good!

Oh yeah, that's the stuff!

Getting a makeover

2010-04-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

We're getting a makeover. That's right, we're getting nipped & tucked. Going under the knife.
It will take a while to recover, but we know it will be worth it. After, the wrinkles will be gone. The excess flab will be gone. The assets will be bigger. That's right, I said it.

You've probably heard of the type of makeover we're going for. It's called the Total Money Makeover. (The Dave Ramsey plan)
Every month I'm going to write the previous months spending & etc. on here. I'm also going to put down our months budget.
My reasoning for sharing this is that it will help me take account for what we spend.
If you don't want to read it, don't. ;)

So here's where we're starting at.
We have 561.00 in our emergency fund so far. (561./1,000) As soon as our federal tax return is deposited, we'll have it finished.
We have $8,278.63 on credit card #1
and $10,210.50 on credit card #2
CC #1 just had $3,000 added to it because we sold our pickup 2 weeks ago and that was the remainder of the loan. BUT, selling the pickup frees up $500 a month for us to send to the credit card's.
So that's $18,489.13 in debt. (Excluding the house.)

Since our income isn't the exact same every month we're going to use the previous months income to make our budget for the next month. (So for May's budget, we'll use all the money we have from April, which will be plenty from the tax return. June's budget will be made from May's income.)

Taking that $500 from the pickup payment and putting it on top of what we were putting on the credit cards, the calculator says they will be paid off June 2012. 2 years and 1 month. That's a LOT better than living paycheck to paycheck forever. And that's not counting any overtime money. (That will be added each month depending on how much it is. My budget is written off Wade working a 40 hr. week, but right now they're working around 15 hours of overtime. Plus, I should be having an extra $50/wk coming in in the summer with my pt. daycare girl coming ft.)

Now, I'm not sure whats going to happen with our vehicle situation. Right now since we sold the pickup, we have one car that we own. It's a little '99 Saturn with 140,000 miles on it. So we'll see!

At the end of the month, I'll write out my budget for the next month.

And now I have to do it, right?

Baby Bear

2010-04-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

At the park (In an Ergo)

Sleeping in the sun

Just a few pictures of the Baby Bear :)

What do you do with a fussy Baby...

2010-03-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

When he just wants held right when you're in the middle of making supper??

Put him in you new fabulous new Didymos deep sea fishie wrap of course ;) (It has fishies on it, you just can't really see them in these pics.)

Hives anyone??

2010-03-29T06:31:00.000-07:00

It was about 2 weeks ago now that I had a horrible cold. I was so stuffed up and congested that my chest hurt really bad and I couldn't think because of my head. So I decided to take some Sudefed.
Now, I never take meds. Tylenol is as far as I ever go. I just don't like them and don't ever need them. I guess I should have stuck with that as I ended up having a nice little reaction...

It lasted a week. Started on Thursday and the next Thurs. I finally only had a few on my feet. And this wasn't even the worst of it. I was in the clinic/emergency room twice for steroids to stop the itching as benadryl stopped being effective after a while.
Taking antihistamines for a week really did quite a number on my milk supply, but thankfully Barrett's being patient with it and it's coming back.

Stay Tuned....

2010-03-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Quit my job... check
Get a computer... check

Hopefully that means that the blog will be back up and running. Because I know my life is soooo intresting that everybody wants to know about it ;)

After having to get up at 5:30 to be out the door at 6:45 to have the kids at daycare and be at work at 8 (after a 40ish mile drive into town) to get off work at 5, to be home around at 6:30 to have Barrett ready to nurse right after getting home to finally starting supper at 7 to have Barrett ready to go to bed right as supper was made to eat and have to put Jessi to bed to finally get in bed myself... (As you can see, there was no cleaning in there!)
I'm ready and thrilled to be done.

Starting Monday, I'm going to be doing daycare for a (almost) 2 year old little girl named Brooke full time, and before-and-after care for her 9 year old sister, Lexie.
Jessi's very excited to have a friend come over and play.

I'M excited that it's spring! And it's finally getting half-way sometimes nice here.
I'm about to go put a load of wash out on the line to dry for the first time since last year. It's diapers too.. I LOVE putting clothes on the line, especially diapers. I'm wierd.

I still haven't figured out how to get pictures on my computer.. hopefully soon I can get it figured out so that I can put pictures on here. Because I know that's all people care about.

Barrett Jack ~ 12/1/2009

2009-12-12T22:00:00.000-08:00

Barrett Jack was born at home, after 2 1/2 hrs of labor on December 1st!

We had a great home water-birth, I will never do it any other way. (If it happens again that is! LOL!)

It all started Monday night (11/30) at 10:00 when my water broke. I started laughing because I had been laying there just waiting for it to happen. I had already decided that this would be the night, and it seems everybody was on the same page about that!

Called my Midwife Molly right away and she got there at 11:00. We got Mom up around then too. (Mom, Lynisha, her 2 kids & Meshayla all were there.. Meshayla went to watch my friend Sara's son though so she could be there at the birth) Sara also go there around 11:00.

At some point, the pool got filled up and I got in... It was fabulous! Didn't take it all away, but made it barable.

Barrett was born at 12:30am. I pushed one time myself to get his head out. No tears :D

A lot of people assume that a fast labor/birth means less pain. Let me set this straight: Not so!!

It just means the same amount of pain in less time, which comparing to Jessi's birth (9 hrs) almost makes it harder. I hardly had time to process what was going on. The first time Molly checked me, I only had a lip of cervix left. Next thing I know, baby's moving down, contractions are non-stop and it hurts. I remember I said "I just want it to stop!" I didn't mean the labor.. It was the big long never contraction I was having that was pushing the baby down. It was very, very intense.

I kept asking Molly if he was ok when he was born.. he just snuggled right up against me and never made a sound! Wasn't even moving. But she assured me that he was alright.

It was so nice to go from the pool straight to the bed we had blown up right next to the pool and be able to cuddle with my little family. It was nice not to have the rush of "emergency" when it came time for him to be born. Nobody freaking out, putting on some green costume, telling you when to push, when not to push, etc. Everything/body was so calm. (Except me!! :D )

Barrett Jack (Finally named after more than 17 hrs. after he was born!)

7lbs 10oz. 20 1/4" long.

Oh, and Jessi didn't make it to the birth ;) They kept asking me if I wanted them to go get her or if we should leave her sleeping. I said I didn't care. Sara went to get her up and I guess Jessi didn't want to wake up. Lol! She went and got her right after Barrett was born, told her that her baby brother was born and she jumped right out of bed. She went "Ohh... Mommy!!" and was itching to hold him right away! She's a great big sister, she's so proud of him and wants to hold and mommy him all the time!

Who knew diapers could be so fun?

2009-11-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

All my diapers are washed and ready to go! It's funny getting excited about diapers. But they're SO tiny and cute! All of the ones here are just my newborn sized diapers.
I haven't bought ANY disposable diapers! I have 1 that I got as a sample and that's it! Haha! So these better work right away ;)
So here's my "Stash"!

Pockets/all-in-ones (No cover needed, these are the whole diaper)

4 Happy Heiney pocket diapers, (Missing 2) 4 Bum Genius all-in-ones, (Missing 1) and 5 Blueberry pocket diapers.

Fitteds: (Generally, you use covers with these. Covers don't always need to be changed, depending on how wet/dirty the diaper gets)

4 Muttaquins, 5 Kissaluv 0's, 3 Made with love (WAHM's)

Somehow these missed the picture ;) 2 drybee's bamboo

Covers & accessories
For some reason this picture won't post right. Anyways.. 1 bummies cover, 12 prefolds and 3 dozon cloth wipes.

Longies/covers: (Longies: knit wool or fleece pants.. Diaper cover and pants in one! I love them! Wool is VERY absorbent, can hold more than twice it's weight in water. Best part of all, they don't need washed all the time unless soiled!)

Fleece: one WAHM cover and a WAHM made longies set.. the set is a preemie size, so it will probably only fit on day one if at all! LOL! (Shirt is NB size)

WAHM made wool knit longies

WAHM made "Ooga Booga monsters" longie set.. I also have a shirt that says "baby monster" in blue.. also maches the longies above.

WAHM made "scrapie" (Made from wool yarn scraps) longies & hat

WAHM made longies, hat, gloves and booties set

And, my sleep sack, hat & scarf knit by Shelly!

38 weeks!

2009-11-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

38 weeks today! Here's a few random pictures of stuff.
Sara & Amy had a "frozen dish" shower for me.. it was awsome! We got several great looking cassaroles and some soup.
The Fruit pizza was SOOOO yummy.

Much to my Mom's "disdain", I'm going to try some pre-folds for this baby. Not that she has anything against cloth diapers, but she has a hard time understanding using prefolds when the other diapers are so cute. Let me help you understand... Prefolds are about $2 each.. Others are around $7-$9-$10 each.. When they're only going to be in newborn diapers for about 6-8 weeks, well... Anywho. ;D
So here's my first attempt at a prefold! (On Boo-Boo, Jessi's bear) They were actually pretty easy- even Wade got it on the first try!

And here is Boo-Boo in a "much cuter" fitted diaper.. this one is a Muttaquin: (MOST of our newborn stash is made up of fitteds, covers and pocket & all-in-ones, we only have a dozon prefolds. So yes, most of our newborn stash are the easy cute diapers ;) )

I got the rest of my newborn diapers back from Jeanne, so I'll have to do a complete stash picture for my next post.

And finally, here's my 38 week belly picture.

As most of you know, baby was breech for quite a while. After doing everything else to try to flip him, we went in for a external version last week at 37 weeks. Thankfully it worked for us and actually went very easy. (As easy as those things can go probably!) He's stayed head down since then and has dropped waaaay down since being turned, so they think he'll probably stay head down.

We now have all our supplies for our homebirth, the Midwife is just waiting for our call! His room/clothes/diapers are all ready, we're just waiting on baby!
(He is SUPPOSED to wait until next week though, after Mom & Lynisha get up here!)

Baby's room

2009-11-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

Done, for the most part. Probably as done as it will get for awhile. (It still needs trim around the floor!) Hanging clothes are in another room :) Hopefully someday I'll replace the plastic thingie and the wooden cupboard thingie with a dresser.

(Still have a few things to put away as you can see!)

These still need painted and put together, then put up.

I'm wanting to get this sometime: (It looks much better in person.. it looks kind of freaky here.:teehee:)

And/or some of these:

Our weekend

2009-10-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, Dad, Relyssa, Meshayla & Morgen came up to see us! Mom & Kara & Kaela were supposed to come also, but Kara got sick a few hours before they were going to leave so they didn't come :(

Jessi looked like a little monster:

The kids goofed off a little: (Meshayla has "Olive eyes" here!)

Jessi was so happy to see her Aunties again!

We played clue... And as you can see, some people didn't have a clue!

Jessi played dead:

We went to town and watched a little bit of the Husker game... (Not a great game!)

After meeting, we stayed for lunch and then everybody left!

The rest of the pictures can be seen on Mom's blog

Jessi and the Baby

2009-10-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

My kid is the kid that's going to get in trouble in preschool/kindergarten for telling other kids stuff that would "appal" their parents.

We're planning a homebirth, most of you know that. We decided a while back that if she wants to be, Jessi should be there when the baby is born. So our fist step was to have her watch a few birth video's to see how she'd react, and make sure she was at least ok seeing it on video. I don't think we could have imagined her reaction.... She loved it. After watching the mother moaning thru labor, pushing and then popping out a baby, Jessi's sitting there wide-eyed and says: "Mama!! I want to watch another baby bein' born'in!" So we watch video after video. (youtube)And she cries when we turn it off. She's hooked.
(She already seemed to grasp the baby-in-belly thing after watching Sara go thru her pregnancy and meeting Wyatt after he was born- she's the one that first brought up that Wyatt was the baby that had been in Sara's belly)

So fast forward a few months. If you don't want to hear "innaproprate" things, or read about a little girl knowing about things like birth, don't read this :)

Jessi and I are getting out of the shower. We go in my room to get dressed and I notice she's staring at me, with the look on her face that you can tell the wheels are turning... As she points she says "Mommy.. The baby comes out there?" I laughed and told her yes. Then she goes "Oh.. It looks kind of scary!!"

After seeing several new babys in the past little while, Jessi is quite impatient for her baby brother to get here. Last week we were driving and she's chattering about the baby and she asked me if she could hold him yet. I told her no, because the baby hadn't been born yet. She goes "Oh.. the baby hasn't come out of your bum?" I said no Jess, baby hasn't come out of my bum yet. She says "Oh, Ok. When he comes out, I can hold him, OK? He won't be icky."

The other day I was sitting in the recliner and she was sitting in front of me. She decided it would be fun to "squish" me. I asked her to quit because she was hurting me and she says "That's ok mommy, I'll just squish that baby right outta you."

We've been working on potty training. She's been doing so great, but she wouldn't poop in the toilet! It was so frustrating. She came up with her own little bribe that if she went poop in the potty, she'd get a big girl bike and we said ok.
But, it wasn't seeming to help. Every time after she'd poop her diaper, we'd talk about it and she'd talk more about "next time" and getting her bike.
FINALLY, one night I caught her in the act! I ran her upstairs and put her on the potty- much to her dismay. She's sitting there bawling and then, all of a sudden, PLOP. YES! She gasp's and says "Mommy! I did it!" We tell her she's a big girl, good job, blah blah blah.
She's talking about it and she says "Wow, that's STINKY! It's a big poop, Mommy! But I feel so much better! My bum feels better with the poop out of it."
As she gets wiped and climbes off the potty, I told her to flush it bye-bye. She says "Ok... Do I have to give it a hug?" I told her no and she says "Oh, ok. Good.. It stinks and it's icky. That'd be gross".

Last week she's sitting on the potty and she had already told me she needed to poop. I'm in the bedroom (Right next to the bathroom, with the door inbetween open) and she yells out to me "MOM!!! THERE'S A MONSTER COMIN' OUTTA MY BUM!!!" Wade & I busted up laughing and she says "Come see!! It's a BIG one!"

She's done awsome ever sense. She's very proud of herself and she got her big-girl bike.

Shhhh! There’s a Republican Alternative to Democrat-Care; Don’t Let Anyone Know!

2009-09-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

I came across this today... Thought it was very intresting!
From here: http://www.northstarwriters.com/hc178.htm

The Republican alternative to Democrat-care, which liberals don’t want you to know about, has been hijacked. They don’t want people to know about it because the Astroturf, un-American crazies might like it.

The “Empowering Patients First Act” (H.R 3400) was introduced by Representative Tom Price (R-GA) and 27 co-sponsors on July 30, 2009 prior to the congressional recess. It was then referred to eight House committees.

The head hijacker is Speaker Nancy Pelosi. As Congressman Price pointed out during a radio interview with me last week, the rules in the House assert that bills will remain in committees “for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker.” Thank you Nancy!

The highly contentious 1,000-plus-page Democratic health care proposal cleared the committees in a few days. The 63-page Republican alternative is stuck in committees and it can’t get out. Speaker Pelosi can simply keep it there while they continue to try to shove their proposal down the throats of the American people.

The mainstream media has aided and abetted the hijacking of the Republican alternative. In addition to not reporting on the alternative, they have helped to keep public attention away from the hidden provisions of the Democrats’ health care Trojan horse. They have also helped to keep attention on “how do we pay for it” and “what do we call it” as they proclaim it must pass.

The president and his administration, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and the liberals in Congress are trying to sell the public on Democrat-care, rather than listen to what a majority of we the people are saying. The Democrats are organizing hundreds of rallies across the country to counter the thunderous disagreement that they have encountered against Democrat-care during their August recess, and they label all criticism as smears and lies.

The Obama Administration is even actively recruiting college students to join its “National Organizing Internship” program and earn college credits for helping to promote the president’s agenda of change. Hopefully, many of these college students will start asking the right questions about his agenda and the “change” he wants.

Some of us have already found answers to those questions, and we don’t like them.

Although it has taken a lot of people and organizations many laborious days and weeks to uncover what’s in the Democrats’ H.R. 3200, I was able to distill the key components of the Republicans’ H.R. 3400 in a few hours. I felt as if I were back in college solving a complex math problem (I was a math major). Here’s what the Democrats don’t want us to know.

The Empowering Patients First Act (H.R. 3400) would allow:

1. Individuals to choose their health insurance (no mandates)

2. Deductibility of health insurance premiums regardless of who pays

3. Employers to provide flexible health insurance options to employees

4. Health insurance coverage for low-income families (300 percent of the federal poverty level)

5. Health insurance for high-risk individuals (pre-existing conditions)

6. Sale of health insurance across state lines

7. Expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

8. Individual membership association health insurance plan

9. Association Health Insurance Plans

10. Medical liability limitations (Tort reform)

Unlike Democrat-care, the Republican alternative would not impose fines on workers or employers, require cuts in Medicare, increase taxes, require a new government bureaucracy, require a “government health insurance” option nor add $1 trillion or more to the national debt.

The Republican alternative is simply less government, fewer taxes and more choices, whereas Democrat-care is just another attempt to hijack more of our liberties.

But hush y’all. The Democrats don’t want you to know that.

http://covertheuninsured.org/legislative_bill/hr-3400-price

26 weeks!

2009-08-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

I need to start doing better on pictures again! I have hardly taken any in quite awhile. This morning I went to do some belly pictures and Jessi wanted in on the action too. :D 26 weeks!

Baby seems to be doing good.. obvously growing! I started painting his room last night. Only one wall so far, but that was our "test wall" so we could see how we really wanted to do it. Once we get it painted we can start on the flooring.. and then putting everything in it!
I got a fortune cookie Friday night (The 28th) that said: "remember three months from this date. Good things are in store for you."
That would be very funny if baby came that day (Nov. 28th).. I've jokingly been guessing that day! (It's the day after the Nebraska/Colorado football game, which is always a BIG deal. Since I always get sooo into the games, I've been joking that it could put me into labor.) My actual due date is December 4th.

Young love...

2009-08-24T10:51:00.001-07:00

Jessi's got a boyfriend :D

Pictures from summer

2009-08-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post these pictures from when Relyssa was here :) Jessi really loves her Auntie Reese.

Sharing her pudding:

For some reason, Jessi decided her swiming suit made a good baby carrier! Lol!

Reading... Something Resse did ALOT of while she was here. I think Jessi now has all of her books memorized ;)

On our way to Omaha.. To leave Resse there :(

Oh, and thank you all for the baby names.... Alas, "Baby Monster" is still nameless.

Just for fun - Name our baby ;)

2009-08-04T12:53:00.001-07:00

So the whole naming process is getting very frustrating to me. I'm having a hard time finding names I like and what I do like, Wade doesn't. And I don't like any of his names. I don't know why it seems so hard to find boy names? Maybe because alot of them are so common? And then there's the whole deal with people making boy's names popular for girls. (I can't talk too much though, Jessi (Jesse) used to be a common boys name.)

So for fun, leave me a comment with a name, 10 names, whatever.
Here's what we have liked... (Obvously, not many "normal, everyday" names)
My list:
Jax
Noah
Elias
Ryker
Kyson

Wade's list:
Blaze
Chance
Kidd
Skye
Tyke
Wyler
Oliver
Quinn

Who know's.... maybe you'll name our baby for us! Lol!

Pictures of baby Boy!

2009-07-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

Here's our pictures :) Baby wouldn't roll over to get a good profile picture.
Feet:

Looking at face:

All of baby :)his hand was waving in front of his face, so that's a little blurry, but I love how you can see his legs curled up and everything :)

And, sharing another purchase :) I got these (The top pair only) off ebay for pretty cheap! I want more than one pair, but I limited myself to one pair for now and I want to see if they're something I could make myself. (These are just cute pants, not longies or anything :) )

Sharing what may become my addiction...

2009-07-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

So you all know how much I'm into cloth diapers. Well, I decided that for this time around, I wanted to try some fitted diapers and covers. (For Jessi, we've always used diapers that are an all-in-one with the cover.) So I've been looking at Longies and drooling over them for some time now. If you want to know what Longies are, read below. If not, just skip to the pictures ;)

"What are longies?

Longies are hand knit wool pants for children and babies. Mothers knit longies for their children before they could buy disposable diapers or rubber pants. They are worn during the day as cute pants or at night as snuggly pajamas.

Wool naturally regulates the body temperature making it an excellent choice for children. It does that by absorbing vapor from the skin and releasing it into the air. Wools ability to breathe further regulates body temperature by preventing sudden and extreme temperature changes. It is a natural choice for your baby’s layette.

Wool longies provide amazing leak protection - especially over night. Because wool wicks moisture away from the body it will help keep your child dry, even when the diaper leaks. You will be amazed how lanolized wool will keep your baby swaddled and warm while keeping the sheets dry until the morning.

Wool is surprisingly easy to care for. You will notice that even liquid spills cannot easily penetrate the fibers. That is because wool is water repellent to protect the sheep’s delicate skin. Wool can be wiped clean and does not need to be washed after every use. It is also nearly wrinkle resistant so it is always ready to be worn."

A girl in my pregnancy group was offering specials to knit longies for people, so I got some wool and sent it to her. Here's what she made for me! (I picked the girly wool before I knew we were having a boy.. so those longies are now going to be for Jeanne's little girl!)

But that's not all... A while back she shared a picture of these cute things that she made and was selling. I instantly fell in love with them and couldn't stop thinking about them. So when we found out we were having a little boy, I just had to get them. So I sold some stuff I won't need anymore and finally got enough money to buy these. Don't ask how much they were! Lol! And I know what my mom is going to say (Again!) "You need to learn how to knit"... I know, I know. But I don't have time right now and these were just too cute! Check them out!

Can't you just see our little guy in them? I can't wait to get them in the mail now!

Finally, an update!!

2009-07-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

I feel like it's been forever! Lol!

Friday the 3rd... spend the evening over at Jon & Sara's. Had some s'mores and watched the neighbors fireworks :D

On the 4th we went to a new pack that was really cool. Jessi got to play for awhile and then we went to the fireworks display in Moorhead. Wyatt feel asleep even though they were pretty loud!

We're having alot of fun with Relyssa here :) She's been a big help to me too. I've been having horrible headaches and some really bad Sciatic nerve pain, so it's nice having someone around to help with stuff when I feel like I just can't do anymore.

We had our ultrasound last Thursday... As most of you know now, we're having a BOY!
You can color me shocked since I thought for sure we were having another little girl :D Now off to the little world of blues and greens and trucks and dinosaurs.... Lol!

China strikes again....

2009-06-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

And this time they hit my little girl.

Two weeks ago on Friday, I noticed that my little girl had a weird looking rash on her feet. It was weird enough to take notice, but I didn’t think much of it as little kids get rashes all the time and because ever since it’s been nice outside, she insists on going barefoot whenever she can.

The next day when she started getting a fever, I started to get a little worried – were they connected? She ran a high fever for 2 days but then it broke and that was it. But the rash got worse. By that next Thursday/Friday the rash was horrible looking. It was reddish purplish, puffy and yet hard and when you pressed into her feet and ran your hands down, you could feel little bumps. It looked like she had an infection coming from inside her feet. It was also Thursday night that she started itching them for the first time.

I had been concerned about the rash being something that somebody else could catch and since we were at Antioch convention by that time around a few hundred people, I was worried about that… But, neither Wade or I got it or anybody else that she would have been around a lot, her relatives or our daycare providers kids. Nobody had anything.

On Friday, she started getting bumps on the tops of her feet and her hands, but it didn’t look like the same rash.. this one looked a little more like HF&M and didn’t look near as bad, but I had to figure they were related.
The other thing that confused me was that her feet were red.. more red than usual and they always felt hot to the touch. Even when she was cold. Wade & I decided that if it got ANY worse, we'd just take her into the first Dr. we could find. (We were in NE, not up here where we live)

Finally we were able to get in to our Dr. yesterday. (Thursday, just about 2 weeks after it started) She was just as confused as we were. She ruled out Hand, foot & mouth, chicken pox, Lyme disease, (We had pulled 2 ticks off her a week before the rash) athletes foot and you name it. She had no better clue about it than we did. She wrote down the whole timeline of the ticks, rash, fever, when it got worse, when it started itching, etc. and promised to do some research and call us back. She called us in the evening saying she had found nothing and that if it came back or got worse, she’d send her to the dermatologist.

Then I posted about the Dr.’s visit on facebook and I got this response from a friend:
“You said it started on her feet right? It may be the shoes she was wearing. There is a few Mom's in Oklahoma who complained about the same symptoms after their girls wore shoes that were manufactured in china. There were a few news stories about last week, something about the chemicals in the insides of the shoes. You may check into that. I know the shoes were from Wal-Mart, Payless and Costco.”

Right away it clicked. We had bought Jessi a new pair of shoes from Wal-Mart about 1-2 weeks before the rash showed up. They were a cute pair of tenne/mary jane style shoes that looked like they’d be nice summer time play shoes. She wore them all the time. It just made so much sense to me, mainly because it was the ONLY thing that anybody had come up with that made sense.
She never said anything about the brand at first, but then she made another comment with it… Danskin brand shoes from Wal-mart… Those were them!!

The article about it is here:
STORY
Not only that, but this isn’t the first time it’s happened with wal-mart and shoes from China:
HERE

The picture they have on that first news story of the shoes, those are the exact same shoes as we got for Jessi.

Now you all know how I am about chemicals. But honestly, I NEVER thought about worrying about the shoes she wears. It really really stinks because I would LOVE to buy my daughter nice shoes that AREN’T made in China, but lets be real. For a little kid who outgrows her shoes in 6 months, I just can’t afford that.

So yeah, the “rash” she had that I spent so much time worrying about and trying to find out what was, wasn’t a rash at all. Her poor little feet were BURNED.

How much would I love to boycott China?? A LOT! It’s pretty much impossible. And now every single time I buy her a pair of shoes, I’m going to worry about it.
I also wish Walmart was a little better, but that’s another story. We NEVER buy from them anymore anyways, it’s just that we happened to have to run in that day & I had been wanting to find her a pair of play shoes that weren’t flip-flops :(

When the rash started:

I very much regret that I didn't get some pictures when it was at it's worst. Take the bad red spots you see in those pictures, and imagine them covering the bottom of her feet, looking purplish, puffy and hard. That's what they looked like.

These were last night: It didn't show up all that well, but you get the picture.

Redneck tank top

2009-06-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

A email I got from Mom today, since I forgot my camera again...

True Redneck Tube Top!!!!

This was taken in front of the Gardendale, Alabama , Wal-Mart, where the young lady was shopping at the Flea market.
This is hysterical! Look at it closely.

Now I ask you...

Who stands and looks at a pair of men's briefs and says hummmm ... I can make me a nice summer top from these!!
On the other hand ... $6 for a three pack is a good price!!
But what if they weren't bought new? That's redneck recycling at its best.
Don't throw out yer feller's drawers when the skid marks don't wash out no more.
Just cut the crotch out and wear'em.

How very Green!

Update & Expectnet game

2009-06-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile :)
We just got back from 9 days in NE/WY.... we had a great time! Spend Sat-Wed. at Jack & Ruth's. (Memaw & Papa's) Jessi had so much fun playing with Shaun (her cousin) while they were there too. On Wed. we met up with Lynisha & Jeanne in Scottsbluff, had a little fun with a tornado. I'll have to find my pictures tomorrow, I have a pretty good one of the tornado.
Then we went to Antioch convention, which was SO good to be there!
We brought my sister Relyssa home with us to stay for awhile!! Jessi's already loving having her here and hopefully we'll get some good times in, especially with me being off for 3 of the weeks while she's here. Since she's getting married in Dec, some of that fun will include wedding dress shopping! YAY!
Speaking of time off, a trailer order came in, so Wade's back at work now for 3 weeks and then will have the remaining 4 weeks off. 5 weeks is better than 8 weeks off!

I feel like this is such a random boring post! Haha!
Here's our expectnet game.... Come play!! It's almost 3 weeks until we find out what we're having!

If you'd like some "hints"....
Last time we heard the heartbeat, it was 140's-150's, Salty and sour things have helped keep me from getting sick, I've only thrown up once and I'm not sure if that was from being pregnant or if I had a touch of the flu since Jessi hadn't been feeling good the day before that.

Second trimester!

2009-05-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

Yay!! Today is the start of the 2nd trimester!
I decided to post a belly picture today to celebrate ;) I've been taking them every 2 weeks and it's fun to see the progress. It's amazing what a week can do because I grew ALOT from last week!

Today I get to go have a massage! (My b-day present from Wade.) and then we're going to have a picnic at the park with Jon & Sara and maybe Johnny & Dale also.

Life on the farm = picture overload!

2009-05-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

We went to the Cronk farm over the weekend and had lots of great fun! Becides Stephen, Judy, Anna, Drayton & Sheri who were of course all there, Jack & Ruth, Mirandie, (With Tristen & Sean) Byron & Jane, (With Sally) David & Dawn & LeRoy were all there. Lots of family = lots of fun!

Bubbles with Sheri!

Jessi, proving that Camo can look good

Jessi and Sally Jane - 2nd cousins

Making the rounds on the farm! Baby Kittys were the favorite!

Papa & Jess

"Can we buy this one?"

Not sure what to think being this close...

Walking the dogs :)

Fishing!! Lots of this got done this weekend! There were 46 fish caught in total! It ended up being 17 lbs. of fish meat! Half of which got fried up Sunday night for supper! YUMMY!

Wade & Jack

Jack & Waylen

Wade's big catch

Jack's big catch, the biggest fish of the weekend.

Waylen, Wade, Jack & Tristen

Wade made me angle food cake with whipping cream & strawberries Sunday night for my b-day!

Ready to go home!

The Missouri river valley.. beautiful & green!

How I feel...

2009-05-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard.

I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.
He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head;

he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'
The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: 'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?'

(An email I got today ;) )

An unplanned vacation

2009-05-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

But not really unexpected though. Just from the way things were going, we had an idea that this might be happening again.
We got the news yesterday that our company is doing a 8 week layoff. It was just about 7 weeks ago that Wade got back from a 6 week layoff. I was unaffected last time, but this time I'll have to have at least one week a month and maybe a day every other week off.
If Wade thought he was going crazy with 6 weeks off.. Lol!
Oh well, I'm just thankful that so far, we both have jobs to come back to. Our thoughts go out to those who have been laid off from their jobs permanently.

Happy Birthday Emily!!

2009-05-11T05:59:00.000-07:00

Mom posted this picture on her blog, so I had to steal it :) I don't know how old Em & I were here, but I love the picture. She's my cousin and my longest and closest friend.

Happy 23rd Birthday, old woman. Only 7 more years until you're 30. ;) I love you!!!!

(And I doubt you'll even see this! LOL!)

Little helper

2009-05-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Jessi loves to go outside whenever possible. Her latest "project" is helping Wade in the garden. Every morning when we leave she points it out to me and tells me that she helps Daddy there.

Chilling out after a hard day's work

You can see the square where we originally had our garden planned (Since last fall!)... we decided we should call the "ND one call" to have them come out and mark where power & gas lines are in our yard before we went and dug it up. Well, a line goes through, right about where Wade now has those landscaping markers. So now he's working on moving the garden over and re-planting grass on the other part.

Baby!!

2009-05-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

After a very nasty scare starting Sunday, we were finally able to get in yesterday for an ultrasound to make sure everything was fine. The waiting was horrible.
When the U/S tech took us back she asked us if we were just there for a regular u/s and I said yes.. I didn't want to tell her that we were in because of complications because I didn't want her to think she had to go through the Dr. first and not hear anything right away. I wanted to know now!

Well, as soon as she started we could see the little peanut and she said "Oh wow, look at it move! It's very active!" We were SO relieved! Baby was sitting there wiggling away! Heartbeat was 170 She said it's usually that high right now because baby's doing so much growing right now. Baby was measuring right at 9 weeks and I'm 9 weeks today so it's right on. You could see the little arms and legs that are growing. It's amazing what 3 weeks can do.. we had a 6 week u/s with Jessi and she just looked like a little bean then :)

I do have a cyst on my ovary, so that was causing one of the pains I was feeling. I suspected that because I've had a cyst before so I recognized that pain. The other pain, not so much.

I just got off the phone with the nurse and she said it seems like I had a "threatened miscarrage" but that everything looks just fine now.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF HOW THE "SWINE FLU" STARTED

2009-04-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

Pictures :)

2009-04-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Sara posted some pictures of Jessi on her blog~ They're pretty cute.
http://snmyers01.blogspot.com/
(Jon & Sara are good friends of our, she watches Jessi 3 days a week for us and Jessi LOVES it!)
Thanks for the pics, Sara.. they made my day :)

Where's Jessi?

2009-04-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

The other day I heard some giggling coming from the kitchen so I thought I'd better go check it out. She had removed the trash can from under the sink because she thought it would be a great place to hide.

It's getting nicer...

2009-04-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

It's starting to get nicer out! Yesterday it was close to 80! Then went down to 60 and kept going down by the time we got home :( It's cold today and is supposed to be no higher than low 50's and rainy for the next week. :( We enjoyed a nice evening on Tuesday and played outside for awhile.
Jessi telling me that Elmo has to stay in the stroller.

Porky & Hank

Wade grilling hamburgers

Jessi being silly

And our first flower coming up!

We can't wait until it's nice enough to spend the whole evening outside to grill and have fun with friends :)

Babysteals.com :)

2009-04-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

Today I got 2 Drybees bamboo diapers off of http://www.babysteals.com/ for %40 off :) (In honor of Earth Day of course!)
I like babysteals.com because they have a new steal everyday and they always have cool stuff on there... Slings, diapers, baby clothes, baby shoes and all sorts of stuff, for usually around 40-75% off! They have super fast shipping too.. I always get my stuff within a few days.

And for posting this I'm entered into a contest to win a $150 certificate to babysteals. WooHoo! :D

Sometimes I wonder....

2009-04-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

This was our view while visiting with a few friends and family at the hotel in Kearney.

Why use cloth diapers?

2009-04-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

After all, those paper ones are just so much more convenient, right? I guess I just should have listened to all those people who said cloth diapers are gross and that they're really not that much better than paper diapers.
Here's a little about paper diapers that really prove their point.

Sodium Polyacrylate Crystals Is the clear, absorbent gel that absorbs moisture in the diaper. This superabsorbent polymer (SAP) was removed from tampons for causing Toxic Shock Syndrome. To date, no studies exist as to whether sodium polyacrylate is dangerous when absorbed through baby`s skin for the first 3 years of life, 24 hours a day.
Additionally, SAP absorbs all moisture found on skin, including natural moisture needed to keep skin healthy. Baby skin has not developed the outer layer adults have, making baby skin more vulnerable to absorb toxins without the natural oils and mature protective layers of skin to block toxins.

Dioxins: Dioxins are the by-product of the bleaching process, and one of the planet`s most hazardous poisons. They are a highly toxic carcinogen and endocrine disruptor. The archives of Disease in Childhood reports that trace amounts of dioxin are present on disposables.
No Breathability Causes Rashes, Possibly Sterility Some babies are ‘rashy’ because air doesn’t circulate in disposables. Cloth breathes. That’s why there’s seldom a need for rash creams with cloth diapers. Also, a 2001 UK study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood suggests that infant boys who wear disposables could experience impaired fertility as adults. The researchers found that the temperature of the scrotum was almost 2° higher in disposables, this temperature increase, may negatively impact future fertility.
Very Expensive: It costs an average of $3000 to diaper a child. Cloth costs a fraction of disposables and can be used by more than one child! Chemical Stew A study published in late 1999 by Anderson Labs found that lab mice exposed to various brands of disposable diapers experienced asthma-like symptoms. Dr. Rosalind Anderson, lead author of the report, says the following chemicals were among those released from the disposables: xylene and ethylbenzene, suspected endocrine, neuro-, and respiratory toxins; styrene, a suspected carcinogen and respiratory toxin; and isopropylene, a suspected neurotoxin
Fragrance Added: Babies already smell wonderful! Why ruin it with chemicals and perfumes? Some babies can have allergic reactions to the chemical mix, both respiratory, and rash.
Delayed Culture of Potty Training: At nearly a dollar a diaper if your child is in pull-ups, that is oodles of money that could be spent on something else. Most kids in cloth train by 2 years old.
TBTs Tributyl tin, a chemical compound which is known to disrupt sex hormones, has been found in disposable diapers, namely: Huggies and Pampers.

What are Dioxins?
The wastes created as a byproduct of the bleaching process contain dioxins. Dioxins don`t readily break down, which means that over the years they`ve been accumulating in our air, water, and soil. Once they`re out there, they enter the food chain and we`re exposed to them through the food we eat. Dioxins are now so widespread in the environment that virtually every man, woman, and child in America has them in their bodies. In fact, each day we ingest 300-600 times more than the EPA`s so-called "safe" dose.
Why are they Dangerous?
Dioxins are deadly. In fact, dioxins are believed to be the most carcinogenic chemicals known to science, and the U.S. EPA`s Dioxin Reassessment has found dioxins 300,000 times more potent as a carcinogen than DDT (the use of which was banned in the U.S. in 1972). There`s no way to sugar-coat the effects dioxins have on people and the environment. Recent research has conclusively linked dioxins to cancer, reproductive disorders among adults, deformities and developmental problems in children, and immune system breakdowns. And dioxins can cause these effects at exposure levels hundreds of thousands of times lower than most hazardous chemicals. source: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/oc/factsheets/dioxin.htm

Achieving Zero Dioxin: An emergency strategy for dioxin elimination.
September 1994. Greenpeace.
http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics...s/azd/azd.html

How and why is TBT in Throwaway diapers?
You`d have to ask the manufacturers but throwaway diapers contain various plastic components: in the cuffs and fastenings and as part of the lining or waterproofing. TBT is used as a catalyst in the production process of certain plastics or as a stabiliser in PVC. What do the initials TBT stand for?
Tributyl tin, a chemical compound which is known to disrupt sex hormones, has been found in disposable diapers, namely: Huggies and Pampers.
TBT information
• A baby wearing five diapers a day could be in contact with up to 3.6 times the World Health Organisation`s estimated tolerable daily intake. (We can`t say whether it transfers from nappy to baby or how much.)
• Greenpeace Germany have evidence that TBT can leech out of things, such as plastics. Babies` skin is thinner than adults`. We can`t rule out that they might absorb it and it is better to be safe.
• TBT shouldn`t be in any household product, let alone something that is being worn next to babies skin.
• The fear is it could be absorbed into the body and disrupt the child`s hormonal sex balance.
• Manufacturers know about this but,are still selling diapers containing TBT.

Overview:
The mythology surrounding contemporary diapering is a direct descendant of the modern-day waste ethic, whose roots are generally seen as economic. With profits based on sales, manufacturers have a built-in incentive to foster planned obsolescence. And so it is with diapers. The pure and honorable cotton diaper represents approximately 10 percent of the U.S. diaper market--even though it has a viable life of 80-100 uses. Capturing the other 90 percent of market share is, of course, the single-use, throw-away diaper.

Today`s new and improved single-use diaper is made of an outer layer of waterproof polyethylene plastic. Sandwiched between the plastic and a water-repellent liner is a thick layer of an absorbent, cotton-like material made from wood pulp. A super-absorbent polymer that turns to gel when the baby urinates is embedded into the wood pulp of most U.S. single-use diapers.

Once they are used, roughly 90 percent to 95 percent of the 18 billion feces-and urine-filled disposable diapers enter the household trash stream and ultimately end up in landfills, creating an immediate public health hazard. Leachate containing viruses from human feces (including live vaccines from routine childhood immunizations) can leak into the Earth and pollute underground water supplies. In addition to the potential of groundwater contamination, air-borne viruses carried by flies and other insects contribute to an unhealthy and unsanitary situation. These viruses could include Hepatitis A, Norwalk and Rota Virus.

Although modern, single-use diaper packaging recommends rinsing feces in the toilet, this is impractical and is in fact discouraged by the one-piece diaper design, which does not allow the diaper to be torn apart easily. In addition, rinsing the tremendously absorptive, single-use diaper in the toilet produces a very full, very heavy, very wet diaper. For these and other reasons, it is doubtful that any more than 10 percent of parents actually rinse out single-use diapers as a matter of course.

This unsanitary practice of commingling untreated sewage and solid waste in landfills--of dumping raw sewage directly into the environment--should raise eyebrows among more than those whose job it is to oversee the public health. Interesting statistic: In 1951, 90% of the population used cloth diapers. The incidence of overall diaper rash was 7.8%(including the 10% disposable paper diapering population) In 1991, 90% of the population used disposable paper diapers. The incidence of diaper rash was 78%.

I think we'll be switching to paper diapers right away.

The scoop

2009-04-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

So finally getting back onto here :)
To answer the questions from my last post:

Is this an announcement??!!! Yes
Is there something in there??? We hope so!
Is Jessi excited to be a big sister? Yes :) She's always wanting to "see it" (therefore the meaning of the picture) It's extra fun when she tries to "see it" in meeting! She loves to kiss and hug the baby too.
All this excitement over belly button lint?! Hey now, belly button lint can be very exciting! Especially if you were wearing a colored shirt that caused the lint.
Wait a minute....really!?!?! When? Yes :D December 4th is our due date
have you seen this site? That's a cool site! Thanks!

I know some people don't like to tell so early, but we didn't want to wait any longer :D
If anybody's intrested, you'll get to join us on our journey to our first homebirth! We're very excited for that. I'll be seeing a midwife and we'll also be seeing my OB for backup and in case of an emergency or plans change.

I have had a few issues with feeling sick and other stuff, but the last few days have been really good. I'm not counting on it though! We'll see how it goes. :)

2009-04-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged

2009-04-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

Well, Jeanette tagged me so:

4-4-4
I've been tagged......
1. Choose the fourth folder where you store pictures on your computer. 2. Choose the fourth picture. 3. Explain that picture. 4. Tag 4 other people.

(Now, I don't have different folders since my pictures are on my work coumpter and then I save them online... So I'll just do my forth picture)

This picture was taken this morning. Jessi crawled into bed with us about 3 am and when she woke up, she saw I had the camera in my hand and she asked me to take a picture. Lol!
So here's my silly just-woken-up girl :)

Now I tag Mom, Aunt Lori, Sara & Heather.

Nothing much going on

2009-04-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

I've been needing to update, but I havn't had anything to post! I've even been slacking on taking pictures.

I do have this one from last night:

We're going to Kearney this weekend (YAY!) so hopefully I'll have some pictures when we get home :)

Flooding

2009-03-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a few pictures of some of our view on our way home from work.
*This is all overland flooding from all the rain last fall that froze, then all the snow, more rain and more snow~ Nothing to do with the river! That's a whole other mess. You can't even get near to take pictures. Cops are arresting sightseers. Here's somemore pictures of the flooding and the effort to fight it. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo_search.php?oid=54494719220&view=all

This picture is really blurry, but this trailer and pickup are up on a "hill". I was trying to get a good shot of the pickup that's submerged.

It's all very crazy around here.

Silly Songs with Jessi & Auntie Reese

2009-03-23T06:15:00.000-07:00

Jessi had so much fun with Relyssa. On our way home after taking her back to Souix Falls, Jessi kept asking where Auntie Reese was.... She was pretty sure that Auntie Reese was "hiding".

Jessi loved having somebody to sing her songs with all the time.

Update on the breastfeeding bill

2009-03-20T05:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Alyse for letting me post this! This is her update on the hearing on the breastfeeding bill. I think she did awsome!

I was one of six women who testified in favor of the bill. Terri Poitra was the lady who submitted the original bill and had been asked to stop nursing at the casino restaurant. She also spoke about the pumping conditions she had to deal with at her workplace.See here: http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2009/01/05/news/topnews/173393.txt

Dr. Joan Connell, a Bismarck pediatrician, spoke about the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies.
Karen Ehrens is a local dietitian, she shared how breastfeeding rates are lower in North Dakota than national averages and hoped that the law would encourage more mothers to breastfeed.I can’t recall Kim’s testimony—I was just a little nervous.
Pat Sauer is a retired LLL leader that I have met in the last few months who has been a wonderful encouragement and blessing. She was worried by and testified of her concerns about the “discreet and modest” language.

A gentleman whose name I can’t recall, but who has several children and 9 grandchildren and supported the bill

I spoke last. My testimony is here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&suggest&note_id=57341829215 (in my last post) Each member of the committee received a copy of my written testimony.I was really nervous when Pat went up, but once it was my turn, it was all right. I really relaxed once I got past my introduction and first paragraph. I didn’t read straight from my testimony and left out the benefits part since that was pretty well covered.

I stated that the only state that has any modesty language is Missouri, which qualifies their law with the phrase “with as much discretion as possible.”

Representative Kari Conrad asked if the wording like Missouri’s would be acceptable. I said, “This wording does not require a mother to be modest, but gives her the benefit of the doubt, as babies are squirmy and do not still once they reach about six months. But breastfeeding moms are not trying to show everything off; we are trying to take care of our babies as best as we can.”

Representative Richard Holman asked if removing the “discreet and modest” would satisfy me. I had skipped the part of my testimony where I shared about Jessica Swimeley. I went back to that and shared how Jessica’s family was not really benefitted by the Texas law because there was no enforcement provision. I got really inspired here, and said, “You work hard passing these laws, and you do not want waste your time passing laws that are ineffective. And the enforcement provision is what gives this law teeth. The first version changes the ND Century Code, adding breastfeeding under the category of sex and protecting mothers and babies from discrimination. Also, the part protecting pumping mothers was removed, and is necessary, as evidenced by Terri’s testimony.”

I gave them Jody McLaughlin’s written testimony but did not get to read it.

Terri did not realize that the bill had been amended until I testified. After I sat down, she stood and asked to speak even though her testimony had been given. She stated that she had put together the wording of the original bill and her intention was to protect mothers, not have the bill twisted.

She talk about how her little baby is curious and a people-watcher, and it is difficult to constantly be ‘modest’. She said that breasts are for nourishing our children, not selling swimsuits.After the hearing, Karen, Pat, Terri and I talked in the hall. Karen said she had no idea how committee would go.

What we need to do now is to contact the committee members asking them to recommend the first version of SB#2344 be passed. Ask everyone you know to contact them. They will be discussing this bill and deciding what to do later this week. We need one member who will make a motion to have the first version presented to the House. This committee is who decides. If they do support the first version, then the bill will have to pass the House Committee (probably Human Services) as amended, then pass the House, then go back to Senate, then a conference committee assigned, then pass a House Committee, pass the whole House, and back to the Senate. It will be a very long road. And we need to work together.

Here is the link for the Human Services committee, part way down the page.http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/house/standing-comm

Please email and call each member and tell them you support the first version of SB#2344 and ask them to recommend that the House pass the first version.

If it passes the House, we will need to contact the senators asking them to pass the first version. Only the Senate Human Services committee saw the first version, as far as I know.

Testifiers:
Senator Richard Marcellais
Terri Poitra, a working, breastfeeding mother
Dr. Joan Connell
Karen Ehrens, dietician
Kim Hinnenkamp
A gentleman whose name I can’t recall, but who has several children and 9 grandchildren and supported the bill
Pat Sauer, a retired LLL leader
Alyse Erbele, a stay-at-home, breastfeeding mother

Testimony for Breastfeeding Bill

2009-03-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

This is the testimony that was prepared by Alyse Erbele for the House human services commitee on the breastfeeding bill I told you awhile back. If you remember, the orginal wording got changed without hardly anybody knowing. It got changed and passed to something that wouldn't give BFing mothers any protection. ( http://dalaynam.blogspot.com/2009/02/very-annoyed-breastfeeding-bill.html ) I'll do another post tomorrow (Again, orginally from Alyse as she was one of the ones who was there and testified on Tuesday to try to get the house to change it back to the original wording) on how it went.

Testimony for SB#2344
Prepared for House Human Services Committee
Given by Alyse Erbele on March 17th, 3:30 pm
Who I am and why this matters to me:
I am a breastfeeding mother. I have breastfed my daughter many places around Bismarck since she was born—restaurants, the library, the mall, store—everywhere I’ve been. I wondered what would happen if I were confronted by someone who noticed I was breastfeeding. I knew that North Dakota law provided no protection for my child and me. I was very excited to hear about this law and pleased when I read the first draft.

I am in favor of the bill as it was originally drafted, but I do not support the bill as it has been amended.
I would support this bill if it provided protection for breastfeeding mothers.The words, "discreet and modest" are unnecessary. How many women have you seen breastfeeding at all, much less immodestly? In the last two years, I have rarely seen other nursing mothers. I regularly go to the play area at Gateway Mall and rarely see mothers breastfeeding, but I see mothers with bottles all the time. I know at least four women who are breastfeeding, but use formula when out in public. They are afraid to nurse in public, and that’s without a law that will make mothers worry more about someone saying something to them. It is ironic that women regularly wear clothes that are more revealing expressly for the purpose of sexual titillation, and that is acceptable. I see far more skin on billboards in Bismarck than I’ve ever seen on any breastfeeding mother.

Discreet and modest language is unnecessary, and no other state of the 47-48 other states who have laws protecting mothers contain that language. Missouri does qualify their law with the phrase “with as much discretion as possible”. I have not heard of a single incident where a mother was asked to quit because she was being immodest.

The bill as it reads currently attempts to regulate breastfeeding mothers, not protect them. This is anti-family and anti-child. As a fairly conservative state, we value family highly.

Also, currently in the law regarding 12.1-20-12.1. Indecent exposure, exposure of the breasts is not included, so it could happen anyway. Adding a modesty clause to the SB #2344 won't increase public nudity, it will only decrease public breastfeeding. I would like to know if anyone has hard statistics on increase in breast exposure in states with protective laws. I wonder why do you think ND women (your constituents) would expose more flesh than necessary and more than women in other states?

The current wording demands that a mother must breastfeed in a modest and discreet manner. If you’ve ever nursed or seen a baby nurse, it’s not all the rosy picture portrayed in most pictures. Babies wiggle and squirm. They are curious, growing human beings. If you are staring at a nursing mother, you are likely to see some skin! It happens. Breastfeeding is not a sexual activity, and breasts are not sexual organs any more than mouths are. They are mammary glands, created for the purpose of providing nourishment for our children.

The current wording provides no protection for breastfeeding mothers, for their babies or for mothers who work and pump. I cannot personally speak to pumping at work, but I have a friend whose boss made her pump in her car. She quit that job, but that is not possible for many people in our current economy.

The bill changes the focus entirely from protecting breastfeeding mothers to the issue of modesty, which is not the main issue. The main issue is the child’s right to eat. Babies do not understand wait. They have needs which must be addressed immediately. Focusing on modesty avoids the real issue—the needs of babies. Talking about modesty actually interferes with mothers successfully nursing—that there is a law that requires women to nurse modestly will make it harder for women—even those who would have nursed discreetly to begin with—to feel confident and protected about nursing in public, and that this in turn will result in fewer babies being breastfed exclusively for the AAP’s recommended minimum of 6 months exclusive breastfeeding and to reach the recommended minimum of a year.

Why We Need this Law:
Some people wonder why a law protecting breastfeeding mothers and babies is even necessary. In the last 3-4 years, there have been at least six incidents that were publicized where mothers were harassed for feeding their babies in public.How will the law help mothers breastfeed more and longer?Mothers who are not intimidated will feel more confident to breastfeed in public. If you are afraid of being kicked out of your favourite restaurant, how would you feel?
1. Benefits to the state
a. Many families who are on WIC use formula, another expense the state covers. The more WIC moms who breastfeed, the more the state saves, both immediately and in the long run because of the health benefits.
b. It is ridiculous to compromise these important public health and cost savings over squeamishness about glimpsing a breast now and then. Ask yourself, what's more important? Protecting the tender eyes of a few easily-offended citizens, or improving our children's health and controlling our state's healthcare costs?
2. Benefits to mothers’ health—reduces multiple cancers in women the longer women breastfeed.
3. Benefits to Babies
a. Human milk is made for humans.
b. Are sick less often, get less dehydrated while they are sick and recover more quickly.
c. Have less asthma, childhood and adult cancers, obesity and diabetes.In the US, 720 babies a year die because they are on formula (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15121986?dopt=Abstract).This is from the Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Stories of mothers who suffered discrimination:
Texas has a law with no enforcement provision, but Jessica Swimeley had to rally public support to influence those trying to stop her from nursing her child in the Ronald McDonald House where they were staying while the baby had brain surgery. And her child desperately needed to nurse. After his surgery nursing was one of the few things that comforted him, but someone felt their right to be offended by something natural and necessary took precedence over a poor suffering child's needs. (See attached Lactation and the Law article for more details).

My personal experience:
I have been asked to nurse in a bathroom when I was using a blanket. That person was uncomfortable with the fact I was nursing. People who are uncomfortable with the fact of breastfeeding will use the modesty clause as an excuse to harass mothers and babies. ‘Harass’ may sound harsh to some of you, but to a new mom, to any mom, being confronted about feeding your baby is humiliating. I worried that some person would say something and force me to leave. This experience I did have was at a time when my daughter was two months old. I left my house for church, and this other weekly meeting; this was the only time I had to be around adults, and some overly sensitive person wanted me to spend most of that time in a bathroom essentially by myself? It was an extremely isolating and embarrassing experience.

Conclusion:
If the government wants to help mothers provide what is best for their children, then they must make a difference and protect breastfeeding mothers. The SB 2344 should be passed with its original wording.

3/52

2009-03-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

I am very late on this, but oh well.

My little sister Relyssa is here for a week! Jessi is loving her Aunt "Reese"

Cleaning Green

2009-03-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

So the next subject is about cleaning products.
The decision for me to switch to natural cleaning products was simple and easy. I've always had a problem with how they smelled and once Jessi came along, they honestly scared me. And this was before I did any research on them.

Some chemicals in common household cleaners are carcinogens and can increase your risk of:
1. Cancer
2. Asthma
3. Allergies
4. Psychological Disorders

-In 1985 an EPA report states that household cleaners such as Windex are THREE times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor pollution!
-In 1990 alone, more than 4,000 children were given emergency treatment for the consumption of a household cleaner. In the same year, almost 18,000 pesticide related incidents were reported in which seventy four percent of victims were younger than 14 years of age.
-For children under the age of ten living in a home where pesticides are frequently used, the risk of leukemia increases 4-7 times. Childhood brain cancer is also associated with the use of flea collars and other pesticides in your home.

This is a good link to read:
http://www.zerowaste.ca/articles/column32.html

*I* think that going green with your cleaning products is one of the easiest and cheapest things.
Pretty much, if you have vinegar and baking soda, you're good to go! (Maybe get a spray bottle if you want, too.)
Here's some great sites for recipes on homemade cleaners~
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/homemadehouseholdcleaners.htm
http://www.heatherferris.net/homemadecleaners.html

Here's some other tips for homemade cleaners:

Dr. Bronners Can be used for everything! I love this stuff. (Dr. bronners can be found at Target... ) It may seem expensive at first (about $14 for a bottle) but I got our bottle back in Sept and we're still going through it - and we mainly use it for body wash!

If you mix 1 scoop of oyxclean in about 16 oz of hot water then added about 2 tbs of Dr Bronners, its supposed to be "AH MAZING" and "Heaven in a bottle".
Make sure you don't mix oxyclean then Dr Bronners THEN water, it will make the oxyclean a solid! LOL

Grapefruit Seed Extract.....known to kill molds, viruses, bacterias, yeast and more. In fact I just heard the city of Chicago is using it in their sewer systems in place of bleach!! You can mix 15 drops in 30 oz of water. – To clean kitchen, bathrooms, etc.
GFS Extract doesn't have a smell and can be used for all the things I mentioned above. It can even be swallowed in water to kill internal bacterias, etc... such as UTI's, yeast infections....

You can use grapefruit seed extract to cure thrush

Tea Tree Oil also disinfects and kills all kinds of bad stuff. You can mix a spray bottle with 1/4 to 1/3 vinegar, the rest water, and a couple drops of TTO

Baking powder with lemon juice in the toilets if they need it

Vinegar. You can't believe what all vinegar can do for you. I use a mix of half vinegar and half water for cleaning/disinfecting my entire house.
It's a great disinfectant to use, especially in place of clorox. (Ugh, has anybody seen the commercials where they say you can disinfect you babies bottles and toys by sticking them in a sink full of clorox and water? That's nasty.)
Oh, another thing is that a lot of people think that their house will stink like vinegar when they use this. It will... But only for about *maybe* 10 minutes (In my experience.)
Once again, you can look here: http://www.vinegartips.com/

Another thing to consider is Essential Oils... They can be great for cleaning. Especially the lemon or a lime since it's a disinfectant.
It can also make that vinegar smell better. I've never tried any, but I've been peeking a Jeanette's website because I'm very tempted.
http://cronks.younglivingworld.com/MainFrame.asp?BodyFrame=resources/OilStory_main.asp

Not only are you going to be going green by using natural cleaners, but you're not going to be buying things in all those plastic bottles. Less trash!

If you don't want to make your own, there's some options there also that won't break the bank.
Here's a WAHM that makes cleaners. http://hyenacart.com/BareNaked/ I've never tried them, but they look good. But, if you look at some of the ingredient list, you could make some of them yourself. (Then again, this section is for people who don't want to make their own ;) )
There's reviews on her stuff Here and Here

There's also Shaklee, the stuff I recently got to try. http://www.shaklee.net/haich
I got the Basic H http://www.shaklee.net/haich/product/00015 which can be used for about everything! It may look like it's expensive at a little over $10 for 16 ounces, but when you consider that you use 1/4 tsp. for 16 oz of water for the basic cleaning stuff and 1-2 drops for the window cleaner, this stuff is going to last a loooong time!
I also got the scouring scrub: http://www.shaklee.net/haich/product/00430 I LOVE this stuff! It even smells good! It made cleaning my icky grimy shower so easy. I'm talking, in a matter of minutes.
And I got the stain remover: http://www.shaklee.net/haich/product/00305

I feel like I'm missing something here. But this is long and I'm out of time. Once again, you can leave a question of comment ;)

Green Clean

2009-03-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

A lot of the comments I got about why people don't use more "green" stuff is the price of things. I wanted to put together a few post of ways you can go green without breaking the bank.
See, to me part of going green is also saving money. There's no way I can afford all the "green" things the stores have to offer. Plus, if you're having to go out and buy new stuff to go green, is that really going green? You're just buying new stuff. Also, a lot of the "green" stuff out there isn't really green. (Example: Clorox green. Yes, it's great that they're making an effort and if that's what you're wanting to use, I guess it's better than nothing.. but still.)

So my first set of posts are on cleaners and what you can use to have the advantage of not having the chemicals but also not breaking the bank.

First, if you want some links on why cleaners are bad, here you go. But you can also look it up yourselves. Or trust me that I've done my research ;) Besides the chemicals that no, don't wash all the way out of your clothes, (You can always smell the "sent" after it's washed..) You're also putting those chemicals into the water, which does go to a treatment plant, but some of it does leak into the earth. Would you want to water your plants with that stuff?
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/07/25/health-hazards-in-household-cleaners-exposed.html

http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Whats-So-Bad-About-Chemical-Cleaning-Products.html

So, first up... Laundry detergent! Honestly, one of my greatest finds is my laundry detergent.
You can make your own! It's very easy and I have done it.
Here's 2 recipes, one liquid and one dry:
Liquid:
3 Pints Water
1/3 Soap,* Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water
Mix soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

Dry:
1 Cup Grated Soap*
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
For light load, use 1 tablespoon.For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.

* Good soaps to use are Fels Naptha, Ivory or a castile soap.

TIPS• Liquid detergent can also be used as a pre-treater for stains. • Essential Oils can be added to soap for fragrance.

If you're not feeling up to making your own, there's some other options.
First up, my favorite.. Crunchy clean. I'll admit, this is the only homemade stuff I've bought, so maybe there's a reason it's my favorite. ;) http://www.crunchyclean.com/ I am not kidding you, this stuff smells Soooooo good!! When your mailman is asking you what's in the package because everybody at the post office was trying to guess... You know. The nice thing is though, you don't smell it after you wash your clothes. Monkey farts is the only sent I've tried, but I love it. I have the diaper wash and the regular wash.
It's really not that expensive either. It really lasts you a long time. I've had my diaper detergent since November and I'm nowhere near even half way through it. I've just got the regular detergent, so I can't tell you how long that lasts.

The others that I know of are:
http://www.jennyssimplyclean.com/
http://www.cleangreenmonkey.com/

Now that the cleaners are covered (Somewhat.... There is a lot more out there!) Lets talk fabric softener. I never ever bought fabric softener. I guess I considered it a luxury. Then I found out that you can use vinegar as fabric softener! I was a bit hesitant to try it because who wants your clothes to smell like vinegar?? But it really doesn't. You just put a little bit in your rinse cycle and it really does work great!
Check this out, 1001 ways to use vinegar: http://www.vinegartips.com/

Oh, and that washing soda and borax that are ingredients for the laundry detergent? They're also great laundry boosters for regular laundry detergents, for stains and also for household cleaning. Washing soda & Borax can be found at most grocery stores or Walmart.

Another great way to go green with laundry that will save you money is to get a clothes line and use it instead of your dryer ;)

That's all for this post. If you'd like to share your green ways with laundry, feel free! I know I still don't know very much about this stuff and am always looking for more!

2/52

2009-03-04T09:05:00.000-08:00

So I don't know if there's any "rules" to this thing so I guess I'll just make my own up as I go. :)

Here's a silly one. And yes, it's in the bed again. Hehe.

What's stopping you from going green?

2009-03-02T14:11:00.000-08:00

I'd like to know... What's stopping you from going green?
From using cloth instead of paper products? (Paper towels, diapers, rags, bags, pads, etc.)
From using earth friendly products instead of ones full of chemical's (House cleaners, shampoo, body wash, etc)
From recycling (Plastics, paper, clothes, etc.)
And anything else you can think of. I'd really like to know, so leave me a comment :)
I'm planning a future post on this, so I'd like some ideas of set-backs people have.

I cleaned!

2009-03-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

We've had very hard water since we moved into our house.. It's caused disgusting, waterspots, mold, crusty, mildew, and whatnot in the shower, so I'm always feeling like I have to clean the shower. As much as I like a clean shower, I actually don't like cleaning it.. because of the icky smell from chemicals and the frustration that I can't get everything off like I want it!

On the chemical part, it's horrible when you have to try to decide if you should give the baby a bath before or after you clean the tub. I know you rinse it all off and stuff, but still.

So a little over a week ago I went to the organic farmers market to pick up the bison that we had ordered. While I was waiting for it, I was checking out the other products that different people had. There was a lady there with some Shaklee stuff and I had to check it out because I've heard such great stuff about Shaklee. I ended up ordering some of their basic H cleaner and some re-usable spray bottles for it. The basic H is really neat.. for the general cleaner, you put 1/4 tsp. of the cleaner in a 16 oz spray bottle and fill it up with water. To use it as a window cleaner, you put 1-2 drops for 16 oz of water. Niiiice.

So then the next day she called me and told me I won the drawing for a $20 gift card.. so I added on some of their scouring scrub. I had smelled it at the FM and it actually smells really good!

So anyways, I tried the cleaner and the scouring scrub on my tub yesterday... Easiest time I've ever had cleaning it! Everything came up really easy!

Shaklee looks like a pretty good company, very eco-minded. It may not be as "green" as my vinegar cleaner, but that's about as green as you can get and it works better, IMO.

Anyways, I didn't really have anything to post today. Haha! I just felt like posting.
Welcome to my boring life.

I was just thinking that I should have taken before and after pictures. Hehe.

Can somebody please wipe the drool from my chin?

2009-02-25T11:55:00.001-08:00

I made a huuuuuge mistake in looking at these.

(Here)

(Here)

(Here)

(Here)
And there's even more here!

I'm thinking I should start thinking about draging out the sewing machine again. Because I want all of them. Lol!

Jessi & I

2009-02-24T08:05:00.000-08:00

Also known as 1 of 52 since I decided I might do the "52 week photo challenge"

So last night Jessi was very, very tired. I was trying to put her to sleep and she just kept crying and crying. Finally I saw the camera on my night stand and pulled it out... All done crying!! She loves the camera and never misses a chance to have pictures taken and "see it".
Now, that doesn't mean I get good pictures of her. Lol! She's always too busy trying to "see it" to hold still!

A funny story in relation to my last post

2009-02-20T14:47:00.000-08:00

On the diaper boards I am on, we were discussing the story of the woman who was asked to leave Dennys for BFing.
Here's the story... (This is a place where BFing laws are in place and totally on the side of the mother BFing, ANYWHERE public or private)
"Crystal Everitt says she was asked to leave Denny's on Patton Avenue Sunday because she was breastfeeding her child.
Denny's Regional Director Rick Pate tells News 13 complaints poured into management and some patrons left. He says a manager asked Everitt to cover herself or go somewhere more private.
When Everitt said her legal rights were being violated, the police were called. Everitt tells News 13 she was asked to leave the restaurant, or face trespassing charges.
She says society should not sexualize breasts -- especially when they're used for the practical purpose of caring for the young.The Asheville Police Department says their officer informed Denny's that indecency laws do not apply to breastfeeding mothers, but that they could charge Everitt with trespassing since Denny's is a private business that reserves the right to refuse service.
APD says the manager did not charge Everitt with trespass.
There is surveillance video of the incident, but Denny's is not releasing it to the public. Everitt says she and others are planning a demonstration against the Denny's chain. There's no word yet on when that will happen."

Now I tell you that story to tell you this one. Another lady posted this in the discussion:

"I was asked to nurse in the bathroom once and so I decided to ask the waiter if he would please bring a table, chair and my meal/drink into the bathroom for me so that I could continue to eat my dinner.
He was stunned and brought the manager to the table and asked me to repeat the request so that his manager could hear it.
I did and said said, "Ma'am, consuming food of any kind in this restaurant's bathroom is against our policy. We wouldn't allow a dog to eat in our bathroom".
As soon as he said those words he turned beet red and did a turnabout face right back into the kitchen.
Needless to say, our meals, drinks and the bonus deserts sent to our table that evening were FREE. "

HAHAHA!! I love it! :D

Very Annoyed... breastfeeding bill

2009-02-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

I was really excited about this, it didn't have an enforcement provision, but it was pretty good. It got passed yesterday, and I am so ticked. I don't know when it will be up in the House.

They changed it from:

Right to breastfeed - Discriminatory practices.
1. Except for the private home or residence of another, a woman may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the woman's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding.
2. It is a discriminatory practice to deny or attempt to deny the full and equalenjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, andaccommodations of a place of public accommodation to a woman because thewoman is breastfeeding her child.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-...t/JAGK0100.pdf

to this:

Right to breastfeed. If the woman acts in a discreet and modest Manner, a woman may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-...s/JAGK0200.pdf

I'm sorry, but we're better off without a bill at all if they're going to do it that way!!
I know I'm not BFing anymore, but I might be again someday, and this just pushes the wrong buttons.
I even contacted all my people to ask them to pass this bill. (Before it was changed.)
Now I'm going to contact them again to let them know what I think ;)

Happy Anniversary to us!!

2009-02-18T05:32:00.000-08:00

Happy 4th anniversary to the sweetest guy I know. He's the love of my life and my best friend.

Sometimes things in life are tough, but I wouldn't want to go through it with anybody else.

Happy Birthday Mr. Trey!!

2009-02-17T06:09:00.001-08:00

Happy 2nd birthday to my adorable Nephew, Trey.

(Trey & Jessi are 3 weeks apart)
I'm sad that we don't have any newer pictures of these 2 together. I guess we were all too busy the last time we were all together.

We'll get some in May ;)

My Beauty

2009-02-16T09:43:00.001-08:00

Story time

2009-02-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

One of Jessi's obsessions right now is elmo.. I thought it was cute when I walked in the room the other day and saw her reading to and rocking elmo.

Want a hadmade gift?

2009-02-09T06:19:00.000-08:00

It's your lucky day!!!
Lucky you! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice, for you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be something for your scrapbook, or something I sew. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. (If you don't want to do this, you don't have to... I just want to make some stuff! Lol!) The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!.
So....who will be the first 5 people?????

I want one!

2009-02-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

http://www.theslanket.com/

I want one of these! Lol!
We're always using blankets around the house to stay cozy. As lazy as it sounds, it's a pain to try to hold your blanket in place while you drink/read/eat or have to get out of it to go get something.

They're cheaper Here
Can't you see yourself on that couch with a cup of hot chocolate / coffee and a book?

Kissy Kissy

2009-02-05T11:52:00.000-08:00

Jessi was in a kissy mood last night ;)

Mom made her this adorable little dress, along with another top and some brown pants to go with them for Jessi's birthday... We've gotten so many compliments on them!

Thanks "Grammy!"

I'm telling you...

2009-02-02T12:01:00.001-08:00

Househusband? SAHD?

2009-01-30T08:39:00.000-08:00

Today, because of a 3 week layoff at work, Wade is now a.... Househusband, Stay at home Dad? lol. (Is it wrong that I'm quite jealous?) We're keeping Jessi home from daycare to save on that during the 3 weeks, so this should be intresting!

I told him I'm expecting to come home to a clean house and a hot meal every night. Think that'll happen? (I'm not very hopeful!)

He did tell me to start a honey-do list for stuff I want done around the house (becides cleaning) though. His Mother heard him, so there's no backing out of that one!

So far:

Try to FINALLY get the hot water heater working right

Cut, paint and put up my shelf for the living room. (Long straight shelf that I want to be made into a corner shelf)

attempt to put our dishwasher in (YAY!!!!!)

Put some more trim in the living room/dining room

Anymore suggestion?? I have a hubby with nothing to do for 3 weeks...

I mean, when you stay home with a child, you DO have nothing to do... Right?? Hehe.

Vaccines

2009-01-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

After my last post, I was asked by a few different people to do a post on Vaccines.
**I realize this is a very controversial topic, I am not posting opinions, just facts, and I realize that there's no cut and dried answer and every parent needs to consider vaccinations for themselves.
Also, I just want to say that I don’t think that choosing to vaccinate or choosing not to vaccinate make's anyone a bad parent, but it is wise to be informed about the choice either way.
*********************************************************************************

Breaking it down, one by one.
Ingredients:
Here's some sites that you can see a list of ingredients. *CDC* *Informed choice* & *Winkler* Here's some of the most common vaccines and the ingredients:

DTaP

(Daptacel)
Aluminum Phosphate, Ammonium Sulfate, Casamino Acid, Dimethyl-beta-
cyclodextrin, Formaldehyde or Formalin, Glutaraldehyde, 2-Phenoxyethanol

(Infanrix)
Aluminum Hydroxide, Bovine Extract, Formaldehyde or Formalin,
Glutaraldhyde, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80

(Tripedia)
Aluminum Potassium Sulfate, Ammonium Sulfate, Bovine Extract,
Formaldehyde or Formalin, Gelatin, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Phosphate,
Thimerosal

DTaP/Hib
(TriHIBit)
Aluminum Potassium Sulfate, Ammonium Sulfate, Bovine Extract,
Formaldehyde or Formalin, Gelatin, Polysorbate 80, Sucrose, Thimerosal

Hib/Hep B
(Comvax)
Amino Acids, Aluminum Hydroxyphosphate Sulfate, Dextrose, Formaldehyde
or Formalin, Mineral Salts, Sodium Borate, Soy Peptone, Yeast Protein

Hep A
(Havrix)
Aluminum Hydroxide, Amino Acids, Formaldehyde or Formalin, MRC-5
Cellular Protein, Neomycin Sulfate, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Phosphate Buffers,
Polysorbate

(Vaqta)
Aluminum Hydroxyphosphate Sulfate, Bovine Albumin or Serum, DNA,
Formaldehyde or Formalin, MRC-5 Cellular Protein, Sodium Borate

Hep B
(Engerix-B)
Aluminum Hydroxide, Phosphate Buffers, Thimerosal*, Yeast Protein

(Recombivax)
Aluminum Hydroxyphosphate Sulfate, Amino Acids, Dextrose, Formaldehyde
or Formalin, Mineral Salts, Potassium Aluminum Sulfate, Soy Peptone, Yeast
Protein

Influenza
(Afluria)
Beta-Propiolactone, Calcium Chloride, Neomycin, Ovalbumin, Polymyxin B,
Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium
Taurodeoxychoalate.

(Fluarix)
Egg Albumin (Ovalbumin), Egg Protein, Formaldehyde or Formalin,
Gentamicin, Hydrocortisone, Octoxynol-10, Tocopheryl Hydrogen Succinate,
Polysorbate 80, Sodium Deoxycholate, Sodium Phosphate, Thimerosal*

(Flulaval)
Egg Albumin (Ovalbumin), Egg Protein, Formaldehyde or Formalin, Sodium
Deoxycholate, Phosphate Buffers, Thimerosal

(Fluvirin)
Beta-Propiolactone , Egg Protein, Neomycin, Polymyxin B, Polyoxyethylene 9-
10 Nonyl Phenol (Triton N-101, Octoxynol 9), Thimerosal (multidose
containers), Thimerosal* (single-dose syringes)

(Fluzone)
Egg Protein, Formaldehyde or Formalin, Gelatin, Octoxinol-9 (Triton X-100),
Thimerosal (multidose containers)

(FluMist)
Chick Kidney Cells, Egg Protein, Gentamicin Sulfate, Monosodium Glutamate,
Sucrose Phosphate Glutamate Buffer

MMR
(MMR-II)
Amino Acid, Bovine Albumin or Serum, Chick Embryo Fibroblasts, Human
Serum Albumin, Gelatin, Glutamate, Neomycin, Phosphate Buffers, Sorbitol,
Sucrose, Vitamins

There's many more, but that's enough on here. you can check out the rest of them in the links

Now, what ARE some of those ingredients??
Here's the low-down on some of them.

Thimerosal: Thimerosal is a mercury-containing organic compound (an organomercurial) approximately 49% mercury by weight.

Aluminum hydroxide: is a hydroxide salt form of aluminum. It is commonly used as a drug, and can be found in antacids for the treatment of heartburn, gastritis, and peptic ulcers. It may also be used to reduce the absorption of phosphorus in people with kidney failure.
It is toxic and even deadly. It damages all different types of tissues, and is slightly less toxic than lead or mercury. Read this: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/01/27/mercury-in-vaccines-was-replaced-with-something-even-more-toxic.aspx

Bovine serum albumin (BSA): Bovine=of or pertaining to the subfamily Bovinae, which includes cattle, buffalo, and kudus. Serum=the clear, pale-yellow liquid that separates from the clot in the coagulation of blood; blood serum. Albumin=any of a class of simple, sulfur-containing, water-soluble proteins that coagulate when heated, occurring in egg white, milk, blood, and other animal and vegetable tissues and secretions.

MRC-5: The MRC-5 cell line is commonly utilized in vaccine development, as a transfection host in virology research, and for in vitro cytotoxicity testing. Initiated in September 1966 by J. P. Jacobs, the cell line was derived from the human lung tissue of a 14-week-old male fetus aborted from a 27-year-old woman.

Formaldehyde: a colorless poisonous gas; made by the oxidation of methanol. (Check this out: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/formaldehyde )

Human Serum Albumin: the most abundant protein in human blood plasma. It is produced in the liver.

Human Serum: Human blood plasma

RA273 – Rubella virus strain taken from the kidney of the 27th electively aborted fetus in a control study group during the 1964 rubella epidemic (7 week gestation - embryonic)

WI-38 – Taken from the lung tissue of a 3 month gestation electively aborted female

*More Facts:*
The Federal government VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System) was established by Congress under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Act of 1986. It receives about 11,000 reports of serious adverse reactions to vaccinations annually, which include as many as one to two hundred deaths, and several times that number of permanent disabilities.

The FDA estimates that as few as 1% of serious adverse reactions to vaccines are reported, , and the CDC admits that only about 10% of such events are reported. In fact, Congress has heard testimony that medical students are told not to report suspected adverse events.

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC, a grassroots organization founded by parents of vaccine-injured and killed children) has conducted its own investigations. It reported: "In New York, only one out of 40 doctor's offices confirmed that they report a death or injury following vaccination."
In other words, 97.5% of vaccine related deaths and disabilities go unreported there. Implications about medical ethics aside (federal law directs doctors to report serious adverse events ), these findings suggest that vaccine deaths and serious injuries actually occurring may be from 10 to 100 times greater than the number reported.

I have much more. Including studies on SIDS & vaccines. I'm not going to post them now, but you can ask for them if you want to. layna_29@yahoo.com

Vaccines: then and now..

BTW, there are even MORE vaccines mandated now then what is presented here on the chart. NJ just added 4 more, making it the biggest vax'ing state in the US

Was it the vaccine... or not? Could it have been better living conditions that helped?

What is causing this?

Vaccines made in China:
Taken from the "Blaylock Wellness report vol. 5 #12. Written by Dr. Russell L. Blaylock M.D.
"It is absolutely vital to understand that most vaccines used in the US are manufactured in China. These Chinese facilities are "ghost inspected" only once every 13 years. These inspections mean very little. With "ghost inspections", FDA inspectors are not allowed to physically inspect the facilities. They are required to take the word of the communist factory officials."

Yeah, China, the place that is poisoning our kids with toxic toys, candy and lets not forget the huge deadly milk epidemic that took place this fall.

I'm ending it with these:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/01/27/mercury-in-vaccines-was-replaced-with-something-even-more-toxic.aspx (same link as above about the aluminum)

http://www.mothering.com/sections/news_bulletins/july2007.html#survey

You can agree with me or not, but these are the facts. There's alot more stuff, but I know some of it wouldn't be considered from a un-biased source. But then again, I have stuff from the vaccine companys and the CDC on here and I wouldn't exactly call that a un-biased source ;)

Going to hide in my hole now..... :D

Seriously ?? (HFCS... AGAIN!!)

2009-01-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-01-27-corn-syrup_N.htm
Study: High-fructose corn syrup contains mercury!

Amazing.

But it makes me wonder... Why is this such a big deal, but injecting our children with vaxes that contain mercury isn't??

Oh, they've got me going now!!!
I really like this part:
"On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of high-fructose corn syrup, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80% more than average."

It's all good...

2009-01-27T14:03:00.000-08:00

I heart this

2009-01-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

Lynisha had a nice birthday post on her blog for Jessi with this picture that I had never seen before. (She took it of us.) I love it SO much! (Jessi was 7 months here)

Makes me wish we could see Nish now so she could do Jessi's 2 year pictures!

Also makes me feel sad. Look at my sweet little baby!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Jessi Learah!!

2009-01-25T17:55:00.000-08:00

Newborn

One Year

Today, two years old!!

We love you baby girl!!

A hair-raising experience

2009-01-23T11:37:00.000-08:00

Haha, I couldn't think of another title.

So awhile back I had read a lot about "no-poo'ing". No, it's not what it seems.

It's not using shampoo to wash your hair. (Google "no-poo'ing" and "why go no-poo' " for more)

It seemed like an intresting thing, so I decided to try it. I decided to go with the using Baking soda to wash and an apple cider vinegar rinse. I slowly phased out my shampoo with it and once I was only using the BS & ACV, it was awsome. My hair had never felt better.

Well, then we moved into our house and on day 1 Wade broke the water softner, and my no-poo went bad so I had to stop. I hated using shampoo with chemicals in it again, but I did the best I could.

Now, when I had gone no-poo, my hair started getting a little bit curly! When I was a baby I had a little bit of curly hair, but it never lasted. Since then my hair has been not really straight, but not curly at all. Just kind of frizzy unless I did something with it. The first thing no-poo did though was make it really silky. Here's a picture from the good times of no-poo'ing: (but before the curls)

So then somebody told me about a shampoo bar they really liked from HERE

I've been trying it for the last 2 weeks or so. It's all natural. So here's a picture of my hair I took the other day... Guess what it started doing again??

Intresting what not having any chemicals in your hair can do.
I can't wait untill it's done "adjusting". It does take a little bit for your hair to get used to not having all the junk in it.

And speaking of hair....

Just another post about my wierd way of living. :D

Happy Anniversary, Dad & Mom!!

2009-01-22T12:24:00.000-08:00

I love you guys!

Little girl in the mirror....

2009-01-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

You are so beautiful!

Jessi loves looking in the mirror. Sorry it's dirty :D

I can't believe she will be 2 in 4 days!

(For anybody that's wondering.... She's wearing a Baltic Amber necklace) ;)