When...

.....your baby asks you for one more kiss, never say no!

When he asks you play, put down the dish rag and play!

When he asks for cookies, bake 'em!

When he wants to help, let him!

When he needs you, run to him!

When he's sleepy, cuddle!

My baby boy is getting so big! These days will be over before I know it.
I intend to ENJOY!






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Evolution and You Capture

I am evolving. 
I'm a mother of two now.  I have a whole new set of challenges and priorities. I'm learning a lot about myself, how to get things done and how much I can handle. I have a lot to say and a lot to blog. You may have noticed the added buttons and gadgets in the header and sidebar of the blog. The blog is evolving too! I've been connecting with other moms online and through other blogs and have decided to make my blog a more regular thing. So, please bear with me as I embark on this journey of evolution!


You Capture is a weekly challege to get you out taking pictures! This week's challenge: Outside!
What happened outside at my house this week?

Ronan joined in some yard work!

He cried for a second.....

Then, fell asleep.....

Even though big brother was blowing his whistle:

The New Adventures of this Modern Mama: Part Two

To cloth or not to cloth? That is my GINORMOUS question!

As I was pondering, "what do we spend the most money on and what can we cut back," the thought occurred to me: DIAPERS! Diapers are a major expense of having children. Sure, month to month you have to fit it in the budget, but have you ever looked at the big picture? I mean, add it up.
One value box of diapers costs about $40. It's lasts about a month.
One value box of wipes cost $12. This also lasts about a month.
An average of $52/month for disposable diapers. Let's say you potty train at 3-years-old.
52x12x3=$1872 spent on diapering.
Now, consider this being your second child and the older one still wears pull-ups at night for the first year. Add $20 more per month. Times 12 months=$240. Added to our previous figure: $2112 in the trash!
Sure, it's spent over the course of three years, so it may not seem very bad at the time but think of the things you could buy for your family with that $2000!

Sounds convincing so far, Patricia, but how do those numbers compare to the cost of cloth diapering? I'm glad you asked!
If Ronan soils an average of 12 diapers a day, I wash diapers every 3 days and assuming I alternate between 2 covers per day: 3 dozen cloth diapers and 6 covers= approximately $125! BIG DIFFERENCE, huh?!

Now, that's just the monetary benefits. I haven't even mentioned the fact that cloth diaper don't contain ANY of the chemicals present in disposables OR that our household waste would be cut in HALF!

Send me your thoughts!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ffLuJJ0iUQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player





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What We've Been Doing

Grandma and Ronan

Fun in the sun @ Uncle Steve and Aunt Krista's House

Driving home from VA

Our SWEET SWEET boys!

"I can hold him, Mommy. Give him to me."

Exploring the library

Playing "Reader Rabbit" @ the library

Play date/lunch date with Chloe

Stay tuned for LOTS more!

I just realized....

....I forget what it feels like to come home from work, kiss my husband, cook dinner and talk about our day.
:(


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The New Adventures of this Modern Mama: part one

Most of you know that I am usually all about my gadgets, drive-thrus, Starbucks coffee and other modern conveniences, but since I have been home this summer, I have been researching every SINGLE IDEA that pops in my head for saving money and generally keeping my kids as healthy as possible and, to my surprise, I have become very efficient. I must admit that a mom cannot be supermom without a supportive husband. Mine listens to all my crazy ideas and VERY patiently allows me to try things out. And, Boy, did I get on a roll over the past few weeks!

I have started baking bread. No, not in a machine. Real, hand-kneaded yeast bread. I started this, at first, because Alistair and I eat a lot of different kinds of sandwiches. We go through LOTS of bread. One of my favorites is Pepperidge Farm Oatmeal.....mmmmmmmmm. Well, that stuff, although delicious, is $3.79 per loaf and that $3.79 is very difficult to spend when there is a (seemingly) perfectly fine loaf of wonder bread right next to it for $1.20. This is VERY tempting and I bought the cheap stuff quite a bit, but I knew there had to be a way to eat better on a budget. Duh, Patricia! Make it! Thanks to my Good Housekeeping Bible (I mean cookbook) and allrecipes.com, I've been baking my little heart out! Feeding this breastfeeding Mama and the rambunctious toddler fresh, preservative-free yummy yummy goodness for around 60 cents per loaf! But I don't just feel good about cutting back the amount of preservatives that my boys get and saving money at the same time, but I feel accomplished when I manage to do this seemingly daughting task while caring for my children, and most of the time wearing Ronan! (it's the little things that excite me these days).

Rainbow Parents

If you have ever lost a child and tried again, suffered a pregnancy loss or failed adoption, then you are a RAINBOW PARENT! Hang onto your "rainbow after the storm" and check out Stephanie's GORGEOUS designs at Beyond Words Designs



Or check out her blog and read the story of her precious Amelia Rose!

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