Friday, February 18, 2011

Brain-emptying Hodge-Podge

So, ya....my last good blog post was over a month ago and even that one was half-assed. The truth is, I have let the blog slip to allow time for other things. For one, about 3 weeks ago, I decided I was not going to spend another dollar on disposable diapers. YIKES! I was almost out! So, I sat at my sewing machine (which I just got for Christmas and had barely used) and started making my own fitted cloth diapers by trial and error! The pressure was on to get this kid into cloth bc the sposies were dwindling. Since that day, I have spent every spare moment sewing diapers and covers. I got brave and tried out zippers and I couldn't stop sewing! My FB friends can attest to the shear number of projects I have undertaken recently! Such as:









I still have to make more diapers (and yes, I did order..*gasp*....a half dozen prefolds for good measure) but Ronan is in cloth almost full-time now. He's a very heavy wetter at night, so he wears sposies to bed, but we're still on that same pack that was almost gone 3 weeks ago! In my quest to CD my baby's bottom, my house has suffered. Therefore, my blog has fallen by the wayside while I catch up. I will be back more often now, I think.....until we plant the garden!!! But for now, I am going to empty my brain of all the post ideas that have been slamming into each other up there and allow my brain to function correctly.


-Sometimes I hit the "home" button on my iPad and before I put it to sleep, I stare for a moment at the picture of our family.....together. (and sometimes I tear up a little bit)



-Sometimes I let Alistair stay up late just because I want to snuggle him a little longer!

-You can call it loneliness, nursing appetite or just a lack of self-control, but I purposely avoid the cookie aisle at the grocery store because I know I'll spend a fortune.

-It's a good thing I'm not on a diet because there is no way I could add up all the carbs I have consumed this week.

-I LOVE to wear my baby and he LOVES to be worn! (I could seriously write a book about this!)
(HERE is a link that explains why I bought an ErgoBaby
beside the fact that I have always loved my mei tai)



-I LOVE breastfeeding! I can't even explain it. It's not just giving my boys the BEST nutrition to get them started in life, it's more than that. It's having them close to me, wearing them, tending to their needs quickly to ensure their emotional needs are met, it's the pride I feel that no man or factory is able to produce what my body KNOWS my baby needs or how my ego gets a boost when the doctor smiles and says "good job, Mom!" It is knowing that they are secure, well-adjusted kids! It is SO many things......hmmmm...another book? ;)


-Parenting and Breastfeeding have changed my life! I understand so much more about humans, what we do naturally and what our society has pushed on us as "accepted."

-I often cry as I watch these boys, day in and day out, learn, discover, fall, cry, get up, try again, smile and GROW! I am so SO blessed that I have been able to be with them everyday of their lives!!!




-I am now deeply in LOVE with sewing! (post on this coming soon)

-I love our little "homestead" and am so enlightened as we learn and discover new ways to become more self-sustaining. (Whether we can do it all or not, simply having the knowledge is empowering!)

-I fall deeper in love with my husband everyday. I am so GRATEFUL for him and all that he has sacrificed over the last 7 1/2 years to ensure that we have a comfortable home, reliable vehicles and full bellies! I miss him so so much, but in spite of current circumstances, the love bank is full....we need another account to rollover the excess......my cup runneth over.......ok, enough, now my eyes runneth over!




HAPPY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!!!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Gussy Giveaway

I don't have one (yet), but I've been dreaming of  Gussy bag since last summer! Go check her out....she's amazing....and she's doing a GIVEAWAY!!!!

Read her story while you're there! SO inspiring!!!

Maggie Whitley Gussy Sews



Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Sorry for my absence

I have taken a little blogging break to focus on better time management and organization.....it also doesn't help that I took up sewing and am on a mission to make cloth diapers for Ronan.

LOTS to catch up on! I promise to post by the weekend!

Thanks for checking in!



- Posted from my iPad

Thursday, January 13, 2011

You Capture-Doorways

*Note: This is NOT a very creative post.

When I first saw the topic for this week's You Capture, I immediately thought of Herman Melville's quote, “The eyes are the gateway to the soul.” I knew I wanted to get some shots of my boys because they seriously have THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EYES! They captivate me!
Take this picture of Alistair at 10 months:







Gorgeous eyes, right?! 2 1/2 years later one glance can still make his Mommy melt!

Well, I decided that the eyes topic was just a little too obvious and began to think about doorways, literally. I didn't want to submit just any doorways. I wanted to post something about doorways that I actually had feelings about. So here are those doorways:

My back door!
I LOATHE these curtains that were left by the previous owner and I'm not really sure why I haven't replaced them yet. But, now that I have a sewing machine, I will MAKE some!










The only thing worse about this door is the color of the outside!
Pink/peach/salmon? Our siding is beige, our shutters are dark green. This door sticks out like a sore thumb!









Okay, the back door is bad. But, what about the front? Well, this is what you see as soon as you walk through the front doorway:






Another door...or lack thereof! The hinges broke on the closet door and Noah finally got so frustrated with fixing them, he broke the door!!! (Still makes me laugh)



Now, for a doorway I like! The boy's room! Not only did Alistair pick the color that I painted the walls, but I FINALLY got their names hung up this morning (after a year on the "in-progress" list) AND I just love how it looks as you look out at the blue walls in the hallway! I honestly, stand in the hallway a lot and look through the different doors and admire the colors we have chosen to use in our house!









Catch more You Capture at ishouldbefoldinglaundry.com
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Thursday, January 06, 2011

Top 10 (15) of 2010

The You Capture assignment this week is "Top 10 of 2010."
I was having a hard time, so I picked 15!

Hey, it was a BIG year!

All pictures were taken with my Canon PowerShot A640 point-and-shoot unless noted.
Also, none of these pictures were edited (beyond cropping) except the one I "adjusted" in iPhoto.

(In order ONLY by the date they were taken)


Snowmagedon
I had to dig the sand table out of 2 feet of snow
to get enough sand to put on the icy steps.


Chopsticks
Alistair did an AWESOME job eating Thai food with chopsticks!



He was already such a good big brother!
*Photo taken by Krista Centric
w/ Noah's 35mm Rebel


9 (what would turn out to be 7) weeks from our
Family of 4!
*Photo taken by Krista Centric
w/ Noah's 35mm Rebel


I just LOVE this!
Shot on an old 35mm Canon Rebel, no editing, just skill!
*Taken by Noah Brackbill


Playgroup at the park turned into Jake, Sadie and Alistair in the water!
It was fine with me! Let 'em be kids!
(I used this pic for Noah's Father's Day gift)


 I snapped this with my iPhone 3g right after Ronan was born.
I just love the proud look on Noah's face!


 And I love Love LOVE how perfect my hair looks even
after being in a hospital bed for almost 24 hours!!!
(This was taken in L&D less than an hour after Ronan's birth.
My left leg was still numb and Alistair was sitting on it.)


Snapped this one with the iPhone, too!
I just LOVE the "evidence" of summer fun on Alistair's face!


Playing in the sprinkler at Uncle Steve and Aunt Krista's house!


Qualifies as one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITES!
Early morning snuggles!!!
Even got a smirk from the 3 month-old



This picture is cute, but it's even cuter with Alistair's quote:
"It's ok, Ronan. The doctor takes care of little kids, not peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!"


These three will ALWAYS be my "babies!"



Just walking around the yard with Mommy!
 *Color adjusted in iPhoto


Story time with Grandma!







Photobucket




Wednesday, January 05, 2011

FINALLY!

My button is ready!
It took me a while to get the code just right, but it's working now!
Now that I know how to do it, it will be SO easy to make different ones.
(and I'll make a smaller version of this one. I realize it's a bit big for a button)

So, even if you don't follow me publicly, if you read and you want to share, please.....

....GRAB MY BUTTON,


All About Our Boys





Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Hello, 2011!

WHOA! 2011! You snuck up on me!

OOOOHHHH....I could write all about new year's resolutions but, to be COMPLETELY honest, it's just a list of my "undone" items from 2010's list.

So, I'll spare you the monotonous reading and let you enjoy some snapshots from the Christmas season!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!