I made cloth wipes today

I already had a stash of cloth wipes from when Julia was in diapers. The nice folks at Kissaluvs sent them to me as a thank you for a photo of Julia they used in a Mothering Magazine ad, but over the years they've taken a beating and I wanted some new ones.

I turned to Google and read how to make my own cloth wipes from pieces of flannel. I found four receiving blankets at a garage sale for 50 cents a piece and cut up part of an old flannel sheet we had to make the patterned pieces stretch further. (One receiving blanket will only make four 8x8 wipes).

The first version I made is the one on the left - I sewed a piece of flannel to the back of an existing terrycloth wipe. Then I zigzagged the edge to cut down on the fraying.

The center wipe is two pieces of the same receiving blanket sewn wrong sides together, turned and then top stitched.

The wipe on the right with the adorable animal print is the one I stretched further with an old cream flannel sheet. It was fun to use a bolder color of thread for the top stitching. I think they look more finished.

I have one blanket that I haven't used yet because I want to see the wipes in action before I commit to a style for that blanket. I'm guessing the terrycloth/flannel combo is going to be my favorite - they are THICK and I can see them working really well with two textures in the same wipe.

If I do end up making more of that kind I won't be adding any additional wipes to the stash, only enhancing what I already have, but that's OK. I spent $2 on this little project and have 21 'new' wipes to show for it!

Neighborly

We have the greatest neighbors. They technically are our only neighbors seeing that we live in the country and the houses aren't close together. They are across the road from us and have lived on their farm since the 70's. J and J are so kind to us - sharing their surplus of garden goodies and letting the kids catch frogs in their pond. We fed their chickens for them last Fall and have plans to do it again this year when they are out traveling the country. It's a win-win. We don't go anywhere anyway so it's easy for us to walk over and feed, water, and collect eggs. They reap the benefits of having fresh eggs and meat, but don't have to be tied to home.

Today we went over to meet the new 'crop' of chicks. There are 18 fuzz balls staying warm in the garage. Soon they will move to their nice digs in the chicken coop. I've never seen such a NICE chicken coop before! I had no problem doing chores in my CHURCH shoes last fall - it's THAT clean! We also able to view J's extensive model train set. The kids would still be over there if we hadn't dragged them home. Before we left J showed us a project he's been working on. A huge workbench FULL of wooden crosses. Some from wood on the farm, others from his place of employment. They were beautiful!

He wanted us to have one. We picked one that was made from wood on the farm - seemed fitting. On the bottom are a series of Bible references about salvation. What a legacy! And what a keepsake! We brought ours home and placed it front and center on our fireplace mantel. It matches the woodwork beautifully.

Barely five minutes after we walked back into our house Jo and Howard's camper pulled in. Our camp hosts from the past two years are back again and we couldn't be happier. Julia exclaimed in excitement, "Can they stay for a while?" Her jaw dropped when I said, "Yes, SIX MONTHS!" Don't get me wrong, we enjoy the quiet of the off season, but it's worth the craziness of the camping season to have our friends back for the summer/fall!

Side note: When we went down to greet Jo and Howard we stopped over at the office for a minute first. I heard something in the upstairs storage area and had to laugh. So that's where the cat disappeared to! At least she was warm and I'm guessing had plenty of mice to eat - though she was mighty glad to return to our basement and her kitty food so maybe there weren't very many mice after all?!

The rain started coming down about 5:30 - (just in time for soccer practice) so I'm glad we were able to visit with our neighbors before the weather turned icky. 39 degrees and raining. Yuck! The kids toughed it out on the field for about 15 minutes and then an adult pulled the plug. Must have been one who didn't bring an umbrella. Me? I bought a Sport Umbrella at Sam's Club and am so glad I did! Between the wind last week and the rain this week. I've already gotten my $40 worth and I haven't even taken it to the beach yet!

Come on nice weather!!!! We're ready for you!

The Dragon

Julia comes home with artwork in her backpack most days. It's always fun to see what she's created at school. It usually involves a sun and lately the outline of the drawing has been trimmed with scissors. She certainly isn't lacking in the fine motor skills department!

Today's artwork is making it on the blog today because of how it made my jaw drop when I saw it hanging on the wall. She asked for tape the second she walked in the door. OK, fine. I gave her the roll and she went about posting her drawing on the wall where all the other artwork is displayed. When I got the all clear to come see I couldn't believe my eyes!

She drew from memory an almost exact replica of an art project that Sam brought home a month ago.

See?


Seriously? How does she remember this stuff? It reinforces my idea of filling her Easter basket with art supplies that's for sure! Plus, I have already commissioned her to fill four frames with her art for BabyBear's room. I can't wait to see what she comes up with!

Sunday Snapshots

I did in fact take quite a few photographs this weekend, but won't be posting any of them tonight. They are on my phone and on my CF card which requires way more effort that I'm willing to make right now. Sorry, but I'm BEAT! I walked and was on my feet more this weekend than I have in a month of Sundays. Ouch! Before I crash I wanted to jot down some snapshots of our weekend. It was a special weekend, yet ordinary at the same time. Let me explain...

*Saturday - Julia's half birthday. We celebrated with half a cake and 4 1/2 candles, but we did it on Friday night because PapaBear and I had rescheduled our date day for Saturday. I was bummed to miss out on celebrating with Julia, but she didn't seem to mind. Going to Grandma and Grandpa's house was celebrating for her! PapaBear and I enjoyed a few hours wandering IKEA and the Mall of America and then we went home so I could get ready for my girl's night out with fellow bloggers. Fun times!!!!

I talked to the kids on the phone before bed. What is it about a child's voice on the phone that makes them sound like cherubs? Melt my heart! I was able to make it home by 10:30pm thanks a whole mess of green lights. I will be glad when the river isn't flooded anymore and crossing the river isn't so difficult!

*Sunday - Sunday school for the kids and breakfast at McDonalds for PapaBear and I. I really relish that hour he and I spend together over sausage biscuits. We read the paper and more often than not I have some project to discuss with him. It's peaceful and unrushed. We sat in front of my BIL and SIL at church this morning. It's always a treat to see them! Before we left the house this morning we prepped the kids on our expectations. What a difference it makes in their behavior during church! They both whispered when they needed something and for the most part entertained themselves and then watched the skit with almost their full attention. It was so nice to not be stressed out about their behavior!

Back at home we ate a quick lunch and then headed outside for Julia's 1/2 birthday portraits (complete with birthday girl hat per her request) Sam and Daddy joined us and after Julia changed clothes we wandered through the campground picking up walnuts, exploring the woods, observing snakes (there were a BUNCH!), and climbing on huge slices of trees that had been cut down last week. There was some damage done to the road by running water and the kids were very intrigued by the four foot hole in the middle of the park road.

Eventually we made our way home and did some work in the garden space. I'm leaving a few bales from last year in hopes of growing potatoes in the loose straw. The kids dug for worms, played baseball, soccer, hunted for more walnuts, and demolished our gingerbread house as is our traditional way of celebrating when the snow is (mostly) gone. We still have dirty piles here and there, but for the most part it's GONE!!!!! (Until tomorrow when it's suppose to snow again) But today The temps had to be in the 60's - it was SO warm!

By 4pm we were all tired and hungry so we came in for our simple Sunday dinner which this time consisted of chips & salsa - nobody wanted popcorn so we went straight to ice cream sundaes. During the original version of The Shaggy Dog there is a part where the characters are at a formal dance. Julia hopped down off the couch and asked Daddy to dance. So there in her panda bear pj's father and daughter danced in the middle of the living room. It was precious!

The Bible story tonight happened to be part of the same scripture the skit at church was based on and it was really nice to hear Sam make the connection just based on me reading the title "Son of Laughter". It took them less than 5 minutes to fall asleep once we tucked them in. I'm guessing it will take me all of 5 seconds! Goodnight!

What did you do this weekend?

100 days

IF this babe in my belly decides to make her debut on her due date, I have exactly 100 days to go. I just hope I don't get 100 more stretch marks in the meantime! *sigh* Carrying a baby at 34 is not the same as 27 or 29. (Tells self to drink more water) Some weeks go fast, but others like this past week d.r.a.g. by. My SIL is due any day now so that helps pass the time. She doens't know what she's having so the excitement is building every day!

I scored a beautiful glider off of Craigslist this past week so the itch to get the nursery put together is building. There is a LOT of heavy furniture that has to be moved to make the transition from office to nursery and a even more organization of stuff inside that furniture that has to happen before it can be moved. Fun times. I'm waiting to hear back about a dresser that would be perfect, but someone beat me to it. If they don't take it, I will gladly drive around the flood to get it because that's what I'd have to do. I'm still hunting for the perfect 'inspiration piece' to get me started with "decorating". I say decorating loosely because I'm only getting new curtains and a piece of artwork for the wall.

Last week we ventured to Babies R Us because...well just because! We weren't planning to buy anything. I didn't see anything I had to have this early, if at all. We're in a different place this time around. We have the basics covered and with garage sale season only a few weeks away I have no desire to pay full price for anything. It felt good to walk out of there with no regrets - without anything I wish we could get for her.

I'm feeling better now. I've gone 10 days without throwing up! I'm still taking my meds and don't have any plans to stop since every time I do, I get sick. It was the same with my first two pregnancies...why should this one be any different?I tried stopping Unisom & B6 at 36 weeks with Sam and threw up. (I'll only be 26 weeks on Tuesday.)

And only because Julia really wanted to use my camera...you get a peek at the belly this week (and the glider and my new maternity pants)


I thanked her for not getting my head in the shot. From her angle all of my chins would have shown. Instead we took a head shot together. Much better!

He is Special

We celebrate special days in our house. The kids really look forward to the privilages that go along with that day, but no matter what we manage to forget to celebrate on the exact date sometimes. It really doesn't matter - in fact when we forget I don't even tell the kids - I simply announce that "tomorrow is your special day!" and go with it. This month we were a day late for both of the kids so it all worked out.

We didn't do anything fancy today, but it was still special. Sam chose cereal for breakfast, pizza in his lunch, and waffles for dinner. Daddy even put strawberry sauce and powdered sugar on top! He's going to be talking about that meal for months! He asked to go to the library after school. I picked out a new dinosaur book for him to check out. We played outside for over an hour when we got home. Sledding, 'snowboarding', climbing the mountains of snow that surround our yard, and throwing snowballs - kinda the last hurrah before the rain comes and washes away all our snow (hopefully!)

After dinner Sam and Daddy played dinosaur and then we played two rounds of the board game "Camp" per Sam's request. We had a fun evening together as a family and for the first time those last two hours before bedtime flew by. He never asked to watch TV. He didn't ask for a treat after dinner. It was a special night! We read their devotional and their Jesus Storybook Bible in Julia's room as has become our tradition and as I finish this up he's curled up in my bed for a sleepover.

I pray that the reason behind our special days (to fill up their love tanks) was successful today - I know my heart is overflowing with love for both of them!

What do you do to give your children the individual attention they crave?

Mommy and Me Monday - Our Fall Vacation

I posted a few photographs from our trip up North back in the Fall, but not very many. Instead I was busy putting together a book with 200+ photos in it. Oh what FUN that was! I used a combination of cell phone and DSLR shots to tell the story of our four glorious days in and around Duluth. I make a living designing books for other people so it was a real treat to make one using my own photos! (the four arrow icon in the lower right will allow you to view the book full screen)

Up North by Carrie Pauly | Make Your Own Book

Did you make it all the way through to the end? If you did you'll know why this book is extra special to our family! I managed to get myself in a few photos thanks to PapaBear and Sam's willingness to take over camera duties every once in a while.

Today's Mommy and Me Monday selection is from our last night when we stayed in a camper cabin in one of our favorite parks - Jay Cooke. We had the park almost to ourselves - something you can't say in the summer months, but in late October? Q.U.I.E.T!

The first two nights we stayed at the Edgewater Hotel and Waterpark and stored our perishables in the mini fridge. On Wednesday when it was time to say goodbye to our suite and hello to nature, we had our hotdogs, beans, S'mores, granola, hot chocolate, and gorp all ready to go. It was chilly that night with a few raindrops, but we were snug and warm in our heated cabin after dinner!

We don't get to take very many vacations because we are tied to the park much of the time so we had high expectations for this trip - it didn't disappoint!

Head on over to Krystyn's blog for more Mommy and Me moments!

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?
And because I love book design and photography...here are a 10 tips on how to make your next family vacation book the best it can be!

1) take detail shots as well as wide sweeping shots. This is key to telling your story. Example in our book - the pages about the waterpark and our night in the camper cabin.

2) use the information your camera stores to look up the time you did things if you want to include those details in your book (came in handy when we were up before sunrise to watch the ship come into the harbor)

3) Even though the scene might not be 'picture perfect' take the photo anyway! When you piece your book together it's more about telling the story than only having beautiful photographs. Photos that are darker than you'd want or aren't 'picture perfect' can be put in a storyboard layout rather than a large 5x7 or 8x10 spread. (for example: the pictures of our food at Perkins)

4) You don't need captions for every picture - summarize the activity either under the photo or better yet, write on top of a photo that has a 'blank space' for writing

5) Don't forget to take pictures of traveling...it isn't always about the destination, sometimes the story is in the journey to get there! (what did the kids do in the car to keep busy, did they fall asleep? Take a picture of the GPS or better yet the road map!)

6) If you are the one who usually takes the photos - change it up! Let your children take a few and don't be shy about asking a stranger to take some of your whole family! One trick I use is to walk up to a mom who's about to take a photo of her husband and kids and ask her if she'd like me to take the photo so she could be in it. Once you've returned their camera sometimes the mom will offer on her own to take one for your family or it's never been an issue if I ask her to take one of us. Be sure to tell them it's OK to snap away so you have a few to choose from!

7) Turn your camera from time to time. If you are prone to taking all vertical or all horizontal photos, you won't have as much flexibility when designing your book.

8) If you've followed the first 7 tips you should have lots to work with when it comes time to design your book...so DIVE IN! With digital bookmaking it's easy to change things around. Just start plugging photos in and before you know it you'll have a great first draft! Mix the close up shots with the story shots, add a few words when necessary and you are well on your way to having a beautiful book your family will treasure forever!

9) Chose a photo for the cover (and if you have the option, the back cover as well), include the date either on the cover or on the title page inside. I prefer scenery shots for covers - family photos can be enlarged inside, but my preference is for a beautiful landscape or a close up of something instead of people on the cover.

10) Spell check your book and have someone else read through it as well. I missed a mistake in our book because I knew what it was suppose to say and that's what my brain saw.

It goes without saying that you want to enjoy your vacation and not have to worry about documenting every last moment. BE in the moment as much as you can! I take a bunch of photos when we first arrive to get my detail shots and then I put my DSLR down. We spent two days at the waterpark, but I only took pictures on the first day and spread them out between both days in the book. I try not to ask my kids to look at the camera any more than I 'need' to. Documentary style is much more relaxed, but when my kids get in the mood to be in front of the camera and ask me to take their picture - I rarely turn them down!

For the Love of Sam

One thing that I've learned over the 6+ years I've been a mom is that while we never really want our babies to grow up, there is something really special about witnessing them grow into themselves. The relationship changes and I think it only gets better! Take Sam for example. He didn't talk in sentences until he was two and a half. Now we can have long conversations about life and I'm loving it! Last night he was suppose to be in bed but we were having such a great talk I didn't even consider cutting it short and sending him to bed.

He soaks up knowledge like a sponge, doesn't forget a thing, and is learning SO much in school. In January he learned to read, in February he learned to count money, and this month he's starting adding and subtracting. He enjoys school (except for the parts where he has to sit too long) and is friends with everyone.


He's excited about the baby coming and is going to be such a great big brother! He also has a name picked out for her, but that one we're keeping to ourselves. Sorry!

23 Weeks

I had an appointment this afternoon with my OB. I saw a midwife for my first two pregnancies, but with the trouble I have it ends up being an OB who is consulted so often in the first half of pregnancy that I opted to just start with a doc. Don't get me wrong, I loved my midwives, but I've learned that the nurses are the ones that get you through much of the labor part anyway so I'm OK with seeing an OB.

I have my birth plan written out already and being that it's my third time, I have a pretty good idea what I want and don't want and have no problem speaking up for myself if necessary. We will be delivering at the same hospital our first two were born at, but there is an entire new birthing area now. I've heard from my SIL who is due in five short weeks that it's really nice. I'm looking forward to touring it sometime down the road and asking some of my questions.

News for this week: I'm feeling a bit better - that strange feeling from last week is still there, but it doesn't keep me from functioning so I can't complain. Babe's heart rate is in the 140's - she's a kicker which was very evident with the doppler on my belly this afternoon. I wouldn't want it any other way! I don't feel like there is much room left - my skin is stretching more and more every day, but I love that her kicks are becoming stronger and stronger. I'm up five pounds from my last visit a month ago so my weight gain is finally tapered off. I wasn't going to survive the five pounds a week like it was there for a while! So far I've gained 20 pounds but can still wear my regular clothes. Phew! Come on Spring! I am ready for my comfy capris! I'm still craving citrus and can easily eat 2-3 oranges a day. Yum!

Our list of names is very short. Very. But at least they are all names we agree on! If you hear of a girl name that catches your attention feel free to pass it on - we're not ones to pick a name before meeting the baby so we have lots of time for suggestions!

I'm started to get antsy about setting up the nursery - or at least removing my office things so it isn't so crowded with baby stuff and office stuff. I found some things in the basement that didn't sell at our garage sale that we'll be able to use - little toys, carseat pad, nursing bras, changing pads....and then there are the things that I was never able to part with after Julia - sleep sacks, breathable crib bumper, newborn clothes, video monitor, baby sling, blankets, hats, homemade bibs, cloth diapers. I also have a collection of summer clothes she'll be able to wear next summer. There won't be many things that both Julia and the baby will wear, but it sure will be fun to reuse the ones we can!

I'm trying my best to ignore the aches and pains and focus on the miracle of life growing inside of me. We are so excited to meet this little one and see what God has in store for our new family of FIVE!

22 week update

I haven't been very good about writing updates each week, but something happened yesterday that I wanted to record. After I ate breakfast I all of a sudden felt sick to my stomach. Nothing new..I've been sick since November. This was different, yet familiar...strangely familiar. I was instantly reminded of my first pregnancies because of this "new" feeling. It's hard for me to describe, but it's a feeling/smell/taste wrapped into one. It's terrible and has me back in bed so I don't throw up too many times in one day and end up needing iv's. I haven't felt like this at all with this pregnancy, but it brings me right back to the rough days of my first two pregnancies. Weird. I know.

In other 22 week news...I'm finally not having nightmares when I sleep, I crave citrus, I'm trying to cut back on my pop consumption, I am still in my regular clothes (with a couple of new XL shirts and a Bella Band), I'm down to 1 Zofran a day and one reglan a day with my b6 and half a Unisom. I started doing yoga again, but can barely get through the warm up before I have to quit. My back has been bothering me because of sitting at my desk and working so much, but stretching breaks and going to the chiropractor has helped. I sleep better on my back, have been staying up until i:30 some nights, but still usually go to bed by 7:30.

No picture this week....it's only jammies and robe for me with as awful as I feel right now....hopefully by the weekend I'll be feeling better!

Sleepy Wrap Review & Tutorial

Thanks to the nice folks at CSNstores.com I've been given the opportunity to review the sleepy wrap. Since our little one isn't due until July I am sharing it with my sister in the meantime. Little Rosie was still hooked up to too many monitors to easily position her in the wrap, but she's headed home, hopefully early next week and can really give the wrap a workout. More on that in a minute....

I am an experienced sling user, but this was my first time with a wrap style baby carrier. It was intimidating at first to pull out that loooooong piece of fabric from the box. (Which by the way was shipped and on my doorstep within 72 hours of ordering. Thanks CSN Stores!!!!) Thankfully there's a wonderful instruction booklet (with photos!) that walks you through the steps. I was surprised by how many different ways you can hold your baby in the wrap as they grow! Bonus!

Once I arrived at the hospital I had Katie give it a try. There's a learning curve when it comes to how tight to pull the fabric, but the wrapping itself is easy peasy! Here's Katie in action.

1) line the logo up with your waist

2) bring the rest of the fabric around to your back and up over your shoulders (crossing them in the back)

3) pull the fabric tight UNDER the part with the logo

4) wrap around your back and bring around to tie a knot in the front.

Next it's time to put the baby in...

5) grab the edge of the crossed fabric that is closest to your body and pull it out. That's where you slip your baby in - bottom & back first from my sling experience....

6) pull the opposite piece of fabric around their back for added support

7) pull up the outside piece as the finishing touch.


Pros of the sleepy wrap: What makes this wrap so great is the stretchiness of the material. It has just the right amount of give so you can tuck your baby in and they feel like they are back in the womb.

Another bonus for people who have back trouble is the baby's weight is distributed evenly across both of your shoulders.


It comes with this handy little pouch for easy storage. I'll be able to keep it in my diaper bag and pull it out whenever I need it. It will stay clean and won't make a mess out of my diaper bag. **Tip** When first putting the wrap on it is LONG and will drag on the (germy) floor. To avoid this I pool the material on top of my diaper bag so nothing that touches my babe will be in contact with the floor. I've heard other moms who use wrap style carriers talk about tying the wrap on at home to avoid having to mess with it on the go. Another great option!

For a preemie like Rosie it is going to be very important that she is protected from curious people who can't help but reach out and touch newborns. (you know what I'm talking about right?) This is where the sleepy wrap will come in very handy for Katie. See how safe and cuddled in the 'baby' is in the super soft sleepy wrap? Nobody is going to mess with this new mamabear!

(Click here to see a couple of older infants in action.)

There's also the general babywearing pros of being hands free, calming baby, and bonding with your baby...and the bonus? The price for all these babywearing benefits is only $39.95! This is on the low end of babywearing items from my research.




The cons:

...the learning curve for how tight to make the wrap - thankfully this is something that won't be an issue after the first few times

...having a July baby I'm worried about the amount of fabric that is wrapped around me and the babe. BUT since we're often in the air conditioning, I have a feeling we'll be OK for the most part. We don't do long walks in the summer heat anyway.

....defect in the carrying bag. Mine arrived with a tiny hole in it. Bummer. If it had been in the wrap I would have used the CSN Store's easy return policy to get a new one, but since it was only in the bag I just put a few stitches in with needle and thread and it's as good as new.

Over all the Sleepy Wrap gets two thumbs up from me! Do YOU have any experience with this particular wrap? I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to share any tips you've picked up along the way! If it weren't for blogging about babywearing and learning from other blogging moms, I would have missed out on some of the sweetest babywearing snuggles! If you have any questions or something is unclear don't hesitate to ask - I'm happy to help!


Disclosure: I was given a $40 gift code to purchase this product from CSN Stores for the purposes of writing a review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own. No other compensation was made.

Simply Tuesday

Outside my window... mountains of snow on top of layers of ice.


I am thinking... that I really need to be better about doing yoga so my back doesn't hurt all the time.


I am thankful for... a doc who would call in a prescription for pink eye without having to see Julia first and that she's on the mend from Influenza A after five days of being lethargic. I'm also thankful to be 21 weeks and already have seen the good news that BabyBear's cyst is gone. You can read more about how we found out the gender here.


From the kitchen... oranges and grapefruit. Can't get enough fruit these days. Oh and fresh baked bread...or what's left of it. I'll be popping another loaf in the oven for lunch tomorrow. Yum!


I am wearing... black yoga pants, black thermal shirt, and my park* socks

*When we worked for the National Park Service we were given a clothing allowance to purchase uniform pieces. I always ordered extra socks because they are super comfy and last a long time. I've had this pair ten years!


I am creating... a 320 page blog book for a client in Colorado.


I am going... to the chiropractor tomorrow if I can get in. I only go every two weeks even though I could easily go once a week.

I am reading... The Power of Praying Parent and whatever book in the Bible I happen to open up each day.

I am hoping... that nobody else comes down with the flu.


I am hearing... Sam making gun/shooting noises from his room. It's his normal bedtime sound effect ritual. Boys!

Around the house... it's actually not all that messy! I cleaned a bunch on Saturday and it hasn't had time to clutter back up quite yet. The cat is yowling from the basement. Apparently she's in heat. I have Google to thank for the answer to her strange behavior lately.

One of my favorite things... the video I took of Julia singing the Whinnie the Pooh theme song tonight. I wish I could find it on You Tube where supposedly my phone uploaded it to so I could share it with you, but I didn't have any luck. She still sounds like she has a cold, but she's in tune and so sweet!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Chiropractor, work, grocery shopping, and renting skis over the weekend thanks to all this fresh new snow from the weekend storm. (grumble grumble)


Here is picture for thought I am sharing... This winter has been awful
as far as getting outside to play in the snow. This photo was taken two weekends ago on the ONLY day I could take the kids skiing. Sam went with Daddy early in the season once, but it's been too cold otherwise.

Julia was on real skis for the first time and did great!

For more Simple Woman's Daybook posts, click here.

How we found out what we're having

I'm 20 weeks today, but all I have for belly photos to share is this one from 15 weeks, 6 days.

OK, so now that I've got that out of the way it's time to share how we found out. I knew I wanted it to be special...something unique to our family....something I hadn't heard of before.....

Here's how we did it:

All four of us went to 19 week ultrasound appointment at 4pm on Friday afternoon, February 11th (incidentally, the same day in 2004 I told PapaBear we were pregnant with Sam) We arrived armed with a Christmas present that hadn't been played with yet and a couple of candy canes. I wanted to focus on the screen and what the tech said and not have the kids be bouncing off the walls.

Sam surprised us all by chatting with, Angie, our technician, through the whole thing. He could identify hands that waved and asked questions about what he was seeing. Julia was content to eat her candy cane and play with her new toy. When it was time to look everyone looked away, except Sam. He had an important job to do. He went to the desk with Angie who wrote out It's a ______. Sam brought the card over to the rest of us and read what it said. I couldn't have been prouder of my boy! He just learned to read in January and I thought this would be a fun way to include him and celebrate his big accomplishment. He did great!

Fast forward to Monday (Valentine's Day) when we invited family over for dinner. Due to schedule conflicts only PapaBear's parents were able to attend so we made some phone calls later that night. Nobody knew we decided to find out and had no clue that they were about to know the gender too so it was pretty fun for the kids to hand out their valentines that read:





























Our baby girl was so active that other than getting a glimpse of her four chambered heart, we didn't get to do all the measurements they want so I'm going back in on Friday for another look. I will ask them to look for one other thing while I'm there....I mentioned a prayer request on twitter this morning and it relates to something they saw in her brain. She has a choroid plexus cyst that I'm praying fervently is GONE by the time I go back in on Friday. This could be nothing more than a blocked duct, but it's also an indicator of Trisomy 18. I wish the doctor hadn't even mentioned that part since a cyst seen at this stage of brain development (18-20weeks) is typically gone soon after the 20 week mark and there were no other indicators for it, but it still worries me. I'm measuring a little under 20 weeks so by the time my ultrasound on Friday morning it could still be there and still be considered normal. Obviously our heart's desire is for it to be GONE and for her heart to be normal as well. Would you pray for that with us? We would be most grateful.

"Wow"

I say it every day. Why? Because she wows me with her artistic ability on a daily basis, that's why. This winter will go down in Bear Family history as the one where Julia's artistic abilities emerged full force.

First it was crayons and coloring books.
Then it was coloring books and markers.
Then it was white paper with a combo of markers and crayons.
From there she's moved to cutting out her creations, like this one:

I consider myself a creative person, but this kid has more creative juices in her pinky than I do in my entire being. Love that. I even love Sponge Bob. Never thought I'd say that in this lifetime!

4 years ago today.

I started this blog on the eve of my 30th birthday. 1,684 posts later I've accomplished what I set out to do with blogging - Enjoy my family as much as possible and record as many memories as I can. The unexpected bonus along the way has been the friendships I've made with so many wonderful women. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to stop by BearCountry, for your comments, for your friendship, and for hanging in there with me when I take long breaks from writing.

Just for the fun of it....
When did YOU start blogging and how did you happen upon neck of the woods?

Gearing Up

We were done having kids. Or so we thought. We sold kid stuff at three different garage sales last year alone. Thankfully I don't consider us back at square one in the baby gear department.

We have a crib, we have size 2 fitted cloth diapers, we have a pack-n-play, I have my pouch sling and my Kozy Carrier, we have diaper bag, we have a video monitor, and we have a stroller. Not too bad if I don't say so myself, but it doesn't stop me from mentally making a list of the things we'll need (and a second list of the things I'd like) for when our third is born in early July.

I love lists and I love making plans so it's only natural for me to have already started both of these lists. I know we'll need at some point to look at modern bar stools for at the counter for BabyBear. Yes, I think things through that far. It's annoying sometimes - especially when packing for a trip. "BUT WE MIGHT NEED THAT!" makes it nearly impossible for me to pack light.....

I plan to hit the garage sales hard this year (when do I not?) and find a bouncy seat, bathtub, travel swing, clothing, glass bottles, a boppy, and a few infant toys. There are things on my wish list that I plan to order online as sales pop up in the next six months.

Amber teething necklace, wrap style baby carrier, cloth diapers for newborn/size 1, pacifiers, milk storage bags, and a food mill. I love that I can shop from the comfort of home and avoid spending money on gas. One of the places I plan to shop online is CSN Stores because they have just about everything anyway and often have free shipping deals. Score!

I've been given the opportunity to review an item from one of their stores and am excited to pick something out and share the entire shopping experience with you all. Because it isn't always just the product, it's the customer service along the way that can make or break whether I choose to shop with an online retailer again!

What baby item was at the top of your must have or even your wish list? Remember I have a new niece to help me try out any baby items before BabyBear arrives so you just might get a peak at little Rosie during the review post. :)

BabyBear Update - 15 weeks

I don't feel like there's a whole lot to update since my life these days revolves around watching the clock for when I can take my next dose of medicine and pacing myself in the eating department.

Here's a 14 week belly photo to distract you from my next sentence. I gained 10 pounds in 3 weeks. The good news is that I'm only back to my pre-pregnancy weight which I guess is doing OK considering I'm 15 weeks today.

My doctor finds the heartbeat really easily at my appointments (in the 150's) and what a sweet sound it is. I'm still sick every day, but haven't thrown up in quite a while. I graze all.day.long on whatever sounds good. I'm waiting for the "I want a SALAD!" craving to kick in like it did with Sam. Right now I'm stuck on a Cherry Coke & Fritos craving. It's awful. I know how bad pop is for me, yet it's one of the only things that calms my tummy besides sleep.

Speaking of sleep. I'm still going to bed super early - usually sound asleep by 8pm, if not earlier. I'm holding off on the Unisom until the middle of the night and breaking the dose into two in hopes that my catastrophic dreams will stay away and I can get more than 2 hours of sleep at a time. Right now I'm waking up almost every.single.hour. Not restful at all let me tell ya!

Sam and Julia ask when the baby is going to come out of my tummy about once a day. They know that when it's time to go to the beach again that it's going to be almost time. We scheduled our 20 week ultrasound for a time that they could both attend. I hope that doesn't turn out to be a mistake. I really want them involved and to get a glimpse of their sibling in action in a few weeks.

Are we going to find out what we're having? Don't know yet. IF we do find out, we won't be sharing the names on our list until after the baby is born. We have lots of girl names to choose from but our boy list is pathetically short. If you have any suggestions please share! We like classic, easy to spell names that will sound good with Sam and Julia. Bonus points to the person who comes up with a boy name (that we like) that has the "aw" sound in it!

I think that's about it for a baby update. Like I said, my world revolves around medication and food. Thankfully I have two busy kids to distract me!

the post i've been waiting to write

It's the one I wasn't sure how long it would be before I could share the good news.

What good news you ask?

I FEEL HUMAN AGAIN!

Sure I don't move as fast as I used to and I have to eat and medicate around the clock, but a $30 pill twice a day, a bag of cherrioes at my side at all times, and a thermos of Sunny D isn't going to keep me from smiling!

No sir!

Christmas is coming and I have 80% of my shopping to do and 95% of the wrapping left to do. We're keeping things very simple this year and I'm oK with that. My perspective has changed. My priorities have changed.

I can walk up and down the stairs.
I can ride in the car.
I can eat dinner with my family.
I can get my kids ready for school.
I can help with homework.

Do we have Christmas cards printed, visited Santa, looked at lights, baked anything, read a Christmas book, done a single Christmas craft?

Nope.

But....
I will be there when my kids perform their Christmas programs on Sunday night with tears in my eyes because I'm not missing them sing of our Savior's birth. I will be there on Christmas Eve when our families gather. What more could I ask for this Christmas after a month of being in bed, missing Thanksgiving, and so much time with my kids and husband?

I am blessed.

And the bonus part?

My baby belly popped out yesterday at 11 weeks, 1 day.




P.S. Thank you for all your kind comments this month while I've been sick. I know I wrote back to so few of you and I feel terrible about that.

updates

forgive the bullet points? At least I'm writing more than numbers this time!

* my sister. She was put on hospital bedrest this week and spent a scary morning trying to stop contractions (which they did thank goodness - she's only 26 weeks along!)

* baby bear. Growing like he/she is suppose to do. We heard the heartbeat on Monday - a day before I turned 10 weeks. There is no belly picture to share because there is no belly. See next point....

* me. I'm still sick. Still weak and unable to get out of bed except for a few minutes here and there. It takes me a week to do what I can normally accomplish in 10 minutes. No, I'm not kidding. I'm still losing weight (12pounds to date) even though I don't expend hardly any energy and my day revolves around medicine and food. Speaking of food....

* food. I hate food. Hate that I have to figure out at every mealtime what my body won't reject. Hate that it gets mad when I eat and gets even more mad when I don't eat. I'm surviving on shredded wheat and other processed foods that are quick and easy like ravioli, cherrioes, yogurt.....I hate that our family missed all that yummy Thanksgiving food! After FOUR years of not eating McDonald's french fries I ate a few the other day. Also after 2 years of not a sip of pop, that's something that I'm drinking in small doses too. I don't care for cola anymore, but having anything else with flavor is really nice! I am so sick of water!

* sam and julia. They are in school a lot of the time which helps cut down on PapaBears huge load right now, but he still does all the shuttling. I haven't driven in almost a month and have only left the house 4 times in 4 weeks. They take turns bringing me my cereal in the morning. It's pretty sweet how proud they are to carry the bowl upstairs to me every day.

Christmas. It's coming and I'm not ready. BUT thanks to my mom I'm way more ready than I would have been if it weren't for her! She spent two days doing my sewing projects for me so we would have gifts to give this year. I've had the kids' gifts done for a while, but a little ordering and a little mad dash before Christmas Eve and we just might make it. Does it feel like Christmas? Not a bit. I'm getting a full dose of Christmas stress, but none of the magic because I'm too sick to get out with the fam. Trying not to dwell on it....there are other things that are lacking my attention and that's enough distraction by itself!


So there you have it....a rather downer update, but it's all my foggy brain and thumbs can come up with this morning.


Stay warm!


Carrie

She is

She's funny.

She's silly.

She's creative.

She's artistic.

She's tough.

She's adventurous.

She's insistent about blowing kisses and waving whenever anyone leaves.

She's capable.

She's pig headed.

She's affectionate.

She's brave.

She's my baby





and she's four.





Happy 4th Birthday to my angel! Mommy loves you!