The Christian's

My new hobby....

2010-07-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

During the month of May, I took a cake decorating class. It was so much fun and I learned that I might have a talent for this kind of thing. Maybe one day I will open my own bakery or something. I think that would be fun! I am planning on taking the next course in August with a friend, so I will learn how to work with fondant. I am super excited about that!! Icing is great, but you open up a whole other world of creativity once you learn to use fondant. Here are some pictures of my cakes.

My friend Kristy was getting married....so I decorated this one for her.

This was the cake we decorated in the second class, so I used it at Michael's birthday party too....there was too much cake though, so it went to work with Mike.

This was Michael's actual birthday cake. There was only 1 piece left....I ate it and it was good! :)

This was my last cake and probably one of my favorites! I was very pleased with how it turned out!

Wow!

2010-07-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

I just looked at the date of the last post and it was APRIL 27TH!! I hadn't realized it had been so long since I blogged. What a crazy couple of months it has been. Michael had his 1st birthday, Mike is about to have surgery to have his gallbladder removed, we are still trucking through school, trying to be business owners, and live life to the fullest with Christ at the helm (I guess that is the right term....I am not a boater, so if I said it wrong, I apologize) :) It's been a busy but exciting and fun couple of months. My little man is walking and we are in swimming lessons! He is a handful, but he is a good boy and usually listens. He loves exploring and walking everywhere! He is a cutie pie. I also have been trying out some new recipes, so I will be posting those soon! We have cut out preservatives and are trying to buy organic fruits and veggies.....it's a little more expensive, so we have had to limit it to that and milk for Michael. We want to give him the best foundation for health when he is older. Anyway, here are some pics of Michael the past couple of months. :)

Three Cheers for Home Depot!!

2010-04-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

In the Christian household, we love gardening and being outdoors. So, we do a lot of looking around at nursery's and places we can find plants for our flowerbeds and our garden. Well, this weekend, Mike and I were on the hunt for a good deal and decided to pay a visit to our old friend Home Depot. I had wanted to check out the rose bushes...the cheap ones in the little bag container...and couldn't find them, so we stopped a worker and asked about it. Well, first of all, props to this guy. He was so friendly!! And guess what we found out?! Home Depot has a 1 year warranty on all of their plants. So, if you buy one and it dies, you take your receipt and the plant (ground up) and they will replace it or give you credit. Who knew!?

New button

2010-04-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

Along the side of my blog I have added a new button for Shop4freebies!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this site! They email you an updated list of freebies every 24 hours, and I have gotten so much free stuff off of this site! So, sign up! :) The button is on the side, or you can click on the icon below!

I heart Wal-Mart...

2010-03-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

Mike and I shop at Walmart. I don't always love going there because it's usually crowded and sometimes the store employees are rude, but we still go. While we can probably find better deals elsewhere, I'd have to go to 4 different stores to do my shopping and would probably use up the amount I'd save in gas, so out of convenience, we head to Walmart once a week. Well, something I learned not too long ago was that Walmart has a great website and there are 2 reasons why I love visiting their site.

1. Site to store shipping is FREE! That's right. You can order something online that they don't carry in the store and have it shipped to your nearest store and you don't have to pay extra for it because of the shipping. I almost wish they had groceries online because I'd order them and then go pick them up, so I wouldn't have to worry about crowds :)

2. This one is my FAVORITE! Walmart gives away free samples on their website!!! I have gotten TONS of stuff from them and I also just found that they give free music and have other online tools to use, such as, a tire selector and an over the counter medicine finder.

So, visit Walmart online to get your free samples!!

What a week....and on into the weekend

2010-03-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

So, last week started off as a normal week. Sunday we went to church and Michael enjoyed his time in the nursery. Then Sunday afternoon, we went and had lunch with some friends and then had dinner with our sunday school class. On both occasions, we had fantastic food and had a wonderful time of fellowship. Then, monday night rolled around, and at about 9:00 Michael woke up sick. This is probably the 5th or 6th week in a row that we have gone to church and Michael ended up sick. Poor baby. Thankfully it was only a few hours and then he went back to sleep for the rest of the night.

All was fine and we went about our week. We had some friends over for dinner on Thursday night and then Friday morning, I woke up with the same sickness Michael had. I thought I was in the clear because it had been more than 2 days, but not a chance....but thankfully, as in Michael's case, it only lasted a few hours and I was much better.

If you have been following Mike's blog and his weight loss journey, you will know that he and I have been using advocare products. Well, we have decided to become Advocare Advisors (distributors), and Friday night, we took the plunge. Advocare products are wonderful products and while you can see the biggest difference in Mike, I have had success as well. I have not done the 24 day challenge as he has (which I am considering), but I have been drinking the spark drinks. Some days I feel like I am gonna pass out, I am so exhausted, then I drink a spark and I don't need a nap. It's mostly vitamins (some caffeine) and it's great because it gives me energy without the jitters. I love it! All you mom's out there.....my mom told me once that I would be tired for the rest of my life once I had kids.....now I don't have to be :)

So, on Saturday, Mike, Michael and I were running around and on the way back we got rear-ended. Yep. In our new car. The guy behind us was turned around talking or something to someone in the back seat and we were in traffic (because of road construction) and the car in front of us stopped, we stopped, and they didn't. Praise the Lord we were all ok. Michael got a little scared and cried, but other than that, you wouldn't have known anything happened....well, that and our crunched up back end of the car. Grrr. So, we called their insurance and filed the claim. They called back today so that we could take the car to get it fixed and you won't believe what they told us. The guy driving said that Mike was turned around messing with Michael and stopped for no apparent reason. WHAT?! Some people. Mike told our side of the story and the insurance girl said that it didn't matter anyway what that guy said because we were hit from behind and that it was automatically their fault. I don't get why people lie. It irritates me.

Well, today is Monday and we did go to church yesterday and so far, Michael and all the rest of us are still healthy. I am praying he stays that way :) He's too cute to be sick....and here's a pic of him being just that....lol. My little guy loves to smile with his mouth open. haha.

A couple of free things

2010-03-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

I got notified of some free stuff this morning and thought I'd share it with you! If you were on Facebook yesterday and saw my status about the mail (I had said the mail and I have a love/hate relationship), this is the "love" part of it. I love to go out to the mail and see what exciting new things that little box has inside. So, because of that fact, I thought I'd share it with you guys! So here we go.....

1. Get a free sample of Everlast Energy Bars in your choice of either Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch, Dark Chocolate Nut, or Oatmeal Raisin Walnut. You should receive your free sample within about 6 to 8 weeks. Thanks goes out to Freebies 4 Moms for this one!

2. Ben and Jerry's now has a free cone day!! AND IT'S TODAY!! I love ice cream and FREE ice cream is even better! So, if you have a Ben and Jerry's around, be sure and go get your free cone! You can get more information on their Facebook Page. Thank you Shop4freebies for this one!! Enjoy!!

Also, be sure and check out Mike's blog. He has been using some Advocare products and is posting about his weightloss journey!

So Thankful...

2010-03-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

So, I took the week off last week. Basically, I didn't have to do anything I normally do. No school work, no house cleaning, no cooking, no getting up early...it was wonderful. Mike's mom and Nanny came for a visit for spring break and I got to focus on me and have some time of pampering. Monday, I went shopping and bought a new purse....so cute and it was on sale! That night, Mike and I decided to try our hand at car shopping again.....we came home frustrated and disappointed. For those of you who don't know, we spent about 3 months car shopping with no luck.....the most frustrating experience I have ever had. Anyway, so we were easily discouraged when we visited 4 dealerships and only saw about 2 SUV's that were not even close to what we were looking for. So, we went home and decided to look online a little and then go visit some more places the next night. Tuesday mid morning, I headed out and got a pedicure. It was probably the greatest pedicure I have ever gotten. They even put paraffin wax on my feet. Amazing. Then I met Mike at the house and we headed out. We went to the first place and thought we had found "the car", only to find out they wanted to give us almost 3000 less than what our car was worth, so again, we left frustrated, and headed to another dealership. And there is where we found it........our 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe with less than 17000 miles on it!! Just perfect and roomier than a Chevy Trailblazer! So, we negotiated, and left empty handed. We decided to do a little research and found we were being offered a really great deal, and decided to go back on Wednesday to get it. So, Wednesday during the day, I went and got a massage. I needed it so bad! It wasn't relaxing...not one bit, but oh my goodness! I cannot remember when my back felt so free of pain and knots. The massage therapist was amazing and probably gave me the best massage I have ever had. I need to go back soon (and more often), so that eventually I will not need the knots worked out and I can have a relaxing massage, rather than one out of necessity. Thank the Lord for birthday money!! Anyway, then Mike and I headed out that afternoon to go get our car....it only took about an hour for the entire process! And that included a printer malfunction....lol. Praise the Lord for back up printers. Once I get some, I'll post some pics! It's perfect! On Thursday, I decided I needed a haircut, which actually turned out pretty cute....I was a little concerned because the guy did not seem to be very precise when cutting and I felt like he was saying "woosh" every time he snipped (he had some strange follow through techniques). Thursday night was date night and Mike and I had a nice dinner at Carabbas (see his blog for ways to eat out healthy) and went to see "Shutter Island". The movie was a little disappointing, but it was so nice to be able to go out on a date and not worry about Michael. Friday, I got to go visit my sister for a little bit and have lunch with my mom and then Mike's dad flew in to join us all for the weekend.

Thank you, thank you Dru and Nanny for watching Michael for me this week! Although I missed Michael, it was so nice to get to rest, relax, and for Mike and I to be able to spend some time, just us.

This picture is at Home Depot....Michael really liked this car basket!

Yay Mike!

2010-03-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

So, first of all I want to say how proud I am of my husband, Mike. He is on a weight loss journey and has lost 52lbs so far! This has been a roller coaster, but I am so proud of his dedication and hard work. The poor man gets up at 3:40 every day to make it to the gym before he has to be at work at 6:15. I know I couldn't do it....

Anyway, he is starting a new venture and will be blogging daily about it. I am excited to see the results and I know you all will be too!

So, be sure and check out his blog GO MIKE!!

Bye Bye....everything!

2010-03-12T17:28:00.000-08:00

So, Michael is growing and learning and doing new things every day and he is just so adorable doing it all! I find myself standing and watching him play on his own where he can't see me just to see him exploring, figuring things out, and talking to whatever will listen....whether that be the dog or the cat, his stuffed animals, or his feet.

So, he's been babbling away for the last few days, saying all kinds of consonants and looking like he is trying to say something very important and I noticed something. Every time we would leave a location, he would wave his little hand in the air and say bah-bah. I just thought he was babbling because he does it so much and then I realized what he was doing! He was waving at whatever we were leaving and saying BYE-BYE!!! My little man is talking!! I picked this picture because it looks like he's waving at me....such a big boy!!!

I already missed a day....

2010-03-11T10:32:00.001-08:00

Well, somehow I got confused on the days and thought I posted the day before yesterday, when in fact it was 2 days ago. I am sorry I already messed that up. :)

Some of you probably have noticed that there are little ads on my page now. Well, I have used each of these sites personally and can vouch for each one. So, click away and save some money, earn some points, or get some new recipes!! From time to time, I'll be adding more, so keep an eye out for different things. But know, that I will not put anything on there that I have not tried out myself and had a positive experience with.

Did anyone remember to get their free entree at Panda Express yesterday? I wasn't able to take advantage of the offer, but I sure hope some of you were able to get some of their delicious food! Panda Express is one of my favorite places to eat!

Ok, so I am a member of Vocalpoint, which is a community of moms that can express their opinions and try free stuff. You can also get recipes and tips on different things around your house or for your family. They have a section that is called "Try and Tell" where you get a coupon for a full sized product that you can try out and then log back on to take a little survey about how you liked it, or didn't like it. I have received cereals, shampoos, conditioners and other things from this program and wanted to share it with you. It's an awesome way to try out new things. Sometimes the coupon is for free product and sometimes it's just heavily discounted (like I got a coupon for Pantene for $2.50 off, so I got the smallest one, and it was a little over $1, which is a GREAT price). So, click here if you are interested in signing up and being apart of this neat group!

Free entree at Panda Express!!

2010-03-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite places to eat!!

Panda Express | Free Honey Walnut Shrimp

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 06:31 PM PST

Receive a Free order of Honey Walnut Shrimp at Panda Express. Just become a Fan of Panda Express on Facebook. Click on the “What’s New” tab to print off your coupon! This is valid on 03/10/2010.

Thank you Mommy Snacks for sharing this with me!

Turning a new leaf

2010-03-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have thought about this a little and decided that I need to blog a bit more and post about all the fun and exciting stuff that is going on in the Christian household. So, I am turning a new leaf. I used to blog, oh I'd say, maybe once or twice a month, and now I am going to do my best to blog about something every other day....whether that be family stuff, fantastic new recipes, free stuff I have found, or ways that I have felt the Lord move in my life. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I am planning to! :)

Sooooo, here we go.

I have found this awesome recipe for homemade white bread. I have tried several different ones and although this one makes a smaller loaf, it's wonderful!! Thanks goes out to Cher's Kitchen for this one! I haven't made this into buns yet, but I can imagine they would be just as good! I'll put a picture under the recipe....oh, I also didn't fold the dough up like the recipe suggests because I have not had the best results with that, so I just shape it into the pan and let it rise....but you can do it either way.

White Bread

also for hamburger and hot dog buns and dinner rolls

1 cup warm milk (100 - 120 degrees)
1 T. sugar
2 1/2 t. yeast (1 packet)
2 T. melted butter
2 1/2 to 3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 t. kosher salt or 1 t. table salt

Stir milk, sugar and yeast together until dissolved. Let stand 5
minutes. It should have foamed on the top (if not, your yeast is not active). Add the butter. Stir in 1 cup of the flour and mix well,
Stir in another cup of the flour and salt. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead in the remaining flour as needed, until smooth and elastic, about 5 to 8 minutes. Put in an oiled bowl, turning to oil the top, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, aboout 1 hour.
Punch down and shape as desired.

For 1 loaf, shape it into a rectangle. Fold in the short ends of
the dough until it is approximately the length of the pan. Then, fold the
far, long edge over to the middle. Fold over the other long sides
and compress it gently to form a tight cylinder. Place seam-side down in the lightly greased bread pan. Cover. Let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.
Bake at 375 for 35 minutes or until golden brown and the bottom
sounds hollow if tapped. Remove immediately from pan and let
cool on it's side on a wire rack.

For Hamburger buns:
Divide dough into equal pieces. Shape into smooth balls, and place on a greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly. Cover, and let rise for 30 to 35 minutes.
Bake at 400 F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown.

For Hot Dog Buns:
Shape each piece into a 6x4 inch rectangle. Starting with the longer side, roll up tightly, and pinch edges and ends to seal. Let rise about 20 to 25 minutes. Bake as above.

10 things I've learned so far this year....

2010-03-01T11:19:00.001-08:00

So, I got to thinking about the fact that I haven't posted and why, and I realized that it's not only because I am busy doing stuff, but because I am busy learning and growing in the Lord, and as a mom and a wife. So I thought I'd share some of the things I've learned so far in 2010 (in no particular order). :-)

1. No matter how clean and germ free I try to be, I cannot stop Michael from getting sick and then passing it on to me and Mike. We were sick almost the entire month of February and are finally on the mend. Praise the Lord for the renewal of our health.

2. Being sick is the pits!

3. I never have to measure up to anyone because my "measurements" have been taken to the cross with Christ. (Thank you Beth Moore)

4. I can try my best to be "super mom" and "super wife" but it's never gonna happen. Something in my house will always be a mess and I am slowly but surely becoming ok with that.

5. Some days I need to just relax and that's ok.

6. I love my husband more than he knows. I don't know that I can ever show him enough, but I can try every day to make him feel valued and loved and respected.

7. All babies cry....and sometimes yell and scream. Mine is no exception.

8. I love the Lord more than I ever thought possible and I can't stop talking about him.

9. God is trustworthy and He cares for me.

10. The fact that I mess up or fail at certain things does not define my ability to be a good wife and mom. The fact that I try and I work hard at it and I love my family (and the fact that God is gracious and shows this to my family) makes me a good wife and mom.

Pine Cone Research

2010-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone! I wanted to invite you to join Pine cone research! You take surveys and for each one you get $3. Sometimes, you can even receive a product to test! I have been a member of this panel for around 5 years and they are GREAT!! Just remember, 1 member per household.

Here is the link to the registration:

http://www.pineconeresearch.com/signup/RR570DS1.asp

Free Dinner

2009-11-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

I got an email from freebies4mom this morning and this was one of the things on there. I thought you all might want to know about it....enjoy!

Whataburger Free Burgers 5-8 Tuesday

Posted: 10 Nov 2009 04:26 AM PST

Wear orange to Whataburger on Tuesday, November 10 between 5 and 8 pm and get a free Whataburger. No coupon or purchase is required. I do recommend that you call your local Whataburger before heading out to confirm that they are participating in this promotion.

One week down...

2009-11-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

Good Sunday morning to everyone!

What a beautiful morning and start of the week. Michael was up and at em around 5:30 this morning, but thankfully kept himself entertained until about 6 before he protested enough to get mom out of bed. The time change last weekend really has been a challenge on our sleep patterns. Poor baby wants to go to bed at 6 or 6:30 now (we do our best to stay up until 7...sometimes it's impossible and I give in at about 6:45) and get up at 5 or 6. Some of my mom friends have agreed that Daylight savings time is for the birds and we need to stop messing with the clock.

Along with the time change, this week has been a bit rough on our little family healthwise. Sunday night Michael went to bed so congested he was breathing through his mouth and snoring. Then Monday he was sick and not feeling well. He's better now but is still dealing with congestion and drainage. Then Mike woke up one day this week (the days have all run together) and he was sick with the same thing Michael had. I am still dealing with allergies (or maybe it's what my boys have...I don't know), so we are a site to see. I am thankful we don't have the flu and not really any fever (although Mike had a little one the first day he was sick...but it went away a few hours later).

I am so sad to say that my Mentor bible study is over. I am; however, so grateful for the women God brought into my life. I have made some dear friends and look forward to seeing what God will do from here. If you have the opportunity, the bible study is called Apples of Gold. It's title is based off of the verse in Proverbs 25:11, "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver". It's wonderful study because it involves older, wiser women of the church, and young women learning from them. It's a 6 week program and it is a sweet time to learn, grow and make new friends with godly women who have been where you have been and aren't afraid to share their experience with you and also show you where you might have done things different or where you have done things right. It's been such a blessing.

Well, we finished up our first set of classes at LeTourneau (well, almost...we have one more final to take today). I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to starting my new class tomorrow. Hopefully we'll do as well in our class this time as we did this last time. Thankfully they are only 5 week courses.

Good news from Mike....he lost 6 pounds last week!! Don't forget to check out his blog afatmanandhisjourneytosomewhere.blogspot.com

10 years and it's time for a change....

2009-10-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Well, this past weekend was my high school reunion. Yes, I am old.....or at least I am getting there. :) It's been 10 years since I graduated from high school. Some days it feels like 20 and some days it feels like yesterday. Friday night we went to the football game and then went out to pizza at The Pizza Place. They have the best pizza in Weatherford. Then Saturday afternoon we all met up at the park for lunch with everyone's family. It was fun and I got to see a lot of people and their cute little kiddos. Saturday night everyone met up for dinner at 8.0's in Fort Worth. I wasn't able to go to that, but I heard it was great fun and a lot of people were there. Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from the weekend.

As you can see, my little man is growing up quick. He's already able to ride the horsey all by himself :) ....well, with daddy standing close by to make sure he doesn't tip over. He loved hanging out with dad at the football game and learning all about it. Maybe one day he will be out on that field....and I will be a nervous wreck in the stands.....but a proud nervous wreck. But for now, we'll go with what we know......He is a carrot, squash, and sweet potato eating cutie pie! Here are some pics of our fun first time baby food eating experience.

Before: After:

We didn't have too much of a mess and Michael was a very happy camper after lunch!!

So, I got to thinking about it and decided that 12 years of the same hair was long enough. So, I got very brave after my reunion and on Sunday night dyed my hair and on Monday got a new hairstyle. It turned out really good, but I am still having to train my hair to go the way it's supposed to go....hopefully it will get the hang of it soon....I am tired of side bangs in my eyes.

Happy 5 month birthday Michael!!

2009-10-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well, today was a big day in our lives. Michael turned 5 months old today. So, we celebrated by being up all night last night. Mom and dad loved that for sure!! We did, however, get to sleep in until almost 7, so that made up for it some.

Michael tried his first baby food today. He had carrots. At first he looked at me like I was crazy. His expression said "What in the world are you putting in my mouth?!" And he spit most of it out. Then, I gave him another bite. While he kept looking at me with big eyes and an unsure expression he kept on eating. Finally, he decided he kinda liked this stuff and opened his mouth big and was even smiling when he saw the spoon coming. Success!!

Then as if to prove to me how big of a boy he was, I put him under his jungle gym, and he rolled over from his back to his stomach. No prompting or help at all!! And he's done it 4 times in the last 10 minutes or so. Now, if he could just figure out what to do once he rolls over, we'll have a mover on our hands.

It's been too long...

2009-09-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

Well, everyone, it's been a while, so I thought I'd make a post. Mike is so good about his blog and I hope to one day catch up to him. Lol...he's had his for less time than I have and has posted many more times than me. I just can't seem to get it done, but I promise I will try harder.

So, let's see.....something new....Michael has been sleeping all the way through the night for the last few nights and has gone to bed with no more than 5 minutes of crying. Sometimes, he just goes right to sleep. It's nice. I guess the Dr. was right. It's easier to get it over with early than to have to fight bedtime for the rest of my life. Lol.

He is doing well on cereal sometimes eating more than his 1 tablespoon, sometimes only eating 3 bites....just depends on how sleepy he is. But I am glad he lets us know when he is full and doesn't just eat it because it's in front of him. We are going to try really hard to develop healthy eating habits for him and encourage healthy options as opposed to sweets.....although we won't deprive him because that can lead to binging later on in life. It's such a fine line.

So, I was reading the other day, and it got me to thinking (sometimes this can be a bad thing..haha). I read this article about baby foods and was wondering if any of you have tried to feed your baby different kinds of foods than the normal bland purees? I got to wondering what do people in Asia or the Middle East, or people in Mexico feed their babies? They eat heavily spiced food, so do they feed their baby the same? Maybe it's better for baby to get a variety of flavors when they are young so they will like those when they are older? So many things to ponder. I will have to ask the doctor about this maybe....although, he will probably think I am a crazy person for even considering such a thing....or maybe he will just say if I am up for the crazy diapers, he's ok with it. lol. Who knows...

One other thing....it's kind of sad actually, but still funny. I have been recording Michael's tummy time so that Mike won't miss out on his first roll or whatever. So, this morning, I did what I normally do....put Michael on his tummy, move out of the way, turn to get the camera, and when I turned back around, I found my baby on his BACK! I totally missed his first rollover and so did the camera for Mike! Sneaky little man. So I tried to recreate it, and he wouldn't do it for me again. :( Sooo, sad.

Here's another pic...cereal face...so cute!

Results....dun, dun, duuuuunnnn

2009-09-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

So, last night, as I told you in my last post, Michael finally went to sleep after about 30 minutes of crying.....AND.....slept straight through for 11 hours!!! Now, I am not sure if this is because of the shots or because I didn't jump up at every whimper, but whatever the reason I am happy. Thank you Dr. Wheeler. Now, we'll just pray it continues. :)

4 month check up - this is a LONG one!

2009-09-23T19:38:00.001-07:00

Today was Michael's 4 month check up. It went really well, and I was so proud. He only cried during the 2nd shot and once he got a snuggle from mama, he was fine. That's my big boy!! He is 15lbs 2oz and 25 1/2 inches long.

So, the dr asked me how he was sleeping and I answered "Fine until about 3 weeks ago". So, he went on to tell me that Michael apparently had developed a habit of waking up to be fed....he did it once and liked it, so decided to keep doing it. I had no idea. I thought he was legitimately hungry, after all, he eats for a good while every time he wakes up. So, the dr said, put him down to bed awake (this means no feeding him until he falls asleep and laying him down immediately after that, which is what I thought I was supposed to do....mistake #1 I guess), and if he wakes up, let him put himself back to sleep. So I asked, what about when I lay him down? What do I do if he cries then? He told me to let him cry. So, of course, I asked how long and he said "Initially, as long as it takes....let him cry until he goes to sleep. Then after that just don't rush to get him....give him a little bit to go back to sleep and then if he gets upset, check him to see if he spit up or if he has a dirty diaper, but don't pick him up (mistake #2...after I heard him make a peep, I would go to him so that he wouldn't get upset and not go back to sleep). The most important thing for a baby is to let them get a good nights sleep and that can only be done if they aren't waking up all throughout the night. I am not concerned about you (meaning me, the mom) getting sleep, I am concerned about HIM getting sleep. His brain and his little body need to grow and develop and the only way to do that is with a good night's sleep. Plus, good behavior starts with good sleep, and I don't want to see you on an episode of the Super Nanny". Then he laughed and said he was kidding about the super nanny thing.

Soooooo, I tried this at nap time. I am still nursing (although I think I am going to stop soon), so I fed Michael, he was still awake, but sleepy, and I walked him up to his room and laid him down. No rocking, no nothing. I just rubbed his forehead and told him to sleep good. I shut the door and not 2 seconds later, he is crying. So, I go downstairs and clean up a bit...still crying....I vacuum....still crying.....40 minutes later, he is still crying, so I go check on him, clam him down, and lay him back down. He is smiling and I think he is just fine. I walk out of site, and instantly he is crying. So, I listen to him a bit and realize that is his hungry cry. So, feeling terrible (he obviously didn't get enough to eat when I nursed him earlier) I made him a bottle and decided to stop with the breastfeeding on Monday (I've got some plans on friday and saturday and don't want to be miserable). I can't track how much he is eating and he is hungry all the time....it is a little sad though....and formula is expensive, so I might change my mind.....but that's the new plan....my original plan was to continue until he was 6 months......we'll see....my resolve is wavering as I type this. He ate 2 oz and then took a nice long nap in the swing. We'll try the nap in the crib again tomorrow.....he won't be able to fit in that swing forever....

Then tonight, it was a little better. He ate cereal, changed into jammies, ate a bottle, fell asleep and wouldn't eat any more, changed his diaper so that he wouldn't be asleep when I laid him down and Mike and I proceeded to put him down for the night. We prayed together, and then left the room. About a minute later he was crying. I really was not prepared for this one! I thought he would go down to bed for the night just fine. He usually does, and then it hit me....I was nursing him to sleep....I was doing it all wrong. I remember having read somewhere that you should not nurse your child to sleep because it would be a difficult habit to break when they get older, but I guess I didn't realize that I was doing that or something.....or maybe I just blocked it until just now while I am writing this, I don't know. Anyway, finally after 27 minutes of crying off and on (mostly on), he quieted down a little, and then at 32 minutes he was asleep.

Thank you Lord for letting Michael go to sleep. Please don't let him hate me in the morning and please don't let him be traumatized and never want to sleep in his bed again (these are silly things I worry about)

Yay! We followed the Dr's orders and will hopefully begin to sleep easy soon.

This is probably what he looked like when he first fell asleep....he was definitely not happy about being asleep in these pics.

Happy 4 month birthday Michael!!!

2009-09-22T11:14:00.001-07:00

So, today Michael is 4 months old!! My, how time does fly!! Seems like just yesterday I was still pregnant and now he is starting his first solid foods. My tiny baby is growing up. He is starting to show his personality now too. We knew from early on that he will have to work on his patience as he gets older, which has not changed, but he is becoming a happy baby who loves to smile and laugh more than anything. And he LOOOOVES his dad and especially loves to sit next to him on the couch and watch football (or really any tv....I think he likes the colors). It's really cute! I will have to be sure and get a picture of this next time so I can post it.

Poor thing....he got his first ouchie today. He was playing in his activities center (or whatever those things are called...some call them walkers, but it can't move, so I am not sure what to call it...lol) and next thing I know he is crying and crying. So I check him out and he has a little scrape/bump on his head right at his hair line. I am not sure how he did it, but he bumped his head. The redness has faded and there is no bruise, so he is fine. :)

Here's another picture of him. This was taken about 2 weeks ago.

We Took The Plunge

2009-09-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

Well, Michael is 4 days away from being 4 months old and he was up every 1-2 hours last night. So, for my sanity's sake, we started him on Rice Cereal this evening. He did great and was so cute! He probably had as much on his face as he did in his little tummy, but he ate the whole amount (it was 1 tablespoon, mixed with 4 tablespoons of formula). We are praying he will begin to sleep all night again more consistently.

An end to another wonderful week

2009-09-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Friday night and I am sitting at home enjoying a relaxing evening with my boys, so I thought I'd take a minute and update you all on what's been going on.

I have a new sewing machine that does embroidery. It's so much fun and sews really easy! I love it! So, hopefully, I will become crafty and maybe will be able to make a little extra income for my family. Once I get some stuff I will post more info.

I have also become involved with the mom's group at church. Today was our first bible study/get to know you time and I loved it! There are a lot of really sweet ladies that are part of the group and I know I can make some really great friends. We will be starting a bible study on October 2 that is called Apples to Gold. It's kind of like a mentor thing.....there are 6 older women who have grown kids that will lead the group in their home each week. We will be having a bible study, a meal, and a time for service. I know I will be learning so much from these experienced wives and mom's. I am so excited!

My sweet baby is growing so fast!! Here's a pic! He loves sticking out that tongue...haha.

Shop4freebies

2009-09-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you all know about a great site! It's 100% free samples and will send you an email every day so you can check out the new lists! I have gotten tons of free stuff....anything from breakfast cereals to dog and cat food to cleaning products.

Click on "free samples" above to go to the website.

Have fun!

It's been a while....

2009-08-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been about 3 months since my last post and I now have a happy and healthy 3 month old. He is a little bundle of joy; talking, and cooing, and laughing, and drooling all over the place! Motherhood has been such a blessing to me....so rewarding, yet so trying all at the same time.

It all started on May 22 2009 at 4:53 pm. After about 19 hours of labor, Michael Joseph Christian II was born by c-section. He was 6lbs 13oz and 19 3/4 inches long and so cute!!

Speed forward 3 months...he is now (as of exactly 1 week ago) 13 lbs 12 oz, and is so much fun! We laugh and play and smile all the time, and I have noticed, for the day and a half I have been a stay at home mom with him, that he is on a pretty good schedule that he has set himself......goes to bed around 8:30 or 9, sleeps till about 4 or 5 and eats, then wakes up for the day around 7:20. Then we get dressed, eat again, play, tummy time, etc, and then he eats again around 9 and then naps at 9:30 or a tad before. That's as far as we've gotten today, so we'll have to see if the rest of the day is the same as yesterday. I am totally ok with the predictability of all this. It's a relief, really, because I wasn't sure how I was going to get him on a schedule or at least something that might resemble one. :) So, he has made it easy. I just have to pay attention.

As I briefly mentioned before, I am now a stay at home mom and I LOVE IT!!!! I believe this is what I was born to do; be a wife and a mom and care for my household. I am so grateful to the Lord and to Mike that I am able to do this.

I will do my best to blog more often and post pics and stuff. There are a lot of changes going on around here....Mike and I are trying our hardest to eat healthy and lose weight (as of sunday I had lost the baby weight, but I want to lose a couple more pounds), and Michael is changing every day. You can follow Mike's weight loss journey at afatmanandhisjourneytosomewhere.blogspot.com

Well, I can't figure out how to do the pics like I want, but I'll work on it and post some later.

I'm having a baby.....on FRIDAY!!!

2009-05-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

So, last Wednesday I had a dr's appointment and found out that labor will be induced on Friday. I have been having high blood pressure and the doctor called it mild pre-eclampsia, which, if left alone can become dangerous. I, of course, am excited, but this is such a huge change in our lives, I am feeling a little nervous as well. Will I be a good mom? Will labor be very very painful, even with an epidural? Will the relationship between Mike and I be different? Are we really ready for this? (this last question is really pointless to even think about....because it doesn't really matter...we are having a baby, we better be ready, but it still goes through my head every day). Then Mike reminds me.....when I stopped taking birth control forever ago, we prayed for God's timing in all this. That yes, we felt we were ready and wanted to begin our family, but that it happen according to God's plan, not ours. So, it took over a year to get to this point, I didn't even think I was pregnant when I found out I was, have had many complications and scares during this pregnancy, and yet I feel very peaceful about it all when I remember who creates life, and who is in control of my life. God must know we are ready and will be the best parents for this little one.....otherwise he wouldn't have blessed us with this life to raise.

Ok...attempt #2...I think this will be better.

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

So, some friends and I were talking today and I have discovered that I am really more nervous about being a mom than I thought. There are so many outside influences that affect our children and mold them into the teens and adults they will become, that parents have no control over. I have a really difficult time dealing with this. My first reaction to this is to want to keep my kids in a bubble where nothing can hurt them or lead them away from the Lord, but then I think about it and that is the worst thing I could do. That will just make them crazy and rebellious teens or young adults. So, how do I deal with this??? The only thing I have come up with is prayer. Prayer for me not to hold so tightly to my kids, prayer for my kids to have a tender heart and a desire to live as Christ would have them live, and prayer for Mike and me as parents to know how much to hold on and when to let go.....well, that's probably mostly for me :) Thankfully, we are well matched and he helps keep my worries in check. Praise the Lord I have a husband who strives to follow God, and has a desire to raise our family according to scripture.

Here we go....

2009-05-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I am very new to this, and I am at home on bedrest awaiting my next dr's appointment to see if I can go back to work next week, and a friend of mine told me blogging was great and that I should try it. So, here goes nothin. :) I apologize in advance if it's boring, as my life is not so interesting right now.

.......................

Well, I have been sitting here for about 10 minutes and can't think of anything to write about. I guess, I'll try again tomorrow.