My Favorite Season

Hands down, my favorite season is Spring. I really really love it! Colorado is so dry and brown in the winter, that when Spring rolls around and everything starts turning green again, it just makes me feel happy.

Our house is surrounded by farms and it's so fun to see the farmers out getting their fields ready to plant. I think it would be really great to live on a farm one day... please note the "I think" part of that sentence. :)

Last year for my birthday my aunt gave me daffodils and so I planted them about a year ago and I've waited this entire time to see if the bulbs would actually produce flowers this Spring. I'm pleased to announce they sprouted a couple of weeks ago. They still don't have flowers on them and they're kind of little still, but I'm still hoping they will fully bloom!

Then last fall I bought a bag of Iris bulbs and planted them in our backyard. Since our backyard is pretty much a blank canvas I had a really hard time trying to decide where I was going to plant them. I picked a corner of the yard and just pushed a bunch of rocks to the side and dug a hole big enough to plant all 20 bulbs. I was really skeptical about these because the soil isn't very good and it just looks ghetto because it's not a pretty flowerbed. So now you can only imagine my excitement when I went to check a few weeks ago and I saw the first couple sprouts! I counted two days ago and 18 of the 20 bulbs have sprouted!!!!! I'm thrilled! My goal is at the end of Summer to removed the majority of the rocks from that back corner and rototill the soil so I can replant the bulbs and hopefully get my flowerbed looking pretty.

My next favorite thing about Spring is that it means it's almost time for me to plant the seeds in my vegetable garden!!!!!!! Last year I experimented with my Square Foot Garden and this year I have a better idea of what I want to plant and what we'll actually eat. I also want to expand my garden a little bit. Since all squash is SO easy to grow, but so big, I'd really like for the squash to have their own garden.

Here's an interesting fact you may not know. If you take a branch from a willow tree and plant it, that branch will grow into a tree. Thanks to our wonderful neighbors who have willow trees, we planted 4 trees last fall. (They actually just look like sticks in the ground, which is why we now only have 3 trees... little boys don't understand the difference between a stick in the ground and tree...) Willows are also very fast growing trees, so I'm hoping that before we move out of our house, they will actually look like real trees (not that we're planning on moving anytime soon).

I can't wait for all my flowers to start looking like flowers!!! I'll post a blog in the future when they bloom so hopefully there will be more color than the pictures posted above!

Family Activity

For some reason the other day I got to thinking about one of my favorite classes I took at CFNI, Godly Parenting, and an activity we did in that class.

Towards the end of the semester our class was divided up into groups of 5-7ish and we were called "a family".

We came into class one day with a very special activity planned to teach us what it means to serve our family.

Each "Family" had a table assigned to them that was filled with an entire breakfast meal and empty plates at each setting.

We took our seats and waited for the instructions.

We were to not serve ourselves AT ALL for the entire meal. But instead we were to serve our "family". You were not allowed to take anything off the table until it was offered to you. And you couldn't ask someone to serve you. (Example: If you wanted eggs you had to wait until someone specifically asked you, "Would you like some eggs?") Sure it doesn't sound that hard, but I dare you to try this with your family.. it's not as easy as it sounds.

The entire goal of this activity is to force you to become more aware of the needs of your family and not to be so focused on yourself and your needs.

Now as a mother I tend to do this quite a bit since my kids aren't to the age that they can actually serve themselves. However, there is a very important person I tend to overlook, my husband. I realized the other day while we were all eating, that I don't pay very close attention to his needs. I tend to have the mentality, "you're able to serve yourself, and I'm trying to get the kids' dinner ready, can't you get it yourself?".... not my best wifely feature.

While doing the dishes last night I was thinking in my head, "What is the underlying thing that makes marriages successful?" and I really believe the answer is: they serve each other. Pride will tell you that shouldn't have to serve, but pride isn't what will make a marriage last. I want to strive for humility and what greater way to do that than to become a servant?

During our premarital counseling with our pastor and his wife they told us about this "game" they have. They will try to out serve each other all day long. They will constantly be paying attention to each other's needs and find ways to meet those needs. They also have one of the most amazing relationships I've ever seen.

Another invaluable thing I learned from "Godly Parenting" is that on the day you entered into a covenant with your spouse (on your wedding day) you became a family. Regardless if you have 19 kids or 0 kids you are a family. It's important to remember that because when those children are all grown up and have left the nest, you still have that special person by your side that you must serve.

I would one day like for this "activity" to become a daily occurrence in my home. I want to raise children who want to serve and can see a person's need without that person having to mention it.

This was my "family" during our meal together.

My First Born

I was 21 when I gave birth to my first child. I was totally clueless and completely in love.

Now as we are preparing for the birth of our third baby I wonder how it will be different.

It's a well known fact that parents are always hardest on their first born. My dad says that you always push your first born the hardest and expect the most out of them. He also says that with the baby of the family you will put bricks on their head to keep them from growing up too fast. Although we only have our two children right now, I can already attest to this. We are constantly pushing Jayden and expecting the world of him. The problem with this system is that it never stops. Your first born is the child that taught you what it means to be a parent in the first place and you NEVER stop learning from them (not even when they're 60 years old!).

I wondered how being a big brother at 13 months would effect Jayden and how it would change his life. I worried that I wouldn't be able to share the same love with Gabriella that I felt for Jayden. It's so cliche but it's true. Now I wonder how both of my children will effected by the birth of their new sibling and how it will change their already established relationship.

Being that I'm a middle child and Jordan is the baby, we don't always see the mistakes we are making raising a first born. Will Jayden grow up to be a perfectionist? Will he be a strong leader? Will he have a dominate personality? Who knows!

I do think it's funny how much we can change in our ideas of what it looks like to be a parent. Both my children are so different and we have to parent them differently because of that. Jayden is much more strong willed than Gabri and when we discipline him it looks different than when we discipline miss sensitive. I also wonder if he is strong willed because he's a first born and if she's sensitive because she's a middle child, or if it's because he's a boy and she's a girl...

I hope that the older I get the more understanding and wisdom I will gain of being a mother.

Breast Feeding

I'm officially 20 weeks pregnant, I'm half way through! Woo Hoo!!

So...I thought I'd write a little blog about my experience with breast feeding since it will once again be a huge part of my life in only 20 more weeks.

While I was pregnant with Jayden I knew I would breast feed (BF) him after he was born. I didn't take much time to read anything about BFing or ask many questions because I assumed it was a totally natural thing. I imagined him being born and I'd put him right up to my breast and he'd immediately start nursing away and it would be very beautiful for the both of us.

I apparently was daydreaming, because it didn't go anything like that! I had no clue what I was doing and Jayden was just as clueless. We fought and struggled a lot. The sensation of nursing made my face cringe and my toes curl. It was awkward and painful. Since Jayden was so large (9lbs 8oz) he had a hard time keep up his blood sugar because he wasn't getting enough to eat, so then we would supplement with formula. The first couple weeks were rough. I couldn't get him to latch on right, my breasts were hard as rocks from my milk coming in and even just taking my bra off so I could shower was painful, I was really embarrassed to BF in front of people, etc.

I didn't breastfeed in public because I thought it was weird. Besides, making a bottle and feeding him like that was so much easier and convenient. I didn't realize breastfeeding was a lifestyle. I only lasted 4/5 months with Jayden

Now with Gabriella it was a totally different story. We had that magical connection from the very beginning. She latched on properly right away, I felt comfortable with the whole experience and we were off to a great start. And then she landed herself in the NICU and I was having to pump at home and bring the milk to the hospital, where she would drink it and then throw it all up. She had something funky with her tummy when she was first born and she was very particular about the milk she drank. So she was on formula and I was still pumping away to try and keep my supply up for when she decided she would nurse again.

I only worked for 2 weeks when she was 6 weeks old and then I quit my job to stay home with the kids. So I didn't have to worry about pumping, and I could just nurse her when she needed to eat, rather than having the baby sitter feed her a bottle.

I learned how to nurse her while using a blanket to cover us, I accepted I could only wear certain outfits so that I was able to nurse in public, I got over my fear of what other people think about me being a nursing mother and we had a very successful year. Gabriella only took a bottle a few times during her life and refused it all the other times it was offered, so it kind of forced me to BF, but in the end I'm thankful.

A friend of mine once asked, "Isn't it a hassle to have to make a bottle in the kitchen then feed the baby and go put the bottle in the sink and clean it?" I now realize how much effort it was to have to wash all those bottles!!! I'm glad I was able to be successful with Gabriella and I just hope this next baby and I are able to have a similar success story.

Cold Days

A few weeks ago Colorado got hit with some nasty cold temperatures and during those 2 weeks I almost lost my mind! Having the keep the kids entertained inside all day was a bit of a challenge! I decided next time this happens I will be prepared.

The temperature right now is 27 degrees and it's not exactly "play outside" kind of weather. I saw this day was coming on the forecast so I prepared myself with lots of activities to keep the kids busy and keep my sanity in check.

We started off the morning with Playdoh

..which Gabriella had to taste test.

Followed by hand paintings

(I didn't trust Gabri with green hands so I didn't get a picture of her)

We then moved into the living room for some

cuddle time while watching Curious George

We made chocolate dipped pretzels

The kids thought eating them immediately would

be more fun than waiting for the chocolate to harden

We also made homemade potato soup

(recipe found here)

(please ignore my chipped bowl)

And before nap time we made jello jigglers!!!

Now I just need to find the energy to get dinner in the crock-pot before it gets too late! I'm trying a new recipe. It's called Vegetarian Cassoulet, it should be nice on this cold day! Here is the recipe.

Pregnancy Workouts

A couple weeks ago I solicited advice from my fellow facebookers about a good pregnancy workout. I was working during my previous pregnancies so I was walking a lot and that was my main form of exercise. I walked to the bus, a few blocks downtown to the building I worked in, I was on my feet filing, getting up and down from my desk to the printer, etc. When I went back for a visit recently I realized how much of a workout it was, my thighs were burning by the end of the day!

Anyways, now that I've been a stay at home mom for well over a year I realized I should probably do some kind of a daily workout so I don't gain 60 pounds in this pregnancy. Last year I was nursing and we didn't have a car so I pushed the double stroller with both kids in it (obviously) all over the neighborhood. Now that Jayden prefers to ride his bike and he doesn't ride at a very quick pace, I needed to do something else to burn calories.

All that being said....... A friend of mine suggested 10 Minute Solution: Prenatal Pilates. I found 4 of the 5 10 minute parts on youtube, so instead of buying the DVD I'm just watching the videos on youtube.

It has been so great! I feel great after I workout and it really helps me to feel better about myself and it's puts me in a good mood. I'm really hoping it helps me keep my weight gain to a minimal.

I have a Doctor's appointment this Friday and we have our Systems Review Ultrasound scheduled. This is normally the appointment we'd find out the sex, but we won't be peeking this time! :) I'll also find out how much weight I've gained over the last 4 weeks. :/

stagnate waters

Christianity is made up of two things: Your relationship with God (prayer, the bible, etc.) and your relationship with people (ministry, evangelism, etc.) I like to think of it as a cup. When we spend time with God in prayer and in the Word we are filled up with the Living Water. Then when we minister to people we are pouring out the Living Water to them. We should be completely this cycle on a regular basis. When we only fill our cup and we fail to pour it out we can become stagnate... Do you ever notice how nasty stagnate water is?? For one example that's where mosquitos breed.. Gross!

When we minister to people it challenges us to think, to call back on the scriptures that we've read and to teach them about God. It's so important to pour out. It's important to share the Gospel, not only for the person that you're ministering to, but as a reminder to yourself of where God has brought you from.

I have figured out my problem... the only ministry I'm doing is once a month during one service, working in the nursery. Don't get me wrong, serving those children (and the parents) is a huge thing, but God has called and anointed me to do SO much more. I've really been praying and asking God to show me where it is that I need to be serving.