Sly

I just love her facial expression in this picture.  :)

She's holding a travel toothbrush holder (50 cents at CVS on clearance!)...it's her new favorite toy!

Preview

Here's a quick preview of Ri's room makeover...I spent the day with my friend Nikki - and her sweet kids - today and almost everything is ready!

I made Ri's valance...ruffle and all (with lots of help from Nikki).  I'm pretty proud of myself.

Thanks SOOO much Nikki for your help!  I couldn't have done it without you!!

More pics to come soon!! 

Buckle Up!

My car has a reminder beep when the seatbelt isn't fastened on the driver or passenger side seats. As much as I'd like to claim I was overly concerned about Suka's well-being, it just so happens she weighs enough to activate the reminder beep.

*For those of you who may be concerned, we were not in motion when this was taken.*

Homemade vs Commercial

It's no secret. I coupon. Because I coupon, I am able to find things at a much cheaper price. However, what if I could save money AND clean with products that don't have crazy ingredients I can't pronounce?  I'm interested...and I love this post: 

http://www.southernsavers.com/2010/05/homemade-vs-couponing-household-supplies/

**Don't miss out on the fabulous links at the end...lots of great info and recipes for homemade cleaners**
I'm not saying you'll never see another Mr Clean product in my house (could I really get rid of ol faithful...aka Magic Eraser?!). I'm just sayin, if it's just as cost-effective and there's an added benefit for my family, why not? I'm not gonna go and throw out everything in my house I already have. I just plan to slowly change one item at a time.

That's all.

Puttin things in perspective

I just read a blog about a young girl who went to be with Jesus a few days ago. She was abandoned in Serbia after her parents found out she had a heart condition. A couple from Texas adopted her.

I can't help but sit here in a puddle of tears and gratitude. My sweet baby is sleeping soundly in the next room, not in a hospital bed. Our days are spent reading and playing, not fighting to overcome illness.

Now experiencing the incredible love of a mother, my heart aches for mommies who see their children in pain, struggling to live, and even watch as they take their last breath.

Thankful doesn't quite sum up how I feel right now. And hopefully, in those moments I find myself ready to complain, I'll remember little girls like Chrissie.  

http://allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com/ 

Healthy Food and Living

I have a new favorite grocery store: Earth Fare!  As many of you know, I'm very much into couponing and have been able to save a lot of money doing so.  If stores don't take coupons (Aldi) or have a difficult coupon policy (Ingles), I don't shop there.

Recently, I started talking to a few women at my church (one who I told she needs to start a blog bc she's a wealth of great info...but she has 7 kids and no time for that so I decided I'd pass on the info she shares with me) who eat as organically as possible and have found ways to get good deals on healthier food. I mean, who doesn't wanna eat healthy foods? But I always figured it'd break the bank to do so I didn't even try. But after talking with them, I realized eating and living healthier was very doable. It all kinda started for me after Ri had a very common baby girl problem and the doctor prescribed a hormonal cream that was going to cost over $100. I knew there must be another alternative...possibly more natural and definitely cheaper. Turns out, there was - coconut oil!  That stuff is great for a lot of things but I used it for Ri and still use it occasionally at diaper changes instead of the other well-known diaper creams...works great!  I also use it on her thumb since she sucks it so much and it can get kinda raw...just a couple applications and it clears up!

I'm not, by any means, going to refuse to eat or drink anything that's not 100% certified organic or, as one lady so properly put it, "allow organic and natural things to become an idol". But if there are opportunites to eat healthier and live healthier, I'll take them!

If you have an Earth Fare near you, sign up to get their coupons via email - they're awesome...like buy organic ketchup for $1.50 and get 2 free handmade hamburger patties or buy $5 worth of items and get a free fresh pineapple. They're also currently doing a promotion to raid your pantry for unhealthy items and exchange them for healtheir choices for free - even if your item is opened and almost gone!   They also have coupons in the store near the front sometimes. Their website also sometimes has additional coupons available.  Just today, Septtro and I both got a free half wrap, chips, and soup, exchanged 2 bottles of salad dressing, cereal, and peanut butter for organic, and got 8 handmade black and blue hamburgers all for just over $10!   You can print more than one copy of their coupon and have someone else use it (Septtro in my case) or go back to the store again before the sale ends.

Also, if you're interested in healthier living in general on a budget, check out these websites (I haven't been able to look at them all myself yet) :

www.kitchenstewardship.com

www.thenourishinggourmet.com

www.passionatehomemaking.com

www.keeperofthehome.org

One last website that's great for a lot of Mommy questions is (forum-type format): www.welltellme.com

If you are aware of any other ways to eat or live healthier - without breakin the bank - please let me know!

Da-da

Ri has been saying this ALL day today - to her father's delight. :) She's said Momma over and over before but she's really starting to be more intentional about Dada.

Toofers

I'm sure gonna miss her gummy smile but havin those two lil teeth is pretty stinkin cute too.

A Year Ago...

Dear Ri,

A year ago today, we found out you were a girl!  I knew it all along. :) 

At first, I was really nervous about having a girl because I'm not very girly myself. I was unsure how I felt about the color pink invading my house; along with frills, bows, and baby dolls.  But even before you came into this world, I began to transform.  I began to embrace my own girly side even more (slightly, but more so than before...although I still think make-up is a pain in the hiny so still none for me most of the time).

Anyway, I just want you to know you are free to be girly; free to wear pink, free to play dress up, free to hate dirt, and yes, even free to do ballet if that's what your heart desires.

I love you sweet baby girl and I'm so very thankful to call you my daughter!

Momma's Day

This is my first Mothers Day. Actually, I kinda feel like it's my second - Ri was just inside my tummy last year instead of outside.

I had a lot of emotions this morning...waking up to my handsome husband and beautiful daughter: daughter, I still can't believe I have a daughter. I still can't believe God chose me to be her mom. She's such a joy!

I am overwhelmed at God's goodness and grace. And I am so very thankful that His plan is perfect.

I look forward to many more Mothers Days...and Lord-willing, more children to celebrate.

Happy Mothers Day to all of you as well!

Solids??

I am still exclusively breastfeeding Rilynn.  She just turned 7 months old.  She doesn't seem to be in need of anything else right now (no waking up at night or crying after nursing) and I quite like the availability of how she gets her meals now.  I guess I just picture starting solids as a constant cooking, mashing, blending, mixing of all these ingredients Septtro and I aren't eating and it stresses me out...big pain in the hiny.  Although I'm well aware that I'm very good at blowing things way out of proportion.  But then I started to feel guilty because I thought, "I'm holding her back!"  The pediatricians all say start solids at 6 months. But part of me just doesn't get what's so magical about 6 months and solids. I mean, what if they're doing just fine with nursing still?

So then I came across this article: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/04/feeding-babies-a-relaxed-common-sense-approach.html 

I think I'm gonna try that....AND, just take one day at a time and see how things go.