2 Crowns 2 Tiaras

Madelyn's Procedure

2012-02-09T11:16:00.001-05:00

Madelyn did GREAT this morning with her procedure! I was worried she may not lay still during the whole process, but she surpassed all my expectations. The dentist and hygienist kept saying how they wished everyone was as good of a patient. The whole thing took about an hour, and I got to sit in the room and make sure everything was going well (as if I could do anything if it wasn't, right?!). Thank you, everyone, who prayed for peace and safety. Our prayers were answered!

All gassed up and chillin' out.

The new baby she came home to- a surprise for being so good!

Resting up, and watching "Nemo" with her new baby.

Coupon tips revealed...Part 2

2012-02-07T10:49:00.000-05:00

This week I went to Harris Teeter and got to do one of my favorite things: Get some freebies/less than dollar deals! Some of the deals were achieved by combining a coupon that doubled with a BOGO deal, but some of them were by using one of my favorite methods. What is that method, you ask? Why, it's combining a paper coupon with an E-coupon (Harris Teeter will double your paper coupon up to $.99 and let you use an E-coupon that's loaded to your card as well!). I LOVE the E-coupons they have because they're almost always the same value as a paper coupon for an identical item.

This week, I got 6 items (2 bags of Chex-Mix, 1 bottle Downy Unstoppables, 1 bag Oral B floss picks, 1 Bounce Dryer Bar, and 1 bottle Vicks Nature Fusion cold medicine) for $5.72 using this method (saving $16.75 with only coupons!). Each of those items not only had a paper coupon, but also a matching E-Coupon for the same value! The cold medicine usually costs $7.99, but it was on sale for $5.99. I had a $3 paper coupon and a $3 E-coupon, making it free! The floss picks are usually $3.99, but they were on sale for $2.99. I had a $.75 paper coupon (that doubled) and an E-coupon for the same value...making them $.74!

You can get E-coupons loaded to your card by signing up here. By doing this, you also get their weekly E-Vic specials (which are awesome) sent to your E-mail! Enjoy!

Coupon tips revealed...Part 1

2012-01-31T13:56:00.000-05:00

For about two years now, I've been a "couponer". Meaning, I don't just use coupons here and there at grocery store, but I strategically plan when and where to use them to get the most bang for my buck. However, I AM NOT A CRAZY COUPON LADY! Ha ha! I do not have a stock pile that takes up a whole room, nor do I have 50 bags of cat food when we don't own a single feline. What I do have is an extra "hide-away" cupboard where I store extra drinks, crackers, etc. for when we run out of what's currently open. I also have a "box system" in my linen closet where I store razors, tooth-paste, and shampoo. If my box is full, or I have plenty, then the freebie toiletries I get are then donated. Truth be told, half of the really good coupon deals I get, are gone before I get home (I like to drop some off with my mom, at our church, and to friends)!

I decided last month that I wanted to keep track of my coupon savings every month so that, year end, I would know how much my annual savings were. I have a notebook that I make my grocery lists in, and in the back I have stapled an envelope. Each time I go to the grocery store and use coupons, I put that receipt in the envelope. I only keep track of coupon savings (paper or coupons linked to a savings card- like VIC). I do not include any VIC, Kroger Card, and MVP savings because each corresponding store keeps a running total of what you've saved using their loyalty card.

I spend anywhere from 5-8 hours a month "couponing". This time includes cutting and sorting coupons, finding match-ups online and in ads, and making my grocery lists. A lot of people think that to be a couponer you have to spend that much time a week, but that's only if you're like those coupon-addicts on TV! In reality, it's not that time consuming, and totally worth it!

The amount I saved in January was (just from coupons I had online or in the paper): $154.59! That means I made $19.32-$30.92 an hour couponing, depending on how many hours I put in this month. Now, I probably saved $500 total this month if I included my loyalty card, but I just wanted to know what I saved with my other paper currency.

Since I've had several friends/family members ask me how to coupon, I've decided to start giving out some of my (not-so)super-secret tips. I'll try to do a weekly segment, if you will, but they may end up being more sporadic! For our first installment of "Erin's Couponing 101", I give you my anti-Wal-Mart campaign:

Yes, Wal-mart and Target may have prices that are consistently lower than grocery store chains, but you are not getting the best deals if you shop there for every day staples. Using low-value coupons (anything under $1) at places that do not double, is just a waste. Wal-mart, Target, and Food Lion do not double coupons...ever! If you use a $.25 coupon there, then that's all you're going to get off- face value. Let's do a scenario:

Wal-Mart sells a single roll of Bounty paper towels for $2.12. Harris Teeter sells the same paper towels for $2.49. If you have a $.25 coupon and use it at Wal-mart, you will pay $1.87. If you buy the same paper towels at Harris Teeter, and use the same coupon (it will double), you will pay $1.99. Now, I know you're thinking, "Erin, you said Wal-Mart wasn't the best deal and it looks like I'll pay $.12 less there!". Now, here's where the game play comes in. Wal-Mart never has BOGO deals. Wal-Mart doesn't have specials. Wal-Mart does not have a customer loyalty card that you can hook E-coupons up to (and combine with paper coupons). Currently, I have a $.25 E-coupon on my VIC card that, if used with my paper coupon, would make the paper towels $1.74. However, that's if the paper towels are full-priced. Many times they'll have them 10/$10 ($1 each), BOGO (1 item rings half off), or as a VIC special. Bottom line: I usually pay NO MORE than $1 for a single roll of paper towels at a store that doubles coupons (like Harris Teeter, Kroger, or Farm Fresh) where as I would pay no less than $1.87 at Wal-Mart.

Also, here's another tip: Don't scoff at an $.87 savings. It adds up! If you saved around 50% on everything you bought, you'd definitely notice that, right?

Hope this helps, and stay tuned for more money saving tips!

Update in pics

2012-01-30T13:24:00.000-05:00

The kids and I "ran away" to the country for the weekend. We ate well, played well, and unloaded all our worries and stress. Seriously, being outside here makes me feel so close to God. I totally get it when people say that the outdoors, and being close to nature, makes them feel closer to their Maker. Yep, being here (and the beach) makes me get it.

Also, while you're praying for Madelyn, could you please just go ahead and pray for both my babies? The day after Mady's dental procedure, William has an appointment with a pediatric ENT. I noticed a few months ago that his tonsils are HUGE. I'm not even kidding...just to prove my point check this out:

The size of those bad boys, combined with his horrible night's sleep, hyper/bad behavior, and snoring, makes me thinks he has sleep apnea. I've already prepared myself that they'll probably want to get them out, and I'm actually OK with it. We've struggled with William and his horrible sleep habits for so long that I'm actually excited that he'll be able to get some rest- even if it means surgery. Now, William is terrified of going to the doctor for even a check up, so please pray that we'll have the wisdom to know how to handle this situation (if it, in fact, does prove to be what we think it is), and that he'll have peace. I'll keep y'all posted on both kids and let you know what we find out! Thank you, thank you!

What's up, buttercup?

2012-01-25T13:39:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy week already! Here's what's new:

I went to the orthopedist yesterday and had an ultrasound and x-ray done of my knee where the mass was. They were able to see that it was a fluid-filled cyst and then aspirated it. I'm not even going to sugar coat it, THAT HURT LIKE CRAZY. It was totally worth it though, because I now know that it was benign and it is now GONE! Yay! The doctor said that it may fill back up but, if it does, we at least know what it is and it won't have to be removed again unless it causes problems. Praise God for answered prayers, and thanks to all who sent well-wishes!

Moving on, Madelyn had an appointment this morning with her new dentist. We decided to switch a few weeks ago after just one appointment with our previous one. Whew, what a mess that was!* A few weeks ago, we found out she needed to have cavities filled. We expected a treatment plan from our dentist, but were not given one. Instead we were given a dental tray napkin with a list of pros and cons for fillings vs. crowns. Seriously? Those aren't equal methods of treatment and I'm not a dental professional! How am I supposed to make that decision?

The next day I took Madelyn to my dentist for a second opinion. He agreed that there was certainly no need to get her crowns- that fillings would definitely suffice- and then referred me to the dentist we say today. Let me just say that they are amazing! I've had several conversations with their staff over the phone and I was actually looking forward to meeting them today! They have been so helpful in answering my many questions and putting my mind at ease.

The first dentist required all children to be sedated and strapped to a board in order to get anything filled- regardless of how well behaved the child was. That terrified me because Madelyn is laid back and very good at the doctor/dentist. Can we say over-kill? Our new dentist doesn't sedate and only uses the board if absolutely necessary. Also, I was not allowed back during the procedure at the first office, but I am at our new one. Again, our prayers have been answered.

Please keep Madelyn in your prayers over the next few weeks as we prepare for her procedure. She will have her fillings on Thursday, February 9th at 8:40 a.m. If, for some reason, they are not able to do the fillings there because of how she reacts to the "happy gas" and drill, we will have to reschedule her appointment at the Children's Hospital where she will have to be put under anesthesia. Please specifically pray that she can get all the work done safely at this appointment and that she does not have to go to the hospital. Also, pray for peace for her so she just drifts off to sleep while the doctor does her work, and that she has a perfect and healthy outcome.

Thanks for reading and keeping our family in your prayers!

*(At her very first check-up, we found out four of her front teeth are affected by cavities. Let me just say, I WAS DEVASTATED. Now, I know there's bigger things to get my panties in a wad about, but teeth are a huge deal to me! I've had only two cavities in my entire life (due to sealants cracking) and couldn't believe that my daughter had twice as many on her first appointment! Let me just tell you, I felt like such a failure. I couldn't believe that my daughter would have to undergo a procedure because of MY lack of care, especially when I tried so hard to do everything right: no bottles, no soda, teeth brushed twice a day, etc. Anyway, we found out her cavities were because of the sippy cup of juice she had through out the day (come to find out, even 100% fruit juice cut with water, reeks havoc on teeth) AND she shares her daddy's enamel (or lack-thereof!). We were properly schooled by our new pediadontist and she's only allowed juice at meal-time and now has water the rest of the day. I am also learning to forgive myself for my mistakes as a parent, because none of us our perfect, right?)

Just one more thing...

2012-01-21T23:06:00.000-05:00

Randomly the other day, I felt a wobbly, pea-sized, ball next to my knee. It sits in the divot next to my thigh. I wouldn't have even noticed it if I hadn't placed my hand right there. Well, you know what my first thought was, so I'm not going to even say it. Just please pray it's not.

About 10 years ago, while at the dermatologist for a regular appointment, I showed them a similar spot on my shin. They removed it right then and there and it was nothing. I'm hoping this goes the same way.

I have an appointment Monday morning with my dermatologist and I am praying so hard that they can either tell me it's nothing, or do something about it while I'm there. It'll drive me nuts if I have to go back! Please pray that this is nothing and can be taken care of quickly. Thank you, my prayer warriors!!

Faith like a child.

2012-01-21T10:21:00.001-05:00

I am so beyond proud of my sweet William. Yesterday he asked Jesus into his heart. I believe that he was already filled with the holy spirit when he was born; however, what he chose to do with the grace God provided was up to him and his freewill. I am so proud of the decision he made and the journey he has CHOSEN to take. I always pray with, and for, my children to lead a life that is pleasing to our Lord, and now he is exercising his own freewill to take a step, on his own, in that direction. It gives me chills. I'd like to share the conversation that we shared yesterday:

Allow me to set the scene- William had been unusually moody, nasty, and stubborn all afternoon. We had just gotten back from the grocery store and I had him laying on my bed watching a show while I put the groceries away. Madelyn was already napping and when I was finished in the kitchen, I came into my room and turned the TV off, telling him it was time for a nap. He, as any nearly four year old would, reacted adversely and told me he didn't want to nap. However, he went on to say that he didn't want me to be his mommy anymore and that he didn't love me. He knew this hurt me. He knew what he was doing. He was trying to get a reaction.

"William, I am always going to be your mommy no matter what. I know sometimes you're upset, but that doesn't mean you can say things like that. Your words can hurt people and you need to use them carefully."

With remorse showing on his face he said, "God doesn't love me anymore."

"Oh no, William. God will always love you, no matter what. Just like mommy will always love you. But when you do bad things, it makes both mommy and God sad, but we will both always love you. William, do you know what it means to have Jesus in your heart?"

Looking confused, "No."

"When it's your time to die, do you want to go to Heaven to be with Jesus?"

Looking excited, "YES!"

"Well, if you ask Jesus to live in your heart, he will send his Holy Spirit to live in you and help you live the right way. If you do that and believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, then when you die a long, long time from now, you can go to Heaven to be with Him. Do you want me to help you ask him?"

"Yes mommy!"

Then we prayed together for Jesus to come live in his heart- him repeating my words. Saying he believed Jesus died for his sins, and asking God to help him make good choices. I told him I was so proud of him and we cuddled for awhile together. Then I heard William quietly pray, saying, "Thank you for coming into my heart and for Jesus dying on the cross." This action he did on his own showed me that he KNEW what he was doing- it wasn't just my words- he put them into his own.

Like I said before, I am just so proud of his decision, and so thankful to be his mommy. Thank you, Lord!

I am beyond grateful...

2012-01-21T00:13:00.000-05:00

I have been so overwhelmed with words of love and support since my last post. "Thank you" just doesn't seem to suffice. Whether you messaged me to say "I'm praying for you", or pulled me aside in the parking lot to say "you're not alone", I am so grateful. I even had some friends say to me "I feel the exact same way, and have often struggled over the same thoughts." Therefor, I'd like to share with you the wise words that one of my sweetest friends sent me. I have known this inspirational woman for years and she is truly a mouthpiece for our Lord, and she reminded me:

" ...If someone has diabetes and takes insulin, we don't question their faith...if my thyroid is underactive and I take synthroid, we don't question my faith...so if you are on a medication that your body needs, it's not a question of faith. Walking with God is a daily trek, but the meds are not indicating that you aren't depending on Him~ you are trusting Him to use the meds that your body needs right now to help settle your emotions...I will be praying for you~ not to feel defeated, but to feel confident that He is holding you and that you will discern His guidance regarding dosages and timing with using the meds or coming off...".

I feel so blessed that God has surrounded me with such powerful, inspirational women! Thank you for all the support, kind words, and prayers! We're all in this journey together!

Who's up for a challenge?

2012-01-19T14:47:00.000-05:00

I found this 30 Day Mom Challenge on Pinterest (yep, new obsession) the other day. When I found it, the timing was really perfect (isn't it awesome how God does that?) because I had been wanting to work on myself as a mother. There are so many days that I take a step back and think "I yelled way too much today" or "I totally should be spending more one-on-one time with my kids". Some of the challenges are really easy (like kissing your child in their sleep or hugging them three times that day), but others I know are going to be way more difficult (can we say no yelling??). The challenge works kind of like the "Fireproof" one for your marriage- start out with the number that corresponds with the day of the month, then when you're thirty days is over, start again!

As you can see, I have mine framed and on our main kitchen counter. I need a visual daily reminder (hence all my little notes and post-its I have around with quotes and verses) of what it is I am working on. I am confident that this tool, coupled with prayer, is going to work beautifully. How could it not? Feel free to join in the challenge and let me know how it goes!

My white flag.

2012-01-17T21:38:00.001-05:00

I feel so defeated- I started back on my Zoloft today. Granted, I am on half the dose I was, so I guess that makes me only 50% defeated? Maybe? Ok, we'll go with that.

Anyway, after months of praying and going back and forth with whether or not I should resume taking it, I finally broke down and called my midwife's office. I filled them in on how stressful the past months have been, that I have constant worry and anxiety and it's more than I can handle. After talking for some time, we decided on resuming, but at a 50 mg. dosage rather than the 100 mg. I expressed my worry about being on it too long because we do want more kids (at some point) and I don't want to be on it through my pregnancy (but I also don't want to go through all the withdraws and then get hit with pregnancy symptoms either).

I hate being dependent on a drug. It's such a horrible feeling to think that you are having trouble handling this life for one reason or another, and you need to rely on a medication to help you through it. Then I started to think, "I'm a Christian, and my faith is stronger now that it's ever been...why do I feel such a gut-wrenching worry all the time? Is my faith not as strong as it should be?". I know that I cannot handle this life alone, which is why I walk with the Lord. If I walk with Him, why do I need this medicine to help me cope? Why is reading His word and praying not enough? These aren't rhetorical questions, so please feel free to shoot me your thoughts! I'd also appreciate your prayers as I try to find a nice balance. You guys rock!

Look at me now!

2012-01-12T15:41:00.000-05:00

Before:

After:

I am obsessed with Pinterest.

71 days

2012-01-11T14:41:00.000-05:00

How do you start a blog entry when you've been absent for over 2 months? Yeah, I'm not sure either. Why don't I just jump right into why I've been absent? OK, sounds good to me too.

I haven't blogged for a several reasons: The first being I've had a lot of emotional ups and downs over the past couple of months, and it's been hard to process through everything. Usually writing helps with the mental sifting, but when it's an extremely private situation, you don't necessarily want to broadcast it to the world, right? Right.

The second reason is that, quite frankly, I was having a bad case of the "who cares". By that I mean, I would think to myself, "who really cares about my everyday, stay-at-home, mother of two woes? Who cares about the silly things that go on in our family or the worries I have constantly?". After being told by several friends and family members that they missed my entries, I started to to realize that maybe I was being hard on myself. I also realized that this is not just an online journal for all to read, but it is an open flow of communication that has provided me with some wonderful prayers, laughs, advice, and insight.

When you're in a spot where you cannot vent publicly and have a case of the "who cares", you just have to take a step back...and that's what I did. I won't say I'm in a good place now (it's hard just coming off an anti-depressant that you've been on for years and getting slammed with a crisis), but I'm in a much better place. I am seeking the Lord daily, reading His word, and coveting prayers. I know that this too shall pass.

So, moving forward, I'll give you a brief recap of the past 71 days in pictures:

I got a great picture on Thanksgiving with my two little brothers

William finished his first soccer season and got a cool trophy!

All smiles with his trophy!

We visited (and climbed, minus Mady) the Hatteras Lighthouse. God and William got me through that one because I am terrified of climbing tall things.

I got to take some gorgeous picture of Hatteras Island.

William played a shepherd in his school play (and had a speaking part!)

We tortured Madelyn with a visit to see Santa at Busch Gardens Christmas-Town

I attempted to get them both to smile at the same time on Christmas Eve.

Santa came!

Madelyn got pampered on her 2nd Birthday

Can you believe that? A 2nd Birthday?!

And, finally, I'll leave you with (but not for 71 more days) Madelyn's Birthday video:

Halloween Flashback

2011-11-01T14:37:00.005-04:00

Have they really gotten this big? How is this possible?! I'm so glad I "suffered" through taking their annual pumpkin patch picture yesterday. Every year we go to the same farm to get our pumpkins. This year, between soccer and all the rain, we didn't get a chance to go and settled for (gasp) grocery store pumpkins. I realized yesterday (Halloween) that we hadn't taken our yearly "how tall this fall" picture. I felt horrible yesterday (101 fever), but knew I'd kick myself if I didn't have my yearly reminder of how much my babies have grown. The kids cooperated wonderfully and I am so, so, so glad I didn't miss it this year! Hope you all had a fabulous Halloween!

9 months

2011-10-24T15:16:00.002-04:00

It's crazy what changes nine months can bring. An entire person can be grown in 9 months, and you go through three whole seasons. In this girl's case, you can go from a barely walking baby to a fast running, non-stop talking, silly dancing, finally enough hair to hold a bow in, fun-loving toddler. Siiiiigh...

I wish I could cry.

2011-10-18T22:14:00.000-04:00

I have so much anger, worry, and fear inside of me that I need to vent. I need to vent, but I don't know what to write. I guess I'll start with the facts:

Our family's vehicle was broken into for the third time since July.

The first time, our GPS was stolen. I told myself it was my fault for leaving the holder on the dash.

The second time, nothing was stolen (I mean, bite me twice, right?).

This time my grandmother's Birthday card was stolen. William had drawn a picture just for her that was enclosed in the card. I created the card online and had a verse put inside that reminded me of her. I had it in the console to mail out the following day. This kills me.

All three break-ins were done in the same way. The police think it's the same person from a different neighborhood.

We've put a small alarm on the door that keeps getting it's lock popped.

We've put in a brighter porch light.

I've filed police reports all three times.

I've contacted the civic league.

I've contacted the city and power company in an attempt to get a street light on the pole outside our house.

Those are the facts.

I am incredibly saddened by the way the word is, and I don't know what else to say. I have been clinging to Psalm 46:1 over the past few days as a desperate form of hope. I can't even cry, I'm so mad. I think that if I did, I would feel better, but I just can't. I wish I could.

Today was brought to you by "Dailys"

2011-10-13T21:10:00.000-04:00

Ever had one of those days where it starts off good but, somewhere in the middle, things start to go horribly wrong? Well, of course you have. Today was that day for me.

The kids and I had a quiet, productive morning at home before setting off to run errands. We went to story time in Ghent then, while in Norfolk, visited Sean at work. On our way home, I intended to just simply dash into the store for a few items I needed for dinner. Best laid plans, right?

First off, as soon as I parked I realized I had left my wallet at home. Boy to I hate that feeling of "oh, crud, I've been driving around all day with no license or money". I buckled the kids back in their seats and decided I'd run home and get it (after all, the store is just a few miles away). Once we got home, I thought I'd just be able to grab my wallet and then we'd be on our way. Wrong.

While I was running inside to get my wallet (and William was inside using the restroom), Madelyn sat in her carseat with all the doors locked but William's (his was still open). Now, anyone but me at the time would realize that's a recipe for disaster. While buckling William in, I sat my keys on the console and of course I forgot them there and shut the door. Great, just great. My children were locked in the car along with my phone and keys. At first I didn't panic because William seems to know how to climb out of his booster at the bat of an eye. Whenever I tell him, "Sit still, Mommy's just going to drop this letter in the mailbox" or "Don't move I'm just getting gas" he seems to slip out lickity-split. Surely he'd be able to get out now and grab my keys for me, right? Ha ha ha.

It took 15 minutes of me coaching him, through tears, for him to wiggle lose and get to the keys. I was so proud of him, and his tears dried up as soon as I told him he saved the day. We finally made it to the store just in time to be caught in a monsoon and I didn't dwell on fabulous timing at all.

Now I'm enjoying this amazing creation in all it's delicious glory:

$4.75

2011-10-11T13:40:00.001-04:00

Last Friday we went to our church's biennial bazaar, and I managed to scoop up a couple great finds!

I've been looking for a small coat/bag hanger for my mud room and I got this cute one for $3

Brand new Spiderman slippers for William (in his exact size) for $.25

Messy Mady got this Ikea bib for $.25

I've been wanting a fruit basket for my counter and I found this one for $1

And here's my "tuck and run" item:

$.25 for this adorable Polo dress!

Did you get any good deals over the weekend?

It's baaaack!

2011-10-10T13:38:00.004-04:00

I haven't done a NMM post in forever, but that's OK because it juuuust started back up! This past week I've been mentally taking note of things to include in this post. We've had a lot of moments that just never happened in our perfectly manicured lives (haha), and this may or may not be some of them:

I certainly did not buy an obscene amount of clothes/shoes online this week. I am not addicted to online shopping, nor am I head-over-heels in love with these puppies:

Furthermore, they are not 4 1/2 inches tall...possibly putting me at 6'1". Possibly.

I also did not witness my son, ahem, peeing in our church's prayer garden. Oh no! If said incident did happen, I definitely did not let him finish before scolding him...I mean, he had to finish, right?!

I definitely did not keep my son home from school last Monday because I felt completely crappy. I mean, he did still have a cough from the weekend and could have totally used an extra recovery day, yeah?

Finally, I was not that crazy/creepy coupon lady at the store who forgot her wallet and had Customer Service keep my cart with them while I ran back home to get it. First off, what kind of person could be organized enough to get $100 worth of food for $10, but not remember to bring a form of payment? Also, I would not have given them the instructions to "not let any crazy coupon binder person take my stuff!"....NOT ME!!!

Did you have any moments that just didn't happen in your household?

Right now.

2011-10-06T23:44:00.000-04:00

I've got the prettiest girl in the world snuggled up beside me.

$16.25

2011-10-02T00:20:00.003-04:00

Today was the Fall consignment sale at GUMP(Ghent United Methodist Preschool). We went to their Spring sale and got some really good deals then (I'm talkin' $2 for William's brand new soccer cleats)! This time I snagged lots of cute outfits for Mads, a few toys, and a shirt for William:

-POLO dress- $2

-Hanna Andersson dress (with leggings!)-$2

-Janie & Jack dress- $2

-GAP dress- $1

-White collared shirt-$1

-GAP button-down for William- $1.75

-Rain boots for next Spring for Mads- $1.50

-Dora's 'Backpack': $1

-Random action figure- $.50

-'Cars' frisbee- $.50

Annnnnnnd my 'tuck and run' item of the week (I'm still jumping up and down over this):

$2 for a LILLY PULITZER top and leggings! I am beyond excited over this find and I'm not kidding when I say she'll wear it ever week.

2011-09-24T00:13:00.000-04:00

After ~~days~~ weeks of on and off rain (and having two soccer games and team pictures cancelled), I couldn't think of a better ending to the day than seeing this in my backyard:

The kids were elated. They danced around outside in their respective underwear and diapers and marveled at the beauty of God's promise. I mean, who has time to put clothes on when there's a full rainbow in your backyard, right?

What makes you happy?

2011-09-22T12:16:00.000-04:00

Simple. Homemade. Beauty.

2011-09-22T10:49:00.000-04:00

Let's be real. I'm probably one of the last people that should be giving out beauty secrets, but I do have an amazing book with tons of great recipes that I just feel compelled to share!

Here's one of my favs:

Egg white and honey face mask

(whip until frothy and then wear it like you own it for 20 minutes before rinsing off).

Enjoy your tight, glowing, gorgeous skin!

Twitching as I type

2011-09-20T22:36:00.000-04:00

I've been completely off Zoloft for about three weeks now. I spent the whole month of July and August weaning myself off of this powerful selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. I'd like to say that I feel so much better, and that the "normal Erin" is back, but I'd be lying.

Mentally I feel better because I know that I am getting a very strong drug out of my system. I love knowing that the only pill I have to take in the morning is my vitamin. However, it's been more physically and emotionally challenging than I ever imagined. I thought that since I took my time weaning off of the 100 mg tablet that I wouldn't have any withdrawal symptoms. WRONG! I have had headaches, numbness and tingling in my mouth, hands and feet, dizziness, extreme worry, and lots of mood swings.

Deep down I know that this is just my body is adjusting from going to the strongest dosage of this medication to none at all, but I can't help but wonder if this is just how it's going to be. I know it sounds silly to think that, because the whole reason I started Zoloft was due to being so overwhelmed will all the major life events that occurred within a year span (Sean's near-fatal car accident, finding out I was pregnant, getting married, graduating, moving out on my own, and having a baby).

I worry that non-medicated Erin won't know how to handle two toddlers. I worry that I'm going to have these headaches and mood swings forever (and I know that has to cross Sean's mind too!). I'm just worried, frustrated, and ready to have my body back the way it was 4 years ago.

Out of the mouths of babes.

2011-09-18T09:06:00.000-04:00

Here. There. Everywhere.

2011-09-15T18:10:00.000-04:00

This week has given me plenty of topics I wanted to blog about, but none seemed to have "enough" to sustain their own post. What does that mean? Well, it means you get a post full of randomness by yours truly!

1- Being the cliche stay-at-home mom that I am, I am absolutely elated that new Daytime TV is back. I hardly ever watch any show live (thank you DVR), but it is so nice to have them at hand for when the kids do let me watch TV.

2- Speaking of Daytime TV, I am in love with the new season of Ellen and the premier of Anderson. Both shows make me laugh until I cry, and that's definitely needed most days! Also, it doesn't hurt to look at one of my celebrity crushes for an hour (I'm referring to the Silver Fox, of course...sorry Ellen!).

3- I actually used eenie-meenie-miney-mo to make an insignificant decision today. Is that normal for a 25 year old woman?

4- William refuses to call Sean, "Daddy". Instead he ALWAYS refers to him as "Mr. Sean". It was funny at first, but now after a week of it, I am downright sick of trying to convince my son that he needs to call his father "daddy". Today he actually had a meltdown over it. Sean thought it'd be hilarious to ask me if there was something William knew that he didn't. Funny.

5- I got $60 worth of groceries for $10 this week with triple coupons at Harris Teeter. No, I don't have a binder. Yes, I got there when they opened at 6 am (but that's just because I didn't want to take my kids with me and I hate doing all that planning just to see empty shelves). And, yes, I forgot my wallet at home (on the other side of the tunnel) and asked the lady at the front desk to watch my cart while I "ran" and got it...30 minutes later.

Anyone else have any random thoughts they'd like to share?

Somber Sunday

2011-09-11T14:47:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago today, our country was forever changed.

Ten years ago today, innocent Americans lost their lives.

Ten years ago today, our Nation cried.

Ten years ago today, I sat in my childhood bedroom trying to sort out what was going on with the world, to the best of my fifteen year old ability.

Ten years ago today, I pieced together a collage made from a 9/11 Special Edition newspaper.

Ten years ago today, I was shocked and made speechless.

Today, our country is still changed.

Today, we mourn the loss of innocent lives.

Today, our Nation cries, but is also united in hope.

Today, I am in my own home with my husband and children, and yet I am still trying to wrap my mind around how such a horrific event could happen.

Today, I still have that collage I made from those chilling newspaper clippings.

Today, I am still in disbelief and at a loss for words.

When life gives you grapes...

2011-09-08T20:43:00.000-04:00

My mom has been the English pastor at the Virginia Korean United Methodist church for two months now. I realize my close friends and family already know this (and that includes my Facebook friends too!) but, for the life of me, I can't remember if I've mentioned it on here...oops! Anyway, she is, and she loves it. Her congregation is so kind, open-minded, and giving.

Speaking of their generosity, last week they gave her a ten pound box of Concord grapes, and she immediately asked if we should make jelly with them. Yes, homemade grape jelly would be delicious, but I've been there and done that with strawberries and I am NOT a huge fan of canning. After doing some homework, I found out that a New Jersey dentist made the first Concord grape juice in 1869 with the intent to use it at the local Methodist church for Communion. How cool is that?! Oh, and the dentist's name...Dr. Welch, of course!

Well, that's all it took to convince my mom that she should make her own Communion juice (that and the fact that we didn't have to buy cans, sugar, and pectin)! I mean, what better way to thank the congregation for their kindness, than to turn their gift into something that represents the blood of Christ?

(Had to get a shot of my mom's name in Korean)

(10 gorgeous pounds)

(William and MeMe rinsing and separating the grapes)

(Silly kids and their grapes)

(Boiling down the smashed grapes)

(Straining the juice)

(Trying a sample!)

(Good to the last drop!)

All in all, we got around 8 cups of this delicious nectar (thus proving why it's so expensive)! We measured and froze it in 1 cup batches, and she'll have enough for 6 months worth of Communion!

P.S. The kids and Sean gladly helped with the leftovers, of course! Yum!!

Apple of my "i".

2011-09-03T23:05:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I worry that I don't teach him enough. I mean, I used to be a preschool teacher, and yet I am at a loss for my child's best learning style. I used to think that I had the ability to grab any child's attention with just a little twitch of my nose (kidding, of course...well, sort of ), but now I'm stumped.

I think William may take the meaning of his name too literally because he is as tenacious as they come. I say black, he says white. I tell him "no" and he asks a million questions and then tells me why my answer should be "yes". I've been working with him to try and get him to start making some of the letters in his name. Mainly we've been working on "W" but having a sister with a name that begins with "M" gets confusing sometimes. He really doesn't like to write with pen/pencil/crayon because he's a perfectionist and doesn't want it looking anything but flawless when it hits the paper (buuuuut he won't practice, so it'll never reach that level...sense my frustration?). How to deal with this dilemma?

Today I had an "ah ha" moment. Shaving cream. Yep, shaving cream will hopefully get my son to practice his letters/shapes/etc. and give him the confidence to start writing on paper. I know he's only 3, but I can tell already that this child is going to be a tough one for me to teach (let's hope he listens better for his teacher), so I want to get things rolling in the right direction. He didn't make a "W" today, but he tried, and then told me that he drew a "line with a dot" like in his name. He wrote an "i". Who needs to start at the beginning anyway?

These Two...

2011-09-01T20:40:00.000-04:00

These two have grown up together.

These two have shared special occasions.

These two are the best of friends.

These two are sure going to miss each other.

Wishing safe travels to our sweet friends, and prayers for wonderful adventures in Germany. Sighhh...

Call me crazy...

2011-08-30T11:39:00.000-04:00

...this picture is not what bothers me the most about the storm:

(huge limb that fell on our power lines)

Nor is this one:

(power outages in VA... 1.2 million)

Ironically, this is the picture that tugs at my heart:

(milk that I pumped over a year ago for Madelyn that was discovered once I cleaned out my freezer)

Ohhhh, Irene.

2011-08-26T20:13:00.000-04:00

Our bags are packed.

All documents/photo albums are in space bags.

The kiddos are bathed and in bed.

The Explorer's gassed up.

Our pantry is stocked.

We've been downgraded to a category 1 hurricane, but we shall see what happens. Please keep us, as well as all the other families on the East coast, in your prayers over the next few days. Here's hoping and praying that we won't have to be without power too terribly long and that our property doesn't sustain much, if any, damage!

How did we get here?

2011-08-20T16:51:00.000-04:00

How is it possible that my Mady-Pie is big enough to be out of a crib? This just blows my mind (wipes away tear and sighs)...

Suds in the bucket.

2011-08-15T00:11:00.000-04:00

Put your big girl panties on a deal with it!

2011-08-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

A little over 4 years ago, I went to a dealership and got a loan for my first car: a 2006 VW Jetta. It was love at first sight...sighhhhh. I was elated to be 21, a full-time student, part-time teacher, and able to get a loan without a cosigner! That felt good.

At the same time I bought my car, Sean got one too. A few weeks before the big purchase he had been in a horrible car accident that not only cost him his vehicle, but nearly his life. He had just graduated VMI and was moving down here to Norfolk to start his career in Wealth Management. We figured that we'd get married the following May and until then, save up and continue to pay for our own bills, loans, etc. God had different plans.

A month after our big purchases, we found out we were having William. Two months after that, we got married and moved into our first apartment. Five months after that, William was born and I stopped working. In a year's time my husband and I had graduated college, got married, had a baby, and lost my income. Times were tough.

(Insert Postpartum Depression here)

For the past three years we've continued to make payments on each of our vehicles in addition to trying to "move up the economic ladder", but paying over $700 a month in car loans isn't easy for "newlyweds" on one income (plus we added another sweet baby to the mix). Where does that put us?

(Insert tough decision here)

Last weekend we sold my car. At first I was devastated. To me, that car was a symbol of my first adult decision, and to sell it two years shy of having the loan paid off, was a failure. At least that's what I thought at first. However, I prayed harder than hard that my eyes would be opened, and that I would be OK with this decision. The very next day I had the realization that I was afraid of the unknown (shocker, I know). What was I going to drive? How was Sean going to get to work? Would would people think?

Suddenly, none of that mattered. I knew that we were going to be taken care of, and we have been. Today Sean bought a truck from the nicest guy with the profit we made off my Jetta. He seemed very kind and trustworthy, and put more money into the vehicle than he even paid for it. This will be Sean's A to B vehicle for the next year (for the three mile drive to and from work), and I will drive his Explorer. This time next year his Explorer will be paid off and we will have no car payments. Since we know we want more children, at that point we'll look into getting a mini van.

Buying my first car felt good. Knowing that we could no longer afford it, and acting in a true adult manner, well, that feels great.

Did you know?

2011-08-09T00:36:00.000-04:00

After nearly three years on Zoloft for PPD, I am now in the process of weaning myself off of it. I had talked to my midwife about gradually taking myself off of this powerful drug once Madelyn was no longer nursing, and she gave me the "go ahead". For a week I alternated 100 mg and 50 mg. I am now taking 50 mg. a day. Next week I will be switching between 50 mg and 25 mg...and so on until it is completely out of my system.

Admittedly, I am scared. I've been completely open with my journey through PPD (it's the reason I started blogging in the first place) and the medication and self-help tools I've used. My hope is that since now my hormones have leveled out, I will no longer need to have a "mood stabilizer". If you've followed my blog since "You Me and Wipee", then you know that I was never "depressed"...more overwhelmed than anything. Even giving William a bath and getting him dressed for the day seemed like climbing a mountain. I never experienced those overwhelming feelings when Madelyn was a baby. I'm not sure if that's because I was on the medicine or not. Maybe I would have been fine after Mady was born, maybe not. Hopefully being off Zoloft will give me more energy, I'll lose weight, and I'll have less headaches and dizziness. We shall see! I'll keep ya'll posted on the progress! Wish me luck!

Fig-alicious

2011-07-28T21:24:00.000-04:00

My sweet neighbors called the other night with an open invitation to pick some deliciously ripe figs from their tree. I could barely hang up the phone before running to the side yard. After picking a bowl full, I then realized that I didn't know how to prepare a single thing with figs. Sighhhh...

After getting some advice from my Facebook friends, and a few Google searches later, I found the first dish I wanted to prepare:

Roasted honey figs over Greek yogurt. I fixed a dish for Sean and his brother, but I'd already met my calories for the day so I just had a bite. It was pretty tasty! I still have half a bowl full so we'll see what's up next...

I'm an addict.

2011-07-26T13:48:00.000-04:00

Remember this post where I told you about how I sneak veggies into my kid's favorite foods (meatballs, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, etc.)? Well, as with most addictions, I hit a plateau and needed more to get my kicks. Now I not only fool my own kids, but I also feel the need to sneak veggies into my friend's kid's food! I watch my friend's daughter a few days a week, and I have been warned that she's a picky eater. Well, I took that challenge and ran with it! This sweet little girl hates veggies but loves mac and cheese. She only likes "blue box" though so I knew this would be tricky! For lunch today I mixed in some pureed cauliflower in the mac and served it with some Trader Joes chicken nuggets. Not only did all three kids clear their plates, they all washed it down with light chocolate soy milk (and all three thought it was chocolate milk). Victory! Mwahahahaha!

Bra-vo!

2011-07-22T23:33:00.000-04:00

Since Madelyn self-weaned, I have yet to loose weight or gain energy, but I have found a silver-lining (and it can be found in this pretty pink bag):

For the past 4 years, exactly, I've worn either a maternity or nursing bra (and while they are extremely sexy in their own right, I couldn't wait to ~~chuck it~~ tuck it neatly in my drawer). About a week after Madelyn's last nursing session, it dawned on me that I didn't need to wear my mama bra any more. I waited a few weeks to make sure I'd get an accurate size, then headed to the nearest Victoria's Secret. I absolutely love it there because they have such amazing customer service (you get what you pay for, right?). After getting measured, I realized I was in for a whole new experience. My whole pre-baby life I've been a 34B (I even was given the nickname "Big Hair, Little Boobs" by my cousin...Hey, Heather!) and suddenly (well, maybe not so suddenly) I'm a 38D?! I swear, when they pulled out the bras for me to try on, I thought they were props from "Big Mama's House".

While I tried on my options, Madelyn put the bras on her head like helmets...all the ladies thought she was hysterical! After getting out of all the "full coverage" granny options, I found some ones that I really liked. Let me just tell you, ladies, I feel like a new woman! Don't be surprised if I have a little pep in my step next time you see me! Oh, and the ladies that helped me were super sweet- after I told them that this was my first "real" bra in four years, they gave me their discount! How awesome is that?! I'm starting to think that I can get used to this whole "having my body back" bit!

Piggy Tails

2011-07-12T11:53:00.000-04:00

I think it's safe to say, these are quite possibly the most forced piggy tails...ever! I'm tickled though that Sassy has enough hair to gather in an elastic :)

What's my reaction?

2011-07-05T16:01:00.000-04:00

Sometimes things don't make sense to us, and the jury's verdict today is no different. I'm just as surprised as so many others that Casey Anthony was found "not guilty" by a jury of her peers. I am disgusted, saddened, and full of sorrow, but I seek comfort in the fact that our country's justice system is certainly not the Ultimate. If she is guilty, she'll get her punishment...that I am sure of.

The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!

2011-07-04T22:49:00.000-04:00

Erma Bombeck, one of the funniest women I ~~knew~~ wish I knew, once said:

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."

In all seriousness, I love our beautiful country and was thrilled to spend it's Birthday in true American style...with friends, family, a cookout, and fireworks (well, the little neighborhood ones we saw on our drive home...in the rain)! My best friend from high school, Casey, and her soldier husband, Greg, had a yummy cookout in their gorgeous new home! We all had such a wonderful time celebrating their first year wedding Anniversary, Greg's homecoming from Iraq, the purchase of their first home, and the gift of freedom that allows us to have such a holiday.

Whatever you did, I hope you enjoyed yourself :)

Here are some of my favorite shots from our 4th of July weekend "Hingley style":

Our second annual "sparkler art"

Mommy and Mady at the 4th of July parade

W& M enjoying the marching band

William petting a snake!

Me holding a Burmese Python! AHHH! I was so scared, but knew I'd kick myself if I didn't do it!

W & M before heading off to the cookout

Wave your flag!

Pretty girl!

Casey and me:)

Happy Independence Day!!!!

Bittersweet

2011-06-30T23:08:00.000-04:00

Madelyn has self-weaned. I have mixed feelings about this. Part of me is thrilled to have my body completely back to myself after exactly four years (I got pregnant with William in July of 2007 and since then I have either been pregnant, nursing, or both). I don't remember what it's like to not have either a baby growing inside me or giving nourishment to one.

For the past few months Madelyn's only been nursing once or twice a day, usually at bedtime or first thing in the morning. Then it turned into once every few days to get her back to sleep when she wakes up too early. This week Madelyn has denied every single offer to nurse. Once she even shook her head "no" and pointed at the sippy cup on my bedside table...now if that doesn't mean "get that thing away from me", I don't know what does!

So here I am, just me and my body, wondering why there is a twinge of sadness within. You'd think I'd be happy to have my hormones level out and shed a few "milk producing" pounds, but all I can think about is the fact that my baby's not such a baby anymore. I don't even remember the last time we did share our special bond, and that makes me sad. Oh, Mads, where did the time go?

With William, I felt more guilt than anything because I could no longer nurse him and be pregnant with his sister simultaneously...and it wasn't like I was going to kick her out! I felt like I cut him off, but could still justify it because of the "new baby". Well, now there's not an addition taking her place (and I sooooo do not want that right now) and it just feels weird. Don't get me wrong, there's definitely a sigh of relief being let as ~~we speak~~ I type, but the twinge is still there. I guess that's why I titled this post "bittersweet", because it definitely is.

ZERO:

2011-06-27T22:28:00.000-04:00

That's how much energy I've had lately. Any tips on how to get it back? (and by "it" I mean the energy I had once upon a time)...

Bring on the Rain

2011-06-20T20:37:00.000-04:00

If you cut me, I bleed.

If you hit me, I hurt.

If you push me, I fall.

I'm only human.

There are so many thoughts running through my head right now that I don't even know where to begin. If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you know I'm a fairly open book, so trying to find the right words to say...errr type... is a rare occurrence. The thing is, I don't want to fly off the handle and say something that I can't take back; however, I know myself well enough to realize that I won't "get over" what's going on until I write it out, so here I go...

Just because you knew me when I was five, doesn't mean that you can treat me like I still am. That's all I can say nicely now, so that's all I'm going to say. This statement applies to so many people that the "you" is intended quite generally. I feel humiliated, hurt, betrayed, and confused. The past couple of days have been emotionally taxing, but you live and learn, right? "Tomorrow's another day, and I'm thirsty anyway, so bring on the rain..."

Allow me to introduce myself...

2011-06-17T22:28:00.000-04:00

You know that I'm a proud wife and mom of two.

You know that I blog.

You know that I'm a doula in training.

You know that I'm an aspiring writer.

You know that I think I have the cutest kids in the world (I mean, what mom doesn't, right?).

You know that I love taking pictures.

You know that I love the beach.

You know that I am saved.

You know all these things things about me, but you still don't know me. Well, maybe some of you do but, for those of you who don't, here's where we'll delve deeper:

I am loud: I laugh loud, I sing loud, I talk loud. I get that trait from my mama.

I wear my heart on my sleeve.

I say it like it is- good or bad.

I always cry at weddings.
I hate returning phone calls.

I sneak wine into the movies because, well, it's just more fun that way.

I'm a size 10. OK, I lied, I'm a 12.

I still have the same celebrity crushes that I did 10 years ago.

I can make balloon animals.

I love reality TV and I am really not that ashamed to admit it!

I do not like milk, but hope my prenatal vitamins cover it (no, I'm not pregnant).
I sing (loud, of course) 75% percent of the day.

I only shave my legs from the knee down sometimes (and snag my husband's razor).

I try hard to please the Lord and my friends and family, but I know I constantly fall short.

Like it or leave it...it's me...pure and simple.

2011-06-16T16:48:00.000-04:00

Yes, I told you to put your lollipop on the counter, but maybe I should have been more specific and said, "But not on my library book". My bad for thinking things were implied to three year olds.

The View From Here...

2011-06-16T09:47:00.000-04:00

...My two little "TV zombies"

I shave my legs for my doctor...

2011-06-06T17:47:00.000-04:00

I painted my toes.

I shaved my legs.

I laid out my "best" pair of underwear.

I pulled out my "pap mantra" to stick in my pocket

(Isaiah 41:13 written on a note card).

I'm ready.

I think.

Tomorrow I have a follow-up pap, and that always makes me jittery. This time last year I had my annual appointment and it came back "abnormal". A week later I had a colposcopy. Six months later I had follow-up pap that came back "normal". Now, here I am. I realize that it will most likely come back "normal" and I won't have to be back for another year or two, but what if it doesn't? I am so ready to shed this cloak of fear that I've been living under for the past year. Not knowing what the test results will show this time. To me, these appointments are a huge source of worry:

I worry about the word "abnormal".

I worry about having another colposcopy

(not horrible, but certainly not enjoyable).

I worry about cancer.

I worry about not being around for my babies.

Because I worry, I pray- it's the only thing that helps. I scribble verses down to repeat to myself. Verses of promise, hope, and God's love for us. As mentioned above, Isaiah 41:13 is a favorite of mine to have on hand for such occasions:

"For the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee, fear not; I will help thee."

I ask that if you get the chance, please say a prayer for me tomorrow. I know that no matter the outcome, our Father is going to be right there beside me, holding my hand though. So for now, I will pray, chant, and primp as if I'm going on a date. I wonder if my doctor appreciates the effort?!

Help a Sista Out!

2011-06-05T22:29:00.000-04:00

My poor camera bit the dust last week and I am going CRAZY without it! My cell just doesn't take the same quality pics, and I'm just itching to get a replacement! Problem is, we weren't planning on getting a new camera until I could afford this baby:

Since an $800 camera isn't really in the budget right now, I need to find one about 1/4 of the price to hold me over. Any suggestions? The last camera we had was a wedding gift and was a Sony Cybershot. I liked it a lot and am dreading having to get used to how another one "feels". As of now we're leaning towards a Nikon Coolpix (and it just so happens to be on sale at Best Buy this week!). Thanks for your help!

Testing...1...2...3...

2011-06-04T21:22:00.001-04:00

Just a test to see if my new facebook comment app is up and running! Hope y'all are having a great weekend!

The View From Here...

2011-05-29T19:55:00.000-04:00

...is of my two favorite guys snuggling on a lazy Sunday evening.

If ever there was a post you should smell...

2011-05-25T16:04:00.000-04:00

...It would most definitely be this one.

Y'all know I'm just loving sharing all the lovely flowers that have grown in my ~~former barren wasteland~~ backyard. You can now add gardenias to the list :)

Dear oh dear!

2011-05-23T15:49:00.000-04:00

A blog friend of mine (Hey, Tracy!) does these super cute “Dear…” posts, and I just had to do one of my own. Maybe you have one of these letters you’d like to write yourself? Enjoy!

Dear Neighbor Behind us that has a Yard Full of ~~Junk~~ Treasures,

Thank you ever so much for finally getting rid of your trailer. I mean, we live in the suburbs for Pete’s sake. Now, if you could just focus your attention to the 3 foot high weeds that boarder my fence, that would be fabulous.

Sincerely,

Wanna-be Martha Stewart Over the Fence

Dear, Sweet Children of Mine,

Please stop using the 5 seconds that I am in the bathroom as an opportunity to destroy everything that’s in my kitchen cabinets. I really think I am “this” close to screaming.

All my love,

Your Mother that hates Repetitive Cleaning

Dear Husband With the Mile Long “To-do” List,

Please move “install cabinet locks” to the top of that list. I beg of you (see above).

Thank you,

Your ~~Nagging~~ Grateful Wife

Dear Trader Joes AKA The Best Store Ever:

You know what would make you even better? Making your bottles of “Two Buck Chuck” just a bit larger. Just sayin’….

Fondly,

“Make that a Full Glass” Erin

Hello, Hydrangeas...

2011-05-19T16:24:00.000-04:00

...So nice of you to join my garden :)

Great Big Prayer Request

2011-05-18T11:34:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: 5/21/11 8:OO P.M. I just got an update today, and Alexander is still fighting hard. Their social workers will have the paper work done this week and they and we should be able to see him soon. Yay! God is so good- and I know that this mama is just itching like crazy to get to see her baby :)

Hey, friends, I have a huge prayer request that I just had to pass onto my prayer-warriors. My friend, Jenny, and her family are planning on adopting a sweet two day old baby boy they named Alexander. Alexander was air-lifted to Richmond yesterday to undergo lifesaving surgery for a congenital birth defect (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia- where his organs are in his chest cavity and causing respiratory distress and failure). Thankfully he survived the trip and surgery and is now facing the recovery process. Please pray for strength for this little warrior boy and his amazing, loving family. I know you will, and that's why I love y'all so much! Thank you!!!! :)

2011-05-17T14:11:00.000-04:00

After much prayer and research, I have decided to begin my certification to become a birth doula sometime in the next year. Madelyn is down to nursing only twice a day and I now have the "extra time" since leaving my part-time retail gig. The only thing holding me back now is seed money. Now, my certification will not cost nearly as much as me going back to school, but it is certainly an expense for a family of 4 living on one income. Fortunately I have two years after I take my initial class to finish up everything. Sooooo, if you live in the Hampton Roads area and are planning on having a baby in the next few years, please keep me in mind! Also, after reading though scripture, I have come up with the perfect name for my soon-to-be business. I wanted something catchy, but also meaningful, so with no further adieu...

™

I chose this name because I absolutely LOVE the verse it comes from. Psalm 127:3 says "Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward" and I can't think of anything more fitting to describe what the result of pregnancy is :)

Fruit of the Womb (Graphics and Name) by Erin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

My new favorite

2011-05-17T13:24:00.000-04:00

Same old, same old...

2011-05-16T21:10:00.000-04:00

I haven't really blogged in awhile because there's not too much going on around here! Also, if you're my friend on Facebook, you know I keep ya up-to-date on there. Anyway, I thought I'd show you a shot of what I found blooming in my backyard today:

Mmmm soon these pretty yellow flowers will be tasty tomatoes!

W&M played outside most of the afternoon while I went through 7 (yes, that's right SEVEN) little matchbooks trying to light the charcoal. We ran out of lighter fluid, and my Trader Joes bag of charcoal said that I could wad up newspaper and put it underneath. WRONG. That does not work. You know what else does not work? Trying to strike matches in the wind. Yep, that's how I went through a zillion matches in an attempt to grill hamburgers. Eventually, Sean came to the rescue with more "~~boy~~ girl scout water" and the burgers were in our bellies 30 minutes later. Yum!

Here's Wip using his grill to make some tasty burgers of his own:

Mady-Pie's new obsession: her 4 wheeler:

Hope everyone's doing well! Happy Monday! :)

A mother's love

2011-05-07T22:45:00.000-04:00

William Parker and Madelyn Paige,

I will gather you in my arms and wrap you in warmth and love, just like Mary held her infant Jesus.

For a time, God gave me your hands to hold, your tears to dry, your cheeks to kiss- God made you my child.

Even better, God adopts you as His own in Baptism. He forgives your sins. Now you are a child of God.

I will teach you to sing like angels about glad tidings for a Savior born among us, and I'll tell you about His redeeming death and an Easter resurrection. I PROMISE.

I will give you the things you need: a warm coat for snowy days, a soft bed for quiet nights, and your fuzzy blankey too.

I will scrub-a-dub you with bubbles and let you play in the bath until your fingertips are raisins.

I will hold your hand when we cross the street, and help you learn that obeying your parents keeps you safe.

But I'll also let you learn to climb trees, although you might fall. I'll be ready with hugs and Band-Aids.

I will take time to listen- from your first words to your curious questions. And I'll do my best to answer why cats and whiskers and where the wind comes from.

I'll read you stories about foxes and crows, dogs and their bones. We'll read about quests and kings, children and a wardrobe. And I'll keep reading to you even after you read on your own.

We'll also read about how God split a sea in two, saved a man from lions, and made the blind see. In story after story, we'll learn about how God always keeps His promises. Every one.

I'll help you learn to help yourself: to brush your own teeth, to tie your own shoes, and to read your own books. I PROMISE.

I will give you all the foods that make you grow- chicken and carrots, cantaloupe and tomatoes from the farmers market. And we'll also make your favorite cookies often- peanut butter chocolate chip.

Together, we will give thanks for our food and all of God's gifts- even on tuna casserole night.

I will help you study your spelling words and multiplication tables.

I'll also teach you that wisdom begins with God's grace and knowing Jesus, our Savior.

I will reassure you that you are never alone- even when the shadows lurk in the corners or your bedroom.

We will pray together and remember that God's angels guard us all through the night. I PROMISE.

I will cheer you on from the sidelines, even when the game isn't going well. W'll talk about trying even when it's hard, being a friend to players who struggle, and showing grace in wins and losses.

Just like you, I'm still learning to listen better, to pray even when I', tired, to be more patient. Only God is perfect so we'll ask for forgiveness together.

From your first steps to your first home run, from your first day of school to your graduation, and from your first breath to your last, your heavenly Father will care for you.

And I will love you all along the way.

I promise.

Love,

Mommy

**I wish I could take credit for these beautiful words, but they are from the brilliant author, Julie Steigemeyer. Julie is the author of "Mommy Promises"- one of my favorite books to read to my babies.

2011-05-02T16:00:00.000-04:00

Hello there, pretty peonies; What a treat it was to wake up to see you in my garden this morning!

Now I'm off to cut some more roses to add around the house :) Also this morning, William and Madelyn devoured three more strawberries that had ripened while we were out of town over the weekend. Here's hoping I have some tomatoes soon! Happy Monday, all!

Berry yummy!

2011-04-27T11:33:00.000-04:00

William's been keeping a VERY watchful eye on "his" strawberry plants for the past few weeks. Every day we water them together and count how many blooms/immature berries we have. There's been one berry in particular that he's been licking his chops over...and today the little guy got his wish!

And allow me to introduce my surprise guest of the season:

I knew we had rose bushes in our side yard, but I had NO IDEA they'd literally have HUNDREDS of blooms this early! I love being able to place them in every room of my house- getting a delicious whiff every time I walk by. What a nice Spring we are having!

2011-04-25T10:51:00.000-04:00

After 11 ridiculously long months, I am so honored to announce that my dad has a job! This job has been in the works for about a month or so, but I couldn't say anything until now (as we personally know his new employer and didn't want to place any pressure). He will be working close to home and we are so thankful that God has basically created this job just for him and his talents. How amazing is that? What an awesome answer to prayer. Thank you so much for keeping our family close to your hearts over the past year. I know that my dad feels a huge sense of relief and I couldn't be happier (or prouder) to share this news with you!

2011-04-24T22:24:00.000-04:00

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus

He came to love, heal, and forgive.

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, All fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, All fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain.

And then as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, All fear is gone!

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives!

This is one of my all-time favorite hymns and I hummed/sang it all day today! The song was written by Bill and Gloria Gather and was inspired by the miracle of their son's birth. "Because He Lives" poured out of the Gaithers' grateful hearts, and clearly affirms the hope believers have in Christ. We can face tomorrow, with all its uncertainty, as we realize that God holds the future and makes life worth living. Hallelujah!

The answer to "What's for dinner?"

2011-04-16T23:57:00.000-04:00

After reading a friend's blog, and seeing her make a menu board lickity split, I decided to try it for myself!

I just used leftover scrapbook pieces and a frame that I found on the top shelf of my closet! Add our weekly meals in dry erase marker, and you've got a pretty nifty (and functional) work of art! Hope everyone's enjoying their weekend!

Through a three year old's eyes

2011-04-15T10:16:00.000-04:00

What happens when your son learns how to work your camera?

You get some mighty hilarious pictures!

They say it's your Birthday!

2011-04-12T21:22:00.000-04:00

In honor of my Birthday tomorrow, I thought I'd share some of what I've learned during the past quarter of a century. I can't believe I'm 25 (I do realize that's not old though) because I feel like I'm still 19! Hoping the next 25 go by slower, but I'm pretty sure that's wishful thinking!

25 Lessons for 25 Years

-I am beyond blessed.

-Family means everything.

- Disney World never loses its magic.

-You really can’t please everyone…

-…but I will probably still try.

-Bloom where you’re planted.

-Laughter is the best medicine (and it does wonders for your ab muscles too!)

-Pink is fabulous.

-Kindness gets you a long way.

-Saying whatever comes to your mind doesn’t.

-Life doesn’t stay as simple as the days of lemonade stands and running through sprinklers, but it’s still wonderful.

-Smile twice as much as you frown.

-Have a giving heart.

-Make your memories count.

-Say “please” and “thank you” no matter how old you are.

-There’s no such thing as monsters, but the dark can be scary.

-Your favorite food will always be your favorite.

-Don’t lie.

-Pray often.

-At some point you stop growing up, but you can keep growing out!

-You learn so much from your parents- good and bad. Appreciate both because they make you who you are.

-Make sure you send out thank you notes.

-Say “I love you” whenever you feel it. No holding back.

-Sing even if you don’t know the right words.

-Give thanks daily for all that God has given you.

p.s. Can anyone guess my birth stats? Here's a hint...my weight was the same as the time that I was born :)

The View From Here...

2011-04-11T15:33:00.000-04:00

...is starting to look a whole lot like spring!

2011-04-10T23:38:00.000-04:00

We are beyond blessed to have such an amazing park less than an hour away from us! This is sure to be the first of many visits this season (especially seeing how much my son adored coasters)! Hope your weekend was as fun as ours!

The View From Here...

2011-04-07T13:47:00.001-04:00

Look at what has started to bloom in ~~the barren wilderness~~ my backyard:

Strawberries!!!

I also had to snap a pic of my boy taking a break (from cutting the grass of course!) to enjoy a nice lollipop.

Jessica Seinfeld is my BFF

2011-04-05T21:53:00.001-04:00

My brother-in-law gave me this book for Christmas last year and I have finally gotten around to cracking it open! Let me tell you- this book is a-maz-ing! I've already made a handful of recipes from it and my kids have scarfed down every single one!

Let me tell ya, William would not eat a veggie to save his life. He is such a meat-eater and because of this book, I have learned to incorporate veggie puree into his meat. Now, before you think it's completely nasty, you have got to try it for yourself!

The first idea I pulled from Jess (that's what I refer to her as because she is my BFF after all) was to use carrot puree in my meatloaf. I used my own recipe, as per usual, but just added 1/2 cup of the puree and it was yumm-o! Sean liked it even better than the original because it held it's shape (you know how meatloaf gets all shriveled looking) and was super most and not greasy. The best part? My kids got carrots in them and had NO IDEA!

The next dish I dove into was for scrambled eggs with cauliflower puree. Now, I love broccoli, but cauliflower has never grown on me. I am being completely honest when I say that no one would ever know the veggie was there. My kids sure didn't and I don't think they've had a bite of cauliflower in their entire life. That is, until I scrambled them up some eggs :)

Over the past week I've sneaked veggies into pancakes, mac and cheese, spaghetti, and tacos. I am beyond excited to be getting all these veggies into my kiddos without the bribing, fighting, and headaches.

Making the purees is super easy if you just set aside about an hour to crank them all out. After that, you're done and have them at your fingertips for whenever you need them. Seriously?! What a smart girl- no wonder she's my BFF.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

2011-04-04T21:00:00.000-04:00

In Tidewater, you never know what the weather will be one day to the next. Yesterday it was chilly and 58, and today it was in the mid 80's and gorgeous. It's completely bipolar, but we love to soak up every second of the unseasonably warm weather! The kids and I headed a local park for lunch and a heavy dose of Vitamin D...needless to say, they are wiped out after a day of fun in the sun (and so am I)!

Hope your Monday was beautiful too!

The View From Here...

2011-04-03T23:21:00.000-04:00

...is of my swirly, double-crowned, freshly shampooed, first born's head:

...and then he rolled over and I got to stare at his peaceful face for awhile before returning him back to his bed. Sometimes nightmares can be beneficial for mamas because it means they get snuggle time...but, shhhhh, I didn't say that!

Little Man

2011-04-03T20:20:00.001-04:00

I made William wait until he was two to get his first haircut because I couldn't part with those precious baby curls, and since then he's had to get his hair cut about every month in order for it to lay right. Well, Sean has been begging me for a year now to let him buzz William's hair. One of the first things, after birth, that I noticed about Sweet William was his double crown-it's absolutely stinkin' adorable, but makes him have a "fo-hawk" if it gets too long. After a year of nagging, I finally gave into Sean's plea and we buzzed William's hair today. I have to say, he looks so grown now! It does make my heart a little sad to see him look like such a big boy, but I just know that it'll be so much easier to manage! Goodbye bed head!

My dad sent me these pics from his blackberry and we didn't get many good "after" ones because he was moving. Hopefully I'll get some good ones at the zoo tomorrow!

These Boots:

2011-04-02T22:14:00.000-04:00

These boots are made for walkin',

and that's just what they'll do.

One of these days

these boots are gonna,

walk all over you!

2011-03-29T10:04:00.000-04:00

You know what makes me frustrated? Watching shows like “A Baby Story” and seeing the laboring mother not making her own decisions about her baby’s birth. Grrrr! Now, before you judge, please know that I was that mother with my first birth, and I am speaking from experience. I had taken a typical Lamaze class, but I will be the first to admit that I was sorely uneducated in the realm of childbirth. After being pushed to get Pitocin (even though my labor started on its own and was progressing at a steady rate), I was not prepared for the incredibly strong contractions that the synthetic hormone would bring. I chose to get an epidural and then suffered from a rare, but not unheard of, spinal headache.

With Madelyn, Sean and I knew we wanted a different birth experience. Before Mads was even conceived, I began my research on natural childbirth. We chose the Midwife route as opposed to an obstetrician, hired a birthing doula, and took an intensive natural childbirth class. We surrounded ourselves with the tools needed in order to have the birth experience desired.**

Madelyn’s pregnancy and birth were not problem free, but because we had knowledge on our side, we were able to make informed decisions. I had MRSA and developed gestational diabetes while pregnant- both prevented me from being able to labor in the midwifery center. My labor with Madelyn started out the same as William’s- with my “water” breaking. Unlike the huge gush of water I had with William, this one was more of a trickle because I had a high leak. After trying to stimulate contractions for 12 hours at home, we headed to the hospital to lessen the risk of infection. I wanted as little intervention as possible, but sometimes there are circumstances that arise that mean you will require more. This is where good recall and knowledge of the situation come into play. I knew I needed Pitocin, but did not want to head down the slippery slope towards an epidural. Because we were equipped to handle such a situation, Sean and I took each incredibly strong contraction one at a time and knew how to work through them. With the contractions I had with William, I clinched and held my breath a lot. I knew from my Lamaze class that I was supposed to breathe through them, but I just didn’t know “how”. With Madelyn’s contractions, I definitely had the tools needed to stay calm and breathe through each and every one- leading to an epidural-free birth.

It kills me to see women getting epidurals at 2 cm, laboring flat on their backs, and then pushing for hours on end. I know that a natural birth is not for everyone, but even having an epidural doesn’t mean you have to set yourself up for failure to progress, hours of pushing, or a c/s. Now, I realize that there are always extenuating circumstances, but I am talking about the instances that can be avoided- the examples where the patent is pressed to into making a decision. It is the desire to help inform and educate expecting mothers that pulls me towards being a doula/childbirth educator, and I can’t wait to be a part of something so much bigger than myself.

**I also find it hilarious that even Sean will make a comment while I'm watching one of my shows! He's so well informed now, and he played such an integral role in achieving our goal!

Really, Very Amusing!

2011-03-28T11:38:00.000-04:00

Lately William has entered into the world of adverbs. He really has, and it’s been very amusing! Over the past few days I’ve made a mental note of how he’s used them in his sweet, three year old vocabulary. Here are just a few examples:

“I very love you, Mommy.”

"I very need a tissue."

“I really not want this…”

“You my really best friend.”

“You really come to my room, Mady?”

“This is very, really, very good!”

“I very promise.”

Oh, William, I love the humor that you add to everyday life! You really are very special to me…really!

Here's to you!

2011-03-26T23:41:00.000-04:00

Today was William's 3rd Birthday party. It feels like just yesterday that we celebrated his 1st at my parent's home with a big Elmo bash. This time he chose a Spiderman theme that was beyond cool in his preschool world. I made and froze his cupcakes on Monday when I did all my baking for the week (I mean, we did celebrate this little guy's Birthday 3 times: at school, with family, and his friend party today). I spent last night icing them with the homemade butter-cream frosting (that I also made and popped in the fridge on Monday), and topping them with their super-cute spiderweb design. I was thrilled with how they turned out and so was my sweet boy (and that's all that matters anyway, right?).

William had 11 friends join him at Kangaroo Jacs (an indoor bounce house) and they jumped, jumped, jumped 'till their hearts were content! I wasn't entirely thrilled with the service, but the idea of not having to completely clean my house from floor to ceiling, entertain all 11 kids, and then clean-up, was more than enough to have me sold on the idea. We are so blessed to have so many friends and loved ones who took the time out of their busy schedules to

celebrate William with us.

As a side note, turning three has proven to be amazing for William. So far he has worn underwear the past two days and has done wonderfully. I am so proud of how determined he is and I'm even more proud to be his mom.

Leaning on His word.

2011-03-24T11:28:00.000-04:00

I have been wronged. Now, I realized that we’ve all been mistreated before at some point, but this time is different. Do you remember this post? Well, I got some really good feedback via my blog as well as facebook, and I am so thankful for all the insight. After much prayer and reflection, I began to forgive- even though our communication with these individuals still remains broken. We have not spoken in months and no apology has been made. However, I have had a verse written in my kitchen that I use as my mantra several times a day ; This verse has helped me to forgive even when forgiveness has not been sought:

"…get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice"

Ephesians 4:31

As of recently, a new barrier has surfaced and I am left even more hurt and confused than I was before. My husband, out of love and compassion, spared me from words of anger and bitterness that were said back around the New Year. I am thankful that he had my best interest at heart, but now I find myself stewing over words that were said nearly 3 months ago. Words that no adult has ever said about me- words that are ridiculously untrue and cut me to the core. These are words that no family member should ever utter about another because they cannot be taken back. I realize I should take these remarks with a grain of salt because of the mental state of the persons behind them, but it is so much easier said than done.

I have gotten the tears and self-pitty out of my system, and now I am ready to move on….but how? These persons are a part of our lives, as well as our children’s…or at least they should be. Maybe I ought to be grateful that my children will not be influenced by their negativity, but I’m not at that point yet. I can’t stand that I was so close to “getting over” my anger and bitterness, and now I’m right back where I started.

Please pray, friends, for insight and peace for my husband and myself. As my dad pointed out to me, the only good thing that has come out of this situation is that it definitely has brought us closer in our marriage. We back each other 100% and it feels so good to know that he is on my side- even with “the enemy” being his blood. I thank God daily for the blessing of such a wonderful huband to me and father to our children.

I’ll leave you with a verse that my mom often refers me to- bless her for always knowing what I need to hear!

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Matthew 5:44

Three Years, already?

2011-03-23T20:42:00.000-04:00

William Parker,

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweet Boy! I can't believe it's been 3 years since they first laid your tiny, seven pounds even, body on my chest. You surprised us by coming nearly 2 weeks early and on Easter Sunday, nonetheless. What a wonderful miracle on such a perfect day.

The first few days you were in our lives were a whirlwind. You helped us muddle our way through the early days of parenthood and you continue to teach us new lessons daily. You taught me how to bring a child into this world, and how to nourish it with my milk. You gave me the gift of patience beyond belief and wisdom I had never known before.

You are such an amazing person with a fantastic sense of humor- you make me laugh daily with your silly antics. You are also an amazing big brother- better than I could have ever hoped. Madelyn looks up to you with such admiration and it warms my heart as to see your love for one another.

I hope you had a wonderful day full of all your favorite things- from cinnamon rolls for breakfast to meatloaf and meatballs for dinner (per your hilarious 3 year old request). Happy Birthday, baby boy. I love you more than life itself, and I look forward to all the joy we will share over the years to come.

All my heart,

Mommy

I've wanted to write this for sometime now...

2011-03-16T22:24:00.001-04:00

So with all that's been going on in the world today, I've had one thing on my mind lately: Jesus' return and the "end of the world". I know, what a random post for me to write, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

As I have shared with you before, I am a worry-wart. I know that the Bible says that Jesus WILL return- that it's not a matter of if, but when. Since I am a Believer, and I find truth in His word, I know this to be true. However, I can't help but worry over the unknown.

I believe that our Heavenly Father has prepared an amazingly, unfathomable home for us, and that this earth will pale in comparison, but I have to be honest: I love this earth. Please don't take this as boasting, but I have a wonderful life. I have been so blessed as to not suffer any substantial amount of grief or loss. All of my close loved ones are, thankfully, still with me and I am happy.

I want to see my babies grow up, and I want to have more babies. I want to grow old with my husband, live to be 99, and then have Jesus come back and take us to Heaven. I don't want to go yet because all I can see is how good I have it here and I, admittedly, fear the unknown. I realize that is where faith comes in, but I am struggling.

A close friend of mine lost her baby girl several years ago. I look at her situation and can clearly see how excited she must be to be reunited with her sweet baby one day. Of course I do not want to loose my children, husband, or parents, etc. to death, but if I did, I would understand having the same excitement. I, however, have no great reunion to make with loved-ones. This makes me question, why is meeting my Maker face-to-face not reason enough to be excited? Because I love what I know.

I have so much worry, doubt, fear, confusion, and many, many questions running through my mind. Has anyone else ever felt like they just didn't want Him to come back quite yet, or am I being completely absurd? I pray that He draws me closer and opens up my heart to receive His peace. Please do the same for me :)

Erin

A peek at our week:

2011-03-10T16:49:00.000-05:00

I wanted to post something funny or interesting but I'm at a complete loss; I guess I'll just post an update to let y'all know we're still alive! For starters, the blog party was a pretty big success, as we got some more followers here and I was also able to explore some good sites for myself. It's exciting to see that people like to read/can relate to my rants and randomness. :)

We've had a busy week thus far and it looks as if it's only going to get more hectic. We're spending the week (through Sunday) at my girlfriend's house while she is out of town. Her sons are 18 and 13 and I've watched them for 6 years now whenever their parents are out of town. Now that they're older, I pretty much just make sure they eat, sleep, get to school, and don't kill themselves/each other. They have a gorgeous home that my kids love to explore, and so many toys that William is twitching with delight. It's so sweet to see the older boys interact with my two little ones. William adores them both, and told the 13 year old that he was his best friend. What a sweet relationship they have!

On top of being away from home this week, we also have our usual mix of my work, William's school, and lots of "fluff". William had picture day at school today as well as his bookfair. As room mom, I had to work the bookfair this morning, so I was able to sneak a peek at William's class. They are such a cute group of kids! I used to teach his age group and, looking back, I have no idea how I did it! Let's just say that I had a lot more patience at that pre-children point of my life!

William has a Birthday party on Saturday, I have to work, and we are meeting up with my brother-in-law and his fiancee for dinner. We are all going to need a drink that night (especially Sean, as the party is at Chuck-E-Cheese and he is flying solo with both kiddos). What is your week looking like? Anyone have any fun plans for the weekend?

Erin

Allow me to be frank...

2011-03-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

Ok, so everyone knows that that time of the month is less than ((ahem)) fun, but when you're a mom it just plain sucks! The whole "I have killer cramps" bit doesn't earn you a shred of sympathy from two toddlers. Sigh...can I get a heating pad, STAT?

{Blog Party!}

2011-03-02T11:54:00.000-05:00

Hey, ya'll! If you've never visited my blog before then welcome! If you're an old friend, welcome back! I'm the soon-to-be 25 year old wife (of 3.5 years) and mama of two (William-almost 3 and Madelyn- 1). My family and I live in a quiet, older neighborhood in Portsmouth, Virginia. We love to go to the beach (roughly 20 minutes away), on day trips, and to our local amusement park (Busch Gardens). My husband is a portfolio manager at a local wealth management firm and I stay at home with our kiddos. In my spare time I work a few hours a week at Gymboree (which almost pays for the clothes addiction I have for my kids) and I am starting to dig gardening (get it!).

And In case you wondered (and you probably didn’t). Here are some more tidbits about me…

How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.) Are they right?

Bubbly. All throughout my childhood and now into adulthood, I've been described as "bubbly" because I have a very perky, strong, loud, and humorous personality. I'd say they're right (unless you catch me before 10 am!).

What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life?

Hmmm...I have a few. If she were still alive, I would definitely have to say Princess Diana for numerous reasons, but probably mostly for her grace and strength. Currently I would melt if I ran across Anderson Cooper (I know, it's an odd crush and no matter what you tell me I refuse to believe he's gay), Ellen DeGegeneres (come on, she's HILARIOUS!), and Jack Johnson (come on, tell me he would not be cool to hang out with).

Are you a hopeless romantic?

Not at all! Maybe it's because I'm too busy being mama to two crazy kids, but my idea of romance when my husband refills the Crystal Light pitcher or gives the kids a bath!

What is your comfort food/drink?

Food- Mexican (not homemade but at one of my favorite restaurants) and chocolate cake with homemade peanut butter butter-cream frosting. Drink- Moscato wine, coffee, and sweet tea!

Be brave – tell us something very random and weird about yourself.

I love Q-tips. I clean my ears out every day- sometimes 3 or 4 times a day. I know, OCD.

What is your greatest fear or strange phobia?

Ok, so instead of confessing some of my serious, real, fears I think I'll share a somewhat silly one. I'm terribly afraid of birds. I hate them. All kids of birds freak me out from little tiny ones to big, nasty seagulls.

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Documentary, Comedy? What are your favorite genres?

I say that RomComs are my favorite, but I am a closet action junkie. 99% of the time my husband and I go to see a chick-flick, I leave disappointed. However, when we go see an action movie (like one of the new Bonds or Batmans), I leave exhilarated.

Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Biographies, True Stories, Self-Help, Devotional/Study? What are your favorite types of reading material?

Fiction! Totally fiction! I am really into Jodi Picoult right now and before I had kids and could stand the murder mystery stuff, I read a lot of James Patterson. I wish I could say that I read my Bible daily, but that would be a lie that I just can't tell. I do, however, love little books that have positive and uplifting scriptures and quotes. I need mantras to keep me sane!

Music: Funk, Rock, Country, Jazz, Classical, Film Score, Blues, Classic Rock, Crooner, Alternative, Heavy Metal, Techno? What are your favorite types?

I love 80's music (Abba, Duran Duran, Queen) and Pop/rock (Lady Gaga, Sarah Berelis, Train, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson)

What movie or book character can you most relate to?

Hmmm...probably Debra on "Everybody Loves Raymond".

Name one weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul).

I am a huge worrywart. Now, I am not nearly as bad as I used to be, but I still let my mind run rampant with all the "what-ifs" in life.

If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go?

I have two idea locals. One on be in a big, beautiful house on the beach somewhere or in a gorgeous farm house in the middle of nowhere (but not too far away from somewhere).

What is one of your favorite things to catch a whiff of?

Grills. I love during the summertime when you catch a whiff of your neighbor's grill. It totally causes me to covet!

When you leave a social gathering, do you wish: You would have talked more or You would have talked less?

Less! I always feel like I am large and in charge and I really don't want to over-talk people. I do have friends though that say they like that I propel conversation because they have a hard time coming up with things to talk about. So I guess being an "excessive talker" as my teachers so eloquently put it, isn't always bad!

If money wasn’t a factor, what stores would you shop in?

Pottery barn, Williams-Sinoma, J.Crew, any and all health-food stores. Instead I love TJMaxx and Ross because they have the Pottery Barn/Williams-Sinoma feel without the price and Trader Joes for the health food cheap!

What are your favorite animals?

You may stop reading my blog when you find out that I really don't like animals. I know, I'm cold! I'm more of a people person than an animal person. However, if I had to pick an animal it would be a giraffe.

If you want to know more, be sure to check back! :)

Erin

2011-02-23T13:45:00.000-05:00

It's just another day in "paradise".

Even the best laid plans go awry.

If anything can go wrong, it will.

No matter how you say it...today's been one of those days!

Despite the horrible night we had with the kids last night (and when I say horrible, I mean both kids wanting me all night, not letting Sean do anything for them, and this is night 4 of such behavior), this morning started off surprisingly well. We usually go to story time at the mall on Wednesday mornings, and need to be dressed and out the door by 9:40 (at the latest) if we're going to make it on time. Today the kids did such a good job of eating their breakfast/watching cartoons while I hopped in the shower and got ready. We were all fed, clothed, and ready to go by 9:30 and I was stoked! We are never early to things, and if you keep reading, you'll find out why!

When I got everything together and ready to go, I realized that Sean had William's booster in his vehicle. We did, however, have an extra car seat that I could install, provided the kids cooperated and watched from the storm-door. After about 10 minutes I successfully installed the car seat and we were on our way to the mall! Wait. Crap. Gas light just came on. Oh well, we're never going to make it if we stop!

A few minutes after 10:00 (starting time for story time) we pulled into the garage and, due to lack of parking, we had to park on the roof. Luckily I got a spot right next to the elevator! I popped the trunk to get the double stroller out and...what?!?! NO STROLLER! You have got to be kidding me! At least I parked right next to the elevator, right? That would be a help if that elevator was in service! So with the diaper bag on one arm, Madelyn on the other, and William holding my hand, we hoofed if over to the next closest elevator...about 50 yards away.

We finally made it to story time just to find that everyone and their brother had the same idea as we did. There was no place to park the stroller I didn't have, let alone room to sit. Our friends that we were meeting there had decided that it was just too packed for them too, so we made our way over to the play port. I had a few errands to run afterwards and thought that maybe the kids would be able to hang for just a few minutes without the stroller.

William was thrilled that we could ride the escalator this time because we did not have the stroller so I had him step on it first, and as soon as I got on it, he decided to hop off! So there we were, getting further away form each other by the second! My "baby" standing at the top, while I got carried further and further away. He was rightfully terrified and I kept telling him that as soon as I got to the bottom, I would come right back up. I kept hoping a mama would come by and hold his hand until I got there, but the only people that walked by were 20-something men who said things like, "look like you've got your hands full" and "oh man, look at you!". Seriously?! Help a sista out instead of making comments that don't help in the least, would ya!

We finally made it to the few stores that I needed to pop in and on our way to the car, a man at the information desk proceeded to ask if I needed to use one of their strollers because it looked like "I could use one", and afterall, they were free.

Ahhh....such is my life.

Guessing game!

2011-02-17T15:07:00.000-05:00

Update: Shannon, you were so close! It was $150 worth of groceries and I paid $40!!!

As y'all know, I love to save some money if I can, but I don't want it to consume my life. We get the Sunday paper and I clip those coupons, but that's about it. Every now and then I'll check http://www.southernsavers.com/ for some bargain tips, but I really don't go over board like some of those "crazy coupon ladies". I pretty much just save the big coupons for whenever Harris Teeter has their "Super Doubles" (like today) and try to see how much stuff I can get for close to nothing! I enjoy being able to get items that we usually buy anyway for almost free (and Sean does too)!

Can you guess how much these groceries are originally and how much I paid for them after coupons? Some of the items include, 2 packs of Pampers, 6 boxes Hamburger Helper, Pampers wipes, Loreal Pro-V Conditioner, Hebrew National hotdogs, Oreos, Wanchai Ferry frozen dinner, Macaroni Grill frozen dinner, 8 cans of Progresso soup...

Happy guessing! Oh, and don't go and guess something ridiculous like $1 because that is totally grounds for disqualification ;)

2011-02-17T15:04:00.001-05:00

A much needed make-over :)

That's just not right!

2011-02-16T00:11:00.000-05:00

My mom saved some of my baby teeth here and there, but there's just something about this "keepsake" that freaks me out:

Can you say baby dentures??

Homemade Laundry Detergent 101

2011-02-09T22:15:00.000-05:00

So last night I sent Sean on a scavenger hunt to find the materials needed to make our own laundry detergent. Here's a list of what you need and where you can find it:

From Wal-Mart:

-(1) 5 gallon bucket with a lid... $3.50

-Borax... $2.50

From Kroger:

- Washing Soda... $2.50

-Ivory soap... $1.20

*This makes 5 gallons of concentrated detergent at a time, but there's enough materials for at least 3 more batches!

Step #1:

Shred/grate one bar of Ivory soap into a dish.

Combine the grated soap with 4 cups hot water over medium-low heat until the soap dissolves and is melted. Make sure you stir constantly!

This is what your solution should look like:

Fill your bucket half full with hot tap water.

Add the melted soap mixture, 1 cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir and cover.

Let mixture sit overnight to thicken.

In the morning, stir mixture once more and fill a used, clean, laundry bottle half full with detergent then fill the rest of the way with water. Shake before each use.

I got to use my detergent more than I ever would have imagined today thanks to Madelyn's incident last night! At least I can tell you first hand that it cleans wonderfully! I add white vinegar to my rinse cycle instead of fabric softener and it serves the same purpose but is much cheaper. Good luck and happy soap making (I'll give you my recipe for breast milk cheese later)!

...Seriously, I was kidding about that last one.

Erin

If we had a dog house, he'd be in it...

2011-02-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

...but since we don't, can I change the location to a shed? That, we have!

Why am I putting my husband outside, you ask? Let me just say that he made a bad move last night. Couple that with getting around 3 hours sleep and the day I'm having so far, and I've decided that he's in trouble!

Last night Madelyn came into our bed around 2:30 to nurse and then we both dozed off after her late night snack. Around 3:00 I awoke to her projectile vomiting all over me. Now, when I say all over me, I mean ALL. OVER. ME. She puked in my hair, on my shirt, on my pillow, ON MY FACE. Normally my kid's vomit doesn't really bother me, but this case was particularly putrid. I seriously thought I was going to loose my lunch too.

Now, where does the hubs come into play? Well, while the vom-fest was going on, I was trying to get Sean's attention without making Madelyn upset. Now, Sean is an extremely deep sleeper and I usually have to shake/kick/yell at him to wake him up. Since Madelyn was already upset, I didn't want to exacerbate the situation and also wake up William. Subtle words were not getting his attention, so I was getting frustrated. When he finally did "come to", instead of helping me, he left me marinating in my baby's barf and changed his own shirt. SERIOUSLY?! He said that he had a cold sweat and nothing was worse than having a wet shirt. Really? Nothing's worse than that?

I beg to differ.

2011-02-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

T.G.I.B.N.

Otherwise known as...

Thank Goodness It's Bath Night.

William hopped in the shower with Sean yesterday morning, but Madelyn is WAYYYY overdue for a good scrubbin'. I'm not even going to tell you how many days it's been- that would just be too much info.

...5

I just can't believe it!

2011-02-05T22:16:00.000-05:00

Last night it hit me: Madelyn's 13 months old. You'd probably like to know what's special about that, right? Well, it was when William was 13 months old that I got pregnant with my sweet girl.

It's crazy to think back to that time in my life. I had been in control over my PPD (Post Partum Depression) for about 6 months, we were thrilled to have a happy and healthy little boy, and we also had the "we'll lessen up on the planning and see what God has in store for us" mentality. Life was good. Little did we know, it was about to get even better. We were so blessed to get pregnant with Madelyn after just one month of "casually trying".

I proceeded to nurse William for the next month and then decided to wean him due to my extreme exhaustion (I can't even begin to tell you how draining it was to grow a new life and nourish an existing one). I had a lot of mommy guilt about this decision, but he has such an independent personality that he didn't mind!

Anyway, where this story is going is to the direction of how grown up I thought William was then. He had been walking for 4 months, was long and lean, and looked like a little man. We obviously thought he was old enough to be a big brother! :)

This brings me around to Madelyn. When I look at her, I think, "She's so young! I mean, I just had her! I can't even fathom having another baby any time soon!" Maybe part of this mentality is due to the fact that I now have two "babies" to keep me busy, or maybe Madelyn really is babified (which I can't say I mind- especially following Mr. Independent).

I love that Mady still snuggles, nurses, crawls, and has plenty of baby fat. I know that all too soon she'll be running along side her big brother, but until that day I am happy to have her be my little baby girl.

Erin