Green Motherhood

An Update in One Fell Swoop

2013-06-17T15:22:00.000-05:00

Unlike my last pregnancy, I've done a terrible job keeping updates about the progress of this one. I guess that's what happens when you're vomiting your brains out for 9 weeks. It just becomes a game of survival.

But, here's the thing, I'm a second child. My husband is a second child (and he then became a fourth child after his parents became guardians of his other two sisters). So I have a very special place in my heart for this little one. Because, I know what it's like to go through family photos and realize that there a half as many pictures of your childhood as there are of your older sibling's.

A life full of hand-me-down clothes.

yep, I get it. And I've already started down this path without even realizing it.

Granted, if this little booger ever tries to give me a hard time about not documenting the first 23 weeks of this pregnancy, I'll gently remind him/her about the fact that s/he tried to kill me.

And that should be that.

Let's back up a few months and put some things on the table. Jer and I very much planned this pregnancy. (you hear that baby, we wanted you! Feel better, now?)

We knew we wanted to have another little one, especially after seeing how much Isla June loves other children, especially babies. And then I realized that my enforced timeline for allowing my uterus to be occupied again had come and gone.

Potty training.

Yup, that was done. So I didn't have anymore excuses.

And hubs actually agreed. crazy, I know.

So one day, we decided to try. And that was that.

The first few weeks were great. I was finishing up a 6 week boot camp/private training program and had my diet on track. I thought that this pregnancy was going to be a breeze.

My first cravings were eggs and peppers. That started at 4 weeks.

At 5 weeks I started getting a little tired.

And then at 6 weeks I started vomitting. And it didn't stop for the next 8.

In the beginning it wasn't morning sickness persay, but more evening sickness. Which was good considering that I was caring for 2 toddlers at the time. But, at noon everyday, after one toddler went home, I attempted to feed my hungry little girl something that was completely non-odorous, bribe her to pretend to nap, and then retreated to my bed.

For the rest of the day.

Then, around 9 weeks, it became an all day thing. I parented from the couch.

Let's just say there was a lot of book reading and lap snuggles.

And my toddler lived on Dora. the shame.

Thankfully, at 11 weeks, I had a little break and saw a small light at the end of the tunnel.

Ok, it was only one day, but I was enough to remind me that I wasn't actually dying.

At 16 weeks I was only vomiting twice a week.

And then, at 20 weeks, I felt a little normal. Not back to the old self normal, but a new normal.

A big round belly, achy body, climbing the stairs winds me kind of normal.

And, here we are now.

I'm feeling ok. Second pregnancy's are a doozy. Let's just get that out in the open.

I'll probably elaborate more on that later.

See baby? I care about you, too. I've just been too sick to tell you.

Let's take it easy the next 17 weeks, ok?

The surprise that isn't really a surprise...

2013-06-05T07:23:00.000-05:00

I've been gone for so long that I almost don't know how to come back.

Let's just say that on top of a lot of soul searching, a toddler refusing to nap and life in general, pregnancy has officially kicked my ass. And? I've done this before! I never would have thought it could be worse the second time around.

I spent all of March sick in bed. Not able to eat or move. It was.the.pits.

Now, I'm 21 weeks along and actually starting to feel like myself again. Atleast a glimmer of myself.

Will I be back for good? Who knows. I hope to be, but life is pretty up in the air right now.
Let's just say that I want to come back and see where that takes me.

Thank you for still being here. I really do appreciate it.

A Little Joy in our World

2013-02-11T14:28:00.002-06:00

Thanks to a book from Nana that plays "Joy to the World" in loud ringing chorus, Isla June's favorite holiday song was sung on repeat during this Christmas season. Regretfully, this is the best I was able to video of her singing this classic hit. Every time the camera was out, she would clam up.
I will forever regret not getting the one time she hit a high note and belted it out with gusto. Hopefully, it will be ingrained in my memories for a very long time.

My little performer.

Living in a Miniature World

2013-01-29T21:29:00.000-06:00

A year ago, I saw my favorite blogging family reveal an amazing gift for their little girl.
A handmade doll house. Constructed by her father.
I was in awe. It was everything I ever wanted in a doll house.

I asked Jeremy if he could somehow manage to pull this off for Isla June's 2nd Birthday. But, alas, all of his tools are still in storage. I figured I would have to wait months/years before I could get this coveted item for my little lady.
I even checked the always wonderful but tricky craigslist. No dice. (or very, very expensive dice)

Thankfully, Isla June's Boppa came in to save the day. I emailed him the plans and he whipped this up in time to deliver it a few weeks before Christmas.

It.was.perfect.

One of my favorite things about it is the removable board on the bottom. When Isla June outgrows this piece, it can be hung on her wall as a book shelf.
Multipurpose items. Gotta love that.

As luck would have it, we picked up an entire doll house furniture set from a local consignment store for a total out of pocket expense of $12.00. I knew that this was a steal. Most doll house furniture costs $10-$20 per room.
Score one for me.
(this is similar furniture- same company)

Then, at another local consignment sale, my mother was able to find a Plan Toys family of 4 collection practically brand new for only $10.
It was meant to be.

Many days are spent rearranging the furniture and pretending with the mommy and daddy. (we have since added a baby to the mix) I can definitely see this as a toy that will grow with her.

Thank you, Boppa!

Here's a little clip of us coming home to find the doll house left by Santa.

Leftover Christmas

2013-01-23T15:45:00.000-06:00

A little bit of this and that from our holiday adventures.

We made our own salt dough ornaments from THIS recipe. Super easy bytheway.

Such a fun and cheap way to get a memorable keepsake.

Santa's beard didn't turn out quite as well as I would have hoped.

Maybe he'll get a new coat of acrylic paint next year (I only had washable on hand)

Headed out to get another picture with Santa as gifts for the grandparents.
Enjoyed some pretend fourwheelin' while waiting to check out.

I didn't even coach her. She crawled up on his lap and did the pose all by herself. My big girl.

Two days before Christmas, we went with my family to see what my mother dubbed a "puppet show" at the UNC campus. In reality, it was a movie of puppets (think Pinocchio without the animation)

Isla June made it 10 solid minutes. And then she was done.

On her way out the door, she hollered, "bye bye Dragon!" to a silent room full of about 100 peeps.
Coolness.

"Baby needs medicine in her eye"

After breakfast and present opening, we headed out for a family hike through the woods in Mimi and Papa Kenny's neighborhood while the Turkey finished cooking.

My adventurous-not-scared-of-anything little girl...

Christmas Night cuddles.

2 days after Christmas, Mimi headed back to Myrtle with us. Mainly because she couldn't take the thought of a quiet house just yet. :)
We took her to one of our favorite places, The Aquarium!

The perfect end to the perfect holiday season.

Momma and Toddler Style: Pinterest Edition

2013-01-20T13:31:00.000-06:00

source

Pants // Chambray Shirt // Stripped Top // Jacket // Boots // Necklace and Earrings

Christmas 2012

2013-01-16T20:23:00.001-06:00

There was something stirring inside me about Christmas this year.

It's like I could feel the magic.

I spent all of Christmas Eve washing new Christmas Pajamas, preparing Christmas Breakfast in the crockpot, cleaning and organizing the house in such a way that we could all gather together in the morning for present opening, and finally arranging all of the presents under the tree.

It was one of those moments in motherhood where your excitement for someone else creates this intense feeling of joy that just stirs inside of you.

Motherhood truly is magical. And it swelled my heart.

We started the Elf Hunting tradition this year. Jeremy and his sister grew up searching for figurine elves my sister-in-law has continued this tradition with her children as well.

Isla June named her Sara the Elf. Unlike the popluar Elf on the shelf, she's not mischievous and she can be touched and her job is not to report back to Santa about wrong doings but to encourage Isla June to always do and try her very best.

I can see why so many families have started this tradition! It is really so much fun.

Because we start the morning opening stockings, I wanted Sara the Elf to be hiding in the perfect spot.

Of course, first thing, she ran to the bike. She asked Santa for one for Christmas and Aunt Zizzie delivered.

Side Note: Isla June's Wish List for Santa was different every time we asked.

Items she told us were:

An Umbrella
A baby (real and pretend)
A Bike
Candy Canes
A train

Our theme for Christmas this year was "giving back".

Both Isla June's Mimi and her Jeje sponsored animals for the Wildlife Federation in her honor (a wolf and a polar bear).

All of the adults purchased gifts for each other that donated towards a non-profit organization or donated money directly to a worthy cause. It was heart-warming to hear about everyone looking for ways to give and to honor one another through that.

Our Christmas this year also involved a lot of second hand items. My mom and I found a great high end children's resale in the area and bought much of Isla June's stocking stuffers and some presents there.

See that black eye? Well, that's from playing hide and seek in blanket tunnels with Daddy and Uncle James the night before.

yeesh.

"Just like Doc McStuffin's!"

Every time we opened up something, we had to play with it.

I loved that.

Made for a very fun morning.

We ended the morning with everyone putting together the choo choo train.

Christmas Dinner, cooked by Papa Kenny and Aunt Lizzie, included all freshly made favorites.
It was even allergy friendly for my little family! (gluten, dairy, soy and GMO free!)

The Most Perfect Christmas. Ever.

A Christmas Eve Tradition

2013-01-08T20:24:00.001-06:00

Growing up, I remember begrudginly going along with anything that referenced any type of "tradition". I tried to pretend it didn't matter, that I didn't care, that I didn't need it.

When in all actuality, I did.

Like the year my mom bought me a chocolate cake for my birthday. I was 9 and I hate chocolate cake. I cried about it.

Mom never made that mistake again.

Now that I'm a mother, Christmas and traditions mean even more to me. I've spent time recalling the tradtions that meant so much to me: decorating the tree, singing Christmas carols and opeining stockings first thing Christmas morning.

And I've added a few more now that it's my turn to make childhood memories: Christmas Pajamas, Elf Hunting, and Advent Books.

One of my most favorite traditions was the opening of one present on Christmas Eve. It felt so magical. Like we were allowed to peak inside the treasure chest of what was to come. Of course I was going to continue this with Isla June.

A tradition passed down from my grandmother: reading the story of Jesus' birth and setting up the Nativity on Christmas Eve. It's a little bit updated as we read from the IPad and not from the Bible :)

I hope these memeories will mean as much to Isla June one day.

In the Christmas Jungle

2013-01-05T10:35:00.001-06:00

On the third day of Family Christmas, Our Mimi gave to us.....

A trip to the Tiger Sanctuary

We figured it would be like the zoo. Isla June loves animals, so we thought this would be a hit.

thought is the main word.
I forgot that this was a guided tour through the grounds. And after a 10 minute "Welcome" talk from our guide, Isla June was already getting antsy. Naturally. I mean, she is two. And she's mine. Which means she's got a lot of energy. And a mind of her own.
We also got a brief run down of the rules:

don't cross the ropes
stay with the group
don't run
don't yell

Essentially, don't be two years old.

We thought she would be best on Uncle James shoulders
(side note: Uncle James is 6 foot 5. It's a good viewing point)

I quickly realized from our first stop that this was not going to go as planned. A brief synopsis:

Tour guide stops.

Discusses the animal we are looking at with full detail. (we're talking 10-15 minutes)

Everyone else is listening quietly.

Little girl yells out "hey kitty!"

Little Girl attempts to jump the rope.

Little Girl yells, "guys, let's go!"

People turn and stare.

We continue on.

During one of the long talks, we ventured a few feet away to give Little Girl something else to do and the rest of the group a little break. :)

Then it was time to see the Tigers.

This guy really captured her attention. Finally.

Despite the wiggles, this little child can melt my heart. Love her up.

Then we were off to see the Lions.

They weren't that close and I think Little Girl had had enough at this point.

Interesting Fact: These are all Males Lions. Male Lions all end up loosing their manes as they age. Male pattern baldness perhaps?

Despite the crazy toddler antics, we had a good time as a family.

Little Girl did find ways to keep herself busy.....

The last Tiger we saw of the day. Because after this we were done. Fled to the car and headed home to attempt a nap.

I'm so glad to support the sanctuary and their amazing cause to house and protect these animals.

Next time, we'll just send a check ;)

And wait about 4 more years to take Isla June back. An adventure nonetheless!

An Icy Start to the Holiday's

2013-01-02T19:58:00.001-06:00

We spent our Christmas break at my parent's house in Chapel Hill this year, arriving 4 whole days before Christmas (a Christmas Miracle, I tell you). Mimi had our days full of activities, starting with a trip to the ice skating rink.

We were all excited.

I was nervous about how Little Girl was going to take to this. We've attempted roller-skates one time. Ice skating, never.

Good thing I packed her helmet for my own peace of mind.

Daddy was very excited. He loves these kind of things.

We had between 2-4 layers of clothing on every inch of this little lady's body.

We were prepared.

Everyone laced up their shoes, except for Mimi who complained about "weak ankles", and we were off!

I gave my mom a 10 second tutorial on my camera, said a little prayer, and left the documenting up to her. She did pretty good, say I!

Let's just say Little Girl didn't love it. We tried to convince her to use these cool little plastic "holder-uppers" (that an amazingly sweet little boy scored for us. Seriously, he was so kind. Restores my faith in the younger generations) but, she would have none of it.

Even with some pep talks. She just didn't like it.

Daddy did a lot of carrying her around the rink. SuperDaddy

But, she was more than happy to go sit with Santa.

I'm pretty sure she knew that he had candy canes.

Then she wanted to get off the ice and eat her treat.

So the big kids took a few spins around the ice.

We would all stop and wave to Little Girl and her Mimi.

Such a fun day with the Family.

And this amazing Little Girl.

We're still talking about it. :)

A Little Tree for a Little Girl

2012-12-17T15:58:00.001-06:00

Posting a blog entry of my happy life seems so.....inappropriate....unjust.....trite.....heartless.........

something.

Like so much of the world, I've been grieving and questioning and praying every moment of the day since hearing the news on Friday. We've lowered our flagged, we've prayed as a family and with our church community, we've made donations and I've squeezed my daughter a few too many times for her liking.

But it still doesn't seem like enough.

Because I know it isn't.

There are too many houses that are painfully silent, too many Christmas and Hanukkah gifts that will go unopened. Too many hearts that are broken.

After the loss of a friend in high school, my mother reminded me that "the living must still go on". We must always remember, but we must go on and do better. That's what I will strive to do.

As a mother and former Special Education teacher, this tragedy hits way to close to home and I have so much I could say about this horrific event. But, I believe that the most important thing right now is not to debate, but to pray.

May we show the mercy of God through our love for one another.

"For God, who said, 'Let there be light in the darkness,' has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." ~2Corinthians 4:6

This little tree we acquired last year, because it was the only thing that would fit in our tiny apartment and all of our holiday gear is in storage, has now become a big part of our Christmas celebrations. I figure it's the perfect size to be Isla June's own personal tree. Once we move into a house of our own, it will be in her bedroom or playroom every year.

A new tradition is born!

I figured we needed to add some lights to the little guy and brighten him up this year. It's funny how lights can make such a difference. There's something so joyous about colored, illuminated bulbs in your house this time of year.

She loved decorating it and really did a pretty good job of it.
Well, if you call a good job putting all the ornaments on three branches ;) But, they were on the tree and not a one was broken!
Good job, say I.

Her happiness is so contagious. If I'm lucky, I'll get a video of her singing "Joy to the World".

The most perfect spot for her special tree.

Welcoming the Season

2012-12-12T15:43:00.000-06:00

I don't know what it is, but I'm really in the spirit of the season this year. Maybe it's my eager and inquisitive toddler inspiring me to really soak it all in. So, before Dec. 1st even hit, we headed out to our favorite local farm to celebrate the start of my favorite time of year.

I had our outfits planned (in Christmas Red, of course) and some wonderful friends along for the ride. We filled our bellies full of Kris Kringle's favorite meal (Mexican) and spent the evening together enjoying........costumed character's?

Ha! I was a little shocked when a parade of character's rounded the corner towards us. But, the look on Isla June's face was absolutely priceless.

She didn't really know who everyone was, but she loved seeing them, nonetheless.
She called Rudolph a "Deer".
Which is true.

I purchased her red romper specifically for the occasion.
She'll probably wear it next December too. :)

The two characters that Isla June did know were the ones she was most shy with.

Star struck, I guess.

Can you guess who it is?

Yes, we've recently discovered (rediscovered, I guess) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. And she's pretty taken with it. Not that it holds a candle to Dora.

I really wasn't sure what she was going to do when she saw this guy. But, she didn't even flinch.

He's just an everyday frog dressed up as Santa. At least, that's what she thought.

This guy got some funny looks.....

She called him "yellow man". Obviously we are holding off on this one. He's a bit crass, you know?

Cookie Monster showed up last, so at this point large costumed characters were pretty everyday to her. He was huge. And his eyes wiggled around.

But, they gave each other jazz hands.

It was perfect.

One of my most favorite things about the holidays are the lights. Whether they are Christmas lights or Hanukkah lights, I just love seeing the world lit up.

And then we were off on a tractor ride through the field of.......lights! I don't know enough about my camera to have captured this event. But, it was beautiful. The full moon was a perfect backdrop.

Because it was the farm, we couldn't leave without feeding the goats ;)

I couldn't quite capture it, but that moon was amazing.

This was daddy's first time at the farm with the whole family!
(He was with me at the Mud Run, but little girl wasn't)

Toddlers and bounce houses? $2.00 well spent (borrowed from our sweet friends:) )

And some pretend ice skating.

We did a little chillin' with Minnie.

And then it was time to see the Big Guy....

image by Moments Captured by Kelly Renee Photography

This was about as close as she felt comfortable with him. All of the pictures where she was on his lap were not very cute. Little Girl was much happier showing of her lolly.

And, just like that, it was time to go.

Another magical day at the farm.

See our past Thompson Farm adventures:
Strawberry Picking
Pumpkin Patch
Mud Run

What I Learned From Potty Training {Review}

2012-12-09T14:49:00.000-06:00

There are so many important life lessons that I learned from potty training a toddler: never push someone into something they don't want to do, wait until they're ready, have lots and lots and lots of paper towels on hand at all times and bribery works!

Well, at least it did for us. When I found the right things to entice her. See, we don't do candy in our household. We rarely do sugary treats. For us, fruit is our after diner dessert. Isla June has gotten 2 lollipops in her whole life and those were from the tellers at the bank (she thinks that's why I give them my money).
When it came to this huge milestone in her life, I knew I was going to need a little bit extra incentive to keep this potty ball rolling but, I didn't want to just throw out all my hesitations about high sugar candy.......

Enter the Fruit Sparx Xlear Candy. It's made with natural color and flavoring and is sweetened with xylitol which has been shown to not promote tooth decay (which sugar can do). And thanks to Mom's Meet we were able to sample the product during this pivotal time in my toddler's life. I have to say, for us, it worked!

It was the perfect sweet treat that reinforced what a great job Isla June was doing and how proud of her I was for working hard at something that isn't always easy. She only received 2 candy pellets after each potty success, but those special treats were so savored by my little lady. And I wasn't fretting over the impact the candy would be having on her beautiful teeth!

About Xlear

Xlear, Inc. is committed to providing consumers with the health benefits of xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener, by manufacturing all-natural, health-enhancing products. Xlear® Nasal Spray is an award-winning, patented saline and xylitol solution; a complete line of dental health products under the Spry Dental Defense System® brand; XyloSweet®, raw xylitol crystals used as a sugar substitute in cooking, baking and general consumption; and SparX® Candy, a growing line of healthy, xylitol based candies. ®, SM, © 2012 May Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Xlear SparX is sweetened naturally with xylitol, a plant-based, dentist-recommended sweetener that’s been proven to improve dental health and strengthen tooth enamel.
Xylitol doesn’t interfere with the body’s blood sugar levels or insulin production, making it safe for kids and adults on a sugar-controlled diet.
Xlear SparX Candy is available in Berry, Citrus, and Fruit varieties; all are free of artificial colors and flavors.
Xlear SparX Candy retails for $1.49 for one tube.

Xlear has also saved our toothbrushing routine. Thanks to the samples we recieved of Kid's Spry Tooth Gel with Xylitol. Isla June and I are no longer battling multiple times a day in order to get her teeth brushed. She loves both the flavors and actually asks me to brush her teeth. It's a miracle if you ask me! This toothpaste will now be a regular part of our toothbrushing routine. And I love that it's floride free.

Find Xlear on Facebook

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it

directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions

do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

For the Love of Reading {Review and Giveaway}

2012-12-04T18:54:00.000-06:00

I remember sitting in the back corner of my family's living room, tucked behind the recliner, pouring over our collection of National Geographic that spanned over a 10 year time frame.

When Moms Meet gave me the opportunity to review the National Geographic Kids Super Readers, my mind immediately flashed back to those memories. Memories that I wanted to share with Isla June.

website

Just hearing the words, "National Geographic" brings to mind a quality magazine full of powerful pictures and meaningful content. I had my fingers crossed that these qualities would carry over to the Kids version.

I was so pleasantly surprised when I opened up my package to find the vibrantly colored, picture filled, easy reading material. I couldn't wait to show Isla June.

About National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books,apps, games, toys, videos, events, and a website.

It is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core.

National Geographic Kids Books is the leading nonfiction publisher with as many as 100 nonfiction titles each year, including the New York Times best seller National Geographic Kids Almanac and our best selling series National Geographic Super Readers.

Isla June loved the stickers (of course) and the fun characters on the pages. She seemed to really enjoy looking at the pictures, especially the ones that featured any type of animal. Some of the material was more focused towards older children who could really take the opportunity to explore the books independently or sit for longer reading times.

My absolute favorite part was the Ultimate Weird but True book that featured "1,000 wild and wacky facts and photos!" I can see this book being a part of our library for a very long time. It's something I would love to gift to all of my nieces and nephews as well! A definite family favorite and amazing resource guide for the inquisitive mind.

I think we all want to give our children the absolute best, even a head start, especially when it comes to academics. Fostering a love of reading, science and exploration are skills I hope to instill in Isla June. And I truly believe that the Super Readers program and National Geographic Kids books can be a part of that.

The National Geographic Super Readers program for Kids:

Was developed in consultation with literacy education experts, each National Geographic Super Reader is filled with cool information about nonfiction topics kids love such as dinosaurs, tigers, planes and trains, plus big, colorful photographs, all in an easy-to-read and kid-friendly design.
Filled with fun incentives to keep reading, an interactive website, and fun characters to get to know, the National Geographic Super Readers program has everything you need to get kids SUPER excited about reading.
At kids.nationalgeographic.com/superreader, kids can sign up to become Super Readers, download the Super Readers poster, and start reading! Once they finish their book, they can cross it off on their poster and start getting fun rewards and prizes.

Any of the National Geographic Kids books or the Super Readers Program would be an amazing gift for any child in your life.

Want to introduce this amazing Reading Program to your family? Enter Here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Find National Geographic on Facebook and Twitter

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from themanufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

What We're Doing Differently When it Comes to Supplementing

2012-12-03T13:20:00.001-06:00

Many who have followed this blog from it's inception know that I am a big fan of supplements. I actually tried to attempt to be a non veggie eating vegetarian throughout college by supplementing my diet with, well, supplements.
Let's just say that didn't really go well.

All of my research lately has led me to conclude that supplements have a place in our food regimen, but shouldn't be the center of the show. It all starts with a clean, healthy diet and then adding what's needed from there.
I've also really started working on simplifying our supplements.
So, without further ado.......here's Isla June's vitamin regimen

Cod Liver Oil- Full of DHA, EPA and Omega's. Plus it's packed with Vitamin A and D. Much more of a "whole" supplement instead of just using an Omega 3,6,9. Having a diet high in animal soluble oils (Omega 3's) is vitally important to balancing out the high amount of plant based Omega 6's that are running rampant throughout our food system. The proper balance of Omega's in our system is vital for healthy teeth and gums and bringing down the inflammation in the body (among many other things!)
Children's Multi Vitamin- I can't bear to stop giving Isla June a multi vitamin, but I only give her a half dose. This is a new vitamin for her as I discovered her last multi contained Fructose. Not the worst thing, but I wanted to find something better. This one is full of the B vitamins and C. I'm a big believer in liquid vitamins as well. Better absorption into the system.
Kefir- One of the best things I have ever introduced into our supplement regimen has been this Coconut Kefir. I'm not even sure I can call it a supplement because Kefir is kind of just a food source. Kefir is filled with hundreds of thousands of good bacteria. Even more than most probiotic supplement in pill form. A regimen of fermented foods (like Kefir) are a huge part of healing the gut. Since including this in our daily routine, Isla June is more able to handle any gluten, or dairy that creeps into her diet.
Vitamin D- This is my travel vitamin. All three items above live in our fridge, so when we are on the road, I take the travel size Vitamin D with me. And on exceptionally rainy weeks, we take this along with the Cod Liver Oil. *Vitamin D is a vitamin you can overdose on, but we are all chronically low in it.*

And that's it! Really. That's all there is to Isla June's vitamin routine.

She gets all three of these in the morning and then we are done for the day!

Well, not really because the rest of her nutrients come from the food she eats (I don't want to leave that important part of this equation out)

Want more information on these supplements?

Great reading about this topic can be found here and here and here

Thanksgiving 2012

2012-11-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

This Thanksgiving was different. We were traveling, but not that far away and Jeremy had four whole days off with us. a true holiday miracle. Because, that never happens.

We decided to spend most of Tuesday traveling to avoid as much holiday traffic as possible. Our drive was only 4 hours, so no need to rush to get on the road. I really dislike being in a rush.

I packed us a picnic lunch to avoid paying for and eating fast food and Jer found a great little state park that was on our route where we stopped to eat and enjoy the day.

I think this is one of my new favorite road trip traditions. We really had the most amazing and relaxing time. The whole family (5 of us including the dogs) having a picnic and on a hike. My kind of bliss.

I've made Hubs promise we could do it again.

When we got to our final destination (Jer's step-brother's house), we quickly realized that our lackadaisical morning and blissful afternoon caused us to forget some very important things. Mainly just one thing: Isla June's pack and play. She's not at the point yet where she can sleep in a big bed in an unfamiliar place.
We arrived right around dinner time, so we had to scramble to figure something out.

Enter, the Montessori Bed.
I've been wanting to try this idea out.....

Let's just say we borrowed a pack and play for the rest of the week. thankfully. :)

Even in a family of 11 cousins, Isla June was the only little one in attendance. It made for a busy mommy and daddy to try and keep her out of trouble. Unfortunately, true to toddler form, we had a tumble into the fireplace on the first day that caused two head injuries to my little girl.

Have you ever had that moment where you are consoling your toddler after a fall and then pull your hand away to see it covered in blood? Worst parenting moment ever.
By the Grace of God, they were only scrapes and nothing worse. No concussion and no swelling (I did spend time on the phone with our chiropractor discussing any signs to look for!). On a side note, I can now fully flush out any type of wound. Life skills.

Later that night, we spent time laughing and drinking with family. There was some marshmallow throwing and some gangnam style dancing. and then there was bed, because little girl had us up at 5:30 am.

Thanksgiving day was filled with the hustle and bustle of a busy kitchen, playing in the yard because the weather was perfect, and enjoying stories read by Nana and Boppa.

My yearly contribution to the Feast- Tanya's Famous Pumpkin Pie. It's my sister-in-law's recipe and very much looked forward to in our family every year. And after making it for the past 4 years, I've finally gotten good at it.

For the first year ever, though, we didn't gorge ourselves. Maybe we're learning self-control.

Momma and Baby Style: Winter Edition

2012-11-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

I was thisclose to throwing out the idea of these style posts. The time and effort it was taking to get our picture taken was getting a bit tedious. Plus, I would be a horrible liar if I told you that I get dressed everyday.

Pajamas are my jam.

But, who wants to see pictures of that??

And on the other side of the coin, I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "style blogging" anyways. I think we're all trying to combat the over consumerism that is brewing around us and I most certainly don't want to add to that (or feel pressure from it).

I am very much blessed with more than enough.

But then, the seasons changed, and Isla June started wearing her winter clothes, and I want to document these memories. Which is back to the whole reason I started this series in the first place.

Who knows? We'll let these posts come and go as they please.

I have to tell you though that three-fourths of Isla June's outfit came from the consignment store. All name brand (JCREW, Carter's, and Janie&Jack). That little boy's cotton/linen blend button up has been one of the best 3 dollar purchases I have ever made; such a versatile piece she can wear with so many different things.

And her puffer vest? That's from the little boy's section too. After I saw her in a similar one borrowed from our little buddy, I was on the hunt to find one of her own. Little did I know I would find such a great deal on one ($4!), and it still had a little treasure left in it from the previous owner (a big acorn). That's something else I love about consignment: carrying on the memories.

For the mommas: one thing I do love about the winter time is fashion becomes so easy. Black leggings, dress/tunic and cognac boots. That's the color you want. Cognac. They'll go with everything.

Happy Monday, Friends! I hope to be back a few times this week :)

Rememberng You at 27 Months (Momma's a Slacker....)

2012-11-25T13:57:00.001-06:00

Dear Isla June,

This post is now over 2 months late as you are quickly approaching 2 and one half. But, I couldn't just let it fall by the wayside. You really are growing and changing everyday. I am beyond grateful that I am able to share your days with you.

Your favorite shoes all summer long were your crocs (or "trocs" as you called them). Even with the weather being cooler, I have to convince you not to wear them.

My sweet girl, at 27 months you were:

counting to 20 (it may be eleven,twelve, fourteen, fourteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty), but you always got there.
counting in Spanish, but only while jumping. And boy, can you jump.
completely dressing yourself and very opinionated about what you will and will not wear
wearing your shoes on the wrong because that's how you liked them
peeing on the potty!
calling yourself "yittle girl"
calling bugs, "wee bugs"
asking me, "Hey, why you crying?"
wanting to sleep in the big bed (but getting too excited about it to fall asleep)
bowing your head and folding your hands to pray
whenever I ask you to hold my hand, you would shake your head at me and insist on holding your own hand.
on the lookout for stop signs and spell out S-T-O-P stop. then you yell at cars to stop.
talking non.stop.

Here's a little Q&A session from one morning:

What is your name? "Iya"

How old are you? "six" (every.single.time.I.ask.)

How old are you really? "two"

What's your Favorite Color? "This one!" (holds out a purple crayon)

What's your Favorite Game? "Trains" (signs and says it)

What's your Favorite Toy? "Jack in the Box"

What is your favorite song? "Old McDonald had a Farm"

Who are your favorite friends? "Casey and Assisa"

What is your Favorite Animal? "My Daddy"

I love you sweet girl!

Our FavoriteTeething Remedies: Getting Teeth Stinks

2012-11-19T15:00:00.003-06:00

We've been through a lot with this little lady. First the bouts of colic, the all night pacing of the halls.

Then, the food allergies. The diapers that involved were almost as bad as the midnight zombie walks. Both issues were solved with natural remedies (PROBIOTICS! and eliminating dairy, soy and gluten).

So, when we started the dreaded teething, I didn't reach for the Tylenol. I had been through enough to realize that over the counter medications aren't going to be the best choice and that there may be a better, more natural way for her body to handle these milestones.

After all, God gives us this stage for a reason.

Now that Isla June has 20 pearly chompers, including the dreaded Incisors, Molars and front Bugs Bunny teeth, we've been through the storm and can live to tell about it.

This is what worked for us (and what didn't):

Amber Teething Necklace - My first go-to for any teething baby. We absolutely swear by ours. I ordered it for Isla June when she was 7 months old and she's yet to take it off (because when we did she would start the fussing).

Amber works by acting as a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic. The oil from the Amber is absorbed through the skin, which is why most children wear the stone around their necks- closer to the teeth. If you're going to order one (because you should!), make sure it is from a reliable source and it is light Amber. Buttery in color is best. The lighter the Amber, the more potent. Also, make sure it is from a reputable dealer. You want the real thing.

Razbaby Teether- We were fans of the Sophie in our house. She was fun and pretty, but she wasn't so super great for the teeth. Maybe Isla June just didn't like chewing on her cute face.

Surprisingly, Little Girl was able to get by with just hugs for most of her teeth, but when those two year old molars came in, she needed something. While digging around in her drawers one day, she found an old medicine pacifier. And she loved it. We called it her "Plug" and I laughed about the fact that she hadn't used a pacifier in over a year and a half, but now she wanted one. I thought it was a phase. But then, she kept asking for it. So I decided to find a suitable replacement: enter the Razberry Teether. It's BPA free, non-toxic and made from medical grade silicone. You can even put it in the freezer.

source

Humphrey's Teething Tablets- I know a lot of people swear by the Hyland's teething tablets, but they just didn't work for us. With Homeopathy, you have to remember that every one's body chemistry is different. What works for someone elses baby won't necessarily work for yours.

The Humphrey's were a life saver for us, though. I'm not exactly sure about the difference between Humphrey's and Hyland's, but they did the trick. Plus, they have less sugar in them.
*tip: get them at your local CVS*

source

Chamomilla- I keep Chamomile on hand all the time. It's my go to for fussy baby, teething baby, won't sleep baby, every time. We've used the pellets from Boiron, but these Camilia droppers are the best. And, Amazon has them one Subscribe and Save.

source

What about Teething Gel? We never used any kind of teething gel because there can be very adverse reactions to it, epsecially for children under 2. As well, it can impair other functions of the mouth if you accidentally get it on your baby's tongue.

But, there's a natural way to make your own!

*I'd love it if you would share what worked for your baby or toddler in the comments. We've all been through this stage and sharing how we got out of it is the best way to help!*

Another great resource for teething information- The Mommypotamus

Halloween 2K12

2012-11-14T16:50:00.002-06:00

For Halloween this year, we were really in the season. I'm not typically one for this holiday as I think putting ghosts up around the house and dressing in costume is much more effort than it's worth. I love it when other people do it, but I just have never found the fun in it. I blame my mother. :)

But, this year little girl really knew what was going on, and that made everything that much more exciting and worth every ounce of effort I put into it. *spoiler alert- I still didn't wear a costume.

In honor of our first ever pumpkin carving (Jeremy and I have never carved a pumpkin in our 8 Halloween's together), we decided to head out to our favorite local farm and pick our own. Some of our favorite friends came along for the ride.

Little Girl insisted on wearing her tutu for a week straight. She was really ready for this holiday. Sang song's about it and everything. Anytime someone asked her what she would be for Halloween, her answer was always, "a pumpkin!" *spoiler alert- she wasn't a pumpkin.
I think she just related the two together.

This little man and his mama are such sweet, special friends. I'm so glad they could come with us and make this outing even more enjoyable! Hubs was at work, so we loved the company.

These two little buddy's just kill me. They are just the absolute cutest and sweetest with each other. I always threaten to steal him away!

see?!? how can you not want to take him home with you?

Of course, we found the corn box again. Those two spent a solid 20 minutes in there. And the only reason they got out was because corn was flying. Corn is not supposed to fly.

We loved the playground (again!)

And the animal area. I wasn't brave enough to actually feed them this time, though.
Those goats are ruthless!

We also went on a hayride (without hay, thankfully) and saw the rest of the farm and the other animals. It was a full ride and I had to use all of my senses to keep Isla June from jumping out. Thus, no pictures of that event were taken.

And then we were off to the Corn Maze. Typical me, I wondered the whole time if it was GMO corn. But, we weren't eating it, just surrounded by it. :)

The babes loved picking up all the corn off the ground.

But, we had to have a talk about how this was corn that stays in your hands, not in your mouth.

his "sorry" face just kills me!

Little Girl lead the way.....

After 2+ hours at the farm, we were exhausted, and the no nap monsters were coming out to play.

It was a delightful day and definitely a new tradition.

HALLOWEEN

Because we don't live in a neighborhood, we chose to spend this holiday at a local outdoor shopping area called Barefoot Landing. It's one of our favorite places to go and walk around and feed the fish/ducks. Plus, they have a carousel.

Isla June had 3 costumes to choose from: a fairy, a super hero, or a daisy. She chose one piece of each costume instead (the daisy headband ended up not making it out of the car).

She's quite the original and independent girl.

I think we rode the carousel 4 times. It could have been 5, I lost count. But, it was free, so we took as much advantage of that as we could. :)

Little Girl refers to this as "america go around"

She trick or treated the stores and actually did a great job walking up to the doors by herself, saying, "trick or treat" and leaving with a "thank you!" I was thoroughly impressed.

Then the dad's showed up. Everything is better with daddy.

Especially the carousel,

because the mommas got to sit down and chat for once.

After the sun went down and the temperature dropped (even more), we headed out to fill our bellies with a Halloween favorite, Mexican food.
Another new holiday tradition.

Get your Camera Out

2012-11-12T14:21:00.000-06:00

For my Birthday, Jeremy, after listening to me complain about my broke down camera for the 1,000th time, bought me a brand new DSLR. It's beautiful and full of gadgets and buttons. It excites me and thoroughly overwhelms me at the same time.

But I am determined to put this amazing and generous present to good use. I took Isla June down to one of our favorite shopping Markets/Parks and decided to just start shooting.

Here's my first attempt.

We had such a fun day together. She's not a huge fan of me behind the camera lens, but maybe she'll get more used to it? Here's hoping.
Lessons I learned from this first session: Lighting. Learn it, work with it. That's my next step.

Dear Jeje

2012-11-11T11:47:00.000-06:00

Do you remember coming to visit me in my town? Because, I sure do. We had so much fun!

I know you didn't think you'd make it up the jumbo slide, but you did it anyway just because I insisted. That means you're the best.

I understand that one time was your limit. Mommy wanted a turn, anyways.

I could have stayed in that bounce house all day. Thanks for paying the lady so I could. :)

I know I was a little scared about getting that tattoo, but it was great that you went first to calm my fears. I still couldn't help squirming a little.

Minnie looks better in 3D anyways.

Lunch with you was awesome! I got to eat all the stuff mom doesn't let me have- Cheese! Pita bread! Yum. Let's do that again some time.

And you didn't even care that I made myself a mess.

best.Jeje.ever.

More fun things I remember....... stomping rain puddles,

Making foot prints in the concrete,

and showing off my crazy swimming skills.

Yeeehaaaa!

Come back soon, okay?

Love,

Isla June

CrockPot Pear Sauce {Recipe}

2012-11-01T08:08:00.000-05:00

My CSA basket for the past three weeks contained a bag full of 10-15 pears. They looked pretty beat up (because they are fresh off the farm) and they were pretty tough. I left them in the fridge and then on the counter for a week hoping that they would ripen, but it seems that they are just a very very hearty pear. Isla June will eat them just fine, but not me. :)

On the hunt for what to do with them, I came across a few recipes for apple or pear sauce. It seemed easy enough. After looking through quite a few tutorials, I figured that I could put a few of the tips together and make my own.

The hardest part of this was cutting up 20+ pears. I started the process at 9 o'clock at night and still made it in bed by 10. So, it wasn't too bad.

Pear Sauce
15-20 Pears (cored, sliced and then diced)
Ground Cinnamon- 1Tbs
Ginger - 1tsp
Nutmeg - 1 tsp
Cloves - 1/4 tsp
Lemon Juice- 2 Tbs
*Honey- 1/4 C OR Brown Sugar- 1 cup
*optional

I cooked mine overnight (12 hours) It comes out chunky but very soft. If you want to take the chunks away, you could blend it very easily.
While still a little hot, I put the finished mixture in my caning jars and put the lid on. The heat helped to "seal" them without needing a boil. But, we ate it so quickly it's not like I was worried about any of it spoiling.
We added the sauce to:

Vanilla Ice Cream
Vanilla Yogurt
Over Pancakes/Waffles
On Toast

I think this will become a Fall staple for us. It's also perfect as a housewarming gift or Christmas gift for neighbors.

Happy November!

Toddler Meals

2012-10-30T07:48:00.000-05:00

BREAKFAST

Organic Gluten Free Granola Cereal and Banana

Homemade Gluten Free Blueberry Pancakes with Honey and Organic Butter
Clementine slices
Scoop of Almond Butter

Made THIS recipe for Cinnamon French Toast, tried to substitute with Almond Milk, Gluten Free Bread and Brown Sugar
it was ok. I'm sure it would have been better with the original ingredients :)

Gluten Free toast with Organic Butter
Organic Scrambled Eggs
Kiwis

Gluten Free Homemade Mickey Mouse Pancakes

LUNCH

Leaves and Goat Cheese
Organic Brown Rice (that has been soaked)

Homemade Guacamole (organic salsa and avocado)
Organic Corn Chips
Rice noodles

Organic Chicken Slices
Sweet Potato Fries
Coconut Water

Hummus and Veggie Straws
Grapes

DINNER

CrockPot Chicken
Organic Brown Rice (soaked)
Sweet Potato Fries

Toddler Style: Secondhand Edition

2012-10-29T14:39:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that I love thrift/second hand shopping. It's such a thrill for me to score great finds at even greater prices.

I have a couple of great children's consignment boutiques that we pop into every now and then, but my greatest find has been the big local warehouse consignment sale that happens here two times a year (you may recall my finds from last Spring).

This year I chose to consign some of my items to help me clean out her closet and get a chance to be an early bird shopper.

I'm still keeping tons of Isla June's clothing, but I figured that instead of keeping everything that I would keep our favorites and our necessities. Even if we are blessed with another little girl one day, there is enough left over in Isla June's wardrobe to outfit another little one but, I know that I will always want to purchase for each individual child.

This is just what I've figured works for us.

Selling and buying second hand is my favorite way to "go green".

On the first early shoppers night I had Little Girl in tow. It was interesting to say the least. She wanted to try on all.the.shoes. in the mountainous piles that had been set out. And I wanted to grab every boutique item I could find before someone else snatched them away!
Thankfully, we managed to work together a little bit and walk away with some great finds.

The pink sweater is Lilly Pulitzer, the grey checked dress is J.Crew, the jeans/shirt are Gap and the Santa dress is Boutique.
Name brands for 1/4 the price!

*Consignment Tip*
Before I shopped, I looked through Isla June's closet to see what she would need for the upcoming year, specifically, the Fall/Winter. I made a list of these items and went in with those in mind which helped me to look for exactly what I wanted instead of getting overwhelmed with the racks and racks of clothing.
Also, I had $100 in cash and set that as my budget.

The next day, I felt like there were so many areas that I didn't even get a chance to look at because I was so distracted by my attempts to keep my toddler from ransacking the toy area. So, I went back.

Gymboree and Old Navy.
Little Boy's button-ups are my new favorite finds. They go great with leggings.

Three days later, they had a 50% off sale. I almost didn't go because I was afraid there would be nothing left. Then I got an email saying that consignors could shop a whole day early (woohoo!)

Even with Little Girl in tow, we were able to grab all these great finds.

I couldn't believe the awesome stuff that was left.

And at such great prices.

the 3 items on the right were part of the "boutique" section. The blue ladybug dress is corduroy and smocked. What a deal.
And the 3 dresses for $2.50? are.you.kidding.me? I couldn't believe it.

For under $100 bucks, I've got a mostly year round wardrobe for the Isla June. I made half of that back with what I was able to sell (so I really only spent $50).

We even scored a little tricycle for $8 as well. (couldn't pass that up!)

So many areas have similar sales, finding one could be as easy as googling around.

Well worth it in my book :) Happy Shopping!