KINCAID PARADE

giving up on good

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

I'm linking up with Jessi for this post. She & Hayley have started a thought-provoking, soul-searching, heart-convicting series that inspires women to give up something good for something better.

I enjoy a clean house, and it's one of my strengths. I do a pretty good job of keeping up with five kids and two dogs, as it relates to housekeeping. This reminds me of Jenna's famous backdoor bragging on 30 Rock, but it's true. I'm not the world's best cook, but I can shoot an iPhone photo or entertain a surprise visitor without embarrassment more often than not.

The problem is, I let it consume me. I resist the sweet mom quotes about messy houses & happy homes. I make list upon list for everyone in the house who can walk. I snap at my family when I feel crumbs beneath my feet. I typically refuse to do anything for myself until my house is neat. It hurts me to ignore the laundry and relax on the couch. I've let my own meals go cold before, because I want to clean the dishes before I eat. I can't let the kids move onto the next play area without cleaning the previous.

I know part of it has to do with control, and we can psycho-analyze me on this topic for days. But a big part of it is deeper and dirtier than that. It's about approval. I've sort of made a lifestyle-choice spectacle of myself over the last several years. My marriage, my education, my career, my child-bearing, and my parenting have all raised an eyebrow at one time or another. I want family & friends to see my house and give me the "yes" nod. My home is not the biggest or the fanciest. But they can step inside and know that they don't have to worry. I've got this.

Until this week.

Note from husband: do not mix Dr. Bronners with vinegar. Mirrors don't like it.

I quit. I'm waving the white flag. Not as a martyr to a dirty home, but as a woman to a choice. My kids could care less about dirty mirrors and strewn-about puzzle pieces, and I'm taking a lesson from them. I'm giving up on good for better. I will spend less time chasing tedious tasks. I will spend more time in the Word, more time painting that dresser navy blue, more time playing intentionally with my children, more time outside... the list goes on. For example, I recently caught up on some reading (on my unmade bed) with this as my backdrop:

I still put all of this clutter away before bed, and I managed to scrub a few sinks and toilets... but that was therapeutic. And we have a lot of boys. But the rest can wait another day or two. No more staring at Chris in bewilderment, asking him how he manages to enjoy time to himself in the midst of our chaos. I'm grabbing some for myself. I'm enjoying the grace and freedom of a not-always-neat house.

I'm giving up on good.

ORECK: a review & a giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:09:00 +0000

Our first married fight involved a vacuum cleaner. Things had been tense all day when the evening found us in our bedroom; me, furiously vaccuuming and he, trying to figure out this new wife of his. He stood there in the doorway, arms crossed, irritatingly sweet smile on his face. I'm sure I had an attitude when I asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?" And then, out came the fateful words. "You're doing it wrong." I immediately offered that he take over, but he refused on the basis that I was being ugly about it. And I was. I dropped the vacuum's handle and went outside to cool off. The thing was still on and in the spot in which I'd left it, when I returned a few minutes later.

My husband brought to our marriage a beast of a vacuum that includes gears, attachments, about forty pounds, and over a decade of experience. Apparently, this brand boasts a machine that never dies. This was a bummer for me, as I couldn't rationalize purchasing a new one. But I also couldn't get the thing up the stairs. If I could just learn how to screw on the front correctly and use the gears properly, it would drive itself. Right, Christopher? So over the years, we've compromised. I've promised to never smack-talk the vacuum, and my husband has taken over vacuuming. I think I've used the thing three times in our entire marriage.

Thanks to the folks at Oreck, though, I'm back in the game. We were recently sent a Magnesium vacuum cleaner to review, free of charge! Praise the Lord and thank you, Oreck! We've been using it for about three weeks now, and the whole family is in love. Twelve-year-old Lucas' chore is sweeping, and his domain has increased significantly since we installed the laminate hardwoods. Thanks to this Magnesium, he's able to cover more ground faster. He also loves how light it is and is enamored with the concept that he can lift it with a single finger. When I asked him for constructive criticism, he sheepishly admitted that he prefers the color red over blue. I informed him that blue is the only option, and he perked up. I love that kid.

Our new Oreck does a good job on carpets, which I expected. However, it works exceptionally well on our hard surfaces, which was a nice surprise. The cord is long enough to get through two rooms, and I like that it has only two speed settings. No fuss required, like our old machine! I am in the process of trying to find a good routine for the rugs, as the Magnesium tends to suck up the corners rather easily. The safety feature is great, though, in that the machine blinks and shuts off whenever it catches the rug corners (or its own cord).

Exhibit A: merely one day's worth of dirt, dust, & dog hair.

I haven't had to empty it yet, but the Magnesium came with an easy-to-understand manual. The zipper and HEPA bag seem particularly helpful, and I've noticed zero odors so far. Our old machine had to live in the garage because it got so hot and stinky.

Two thumbs up, Oreck! You have no idea how much you've blessed this family!

And to add to the glee and excitement...

One of you is going to win an Oreck Magnesium of your very own!

Simply visit Oreck.com and tell me one thing you learned about the Magnesium.

Leave a comment below for your chance to win! I'll draw a winner June 1.

Nitty gritty details:

You must be a resident of the contiguous 48 states to win. Oreck Corporation provided the prize for the sweepstakes but is not the sponsor of the sweepstakes. You don't have to follow my blog or my Twitter account to win, but I sure would appreciate the support. Thanks!

some strawberries

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Just wanted to share a few photos from a fun Friday we had a few weeks back. On this particular afternoon, we picked strawberries at a farm just outside of our neighborhood. Typically, I work (twelve-hour shifts) every Thursday/Friday/Saturday. This means any free time at the end of the week is a blessing. We try to live it up!

a surprise & a song

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We're not pregnant. BUT! An exciting review & giveaway is headed to the blog this week, so stay tuned. Hint: this sponsor's logo is already in its spot on the right side of this page. While you're over there, check out all of the other great people and companies who have worked with us over the last few years! Just wanted to give you the heads-up on this week, because one of you is gonna clean up!

As most of you know, my husband has been faithful to his 52 project since January. Last week's track is one of my all-time favorites. He wrote it a few years back, and it's finally made its way to the recording studio. Remember, all of his songs are free to download! There's an option to pay for his originals, and we'd love the support. But you can put in $0 and still get the song.

Happy Monday, friends!

a little something to make you smile on a Sunday...

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:32:00 +0000

Grabbed this after breakfast yesterday morning...

a year with twins: breastfeeding

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I've nursed the sisters in tandem throughout their lives. It's easier to keep them on a schedule, and it cuts down on the time. When they were smaller, I used the My Brest Friend twin pillow (and nipple shields. God bless those things). Now that they're bigger, I lie flat on my back and cradle one in each arm, usually with the assistance of pillows. Sometimes, I sit up and each girl straddles a leg - a humorous image, I know. I treasure the times I get to nurse them separately, which is rare but sweet. I'm a big fan of side-lying nursing. If you don't know, honey... ask for help! Glorious.

One of the great things about tandem nursing is that I never get full or engorged or lumpy, and I don't have to remember who ate what when. I do try to remember who nursed on which side last, so that I can keep things even. They nurse for about ten minutes, and I empty out completely. They've always been fast and efficient, and I worried at the beginning. I did some block-feeding and worked on my foremilk/hindmilk balance, but it never became a huge issue.

Isaiah Jane is my star nursling. She cuddles me and stares into my eyes and smiles as if to say, "Thank you, Momma!" Honor tries to see how much she can get done while nursing, including leaving my lap and heading for the door with my body parts still in her mouth. They have both always acted just like that, never switching or developing any new habits. When they got teeth, who do you think experimented with biting? It only happened for a few weeks, though. I'd immediately break Honor's latch and put her on the floor. She's gotten much better since.

When I work, the sisters get expressed milk. We followed the Kellymom rule at first (25 / # feedings = oz. per feeding), but now they just get whatever's in the fridge in addition to their solids. I'm working my way through a friend's donor milk to try and help them put on some weight. They really like the Comotomo bottles and seem to toss aside everything else.

One of the coolest parts of this breastfeeding experience has been the divine math. I struggled to keep my supply with Ames and was sure I would this time, but I've not had an issue with the twins. I've always pumped exactly twice what I did with Ames, and it seems like there's always just enough to satisfy them when they nurse. Down to the ounce, there is always just enough. The beauty of the body never ceases to amaze me. In addition to the good Lord, I'd like to thank my placenta pills. I'm convinced they helped me build and maintain my supply in a way that I couldn't have done without them. Thank you, Christina!

We're down to nursing three times a day now, which is bittersweet. I'm glad to have a little bit of freedom back, and I can finally go a full shift at work without pumping (although Chris often brings the girls at lunch). But since I'm not sure if this is IT, I sort of want time to slow a bit. I'm almost tempted to break out my pump again, just to remember it. I said almost.

I find it a bit unfair, how easy the weaning process is. After all of the hard work I've put into keeping up my supply over the last year, all I have to do is skip a nursing session or sleep an extra hour and my body makes less milk. I'm sure when it's time, I'll make each sister's last session memorable like I did with Ames. In the meantime, I'll enjoy what we've got going. And I'll try to adjust to this new hormone/metabolism shift - zits and pounds are coming to visit, y'all!

Mamas Makin' It Work - #23

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

a hydrated mama who makes time for her art...

Gillian

In 2006, I married my childhood sweetheart. Now, five and a half years later, we are raising our two wonderful boys, Roman (4) and Asher (5 months), while also juggling work and school. Currently, I am staying home with the boys, teaching Roman in his first year of homeschool and attending college part time studying art. My husband makes the money and is also a part time college student. While pregnant with Asher, I thought the adjustment to two boys would be a breeze. Roman is such a sweet and tender boy and I knew he would love to help us care for our baby. We kept him super involved in my pregnancy. His favorite pastime was talking to my belly and having my belly (well, me) talk back. However, one birth and one long week in the hospital later, I came home to find a whole new Roman that I’d never met. His transition from being the only love of our lives to big brother was definitely a rough one. I’ve also realized that having two is definitely a big adjustment for ME. Six months later, life has definitely settled down some, but I find that our life definitely feels much more disorganized and haphazard than it was with our family of just 3. I’ve loved reading all the mama’s tips on Letters to Ames so far. As far as making it work for my family, I know we have areas in which we could improve! I've put together a list of goals, that I hope will boost our family life in 2012.

1. Take Better Care of Myself Physically

• Drink more water: As a breast feeding mother, I KNOW I need to be drinking more water.
• Eat more whole foods: Fast food definitely became my go-to crutch during my pregnancy and having two babies hasn’t made that habit any easier to break. I really want to get back to more whole foods for my family. Especially since Asher is reaching the six month mark, I want to re-evaluate our eating habits so that we can make a good example for him as he starts his journey into solid foods.
• Find healthier energy boosters: My other crutch has become sweet sugary iced coffees! I would love to go back to drinking more green tea and green smoothies instead to boost my energy!
• Be realistic about exercise: Running to the gym has definitely become a bigger challenge since having a new baby and additionally moving to the country. I want to be able to stick to realistic goals and feel good about accomplishing them, instead of feeling frustrated that I can’t exercise more.

2. Take Better Care of Myself Emotionally.
• Carve out time for myself: Lately I’ve taken a couple trips to the coffee shop ALONE and that has been great. I spend every waking moment with my boys and I love it. But those couple hours of peace are heavenly. I usually find it easier and preferable to take my little nursling with me or spend time with the whole family, but I know I need a little bit of time to myself sometimes to relax.
• Set aside time for art: Working on my photography, updating my blog, writing, these are things that I love and they make me feel more whole as a person.

3. Create Routine.
• Make some sort of plan for our days: I pretty much always feel like I’m getting dragged through a race. I know part of the problem is that our day to day schedule is so disorderly. I’ve always been a pretty go with the flow type person, but with two little ones I am craving a little bit more routine.
I love the feeling of starting a fresh year and having a change to clean up and better your life. I really hope to be able to strive for these three things in my life. That is how this mama plans on making it work this year!

Love, Gillian

_______

Keep it comin', ladies! I'm learning! Email me to get involved.

a big day for Isaiah Jane!

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:22:00 +0000

She's been making such great progress in the motor department. It's been building for about a week now...Today, this little sister CRAWLED in front of God & country - and her physical therapist!
Thirteen months and probably as many pounds. So proud of the peanut.

reach out in the darkness...

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I recently read an article about the prevalence of autism in America, and the way it affects families. Something like 80% of couples who raise an autistic child end up divorced. One dad interviewed said the statistic didn't surprise him at all. He even used the phrase, "at each other's throat" in reference to his wife as they learned to deal with their son early on.

One of the things he gives credit, for keeping his marriage together? His church. "Members who might not be familiar with autism, and might find William's behaviors scary, were willing to learn how to care for him." They'd give the couple a break every now and then. That really moved me, to see practical love being put to use. This church walked their talk. They leaned in and held this couple's arms up when they got tired. We always say it takes a village to raise a child, but in this story it took a village to keep a marriage together. I love that image.

This story may not have applied to me word for word, but it reminded me of the importance of community - neighborhood, workplace, the Internet, and beyond. During the last several months, I've been touched over and over again by you people. Each encouraging comment, email, and text message. Each time someone at work or church stops me and says, "I know you don't want to talk about it, but I read your blog and I'm here for you." Each offer to babysit or to stop by and help during therapy sessions. You all are blowing my mind with support and love, and it feels so good to accept it. You are acting as the body of Christ... Even if you don't plant your flag in the Jesus camp.

Sorta creepy & sneaky, huh? It's okay. I think it breaks things down nicely. It paints a picture of what Christianity is all about and what a church is supposed to look like. I'm thankful to have found one that I call home. One that takes me and my family as we are. One that doesn't care (to borrow my pastor's words) if I'm black, white, gay, or straight. One that makes me feel safe. One that challenges me to lean in and get my hands dirty worrying about others before myself. Since the sisters were born, I've found myself giving away more money and time and material things. It's never felt more backwards and I've never felt more at peace.

I don't know about you... but the thought of holding someone's arms up when they have nothing left? It makes me feel more alive than I ever though possible.

the lake.

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Chris & I both have the fever. We want to move out to the country - to acres, to chickens, to quiet. That probably won't happen for a while, so I've been making a list of things that keep me content where we are. I am grateful that we were able to buy a house so early in our marriage. It was new construction, and we were able to build it to our specifications. It's enough space, and it's in a great school district - Avery walks to the elementary school two streets over! It may not be where we want to live five years from now (or even three), but it's ours and it's home.

One of the best things about our neighborhood is the lake by Avery's school. We have spent many an afternoon out there, throwing the ball for the dogs. The pups run & swim until their tongues fall out of their heads. It's a little piece of heaven for them, and it gives us a taste of what we hope to own someday.

Anger.

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

When I allow myself to be alone with my thoughts, I find that I am in a dark place these days.

If I were honest, I'd admit that sometimes I feel anger towards my tiniest daughter. I see her crossed eyes and her limp body and all of the things the world labels as imperfections, and I grow frustrated with her. I want to be able to move on from tests and doctors and questions and therapy. I want her to crawl. I want her to gain weight. She's slowing down my life and making it hard for me to love her in the way I always knew. And just when I feel myself spiraling out of control, the Lord shushes me. I cry an ugly cry and think back on that statement and realize how beautiful it is.

She's slowing down my life and making it hard for me to love her in the way I always knew.

She's doing a new thing in me, and I am so blessed to call her mine.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://christopherkincaid.bandcamp.com/track/the-day-that-you-were-born-for-isaiah-jane"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Day That You Were Born (for Isaiah Jane) by Christopher Kincaid&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Mamas Makin' It Work - #22

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

a ministry mama...

Joanna

When I was 18 years old, I realized that I wanted to be a pastor. When I was 23, a year and a half into the three year Seminary program, I discovered two pink lines on a stick. My husband and I decided that if God was calling me to both ministry and motherhood, then God certainly would help me make it work.

Little Miss Evelyn arrived two weeks before the Fall Semester of my final year. My school has no maternity policy (something they've received a series of letters from me about...) so I was sitting in on evening classes after only two weeks. After three weeks, I returned to my 10-hour a week church internship as well.

My now eight month old has been the most amazing "colleague" in ministry. To fill in my internship hours, we do visits to homebound church members (I always call their nurses first to make sure it's a healthy environment!). She smiles and coos into their thick, shiny glasses, and they get the biggest kick out of it.

Evelyn is very intrigued by art and colorful pictures and she is very calm, quiet, and sweet. Recently, we have had the most amazing breakthrough with a woman named Sybil who was an artist before having a stroke 20 years ago. She has now been in hospice care for about a month. She has several very beautiful and intricate lap quilts and always wears a different one. When we visit her, I hold Evelyn on my lap and sit knee-to-knee with this woman in her wheelchair. She doesn't talk much. She is very sad and lonely. Recently, Evelyn began to trace the patterns on Sybil's lap quilt with her unskilled, grabby fingers. Knowing that Sybil had been an artist, I said to her, "You and Evelyn are both artists. You see things in ways that other people don't see. It's just a little frustrating sometimes because you can't control your bodies very well." For the first time in all of our visits, I saw Sybil smile. She reached out her shaky arm and touched Evelyn's hair and said, "Yeah. That's right." It was as if Sybil finally found someone who understood her in this frustrating time in her life.

You see, my response to the question, "How do you make it work?" is that I think my little one is really doing the important work. She is helping me follow my calling to be a pastor by helping people through their troubles in ways that I can't by myself. I know that God is working through her.

As for cooking, cleaning, getting homework done, and staying healthy, I'm still trying to figure all that stuff out.

_____

join the crew! Email me to get involved with Mamas Makin' It Work.

freeze your loaf, and other frugal mom secrets.

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:06:00 +0000

The other day I overheard Chris sharing about our love for refrigeration, and I got to thinking about the quirky kitchen things we do to stay frugal and keep this large family afloat. Maybe you do them, too. Maybe they're not quirky at all. Help me add to the list!

Freeze your loaf. I buy bread two or three loaves at a time, in order to get it on sale. One loaf stays in the fridge, and the rest live in the freezer. We never worry about moldy or stale bread, and the slices make their way to room temp by the time we eat! We keep bananas in the fridge, too, since we buy so many at a time.

Break up the bouquet. Whenever we buy fresh flowers, we split them up as soon as we get home. I keep a small vase near the front door, another one on the kitchen table, and two more scattered around the house - even upstairs! It's more work to clean up afterwards, but a little floral cheer sure goes a long way. Also, stick to wild flowers and hardier blooms. You can keep those suckers going for weeks!

Portion ahead. It's amazing how much of a difference this makes. One specific example: My family loves chicken BBQ. Recently, I tried an experiment to see if I could stretch my chicken and I portioned sandwiches out first. In the end, I got eight extra sandwiches... enough for seconds all around!

Water it down. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Hard times come and go; I have been known to water down juice - and even milk. I buy organic whole milk, and that stuff is not cheap. I might not give my kids milk that's been stripped down, but I'll occasionally give them nature's version! They've never complained, and I've had it myself. Tastes just like 2%, I promise.

I'm sure the oddities abound, but that's all I can think of right now now.
Your turn! Teach me your ways!

Praise the Lord... They have arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

The high chairs to our house.
The sisters to our table.
The mess to our floor.
The dogs to our rescue.

getting on my marriage soapbox...

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:26:00 +0000

But not here! I'm a guest on Sara's blog today, Prairie Hen. She asked me a few questions about motherhood, and (of course) I had to share my two cents about having a marriage-centered family! To answer a few recently-asked questions: The term I got from Andy Stanley; and so far, no books, etc. But I'm on the look-out!

I've spent the last hour on the phone, catching up on missed phone calls from the last week. Unfortunately, no loved ones were involved. I did, however, talk myself silly with plenty of doctor's offices, accounting offices, insurance companies, etc. And the day is only getting more exciting. I'm about to take the Suburban into the shop, as the air conditioning suddenly went out yesterday afternoon. Yikes!

Instead of closing with bellyaching, I'll leave you with a sweet moment I captured on my phone while nursing last night. The sisters are really taking to each other. There are plenty of kisses, waves, high-fives, (and in this case, high-feet) to go around. Happy Monday!

Edit: Somehow my post disappeared into Internet-land earlier today. I'm going to continue to blame the new Blogger format for all of these recent glitches until I come up with a better explanation. I did my best to recreate it just now. While the post deleted itself today, I spent sweet time over a Carolina BBQ lunch with my parents. My mom also rescued me from a long wait at the auto shop. The repair bill is literally ten times what I expected, but God is still good and the backyard fence can wait... right? Choosing joy! Choosing contentment! Trying!

the sling diaries: style

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

This is the second installment of a six-month series called the Sling Diaries, sponsored by Sakura Bloom. We were sent two slings to review, in exchange for a collection of entries based on different themes each month. I'm excited & honored to be a part of this project!

This month, the challenge is style. Because I feel like my personal style encompasses different dimensions and influences, I decided to focus on one specific element of my wardrobe. I grew up pushing limits with my outfits, trying my hardest to be creative and tasteful and fashionable all at the same time. Over the years, though, I've settled into one specific comfortable go-to look that I feel still lends a lot to expression and personal tastes...Jeans & a tee has grown to mean so much for my closet. The combination has become a motherhood staple, too, in that it's friendly to babywearing & nursing!

I got this Puma tee when I worked there several years ago, and I immediately cut off the shoulders. Here, I paired it with rolled-up straight-leg jeans from Lucky Brand and leopard Target flats on a trip to visit some coworkers.

This is a typical afternoon for us. The boys play football or foursquare, and I keep tabs on the babies. My most favorite pair of shorts are hand-me-down True Religion jeans from a friend. I wore them with an old summer camp shirt and a pair of canvas flats from Lucky Brand, for an afternoon of porch-sitting.

With three kids two and under, it's easy to understand why we spend a lot of time at home. That being said, we've tried to enforce a no-pajamas-all-day rule. Everyone feels better in real clothes, right? I specifically bought these Levi's jeggings to replace my comfy pajama pants. The tee is Christopher's middle school gym shirt. It's my favorite piece of clothing, hands-down. I keep one sling upstairs and one downstairs, for easy access. They make it so much easier to handle two babies at once!

I wear my cowboy boots more often than I probably should, and I love a peep-toe heel or wedge. There are a few funky thrifted dresses and ruffly tops in the closet for fun times away from the kids. When it's all said and done, though... you can most likely find me (and the rest of my family) in jeans & a tee!

Lucas & his ladies.

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:39:00 +0000

The other day, I caught them all making silly faces with each other at the table. He leaned over to kiss them on the heads, and it took my breath away. It was so natural. Last night, he literally rocked Honor Rose back to sleep after he heard her fussing through his bedroom wall. They've put him through a lot over the last year, but he's passed the test with flying colors. He might just turn out to be their first love, and I'm totally fine with that. At least I know he'll never break their hearts!

garden goodness

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:29:00 +0000

We've always been amateur gardeners. Christopher built us a raised bed as soon as we moved into this house, and we've grown a few different tomato plants and herbs over the summers. This year, we decided to expand a bit. He built another bed, and we're going to divide up the harvests a bit in order to get produce for a longer season. We've planted several more goodies this year, too. We started off with several organic plant seedlings, just to see if we get them to grow. So far, all but one sad tomato plant seem to be thriving! As the weather warms, we'll add more mature plants in, too. The window sill in Chris' office has given way to all sorts of sprouts - everything from cucumber to lavender to onions. Our green bean plants are already outside and producing huge leaves. I'm still learning, but we're having fun. My goal is to grow lettuce and kale into the winter, since we eat so much of it! Any tips?

a year with twins: solids & baby food

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:12:00 +0000

As we cross into toddlerhood with the sisters, I thought I'd write a few posts to celebrate the ways we've survived & thrived over the last year. This series, A Year With Twins, will cover some of the basics of baby world. Feel free to give me additional suggestions, and as always... give me your feedback on the subjects as well!

solids

Although the girls have been on table food for a few months now, the restrictions have lifted some since they turned one. We're still avoiding strawberries, honey, and peanut butter. In addition to nursing and table food, the sisters still eat baby food. We make our own for several reasons. It's cheap, it's easy, it's cheap, it's healthy, and it's cheap!

Whenever I buy produce, I pick up a few extra items for the sisters. To help keep costs down, I follow the "Dirty Dozen/Clean Fifteen" guidelines. The sisters eat a lot of squash, zucchini, and sweet potatoes. We also keep a ten-pound bag of carrots and a bag of avocados in the fridge, since everyone snacks on those. I focus on vegetables because it's rare to find a baby who refuses something sweet! We have frozen blueberries in the freezer for yogurt, and I've been serving their veggies in applesauce.

I know I've mentioned it before, but we like whole foods around here. Everything gets chopped up and thrown in a pot, and I boil it for a few minutes before draining. I want the veggies soft enough to mash, but I want to maintain as much nutrient as possible. I leave the sweet potatoes by themselves, but I mix the other veggies together and mash - squash, zucchini, and carrots. I typically add a bit of applesauce to sweeten it up and hold it together. We store it all in mason jars.

I thought I struck gold when I found these Motts three-packs at Costco. So much cheaper than making my own applesauce! I don't remember them containing high fructose corn syrup, but apparently they do? Chris pointed it out this week, so we're back to making our own for now (I just throw sliced apples and water in the crock pot for a few hours).

We make baby food once a week or so, and we try to knock it out together. Chris recently experimented with the blender, which broke up the peels and allowed for a shorter boiling time. The result is a much more blended puree, which might be great for younger babies. Don't forget, though... the World Health Organization recommends parents to feed babies breastmilk or formula exclusively until six months of age!

The sisters haven't mastered any real form of drinking yet. They still get bottles of breastmilk while I'm at work. When I'm home, they nurse. I've been hesitant to buy transition sippy cups because I don't want to waste the money if they hate them! I'd rather hold out until they feel comfortable with all of Ames' cups.

Pincer grasps are coming along very nicely! Isaiah Jane works on hers during therapy each week, and the difference is noticeable. I know it's probably frustrating to learn basic functions like feeding one's self, but it's so fun to watch those girls.

Thanks to a very generous family member, the sisters will soon join us at the table. Birthday high chairs are on the way! Until now, they've been in Bumbo seats & trays on the floor. It's unbelievably messy. Honor Rose usually tumbles her way out halfway through dinner, leaving a trail of food in order to crawl over to us and beg for scraps. I can't wait to have everyone at the table together at mealtime.

Solids! With twins!

thrifty threads: a toddler three-in-one

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:17:00 +0000

Ames usually wins the award for the best-dressed in our family. Because he can't argue yet and we buy almost all of his clothes second-hand, we can afford to have fun with his outfits.

As I've mentioned before, we try not to interfere with the big boys' developing tastes & preferences when it comes to clothes. However, Chris recently called an audible on a particular choice that involved brown on navy on black. As we hung out in Ames' room and got him dressed, we discussed acceptable combinations of the aforementioned colors. Our family tends to break a lot of traditional fashion rules, and I'm okay with that. Who knew that in addition to religion and politics, you can teach your kids whatever you want them to know about clothes?!

Clashing Patterns

Driver's cap - Gap

Cardigan - Nordstrom*

Pants - The Children's Place*

Saddle oxfords - Stride Rite*

Black on Brown

Tee - Old Navy*

Jeans - Old Navy*

Sandals - Salt Water, eBay

Stripes on Stripes on Stripes on Stripes

Driver's cap - Target

Rugby shirt - Ralph Lauren*

Blue tee - Crazy8

Shorts - vintage*

Sneakers - Chuck Taylor*

* thrifted

[I use the word loosely, simply to mean that I bought it used. I shop at two specific thrift stores, church rummage sales, & consignment shops.]

Mamas Makin' It Work - #21

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

a serial bloggin' bullet-point maker...

erika

Hi all of you lovely Kincaid Parade readers! I am so delighted to be here today to share with you how I "made it work"...Honestly, all I can think of as I write this post is Tim Gun saying "make it work!" over and over. Oh Tim, you crazy man you.

Anyway!

My name is Erika and I'm the mama to an adorable ten month old baby girl named Eloise. She is pretty much amazing, and I think her poop smells like flowers, even (just kidding). I'm also the wife to a wonderful guy named Tyler and the human to two cuddly pugs named Oscar and Tilly. I'm what you would call a serial blogger. I have so many blogs, it's insane. But, mainly I blog over at t.e. and baby and on Oops! I Craft My Pants. I also design blogs on The Fairy Blogmother. While I am incredibly lucky to be able to make a living while staying at home with my baby, as you can imagine, I am on the computer a lot.

When I first had baby E, it was super easy for me to do my work when she napped (because newborns nap all the time, hah!)...But, now that she's getting older, I've been having kind of a rough time knowing how to balance life in general. Too often, I find myself on the Internet when I should probably be using my time more wisely...Whether it be playing with my baby girl, cleaning up the kitchen, whatever.

Here are the five easy steps that I took to create a more balanced life as a work at home mom, though, I'm sure these steps could apply to any mom (or dad!).

ONE: Always choose the baby.

When I look back in thirty years, I want to think of all the amazing time I spend with my daughter. I want to remember her giggles, her cuddles, and our special bond that only her and I have. I don't want to look back and think "Oh yeah, my house was clean...cool..." or "I sure grew my online business a lot in 2012!"...Priorities, man.

TWO: Get off the stinkin' cellphone.

I'm not a big phone talker, but man can I text. And email. And read blogs...And Instagram. And Facebook...and and and. I swear, it is so easy to just "check one little thing" on my phone and end up on there for way longer than necessary. I don't want my baby to look back when she is older and think "my mom was always on her phone!" Again, it's all about perspective, will those Facebook comments even matter in 20 years? Or, am I wasting precious time that I could be using with my family? (I even made a little cellphone screen saver to help with this issue, go here to read all about it.)

THREE: Make a to do list.

I've found that when I don't have a to do list, nothing gets done in the day. But, if I have little boxes to scribble out, I am way more likely to list, I actually clean. I, for one, am a much better mama when I feel like I've accomplished something in the day. On the same note, change out of your PJs once in a while!

FOUR: Work when the baby is sleeping.

I have made this change this past month, and I feel so much more fulfilled. It helps me keep work work, and not my home life. Plus, I would much rather be hanging out with my baby (or husband!) than doing work when they are awake.

FIVE: Make time for you...EVERY day.

This one is a biggie. It's so easy to get caught up in this crazy life. It's so easy to be a mama, eat, sleep, and repeat every. single. day. And, it's so hard to remember that "hey! I'm important too, darnit!" and take time for myself. But, I've found that even a simple bubble bath can leave me feeling so incredibly rejuvenated.

So...What about you guys? How do you balance working at home and family life? Any tips for me? I could sure use them! Please stop by my blog and say hi! I'd love to meet you!

________________

have a story to share? email me to be featured on this series!

their first birthday

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:33:00 +0000

Do y'all even like photo dumps on here? I don't do it very often, but I'm trying to get better about taking pictures while we're out!

The sisters' birthday started off rough, with us leaving late and me in one of my famous events-stress-me-out moods. But it quickly turned around. Everyone behaved beautifully and enjoyed themselves. I can't wait to go back! We finished the day with a birthday dinner at Chick-Fil-A, followed by cupcakes on the floor at home.

These girls are a year old. ONE!

a year with twins: out & about

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

out & about

Like most wild animals, the Kincaid Parade prefers to travel in a pack.

It's easier to handle the kids, and it's more fun in general.

We've preferred babywearing over strollers, and it has proven itself both efficient and enjoyable. Even the boys wear the babies on occasion! Over the years, I have owned one of pretty much every baby carrier out there. I prefer slings because of their ease-of-use and discreet nursing capability. Chris loves a good structured carrier. We also own three strollers, and we use them all. We have a single umbrella, a double umbrella, and a double in-line.

A random but useful tip: Blankets on board! We keep a giant red quilt in the back of the Suburban. That way, we have the option to sit on the ground wherever we are, and the non-mobile babies will be comfortable. We've done this at restaurants (in the outdoor seating area), at parks, and even at the zoo on a slab of concrete. It eliminates all of the highchair searching and the wiping and the pushing tables together and the grass inspecting and the worrying about safety. Breathe! Relax! Throw your family on the ground!

away from me, baby fever!

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:18:00 +0000

Last night, Chris agreed to try out for The Voice if I'd have another baby with him. I'm (fairly) sure we're done, but I can't look at photos like these without wondering what it'd be like to keep going. I know it's the my-babies-are-one hormones talking, but c'mon! Newborns are delicious. And hard. And still delicious.

1) We'd have to get a bench seat for the Suburban.

2) Our closet would become a nursery.

3) Groceries. Clothes. College.

4) Christopher, stay away.

the sisters are turning one.

noreply@blogger.com (rachael) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:18:00 +0000

In a few hours, my girls will become toddlers.

They're still tiny. They don't walk or talk, and they still breastfeed. But there is something undeniable about a first birthday. I'll have to start sucking in my belly more, and I can't say things like "We just had twin girls!" I've waited a long time for this day, and yet the last year seems to have left me on my back in the dust. It is so beautiful and painful to think back. Before the clock strikes, I want to remember some things about my babies.

At eleven months and thirty days, Isaiah Jane is:

Somewhere around 13.5lbs

Army crawling and pushing onto all fours

Smiling almost constantly

Making consonant sounds, and on command

Enjoying music

Sucking her thumb during sleep

Eating anything we serve her

At eleven months and thirty days, Honor Rose is:

Somewhere around 15lbs

Crawling, pulling up, and cruising on furniture

Very observant, only smiling when she means it

Waving at her daddy and big brothers

Enjoying music

Sucking a pacifier during sleep

Eating anything we serve her

Tomorrow, we'll sleep in (hopefully) and take our time getting ready. Once it's time for the girls' morning nap, we'll surprise everyone by piling in the car and heading south for an hour or two until we reach the zoo. We've never been, and the boys are on Spring Break. I wanted to do something everyone could enjoy and still be intentional about making a memory. I think it's important that the older ones remember birthday celebrations, even when the little ones can't. No party or anything fancy. Just family time and some cupcakes from a sweet friend.

When I think about the last year, I can't help but shake my head. It has been one of the most incredible years of my life. And to think that I might get another one with these girls? It blows my mind with gratitude.