a little birdy told me...

Kids and Babies

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:59:00 +0000

This is my new niece, Katie. She was 3 weeks old here.

Adorable, no?

Hat is from Not Just a Hat Rack on Facebook

And this is my wild man.

He thinks he looks like Santa, but that's because he doesn't know who Abe Lincoln was.

I'm 23 weeks along today. This pregnancy is going well and much faster than my first! I doubt my busy 3.5 year old has anything to do with it... I'm starting to get uncomfortable after sitting or standing too long. My appetite is through the roof! I am trying not to go too crazy, though. Baby boy kicks like crazy now, and he must be doing flips in there because it sure feels like my internal organs are being pushed up to my throat sometimes! We still don't have a name for him, but hopefully soon.

It's a.........

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:24:00 +0000

BOY!! Another boy for our family!!

This post is kind of overdue, but better late than never! We found out last Tuesday that our baby boy is healthy and growing well. We couldn't be happier and we're so excited that Devin will have a little brother.

Baby boy looks so much like his big brother already! You can tell especially in the profile pic. Our due date is still May 10, just 5 days before Devin's 4th birthday.

We are gearing up for Christmas here. I can't wait to see the looks on Devin's face when he sees what Santa brought him! If I have any readers left out there, I hope you have a happy holiday season!

Halloween 2011

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:51:00 +0000

Devin specifically wanted to be a "Train Driver". After we got him all dressed up for the party at daycare, he walked to the mirror and just stood there staring at himself, smiling.

Now that Halloween is over, it's time to think about Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!

We Have News!

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:16:00 +0000

Devin is going to be a big brother in May 2012!

5th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:44:00 +0000

So, our 5 year wedding anniversary is coming at the end of October. (Wow- 5 years already??) I have been trying to figure out a creative gift idea for my hubby. The traditional 5th anniversary gift is wood. Tehe. Where does one go first when shopping for a gift? Etsy, of course!

As I am browsing Etsy, well, let's just say some interesting things show up when you type in "wood". I'll wait a minute while you go look..... See what I mean? You didn't know you could find such things in the popular online marketplace, now did you??

Since my husband rarely reads my blog, I'm thinking of getting him something like this: (pic won't load)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76105622/natural-black-cherry-wood-personalized?ref=sr_gallery_31&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=wood+anniversary&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

I'm not 100% sold on it. So if you have any ideas, please share with me! I'd love to hear about your wood! hehe

Cunundrums

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 01:59:00 +0000

Sell the house? No, we would potentially have a huge loss.
Rent out the house? Possibly, but only if the profit would be enough to rent a larger house.
Expand the house? Maybe, but would we recoup the money it would cost on the re-sell?

    Ugh. These are the questions we are struggling with right now. The house is still up for rent, but we have only had one couple come to see it.

    On one hand, we feel like God is telling us to appreciate what we have now. After all, we do have three bedrooms. We *could* fit one more child in this house. We don't need a larger house. Or a garage.

    On the other hand.. we would like to have more room. We would like to watch movies in the living room without keeping Devin awake. We'd love to have a garage, or some sort of structure in which to park our cars.

    Speaking of cars. They are still for sale, too. We can't seem to shake these gas-guzzlers loose. I'm sure people are avoiding them for the same reason we want to get rid of them- gas prices.

Facebook Funnies

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:16:00 +0000

Telling a story about a race car driver

Devin often says funny things. I tend to post lots of his funny quotes on Facebook. I decided to compile a list of some of his funnies!

Devin just told dh that his bass-playing makes the lightning bugs sad. lol!

And here's a pic I added to Facebook of Devin eating waffles with his underwear on his head... what a silly boy!

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:18:00 +0000

      A lot is going on at our house right now....

     Devin is in a new classroom with a new teacher, who is teaching at a Pre-k level.... so basically he's in pre-Pre-k. He is pretty sad about a new teacher, but I think he will grow to like her. She is sweet and soft spoken. He isn't 100% potty trained yet, but maybe being in a class with other 4 year olds will give him the boost he needs.

     We put our house up for rent! We're hoping to buy in this great market, or possibly just find a larger house to rent. We're outgrowing our house and hope to add to the family soon..... so we would like some more space! We will be Landlords for the first time- eek! Soooo if you need a rental house in North Georgia, I' your gal!

Isn't it cute??

You're going to laugh, but both of our cars are for sale. We are both getting horrible gas mileage and with Neal's new hour-each-way commute, our gas bill is a nightmare! Sooo if you're looking for an SUV, I'm your gal!

Yeah- a lot is going on...... good thing dh and I like change. Although, I get nostalgic when I think about moving away from the house where Devin's new swing set is built .... The house we first purchased as a single couple and came home to as a married couple.... The house where my first anniversary gift- a rose bush- is planted...... The house we brought newborn Devin home.....

2 days old... AWWWWWW

But- we aren't selling it. So, in a way, it will still be ours. Wish us luck!

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:45:00 +0000

It has always been my personality to want to hurry on to the next thing. That goes for pretty much everything. So I find it hard sometimes to just be in the moment. It's funny, because I remind myself to do that very thing a thousand times a day, especially when it comes to Devin.

I think to myself... "It's almost nap time", "Better check my email", or "Can't wait for Neal to get home to take this kid off my hands". And I know that is normal stuff for a parent; especially on those very trying days like I had today. But...

I want that to change. I want to remember the important moments, and the not-so-important ones. The day to day happenings that we call Life. Here is a quote that I try to keep in mind...

"Don't count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count."

When I think about the past three years that have gone by since I had my son, and the last 5 years since I got married, I realize just how quickly it has flown by. With talks of throwing another child into the mix, I need to take time out of my busy day for those special moments that will pass in the blink of an eye.

Nice Ta Meetcha

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:42:00 +0000

Devin has turned 3 in full force! He is working on using the potty and #1 is going great (when he makes it to the potty). Sometimes he decides to stop and pee right where he is standing. His new favorite thing is peeing outside.. boys...

He still likes to get under a blanket and play house. He will say, "Welcome to my house" or "Nice ta meetcha". Then, he pretends to go to work and deliver pizzas. I ask him what I should do and he tells me to go to work.

He's a sassy little thing who is working hard at getting his way every time. He is happiest and behaves best when both mommy and daddy are home. I think he likes to push my buttons. Lucky me! He is 39" tall and a little over 36 pounds.

See the sass?

He is also a sweetheart who cares about others. He says, "I love you" without being prompted. He's a thoughtful little man. I think we're doing something right.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweet Boy!

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Mon, 16 May 2011 01:57:00 +0000

Thankfully, Devin was feeling better after being sick last week. When he awoke this morning to find a bouncy castle in our front yard, he was ready to party!

This bouncy castle was a blast! The kids especially loved the slide inside.

Devin climbing up the slide.

Thomas!

Pizza, Veggies and hummus, chips and dip, Chex mix, deviled eggs, and 2 types of cupcakes

Favors from Oriental Trading Co. We have a bunch left!


Devin and Shiloh- so cute!

Time to make a wish!

Frosting goatee


Every 3 year old should have a big boy bike!

An RC car!

All in all, the party was great and Devin had a blast.

Dedication

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:52:00 +0000

Yesterday was a special day. We had parent-child dedication at church. The three of us stood on stage with a group of other families doing the same thing. A dedication is basically a commitment that we will raise our son in a Christian environment and lead him in the ways of God.

Always a great pic with Daddy, never a great pic with Mommy.

Sorry this is sideways- I gave up on trying to fix it. Anyway, when I picked Devin up from daycare on Thursday, one of his teachers handed this card to me. Devin said, "Ms. Erica made that for me!"

.... And I thought Devin made it for me.... lol! Silly me.

All in all, it was a wonderful Mother's Day. I feel so blessed to be Devin's Mom. He is truly a gift from God.

Happy Easter

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:08:00 +0000

My Kid is SO Funny

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:02:00 +0000

On the way to church, I was telling my husband about something that happened while I was out shopping. Devin pipes up from the back seat with, "That's ridiculous".

While driving, we saw a house being built. The Thomas the Train fan that Devin is, he said, "Look they're building their Summer house".

While eating at a restaurant, he exclaims, "I gotta go pee" and gets up and says, "I'll be right back!" He isn't even close to being potty trained, never mind going to a public bathroom alone!

Haha... he keeps us in stitches!

Friday Weigh-in

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Down 5 lbs total!

I lost .5 lb, but could have done better. I went a little overboard with the sweets this week. I will do better starting today! I want to see at least -1 lb on the scale next week!

Happy Good Friday and Happy Earth Day!

We are taking Devin to an Easter egg hunt at his daycare today. It should be fun watching all the cute little kids find their candy! Tomorrow is work, then church and Sunday is brunch with the family.

It's so easy to get caught up in the egg hunt and the candy, but I hope the meaning of Easter doesn't escape us! Happy Easter to you and your family!

I hope the scale works....

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 02:08:00 +0000

Because if it's accurate, I lost 4.5 lbs my first week on WW! Yay! Now for the hard part... sticking to it!

It has actually been pretty easy. I haven't felt hungry, or like I was missing out. I have had pizza, Mexican food, and lots of yummy food. I have had a major Peeps craving that I may give in to. I looked up the points for the bunnies and the points are actually not high! Not healthy, but low in points. I may just have to indulge tomorrow!

Peeps, here I come!

I like the purple ones:)

Happy Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 03:37:00 +0000

So, I have been doing pretty well with the Weight Watchers thing. Unless you count the Nilla Wafers I binged on tonight. I don't know what came over me, but at least I did count and track the points for them.

While bingeing on said Nilla Wafers, the little dude and I watched Tangled. We both enjoyed it and if you haven't seen it, you should.

Tomorrow we will be going to church after a short hiatus. With both of us working Saturdays and crawling into bed past midnight, we haven't been motivated to get up and get ready in the morning. But, no more excuses, we ARE going tomorrow!

Monday, I am going to try and do some sewing. With Earth Day around the corner, I want to off some eco-friendly items in my shop. I also want to make an Easter shirt for my youngin'.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Today...

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:10:00 +0000

I start Weight Watchers Online.

My first goal is to lose 5% of my weight. Piece of cake, right? My overall goal is to lose about 40 lbs. I can do this. I WILL do this.

I am nervous about sticking with the new Points Plus program, but excited to feel and look better.

I should add a before picture! Wish me luck. :)

You have to make these!

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:06:00 +0000

These are amazing! Cheap. Easy. Delicious. Make them soon!

http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/02/crispy-black-bean-tacos-with-feta-and-slaw/#comment-611009

My Crunchy Side

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:58:00 +0000

After my son was born in 2008, I started looking for new hobbies to take on while he took those long naps newborns tend to take. I decided to try candle-making and was directed to a message board that a certain soy candle maker frequented. This particular message board focuses on eco friendly families. It was there that I first learned about cloth diapers. My interest in cloth diapering domino-ed into other eco friendly interests. After a lot of research and trial and error, I have found many personal and home products that I like and some that I dislike. I thought I would share a list of likes and changes we have made to live a greener lifestyle.

- Cloth diapers- GMD prefolds, bumGenius pockets, Bububebe fitteds, Thirsties covers

- Vinegar- we use it as a cleaning agent and in our washer to soften our clothes (we no longer use dryer sheets or fabric softener)

- Feminine pads AKA Mama Cloth- I know- crazy, huh?! I actually love them! I prefer pads from Homestead Emporium

Un-paper towels- We no longer use paper towels or napkins. I love the bird's eye towels from Man in the Moon Herbs

Deodorant- iKarly's KP's Pit Paste Works great but I try to only use it on work days because of a baking soda sensitivity. For the in-between days, I use JASON or Rainwater Botanicals

Reusable grocery bags- I have many different kinds, most I received as a gift with purchase. They rock!

Organic produce and dairy- we try our best to steer clear of the dirty dozen and purchase organic milk, cheese, and eggs whenever possible.

We planted an organic vegetable garden- hopefully this year's crop will be more fruitful than last year's!

We built a compost bin- using scrap wood and chicken wire

We don't eat meat- we try to eat fresh caught fish when possible

Recycle- we have a Rubbermaid container that we take to the recycling center about every 2 weeks.

I'm sure this will turn into a running list as I start to remember other items and changes we have made. I tried not to make this list too word-y, so If you have any questions or would like recommendations, please ask!

A Birthday Party at the Zoo!

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:37:00 +0000

One of Devin's friends from daycare, Bella, turned 3 and had a party at the wildlife preserve that her parents own. They actually get to live at the zoo! How fun would that be?! Though, a lot of work, I'm sure.

Devin wanted to spend most of his time on the playground

This lion got comfy while we visited with him

Mr. Emu folowed us all over the place sniffing Devin. I think he was expecting a snack.

Couldn't get the kid to look at the camera.

Barney! Most of the kids were scared of him. Poor Barney.

The Birthday Girl! She's too cute.

We had a blast and will definitely go back to the animal preserve. Happy Birthday, Bella!

Imagination

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:40:00 +0000

Devin's imagination is really blossoming lately. He is pretending to be a monster, a tickle robot, to cook. I love it and I'm really trying to nurture it.

Here, he is playing in "our house". The neat thing about our house is that Devin's great-great grandmother made that soft pink blanket:) Under this blanket, we pretend to cook, watch cartoons, eat snacks, whatever he comes up with.

This is some soup he made in his play kitchen. He was so proud and let us have a taste. It was delicious.

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?
Sun Tzu

Par-tay

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:45:00 +0000

This sweet girl, who is also my niece, turned one today. Her party was yesterday.


I made the tutu and 'one'sie for her.

Happy First Birthday, sweet girl. Lala loves you!!

I Love Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:01:00 +0000

My hubby and I are having a date day today while the little one goes to his Valentine's party at daycare. We actually don't have pans yet, but that's how we roll.

What are your plans? Whatever they are or aren't, enjoy the day and remember to say "I love you".

Natural Deodorant

noreply@blogger.com (lar1203) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:47:00 +0000

I have been on the search for a hard-working natural deodorant for a while. Though I have found some I like, they really irritated my underarms. I found this Etsy shop and purchased a sample jar of her "Pit Paste".

It works great and the lemongrass scent smells very nice. I have determined that I have a baking soda sensitivity, so I only use the Pit Paste a 3-4 days a week to avoid irritating my skin.

If you try it, let me know what scent you like!