Thankful Thursday

What a wonderful week it's been! David took last Thursday and Friday off, which was incredibly well-deserved, so we got four days straight together. I don't remember the last time we had that many precious hours in a row. Even most of Christmas break was spent going one place or another and then he put in major time the week after when he'd planned on taking off. We soaked every second up and even got away for a long date on Saturday. We went to brunch at Cracker Barrel and then saw Blind Side (yes, we might be the last people on earth to have seen it.) We calculated that it was our first time in a theater in almost a year. We've never been huge movie-goers, so when date time comes around, we usually spend it doing other things...like chewing food or having an uninterrupted conversation.

So, it was a fantastic four days. Then Monday morning came and reality set back in. I must say, though, this week has gone by very quickly. Between party planning and shopping, grocery shopping and cooking, Bible study doing and attending, and a wonderful visit from a sweet friend, it's hard to believe it's Thursday! And, as such, here is this week's list:

1. Women who take the scripture in Titus 2 to heart, which says:

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior...teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Titus 2:3-5 NASB

I have had several older (NOT old!) women in my life over the years whose examples and wisdom I am grateful for. One in particular spent a great deal of time with Audrey and I on Tuesday and I gained so much insight from her. We got to share our stories with each other and talk through some real issues and subjects. It was time well spent and I'm so thankful she chose to invest in me that way.

2. Sunshine. Even though it's crazy cold and windy, I will choose to be thankful that the sun is out!

3. Cricut Personal Expressions Electronic Cutter...and my generous husband. I didn't even know I wanted it until he started talking about building me one to solve my constant dilemma of trying to make party banners. (And yes - 1. I have no doubt he could build one and 2. It's a pretty common problem I have.) But, as he was researching it, he found one on sale for 60+% off and used a gift card he had to treat me. I'm not a scrapbooker, so I didn't see the use at first. Now, though, I'm convinced it may be the coolest thing ever. Banners, cards, gift tags, photo displays, party decor...the possibilities are endless, but I plan on wearing the thing out trying them all.

4. Trying new recipes, especially when they turn out well! I've done a few new things in the kitchen this week: Rice Krispie Treats, Swiss Chicken in white wine, and a low-cal twist on my go-to chicken salad. Just call me Julia Child. As if the woman ever made Rice Krispie Treats.

5. Spray paint. I would, and just about have, spray painted anything and everything. Brush strokes stress out my inner perfectionist, so give me a can of paint and I'm a happy girl. Or maybe it's the fumes making me giddy. Either way.

Pictures are updated in the gallery! Look for the albums titled "Snow Day" and "Audrey's Eighth Month." Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday

David left for a business trip to Israel on January 30th and returned yesterday. The 18 days, 2 hours, and 33 minutes he was gone weren't exactly easy. Not that the time he's away ever is. This trip, however, was especially rough for several reasons.

First, despite my best germaphobic tenancies, we got sick. Audrey came down with it last Tuesday and I followed a day behind her. Nothing too serious - low grade fever, congestion, sore throat - but certainly enough to make it tougher on me. Solo-parenting is difficult on your best day, so when you're feeling less than 100%, it's near impossible.

Then, smack in the middle of having The Crud, I found out his homecoming was delayed. Instead of returning on Saturday the 13th, he wasn't going to be home until Wednesday the 17th. Let's just say the two days that followed that news were rough. Knowing he was going to miss Valentine's Day (Audrey's first and the first one we've been apart for in 10 years) plus all of the gorgeous snow made me angry and disappointed. In fact, I discussed it at length with God. Though He didn't change the date, He did improve my attitude and patience, which helped.

Finally, five out of the nine play dates/visits I had scheduled while he was away fell through. Some because we were sick, others because they were sick, a couple because of work or weather. Whatever the reasons, it was a serious let down. When he's gone, I try to pack the calendar full so that the time passes by more quickly and I don't get so lonely.

But, looking on the bright side, I did get a lot of projects done. I cleaned out and organized mine and Audrey's closets and packed away clothes that no longer fit us (and yes, fortunately mine were due to being too big, and hers were due to being too small)! I also straightened our bonus room closet and stored some baby gear she no longer uses. I did get a little vegging in and read two books and watched two Audrey Hepburn movies (Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday.) I also got a lot accomplished in planning my niece's first birthday party. So, even though many of my social plans fell through, I certainly wasn't bored!

And now for my Thankful Thursday list. This week's theme will be things that I'll be grateful for over the next few days while David is off of work. You'll notice it's a bit longer than usual:

1. The ability to take a shower without having to sing "Old McDonald Had a Farm" or the ABCs over and over again to keep Audrey occupied.

2. Someone else to change those gosh-awful solid-food diapers.

3. Having time to chew my food.

4. Not having to take out the trash.

5. Watching all those shows stacked up on our DVR that I couldn't watch without him.

6. Freedom to go to the bathroom without having to schedule it around nap time.

7. Freedom to put on make-up/fix my hair without having to schedule it around nap time.

8. Freedom to work out, check email, call a friend, get on the internet, blink, sit down, or think a thought without having to schedule it around nap time.

9. Not going into hysterics when nap time only lasts 30 minutes.

10. And of course, above all, spending time together as a family. Praise God for bringing him back to us safely!!!

Have a great weekend. I know we will!

Thankful Thursday

Ah, Valentine's Day. Some think it's a Hallmark holiday invented to make money, but I see it as a bright spot in the dreary winter that reminds us to express our love to those most special to us. Of course we should do this everyday, but a $3 card and a nice dinner out are certainly appreciated, too.

In honor of the holiday, I decided to theme my list accordingly this week:

1. Chocolate. I'm not a huge fan of white, but milk and dark are scrumptious. They make almost anything taste better. Trust me, I've tried. My favorite combos include M&M's with popcorn, chocolate covered pretzels, and s'mores.

2. Valentines! I still send a few each year and it brings back fun memories of elementary school. I loved decorating shoe boxes to hold Barbie or GI Joe messages of friendship and puppy love with cough-syrup-tasting lollipops attached. I mean really, does anything say "You're Rad" better than a card with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on it? I can't wait to help Audrey pick out and make hers one day!

3. Chick Flicks. For some reason, this time of year makes me want to curl up and watch Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts movies. Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Runaway Bride, When Harry Met Sally... somebody pass me the popcorn and M&Ms!

4. Love songs and slow dances.

5. Of course, my #1 Valentine, David. And our mini-valentine, Audrey. These two have taught me more about loving and being loved than I ever thought possible.

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you have a great one with your sweetheart!

Nursing Must-Haves

*Warning: In case the title didn't give it away, this post does contain information about breastfeeding. I would recommend that you stop here unless you are a soon-to-be or new mom!*

I am amazed and shamelessly proud of myself that I have breastfed Audrey for almost eight months. For most of that time, I was her sole source of nutrition and, even though we've started solids, I am still her main provider of calories and will be for several more months. (Don't worry, I'm not going to become a news story, though. The AAP recommends breastfeeding for one year and then "as long as mother and baby would like after that." I plan to comply with the one year.)

In case you are a new reader or have forgotten, let me remind you that this road has not been without its bumps. Okay, that's a bit of an understatement. Let me reword that: It's one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. Ever. For me, it requires more sacrifice and commitment than the entire nine months of pregnancy did. And I'm not even a working mom who has to pump!

Now I'm no expert, but I have come across a few great products and tips that I'd like to pass on. Along with a lot of prayer and a little silent cursing, this stuff has helped me tremendously:

1. Take a class. I'm so thankful we did. (Yes, I dragged David along and I highly recommend it for your husband too. He needs to learn and understand so he can be supportive!) Most hospitals offer a one hour course at a reasonable price or you can check with your local Babies R Us. Even if you already know it all and don't learn a thing, you will at the very least become more comfortable with the concept.

2. Invest in a good pump. They are expensive, but worth every penny. Even if you aren't going to go back to work, you will at some point want to leave your baby for longer than 3 hours or have a need to pump and store milk for mixing cereal, sippy cups, etc. I use my Medela Pump n' Style daily and have been very pleased with it.

3. Have a plan for cleaning all those pump parts! I use the Medela Quick Clean Bags. They're a lot easier and faster than the big sterilizers. Each bag can be used up to 20 times, so they're more cost-effective than they first appear. They are also good for bottles and pacifiers.

4. Buy a good nursing pillow. I have a My Brest Friend and love it. I take it everywhere and rarely nurse without it. It offers more support than a Boppy. In fact, I used to be able to stand while nursing if I tightened it enough (she weighs too much now), which allowed me to do some serious multi-tasking. In addition to that, you may also want to...

5. Find a good nursing wrap. My favorites are Udder Covers. Every once in awhile they'll run a special where you get the wrap for free and just pay shipping (approx. $8.) Whatever brand or style you choose, it's a great thing for nursing in public, at a friend's house, or even in the back seat of your (parked) car.

6. Have the number of a lactation specialist to call on. Most hospitals and/or pediatrician's offices offer this service for free. I have phoned mine several times over the past few months for everything from finding out what cold medicines were safe for me to take to tips on starting solids. Just remember to be careful taking any advice about overfeeding or underfeeding. Unless she sees you nursing, knows your baby, and tracks her weight, that's a hard thing to diagnose over the phone.

7. Consider keeping Fenugreek handy. I think I've mentioned this stuff before, but it's worth repeating. Fenugreek is an herb that helps stimulate and increase milk production. If you have good reason to believe your supply is low (you should check with a lactation specialist first), it's a great home remedy. Most drugstore chains don't carry it, so try GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. Be forewarned that your sweat and urine will smell like maple syrup. But, there are worse things to smell like in the world!

8. Buy some nipple cream (before the baby comes...and pack it in your hospital bag!) My personal favorite is Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter. It's organic and all natural. Trust me, you will need it (and a stick to bite down on) for the first few weeks.

9. Build up a resource library of books and websites you can pull from when you have questions. Kellymom.com is one website I use a lot and I know my lactation specialist uses it too so that gave it some validity in my mind. I also borrowed my sister-in-law's The Ultimate Book of Breastfeeding Answers. I don't know if it was the ultimate, but it was indeed thorough.

10. Purchase some milk storage bags. It's hard to imagine having excess milk in the beginning, but you may eventually need to freeze some so that it keeps longer. I use Lansinoh brand, which are supposedly the thickest on the market and therefore protect better against freezer burn.

11. Get fitted for a couple of nursing bras. The good ones are expensive, but it's so important to have something that is really high quality and durable. Considering what you're putting those girls through, the least you can do is treat them to a little support.

12. Don't be afraid to reach out to other nursing moms. There will be times that you think you must be the only one in the world having a particular problem. There will be times when you loathe breastfeeding while simultaneously thinking that giving it up will cause your heart to shatter. All of this is normal and it helps to talk to other women who have been through it. They can listen, offer advice, and remind you of things you already know. As I recently read somewhere, there is no limit to how much information two women - even strangers - will share with each other if they are both lactating. Strange, but true.

Above all, remember that you're doing an amazing thing! Whatever time you can stick with it is wonderful and will benefit both you and your baby. Hang in there and happy nursing!

Thankful Thursday

This week's list is a little long, mainly because most of the items on it require a back story. Consider it my gift to you for slacking off last week.

1. Answered prayers. We had something break this week at our house and it was just two weeks past being covered by warranty. It had to be fixed, though, so we called the company and found out it was going to require a service call at the low, low price of $145 for the first 30 minutes and $45 per 15 minutes after that. That didn't include the repair or part costs!

I made my plea to the rep on the phone who told me I'd have to take it up with the technician and then scheduled me an appointment. I was dreading having to argue and fight about the charge and worried that we'd end up shelling out a huge chunk of change to repair something that was barely three months old. The morning the technician was due to come, I was working on my Bible study while Audrey was napping. I came across a verse that read: "Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials..." Daniel 1:9

I stopped short and prayed for God to grant me favor and compassion in the eyes of the technician. Obviously God has the power to do that, I'd just read that He'd done it for someone before, and so I asked.

The technician showed up and I decided to let him do his job and then discuss payment at the end. After an hour of working and replacing a huge, expensive part, he came downstairs and said, "You know, you're so close to your warranty, I'm just going to make the decision that it's covered." "Including the service call?" I asked, amazed. "Yup," he said.

I didn't even have to open my mouth. I didn't have to argue or fight or negotiate or plead. God had granted me favor in this man's eyes. I told the technician I'd been praying about it that morning and that he didn't know what a blessing that was. He looked at me like I was a weirdo, took the bottle of water I offered him, and left...without taking a dime of our money. Praise God for answered prayers!

2. New leggings. As I said on my Facebook status yesterday, I'm excited about them but hoping that I don't look back on this fad in 18 years with the same regret I have about my last pair. My new ones are neither hot pink nor do they have stirrups, so I think I'm on the right track. I will say that my behind was much smaller the last time I wore some. No worries, though. They make really long sweaters for just such a problem.

3. Weight Watchers Smart Ones frozen dinners. Any time I've dropped any kind of significant weight in my life, these things have helped me get there. There are a few (the Artisan Four Cheese Pizza, Ziti Marinara, Santa Fe Rice and Beans, and Lasagna) that are amazingly delicious. The WW ice cream is crazy good, too. The sodium in the meals is probably off the charts, but I use them a lot short-term and then cut back to 1-2 a week once I meet my goal.

4. Finishing my major photo project. I had planned on doing a ton of framing the week after Christmas, but David ended up having to work so much that I didn't get to it and put it off a while longer. Finally, I decided it couldn't wait another second. After all, Audrey is seven and a half months old and we only had about four framed pics of her in the house! So, out came the huge collage frame and the two 5 x7 frames I bought. I also pulled two medium collage frames and two 5 x7 frames off the walls to redo along with two 4 x6 frames and three refrigerator frames. I dragged out the four 300 photo capacity albums we've filled up since her birth and started going through them. (Are you getting an idea of the vastness of this yet?) Three days and SIX trips to Wolf Camera later, it is finished. They all look great and I'm quite pleased with the work I did. Which is good, because given the amount of time and energy it took, those photos may never get changed out. Poor future kid.

5. Lamination. Really, what isn't better when it's laminated? And if it's laminated AND labeled...look out. ;)

Have a great Friday everyone!

The Latest

Audrey's 7 month birthday was two weeks ago and I've been meaning to write this post since then. As usual, the date made me pause and think about how far we've come since she was born. I'm long overdue for giving an update about what our busy girl is into these days!

She had her six month check-up on Dec. 29th, so we waited a few days to make sure she didn't have any reactions to her immunizations and then tried her first solid food (other than rice cereal or oatmeal) on New Year's Day. We began with sweet potatoes, which she was slow to like. Now they are one of her favorites, along with bananas, apples, pears, and prunes - she loves prunes! She tolerates squash and carrots, but is not at all a fan of peas or green beans. We have to trick her into eating them by putting them on the spoon and then dipping the tip of it into a fruit. I told David I'm afraid that I'm just going to make her hate fruit, too, but whatever gets those veggies in her! She makes lots of noises when she eats and likes to bite the spoon. She hates having her face washed off when she is finished, but we suspect this may be because it signals the end of the meal for her! :)

She cut her first bottom tooth on Friday, January 8th and her second bottom tooth on Sunday the 10th (it was a rough couple of nights with her waking up a few times from the pain.) Since then, things have been relatively calm in that department and she seems to be less fussy.

She hasn't really displayed a lot of stranger or separation anxiety yet. However, she is very slow to warm up to or smile at unfamiliar people, and usually gives them quite the serious "I'm not too sure about you" face. Once she decides you're okay, though, she'll break into a grin that will melt your heart. Seeing her sweet dimple makes me want to eat her up, which I usually do. She tolerates my constant kisses and snuggling like a champ, just like her Daddy. She isn't much of a cuddle bug, and doesn't really like to be rocked unless it's when she first wakes up. She does love to be held if you're up and walking, so she can have a better view of what's going on. She is such an observant girl!

She has mastered sitting on her own and likes to stand if we're holding on to her. She'll grab our hands and pull to stand, but she isn't pulling up on her own just yet. She also isn't making much effort to crawl (though she does manage to get all over her crib at night - how do they do that?!) I honestly don't mind. In fact, I may take her out at the knees if she starts. The longer she stays immobile, the easier it is to keep up with her! After accomplishing rolling from stomach to back at four months, she is finally getting the hang of rolling from back to stomach, though she still gets stuck sometimes.

As for playtime, she loves her Leap Frog Table and her jumpster. She is still getting to know all of her Christmas toys and does a great job playing by herself for up to 20 minutes if I'm nearby. She's a great squealer, which has made dining out a little more difficult these days. Her "talking" is getting more advanced by the day with lots of syllable combinations. She says "Da-da" and "Ma", but has no idea yet who it refers to. My favorite is when she does "Bs" and "Ps" because of the soft little puffs of air that come out. Sometimes she'll practice right in my face with her hands yanking either side of my hair. Every once in a while, she'll clamp her mouth down on my chin. That is the most precious. Never did I think being spit or chewed on could be so adorable.

For the last couple of weeks, I have been trying out a new schedule. I wanted to drop her from 3-4 short naps to 2-3 longer ones. I've been getting her up at 8am and nursing her then feeding her oatmeal. I usually work out while she plays and then we play together until nap time. She naps from 10am - 11:30am. She eats around 11:45 or 12 (usually one small jar each of a fruit and a veggie then nurses) then it's errands or a play date until she goes down for another nap from 2pm - 3:30pm. She wakes up and eats again (nurses) and plays. She goes down for a short catnap from 6pm - 6:30pm, wakes up and nurses, then eats "dinner" (oatmeal and fruit) around 7pm. We do bath time, story time, and prayers before I nurse her again around 8:15 and put her down around 8:30. Though she stopped waking up to eat at night around 5 1/2 months, we usually have to go move her once about every other night because she crams herself against the top of the crib, can't back up, and gets frustrated. We're pretty good at doing that in our sleep now and since my bladder still hasn't recovered from pregnancy (will it ever?!), it works out for me anyway.

Let's see...what else? She loves my painted toenails and grabbing for cell phones and thinks a good game of peek-a-boo is the funniest thing on earth. She sucks her thumb when she is sleepy, is very happy about her feet, and has the hearing of a hawk. (We tried hard to condition her to sleep with noise around, but that stopped working months ago and she's awakened much more easily now. I don't particularly like loud noises when I'm sleeping either, so I don't blame her. We just crank up her sound machine and try to keep it somewhat quiet during nap time.)

One of the cutest things she started doing lately can really only be described as peering. I think she's learned "object permanence", so she'll stick her little neck up and out to look around for something. She has the cutest expression when she does it and David and I just love it. I can already tell what a genius she is and paired with her gorgeous baby blue eyes, she is going to have the guys lining up. But it won't matter, because we are NEVER going to let her date. Ever. In fact, I need to wrap up this post so I can go look through those brochures I ordered on all-girl boarding schools.

So, that is the latest and greatest. She continues to amaze us beyond belief and we continue to thank God for blessing us with such a precious gift.