Funny Face, I Love You!

Aiden has the funniest expressions sometimes. Every now and then, we get lucky enough to capture a few on film (er...well, not film, but...). Case in point...

This is not an upset face - this is Aiden spitting and making the "pbth" noise. He has lots of fun doing this - and drenches everything nearby!


We get this kind of face a lot. The "What are you thinking?" face.
He raises that one eyebrow and scrunches up his mouth - it's funnier in person!!


This doesn't really capture it, but when Aiden laughs, he often looks like he's about to cry!
Esp when he laughs REALLY hard!


"Ok, if I must"


"Seriously, another picture?!"


This is his "I'm bored and too good for this" look


He seems like he IS interested in something here.


And a look of shock here, maybe?

And this is my favorite at the moment...

Caught helping with the laundry (his diaper inserts - CLEAN, of course!).
You might need to click on the picture to enlarge it so you can better see the expression - it's worth it, we think.
How can you NOT laugh at this expression??

Honestly, these pictures don't begin to show the hilarity that are some of his facial expressions! (Or the cuteness.)

He certainly keeps us entertained here!

Oh Wow!

So, we've been having a hard time with Aiden sleeping through nights lately - lately meaning since he was about three months old. He was sleeping wonderfully, waking once or twice during a 12-14 hour period from two-months until three-months. Then he suddenly started waking every two hours again, and we've been going back and forth between every two-three hours ever since. Sometimes he starts to go a little longer, then BAM, back to waking every two hours. He's been in his own room since after all the Christmas travel, but he's not sleeping better in there. It's the same for him, but harder on me, since I'm having to go farther to feed him (and sometimes wait until I know he's settled in his bed before coming back to mine). So, needless to say, I haven't been getting much sleep lately! It doesn't help that Ryan and I often don't get in bed until around midnight, which means I'm not getting to sleep until after 1 or 2am - b/c of my insomnia and the fact that right about the time I'm nodding off, Aiden wakes up. Strange how they know when to do that, huh?

I've posted about his sleep before and stated how we don't do the cry-it-out method. One book I found extremely helpful was The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. You might be thinking, obviously it wasn't that helpful. Actually, when we got it, it was to help with naps b/c bedtime wasn't an issue. And it worked wonders for naptime!! And since his bedtime sleeping has not been improving much, I revisited the book recently for bedtime help, too.

Now, one thing she says in the book is this... You really need to decide if you, the parent, are really ready to make changes and to have your child learn to sleep through the night. Sounds silly, huh? Well, it's not. One reason I didn't use it for bedtime for so long - b/c I haven't been in a rush! Let me explain...

For one, I have concerns about milk supply. I want to do any and everything to keep it up (esp after it went away when Camden was 6 months - the same age Aiden is now). Yes, I do worry that if Aiden sleeps ALL night without waking to nurse once or twice, it might affect my supply. They say it shouldn't, but I still worry.

Two, I actually love our time together at night. It's kind of nice when the home is quiet, everyone else is asleep, it's dark and calm, and just the two of us are up, rocking in his room and snuggling close. It can be a very sweet time. I know that before long, we won't have that. And I'll miss it.

But lately, I have been TOO exhausted, and it's really starting to affect my daily life. So, back to the book we went. And we changed a few things with how we do nighttime feedings. I still feed him, but we're working on making some of the feedings shorter. We did this a while back, and he was ok with it, but then he decided no more and wouldn't have it. But things are getting a little better once again. My goal is not to have him sleep all through the night, from the time he lies down until the morning. My goal is for him to wake only once or twice to nurse through the night.

Aiden often wakes shortly after lying down, crying out like he's scared, it seems. We've been working on him not nursing then b/c he really doesn't need to, and the last couple nights, we've been successful. Remember, we're doing this with NO CRYING, so if he cries, we pick him up. If he is insistent on nursing, I nurse him. We want nighttime to be relaxing for him, and we want him to know we will respond if he needs us. So, being able to not nurse during those first couple hours of sleep the past couple nights has been great! He's doing so well.

Now why is this post titled "Oh Wow!"?? Because last night we had a different pattern... Aiden always goes down for bed at 8:00pm. We're having him nurse before storytime now, so he falls asleep on his own in his crib - instead of falling asleep nursing. He didn't wake up fussing until 11pm!! And didn't need to nurse. I picked him up, and he actually took the paci (he hardly EVER does this!). I put him back in bed, and he laid there, looking up at me calmly, and just drifted back to sleep. There's the first Wow! Then, he didn't wake again until 2:30!! Nursed for a little while, went to bed still awake and fell asleep on his own. THEN, he woke again at 6:45! He nursed and was up for a while, so I brought him to bed with me while the other boys got ready for the day. Thought we would snooze a bit before getting up, but he fell back asleep! So, we slept for another couple hours.

WOW, WOW, WOW.

This kind of thing HAS happened randomly a couple times lately, but this has been the biggest stretch. Usually after the first waking, Aiden is up every two hours. So, we'll see if it continues. Either way, this is a HUGE deal for us!! Waking every 4-6 hours compared to every 2 or less.....Wow.

I still need a few nights of this to feel like I'm getting caught up on some of my sleep, but this is an awesome start! (And hopefully telling about it won't jinx us...)

Shout Out

So, I just wanted to say a big, huge thanks to some of our friends (and even some people we don't know!). After some not-very-nice (and some not-very-true) things were said the other day during the debate, many of you responded to us via email, instant messages, and facebook, etc. (No need to go and read them if you haven't.) Obviously differences will come out during a "debate," and that's what it's all about, but some personal things were (unnecessarily) thrown out there. You all said some wonderful things in response, and they were all very appreciated! :) What a great reminder of all the positive people in our lives - and where our energy should be focused.

THANKS!!

That was my big, huge thanks.

This is what happens when...

...you ground your nine-year-old from any and all media.

He gets all creative and makes his own fun. :)
How 'bout that?



(Idea courtesy of Highlights)


He didn't have anything that looked like a baseball (or a marble, like the magazine suggested), but he DID have this tiny soccer ball, which was just as good, as far as he was concerned.

Being grounded is such a drag, huh?

Oh, and then he spent the rest of the day playing outside.
Harsh.

Cutest Blog on the Block :)

I'm a little excited - I figured out how to get new backgrounds for my blogger page! I like to be able to personalize things a little bit, at least, and have been bored with blogger's lack of more layout options since we started blogging, basically. I know many of you might be rolling your eyes b/c you've known how for a while now (or forEVER...) how to do this, but I just figured it out, so I'll be excited. :) And I found one that didn't completely rearrange my other stuff and take out my gadgets (pictures and other things on the side) - some I had found before did, and I wasn't going to redo everything. There's a little marker up at the top that says "cutest blog on the block" - that's where I got my background from. Lots of cute ones there (as the name would suggest). I wanted the one on the website page but couldn't find it. Bummer. But I like the one I have now, so...

Yipee!

If you have favorite background sites, feel free to share!

Six Month Weigh-In

So, I forgot to post Aiden's weight & height from earlier this week. We were in the dr office Monday for his 6-month appt (and for Camden's follow-up on his ear, which is all better now).

Weight - 17.5lbs
Height - 26inches

Time for a Change...

Most of you didn't know this was coming. That's part of the fun!! ;)

Here is the big reveal.

Before:






(drumroll please......)




After:




I've never had it this short in the back. I figured, since I'm making a big change, why not go all out?! I told my hairstylist what I had in mind and then those famous last words - I trust you!

In case you were wondering, yes, I donated it to Locks of Love. I have been growing it out for this purpose, and it finally was long enough to cut and send in!

Camden's been really excited about the cut coming up. I think we all were. I've had it short before, but it's been a while. I loved the long hair b/c I haven't had it that long before (or in a really, really long time), and it looked nice and was easy to just pull back on those days (which you have many of when there is a newborn in the house...). But it's nice to have hair that will be quicker to wash and dry (even if I have to take the time to fix it everyday) and that won't get all tangled up every time the wind blows and that I don't have to twist and hold back every time I lean down. This is a nice change!

gDiapers on SALE!!!

For you gdiaper users (and those considering them!), gdiapers has a sale on solid gpants going on right now! 20% OFF!!! This is a great deal, and I haven't seen them on sale like this before.

Hurry and place your orders b/c they are definitely going quickly!

I got the news yesterday and put in my order for four pants in large (we certainly need no more at the moment, but we're stocking up in the next size), and one color was already sold out just from orders placed that day.

The sale is only good now through Feb 13th!

gdiapers.com - Hurry!

Name That Candy!!!

So, every now and then I take a stroll down the candy aisle at the grocery store to see if I can find this specific type of candy. I remember having it when I was younger, and I know it still exists, yet I can never find it and have no idea what it is called. It's just a simple hard candy - but I want the specific kind! I remember liking the lemon and the orange. Can't remember what other colors there were...

Well, yesterday I went for a walk with the kiddos (b/c we have had excellent weather the past couple days!!) and we stopped in the apartment complex office to ask a question. Camden always spies the big bowl of candy they have, and I let him take the next to last piece while I chatted with the ladies.

Lo and behold - it is the candy I have been looking for!! Can anyone tell me what it is called and where in the heck I can find it??


I probably won't be running out to get a bunch, but it would be nice to know where to go if I ever have the desire. (And it could very well be at any ol' candy store - but we never go into those, so I wouldn't know.)

And, no, I don't care if you think this is silly. (I'm sticking my tongue out at you as you think it.)

:)

Please leave a comment if you know what this candy is!! Thanks!

Green Cleaner

A friend recently asked for the recipe to the green all-purpose cleaner I use, and others I have shared it with have really liked it, so I thought I would share with my blogger friends. I got this recipe when I lived in the Ecovillage at Berea College, and I have been making it ever since. It works wonderfully, smells great, I always have the ingredients on hand, it's cheap to make, and...it's green! Can't get much better than that!!

All-Purpose Cleaner

Mix 2T vinegar with 2t borax until dissolved.
Fill bottle with hot water.
Add 2T liquid soap (e.g. ivory).
To scent, add 10-15 drops essential oils.
Follow in order to avoid clumping!

Someone once asked if it needed to be hot when using. No. The hot water is just to help make sure everything is dissolved and mixes well. You do want to make sure all the borax dissolves - maybe even adding a little hot water to make sure it does so before adding all the water (b/c it will be difficult to do at that point).

Also, I use more than the 10-15 drops of essential oils. Just add until you get the scent you want. My favorite combination is grapefruit and lime. Mmmmm.... But you can use whatever you want and in any combination (lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, the list goes on!!). Some at the Ecovillage liked lavender and lemon. I'm not a big lavender fan. I like the citrus smells!

If you don't have the ingredients on hand and have to purchase them - know that they will last a long time and make MANY bottles of this cleaner. (And I mean MANY!!)

Enjoy! Let me know if you try it out and what you think!!

HOT TOPIC - Cloth Versus Disposable Diapers

A friend of mine, Gwenn, does Hot Topic discussions on her blog. I am joining in as a "guest blogger" and doing the Hot Topic this week: Cloth vs Disposable Diapers. Well, cloth versus disposable versus gdiapers. Please join in on the discussion by leaving a comment (or more - especially after seeing what others have to say). There is one big rule we all need to adhere to: use your NICE WORDS. These can get pretty heated because people have different opinions. It's fine to voice your opinion even if it's different, and it's encouraged. But we all need to be nice. With that said, here we go!!!

With my first son (nine and a half years ago), I never questioned using disposable diapers. It was just a given. I didn't consider how much waste was being produced and what I was adding to the landfills. Or what was IN the diapers and, therefore, going against my son's bum all day long. When I got pregnant this time around, I was in a different place and doing a lot of things differently - I was more green, to say the least. So, when I heard about gdiapers, I was immediately sold! These are a mix between cloth and disposable - an outer cloth pant with a snap-in waterproof liner (not plastic!) and then flushable (yes, flushable! or even compostable!!) inserts. The insert is the "disposable" part - you can toss them, too. They decompose within a couple months, whereas a disposable diaper takes more than 500 years. Anyway, we used these right away with our new baby that was born in August - left the hospital with them on him. And we've never gone back.

We have gone a little farther, though. We now use cloth inserts that a lady makes to fit the g's (here is her website in case you're curious - you know you are!). I never would have thought I would be using cloth diapers, but here I am loving it. We use the g's with cloth during the day and BumGenius cloth diapers at night (since he pees a lot but we don't change during the nighttime - they hold a lot and keep him dry). I am happy to say that we have not bought him any disposable diapers - oh, wait - we have. We bought one package of Seventh Generation diapers when he was first born, as a backup to the g's since they were a new concept and to use during those middle of the night changes that happen with every feeding with a newborn (so that we didn't need to have a light on to change the "new" diapers). We didn't even use the whole package.

So, here are some of my thoughts on the cloth versus disposable debate.... And in case you're wondering, I lump g's in with the cloth side b/c they do have a cloth component, the flushables are, well, flushable and decompose so much quicker than typical disposable, and - we use cloth in the gdiapers...

Cost - Disposables are not cheap, we all can admit to that! Cloth has a big start-up cost, but that's about it. Yes, you have to wash them, which uses money, but we use an energy efficient washer/dryer, so it doesn't factor in as a higher cost with us. Once you have a supply of cloth, there is no more cost. It can be a couple to a few hundred dollars for the cloth supply versus a couple thousand dollars for disposables.

Baby's Skin - Ok, another argument is that cloth is better for baby's bottom. Disposables have chemicals and plastics in them. Cloth does not (and you can get organic, if that suits you). Many say babies in cloth get less rashes. I don't know about this myself b/c my little one gets rashes very easily - but he has had skin issues since birth and has eczema, so it's not because of the type of diapers. (Though I wonder if it would be worse in disposables with all those chemicals - I can't see how that is good for the skin.) BUT many people (not accusing anybody but this is what I have heard and seen) think that b/c disposables are made to keep baby feeling dry, they can leave the diaper on longer. With cloth, that's not an option. I actually change diapers more often in cloth - more than many would do - b/c of his skin issues. But since I'm using cloth and it just adds a couple other diapers to the laundry load (that I would be washing anyway), it doesn't cost me more to change more often. It would with disposables. And when disposables are kept on baby longer - even if they feel dry, they still have urine up against their skin for longer, which exposes them to bacteria and other things that cause rashes and infections.

Environmental Impact - This is a BIG one for many that use cloth. Disposable diapers contribute an enormous amount to our landfills, and they take over 500 YEARS to decompose. Cloth is a greener option b/c you reuse them. You can even use the supply from one child for other children you may later have. Some say that once you factor in the use of water/energy to wash the cloth, using cloth isn't much better than disposables from a "green" standpoint. But this isn't necessarily true, especially if you use an energy efficient washer/dryer. Then you are certainly not using enough water/energy to make that a good argument.

The poop - Ok, ok - cloth can be messy. I know you're thinking that. BUT I don't see this as a great argument against cloth. While baby is exclusively breastfed (I don't know as much about formula fed b/c mine does not get formula), you simply throw the poopy diapers in with the others and wash - there is nothing to get out of the cloth b/c it (sorry if this is gross, but we ARE talking diapers here) is runny and is absorbed into the cloth. Now, once baby is on solids, there is "real" poop, and you can't throw that in the wash, no. Some "swish" it in the toilet to get it off. We have a diaper sprayer, so we touch no poop. Spray and throw in the diaper pail with the others. Simple. Now - disposable diapers... If you read the directions, you really are supposed to put the poop into the toilet before throwing out the diaper. You are not supposed to put human waste into the garbage. But who does this?? If you use disposables, do you shake out the poop and flush it down? Or do you wrap up the diaper, poop and all, and toss? I have never seen anyone flush it before throwing out the dipe. If you do, GREAT! But I've never witnessed it. Allowing the fecal matter to get into the trash takes it into landfills, where it will sit. And the bacteria and possible viruses can live in the landfills for a long time and possibly contaminate water supplies.

Laundry - Another one that many people seem to think is a good argument. You'll be doing so much laundry if you use cloth. No fun. Well, not-so-much. If you have a baby, you know you are already doing a TON of laundry. Probably every other day or so. We do. So, what is another load along with that? I wash the diapers every three days, at least. It's simply one other load to do, and it's not a lot of work. Dump the diapers in the washer (I don't have to touch them b/c they're in a lined bag, so I just push them out from the bottom of the bag and throw in the bag, as well), do the wash, put them in the dryer, and then fold. Whoop-de-do, right? :) I feel that it takes just as much time to do this as it would to have to go buy diapers and take them out to the trash when the pail is full of dirties. And I spend no time trying to find coupons or the best deal on diapers. I know if I used disposable, this would be another effort I would have to make. If you really aren't into the laundering thing, another option is using a diaper service. This would still cost less than using disposables, from what I understand.

Another issue with laundry is what to launder with, as in detergent. You can't just use any ol' detergent and you can't use fabric softeners. They coat the cloth and will prevent absorbancy. We have looked into this some and use the same detergent for all of our laundry (and it's one that's better for the environment than most typical detergents). We use Country Save and love it so far. We also cut out using fabric softeners and use dryer balls. So the detergent issue isn't really an issue for us b/c we found something that works for the diapers and everything else. Just thought I would mention in case some people were thinking they would have to use a separate detergent for the diapers (which I guess I'm saying you kinda do). Also, the detergent we use is cheaper than most. We bought a case from Amazon and got a two-three years' supply for $40 (when using subscribe and save), free shipping - not bad. This stuff is better for the environment and better for us anyway, especially with both boys having eczema - and Aiden's being pretty bad and easily aggravated.

Potty Training - Ahhhhh...potty training. I haven't experienced this with a child that has been in cloth diapers yet, but it is said that babes in cloth potty train earlier. They feel wet when they go in the cloth, unlike when they wear disposables. Now, when my older child was potty training, I will say that I did NOT use pull-ups. In my opinion, they are just disposables that pull up instead of fasten with tabs. I did use cloth trainers. And he was trained in NO time. Seriously.

gDiapers - I haven't really said much about these like I meant to. So, I'll just write a little bit here. G's are kind of the best of both worlds - disposable inserts with cloth pants and a waterproof (that is not plastic so it is breathable) liner. About 18 BILLION diapers go into landfills each year, taking about 500 years to break down. gDiapers take just a couple months to break down. There is an obvious and significant difference there. And there are no plastics, chemicals, chlorine, perfumes, etc. Oh - and no diaper smell!! I mean, if you flush the insert with all the pee and poop down the toilet, you have no diapers sitting around, and therefore...no smell. (I can honestly say, though, that the only time I smell any "diaper smell" from using cloth is when I open the pail to take out the bag of diapers to put them in the laundry - and really, I can hold the bag closed and barely smell a thing!) Some people say that gdiapers are more expensive, but I would have to disagree. They are actually about the same. The cost of disposables goes up with the size changes (I can't remember if the dollar amt per package goes up or if the amount of diapers in the package goes down, but the cost per diaper does increase.) With g's, there are two sizes of inserts - small and med/large. After all things are considered, the cost is very similar. And from what I hear, the cost of disposables is going up lately. The cost of g's is not. (Plus, if you use cloth.....well, then the cost definitely does not increase.)

Oh, and we use cloth wipes, too! We actually just bought some microfiber cloths (from Target - in the automotive department, of all places!). They were really cheap and do a great job. So, one more thing we never have to shop for. And we don't have to worry about all the things they put in disposable wipes. This wasn't something we planned on doing (whereas the diapers were planned). Our little one had some skin issues when he was born, and we didn't want anything to contribute and possibly make things worse, especially while we were still going through all the tests to find out what was going on. So, it was a very easy decision for us to eliminate any possible skin irritants, such as the disposables and wipes.

OK, so I think that's the majority of my argument. You might say I'm a little biased. ;) And I think my baby's bottom would agree with me. Plus, cloth diapering is just CUTE! Case in point...

Now, it's your turn. Say what you think BUT keep it clean and keep it nice. And be sure to read others' comments and comment again, if you would like.

SIX Months!!

Aiden has hit the half-year mark! I'm not sure if I'm more excited or sad - a little of both, I guess. It's just going by way too quickly! I think with the second child, you're more aware that it will happen like that. With the first, you're so anxious for each next thing to happen and before you know it, so much has gone by. But with the ones following, you KNOW it will go by so quickly and you want to cherish each little thing. Well, that's how it is with ME, at least.

This past month has been a BIG one. (Do I say that each month??) Let's see....

Aiden has a new habit of playing with my lips when he's nursing - he likes for me to kiss on them and will just hold his hand up to my mouth so I can do so. He also has this habit of grabbing for his foot while he's nursing... He'll reach for it, might stop eating to lean forward and look for it... He'll also "bounce" himself if his feet touch the arm of the chair - that's interesting. (He loves bouncing in his activity jumper and now thinks if his feet touch something, he simply must bounce!) Aiden can get quite distracted when eating. We've had to resort to nursing in the quiet of his room. If someone else comes in or says something from the door, Aiden will stop eating to be nosy. Mealtime is just a lot of fun these days. (I say that with a little sarcasm but also meaning it - it can be frustrating sometimes when he's so distracted, but sometimes he's just fun to watch!)

Aiden is also eating solids now! We tried him with some rice cereal on Innauguration Day. He liked the cereal ok, but we quickly moved onto other more interesting foods that he likes even more. So far, we're into pumpkin, butternut squash, avocado, and banana. He seems to like them all, and we have more to try soon! He LOVES drinking water from the cup, too.

One day this month, Aiden discovered that his two teeth can hurt.... :( He had a finger in his mouth and bit right down, not realizing that pain would follow. But it did. And he cried. Poor guy. He hasn't done it since, but he does chew on his fingers, feeling of those teeth. He just knows better than to bite down hard, I guess. And for those of you wondering if he has bitten ME (since he is nursing) - yes, he has. Not hard, but it doesn't feel good either way... He doesn't do it much at all, just a couple times. But I have discovered that it only happens when he is done eating. The downside to that - the punishment (being taken away from the food source for a little while) isn't as much of a punishment since he does it when he's no longer hungry... But it should be easier for me to prevent, though. (He did it tonight and DID get upset with the punishment - which then upset me and caused me to pretty much forget that he first hurt me - so maybe he'll do better now. We'll see. It's still a rare thing, though.)

We're teaching Aiden some signs for a few things, such as "milk," "eat," "drink," "more," and "sleep." He might be understanding "milk" b/c I do it everytime I get ready to nurse, and he gets really excited (or very impatient, depending - but impatient is the one more common these days!). But then again, he might also just know it's time b/c we're walking toward the chair we sit in. I'm sure he'll be catching on to more of the signs very soon.

Aiden has been having some fun with his friends at MyGym this past month. At MyGym, we get to sing a lot and play around. Aiden is still hesitant about the swings... He usually gets this look like he is considering freaking out when the swing goes away from me. Last time he didn't get that. So maybe next time we might even get a smile? We have learned some new things that Aiden loves - especially things that involve being upside down!! He loves it when I hold him upside down and nuzzle his chest - he's VERY ticklish there and just giggles and giggles!

Other favorites involve his Baby Einstein activity jumper. He figured out that being in that means he can bounce to his heart's delight - and he certainly does so!! Camden plays a game with him sometimes by standing nearby and "bouncing" (jumping up and down) along, and Aiden will do it with him, bouncing even more enthusiastically. (And if Camden walks away, Aiden will stop to watch him - intently - until he comes back. As soon as he starts to come back, Aiden will pick up the bouncing again. He watches every little thing his big brother does!!)

Aiden experienced snow a couple times this month, once at home in North Carolina (we got way more than is typical - more than 4 inches!) and then when visiting West Virginia when we were snowed in for a few extra days. He touched it, tasted it, and even got pulled around in a sled. He wasn't too impressed with all of it, but he can be hard to impress with many things. I don't think he cared to be so bundled up. This kid likes having as few clothes on as possible - he can move so much more then.

Speaking of that, he can also get his toes in his mouth - but it works better if he is sans clothes (and diaper). His fascination with his feet is just endless right now!

Aiden is starting to show signs of attachment now, too. He will reach for me when someone else is holding him (even Daddy - esp if he is hungry!). He has cried for me on a couple occasions when I had to leave the room to get something and someone else was holding him. He hasn't shown any signs of stranger anxiety yet - still very friendly with everybody. I'm sure that might pop up soon, though.

Aiden is now SITTING!! On Jan 22nd, I just sat him up to see what he would do - and he stayed! (So, I kind of wonder if he could have done this earlier...) Sometimes he sits well for the longest time, sometimes he tumbles over easily. For some reason he always leans more to one side. And it doesn't seem like he pays much attention to the fact that he CAN sit, so he doesn't really TRY to sit. But he does it, nonetheless. He's also pushing his chest way off the floor, so we'll see how long until he's at the next step: crawling! Oh my!

Hmmmmm....is that enough? I think that's about it for the big things. I told you a lot happened this month!! (This is a long month-birthday post!) Maybe in the next couple months I'll get to post about a couple new teeth...the top front two are working their way through the gums now!

And a couple more six-month pictures...b/c they're just too cute not to include them all (well, this is what I chose from the MANY that I took this time around - it seems to be just a few more each month...).

Oh, I almost forgot!! Aiden will now give us kisses and cuddles!!! Well, not the kind of kisses we all give, but baby kisses. When picking him up from a nap or in the mornings (it happens more at these times than others), he will grab my neck and bring himself as close as he can. He'll put his mouth up against my face (pretty much wherever it lands, usually on my cheek or sometimes my mouth) and rub it in for a while. He can sometimes hurt b/c when he grabs, he tends to pinch really hard - but we just go with it. And if I kiss him on his cheek, he'll usually turn his face so that I kiss his mouth! I usually make the "mwah" sound when I kiss, and sometimes he says "aaaahhhh" when we kiss him (or when he is "kissing" us back). It's adorable. We are just loving this!!! All of us kiss and cuddle with him all the time. And apparently, he loves it, too!! :) (That's good b/c we kiss and cuddle a lot in this family in general! So he fits right in.)

Silpada For Haiti!! Ending Soon!

If you haven't seen this post, check it out! We're doing a fundraiser for our friends, the Mangine's. They'll be moving to Haiti VERY soon, and we're trying to help them out a bit by selling Silpada jewelry.

For all orders, 15% will go to the family. For orders over $100, 20% of the proceeds will go to their cause. This ends THIS Friday, though!! So get your orders in NOW! :)

Go here for the online catalog.

And here to learn more about their mission. It's a worthy cause, so please help out if you can. Plus, you'll get some awesome jewelry out of it. ;)

Remember, Valentine's is just around the corner... (You can do gift certificates, too!)

More details - click here. Thanks!!

Snow Day??

Do you see all the snow we got in the middle of the night last night? No??? Me neither.

After a prediction of possibly getting snow (and also being told we might get missed altogether), our school district decided to have a two-hour delay this morning. This was decided last night.

Welcome to North Carolina, folks.

This may seem normal or not such a big deal to people who are used to being here. But I must admit, I laugh every time they predict a dusting and schools close... And it usually is just a dusting - as in you can see the grass still. This time we got NO snow. But still had a delay. Just in case.


Just for the fun of it...here is a pic from our first NC "snow." This was in January 2007.

School was called off, of course. It seemed like everyone went crazy b/c of this... Camden and I had a good chuckle. I kept thinking - you can see the GRASS! It's not enough if you can see the grass! But now - I worry about Ryan driving to work in these kind of "conditions" - b/c people here aren't used to driving in the snow and the city is not prepared (for salting, scraping, etc.).

Oh well. I guess it's not nice to make fun. Sometimes I just can't help myself. ;)

Winter in WV

Aiden and Granny meet for the first time, November 2008

As I mentioned in a previous post, we went to West Virginia last week for Ryan's Granny's funeral and to be with family. And we got snowed in. I posted pictures of the tree that nearly fell on the house. I have some other pictures from the trip in the album below. Since we were stuck with nowhere to go for a few extra days (from Tuesday evening until Sunday morning, we were able to get out once, and that was for the funeral - it was almost like the weather cooperated just so we could make that and then kept us in again!), we thought we should at least take advantage of the snow and have some fun in it. Camden had a blast! We recently had a little snow at home in North Carolina, but this was so much more. And there was a great hill. And a real sled.

The hill is actually part of why we couldn't leave... It was solid ice under the snow. And we weren't about to try to carry all of our luggage down that hill. And then drive down the street that was also covered in ice (under all the snow). Especially with our two boys with us. Not worth the risk. But Camden had no problem sledding on the hill.

Winter in WV

The funeral was on Thursday, put off a little b/c of the weather. It was a beautiful service. Granny looked wonderful and young. And peaceful. Ryan's sister, Rachel, flew in from Hawaii. It was nice to have time to spend with her, too. And she had no problem being stuck in the house with Aiden! ;) This was actually the first time I had been around Rachel more than for a short visit (and that's only happened twice since they live so far away). I joked to Ryan that now I know why he married me - he missed his sister being around. We are different in a lot of ways, but I was surprised at how similar we think about so many things!

We had planned on seeing Ryan's dad and stepmom some, but the weather prevented that from happening, too. We were just a few miles from each other but couldn't make it. We finally got to see Gary on our way home Sunday. Susan couldn't make it b/c their heat was out and someone was there at the house working on it. We were sorry we weren't able to see her. They had the unfortunate experience of being snowed in for a while, too, as well as being without power a couple times. Partly b/c of the weather and then later b/c of the plane crash that happened right down the street. You've probably heard about it on the news.

Now, I am sure you have heard about how hard many parts of KY were hit with the big winter storm. We got a lot of that storm while in WV. Our power managed to stay on (though it went out and back on a number of times!) and we were snowed/iced in and we had trees falling all over. Many people in the area were out of power/heat/water/phone service, etc. However, it was worse in much of KY. I know MUCH of my family was out of power for almost the entire week (some still don't have the power back on, and it's been over a week now). It's devastating how bad it is in most of the state. Please send out prayers that things are resolved as soon as at all possible. Unfortunately, it's nothing to take lightly.

25 Things...You MUST Know About Me! ;)

OK, maybe they aren't things you MUST know.....but here they are regardless.

This has been making its way around Facebook like crazy. I posted this there but thought I would put it on here to share, as well. I would love to read yours....either posted as a comment, emailed to us, or posted on your own blog (comment and leave the link so I can check it out!). Consider yourself "tagged."

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I always give more information than most people probably want when writing. I give LOTS of details and run on and on about things. I feel I have to be sure to include every little thing. It's just how I write. Always has been. (See - I'm doing it already!)
   
2. One of my proudest accomplishments is graduating from Berea College SUMMA Cum Laude (that's highEST honors) - as a SINGLE MOM. I received one A- and one B. I graduated #3 in my entire graduating class (of the entire school, not just my program). By the way, Berea is not an "easy" school. Ask any of us that went there. That one B I received was from a class I took in Mexico on one of my short term courses at Berea (a month-long class) - totally worth it.
   
3. One of the most frustrating things to me is knowing that I am intelligent (see #2), knowing that I have my Masters degree, and having NO IDEA what I want to do "when I grow up." I feel like I'm wasting my intelligence, esp when what I really enjoy is being around little babies - esp my own (so I LOVE being a stay-at-home mom...and I guess I'm pretty qualified having a degree in Psychology and my Master's in Social Work...)
   
4. I love photography. I think I am decent but really want to get better and be a REAL photographer. I would actually go back to school for this. In a heartbeat.
   
5. I have the hardest time telling left from right. No kidding. I even do the thing where you hold your fingers up and your thumb out - the one that makes the "L" is the left, and I still have to take time to think about that! Because of this I suck at directions. Really suck at it.
   
6. Because of the directions issue, I get very anxious when driving somewhere new or somewhere with lots of traffic where I have to figure out turns, etc (hate places with one-way streets). When I say anxious, I mean anxious in am almost-clinical sense. I can freak out about it very easily. I'm working on this.......
   
7. I DO want to have a daughter one day, but not for the reason most people assume. Yeah, it might be fun to have a little baby girl, dress her up, etc. That's not what I care about. I want that adult mother/daughter relationship, like I have with my mom. It's amazingly special and just isn't the same with moms and sons. There are some things that make moms and daughters so close as adults. But I do love my boys more than anything in this world! I would be happy with all boys.
   
8. My first son was 11lbs at birth. I did go through back labor and more than two hours of pushing - with NO MEDS b/c I went into labor too quickly. They finally realized his head would not fit through and did an emergency c-section. I love seeing the look on people's faces when they realize someone as small as me had a baby that size - and Camden loves telling it, too! (When the nurse told me Aiden was 8.11, I said "That's ALL?!" - We all expected larger!)
   
9. I love to cross-stitch. But I haven't been able to do it in ages. Time issues.
   
10. I cannot stand it when people misspell "definitely." There is no "a" in that word, people!
    
11. I am horrible when it comes to small talk. Absolutely horrible. I think it's partly b/c I am very shy. Some people think I am stuck-up, but I assure you, it's me being shy.
    
12. I research every little thing in more detail than probably necessary. Almost any purchase, decision, etc.. I always go into something knowing exactly why/why not I am/am not doing it.
    
13. I suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum - SEVERE nausea/vomiting during pregnancy. Without meds, I would have been hospitalized in no time b/c I couldn't eat any type of food or even keep a sip of ginger ale down. When preggo with Camden, it lasted through the fifth month, with Aiden, I took medication around the clock until I went in for surgery to deliver him. I skipped the meds once on accident during my ninth month of pregnancy - and was sick as a dog until I realized why and the meds kicked in. Even with the problems I have with pregnancy (sickness, the joint problems - which were really bad this time around, the placenta problems, etc), I LOVE being pregnant. It's one of the most amazing things ever to experience, and I miss it.
    
14. I feel like I was born to be a mom. It comes so naturally to me. I had my first child at 19, and even then I felt completely comfortable and competent as a new mom.
    
15. It really angers me that people make assumptions when they find out I was so young when I got pregnant the first time. And then when they make assumptions about the fact that I married Camden's father only to get divorced less than three years later. Trust me, you most likely do NOT know what I've been through and you shouldn't judge me based on the fact that I was a "teen mom" or that I've been through a divorce. There is way more to the story and I've been through much more (and worse) than what most think.
    
16. I have suffered from insomnia my entire life (as in since I was a baby - just ask my mom!). I have been to doctors who actually told me (after trying multiple drugs, different dosages, etc, etc) that they couldn't help me sleep. It's been a life-long struggle. I can't nap, either. I need LOTS of sleep (as in nine or more hours) and I love sleep, but I hate going to sleep b/c it is just so hard. And then I impossible to wake up. I finally found one medicine that helps me, but I won't take it while nursing.
    
17. Ryan and I have been accused of being "too polite" to one another. (How is that a problem??)
    
18. The one job I have loved more than anything (other than being a mom!) is being the head teacher in a nursery (ages 6mos - 1 year). That is a wonderful age, where they are learning to do so much!! I know I am good with babies, with their parents, and I just loved it. I was there for two years, made absolutely no money, and I would do it again with no hesitation. It's sad that people look down on that kind of job. It's very rewarding.
    
19. For about seven years, I suffered from terrible joint pain in my knees and wrists. I have been diagnosed with several different things and have been tested for so many things with various specialists - that were all wrong, of course. For years, I had to sleep with wrist guards - and wore them often during the day, too. The pain spread to my ankles in the last year of it all. I knew I could not have THREE separate things going on. When the pain got so bad that I could not sit, type, stand, or do basically anything for more than five minutes without wanting to scream or cry, I did what we all do - called my mom and begged for some advice. She has severe food allergies and suggested it could be an allergy but warned it might take a while to find out. I went off wheat and within ONE DAY the pain was completely gone. My doctors and rheumatologist agreed that must be it - a wheat intolerance. I have been pain-free for just over a year now. I do eat wheat again, but I had a bread-intolerance while pregnant, so I hardly . They think I have a tolerance level that I will have to build up to before the pain returns. We'll see what it is.
    
20. I am very empathetic, maybe too much. I can feel what others are going through very easily. If I see someone crying, I will cry, too. But then again, I cry over just about anything - good, bad, sad. It can be a commercial on tv, knowing someone else is hurt, or just seeing someone else crying (even someone I don't know...).
    
21. I like red wine (not white), fruity cocktails, and bud light. In moderation, of course. (There is just no need to get smashed all the time.) I haven't had a drop of anything since we were trying to get preggo - so, in about 13 months. I hate margaritas - actually, it's the tequila I hate. I think it's gross.
    
22. I had hoped to meet some really close girlfriends here in NC, but it hasn't really happened the way I wanted so far. I really miss my girlfriends from back home and having those kind of really close relationships.
    
23. My eyes adjust really quickly to sudden darkness/brightness.
    
24. I grew up helping on the farms of both my sets of grandparents. I have helped with tobacco and gathering/milking cows a lot. Being the oldest girl in my generation, I was always the one in charge of all the other kids, along with doing the farm help. I have great memories of working and playing on the farms.
    
25. I am really indecisive. Once when taking some questionnaire that asked if I was indecisive, I asked Ryan b/c I couldn't decide... I think I answered my own question.
    
26. I have made many mistakes in my life but have few regrets. Those mistakes have led me to where I am now, who I am with now, what I know now, and who I am. Without them, life would not be what it is, so I am appreciative of what my mistakes have done for me.
    
27. I am proud to say that almost everything we eat in my home is homemade. I grew up eating that way and that's how I do it (thank you, Mom!!!). I will NOT allow frozen premade things such as biscuits, rolls, or many other things in my home. There are a few convenience foods I will get, but I always do something to make them more "homemade" (i.e. spaghetti sauce that I add lots of veggies and other things, etc).
    
28. I don't like when people assume they know anything about me just b/c they know I am a Christian. People have such strong ideas about what that means, but it's different for so many. You can assume I believe in God, that I love Jesus, that I try to be a decent and loving person, but that's about it. Don't assume you know what I think is "right" or "wrong" b/c that's not what it's about for me. Feel free to ask me what it means - and what it does NOT mean to me. I'm pretty open about it.
    
29. I had always planned on publishing a book of my own poetry that included poems I wrote from middle school up until the present (whenever the book was published). I haven't written a poem in years, though. On my wedding programs, the poem on the front was a poem I wrote for Ryan. It's obviously a favorite and one that I thought was good (seeing how I let everyone at the wedding read it on the program...)
    
30. The clothes in my closet (and Camden's) are color-coordinated (think ROY-G-BIV).
    
31. When I was really young (2 or 3), I locked myself in a bathroom with scissors and a kewpie doll (google it) so I could cut my hair like the doll, which basically meant I cut all my hair off. I think I did this again later on...
    
32. I like to be rebelious and break rules - the ones I know I can break and get away with it. I am a stickler about following important ones, but others are different. Tell me I have to do it one way or can't do something - and I might be out to prove you "can't make me" (right, Mom?) ;) I'm careful about which rules I break, though. (Like doing more than 25 random facts here...) Ryan says that I am doing more than 25 b/c I'm an overachiever. He's kind of right. I always do more.

Winter in West Virginia

We had to make a quick trip up to WV this week. Ryan's Granny passed away on Sunday, so we are here for the funeral and to be with family. We appreciate all of you that know about this and have sent your well-wishes, your condolences, and your cautions for us to be careful on the drive up (as we knew the weather was getting bad right at the same time).

Apparently the snow thought it would join us all, as well. It's been pretty bad, but there are areas in worse shape. Lots of power outages, ice, snow, sleet - you name it. Ryan and I put Aiden down for a nap and then heard this loud noise... A tree behind the house had fallen. Ryan went to check it out, I moved Aiden (who was falling asleep) to the couch in another room - the tree fell and landed right in front of that part of the house, and it's on a steep hill....and it's a BIG tree. Here are some pictures of what caused all the excitement.

The middle of the tree and the broken fence


The bottom and roots of the tree


The top of the tree, which is barely touching the house (windows farthest away are from the room Aiden was in)


Just another view of some trees


Aiden did fall asleep on the couch for a short nap

We'll see what the rest of the day, night, and tomorrow brings. Hopefully things will improve a bit, as tomorrow is the funeral.

Baking For Baby

So, maybe you noticed in one of my latest posts that I mentioned we MADE Aiden's rice cereal. Made? Yep. We're making his baby food. Why? Well, why not?

I have discovered it is SUPER easy, and there are many other reasons.

• I know it is fresh (fresher than jars that have been on the shelf for possibly up to a couple years...seriously. Would you want to buy that jar if you knew it might be a few years old?)
• I know exactly what is in it (just the food itself, nothing added or removed, except maybe some breastmilk to thin it out, if needed)
• it's cheaper than baby food that you buy already made
• it tastes a heck of a lot better than jarred baby food (it tastes like REAL food, even something WE would eat - but that's because it is)
• it is more nutritional than jarred baby food (when making jarred, they have to heat it so much that nutrients are lost - they add some to make up for it, but it's just not the same. They also add water, sugar, starches, etc to some foods, which can dilute the nutritional value - not too cool)
• no additives in my own food but there is in jarred, and I am using some organic foods to make mine that much better
• more variety - I can feed him just about anything we can think of (paying attention to what foods should be given at later times, of course)
• and plus, it's very rewarding making the food that my baby is eating, just like it is when I cook for my whole family.

These are just a few reasons. :) Now, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with buying jarred food, if that is the route you choose to go. I'm sure there will be a few situations where we will buy a few jars when the situation calls for it. This is what we have decided to do in our family, though, and we see the benefits as outweighing the ease of grabbing a jar that we purchased. Actually, we think this is just as easy. When we shop, we just pick up some fresh foods to make the food. I steam it or cook it in a way that preserves most of the nutrients, puree it (some I keep mashed or even cut into chunks for later on), and freeze it in small amounts. Then when he is ready, we just take out one cube, thaw it, mix in some breastmilk if needed, and he eats. :)

So far, I have pumpkin (yes, pumpkin!! that's what is in the pics above) and butternut squash in the freezer. And in the fridge, I have yellow squash, zucchini, acorn squash, sweet potatoes and avacado ready to fix for him. The list of things in my head to make is just getting longer and longer! It's actually a lot of fun!

Here is Aiden enjoying some pumpkin puree. I'm showing all to show his reaction as he gets that first taste...

Open wide!!


Looking up at Daddy...




Mmmmm...this stuff is good!


Gimme, Gimme!


He really liked the pumpkin!


He's eyeing the spout on the sippy cup. He already knows that's where the good stuff comes out.

Tax Time!!!

We just wanted to let you all know out about Ryan's new business venture. He has decided to do some personal tax work on the side to earn a little extra income. He actually already has two people here in Cary that have asked him to prepare their returns. Even if you don't live in NC, he can still prepare your return as long as you don't mind mailing your documents (W-2's, prior tax returns, etc.). So, if you are interested or know anyone who might be looking for someone to prepare their taxes, please let us know. The amount he charges will be based on the complexity of the return (but will be priced lower than if you were to take them someplace else).

In case you're wondering (for those of you that might not know), Ryan officially become a CPA last year and he has worked in the public accounting sector for four years doing PLENTY of taxes. So he does have the experience and know-how. :)

If you are interested, you can email us at daisyryan.adkins (at) gmail (dot) com or simply leave a comment on here with your info (we won't publish it but will just use it to get the info and will then contact you).

Please pass on this info to anyone you think might be interested! We're trying to spread the word and get this rolling! Wouldn't you like to one day say you helped him get his own business up and off the ground??

It's this thing called "parenting"...

Video of the day



One more reason to watch your children closely.

Can you believe how calm this lady was? Or at least appeared to be (granted there is no sound, but she sure looks calm).

And notice the girl gets to keep the stuffed animal.....

WHAT a Day!!

Today was a big day all around!

First, we get a new president! Whoo-hoo! We're pretty excited about Obama being the president, about him being the very first African American president, about our boys being able to witness this (and help vote for it - shh!), and well, just all of it. We even had the tv on when Aiden was around so we could watch all the inaugural events (we don't let him watch tv - yes, we're on the "it's bad for babies" side of that argument). Even Aiden seemed to think it was something to be excited about. ;)

Then, we had a SNOW day!! Last night, they were predicting 2-4 inches of snow and called off school "due to pending inclement weather." We laughed it off - b/c the only times it has snowed here, it has been so little...just a dusting. And they called off school then. But this time? We got more than the 4 inches! I was up to feed Aiden at 4:30, and the ground was already well-covered with snow. The kids around here had a blast playing and even "sledding" (most of us used boogie boards!!) on the hill outside our door. It was Aiden's first time seeing snow, as well. He didn't seem to care one way or the other, but we got pictures of him all bundled up out in the snow anyway!

Here are a few pics from the day:

SNOW in North Carolina

THEN, we decided that we would continue our celebration of the new president by giving Aiden his first solid food. That doesn't sound right... Well, we've been watching him, and we could tell he was ready, so we've really just been trying to decide which day to give him the first bite. So we figured, why not today?! It is a pretty great day, after all. I had ground up some rice (organic brown rice, of course) earlier last week, so I cooked up a little rice cereal for him, and he ate a few bites. He didn't seem too excited or upset. He's lukewarm about a lot of things, it seems (such as the snow...). He seemed to like it ok, though.

There are pics of that in this album:

2009 January

Tomorrow is another day off of school "due to anticipated hazardous road conditions." I'm not making fun this time, though. It will be pretty icy, and they aren't prepared for those conditions here. Ryan was off today after they told him to stay at home, but he has to use vacation days for things like this (ugh!), so he's planning on going in tomorrow... Hopefully the roads won't be that bad after all. (Crossing fingers!) And Camden's friend, Hannah, will be spending the day with us, so stay tuned for more pics of them out in the snow!

Moving to Haiti

No, not us. Some friends of ours are moving there, though - and very soon! The Mangines are a family of five that are moving to Haiti in May to open the second family home at the Haitian Children's Home. We are partnering with them to help raise funds. And you get to help!!

We're having an online "Silpada For Haiti" Party!! All you have to do is check out the online catalog, place your order, receive your fabulous jewelry, and know that a portion of the proceeds are going to this cause. Here are the details...

View the catalog here: http://mysilpada.com/sites/daisy.adkins
Email me with any orders/questions/etc: daisy (dot) adkins (at) gmail (dot) com (replace "dot" with the dot, and "at" with @ - typing this way helps keep spammers away...)

I am giving 15% of each sale to the cause - and 20% of each order that is over $100.

There is a lifetime guarantee on all the jewelry. It is of the highest quality - .925 sterling silver. Items are hand-crafted. And beautiful!!!

Party is going to be open until: February 5
All orders will be submitted that day.

You can also fill out a wish list and email it to me, and I can email it to your sweetie... Valentine's Day is soon!

This offer also applies to orders for gift certificates! Again, think Valentine's...

I accept cash, check, and credit cards. (Cash/check needs to be received in advance.)

***

Now, here are some details on the Haiti move and what the Mangine family is doing. This is info from the family themselves:

In May of 2009, we are planning a move to the southern coast of Haiti where we will open the second family home at the Haitian Children's Home. Once there, we will open our home and our family to 20 orphaned and abandoned children. We will accept them and care for them and give them the opportunity to grow up in a secure, stable environment with access to opportunities EVERY child should be afforded—food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, and, of course, love.

The Haitian Children's Home is a non-profit, 5019(c)3 organization that basically exists to build Haitian families. The primary way we do this is by raising orphaned and abandoned Haitian children. We currently have 21 children that we are raising and that number will double once Nick and I move here. Children are raised in a Haitian lifestyle-- we hire Haitian nannies, they go to Haitian school, Haitian church, etc. Creole (the colloquial language in Haiti) is spoken exclusively in the home. It is not an adoption orphanage. Our goal is to raise these children until they are ready to be productive members of society-- whatever that means for them.

-We are the only "orphanage" (I use this word lightly because we prefer to call it a family-- since that's what it is) in this region of Haiti (the Sudest) that accepts children over the age of 5.

- We accept children between the ages of 6-12 and they will stay with us until they are ready/old enough to enter society. Most of our kids will not have had any access to education before coming into the home. Therefore, most of them will not finish school (high school) until their mid-20's.

- We also have a scholarship program that helps local street children attend school.

- We have a medical fund that covers medical costs for locals who cannot afford medical care. We also do at least two medical missions each year as an outreach to the community.

- We've done extensive storm relief in 07&08 during and after active hurricane seasons.

Here are a few sobering facts about Haiti:

-Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
- 80% of people in Haiti live below the poverty line.
- 2/3 of people in Haiti are unemployed.
- The average life expectancy in Haiti is 52-- in the US (less that 700 miles away) it is 77.
- 15% of children in Haiti are orphaned or abandoned.
-10% of children will die before the age of 4.
- 7% of children are slaves.

***

Now, how can you not want to help with a cause like this?? These are awesome people on an awesome mission. For more info on their story, visit their website: http://www.haitianchildrenshome.org/mangine/

And if you decide not to support them by purchasing Silpada products, there are other ways! Check the website above to discover other ways to support them.

Happy Silpada-ing!!