Raising Girls... My Thoughts...

Before you read... This post is in no way put out there to offend you. This post is, in the simplest way put, my thoughts. As you read understand that I think dearly of each and everyone of you. How you choose to raise your children is not being judged by us. We are and always will be here to support the decisions you make as a parent. So before you read, if you read, read with an open mind. Don't take offense for it is not meant to offend you!! -Erica

As time creeps closer to the day when I need to register Hannah into kindergarten our anxiety also creeps up. We are a Christian family, we have strong Christian morals and values and we fear the unknown. We understand that there are many amazing teachers who love their job and work as hard as they can to make a difference in as many children as they can. But there is only so much a teacher can do. There is only so much flexibility a teacher has in his/her classroom before parents and/or the school board/media step in and say, that's too far. I've spoken with teachers who've expressed their fears in even hinting around the word, GOD! They are afraid. Afraid of offending a child who probably wouldn't be offended. But more so afraid of offending parents. Teachers teach children and have to worry about offending parents! It's preposterous!

Parents send their child to a Christian preschool and ask the teachers to not allow their child to participate in anything that explains or expresses the word of God! They asked that their child not go to chapel or be made to pray before snacks, etc. It's truly sad that parents would do this-at of all places a Christian preschool.

I've recently started reading a book by Dr. James Dobson called "Bringing Up Girls" and he says (I'm paraphrasing), if you don't teach it to your children someone most definitely will, but with their own spin on it! He also goes into explaining that girls should always remember that they are ladies. Our girls are losing this idea. Kyle and I have personally heard teenage boys speak of girls these days and its not amusing. It's down right scary! We are raising three beautiful girls and the thought of a boy, one day, speaking so carelessly about one them is just repulsive!

We are in charge of our children and should expect no one else to raise them or teach them right from wrong, we should be the ones who stay consistent in their discipline, even in a world that now looks down on physical discipline i.e. spanking. In our modern world if we don't allow our children to do what all the other children are doing we are considered "ancient" or "stuck in the past" or "weird/uncool" and the thing I've heard and at one point thought myself, "too strict and unfair". I won't lie I was feeling an increasing amount of pressure to enroll Hannah into some sort of dance/cheerleading/gymnastics or JUST SOMETHING and one night Kyle and I were discussing this pressure I was feeling, when he said, "Erica, the reason you are feeling this pressure is because you want them to fit in. You want them to be considered normal especially when they start school." This was exactly the truth. I do want them to fit in and be normal, what parent doesn't? But, I wanted them to be normal in things that didn't matter, I wanted them to be normal and accepted in things that they ultimately don't need to worry about. I would be pushing them to do the "norm". Pushing them to shift their focus from God to more socially acceptable things.
Cheer/Dance/Gymnastic etc. moms please understand that this in no way was meant to offend you! These are just my thoughts. In no way or shape would I mean my words to hurt any of you! 

Do not mistake what I'm saying, I do want to give my girls the world. I want them to never have to need one single thing for the rest of their lives. But, what kind of mom would I be if I didn't say no-ever, if I didn't punish them for their wrong doings, if I didn't make them say sorry, if I didn't teach them to clean up their messes, if I didn't teach them to "shake it off" when they fall or scrape their knee? I am their mom, I do kiss boo-boo's, I cuddle when they are sick, I tell them I love them every second I can. But because I am their mom they know and will continue to learn that what I (and their dad) says, is what goes. They will pray before meals, they will sit down at the table and eat when we eat, they will ask to be excused, they will not interrupt when we are talking, they will learn that as easily as things are given they WILL be taken away, and they will get their hearts broken, by us and by others but they will learn to get over it, kids are good at that. There is no question that we love them. They know that and they refuse to go to bed without a goodnight hug and kiss.

While my mind is all over the place I take comfort in knowing that what we're doing is what's best for our family. It may not be for your family and what may be best for your family may be completely opposite of what your neighbor thinks. It doesn't matter what they think. It honestly doesn't matter what you think, and I can't worry about what you think I have enough to worry about over here! The point is and it's been an adjustment for me, is accepting that how we raise our family is strictly up to us. We mustn't rely on others to raise our girls for us and that includes teachers at any school, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, it was our decision to bring them into this world it is our RESPONSIBILITY to raise them how we see fit, not what is socially acceptable, not how other parents tell us.

We also take comfort in knowing that our steps are guided by Gods merciful and gracious touch and I can only pray that as our girls grow they will continue to seek him and keep him first in their lives.

~Erica~*

 

Saying Goodbye to 2013 and Hello 2014!!!

I'm so sorry I've been so far away from my blog!! I've been on a binge of doing absolutely nothing lately and it has got to STOP!

I will try not to ramble on about too many things but to keep this post in some kind of order. Since August I have been so involved in school and I took four classes so that really bogged down a lot of my time. Hannah also started preschool in September and I started a new work schedule in September as well. I am not a huge fan of change and I can be quite resistant, sadly, at times and getting into a new routine constitutes as change in my book so it was quite the struggle at first.

Each week I counted down to when that hellacious semester would be over. It had me on the brink of tears every week and I felt almost defeated most of the time. But, I (we) pushed through it and I finished it up. Now with 6 classes remaining until I can say goodbye to Gardner-Webb University forever I feel I am on more of a downwards slope (thank goodness!). As of tomorrow I can finally say that I'll be graduating this year! It very well may be December but it is THIS YEAR!!!

I've been on break for about 3 weeks and we have been super busy during that time! We planned Olivia's Gingerbread Man birthday party, finished up our Christmas shopping, had family Christmas events every weekend and now that it's all over I can breathe, right? Wrong! I now have to plan Hannah's 4th birthday party which she has made it very clear that she wants a My Little Pony party, so yesterday I started searching for invitations. Surprisingly it cannot be found on many websites. I lucked out and the only place I could find them was at Party City. So I can make it happen!

Also you know that break I mentioned well it ends on January 8th and my spring semester begins. YAY! (said with much sarcasm). I am only taking two classes this semester because I'm fairly certain that three would be the death of me.

I also am starting to plan the birth of our 3rd baby girl! Yes, you saw it right "starting to plan". I am roughly 33 weeks and I have yet to purchase the first diaper! I also started to prime her room (the kids playroom) and I have barely done 1/3 of it. I planned on painting it because it is this banana yellow (like the real banana not the soft baby color). I think it's ugly and I wanted to lighten it up to a rosy pink or just something different! It will be Ava's room after about 4 months of sleeping in a pack-n-play in our room. I hope to gosh she is sleeping all night by that point.

Oddly enough I went through clothes about 18 months ago and got rid of every newborn item to six month piece of clothing we had. Every. Single. Piece. And until recently we didn't have a single newborn onesie laying around. What was I thinking you ask? Well, I was thinking that I'd be done with school before we ever decided to have another baby that's what I was thinking. I was thinking that maybe two children is enough. I was thinking we'll be in a completely different financial situation and could afford to buy all the clothes we'd need for #3. I simply wasn't thinking, I guess. And now my #3 is surely to be here before the end of February. Which is like less than 8 weeks away!

Also, I received the news from my work that they'd like me to return as soon as possible once my doctor releases me. Which with my girls was around 6 weeks. I usually take about 12 weeks off with the baby and it is still super hard to turn them over to the care of another person. Now that I have to cut that time in half I'm kinda bummed. Of course I had the financial situation right when I was thinking "we'd be in a different financial situation" we are in a totally different place than with either of the girls. With Hannah I started a new job and the current place I work. With Olivia I was able to get short term disability for 6 weeks and I was on an unpaid leave the other 6 weeks and with Ava I'll just have an unpaid leave for 6-8 weeks. Which is exactly why I'm going to have to come back after 6-8 weeks. Now that I've completely bored you if not confused you with my financial issues I really need to get out and buy some dang diapers, a few more outfits, and a carseat!! We gave our only carseat to a friend in need before I found out I was pregnant and now we are carseat-less.

Overall I am so excited to have another sweet baby to love on and share with family and friends. Come on 2014!! Looking forward to a lot of new and exciting moments!!

And Here Comes #3!

Wow! I honestly didn't think I'd be saying it so soon, baby #3 is on the way! I can promise you this was totally unexpected and completely unplanned. Of course I am currently trying to finish up school and of course my due date would fall right slap in the middle of my semester! I am a firm believer that every thing happens for a reason and that God will never put you through things that he won't get you through. But having a third baby around will be a little more difficult, I didn't say impossible.

It has always been a dream of mine to have 3 children (at least)! I absolutely love having a little cuddly baby around. I love seeing the wonder in their eyes when they discover something new. I also love hearing them say daddy, mommy, sissy, pretty much anything because each sweet word is a blessing.

With all that being said I love sleeping, and sleeping in, and sleeping all night, basically I love sleep. And the thought of having to wake up to a crying baby, hoping that baby doesn't wake up my other children frightens me. Other than that I'm so overwhelmed with happiness that we get to bring home another of God's greatest gifts!

Our due date is February 22nd! Another February baby, if we were planning this we would have shot for somewhere around May. Spread out the birthday parties a bit but I'm sure we'll manage.

I am fixing to get so busy the summer is ticking by and we still have a beach trip to go on before my fall semester starts! What a great way to end summer classes and kick off fall classes! Plus I'll be moving right on into my 2nd trimester so the morning (all day) sickness will hopefully fade away in the next few weeks! (fingers crossed).

I'm such a planner and I rely heavily on routine. If things get changed up I have a minor panic attack then go with the flow, with some resistance. Christmas in my opinion is right around the corner and I'm still trying to figure out who we need to buy presents for. Not forgetting to mention Olivia's party which, yes, I am already planning it as well (Hannah's too). I've got my hands full for the next 5 months until after Christmas. With 3 classes, 2 parties to plan, Christmas shopping to do, oh and the birth of our next kiddo I'm a bit overwhelmed. But I'm so excited all at the same time... Is that weird?!? I'm an addict when it comes to parties and Christmas and Santa and all that fun stuff. I'm such a MOM! LOL I know it sounds crazy but those who don't have kids when you finally have them you'll totally understand how you transform from just a girl to a mom! I do all kinds of things I'd always sworn I'd never do, say, act. And it's okay because my kids love me for it (sometimes).

So here's to the next several busy months!!!

Updates! Updates!

January 21st? The 21st? I find it so hard to believe how quickly time is flying by! On one hand I'm loving that because I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for me in regards to receiving my degree in Business Administration!! Whoooo! If I continue on the road I'm going I should graduate next December, December 2014! I've worked so hard and now to actually see an end date/month even if it is almost 2 years away I'm so freaking excited! But on the other hand my girls are changing so much! Their personalities just evolve on a daily basis.
It makes my heart just melt when I sneak up on them and they are playing so sweetly together. It's a pretty rare moment so I just melt when I do. They already argue! In a way it's kinda cute/funny but I know I'll eat those words in just a few more years or less.
I'm super busy and if I'm not cleaning up the house 2,422,672 times a day then my day wouldn't be normal!
I'm pretty sure Olivia thinks she's like super glued to my hip because she constantly has to be held or wants to hold hands or I have to be in her sight or she comes toddling in search of me. I won't lie it's cute, sweet, and completely lovey dovey but honestly, have you ever tried making up your bed with an extra 20 pounds on one side of your body and using only one hand?? It's hard as CRAP! But aside from cleaning up constantly, working on homework, cooking dinner, and playing with the girls I do find a little extra quiet time for myself... sometimes. That's why sometimes it's actually nice having class to attend and working 2 days because it gives me a little adult conversation.
We've got plans to get Hannah enrolled into Preschool this fall and I think we've found one. But I'll do my checking around and see!
Speaking of Hannah she's fixing to be 3! THREE! See what I mean about time flying?!? Crazy! I remember when she was just a tiny baby and I used to wonder what she'd look like (act like, talk like, etc.) when she was 2-3 years old and now I'm experiencing it before I could even imagine it! We're preparing for her birthday party in just 2 WEEKS! We're having a Cinderella Ice Cream Sundae party for her and her little friends.  She adores Cinderella, and now that she has actually formed her own opinion (and expresses it on a regular basis) I asked her what she wanted and what kind of party she wanted, she straight up told me Cinderella like how did I not know this? So away I'm planning!
I hope to get back on here and update more often but I make no promises! God Bless you all in this beautiful new year!

Hannah - 2 days old

Hannah 1 year old

Hannah 2 years old!

What's New?

There have been many, many first's in the past few months and lots of things that are changing but aren't quite first's so I'm going to just document a few!

What's new with Hannah:In the past say, 6 months.

This was taken for Hannah's 2 year pics

This was taken right when Hannah was 2 1/2 years old

• peddling her tricycle
• communication (Hannah's communication skills have improved so much!)
• She now asks me where we are going?, what I'm doing, she's learning manners!!, she is asking for things instead of "demanding" them, she remembers what places are like church, school, store, who's house we are at, who's car is who's, she (pretends) to read her stories
• Hannah has trimmed down so much in the past 6 months, her jaw line is really starting to show and my sweet girl is looking less and less like the baby she "appeared" to be just 6 months ago! She looks closer to a little girl than even a toddler!  (If you're a mom then you probably understand what I mean by that)
• She still has her "terrible two's" moments but they are really coming less and less
• She is really maturing and her reasoning is really starting to develop 
• Hannah actually noticably stops in her tracks when she realizes she is about to do something she isn't supposed to be and then turns around after contemplating it for a few seconds and does something else!
• Hannah is in go-go-go mode constantly!  She is so busy and when I'm home with the girls and we don't have much planned I start racking my brain for activities we can get into so she isn't idle.  
• If she is idle for even 10 minutes she starts getting into trouble or messing around with things she knows she isn't supposed to and all reasoning (what we spoke about in previous bullet) goes out the door! 
• Hannah is an intelligent little booger!  I'm not just being bias... She really is!  She knows when I am indisposed at the moment (like if I'm feeding sissy, pumping, taking a shower) and can't immediately can't get to her, before she starts messing with things she KNOWS she's shouldn't be.  EX: I'll be in the shower and here walks in Hannah (so innocently) asking me what I am doing (isn't it obvious?) and then she starts digging through my "hair" drawer, grabs one of my hair products and starts to unscrew the lid.... The entire time I'm saying "Hannah, No!, Hannah, No!, Hannah Grace, I SAID NO!" Then I proceed to threaten her with time-out and spankings, and if that doesn't work then I tell her (a last resort lie) "if you mess with that it will make you very, very sick!"  Finally, something has worked... She looks up at me and repeats "It will make me berry berry sick?" Yes! It worked she puts it up and I rush to finish up my shower so she or Olivia don't completely tear the house apart!    
• Hannah and Olivia has recently started getting bath's together (It is SO much easier if I can bathe them at the same time!).  It keeps OK occupied for a little bit and Hannah busy being a (mommy) to OK.  
• I can now ask Hannah to run and get me something and she does it! Woo Hoo for a little extra help!! 
• For example I'll ask her to go grab me a diaper and a wipe for sissy.  Hannah may grab a diaper like she's asked but she'll probably grab about 10 wipes and one for herself.  I can hardly complain she's helping me out so much! 
• Hannah's love for music continues to grow and her love for books do as well! That personally makes my heart swell! I've always had a love for both and I'd be so happy if that carried on to her!
• Recently Hannah started horse ridding lessons!!! With that 10 second attention span she has I was a little worried that she'd get impatient and want off, but surprisingly she wanted off after 10 minutes not 10 seconds!  I refused to be there the 1st few lessons because it makes me so nervous, which is silly because I grew up around horses, I love them, and I had a connection with them that can't be explained.  I can only hope that my girls have that same love for animals especially horses that I do/did!  She was asleep before lunch time.  Her instructor a dear friend of my family was SO good with her and completely exhausted her! She rode, led, brushed, and just sat on the horse the entire hour.  Along with touring his yard which is full of horses, donkey's, and dogs!  
• Hannah's new favorite show is BARNEY!  We watch it so much that his annoying little laugh is driving me insane!! Hannah loves him so much that we I park the car she tells me that she'll stay in there so she can watch it.  Hannah will actually sit in the same spot for almost the entire movie because she is entranced by it! 

• Hannah's new favorite book is called Vera's Baby Sister.  It is totally a cute book and I may or may not change the names to Hannah and Olivia while I'm reading it.  She wants me (or daddy) to read it to her every night before bedtime. 

 What's new with Olivia!

This was taken 6 months ago

• Olivia started sitting up around 5 1/2 to 6 months old.
• She is now 8 1/2 months old and crawling ALL over the place!
• About a week after she started crawling she started pulling up.  Now she's making an attempt to pull up on everything she can get her fingers around.  
• She is now eating 2 jars of baby food a day (sometimes they are not the entire jar but at least half)
• She's drinking (chewing) out of a sippy cup.
• She is not as independent as Hannah was/is.  She has to be in the same room as you are 24/7.  She will not have it if you set her down and walk out for even 2 seconds.  
• OK is constantly intrigued by things that she's also not supposed to be intrigued by.  Meaning, whatever Hannah is playing with OK wants to play with it too.  Thousands of toys can be scattered all over the floor and she finds the nearest cord and messes with it.  

• She is straight up momma's girl!! I.LOVE.IT! Right now anyway ;) 

Olivia Kate at 8 1/2 months

• I give her snacks to keep her busy while I'm cooking or cleaning or just need a break.  I give her snacks like: Baby Mum Mums, those little Gerber pin wheel thingy's (I can't think of their real name), Puffs, and tiny pieces of these organic bars called Grammy Sammy's.  Textures still get to her a bit.  It's usually a losing battle for me when I feed her jar food.  And you can forget the textured jar food.  She flat out refuses that.  I just keep telling myself consistency will win out in the end but the girl is already PICKY!!!!   

•  Olivia's personality is really evolving and she is becoming more and more her own person. 
• Olivia will make sure you know when she is hungry and she'll make sure you know when she's done or doesn't like something.  
• She already pouts! What?! Does this happen this early? Or is it something she's picked up from Hannah?  I'll never know but she sure is good at it!  
• She like Hannah has the pouty lip perfected!
• Olivia loves other kids/babies she just goes into freak mode when she is confronted with another baby!  She just starts kicking her legs, making all kinds of noises, grabbing, laughing and wants the other child.  It's the funniest thing ever!  She gets so excited and it tickles me to death!  

These are just a few of the things that are new in my girls lives and it would seriously take ALL day to list out everything.  I am enjoying every phase of their lives and take each melt down with a grain of salt because really my girls are good girls and they are sweetie pies!! Maybe I am a bit bias but I LOVE BEING MOM!! Specifically their mommy!!! That's all for now! 

The Fast Lane

Hey y'all!!! YES I'm still here but I learned a whole new definition for the word busy!  I am non-stop these days and I can barely sit down to type a paper due for class, so sadly I've put my blogging on the back burner. 

I tell ya life in the fast lane is NO fun!!! Everything is changing and happening so quickly I feel like just by blinking my eyes something new happens or some sort of change occurs.  I enjoy seeing my girls grow, spending all day with them, loving on them whenever I feel like it, but nowadays I can't (not as much as I'd like to anyway!).  I've just got 9,434,242,256 things going on!! I do get to spend a few hours at a time with them but definitely not as much as I'd like. 

I have less than 6 months until by baby girl Hannah is 3!!! THREE!! And less 4 month until Olivia turns one!! ONE!!! I mean when did that happen?!? 

I have a new editing program and I was playing around (before class started) with this one!! LOVE IT!

I just ADORE these bloomers!

My handsome baby daddy!

So much has changed with both of their personalities and I can't wait to one day get back on here and update you on what's new with them.  But for now you will just have to enjoy a couple pictures of them!  I hope to return soon and not months from now! Much love to you all!!!!

The Reality Is....

It's been about a month since my last post and well I like so many of you have been very busy. Bare with me on this post.....  

This post is something I don't like really doing.  Baring it all.  Laying out my feelings.  Expressing to "strangers" how I feel, not that any of you are truly strangers, but you get my point...  It makes me feel vulnerable and exposed, but I need this.  I needed to write down my feelings because that is the only way I feel like I can get the weight lifted off my shoulders.  And I actually do feel better since typing this out.  But please be kind because I'm not a huge fan of exposing myself this way....

Reality /rēˈalətē/

Noun               1.  The world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them: "he refuses to face reality".

Reality, it's such a small word but it means so much.  It shows you exactly the things you don't want to see and then the things you don't actually believe you are seeing or are happening to you.  Good or bad.  They say life is reality.  I tend to agree with that on some level, however I tend to disagree.  Why exactly is it when something bad occurs there is always someone there to say, "that's life, that's reality"?  And when something great happens you, you never hear "that's life, that's reality".  Is it because sometimes when good things happen you feel like it was a dream?  But then why?  Do you feel you aren't lucky enough to have good things happen to you all the time? Or are we just so used to bad things happening that we feel like good things are almost not real? 

I've been thinking about death a lot lately.  But I've also been thinking a lot about life too.  Death, death, death.... It's so easy to say but it's so hard to accept.  Life, life, life.... It too is an easy little word to say but it's colorful definition(s) are so hard to actually do.  To live your life you must accept death.  But why?  Why must we accept that there is an ending to such a beautiful thing? Even if there is a lot of ugly mixed in it.  

The reality is, my reality is, is over the past 7 almost 8 months I have experienced so much life and too much death and heartache.  I have experienced happiness but so much sadness.  Sometimes I wonder why we (as in people) focus on the bad, ugly, sad parts of our lives? Why does the dark seem to cloud up the light? Why does sadness or death seem to stick out in my life like a sore thumb?  Is it the devil?  I think it is.  But I'm scared.  I'm scared of what my family's future holds.  

My reality is my grandpa.  My grandpa was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia a few weeks ago, I can't even remember how long its been.  Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.  He started chemo last week, we were told that this was his only chance.  They said without the chemo there was no chance of survival.  But with the chemo there is less than 24% of a chance he'll make it through it.  And not forgetting to mention there is the five years after the chemo that he has to have continuous check ups and if the chemo works there is still a high possibility that he may need a bone marrow transplant.  My grandpa is 84 years old.  He just started his chemo which is actually a less aggressive treatment.  He only goes once a month for four days.  His "last" first treatment was last Thursday.  He was sick by Sunday and in the hospital on Monday.  The doctor told us that he would have an even higher risk of getting infections because AML attacks your blood cells (white and red).  When they got him to the hospital he looked deathly (from what my mom told me) the doctors/nurses were very concerned.  They ran tests and more tests and found out that he's actually has an infection in the blood.  Some sort of fungal infection.  I have no idea what in the hell this means.  I do know that it could be Sepsis.  This is not good.  This is not good in a young person but it's much worse in an elderly person. 

If the cancer doesn't kill him, then the infections may take care of the job for it.  That was what I read up on here.  He is very sick and I can't stand the thought of him suffering like this.  I just can't stand it! This is my grandpa.  The one who my sister and I would spend an entire week with once a year when we were growing up.  The very one who when were were kids bought us a dozen doughnuts because we begged for them and then made us eat one doughnut every hour until they were gone.  That is the reason why I'm not a huge fan of doughnuts to this day.  It just seems so unfair.  I know that's selfish because there are tons of people out there who are suffering.  But this is my grandpa.  And I hate cancer.  I hate the infections AML causes.  I HATE ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA! 

Right now my grandpa is still in the hospital.  I don't know when he will get to go home or if he... I don't want to say it, think it, or even type it.  Right now I'm sitting here typing this and my eyes are burning with unshed tears and heart is breaking, breaking for the pain my grandpa is having to endure and for the pain that will come.  My heart is breaking and I am so sad, so angry, and I guess I'm in denial.  I'm not ready to let go.  I'm not ready to experience the one thing I've not really thought about... Letting go.  I'm not ready... I'm not ready to start letting go of anyone, much less my grandpa.  I'm not ready to see my own father and uncles cry from losing their daddy.  I'm not ready to see the look of heartache and loss on my dads face.  I'm not ready... Yet everything inside me is screaming "You better get READY!!!".  I hate this.  

My other grandfather, my moms father passed away in March of this year.  He found out he had lung cancer on a Wednesday or Thursday and he passed away less than 2 weeks later.  He actually never suffered.  He passed away peacefully.  It was a quick but painless way to heaven.  Very much different than my dad's father.  We as kids never really spent much time with my mom's dad.  They worked in a very progressive industry where they opened and business from the ground up and now that business is extremely successful.  So we spent more time with my dad's parents.  That's why we are so much closer with them.  That's why my heart is breaking so badly. 

The reality is, my reality is, is over the past 7 almost 8 months I've experienced so much life but too much death and heartache.  This is just my reality.  I'm not saying that what is going on in my life supersedes your problems.  But right now in this very moment I feel like a piece of my heart is breaking off and it can never be mended.  There will forever be a chunk missing from it.  Do scars really make you tougher?

2nd Annual Cousins Cookout

Last year we started up a tradition that we will hopefully continue as the years pass! 

2011 at the 1st Annual Cousins Cookout!

Since we (Harper side aka Moms side of the family) no longer get together for Thanksgiving or Christmas we cousins decided that doing a cookout mid year would be the best way to see each other and have a good time! 

2012 2nd Annual Cousins Cookout!

Last year was the start of it and it was just a regular cookout (hot dogs and hamburgers) with all the cousins and our kids!! Talk about a large ginormous group!  This year we did a Hawaiian theme and decided to enjoy ourselves without the kids and it was so much fun an a nice change. 

There was a lot of corn hole, football, limbo, and pool played, as well as, food eaten!! I'm pretty sure I grazed the entire evening!  We had drum sticks marinated in some kind of Hawaiian jerk sauce, pulled pork, chips and dip, fruit kabobs, deviled eggs, nuts, cookie cake, orange and pineapple cake!  Oh and we had pinacoladas and margaritas!!!



Such a fun evening and many memories to look back on! Can't wait until next year!!!!!

Please notice Kyle's face in this picture..... LOL

Totally oblivious!

The guys!

Never a dull moment... of course they couldn't take a serious picture!

Baby Food Edition!

This post is going to be strictly on how I make Olivia's baby food.  It may not be how you do it or how you would have done it but it is simply my way! :)  I am just learning as I go and that in itself is a task.  If it is not a romance novel then usually I am not interested in reading it.... Just kidding! 

So it's pretty simple and really doesn't take much time to make 1st foods (I have no clue about 2nd foods FYI).  You just  have to take a little extra time to actually buy, peel, cook, blend, freeze, bag, and then date! 

First things first!
Step # 1
Go to your local farmers market (besides it being organic it's a great way to support local farmers!) and buy the goodies!! Best first foods are usually apples, avocados, bananas, squash, sweet potatoes, pears, green beans, peas, peaches, prunes etc.

 I started with things I thought would be tastiest... Apples, bananas, pears, sweet potatoes, and then squash.  So far Olivia has tasted all but the squash and I've tasted them too, yes I have.  If you can think past the texture you will taste the difference and wow! the difference!!! I tasted the apples and since it was puree apples you can't help but let it touch every inch of your mouth and it was like a apple explosion went off!!! SERIOUSLY!!!  Delicious doesn't even describe the flavor although I can't say the same about the texture (it takes some serious mind control to block out the mushy puree texture).  So with that being said I was ready to start cooking baby food seriously. 


Step # 2
Wash the vegetable or fruit very well don't hesitate to scrub that sucker! You may not keep the peeling but I just sit and think about all the different hands that touch and squeezed my goodie before I picked it out.... Eeeewwww!  So scrub a dub, dub!

Step # 3
Peel away.... I always end up cutting too much fruit or veggie away when I use a knife so I used a hand held peeler and once I got the hang of it I could peel a sweet potato in record time!  Don't fret if you didn't get all the peeling off because that is where a lot of the nutrients are (take note though in first foods taking most of the peeling off isn't a bad thing because it's harder to swallow and those little ones are just learning to do that so too much peeling = bad)

Step # 4
Cut up into cubed pieces or however the shape or size and throw them into a pot!  Pour water on them just enough to cover them and then cook them until they are soft.  However, be sure you do not cook them too long because if you over cook them more than likely the nutrients will have cooked out. 

Step # 5
Throw them into a blender or food processor.  Sometimes the water they were cooked in will be enough to puree them.  Plus by using the water they were cooked in will replace some of the nutrients that were cooked out. PRESS BLEND!

Step # 6
Pour into ice cub trays or you can buy the breast milk storage bags and measure out in ounces you want to serve your baby at each feeding and freeze!!! What I did was pour the sweet potato into ice trays and froze them.  I will admit that it was a aggravation once they were frozen because the veggie/fruit doesn't just pop out of the trays like ice... They kind of stick so it was a pain in the bum to get them out.  After they were out I bagged them into the breast milk storage bags because they are freezer safe and stored them back in the freezer!

Step # 7
Prepare and serve... I know you're thinking PREPARE??? But once they are frozen they have to be thawed!  So just run the bag of food under hot or warm water or you can just let it thaw in the fridge a few hours before (I've done both btw) and serve at a warm or room temperature.  I will sometimes add infant oatmeal if the fruit or veggie was too juicy; the oatmeal just thickened it up a bit. 

Side Note:::  Frozen baby food only last about 6 weeks in a freezer so don't go over achiever on yourself or you will end up making too much and having to throw it out at the end of 6 weeks!  Good luck and I hope you've found this post.... enlightening some how! :)) Have a great day folks!