Look at me! I'm blogging!

It so strange not to blog once a week- give or take. I don't enjoy it mostly for the fact that it's kind of my journal about my sweet daughter and all of her milestones. Really, all I can think of is that she's "talking" a lot more. Saying cute phrases like, "ba bababa baba ba ba," and "mama mamama ma." Isn't that darling!? She's my little cup of joy. She's so smiley and happy. She's a little clingy but I try not to give in to it too much. Sometimes it's hard, though, because she's so dang cute and such a great cuddler. I love when she rests her little head on my shoulder. Allow a moment for me to let out a contented sigh.
So, she is 8 months now. Well 8 months and some. It's amazing how fast it flies, and there is no way to slow it down. Ever since she's been born I've made sure to take the great advice given to me that is, "Take in every moment, because it passes by so quickly." I know a lot of mom's who can't wait to get to certain milestones but I just enjoy her as she is in the moment. Yeah, soon she'll be crawling really fast and I'll enjoy it then, but for now I'm enjoying her ever improving army crawl and her new found adventurous curiousity for different rooms, tiny things to be swallowed and doors. Ah, such wonders.
My little love.

I am finishing up week one of phase 2 in the Maker's Diet. I feel incredible. I've already lost some weight, I have more energy, I feel healthier and bouncier. Bouncier? Really? Yes, folks. Bouncier. It's fantastic. I really encourage people to read the Maker's Diet. It's not just a "diet" but a lifestyle change. It's superb. And you really do get to eat!

My little family and I have been greatly enjoying the warm weather we have had. Not the rainy cold stuff from the past few days but these last weeks have been awesome. We've done bonfires and grilling, and getting to hang out with our friends. Summer is so nice. Everyone feels happier and is more willing to get out of their cozy beds to do something. I love waking up to the birds chirping, the smell of freshly cut grass, the warm sun, cool breeze. Summer is definitly a renewing season. Spring is great, don't get me wrong, but it only gets you there. Summer is good.

I've also got my house good and cleaned. Well, it's 90% there. Just a few more things to get done and I will have officially Spring Cleaned my house for the season. It feels so good to have such a clean house! I love cleanliness and organization. I don't always like getting it there but, I sure do love it when it is.

I feel like I should have more to tell, and I guess I do, but I'm just going to have to leave it at this for now. I'll try to be better at finding a computer to get back here more often.

Have a GREAT Friday, everyone!

Well, hello!

So, it's been another good while. So let's update:

Amelia is now a power crawler! For about a week and a half now.. maybe two weeks. She's a little slow in her crawling but I think it's the footie pj's that we put her in. That, and she hasn't quite figured out just how to use her hands. She kind of slaps them down together at times or not far enough ahead of her. It's so cute, though.
I'm also pretty sure she's saying "mama." It is more of a "mamamama" but really, it's "mama." We all know it, so don't deny it.
She's also clapping! But that one's a little older. Doesn't make me less proud though.

Two weekends ago, we took our good friends down to my grandparents farm for a weekend of R&R. Some much needed R&R. We had a very good time. There was fishing, roasting wienies and s'mores, riding horses, stalking a humming bird as well as some other good times. I really don't think anyone wanted to go home come Sunday. In fact, we'd all still be there if it wasn't for jobs and my grandparents sanity.

Last weekend, Bryan, Amelia and I all went out with his family to Galena. It was beautiful, fun however overpriced but well worth it. It was a fun day and we're already making plans to go back with different people!
Sunday was my first official Mother's Day. It was FANtastic. Before church, Amelia "gave" me a card. It was the sweetest thing. She even signed it and everything!
At church we had a baby dedication and we were one of three families.
Then we went to Bryan's parents house for lunch.
We got home and Bryan mowed while Amelia and I took a nap.
In the evening we had a few friends over for some pizza and a bon fire with s'mores.
I also got a card from my love (Bryan) and it made me tear up just a bit.

It was great. The best! first Mother's Day I could have asked for.



Until next time!...

What to say, what to say...

I don't enjoy their being such a span in my posts, but it's kind of tough to work around when there is only one working computer in the house and the hubby is using it for business. I guess that's more important.. Ok, it is. But that means for very limited usage of the computer and the time spent on it. So, here I am, wasting my time about my limited time...
Hm...

Well, first off, allow me to update on our baby's newest feat: She has learned to clap. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, our 7.5 month old learned to clap yesterday and very proudly showed off her new skill. She is still trying to figure out how to crawl, however!, she can masterfully pull herself by grabbing onto something, eloquently push with her big toes and successfully get up on to her knees. That's as far as it gets but it's something and you couldn't ask for prouder parents than we.

As for my Bryan, well, he is working very hard. I am proud of him and all that he does. He loves what he does and you couldn't really ask for more than that. He's also doing his darndest with the Worship Team at church as well as being on the team for finding our church a new pastor. Not to forget that he also works with the youth on Wednesday nights as a sponser... Man, he's busy. I guess I never really realized.

Me, well, I've been sick these last couple of days, but other than that I am part of a Mom's Bible study on Thursday mornings. I haven't been part of one in a long time and I am fully enjoying it. I'm anxious for us to get further into it and better established since it's new and still getting its bearings. I really like it though, and the women are so beautiful. It's so nice having other mom's who are more experienced than I but are still learning themselves.
I've also been blessed to hang out with Jolene on some days. It's so nice to have a good friend that's home during the days as well. Less loneliness.
This weekend our family is taking our friends, the Pitts', down to my grandparents farm. We're hoping it will be a blessing to get away and relax in such a calm and peaceful environment. We love being down there so we can only hope that they'll enjoy it as much as we do.

If you think about us, pray for our health, that whatever sickness I have will leave with me and won't pass on to any of my family or friends, pray for our travels, and for our church as it goes through a transition right now.

Anyway, hopefully I won't take as long to post again. Hope you feel loved today.

Lately...

My daughter will be 7 months in two days... It's hard to believe. She is growing like crazy, physically and mentally. She's so smart and cute and lovable. It's hard to get enough of her some days.
She gets so frustrated that she's not mobile yet. She tries to get around, and she can, by paddling herself in circles, going backwards and then turning around, stretching, and pushing off of things. Sunday, she showed us a new trick by forming an "A" shape with her body -sticking her butt up in the air, while being on her tippy toes and her forearms. It was cute.
This last weekend really took it out of her too. Bryan had Friday off so we hung around being lazy, then ran around doing errands -shopping and such. Then I got to hang out with my sister, Courtney
Then on Saturday we hung out with friends all day. First Jolene and B, and Courtney. Then we headed off to Keith and Em's for dinner and a bonfire with s'mores. It was a very good day.
Sunday, we headed to church, enjoyed Easter service, then headed to Bryan's parents for lunch and Jolene and Dave's for dinner. We had such a good time that we didn't leave until 11:30 at night!
So with all the craziness of the weekend, I thought I should give Amelia a little break. So what did we do yesterday? Nothing. And it was swell. Well, not nothing, we did sleep. From 10-1 and then she again from 2:30-4:30. Then down at 8.
I had to let her cry herself to sleep last night. The past few nights have been bad... Up every hour, sometimes not wanting to go back to sleep. I couldn't take it. So we let her cry for 20 minutes and then I went in there to let her know I was here, that I loved her and that she was OK. So, I stroked her hair, kissed her and let her hold tightly to my arms as she sniffled herself to sleep. It was painful but let me tell ya, she slept for three hours at a time! PTL. I just pray for the will to do it and keep reminding myself that it's worth it and it's good for her however painful it may be for myself.

Anyway, I'm off to have some steak for lunch. Enjoy your Tuesday and hopefully it won't take me another 2 weeks to post again!

I know, I know.

It's been a while.
I'm a slacker.
But I've got a 6 and a half month old who requires an awful lot of attention and will cry at whatever means necessary to get that attention!
So, last Saturday I threw an adoption party for our dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Keithy Weithy. If you didn't see my blog before, just scroll down a few posts and you will see that they got to adopt their third and (quite certain) final child. Very exciting. So, in lieu, of this wonderful event, I threw a party in their honor with the help of some very extrordinary and wonderful baking women. We had some wonderful food made, fantastic people to celebrate with and a very pretty guest of honor in her sweet little green dress. The party was fun, folks. Let me tell ya. ...I guess I just did.
What else... what else...
Nothing super exciting has really happened this week. I get to spend my days with my darling daughter. Watch her grow, learn, explore. I couldn't ask for a better job. And to get paid in slobbery kisses!!
I have switched to cloth diapers. I put it off for so long because I could never find the vinyl/plasticy covers that go over the cloth in her size at the time. First they were too big, now too small. So I went ahead and bought some size 12m just so I could get going on doing my part to help the environment. I am definitely going to look into getting something better. Nothing like hearing the crunching of plastic coming from your child.
Her teeth have come to a halt at where they stand. They're there. The tops of them anyway. Maybe they are just making their entrance very slowly. Yeah, that's probably it.
(strumming fingers on keyboard)
Tonight we all three went to Bryan's parents house. We had dinner and celebrated his brothers and wife's birthdays. We got to hang out with the whole family, which is a rareity anymore since Bruce is off in Chicago most of the days for school. Pleasant evening.
Tomorrow, Bryan and I are starting back up on the Maker's Diet. It was hard to do the first time, so be praying for us this time around. Since I have hypothyroid, this is the only way for me to lose weight. And since I still have some baby weight left on me, I felt it was about time. Plus, I swear my 65 y/o grandparents are in better shape than I am, so exercise routine, here I come.
For the first four weeks we'll be in phase I and II, and in those phases we can't have cow products, only goat (like milk and cheese) nor breads of any kind. This is to clean out your system to introduce the healthy, earthy foods, like sprouted grains and organic dairy. It's hard. But I want to be healthy and I want to teach my child(ren) good eating habits as well as exercising the body.

Anyway, that's all of an update for now, I suppose.

Just so you know, I haven't blogged in a while because our laptop is down and since my husband works from home I don't see much of the computer. It's all right, just longer gaps in my posting.
Have a good night!