The Giveaway Winner!

Oops- my brain failed me yet again!  I totally forgot to announce the giveaway winner...

#6- A little Green Birdhouse won! Please send me your shipping info and your choice of makeup bag :)

Congrats!

My baby slept on his tummy and more gasping stories...

I have been reading "Free Range Kids", well actually listening to it because our library didn't have the book available when I went.  I got to thinking about my parenting style and even though I don't agree with everything this lady is saying, I do kinda think I might be some what of a free range parenter.

  I have never really read any parenting books...believe me, I tried!  I couldn't find the time, the energy or the desire to finish or follow through with any of them though.  Mostly, I would start reading and realize my baby didn't fit into their category.  For example, "Happiest Baby on the Block" what I read of it, totally and completely didn't work for us.  "Baby Wise" also didn't work for us.  I am a baby wearing, part time cloth diapering mama but I don't do the co-sleeping thing and I didn't have a natural birth- in fact, I had quite the opposite and I am still proud of myself because at the end of the day, I had a sweet baby boy, and no one asked me if I did it naturally!  Imagine my disappointment if I had gone through the grueling pain of natural birth (by the way, mine still had plenty of pain involved!) and then no one even knew.  I am definitely NOT slamming natural child birth because if I could have, I would have, but I know me and I know my pain tolerance is ridiculously low.  Applause for all of you who have given birth naturally, it just wasn't what I decided to do.

I also read up on how babies should sleep.  Before we brought Caleb home, I had made up my mind that our baby would be sleeping on his back, no questions about it.  Guess what?  We brought Caleb home and for the first two nights he woke up every 30 minutes...I tried a swaddler, no success....I tried putting him on his side using a positioner, no success...finally, at my whits end, I put him on his belly and he slept for 3-4 hours at a time!  From then on out, he was on his tummy and that is the way he sleeps now.  Of course I thought about SIDS, but I also did some further research on the whole back sleeping thing, only to find it isn't all it's cracked up to be...I used common sense with my baby and I didn't force him to do something that wasn't natural for him.  My next baby may be totally different, and if your baby sleeps fine on his/her back...great! 

  

I also: 

~let Caleb watch cartoons

~have a DVD player in the car that I use when Caleb is cranky or whenever I feel like it

~I don't have locks on my toilet, fridge or cabinets (although I keep my medicine and cleaning stuff in high cabinets that Caleb can't reach)

~not all of my plug outlets have covers

~I have a rectangular coffee table that doesn't have bumpers on it...gasp!

~Caleb has pizza and or grilled cheese at least once every day- he just started eating and so far those are my most successful food items, so that is what he gets fed until he is ready to expand his food choices

~I reprimand Caleb and he definitely knows what "no" means...and he listens to me because I am consistent with what I tell him "no" to (not to say that he doesn't have melt downs or days when he tests me over and over!)

~I let him have vanilla wafers almost every day and he also eats sugar on a pretty regular basis in moderation

I am sure some of you feel strongly against some of the things that I don't and vice versa.  I am not telling you all this to try and say "If you aren't doing things the way I am, you stink".  What I am trying to say though is that every child is different and every parent is different.  Common sense is a great tool and when it comes to your kids the "experts" don't always have the answers...imagine that, right?  You could literally read parenting books for the rest of your life and still seem like you fail as a parent somedays... but that is totally normal.  God gave us the children we have for a reason and I think if you give yourself a chance you might realize that you just might be able to outsmart some of those "experts" who have been trying to tell you how to raise your kids.  You know your child best...don't try to keep them in a box that they are fighting to get out of. When it comes to your children, give yourself a little more credit and you just might find the answer you were looking for was with you the whole time :)

Farmers Market Dresses

Dressed for the Farmers Market by retrogalusa featuring Dorothy Perkins

What will you be wearing to the farmers market Saturday?

Babysitter

Tomorrow I am going to get a crown put on my tooth.  The final step to this long, enduring, and I will definitely add expensive, crown toothed process.  I told Seth that I will surely have the prettiest tooth in town but it is too bad that it is in the back where no one can admire it.

I love my little Caleb, I really truly do. I love taking him places and lugging him around on my hip from aisle to aisle.  I love that people just seem to find him adorable, I always have known he was the cutest baby around town, but it is fun when other people agree with you.  With that being said, for the first time since before Seth deployed, I will be venturing to town sans Caleb.  After I get my crown put on, I plan on scootin’ down the road for a little me time. It will only be for about an hour but in that hour I am planning on doing something completely non productive and enjoyable.  I might go read a magazine or sit in a coffee shop…these are the things that I can’t “enjoy” when I have Caleb with me, which I gladly give up but since I have the chance, I am taking advantage of an hour of time, devoted to peace and quiet…a book and a cup of coffee…and I will be able to use both hands, sit in the same seat without moving or grabbing anything and devote my entire brain to thinking about whatever I would like.  Then I will drive back home, pay the sitter and spend the rest of my evening playing in the floor, talking jibber jabber and giving my little cutie pants big ol’ smooches…because I know that no matter how much I enjoy that hour by myself, I will be happy to see my baby again.  Happy early Monday everyone :)

    

Loving my hubby

My hubby has been on my mind all day today.  Don't get me wrong, I think about Seth all the time and I miss his constantly, but today I have missed him a lot more than any other day since he left. 

 I have been thinking about what our lives will be like when he comes back home.  I just miss the everyday life stuff with him.  Going to the grocery store, agreeing on what TV show we are going to watch, hearing him laugh about how even though our new house has twice the amount of bathroom counter space as our last place, I am still able to take it over, having a bad dream and waking up to find him beside me and being able to go back to sleep, playing with Caleb together, taking turns changing diapers, teaming up to get the house clean in record timing, having long discussions about what our future holds while we eat dinner together at the table as a family, spur of the moment car rides to the mexican restaurant for dinner, ordering in pizza and renting a movie....

It is amazing all the little things I miss about him when he is gone that I never even realized I enjoyed. Maybe I have been thinking about him more than usual today because I have also been thinking about several people I know who have been through one, if not more divorces and they are still so young.  It breaks my heart when people don't take marriage seriously and in turn, their marriage ends before it even had a chance to begin.  Obviously, there are extreme cases when divorce has to happen but I am talking about the situations when people just don't "feel" in love anymore.

Marriage is not easy...and hopefully no one ever told you that it would be.  There are days when married people just don't get along and you might even have a day, or several, where you question your relationship and you don't "feel" all lovey dovey like you did that first year you dated.  But ultimately, you have to keep your mind on why you fell in love with each other in the first place.  You can't change your spouse but you can change yourself. I started reading the book "Love and Respect" and I am understanding a husbands need for respect and a wife's need for love...if any of you have read it, I would love to know your thoughts...and if you haven't read it, maybe you can read it with me.

I wish our society could see the union of marriage as so much more than what it is viewed as.  Marriage is incredibly important and is the most serious commitment you could ever make to another person.  Too many times, divorce is the first answer to marital issues... but if divorce is the answer, why do so many people end up divorcing several times?  It takes both husband and wife, working together on a daily basis to make a marriage succeed.

I am by no means a marriage expert but I do know that marriage is something we should all hold in high respect and if we keep God as the center of our marriage...we can make it through anything together.  I encourage you to encourage others in their marriages.  We can all use all the help we can get, right?

With all of that being said, I have really been reflecting on my marriage.  I am remembering all of the things I love about Seth.  In the midst of everyday life, especially when kids come into the picture, all of the "good" traits about my husband can somehow hide themselves in the deep corners of our home.  I am really good at pointing out all of Seth's "flaws" to him.  Since he has been gone, I have come to realize that our marriage could be so much better if I could be the wife I need to be. Instead of tearing him down and criticizing him, I should try to find the good in every situation.  

It drives me nuts that Seth always puts his dishes on the counter right on top of the dishwasher instead of in the dishwasher.  I have asked nicely, I have yelled at him and I have even taped notes to the counter that say "DO NOT PUT DISHES ON THE COUNTER!" but nothing seems to work.  Instead, I can be thankful that I have a husband who cares enough to even bring his dish into the kitchen after dinner.  He has been at work all day, a lot of days he wakes up at 4:30am to make it to PT- what is the big deal if I have to load the dishwasher?

That is just one example among many.  I am realizing though that it is not always Seth that is the problem, although a lot of days it is so much easier to blame him for everything than it is to point the finger at myself and admit that maybe I have made a mistake or two..or three or four...

I truly love Seth so much.  He really loves me too...he waited for me for 6 years!!!  He still loved me even when I hurt him so badly and he stuck around and married me anyways.  He is a great dad to Caleb, he loves him so much and misses him right now more than I will ever be able to understand.  He hates that he can't see him take his first steps and that he can't hear him say new words every day... but this too shall pass and he will be home with us again.  

He loves his country too, he really does.  He has a great heart and he is always looking for ways to help other people out.  I love his heart and his character and his honesty and practicality (especially when I can totally get wrapped up in fantasy land!).  He is so smart and funny in a quirky way and did I mention that he is extremely good looking?  Okay, okay...maybe some of you are gagging at this point because I am being so mushy but can you tell I love my husband?  If you love your husband too, reach out and hold his hand today and let him know and maybe even throw in a good compliment or two and end it with a big smooch :)

We can do this :)

Take 2

I made a couple more of these little diddies today.  They are just so fun to make!

In Eggplant

Paired with leggings

Retro Style

Hello Ladies...

So mod

Ciao!

The Fabulous Everyday Mama Dress

Introducing my newest creation "The Fabulous Everyday Mama Dress".  I made myself a blue one that I am not selling...I am going to wear it to the Farmers Market this weekend and I will post pictures next week.  It is a bit longer than these, so I am keeping it for my long legs :)  

These dresses remind me of the 1960's and 1970's or even a modern "The Sound of Music" kind of vibe.  I live in Georgia, so it gets purdy hot down here...this dress is nice, cool and breezy and I love a dress...I could seriously wear one everyday.

Just because you are a mama doesn't mean you have to dress like one!

This dress is f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s. Easy to wear, comfy, perfect for ANYTHING, and would look great on YOU!

Great for an everyday dress when you are running your errands or meeting a friend for coffee but also can easily be transformed into an amazing cocktail dress by pairing it with cute heels, chandelier earrings and curly locks.

Add a cute cardigan for those chilly evenings and outside patio parties.

This dress isn't just for mama's though. It is a versatile dress that is perfect for all ages.

Also great as a top over leggings or as a bathing suit cover up!

Made from a vintage pillowcase.

Bag Lady Momma Giveaway

I came across bagladymomma on etsy and I just loved her little bag shop.  The best part is that she is giving away one of her make up bags...and who can't use a make up bag???  Even if you don't need a make up bag, these little bags are perfect for just about anything from keeping up with your kids toys while your out and about to holding tissues, snacks, jewelry, and I could go on and on!

This giveaway is open to everyone!  Winner gets their choice of any makeup bag.

For this giveaway all you need to do is visit bagladymomma's shop and leave a comment telling us your favorite item. 

For a second chance, simply become a follower and leave a second comment letting me know :)

Have fun!

Giveaway open until Saturday

The Best Way to Sleep

I went to check on Caleb before I went to bed and found him in a new sleeping position

I wish I could sleep that sound...

The sick living room

This is what my living room looks like when I am sick, on mothers day, in the middle of getting etsy orders ready...and every other day of the year :)

I Heart Being a Mommy

Being a mommy is the best.

Sure there are some grumpy times

Sweet times

Silly days

Needy Days

Super fly kinda guy days

Learning how to sit up times

Sleepy days...

Just plain cute days

More needy days

Sitting outside kinda days

But mostly it's been I love Mommy kind of days...and I couldn't think of a better way for it to be.

I don't remember what my life was like before my sweet sweet Caleb came into it.  I am so proud to be his mommy.

This is my second mothers day and Seth has yet to be able to be with me for one of them.  Last year he was in the field and this year he is in the desert...but I will have to say he surprised me with a manicure and a pedicure- all the way from Iraq...what a great husband I have, even though I would much rather just have him here with me!  Tomorrow will be just me and Caleb's day together though and I am sure he will be on his best behavior ;)

Happy Mothers Day all you mommies out there...and Happy Mothers Day to my mama- I love you!

Eco Friendliness

Here are a few new items that I have been working on to take with me to the Market Day's Farmers Market next week.  I am so excited about being a part of our farmers market and also being able to support local businesses.  I can't wait to buy some fresh veggies and fruits and maybe a great smelling bar of handmade soap :)

Do you have a local farmers market that you go to?

Reusable Wipe Kit- Great for cloth diapering or if you just want to be more environmentally friendly and save a little moolah while doing it :)

The spray is really great for a quick wash down too.  Sometimes when I am changing Caleb, if I don't have time to give him a bath, I will spray him down with the hypoallergenic spray and wipe him off with the wipes.  I also use it on his face after he finishes eating, especially if he just finished eating strawberries!

Go Green Baby Tshirt

All babies are 100% Organic :)

I really love spring time.  I have a small little garden with strawberries growing and my okra is just beginning to grow!  My mint is doing great, the tomato plant has flowers on it, which means that the tomatoes are on their way and my spinach and cilantro are just about ready to harvest.  Now I need to get out there and plant my lettuce and marigolds.  Do any of you have a garden, or a plant that's growing?  Caleb and I could stay outside piddling with our plants all day.  Caleb mostly just likes to pick them but I think it is so addicting watching a seed grow into something so interesting...anyone else feel the same way?  I think this whole gardening thing just might be my thing...and I never would have thought I would have enjoyed it :)

Happy Saturday and happy farmers markets!