Simply Blessed: February 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

A Pacifier... Good, Bad or Ugly?

When KB was first born, I had people try to tell me things like .... "pacifiers aren't good," "They will cause her to not nurse properly"... "They make it hard to establish a good milk supply"... "just use the boob when the need comfort"... yada, yada, yada. But, while I can see how they may be true for some.... it's not straight across the board, best for all. For me, it boiled down to following my heart as the mommy - you really do know best for your baby!!
I will admit, I too hesitated giving KB a paci at first.... but when I finally (after a restless night's sleep, and much encouragement from my mom) broke down & gave it to her, I could believe the difference it made! She didn't want something to always come out when she sucked (made her mad!).... lol.... but she did want to suck, to be soothed. Now, she has weaned herself from the paci... and there are times (going to sleep, sitting in church, etc) that I really miss it!

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Just a random bit of info: the Greek word for pacifier is πιπιλα :: said "peh-PEE-lah "

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Bryce & Heather...

Ok, so I stole these.... but I couldn't help it! Isn't my baby sister adorable? I miss her.

Look at her sweet tummy!! It's SO cute! ~ I just can't wait to meet that little guy!! ♥
(...and am *praying* I won't have to wait to August, before I can!! ::sigh::)

Mush....

There they go again.... ;)

Photography courtesy of family friend, Vanessa Meyers

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Discounts.... and Valentines Day!!!

I know, I know... those two things really don't seem like they should go together.... but when your hubby is out of a job, and money is tight (or if you are just a tight-wad... ahem! I mean frugal with your money).... then, any little trick is well worth it! -- And I think this one will knock your socks off!

Restaurant.com is currently running an awesome
coupon code (expires 2/19)... for 70% off!!

-- Just use the code: PREZ during checkout!--

That's right! The already awesome discounted prices... just got even more affordable! :-) But what's even more exciting is.... since we had postponed celebrating our Valentines day (due to sickness, & holiday rush, etc.), we were able to get a $50 gift card to our local The Melting Pot Restaurant (which Restaurant.com would have normally sold for $20).... for only $6!!!! Procrastination (even though planned) has once again paid off!!! hee,hee!! ;)

Off course, per the rules of Restaurant.com, the $50 card is only valid with a $100 minimum purchase.* ~ But since we were, once again, being frugal.... my hubby had already redeemed his Am-Ex reward points, getting us another $50 gift card.... which we will pair with the above deal (totaling $100)... and eat oh.so.very.well!!! --

So, we get to have a fabulous & romantic Valentines Dinner, at a fancy restaurant (which also has sentimental value - it's where we went the night we got engaged!)..... All for just $6 + tip!! -- I am SO excited!! God is SO good!!

(Now to get everyone - namely Mother-in-law - well, so we can pick a time/date to go....)

* (Excludes alcohol. 18% gratuity added before discount, 1 cert. per table, No split checks. Not valid on holidays.)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Simple woman's daybook

For Today... February 15, 2009 (day after Valentines)

Outside my Window... KB's diapers on the line.... the dogs enjoying the sunshine... the lemon tree, just calling for me to come pick more lemons to juice!

I am remembering...

I am thankful for... Health. Generally, we are very healthy, and hardly ever get sick... that's why this bout has been so strange!

I am thinking... maybe part of KB's deal this weekend is teeth (she just broke through her bottom left molar, and is now working on getting the one on the right)... and part of mine is the start of a UTI (ugh!).

I am wearing... I was wearing my black cami, plaid pj pants, & socks with hair down.... but I just got out of the shower, and am now in just my unders, a white cami, barefeet & my hair in a messy bun.

I am reading.. Devil Wears Prada - it's only o.k.

From the kitchen... currently, just coffee!! (Mmm!!). The other day, I attempted to make pancakes out of oat flour instead of wheat. They turned out pretty good! ~ I also made KB a pizza alternative, by cooking up some wheat-free noodles, and mixing them with tomato sauce, cheese & turkey pepperonis... she LOVED it! ~ Some time this week, I'd like to make figure out how to adapt my sour cream chicken recipe, so it's wheat free.

I am hoping/praying... B's call back interview goes well on Tues (with the condo, doing a night shift/security job)... AND even more, that he gets his test materials for the Post Office job, soon, so he can go in for that! (which would be decent pay, & benefits!)

I am creating... I am hoping to get some old crayons soon, so I can make KB some toddler crayons. ~ I am also [finally] attempting to finish her rag doll, I started making ever so long ago.

I am hearing... Music playing on Pandora... the keys of the keyboard, as I type... KB breathing heavily on my lap... the dog snoring. (lol!)

One of my favorite things...

Around the house... With me being out sick all last week, and then again this weekend... very little [house wise] has been accomplished... :-( Wich means there is TONS of laundry to be done ( almost everything we own (including*all*my unders) seems to be dirty right now.).... and the house needs an good thorough pick-up & sweep of clutter control.

I also need to empty/load the dishwasher... put away the blessing food (more about that soon!)... and sweep/mop the kitchen floor.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Before Wednesday evening, I need to get a bunch of info-packets stuffed for Church. ~ We are going to Tampa tomorrow, to see about ordering my dress for Vanessa's wedding! (yay!) ~ Tuesday, B has his afore mentioned callback interview at the condo place. ~ Tuesday night, we have our reg. Chick-fil-A deal for dinner... and then we are going to Nouna's, for a game night with the Dagrins ~ Wednesday evening, is the normal church routine (youth group) ~ Thursday morning is Babywearing Group at Birthways ~ Saturday, looks like it's going to be insane.... as we are currently booked solid! There's a Church Blitz in the morning... a going away party for a friend (Tom, going into the Navy) from 2-6... B has paintball with the guys at 4... and then we have a youth activity at 6. I don't quite know how we're going to swing it.... ! ~ We are also hoping to get too see James for a little visit, while he is here in the state for the week (until Friday), on business!

Quote...

"A bosom friend--an intimate friend, you know--a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I've dreamed of meeting her all my life. I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will too. Do you think it's possible?' -- Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

Verse...
"I have set the Lord always before me...Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:..." Psalm 16:8

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

The other morning.... Sitting at the table like a big girl, eating her breakfast (made by daddy, of course! <3) style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBkLvXverlMPSXFSBavg6T7B9Nxhys8izo2TQdZV1XPLoHkk1x8mfVqZCizuyNwKQC7-LndHM61fGDxO2dwHSgpCk2o2PetGkhNgQYxu0VOOPxp4Iz_giWk6-sl_1HL3J10mjGAf7_kyW/s800/IMG_6377.JPG" alt="" border="0">

Friday, February 13, 2009

Our Food Blessing!

God DOES provide!! Don't believe it? Check this out!!

Sadly, B is still out of work... so our funds - even for groceries - is extremely thin. But don't you love how, just when you start to worry & lose hope... God does something that is so amazing, it just knocks your socks off?! Over the last 3 days, we have been blessed to experience this first hand! So now, as I look around my kitchen.. this is what I see....

My Kitchen Table...

A 360 of My Countertops...

What a mighty God we serve!!

Four Generations...

Dad & Grandmother came by this afternoon, to drop off some various items... and while they were here, Grandmother asked it she could take us out to lunch. We went over to Troyers Dutch Heritage (a favorite!), and while we conversing over our delicious meal ... we realized that we had all FOUR generations together! So, we took a picture....

[Great] Grandmother Behrens-Averit, Tiph, KB, and Dad/Grandpa.

Autism vs. vaccines...

Recently, a friends sent me a link to an article, reporting on the court ruling against parents with autistic children. We have discussed the whole pro/cons to vaccinating before, and he thought I'd be interested. The article stated, vaccines are not to blame for their children's neurological disorder. (AOL article here). As a non-vaxing parent, with a autistic sister... here's my response back to him. (which I hope is comprehensible. My head is swimming, and I always have the hardest time sorting those thoughts into intelligible sentences.)...

I agree. Vaccinations *don't* CAUSE autism. BUT, I do believe that vaccinations *do* bring out the results of a genetic disorder which causes autism. And unfortunately, we do not have the testing or knowledge available to know which children are going to be affected, until it's too late.

Besides, the same ridiculous argument could be made for cancer. Considering that [approx] 98% of the death certificates for cancer patients don't list cancer as the cause of death... it's usually pneumonia, heart failure, or the like... you could claim that cancer doesn't kill. When in reality, it's all cause & effect.

Besides, I have learned to take news sources with a grain of salt. I have learned that they do tend to be somewhat one-sided... and usually heavily persuaded by the money-making, scare tactics of the "Big Pharm". Which unfortunately, also seem to be all about treating the symptoms, rather than the cause. Just because a court ruled that in this instance a vaccine (MMR in this case) didn't cause this case of autism, it does not mean that straight across the board it doesn't and hasn't happened. My sister is just one example. Christina, Heather & I were all vaccinated as children.. H & I are fine.... Christina is not. One of her symptoms of her disorder is her wheat allergy. Becca, and now we are finding out, KB also have those symptoms. However (thankfully), neither of them have been vaccinated. Could you imagine what would life be like, had mom & I not followed our hearts & studied it out? You just don't know... you **can't* know. And to me, that risk is not worth taking.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

18 months...

Today is KB's 18-month birthday.... meaning, she's half way to being another year older already! Wow! Where does the time go?

New Born...

4 months....

7 months...

10 months...

1 year....

16 months...

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Chores...

KB is at the stage in which she is constantly imitating us & wanting to be apart of everything we are doing. One of her favorite imitations, is trying to "help" with various chores around the house. I don't believe you can ever start teaching a child too young.... so we've given her a few specific "jobs" she can do, that are also helping the cause at the same time. Her newest job, since she is forever trying to get into the silverware basket... is our official silverware emptier! I just take the basket out of the dishwasher, set it next to her... and she takes it from there. So cute!

She also likes to stack the clean pots & pans in the cabinet for me..... help me carry [some of] the laundry from one place to the next, in her little white basket.... and pick up her toys, books. & other random items*... She's such a big helper!! (my baby is growing up!)

* if she see's something she knows is out of place, and (for whatever reason) cannot put it back.... it really bothers her!!

Monday, February 9, 2009

An amazing speech!

A 12 year old speaks out against abortion in a speech she prepared and delivered for her grade 7 class....

It's so great to hear such a young person, not only take such an active interest on defining issues... but have the courage & boldness articulate her opinion in such a clear & concise manner! wow! She has such a wonderful talent for speaking.... and I only hope she continues to use it it's full potential! What an huge impact she could make on this world! Awesome!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Breakfasts with our Champion...

As difficult as it's been (mostly financially) to still have B out of work... there have been a few nuggets of treasure we've discovered, in spite of our misfortune. We've enjoyed quality family time... park days... eating meals together,around the kitchen table.... and B's gourmet breakfasts! That's right.... I've discovered that, when given the time, my husband loves making breakfast.... and he's really good at it, too! I am a night owl, so normally breakfast isn't my thing..... but I have been blessed to enjoy an almost daily feast of eggs scrambles... sliced fresh fruit... coffee... juice.... and sometimes even biscuits or something! I think I am becoming spoiled... it's all SO yummy!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Mama survey: First born

Here you go mamas - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself! Let's see how much you remember! Once you've been tagged, you must share.

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Not planned, but certainly hoped & prayed for...

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?

Yes - We found out on our 20-month anniversary - and had her on our 2 years 4 month anniversary! ~ But, God timing is perfect, so I can't complain!

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?

We were Thrilled! -- DH could hardly believe it! We hugged for long time, and both cried with joy! (alas, the wait had come to an end! Thank you Lord for this wonderful gift!)