I'm a fan of....

Arm and Hammer plus Oxi Clean Laundry Detergent

+  

Shout Advanced Gel

I'm pretty bad at laundry. I mean, I can handle the basic separation of colors, washing, drying and folding, but stain removal is not in my gifting. This became quite apparent when I had Anna. I ruined quite a few of her clothes. I finally found a winning combination. I bought this detergent when it was on sale one week and now I love it. It makes everything smell really fresh and I actually think that the Oxi Clean helps. I also started using this Shout gel. I can't always get to the laundry asap with two little ones, so I just spray this on when I take off dirty clothes or I can spray it on set in stains that I forgot before washing. It's great. I've already saved a few pairs of clothes that would have otherwise been lost. The detergent is pricey ($10.99 at Kroger), but I've been buying it on sale at about $5.00. Now, if only I could find the perfect product to fold and put away the clothes......

2 months

Owen went in for his 2 month appointment last week. He weighed in at 13 lbs. and measured just over 24 inches - 90th percentile for both! Anna's measurements were almost exactly the same - at her 4 month appointment :) He's been sleeping for a 6-7 stretch, waking up for one feeding around 3 or 4am. He got a little off of his routine after traveling and dealing with a cold, but even then he was sleeping at least 4 hours at a time. Anna didn't do that for a LONG time. He seems to be back to his nighttime routine now.

Here's a picture of him enjoying his new mobile from Mimi and Pap. He LOVES it. He lays in there cooing, smiling, and kicking his legs. It's so fun to see him growing into a real little person. His smile lights up his whole face and I just love it.

looking forward

The day after Christmas can sometimes be a real downer. There's so much anticipation and excitement leading up to the big day and then, poof, it's over. Christmas season looked a lot different for me this year. I barely put up decorations, hardly listened to any fun Christmas music, waited until the very last minute to buy gifts, and (gasp) didn't even watch White Christmas. I just wasn't so much into the spirit this year and having two little ones honestly made the things that usually bring me joy seem like a lot of work. That's why some of Kevin's messages about advent were so powerful to me this year. He didn't just teach about the first advent and the birth of Christ. He also taught about the second advent, our anticipation of Jesus' return. He reminded us that it's not about presents, Santa, cookies, or holiday decorations. It's about the arrival of the King who washes away our sins past, present, and future and gives us new life. One of my favorite thoughts from Kevin's Christmas Eve service was, "While Christmas is a celebration of the fact that God has come, it's also a reminder that he is coming again. He is coming again to bring the final war through which shall come the final and eternal peace. The day when the lion and the lamb shall lay down together in peace. The day when he makes all things new." 
Amen.

I'm a fan of....

The Moby Wrap
I was a total skeptic of the Moby wrap. I was pretty skeptical of baby wearing in general, but the Moby looked like such a production to get in and out of. My sister-in-law raved about hers and swore that it really wasn't that hard to figure out. In case you've never seen one, it's basically a 20 foot long piece of fabric that you wrap around yourself and stick your baby in. My friend, Sara, let me borrow hers and I'm now convinced. This thing is fantastic. Owen is a real snuggler and loves to be held. The Moby allows by hands to be free and keeps him secure at the same time. I have a Snugli carrier (like a Baby Bjorn, but way cheaper) and I tried a sling but returned it after using the Moby. I did have to watch a You Tube video while watching myself in a full length mirror to get the hang of it, but it was like everyone said - it really isn't that difficult once you've done it a few times. If I wasn't completely convinced before last weekend, now I'm a true believer. Kevin and I flew to a wedding for our friends and took Owen with us. We never check bags if we can avoid it, but I wasn't sure we'd be able to swing it with a 2 month old. We did it, though. I wore Owen in the wrap, had a backpack on, and pulled my carry-on luggage. Kevin also had a backpack with his camera gear and pulled his carry-on with Owen's carseat hooked over the top. I was pretty impressed with us. The top pic is of me at the reception and the one below is at the airport. The original wrap runs about $40 and it's worth every penny.

a beautiful union

Last weekend, Kevin and I had the privilege to be a part of the wedding festivities of our dear friends Matt and Missy. They got married at a beautiful beachside house on St. Simon's Island in Georgia. Kevin and I flew down with Owen on Saturday. Anna stayed here with my mom and dad for a bit and then Jackie took over. We're SO thankful that we have such wonderful people in our lives that would volunteer to help us out with her. We never once had to worry about her because she was in such good hands. We figured she'd be having so much fun that she wouldn't even miss us. She did seem pretty happy to see us when we got back on Tuesday though :) Owen traveled really well. He slept through most of our air travel and was pretty great throughout the trip. The Moby wrap was the real MVP. More on that tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the weather was pretty chilly and overcast. The sun did come out on Monday for the outdoor ceremony, but it was still quite cold (see Missy warming up in Matt's jacket just after the ceremony above.) They had BBQ catered in buffet style and we made brownie sundaes in lieu of traditional cake. There were less than 50 people in attendance and it truly felt like a family gathering during the holidays. Because it was so chilly outside, most people carried in a chair or found a place on one of the couches in front of the cozy fireplace inside.

Matt and Missy's special day exuded their spirit -warm and friendly people that are easy to get along with and even easier to love. Weddings can easily turn into very pretentious, overplanned, stuffy affairs, but theirs was not. Missy even had a mimosa spilled on her dress before the ceremony and she remained amazingly calm.

Their road to marriage took some detours along the way, but it was such a blessing to be there when they finally made it to their destination. They love the Lord and each other in a beautiful way. Looking forward to continuing to live life with you. Congratulations Salyers!

love them

 Owen is 8 weeks old today. He's been smiling and it's just so precious. He is such an easy baby - just what we needed. Check out this pic of Anna in case you weren't convinced......

Little Miss Independent :) It's so fun to see both of their personalities shining through. So much to love about both of them. 

mommy and daddy

So, Anna's vocabulary and identification skills have been growing a ton over the past few weeks. She wants to know what everything is and call it by name. I think I hear, "wuhzat?" about a thousand times a day in my house. She's pretty good. One of the funniest things is that every man or woman she sees in a book or tv she calls mommy or daddy. Sometimes she even picks out crayons and names them mommy and daddy and then makes them kiss. That's something else she's into lately, making everything kiss. So sweet. This was the BEST, though - we were playing with her new Sesame Street flashcards and she picked these cards out of the pile as mommy and daddy. hehe. I just love her choice for Kevin :)  I wish I had a picture of her making them kiss. Love her.

gifts that keep giving

My parents came down for the weekend to continue my birthday celebration and brought me a very special gift - a new (to me) oven! They got a new one and gave us their old one. My old oven was the devil. I had to bake everything in glass or stoneware at 25 degrees cooler and for 2/3 the time that the recipes called for - and it was still a gamble every time. So, this is a seriously sweet gift. They also got me a new Calphalon pan because my old one wasn't so non-stick anymore. I guess I don't have anymore excuses for burning just about everything :)

While my mom and dad were here they also went grocery shopping for me! I hate grocery shopping. I always have, but I've been particularly dreading going out with two little ones. That made it a real treat when they offered to go. Thanks mom and dad for driving down so often to visit and for loving us so well. 

celebrating me

Yesterday was my birthday. Goodbye twenties, hello thirties. I like to joke around about how old I am, but I don't actually feel like a thirty-year old - whatever that's supposed to feel like ;) It was a great day and I felt so loved and celebrated by my dear friends and family. First, Kevin brought me home these beautiful flowers. Aren't they amazing? Then, my friend Jen came over with her girls, Adelaide and Lanie. Her birthday is today - Happy Birthday, Jen! She brought us sundaes and french fries from McDonald's for a special treat and the girls got to play. The best part, though, was getting to go out to dinner at PF Chang's and grabbing coffee with Kevin. Mike and Curry brought John over and watched all of the kids. It was our first time out solo since Owen was born. What a blessing you are, Winters family. We can't say thank you enough for the ways that you love us so well. Happy Birthday to me :)

lies I believe

I've been wishing away my days. I find myself counting down the hours until the kids go to bed and then as I look back at the day - feeding, diapering, picking up toys, weathering tantrums, "playing" - I have this feeling that I've accomplished nothing. I'm beginning to see why Betty Freidan's words in The Feminine Mystique resonated so deeply with housewives of the 1960's when she wrote,"Each suburban wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut butter sandwiches with her children, chauffered Cub Scouts and Brownies, lay beside her husband at night — she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — "Is this all?""

I, too, hate admitting that I've asked that question in some of my darker moments. I'm so excited to make it through another day and then I get this sinking feeling when I realize I'm just going to get up and start all over again in a few hours. The thought is immediately followed by serious feelings of guilt. I mean, we tried to get pregnant for two years and my dream has been to be a stay-at-home mom. I have too many friends that are struggling through infertility. How can I feel like this? These feelings are more a product of my idols than anything else. I made becoming a mom such an end-all that I have a hard time not feeling joy, gratitude, and blessing out of it every second of the day. That's what happens when you idolize something. Besides Jesus, everything else you worship will fail. 

This is where being a follower of Christ makes all the difference. This isn't all there is. There is infinitely more. He has made every day with a specific purpose, ultimately to glorify His name. I may not always feel like my days have value or worth, but those are the lies I believe. The truth that I've been meditating on can be found in Psalm 118:24, This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

Today is god ordained and important, and I shouldn't just be trying to survive it. I should delight in it, but also feel freedom (instead of guilt) in the fact that sometimes I won't be excited to eat hot dogs, watch Sesame Street, and play with baby dolls all day. It may seem mundane, monotonous, and mind-numbing, but I should rejoice in God's bigger picture and be constantly reminded of his grace. Anna is learning a TON every day and although I'm not responsible for all of it I should embrace the fact that I am for some of it. Being able to say no and weathering a tantrum is training her up in the ways of the Lord - right? 

I also have to remind myself that this is a season. One of many that I'll go through in my walk with Christ and as a mother. Knowing that this will pass should give me reason to look forward with hopeful expectation but ALSO to rejoice in what today is bringing because it won't last forever. My babies will be grown up and I'll long for these days again. I LOVE being a mom and being able to stay home with them. I'm clinging to the truth that they are my ministry and that being the best wife and mom that I can be truly will bring glory to God - and that's more than enough.

I'm a fan of....

Sesame Street
So, I'll be the first to admit that Anna watches more tv than I'd like her to in the long run. For now, though, watching Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street helps us all get through the day and I'm okay with it. That being said, I'm a big fan of Sesame Street. I actually feel like she's learning a lot and she loves it. And on the super-plus side it doesn't drive me nuts :) They're in their 40th season and have kept their show current and relevant by bringing in lots of celebrities and musicians (see Feist below.) They also work in lots of humor for parents, like creating smart parodies of popular tv shows. I thought this one about "Mad Men" was great - probably not as funny if you've never seen the show though. I guess I'm saying that I enjoy Sesame Street as much as Anna :)

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