A Day of Love

Happy love day! I wanted to share a couple of things before I sign out and spend the rest of the day with my pretty little valentine dates. 

Remember when I showed you a little peek of our mantle when talking about our valentine love notes bowl? No? Well, let me just remind you that it was girly...to the max. Yes, this mommy has embraced the pink and red just to give our little girl a taste of the holiday. I am growing soft in my old age. Well, I thought it was about to time to put a photo or two up since the day is upon us! 




For those of you with good eyes...yes, that is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in that pile of books. What can I say, I was desperate for a red book (not that I have anything against the book, just thought it was a funny choice for a Valentine's day mantle). Of course in my head I had planned out a much grander mantle, but I was limited to what I have on hand. Unfortunately, this is quite limiting since I really don't have much to work with, but hey, when it's free I just can't complain. The fun little love squared art on the window was a free printable. Who doesn't love the word free? Seriously, if you don't, we may have a hard time being friends...I will do anything to not pay a cent for something. Not, not stealing, I mean being resourceful and finding things around the house or on the internet. Goodness people, I haven't lost my mind completely. 

Another thing we did this year was make our own valentine's cards for Eden. We weren't ready to go completely crazy and send them to every single person we knew, so we just gave them to the grandparents, aunts, and uncles (sorry to our Washington family for having to spoil the surprise...we have them waiting for you!). I really enjoyed making these. I think I might just be one of those crazy moms that DIY's all of Eden's valentine's cards when she is in school. Seriously. I do have to say, I am not creative enough short on time so I borrowed this idea from another lovely blogger (who also got it from a fellow blogger). I am just so thankful for all those talented folks out there. You are all incredible! 


Here is a clearer shot of the actual valentine. I just printed it off on our home printer, attached to a sandwich bag filled with valentine kisses and that was that. Simple and Easy.



No matter if you are celebrating with a loved one, boycotting the holiday altogether, or hanging out on your couch watching a chick flick we just wanted to give a little blog love to you in the form of a valentine from us to you...



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CSN Giveaway Winner







Thank you to all who entered the giveaway! It was fun hosting our very first one, and we hope we can continue doing them every once in awhile. The giveaway gave us the opportunity to hear from some of you that were reading that we hadn't had a chance to "meet" yet. So, welcome! It is fun to know who all is out there reading. 


Alright, I know you didn't all come here to just read my random mutterings, so I will just get right to the point.


The lucky winner of a $35 gift certificate to CSNStores according to random.org is....


Liz


Congratulations Liz! I will be contacting you shortly with your prize. Happy shopping to you :)


If you didn't win, I am sad for you. However, I still think you should take a little gander at what they have to offer over at CSN. You may just find the perfect item to add to your home. Seriously, if I wasn't still on a spending freeze I would be glued to my computer buying things for every room of our home. That is, when I win the lottery....and that would only happen if I actually played. Darn. 


We will be back later with a little Valentine's day love!

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A Day In Our Life

As promised, I documented our lives all day yesterday. Honestly, it was a bit scary at first, but by the end of it I kind of started to like writing down everything we were doing and taking pictures of even the littlest of things. It is really pushing me to take photos of even the most mundane things we do each day. I honestly don't want to forget a minute of life with Eden Rae. Also, I almost gave up on this a couple of times yesterday. Not because it was annoying or anything, just because yesterday was NOT a typical day at all. However, Josh convinced me to keep going and by the end of the day I realized that there really is no "typical" day with us. 


Alright here goes our day...


6:45 a.m. - My alarm goes off. Usually I get to wake up to Eden stirring in her room at 7:30, but this morning we have somewhere to be. I drag myself out of bed and head over to the couch to pump. I need a bottle for this morning's activities and since I hate to pump I don't have any milk stored up. After pumping I put everything in hot, soapy water.

My nursing spot...even has a rear end imprint...

7:15 - I grab my clothes and the baby monitor and head in for a shower.

7:30 - Pour myself a bowl of Shredded Wheat (gosh I love that stuff) with rice milk and a glass of o.j. (I have to sneak my calcium in by having lots of fortified drinks). Eden is still asleep (this is usually the time she gets up every morning) so I throw all of the pump supplies and her bottles into a pot of boiling water to sanitize. 


8:00 - Eden is STILL asleep so I head into the bathroom to get ready.

8:15 - Eden is stirring and I know that she is going to be HUNGRY. I pick her up, change her very wet diaper, and head into the living room to nurse her. I also use this time for bible reading and catching up on blog reading (iPhones are the best invention EVER for nursing moms). 




8:45 - Feeding time is done and I am getting nervous that we are not going to get out the door in time for our morning's activity. I grab Josh and he helps get her ready (of course with clothes that I had already picked out) and I rapidly finish getting everything ready to go out the door.


9:15 - Walk out the door and head to MOPS (mothers of preschoolers....or just young children in general). The meeting actually starts at 9:15 so I am running WAY late. Thankfully they are forgiving of mom's with babies and for that I am so thankful. I hate being late.



9:25 - Arrive at our church. I drop off Eden for the first time in the nursery (she goes on Sundays, but never for MOPS) and I head in to spend some much needed time with other moms. During this time Eden got to play in an exersaucer, took a nap, and ate half of her 6 oz. bottle. 

11:45 - MOPS is over and we head home. Both exhausted, but very happy. Seriously, doing social things now that I have a baby truly tires me out.



12:00 p.m. - I make lunch. We always eat a salad or a small turkey sandwich every day (we sneak in homemade soup every once in awhile as well). Today was a salad with some yummy deli turkey. I also nurse Eden, she never eats enough with the bottle so she always wants to eat more. She falls asleep so we let her rest a bit while we watch Lie to Me. 




1:30 - Eden is up, diaper changed, fed, and we are ready to head out on a walk. It is such a gorgeous, sunny day and we are not going to miss an opportunity to get outside. 



2:00 - Back from our walk. We jump in the car and head out to LIMEberry, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop owned by my parents. We are slightly addicted. And it's free for us. Basically it's bad news. 

Getting Grandma "Lola" kisses

I fully intended to take a picture of the yogurt...but I inhaled ate it before I could snap a photo...

2:45 - Arrive home. Josh goes back down to work in our basement. Eden fell asleep in the car so we put her carseat in her room to see if we can get her to stay asleep. I get work on getting the room set-up for a little Valentine's photoshoot I'd been planning for weeks...fingers crossed that the lighting is just right.

3:15 - Eden is awake and Josh comes back up from working so we can get this photo shoot done. The lighting is terrible in most of the house, but somehow we get just enough light to get this done. I also shot some photos of Eden's birth announcement (I'll show you soon!) and the valentine's cards that we made for her grandparents, aunts, and uncles.


3:30 - A little tummy is grumbling so Eden and I settle down on the couch for a quick feeding and I catch up on some blog reading. 

4:00 - It's tummy time! Well, technically we put Eden on her back and let her roll over to her tummy because she DOES NOT like tummy time at all. 


Bella wanted to enjoy her sister's crib while Eden was having tummy time

4:30 - Eden is still content so I get dinner ready. Since we had such a busy day I decide to pull out one of the taco soups that I had frozen about a week ago. Quick and easy is key now that I am a mom. 



5:00 - Dinner time! Eden usually sits up next to us or plays on her play mat while we eat. As much as we are striving to sit at the table for dinner, a lot of nights we just decide that the couch is where we want to be. We watch an episode two episodes of Prison Break. Eden also nurses during this time. 



Okay, wrong show, but you get the idea.

7:30 - Bath time. We all love this time of night. Eden thinks getting a bath is the greatest thing ever and it is just a fun bonding time for all of us.



8:00 - Eden and I sit down to nurse and Josh heads downstairs to do some Bible study and work. 

8:30 - Time for Eden to wind down by having some play time. She hangs out in her jumperoo, then her play mat, and finally does some tummy time on a blanket with her toys. During this time I get to blog and check my email to make sure Josh doesn't need me to do some work. 



9:15 - Time for a final diaper change. I put Eden in her sleep sack and we sit down for a book and prayer time. Josh usually joins us, but Thursday nights are very busy for him so he usually misses it. After we are done, we then sit down for a final nursing.




10:00 - Eden is asleep. I creep into her room, swaddle her, turn on her sleep sheep (she loves the ocean waves), and sneak out. Now it is time to get as much done as I can. It is my blog/clean/shop online/geteverythingdone time. 


11:15 - Lights out!


I have received a couple of questions from people lately so I will take a moment to answer those questions.

Q: How do you have so much time to blog? You must be bored if you have that much time.

A: Ha, if only. Actually I choose what is important to me. Blogging is my creative outlet and I NEED that for my own personal sanity. I enjoy blogging a ton. The thing is, I am usually blogging once Eden goes to bed, or most likely I am holding her (or carrying her in our Moby wrap) and typing with one hand. I have also learned how to move real quickly. I don't do things at my own leisure, I do things when I get 5 minutes. Also, even though Eden's naps are rare, she is really good at entertaining herself which is nice when I need to get a lot of work done for Josh.


Q: I thought Eden doesn't nap, why does it seem like she took so many this particular day? (Nobody actually asked that, but I thought I better explain). 

A: Honestly Eden really doesn't nap except for a few catnaps. We are trying a few different techniques though and they seem to be working. Really we are just trying to figure out a bit of a routine and trying to get her to fall asleep on her own. She happened to take a lot of naps because she falls asleep in her carseat a lot and because I vacuumed and she always falls asleep when I vacuum. 



I have to say that this experience was really fun. I encourage you to record a day, I think it's a great way to look back on a certain time in your life. Also, if you would like to look into more "day in the life's" check out this blog, she has been doing them for quite some time and it is where I got inspired to do this. I just find it fun to see what other mom's are up to. Hope you enjoyed!





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A Day In Our Life...Working Mom Style

**Silly me...the post that went out yesterday was supposed to go out today. So, when I mentioned doing a day in the life "tomorrow" it doesn't mean today, it really means on Friday. Can a girl always be perfect? Oh you can? Well then, good for you.


So, I thought it would be fun to try to remember what life was like when I was a full-time working mom. It may not be fun for you, but that's alright...I am still going to post it anyway. Oh and this really is just what a "typical" day was like, so I don't have any pictures of the actual day. However, I will supplement with random photos instead. 

5:30 a.m. - Alarm goes off. I wish it wouldn't. I would rather wake up to my baby wanting to get up and not some annoying cell phone noise. Some mornings Eden would wake up when my alarm went off, other days I would have to wake her up right before leaving for work. We will pretend it was a day where I woke her up. I go jump into the shower, turning the monitor on JUST IN CASE Eden wakes up (Josh sleeps through her cries).



5:45 - Grab a bowl of shredded wheat (I have lived off the wheat and bran kind every day since having her), add in rice milk, pour myself a glass of o.j., and take my prenatal vitamin. I then plop myself in front of the t.v. and watch something on Netflix. 

6:00 - Time to get ready. I blow dry my hair, put on makeup, and throw on whatever clothes are work appropriate and actually fit this postnatal body. Most mornings I wish that my work would decide that sweats were in the dress code because NOTHING fits. 

7:00 - I am ready to go, but Eden is STILL sleeping. I dislike waking her up, and so does she. I get her up and change her diaper (she sleeps 9 hours so her diapers are always SOAKED). She is starving so we sit down for nursing time. 



7:30 - I set out Eden's clothes so Josh can change her when he gets home from dropping me off (I didn't lay them out once and the results weren't pretty). I grab all of my freshly washed pump supplies, get all of her bottles ready for the day, grab my lunch (Josh makes it for me everyday...I am spoiled), and run out the door.



8:00 - Time to start my work day.

10:00 - Break time! I run to the nursing mothers room and pump as quickly as I can. I usually try to shove down a snack while carefully balancing the pump...all you moms out there that pump know exactly what I mean.

12:00 p.m. - Lunch time! This is my favorite time of the day. Josh would either bring Eden to me and I would nurse her at work, or he would pick me up and take me home (we only live about 5 minutes away). Eden and I would have our quick snuggle time and then back to work I would go.



3:00 - Break time! Same as before, pump quickly, shove a snack down, and get back to work.

5:00 - The work day is done. Phew. Josh picks me up and we head home. I would always feed Eden immediately upon arrival at home. 

5:30 - Start dinner. I loved cooking, until I tried to work and have a baby at the same time...it seemed like there were not enough minutes in the day to get dinner on the table. Thankfully my grandma saved the day by bringing us a lot of meals as well.




6:00 - Eat dinner and relax on the couch watching Bones on Netflix. We LOVE that show. 

6:45 - Eden is hungry again so I feed her. Evenings are her fussy time which only got worse once I went back to work. 

7:00 - Realize the house is disgusting and I need to clean. Feel guilty because I can't keep up on the house and then feel guiltier because I choose to wash the dishes instead of snuggle Eden. 

8:00 - Start the bedtime routine. We put Eden in her bath (which she loves!) and then get her in her p.j.'s. We then sit in our spots in her room (daddy in the rocker and mommy on the ottoman) and read her a book. Then we pray. Unfortunately, Eden is not one to go to bed early EVER so we then go back into the living room to snuggle on the couch and watch more Bones. 




9:00 - Eden's last feeding. We nurse off and on for the last hour as she gets more and more groggy. 

10:00 - Just like clockwork, Eden is asleep. I put her in her crib, swaddle her, kiss her and say "I love you, sweet dreams!" and walk right out of the room. Josh heads downstairs to do some work, and I run around the house like a madwoman cleaning every surface that I can, and getting the pump supplies clean for the next day. 

11:30 - I can't handle it anymore. I had great intentions of doing a blog post (seriously, every night I would want to, and then sleep usually overtook that idea). Off to dream land I go to start all over again the next day. 




That about sums up what my days were like while I was a full-time working mom. Honestly, that month was TOUGH. Each day had its challenges. I couldn't believe how many tears I shed during that time...I can go months and months without crying and yet while I was working and trying to take care of my three month old I just couldn't hold it together. So to all of you working moms out there...YOU AMAZE ME. 




*Did anyone notice that my child LOVES her fist. Seriously in two of her pictures she is staring intently at her fist. What a silly girl. 


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There are THREE days left in the giveaway! Don't forget to enter. Go here if you want to read more about the giveaway, read the rules, etc. Also, I added on there that you can be a follower OR a subscriber. I know I am bad at following, but always subscribe via google reader so whatever works for you. The rules aren't really that strict...come on...I am the number one rule breaker remember? 

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Confessions of a SAHM

SAHM = Stay at home mom (I am new to the lingo myself so don't fret...unless you all already knew what that meant beforehand, and well, then I just feel dumb).

I have officially been a stay-at-home real estate assistant for ONE WHOLE MONTH. Some days it feels like this is how it has always been. It is getting harder and harder to remember what it is like to have to get up at 5 a.m. for work each and every morning. Trust me, I force myself to remember so that I never find myself forgetting to be thankful for my situation. And I am. I am so very thankful for where I am in life. I never thought it was going to be possible, and we are certainly living MUCH differently, but it is right.

I have been reflecting on the past few months lately, thinking about who I am now. It is so funny to me that for years I have been trying to figure out why no job seemed perfect for me no matter what I tried. And trust me I tried lots. The thing was, I was never going to find the perfect job outside the home because my perfect job was waiting for me....INSIDE the home. I do have to admit something. Sometimes I feel guilty. Like, the kind of guilt where you don't even want to face the world because you don't want anyone to know how you really feel. Want to know why? The guilt is because I am happy. Blissfully happy. And I feel bad. Regardless of the fact that I can count on one hand the times where I have actually felt truly happy in my life, I still feel like I don't deserve it. I know I have so many friends that have to go to work everyday and leave their little ones behind. I have friends going through terrible things and yet here I am feeling so great and content with my life. I know this is not the way God intended for me to feel, but I just always have this nagging feeling every time someone asks, "how are things?" or "don't you love being a stay at home mom?"

My answer is always, "YES! But...."

If I were being honest, there would be no but. I love being with my baby everyday, I never get tired of her, I never sit there thinking, "I NEED to get out of the house." I love working with Josh. Is working together perfect every single moment of every day? Ha...are you kidding me?! Even if Josh and I think differently, we really are enjoying each other's company. Oh and no, I don't see him all day long. In fact, sometimes I feel like I see him less now that I am home all the time which is ironic.

You know what is even crazier? The fact that I actually am finding myself to be a better person for being at home. Before my job ended I thought I would go back to my usual ways which is to hide in my house all day with no desire to be social. Here's the thing, since being home I have found myself feeling confident. I enjoy going out to see friends or just exploring the neighborhood. My confidence has been boosted SO MUCH. You want to know why? Because I am doing what I am supposed to and because I TRUSTED. Was there lots of doubt in the beginning? You betcha! It took some serious amounts of prayer and discussion with some great friends to understand that I had to leap into this 100% or it would never work. Is it still scary living on Josh's commission only paychecks? Oh absolutely. However, we are surviving.

I'm debating posting this because I still can't shake the guilt. It should be okay to be happy, but it just feels so wrong. Please don't think I am trying to rub any of this in your face if you happen to be a working mom or are going through tough times. I have been there. It is hard. I feel for you. The thing is I have always promised to be honest and open, and so I am doing just that. Will every day be perfect? NOPE. Is any day ever really all that perfect? No sir. The thing is, I am okay with ordinary, I am okay with less than perfect, I am okay with okay. Maybe that's why this gig suits me so well...it may not be the most fabulously extravagant job, but it is just right for me.

Later on I will post a typical "day in the life" for us as I remember it when I was working. Tomorrow you can expect an actual "day in the life" just as we are living it! Here is hoping that I actually remember to record everything we do tomorrow. Mommy brain....gets me every time.

Oh and to ensure that I do not have a picture less post, here are two of the family members...Bella was probably sleeping, and I was behind the camera...of course.

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