I saw it on Pinterest

"I saw it on Pinterest"

How often have you seen or heard this phrase recently?

I know I have said it myself a few times. I wish I could claim that all my inspirations, recipes, ideas, and motivators came from my own imagination, but it just isn't so. I have found Pinterest to be a very useful tool at times when it comes to inspiring ideas or giving me just the nudge I needed to try something I had been putting off.

I thought it would be fun to share the photo/s I found as inspiration, and my completed version.
I have to admit I'm not computer savvy enough to figure out how to share the original photo source, but all the photos that aren't my own were found on Pinterest.

The curtain headboard

My version of the curtain headboard

I believe I spent about $30 on the supplies for our headboard. $10 for the curtain rod, $9 for the sheer curtains, and another $9 for the drapery on top. The installation was done by my hubby and the arranging was done by me.

 

The faux mudroom/entryway

My entryway

This project was a bit pricier. The shoe bench was $60 from Fred Meyer/Kroger, the coat hooks were $14 each from Wal-mart (which still ended up being cheaper than making my own...I definitely checked!) and the Joshua 24:15 quote wall sticker was from Dollar Tree. We have gotten so much use out of this though, it has been worth it! Even if just for the fact that the shoes are no longer in a huge pile by the door, and the jackets don't stay hung on the back of our dining room chairs.

An earring organizer

Jewelery organizer

My earring and jewelery organizers

This only cost me a dollar! I bought a large frame from Dollar Tree, used an old tablecloth for the lace, and just hot glued them together. I had a small shelf that I had never used because I hated the color, so I just painted it black and added a couple of coffee hooks on the front for my necklaces.

Anyway, I have more, but I think that's enough for the day. The boys won't be napping for long and I need to get the house cleaned up some!

Out of the habit.

I was looking over my blogger profile, and I can hardly believe that I only have 10 posts from this entire year! I remember when I used to write every single day. So I decided to just sit down and type whatever came to mind for about 10 minutes.

Right now I'm enjoying one of my favorite parts of the day: naptime! Both my sweet boys are sleeping and it gives me a chance to have some leisure time. Though more often than not I spend it cleaning and tidying the house. Right now I have some music playing, and just made a pot of coffee. The sun is shining, and my house is at least presentable.

Life has been changing so much in the past few months. I have been changing. I feel older and wiser, and a bit more aware of some of the harsher realities of life. I have also been developing a deeper relationship with my Lord. He truly is my Rock and my Saviour.

Anyway, there isn't much of a point to this post. I just want to get back to writing more often. It used to be kind of a therapy for me, but I have found that the less I write, the less inspired I feel to write.

A late announcement.

My baby is here!

He's actually six weeks old now. A mellow, serious baby, who is a bit of a momma's boy so far. We adore him and have been enjoying this addition to our family.

Introducing Stephen Alexander!

Born via c-section on July 8.
8 lbs
20.75 inches (though there has been a lot of confusion since then, he has always measured shorter, but that was the official length we were given.)

Big brother Jacob

Proud daddy

Me and my newest handsome man

Jacob, 18 months

My little man had his 18 month appointment the other day. The doctor said he's growing like a weed. He weighs in at just over 22lbs, and is now 30 and a half inches tall -which puts his height up in the 4th percentile!

Jacob amazes me almost on a daily basis.. He likes to figure things out, he's observant, and he's learning new words almost daily. Jacob is my little helper. He loves to help unload the dishwasher, will throw away trash without being asked, and always wants to be the one who pushes to buttons to start the dishwasher.

The picky about food stage seems to be coming to a close. Now Jacob will eat almost anything we give him, or at very least he'll actually try a few bites before deciding he doesn't want any more. Also new in the past few weeks is that he's actually eating fruit! Until now Jacob wouldn't touch any solid fruits though he loved purees, fruit pouches, and applesauce. In the last week or two Jacob has eaten part of a peach, apple slices, a banana, orange slices, and some grapes.

It's been fun to be around as Jacob's vocabulary grows, and so neat to see what he actually understands. He's a little chatterbox and likes talking to himself. If we're in the car for a drive we can usually hear Jacob back in his seat "yomma yomma  Daddy vroom vroom, diaper, duckie!" As he goes through jabbering and adding words that he knows. My favorite thing this week has been hearing Jacob say "yeah" or "no" a lot, and using them in context!

"Jacob, do you want to go outside?"
"Yeah!"

"Do you want to do laundry for me?"
"Mm, no"

"Do you know how to say 'banana'?"
"Yeah"
"Go ahead, say ba-na-na"
"Naner"

Jacob loves to share his toys, food, teddy, water, etc. His sweet personality just makes me melt.
He's a bit of a flirt sometimes when we're out in public, though not with everyone. I'm not sure what he bases his friendliness on, but sometimes he'll be shy and hide from people, or all the way at the other extreme, he'll be waving and saying hi and grinning ear to ear.
Jacob loves to be outside, even if he's just walking around the driveway, he usually throws a bit of a fit when it's time to come inside.
His favorite things right now are cars and trucks. He identifies vehicles by saying "Vroom vroom" when they drive by, or he sees a picture of them. Stores that have car shopping carts are much easier to shop at because he stays happily driving the cart the whole time we're there. And, his favorite toys are a Dodge Viper that Alex has had for years -it's now missing two wheels, the trunk lid, and the windshield- and his Little People schoolbus.

On the downside, Jacob is starting to find a bit of a stubborn/headstrong streak that can be quite a challenge at times. We joke that he's so smart he's just hitting his terrible twos six months early.

All in all, Jacob is growing and learning, and brings so much joy to our lives, we couldn't imagine life without him.

Jacob, 17 months.

My little guy is 17 months old today!

Still little. ~22lbs, and almost 30" tall last he was weighed an measured. He's pretty much exclusively in size 12 month clothes, though some of the pants fall off when he's not in cloth diapers.

Jacob is going through a picky eating phase. He's completely unpredictable whether he will eat the same thing one day to the next. His only "definitely will eat this" foods are ramen noodles, peanut butter and jelly/honey/nutella sandwiches, life cereal, and baked goods (like his mommy). Though something of a tricky topic depending on who you talk to, Alex and I have decided that for now we'll somewhat adjust to his pickiness. When he is a bit older and we know he understands what we want, and when we can better understand why he won't eat things, we will definitely be more strict with food. For now he's still getting a pretty balanced diet of grains, dairy, proteins, and fruit and veggies. It's just harder because he doesn't eat everything we put in front of him anymore.

Jacob's vocabulary is exploding, and we love getting to be a part of it! He knows a couple dozen words, at least, including cracker, love you, s'cuse me, fishies, medicine, basket, cheese...and a whole bunch more. He is also putting together phrases with sign language as well, such as "milk, please" "eat more" and "all done please". He's good at recognizing things too. He loves to point out babies and ducks in particular.

If I weren't about to have another baby, we would probably be in the beginning stages of potty training with Jacob. He has started to let us know when he has to go potty, and when he needs a diaper change. Pretty much as soon as I am recovered from having baby Chuck, Jacob will start potty training.

Jacob has such a great personality emerging, it is a joy to Alex and I to watch him grow and learn. He seems to be naturally kind and obedient.
Whenever he gets a bump or a smashed finger, or some other "owie" Jacob points whatever body part is hurt to us, and makes a kiss noise so that we know to kiss it better. I started "kissing it better" a few months ago when he was in his klutzy stage and falling all the time. Well I guess it stuck, because I don't have to ask anymore. He definitely lets us know when he needs a kiss.

Speaking of kisses, Jacob is a very sweet child and loves giving kisses to Alex and I and his stuffed animals and toys. Just the other day I was reading him a book, and when I was done he turned and gave me a kiss. It's such a special thing when voluntarily given.

Jacob still loves books, and I enjoy having him bring me a book and getting to snuggle him while reading. It all depends on the day though. Some days we get to read a dozen books, other days we go through his entire library and never get farther than the first few pages of each book.

Jacob is getting a lot better about playing by himself too. He used to need me sitting right there to watch him play, or to help entertain him. Now he will sit and play for an hour or more at a time before needing to come find me. If I ask him to go get his shapes, he brings me his shape box (a bucket with a lid that has shapes cut into it, with shaped blocks to go inside) and we'll play for a while with me asking him to find a certain shape. He definitely knows circle, and is starting to recognize square. He loves trying to force the block into the wrong hole so I say "No, silly!". He busts out laughing every time.

But, because I don't want to make it seem like it's all rainbows and butterflies, here are some of the challenges we have with Jacob.
*He loves to climb. Which wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't still so new at it. Last week he fell and bonked his head, split his lip, and bit his tongue, all in the space of a few hours.

*Jacob loves markers, and pens, and highlighters. And despite being told "no" he still manages to find some and color on himself, or the walls, or the recliner. Mostly himself. You can bet that mommy made him help scrub the walls, and the recliner.

*Jacob also loves Dutch Bros, and he recognizes their logo. He seems to think he should get a hot chocolate every time. And if he doesn't, I can pretty much know with certainty he will throw a tantrum.


*If he's in a bad mood (too tired, usually) Jacob throws tantrums quite easily. His favorite way of doing this is to start sobbing and throw himself belly first into the floor. Sometimes resulting in a bonked nose or forehead.

*And, my main problem with him right now. Jacob has no idea of physical boundaries yet. Mommy is a jungle gym. Period. Knees and elbows and little feet all over my hugely pregnant self  is not comfortable at all. We're still working on him asking to get up, and sitting still when in someone's lap.

Life is crazy and busy and I can't imagine life without our sweet little guy!

Another pregnancy rant

I only have a few more months of these crazy pregnancy hormones! We'll see if I get to go back to being a little less opinionated about everything...but until then, here's a few things that have been bugging me lately.

One of my biggest pet peeves lately has been just lack of consideration by people in general. Maybe I'm becoming cynical and overly sensitive, but it seems like so few people care any more. And I know that's a really generalized rant. I could break it down for you...

Grocery carts. It bugs me that so, so many people don't bother putting their carts in the spaces provided for them, and half the time, when they do they just barely get it into the cart corral. No pushing it into the other cart, no pushing it in past the very entrance, sometimes they even put it on the side where the gate is closed. There's nothing quite like going to the store and turning into a parking spot to find 3 or 4 carts abandoned there....5 yards from the cart corral.

image found via google search

Drivers haven't gotten any better in the past few months. Yesterday a van didn't even come to a stop while waiting for my friend and I to cross the crosswalk (where we had a walk signal)...they came within about a foot of hitting us.

I know I'll probably step on a few toes with this one, so I'm trying to be careful to say this in love...but this particular thing seems to be common among a lot of people and is something that has really started to bug me recently. All the badmouthing and complaining about the President. I know that he hasn't done the greatest job. I know that a lot of people are unhappy with how things are going: that Obama got reelected, that the economy seems to suck, that Obamacare is going into effect, the talk about gun control...but everytime I see another post or share or cartoon about how awful he is I think of these verses in Romans 13:1-7 (NKJV) "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. ⁴ For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ⁵ Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. ⁷ Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor." I know you may say that Obama isn't doing God's work, much less doing a good job, but that doesn't change the fact that God is the one in control, and God is the one who allowed him to be re-elected. Unless the President is trying to make you do something that goes directly against one of God's commands then he still deserves the respect due someone in a position of authority. Regardless of whether you like him or not. I'm not saying you can't disagree with his politics, that you have to fake loving him and approving everything he does. Just stop to think for a few minutes if you are obeying how God commanded you to act concerning the authority He placed over you.

I know, that was a little heavy...so here's a few sillier ones for you.

It seems like nobody has maternity patterns anymore!

Speaking of maternity...the clothes available are just not made for my body shape, or they're just ugly, or too expensive for something that I will only be able to wear while pregnant. And what's with extra large regular clothes that still only seem big enough for a size 8?

Wal-mart. Nuff said?
They gave me a run-around about a sewing machine for over a week.
It was in stock.
No. Wait.
It was still in the truck, check back tomorrow.
Sorry, it actually wasn't on the truck. But it was available for next day pick-up thru site-to-store.
Cancel that...and cancel your online order.

Finally we went to JoAnn's and bought a machine. And guess what? Yesterday Wal-mart had the one I was planning on getting. I probably ended up with a better quality machine this way.

Shoe shopping. It's frustrating...or maybe I am just way too picky about what I wear?


I thought I was almost done with cleaning and organizing my house before baby comes, but I keep noticing more things I want to get done. Did you ever notice how dirty light switches get? the little "on" and "off" are just dirt encrusted! How do I get that clean again anyway? The tracks on all the windows and doors haven't been cleaned for ages and it's obvious, the paint is chipping off of the screws in the plate covers in almost every room. Is it taking the nesting stage too far to spend $.47 a piece on new switch and outlet covers for the entire apartment? Speaking of dirt build up...the ceiling vents are gross, and the screws are put in crooked. The patching jobs on the wall are atrocious. There is one patch in particular in the master bedroom that looks like someone threw a big splat of plaster against the wall and then painted over it.

See? I told you my hormones are making me a wee bit ridiculous...maybe I need to do a whole post on my obsessive cleaning and organizing the past few months...

Jacob 15 months.

Some days I look at my baby and I see a little boy...I don't know where the time has gone! But I am so thankful for his chubby legs and elbow dimples, because it reminds me that Jacob is still my baby for just a while longer, and to cherish every minute of it.

So, at 15 months Jacob weighs about 21lbs, and I can tell he's getting taller but I won't have any exact measurements for another week. He is now wearing mostly 12 month clothes and is still in size 3 disposable diapers.

I am proud of my little guy! In the past two months he has gotten through a few big changes and milestones. Jacob is now completely weaned from his pacifier, completely weaned from nursing, and he sleeps in a toddler bed! He has consistently been sleeping through the night...about 10-11.5 hours straight. And in the last week he has decided it's time for only one nap a day. Today is only day two of keeping him up longer before his nap and letting him go without a second one, so we'll see if it is as successful as yesterday.

Jacob is a chatterbox. I really have no idea where he got it from, but he talks constantly. He's learned quite a few words now. He says "bath", "M&M", "medicine", "amen", "shoes", "nigh-night", and "bye-bye". I may be forgetting a few. In sign language he knows "milk", "water", "eat", "all done" and "more".

Alex and I keep finding ourselves amazed at the intelligence of our little guy. Jacob loves to go outside, and he knows we need shoes to go out and play, so he loves to bring Alex and I our shoes and help us put them on. He always brings each person the correct shoes, in matching pairs. And yesterday when I was sitting with one of my feet under me Jacob was getting upset. I finally realized that the foot he was able to get too was the wrong foot for the shoe he had. (We've been trying to point out the difference between left and right every time we dress him and put shoes on him. I guess it's sticking?) A bit later Jacob brought Alex his shoes and Alex said "We're not going to go outside, put the shoe back."
 Jacob started walking toward the livingroom and Alex corrected him, that the shoes go by the kitchen door. I pointed out to Alex that he had told Jacob to put the shoe "back" not "away" and that his shoe had been in the livingroom when Jacob got it. We both just kind of shook our heads in amazement.

There have been so many instances like that where we are just floored at what Jacob knows and understands! Just this morning I had Jacob throw his diaper away, and when he started to put it in the recycling trash can I said "No, the other one." and he switched it to the normal trash can.

Jacob doesn't really have favorite toys. He likes anything to do with household chores, and tools. He now has his own little broom and swiffer and he loves carrying them around the house. Most toys bore him after a short time of playing. If I had to pick I would say his favorite right now is his Little People Noah's Ark.

  Jacob has the sweetest personality any parent could wish for. He loves to share and often offers people bites of his snack or meal, he likes to pick up things and take them to people, he is still very sensitive to anybody getting hurt (or even thinking they are) and lately he has become more of a cuddle bug. He likes sitting on mine or Alex's lap, he gives kisses, and usually wants me to kiss any bump he gets...and he gets a lot of them! Jacob has started carrying around his blanket and every once in a while stops to hug it, and then bring it to Alex or I to feel how soft it is. He also loves stuffed animals, and will hug and kiss on them and carry them around.

He's not without his stubbornness though, and we definitely have our rough days.

I love getting to watch my little guy grow and learn. I feel so blessed with such a sweet, obedient (most of the time) boy. It's amazing to watch him and see him do what we've been teaching him to do -even doing it without knowing we are there. It's been a challenging and a
learning experience to know that we are responsible for what Jacob learns, for training him how to be a godly young man, and that we are the biggest examples he will see of how to live rightly. It's definitely a huge reminder to Alex and I that everything we say and do could influence someone else, but especially our little boy.

The ADHD cleaning method.

I only had that one goal to finish before bedtime.

My goal was simple.
I wanted to get our master bedroom cleaned up.

Not a huge job really. A few clothes on the floor, a dresser that needed cleaned off, some beauty samples to be put in a basket and moved to a shelf in the bathroom...simple.

Almost an hour later I still wasn't done, and when I realized why it kind of made me giggle.

Here's how it went:

Pick up the clothes and put them away.
Grab the trash off of the dresser and throw it away.
Move the extra paint tray to the nursery (which is in the process of being painted) and when I realize that the roller and brushes are still dirty and sitting in the leftover paint I go to grab a trash bag to put everything in.
Go to the kitchen to grab a trash bag from under the sink.
Notice the pile of dishes left from dinner.
Unload and reload the dishwasher so the sinks are empty.
Remember what I was originally in the kitchen for and actually grab a trash bag.
Put the disposable paint tray and roller in the bag, grab the brushes.
Throw the paint stuff away outside.
Rinse off the brushes in the kitchen sink.
Clean out the paint splatters and realize the counters are grungy too.
Wipe off the counters.
While wiping off the counters I find the basket I wanted for all my beauty samples.
Look at the clock and realize that an hour had passed and all I had gotten done with my one goal was putting away a few clothes and moving a paint tray...

Such is my life with the ADHD cleaning method.
Disclaimer: I realize that ADD, OCD, and ADHD are sometimes serious mental issues. I not making light of people who have actually been diagnosed as having said issues, nor claiming to actually struggle with them myself.

Baby bean is...

Stubborn!

We had the 20 week anatomy scan done last week and we let it be known almost as soon as we got there, that if at all possible we wanted to find out baby's sex. The technician started looking around and pointing things out and said "Let's check between the legs."

Bean's legs were pressed tightly together, we couldn't even get a peek! So she continued with the scan and every few minutes would go back to check. Nothing. Baby wanted to keep it's legs together. After how active baby bean was at the previous two ultrasounds I was surprised that s/he was staying so still!

Eventually the tech said we could take a break. Told me to go empty my bladder, jump up and down, bounce around the bathroom a little, and then come back. So I did. And I felt like an utter fool doing it, but I wanted to know what sex my little baby is! I felt like I had been waiting forever this time. I came back and she started checking around again. We're having another baby boy!!

I can't say I was too surprised. I hadn't had any mother's instincts before, but the day of the ultrasound I would have been more surprised to find out it was actually a girl.

So after finding out his sex, the technician tried to get a good 3D image of the face for us, and he wouldn't move his hand! Baby kept his hand over his mouth or other parts of his face for a good 5 minutes, until she finally decided we would have to make do with what she had been able to get. So one of the prints we were sent home with it looks like our little man has an elephant trunk. It's just his arm and hand, smack dab in the middle of his little face.

Of course, the crazy hormones I've been dealing with this pregnancy came into play and I may have cried a bit later that evening. Not that I am disappointed that I'm having a boy, Alex and I are both thrilled!!! I was just being irrational and felt like we may never get our baby girl, and I had this slight fear that with as awesome as Jacob is and as adorable as he is, how can another boy be as fun and amazing?

Now don't jump all over me. I know it was silly and irrational (which made me cry harder. I felt like I was being a stupid, bad mom by even thinking it...even while knowing it was silly) After my little cry about it I started feeling better. Alex made me laugh a little when he said that when we do have a little girl she's just going to be so cute that we needed two big brothers to be able to look after her. I like his theory ;) I know that this little man will also be awesome and adorable. And while I know he won't be just like his older brother, I know that we'll love him just as much.

We do have a name picked out, but we're keeping it a secret this time. For now we're calling baby "Chuck".

I have all the nursery colors and some decor ideas picked out and I'm super excited to get started. We just keep running into snags and bumps getting Jacob's room finished and him moved back into it so we can get started in the nursery. (Stories for another post)

Chuck is a mover. I don't know if I have less fluid this time and am able to feel it better, or if this baby is bigger, or if his movements are just that much more aggressive; but whatever the reason I'm loving being able to feel movement so much more distinctly and earlier on than with Jacob.

I can't wait to meet our new little guy! Over halfway there.

Little "Chuck"

Boy or girl? An Old Wives' Tales post

I am a few days from baby bean being half baked, which means we'll be finding out the sex soon! I know everybody loves to make their guesses, and I have fun playing along, so I thought it would be fun to look up all the old wives' tales on how to guess the sex. I'll let you know later on which ones were correct! After all, they all have a 50/50 chance. With some of these I had to ask Alex because I am the worst when it comes to determining something about my own looks.

Here's my 18 week bump, so you can come up with your own opinion/predictions!

Carrying High or Low?
This is a well known old wives tale – so many people will want to look at your belly and think they can guess just from looking! So as the tale goes, if you are carrying low, it’s a boy, or if you’re carrying high it’s a girl.  
 Alex says high = girl

Is Your Skin Dry or Soft?
If your skin is dry, you’re said to be having a boy – and if it’s soft, then a girl is on the way.
Soft = girl



What’s Baby’s Heart rate?
First, to set the record straight, until it’s born, your baby’s heart rate will not be affected by it’s gender. But so they say, if you’re carrying a girl, then baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm (beats per minute). A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm. A study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine (1996) has dismissed this theory, as has other research. Your baby’s heart rate will change often during a pregnancy, depending on the baby’s age and it’s movement. Anything from 120-160bpm is normal for an unborn baby.
The heart rate has been anywhere between 152-180bpm = girl

Your Flowing Locks
Has your hair become thinner and dull? Or full-bodied and glossy? Thin and dull says girl, gorgeous and glossy says a boy.
My hair has been thicker and fuller, but also drier and a bit dull = ?


Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?
Even those extra pregnancy kilos are said to give us an insight into your baby’s gender! If you are carrying extra weight at the front, then you’re having a boy… but if you are carrying extra weight on your bum and hips, then you have been carrying a girl. What about dad-to-be? If he’s gaining weight with you, apparently you’re having a girl. If he’s put on no weight, a boy for you!
I think most of it went to my tummy, but some of it did go to my hips/love handles = boy
Alex's weight is the same as it was 10 years ago...= boy


Numbers…
If you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd – then it’s a girl on the way. If the resulting number is even, then it’s a boy for you.
Conceived in Oct, and I was 22 = 32 = boy


Sweet, Salty or Sour?
Another well known old wives tale!!! Are you craving sweet foods like juice, fruits and chocolate? if so, old wives say that you could be having a girl. But if you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy. It’s also said that if you are having a boy, you will crave protein like meat and dairy.
I was craving spicy food, and I want sweets, but I'm very particular about which ones...they have to be "fancy" sweets, like lindt truffles, cheesecake, homemade pie, etc. Store bought cookies, and boxed brownies just don't do it for me right now. And meat is somewhat revolting. = girl


Wedding Ring Test
Get your wedding ring (or other ring/needle/pin) and attach it with a strand of your hair or some string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves like a pendulum from side to side, then you are having a girl.
Pendulum = girl

Got Morning Sickness?
Did you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy? If you did, then you’re said to be carrying a girl, but if you didn’t have morning sickness, then it’s a boy.
None at all = boy

How About Those Cold Feet?
If your feet get colder than they used to pre-pregnancy, it’s a sign you have a boy on the way. If your feet are the same, then it’s a girl!
I think they're the same = girl

How Do You Look?
Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favours? As it goes, if you look great during pregnancy, then you are carrying a boy. If you don’t look too fresh, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks!
Alex says better than ever (he's so sweet!) = boy
I don't feel like I look as good = girl

Pimples, Schmimples…
If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy.
Definitely breaking out! = girl

Are You A Lefty or a Righty?
When you sleep, do you sleep on your left? Because if you do, then it’s a boy for you! On your right, a girl is in sight.
I usually start on my left, flip to my right, fall asleep on my left, and continue turning all night = ?

Check Out Your Wee!
Okay…. now apparently if you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl. On a serious note though, if you have dark urine, up your water intake as you may be dehydrated.
Dull. I've been doing my best to stay hydrated anyway! I think this is one of the silliest OWTs ever = girl

What Does Your Belly Look Like?
A basketball or a watermelon? Because if it looks more like a basketball, then old wives say boy, but if it more resembles a watermelon then it’s a girl.
Alex says watermelon = girl

Hairy Legs?
Has the hair on your legs grown faster than normal? Or has it grown just like normal? Because if it’s growing faster than it did pre-pregnancy, then you’re said to be having a boy.
 Mine have been normal, maybe even slower! = girl

If a toddler shows interest in you, you are having the opposite sex of the toddler. For example, a girl toddler expresses interest in you means you are having a boy.
Jacob has been quite clingy = girl

If you are moody, you are having a girl because of all the extra female hormones. 
Yes! I have been insanely moody = girl

If the linea nigra stops at the belly button, it's a girl. If the linea nigra goes all the way to the bottom of the rib cage, it's a boy.
Don't have one at all =?

If your face swells and gets rounder, it's a girl. Long and narrow face, a boy. 
 I have never had a long narrow face, but I think mine has gotten a bit rounder = girl

If you find yourself clumsier with pregnancy, it's a boy. If you remain grounded and still in control of your body, it's a girl.
Not any more clumsy than usual...most of the time = girl

The final tally is:
15 = girl
5 = boy
3 = ?

The long-time coming pregnancy rant

In case you missed it...which -unless you're a facebook friend- you have. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant with baby number 2! I guess this post is my blog announcement.

Now, when I was pregnant with Jacob, I thought I experienced some pregnancy hormones. And obviously I did cause pregnancy changes hormones, but compared to how emotional, irrational, and easily irritated I am with this pregnancy, those "hormones" were a walk in the park.

We all know the phrase "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." And for the most part, I have done that (except when talking to Alex about all the irritating things people do. Poor man, he has been a saint putting up with me lately)

It was brought up to me that maybe doing a once a month "pregnancy rant" blogpost might be a good way for me to vent, and it might reach some readers who find it amusing or familiar. So I figured it might be worth a try. But, for the sake of feelings all around, I won't mention specific people. I will try to keep my ranting to things that the general public have done that drives me insane. (I might have some about myself, and maybe one or two about hubby if he's okay with it ;)

Driver's, they drive me insane (haha, see what I did there?) For the sake of staying active, and getting me and the little man out of the house, I go for a walk pretty much daily. And I live in town, which means busy roads, crosswalks, and parking lots to venture across. Before I was a pedestrian such a huge percentage of the time, I didn't realize just how inconsiderate motorists can be! The biggest things that irritate me lately are as follows
*Cutting off the pedestrian (which = me and Jacob, and sometimes my neighbor and her little boy) We'll check the traffic and start across the sidewalk that crosses the entry/exit of a store parking lot when suddenly someone speeds their way in or out of the parking lot. Usually cutting us off, or getting so close behind us we can smell their exhaust. They have literally been so close at times I could have touched the vehicle, had I attempted it.

*Not waiting for the pedestrian who has the walk signal. Now some of the crosswalks are tricky, as they give me the signal to walk at the same time as the people in the turn lane get a green light. I believe it is technically the law that they are not supposed to go as long as a pedestrian is in the crosswalk at all. Now it doesn't bother me too bad that people don't wait until I am completely across the road before turning in front of or behind me...but when they barely wait for me to get out of the lane they're turning into?? It drives me insane. It is so very dangerous, and uncomfortable for me. Keep in mind that almost 100% of the time that I am going for a walk, I have Jacob in his stroller and am pushing him.

And sort of on the same subject, it irritates me every time I see this cute little card posted online:

And this is the nicer version..

I am almost 5 months pregnant, pushing over 30lbs, and you stopped for me. Do you really think I'm going to sprint? Although people seldom stop to let me cross. When they do I make sure to wave my thanks, because I appreciate it so much.

*Pulling halfway -or more- into the crosswalk at a red light. There are lines there for a reason, it's called a crossWALK for a reason, back your big stinky truck up two feet so I can fit where I'm supposed to. The 2 feet are not going to make you late because you're that much farther back when the light turns green.

*whew* I feel a little better already ;)

Cigarettes also bother me. A lot. I am normally quite sensitive to the smell, and when I'm pregnant it is many times worse. There are now laws in place about smoking in public. The main one being that you have to be at least 10 feet away from an entrance to smoke. People do not obey this law, especially when it's cold. I will be walking out of the store and there is often someone smoking right there...about 2 or 3 feet away. I (only halfway jokingly) told Alex I was going to start carrying a tape measure and re-adjusting people. Seriously, cigarette smoke makes me ill, and when smokers don't follow the law, I have no way of avoiding it. And yes, I will go out of my way to go in a different door if possible. It's that bad.

People talking to Jacob implying that I'm a bad mom "Where's your hat?? It is too cold outside!"
Yeah, the hat is in the stroller, he takes it off and throws it when the chin strap gets in the way of his drink. Where's your hat? And yes, he is in his pajamas. No I'm not too lazy to dress him, I think his feet being warm is more important than him being in "real clothes", the fact that they are footie pajamas keeps him from being able to pull his shoes and socks off. Which he does as soon as he can, and throws them when I'm not looking. He's lost one of each in wal-mart.

The other day I was so emotional that while we were out to dinner, when Jacob said hi to a couple that was leaving, and they ignored him, I wanted to cry.

I sometimes cry if Alex doesn't get the chance to call during his lunch break.

It is extremely sad to have a mail day where we don't get anything. Junk mail is even better than nothing.

I very easily take things too personally right now, and if you suggest that something I'm doing is unhealthy or dangerous, I may just jump to the conclusion that you're saying I'm a terrible mom and don't care about the health of my unborn child.

I think that is all for now. Ladies, have you ever been extra hormonal? What were some of your craziest moments?

Jacob 13 months

This morning I had a bit of a shocking moment. I was watching Jacob play and I realized that he looks like a little boy now, not really a baby any longer.

His top teeth are coming in now. He got the two side top teeth first, and now the middle ones are coming in.
Last time he was weighed and measured  Jacob was up to 20lbs and just over 28 inches. Jacob runs now. He is an active little man and always wants to be on the move, he has such short legs that he ends up with a very unique run. Just over the past two days he has started dancing while walking too.

Jacob has started copycatting too. Whether coughing, laughing, clapping, using a tool, "knocking on wood" etc. He tries it as soon as he sees it done. A good reminder to Alex and I that we are his role models, and that a lot of what he does depends on what he sees us do.
Jacob will eat almost anything, though he dislikes some meats. His latest favorites have been life cereal, peas, kix. Pretty much anything he can pick up and feed himself. He likes feeding himself with a fork or spoon too, and makes much less of a mess than he used to. His main problem is getting loose foods to stay on the utensil he is using.
We still can't figure out which hand is Jacob's dominant hand. Just this evening I was watching him eat dinner with Alex and he was using both hands equally to grab and feed himself food. Maybe he's ambidextrous?
Jacob's also learned "where's your nose?" and for "where's your belly?" he points at his chest, so, close. He gets bored though and once he's learned something new and shown it off a few times he wants to go on to something new and will seldom do that "trick" again.

Jacob has made some major improvements in sleep! I am so proud of him, and so upset at all the problems he was dealing with that we didn't even know about. When we took him to the doctor for his one year check up, the doctor said he may have allergies, since he has had almost chronic coughing, sneezing,runny nose, and rubbed his nose a lot as if it was itching. So, he was prescribed some baby clairitin. The doctor also said that if the previous tenants had been smokers or had pets, the residue from that may also have been causing problems. Not a week later Alex and I realized there was yellow stains running down the nursery wall...and we assumed it to be nicotine. Long story short, after a month of stress, little help from the landlords, and continuing health problems and sleep trouble with Jacob - we moved him to the spare room as we completely clean, primer, and repaint his room. We'll also be paying to have the carpets cleaned. Besides the nicotine we've also discovered mold, and that there was a gas leak outside the corner of the house where Jacob's room is. In one week he has improved so much that he no longer needs Vick's on his feet, we no longer give him tylenol just before bed, and he went from sleeping 4 hours straight at best, to sleeping 8-9 hours straight, then another 4 before getting up for the day.

All in all, Jacob is growing and learning like crazy, has no end of energy, talks constantly, and brings Alex and I such joy and amazement that we can hardly stand it sometimes.What a blessing our little man is!

Jacob: one year!

My Jacob is a year old. It's gone by so very fast!

When he was weighed and measured two weeks ago Jacob had gained a pound in two weeks! He was up to 19lbs 5oz, and just a hair under 28". Which puts him up to 19th percentile for weight, and 2nd for height! This is the first time since he was a month old that Jacob has been above the 1st percentile for height.

Jacob is always learning new things. Alex is especially amazed by it, as he is so used to animals -who seldom learn much new once they are able to walk on their own.

 Jacob has learned to sign "all done" when he is finished eating now. He also waves "bye-bye" and "goodnight". While I know how smart he is, it's exciting to have an understandable form of communication. So far most of Jacob's learning has been problem solving and physical. Until now he hasn't shown many signs of wanting to communicate with us. A few weeks back Jacob took his pointing a step further too when he was consistently pointing to the correct item when we would ask him "Where is the tree?", or, "Where is the light?" and now he'll even point to "dada". Because of how much he liked his whistle, Alex and I bought Jacob a little kazoo. He quickly figured out how to hum into it to make noise, and for a few days he walked around the house with it. Just today he figured out how to turn a light on using a light switch. We've been letting him turn lights off for a while now, but today was the first time he was able to get the switch up. He was so proud of himself! He started flipping the light off and on just to show off what he had learned.

Christmas was a lot of fun. Jacob got to have his first chocolate covered pretzel, and he made a huge mess! He decided the pretzel was no good once the chocolate was gone. He also got to open some gifts. It took him a few tries to get the hang of it. Mainly because he was so used to us telling him "no" when he messed with the presents under the tree that he got jumpy when we tried to let him open one. By the end of the day he was able to tear the paper off like a pro. It was fun to watch him just tearing into his birthday presents yesterday.



Walking is Jacob's main way of getting around now. He may very well be running in a few weeks, he's almost run a few times now when his daddy is chasing him.

What a crazy, fast, wonderful, exhausting, challenging year it has been. And I wouldn't trade a day of it. I love my little man!

Why I'm a bad blogger

1) I'm not committed to blogging and getting traffic on my blog. I have far too many other things that are a higher priority.

2) I have plenty of opinions, but don't want to come across as "my way is the only way" with everything, and I don't want to seem judgmental. I also don't like posting a bunch of rants. So sometimes I just don;t post anything at all.

3) I read other blogs, but I seldom comment.

4) I'm not confident in my writing. I sort of just do it for me and it isn't a necessity like it used to be (back when I had a detailed daily journal)

5) Sometimes just stopping and enjoying the moments brings far more joy than trying to write down every detail. Though I do love sharing Jacob's monthly developments.

6) I just don't feel like I'm as good at writing things of interest as I used to be.

7) I don't have an "attractive" blog. Not because I haven't read all the tips on how to attract more readers by my page design, but because I'm always too busy to try to change anything.

So, unless I work on changing, it may just be the monthly updates of Jacob and a random thought now and then. And for now, I'm okay with that.

Jacob 11 months

My sweet little man is almost a year old!

On Monday Jacob was weighed and measured. My little peanut is now 18lbs 5oz, and 27 and 3/8 inches tall. He is still in the 1st percentile for height, but his weight went from 3rd percentile, to 12th! I think that having eased him into drinking some whole cow's milk has helped him gain a little weight.

Jacob wears quite a variety of different clothing sizes. He wears 6-9 month pants, 6-12 month onesies, and 12 month pajamas. He is still swimming in size 3 disposable diapers though.

Jacob eats very well, despite the fact that he has started to hate most purees. He does really good eating most normal foods, even though he only has two bottom teeth. He particularly loves eggs and breakfast sausage, dinner rolls, ramen noodles, and stuffing. He had his first grilled cheese sandwich the other day as well, and seemed to enjoy it! As I mentioned before, he drinks milk now too, usually a few ounces with each meal.

After his second haircut. I cannot believe how fast his hair grows!

As for new "tricks", Jacob has learned a lot this month. He blows in his whistle now...which mean he can also blow bubbles in his milk. He makes kissy noises, loves to point at things and be told what they are, and he has started walking! It is so cute to see him toddle his way across the livingroom, and he is so proud if himself. Jacob also knows how to open the toilet lid, pull on the toilet paper, and flush the toilet! Alex and I joke that now he just needs to learn how to tell us when he has to go potty.

Obedience is something that is very important to Alex and I, so we started early on with training Jacob to listen. He understands -and most of the time listens to- "No", and "Come here". We're very proud of him! It has made having a Christmas tree in our livingroom a lot easier than it would have been with a less compliant child. We still have to remind him not to touch it, but it's not a constant thing.

Sleep. Sleep is and has consistently been my biggest struggle as Jacob's mommy. He is just a sleep fighter through and through. I can do everything by the book and he still wakes up 2-8 times a night. We haven't given up though! We're slowly weaning him off of being nursed as often, and no more nighttime pacifier. He has actually started to do a bit better the past week or so, so I'm hopeful.

With each month that passes, and each milestone learned I'm more and more amazed at what a bright, happy, responsive little man we have been blessed with. Jacob is constantly bringing Alex and I joy and making us laugh in delight. I don't know where he got his big personality from, but I love it!

Being thankful for the good in the bad

I've been a bit of a whiner lately. Sad, but true. And earlier today I was whining about things in my head again. When i realized it, I was ashamed of myself.

I have no excuse to be ungrateful and upset with where I am at in life, and with what I have been given. So, as an exercise in thankfulness I decided that I need to make a list. A list in which I find something good to say about every single one of the complaints I have had recently. Who knows, it may end up being a lot easier than I expect...

* I was feeling sorry for myself that Alex is gone so much of the day, it feels like our time together is so limited now. But, I am thankful that Alex has a good job! I'm thankful that he gets paid overtime for any time he is working past 3:30pm, and I'm thankful that he gets home safely every evening and that he does get to spend time with Jacob and I before bed. I'm also thankful, and proud, with how well Alex has been able to adjust to working full-time again.

* I was feeling annoyed that I don't want to eat any of the food we have in the house. I'm thankful that eating less could help me lose weight, and thankful that we have food available! I'm also thankful that my hubby doesn't let me get away with going out to get something every night just because I'm being picky.

* Lack of sleep was/is causing stress, anxiety, and emotional upheaval. I'm thankful that when I do get to sleep I have a nice, warm, comfortable bed to sleep in, freshly laundered sheets and pillows, and Alex to keep me warm. I'm thankful for my little Jacob even when he does wake me up. Every time he starts fussing at night it's a reassurance that he's still breathing! I'm thankful for the joy that he is to me, and how wonderful he is. Honestly, I think the sleep issue is really the most difficult part of caring for him right now.

* I was upset and angry at myself that I have put weight back on. But, I'm thankful that I was able to lose almost 50lbs this year! (not counting the weight lost because of having Jacob) I'm thankful that I have felt happier, had more energy, and been able to wear most of my pre-pregnancy clothes. I'm also thankful that I know if I put my mind to it I can lose the weight again.

* I've been stressed out because the new house still isn't in order and organized yet, and some days I feel like I get nothing done. I'm thankful that we have a new, bigger, house. A house where I don't have to smell cigarettes and marijuana from an upstairs neighbor (we don't have one!) A house with a garage, with a spare room, and a non-carpeted dining room. I'm thankful that we have been so abundantly blessed with things that it is taking me this long to find spots for it all. I'm thankful for Goodwill, and that I can pass on unused clothes and items rather than wasting space on them. I'm thankful for my son who is the biggest distraction from getting anything done, but the most fun "job" I have during the day.

* I have been annoyed with the amount of poopy diapers Jacob has every single day, and gotten tired of the hassle of rinsing cloth diapers. I'm thankful that Jacob is eating well and that his body is processing foods well! I'm thankful for our friends who let us borrow their cloth diapers, and that I we have been able to save so much money by using them. And I'm thankful for the huge sense of relief i have every time I get a diaper that's just wet.

And...I'm done for now. The more I wrote about what I was thankful for, the less I was able to think of things I've been unhappy with.

What are you thankful for?

Pretzel kiss candies

Today I'm going to share a simple recipe for some of the yummiest salty/sweet candies ever! I found the idea for these candies online. Nobody seems to know who the original creator was, so if it was you, thank you! These are amazing.

Preheat the oven to 275*

Make a single layer of pretzels. Any shape of pretzel could be used...except rods.

Unwrap and place a single hershey's kiss on each pretzel. Place them in the oven for about 6 minutes.

Choose a candy to place on top. I used regular M&Ms and Reese's pieces, I also made a few with candy corn.

Place a candy in the middle of each kiss and press down gently

Let them cool, and enjoy! Just try not to eat them all at once.

I'm sure that you could make all sorts of varieties for this. Mint kisses with Christmas colored M&Ms, rolos with pecans on top, or even the seasonal pumpkin pie kisses with pecans...the ideas are pretty much endless, and you could make them work for any season!

10 months!!

My little man is ten months old today!!

By now I'm pretty sure Jacob will always be a little peanut. He is so small still! He now wears 3-6 month pants, and 6-9 month onesies. He is also now wearing size 3 disposable diapers -not because he was outgrowing the 2s- but because he is growing, and we wanted to buy a large pack without risking him outgrowing them partway through the box.

Jacob eats very well. He was eating six jars of baby puree a day, plus a snack and nursing three-six times. We are in awe of how much food this little guy can pack away!
Now that we're buying some 6oz jars of food, he only eats three or four jars a day.
So far, other than the few weeks he refused to eat baby meat (I don't blame him!) Jacob has never turned down a food. I don't know if he really has any favorites. He does always polish off apple, strawberry, banana. He also loves animal crackers.

Sleep is going a bit better. This morning was the first time that Jacob slept through Alex getting up and leaving for work. I'm hopeful that it will stick this time!

As far as learning new things, Jacob figured out how to turn his walker around last week. It used to be that whenever he ran into a wall, or some other obstacle, he would scream and cry in frustration. Now he just moves to the other side and pushes it away from whatever is in his way. Such a relief! We also discovered that the laundry basket makes a better walker than his walker does. So now our dirty laundry stays in a pile on the floor because the basket is almost always in use for Jacob to walk around.
Yesterday Jacob fed himself a bite of food with a spoon for the very first time! He was so proud of himself, and the mess of broccoli and carrots on his tray, face, feet, hands, and clothes were definitely worth it!
Also yesterday Jacob figured out how to use a straw. He is so short that even though he knew how to use his own sippy cup, he had to lay down every time, because he wasn't able to tilt the bottom of the cup far enough up to get water. So we bought him a sippy with a straw and he learned how to use it really fast!
One of his favorite toys right now is a lid to one of his bottles. It has a tiny little hole in it and he discovered that if he puts the lid over his mouth and inhales it whistles. he does this often now! He was even doing it in the bath and making the water that was in the cup gurgle. When he has two bottle lids, he smacks them together like cymbals. He also gives kisses now, mostly just to me. but has given his daddy and "Aunt" Deena one. Big, open-mouthed, splobbery kisses...that will sometimes turn into a bite on the chin or nose. Biting is something we're trying to nip in the bud super fast!

Jacob's smile has changed now too. He has a wide cheesy grin, and he loves to grin! It is one of the cutest things I have ever seen, I just never seem to be able to catch it on camera.  For the most part he is happy and outgoing. He never fails to elicit at least one comment while we are at the store.

My little man is such a joy! I am trying to cherish every minute. It's passing so very fast!

Something to think about.

 When Alex and I started dating Alex introduced me to one of his favorite series of books. It's called The Sword of Truth and is written by Terry Goodkind.

Book eight in the series. where the following excerpts are from.

I still haven't finished the series and when we unpacked the books after moving last month I decided to pick up where I had left off. I came to a few different passages that really resonated with me as I read them. It was like the author was able to put in to words some of my feelings about what I believe and how I will act on those beliefs. So I decided to share them here.

 If you want to have a full grasp of the story I suggest you read the books, but here is a summarization of what's going on in this part: There is an evil army (the Order) taking over the land, raping, ruining, and destroying everything in their path. One village of people feel that fighting back will make them evil and that everyone has some good in them and should have a second (or third) chance to do the right thing. The main character of the books is trying to teach them otherwise.

"If, hoping to appease it, you willingly compromise with unrepentant evil, you only allow such evil to sink its fangs into you; from that day on its venom will course through your veins until it finally kills you."

"But that's too harsh a sentiment," the man said, "it's just being stubborn and obstructing a constructive path. There is always room for compromise." ...

..."In trade between willing parties who share moral values and who deal fairly and honestly with one another, compromise over something like price is legitimate. In matters of morality or truth, there can be no compromise.
"Compromising with murderers, which is precisely what you are suggesting, grants them moral  equivalence where none can rightly exist. Moral equivalence says that you are no better than they; therefore, their beliefs -that they should be able to torture, rape, or murder you- is just as morally valid as your view - that you have the right to live free of their violence. Moral compromise rejects the concept of right and wrong. It says that everyone is equal, all desires are equally valid, all action is equally valid, so everyone should compromise to get along.
"Where would you compromise with those who torture, rape, and murder people? In the number of days a week you will be tortured? In the number of men to be allowed to rape your loved ones? In how many of your family are to be murdered?
"No moral equivalence exists in that situation, nor can it exist, so there can be no compromise, only suicide.
"To even suggest compromise can exist with such men is to sanction murder."

And later, when the same group of people are saying that the popular decision of the people is the right one:

"But we must reach a consensus," one man said.

"For what purpose?" Richard asked.

"In order for our decision to be correct," he explained.
"No proper decision about the right course of action in any important situation can be made without consensus."

"You are attempting to give moral authority to mob rule," Richard said.

"But a consensus points to the proper moral judgment," another man insisted, "because it is the will of the people."

"I see," Richard said. "So what you're saying is that if all of you men decide to rape my sister, here, then it's a moral act because you have consensus to rape her, and if I oppose you, I'm immoral for standing alone and failing to have a consensus behind me. That about the way you men see it?"

The men shrank back in confused revulsion. One spoke up.
"Well...no, not exactly-"

"Right and wrong are not the product of consensus," Richard said, cutting him off."You are trying to make a virtue of mob rule. Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not a consensus. A consensus can't make the sun rise at midnight, nor can it change a wrong into a right, or the other way around. If something is wrong, it matters not if a thousand other men are for it; you must still oppose it. If something is just, no amount of popular outcry should stay you from your course."

And, the last section I am going to share, the people are again arguing that there is no such thing as evil.

"Kaja-Rang banished your people not only because they couldn't see magic, but, more importantly, because they couldn't see evil."

In restless disquiet the men glanced about at their companions. "But what you call evil is just a way of expressing inner pain," one of them said, more as a plea than an argument.

"That's right," another told Richard. "Saying someone is evil is prejudiced thinking. It's a way of belittling someone already in pain for some reason. Such people must be embraced and taught to shed their fears of their fellowman and then they will not strike out in violent ways."

Richard swept his glare across all the watching faces. He pointed up at the statue.
"Kaja-Rang feared you because you are dangerous to everyone - not because you are ungifted, but because you embrace evil with your teachings. In so doing, in trying to be kind, to be unselfish, in trying to be nonjudgmental, you allow evil to become far more powerful than it otherwise would. You refuse to see evil, and so you welcome it among you. You allow it to exist. You give it power over you. You are a people who have welcomed death and refuse to denounce it.
"You are an empire naked to the shadow of evil."

If I wanted to make it fit my thoughts as I read it some of the phrases would be just a bit different.
Such as: "Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not a consensus"  would say "Rational moral choices are based on the truth of God's Word, not a consensus."
As I read this book I just kept thinking how very fitting it was for society today. A society where you are considered prejudiced and mean if you say anyone is wrong. A society that calls wrongdoing a medical condition and gives it scientific names and prescribes drugs to "fix it". A society that thinks we should embrace everyone no matter what, and that "if you don't like something, don't do it"..need I go on?
It bothers me, and it irritates me, sometimes it angers me, and when it comes down to it, even if I am alone against a thousand other people I want to stand for the truth of what's right and point out evil for what it really is.

Where would you stand? Take a moment. Think about it

Jacob 9 months old

I was tempted to write an update on Jacob at eight and a half months old. He learned so much in just a few weeks!

One day he learned how to sit up in his crib, the next time I went to get him he was standing up holding the rails, and the very next day he figured out how to crawl!

Yesterday Jacob was weighed and measured. he weighs 16lbs 12oz now, and is 26 inches long. Percentile wise this means he is in third percentile for weight, and not even on the charts for height. My little peanut. He wears mostly 0-3 month pants with a few 3-6 thrown in, and he wears mostly 6-9 month onesies.

Jacob has started eating a lot more over the past week or so. Partially because he's finally over his cold (after two rounds of antibiotics) I'm sure. Most days he eats a jar of fruit for breakfast, a jar of veggies for lunch, and a jar of veggies and a jar of meat for dinner, with a few snacks of crackers or finger foods thrown in. Last week he got to try spaghetti and meatballs for the first time, which he absolutely loved, and last night he had some of our tuna casserole. I'm pretty sure that very soon he'll just start eating whatever Alex and I are eating.

Spaghetti face!

Jacob just started saying "mama" the other day. But it's not something that happens often. I normally only hear it when he is talking to himself during playtime. He has been playing by himself really, really well this past week. I love how many things have improved with his health! He loves his little push-walker. He walks all over the livingroom and hallway. It doesn't even phase him when he runs into a wall, he just keeps pushing and bouncing the wheels off of whatever is in his way. He loves dancing too, even if it's just bobbing his head up and down while sitting. I love to watch him enjoying music!

Books are quite fun too. Jacob loves turning the pages and some of his favorite books are the touch and feel ones where there are different textures for him to rub.

Reading with Daddy!

Crawling has improved in the two weeks since he started! Jacob crawls over the house now, and he's fast! He has what we call a gimpy leg. He pushes off with one foot to go forward and drags the other one behind him. It is so cute, but it took me a few days to figure out why the top of one foot was always dirty by bedtime. I also joke about the fact that I always know where he is as long as he's moving because he hums to himself. It's when he stops to play with something that I have to go check on him.

Jacob is learning the concept of  "No" and doing very well! His favorite "toy" is electrical cords, so it seems like we're telling him no a lot. Usually as soon as we'll say it he will drop -or stop reaching for- the cord, and after a few times of trying, he'll go find something else to do. I'm so proud of him.

Chewing on a cord

I'm sure there are other little things I'm forgetting. Like the fact that he learned how to clap over a month ago, he loves to wave his arms when he's excited, he's starting to learn how to wave "hi" and "bye-bye", and is pretty good at high-fives.

I love when he gets enough sleep and wakes up happy!

 Sleep is still a struggle. What with him getting sick, then us moving, me getting sick, then him still being sick, and me getting sick again, it feels like we haven't been able to keep a very regular schedule for him. It's a work in progress though, and now that he's better and I'm almost all better, I'm sure it will happen soon.

Jacob and Opal. They were Mickey and Minnie, completely unplanned

I love watching my baby grown and learn, it's hard to believe it's been nine months already!!