pet-peeve

I don't know if it just because I struggled with IF & ML so you mommaS that had no problems with conceiving will have to clue me in on this; BUT..

does it ERK anyone when people say, "just wait until there two you will be asking people to take her" or "you will be giving her away here soon" or "just wait until they start crawling, you won't want them all the time then"

I understand mommas need breaks & there is nothing wrong with that; but why is it such a crime in todays world to WANT to spend time with your child?

& I TRY to do things as natural as possible & im also not allowing her to watch TV till she is 2 because of some studies I have seen, I will allow her the occasional disney movie though, & the typical "well I did it & I turned out ok." when it comes to doing things naturally or my ways of parenting!

ok, rant over.

I mean who wouldn't want to be around this 24/7!?! :)

Also, Kennedy has a ingrown toenail that litterly happened overnight; how is this possible? I trim them ever week if not more.

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i pledge handmade.

While I know getting all things handmade will be difficult, but I am going to make a conscious effort to get more things handmade. & its becoming increasingly popular due to Etsy & so fourth.

So in lieu of this pledge I am going to put a Etsy spotlight on Made with Sugar.

Christina is the owner, & boy does she love what she does! Each of her things you can tell she put so much effort in each detail! 

My fav thing.. well I have two:

For all you Nook, Kindle & E-Reader gals out there, this is for you!!

adorable right?!?

& for all of us up north:

oh & mommas guess what? she has them for your daughter too!

So head on over to her Etsy

& grab one of these awesome handmade goodies

& take the pledge for handmade here

Also, Christina is expecting! & started a baby blog!

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gel vs tablets

Today, is my first encounter that my baby-girl has been fussy. She never cries, well rarely. But today, after 2 weeks of teething; it is finally getting to her!  It's her two fangs.

breaks your heart doesn't it :(

So my question is, teething gel or tablets? I refused to use Orajel but have considered the natural kind & heard raving reviews on Hylands teething tablets?

The dr suggested giving half a dose of infant tylenol when she first  started teething a few weeks ago. But I rather not give her meds, & go a more natural route!  I'm open for suggestions on what to do? & I will try & let you know the result!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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ICLW

Welcome ICLW'ers!
It's hard to believe the last time I did ICLW, was when I had JUST found out I was pregnant & TERRIFIED of another loss!
& here I am with a 8 week old daughter!

If your new here I will do a little catch up, I am proud to say that after three pregnancies, Kennedy {commonly referred to on here as bug,buggy} our true miracle is finally here. It was a long tough road to get her here, but holding her in our arms makes all that pain & heart-ache so worth it, the giggles & smiles help too ;) So if you did the math there. I have had two miscarriages (5/09 & 10/09).

Now, I am dealing with the fact the chance of another child maybe impossible. While, I am so grateful for my miracle & as much as everyone says "you had one miracle, it can happen again" I am having a hard-time dealing with that reality & hard decision to try again, knowing it may result in miscarriage.

So this blog is ramblings of me still grieving my angel babies,my miracle baby & all the new wonderful happenings of motherhood, my awesome marriage to my almost perfect husband {brandon} & all sorts of goodies in-between!

So, pull up a chair, & stay awhile. The tabs above can also catch you up on all the happenings! :)

& yes I posted this the night before, but I have full intentions in sleeping in tomorrow since that has been what we have done all week. Even though it harder for me to sleep in then bug, she sucha lazy butt!

while your here, go ahead & vote if you like what you read! thank you! :)

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paci 101 - part two

Well after trying a billion different binkys: Parents Choice,Nuk,Avent, & MAM

We narrowed it down to two which she didn't instantly refuse.

MAM

AVENT

In the end, Avent ended up being the winner. I don't know if it is the little rougher part on the MAM that she didn't like but she wouldn't keep it in for more than a few seconds. Which stinks because they are so cute with their designs. But, I guess looks isn't what it's all about ;)

I guess it makes sense that she would like the Avent ones, beings that is what her bottles are but it didn't occur to me til after we had tried all the other ones!

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so what wednesday

This week I'm saying so what to..

• I wear my husbands clothes to bed, & around the house more then my own
• if i start thinking about lunch at 930
• when people ask me for my awesome recipes, on the card i give them under the "from the kitchen of" i put my name instead of giving credit to "the nest" magazine
• if I watched teen mom last night, & personally wanted to kill one of them
• if i press "0" every time to get to a real human even if i heard "3" was the option for me
• i ignore friend requests from that girl from high school, then when you run into them say 'hmm i never got one' :p
• that I will cry during the last episode of Oprah
• if i truly believe big sunglasses hide my non-make face from the world
• if my yoga pants have become so all-purpose, I should just call them pants
• if I put on heels when we get there, im not trying to be anyones hero
• if im in complete denial my daughter is about 2 days away from being out of newborn onesies :(

What are you saying so what to?

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Cheesy Meatball Soup

I get lots of email about me being a SAHM, how I save $, & lots about cooking!
So, I'm going to start sharing some recipes with ya'll! Because well us women have to stick together & need easy quick meals right?

So this is a great alternative to chili during the winter!

Ingredients

1 egg
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound ground beef
2 cups water
1 cup diced celery
1 cup whole kernel corn, drained
1 cup potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup sliced carrot - {i use frozen veggies}
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 beef bouillon cubes
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 (16 ounce) jar process cheese sauce- i use queso cheese, it gives it a kick!


Directions

In a bowl, combine egg, bread crumbs and salt. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls. In a large saucepan, brown meatballs; drain.

Add the water, celery, corn, potatoes, carrot, onion, bouillon and hot sauce; stir in cheese.

i know this looks totally gross.

Let sit in the crock-pot for a hour or so. or on low all day @ work ect. & YUMM! dig in!

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nursery update!

Thought I would do alittle catch up on the nursery, really not much has changed. but we are slowly getting there. I am going to try to get alot done the next two weeks so I thought I would show you all where we are at now.
Heres the progress.

{before 1}
this was actually the picture of our house when it was for sale on-line before we bought it; & it was my room as a teenager :)

{after 1}

{before 2}
crib-gift
dresser-hand-me down
bedding-target-24$

{after 2}
stick-backyard
flower materials-made my me-4$

I will add as we go! :)

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9 weeks!

yup! you heard right, 9 weeks! next week we will be in the double digits. hmph. where did the time go.

Dearest Kennedy,
As you sleep next to me, mouth wide open, the usual; looking so adorable my heart about burst from the seams with joy. The love & joy you bring into my life is truly unexplainable, & to big for words. But, I will try to do so. You have gotten over that "newborn hump" when  you are really starting to get a personality of you very own. Your energetic, in the morning..Momma thought this would be hard for her; but you were in the same in my belly so I became accustom. Although, seeing your HUGE gummy smile is alot better that you kicking the crap outta me. You are so lovable & cuddly. You like to be around me all the time & get rather fussy when your not. Although, you love daddy-time; but after about an hour you need to see my face or be held by me. I'm not complaining. You are starting to laugh, & I don't think I have ever heard a more beautiful noise.  You think I am just so funny, which is quite a compliment cause daddy never thinks my jokes are funny. I told him one day he would see just how funny I am, & you prove it. :)

Daddy & I  knew you were gonna to be speical, because you were such a miracle, & such a fighter from the very beginning. You exude are expectations. It seems like no matter what you do, you can instantly bring a smile to our faces & we look at each other with such thankfulness that you are in our lives. You are constantly making noises & I mean constantly; they are HILAROUS. You are moving those lil legs so fast right now, you even have been kicking the lens of momma's camera when I am taking pictures of you! Your favorite thing seems to  be when your laying in bed with daddy & I with all the covers off & we just lay next to you on our sides just gazing and babling baby talk to you. You probably think we are crazy, but you smile anyway.

Sweet baby, you growing so fast. To fast in my opinion. I remember the day you came into this world like it was yesterday, fast, happy & quite.Daddy on the other hand is all for this thing called growing. He has so much planned for you. He can't wait til you say "da-da" (which is trying to do now, feel free to go ahead & say ma-ma first, no pressure.) He can't wait to take you outside & play in the backyard, go to the zoo & do all sorts of "daddy things" with you. He loves you so much Kennedy.

Well you are about to wake up, & eat (you do this alot, chuck-a-butt) & we are gonna rock out this day of 9-weeks-ness. But, I wanted to make sure I told you today, how much I love you.

Love always,always
Momma

like our journey? please vote :)

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weekend!

I am day late on the weekend review BUT...This weekend was fun & busy! Friday, Brandon & I went out on our first date night, since buggy! I haven't left her for more than just over an hour & when I have I am less than fun to be around. All I can think about is her, what's she doing ect ect. So, I promise to be tons of fun & try not to dwell on being away from her...to much ;)

We started the night off @ Reb Lobster, YUM! It was odd to eat a whole meal in one seating, instead of increments. Bug seems to always want me as soon as the fork gets about a inch from my mouth haha. We stopped at a gas station where I cheated & called my mom asking how she was & to send me a picture, while Brandon went in. She was fine, sound a sleep in he nana's arms. I was just worried she would be really fussy for her, since she has been not able to sleep long with her teething, poor baby. But, "she was fine".

Next stop was a comedy club, it was so so fun. They have a 2 drink minimum there, I was somewhat freaking out A) because I rarely drink & haven't had more than maybe a drink since we start TTC over a year ago B) helllooo, I have a baby to take care of tonight. I ended up getting a drink that was in jar which counted as 2, & luckily wore off by the time we picked her up! The two comedians were HILAROUS. The last comic did alot of children & marriage which had us crackin up!

Saturday was full for me, I had to shoot 2 family session; so I was yet again away from my baby. (insert sad face with big lip) & Sunday I had another, I got to shoot two beautiful twins but, they were friends of ours so we got to bring baby, had pizza & got to talk about the baby-life. The twins are just shy of 6 weeks older than Kennedy, & the friends we went out with Friday either had no kids or older kids, so that was refreshing to have those conversations with them :)

Hope you all enjoyed ya'lls weekend as well!
To check out the session I did this weekend head on-over to my photography blog HERE.

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the essentials - this month {join in!}

Round two of my fav things.
 I thought I would do a link up! For Momma's to get the inside scoop on what other momma's are using. Not a Momma? We are still women what is getting you by this month? A must have lotion ect. Let us know! I think this will be lots of fun! So, LINK IT UP & let me know what your essentials are this month! Hopefully this goes well & continue to do it the first of every  month!

Bright Stars Rattle. 
Kennedy l-o-v-e-s this. Now that she is teething she chews on it..well she did before she was. & yay for fine motor skills! She just shakes the crap out of it.

    back in december.

Bright Stars Activity Mat

Can you tell we like Bright Stars? haha Kennedy also loves this. She got it for christmas & was totally sure about. But, now she loves it. She likes it most when you put her on her boppy so she was proped up and you string the rings draped in front of her so she can shake them. & she loves the birdy that sings int he middle, we also use it for tummy time!

Sassy Sleep Positioner

People use this more when their baby are brand new. But now Kennedy is starting to roll over, & I am terrified some how she is going to suffocate herself. So, I put this in her bassinet with her. But you can also use it under the mattress/pad for when he reflux is acting up, so it's a all-around good thing to have in my opinion.

Desitin.

Ok, so she has only had one diaper rash, & it was the second week she was born. So I never had to use it for that reason. & you all may think I am crazy, but, Kennedy gets this red rash on her one cheek. Not both cheeks just the left side. I am going to ask about it her next appt. {Feb2} I  don't think it to alarming to go in right away.   Anyway, I put some Desitin on it & ta-da all gone with in like 10 mins!

Fisher Price Light Up Piano

This is great for in the evening, our living room isn't very bright , during tummy time or just playing on the ground. The music she loves & loves the lights even better!

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photo blog.

these next few were for a "self portrait art" creative challenge.

for some reason I fell in love with this one 

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she was only on her back for these photos; dont call CPS ;)

momma & daddy on the way down to lawrenceburg

meeting her great grandma for the first time

bahahha. the husband.

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so what wednesday

This week I'm saying so what to..

• I buy the cheapest TP
• I like spending the day at my parents, I don't have to cook
• I some times just shove it in the closet, & call it clean ;)
• I'm guilty of dosing off during those 3 AM feedings, thenI realize the nipple of the bottle is in her ear, & she doin the whole mouth open trying to find it thing; opps.
• I don't actually listen to your parenting advice, I just nod & smile & so "oh really". You do it to.
• I sometimes start my to-do list, with things I have already done
• its 5 in the evening, yup I'm still in my pjs
• sometimes I don't turn the hubs shirts right side out when folding laundry.
• I laugh when montel,maury or judge hatchett says.."earl you are not the father"
• yeah the sink is full of dishes, the living room is a mess, there is laundry to do.. but do you see this little girl I'm on the floor giggling with. It can wait...until tomorrow...maybe.

like my blog? vote by click twice please :)

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