tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24523383232081839532024-03-05T13:06:22.125-08:00Love Well CraftedThinking. Dreaming. Loving. Cooking. Creating.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-16764768380487454272015-07-02T09:36:00.000-07:002015-07-02T09:36:41.570-07:00Currently<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Reading: </b>I've been getting into reading again. I sort of stopped after having the baby (gee, I wonder why...). My reading lately has only consisted of articles and message boards online, maybe the odd essay here and there, but it's been short and inconsistent. This week I opened up the Nook app on my phone again and started reading. I had forgotten how much I love falling into a story. I'm reading "Shopaholic to the Stars." I know, I know, not the most mind expanding literature, but it's fun and makes me laugh and I have read the whole series and love them all. I've been reading on my phone which is great because I always have it on me and I can just read a page or two here and there, and then a few more before bed. It's slow, but so good for me and I'm loving it.<br />
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<b>Thinking about: </b>I have always been the kind of person that thinks I can do anything. And I think that's a good thing. I have a good imagination and I feel like if I can think it, I can do it. Lately my mind has been racing with ideas and things I want to do and accomplish. There are so many things. Business opportunities, continuing education, design and decorating ideas, the (very fleeting) idea to clean the front room. The problem is I'm more about the ideas then the doing. My mind is working a mile a minute with ideas and ventures and ways to work from home so I can spend more time with my little guy, but when it comes down to it, I need a kick in the butt about actually doing the work.<br />
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<b>Listening: </b>Podcasts are my go-to right now. I am hooked on a few of them and love driving because that's my me-time where I can tune into my radio friends. I've been listening to "Totally Mommy" and "One Bad Mother" and loving that I always feel like I'm listening to old friends. They're great podcasts for moms to just feel like they're not alone in those times when you feel like no one gets it.<br />
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<b>Watching: </b>We're trying to make the OITNB season last. We're actually doing better than last year. It's been out 3 weeks and we still have 3 episodes left (last year we finished everything in a week). I guess having a 10 month old makes it harder to watch "grown up shows," especially when a certain someone isn't going to bed at his usual time on some nights. But we're loving the season and getting to know some of the other characters more, because really, Piper's life isn't the most interesting.<br />
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<b>Loving: </b>My little boy is 10 months old! He is Mister Personality and just so much fun. I am loving every minute of being his mama, even when he's trying to test his limits and learning how much he doesn't like the word "no." He's growing so fast and while part of me misses his tiny little curled up baby-ness, I am loving watching him learn and grow and knowing that he is right where he is supposed to be. We have so much fun together and I just see the fun multiplying in leaps and bounds!<br />
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Feels good to be back up and writing again, I have lots of plans for this blog, so we'll see what happens! But for now, this has been good.<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-92039436391324908562015-04-13T08:21:00.000-07:002015-04-13T08:21:45.190-07:00Feeling full<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, we're a quarter of the way into 2015, like it or not. Before you're a parent everyone says, "enjoy every minute, the time flies so fast," and you nod your head because you think you know what they're talking about and you're just tired of hearing everyone say that. And then you have a baby and you blink and he's already 7 1/2 months old and you wonder where the time went. Your 6lb 6 oz baby is growing and thriving at a whopping 18+lbs. You've had the fullest of full days even when you don't get anything done except keeping your baby fed and clean, and that in and of itself, is a major accomplishment. <br />
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It's April and I haven't blogged since my very bold (not all very realistic) goals of 2015 when the new year started. The year still feels like it's getting started, but it's really already rolling and it's been so full. Since I last wrote, we've grown so much. We've breast fed, bottle fed, formula fed. We've had rice cereal, vegetables, and fruits. We've played with toys and we've played with anything that is not a toy. We've rolled and crawled and pulled up to standing. And yesterday we said "da-da" and it was the cutest ever.<br />
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We've been home, we've gone to work, and somewhere in between we've thrown in everything else under the sun.<br />
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Life is so full, and it's amazing.<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-43144396560800609112015-01-03T22:22:00.000-08:002015-01-03T22:22:51.509-08:00OPEN in 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year! I had every intention of posting on New Year's Day but, well I decided to enjoy my time with family and friends instead. 2014 was an amazing year that brought us our beautiful baby boy and changed our lives forever. It's pretty tough to top that, but I am eager for a new year and all the inspiring motivation that comes with a new start.<br />
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If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that I've been trying out this "One Little Word" idea for two years now. Basically, you choose a word that acts as sort of a mantra or theme or inspiration for your year. It is something that helps you set your intentions for the year. In 2013 my word was <a href="http://lovewellcrafted.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-one-little-word-2013.html"><i>choose</i> </a>and in 2014 my word was<i><b> </b><a href="http://lovewellcrafted.blogspot.com/2014/01/2014-one-little-word.html">believe </a></i>and both years it's just been sort of there - really strong in the first few months and then sort of just in the back of my mind under a pile of everything else by May - leaving my year lacking, in a sense, some intention and resolve.<br />
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But I'm trying again this year. I've been thinking about it for a while now, and my word for 2015 is <i>OPEN. </i> It's funny because I really didn't want to choose this word initially, but it started coming back to me and making the most sense...then I saw a commercial that kept flashing the word "open" RIGHT AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT. So I took it as a sign and decided to stick with it.<br />
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So what does that mean for me? How is OPEN going to help me in anyway? It seems like an arbitrary word, but think about this: by keeping this word upfront and in focus this year I can remind myself to <i>keep an open mind </i>and <i>open my heart</i> to so much. I can focus on <i>opening doors</i> for new opportunities and remember to <i>open windows</i> for some fresh air. Also, fun fact, one of my resolutions for this year (more on that in a bit) is to work on my photography skills. When I looked up "open" in the thesaurus, the word "aperture" showed up too, which convinced me, yet again, that <i>open</i> was the right word for 2015. <br />
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I'm not giving up on resolutions this year though. For the last two years my "word" has been a replacement for resolutions and goals, but then I don't really strive for anything different and new. This year I have a few goals that I'm setting for myself:<br />
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<li>Keeping my word <i>open </i>in mind, I want to just keep my mind and heart open to be the best mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, person that I can be. </li>
<li>Like I mentioned before, I want to focus on my photography skills this year, and learn how to use my camera in the manual setting. I love taking pictures, but I really feel like there is so much I have to learn to capture things (and baby A) the way I really see them.</li>
<li>E and I are going to focus on another year-long food project! You can read about our 2013 52 Soup Project <a href="http://lovewellcrafted.blogspot.com/search/label/52%20soup%20project">here</a>. We will be posting our journey and our recipes on our food blog <a href="http://the-grapeleaf.blogspot.com/">The Grapeleaf</a> - so stay tuned!</li>
<li>I want to do my best to plan out what we'll be eating this year. I resolve to not be so wasteful with our food and to have more intention when I cook. </li>
<li>On that note, I want us to focus on our garden again - I miss growing veggies, and as baby A grows, I think it will be a fun activity to do together.</li>
<li>And speaking of baby A, once he's old enough, E and I want to make our own baby food (and maybe blog our recipes!). </li>
<li>I want to walk more. I'm debating on signing up for the Avon Walk 2015 in Santa Barbara.</li>
<li>I also have a few craft ideas that I want to try - more quilting! And maybe some knitting!</li>
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Most importantly though, I want to enjoy every single moment of my time with my little boy. He is the sweetest baby and he is growing so fast. I recently read <a href="http://www.coffeeandcrumbs.net/blog/2015/1/1/everything-is-a-phase">this article</a>, and it really struck a cord with me... everything is a phase and I definitely want to savor every moment I can.<br />
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OK, so I'm not going to lie, writing down that list just made me a little nervous. That's a lot, and it's a little overwhelming (OK, really overwhelming) but I want to put it out there. I want to be open to the fact that I might not be able to get it all done, but also to be more open to working on my goals and achieving these things I've set out to do. So maybe this will help me be a little more accountable. I'm open to it. <br />
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What are your goals or intentions for this brave new year? Are you choosing one word to guide you? Setting goals? Or both? I'd love to hear what your goals and ideas are - let's motivate each other to keep going throughout the year!<br />
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XO<br />
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'Tis the season! Christmas is literally days away, it's so hard to believe. I'm definitely getting in the spirit and it's helping that for the first time in quite a while we're actually having chilly winter days! Our Southern California Christmases are usually fully of lovely gifted sweaters that you want to wear all day on Christmas, only to find you can't wait to get it off because it's 80 degrees outside. This year we've had rain in December and the nights are cold enough for us to use our flannel sheets and keep the heater on.<br />
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Any cold winter day (especially when on maternity leave, and while prepping for Christmas) requires some cozy essentials to get you in the spirit of the holidays and help you enjoy those chilly nights. Here are my cozy-must haves that help me stay warm and comfy.<br />
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<b><u>A soft blanket:</u></b> Blankets are something I absolutely love. Handmade, store bought, what have you, nothing beats a well made blanket to keep you warm on a cold day. These blankets and <a href="http://www.parachutehome.com/collections/bedding">bedding sets from Parachute Home</a> look absolutely snuggly (and pretty!) - I'd love to cuddle up with one of these next time it's raining out! Not to mention they help out<a href="http://www.parachutehome.com/pages/giving-back"> a good cause</a> too which is a double win in my book!<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">A hot cup of tea:</u> Scratch that - a pot of tea is more appropriate. I can't believe I am saying this, but I've actually had more tea than coffee lately! We have a special "cold remedy" tea that's been working wonders, and tastes delicious (which means I'll drink it at the slightest tickle in my throat). I'm also loving a cup of English Breakfast in the morning!<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Christmas lights:</u> Usually when I'm spending my day curling up, it's in the living room (by the window, especially when it's raining!), which means I am right next to the Christmas tree. So on go the lights to twinkle on while I get comfy. The amazing smell of the tree helps too!<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">A scented candle:</u> If the smell of the tree weren't enough, I have a "fresh balsam" scented candle that really adds to the mood. Nothing like the lovely scent of pine to help you feel warm on a cold day.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">A good movie:</u> I love cuddling up with an old favorite. My go-to for days like this is usually Julie & Julia, or something with food that's photographed well! (future movies to add to this list: 100 Foot Journey and Chef)<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">My tablet:</u> Cozy time is Pintrest time, I love browsing boards and getting inspired. I also like to catch up with all the blogs I follow, and when I get the chance to read, I take it!<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">My baby boy:</u> The best perk of maternity leave in December (aside from having the baby and all the joy that comes with that!) is getting to curl up on the couch with my little guy and cuddle. He's a snuggly one when he's not trying to wiggle around (OK so he's snuggly sometimes), but he's also like my own personal heater, so we're always cozy and warm when we're together. And, let's be honest, he's the best part of curling up on the couch any day!<br />
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It's a Monday morning in December, we're 3 days away from Christmas and I have a ton of presents to wrap and a stocking to make (will share as soon as it's done...which will hopefully be before Christmas!), but right now, it's chilly, the heaters on and the Christmas tree's twinkly lights are calling my little one and I to snuggle up on the couch and enjoy the day all comfy & cozy.<br />
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XO<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-67723316274021046712014-11-16T10:30:00.002-08:002014-11-16T10:30:29.869-08:00growing up and packing up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My little nugget is 10 weeks old. I don't think I'll ever stop saying this...it's been the longest shortest time of my life. I'm even typing this with one hand, holding him in the other. Welcome to blogging little buddy. <br />
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This week I realized just how much he's grown (he's double his birth weight already!) when we had to try on multiple outfits a day...looking for something that would fit, We're officially out of newborn clothes and into the 3 months. When did that happen? I packed up the little onesies with a bittersweet feeling. He's growing so well. So well. But I thought about the sweet little outfits he wasn't going to be able to wear anymore. The one he came home in from the hospital in. The ones that family brought us the week he came home because no one was expecting that he was going to be small enough to fit into newborn clothes and we didn't have enough. The cute one with the mustache face and attached shorts. They're all packed away. Tucked in the closet for a while. Maybe if we're blessed with another little boy, he'll stay warm in these. And we'll remember how cute they all were. And if not, maybe a baby clothing quilt will be in the works... one day.<br />
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But for now, they're packed away and waiting. And we're here enjoying each day as it comes, still growing.<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-70018447884811327662014-10-23T12:13:00.003-07:002014-10-23T12:15:02.290-07:00Morning Routine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is part two of "Morning Routine." Read <a href="http://lovewellcrafted.blogspot.com/2014/08/morning-routine.html">this one</a> first.</div>
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I wake up to the little grunts and sounds that my 7 week old is learning to make. Sometimes he's already crying and sometimes he's just struggling to get his hands out of his sleep sack so he can suck on his fingers. I roll over and with my eyes only half open and check the time - earlier than I was hoping - we're not sleeping through the night yet. My back aches as I twist up and out of bed, grab a drink of water, and make my way to the bassinet at the foot of our bed.</div>
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It's early morning and this little one's clock seems to want to stay awake for a while. I bring him back into bed and hold him close as he nurses and stares above my head- at the blinds on the window behind me. As he drifts off to sleep I wonder if it will wake him up if I try to go make a cup of coffee - now only decaf so his sleep isn't interrupted. After I make sure he's really asleep, I try to carefully climb out of bed without disturbing him in my arms, but he's awake. I carry him into the kitchen and put on a pot of hot water for my French press as he fusses and looks around the kitchen in the morning light. While trying to eat a bowl of cereal and juggle a baby at the same time, I think about how one of these days, he'll be on a regular schedule, and I might be able to sit at my computer, in a house I cleaned myself, and be able to check in and stay up to day, and not have to sneak a quick post in during one of only two or three twenty minute naps that happen during the day. Instead, I scarf down my cereal, and make my decaf coffee and carefully carry my coffee cup and my baby boy into the living room where I set the coffee down and play and rock and love my little guy and forget about my coffee until an hour later when it's cold.</div>
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My mind works faster than my day allows for it, ideas float around my head as I bounce around with my little guy in his Moby wrap. I cherish the time I spend with him, I examine the curves of his face and I'm in awe at how much he's grown. I sip my cold coffee in between coos and peek-a-boos, and if he decides to sit in his rocker for a bit, I might get up to warm it up. But if I do, chances are it will get cold again, very quickly. </div>
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These mornings are slow and fast all at once. Sometimes they're quiet and sweet and full of smiles and my heart melting with each one. And sometimes full of cries and soothing and my heart breaking when I can't figure out what's wrong. They are full of things that didn't get done, dishes in the sink, mail that needs to be sorted, laundry to be folded. But they are short-lived. It blows my mind when I think these mornings of <i>my life </i>are moving so quickly and soon I might have more of a routine, but he'll be crawling and I'll miss him terribly when I'm back at work. I relish in the moments and soak them in, and then I even when he's sleeping and I might get something done, sometimes I just watch him some more because, well, because for right now, I can. </div>
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XO</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-54102944295171877192014-10-20T10:24:00.001-07:002014-10-20T10:24:46.078-07:00Becoming that cliche"Your life will never be the same after kids," "you won't be able to relate to your old friends anymore," "suddenly the most exciting thing in your day will be if your baby pooped and what color it was." I've heard all sorts of things about what being a new parent would be like. People telling me how I would think and feel, what things would be interesting to me after my baby was born. I remember thinking <i>they don't know me, that's not how it's going to be. </i> <div>
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And then I had my baby boy.<br /><div>
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Flash forward... E and I are out for the first "big outing" with family and friends. We've run into an old friend we haven't seen in years. The niceties pass; the questions progress, "how's it going?," "what are you up to?," and "WOW, you have a baby!," and 5 minutes later I feel like I'm grasping at straws to fill in those awkward lulls that keep creeping up into our conversation. E and I so badly want to say, "Our baby is smiling now when you tickle his neck!" and "he just LOVES staring at the blinds!" because these really are the things that make our day. I'd even slip in a "he hasn't pooped since Wednesday so we're expecting a blow out soon..." b<i>u</i>t I don't. We don't because we don't want to be THAT cliche couple that only talks about their baby. </div>
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But that's who we are, I guess. That's all that's going on in our lives and it's just so good, that's all we really do want to talk about. We are THOSE people. I'm sorry if that means you'll want to avoid talking to us for a while. I'm sorry if you have trouble trying to relate. But really, I'm sorry that I'm not really sorry about it. I love being a mommy. We love being parents. And these moments are fleeting. I want to catch/remember/share every moment possible because each one is so precious. So I'm sorry (but not really) if you didn't want to know, but he did finally poop three days later, and it was the highlight of our day. </div>
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XO</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-37104865305201045752014-10-09T10:15:00.001-07:002014-10-09T10:15:39.571-07:00One Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before you have kids, you have some idea of how quickly time passes. It seems to speed up a little bit every year. When you do have kids, you finally understand what your parents meant when they would say, "time flies," because it really does. In it's own strange way, time passes quickly and still seems to drag on. What's that saying? <i>The minutes last days and the days last minutes. </i> That person had kids.<br />
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Our little boy is one month old. I thank God that he's healthy and home with us now. I've been struggling to figure out what to blog about and struggling to actually find time to sit down at my computer for more than 2 minutes to actually type something. I realized that the time passes too quickly to plan out the pinterest-perfect blog post. This is our life, our little boy.<br />
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At one month: <br />
Arek is smiling when you tickle under his neck and brush a blanket over his face<br />
He's eating like a champ and grew 3 lbs since his last appointment<br />
He loves falling asleep in daddy's arms<br />
His favorite song is the ABC's<br />
His best friends are the blinds on the windows - he'll just stare and stare at them. Mesmerized<br />
He holds up his head so well - we're all impressed with how strong he is.<br />
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We're so excited to keep watching him grow and soak up every minute of life with him. Because really, what was life like without him?<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-66159108152594865822014-09-28T12:42:00.000-07:002014-09-28T12:42:11.711-07:00Baby Arek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's almost been month since this little bundle joined our lives. I can't even begin to describe the love that I, that we, have for this little boy. He is just the sweetest ever. It was a bumpy journey in the beginning, but it was our journey. I'm still letting it all process in my head and hope to get his whole birth story written out, and maybe shared on here in the next week or so. It's hard to believe it's been almost a whole month since he came into our lives, and I can hardly imagine what our lives were like without him.<br />
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Right now he's nestled in his rocker next to me, dreaming away. And while I can still tell he's the same baby in the picture above, he's grown so much. We're really in for it with all the changes and growing that are to come, but we're so excited for it all.<br />
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Baby Arek, Mommy and Daddy (and everyone else) love you to the moon and back!<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-205128439215643162014-08-27T09:55:00.000-07:002014-08-27T10:20:40.803-07:00Labor Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"It's a BUNDT...T"</div>
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"THERE'S A HOLE IN THIS CAKE!"</div>
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Well, I'm posting this up from the comfort of my home office, so clearly, this didn't work. Or I didn't eat enough. One or the other. BUT! If you are looking for an amazingly moist and gooey chocolate cake recipe - look no further. It's rich and decadent and takes a simple box cake to a whole new level.<br />
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I found the recipe<a href="http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com/2012/01/23/labor-cake-aka-a-reeeeally-chocolaty-cake/"> here</a> when searching "labor cake"on Pinterest. I figured, the baby is due, and I'm not in labor. Best case scenario: I learn what contractions really feel like and maybe finally get to meet my little man. Worst case scenario: I get to eat some yummy chocolate cake. It's pretty much a win:win situation, don't you think?<br />
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I don't really believe that anything you do or eat is going to kick start labor. Baby Boy is going to make his appearance when he is ready, and I am learning to be OK with that. I also don't think that a chocolate overdose is going to do a darn thing to my uterus to jump start this. But I'm starting to get a little restless at home bouncing on my exercise ball all day and baking a cake was the perfect diversion for a good part of my day. Cleaning up the dishes afterward, however, was not.<br />
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So here it is: LABOR CAKE - or Labor Day Cake - if you need a recipe to take to that potluck this weekend!<br />
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<li><i>1 box of chocolate cake mix (I used Betty Crocker Butter Chocolate Cake)</i></li>
<li><i>All the ingredients the box mix requires: usually water and eggs, maybe oil or butter</i></li>
<li><i>1 package of chocolate instant pudding mix (I guess if you wanted to get creative you could try a different flavor)</i></li>
<li><i>1 cup of sour cream</i></li>
<li><i>1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips</i></li>
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<i>Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl until smooth. Pour into a greased bundt pan and cook for about 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees F, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. </i></div>
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You can also make this as a sheet cake or in rounds, but the cook time will vary. </div>
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If you are making a bundt, I used the <a href="http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com/2012/01/23/labor-cake-aka-a-reeeeally-chocolaty-cake/">same website's</a> recipe for the glaze, sans the vanilla extract (because I forgot). If you're making a sheet cake or rounds, you can use canned frosting or another recipe. </div>
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<li><i>1/2 cups cocoa powder</i></li>
<li><i>1 1/2 cups sugar</i></li>
<li><i>1 1/2 sticks of butter</i></li>
<li><i>1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk because it's what we had)</i></li>
<li><i>1/2 teaspoon salt</i></li>
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<i>In a sauce pan heat all the ingredients together until smooth. Continue to stir until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat and allow to stand. It will thicken up a bit more. When it's the desired consistency, drizzle over the tops of your bundt cake for that extra chocolate rush that might just make your belly contract! </i></div>
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Enjoy! And if anyone DOES go into labor from this cake, either don't tell me because I'll get frustrated, or tell me it was because you ate the whole darn thing. I had to stop at one piece because it's so rich and delicious. Baby Boy liked the sugar rush too, he was moving around all night. Just not moving out yet.</div>
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XO</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-24268671507072810042014-08-26T08:25:00.001-07:002014-08-26T08:25:44.519-07:00Due Date!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's the day! It's been marked on my calendar since January and we've been counting down ever since. Every time I really think about it and realize that this is the last week of August, and here it is, and soon there's going to be a baby here and my belly won't be his home anymore, but he'll be in his room (or our room) and be a part of this family, it totally blows my mind. </div>
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That being said, today is really just another day on the calendar, and Baby Boy has no idea how to tell time yet. He's not showing any signs of interest in coming out and joining us in celebration any time soon. I'm happy to let him cook til he is ready, but I'd really like to meet him. I'd also really like to avoid discussions of inductions and c-sections at the next doctor's appointment. Last week they said he'd had a growth spurt and was starting to measure a little on the big side (typical...he gets that from my side of the family and our big babies), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll decide to make an appearance on his own before he gets too big!</div>
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So we're still waiting. Every time I get up from sitting I think, "maybe my water will break," and every time I feel my back start to ache or a pain under my belly I think, "maybe this is the first contraction." It's a trip not knowing what the heck your body is going to do and when, especially for someone who is typically really in tune with what her body is trying to say. But, I guess that's just the first lesson in parenting and motherhood coming my way. </div>
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As E pointed out to me last night, whether he comes tomorrow or he comes next week, it's all soon at this point. He'll be here soon. </div>
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XO</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-22124597281176048142014-08-24T09:33:00.002-07:002014-08-24T09:33:59.326-07:00Avocado harvestWe have an old avocado tree in our back yard. It's been there for years and years and has almost given up on itself a few times. When we first moved in there were only a few leaves, and peeling bark, and dead branches. E trimmed it up and we've been giving it love and lots of water and we're thinking it's on the mend. The leaves grow only to one side because of the branches it lost, but if you look inside, tucked away in the big branches, you'll find the lovely green fruit.<br />
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We were out in the garden yesterday and were excited to see that they're full grown! The funny thing we learned about this tree is that the avocados won't really ripen on their own. You have to pick them and ripen them in a brown bag. They stay green, and their skins are thin, but they are silky and creamy and delicious. We picked 10 BIG avocados for now and there are still more to come. So looking forward to guac and fresh avo on toast in the mornings!<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-86840191585247151492014-08-19T10:38:00.001-07:002014-08-19T10:38:37.027-07:00Morning Routine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wake up to a warm breeze coming in through the window. Sometimes the sound of birds chirping, sometimes the sound of the neighbors kids playing in the back yard. I roll my large belly over and check the time - later than when I wanted to get up. My body moves so much slower as I climb out of bed (really... it's a climb) and make my way to the kitchen. <br />
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I swore off coffee for the whole first trimester of this pregnancy. Not even one drop. Then only decaf for the whole second trimester. And now that we're nearing the end, I allow myself one cup. One very small cup. And most of the time I can't finish it. Talk about change. But I make it anyway, out of habit and something for breakfast before making my way to the computer. Emails, blogs, posts, facebook, I check it all and stay up to date. And on some mornings, I feel more inclined to share with the world, and some writing happens.<br />
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My body and my mind work so much slower in these final days of baby carrying. I bounce on an exercise ball instead of an office chair, hoping it will bring baby boy a little closer to meeting us. My thoughts are sluggish and I usually forget what I started doing, or typing, or...what was the point of this sentence? My coffee gets cold by the time I go to take another sip, but trudging my body back to the kitchen to heat it up would just take too much energy, so I sip it cold, or forget about it.<br />
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These mornings are slow, and quiet, and so beautiful. They are short-lived. It blows my mind when I think these are the last few mornings <i>of my life</i> that will be this quiet and this personal and this peaceful. I relish in them and soak them in, and then go lay down for a little while because while I've done nothing all morning, my body is aching again and because, well, because for right now, I can.<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-84450556897559464162014-08-17T12:10:00.000-07:002014-08-18T14:08:16.394-07:00Single Digits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr1c6_oH-9ogHzG-D2hu72XDhDmk0AZAcIC_DuYvMC7CzLhEPvXm_IfK3b4XQu5MEdwYevSeCc68MWV_yFvZCBB5cEzKBL8JZE3NmDAIaZdEVPHf-58WzCAbe3kQqjT1jgYer2-AFkA/s1600/single+digits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr1c6_oH-9ogHzG-D2hu72XDhDmk0AZAcIC_DuYvMC7CzLhEPvXm_IfK3b4XQu5MEdwYevSeCc68MWV_yFvZCBB5cEzKBL8JZE3NmDAIaZdEVPHf-58WzCAbe3kQqjT1jgYer2-AFkA/s1600/single+digits.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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This chalk board hangs on our kitchen wall - a fun place to write memos and quotes, ideas and messages to guests. We bought it sometime around last Thanksgiving, and used it for a message about the season. We hung it up in the dining room when we had our gender reveal party and asked family to vote "he or she" with tally marks. And then we started counting down. What started with "77" has now reduced down to just one single digit count down. When we started it seemed like we still had forever to go. And now there are 9 days left.<br />
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That flew by. </div>
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And while every day that our baby boy is not here seems to drag on like eternity and I convince myself that I might be pregnant clear until Christmas. The days keep passing and each day that we mark off on the chalk board blows my mind as we get closer and closer to holding our baby. </div>
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Oh the anxious anticipation. </div>
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Everyone is placing their bets. We had bets for the 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th (today! maybe he'll be here!), lots of bets for the 21st and 23rd, and for some reason I originally said the 30th (probably more realistic but it seems so far away!). Technically he might not be here until September. Though for some reason I just can't picture him as a September baby. He's on the cusp of Leo and Virgo. It's up to him. </div>
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I've heard people say, "oh he'll be here in the next few days," and I completely get my hopes up. And them I'm crushed a bit every time someone says, "you haven't dropped enough, you still have time." And for every doctors appointment that shows no big progress my heart sinks a little. I'm not quite at that breaking point of "GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME!" but I do want to meet him. I feel like he wants to meet us too. His kicks seem to say "I'm still in here but not for long!" to remind me just how much I love feeling them. And each time my belly tightens I feel like he's trying to tell me that it won't be too much more time before he makes his debut. </div>
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I'm trying to be patient. </div>
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XO</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-58153507195032794042014-08-14T15:29:00.002-07:002014-08-18T14:09:21.749-07:00Life @ 38 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM8HqyRgYKHr2FJ0AVvcgQIJSbEcsSNOs3eGt7-SkC1h-v0UXAFEkf69GAzTl2Y7PPrtrwMFu6xGbGr9NUicgOPOMAShYx6sxldSZNsrWFY3Z6n1jpsbLFcK_g8BEurBCRA8Y29y64w/s1600/20140814_143726_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM8HqyRgYKHr2FJ0AVvcgQIJSbEcsSNOs3eGt7-SkC1h-v0UXAFEkf69GAzTl2Y7PPrtrwMFu6xGbGr9NUicgOPOMAShYx6sxldSZNsrWFY3Z6n1jpsbLFcK_g8BEurBCRA8Y29y64w/s1600/20140814_143726_2.jpg" height="400" width="355" /></a></div>
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My, oh my! 38 long weeks. 38 weeks that went by in a flash. Baby Boy is full term - and deciding to cook some more. It seems like these last few weeks have equally flown by and dragged on. I think back to the aches and pains I was having just five weeks ago and laugh. Back then I could stand up and sit down without wincing. It was hard to get shoes on, but I could do it. My feet were swollen but they weren't aching too. My hips didn't throb if I laid on my side in bed. Changing positions in my sleep was uncomfortable, but not impossible to do without waking up completely.</div>
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I know that everything I am feeling right now is short lived. There's only 12 days til our due date. Maybe he'll be here sooner, maybe a little later. We aren't too sure. We can't know ahead. That's part of the big surprise, I suppose. It's hard to not get excited and hopeful that maybe I'll be able to hold this little guy sooner rather than later, even though I know that he'll be here when he's ready. </div>
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I'm still living for these little kicks. They aren't as strong any more in his cramped quarters, but I love those little reminders that this time is just for him and me and I like to think he's letting me know he's still in there waiting to meet us too. </div>
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At 38 weeks daily tasks are harder and harder to finish. Dishes have to get done while I hunch over the sink resting on my elbows. But they get done. At 38 weeks it's (almost) impossible to but on tennis shoes without help. But I have help. At 38 weeks (especially in the middle of August) walking around the neighborhood (apparently) means shuffling around the neighborhood instead, and doing it only as the sun is setting because it's just too darn hot. But we still go walking. 38 weeks means we're enjoying our time together at 2 and basking in the quiet of the house for now. But it also means being really excited to become 3 and having another voice make some noise around here. </div>
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38 weeks also means realizing just how much you are loved. We have family and friends surrounding us, calling us, checking in on us, coming over to just pass the time and visit while we're still just 2. It means appreciating everything that E does and has been doing for me these last 38+ weeks, and knowing that he's going to be the most amazing dad. It means having your heart swell with emotions so much that you get teary watching a post-it commercial, and want to bawl every time someone calls or says something sweet and encouraging to you. It's a roller coaster, to be really cliche about it. </div>
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But these 38 weeks have been amazing. I've grown physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and this is just the beginning. </div>
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Baby boy, we're ready to meet you - ready when you are and so excited for all the growing and learning and adventures that are yet to come. </div>
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XO</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-293217867991735762014-08-06T07:47:00.002-07:002014-08-18T14:09:38.548-07:00Garden Update: August 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfC4_2tSBB27Ptnq9e8_BjC-byrNhpMHwnrjDiOHvz4u8iFyyzQnU3QeKH3XbCOaEQ2fHuja967-IlEb5XIM0-HxMRjZcY3uERX6e73BVSoTNvCPA_0CEwbyeY3QAgJU5i-lE2GNTJA/s1600/tomatoes+in+may.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfC4_2tSBB27Ptnq9e8_BjC-byrNhpMHwnrjDiOHvz4u8iFyyzQnU3QeKH3XbCOaEQ2fHuja967-IlEb5XIM0-HxMRjZcY3uERX6e73BVSoTNvCPA_0CEwbyeY3QAgJU5i-lE2GNTJA/s1600/tomatoes+in+may.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1s2qEmkBIG2QgcjBq_plLEenEOrGfYI9LJzRkwuwnUztnaiDZxbV9cjeVeyaUnfcuRQXZJ086BRQSzrGVrUcQuxJKCXHov4xdBkEFqsxmQS3cIpgInoR9z0yLkpfvjqUsL98tcDUTg/s1600/peppers+in+july.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1s2qEmkBIG2QgcjBq_plLEenEOrGfYI9LJzRkwuwnUztnaiDZxbV9cjeVeyaUnfcuRQXZJ086BRQSzrGVrUcQuxJKCXHov4xdBkEFqsxmQS3cIpgInoR9z0yLkpfvjqUsL98tcDUTg/s1600/peppers+in+july.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kgzXDBZ0sAQpuZNBw1XnpA3STDv_onO0hjZys3YBgsT7L4X18CMQv4q2bEB574hbUfhyphenhyphenS9nG243V0hpPQ3jRyZZwHSHK7SKi8_-Ipkr5lOpxnkNzHumJHZozjfFiuLrp9XeCLrhI_Q/s1600/tomatos+in+august.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kgzXDBZ0sAQpuZNBw1XnpA3STDv_onO0hjZys3YBgsT7L4X18CMQv4q2bEB574hbUfhyphenhyphenS9nG243V0hpPQ3jRyZZwHSHK7SKi8_-Ipkr5lOpxnkNzHumJHZozjfFiuLrp9XeCLrhI_Q/s1600/tomatos+in+august.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Can I just say that tending to a garden when you're pregnant is really difficult. Like, really. All those wonderful thoughts I had last year about farm living and growing your own veggies and being self sustained have definitely changed in the last 9 months. Kudos to that lady on that show about the Alaskan frontier who was chopping wood and patching her roof until her baby was born. I mean, AMEN sister.<br />
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This spring came and went and while we still had ambitions for our little garden, we were still overly excited about the baby, and knew that gardening was going to be harder to maintain. So we started with plants rather than seeds this year. No ambitious squash and zucchini, no eggplant. We decided to stick with what worked: tomatoes and peppers. And we got ambitious with one new plant: artichoke.<br />
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E has a cousin who owns a farm in Ohio, and we get some great gardening tips from him. When we purchased the tomato plants, per his advice, we chopped off any branches low to the roots, and made sure those spots were planted below ground. This gives your plant more stability and helps it grow stronger (something about the shoots that grow in place of what you cut turn into roots? not sure of the science, but hey!). So we did this with all three of our tomato plants. At first we weren't sure if the plants were going to do well. The leaves were curling up and looked dry, but sure enough these plants took off! Much stronger than previous tomato plants, and so hardy! For the most of June and July it seemed like we were picking at least one tomato a day!<br />
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And they're so much bigger than the tomatoes we got last year. And so, so tasty. We were chopping up some tomatoes for a party the other day and I tasted a store bought tomato compared to a home grown one. No comparison! The store tomato tasted like NOTHING! I'm sad for the day that will come when we have no more tomatoes in the garden and have to buy tasteless ones again.<br />
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Our peppers are doing....OK. We always seem to forget what kind we've bought and aren't sure if they're ripe when they're yellow or if they were supposed to turn red. Turns out they're supposed to be red. They take forever to ripen, but when they do they are sweet and crunchy and you just want to eat them up right after picking! We haven't gotten too many, but they've been pretty tasty.<br />
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And as for the artichokes, well, they aren't pictured here because they're still in their pots we purchased them in. We bought three plants and one has since bit the dust, but the other two are propped up in pots where they're going to (eventually) be planted in the ground. We water them and they are doing really well. I think. Well, they're still alive, so there's that.<br />
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Honestly, other than picking the plants out, I can't take any credit for the garden this year. All the upkeep has been on E, and he's doing an awesome job. It's been a busy year, and I'm sure it's only going to get busier. But in the meantime, we're enjoying the last of our veggies and planting our dreams for our gardening future. Plus side: next year we'll have a little helper!<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-69270980913826030302014-07-29T09:03:00.000-07:002014-08-18T14:09:45.663-07:00My morning smoothie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgr4xwclBOfkI0xuu6t58W9rriIFnErxXNyYAg1NbHmvgOeeDzcy_n1QMPoTC5CKMWzfT4sZV5zExy4iu1mvsMuApoWyDObvNV0ly_hZ-UOCppRF3wDWuuyGt3Z7KhpIhE0QpB6w36pA/s1600/smoothie+before+and+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgr4xwclBOfkI0xuu6t58W9rriIFnErxXNyYAg1NbHmvgOeeDzcy_n1QMPoTC5CKMWzfT4sZV5zExy4iu1mvsMuApoWyDObvNV0ly_hZ-UOCppRF3wDWuuyGt3Z7KhpIhE0QpB6w36pA/s1600/smoothie+before+and+after.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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These mornings I have been loving me a good smoothie. We've been using our nutri-bullet (like a magic bullet, but more nutritious) for quick morning breakfasts. Even though I'm just hanging around the house and don't need the "quick" part, I've been trying to have more fruits and eat healthier, and this has been the perfect start to my day. Not to mention it's super simple and in the end I only have 3 very easy to clean parts in my sink! My go-to recipe lately is one I made up and super yummy, I call it the Banana Berry smoothie (very original...). So here it is, in case you are so inclined to make one yourself.<br />
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The Banana Berry Smoothie:<br />
*all measurements are approximate! Sorry!<br />
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-3/4 cup plain yogurt<br />
-4 oz. chocolate almond milk (sweetened or unsweetened)<br />
-1 whole banana<br />
-1 cup frozen berry mix<br />
-1/2 cup honey oat granola (or any granola)<br />
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Blend until smooth and enjoy! <br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-51551608305371841142014-07-28T11:04:00.000-07:002014-08-18T14:09:53.720-07:00The Countdown We've all been counting down for what seems like forever. While my pregnancy does seem to have flown by, when I think back to that first bit of news, the joy the excitement of telling family and friends, it seems like so long ago. We've all come a long way since then. So much has happened. My belly has grown, and grown, and grown. Kicks have gotten stronger and turned into rolling motions. My baby has hiccuped and flipped around and around and now weighs probably around 6 lbs or so. January 1st seems like ages ago, and yesterday all at the same time, and somehow I know that this is how the rest of my life is going to feel.<br />
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Yesterday we hit the 30 day mark. 30 days till our little guy's due date, though pretty much everyone thinks he is coming early. I had a very real realization yesterday. If he is coming early, that means he could be in my arms like...in two weeks! Or sooner really. YIKES!<br />
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Not that I'm not totally ready to hold him and love him, but when you wait 9 months for something and realize you've only got a very little amount of time left before everything changes (for the better), it's a little nerve wracking.<br />
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Our baby's room is pretty much done. We might add a few little details here and there, and we're still looking for the perfect forest-y looking rug. I still have some baby laundry to do, but for the most part it's all ready for him. I'm trying to get the house as cleaned up as possible. I'm not sure if it's a nesting instinct that's kicking in, but I have a long list of things to get done around the house today. Since I've pretty much given up on the idea of keeping my feet from swelling, I might as well just go for it. The kitchen will be cleaned and the dining room table will be cleared by tonight, if nothing else gets done! <br />
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There's no picture for this post. We have 29 days until our calculations tell us he's going to be here, but we're getting ready. No picture can show that excitement (well, I could take one, but considering I'm bumming around in leggings and a tee shirt with total bed head, I'm going to pass). This was just an update and an official beginning to a new month of counting.<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-47344516044649191152014-07-23T08:05:00.000-07:002014-08-18T14:10:03.619-07:00Life @ 35 weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOwiPhrqjkCNcoUtHWFABqrz5LPtGa8Z8RzEhoQgINEkwkKwqhTDWp4Vn49l2_Jt9XqrCsrEsyf937F0CwyLek7HpRQPR9_kBDavcb0Kb7x6eUTLQEPjz77egt25urP44orav5H7gWQ/s1600/cereal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOwiPhrqjkCNcoUtHWFABqrz5LPtGa8Z8RzEhoQgINEkwkKwqhTDWp4Vn49l2_Jt9XqrCsrEsyf937F0CwyLek7HpRQPR9_kBDavcb0Kb7x6eUTLQEPjz77egt25urP44orav5H7gWQ/s1600/cereal.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hey guess what? I'm growing a human. It's 7:30 in the morning on an average Wednesday in the life of a 35 week preggo lady. I've been up for an hour feeling baby kicks and trying to figure out what position he's in, deciding that he's just moving all over the place. I've also been catching up on Facebook and Instagram, blog posts I follow, and playing a game of Bejeweled. I then debated about what to have for breakfast for about 10 minutes. Life cereal and bananas for the win.<br />
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Sounds like the sweet life. I'm not going to lie. It's pretty great. Though I did sleep really well last night and that has a lot to do with it. Most nights I toss and turn and wake up sweating and then sometimes can't fall asleep. Most mornings (like today), I wake up when E is getting ready for work and then once he leaves, no matter how tired I am, I can't fall back asleep. So most mornings lately, start off like this...usually with some variation in breakfast. I'm enjoying the rest and relaxation while I can.<br />
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I stopped working two weeks ago due to a lot of back and pelvic pain. My shoes weren't fitting anymore, and frankly I'm pretty sure my IQ has plummeted. It's hard to stay focused on things for too long, and when I do, my sentences start to get jumbled and talking becomes a big task. Since stopping work, my back and pelvic pain has almost completely resolved, there's still pressure, but it doesn't hurt to stand up any more. My shoes still don't fit. I'm left with my trusty new Birkenstock sandals as that's all that fits my swollen, puffy, empanada feet. Some days I have ankles.<br />
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Now that I'm home things are started to get exciting. Yesterday I hit the 35 week mark with 35 days to go... now 34 days. It's so hard to believe. Sometimes it seems like it's flown by, but when I think back to first finding out, it all seems like so long ago. Now our baby's room is nearly ready (just a few hundred more loads of laundry to go....and he's not even here yet!), and walking by it makes me smile. His book collection is growing and we're enjoying reading to him already!<br />
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My days stretch out in front of me. I don't have a lot to do, but I have a lot to do. And most of the time I only have enough energy to do a little bit of it. I'm prepping for the biggest thing that's ever happened to me, to us. It's a lot of work this baby growing business! He's also decided on an acrobatic career in the last few days. Or Karate Stunt Double. I'm not sure which. I just hope he judo-chops his way into the right position before he decides to make his grand-entrance. I still can't tell what body parts are poking out where and when. They all just feel round like heads...or butts. But I love when he wiggles around to make his presence known. Little reminders throughout my day of just how much I love him.<br />
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35 weeks down. Just about 5 to go. So far the consensus is that he's going to come a little early. I'm not too sure about that, but who knows? As long as he's ready, we'll be waiting! <br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-80466622662359603422014-07-20T10:47:00.000-07:002014-08-18T14:10:30.736-07:00New Project Venture: The Ultimate Survival KitLast weekend my sweet sister-in-law hosted an amazingly beautiful baby shower for me. It was, as some of my friends said, "a Pinterest dream come true!..." and she doesn't even have an account! Full of blue tulle and baby blocks, and choc-full of a picturesque baby blue candy bar - even blue punch, she totally aced a pin-worthy, beautiful shower.<br />
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So what's a girl like me to do to thank her for all her hard work? I am always stuck when it comes to thank you gifts for things like this. What can you possibly get that makes someone smile and feel appreciated for everything they have done? I was texting back and forth with my mom about it (as I usually do when I need advice, or just a sounding board, or...whenever) and she came up with a "survival kit" idea. Not only am I going to be a new-mommy, but my sister-in-law is going to be a new auntie. Why not put together a bag full of fun, useful, quirky, things she might need?<br />
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And the light bulb turned on. It took a lot of back and forth about what would actually go into the kit, but in the end it turned out to be a big success. I started out with a blue and white beach tote from Forever 21 (color scheme inspired by my little man), and then thought about the things that a new auntie babysitting for the first time might need... and then some funny additives for kicks! After a trip to a few stores, my bag was almost complete...it just needed a little explanation. I was so excited to figure out my new Cricut (I got it for my birthday in May and hadn't had a chance to figure it out yet). With some trouble shooting I learned how to make a gift tag in the shape of a onesie, how to cut it in different sizes, and suddenly my bag looked way legit.<br />
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Here's a few of the items I put inside:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwLM1MGxVtnTAzTFZ4ri0_BHeAdGe-LnCBugpheycm6VBEeUcd7T-PQ3XorbieD4e3XdaGqxoq2U_1VReslLZYITtL7GnqgJrg0k6tzbdJGOX0HbiDxPOfV-dMf1Rj5OR0GlEQ3vpOA/s1600/bib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwLM1MGxVtnTAzTFZ4ri0_BHeAdGe-LnCBugpheycm6VBEeUcd7T-PQ3XorbieD4e3XdaGqxoq2U_1VReslLZYITtL7GnqgJrg0k6tzbdJGOX0HbiDxPOfV-dMf1Rj5OR0GlEQ3vpOA/s1600/bib.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
A bib: to avoid changing his clothes after every feeding...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPN0YiIBMC9-4az7TENMojt2iiSJ4qY0AAGiu4rM1ivRU8L6GFGyq5VTibLylihjF2Njg6FjG0jLYiw4Td3Q22BAzsLRCsLKWJGu2tbKoJBXKE13eQ4iGxuLdmEkIEU80Rc5ZFpzCLw/s1600/burp+cloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPN0YiIBMC9-4az7TENMojt2iiSJ4qY0AAGiu4rM1ivRU8L6GFGyq5VTibLylihjF2Njg6FjG0jLYiw4Td3Q22BAzsLRCsLKWJGu2tbKoJBXKE13eQ4iGxuLdmEkIEU80Rc5ZFpzCLw/s1600/burp+cloth.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Burp cloths: to keep your shirts spit-up free<br />
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Honest Company Diapers: for changing those stinky diapers - in style!<br />
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Ear plugs: to drown out those high pitched cries (not really of course!).<br />
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Pacifiers: for when you need a mute button (really...of course!).<br />
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Hand Sanitizer: so you can stay baby-germ free!<br />
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Also included in the bag:<br />
-A travel pack of wipes: for diaper changes on the go<br />
-A tub of bath salts: for scrubbing off spit-up and drool<br />
-A bottle of body oil: for hydrating your skin after playing in the mud<br />
-An eye mask: for getting some shut eye (after he's gone home of course!)<br />
-Two packs of face masks: to relax after a long day of baby sitting<br />
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Here's the full package deal after it was all complete!<br />
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I'm happy to say she thought it was super cute and that she loved it! I tried to incorporate things that she could have on hand for the baby (sort of like her own personal diaper bag), and then a few things she could use for herself, and some with just a bit of humor. I did want to add something a little more special for her so I included a gift certificate for a massage at a day spa...just a little pampering for her to enjoy.<br />
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What do you all think? I loved making this and had a lot of positive feedback. Would you gift something like this to someone? I am thinking of creating a few more and putting them up for sale on Etsy. I'm thinking of having bag options for bachelorette parties, bridal showers, babies, maybe even for new dads. I also thought of adding in a bottle of wine and some wine glasses, that's definitely an option. And the bag can be customized after purchase with something special like jewelry or a gift card, like I added. I can also include a few extra tags for you to do your own personalizing, or leave them blank for you to add your words the way you want them. I'm definitely open to feedback and suggestions though! What do you think? Send me your feedback in the comments, I'd love to hear it!<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-69123596108945437992014-07-03T08:57:00.002-07:002014-07-03T08:57:32.325-07:00The Baby Name Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4p0c9wR7ZO6OoWTJsFdbrahnvq-fyws6GEJ4WxVynTy3zd5b-nT3tkMYI9dxt6pZL3l4oUKt1kBwHyZvr5k-a6GrqDcDFt9thOt2Fk1zPaRyAMgQYi3ZJ89bBC6gQqUURj-8UU2ELg/s1600/.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4p0c9wR7ZO6OoWTJsFdbrahnvq-fyws6GEJ4WxVynTy3zd5b-nT3tkMYI9dxt6pZL3l4oUKt1kBwHyZvr5k-a6GrqDcDFt9thOt2Fk1zPaRyAMgQYi3ZJ89bBC6gQqUURj-8UU2ELg/s1600/.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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Preston, Weston, Will, Grant, Kaden, Bennett, Nicolas, Everett, Ryker, and Ashton.<br />
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According to BabyCenter.com, this is my child's competition. These were the top 10 baby boy names of 2013. While I love that we've sort of shifted away from the more traditional John and Alexander toward the more unique names, I'm still at a loss. None of these names fit my little guy. I know this even though I haven't quite met hit yet. But the kicks I feel are not the kicks of a Kaden. Definitely not a Preston. And Weston reminds me of the hotel we stayed at on our honeymoon.<br />
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There's a lot of pressure in finding the right name. I mean, you're making a huge decision for a little guy who will one day be a big guy with his name on a business card, or a book, a work of art, or a building. There could be a medical procedure named for him, or a newly discovered planet. The possibilities are endless and you want his name to work with all of them.<br />
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Not only that, but I grew up with a non-English name. ANI. It's short and simple, but did you know, it's pronounced "Ahh-knee"? Not Annie, like the little orphan. Not Anne-eye. And it's definitely not Arnie (though I <i>have</i> been called that, seriously). It's not Anne or Amy, either. And while I have spent the last 27 years correcting many, many people, I still love my name. I love that it's traditional - from Armenia. I love that no matter how American I am and how proud I am of that, my name ties my to my roots. And while it is mispronounced a LOT, it's simple enough to not be completely butchered. There are far worse things to be called than Arnie.<br />
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I was also not the only Ani growing up. Apparently it was the number 1 Armenian American name in 1987, because when I was among my Armenian friends, I wasn't just "Ani," I was "Ani B." There was also "Ani K." and "Ani M.," "Ani N." and "Ani S." We all banded together under a common name and identity. And while that had it's perks too, it leads me to my next issue with the top 10 list. If these are the top 10 names everyone is choosing, why would I want to choose one? I don't want my kid to fall in a long like of Everett's or Ryker's at school.<br />
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It's a tough job this name choosing business. You want to but original and unique but not far out, but you don't want to be so common. You want something that carries your roots with you, but not something that will get butchered everyday. Your kid doesn't have to love it, but you'd like it if he didn't rush out to change it on his 18th birthday, and you hope that if he doesn't it will grow on him and he'll appreciate the love (and hours of thought) that went in to choosing it. It has to be a name you like saying, and one he'll like hearing. Oh the pressure.<br />
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We're working on it. No, we aren't telling! It's a tough enough game figuring this out with our two, often opinionated, very indecisive selves. We've decided to keep our mouths shut until our little guy is here to help us solidify our decision (that is... once we actually make a decision). One thing I will say for sure. It's not on the top 10 list!<br />
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XO<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-18026462958613627282014-06-20T07:00:00.000-07:002014-08-18T14:10:56.954-07:00Baby's Second BlanketOh how I love a good craft project. Right after we had our first ultrasound appointment at 8 weeks I headed off to Joann's fabric store to get started on a blanket. It took several months and a lot of troubleshooting, but I completed baby's first blanket, and my first homemade quilt, and you can see it <a href="http://lovewellcrafted.blogspot.com/2014/03/babys-first-quilt.html">here</a>. It was super fun (and often very stressful) but I love the end result and I can definitely see us using it all over the house and even on picnics and camping trips.<br />
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One thing I didn't know at the time was whether our baby was a boy or a girl, so I tried to pick some gender neutral colors and patterns. With the exception of the purple stripe and all the floral prints, I think our little guy will be OK with it, and if it's not his favorite blanket, it will still be super special. Even after we found out we were having a boy we had to keep it under wraps until our<a href="http://lovewellcrafted.blogspot.com/2014/04/its-a.html"> gender reveal party</a> with our parents, and it just didn't seem right to start a baby boy project until I could share the news. <br />
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So literally RIGHT AFTER our gender reveal my mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law decided we needed to ditch the guys for a bit and head off to get a new craft project started. Back to Joann's where I found the CUTEST, fluffiest yarn in blues and creams. PERFECT! I wasn't too sure what kind of blanket I was going to make but I knew it was going to be just for him.<br />
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And this was the end result! I'm thrilled with how it turned out. I did it in the same stitching I used for <a href="http://lovewellcrafted.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-blanket-for-friend.html">my friend's baby's blanket</a>, but the thickness of the yarn gave it a whole new look and feel. It's ultra soft and fluffy, and I can definitely see us using this to snuggle with while breast feeding or just rocking on our chair (double points that it matches the chair!).<br />
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Can you feel the fluff? I'm so looking forward to snuggling with my little guy under this blanket! Just 10 more weeks!<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-60351708350545527372014-06-19T11:06:00.001-07:002014-08-18T14:11:10.550-07:00What not to say to a 7 month pregnant woman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've heard many times that when you are pregnant, people tend to think of your belly as public turf. That they can just come up and rub your belly like you're the Buddha statue at their local Chinese restaurant. I've always been cautious about this and am definitely not one to walk up to pregnant women (even one's I am close with) and start rubbing their bellies. If they ask my to feel a kick, I will, but I won't walk up and touch without asking first (not that I am really compelled to). I thought this would really bother me when I got pregnant, but surprisingly, I don't really mind it when people come up and touch my belly, at this point it just is something people do. We're all excited, and frankly, it happens too often to bother to get frustrated about it.<br />
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Real talk : What <i>does </i>really bug me is that people just assume they can say whatever they want about your size, and forget that they're actually talking about your body and not just a temporary baby bump. It seems like at least once a week someone will ask me how far a long I am and when I say "6 months" or "7 months" they look at me in shock and say, "wow! you're so big - and you're still going to grow!!" Really? Thanks, I had no clue my belly was going to keep stretching for the next two months. I thought I was going to stop right here and just let my baby sit and do nothing in my belly until August. <br />
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Everyone's body is different, and everyone's pregnancy is different. Everyone carries their baby differently. Think back...do you remember how HUGE you felt at just 7 month? Do you still feel compelled to ask me if I'm SURE I'm not carrying twins? Uh uh...don't even go there. We saw only one baby on the ultrasound, and no, his twin isn't hiding behind him, I promise. That's not how this works.<br />
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So the next time you feel the need to mention that you think I'm going to have a "really BIG baby" or that I look like I'm ready to deliver any day now, please don't. Just stop. Remember that I have raging hormones. Just bite your tongue, it's the safer thing to do.<br />
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XOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-84220582839419195592014-05-17T23:14:00.002-07:002014-08-18T14:11:20.647-07:00baby kicks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Up until this year I had never felt a baby kick. I've had family and family friends who've been pregnant, but every time they'd grab my hand and hold it to their belly and look at me with this sense of amazement and ask, "did you feel that!?" I had no idea what they were talking about. To be polite I'd smile and say "yeah!" and think to myself, <i>what are they talking about? I feel a belly. </i> </div>
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I'm also not a touchy feel-y person. I think it's a little strange that pregnant women's bellies sort of become public property and everyone and their mother think they can come up and rub like a Buddha statue in China Town. So I don't automatically reach out to touch bellies and feel kicks unless I've asked first. But a few months back my best friend was pregnant and I had just gotten the news that we were expecting too. We were at work when she told me to feel her belly and I actually felt the little guy kick me. It was pretty cool, and as a newly expectant mother I was pretty excited to finally "get" what everyone was talking about. I was so excited to meet her little guy. He'd kicked me and I felt a connection. I knew what it was like to feel baby kicks. </div>
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Boy, was I wrong. </div>
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Baby kicks from the inside are a completely different thing. My placenta decided to place itself in the front of my belly, which meant that feeling little 'flutters' that everyone talks about were non-existent. I don't remember the moment I first felt a kick, but I do remember that I had no idea what I was feeling. At 22 weeks, we'd only just found out we were expecting a little boy, and suddenly I was feeling little bumps? bubbles? pulses? They were kicks, and they're not like anything you've ever felt before. </div>
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<i>Your baby boy is in there</i>. </div>
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At first they were all internal, meaning, the only thing I could imagine is that he was tap dancing on my bladder and my intestines. Not what you imagine baby kicks to feel like when you've only got everyone's smiling reactions to compare it too. I get what they mean when they say you can mistake them for gas bubbles. Sometimes it felt like I had to run to the bathroom, I'm not going to lie. </div>
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But now when he kicks, 25 weeks and growing strong, I can see my belly bump up in places. I know that when I wake up in the early morning and lay on my left side, he'll say good morning with a few jabs of his sweet little foot. I know that walking around rocks him to sleep, but when I finally sit down at a computer to chart during a busy day at work, he'll kick and say, "hey, I'm here Mama!" (he also says, "feed me!" about every 2 hours). I know that when I finally rest on the couch after a long day he starts to wake up again and do his dance. He takes after his daddy and his grandpa. </div>
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I know that I could spend all day laying down and feeling those little bumps. The word "kicks" make them seem like they'd be forceful and harsh. But they're the sweetest little love taps. Baby boy is reminding me that he's there with me all day, and my heart aches for the rest of the world because they can only feel a little tap from the outside. They don't feel the little rumble that comes before the kick, or the way it almost echos on my skin after it's done. They might feel them from the outside, but those kicks are mine all day. <i>My baby boy is in there and I love him so</i>. I can't wait to kiss the sweet little feet that give me those perfect little baby kicks. </div>
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XO</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452338323208183953.post-53814598424346626212014-05-07T10:41:00.000-07:002014-08-18T14:11:33.789-07:00Defining purposeAs a birthday treat to myself I decided to sign up for an E-Course in blogging. Not about how to design my blog a bit more, but how to really give it my best and how to possibly expand it to do what I love for a living. I totally already do that - what I love, I mean. I love my job. But I am not going to lie, it is exhausting. Blogging is my escape from the ups and downs that come with being a pediatric nurse. I get to share my life, my projects, my day to day thoughts, and my ideas with the world. So when this first exercise from the e-course popped up about defining my blog's purpose, it got me thinking.<br />
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When I first started blogging I was at Bacheegs and Love. Bacheegs are kisses in Armenian, and the whole idea behind those posts (which you can now find in the archives of this blog) was that I was newly engaged and excited to share all the wedding planning ideas as well as the traditions that come along with planning a big fat Armenian wedding. It was super fun, but honestly, I wasn't planning it alone, and it was a lot to keep up with. I was also in nursing school and blogging to the extent I wanted to about just one topic couldn't be a priority for me. So I started another blog, naturally. On Cellos and Coffee. It was supposed to just be an "everything" sort of blog, but it was far too general <i>and</i> maintaining two blogs was just too crazy. I "expanded" my purpose of Bacheegs and Love and kept writing on there about whatever I wanted.<br />
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One problem. If you aren't Armenian, and you read the word "Bacheegs" you have NO IDEA what that is supposed to mean or how it was supposed to sound. In a sort of attempt to brand myself I started using that title as an email address, but no one knew what it was or how to say it or what it meant. There was no connection for the majority of people I wanted to expose my blog to. The time had come to change the name. But to what?<br />
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At that point in time I was primarily blogging about crafts and DIY projects, as well as my day-to-day life. My readers were mostly just my friends and family (ok, my parents and like two friends). I wanted a title that encompassed my daily life and the other things I loved to blog about. "Love Well Crafted" came about when I was talking about it with a friend at work one night. I liked it and I was anxious to get started, so on my break I created a new domain and "Love Well Crafted" was born.<br />
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And now it has evolved into the site I love to write on today. Sure, I am not the most consistent poster, and I am hoping to improve on that (April goals are all out the window right now), but I love getting to write about what I love here on this blog. So when I think about defining my purpose, I get a little hesitant.<br />
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What is my purpose? To write about what I love. I think that is it. I get very tired of trying to pin point one or two specific things that I feel like I have to stick to. My purpose is to write and share about my life and the things I love doing. I narrowed it down to a few topics - and I feel like it's important to say that these are topics that apply <i>at this point in my life: </i>pregnancy and mamahood, crafting and DIY projects, gardening and home decor, and family. I think that is what I primarily blog about right now anyway. The one thing that I noticed is missing is food and recipes. Those may show up here every so often, but I think when I'm ready to start blogging about the food we eat again, E and I are going to work it through our joint blog at <a href="http://the-grapeleaf.blogspot.com/">The Grapeleaf</a>. I know, I know, I've done the whole "trying to maintain two blogs" thing, but I am hoping to get him on board and show him the ropes so it won't be a one man(woman) show anymore.<br />
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So, pardon my rambling. I'm excited about where this course will take me and this blog. If I can continue to write about what I love on here, then I'll be a happy camper. If I can make writing about what I love on this blog into a part-time job then I'll really be a happy camper, but I'll still be camping in my same old tent... if that makes sense.<br />
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XO<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11309302761918176309noreply@blogger.com0