believe

Do you believe? A few days ago we were at my in-laws and they have a decorative sign on the wall that says believe. I looked at it really closely and this is what I saw...bELIeve. Wow. So many emotions come with thinking about this. My little Eli was definitely prayed for a lot and I believed and trusted that God would send us a perfect little angel. I could not have asked for a more precious baby. We are so blessed.

I enjoy motherhood. And that is just what it is. Motherhood. My child is active, curious, and very bright if I may say so myself. He keeps me on my toes. It is a 24/7 commitment and I love every moment. When we go on walks, I load his wagon or stroller with toys, but he would rather people watch and observe what is going on all around us. It never ceases to amaze me how curious he has become.

Here is a brief synopsis of my new every day sayings:
"No."
"Nope, little punkin, that is dangerous."
"No, that is Mommy's."
"Don't get too close to the edge, you will fall."
"If you climb on that, you could get hurt."
"That is going to poke your eye out."
"Oh, yucky, we don't put that in our mouth."
"No, sweetie, that is Daddy's."
"No, those are for Christmas."
"No."
"No."
"No."

In short, we are learning the word "NO". Sometimes "no" is a funny word to him. I try and make it as non-humorous as possible so he understand no is associated with danger. Eye contact is key.

My next post will be a recap of the year. Overall it has been a wonderful and blessed year. But, we have had some sorrow as well. After Eli was born was one of the most difficult times we have experienced. We were dealing with the adjustment of a new baby, my physical, emotional, and hormonal recovery, and the job search for Scott. I can't listen to a particular musical toy of Eli's that we used to play at night when he was first born. It brings me to tears. It is interesting how little things can make bring about such strong emotions. It is hard to have memories like that because it was just a joyous time in our lives as well as such a difficult one too. I am so thankful to be past that difficult season of our lives.

This Christmas is our first as a family of three and the first Christmas that we are not completely stressed about how we will be able to enjoy gift giving without braking the bank. And, we have already started creating Christmas traditions. One of them we stole from an old Holthus family tradition of cruising around in pjs and looking at Christmas lights. One that created two years ago was going to Christmas Eve service and then out to dinner. This year we are adding more traditions now that we have a wee one. We are looking forward to Christmas morning. I am sure that it won't take long for Eli to figure out that ripping paper is AWESOME!

I hear stirring. Back to motherhood.

Love and Christmas Blessing to you and your family!

life lesson on pee

Eli is a big ball of energy these days. If he sees something shiny, fuzzy...you name it, he is after it. The more dangerous the object the more "fun" it must be! He put nail clippers in his mouth today. First of all, gross, second of all where was I when he got a hold of these. Right next to him is my answer. Nothing is safe. He has figured out how to scoot fast. I can barely keep up with him anymore.

His new thing is to roll around naked and free on the 1000 thread count sheets, pick up things with his mouth, and growl. Then he pees. I call him Eli the doggie. At this moment, I wish I was in bed. But the sheets are yet again in the wash. I obviously haven't learned my lesson...until now anyway.

Home "Eco"-nomics

If I remember correctly, my 7th grade class was the last class in middle school to have home ec classes. Those classes taught basic sewing and cooking skills. They were replaced with technology class. Although, obviously much needed in our ever changing techo world, it seems that sewing, some cooking skills, and other aspects of home care have become a lost art. Back in the day, sewing used to be cheaper than buying your own clothes and fast food wasn't conveniently handed to you out of a drive thru in less than 14 seconds. Needless to say we just don't see people knowing how to care for their home and health anymore.

As we move into and era of more earth conscious, eco-friendly awareness, I have decided to restore home ec classes, teaching "Home 'ECO'-nomics" and combining many important life skills with an eco flair.

Click on picture to link to the facebook page.

All through my school years I did 4-H. Around here, I rarely hear of kids in 4-H. I learned many life skills in 4-H. I started sewing at age seven thanks to my mother who sparked my interest. I took cooking and crafting classes too. There were numerous friends of my mother's and women in the community that dedicated their time to teach 4-H classes. I can bake delicious whole wheat bread and other goodies thanks to these women. But, in the end sewing seemed to be my thing. Every summer I would take on a newer, more difficult and daunting project. My mother dedicated a lot of her time and wisdom to helping me learn to sew. The dining room table often became our creative station filled with sewing supplies and tailoring books. By the end of my 4-H career when I graduated high school, I had made several wool tailored outfits including a long double breasted, felted wool coat, a wedding dress and four bridesmaids dresses. Texas is much too warm for a lot of fancy wool outfits so they don't get worn much these days, but some of them still still fit and when I go to Kansas I try them on for grins. I miss my 4-H days.

In high school I worked at a fabric store and taught a children's sewing class. And, one summer as a nanny to another 4-H family, I helped those young girls get their projects ready for the fair. Good times.

Because I am so grateful that someone took the time to teach me these things, I want to pass these skills to others so they can learn at least the simple techniques of how to sew on a button or fix a hem!

Along with the sewing and cooking and in keeping with the eco-friendly theme, I plan to have some classed dedicated to making inexpensive, chemical free home cleaning and self care products that are healthy for your body and your home. I love this. I make my own and feel safe knowing my small baby and my family aren't ingesting harmful toxins that fill the air while cleaning and bathing in harsh chemicals.

Yay for Home "Eco"-nomics!

Christmas cheer and baby clothes for sale

Sometimes I am a bah humbug when it comes to Christmas. I wish I could hire someone to transform my home at Christmas time to a lovely picture from a magazine. I love the holidays. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas and family time. I don't love putting up the decor and taking it down a month later. Thankfully Scott is in full swing to get the decorations out and up this weekend and I am going to happily go along with it for the joy of the season.

I have been toiling over what a 6 month old would enjoy for Christmas. My parents got him a wagon which I am totally stoked about. I cannot wait to take Eli for rides around the neighborhood in a little red wagon. Scott and I have agreed to the gift of house projects as presents to one another this Christmas. Thus, the tree will be a bit bare this year. Eli doesn't need a lot of "stuff". He is truly happy to play with the juicer parts and empty oatmeal cartons. I am hoping to evade the plastic toys for my baby as he grows. It makes the earth happier it is better for all of us. We are loving books too and my sister gave him a cute fair trade froggy hat. LOVE THAT!

And, in business news....

My website is slowly but surely coming along. Should be ready to hit the cyber world on 1/1/11!

Here are a few samples for sale so far:

The photo is taken of the back the the pants in these photos. The back side has a bottom patch as seen in the photos, the front does not.

Handcrafted Reversible Red and Khaki Striped Woven Cotton Pants - 9 months - $15

Handcrafted Reversible Green and Black Woven Corduroy and Canvas Pants - 6 months - $15

Felted Navy Shoes with Green Crosshatching - fits approx. 3-9 months - $20

(sorry for the poor quality photos - I am working on that)

I am currently taking custom orders for Christmas if you need/want any shoes or pants for boys or girls let me know asap.

LOVE to you!

fall at our house

What a busy month so far! Eli will be 5 months on Wednesday. Yikes! Where did the time go? I hug him and give him kisses every day all day long.

The best advice I got during pregnancy was to let the dishes, laundry, and housework come second to taking care of your child, because the moments are fleeting. Well, whoever gave me permission to do that, thank you! Really. Thank you. I honestly don't care one bit that my house looks like a wreck...ok...maybe one bit, but my Little Bubs comes first during the day. We do all kinds of fun things like read books, sing songs, dance, go on walks, take naps together, swing, sit and play toys....

LB has three bottom teeth, he sits, he giggles, he screams with delight, and he says "mommy"..haha, okay so he doesn't say "mommy", but he might as well. Today be pulled himself up on his knees. He is going to be outta here in no time. Guess I better be cleaning and maintaining the floors more often if nothing else. I just can't believe how fast the child is growing up.

Lately I have been very grateful that it isn't last year at this time. Although, I was delighted I had just found out the wonderful news of my pregnancy, I was not feeling well at all. Looking back, I don't think I made the most wonderful pregnant woman. But, I sure did get a handsome little feller out to it all.

I am busy working on a website/blog that I am hoping to launch by January 1st. My lovely friend Val took some beautiful and amazing pictures for the site and some of our family. Here is a sneak peek...

We are working on our house bit by bit and the next step is to get the foundation repaired. Hopefully that will get taken care of between Thanksgiving and Christmas so we can start doing some other much needed work on our house. First comes first, though....foundation. There is a saying here in Texas. "You have had your foundation worked on or you WILL have your foundation worked on." Our house has already been worked on and needs more.

Thank you Mom and Dad for a computer that seems to run at lightening speed compared to our other one. My heart is happy to be able to sit down, check email, and be done in 5 minutes, not one hour. More time for Eli!

So there is a quick update. Nothing too exciting, but an update none the less.

HUGS!

Chunky Punkin'

ROLLS!

Fall Fest

Freezing at Fall Fest

More Rolls!

Lil' Punkin

it's not easy being "weird"

Do you ever look back and wonder about things? I had the realization this morning, four months later, that I can hear everything that goes on outside our bedroom wall. Our house is 50 years old and currently the walls are not insulated. Well, LB's room has been insulated since January when we had the pipes fixed and the termite issue taken care of. Scott had to tear out the walls and start over so we decided to start there. But the walls are paper thin everywhere else. I can always hear our neighbors taking the trash to the curb, getting in their car, and even talking to people that come to their door. So, it makes me really hope that on June 16th they weren't convening out in their driveway listening to me labor. I was sitting on a birth ball under the window that looks into their driveway sounding like a cow giving birth. Well, they haven't moved away yet, but then again, we haven't really talked with them a whole lot either. Not that we talked a lot before. We are obviously the weirdest people on the block. As you can remember from the post in March 2009 when I was watching The Business of Being Born and paused it on the most unimaginable horrific birth scene from the 50's to answer the door to our other neighbors at 10:00 at night while Scott was away on a basketball trip. Yes, they were a bit horrified. We haven't spoken to them since either. And, yes, I guess we are a little "weird". That's okay. I would rather be weird and authentic than be mainstream and fake.

Update on Little Bubs:
He now has two bottom teeth.
He has been standing (with assistance) since 2 1/2 months - that boy is so very strong.
Favorite Food: Mommy's milk
Favorite place to go: Central Market
Favorite time of day: Right when he gets up. He is so smiley and giggly (he is that way a lot anyway though, but especially in the mornings)
Activities: nature walks, sewing with Mom, singing nursery rhymes, playing in the walker, kissing Mommy and Daddy, helping Mommy around the house

Update on US:
Scott is still loving his new job and had a good eval on Monday.
I am working 2 days a week and currently working on getting a website together. I have lots of thoughts and ideas and an anxiously awaiting for this.

There is a squirmy wormy in my lap so I must sign off for now.

LOVE!

watch him grow

Newborn

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

He has popped the two bottom teeth since last week and on his four month b-day last Sunday he weighed in at 2o pounds. He is growing so big and so fast. We are having a bit of an issue with sleep. He is perfectly happy with sleeping for one to two hours a day (with me of course) which means Mommy doesn't get a lot done. Maybe some babies don't need as much sleep as others. He makes up for it by sleeping about 13 hours at night. I have chalked it up to being the phase we are at in life. I will never get this time with him again.

He is such a happy little fella. At the grocery store today we got several comments on what a good baby he is and how happy he looks. I think he is as big of a fan of Central Market as Mommy. :)

amongst the pumpkins

We have been fall festival-ing and pumpkin patch-ing. We love fall around our house. It means cooler weather and fun family activities!









I know that johnny jump ups aren't intended for 4 month olds and aren't great for their developing hips, but the child literally jumps in my lap. He has strong legs and wants to constantly be standing. Today I put him in the jumper to expend some of that energy.

outta sight, outta mind

I got a new phone a week and a half ago. It has a lot of cool features including the Internet. Thus, I am not sitting down at the computer any more and haven't thought about writing a blog in a very long time.

There are many changes and happenings going on in our neck of the woods and that has a lot to do with my lack of blogging as well.

At the moment, I am holding my teething, YES TEETHING!, baby in my lap. He seems to be taking this all in stride. I am convinced he has a very high tolerance to pain considering I have dropped my phone and a book on his head and it didn't phase him one bit. He wants everything in his mouth and he is drooling all over the place. But, that just makes for some really wet, slobbery kisses.

Currently, I am working to get a new website and blog going for my business. Lately I have been feeling a bit out of sorts. My mind is going in a million different directions from the moment I wake up until I pass out at night. I have a lot of ideas and limited time to get them going. I guess that is what happens when life drops a baby off. LB is getting all my attention these days. We have been taking strolls, going on play dates, and just enjoying the company of each other during the day. We like to sing, read books, takes naps together, and go on walks when we are alone. My house gets close to zero attention and that is ok. I am enjoying every second of mommyhood!

In September the Tarrant County Birth Network hosted BOLD. My poor husband and baby got neglected for a couple of weeks during this time. To be able to spend time with him, I had to wear him. He sure is a good helper. (FYI- this is NOT the correct way to wear your baby, I know a better way now)

Getting a diaphragm adjustment from Rachel so he can stop spitting up so much. I am not a fan of smelling like vomit all day long.

Saturday afternoon football and nap time for my guys.

Sunday afternoon helping Daddy out in the yard. Daddy is digging up a tree that was planted too close to the house and causing foundation issues.

Our visit to Starbucks one afternoon. We took a walk on a beautiful sunny day. And, I guess you can see what his favorite toy is.....Mr. Ducky.

sleepy time

This week I feel like a no good mommy. I have been so consumed with the upcoming birth network event, BOLD, that poor LB has had to kind of fend for himself these days. He sleeps when and wherever he can when he gets bored of watching Mommy work.
Then, when it is cuddle time, he holds on for dear life. I love snuggles with my Little Bubs.

what have we gotten ourselves into?

When you come from a sports playing and watching family, this is what a Sunday afternoon pose looks like watching football with Papaw. I know, I know, he isn't supposed to be watching t.v. let alone be glued to the screen. But, the fascination of a bigger than life big screen was just too much for Little Bubs to pass up. He was more than intrigued. He will strain his neck to look backwards, forwards, and upside down when it comes to watching t.v. so we try and keep watching to a minimum around here.
"Big" is an understatement these days. I weighed him with me on the scale today and he is topping out at 16 lbs. And, the other night when he was fast asleep, we measured him at 26 1/2 inches long. He has grown 5 inches since birth just three months ago. What are we in for if he keeps growing at this rate? A football or basketball player no doubt. My personal hope is basketball if he picks a sport. Football freaks me out a little bit, especially any position he would play for his build. Anyway, I am not going to tell you what the scale told me. I still have a little work to do to get off these post preggo pounds. Bring on the cooler weather and we will stroll the neighborhood every day. Little Bubs is wanting to stand now that he has found his strength and his legs. We decided to try Johnny Jump Up today. I wasn't sure he would take to it very well, but he seemed to enjoy himself. He knows he is a big boy and he likes when we tell him so. He gets so proud of himself. The Baby Book by Dr. Sears is my go to book. Love that book. It says that at his age babies start to develop a sense of self esteem because they feel proud that they can express their needs and they know they will be met. Daddy still needs to put in the transition piece from the hall to the bedroom under LB's feet.Yesterday I worked away from home for the first time since LB got here. I left the hubs with a bottle and instructions on particulars and headed out for a couple of hours. Still trying to figure out the "perfect" bottle situation. Bottles are such a hassle. Honestly, I think that even if I wasn't so much of an advocate for breastfeeding, I would do it just because I am too lazy to clean the mess that comes with making bottles. It is just so easy to nurse and be done with it. But, Daddy has to feed LB when I am gone so a bottle it was. I got home to find them laying on the bed with a towel wrapped around a leaky bottle and LB sucking away. Not sure the leak situation, we will have to work on that. And, since he is getting a bit heavy these days, our desired position for nursing is side lying. He likes it, I like it and it works. But, I have to admit, I got kind of jealous seeing Daddy feeding LB. I treasure our nursing times and love that bond we have. But I know Daddy needs to bond with LB too. We were meeting lunch with a friend, though, and I didn't have time to watch him take a bottle. I scooped him up and latched him on and we were done in five. Along with this undesire (that is a word I am making up) to make a bottle comes my "undesire" to pump. It takes a lot of thinking and planning to pump...well for me anyway. You have to do it right after you nurse to get the rest out. I can't just do it whenever I want or I will make milk at a time I don't need it and that isn't good for me or LB. Currently, I have about three measly ounces of milk in the freezer and three in the fridge. I would have had about five in the freezer, but I thought it would be awesome to dump freshly pumped milk onto the kitchen counter. I rock.

Daddy has a weird work schedule. On the weekends he works pizza at night. Fridays are hard on Mommy because Daddy comes home, changes clothes, and leaves again. I am quite worn out from the day by then, especially since LB isn't a great napper. Twenty minutes here and there about four times a day isn't helping Mommy catch up on rest. But, LB will take a great nap if Mommy is cuddled right beside. So, Friday we laid down for a nap at 5:30. I had a headache but woke up at around 8:00. He woke up too so I fed him and he fell back to sleep. Daddy got home at 11:00 and LB was ready to play. This is not a good schedule. Mind you, it isn't our regular schedule, but Friday and Saturday this happened. Midnight is not playtime. But when you go to bed at 5:30 for the night, midnight seems like it could be morning already I guess. No one should be this excited at midnight that is for sure...well unless it is New Year's Eve or something. Definitely not a sleep deprived Mommy.

free tickets, free tickets

Check out the ticket giveaway on my blog - Bellies In Bloom

photo shoot

talking, standing, and eating fists

It is a dreary, rainy day. I have a baby laying in my lap chatting away. We called Papa, Uncle Daniel and Aunt Heidi and left messages because Little Bubs had something BIG to say.

Do I want to think about making dinner? Not really. So blogging seemed like a good thing to consume my time.

I added a bunch of video, mostly for the the family, because, well, I know that I get a little obsessive with taking video and not everyone wants a day to day account of my growing boy.