What's in Your Closet

I knew when I quit my job I would need a new hobby. Something to keep me entertained, something I could become good at and spend my alone hours working on. I've always worked and really worried about my sanity of having "mom" as my only title. So, I dusted off the old sewing machine my mom gave me for Christmas a few years ago and began working on small projects. Lately I've become totally immersed in reconstructing old items right from your closet after reading this blog: This girl takes old outfits she bought for $1 and transforms them into these unique outfits. Amazingly brilliant.
So, I saw Kevin giving a bag of clothes away and I asked him not to take them to Goodwill. There may be something in there I want to use. What do you know, one of his shirts became a cute little child's apron. Easy cheesy.






Isn't it funny how our urge as Americans is to run out and buy something you don't have. You run out of orange juice, you rush to the store and pick it up. You need a new shirt for an event, you go buy it. But what if your solution is right in own house and you don't have to spend any money to get it?

For example, Margo has a gross case of cradle cap. With Nora, we bought the $10 shampoo that was very mediocre, at best. This time I did a little research and read that olive oil on the scalp should brush the cradle flakes away. Gross, I know, but it's my child so it doesn't gross me out. Now ask me to brush your child's flakes away and I probably won't be as willing. Anyway, it worked. Like a total charm. Free.

I've been trying to do the same thing with the way we spend our grocery money. Do we really need all this food? This part has been a stretch for me because I really found pleasure in my grocery store time. I loved getting new food and stocking up our pantry. I read grocery shrink's e book and have been trying to change my mindset. My latest venture includes making granola bars from scratch. It's super easy, saves tons of money, and delicious. Just wrap them up in some wax paper and they make the perfect snack.




It's been fun (and humbling) to change our mindset of spending money. We thought we were frugal before, but when you look at what you buy and what you really need, it's amazing to see what you find. My sewing still stinks, but it's a work in progress.

I'm having a hard time trying to keep Nora entertained while taking care of Margo. You can see the boredom on her face as I attempt to have a fun afternoon in the sprinkler. I get overwhelmed with worry sometimes wondering if I'm a boring mom, if I'm providing enough activity for her, all of the things moms fill their heads with.

But today I was reminded of several things when I had the sweetest conversation with Nora about heaven. It was unprovoked, and it was after I returned home from a funeral. I didn't tell her where I was going but thought it was interesting when she brought this up on her own. We were in the car and she said "mommy, I remember when so and so's mommy went up to heaven". After conversing a bit, she got such a giddy smile and said "ohhh, I can't WAIT to see Jesus!" It was by far the sweetest moment with my child.

It also reminded me of a few things. My faith is not childlike enough, and I hope to take this moment and apply it to my walk. Secondly, it's not so important that Nora remembers that when her sister was born, she didn't have something to fill her time every second of the day. Maybe that's a good thing, because when we busy ourselves with stuff to do, that stuff clouds our minds and distracts us from our purpose on this earth. I needed that reminder and am grateful for the Lord's reminder in me through my child. I'm also learning this stay at home mom job is no joke. Whew.


"The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. "
— C.S. Lewis

New Beginnings

Long ago I decided I'm okay with neglecting this blog. After all, I'm doing good to shower in the mornings, much less share what's on my heart. But I've felt the Lord's nudging more than once on this subject, and today when I was having quiet time before the girls woke up, I read Matthew 10:27 and thought I better be obedient. "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight. What I whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs". I'm hoping these words can bless someone, more than likely they will bore someone, but hey.... I'm being obedient. I'm going to try and make time to at least journal my thoughts on a regular basis and update a bit on Margo, poor child. Totally neglecting the second as far as documentation is normal, right??

Much has changed in the months since I've updated. Kevin and I made the decision for me to quit my day job and become a full time mom. This transition has been a blessing, albeit stressful at times, we are still adjusting but very grateful for this opportunity. It will definitely be a time to put my faith into action as we are getting used to living with just one income. I sort of look forward to this challenge. I'm still mourning leaving the job I loved, but I know this was the right decision and so far it's been a major blessing.

In an effort to do this job well, I've taken on several tasks which have been quite demanding. I've always made my baby's food and not resorted to the jar food that's filled with all kinds of unnecessary fillers, so when the time came to begin this for Margo it added lots of dishes, etc. We are plugging along and have a full batch frozen in the freezer. This has become much more difficult with a 4 year old talking my head off while I'm trying to make the food so I've tried to get her involved in the cooking as well. She has, in turn, become quite the little chef. She makes up her own recipes and loves to join me while I cook. It makes things 10 x's messier, but we have good quality time while making a mess. I've also been cloth diapering which saves tons of money but again, adds tons of laundry. I'd totally recommend this, however.

Our household has been trying to eat healthier lately, and I feel it's our responsibility to make sure what we are putting in our mouths is the healthiest option for our bodies. I believe the Lord created certain foods for us to eat, and sadly Americans have tweaked this until it's not healthy anymore. I've been trying to educate myself on the benefits of organic, which meats are safe, and how I can save money by eating healthier. We are making our own bread now (which includes only about 5 ingredients instead of 25 like you'll find at the store), making our own bagels which saves about $15 a month, and trying to cut meat from our diet except for once or twice a week. Thankfully my husband is on board and will eat just about anything I cook. It's funny how paying attention to what you eat makes you more self aware in all areas of your behavior. I'm hoping we can become better stewards in all areas of life by making this one change.

Anyway~ the girls are good, I'm good, Kev's good. We're all looking forward to August when Nora starts soccer for the first time and I start a Mom's group where I can get some wisdom once a week and be kid free interacting with adults for a few hours. Yeehaw! I only know how to upload photo booth pictures, so until Kevin shows me the other, here's what you'll be getting... for some reason everyone left me alone at the hospital after I had Margo, but thankfully they also left the Mac:

Easter

Some pics of Nora hunting Easter eggs with AJ. The girls wore cute dresses this year but I never got a picture. I'm sure one day I'll put them in the dresses again and have a photo shoot, but it's been a rough week. I'll post when I do.





Margo and Jacob.



Here's our annual picture in front of the azalea blooms. Nora's been begging me FOREVER to get her hair cut so I caved today. After all, it's her hair, not mine. It turned out really cute, but note to the readers, never trust a stylist from Walmart. I refuse to pay alot for a 4 year old's hair cut, but man.... do you get what you pay for sometimes. It'll take more than a bad cut to get us down though. :)

Snow Day x2

We recently had TWO snow days from school. It was so much fun (although we got cabin fever after day 4 of being iced in). Even Daddy's office was closed one day so he got to work from home! Snow days for us meant lots of crafts, lots of hot chocolate and baked goods from the easy bake oven (except they're more like baked "bads" b/c they are so na asty))

Ok, I'm done with my hiatus. I think.

I'll try to recap the last few months in pictures from what I can remember. When we brought Margo home she had jaundice and wasn't gaining weight which meant doctors appointments ALL the time. We had to do sunlight therapy for a while. Here's one of my favorite pictures of her doing her therapy.



Look how orange she was! These pictures don't do it justice. She was halloweeny.




The adjustment has been great, mostly because Margo is the definition of a perfect baby. She's so easy. And cute. :)


Nora loves being a big sister. She's really doing a great job and Margo loves just staring at big sis. Don't think I'm not telling her to get out of Margo's face 100 times a day, but besides the normal adjustment stuff, she really is handling this life change very well.



Nora had her ballet demonstration for her class she's been taking at school right before Christmas. Heavy dose of cute, it was.



Margo got to meet several of mommy's college friends. Here she is with Jaime, Candice and Chelsea





Here's Julia Child on Thanksgiving morning. :) We stayed home and had a nice feast with just us. It was a great day.




We went to Texas for Christmas and spent lots of quality cousin time. Aunt Tammie got all the cute pictures because Nora stayed with them, so click on over to Tammie's blog for cousin pictures.






Our Fuller cousin reunion~ can't remember the last time we all took a picture together!




Big news this week was Margo rolled over! I remember with Nora we practiced and stood hovering over her daily until she rolled over. With Margo, I put her in bed on her belly and came in a second later and she was on her back. A little less dramatic, but she rolled over, nonetheless. And we were excited!




We are crazy about this sweet girl!

What we've been up to. . .