tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39022907418733965792024-03-12T19:06:35.931-04:00An Open WindowLorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-6884033780733640212018-10-03T23:23:00.000-04:002018-10-03T23:23:24.502-04:00Remembering<br />
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Tonight I'm feeling the need to put pen
to paper, or rather fingers to keys, and write down a bit about our
last failed embryo transfer. I know it's been almost two years since
I've made a blog post, and I have no idea if I will continue to keep
up with writing, but something brought up some memories of going
through it today, and I wanted to quickly write them down.
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We did our final frozen embryo transfer
in December of 2017. We were originally planning to wait longer, but
we found out that our fertility clinic was closing. We loved our
doctor and everyone at his practice so much, that we didn't want to
go through it with anyone else. We couldn't afford it ourselves, but
we were beyond blessed by someone paying for all of it for us.
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After one round of IVF and one previous
FET, this time the meds felt almost routine. The biggest difference
this time was using progesterone injections instead of progesterone
suppositories, the reason for this being that research is currently
suggesting that PIO might be slightly more effective than the
suppositories. The doctor kind of felt that it probably wouldn't make
a difference, but since I didn't get pregnant last time, we would do
it just in case.</div>
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And actually that's what my memory
today centered around. Honestly, that month is a blur to me really. I
think maybe my mind blocked out a lot of both the hope and pain of
that time as a protective measure. Even about a month afterward I
remember saying to Steve that it all felt so long ago, even though it
had only been a few weeks. Funny how that happens.</div>
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What I remembered today was getting
those PIO shots. If you don't know anything about PIO (progesterone
in oil), they are known for being painful. All of the other
injections I needed to prepare for the transfer were subcutaneous, a
small needle that just goes into the skin, no deeper. I had gotten
really good at giving myself those, so most times I barely felt them.
In fact, this time I didn't have any bruises at all from those little
injections, as opposed to our first IVF when my belly was covered in
bruises.</div>
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PIO injections are a whole 'nother ball
of wax. They are intramuscular injections so the needle is bigger and
goes much deeper. The progesterone is also in oil instead of water so
the contents of the syringe go in more slowly and take longer to
spread into the muscle, so you can get little sore knots in the
injection sites. I was getting these every evening.</div>
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There are lots of little tricks to make
the experience less uncomfortable, but our routine included icing the
spot before the shot, having someone else put the needle into my butt
(as opposed to putting the needle into my thigh myself), watching
videos on how to get it into the area that would be the least painful
for walking around, laying flat on the ground during the injection so
that my muscles were relaxed, and sitting on a heating pad afterward
to warm up the oil and help it spread more quickly, and switching butt cheeks every night. Eventually I
stopped icing it before hand because it didn't make much of a
difference in the pain, and I think it made the injection site so
cold that the oil wasn't warming up much with the heating pad.</div>
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That part of routine was insignificant
though. What I really remember was joking with Steve about stabbing
me in the butt while I drew up meds in the syringe after warming them
with the heating pad. Getting to do that didn't stop being funny to
him for that entire two week wait. I remember Cai's nervousness the
first time Steve did it. I remember that my little boy laid on the
floor next to me and held my hand every time. Somehow we all giggled
a lot every time.
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Those two weeks between the embryo
transfer and my hcg beta were full of joy and hope. We had explained
it all to Cai, and he and I would lay in bed at night and we would
pray for those two little babies inside me. We would talk about if he
would have brothers or sisters or both. We would talk about how I
talked to him in my belly the same way when we were waiting to find
out if he was growing inside me.
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There were also full of mind numbing
fear. To the point that after we found out we weren't pregnant I told
Steve that even if our doctor's office wasn't closing and we had the
money to try again, I would never want to. I never want to go through
it again. Actually though, I'm not sure fear is the right word. When
we were trying with Cai it was fear. Fear that it wouldn't work and
we would never have a child. That fear is gone. Even if we never have
another baby, I have Steve and Cai and my life is full. I'm not sure
if it's complete, it might be, although I feel like there's room for
at least one more child, but it's full. I'm not sure what word I
would use instead of fear though. Anxiety? Panic? Dread? I'm not
sure. Maybe it was just fear. Fear of the letdown. But whatever it
was, it was that feeling I know so well of being 100% convinced that
I was and wasn't pregnant at the same time.
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The hardest part this time was that I
felt deep down that not only were we going to end the process with a
baby, but with both babies. When we tried with Cai, in the time
between finding out I was pregnant and listening to his heart beat
for the first time, I went from hoping for twins to being pretty
convinced there was only one baby growing inside me. To the point
that hearing only one heart beat wasn't sad because I already knew in
my heart despite being hopeful that I was wrong. This time I felt
prepared for twins. It seemed a possibility this time more than the
other two times. Especially because these were our best quality
embryos.
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I'm not sure that I have anything else
to say at the moment, although I don't really want to end this on
such a sad note. It was a hard time. Harder than the time before
that. But I'm still feeling joyful. I feel fulfilled. Our life is
definitely not struggle free right now, by any means, but it's happy.
</div>
<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-69714920769673017552016-10-18T13:45:00.000-04:002016-10-18T13:45:14.448-04:00Toddler Busy Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9a18Af3CMRKvaCtWiNtgPjGQjxCTx86KT8PkNgk_kM9rYh7G03GF47NzYLmilaZpuWUtsqZKW2ZZpHqxz8uYs5GzREbKVwkaYyzRNZbZfTxSxi3XlJDM-iWDNSOrHKPUjZ768SlDB_I/s1600/ABM_1476807230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9a18Af3CMRKvaCtWiNtgPjGQjxCTx86KT8PkNgk_kM9rYh7G03GF47NzYLmilaZpuWUtsqZKW2ZZpHqxz8uYs5GzREbKVwkaYyzRNZbZfTxSxi3XlJDM-iWDNSOrHKPUjZ768SlDB_I/s640/ABM_1476807230.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Over the summer while I was helping with Vacation Bible School, a former coworker of mine gave Cai a little box filled with crayons, a little car, a pencil sharpener, and a pencil. She had noticed that he liked to draw and color (she was an art teacher, so of'course she noticed) and that I was working hard to keep him busy, and she thought this would help.<br />
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Her idea was brilliant! We have tweaked what we keep in the box a few times, and I try to rotate things to keep it fresh, but we keep the box in the diaper bag and use it at restaurants and church. I love it so much, I thought I'd share it, and the contents, with you all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU_LotnN60niTWm4scJfXvCZs00VgSdkygiYjToteuc9YV1o37TNELtH2CVxlZ1ep90nhcSyz85utdTp9a7EcqHbU1YqB3nUht9zIAM-cGoHMskG3LI7Tloj1XllTRmmzUkKEBXBGf6c/s1600/ABM_1476811196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU_LotnN60niTWm4scJfXvCZs00VgSdkygiYjToteuc9YV1o37TNELtH2CVxlZ1ep90nhcSyz85utdTp9a7EcqHbU1YqB3nUht9zIAM-cGoHMskG3LI7Tloj1XllTRmmzUkKEBXBGf6c/s640/ABM_1476811196.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
1. The actual box. I think she bought it at Target. It came with a key which I have actually used to keep Cai from dragging everything out of it at home.<br />
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2. Three books from the toddler kids meal at Chick-Fil-A. We love these, and they are the perfect size for the box. Cai likes to look at them, particularly in the car.<br />
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3. Crayons. The original gift included nice triangular ones, but Cai has a penchant for peeling an breaking crayons. :/<br />
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4. Tiny plush animals. These were a gift from my sister. She got them in the dollhouse section at Hobby Lobby. Cai loves them,and they fit perfectly.<br />
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5. A box of raisins.<br />
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6. Ninja turtles coloring sheets. These are from a kit that was on clearance at Target. It came with tiny markers, but after'a terrifying church service where I was afraid my clothes and the pew would be covered in blue marker, I switched back to crayons. Regular paper cut into quarters works perfectly too.<br />
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7. Plastic animals. Cai loves animals. The pig is from'a dollar store set and the horse is from his Mellissa and Doug horse farm.<br />
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8. Little people car.<br />
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9. Other little cars. I think these were from a dollar section somewhere. Target maybe? They were potty training prizes.<br />
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Everything you see there doea actually fit, but you have to arrange it perfectly in order to close it. I usually don't keep quite this much in it, I wanted to show how much would fit.<br />
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Do you have a busy box or bag? What do you keep in it?<br />
<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-92143964752581470312016-08-07T23:15:00.000-04:002016-08-07T23:15:36.827-04:00World Breastfeeding Week Nothing like waiting until the last minute. I've been meaning to post about breastfeeding all week, and I'm just now getting the chance to sit and type (and it's on my tablet which means the typing is more likely to have errors). Life is a bit crazy here right now, and I hope to post about that soon, but it will have to wait until I can find the time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2CywOZYS9uOl-ytFsl1JTKusCrtxaXHnsy8F5j8Qo5DQL2OmiUXsTNcK6sm4y78lh5WOX8oygY23pE0LyKT6bsee67fa133gjPsyPvEas6J_u4CTUrQ2OhUjZqsPNtx8REQfLVGn5dE/s1600/20150628_114310.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2CywOZYS9uOl-ytFsl1JTKusCrtxaXHnsy8F5j8Qo5DQL2OmiUXsTNcK6sm4y78lh5WOX8oygY23pE0LyKT6bsee67fa133gjPsyPvEas6J_u4CTUrQ2OhUjZqsPNtx8REQfLVGn5dE/s640/20150628_114310.png" width="360" /></a></div>
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I haven't even really planned out what I want to write just that I want to do it. Before I start, let me make it clear that this post is in no way a judgement on mama's who choose not to or who cannot breastfeed. Your choices and your reasons for your choices are yours, not mine or anyone else's. For those who chose not to, own your choice. Those who wanted to and weren't able to, for whatever reason, don't beat yourself up over something that is beyond your control. <span style="text-align: center;">Own your choices and don't allow others to make you feel guilty about them</span></div>
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So here's my opinion on breastfeeding in a nutshell.</div>
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-Breastfeeding is cool. God designed our bodies to create the PERFECT food for our babies.</div>
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-Breastfeeding is normal. I think "Breast is best" is a crap line created by formula companies that only creates tension among mothers. Breastfeeding is the biological norm. Formula is awesome for what it is--a substitute for breastmilk. It is not the same, but when a mom chooses or is forced to use it, it provides baby with the nutrition needed and often provides moms with the freedom needed--freedom to work, freedom to sleep, freedom from constant worry over whether you are producing enough, freedom from having to cut everything out of your diet that baby is sensitive to. . . .</div>
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-Breastfeeding is free. A huge reason that I'm thankful that I was able to breastfeed is that I didn't have to pay for formula which is expensive. We did have to supplement for our first week, but we were able to use samples.</div>
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-Breastfeeding is a cure all. Seriously. Baby is crying? Boob. Baby is hurt? Boob. Baby can't sleep? Boob. Baby is sick? Boob. I don't know how I would have mothered in those early months without my boobs. I lived by the motto, "When in doubt, whip it out."</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X0eTQalMOIPHvq2REhfKD43tCswyRumGt4uqLSl154Lmgqboa9GplFWIa8KckZG7fGL8Ph9aaYWJfOkUwRktuhz4s7z_s-EZ5C32iA_eqUlEvss1atciNMN7fl9DLnekpgjlZ9LBeH4/s1600/2016-08-07+23.07.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X0eTQalMOIPHvq2REhfKD43tCswyRumGt4uqLSl154Lmgqboa9GplFWIa8KckZG7fGL8Ph9aaYWJfOkUwRktuhz4s7z_s-EZ5C32iA_eqUlEvss1atciNMN7fl9DLnekpgjlZ9LBeH4/s640/2016-08-07+23.07.28.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a picture of a morning nursing session with Cai when he was about 10 months old. Gymnurstics.</td></tr>
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-Breastfeeding is not talked about enough. I know some of you just read that and snorted in disagreement, but hear me out. We talk about breastfeeding in public and whether or not you should breastfeed, but it ends there. I found I kept my mouth shut sometimes because I didn't want to offend anyone. But if we talked about it and educated each other through experience, I think it would be easier. Easier to get through it. Easier to choose it. Easier to see that you're not the only one who couldn't. Waiting five and a half year to get pregnant allowed me a ton of time to research it, but not everyone thinks to do that. Why should we have to research something that's normal? I was also in a breastfeeding support group on Facebook which helped me tremendously when things were hard. Talking about it more is huge!</div>
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-Breastfeeding is not easy. Overall, my experience was not super difficult, but that doesn't mean it's easy. We had to supplement with formula in the beginning because Cai had jaundice and my milk hadn't come in. We used an SNS which is basically a tube attached to a bottle of formula that you tape to your boob so baby can suckle and receive formula (How many of you knew something like that existed? See, we need to talk about it more!) That was super stressful. Due to my c section, my milk took almost a week to come in, also stressful. When it did come in I dealt with oversupply which was frustrating and often painful. For the first few months, whenever Cai slept really well (which was often back then) I would wake up soaked with milk despite thick breast pads (Bamboobies brand- you need them!) I dealt with a few clogged duct a and mastitis once or twice. I also struggled with anxiety sometimes during nighttime nursing; that really sucked. The worst was nursing aversion. Part of the reason I weaned Cai when I did was because whenever he nursed my skin would crawl and I wanted to throw him. And weaning itself was hard too. And those are just the issues I personally dealt with, not to mention under supply, thrush, tongue and lip ties, nipple pain, teething...)</div>
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-Breastfeeding is a relationship. Breastfeeding is more than just food for your child. It's a relationship with your child. This is why I chose to wean; my relationship with my son was more important than feeding him, and I was beginning to resent hI'm every time he wanted to nurse because I hated it (not always, just for that last month or so). Feeding your child the best way you can is important, but so are peace and joy and comfort and rest, and sometimes those things need to trump food to save your relationship with your child. I wanted to let Cai wean on his own, but between nursing aversion and wanting to start fertility treatments again, that didn't happen, and that's okay.</div>
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-Breastfeeding is easier with knowledge and support. Research. Join groups. Seek out resources. I recommend the app Timeline of a Breastfed Baby. It helped me tremendously. Www.kellymom.com is another great resource. And the Facebook group I'm in is called Breastfeeding Your Way. Feel free to look it up. If you're thinking about breastfeeding, but aren't sure, ask questions. Look things up. Also, getting in touch with a lactation consultant can majorly help with issues. Unfortunately, many OBGYNs and pediatricians aren't well educated on breastfeeding, but a lactation consultant can answer all sorts of questions and help with almost any issue.</div>
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-Breastfeeding is harder for working moms in the US. Because of our lack of maternity leave, most moms who work have to go back to work earlier tan they would like, and although pumps are awesome and a blessing, they don't drain the breast as well as a baby does, causing many women to struggle with supply. If you're struggling, find help!</div>
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So I guess that wasn't much of a nutshell, but like I said, I didn't have time to plan this post ahead of time, I just knew I wanted to write it. Feel free to contact me to ask me questions, or just to talk about breastfeeding or not breastfeeding. : ) </div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-54364723175723275372016-07-11T15:14:00.000-04:002016-07-11T15:14:00.173-04:00Keeping My Toddler Busy: Play Doh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've entered the world of Play Doh, and Cai loves it. So far we only have one container of blue (thanks to Cai's Aunt Lauren), but I want to try making some soon.</div>
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I plunked Cai in his high chair and started by only giving him a bit of the dough. He was a bit tentative at first, but his elephant really enjoyed it.</div>
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I let him use a some wooden utensils from his kitchen set with it, and he thought that was great.</div>
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We've played several times since then, and it keeps him busy anywhere from ten to twenty minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKutLYtWvgJc2rN2A8DBt-MJKmXW2RRkCM4_byWtpHb2FyQDl-4FGfspo7TDYR2MMpYcs12-gyLTaX8eFz5HLk12rbLpSkkv-4SjJaugLBr8Qhl3YUDUnjrjIoJ-dPcLsf9CWhjC_U-OY/s1600/20160618_180201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKutLYtWvgJc2rN2A8DBt-MJKmXW2RRkCM4_byWtpHb2FyQDl-4FGfspo7TDYR2MMpYcs12-gyLTaX8eFz5HLk12rbLpSkkv-4SjJaugLBr8Qhl3YUDUnjrjIoJ-dPcLsf9CWhjC_U-OY/s640/20160618_180201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If I play with it with him, I have to make lots of snakes.</div>
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And sometimes the snakes kiss.<br />
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And hiss...</div>
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And eat Play-Doh apples.<br />
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And he only tasted it once or twice :)</div>
<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-36507470568743123922016-07-04T13:48:00.000-04:002016-07-04T13:48:03.206-04:00Keeping My Toddler Busy: Color SortingThere are a bajillion different ways to do this activity, this is just what we did using what we had on hand. It's one I want to try again when he gets a little bigger too.<br />
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Supplies:<br />
Colorful things from around the house- I was sure to grab things that had only one color, so as not to be confusing.<br />
Specific areas for child to sort the different colors- you could use containers or construction paper, but I used pieces of felt because that's what I had one hand.<br />
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This activity required a lot of modeling. Cai is already pretty good at identifying, and saying, the color blue, but not so much the others.</div>
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I put everything in an empty laundry basket and limited my items to red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.</div>
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Steve and Cai have been working on a similar activity with M&M's, so I thought it might be a fun time to try this one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7celaNB57M0Vt5VRPMZBWHcbExuqR0YH4YinRYlEXoR4X-74gyFFK2DyE2H97J4GCvWnaKFWQ7q6pQNgKbaXxSt0lWMJF1aN7Eyk5itotTip0G7W3ko4WOxs8Ej_CqIqGN5byXQf9IFY/s1600/20160602_095720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7celaNB57M0Vt5VRPMZBWHcbExuqR0YH4YinRYlEXoR4X-74gyFFK2DyE2H97J4GCvWnaKFWQ7q6pQNgKbaXxSt0lWMJF1aN7Eyk5itotTip0G7W3ko4WOxs8Ej_CqIqGN5byXQf9IFY/s640/20160602_095720.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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More often than not though, Cai got it wrong, haha.</div>
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He also preferred to pretend to eat the toy food. (Disclaimer: These pictures are terrible examples of how a cloth diaper should be properly worn. It shouldn't be curling down like that because it causes leaks. I didn't want to stop the activity to fix his diaper though, so we just changed it afterward. Also, our central air is broken which is why he is wearing only a diaper in most of these posts.)</div>
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He got really excited when he found blue items!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyJrz-ta2K291l1B9Y2m7vY4-5Q4gXqQfwZEIy5uNEONsr0HKGHPBV1RAOWFTSmdb-Kjm_K1jg6ZmqKpRYTqvf7IBCqTb6cdpdFKN8n8gKQEpFL5OuOAASMm9smprsZbJEjDCKQdA8WI/s1600/20160602_100124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyJrz-ta2K291l1B9Y2m7vY4-5Q4gXqQfwZEIy5uNEONsr0HKGHPBV1RAOWFTSmdb-Kjm_K1jg6ZmqKpRYTqvf7IBCqTb6cdpdFKN8n8gKQEpFL5OuOAASMm9smprsZbJEjDCKQdA8WI/s640/20160602_100124.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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This didn't keep him busy for very long and it provided me with more toys to put back in their respective places, but it was fun for a little while.Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-53402830500400873962016-06-27T13:36:00.000-04:002016-06-27T13:36:04.423-04:00Keeping My Toddler Busy: Baking with Mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love baking. Lately I've been making cupcakes or muffins for Steve to bring to work with him on Fridays. The general consensus from everyone at his work is that I need to forget the muffins and make only cupcakes, so this time Cai and I made chocolate muffins with chocolate frosting (Which reminds me, what are your favorite combos for cupcakes and frosting? I need some ideas!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2nX7WKWUlaAbukK41UWJC2f9CDUVb2MGMbl-7OcSaixFc_mgOhOROxXMBtJUjDoOZysBj7ZP0BvD61jXcdILi1fZKR1WAIVrfUiUSeXemkCkPtYSNHinIxcfpl8MoLjIor7a2uW6zSs/s1600/20160526_141016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2nX7WKWUlaAbukK41UWJC2f9CDUVb2MGMbl-7OcSaixFc_mgOhOROxXMBtJUjDoOZysBj7ZP0BvD61jXcdILi1fZKR1WAIVrfUiUSeXemkCkPtYSNHinIxcfpl8MoLjIor7a2uW6zSs/s640/20160526_141016.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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This was really difficult to photograph, safely, so I don't have very many pictures. </div>
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I also don't have one of those cool activity stands because they cost a butt load, so I just watched him very carefully as he sat on the counter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsShiENSY_IhAwFlU96tBXn8wRV1NGM53UTnlF1hG4UbRCo7hPsCPE4RzTaqyJGkPNVPSEBJskXW1Ipj3A-uaV_zqvv2LPQKiOBspMaEds7qW0z5MI8JR6moGg-hsoP-WCca_rwNWRXqw/s1600/20160526_141715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsShiENSY_IhAwFlU96tBXn8wRV1NGM53UTnlF1hG4UbRCo7hPsCPE4RzTaqyJGkPNVPSEBJskXW1Ipj3A-uaV_zqvv2LPQKiOBspMaEds7qW0z5MI8JR6moGg-hsoP-WCca_rwNWRXqw/s640/20160526_141715.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I made sure to explain to him to keep his fingers out of the mixer, and I also unplugged the toaster because he wanted to turn around and stick his fingers in there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF53dRC8t93nqlF49MZ-igK66hw7ChmqET31S8pbdzeiHVVe9qV9zjFCyMDsM1o779gzUnK_PnIPa0epbLDAQJ1I3rfKVN68ESnBfE-V9_z2Ea3SePbSb9p-077LTLX1v24GKUJU7AZw/s1600/20160526_141728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF53dRC8t93nqlF49MZ-igK66hw7ChmqET31S8pbdzeiHVVe9qV9zjFCyMDsM1o779gzUnK_PnIPa0epbLDAQJ1I3rfKVN68ESnBfE-V9_z2Ea3SePbSb9p-077LTLX1v24GKUJU7AZw/s640/20160526_141728.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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(Can I just point out my new under-cabinet lighting? Steve and I went to Ikea for Valentine's Day and spent like $50 on it and Steve installed it himself. I love it!)</div>
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Basically, I just filled the measuring cups or spoons and helped him pour them in. This is a great opportunity to practice counting, and, with older children, give them the ground work for fractions.</div>
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And I completely forgot to take a picture of the results, but they were yummy.</div>
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I have many, many memories of baking with my mom, so this is something I was really excited about doing with Cai. In fact, he got to do some baking with Marmie on vacation.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnf6tbaksmqeTOhR3peV1A9e3OMzrfAXJxshe2vRZ-G8XGYseOftAP86sNTBkNXX6oLw6fFZL5npkNfYXy4Muz-IIKzhVDUQu4HEW4KTujtILDy-UZnQunzOejhB31rGupOrC7HK2fIg/s1600/20160426_091150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnf6tbaksmqeTOhR3peV1A9e3OMzrfAXJxshe2vRZ-G8XGYseOftAP86sNTBkNXX6oLw6fFZL5npkNfYXy4Muz-IIKzhVDUQu4HEW4KTujtILDy-UZnQunzOejhB31rGupOrC7HK2fIg/s400/20160426_091150.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(She's going to kill me for sharing a picture of her in her pjs. They were making biscuits for breakfast)</div>
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What are your favorite things to bake or cook with your kids?</div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-352380816592009082016-06-23T15:03:00.000-04:002016-06-23T15:03:01.420-04:00Keeping My Toddler Busy: Father's Day Key Chain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I spent a total of a dollar on Steve's Father's Day gift. Cai and I were shopping at the Dollar Tree and came across this shrinky dink kit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMK2xJftLr5S_3IVLlxUUWIPsyT1UNxsqeRSs2Ugd4k5ZnJwPkfFFKD3S272OeKIcxT5uR4zfjBGeDH8l5GWalh162ikE3HlrynGqeOjhLfulJEipZLEboxuX6amW1g5PIFkTHVmepvk/s1600/20160614_160643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMK2xJftLr5S_3IVLlxUUWIPsyT1UNxsqeRSs2Ugd4k5ZnJwPkfFFKD3S272OeKIcxT5uR4zfjBGeDH8l5GWalh162ikE3HlrynGqeOjhLfulJEipZLEboxuX6amW1g5PIFkTHVmepvk/s400/20160614_160643.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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It was a sports kit, but it was easy to just ignore the sports part and do what we wanted with it. I had seen an idea on Pinterest that looked neat, so we went with it. If you've never heard of shrinky dinks, it's basically just plastic paper that you draw on, cut out, and then back for a minute or so in the oven. It shrinks up into a thick hard piece of plastic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJIOR-ekAjBxqBTGTG-6nY3fLIh2XNcSnJCYSycwUja6UxmNVr7rnROltOTcsWObDUiNQ-RGLyFV2lHGMFtm3FMrBr3qbiaNUxfQx5kKFsHPC4jL14XLXe_dR-RDJWq-d6haBpcwhTZw/s1600/20160614_151349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJIOR-ekAjBxqBTGTG-6nY3fLIh2XNcSnJCYSycwUja6UxmNVr7rnROltOTcsWObDUiNQ-RGLyFV2lHGMFtm3FMrBr3qbiaNUxfQx5kKFsHPC4jL14XLXe_dR-RDJWq-d6haBpcwhTZw/s320/20160614_151349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We traced Cai's little hand. Isn't it funny how he always keeps his little pinky bent?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR-BsI7KSNWi0PFNBzZ816czRNmbooRHMmBb0ciCjHOg27a2kfcLw1QmT5f8p1cWVZ1gFKyUvw9JbJf2Ftl0qStRI5FTeBXx3etHnbNZS5s_tXXwIFswk_rTP3DEgXX4IePtawAl8TSg/s1600/20160614_152317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR-BsI7KSNWi0PFNBzZ816czRNmbooRHMmBb0ciCjHOg27a2kfcLw1QmT5f8p1cWVZ1gFKyUvw9JbJf2Ftl0qStRI5FTeBXx3etHnbNZS5s_tXXwIFswk_rTP3DEgXX4IePtawAl8TSg/s640/20160614_152317.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I gave Cai some markers, and he went to town.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKd_Uw6BmbyZ2RhsZwC9dAkNJybEpG3oZSNt09yqzUQKosJK_GVLEeTfGEZAkVUs143R91keWjE2lpn1bDGuVZcjgeS90YDa_j4hBQ2kDjUvKH5Y2Uh_plg_aZB-gzUTFl7u7TBqp9uCs/s1600/20160614_153532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKd_Uw6BmbyZ2RhsZwC9dAkNJybEpG3oZSNt09yqzUQKosJK_GVLEeTfGEZAkVUs143R91keWjE2lpn1bDGuVZcjgeS90YDa_j4hBQ2kDjUvKH5Y2Uh_plg_aZB-gzUTFl7u7TBqp9uCs/s640/20160614_153532.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoDCytCKivwEnO5yXb-sJtcFvxnCShkrmBZmQSpx1p3LW-FuZ3Ibp39O4iOaHmk4fii6xFQ8z1R4365U2SnBxbnQx2sfqNT2nS0VEWgrjHATlGR2JOgYMcR9WsoB6xJ6EEueHvLK06qc/s1600/20160614_155152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoDCytCKivwEnO5yXb-sJtcFvxnCShkrmBZmQSpx1p3LW-FuZ3Ibp39O4iOaHmk4fii6xFQ8z1R4365U2SnBxbnQx2sfqNT2nS0VEWgrjHATlGR2JOgYMcR9WsoB6xJ6EEueHvLK06qc/s640/20160614_155152.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I made it a point to give him a variety of colors, but he still gravitated toward the blues.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfbZDrAuPDHfZYaVI40jIY1L3NM8wwl94mclNTcSfnKZnFm6LPPrtRm6JxbecDWQ5egbvrgu0loq9VEP4OxE8qS2TQ8IRGx7_6C9gESH22dSN37TqUr_xmUh93c7VbQ99GxcdWPyTHuI/s1600/20160614_155702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfbZDrAuPDHfZYaVI40jIY1L3NM8wwl94mclNTcSfnKZnFm6LPPrtRm6JxbecDWQ5egbvrgu0loq9VEP4OxE8qS2TQ8IRGx7_6C9gESH22dSN37TqUr_xmUh93c7VbQ99GxcdWPyTHuI/s400/20160614_155702.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I then cut it out and poked a hole through it. The whole poking was a little tricky. We then put it on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and baked it in the oven.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgWIc-AlSTrQgawLvReSQbdQAM1VmET1Y9pGTvMjB5iDV8_Irbkf_K7WPg0gbzgRKeOiXiut3uHIkX6PzhpXnvma47CJ86Q3qgFJLt7YHwWSGhDOItfxmS1v4NS1AvZ6hKf9e-roHmJQ/s1600/20160614_160111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgWIc-AlSTrQgawLvReSQbdQAM1VmET1Y9pGTvMjB5iDV8_Irbkf_K7WPg0gbzgRKeOiXiut3uHIkX6PzhpXnvma47CJ86Q3qgFJLt7YHwWSGhDOItfxmS1v4NS1AvZ6hKf9e-roHmJQ/s640/20160614_160111.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPny_QS4GoB4W-q8ygqsf24hUDWkRMiSg9bGj-CRg_5hCrgdDT_eWmcXN-XIMtyR7B6xQrxB6yTaIRirriEg8N2YNkgLQOIQ54UfYabr8Ttdlcobjad5W9Pn6mai5c3x3gpokI3BQK24c/s1600/20160614_160113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPny_QS4GoB4W-q8ygqsf24hUDWkRMiSg9bGj-CRg_5hCrgdDT_eWmcXN-XIMtyR7B6xQrxB6yTaIRirriEg8N2YNkgLQOIQ54UfYabr8Ttdlcobjad5W9Pn6mai5c3x3gpokI3BQK24c/s640/20160614_160113.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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It didn't take long for it to shrink up, and Cai enjoyed watching it. He put on his little play pot holder while we did it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUe44yxypthYK2Cyff3iD3tbr9LxJNRvSYKo49eUP7P9dTmEGD87_fDH-1Lu6cW6D2Pcs6C6vHUI3-M7NCFEKzVsMUoHKctpNow43z8z5w0Cqlo5owz4DiutAbUINstQ_tTOFF7UBNjY/s1600/20160614_160253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUe44yxypthYK2Cyff3iD3tbr9LxJNRvSYKo49eUP7P9dTmEGD87_fDH-1Lu6cW6D2Pcs6C6vHUI3-M7NCFEKzVsMUoHKctpNow43z8z5w0Cqlo5owz4DiutAbUINstQ_tTOFF7UBNjY/s640/20160614_160253.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I punched a little star out with a star punch just for fun too. This was the finished result. The kit came with key chains to attach to it. </div>
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Cai was super excited to give it to Steve in bed on Father's Day morning. I didn't take a picture of the gift giving because I chose to just enjoy the moment instead. As a replacement, I thought I'd share my two favorite Father's Day photos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQJfKweYq7c2RkabFpRBlXcGY_unkBf5ogpyTpZ64fMORbqBKz1Yv-PjhQb2mLdzmk7R6-bsiMx9RvDgpOaWBm5k9hfkvZHgFW1f6-FN5Rad2BHjyPqoE8I8BfBPwip8URXqUk0QphtU/s1600/20160619_151901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQJfKweYq7c2RkabFpRBlXcGY_unkBf5ogpyTpZ64fMORbqBKz1Yv-PjhQb2mLdzmk7R6-bsiMx9RvDgpOaWBm5k9hfkvZHgFW1f6-FN5Rad2BHjyPqoE8I8BfBPwip8URXqUk0QphtU/s640/20160619_151901.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Steve taught Cai how to use the drill (he was taking our pool down. We're going to try to put a fire pit and seating area there instead, IF we can do VERY inexpensively. I'll keep you updated on that).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKESdr9JPUwP9JJy32COlgvyOwpdHGdKySpIHTCFVrbkdtWK7lbiBnpDBCwrg7VtKJ91H5TkDMHVg7W8CYth9dtu3BNlWg0t6CfnghphlHHz09oAhKWw0CyEt-fUdGgZLp716cm0TCQE/s1600/20160619_144950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKESdr9JPUwP9JJy32COlgvyOwpdHGdKySpIHTCFVrbkdtWK7lbiBnpDBCwrg7VtKJ91H5TkDMHVg7W8CYth9dtu3BNlWg0t6CfnghphlHHz09oAhKWw0CyEt-fUdGgZLp716cm0TCQE/s640/20160619_144950.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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And while he worked, Cai ran in the sprinkler for the first time. He actually loved it, contrary to how it looks in this picture! It was a very enjoyable day all around.</div>
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<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-91246678579004146312016-06-20T13:24:00.000-04:002016-06-20T13:24:08.089-04:00Keeping My Toddler Busy: Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This activity was painting with a purpose. I want to redecorate our main bathroom to be a little more fun and kid friendly, and I wanted some artwork on the wall to go with my ideas. So Cai's job was to create it. </div>
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<b>Supplies: </b></div>
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Paint- I used acrylic craft paint which meant I had to be more careful about him putting his fingers in his mouth, but you could use non toxic paints and finger paints.</div>
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Brush- optional. We started out with a foam brush, then switched to fingers</div>
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Pallete- I used the back of the lid for the container I keep my paints in. The nice thing about acrylic paint is that it peels off when it's dry.</div>
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Canvas- or paper. Hobby Lobby often had sales on canvas. I happened to already have one that I bought a while ago for another project.</div>
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Drop cloth: I cut a garbage bag open and laid it on the floor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrdoUPtGkZ00oj25vHJp7UY7ErfYsJCJvIrN0RooiKuQIC1fPazOgwcGxhKoUGMY_8R-AJ1q41F_CrXJTfx5nSjKw3l5Z71SRpadJD1kmcUxQVyEEPYCeECgbb6EDpFhC1paDv7R5NGI/s1600/20160518_091816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrdoUPtGkZ00oj25vHJp7UY7ErfYsJCJvIrN0RooiKuQIC1fPazOgwcGxhKoUGMY_8R-AJ1q41F_CrXJTfx5nSjKw3l5Z71SRpadJD1kmcUxQVyEEPYCeECgbb6EDpFhC1paDv7R5NGI/s640/20160518_091816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We used a little bit of every color.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCGRk7PLK8R5PkYbcS-41cE7LflmvbT7qHATCvtDMhVr28j7NLnSwHlCDAtZPWdNGzJRNtODTR1zYXwjQERdVRhStvjDgrKzdTwMb6ZNeDH_-L1p-Low9WFLnBqzbFTSCrl2BUpRutDk/s1600/20160518_092023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCGRk7PLK8R5PkYbcS-41cE7LflmvbT7qHATCvtDMhVr28j7NLnSwHlCDAtZPWdNGzJRNtODTR1zYXwjQERdVRhStvjDgrKzdTwMb6ZNeDH_-L1p-Low9WFLnBqzbFTSCrl2BUpRutDk/s640/20160518_092023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cai started out with a foam brush.</div>
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He very quickly ended up with some on his face.</div>
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I got frustrated with the brush because he basically smeared it all and made brownish green paint, so we switched to using his finger.</div>
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I found it worked best to hold the canvas for him and help direct him to the unpainted areas. Of course, I'm planning on using the painting for something specific. If you were just doing this for fun, there would be no need to direct like I did.</div>
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I was really glad we did this on a wipeable floor, because at one point he stepped on the canvas and made a footprint on the floor.</div>
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Our finished work.</div>
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Our finished pallet, a work of art itself.</div>
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Our workspace when we were done.</div>
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The babe. He had to stop and examine the first two spots of paint he got on himself. He quickly got over that. A bath followed. :)</div>
<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-15189888948753845152016-06-13T12:56:00.000-04:002016-06-21T08:15:28.403-04:00Keeping My Toddler Busy: Sidewalk Chalk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This activity is pretty self explanatory. I bought Cai sidewalk chalk for his Easter basket, and he is just starting to be interested in using it. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">As with every other coloring utensil, he gravitates toward the blue.</span></div>
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It's a great opportunity to teach colors!</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Cai was in just a diaper because it was so hot out the day we did this. And, for the record, we still use cloth diapers, but I was behind on laundry the day with did this. :)</span>Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-91834240414653862742016-06-06T12:45:00.000-04:002016-06-06T12:45:05.198-04:00Keeping My Toddler Busy: Stringing Beads<br />
I've decided to do a series on the different activities I've been trying with Cai now that his attention span is longer. I'm determined to make sure we do some kind of activity at least three days a week this summer. I have a tendency to be a lazy mom, so it's important for me to force myself to try new activities with him. I'm all for independent playing and getting him to use his imagination, but I also want us to make memories doing things together. Besides, I love crafts!<br />
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The first activity we're sharing is simply stringing beads. Obviously this activity needs to be well supervised, lest your toddler stick a bead somewhere it doesn't belong (Cai likes to put them in his mouth and then spit them out).<br />
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Supplies:<br />
Beads- I used pony beads and some beads I made myself a while ago out of polymer clay.<br />
String- I recommend something with a stiff end, depending on your toddler's fine motor skills. I feel like Cai's are pretty good for an 18 month old, but I don't think he could have done this with just a piece of yarn. I used <a href="http://www.michaels.com/silkies-necklaces-assorted-colors/10267836.html#q=silkies&start=4">these.</a><br />
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Other than just handing him beads or putting letter beads in the right spot to spell his name, I didn't do much.</div>
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Sometimes I had to hold the string still for him.</div>
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Or help him shake the bead down past his fingers.</div>
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For the most part though, this was an activity he was able to do on his own after some help and some modeling.</div>
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He enjoyed wearing the finished result.</div>
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I'm <i>pretty</i> sure he was eating actual food here and not a bead. ;)</div>
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The nice/not nice thing about those elastic Silkies is that you can easily take the beads off and restring them. That means that if I need to keep Cai busy while he's wearing his necklace, I can let him take the beads off and do it all over again. That also means that when he was playing with his necklace while I was going to the bathroom the other day, all of the beads fell of and most are still on the floor in the hall. Sigh.</div>
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Also, "bead" is now added to his repertoire of words.</div>
<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-46590044548620683132016-06-03T09:00:00.000-04:002016-06-03T19:47:11.249-04:00IVF vs. FET: Our ExperienceAs most of you know, we recently did a Frozen Embryo Transfer in an attempt to get pregnant again. Unfortunately, it didn't work, but I wanted to talk a little bit about the experience now since I didn't blog during.<br />
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I mainly wanted to talk about the differences because it was very similar to IVF in most ways.<br />
The overall difference between the two procedures is that IVF starts from the very beginning. Meds are give to stimulate the ovarian follicles in order to be able to retrieve eggs. The eggs are then fertilized and different meds are given to prepare the body for pregnancy. With an FET, the embryos are already created, so there is no need for stimulation of the ovaries, it is all with the goal of preparing the body for pregnancy.<br />
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<b>Meds:</b><br />
Many of my meds were the same as<a href="http://anopenwindowblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/ivf-and-side-effects.html"> during IVF</a> (<a href="http://anopenwindowblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/ivf-update-cycle-day-5.html">here </a>too), but there were a few differences. This time I gave myself Lupron injections, estrogen (e2v) injections (instead of suppositories, my mom gave me these, because they're best in the tush), dexamethasone, an antibiotic, and progesterone suppositories.<br />
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The Lupron was an every day injection to prevent ovulation (I think). This was the same as IVF. The e2v is to thicken the lining of the uterus. Last time I had suppositories instead, and I think I started them later in the cycle. I got one injection in my butt twice a week.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You start out with this big scary needle to draw up the medicine. It's a thick liquid, so alarge needle is needed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then you switch to a smaller, yet still terrifying, needle, haha.</td></tr>
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The dexamethasone was the same as last time. It's a low dose steroid that acts as an immune system suppresant, to keep my body from attacking the baby as a foreign body. The antibiotic and the progesterone were also the same.<br />
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For the most part, the side effects weren't as pronounced this time. I had some mild nausea off and on from the progesterone and estrogen I think. The main side effect I noticed was from the dexamethasone. It made me hungry and made me feel like my blood sugar dropped shortly after eating.</div>
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<b>Weight</b></div>
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I worked really hard to lose weight before starting my FET and actually started at about a pound or two less than when we started the IVF. I lost thirteen pounds total. Unfortunately, between stress, the dexamethasone, and being on vacation with food everywhere, I gained back ALL THIRTEEN POUNDS during the two week weight. More on this in another post, because it's a major struggle right now. During IVF I only gained five pounds and most of it was bloating.</div>
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<b>Emotions</b></div>
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It was bizarre emotionally this time. I felt less connected to the whole process. Maybe partly because I wasn't blogging about it, but mainly because I was so focused on Cai and generally less <i>desperate</i>. Not that I didn't want another baby as much, because I certainly did, but it didn't feel like life or death like it did with our first round because we already have Cai. With Cai I prayed CONSTANTLY and talked to the embryos constantly. This time I didn't have as much alone or quiet time, so it was a little different. I also spent more time getting massages and chiropractic adjustments last time. This time I didn't have the money to do that, so it wasn't really an option. I also struggled with feeling like I was being over confident this time because it worked the first time for us. </div>
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<b>Cost</b></div>
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According to Steve, the overall cost of IVF, start to finish, including testing, meds, and embryo storage fees, was about $20,000. The total cost of the FET this time was about $6000. </div>
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The starting cost for an FET at our office was $4500 (I think the prices had just gone up, but I'm not sure). Meds were MUCH cheaper this time because there were fewer and because our insurance covered more of them. That was a huge blessing for us. Most of the additional costs were tests that I had done before starting, both through our fertility doctor and my PCP. I was concerned about possible thyroid issues and wanted to get that taken care of before starting. I was also taking some natural supplements to help prevent the preeclampsia and cholestasis I experienced while pregnant with Cai. In addition, there are a few procedures before the actual FET process starts that are not covered in the $4,500 total and were not covered by insurance. Also, the cost of storing our remaining embryos went up significantly. Before we do another FET I will have to undergo some testing in order to be sure that my body didn't do something to prevent implantation. I'm not sure what that entails, but I'm pretty sure insurance won't think it's necessary. </div>
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For our IVF we pulled money our of Steve's 401k to pay the majority. We were also, as a couple, making about three or four times what we are now, haha, so we had more money available in general. For our FET we relied on gifts from friends and family (THANK YOU!), selling some things, and credit. I think that made it even harder when it failed.</div>
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If you'd like to help us with that cost and the cost of our next two transfers with our remaining embryos, Steve has started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/2682q2c">Go Fund Me page</a> for us so that you can do that.</div>
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To be honest, I have mixed feelings about doing another round. First of all, I want to lose weight again. More this time, if I can. Part of me can't wait to jump right in again, but another part of me is dreading going through all of the meds and appointments and uncertainty again. I so want more children though. We want Cai to have siblings. I pray daily for our last two little frozen embryos (as I did when there were four of them), and I can't wait to (this probably sounds weird out of context) have them inside me where my body can keep them safe, but I'm also afraid of what might happen again. </div>
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Prayers would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you're going through this or thinking about going through this process, please feel free to reach out to me with questions or just to talk. Also, I'm in an awesome support group on Facebook called Baby Fever which I highly recommend, and its sister group Fertility Friends which is for women who have already conceived but have or are still struggling with infertility. Please let me know if you'd like an invitation!</div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-47205759670118513572016-06-02T12:13:00.001-04:002016-06-02T12:50:14.005-04:00Cai Alexander: 18 MonthsI'm a little late here, but I definitely wanted to make an 18 month update. Cai changes so much every day, and I don't want to forget what he's like now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFaseyjFOjk4BHOo4jy30vVGSpWQ9r5gZuA0NQ8udcLRtorObXe3g6CE-ll5EGrIKM-CLJ3YVQ3S4_64TQoZUnU8EqCsH4IjCsjUpld35RLVu7pz3H-6rspRmCKmwrpV5K8PHgMNsDrM/s1600/20160510_113801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFaseyjFOjk4BHOo4jy30vVGSpWQ9r5gZuA0NQ8udcLRtorObXe3g6CE-ll5EGrIKM-CLJ3YVQ3S4_64TQoZUnU8EqCsH4IjCsjUpld35RLVu7pz3H-6rspRmCKmwrpV5K8PHgMNsDrM/s640/20160510_113801.jpg" width="360" /></a>At his 18 month well baby visit, Cai weighed 23 lbs 1 oz. and measured 33.5 inches tall. That puts him in the 15th percentile for weight (he was only in the tenth for his twelve and fifteen month visits) and the 80th for height. The receptionists were surprised at how tall he is. He did not enjoy his appointment at all. He cried when he was measured and weighed before the doctor even saw him. While we waited for her to come in, I explained to him all of the things she would do -- listen to his heart, press on his belly, look in his ears and mouth-- I even demonstrated for him. I reminded him that he was safe, that I would be with him the whole time, and that the doctor was only there to make sure he was healthy and safe. I have no idea how much he understood, but he nodded and whimpered. Until she came in, then he screamed again. I think his last appointment traumatized him; it was a sick visit, and she wanted to check his ears, but they were full of wax (he HATES when I touch his ears), so she had to use a tool to clean them out while I held him down. It was awful.<br />
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PERSONALITY<br />
Generally though, Cai is very easy going. He is sometimes shy around new people, especially in small rooms, but I can usually get him to still be polite; shaking hands or waving hello at the very least.<br />
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He has very suddenly become more "boyish" if that makes sense. We hear lots of growling and grunting, see more climbing, and experience more tackling.<br />
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He's very silly and likes to hide and giggle while he waits to be found. His favorite places are under blankets and in his closet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOdqSetuUo3L-eTSDo_cjN-sGboUI3_diaGUFFiFKS1fHEpGW67bI2qsmt22bpSj8O9tHx2kvJBhBUo2YBeriEEppjHLmnTlS_B0qpA72StqwEyubObPkI7ehByAcCWrmkDYe3iABqQs/s1600/20160522_174633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOdqSetuUo3L-eTSDo_cjN-sGboUI3_diaGUFFiFKS1fHEpGW67bI2qsmt22bpSj8O9tHx2kvJBhBUo2YBeriEEppjHLmnTlS_B0qpA72StqwEyubObPkI7ehByAcCWrmkDYe3iABqQs/s400/20160522_174633.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
My favorite thing right now is how loving he is. He will come up to me in the middle of playing and kiss my leg or my arm. When I lay with him while he's falling asleep, he will sometimes roll over just to give me a kiss. Steve taught him how to do group hugs with Mama and Daddy quite a while ago, and he loves them. He's also very diplomatic, and usually when he kisses one family member, he has to kiss them all. Occassionally though, when he is angry, he will purposefully ignore a request for a kiss or a hug (he just kissed my knee while I typed that).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcRuzR3y4L35wto8Y9smPFR6rd1cqwa3bUMF7JFXK7aFLndG6Pj8Re5T1QzBDwK9UlydpFDcgpIfsAa5PfY1-mMO1ZygJJdlaFK3Z3cEeZah_3i82faelpJYJJD6ZQYRLIGojVUtIpcw/s1600/20160509_093103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcRuzR3y4L35wto8Y9smPFR6rd1cqwa3bUMF7JFXK7aFLndG6Pj8Re5T1QzBDwK9UlydpFDcgpIfsAa5PfY1-mMO1ZygJJdlaFK3Z3cEeZah_3i82faelpJYJJD6ZQYRLIGojVUtIpcw/s640/20160509_093103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Cai LOVES his stuffed animals, particularly his three puppies which all happen to be black and white. He kisses them, feeds them, hugs them, squeals when he finds them, and usually sleeps with at least one of them.<br />
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It's so fun to see the way he uses his imagination. My mother-in-law recently bought him a box of toy food for his kitchen set (probably over $100 worth of mostly Melissa and Doug stuff for $10; it was awesome!), and he has spent a lot of time cooking and feeding us. The other day he put an egg and bacon in a frying pan, then walked around the living room looking for something and saying, "Hot." He finally found his toy pot holder, ran back over to the kitchen, and used it to get the egg out of the pan!<br />
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INTERESTS<br />
Cai loves...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwez-lQ5kyosXBiXJ4G5fads3n7dk95rU227UOZM6ZPaHVz36W1qb0PEpFHZoypmSTjSvqqzC9xcLuzmH_E4yvEneXweF2jCu9hD7QQ1b2jt1F-OPxUY0UFo8FzqpLGnq3eIScjn-rs-c/s1600/20160427_101524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwez-lQ5kyosXBiXJ4G5fads3n7dk95rU227UOZM6ZPaHVz36W1qb0PEpFHZoypmSTjSvqqzC9xcLuzmH_E4yvEneXweF2jCu9hD7QQ1b2jt1F-OPxUY0UFo8FzqpLGnq3eIScjn-rs-c/s640/20160427_101524.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacking horses. Eek.</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>Animals. All of them, but particularly dogs, elephants, horses, and birds.</li>
<li>Stacking things...horses, blocks, plastic ice cream scoops, big legos.</li>
<li>Finny, our dog, who he calls "Eee-ee." He likes to snuggle with Fin, kiss him, call him, pet him, and sometimes gets to rough with him.</li>
<li>The color blue, which he can say and identify. Yesterday though, everything was blue.</li>
<li>Coloring, mostly with a blue crayon.</li>
<li>Climbing. On the table, over the back of the couch, on the high chair...</li>
<li>Riding the lawn tractor.</li>
<li>Cars, one of his first really clear words. Whenever we get out of our car, he yells, "car" and points to all of the cars he can see.</li>
<li>Smelling flowers.</li>
<li>Blowing out candles.</li>
<li>Chocolate. This kid is a choco-holic like his mama. One day I had him trying out his little potty and told him he could have a piece of chocolate if he went pee-pee, so he did. Instantly.</li>
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TALKING/COMMUNICATION</div>
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At Cai's fifteen month check up his doctor made me a little nervous because she was mildly concerned that he wasn't really talking much. I think he could say "hat" and "hot", but not much else. The suggested milestone was 3-5 words. </div>
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The suggested milestone for 18 months was 7-20 words, and he was saying about 25 then. He has added more now. The ones we hear the most often are...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time walking on the beach.</td></tr>
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<li>car </li>
<li>corn</li>
<li>Daddy</li>
<li>Bye (this is his clearest word)</li>
<li>Hi</li>
<li>Finny (ee-ee)</li>
<li>blue</li>
<li>hot</li>
<li>hat</li>
<li>eye (also very clear)</li>
<li>ball</li>
<li>balloon</li>
<li>bottle (all three of those sound basically the same)</li>
<li>book</li>
<li>gone/all gone</li>
<li>go</li>
<li>water (wa)</li>
<li>coffee (he said this one when he and Daddy brought me a cup on Mother's Day)</li>
<li>boat (he learned this one on vacation)</li>
<li>please (meeb)</li>
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Recently he has also tried saying "Aunt Katie" (ah day-ee) and "Holly" (hol). I was beginning to get a little jealous because he still wasn't saying "mama", but he finally said it this week (mam). He still really only says it if you ask him where as he calls Daddy a lot and even called Aunt Katie a few times this weekend.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Sunday with one of his elephants.</td></tr>
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He makes quite a few animal sounds. Not all of them are recognizable to anyone but family, but he makes them anyway. He makes sounds for dogs, cats, sheep (this one usually gets screamed for some reason), horses, frogs, fish, turtles (those last two are more of a tongue motion than a noise), ducks, cows, moose (his Uncle Jake taught him that one), giraffes (Uncle Jake and Aunt Katie can be thanked for that one too--it's a made up sound), snakes, bunnies (he sniffs), birds (he makes this sound every time he hears a bird. He even stops what he's doing and points to his ear, then tweets), elephants, dinosaurs, lions, and bears. </div>
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SLEEP</div>
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Cai wakes between zero and three times a night, usually. Our bedtime/naptime routine usually takes about twenty minutes tops. I read him a book and a Bible story, we pray, and I sing him his lullaby, then lay with him until he falls asleep. He will also usually tell us that he wants to go to bed when we ask. I say usually for all of this though because sometimes he fights sleep tooth and nail. Most mornings he wakes between 5:30 and 6:30, I give him a bottle and lay with him, and he falls back to sleep until around 7:30 or 8:30. Once in a while he'll skip that wake up and sleep straight until 7:30.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huggin his new baby cousin.</td></tr>
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Steve and I are both loving the stage Cai is in now. It's so much fun to watch him learn and grow and try new things. I could write forever about all of things he can do and all of the things I love about it him, but I'll spare you. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to sit on my lap while I mow the lawn. He lasts about five minutes before falling asleep.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling a "Lady and the Tramp" with Finn<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Come back on Monday to check out the new serious I'm starting "Keeping My Toddler Busy"!</span></td></tr>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-19706702895779586712016-05-08T22:35:00.002-04:002016-05-08T22:36:25.220-04:00On Mother's Day...<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Indie Flower'; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
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If you open Facebook today, you we will be bombarded by Mother's Day posts. From children honoring mothers to mothers thankful for children. As wonderful as it all is, I felt myself hesitant to post anything.</div>
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Not that I don't enjoy Mother's Day; mine was wonderful, despite my mom recovering from surgery on the hospital. Steve let me sleep in and made me breakfast in bed. He and Cai made me a lovely card, an Cai proudly pointed to the part he colored. And Cai said coffee, haha! We visited my mom in the hospital, and I was treated to dinner at The Melting Pot. Watching my little chocoholic eat chocolate fondue was hilarious!</div>
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But I can't help but remember how I felt not too long ago, and even this year thinking about how I was hoping to announce a pregnancy. Or of friends who lost their moms. Or...you name the reason why Mother's Day is difficult for millions of people. Even as I listened to the message honoring mothers at church today, part of me was hearing it with my old ears.</div>
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So I thought I'd share this post from two years ago, again. And I want to emphasize the part about <b>openness.</b> Transparency has come up in many conversations lately. It is so important in relationships in general and the church specifically. We cannot expect people to be supportive, considerate, compassionate, understanding, prayerful, if they don't know what we're going through. If we keep our struggles private, we are denying ourselves all of that; we are denying our brothers and sisters in Christ the opportunity to fully love us; we are building walls between ourselves and those we love.</div>
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We are often taught that some things are meant to be private; infertility, depression, mental illness, grief, miscarriage, even the first trimester of pregnancy. To the point where I have actually been shamed by some for being so open about our struggle. </div>
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I reject that! Talk about! You don't have to have blog and proclaim it to the world (what can I say, I'm an open person), but talk to your friends! Ask for prayer! Ask for help! Let someone else in on your pain, or your joy! Allow yourself, and them, that gift!<br />
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Thoughts on Mother's Day after Infertility</h3>
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Mother's Day is a day to honor your mother. To thank her for the sacrifices of love that she made for you. To pamper her a bit and allow her to enjoy a day that is about her and not every one else.<br />
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That being said, for the past five years or so it has been difficult for me not to think about myself on Mother's Day. I think any woman who cannot have children (but wants to) or who has lost children can relate to this feeling, whether she is the mother of miscarried children, adopted children that will never be hers, or dream children that have yet to exist. I know of so many women who are waiting for children adopted or biological (or even waiting for a husband first and the children to follow). I know of so many women who have stopped waiting and have learned to live without children for various reasons. For us Mother's Day brings pain.<br />
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Mother's Day is a reminder of what we don't have, can't have. We hear constantly about what a gift motherhood is, what a beautiful sacrifice. I recently read a quote on Pinterest that said something to the extent of "People who have not had children cannot truly know love." Now, whether or not that quote is accurate or not can, I'm sure, be hotly debated on both sides, but that's not my point. My point is that that is how I have felt over the past five and half years, most of the time, but especially on Mother's Day. Mother's Day has left me feeling empty, wondering if I will ever get to experience this wonder that others enjoy so much.<br />
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For awhile, I went through a period where every Sunday in church was painful. There were two reasons for this. First, I attended a church that was burgeoning with growing families with new additions, it seemed like, every week. This deepened my sense of loss. Second, every Sunday it seemed the Lord would bring me to my knees reminding me to turn to him when I felt this deep sense of loss. Either way, I cried every Sunday, and Mother's Day was worse. This weekend a friend shared<a href="http://timewarpwife.com/?p=3120" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"> a link on Facebook</a> that also talked about the pain of Mother's Day, specifically at church. It recognizes the pain that SO MANY women experience on Mother's Day.<br />
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So, okay, I've established that Mother's Day can be painful, not just for me, but for anyone who is experiencing that sense of loss, but what's my point? Do I think we should stop honoring our mothers? Of course not. The fact that they should be honored and deserve to be honored is part of the very reason Mother's Day is difficult for me. Am I even proposing change or just rambling? I don't really know. I guess I'm proposing <b>first, that we be aware.</b>Aware of the pain others may be experiencing. Aware of the broad spectrum of mothers that are out there. I'm also proposing, <b>second,</b> <b>that we be more open</b>. I think we can all agree that I am QUITE open (some argue more than I should be) about what I've been going through for the past several years, and I think that it has helped others to know how to love me and other people going through similar experiences to me, better. Openness, especially within a family of believers can allow us all to love each other better. If I do not know that you are going through a painful experience, no matter what the type, I will not necessarily know how to better love you through it. <b>Third, I'm proposing that we go out of our way to thank those who are mothers in an nontraditional form. </b>The people who mother our children at school, in Sunday school, at sports practices. The godmothers and mentors and encouragers. Those who love unconditionally and unreservedly because they choose too. I can think of so many people who have "mothered" me who are not my mother, but who deserve the gratitude that a mother receives. Shame on me for not thanking them earlier.<br />
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All of this being said, I am feeling almost a sense of guilt because this year on Mother's Day, I'm not in mourning. Instead I am rejoicing for the experiences to come and the gift I have been given. I am thankful for the sacrifices of vomit I have been able to make over and over again the past two months. But I'm also feeling guilty, although I don't know if "guilty" is exactly the word I'm looking for. I know so many people who are still stuck in this realm of pain, and I don't deserve this joy any more than they do. It's a strange feeling to so quickly be on the other side of this. In <a href="http://anopenwindowblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/what-we-want-you-to-know-from-with.html" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;">a post earlier this year</a>, I argued that even <span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 24.64px;"> "</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 24.64px;">even if you've been through it [infertility] in the past, you can no longer understand it." </span>and I am already feeling that loss of connection. And, as much as I have hated dealing with infertility, it has repeatedly forced me draw closer and closer to the Lord. I know that pregnancy and motherhood have a way of doing that also, but in a different way than what I've known already.<br />
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I'm sorry if this post seems a little all over the place, but I've been trying to sort out my thoughts during this new stage of life while still remembering from where I've come, and Mother's Day seemed as good a time as any to do so. Also, as a disclaimer of sorts, this post is in no way suggesting that every woman without children does or should feel this way. I also know so many women who are not now, and feel they may never be, called to have children, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I know that they are sometimes made to feel a whole different type of guilt, and that is in no way my intent.</div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-80003909100950636312016-05-02T17:29:00.000-04:002016-05-02T17:29:06.931-04:00On Being Painfully Aware of InfertilityFirst off, some disclaimers before I begin this post. <br />
1. I'm posting from my phone, so auto correct may bite me in the tushy quite a bit.<br />
2. I may be a bit all over the place, and if so, I apologize.<br />
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Last week was National Infertility Awareness Week. I waited to post because, honestly, I was hoping to find out today that I was pregnant. I know I blogged through our first IVF experience, but I decided not to blog until after our Frozen Embryo Transfer because I wanted to keep it more private. I do pave to go make some posts about the process and how it was different than our fresh transfer, but today I want to talk about other things.<br />
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Namely, infertility sucks. It never stops sucking. Today I got a call from our doctor telling us that my pregnancy test was negative. We transferred two embryos, two babies, and neither one implanted. This is worse than just a negative home test. It's not just and, "Oh, I didn't get pregnant this month." I KNEW there were two babies in my body. Two babies who I have been praying for for the last two years since they were created. And now they're gone. I'll never get to know them. I was never even actually pregnant with them. We created them and then my body failed them (I know that's a dramatic way of looking at it, but I'm feeling dramatic right now).<br />
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We spent over $5000 this time (far less than on Cai, but we make far less now than we did then). Five thousand that we scraped together through selling things and the generosity of some wonderful friends and family as well as our credit card. In fact, bills are still rolling in, and we're pretty broke. Which also means, we can't try again for a while. We have two embryos remaining, and they are even better quality than any of the others were, including Cai, but we're going to have to wait to save all over again.<br />
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Now I need to stop and pull back (I warned you that this would be all over the place), because right now I sound whiney and miserable, which I am at the moment, but I'm also still aware of all that I have to be thankful for. When I burst into tears this afternoon, I was met with hugs from my two favorite men; Steve and Cai. And if we never have any more children, that will be okay because I have both of them. And those hugs were followed by many texts and emails from friends and family who were praying for us today.<br />
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And I know my God is there. I know that his steadfast love endures forever. I know that He will hold me with His righteous right hand. I know that he has a plan for our family.<br />
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So infertility sucks. It's effing awful. And it always will be. But the love we've seen through it, the love we've grown through it, definitely doesn't suck.<br />
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And I know that for the next little while I'm going to bounce back and forth between sadness and resignation, anger and fear, longing and contenment. It's going to be hard.<br />
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On my way to my blood test this morning, I told the Lord that this time, I didn't feel as selfish as I did wanting Cai. I mean, I had unselfish reasons then too, but it was mostly just that I wanted a baby. But this time, it was more that; we just have more love to share. We love Cai so much, and enjoy loving him, and we just want to share that with more children.<br />
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And now this post sounds like I'm fishing for sympathy, but I'm not. I need to process the whole thing, and this helped, but I also want to help others process it, because I know I'm not the only one out there who has gone through this.<br />
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Thanks for the love and support, friends. Spoken and unspoken. We feel it. Both of us.<br />
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-66405253294822470822016-02-10T10:25:00.003-05:002016-02-10T10:25:56.146-05:00Switching to a Big Kid Bed EarlyWe switched Cai to a "big boy bed", aka a twin mattress on the floor, when he was thirteen months old. Switching that early wasn't something we had planned on, but it worked for us.<br />
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We switched for a couple reasons, but the main one was that Cai was still waking to nurse four to six times a night. I was so sleepy and was majorly struggling with keeping my eyes open while sitting with him in the rocking chair. And Cai was struggling, at times, with staying asleep, but would sleep better if I had my hand on his back (or sometimes even crawled in the crib and laid next to him).<br />
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So we made the switch. We did kind of a "test nap" where I put the crib mattress on the floor and had him nap on that. When he did okay, I took the crib down and put a twin mattress on the floor. There was very little, if any, difficulty with the transition. Cai took to it right away.<br />
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We did have to do a few things to make it work (other than move the glider rocker to our living room).<br />
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<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IVl9mR_RdRv7Qtvg-maD93YLkCwrFy6JFoJRWEXknPqfnrWE05OYj76r166-qfZFXIH5Ov5sRPdgn3mlYWB0SHFh8JFRcFnJiEXxMS9uW-CkDRqvCGU7Ki5b_A2F9Lk_DQxJ1RLj4Ak/s1600/sleeping+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IVl9mR_RdRv7Qtvg-maD93YLkCwrFy6JFoJRWEXknPqfnrWE05OYj76r166-qfZFXIH5Ov5sRPdgn3mlYWB0SHFh8JFRcFnJiEXxMS9uW-CkDRqvCGU7Ki5b_A2F9Lk_DQxJ1RLj4Ak/s400/sleeping+boy.jpg" width="225" /></a>
<li>We put all of his stuffed animals on the side of the bed against the wall because he was rolling and hitting his head against the wall.</li>
<li>We keep one of his larger stuffed animals on the other side of him to keep him from rolling out of the bed. He only rolled once before we did that, and it's really only a two inch drop, so it's not the end of the world, but the stuffed animal seems to help.</li>
<li>Double check that his room is a safe place. I switched the contents of some of the drawers in his dresser so he couldn't access them, put his piggy bank up higher, and recently switched from a wet bag for dirty cloth diapers to a diaper pail (we kept the bag on the door knob and he was pulling on it)</li>
<li>We started keeping the door closed so he wouldn't roam the house in the middle of the night, and closing the other door in the hallway just in case he did escape. That being said, last night was the first night he did anything other than get up and cry at the door until one of us comes for him.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WZvAccR2xVn9K8hLLiAj_mf50al8sk-wqrLCzkmDFvnNM72qazn3q5rKvqrGrLMJiSNdIk_IcM_2i2sAwb2F74NCBrZZYBiymjBEmGsjq0L_1DfmWDIgzKmBAhk3bDngApY-ol00ASU/s1600/how+he+likes+to+sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WZvAccR2xVn9K8hLLiAj_mf50al8sk-wqrLCzkmDFvnNM72qazn3q5rKvqrGrLMJiSNdIk_IcM_2i2sAwb2F74NCBrZZYBiymjBEmGsjq0L_1DfmWDIgzKmBAhk3bDngApY-ol00ASU/s320/how+he+likes+to+sleep.jpg" width="320" /></a>Overall, we're pretty happy with the change. Even though Cai isn't nursing anymore, he's also climbing over everything now (the back of the couch, onto the dining room table), so we're glad we didn't have to deal with that in the crib. He's also waking much less most nights, but when he does have a restless night, it's nice that Steve or I can lay with him and even fall asleep. It's also nice that his room is now super safe, so I can be comfortable letting him play in there while I cook dinner (his room is right off of the bedroom.</div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-22174601664611442202015-12-14T00:00:00.000-05:002015-12-14T00:00:00.631-05:00Our Favorite Winter Books.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Cai loves to be read to. This week he has started bringing us books and sitting on the couch so we can read to him. He has some clear favorites, and so do I. We tend to read books over and over again for several days in a row. Partly because I'm lazy and don't feel like putting them away and getting new ones out. Partly because I remember hearing that little ones learn best through repetition. Partly because if we read different ones all the time I end up feeling like we read them all, all the time. Right now we've been focusing on Christmas and winter books, so we've been reading these often. <div>
Here are some of our favorites.</div>
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We bought this one last year in an effort to start a tradition. It's a collection of twenty four stories that you read leading up to Christmas. A mother bear is telling the stories to her little one, Benjamin. The stories are all about a little bear who is traveling to Bethlehem to meet the Child who will be born. He meets people and creatures along the way such as an eagle, a man in red, a beggar, a giant, a rosebush. Each story ends with a little moral or truth. Honestly, this one isn't my favorite. I LOVE the concept, but the execution could be better. If anybody knows of a better book out there with the same concept, let me know. Still, it's neat for all three of us to sit in Cai's room and read it before bed.</div>
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This one is a classic. I remember learning in my chidlren's lit. class in college that it was a big deal in the world of children's books when it was released because it has a black main character and because it is set in the city. I just like it because it helps you to see the snow through the eyes of a little one.</div>
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I just bought this one from Sam's Club a few weeks ago. It is a very simplified version of the Christmas story told in rhyme. It's basically pulled from the book of Luke. It begins with Mary and Elizabeth. The pictures bother me a little because they're a little silly, but other than that I really enjoy it. It does a good job of telling all of the major parts of the story. Steve liked that when the wise men visit Mary and Joseph and Jesus are living in a house, not the stable. I really like that it ends by telling of Jesus's death and resurrection, making the story complete.</div>
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This is a favorite from my own childhood. Technically we haven't started reading this one yet, because the board book version is in Cai's stocking. It tells the story of a little boy's lost mitten that becomes shelter for the animals in the forest. All of them. At the same time. I love the illustrations. My favorite thing is that each page has a border with little peaks of what is happening on the next page or what has already happened on the page before. </div>
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This is another Jan Brett book, so it has the same great illustrations. This one is a twist on the traditional gingerbread man story. It ends with the little boy making a house for the gingerbread baby. The board book version has a little flap you can open up and see the gingerbread baby inside the house which Cai loves.</div>
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We actually don't have this one in our house, but I want to. This is another one from my childhood that I loved. It tells the story of the first snow of the year in a small town. I remember that one lady knew it was going to be a big snow because her big toe hurts. All the grownups act the way grown up do about snow, but the kids just enjoy it. I'd like to pick this one up for Cai.</div>
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This one is out of print, and it's quite dated, but I still love it. I think it's based on a true story. It's about a brother and sister who are staying with their grandparents while their mom gets settled in their new house. It's only November, so when the snow starts falling in the morning, Gramma says it won't amount to much and will melt quickly. But it doesn't! The repetition of the line, "But the snow kept on falling," is one I remember reading out loud with my mom when she read it to us. Cai like to see all of the animals on the family's farm. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What are your favorite winter or Christmas books? Do you have certain ones you read every year?</span></b></div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-55037985692778932232015-12-11T12:27:00.000-05:002015-12-11T12:27:17.959-05:00Wooden Nativity SetI thought I'd share the little nativity set I made for Cai for Christmas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7hNc0LLFnSEF_hgc6vvwNYmrh1vkiytfsETeaDM3QkqgalAI9N6CWgw2MVrs1TQwuJbUrP0mY3q4JVtCGDwjOAbl3dv79aLxNdu7Wu5aA32wib_4qErpVFSn1efKCLEOi4PiPUcMMbo/s1600/nativity1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7hNc0LLFnSEF_hgc6vvwNYmrh1vkiytfsETeaDM3QkqgalAI9N6CWgw2MVrs1TQwuJbUrP0mY3q4JVtCGDwjOAbl3dv79aLxNdu7Wu5aA32wib_4qErpVFSn1efKCLEOi4PiPUcMMbo/s640/nativity1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanted to have a set that was safe for Cai to play with and that we could set up in his room every Christmas.</div>
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I won't be letting him play with it this year, at least not with complete freedom, but next year, I hope to be able to.<br />
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When we have more little ones, Lord willing, I want each of them to have their own little set to keep in their rooms.<br />
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I bought two diy kits from Hobby Lobby. The first was blank wooden dolls that I painted myself.</div>
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The second was a foam build your own stable with a star and square black manger. It came with the foam stable in six pieces, the star and its stick, and three already made peg figurines.</div>
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I gave Cai the figurines to pla with, well, Mary and Joseph; Jesus is a bit too small.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Merry Christmas!</b></span></div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-54453040955730180592015-12-09T17:09:00.000-05:002015-12-09T22:37:42.955-05:00How to Make Six-Pointed Snowflakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwbGdfjY7KDhRQeJ46wtflJp4G9NboglXGkJQMnglFyE5_P7TsP9Uq4PpSoYOxJ6Ery3XIsI3a1JX2HzezAJVt_MlqZg5yebWdu_Xd187auS4PWpIIHKo34tQiEK2iz-OdkCaTdxCeQU/s1600/snowflakes+cais+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwbGdfjY7KDhRQeJ46wtflJp4G9NboglXGkJQMnglFyE5_P7TsP9Uq4PpSoYOxJ6Ery3XIsI3a1JX2HzezAJVt_MlqZg5yebWdu_Xd187auS4PWpIIHKo34tQiEK2iz-OdkCaTdxCeQU/s640/snowflakes+cais+room.jpg" width="640" /></a>I have a confession. I am a little prideful about my snowflake making abilities. I make pretty awesome snowflakes. But here's another confession; anybody can make them. They're SUPER easy.<br />
So I thought I'd share a quick tutorial. There are probably hundreds of these tutorials online, but, oh well, here's one more.<br />
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Start with a piece of white paper and scissors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH1ybRCUwHh7r4svsukyX4UH-0wMN9-LuJbNCiNPlnf8rvAKA8vdHWCR9EcWi7IRVHqAPL72_nAXlO4xtwZnvFPRubEOc7BFvERtkcxP28A_CA9qdCSa1xNBTHa2WyIrxfvWyGn3-_94/s1600/snowflake+step+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH1ybRCUwHh7r4svsukyX4UH-0wMN9-LuJbNCiNPlnf8rvAKA8vdHWCR9EcWi7IRVHqAPL72_nAXlO4xtwZnvFPRubEOc7BFvERtkcxP28A_CA9qdCSa1xNBTHa2WyIrxfvWyGn3-_94/s400/snowflake+step+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The paper needs to be square in order for these to work, so with a regular piece of 81/2"x11" you need to start by making it square. Do this by folding one corner up to meet the other side. Cut along the edge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqjb5cfOPXxbNql_QtZyEhyphenhyphenjp4wmcmxWEXxItzgUmK6NBtWbDWS-yW4O09-ozMUCguRwSworiSoG0oxirwl1TdiWbMyXWhDa0ZKMrOsOs7ldnoJq8w5tHrtbEl1lJ66zFxML2mLAJVBw/s1600/snowflake+step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqjb5cfOPXxbNql_QtZyEhyphenhyphenjp4wmcmxWEXxItzgUmK6NBtWbDWS-yW4O09-ozMUCguRwSworiSoG0oxirwl1TdiWbMyXWhDa0ZKMrOsOs7ldnoJq8w5tHrtbEl1lJ66zFxML2mLAJVBw/s400/snowflake+step2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9tdgwSYTEbgBgw4fGi6X_hoN9ZVsuR7uEtamE7N7X4sCv8vO0PTaotsdG4bAqOF5JSNx_7bJhBz07cVL6d7n_ETGdkd3f1G0pub1h-mFpfXBAchsefqdsdw3YQTuEU_X3PxtkcZfn-w/s1600/snowflake+step+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9tdgwSYTEbgBgw4fGi6X_hoN9ZVsuR7uEtamE7N7X4sCv8vO0PTaotsdG4bAqOF5JSNx_7bJhBz07cVL6d7n_ETGdkd3f1G0pub1h-mFpfXBAchsefqdsdw3YQTuEU_X3PxtkcZfn-w/s400/snowflake+step+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Leave the square folded in half in an isosceles triangle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS82M4UzL_O8B_yxBcfpT0fh-w0x7qkqtjOmn7g_JBbJWeQ8l9tg8XLhRTvI4_mL9i9qZVazxG3w90SvIUphTGraiKgtJHdiDKyDowR_4li0OJoF_C5ToSBgyIq4ANWZA9YlyM7R9JSVs/s1600/snowflake+step+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS82M4UzL_O8B_yxBcfpT0fh-w0x7qkqtjOmn7g_JBbJWeQ8l9tg8XLhRTvI4_mL9i9qZVazxG3w90SvIUphTGraiKgtJHdiDKyDowR_4li0OJoF_C5ToSBgyIq4ANWZA9YlyM7R9JSVs/s640/snowflake+step+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now comes the trickiest part. You're going to fold the right corner up toward and past the center. Then do the same thing with the left corner. You want all of the side to meet up and a perfect point, so this takes a bit of trial and error.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV2vFUzPWzkyf-AYL1HtXCZwYIA_ZHfuSb7P_XIYpBr82zW5M_78Q1k1I4Eao23ahxfUIYCGqaZ-rqkHxS4AJdCs7fMVJCH5-ssN6pCGFF_S4BuumqGYfPihE2bmMBkZGQho8cocaQGE/s1600/snowflake+first+fold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV2vFUzPWzkyf-AYL1HtXCZwYIA_ZHfuSb7P_XIYpBr82zW5M_78Q1k1I4Eao23ahxfUIYCGqaZ-rqkHxS4AJdCs7fMVJCH5-ssN6pCGFF_S4BuumqGYfPihE2bmMBkZGQho8cocaQGE/s640/snowflake+first+fold.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right side</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALBqMU3MO37AdxcywhX8GAYsJhVmsp73H20Gi_khROCeqUDpUfr7EbqmfohDcK6_MRAnjUQWgpIaSfMWxcTK_kINaKbqabvUVZaUmh1kcKBVAxwt56cd9VbQv6624Qsw0-3gagi0gKCA/s1600/snowflake+second+fold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALBqMU3MO37AdxcywhX8GAYsJhVmsp73H20Gi_khROCeqUDpUfr7EbqmfohDcK6_MRAnjUQWgpIaSfMWxcTK_kINaKbqabvUVZaUmh1kcKBVAxwt56cd9VbQv6624Qsw0-3gagi0gKCA/s640/snowflake+second+fold.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left Side</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFHBV-TxLT1Khr74TceRDzkKFs_FUwzJqb6WA6ANMWTh3L01nl1X2VmaM_VoWZi4ZsmMy3al2p2qO1GHTo81TdIbFLkLx7DmvPyNjTtXStVGuQ1LZ7mLL_gk8OzawaQDEfBmA1AAdesY/s1600/snowflake+second+fold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFHBV-TxLT1Khr74TceRDzkKFs_FUwzJqb6WA6ANMWTh3L01nl1X2VmaM_VoWZi4ZsmMy3al2p2qO1GHTo81TdIbFLkLx7DmvPyNjTtXStVGuQ1LZ7mLL_gk8OzawaQDEfBmA1AAdesY/s640/snowflake+second+fold.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All edges line up.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfYlUiUogVA-EpI6aGOsEcWorJSA3jZAPm0_Tag_IHzS5ORIJ7zTv9ZUFoovSp2OwGDZgsEfUSotzu_u2lzunLzcHbHV20KgDYhTFEDkzhwInsLPUTsyav7IoXP9ciqipiUpPTZyBjQE/s1600/snowflake+good+point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfYlUiUogVA-EpI6aGOsEcWorJSA3jZAPm0_Tag_IHzS5ORIJ7zTv9ZUFoovSp2OwGDZgsEfUSotzu_u2lzunLzcHbHV20KgDYhTFEDkzhwInsLPUTsyav7IoXP9ciqipiUpPTZyBjQE/s640/snowflake+good+point.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good point.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2Zd2pD_Y07yN0-uJ6I5q9TOs7d_eYomHQyLkHwymp8wXyTmHZmLd7sZR638CEa-UORubBaikZpYh01cF6ygM0063MWFlli7MHalCLme6fMbVHydBiFRWoHlxpq53G3WSmrPiZZWdRK8/s1600/snowflake+edges+don%2527t+meet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2Zd2pD_Y07yN0-uJ6I5q9TOs7d_eYomHQyLkHwymp8wXyTmHZmLd7sZR638CEa-UORubBaikZpYh01cF6ygM0063MWFlli7MHalCLme6fMbVHydBiFRWoHlxpq53G3WSmrPiZZWdRK8/s640/snowflake+edges+don%2527t+meet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edges don't meet. Needs fixing.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-NDBf477fpA7OrrW7gffLyGnYCq24tVEZxQtImJEKZMiL0gwm0AYtTstWAogY2EIXuDKuMzRvFsMrFf1clsBd_0Kw571UiWzBMJr10lB9llsL0iiy3eRzd-IM8PU9hFh3zEL4QdUIxg/s1600/snowflake+bad+fold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-NDBf477fpA7OrrW7gffLyGnYCq24tVEZxQtImJEKZMiL0gwm0AYtTstWAogY2EIXuDKuMzRvFsMrFf1clsBd_0Kw571UiWzBMJr10lB9llsL0iiy3eRzd-IM8PU9hFh3zEL4QdUIxg/s640/snowflake+bad+fold.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad point. Needs fixing.</td></tr>
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Once you've got all of you're edges lined up and a nice point, you're going to fold the whole thing in half.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNUzyS5kAYMESmHxEX7s6tOFb4scy8PrntqIcJqB360vyr4pWCrSnCwwb9CdvN5XYtVX3Bxh1gWp_TvzEEXso2rZe1J2cVDClGs2ldX4jFickmgwOY21qFY6VCu12qrExUdx_OSF4ydw/s1600/snowflake+folded+in+half.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNUzyS5kAYMESmHxEX7s6tOFb4scy8PrntqIcJqB360vyr4pWCrSnCwwb9CdvN5XYtVX3Bxh1gWp_TvzEEXso2rZe1J2cVDClGs2ldX4jFickmgwOY21qFY6VCu12qrExUdx_OSF4ydw/s640/snowflake+folded+in+half.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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It really doesn't matter which way you fold here, as long as you fold in half.<br />
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Now that you're done folding, you can start cutting. It's important to notice the difference in the two sides before you cut.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIH_HDJ05B9ksp2ctdZGQ28J-IrmtwY4rvkBZWVG37s3_qW7GsG2vky-oqRd-f68N08QojSiqVniHdKe7Yh0uu_SHiXxv9beB2Al9wfppcWWuIk2LEn1q1p4zLLwzkCQWC9buNv_9ZMg/s1600/snowflake+point+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIH_HDJ05B9ksp2ctdZGQ28J-IrmtwY4rvkBZWVG37s3_qW7GsG2vky-oqRd-f68N08QojSiqVniHdKe7Yh0uu_SHiXxv9beB2Al9wfppcWWuIk2LEn1q1p4zLLwzkCQWC9buNv_9ZMg/s640/snowflake+point+side.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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The side shown above, that is closed, while make the points of the snowflake.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nk1RW0f9F59zF18incauN_pEVv9bzSHNc7U5KIjSfD4iFAxnvF_OpJKQ1W4R-Is09ehoLnayfhYPv58qChAXoXK7KcB8L4FraGxsxUDZA24dyvOC6DwHsAbxDvkHqiAiLGiUnrG7j_M/s1600/snowflake+side+to+cut+into.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nk1RW0f9F59zF18incauN_pEVv9bzSHNc7U5KIjSfD4iFAxnvF_OpJKQ1W4R-Is09ehoLnayfhYPv58qChAXoXK7KcB8L4FraGxsxUDZA24dyvOC6DwHsAbxDvkHqiAiLGiUnrG7j_M/s640/snowflake+side+to+cut+into.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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The other side, pictured above, the open side, will create the space between the points. I usually start by cutting <i>into</i> the open side.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JS8q1TaHs7caRSbjdJq5GLo_mDr0JRVnd7jGd17LZQ2_Og230QBiBMnwyC6z5aX_GBAz1Dd_vXVvVuHp4HHmLnpN-6lLyKQPbRf_qtq6tf-WMlUuDrcgBtXJHWsY9G5COmgfh7k_WxM/s1600/snowflake+example+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JS8q1TaHs7caRSbjdJq5GLo_mDr0JRVnd7jGd17LZQ2_Og230QBiBMnwyC6z5aX_GBAz1Dd_vXVvVuHp4HHmLnpN-6lLyKQPbRf_qtq6tf-WMlUuDrcgBtXJHWsY9G5COmgfh7k_WxM/s640/snowflake+example+cut.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So you can see here, the left side will be the point.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpVN-PBFxuU-aRVmVtHKiG5loPYDdKUcUh5-c5QmgtCv63M28leRWZB7vRDSULbivsOFEKOi5Ntd3y2higVBayjguqjDZdATFiEYO6QYMMPlyM-eTbh7chN5nCNtOYp0C-XBN_XJvvgY/s1600/snowflake+example+cut2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpVN-PBFxuU-aRVmVtHKiG5loPYDdKUcUh5-c5QmgtCv63M28leRWZB7vRDSULbivsOFEKOi5Ntd3y2higVBayjguqjDZdATFiEYO6QYMMPlyM-eTbh7chN5nCNtOYp0C-XBN_XJvvgY/s640/snowflake+example+cut2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now it's up to you. The more space you create by cutting, the lacier and more delicate your snowflake will be.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zzKXOrw6HBjn9z3YGG4ZqtgN3KOyIy_5esqPYmxR30rnw4apWKZilCXk-U9uY4q7vlSxzTCSe5M8LCmaxH9aiCVycZ5OhirC_UXZjxOwF0q6PncNo3zO7iVozIQejBwg8x-MEeU39f8/s1600/snowflake+example+cut3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zzKXOrw6HBjn9z3YGG4ZqtgN3KOyIy_5esqPYmxR30rnw4apWKZilCXk-U9uY4q7vlSxzTCSe5M8LCmaxH9aiCVycZ5OhirC_UXZjxOwF0q6PncNo3zO7iVozIQejBwg8x-MEeU39f8/s640/snowflake+example+cut3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cutting into both sides as pictured above, will create a snowflake like the one below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGBftptHFWprRtEdWR7GyY5mzEReykSsrM89pSu-5e8w7HMVOZVBx7MzlmLK66vSbne9chEftNg4NtBXYGaGsFOBiagaxGkgnmDSW76cs8yPApng9zvdhaHs-WI6Tpn5l-cMmPQlSTzU/s1600/snowflake+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGBftptHFWprRtEdWR7GyY5mzEReykSsrM89pSu-5e8w7HMVOZVBx7MzlmLK66vSbne9chEftNg4NtBXYGaGsFOBiagaxGkgnmDSW76cs8yPApng9zvdhaHs-WI6Tpn5l-cMmPQlSTzU/s640/snowflake+finished.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O5CfH0KT-pEVgd9mOciyhj9v8vDm-7pf72LW77c3wqw8Rh8auJ-lf05f1E_qMqIjPOhb_wsu2GxM0jcdz0nGuINnaL9t5Bs4raEzi0jitsy_oIY0xGvnW2oiOCbL9sQXnTZjdQPHNtA/s1600/snowflake+side+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O5CfH0KT-pEVgd9mOciyhj9v8vDm-7pf72LW77c3wqw8Rh8auJ-lf05f1E_qMqIjPOhb_wsu2GxM0jcdz0nGuINnaL9t5Bs4raEzi0jitsy_oIY0xGvnW2oiOCbL9sQXnTZjdQPHNtA/s640/snowflake+side+cut.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Cutting into to only the open side, like the picture above, will create a snowflake like the one below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmB0ahkqiiynTufKhZ2txxMFBw1RV0p_ObIRyIxyQeiUV_BUhttRxfx6SaGVAQPEowTCZ5yK4HvUm7WVKHXydTTpql-hVcD1l5OFG_zuaSrPyzAgrIg9W016MtAZHrLG-BdyCYx7LSGE/s1600/snowflake+finished2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmB0ahkqiiynTufKhZ2txxMFBw1RV0p_ObIRyIxyQeiUV_BUhttRxfx6SaGVAQPEowTCZ5yK4HvUm7WVKHXydTTpql-hVcD1l5OFG_zuaSrPyzAgrIg9W016MtAZHrLG-BdyCYx7LSGE/s640/snowflake+finished2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Be sure to cut off the tip also. This creates the hole in the middle of the snowflake. You'll find that different kind of cuts here create different shapes in the middle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWg6gs4IAEgkt5BDa2tOvUUDw9TlJF73sKYbYBZVlwPe5Nrc-UlP76Dtm7V6QesVYhN1wRNNtX4WeIuIT1T_MbuAgC0CpXB8E07VZkbJSW5HA0-HUk0FJ1FTT7XGu2JGyzohNn4zRgnA/s1600/snowflake+shadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWg6gs4IAEgkt5BDa2tOvUUDw9TlJF73sKYbYBZVlwPe5Nrc-UlP76Dtm7V6QesVYhN1wRNNtX4WeIuIT1T_MbuAgC0CpXB8E07VZkbJSW5HA0-HUk0FJ1FTT7XGu2JGyzohNn4zRgnA/s640/snowflake+shadows.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love the way the house looks when the sun shines through the windows. Snowflake shadows everywhere!</div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-53812018400603215292015-12-04T23:32:00.000-05:002015-12-04T23:37:30.337-05:00Thankfulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX97OU_0mCHhJ9e4Kwej4Ubbhsf4j0EGNg9F7HOkOzevxO7dFIAxgkgAXb5wZiSGXZh3LwDYKMHKKo3kIs3IzDXbp_mkxlm2w2OjZnPhwnsk9smR1m6x-fGQRTHEsxM5B7ai3hUgSqh0M/s1600/thanks+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX97OU_0mCHhJ9e4Kwej4Ubbhsf4j0EGNg9F7HOkOzevxO7dFIAxgkgAXb5wZiSGXZh3LwDYKMHKKo3kIs3IzDXbp_mkxlm2w2OjZnPhwnsk9smR1m6x-fGQRTHEsxM5B7ai3hUgSqh0M/s400/thanks+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
I thought about making a post like this on Thanksgiving Day, but with a house full of people, I didn't feel like sitting at the computer. But tonight the thankfulness is pouring out of me. When I prayed with Cai before bed tonight the praises just poured out of me.<br />
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I am thankful for my son. It's just overwhelming to me that we are a family of three this year (well, four including Finn). I know we were last year too, but it was all so new then, and Cai didn't do much...he was just kind of there. Now he is a part of everything we do, the best part.<br />
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Today I was just in awe of him. In awe of life through his eyes. Everything is exciting. We went shopping and the amount of "Oh!"s and gasps and squeals was astounding. Every time we get out of the car he gasps and points at the sky, like it's stunning. The lights in the Christmas aisle at Walmart were incredible. The cows at Chick-fil-a hilarious. The flowers on the tables were all amazing and needed touching (which he did, ever so gently). Any stuffed animal was exciting. If we're in a clothing store, he reaches out and touches all of the clothing on his way past just to feel all of the different fabrics. And all of the flirting he does! Smiles and bashful head tilts!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhch8zWocDZEJfinN8YpNNH3-eQrHLclRX9SKl83dpDE_hKcpyurzLhmPi-5_rB_dwPIf9BXSOmbOmjFcIl0EOr4qtJNT-8Bfd57ef9CuhFo-N95Qrkvz3dqOcDF0NbMZqnlBc8USmKY0I/s1600/thanks+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhch8zWocDZEJfinN8YpNNH3-eQrHLclRX9SKl83dpDE_hKcpyurzLhmPi-5_rB_dwPIf9BXSOmbOmjFcIl0EOr4qtJNT-8Bfd57ef9CuhFo-N95Qrkvz3dqOcDF0NbMZqnlBc8USmKY0I/s640/thanks+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And then at home! Our day was filled with giggles and hugs and running around. He likes to hide behind the couch because he knows he's not supposed to, then if I'm not looking at him, he makes a little squeaky noise and then pops his head up and grins at me. He climbs onto the couch and starts to pet the dog. I remind him to do it gently and demonstrate by petting his head and saying "ah-ah" so he turns to the dog and gently pets him saying, "ah-ah." And he hugs me and runs his fingers through my hair.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt2O1Ruxnuw4W-Yubxu365KeBeufUOM7ismmO6KRbscSvS9dFie5DWmEAOxLxZg-LMZvTbbbP-z1lGU_HmJPPbRlPa1CoTt9hDHIpZW_QRM-gzTT1xd_9hNBxj8S8fK0dhj5KnR5STqw/s1600/thanks+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt2O1Ruxnuw4W-Yubxu365KeBeufUOM7ismmO6KRbscSvS9dFie5DWmEAOxLxZg-LMZvTbbbP-z1lGU_HmJPPbRlPa1CoTt9hDHIpZW_QRM-gzTT1xd_9hNBxj8S8fK0dhj5KnR5STqw/s640/thanks+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I can't think of all of the other things he did today. Or maybe I can, but when I start to describe them, I realize that they are really mundane, but they were done by my boy, so they were amazing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaJlramw1-KOs3uf9opSvrkEQOdlwWtG8V5ausChT3hcD906ZTW5mtEhlMEU_SZJ_egb5RfyCmpNb2p-Tiyz4-WVZ0vXvH3rVEihL2K-FG0U2URF1oCU_2t3gP42YgRXZTNSeFN0TZkA/s1600/thanks+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaJlramw1-KOs3uf9opSvrkEQOdlwWtG8V5ausChT3hcD906ZTW5mtEhlMEU_SZJ_egb5RfyCmpNb2p-Tiyz4-WVZ0vXvH3rVEihL2K-FG0U2URF1oCU_2t3gP42YgRXZTNSeFN0TZkA/s640/thanks+4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
And I'm in love with us. Our little family. We are awesome. We are everything I dreamed of us being before we existed, our little little family of three, and a dog. Last night we all sat on the couch together and giggled. Steve and I have started trying Cai's bedtime routine together, and it's so wonderful the way he snuggles on one of us, then reaches for the other one. Or lays on me then reaches for Steve to make sure he's still there.<br />
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Every new thing that he does is amazing. Every time he signs please my heart melts. Every time he signs anything really because he communicates now. And he shakes his head "no" which is annoying and cute at the same time. I'm convinced he "makes jokes" too. I'm not quite sure how else to word it, but he does things that he thinks are funny then looks at us to see if we're laughing.<br />
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I'm gushing, I know, but I'm just so enthralled b him. And thankful. I'm thankful for him, for us, for the feeling of completion, For the purpose having a son has given me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkN3FtF3RK2KlWQlZ3l2m2p6KiWqZkZMo3idY-S58EDksGsPXuc8fERWXWKGCtJT_Q_VcYYMbQMlqUwPcQZpHO6KH23EsdQf4Wz9Ey_VdVTLTEXtXIRVXmK-qICo0g_G7gVorxUhRvbo/s1600/thanks+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkN3FtF3RK2KlWQlZ3l2m2p6KiWqZkZMo3idY-S58EDksGsPXuc8fERWXWKGCtJT_Q_VcYYMbQMlqUwPcQZpHO6KH23EsdQf4Wz9Ey_VdVTLTEXtXIRVXmK-qICo0g_G7gVorxUhRvbo/s640/thanks+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
And I'm overwhelmed, in a good way, at the enormity of the task that lies before us, of teaching this little man about the God who created him, the Savior who loves him, the people who he has the opportunity to love. Overwhelmed and excited.<br />
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Thank you, Lord, for this crazy little boy. For every adorable feature on his little face. For every knew thing he learns. For every hug and cuddle and snuggle. For a partner who loves me and loves our boy, unconditionally, and who can make us laugh. My cup runneth over.<br />
<br />Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-69530450061826724242015-12-02T13:57:00.002-05:002015-12-02T13:57:42.874-05:00And the Winner Is...The winner of the Mooiste nursing cover givew way is...Jessica!<br />
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An email is on it's way to you with more information!<br />
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Thank you all for participating!Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-56767024690850546062015-11-28T11:22:00.000-05:002015-11-28T11:22:32.791-05:00Food for Little Tummies: Spinach Cheddar FingersWhen I posted<a href="http://anopenwindowblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/food-for-little-tummies-baby-led-weaning.html"> some recipes</a> great for little ones doing Baby Led Weaning a few weeks ago, I forgot to include my favorite go to snack for Cai; Spinach Cheddar Fingers!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_CQUzIMA3uFcCwv96FVgpD9j96GlpaYO122ch-N6OTDcMueGVuoL8mTD-8IL48gK19s-3WFWElPtljovmxUDxcglLCl5kkJazrlJb0qKa3DOOjgbp_AQOhyphenhyphennpVqHluuCFPvyS5wteU4/s1600/spinach+fingers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_CQUzIMA3uFcCwv96FVgpD9j96GlpaYO122ch-N6OTDcMueGVuoL8mTD-8IL48gK19s-3WFWElPtljovmxUDxcglLCl5kkJazrlJb0qKa3DOOjgbp_AQOhyphenhyphennpVqHluuCFPvyS5wteU4/s640/spinach+fingers.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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I think I mentioned a while back that at his nine month appointment Cai's hemoglobin was a little low. His iron levels were just under normal. I'm happy to say that at his 12 month visit, they were just above normal, so although we still need to watch, he's doing well (And as a braggy side note, both times he had to have a finger stick, he didn't make a peep. My tough little baby!) Anyway, we made sure he was eating lots of iron rich foods like spinach and whole wheat, and this is one of the ways we did it.<br />
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I don't use a very precise recipe, and I change it up a little every time I make it, but here are the basics...<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn-0Lxht2ERot4NTD5acNtlA-z6FaSZBJJ6lCwhWBGyltEbxKJ0b7jF1cX-WR4LFzmRu-1i-_EkT5rD0GQ6vetvjnBg-pwDeUNVF8n8zRrGgD-D7LhQl3aw7B38ZgSuF4wx0jbpbm5I4/s1600/baking+mix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn-0Lxht2ERot4NTD5acNtlA-z6FaSZBJJ6lCwhWBGyltEbxKJ0b7jF1cX-WR4LFzmRu-1i-_EkT5rD0GQ6vetvjnBg-pwDeUNVF8n8zRrGgD-D7LhQl3aw7B38ZgSuF4wx0jbpbm5I4/s200/baking+mix.jpg" width="149" /></a>
<li>Spinach, finely chopped. about 1/2 c.</li>
<li>1 egg</li>
<li>1/4-1/2 c. shredded cheese, I usually use cheddar.</li>
<li>Spices, I've added curry and cumin</li>
<li>Baking mix, I use Arrowhead Mills Sprouted Grain mix.</li>
<li>I've also added breast milk and a bit of raw milk</li>
</ul>
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Basically, you add ingredients until you get the right consistency. I start with the first few ingredients, then add baking mix until it's just thick enough to form little finger shaped pieces without it sticking completely to my fingers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSH30hNux8k6LTBN1V72sJYX0ICxmBi0ZoXHclvT6n1o-X9t0IXzyKWt0WzJGSd2X2EiZteKUkCxC2WVGglYI4kMlSq0x2tDxsqS1c1mXCjGDhWJfj2mnhNK2UlAAfw7L6JreWUuEHH0/s1600/batter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSH30hNux8k6LTBN1V72sJYX0ICxmBi0ZoXHclvT6n1o-X9t0IXzyKWt0WzJGSd2X2EiZteKUkCxC2WVGglYI4kMlSq0x2tDxsqS1c1mXCjGDhWJfj2mnhNK2UlAAfw7L6JreWUuEHH0/s640/batter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I evenly space them out on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet and bake at 350. They are so easy and yummy enough that I sometimes sneak one myself!</div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-29898709687022272862015-11-23T16:00:00.000-05:002015-11-23T16:02:12.013-05:00Mooiste Nursing Cover GIVEAWAY and ReviewHello! Happy Thanksgiving! I'm super excited to do my first real giveaway on the blog, especially because I love the product I'm giving away, but first I wanted to mention that you should hop on over to <a href="http://withgreatexpectation.com/">With Great Expectation</a> and read the <a href="http://withgreatexpectation.com/miracle-mommas/miracle-mommas-lorena/">guest post</a> I made as part of Logan's series Miracle Mommas. While you're over there, check out the rest of Logan's blog! She conceived her little girl through IVF a few months before we conceived Cai, and is now expecting her second little one CONCEIVED NATURALLY (a most welcome surprise from the Lord). I love her blog for the godly perspective she provides on infertility, PCOS, and motherhood.<br />
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Now, to the review and giveaway!<br />
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I recently received two <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nursing-Cover-Made-Luxuriously-Bamboo/dp/B011LPQCI6/ref=lp_12725215011_1_1?srs=12725215011&ie=UTF8&qid=1448309186&sr=8-1">Mooiste nursing covers</a>; one to review and one to give away, and I LOVE them! <a href="http://mooiste-lifestyle.com/">Mooiste</a> is a small company based in South Africa. Mooiste means "the most beautiful" in Afrikaans, and the fabric is definitely beautiful.<br />
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The first thing I noticed about this cover when I pulled it out of the package is that it is luxuriously soft. It's a stretchy bamboo jersey that is thin enough to be breathable yet not be see through.<br />
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It provides full coverage all the way around which is saying a lot for me right now. Cai is a skinny kid, but he's tall and I have enormous boobs and am pretty fluffy, but we both fit completely under the cover. I don't have to worry about side boob or love handles peeking out of the cover. I love that.<br />
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It's also cute and trendy enough that you could wear it outside of nursing. It doubles as a poncho or cowl. We also used it as an infant seat cover a few times, and that worked really well. The packaging also suggests that it could be used as a swaddle; we're past the swaddling stage, but this definitely is soft and stretchy enough to do that.<br />
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I was asked to do a short video review, which I've never done before, and I'm probably super awkward, but you can see that below. Sorry that I'm talking so quickly; I needed it to be short enough to be able to upload onto the blog, but I wanted to fit in my favorite things about it!<br />
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The giveaway begins today and ends on December 2. Enter below using Rafflecopter!</div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-64744591607094224452015-11-18T13:26:00.000-05:002015-11-18T13:38:29.564-05:00Cai Alexander:12 Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today Cai turns one year old! This year has flown by. Cai has had a cold this week and had a few nights where he couldn't sleep unless he was touching me, so we spent a couple of nights on the couch (so daddy could get a good night's sleep for work). As I snuggled with him on the couch, I thought about how a year ago, I was also laying on the couch, unable to sle<br />
ep because I was huge and itchy and achy and had to pee and thinking about the way our lives were about to change. What a difference a year makes!<br />
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This month has been the hardest and most rewarding so far. Cai has changed so much this month!<br />
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At his one year well baby visit, Cai was 19 lbs 3 oz, and 31.5 inches tall which means since birth he has gained 11 lbs. 4 oz. and has grown 11.5 inches! He is in the 10th percentile for weight and the 75th for height. </div>
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Cai can...<br />
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<li>Walk! All over the place. He is so proud of himself. He definitely walks more than crawls now.</li>
<li>Sign the words "more," "again," "all done," and sort of "please." He doesn't sign any of them consistently, but he knows how. I say sort of for please, because he only does it when he wants to nurse, and he rubs my chest instead of his (but even this is far more polite than the way he normally requests to nurse by squeezing my boobs or lifting up my shirt. We're working on this).</li>
<li>Bark. My sister taught Cai to bark and now he does it when he sees any animal, particularly dogs, horses, and cows.</li>
<li>Climb onto the couch. He can get his little leg up so high! He likes to climb up and push everything of the couch; blankets, pillows, the back cushions, the dog...</li>
<li>Ride his little bike, sort of. He has a little push bike, and he likes to ride it. He doesn't go very far. In fact, he prefers to hold onto the handles and stand balanced on the seat, one foot in front of the other.</li>
<li>Call the dog, sort of. When I stick my head out the door to call Finn, Cai joins in and calls him too.</li>
<li>Point out your nose, eyes, and mouth, but not his own.</li>
<li>Share. Very sweetly. Mostly with the dog though.</li>
<li>Do all of the motions for "Itsy Bitsy Spider"</li>
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Cai likes to...</div>
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<li>Read. Particularly his <i>Little Blue Truck </i>books. He gets gleeful when we pick them up.</li>
<li>Eat!</li>
<li>Climb.</li>
<li>Make messes.</li>
<li>His Grandpa Jack.</li>
<li>Brush his teeth. If I ask him if he wants to brush his teeth, he will stop playing in his bedroom and crawl down the hall to the bathroom as fast as he can go.</li>
<li>Stack things or put things inside of other things.</li>
<li>Fight. Every. Diaper. Change.</li>
<li>Watch <i>Sesame Street.</i></li>
<li>Touch soft things. He sleeps with a curtain. After weeks of having him play with them while we rocked him in the rocking chair, Steve finally took one of the panels down from his window, and now Cai uses it as a security blanket.</li>
<li>Throw tantrums. Seriously, the temper on this kid is absurd. If something doesn't go his way, he throws himself backwards and shrieks. We're working on this. </li>
<li>Bite mama. He thinks it's hilarious! No matter what I do to discipline him. I even tried biting him back (I know some of you will think that's horrible and others swear by it) and he LAUGHED! Sometimes putting him on the floor and moving away from him works, but it's a battle.</li>
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Most nights, sleeping is a little better. He naps beautifully right now. Night times are one extreme or the other. Either he doesn't sleep much at all (waking often, not going to sleep until 2 AM or only sleeping with me) and other nights he wakes, eats, and goes instantly back to sleep. We had one night recently where he only woke twice, and then the next night, he went to sleep then work at 11:30 and didn't go back to sleep until 2 AM. </div>
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Cai has either his first or his second cold right now. I'm still not sure if the first one was a cold or teeth, but this one is definitely a cold. Teeth may be making it worse, but I seem to have the same cold. We were working on the beginnings of the weaning process, but because he's been feeling poorly and not eating or drinking much of anything else, we've put a pause on that.</div>
Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-52936793854802399112015-10-22T12:00:00.000-04:002015-10-22T12:00:06.285-04:00Tie Dyeing a Large BlanketRecently we attended the wedding of Steve's cousin Tony and his bride Krystal, And I'm one of those annoying people who likes to give personal gifts instead of just buying something off of a registry, so we decided to make something for them. Well, really I decided to, and Steve really liked the idea. I knew that Tony and Krystal shared our love of tie dye, so I decided to make them a big tie dye blanket. Plus, they were uniting two families with three children between the two of them, so I thought it would be great to give them something that would be part of snuggly family nights.<br />
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I started out by buying an organic cotton blanket from Target. I chose cotton because I didn't want to have to do anything extra or elaborate to get the dye to really stick. I chose a twin size because I couldn't find one that was just a throw, and I didn't want it to be huge.<br />
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I then headed to Hobby Lobby and bought a large bottle of dark blue Tulip dye and two packets of black dye refills. I also picked up an extra squeeze bottle. Although I wouldn't combine navy and black in an outfit, I thought that they would compliment each other in the blanket because the black wouldn't be a true black when added to such a large white blanket.<br />
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I then tied up the blanket using yarn. I decided to go for a burst pattern, so I simply grabbed a spot remotely near the center, pulled up and started twisting. I wrapped the yarn fairly tightly around as I twisted. I had to be sure not to wrap it too tight because sometimes with new fabric, the dye doesn't absorb well, so I wanted it to be able to easily seep into all of the little nooks and crannies.</div>
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Then it was time to actually dye the blanket. Let me just tell you, that was fun. Especially when Cai woke up in the middle of it. I did it in the bathtub, and it looked like I killed a burnt smurf in there. Unfortunately I didn't realize that the refill pack is made so that you can just drop it into the bottle and the packaging will dissolve. Instead, I poured the powder into the bottle and made a big mess. Lesson learned. </div>
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I made sure that I got it as saturated as possible, and I ended up having dye left over. I then wrapped it in plastic wrap and let it sit for eight hours to allow the dye to set. I thought it looked like a huge terd. I know; I'm really mature.</div>
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I followed the package instructions for washing the dye out and checked the results. The pattern was super cool, but it didn't really cover the blanket as well as I wanted it too, so I prepared the rest of the dye, wrapped the blanket up again, making sure that there was a large amount of white exposed when I was done twisting, and dyed it again. This time because I was low on dye, I wet the blanket to kind of spread the dye further. The combination of that and the original dye job gave it a cool layered effect, and I was pretty pleased with it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOSJwCO_155m7zpb61bOHBwKTtvHcri3bY_w6QjyCDmL9c0Oc-4ZKkzPCk6M8mFIF-SYlez6jnmnuV-sQilbno9wM86uzQzDyX_jcsVSHaYQzFrNn4SP82GJm5J3287O_wr-DfDITHqs/s1600/blanket+open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOSJwCO_155m7zpb61bOHBwKTtvHcri3bY_w6QjyCDmL9c0Oc-4ZKkzPCk6M8mFIF-SYlez6jnmnuV-sQilbno9wM86uzQzDyX_jcsVSHaYQzFrNn4SP82GJm5J3287O_wr-DfDITHqs/s640/blanket+open.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the two different dye jobs here. The darker, bluer pattern is the first time, the cloudier, grayer pattern is the second. </td></tr>
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The best part was that the bride loved it. We were still there after many of the guests had left, and they had started opening some gifts, and she nearly tackled me with a hug after she opened it! I love that they loved it!Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902290741873396579.post-10458010263027461522015-10-19T20:53:00.002-04:002015-10-19T20:53:59.852-04:00Cai Alexander: Eleven Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My little boy is almost one! How did this happen so quickly? I feel like we were just sitting on the couch listening to the voicemail of my nurse telling me I was pregnant!<br />
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Cai is a joy right now. Every day he does or learns something new. It makes life SO exciting for us.<br />
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<b>Cai can...</b><br />
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<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRt8bhz5o_VPLG7yaGDabXqZDXmZ1hlQa2H_fXL_lHUWdlJ20d-DvCGEjS8wDZ16yv6MhNkFOf1acdo-jNp-Hj3w-BleoiXIaZba4yI9oGFcNCLnramhcpWzTBO4UaNHM1QwaMy_UcQ8/s1600/climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRt8bhz5o_VPLG7yaGDabXqZDXmZ1hlQa2H_fXL_lHUWdlJ20d-DvCGEjS8wDZ16yv6MhNkFOf1acdo-jNp-Hj3w-BleoiXIaZba4yI9oGFcNCLnramhcpWzTBO4UaNHM1QwaMy_UcQ8/s400/climbing.jpg" width="300" /></a>
<li>Point our noses. On people, but especially on his stuffed animals which is stinking adorable.</li>
<li>Climb. On everything. </li>
<li>Walk. A few steps at a time so far, but he does more every day. Today he took about five or six steps from one couch to another.</li>
<li>Sign the word "more" although he's only done it a few times.</li>
<li>Wave goodbye. And this week he has started doing it without me waving first. He starts when I say, "Say goodbye."</li>
<li>Communicate what he wants. He points where he wants to go, and has different noises he makes for different things. Technically, he says "mama," but it's not always in reference to me; it really just means I need something.</li>
<li>Yell. This seems obvious, but he does it for certain things like today he helped me call the dog in.</li>
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<b>Cai likes to...</b></div>
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<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrNyDQtjLRb-_OzEI-gzNSVa-F5rgMJ-ta9L-glJ736wCw6wz-laAZqUgEyv5ZpLtWC-ymce3cwjimqHxwx1xX4QIZhqXQjRVNtPYuPpBRmMdvyBNPTFJhN8pZNJVnEttFqa6WJh8vQo/s1600/climbing+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrNyDQtjLRb-_OzEI-gzNSVa-F5rgMJ-ta9L-glJ736wCw6wz-laAZqUgEyv5ZpLtWC-ymce3cwjimqHxwx1xX4QIZhqXQjRVNtPYuPpBRmMdvyBNPTFJhN8pZNJVnEttFqa6WJh8vQo/s200/climbing+inside.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TM103VMc2O5zrhzQbVNtBYycktV0ixXK2bkWPPkZmRn-3Xju8JlBlpCkQvamP56z_Vcc_b99EqHgXAf7VcrO7OYxd2aeiBooTBkzsTUEK5BEbLAmYUdFPt-izxESfzTussD-eGSYvxw/s1600/crate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TM103VMc2O5zrhzQbVNtBYycktV0ixXK2bkWPPkZmRn-3Xju8JlBlpCkQvamP56z_Vcc_b99EqHgXAf7VcrO7OYxd2aeiBooTBkzsTUEK5BEbLAmYUdFPt-izxESfzTussD-eGSYvxw/s320/crate.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<li>Feed his food to Cai when he's bored with it.</li>
<li>Sit at his little table and chairs (which my dad made for me when I was about one and a half) and eat or watch TV.</li>
<li>Watch TV. I've been careful to limit it, but it's super helpful when I'm getting my coffee and Cai's breakast in the morning and also when I'm making dinner. He particularly loves <i>Sesame Street. </i>When the TV is on a kid's show, he sits perfectly still and is completely enthralled, especially if music is involved.</li>
<li>Play with stuffed animals.</li>
<li>Throw Finn's ball for him.</li>
<li>Greet his Daddy when he gets home from work.</li>
<li>Be held by his Grandpa Jack.</li>
<li>Be fed by his Oma (my grandmother). Especially because she tends to give him cookies and has let him try chocolate...twice.</li>
<li>Be bounced on the couch.</li>
<li>Climb on things and in things. He likes to crawl inside Finn's crate.</li>
<li>Chew on straws.</li>
<li>Press buttons. He can just reach the power button on our Wii, and sometimes stands in front of it and presses it over and over again.</li>
<li>Pull books of the shelf.</li>
<li>Eat! He tried shrimp last week and loved it.</li>
<li>Read. Books about animals Crack. Him. Up. His favorite is <i>Your Baby's First Word Will Be DADA </i>by Jimmy Fallon.</li>
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Cai is sleeping a little better than he was before. He is backing to take longer naps (between 45 minutes and 2 hours). He naps twice a day, going down around 10:30-11:30 AM and 3-4 PM. We have had a few nights lately where he has only woken up two or three times, but most nights it's still 4-6 times a night. Last night he only woke up twice, but it took me an hour to get him to stay asleep. I still think a lot of it is due to teeth; even though he has six now, he is still drooling like crazy and chewing on everything. He occasionally stops nursing to chew on my shirt!</div>
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Lorenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520780726898175307noreply@blogger.com0