Why I Use a Nursing Cover

Growing a baby and breastfeeding are two of my biggest accomplishments. It simply amazes me how God designed our bodies to not only offer a safe environment for our little ones to grow and develop, but also produce life sustaining milk that surpasses anything that can be made in a factory. 

I knew even before I got pregnant with Little A that I wanted to breastfeed. I am proud to say he never had one drop of formula. Now this isn't to say if you formula feed or supplement that I look down on your choice, personally, this was just something I wanted. 

I am so thankful for our nursing journey. Little A had no problems latching and my milk supply came in strong. He nursed until he self weaned at 10.5 months. My goal was a year but it became evident at that point in time that he was losing interest and that was ok by me. 

I used a nursing cover in public and plan to with baby girl come February. I in no way, shape, or form think nursing is a shameful thing or whatever other negative stigmas that may be associated with it. My reasons are simple. Breastfeeding is N.O.T sexual by any means. I can't stand hearing people call it such. Breasts are dual purpose body parts, purpose (breastfeeding) and pleasure (sexual). So while I don't believe breastfeeding is sexual, I know my breasts are part time. I personally don't believe any other man should know what my chest looks like. Little A was not a focused eater. He would nurse, pull away, babble, nurse some more, then pull away again. I would have been extremely uncomfortable being exposed during all his unfocused moments. Some moms can skip the cover, yet stay covered up because their little one never unlatches. This was not the case for us at all. My cover also helped my easily distracted baby focus on eating. If we were at church or in a crowded area, I could slip to the back of the room, put on my cover, start nursing and he would have a calm, less distracting environment to nurse. I will add that I have seen a lot of negative comments lately depicting using covers as making your baby hot, excluded, or whatever else. Little A never showed any sort of resistance or discomfort from the cover at all. If it had made him uncomfortable, we would have found another solution. 

Using a cover or skipping one is a personal preference. It all boils down to what you are comfortable with and what works for you and your baby. I pass no judgement on moms who choose differently than I do. It is their choice, their right, and I respect all opinions. Breastfeeding truly is an amazing gift we can give to our babies and I think moms everywhere would be more comfortable if we just gave each other a pat on the back for doing it, not scold their different technique. 

What are your thoughts on nursing covers? Did you have a good or bad experience using them?

Happy Birthday!

Little A is T.W.O!! Every year, I plan to write him a letter on his birthday and eventually print them all out and give them to him. Year number 2, here we go.

My sweet boy,

Time has flown by. It feels like yesterday we were saying how we couldn't believe you were 6 months old and here we are, officially in the toddler zone. 

It's been so interesting seeing you turn into your own person. You are very independent, strong willed, and adventurous. I love that you aren't afraid to try anything. It makes me scared most days but I envy your care free spirit. 

You are exceptionally bright. I know every mom probably says that about their children, but even your Doctor says he can't believe how advanced you are. Speaking in sentences, memorizing pages in your book, being able to count to 10, knowing some of your alphabet, you blow us away.

We have had some major changes with the new house in a new town and your baby sister's arrival rapidly approaching. This has caused a bit of separation anxiety and a new level of clingy but we are working through it. These changes have made you cling to Charlie even more and I am appreciative of your bond with each other. Who knew a dog could calm a screaming toddler down so fast?

I see these little sparks of a grown up in you and while they make me a little sad, they also make me excited to see the future you. You remind everyone it's time to pray when we sit at the table to eat. Your need for independence is a little hard on this mama some days, but I appreciate it all the same. During your first "Mission Conference", when the preacher was getting all fired up and shouting, you started clapping and shouting back with him, future preacher? We will see.

You are such a joy. Every day I make sure to tell God thanks for you. You have changed the way I view every thing. You are so creative and adventurous and you have made me come out of my comfort zone. I owe you so very much my boy. Thank you for all the smiles you provide, the laughs, and even the days of tears, they are teaching me so much. You are my greatest adventure, and I am excited for what this next year will bring. 

Happy birthday love muffin, here's to making year number two full.

I'm alive!

I am alive!

 I can't believe my short blogging break turned into a 5, almost 6 month break! 

We have many new exciting changes in our little family.

1.) We are expecting baby #2! We are so thrilled.

Currently 24 weeks, due end of February 

2.) We bought a house. It's a 1940's cape cod and we are slowly but surely remodeling just about every room. My Pinterest account has been in serious over drive. I can't wait to do some posts to show you our progress.

3.) Litte A will be T.W.O in 2 days?!?!?! Insane right? 

Be on the look out for lots of posts coming your way soon. Just wanted to give yall a brief update and let you know that I did NOT fall off the face of the Earth. I hope yall stuck around and again, thanks for your patience.

Happy Halloween !

Little A | 18 months

This blog was actually started as a way of capturing all things pregnancy and baby related. I have glanced back at my posts from his first few months and thought "No way, I don't remember that." I am SO glad I decided to write things down, it's so easy to forget the little things or what his sleep pattern was like at first. And when it comes to my baby, I want to remember every.single.detail. Good, bad, and ugly, I want to be able to remember his nap times when he was 2 months old, his height and weight percentages, his clothing and diaper size.

Let's play catch up since I haven't done a post about his milestones in quite a while.

Ice cream date

Little A still loves to sleep. He sleeps in his own room. He absolutely REFUSES to co-sleep. I have tried to let him sleep with me for a little while when Mr. J is gone and Little A wakes up, cries, and pushes me away. This boy needs his space when he sleeps. He is binkie free as of 3/31/14!!!! We cut the tip of the paci, gave it to him, and he was done. He just decided he didn't like it or want it and that was that. The first night he woke up and cried and asked for it but it wasn't a hard adjustment at all. He still has to have blankie to sleep. He goes to bed around 9:30-10:00, and sleeps until 8:30am. He takes one nap a day, usually around 12:30-1 and sleeps for an hour and a half.

He still does sign languague. He will sign more, all done, ready to eat, drink, and please. Usually as soon as he is awake and I go into his room, he signs "ready to eat".

At the Homeplace, I HATE character shirts, but he is obsessed

His vocabulary is so impressive. He is so smart, it blows me away. I love the way he pronounces some words, it's too cute. Words he can say: mama, daddy, charlie (char-yee), dog, milk (mook), apple (bapple), banana (nana), drink (gink), cracker, cheese, turkey, hot, blankie, shoes, socks, pants, cup, ball, Nemo (memo), cars, Sulley (Monster's University- Su-yee), no, love you, Annie, Brittni (Britt Britt), Grana, Pawpaw, Papa, Nana, Mimi, moon, stars, flower (gower), diaper (bi-per), cookie, outside (side), night-night, sun, ketchup (kes-up), teeth, eyes, nose, mouth, belly, ears, cow, duck, bird, kitty, church, cross, bible, Jesus (jeeeeee-sis), book, hat, flower (sowder), tree,  "eat it" (usually when he is sharing his food,aka, food he doesn't want to eat), "Daddy, are you?", bye-bye, moon, stars, orange, berries, baby, uh-oh, Mike (from monster's university), ball, bunny, and yuck. Animal sounds include : tweet-tweet, mooo, woof (oof), meow, oh oh ah ah (monkey)

Easter Sunday

His favorite snacks are cherry tomatoes, cheese, turkey, and oranges. He is still picky about his veggies, if we put something green on his tray, he immediately says "yuck", but we are working on it. He loves to eat eggs, spaghetti, chicken, cheese, sweet potatoes, and all fruits, especially apples lately. Since receiving his Easter basket, he also likes to ask for candy, but only gets it on a rare occasion. 

He is OBSESSED with brushing his teeth, he will cry to do it. He also loves cleaning his ears. Weird right?

His favorite thing in the entire world is to be outside. It doesn't matter what we are doing, he just wants to be outside. He usually asks to go out as soon as he is done with breakfast. He still loves to play with balls. He has a small basketball hoop and grabs his basketball and says "hoops". He also loves to color, play with his cars, and his favorite movies are "Monster's University" and "Cars". "Nemo" is a close third. He LOVES to read. We read every morning but all throughout the day as well. His favorite books are still "Duck and Goose: It's time for Christmas", "Duck and Goose: Let's find a Pumpkin", "Thank you God", "Goodnight Moon", and "Listen Up, Pup".

Being a toddler comes with a certain amount of mischief. We woke up the other morning to the sound of him running around his room. He has successfully climbed out of his crib TWICE! He loves to play with Daddy's cologne and won't leave the house without a squirt on his clothes. He has been known to throw several important things away, like my phone and his cups. He is also notorious for dumping Charlie's full water bowl on the floor to splash in. Overall, Little A is a great baby toddler. He usually listens very well, uses his manners (please, thank you, welcome), and has such a sweet spirit.  I still can't believe he has been entrusted to me. 

• Weight - 23 pounds 4 ounces (15th percentile)
• Length - 32 1/2 inches (50th percentile)
• Head circumference- 18 1/2 inches 
• Diaper size - 4
• Clothes size - He wears 18 month tops, and still needs 12 month pants, even some of those are too big. He is a long, lean boy. 
• Favorites- playing outside, wrestling with daddy, playing "hoops", and "Monster's University"
• Mommy's favorite moments - It's so hard to decide but I would have to say our morning reading session. After breakfast, we read for about 35 minutes, I love the snuggles and seeing him so excited to read.

Total Truth Thursday | All things domestic : Grandma's knowledge

Welcome to our seventh Total Truth Thursday! Thanks to all of you who have linked up every week and shared your heart! If this is the first time you’re hearing about Total Truth Thursdays, head back to this post and catch up on what it’s all about!

Before we dive in and link up, here are a few reminders:
1 // You can find the list of topics for each week HERE.   

2 // Kindness is key.Whether you follow the topics for each week or come up with something on your own, please remember that others may or may not agree with you, and you may or may not agree with them! Disagreements are natural, passionate opinions are welcomed, and constructive feedback is fine. However, we won’t put up with rudeness, ugliness, or name-calling. Just be nice! 

3 // To link-up, please follow Hey Kelsea Rae & These Moments Called Life on Bloglovin’ or GFC and copy and paste the button code to your post somewhere! We are so excited to get started!

Today's topic is all things domestic!

Confession time! When we first got married, I absolutely LOATHED the day-to-day tasks of housekeeping. I loved the fun decorating part, but the upkeep, blah! Oddly enough, it is something that I have come to kind of rather enjoy. Nothing makes me happier than whipping out the steam mop and making my floors sparkle. I love folding fresh out of the dryer clothes. We don't have a dishwasher, the two hands typing these words are solely responsible for getting them clean.

 I can remember my Grandmother saying 3 things consistently when it comes to housekeeping. I'll share some of her wisdom. 

1) "A man with a wrinkled shirt is a sign of a lazy wife."

Yowza, let that smack ya one good time. Growing up, I thought this was derogatory. As an adult, I totally believe this 100%. I am so very fortunate to be a stay-at-home mama/wife. My husband works hard and we made sacrifices so this was possible. If I don't work outside of the home, my home is my job. It's my job to take care of things, including my husband. I have known several stay-at-home wives who don't work, inside or outside the home. If your husband is working so you can stay home, the least you can do is give him a clean, relaxing place to come home to.

Now before you start thinking I'm a 50's housewife, I understand that means your house won't be perfect. I can tell you we have plenty of days here where Mr.J walks in the door and laundry is piled on the bed, the dishes need to be done, and Little A's toys are covering every square inch of the floor. But I do make it my goal to do my best around here so Mr. J can just relax and be glad to be home. He does help me with things around the house when I need help, he isn't above starting some clothes in the wash, helping with dishes, or picking stuff up. 

2) "Your house should always be ready for unexpected company."

Ever had someone call and say "Hey can I stop by in about 10 minutes?" and you start freaking out wondering where you can shovel all of your stuff so it appears clean? My hand is raised. (See #3 for more, they go hand-in hand)

3) "A little goes a long way"

Grandma said, doing a little each day goes a long way.  To make this somewhat possible, I made myself a cleaning schedule. I have assigned tasks for each day. They all take around 30 minutes. 30 minutes each day to have a clean house. It's not hard, it just takes getting into a routine. It's less hectic knowing only 30 minutes are put into this instead of one extremely long day of playing catch up on chores. 

I will close with this, take joy in your home ladies. I thoroughly enjoy taking care of my family. It's service, to them and to the Lord. I love knowing I get to make them healthy food everyday, they have clean sheets to sleep on, clean clothes to wear, and a nice place they can relax. Don't set the bar at perfection, you will burn yourself out without obtaining it (for longer than 5 minutes of course). Serve with a joyful heart. For me, dishes seem to be my least favorite, but when I do them, I either listen to praise and worship, or listen to a sermon or speaker, it makes it fun. Instead of thinking it as a burden to have to clean up, try being thankful instead. Hate the dish, thank God for food to dirty them up. Hate doing laundry? Be thankful you have a family to wear the clothes and a washing machine!! It's all about attitude

Total Truth Thursday | Parenting: Call Me Old Fashioned

Welcome to our sixth Total Truth Thursday! Kelsea and I started this link-up in hopes that it will be successful in creating a safe environment for us to share our opinions, beliefs, and thoughts- however strong, against-the-grain, mainstream, or out there they are! If this is the first time you’re hearing about Total Truth Thursdays, head back to this post and catch up on what it’s all about! 

Before we dive in and link up, there are a few things that you need to know:
1 // You can find the list of topics for each week HERE.   

2 // Kindness is key.Whether you follow the topics for each week or come up with something on your own, please remember that others may or may not agree with you, and you may or may not agree with them! Disagreements are natural, passionate opinions are welcomed, and constructive feedback is fine. However, we won’t put up with rudeness, ugliness, or name-calling. Just be nice! 

3 // To link-up, please follow Hey Kelsea Rae & These Moments Called Life on Bloglovin’ or GFC and copy and paste the button code to your post somewhere! We are so excited to get started!

Today's topic is kids/parenting.

Parenting seems to be that ONE topic that gets every single person fired up, super judgemental, and closed minded. I am doing todays post a little differently and just hitting on some bullet points. Before you read, you need to know a few things. These are MY opinions. Yours are probably different. I will NOT judge you, you are entitled to parent the way you see fit, and I the same. I respect your opinion, please respect mine. Now let's get this ball rolling. 

1.) I believe in spanking.

(Insert gasp) You read that right. I was spanked as a child and it had some side effects called discipline and respect. It  caused NO irrational sense of fear, neglect, hate, or a knack for violence. I am THANKFUL my parents spanked me. I didn't get near as many as I deserved. I was a very strong willed, stubborn child but the idea of a spanking from daddy could turn me into a sweet little angel in 5 seconds flat. Little A is no dummy. When he goes to do something he knows he is not allowed to, you will hear him say "no no no", because he KNOWS what he is doing is wrong. He will get a spanking (let me assure you, it is a smack on the bottom, not a violent rage of lashes), then I get on his level, explain "it is mommy's job to keep you safe, if mommy says no, it means no. We must listen to mommy. I love you" We hug, he gives me a kiss and everything is all gravy baby. 

I will add that when we are playing outside, Little A likes to wander to the edge of the driveway and get close to the road. His ball when into the road so naturally he chased after it, only he didn't see the van coming down the street, I ran towards him and yelled "STOP" and he immediately, without hesitation, stopped. It took us a few days and a couple spankings before that event for him to learn when mommy says stop, it means stop. His obedience saved his life.

2.) I DON'T believe in co-sleeping.

(insert ANOTHER gasp) The closest we ever got to co-sleeping was me dozing off during a mid-night nursing session with him in our bed. Little A refuses to sleep with anyone anyway. My thoughts on this are simple. I believe co-sleeping causes a co-dependency. Little A knows, if he wakes up in the middle of the night, Mommy will be right there. But he also is confident in his ability to sleep alone. I have a friend who co-slept until the age of 2. Her son is now 8 and still isn't able to fall asleep by himself, she has to lay down with him. He doesn't have the confidence in his ability to go to sleep by himself. I also think co-sleeping is dangerous. I know this is such a touchy subject. If you co-sleep, I am in no way passing judgement. That's your kid and your right to choose, have at it. But it doesn't happen with us.

3.) We Vaccinate

Having a mother, stepmother, and sister in the medical field, you better believe we do our research. This was no question for Mr. J and I. I was vaccinated growing up, so was he. I think modern medicine can be a HUGE blessing. Of course, I believe God is the Great Physician and I have personally seen him preform medical miracles. Little A is up to date on all of his required vaccinations. While getting the shots are NOT fun, I am always thankful after. I know this is also a HUGE debate today, but personally, I like to do anything preventative I can. 

4.) Little A NEVER EVER EVER goes out in his jammies.

(Thought I would lighten the mood a little ;) )  Even when Little A was first born, if we went out, he had clothes on. It wasn't necessarily jeans, sometimes it was a cute little sweatpant outfit, but he has never in his entire life been out of the house in his PJs. Why? It is just a pet peev of mine that I really don't even know how it got started. We have had some early morning breakfast dates and Mr. J will suggest that I just let him go in his PJs but it has yet to happen. Now Little A has some pretty adorable jammies that people would just eat up, but for some reason, I just can't seem to let this go haha. But fear not, if you bring your child out in jammies, I will not judge, just smile. 

There we have it folks, just a little list. I hope you aren't passing judgement too harshly and are accepting of our differences of opinions. I think it's funny how my co-host in the Link-up Kelsea wrote today how she is against spankings. We have different view points but I respect hers and admire her as a mother. Never forget, God gave you instincts specific to you, and your child for a reason. Do what is best for your child and yourself. Keep an open mind and spread LOVE not judgement. 

At his 1 year check-up, before vaccinations

Total Truth Thursday | Modesty: Both Ends of The Spectrum

Welcome to our third Total Truth Thursday! Kelsea and I started this link-up in hopes that it will be successful in creating a safe environment for us to share our opinions, beliefs, and thoughts- however strong, against-the-grain, mainstream, or out there they are! If this is the first time you’re hearing about Total Truth Thursdays, head back to this post and catch up on what it’s all about!

Before we dive in and link up, there are a few things that you need to know: 

1 // You can find the list of topics for each week HERE.   

2 // Kindness is key.Whether you follow the topics for each week or come up with something on your own, please remember that others may or may not agree with you, and you may or may not agree with them! Disagreements are natural, passionate opinions are welcomed, and constructive feedback is fine. However, we won’t put up with rudeness, ugliness, or name-calling. Just be nice! 

3 // To link-up, please follow Hey Kelsea Rae & These Moments Called Life on Bloglovin’ or GFC and copy and paste the button code to your post somewhere! We are so excited to get started!

Today's topic is modesty.

Modesty is a lost art these days. Today's trending fashion is quite frankly, way too exposing. Crop tops? You mean long sports bras. Shorts? I'm pretty sure I have underwear that cover more than these itty bitty short impostors. 

I can't raise my hand saying I never took part in the shortie shorts epidemic. In middle and high school, I wore short shorts, bikinis at the beach, and etc. Looking back, it's quite embarrassing. There is a link to those "bad boys" I dated and the way they treated me, and how I dressed.

I've also been on the total opposite end of the spectrum. When Mr. J first surrendered to Ministry work, I felt that I (like all traditional Baptist's) had to do a complete 180. I wore skirts 24/7 for a short 4 months because that's what I thought was expected of me and what I had to do.

This is where personal convictions come in. Do I think wearing skirts and only skirts is bad? Not at all. Do I think I can wear pants and be modest, absolutely. I can be cute and fashionable without showing the entire world every square inch of my body. I respect my husband and the fact that my body is not just my own. It's pretty disrespectful for me to show every other man out there a lot of skin. That's for my husband's eyes alone. 

I want my son to grow up seeing women for who they truly are, their inner beauty. Not how well she looks in daisy dukes. My purpose in life is to glorify Christ in ALL things. I want Christ to be proud to call me His daughter, I want to represent my church, my family, and myself in a respectable way. 

The long and short of it is modesty is only as boring as you make it. It's a personal choice that you set the standards for with God's guidance. Present yourself as you want others to see you. Be ladies and set the standards high. 

                                                                                               photo credit

Guest Post : Amanda Basinger

Ever met someone and instantly, you are so impressed and encouraged by them? This was my reaction when I met Amanda. Her husband, Doug, and Mr. J grew up together. My mother-in-law said there was always at least a few Basinger kids at her house (He comes from a family of 11 kids). Lots of funny stories of these families together have been told. 

I have only met Amanda in person one time when her family came to visit our church. I have poured my heart out to her more times than I can count and I always walk away from our conversations encouraged and feeling much better. I thought it wouldn't be fair of me to keep her all to myself. So sit back, and get ready for a double dose of encouragement. 

Hello sweet Amanda, why don't you tell us a little more about yourself and your family

My name is Amanda (25) and my husband is Doug (30).  I am a busy stay at home mom of five little ones, Brandon (6), Lynndsey (4) Julia(3), Hunter(2), and Jacob(8 months).  Along with my 5 little ones I also babysit two more for a close friend while she works Monday-Thursday (Josie/4 and Joshua/2).  So as you can imagine we have a very busy and full day!!  My husband Doug works as a Chemical Tech for a landscaping business.  Thankfully his job has been very flexible where he has been able to take time off as needed, go in late, or come home early as needed.  Although his job is flexible, during the busy seasons he often works LONG hours.  

You have 5 kids under the age of 6. How do you manage the demands of every day life?

Well First of all I start each day with a GIANT cup of COFFEE!!!  Haha just kidding, but I do love my morning coffee.  Honestly there are many days I wonder the same thing "How?!?".  I have a couple bible verses that talk about how I can do ALL thing through Christ, or that with God ALL things are possible, and that a soft answer is always the best way to handle things.  With all these things in mind, a VERY scheduled routine, and a lot of LOVE we somehow make it all work.

You also homeschool, what has been the hardest part and the most rewarding part?

The hardest part of homeschooling is definitely keeping those busy toddlers out of things while I teach the two oldest kids.  We all have a "together time"  in the morning where we all (all 7) say our pledges, calendar time, colors, numbers, songs, and bible time.  This gives the little ones a little bit of school fun and the older ones enjoy it too!!  But after that "together time"  when school really gets going(math reading writing, you know the "hard stuff") keeping those toddlers busy is tuff!  On the flipside the most rewarding part of homeschooling for me is without a doubt the proud and accomplished smiles they give as they learn to read!!  My 4 year old Lynndsey is the perfect example for this right now.  Shes starting her basic phonics and learning to sound out short vowel words and short sentences.  Last week she read "The sun is hot."  all by herself and she was so excited!!!  Probably the first sentence she has ever read all by herself.  She even ran and read that same sentence to daddy when he come home!!

Being a mom can be such an emotional roller coaster, when things get hard, what do you do to help?

What do I do or what do I try to do?!?  Unfortunately like most moms sometimes I just loose it and find myself fussy at the kids.  What I try to do and what really helps is when I just take a step back and PRAY!!  Then I can comeback to what ever the situation is a lot calmer and refreshed.  Think about it for a minute, it would be difficult to leave an honest Prayer still Angry, upset, or overwhelmed.  Phillipians 4:6-7  really helps me on days like this, just reminding me to take everything to God in Prayer!!  Also Proverbs 15:1 just reminds me to handle things calmly.  Whatever the situations is reacting harshly or with anger will just make things worse,so staying or speaking calmly helps he handle or prevent a lot of "emotional roller coasters".

(Amanda's kids are the 4 in front, the 2 in the back, she babysits)

Having boys is a a whole new ball game, they seriously have NO fear. What is the craziest thing one of your boys have done?

This one is tough for me because my boys (thankfully) havent been to hard for me.  I think the craziest thing has been when my oldest son (6) walks across the swingset (ON TOP!!) as a balance beam!!  The most difficult part with my boys really isnt their lack of fear but instead their wondering minds.  I find ir difficult to keep their attention and I repeat my self constantly! (this is where I have to practice my patience, lol).

In today's society, we are seeing less girls grow up to become "ladies", how are you instilling that in your girls?

This question really lays heavy on my heart and is very important to me,  First and most importantly I have to say "by example!"  Your children will naturally follow and learn what they see.  So if you what your daughters to grow to be ladies the respect their husbands, then you must respect and submit to their daddy.  If you want your daughters to dress modestly then you have to set those standards with your own clothing.  For me its important to remmeber that my children love and admire me, they look up to me.  I also talk to them.  I dont just say NO we dont do that, or NO you cant wear that, or NO NO NO.  Its important for me to take the time to explain to them WHY we dont do that, or WHY we dont wear that.  Also by praying with them, and reading the bible with them.  This helps them see that when they have a problem or when they dont know the answer, God can help!!

What is a verse that really encourages your heart and why?

A verse that encourages me the most is phillipians 4:13.  It says, " I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  With this verse in my heart I know that with God I can make it through any and all situations that come my way.  Even a busy stressful day with 7(my 5 +2 more) hungry and tired little ones. 

What do you like to do for "me time"?

"Me Time"?!?! No Im kidding, although it happens in small suddle ways it is very important.  Mostly I take the kids "Nap Time" and I Shower, get on facebook, pinterest, TV, read anything I want!!  Or at night after I put the kids in bed Doug and I will watch TV or just sit around and talk (without being climbed on or having to talk over the noise!)  Occasionally (1-2 times a year)  I will go out with some friends and just have a "girls day out"!!  Something about enjoying a nice lunch with some wonderful conversation without 10 million trips to the bathroom just says relaxing to me :) (Sometimes I think my kids just go potty so they can wash their hands again!)  Although I love my kids so  much a little "me time" helps keep me sane!! ;) 

She's pretty much amazing right? Thank you Amanda for sharing your heart, I am so thankful for our friendship and your influence.

Total Truth Thursday | Free Vent: My Baby Isn't Spoiled

Welcome to our fourth Total Truth Thursday! Kelsea and I started this link-up in hopes that it will be successful in creating a safe environment for us to share our opinions, beliefs, and thoughts- however strong, against-the-grain, mainstream, or out there they are! If this is the first time you’re hearing about Total Truth Thursdays, head back to this post and catch up on what it’s all about!

Before we dive in and link up, there are a few things that you need to know: 

1 // You can find the list of topics for each week HERE.    

2 // Kindness is key.Whether you follow the topics for each week or come up with something on your own, please remember that others may or may not agree with you, and you may or may not agree with them! Disagreements are natural, passionate opinions are welcomed, and constructive feedback is fine. However, we won’t put up with rudeness, ugliness, or name-calling. Just be nice! 

3 // To link-up, please follow Hey Kelsea Rae & These Moments Called Life on Bloglovin’ or GFC and copy and paste the button code to your post somewhere! We are so excited to get started!

Today’s topic is FREE VENT!

Everyone knows the situation. You are in the grocery store, and someone walks beside you, says "Oh what a cute baby you have", then tries to talk to your baby. Insert baby talk and que the crying and shying away of said baby. Following this comes the comment "oh someone is sure spoiled on mama."

Let's address this shall we. This has happened to me numerous times. It may be a stranger or a friend I haven't seen in years.  

Sometimes, he smiles back and will wave. Sometimes, he turns his face and cries. If the latter happens, HE IS NOT SPOILED ON HIS MOTHER, this is a natural reaction to a STRANGER folks.

I cannot stand people saying it is because he is spoiled, spoiled has nothing to do with it. As adults, we can be friendly and polite to people we don't know. It's common courtesy. To a toddler, talking and communicating is a pretty "intimate" thing, it's still new to them. They have no idea what common courtesy is. If they feel comfortable, they will smile and talk back, if they don't , they won't. Pretty simple huh?

I understand it is so cute and sweet when your toddler is friendly to anyone and everyone, Little A has days like this where he will just chat up the cashier at Kroger. But the fact of the matter is he is his OWN person, he has his own feelings, his own level of comfort, and he has a choice to communicate or not. I can encourage him to say hi back, and most of the time I do, to let him know "mommy said it's ok for me to talk to this person". 

I will make absolutely NO apologies for him shying away or even crying. If that's how he feels, that is fine. When he is older, we will teach him how to be polite and say hello, but I wouldn't ask my child to do something he is uncomfortable with. That's just not fair. 

I think far too often, adults can forget that babies aren't just robots waiting to be programmed to exactly how we want them. Of course it is our duty to "train a child up in the way he should go" (Provers 22:6), teach them manners, and what is safe and what is not. It's a responsibility not to be taken lightly. What we forget is, they are a person too. WIth feelings, opinions, likes and dislikes. You respect your husbands opinion on things, why not your child's too? Obviously there are times Little A doesn't want to eat his vegetables and asks for cookies, in those times, I have acknowledged his opinion, but in his best interest, dismissed it. 

See what I'm getting at? We don't always have to do what our kids want, but we better at least acknowledge it and respect the fact that they have an opinion. If we don't, we are teaching them to be selfish and careless.

So if you meet me in public and my child cries, don't take it personal. He needs a little time to warm up to new people. Just smile, let him know you are friendly, and walk away happy that he is capable of having his own thoughts. 

P.S.- Aren't these Kroger buggies awesome?

Ever had this happen to you and received the same reaction? What are your thoughts on this topic?

Alright, it’s your turn! Grab the button below and link up your Total Truth! Also, use the hashtag #totaltruththursdays to share on Instagram and Twitter!

My Monday | Mall, Miles, Date Night, Skunk, and Cookies

Everyone just hates Mondays. Poor Monday. I love Mondays, only because I am a stay at home mom and Monday isn't really a whole lot different than say Thursday.

Now that I have shared my sympathy and thoughts on Monday, let's get to it.

Today was awesome. Little A has been sleeping until 9 AM for a few weeks now (hey daylight savings) and it gives me plenty of quiet time in the morning. Today, once he woke, we got dressed and ready and headed out the door. We had some exchanges to make at the mall which lead to me finding a killer deal on some black khakis for Mr. J.

The next item on the agenda was the gym. I had an awesome run. Like a "your normal speed is 7.2, why not 7.7 today" kind of run.

I surprised Mr. J with a date night. I got the sitter set up, picked out our activity (Chik-fil-a and "God's Not Dead = AMAZING movie), and we headed out to enjoy some time together. It was splendid. When we first started dating, we went to the movies practically every weekend. Every time we go, it brings back the memories of us when we first became "us". I love that man.

Upon arriving home from date night, we discovered our little fur baby sitting on the porch. When we pulled up, we both said "ew, smell that?" Charlie was the victim of a skunk hate crime. Mr. J scrubbed away and he is now smelling clean and resting from the traumatic experience. Our air purifier is going full blast hoping to eliminate the odor that sticks in the air. I used to think the little family of skunks living under our shed were cute, not so much anymore.

To make a totally random Monday even better, let me share a delicious, gluten free, vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe. Thanks to Lauren at LaurenBrimley.blogspot.com. Check her out, she posts amazing clean, whole food recipes, including toddler meals.

Ingredients:

2 very ripe bananas

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup almond butter

2 cup rolled oats

chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Mix everything together, you may need to add more oats to get the right texture, you want a wet dough consistency. Spoon onto baking sheet and form cookie shape. Bake for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

These cookies are simply wonderful and guilt free. 

Total Truth Thursday| Social Media: Unplug

Welcome to our third Total Truth Thursday! Kirstin and I started this link-up in hopes that it will be successful in creating a safe environment for us to share our opinions, beliefs, and thoughts- however strong, against-the-grain, mainstream, or out there they are! If this is the first time you’re hearing about Total Truth Thursdays, head back to this post and catch up on what it’s all about!

Before we dive in and link up, there are a few things that you need to know:
1 // You can find the list of topics for each week HERE.   

2 // Kindness is key.Whether you follow the topics for each week or come up with something on your own, please remember that others may or may not agree with you, and you may or may not agree with them! Disagreements are natural, passionate opinions are welcomed, and constructive feedback is fine. However, we won’t put up with rudeness, ugliness, or name-calling. Just be nice! 

3 // To link-up, please follow Hey Kelsea Rae & These Moments Called Life on Bloglovin’ or GFC and copy and paste the button code to your post somewhere! We are so excited to get started!

Today’s topic is SOCIAL MEDIA!

I have a love hate relationship with social media. I love feeling connected in the day-to-day stuff of my out of state relatives, friends who have moved, and people I don't get to see as often and I would like. I hate the drama and the inevitable time wasted spent on it.

I never spent tons of time on facebook until I became a stay at home mom. I think it was due to just being at home, and longing for a little adult interaction and communication. A lot of the times, when I was bored or lonely, I would hop on the computer to feel connected and "in the loop". 

I joined the smart phone era WAY late, like this past Christmas, and to be honest, I was a little nervous to do so. Having the option to be so plugged in kind of scared me. I knew it would be harder to unplug having it at my finger tips. 

Well lo and behold, it was insane for a while. I spent SO much time on my phone figuring it out, picking out cool apps, instagram (yay), and facebook. I would usually be on it if Little A was playing in the floor or distracted with something else. One day, he was playing, I was browsing Facebook, and I glanced down at him to see him staring at me signing "please". My child had been sitting there (for how long, I don't know) asking me to come play and I hadn't even noticed. It absolutely devastated me. 10 years from now, will I remember that awesome thing I saw on Facebook, or the time Little A and I played cars for an hour? You don't have to be a genius to figure out it's the latter. 

It can be tough on days you feel lonely, bored, or just like you've been stuck in the house watching "Cars" everyday. But try unplugging for a whole day, NO social media. I have tried a few times and it can be tough at first, but it feels wonderful.  Your life feels a little less chaotic without knowing everything about everyone. 

I keep my phone up during the day. I have it on loud so I can answer texts and calls but I don't grab it to browse unless Little A is asleep. I will not lose time with him so I can scan a newsfeed. 

Need a little more motivation to unplug, check out this post written by Tonya at "4 Little Fergusons". 

Photo credit goes to Tonya Ferguson at "4 Little Fergusons"

If you feel lonely or in need of a little communication, try talking to Jesus, He is always there loves.