4 years

A lot can happen in 4 years. One can get a college degree, graduate high school, a president serves a full term in 4 years. A child can learn how to crawl, walk, talk, read, sing, dance, and tie their shoes. Today Toby and I have been married for 4 years!! It's kind of weird. 4 years just seems like a long time to me in some ways. I'm so grateful I have such a good man to share my life with and to help me raise Isla. 


I think about this time we were getting ready to go to our reception, now 4 years later I'm spending time with our baby girl and in a few hours will be getting ready to go to dinner the 3 of us. :) 


Some fun things I remember about that day:


Getting to the church and seeing Toby outside!! We had to call to tell him to go inside since we wanted to follow the tradition that he didn't get to see me til the ceremony! I had to duck! 


Putting on my wedding dress and feeling beautiful. 


Spending time with family and friends as we got ready. All the love and effort people put into that day was and still is priceless. 


My surprise song!! Toby surprised me during the ceremony by singing our song, "Love of My Life" by Michael W. Smith. 


Kissing my husband for the first time!


Dancing our first dance to Toby's back up track rather than the real song. Didn't really care, was in bridal bliss! 


It rained on our wedding day. We like rain, so we didn't mind one bit. 


Did I mention kissing my husband?


Going on our honeymoon.....

A day in the life of this stay at home mom....

Staying at home isn't always easy. Don't get me wrong, not only do I love it and it can be easy at times, but some days it really is rough. Being a mom has got to be one of the hardest callings out there. It's not the best of times to have a constipated, fussy baby who just wants to be held or a fussy, teething baby who again just wants to be held. Lately, it's a baby who wants to scratch while she's fussy and being held. I love my little girl and I know staying at home is what's important to me so I just suck it up and do it. I've said before I don't think of her as a burden, because I don't want to get in to that kind of mindset. It's discouraging to me. 


I have a lot of support though and that makes my life easier. I have people I can talk to, and above all I can always pray.  I cherish the time I get with Isla but it is always appreciated when Toby has daddy time with Isla and will let me take a nap, go shopping, or work out. As a new mom, you learn you have little time to yourself, really that is all to you so take your time at the store. It's ok. Some nights I want to cry because Toby will ask me if I want to go do something like go to Hobby Lobby and just look around. Bless that man, he's so good to me.


Today has been a pretty good day so far. I woke up, fed Isla, and then we went and snuggled with/woke up Toby for work. Isla took her morning nap while I started some laundry, cleaned, and rested for a little while then we got up and played for a bit before she was ready to eat. I got in some sewing and some more cleaning. Now Isla is back down for another little cat nap and I'm writing this and making apple cake. Need to use up some apples and thought that sounded like something yummy and useful. Also I can probably get it done during nap time if I hurry this up a bit. 


She's been a little fussy, well fussy, from her tummy hurting her. We've been doing cereal twice a day the past couple days to get her used to the sensation of eating from a spoon and it's made her constipated. Also another fun thing when you become a mom is poop. Poop is sometimes your world. As a new mom a few months ago there was usually never enough poop. Our little world would revolve around it, was she pooping enough, why was it like that, and should we be concerned? Still so much to do with poop. ;)


I have to say my favorite though is the newness of every day. Not only the snuggles and cuddles but the new noises and learning. Isla has started sucking in her bottom lip like she's a little old woman with no teeth and smacks it. She's also started figuring out how to move around a little more. She scoots around better and better each day. Soon, well maybe not really all that soon, I don't know if I can take it being soon. She will be crawling. She's getting so strong. It's so amazing to remember the days when I just held her in my arms, and now she wants to move so much. 

Cloth diapering adventures

Before Isla was born, really even before I got pregnant I knew I wanted to cloth diaper. I don't even remember how I found them but I discovered the world of adorable prints, numerous styles, textures, and softness galore. Not to mention the economical greenness of them. Plus, helloooo cuteness and fluffy butt! We were met with a lot of criticism, negativity, and doubt from others so we decided we'd wait and see how we felt later and what I could take on while taking care of a newborn. After about a month or so home and using disposables, we decided to go for it!!! You know what, I love it, and Toby thinks they're pretty cute too, but there isn't much that goes on Isla that he doesn't think is adorable! :)

I really like to use cloth. It just feels softer to me and I like that it doesn't have that jelly stuff or that if I have the wrong size I have to go to the store to get more. I can adjust the size of the cloth diapers with snaps. We use pocket diapers because we with what we thought would be the easiest and last the longest, and they're also what we have materials for at this time. Pockets are a shell with a pocket on the inside that one stuffs an insert or inserts inside to absorb. When it's just tinkle it goes into our wet bag (a bag that keeps them from mildewing til wash) but when there's poop I wash the poop off or shake it into the toilet. The inserts are what soak up any bodily fluids and the diaper shell is made of a repelling material, PUL, so that any fluids stay inside the diaper and don't leak out. 

Pocket where I stuff the inserts.

Diaper shell - Snaps adjust size! 

We didn't have many problems to start out, just needed more diapers. We used spoises at night because I didn't know if she'd leak through to her bed. A few nights she slept in cloth and it went ok to be honest. However; after about a month or so we were getting leaks in legs during the day and then in the tushy part of the diaper. I thought maybe I didn't seal the PUL enough in the dryer, so after washing I'd dry them but that wasn't solving the leak problems. Apparently Isla is a heavy wetter! haha 


I'm blessed enough to have support and friends that cloth diaper too, and after talking to them and doing some research it was clear. I needed more inserts to stuff in her diapers because she just needs extra padding. Just so happened I was referred to a great deal on some and hopefully they'll be here soon. In the meantime I double stuff Isla's diapers during the day and we just use them when we can, then wash them/use disposables part time and still at night. Still not ready to take that leap. 


Once we get new inserts and can have more diapers available and a better stretch of time between washes I'll start cloth diapering at night too. I'm so ready for those inserts! We just have quite awhile to wait on them but that's alright too. I'm exited about them because one of my sweet friends sent us some diaper covers and I can use those new inserts for those cute diapers so that's more diapers that way too! 


I'm still working on a wash routine but like I said before after she wears the diaper it goes into the wet bag, then I wash several diapers at a time. Warm rinse usually with tea tree oil, warm wash with a little All Free and Clear, and last a cold rinse with lavender or whatever oil smells good that day cause I have a few of those! :) Hang to dry.

Isla's wet bag

Something I've learned in all this is to not get discouraged when something goes wrong or not as planned. It has also been cool to learn about the different styles and materials that go into diapering.  I haven't regretted my decision once. I really haven't. Even when it was frustrating I just stepped back for a bit while we tried testing a few different ideas. I've also not put pressure on myself to use only cloth. I'm still ok with using spoises when we go out, wash, travel, etc. I just love the cloth much, much more! <3 


I think my favorites are the blue, purple and Hello Kitty! Soon I'll have 2 velrco diapers to add to my stash of snaps. 

Baby Dedication

This weekend was Isla's first trip to Westlake, LA, Toby's first Father's Day, and Isla's Baby Dedication! We had a busy, but very enjoyable weekend! Toby got to play laser tag again, and I got to enjoy a relaxing and fun boat ride! :) Isla was a hit, and definitely a crowd pleaser. Always a pleasure to watch her smile and laugh at others, to spread some sunshine!

Baby dedication was wonderful, so much wisdom and encouragement for us as parents. Isla got sleepy during service and actually fell asleep on Toby's lap sitting up in his arms. He loved every minute of it. He moved over into a chair and she curled up in his arm against his side and went back to sleep. It looked like a pose a professional photographer would dream of, and I'm kicking myself I didn't get an amateur mommy shot of it but we do have a bit of it on video! Some of the wisdom we were given is to enjoy Isla, to delight in her and to cherish her rather than to see her as a chore or burden. I've been focusing a lot on that lately and it was great to see that hit home. Perfect fit.

It was also encouraging to hear other's share their wisdom and prayers for us. It's so nice to have support. So a BIG THANK YOU to all our family who participated in her dedication. It was priceless and so appreciated! 


Isla also wore one of the dresses I made for her with one of her Kim's Kreation bows that Kim made her last month! She was adorable! :)

Some more good news. Toby got a promotion at work!!! We're so happy for him! Lots of change going on for this family now and in the upcoming months! We are blessed!

5 months

Yesterday, Isla turned 5 months old! I can't believe how fast she's growing up. It's always fun to see what she's learning to do. How she's changed from this teeny little baby girl who had to be held, to a baby who likes to chill on the floor, sit up, and who likes to stand on our laps. She's a little busy body most of the time now.

I've been making her a felt book the past week and am also working on some pillowcase dresses. Who knows, maybe I'll get good enough to sell some?! Either way, it's fun to make them and I like to do it. I do ok, at making bows but I'd rather sew something with fabric than create with ribbon. Every month I take her picture in a tutu that I made for her. I wonder how many more "photo shoots" it'll fit her as she keeps growing.

Yesterday we took month pictures like we always do, and it was interesting to think back about the different things she's done even just during pictures. From laying still to waving arms, to sucking on her tutu and screeching at me! Such a fun little girl and so happy!

From yesterday:

A few photos from the past few months.....

Babies are a blessing

My baby is a blessing. We prayed for her. We prayed that someday when it was in God's time we'd be blessed with a baby. We were answered with Isla, who is the perfect baby for us. She has taught me so many things already about patience, happiness, attitude, and gratefulness already.

It's so easy to get caught up in the what seems a societal norm of babies cry all the time and they're a burden. I see so many others do it. I know at 4:30 am when Isla fusses because she's lost her paci, and wants her bottom patted for the 8th time that night I even get a little annoyed out of having my sleep disturbed. It's so easy to whine or complain about it, but really I'm blessed. I've been shown several times the past few months that my daughter is a blessing, even when she needs me and is clingy needy she is not a burden.

You know why? It's because I do not look at her like she's a burden. 

I look at her with different eyes, eyes that know that time is so precious. Eyes that know that she is here because the Lord decided to pick us as her parents. She's not just my baby. She's the Lord's baby, first and foremost. At the end of the day, I want to know that I did my best by her. That I did my best to be a Godly example of a selfless mom as much as I can humanly be to her.

Everything I do is dependent on her, and what I do is for her and for our family. If I don't get something done, she's affected. What I say and how I act influence her, even at almost 5 months. One of the things I make sure we do with her every day is tell her we love her, and that she is precious and a blessing to us. It's so important, it's so essential that she knows that she's a blessing. Even when she's crying, or when it's 9:00 and all I want to do is go wash bottles and watch tv, it's so important that she knows that she's more important than that.

People comment on how happy Isla is when they see her or pictures of her smiling, and I like to think it's because she knows she is loved and cherished. We delight in her. We purpose to have the attitude that she is a blessing, and because of our attitudes and our hearts, we don't see her as anything but a blessing.

Passive Thinking

I've been thinking a lot about passive thinking lately and what it can do to a family if it's entertained and allowed. 

One night I was feeling particularly passive, almost like I couldn't do anything about a situation because it just feels like no one stands with me anymore. No one believes like I do, then somehow Toby and I ended up talking about it all, and guess what; he has the same belief I do. Not only does he think the same way but he was encouraging and so steadfast in his thoughts.

We have a whole person to think about and how we and our thoughts and beliefs affect her. I don't want to be a passive parent. I want to look back and know that I did everything possible to not only tell my little girl but show her the kind of person I am, and the kind of woman we want her to become someday.

It's so easy to get discouraged, when so many others have done it before but you know what it was their choice, and mine is to stand strong. The more I pray and read scripture about it the stronger I feel and know the truth of what passivity can do to not only myself but to those around me. If I have a good attitude about something it's likely to cheer others and in turn possibly spread. 

One of my newest goals is just to be happy. Be an encouragement to others, and show them by my words and actions that I'm not going to let something get me down. I have such a great encourager here at home in Toby, and it's nice to have support. I want to build others up rather than tear them down and I want to show Isla how to do that. I want to show her that it's ok to stand firm in your beliefs when no one else around does, and that it's ok to build someone up and have a positive outlook on life when others around her are might be negative. 

I also want her to know that prayer works, it really does, we have seen a healing in her reflux the past several weeks. It's amazing. Our God is so very good! 

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelations 3:16