Dear Jeans,

Dear Jeans,

I hate you. You once were my best friend and you are now the enemy. Every time I see you in the closet, I remember what we once had and it makes me want to cry. I'm hoping our relationship isn't damaged forever. Hopefully we can salvage some of what is left. But for now, I hate you.

Sincerely,
Lindsey

Dear Stretchmarks,

I hate you too! I never liked you and I never will. Take the hint and go away.

Sincerely,
Lindsey

Red Beans and Rice

This recipe is soooo easy to make and soooo good. It is really spicy as it comes from my cousins from Louisiana. My cousin gave me this recipe and I tried it figuring it would never be as good as his. It wasn't exactly the same but it turned out great if I must say myself!! :) It made a huge amount too! Me, Nick, and my mom and dad ate it, plus we had enough for lunch one day for both me and Nick. This one turned out so well, I'm going to have to ask my cuz for more recipes! Thanks B!

Red Beans and Rice

Chop a medium onion (yellow)
1 1/2 lb. Down Home sausage sliced
1 lb. pinto beans rinsed
1 can rotel
couple tsp. Tony's (depends on how spicy you want it)

Cover with water (may need to add some once the beans swell). Boil slowly for 4/6 hours (till tender), or put in a crock pot and cook all day.

It's that simple and oh so good! We threw it all in a crock pot and cooked it all day. It was ready when we got home from work. We served it over rice with a side of bread. Cornbread was the recommended bread, but I have never made it before, so we just used some dinner rolls. Hopefully soon I'll learn how to make cornbread and bread in general for that matter!!

Hope you enjoy!

Thanks again B!

Happy 3 Month Birthday, Anniston!!

November 17th, 2009

It's your three month birthday, Anniston! You are such a sweet baby girl! Everyday we are in awe of how blessed we are to have been given you. You are truly a blessing from God. You've grown so much in the last month. It's both exciting and sad at the same time. You are no longer a newborn, but a baby. A very beautiful baby too! We have started taking you to church. We keep you in the service with us for now b/c of all the germs. I just love picking out your "Sunday" outfit! It's so fun to get you all decked out in dresses and bows. I'd put you in them everyday if I thought you'd be comfortable in the at Tata's. You had your first holiday in the past month. I think your dad and I enjoyed it more than you did! We love you so much and we can't wait to celebrate so many more milestones with you!


~Stats~

~24.5 inches

~around 14 lbs

~You take 6-8 of soy formula every 3 to 4 hours.

~You have the chubbiest, cutest cheeks and thighs ever!!

~You smile all the time. it's the best thing ever!

~You have started to giggle!! It's really hard to get you to do it, but when you do...ahh melts our hearts!!

~You are starting to try to roll over. We have a long way to go, but I'm excited you are trying!

~You have started to coo and make cute little noises all the time.

~You have a longer attention span-things are more interesting, longer.

~You take one good nap per day. Usually in the morning at Tata's but usually in the afternoon at home.

~You go to sleep during the week around 7 in our arms. We wake you up at 9, for bath and bottle. Then you go right back to sleep and sleep all night until I wake you up at six. On the weekends you usually stay up until bedtime and then sleep until around 7 or a little later.

~You can really focus in on what you want to see.

~You reach for objects and touch them - every now and then you'll grab something, but mostly you just touch them!

~You recognize and smile when you see several different people: Momma, Daddy, Big Momma, Pops, Aunt Sue, and Tata.



~Likes~

~You love to be cuddled and rocked.

~You love your bottles!

~You still love your bath. We give you one every day b/c you love it so much. You are learning how to splash. You usually get one in before we get out. We play lots of games and sing lots of silly songs while you are in your whale tub. I can't wait until you can sit up and take a bath in the "big tub"! You'll just love it!!

~You love to chew your hands. They are a recent discovery and you can't keep them away from your mouth. They are very quickly replacing the binky.

~You love to play! You'll lay on your playmat for long periods of time (w/momma or daddy sitting with you) and look at/reach for your toys.

~You love the carseat toys (only in the morning). It's pink with a sun, flowers, dragon flies, etc. and you smile at it every morning when I put you in the seat.

~You love the music and lights at church.

~You love to watch the kids at Tata's house. That's one of the reasons you don't take good naps. There is just too much going on and you are just too interested.

~You love to watch Mickey Mouse Playhouse - it's the only show that you'll focus in on. We keep several episodes on the DVR for you!

~You still love your room! We take you in there when you are fussy b/c it calms you down so much!

~You love to watch the projector on the ceiling. We can't run it at night b/c you'll watch it instead of sleep!

~You like the lights on the Christmas trees. They don't blink of flash so they don't hold your attention too long, but you do like to look at them.

~You like the bumbo seat okay. You'll stay in it for a little while, but not too long.

~You like the Jumperoo. Your feet don't touch the floor yet, so we have to bounce you. We do sometimes stack stuff under your feet so you can touch, but you don't have enough control yet to jump on your own. You will stretch out your legs and kind of stand for a few seconds, but not bounce. You love the toys on it though. You've started reaching for them and can even spin the ball!



~Dislikes~

~You HATE the carseat. You scream the second you are put in it.

~You don't like facing the chest of whoever is holding you unless you are sleepy. You like to sit facing forward so you can see what all is going on.

~You don't like taking naps! I think you think you'll miss something.

~You don't enjoy your swing (most of the time). Sometimes you'll sit in it for a little while, but not very often!

~You hate and refuse to sleep on your back. You'll go without sleep before you will sleep on your back.

~You hate to ride in the stroller b/c right now that involves sitting in the carseat. Once you sit up a little better, then we'll put you facing forward, hopefully you'll like it then.



You are such a good baby! You are getting bigger and stronger every day. We just love to watch you! We love you so much!



We Love You,
Momma and Daddy
 

So Sweet!! :)

Help!!

Carseats. Anniston hates them. She loves her toys that hang from it, but other than that, she pretty much hates it. In the mornings on the way to Tata's house, she usually does pretty good. She'll fuss every now and then but she mostly looks at her toys and out the window. The ride home (or any other time she's in "the seat"), a totally different story. She doesn't just cry, she SCREAMS. Blood-curling, ear-drum shattering, SCREAMS. Nothing can console her. Her toys that she loves in the mornings, she screams louder, if that's possible, when you play them. Try to put the binky in her mouth? She shakes her head and again, screams louder. We've tried baby cd's, classical music, regular music, singing to her, talking to her, letting her hold our hand or put a hand against her cheek (this is especially hard if you are the only one in the car, having to reach into the carseat in the back seat). I've tried reasoning with her that momma will go to jail if she doesn't ride in her seat. It's the law and we can't break laws. (For some reason she just didn't understand this.. :) ). I'm at the end of my rope. I don't know what to do. By the time we get home, since it is such a long drive, she's sweating, her face is wet with tears, she's sucking air b/c she's so out of breath, and we are stressed out. The second the seat goes in the house and she comes out, totally different baby. She's sweet and cuddley. It's the stupid seat!!!


I need suggestions. What do I do?????? We don't like to go anywhere b/c it's just too much!! Plus whenever we get places we always have to hold/sit with her b/c she won't sit in the seat.

Help!
 

New hat attachment and OSU leg warmers!!!

She's just so cute!!! :)

Sticking to the plan?

How often do you hear people who don't have children and/or pregnant ladies say "I'll never...." I was one of those women. Still am in some areas, but not in others. It's so easy to see other people in public, how they are interacting with their kids, how their kids are behaving, etc and to say "Well I'd never do that" or "I'll never let MY kid do that" or "Can you believe what that mom did?!?!" Or what about all the books? Did you vow to follow everything they said to do and do it word for word? Did you take some of what they said to do and adapt it to how it worked best for your family?


Here are some of my "I'll never" or "I won't do" or "I dont' want"'s that I did do:

I'll never let my children sleep with me. Anniston slept with us a full two and a half weeks while she had a stuffy nose. Do I regret giving in? Nope, she slept better and I slept better knowing that if she got choked or something like that I would hear her.

I don't want my kids to take a binky. I thought, if I could avoid it I would. I never thought I'd beg my child to take a binky. Sometimes you just need something. The baby just ate, fell asleep, and woke up using the "I'm hungry cry" and you know that there is no possible way the baby is hungry. A binky, in most cases, works. Therefore, we use the binky. Now that she has found her hands, she'd much rather have them anyway, so we don't use it that much anymore.

I won't let the child's stuff take over my house. Ha. For such a small little thing, they have more stuff than I can ever even imagine. And they use it ALL. It's so much easier to have it handy for the five minutes they need it, than to have to figure out what to do with them while you get whatever they need ready. So there is baby stuff all over our house. And I don't care.

I want my baby to be flexible. I don't want a set schedule. Bull! For us, a schedule is the next best thing to sliced bread. A schedule means your baby knows what happens next. Anniston knows that after a bath, she gets diapered, lotioned, and then a bottle. She knows that when the bottle is gone it's time to sleep. She is usually asleep by the time the bottle is finished. She knows when I get her up in the morning at the same time everyday (during the work week) that we go change our diaper, then we get a bottle. Then we go get dressed for the day, play time, and then we leave. She is so much happier on a schedule because she knows what to expect. Now there are times, when everything doesn't happen just the same. She's not so inflexible that she can't adjust (which is what I feared with a scheduled baby). She'll adjust and it might take a little bit longer to eat or to go to sleep but she does it.

These are the ones we still have hope for:
Table Manners. This is something that I deem important for all ages. There is nothing more gross than going to eat with someone who doesn't know how to chew with their mouth closed, talks with food in their mouth, or smacks. Disgusting! I want my children to learn at a young age good table manners. If my child can understand the potty, they can understand table manners. (My personal opinions...no offense to anyone!)

Running loose in public. It's a huge annoyance to me when parents let their child run wild in a public place. For one, it is no longer safe to allow them to do that. With all the kidnappings and crimes against children, I believe in keeping them close by your side or always attended in their stroller. Secondly, it is really annoying to the people around that may have dodge the child or listen to them scream in order to do what they are there to do. If Anniston starts acting up and won't cooperate, then we'll leave. Especially if we are in a restaurant or place where people pay/expect to have a relaxing time.

Fits in public. This goes with the one above. All kids have fits. It's a completely normal part of growing up. But that fit doesn't have to affect everyone around. If Anniston decides to pitch a big one somewhere, we'll leave. We'll go to the car and have a talk or we'll go to the restroom (assuming we are in a place with clean restrooms!). All kids have fits, but I don't want my kids fits to make other people's time miserable/uncomfortable.

These are just a few of the things that I have compromised on already or that are still on my list of "I'll never". These are my opinions and my opinions only. Everyone is different so please don't be offended by my opinions if you don't agree with them. :)

When it comes to the books, websites, etc that all give advice how to raise a child, I don't own a single one/visit a single website. We listen to our pediatrician and family members and adjust things to how they apply to our family. Every family is different! I know people who follow the books to the letter and their kids are happy and healthy. I know people who completely do their own thing and their kids are happy and healthy. There isnt' anything wrong with books at all, we just don't use them. I did buy the "What to Expect When You are Expecting", but I never finished it. "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy" was a good one. I did read it all the way through. I've heard that there is a book by a celebrity that is really good but I can't remember the name or who it is by.

I'm not saying I'll never own or read one of these books, we haven't needed to. So far if I've had a question, I'll call my mom or the peds office. I've even turned to Facebook to other moms to ask advice. So far this has worked for me. If and when I need one of the books, I'll be happy to go get one!

I've also been lucky so far because no one has told me, you're doing that wrong. I'm not sure how I'd react to that. Like I said before, every child/family is different and react to situations differently. What works for child #1 may not work for child #2. What works for my family, may not work for your family and visa versa. I'd like to think that if someone told me I was doing it wrong, then I'd just smile and thank them for their advice and move one. Sadly, that's probably not how I'd react. I have a feeling I know how I'll react and it probably wouldn't be pretty. Hopefully, I won't be presented with that situation.

So what does your family do? Did you have set "I'll nevers"? If you did, did you/have you broken any of them? What about the books? Did you read them and follow them? What do you do when you get people's advice? Do you listen or do you blow them off? Have you ever had anyone tell you you are doing it wrong?

Picture Time!

Anniston's first time to see her tree. The funny glow is b/c we used only the lighting from the tree. There is lots of noise in the pic b/c the ISO is set to 1600. But she doesn't care! She still loved it! :)

Stringtown Yarn & Fiber

I took a knitting class today(Thursday) at lunch! I know how to crochet (just the basic stitches), but I've always wanted to learn how to knit! Today, a friend and I did it! We just learned the basic stitch (I can't remember the name!) and we started on a scarf. It was a lot of fun! Although, I'm not sure this scarf will actually make it around any one's neck. I wish I had the time to knit all the women in my family one, but for some reason, Anniston takes up most of my time! ;) Anyway, so for my highlight today, I want to highlight the store in Fort Smith where we took the lessons. I had no idea until the other week that it was there! If you like to knit or crochet, or would like to learn how, you should definitely check out this store!

It's located in Downtown Fort Smith (right behind Rolandos). It's a really neat place. I would park in the parking lot where the Farmer's Market is located on Saturday mornings, right across from the ferris wheel. Since it is in one of the older Downtown buildings, the building itself is really cool. Old hardwood floors, exposed brick, very tall front doors, a very cool place. We took a beginner lesson and for an hour it was $10. You buy your supplies when you get there (that was extra on top of the $10) which was really nice because I had no clue what to get! I was almost overwhelmed by their selection of different yarns. They had so many pretty ones, I could hardly choose. They even had yarn (100% wool) made from local sheep from Lincoln, AR. Wow! I learned a lot the first lesson, enough to make a scarf! I plan on going back and learning more.

Here is a link to their main page:
http://www.stringtownyarn.com/

Here is a link to their page about their classes:
http://stringtownyarn.com/?page_id=7

This was really fun and I'll take a picture of my finished scarf when it is complete!!

Taste Test: Salsa Chicken

I've been searching for some new ways to cook chicken breasts (other than just flat out baked or grilled) and still keep a little bit healthy! This recipe you can make it as non-healthy or healthy as you'd like. It was so good! Nick said to keep this one on the rotation!! I got it from http://www.allrecipes.com/


Salsa Chicken

4 chicken breasts
4 tsp of taco seasoning mix
1 cup salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Place chicken in 9x13 baking pan. Sprinkle taco seasoning on both sides of chicken breast. Cover with salsa.
3. Bake for 25 to 35 min (juices run clear).
4. Sprinkle chicken evenly with cheese and then bake for an additional 3-5 minutes. Top with sour cream.

I didn't actually measure out anything. I threw it in the dish. Baked it. Added cheese. Baked it and added sour cream. We used Taco Bell Taco Seasoning, On the Border(r) Mild Salsa, and low fat sour cream, but if you wanted a healthier salsa, they have a salsa at Sam's Club that is a fresh salsa that is very low in calories, fat, and sodium. This was definitely a great recipe!

Christmas Trees and Traditions

As I've mentioned before, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love everything about it. One of my favorite things is decorating our house. Every year I add a tree. I absolutely LOVE Christmas trees. I put them all up the first weekend in November. It takes me so long to decorate and so I do it early so I can enjoy them longer. I love to turn off all the lights in the house, except the trees, and then just look at the the trees. It's so relaxing and so enjoyable. I'm a sap. I know.


We have a tree in our living room that started out as a blue/silver tree w/clear lights, but now is our "special" ornament tree. All of our family ornaments that we have collected over the years go on this tree, along with some of our original blue and silver ornaments. We need a tree topper for this. I usually use a bow, but this year I want something different.

in the dark

with the lights on

Our first year in our new house, we added a HUGE tree in the dining room. It is fun colors, blues, pinks, greens, silvers and colored lights. All kinds of ornaments! I love it!! We need a topper for this one too.

with the lights

without the lights

My husband is a HUGE OSU fan (Oklahoma State) and his office is done in that theme. So last year we added a white tree, with orange lights, and orange/black/silver bulbs (it needs a little something extra but I'm just not sure what....). Go Cowboys!

This year, I am adding a tree to Anniston's room. We are going to just do a white tree w/pink and green ornaments. We'll add more as the years progress. We added some pink and green ribbons left over from when my cousin and I made her ribbon mobile. This will probably be the only year when all of the ornaments stay on the whole time!! :)

with the lights

without the lights

Here comes the traditions part. Christmas traditions are very important to me. When I lived at my parent's every year the day after Thanksgiving we'd put up the tree, drink hot chocolate, and listen to Elvis Christmas. Our tradition has a changed a little from that. We put ours up the first weekend in November and listen to all kinds of Christmas music. We each had our "special" ornaments to hang on the tree and then the random family ornaments. Our special ornaments are the ones we got to pick out ourselves every year. I'm doing to do this with Anniston too! Let her get a special one that she picked out, one for the tree in her room and one for the living room tree that are hers to hang whereever she chooses. The day after Thanksgiving, after shopping, Anniston and I will still go to my mom's (Big Momma) and join in the tradition at her house. :) Anniston will love it!! :)

We are also going to pick one weekend and bake/decorate Christmas cookies. I want to do this w/her every year. I think it'll be something fun and special we can do.

On Christmas Eve day, I want us to bake/deocrate Jesus a birthday cake. We'll eat it on Christmas day after we've read her the Christmas story to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. When she's a little older, I also want to take her shopping to buy Jesus a birthday gift. Although the birthday gift will not actually be FOR Jesus, it will be given to someone who is in need in His name. Maybe someone in her class at church doesn't have/can't afford a bible. We'll buy the present for the child and give it to them w/out letting them know who it came from. This kind of ties into our next tradition.

One year, my mom and I did something that I absolutely loved. It was called the 12 days of Christmas. For the 11 days before Christmas and Christmas days, we dropped off gifts at one person's house (my aunt). We got her things that we knew she would enjoy (we didn't spend a lot) and then sometime during the day/night we would randomly leave them at her house where we knew she would find them. She didn't figure out it was us until Christmas day. I want to do this with Anniston! We can do it to a family member or to a friend, but I think it will teach her a good lesson in how making others happy is a such a great part of life! It was so fun to see my aunt's face light up as she talked about what she found and who it could be. I LOVED it! (After we'd drop off the gift, we'd use fun ways to talk about what we did. Such as: the eagle has landed. It really was very fun!)

We are going to have "Santa" visit our house, but we are going to tell the story a little differently. I have this ornament that I absolutely love. It is Santa kneeling at baby Jesus' manger. This is what it says on the back of the box (a portion of this is on the back of the ornament also):

Santa's Christmas Prayer

On Christmas Eve the other night
I saw the most amazing sight,
for there beneath the Christmas tree
was Santa kneeling on his knee.
His countenance was different than
that all-familiar, jolly grin;
his head was bowed, with hand to breast,
and slightly tucked into his vest.
For there in a nativity
was Jesus and His family,
and as I heard him start to pray
I listened close to what he'd say.
"Lord, You know that You're the reason
I take pleasure in this season.
I don't want to take Your place,
but just reflect Your wondrous grace.
I hope you'll help them understand
I'm just an ordinary man,
who found a way to do Your will
by finding kids with needs to fill.
But all those centuries ago,
there was no way for me to know
that they would make so much of me,
and all the gifts beneath the tree.
They think I have some hidden power
granted at the midnight hour,
but it is my love for You
inspiring the things I do.
And so when they begin to open
gifts for which they have been hoping,
may they give You all the glory,
for You're the One True Christmas story."

I just love this in so many ways. This is how we are going to present Santa to Anniston. Not as a jolly, happy old man who brings presents to children, but as a servant of Christ. A blessed man who found a way to do God's will in his life and at the same time makes children all over the world happy. I think it's so important to remember the reason for Christmas. Jesus came to this earth as a baby to be a servant to the world. So he could grow into a sinless man who shed His blood and gave His life so our sins would be forgiven we could spend eternity with Him in heaven. We've already started telling Anniston about this and even though she doesn't understand yet, she just smiles away while we are talking!

I'm sure we'll add more as the years go on, but those are the ones I would like to start out with. What are your favorite childhood Christmas traditions? What new ones have you started for you and your family??

Anniston's first time to see a Christmas tree!!

(please ignore my terrible everything. I had been working and sweating all day putting up decorations..it was 75 degrees here!!)

Playing and Leg Warmers!

Here is Anniston this past Saturday playing in her Merry Monkey Gym and showing off her new leg warmers. I ordered her five pairs of these (different colors of course!!)! They are so handy! You don't have to pull down pants to change a diaper (lazy, I know), but her legs are still warm and cute!!!

Holiday Plans?

Hot Topic for today: Holiday Plans!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two favorite holidays out of the year. Thanksgiving I love because the whole family gets together and eats lots of yummy food without any of the pressures of gifts, etc. I love Christmas for the decorations, the food, the atmosphere, celebrating Christ's birthday, everything about Christmas! (See posts coming soon!) :)


Before I got married, my holiday plans went like this:
~Thanksgiving Lunch at my moms with my entire extended family. I say lunch but usually the celebration goes late into the afternoon because we all enjoy just sitting around chatting, playing games, etc after lunch.
~Christmas Eve: Go to my dad's family Christmas in Paris, AR. We'd eat snacks and just chit chat.
~Christmas Morning: Open Santa and family gifts. Eat breakfast casserole, Watch Christmas movies.
~Christmas Lunch at my Aunt's house. Lots of yummy food and the kids would exchange gifts.

After I got married, my holiday plans went like this:
~Thanksgiving Lunch at my moms with my entire extended family. (Same as above). Nick would go to his family's Thanksgiving in Hot Springs. I know, I know! Most people can't believe we would go to separate houses on that day, but I didn't want to miss my family's plans and he didn't want to miss his family's plans. It was just easier that way!
~Christmas Eve: Spend the day with Nick's immediate family. Cooking, Gift exchange, sometimes a movie, sometimes a church service.
~Christmas Morning: Open Santa and family gifts at our house. Go to my parent's and open gifts. Eat breakfast casserole, then go home to get ready. Nick to go to his grandparent's in Hot Springs, and my to my Aunt's house. YES! We did separate again! We got to spend Christmas morning together so it was fine!
~Christmas Lunch at my Aunt's house (me).

Holiday Plans this year:
~Thanksgiving at my mom's house. All three of us.
~Saturday after Thanksgiving at Nick's grandparent's house. We are going to visit them then b/c I go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I love the thrill of chasing a good deal! Since his grandparent's live in Hot Springs, which is about 2 1/2 hours from our house, it is just too much driving and too much rushing around to try to go to both places in one day.
~Christmas Eve: As far as I know, we'll still do this with Nick's immediate family.
~Christmas Day: We'll get up and have our family Christmas w/Santa and family gifts at our house. Then we'll go to my parent's house and do gifts with them and (of course!) eat breakfast casserole. We'll then go home, get ready, and drive to Hot Springs for Nick's family Christmas. Then come home that evening.

I love the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, but making the plans this year has really stressed me out. Having a baby makes the game plan change and I was happy with the way things were! I knew we had to make a compromise somewhere and I think it will work out for the best. It's just going to be hard to miss my extended family's Christmas celebration for the first time EVER in 25 years. (tear!). I know Nick will miss being with his family on Thanksgiving too!


Were your holiday plans more complicated after having children???
 
Picture time!

Anniston and Nick asleep on the couch. It was sooo cute! Nick was snoring really loudly and every once in a while she would wake up and look at him like, Really?!? :) Too cute!