SMART Habit Saturday

Hey, look at this, I'm early, today!! I have been out of the SMART loop for a few weeks. I have actually been doing really well on some of the things that I have done as SMART habits, many, many times! Since I got my Palm Pilot, I have been doing REALLY well with my scripture reading. I downloaded some of them to my eReader and it has been great! I also set scripture reading as a task that I have to check off everyday! It is great! I have also been a lot better at exercising the last couple of weeks. I have mostly been just going on walks, but it has been really good for me, the kids and sometimes Aaron!

As I am writing this, I don't know what to work on this week...

I'm still thinking...

Okay, I know! I want to make sure to take my vitamin and drink at least 64 ounces of water everyday. Both of these things will help me to be healthier. I have a bottle that fits 64 ounces and that helps a lot. I can measure it easier.

So, I hope you all have a great week!!

If you want to join up, go here and here to learn all about SMART habits!!!

Really Live

I found Dumb Little Man several months ago. It is a blog dedicated to giving tips for anything and everything in life. It is a great collection!! A few days ago, the topic was 39 Ways to Live and Not Merely Exist. I really liked what they had to say. It wasn't just advice for exotic places to see, but ways that you can really live and enjoy life.

This world, this life has so much to offer that it is a shame when people don't go out and explore it!

I really think that people should to the things they enjoy. Life can be hard and we all need things in our lives that can make us happier! It drives me crazy when people decide to go into careers that they hate, just to make money.
Don't get me wrong, we all need money, but if you can get it doing something that makes us each happy!! Going to work is hard enough when you like it. I have had plenty of days that I didn't want to go, even when my job was something I loved to do!!

Here and Doing Okay

I just wanted to post a little note to say thank you for all of your loving support and prayers! You are awesome! I have gotten a lot of emails and comments lending support and it has been wonderful. I'm glad that I joined this caring, loving community of bloggers! I have a loving family that has helped me so very much, as well.

I am doing alright. I wouldn't say that I am stable, yet, but I am on my way. I am starting to get back into my normal routine. Well, I am actually starting to get into a better routine. The doctor told me that as long as I am not cramping, it is okay to do the things I was used to doing. I went for a nice walk with the kids and Freckles this morning. It was great, except that she isn't such a good go-for-a-walk kind of dog, yet. We haven't been so good about taking her our for walks, so it is too new for her. She has to smell EVERYTHING and goes all over the place. I think she'll eventually be a great walking companion, with a little work. We brought Freckles home and then walked to the park. The kids had a lot of fun and I enjoyed talking with another mom who was there.

So, since I had a wake up call when I got on the scales at the doctor's office, I am going to focus on getting healthy!! Our diet isn't too bad, other than the fact that I eat too much. But, my activity level is horrible!! I need to get out and get active!! So, that is my new goal. If anyone has any tips on what gets them going, let me know!!

You may not want to read this...

I don't know if I am even going to post this and I can't believe I am typing, but I think it may be therapeutic for me. It's a little after 2 am and I can't sleep, since my hips and back are aching.

I just wanted to tell you that I have had a miscarriage.

On Thursday night, I started to have some really light spotting. By morning, it had developed into heavier bleeding and some light cramping. I called the doctor's office when they opened and had to wait a little while to talk to the doctor. In that time, I was still bleeding and the cramping got worse. I continued bleeding with clots and some tissue. The doctor called back and I was able to make an appointment for that afternoon. They also set up an ultrasound at the hospital. (They don't have an ultrasound machine at his office, since he is a family doctor.)

I called my sis-in-law to see if she could watch the kids. She changed her plans and came over to keep me company. She ordered a pizza and took the kids to Aaron's parents' house to play while we had my appointments. She is awesome! She's more like a sister than an in-law.

By the time Aaron got home, (he is substitute teaching for summer school) The bleeding had slowed and the cramps were gone.

At the doctor's office, we learned that the bleeding was coming from my uterus.

We went to the ultrasound appointment and learned that I was no longer pregnant. There was nothing in my uterus.

This one has hit me harder than the miscarriage I had about 6 months ago. I can't keep doing this. I can't keep the cycle of trying, and failing to get pregnant and then get pregnant and lose the baby.

Aaron told Luke. He said it was about the hardest thing he's ever had to do. Luke keeps asking questions about the baby and, somehow, that almost makes it easier. I don't know why.

Anyway, I don't know how much I will be blogging in the near future, so I have you all have a good week.

I forgot to post about this hat!

I got the idea to make and sell crocheted hats for kids with fun colors and cute designs. This is my first one. I made it for Belle. What do you think?

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Belle is a music-lover. She loves to play the piano, especially when she can do a "duet" with her daddy. She loves to dance and make up songs. She used to sing a little song with only the word "Dada". Aaron called it the Daddy song. It is adorable to watch!

She has started requesting songs for me or others to sing to her. She loves "Baby Mine" from Dumbo. She calls it "Baby Song". Her favorite is "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". She sings along, but doesn't know how to say all of the words so she makes some sounds that are close and waits for the words she does know. It is the most adorable thing! Twinkle sounds more like "cockle". It is so funny.

For her, music calms her down, makes her happy and is fun to do!! It is great for us, since Aaron and I love music as well!

Mei Tai

I got my new Mei Tai (pronounced "may-tie") to carry Belle and later the new baby around in.

I love it! (Even though, by the expression on my face, you wouldn't think so.) It is so nice to be able to have her up and I can't wait to use it at the next festival or whatever that we go to where we have to walk around a lot and need her not to wander off. I also need to start walking so that I don't gain 50+ pounds with this pregnancy like I have with the others. It is really easy to use and fun for her, too.

When we were at my in-law's for Father's Day, yesterday, Belle was really grumpy. I asked her if she wanted to go in it and she said yes. I put her in the mei tai and she calmed right down and ate some of her dinner. It was amazing! I can't wait to use it when I have three kids and need my hands.

If you are interested, I got mine from here! Right now, they are starting to only sell organic products and so they are discontinuing the non-organic stuff. The prices start at $19.99, rather than their normal price of $63 (other places have them for $98!!) So, if you are in the market for one, now is the time to buy! The one I got is called stars and stripes. It is really sturdy and well-made. They also have instructions for how to wear it. Here are some more great instructions and pictures for wearing a mei tai!!

If you are interested in babywearing or in just using a carrier that is more comfortable, (I fit into the later category.) go read this post I wrote about it with links to lots of information.

Update: They have added new patterns and upped the price a bit, but they are still cheaper than anywhere else I've seen.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

.............Oh, was I writing a post? I have been getting so tired already! Pregnancy, and staying up late but getting up early will do that to you. The great thing is that Aaron is a teacher and so he is home during the summer...he is great about letting me get a nap!

I have been a bit queasy, but not too bad. I hope it stays that way. With my other pregnancies, I rarely threw up, but I did feel awful enough to wish that I could, just for the relief!

Luke is my little protector. He is always reminding me that I need to be careful because I am pregnant and asking me if this or that hurts because I am pregnant. (Yesterday, Belle was climbing all over me, including my tummy and it worried Luke.) He is so cute. He is so excited for this baby!

Belle really doesn't have a clue what is going to happen, but I think she'll be giddy when the baby comes. She is a baby-lover!

The Faith of a Five-Year-Old

About three weeks ago, Luke started praying for a baby brother. That was apparently the perfect timing, because we found out that I am pregnant!!! I didn't want to tell everyone this early, but I am not good at keeping this kind of thing a secret and Luke has started to tell everyone, anyway. We asked my sister-in-law to watch the kids while we go to the doctor and I knew she'd be suspicious anyway. We are really excited!!

The baby is due on February 12th! That is a great time to have the last part of a pregnancy. I'll make my own warmth and not need an air conditioner at full capacity!

The problem is that Luke is CONVINCED that it is a boy! I hope for him that it is. We have already started explaining about how prayers are answered and how they are not. Yesterday, I said that it might not be a boy and he said, "Did God not hear me?" It breaks my heart. He is such a sweet & trusting little guy! It is so nice to see his faith in action, but it is hard knowing that we may have to work really hard to help him understand.

If I ask Belle whether we should have a boy or a girl baby come live with us, she always says "Booooyyyy." It is really cute. I think she'll be easier to convince that a girl would be okay, too!

Creature Comforts

I saw the funniest show last night! It's called Creature Comforts. The producers conducted interviews around the country and played them back. But the funny part is the faces you see are of claymation animals! It is hilarious. I think my favorite was a mother and daughter who were interviewed together. They were portrayed as pigs. The daughter was nursing several baby pigs and the mom was talking to her through the fence. They were talking about all kinds of things. What they liked or didn't like about their bodies, what they thought about flying. A bird with only one leg and a sling on his arm was talking about proper landing. It is just a funny show! Check it out on CBS!

A New Calling

In our church, we are asked to do different jobs at different times. We call these callings, as it things we are called to do. Well, for the last year or so, I have been working with the 8-12 year old girls. There is a program called activity days where they learn how to do lots of things and have a lot of fun (I hope!) along the way. That has been a lot of fun for me. The girls pretty much love anything we have prepared for them and are ready and willing to work hard! Well, once they get someone else to do this job, I'll be done with that calling for a while. The only problem is that we have had a mass exodus from our ward this summer. We are short a lot of people and we are waiting for others to move in.

I have been asked to be the relief society (women's organization) secretary. I am really excited! I haven't had a calling like this before, so it will be really new to me! I'll find out tomorrow and Tuesday what is involved! I think it will be really fun and I really like the relief society presidency! They are great women!

So, if any of you have any advice on how to keep yourself organized, pass it along. I have a palm pilot on the way...

This week...

Between recovery, having extra kids and painting the cabinets in the kitchen, it has been hard to get on here to post about it all.

I am feeling much better, now. I mostly just have to deal with the goop left in my nose and throat, though that gets better ever day.

The extra kids were pretty good. The 6 month old is a wonderful baby. She is so easy! She hardly even cried. It was easy to have her. Her older sister was not too bad, either. She is three and asks TONS of questions. The problem is that she had to go to the bathroom about every 5-10 minutes some times. That got annoying, since I had to go up the stairs with her every time to open the gate and make sure she washed up. Overall, it went well and I'm glad I was able to help out their mom!

Aaron came home with primer and paint to freshen and brighten up the cabinets in the kitchen. It is looking nice, but isn't done yet. (Pictures later, when we are done.) It has been a lot of work and hard to use the kitchen. We are at a point that we can actually cook and move around in there, so it is nice, now.

Wednesday and Thursday were really rainy, here. On Wednesday, a family in the neighborhood has invited anyone and everyone over to have fun at their home during the summer. Well, when in rains, outdoor activities are out, so they came up with a fun alternative! Someone had a moonwalk that they bought online. They brought it up to our church and put it up for the kids to play on!



The kids played for two hours on this thing! It was really fun! It was also nice to sit around and talk to all the moms!

Get a Free Cloth Diaper

I have been wanting to use more cloth diapers, but the only ones I own are the old-fashioned ones that you have to use pins and plastic covers for. So, I was excited to find an offer to get a free pocket change cloth diaper! These are supposed to be much better & easier! I have never seen or tried them before, but Drea has and she LOVES them! The Montana Diaper Store & The Natural Baby Company are offering a free diaper to spread the news about their wonderful diapers! I'd love to try them out, myself! So, go check them out! They have some great products!

If you want a free one, just blog about the diapers, add links to both companies and email them with a direct link to your post... I'm excited!

2 Extras

Today I am watching two kids from church. Their mom is at Disneyland with her oldest daughter! How fun is that? I hardly know these kids, so I hope things go well when they arrive. We'll have them from 9am-6pm! It could be interesting. One of them is about Belle's age and the other is a six month old. It'll be fun to have a baby around, today.

I am getting over a cold/flu that totally knocked me out this weekend. It came on really suddenly and then I was just wiped out for a day and a half. Now, I just have the gunk in my sinuses and throat! So far, no one else has caught it. I hope it stays that way!

Need a Lift?

5 Minutes for Mom is having a contest for a Belly Band. They are neat additions to your pregnancy wardrobe! They can go under or over your clothes to help you wear normal clothes longer, cover your belly late in pregnancy and get back into your pre-pregnancy clothes faster! It sounds like a great deal to me!

I know, I enter too many contests, (especially when I'm not expecting a baby) but I just can't pass up free (and useful) stuff!

SMART Habit Saturday

I have exercised more this week than I have in a long while. I am still not to the point of a habit, but I am working on it. Scripture reading didn't go so well. So, I am not adding anything new, I just want to maintain and turn these two goals into habits. Both are really important to me and they are also the things I tend to neglect the most!

How's that for a short post? I woke up way too early for the first day of summer for us. I slept great until Belle woke me up at about 3:30. I got up to use the bathroom and turning on the light gave me a headache. My neck also got the point that it was hurting in any position I tried. So, I got up to read the posts of you lovely ladies this morning.

So, if you want to join and start making life-changing habits, go over to see The Lazy Organizer!!!