Stinkin’ Cute Baby Pumpkin Pictures

I found the coolest idea for a fall time baby picture on Pinterest. I knew when I saw it I HAD to try it out. We found a huge pumpkin at WinCo and today we got to try it out. Surprisingly the baby loved being in the pumpkin, chewing on it and smiling like crazy!

She was super cooperative and we got a ton of great shots. Here are some of the best ones.

 

She really liked being in the pumpkin. Look at that smile!!

 

She was either chewing on the pumpkin…

or her hand.

On the steps with the googly eyed mums!!

Trying for a spooky shot with the spider webby gate.

She did not mind being carried from one location to the other. It was so funny watching Jacob carrying the baby around the yard.

I thought she was getting a little upset but Bella did a little dance and she started grinning.

Happy baby!!

She was so good! I love our baby!!

 

I love this one so much. I am going to print it in black and white and frame it.

 

All in all I would say this was one of the most fun, cutest picture sessions we have done with Ginny. What do you think??

Iyla’s 3rd Birthday

I know I know her birthday we back in August but I am finally getting around to blogging about it.

We started the day with orange pancakes. Iyla’s favorite color at the moment is orange so that was the basic theme for the day

 

 

 

 

 

 

I put candles in her stack of pancakes and we sang “Happy Birthday” to her. She loved it!

 

 

 

We had a small party in the back yard. Everything was orange!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some of the decorations

For the activities we colored, played with bubbles and played with play-dough. It was a big hit!

Iyla loves all kinds of things so her party was pretty random. I made a Winnie the Pooh cake and cookie monster mini cupcakes.

  Iyla was very impressed! I also made a balloon cake for Pooh to hold. I used melted white chocolate to make the decorations. That was a lot of fun!

Here is our birthday girl with her yummy cupcake!

I can’t believe it have been 3 years since I had her. Iyla is a very sweet child. She is kind and loving with her baby sister. She is also very fun and loves getting into mischief. We love Iyla and are so blessed to have her in our family!! Happy birthday princess Iyla!!

Late Summer Photo Shoot

The girls and I had some fun with the camera last week taking pictures and I thought I would share with you.

 

 

I just love these girls and I am so glad they are a part of our family!

Breastfeeding Challenges- My Story

 

Breastfeeding is one of my passions. I feel so strongly about the benefits of breastfeeding and with each of my babies I have tried my all to nurse them for as long as possible.  But for all of my efforts I have had more then a few troubles along the way.

When I gave birth to Isabella we were both very sick. I labored with her for 36 hours and pushed for 6 hours before having an emergency c-section. I later found our that my hips were not wide enough to get the baby out. Well during the long labor we both got an infection so after she was born she was rushed off  to NICU and I didn’t even see her let alone hold her for 3 days. Lactation was not in the cards from the get go. I was not given a pump until 4 days post baby and I was not shown how to use it. When I was strong enough to leave my room to visit the baby and finally held her they would not let me nurse her because she was too weak. I never really got her to latch on and my milk was gone by 2 weeks post baby. I was so sad and hurt by that entire experience and I really wanted to try again with the next baby.

When Iyla came around I was even more determined to get it right. It started out ok. I had a planned c-section and about 45 minutes after she was born I got her latched on. She didn’t eat very often and started dropping weight fast. she lost about 1 pound in the first 3 days and we found out she had jaundice. As part of her treatment she was force fed formula from a bottle. That was the beginning of the end for our nursing relationship. She liked bottles and after 2 months I was pumping full time and giving formula. I am a HORRIBLE pumper! I never get much and I went to a lactation consultant and discovered that I don’t have as many milk ducts as most woman. So I was told what ducts I do have can make up the difference but I needed to help things along. so i started taking herbs and prescription medication to try to up my supply but since i was just pumping it didn’t work. I was so blessed that a friend of mine who was nursing her baby at the same time donated some of her milk to Iyla so she got 5 months more breast milk then she would have and I supplemented with formula.

At this point I was feeling like a failure in the nursing department. I tried 2 times and failed miserably.  But instead of getting discoursed I felt even more resolve to try again.

When Ginny was born I read EVERYTHING I could get my hands on. I joined groups on Facebook and I felt even more prepared then ever. Ginny decided to come 13 days early and I went into labor with her and we couldn’t get it to stop so we had to do an emergency c-section. I was blessed that she came out perfect. No infections or anything. I got her to latch 30 minutes after she was born and she has been a great nurser.

I thought things were going great with her. She was a full time nurser at 6 months and had never had a bottle. I was pretty pleased with things although she seemed a little small for her age. I took her in for her 6 month check and she had only gained 12 ounces in two months. We had gotten thrush and my period came back all the same time which gave my supply a huge hit. The Dr wanted me to start supplementing her with formula. I was not surprised but heartbroken nonetheless. I have been trying not to feel defeated or feel like I did something wrong. It’s so hard when you want to do something and try with all your heart and it just won’t work. I did have the idea of giving her the formula in a cup so we are not even going to deal with bottles. She is still nursing full time but gets a cup of formula 3 times a day. I have been really sad about having to go to formula again so my hubby started calling it “Baby Protein Shake” since it’s not her main source of food.

I went to the store to buy some formula and brought it home and had to run off to an appointment and when I came home I found this in the pantry…

This is why I love my husband! He is the most amazing man on earth. He knows just how to make me feel better.

I am hoping that I can get my supply back up again but I don’t think I will be able to take Ginny off the formula anytime soon. At least with Ginny the breast milk she is getting is mine and she still loves to nurse. With all of this you might think I would give up. But I won’t! I have dreams of nursing her well into toddler hood and I sure hope I can.

I have found support and lots of education has helped me to get as far as I have. I am proud to say I exclusively breastfed my baby for 6 full months and even though she is getting some formula she is still nursing full time. I am sad I can’t do it all on my own but grateful I am able to still give her all that I do have.

Being a mom is the most amazing blessing I could ever wish for and I am so grateful every day for the opportunity Heavenly Father has given me to raise his spirit daughters. I take my job very seriously and even if I get frustrated or annoyed, I feel so overwhelmed with the love an trust placed in me that it always pulls be through whatever challenge I am facing, including breastfeeding.

Spending Time Together

 We are just loving this summer! There have been so many things we have done as a family. We have gone the the Grange BBQ and auction. We bided (is that even a word?) on a ton of stuff and actually won most of them! Here is a shot of the kids and Daddy at the auction. There was a guy that talked really fast too. It made Bella giggle!!

We have gone to fireworks, picnics, parades, parks, and so much more. Our next adventure was a family reunion. I am still working on the pictures for that so hold tight!

We have been busy but I wanted to let you all know we are still here and I am hoping to get a bunch of blogging done! YAY nap time!!

My New Gig!

I have some exciting news! I am one of the new authors on Latter-DayHomeschooling.com! My articles will post on the 18th of each month. For my first I blogged about homeschooling while on vacation. Check it out! Click here.

Happy Half Birthday Ginny!!

Ginny is 6 months old today!!! She is getting so big... well, age wise. She is still tiny! I think is just about 12.5 pounds right now. That's the 5th %tile. I don't know if I should be concerned or not. She nurses like a champ has many many wet diapers a day and seems like a happy healthy baby, she is just small. I guess I will find out more at her next dr. apointment. I always worry about my babies weight. She is sleeping very well and wakes 1 to 3 times a night to feed but goes right back to sleep again. We just finished with a bout of thrush which was no fun but got it all cleared up. I really hope it stays away!

 Ginny is doing really well in the milestones department. She can roll over and when on her tummy she can get onto her hands and knees a bit. She is doing a rollover/tummy push type of thing to get around on her blanket. She can sit up for a few seconds by herself and she can bring anything that is in her hand to her mouth, including my hair! She is really loving playing with food but is not eating too much yet. She goo goo's and gaaa gaas all the time and is startingt o figure out raspberries. Why do babies learn raspberries right when they start food?




 

We love having her in our family!

Why I am "Crunchy"

When I became  mom 5 years ago I had no idea that one day I would be a naturalist/crunchy parent. I had no idea I would be so outspoken on topics I never knew existed. I am the mom I am today because of my kids. Everything I do, I do for them. I view it as more me filling their needs then anything else.

My children have food allergies and chemical sensitivities. I have read that there are some people  who think that kids don't really have as many food allergies as parents say they do but the parents are so overprotective they make up food allergies. Well, that is not the case with our family. If you have never experienced your child having a full blown reaction to a food they have consumed, then I am so glad for you... cause it can be so scary! My 5 year old is allergic to dairy, coconut (anaphylactic reaction which is why she has an epi pen), and bananas, along with several environmental allergies like dust, cats, mold etc. My 2 year old is allergic to just bananas and so far with the baby I have noticed if I eat any peanut butter she gets a skin rash, so that is out too. Out of necessity I have had to learn to make a lot of their food.

My 5 year old can't eat most processed foods because they contain dairy or coconut. I had no idea coconut was in so many things. Mostly in the form of coconut oil. Coconut oil is one of the main oils in non dairy whipped topping. EVERY frozen dessert had non dairy whipped topping in it. Almost every bread product out there has milk in it. Bananas are pretty easy to avoid but it is something hard to find vegan dessert items with out bananas in them, so we avoid them was well. In trying to feed my child I had to learn to do things differently.

We cloth diaper because my children have such sensitive skin. The chemicals in disposable diapers burn there skin and leave bleeding welts. I use Essential oils for much of the same reason. I can't just use any cream/lotion out on the market since a fair amount of them have coconut oil in them. I just make my own.

I bake my own bread, cookies, rolls, cakes, you name it. I didn't know how to do any of this stuff but learned very quickly. We like being able to provide these things for our children.

When it was time for our oldest to start on solid foods I went to the store and looked at the jars of baby food and read the ingredients... potato starch, gluten, and other fillers were all over the place. I was shocked! I did not want to feed that stuff to my baby. Plus the expiration dates were a year or more out. I did not like the idea of giving my baby food that has been sitting on the shelf for longer then they have been alive. So I went home and got out the little cookbook for my Magic Bullet and it explained how to puree up foods for baby food. I was hooked! Whatever we were having for dinner I would just put some in the magic bullet with a little water and... ten seconds later, baby food. It was so cheap and much fresher. I was so excited.

I didn't start being "crunchy" to try to be different. I didn't start to help the environment (but it's a nice side benefit) I didn't start to try to prove that my way was somehow better or to make anyone else feel bad. I did it for my babies. I really don't think the things I do are too weird. I found having an open mind has helped me to really become aware of what's out there and helping me to tailor make my children's food choices. I wish I could afford to give them organic everything and to spend hours handcrafting specialty things for them, but that is not the case. I don't have the time or the money to do either. Since I have to make all the cakes and cookies and such for my kids they don't have them often. I bake bread once a week. I try to make our lives as simple as I can. Dinner time takes the most planning for me. I can't do all non-dairy foods since my 2 year old needs the dairy in her diet. I have become quite the short order cook. Non dairy for one kid, dairy for the other, no peanuts for me. It's not easy balancing the dietary needs of my kids along with a nursling! But I do my best.

I am finding the more I am not using precessed food the more my dislike for them in general grows. I am not saying I don't ever buy them cause that would be a bold face lie, but I try to be selective. It is so nice living here in the Pacific Northwest with such like minded people. There is a market for "alternative" foods which makes grocery shopping for an allergic child that much easier.

In my never ending quest to be my true self I have found this to be true- You can't make everybody happy all of the time but if you can make some people (your family) happy most of the time then that is good enough.

I don't fully embrace every aspect of the "crunchy" lifestyle. But I do enjoy being more natural in my food choices, in the thing I put on my kids bodies, and in the way we take care of ourselves. I am still learning and growing. Best adventure I have ever been on!!

Ginny is 5 months Old!

Ginny is 5 months old! WHAT?!?! Time flys with babies! Not only and I super excited that she is 5 months old but I have been exclusively breastfeeding her for 5 months!! WOOHOO! I have never gotten this far with any of my babies. I seriously am giving myself a HUGE pat on the back for this!! I am also excited to report this baby has not even used a bottle... NOT ONCE!

I just love that I am able to give her all of the nourishment she needs and she is thriving! She is almost 12 pounds now and 24 inches tall.  ( birth stats- 6 lbs 12 oz, 19 inches tall) I think she is doing great! She is rolling over from her tummy to her back (unfortunately I have yet to catch it on camera) and is cooing all the time. 

 No teeth yet but I am sure they are on there way soon... she is chewing on anything she can get into her cute little mouth.

She has discovered her bottom lip and sucks on it. It make a very interesting sound what she does it too!

She has also figured out how to gag herself with her finger! Not one of her cuter traits but funny none the less. She hates laying down and trys very hard to sit up.

We just love our little Ginny! She is the best baby ever!! (well, she's in the top 3 ;) )

Marble Fun!!

For school the other day we talked about marbles! We made some marble tracks and a marble run and took a few videos... check them out!

Car Accident!!

Earlier this week while running errands the girls and I were involved in a car accident. A lady, driving a Suburban was texting (at least that is what we heard... I didn't see it with my own eyes) and hit a small car (an older Honda I think) and that car hit us. As with all car accidents it happened very quickly and without warning. Even though it was pretty scary and a few of us were hurt (very minor compared to some people out there) I can't help but think of how thankful I am for how things are turning out...

=I am so thankful we were not hurt more.

-I am thankful we bought such a safe van and that it protected us during the accident

-I am thankful for good car seats

-I am thankful the baby is ok.

-I am thankful my 2 year old is still rear facing in her car seat and she was unharmed. This is a hot button issue among some of my friends and family, but instead of throwing this in there face saying "na na na naaaa I was right!!" I am just going to let the experience speak for itself. The Police, the EMT's the ER DR's the Chiropractor all were so glad and relived that Iyla was still rear facing and all agreed that having her rear facing saved her from lots of hurt. I am so glad I found out about rear facing toddlers, the car seats are rated 40 pounds rear facing for a reason!!!

-I am thankful Isabella's injuries are minor and she will be feeling better in no time. I just wish she was still rear facing like her sisters. Then she would not have any hurts at all.

-I am thankful the accident happened right in front of the police station and less then 5 mins. from my hubby's work.

-I am thankful for the responding police officer, he has 4 girls of his own and was so so great with my girls, talking with them, holding their hand, he was awesome!

-I am so thankful that when I was freaking out the EMT that was helping us was so sweet and kind. He went to high school with me and it was so comforting to have someone I knew taking care of me.

-I am thankful the other party has insurance and that all the costs relating to the accident are being taken care of.

-I am so thankful the ER staff let the baby room with me so I could nurse her. Funny story- I was in the neck brace strapped down to the back board, waiting to get a CT scan and the baby was hungry. She has never had formula and has not even ever used a bottle so I needed to nurse her. So laying there on the board I nursed her with her laying on top of me. She was a little distracted with the angle but was hungry enough not to care too much. The ER nurse had a Medic student shadowing her that day. That kid was green through and through! I think it might have been his first day in the ER. well, he popped his head in to check on me, saw that I was nursing, and turned around rather quickly muttered something about coming back later and was gone! It hurt my ribs a little, but I laughed!! I don't think he expected to see that and I was not in the position to cover up! Hehehehe!!

-I am so thankful I am receiving amazing recovery care at the chiropractor... Seriously the guy is amazing!

-I am thankful the ladies at my church are so supportive, I have received phone calls and one lady brought us dinner.

-I am thankful that even though I am hurt I am still functional. I know it could be so much worse. I have a hurt neck and upper back and some ribs are not too happy, and I have a huge bruise on the back of my head. Could be SOOOOOO much worse!!!

-I am thankful I have an amazing husband who is taking such great care of us.

Everything happens for a reason and even though I don't know why we were hit I do know that I am using the experience to better myself, to look for the blessings in my trials, to become closer to my Heavenly Father, who loves me and my children and sent his angels to surround us. I am so thankful for you, my dear readers who take time out of your lives to be there for us, supporting us and sending your love.


we are truly blessed even in our trials. I firmly believe that. Just know that we are ok, we are on the mend, and we love you all very much!!

WARNING.... Tons of cute baby pictures!!

I realized I have not put up many pictures of Ginny lately so here are a some!

Ginny napping in the sun with a blanket made by Jacob's Aunt Vera





She REALLY likes sitting in this Bumbo seat. She is holding her head up really well. She is 3 1/2 months old in this picture

This is Ginny's Easter Dress

She is looking at Daddy... "Umm you look weird Daddy!"

I don't think she wanted her picture taken!

Tummy time outside... gotta love fresh air!



She was fascinated with this toy it was so cute!