A few of "Mommy's" favorites...

 this picture cracks me up.

it looks like he's taking it of himself. i love how his cute little toes are all spread out!!

today i'm gonna share a few of the current baby products i "can't live without."

and then a couple random things G and i currently can't get enough of...

 two words: sound machine.

Kai has been taking AWESOME naps (2-3 hour morning AND afternoon nap!). i'm sure it's a combination of the fact that he's growing like a weed and has been fighting a cold, but i attest some of it to this wonderful, affordable noise drowning device that G randomly brought home from WalMart a few months ago (for HIM, not Kai). we barely used it because we prefer sleeping with fan noise. i discovered it in G's bedside table a few weeks ago and since then, Kai has been napping to the soothing sounds of a lazy mountain stream. at night he sleeps with his humidifier on, which is pretty loud, so i felt he could benefit from having a little bit of noise during naptime as well...and he does. it is also soothing for us as we hear it on our end of the baby monitor!

Elmo walker!

 Kai goes CRAZY in this thing! i can't believe how GOOD he's gotten in it.

he can walk forward AND backward, get in and out of cramped quarters, back out of dead ends and even build up enough momentum to get up onto carpeted areas. he LOVES to walk holding our hands, and has gotten to where he barely relies on us for balance, and i attest it all to the walker. Lately, Kai has gotten to use it in the garage when i'm up to my neck in laundry AND outside on the back patio (when it's sunny and there aren't 50 mph wind gusts!)

 ok so your probably thinking "why the heck is THAT on here?"

 this Culligan water bottle cooler/heater has been the BEST investment. we initially opted for the bottle cooler because we were going through a LOT of plastic water bottles and i didn't feel good about it. i was pregnant at the time and unable to drink our tap water because we have a softener in it and it's not reccommended. SO instead of going through packs of bottles, we decided to go with the BIG bottles that get delivered to you (affordably!). when we purchased this i had no intention of EVER bottle feeding. but now that i am, i am even MORE glad that we switched over to Culligan. why? because i don't have to use a dang bottle warmer, the microwave or the old "run the bottle under hot faucet water" methods to warm Kai's bottles...i simply mix a couple ounces of the HOT water with the 4-6 ounces of the COLD water and it's perfect. AND good, clean filtered water to boot! it's also been handy to make tea, oatmeal and even Top Ramen. i know, some of you would probably not want something like that standing in your kitchen but we found a good spot for it and have never regretted our decision.

 Kai's Skip Hop diaper bag BACKPACK.

I LOVE this thing (DESPITE comments from certain friends ((ahem, JACOB NEIGHBORS)) that i look like i'm walking to the bus stop...). it is just so much more convenient to strap the bag to my back and be handsfree than having to try to keep it up on my shoulder...and it has tons of room for everything i could need for a quick trip to the store or a weekend get-away.

i cope with my guilt from not being able to breastfeed anymore by giving Kai organic formula and rice cereal. it's more money, but obviously best for him. i've tried a couple of other "organic" brands, which messed with his tummy. Earth's Best has by FAR been the best. I have been buying it off of Amazon in bulk at a dicounted rate, too!

warm and cozy booties!!

my Grandma actually bought these from at a cute little shop in Joseph, OR for Jude, and we have been lucky to have them for Kai to wear. He will NOT keep socks OR shoes on and we have (cold!) hardwood floors so he has definitely benefitted from these booties, which have grippers on the feet (for all of his "walker" time) and comfortable elastic around the ankle. Check out how much use we've gotten out of the brown pair--he has literally worn through the bottoms!

No, we are not feeding Kai green Jello.

But G and i have been enjoying Sugar-Free Jello as a low-calorie, sugarless dessert alternative! super easy to mix up and great to have on hand when you are craving something sweet! i made this batch with 2 cups of water and 2 cups of club soda...but you can also use 7-up or orange juice. you can add some additional sustenance to it by throwing in some sliced bananas, pineapple, apples or berries...

FLEECE SHEETS.

we got these from G's mom and i just threw them on a few days ago....when i crawled into bed i honestly felt like i was being wrapped in soft warm towels straight from the dryer. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...

Clearing out my camera! (February thus far...)

did you miss me??

i took a day off. sometime over this lovely long weekend i caught the plague of death and needed to take a day to recoupe (SLEEP!).

well, i'm back.

and back in style!

since Kai went down i've been teaching myself how to do some cool tricks with my blog. it's fun! i found a really cool "how-to" blog post about how to personalize your blog...if you are like me and kinda new to the game, check it out, it's WAY helpful.

anyway, my camera is back-logged with pictures that i have been meaning to include in blog-posts, and i feel like i just need to clean them out so tonight, i'm featuring snap-shots of the last couple of weeks. very random, but that sums up my life as of late.

busy and random:

Look how BIG he's getting!!!!! {tear}

another nap on the giraffe.

 we have LOVED this giraffe. it's like a flat stuffed animal that is SO super soft and cuddly. when Kai was a newborn he napped on Mr. Giraffe on the couch. when i transitioned him into his crib, i put the giraffe in there to make it more familiar to him (i know, i know i have lots of "stuff" in his crib...so sue me, i think he's comfortable and i check on him lots!). it worked well because he sleeps in his crib like a CHAMP. these cute little animal pillows are my new go-to baby shower gift (you can find em' on Amazon!)

 having {fun} with Uncle Mikey!

 I HATE keeping clothes on my baby.

 that was one great advantage of Kai being born in the middle of the summer....minimum coverage. i think babies should get to have "naked play time" at least once every day (not including bath time!). just imagine having a huge, uncomfortable diaper strapped inbetween your legs all day. yuck! Kai LOVES getting to kick around with his clothes off (and the heat turned UP!). yes, he pees, ofcourse he pees...but it's not hard to clean up and it's totally worth his smiles and joyful babbles.

 {superman!}

 i love to snuggle his soft warm skin...

 we spent the weekend in Portland for my sis-in-law's baby shower a few weeks ago and we ate a delicious, trendy little place downtown (thanks Mollie for the reccomendation!) called Papa Haydn's. Kai was SUCH a good boy while we enjoyed dinner, drinks and of course, dessert.

 *avocado has become my "go-to" on-the-go snack for Kai. i just pack it whole in his backpack and then cut it in half and feed it to him right out of the skin there in the restaurant. he loves it and i love it because it is quick prep and easy clean-up!

 i'm still {trying} to take better care of my skin

 (still no tanning bed time this year...not to say i haven't been tempted...SO.PALE.). My sister-in-law Sarah instructed me to scrub, then moisturize my face with this Mary Kay combo (TimeWise). my face felt amazing. i could count the sleep i'd logged the previous night on one hand, but after rejuvenating my skin with this stuff, i felt invigorated and better prepared to tackle the day. i even put mascara on! (that doesn't happen very much...)

Sarah also let me in on a little secret i'll share with you as well. she buys this stuff NOT from a Mary Kay consultant, but off of EBAY....and she pays a quarter (or less!) of the price. so skincare CAN be affordable...

 isn't this pretty??!

 i've been spicing up my salads lately with avocado, boiled egg and a new dressing recipe that is soooooo good (and great for you as well!) it's a combo of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. it's light and flavorful and a definite favorite of a self-proclaimed dressing snob such as myself...

 each day it gets harder and harder to get a good picture of baby boy because he is NEVER still. here he is with auntie Kelley, who we were SO happy to get to spend a little bit of time with this weekend!

Squash face.

Kai's new obnoxious dinner time habit is taking a large bite and kind of letting it squish out of his lips and then WIPE his hands all over his face...smearing whatever it may be EVERYWHERE. good thing that bathtime follows close behind...

and there you have the majority of my back-pics.

 it feels good to know that when i sit down for tomorrow blogging session, i have a clean slate to work from.

we are still praying for Gary's work to pick up, and for me to have some kind of direction about going back....i've had a few interviews and have had a job offer that is pending until i get news about a previous interview. i don't know if i'll be going back full time or part time, but i'm going back. i'm trying not to drag my feet about it, just because it'll be hard to leave my little guy.

i came home after an interview i recently had for a full-time position (for a job i would typically LOVE) and immediately swooped Kai up, held him close and bawled, because i couldn't bear the thought of leaving him for 40 hours a week. i know that Mommies do it all the time, but MAN i'm having a hard time with even the possiblity of it. Maybe once i find a good daycare solution i'll feel better...?

now i'm pretty much just praying for direction and for God to open doors and lead me to where HE wants me....because that is all that matters.

but until then, i'm soaking up every single {messy} moment.

Saturday Night Haiku

long day for mommy...

empty glass of wine, full heart.

sleep like a baby.

{prayerfully} holding a bad hand...

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2

Too often my prayers sound more like shopping lists than conversations. I need am going to change this.

I rattle off all of the things I need, and don't take adequate time to thank, love and praise.

I get discouraged when I pray and pray...

and then wait...

and wait.

Too often we pray when we "need" something, and when that prayer goes unanswered, we fold.

Don't fold too soon.

Don't give up on God.

He is sufficient.

And odds are, someone's got a worse hand than you...and would love to have your hand.

{Thank God in every circumstance}

And there are always more cards in the "Dealer's" deck.

If you fold too soon you may miss out on that {one} card that could save you.

Don't be tricked into quitting.

When you've got a bad hand, God's got something in store for you.

Something new.

Something good.

So don't fold.

With Jesus, you can conquer a bad hand.

Strength can grow out of our weakness if we allow God to transform our reality and be the author and creator of our future.

So hang in there.

Don't fold...

Because life's best hand is nothing compared to Jesus.

Don't be afraid, for I am with you.

Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

on living with {intention}

you.

me.

{we} have the power to literally make or break someone else's day...

and often do so, unknowingly with the smallest of gestures (or lack of).

Such as...

a genuine smile: i can't quite say that i can TELL when a smile is real, but i CAN say that i can {feel} if it is real. a simple smile can light up a dark place in the soul of another with hope and love. {no words neccessary.}

a GOOD hug: we've all felt a half-hearted hug and hug with emotion behind it. it doesn't have to hurt, but make it real.

a heart-felt compliment: it's the difference between saying "your good at your job" and saying "i just wanted to tell you how great you are at what you do, i admire your work-ethic and passion for what you do."

a courageous helping hand: be "that" person who sees someone who needs help and doesn't think twice. don't be another bystander "pretending" not to see the elderly man in a walker struggle with his groceries, the tired mom straining to pick up dropped keys with baby, coffee and purse in her arms or the hungry homeless man hanging out outside of the gas station. have courage. don't think twice. selflessly put yourself in their shoes, and {love}.

a thank-you note: when you feel gratitude for something someone has done for you, don't let the warm thought pass with out either calling them to tell them or writing them a note. it feels just as good to send those notes as it does to receive them.

a happy greeting: you'd be surprised at how the first impression you give and get can set the tone for the rest of the day (especially if you work in education...your students pick up WAY more than you think, and often times depend on you for strength and hope to get through the day!)

listen: don't just nod your head and think about what you have left on your to-do list. really attend to others. it is quite easy to tell when you are being genuinely received.

conversation: not just "small-talk" and especially not gossip. real, meaningful, deep conversation. the kind that leaves you inspired and invigorated--even if it's just for 20 minutes over lunch.

sometimes in all of the hustle and bustle of this frustrating, wild, beautiful life we forget that even in our smallest, routine actions we can change the course of a day, week or {life} of another.

i want to get intentional with my actions, big and small...

and view those i come in contact with as divine appointments...

and offer my presence as a present to the world around me.

What can {yoga} do for YOU?

Yoga is invigoration in relaxation, freedom in routine, confidence through self-control.

Energy within and energy without.

~Ymber Delecto

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i remember back a few years ago when i was just beginning to explore what {YOGA} was all about.
i was intimidated by the sad indian music, the idea that flexibility was a requirement, the barefeet and the balance poses.

i put off diving into a yoga practice for a long time because i was too afraid to go to my first class.

{thankfully} another cold, gray, rainy Seattle day forced me inside for my workout and i couldn't bear the thought of another second on the dreadmill or elliptical. i needed a change, an awakening, a good class.

i needed yoga, which as luck would have it was offered right there, in my gym, beginning in five minutes.

it was destiny.

i won't lie, i wasn't "hooked" after my first class. i think that yoga is one of those things that, like wine and friendship, get's better with time. if you really apply yourself and listen to your body, you'll sink deeper into your poses and postures with each class, increasing all of the wonderful benefits that yoga offers.

i did yoga once a week for a long time. just once a week, at my gym. never on my own, never really more than once a week....

until i moved out of the city and began researching and practicing yoga and pilates on my own (let's just say that a few years back there was a lack of yoga/pilates classes in the vast expanse of North-Eastern Oregon, where now there are a handful of gyms/studios that have popped up in our area that offer classes, thank goodness!)

the point of this post is:

there are many people out there who stay away from yoga because they don't know what it's about. they think they have to be outrageously flexible and master the advanced poses right away. they think it's just for hippies and Indians. they think it's just for women....i've heard several excuses.

but guess what? it's for EVERYONE! that's whats great about yoga--it can be practiced by all ages, and it's benefits can be reaped by individuals in every walk of life.

yoga stresses focus and self-discipline. you are in charge of your body, so you work as hard as you want to on a class-to-class basis. One day you may want a slower-paced, stretchy class and the next day you may want a challenging, sweat-inducing class. you can press into the postures as deeply as you desire, and challenge your strength and flexibility at your own pace.

Yoga has really helped me get in tune with my body. It has GREATLY increased my flexibility and core strength and has most definitely enhanced my half-marathon training as it's low-impact nature feels great on tight hips and quads that high mileage running inevitably brings. I also have been blessed (and cursed) with a body type that puts on muscle rather easily. However, it can make me appear somewhat "bulky" and Yoga and Pilates is a great counter-exercise to weight lifting as it really lengthens your muscles and gives you a more toned, lean look. In addition to the physical benefits, practicing Yoga has also affirmed how vital is is for me to have "quiet time" at least once a day. Some meditate, I pray. Overall, yoga has taught me a great deal about taking care of my mind, body AND soul. It's not just about getting a work out, it's about working on myself.

wondering what yoga can do for you?

I found an incredibly informative article on all of the Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga. it's lengthy, so allow me to summarize:

Health benefits within: blood pressure, pulse rate, circulation, respiratory, cardiovascular endurance, organs, gastrointestinal, immunity, pain, metabolism.

Health benefits without: aging, posture, strength, energy, weight, sleep, balance, integrated function of the body, body awareness, core-strength, sexuality.

Emotional health benefits: mood, stress reduction, anxiety, depression, self-acceptance, self-control, mind/body connection, positive outlook on life, hostility, concentration, memory, attention, social skills, calmness.

Body chemistry: cholesterol, lymphatic system, glucose, sodium, endocrine functions, triglycerides, red blood cells, vitamin C.

Exercise health benefits: low risk of injury, parasympathetic nervous system, muscle tone, subcortex, reduced oxygen consumption, breathing, balanced workout of opposing muscle groups, non-competitive, joint-range motion, eye/hand coordination, dexterity, reaction time, endurance, depth perception.

Disease prevention: heart disease, osteoporosis, alzheimer's, type II diabetes.

Symptom reduction or alleviation: carpal tunnel, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, muscular dystrophy, migraines, scoliosis, chronic bronchitis, epilepsy, sciatica, obsessive compulsive disorder, constipation, allergies, menopause, back pain.

*if you want to read further into these benefits, please visit the article where each of the benefits is explained in greater detail. it's a good one!

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If you are intimidated at the thought of dropping in on a yoga class, there are several good DVD's available out there for at-home yoga practice. However, there is something to be gained by being challenged by an instructor in a class environment.

....i hope that you are inspired to take some time for YOU and explore some of the ways that yoga can invigorate your body, challenge your mind and enhance your life!

Mama's advice & lemonade

in lieu of my sour attitude due to life's current downpour of lemons i've decided to not let them go to waste and to start mixing up my favorite summer beverage. yep, lemonade (which after about 2pm is best enjoyed with a splash or two or three of FIREFLY!!!!)

my Mom's go-to word of advice whenever me or one of my siblings come to her with a complaining, self-loathing, depressed plea for sympathy is, and has been for as long as i can remember:

Go do something for someone else.

Get your mind off of yourself...

i always HATED hearing that. but it's so true. and it really does work.

i often gave this advice to high school students seeking direction within the confines of my counseling office. it was always scary and hard for them to start volunteering or helping somebody out of their "comfort zone," but once they did it, their spirit glowed with a renewed sense of purpose.

what is it about helping others that gives us so much life?

think of the last time you blessed someone. maybe you baked someone cookies, maybe you complimented a stranger, maybe you let someone go ahead of you in the grocery check-out line...

i don't know about you, but in the smallest of kind or thoughtful gestures that i have offered, my heart smiles.

now try to remember a time that someone blessed you (hopefully you don't have to think too hard!). remember how good that felt? like the world is wrapping you in a big embrace and whispering in your ear see, i'm not that bad....

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why do we constanly forget how greatly appreciated such little acts of kindness are?

most likely because we get too consumed with "us." with life. with routine. with "stuff."

ponder what would matter to as you breathed your last breaths. it wouldn't be your money, your car, your 401K, your appearance, your stretch marks (ha!)...it would be people, and what you DID with your life, not what you HAD or BOUGHT.

thank you Mom, for instilling in me the important value of serving.

it's really at the core of living a purposeful life.

and something i know i can do a whole lot more of...

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"The happiest people I know are people who don't even think about being happy. They just think about being good neighbors, good people. And then happiness sort of sneaks in the back window while they are busy doing good. ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner