Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Walk For Life

Sponsor Me!!<--click here

I'm doing a Walk For Life Benefit for Options 360 - A pregnancy research center. If you're reading this, take time to check out my wall and consider donating. Here is some personal testimony for you from someone with experience volunteering with Options 360!

"
I volunteered as a Client Advocate (met & talked with the girls/women who came in for a pregnancy test & helped them with the decisions they had to make.) They are definitely focused on saving li...ves & supporting women in scary & stressful situations. They also offer FREE pregnancy tests, ultrasounds & education classes for new mama's. Their Orchards office is actually right next door to Planned Parenthood (they share a wall)...lots of women who are going to PP see the "FREE Pregnancy Test" hanging in the Options 360 window, so they go to Options 360 instead & (very often) they decide to have their baby that they were just planning on aborting...I could go on and on...;))) But yes...it's an organization worth supporting!!!! :) :)" - Brooke Salmi


If something like this isn't your cup of tea, check out my previous post about donating to an orphanage in Ethiopia!

Donations Central

Did you know I've been to Africa? I have. It was the hardest most rewarding experience of my life. I left a chunk of my heart there.

We have friends who are currently in the adoption process of a little Ethiopian boy (he's flipping gorgeous). Their entire process to bring him to his forever home is such an inspiration to anyone who is blessed enough to hear it. Their hearts are filled with patience, faith and hope. A beautiful baby boy is their reward, and he'll be blessed to have amazing Christ centered parents who fought their tush(es) off to get him here.

Their journey in bringing him home goes far beyond flying to another country and picking up their son. They refuse to turn a blind eye to some of the living conditions for orphaned children in Ethiopia. Among other things, they are trying to gather what they can to bring to a specific orphanage in the area where they will be picking up their son. This is no small feat. This orphanage is in dire need of support for their children. When I read the blog post describing the need and conditions, I balled my eyes out. Thinking about it makes me cry.

How often do we take for granted the basic necessities of life? I don't give a second thought to picking up a new toy or new clothes for my son. We're blessed enough to be able to do so, but in that blessing is our responsibility to give as well. I'm calling on anyone who reads this to donate to this orphanage. ANYTHING you can give would be a tremendous blessing to these children. They are dying unnecessarily and we have the power to do something. Anything.

I'm posting a link to the particular blog so you can see for yourself that the need is there. The physical condition of the children is heartbreaking. For those of you can't look at images of obviously sick children, I'll post a list of the needs here.

Please please please contact me if you'd like to give in anyway shape or form. I'm willing to help pay for any shipping rates for those of you in other states/parts of my state.



I can be contacted at violette.jasmine@gmail.com

ordinary hero blog

Things the orphanage needs: THIS LIST HAS BEEN UPDATED
infant clothing
cloth diapers (preferably with plastic outer lining)
Crocs to give to the kids in Korah (the dump).
infant meds (ibuprofen and tylenol, etc)
thermometers
diaper rash cream


Sunday, May 15, 2011

I love Cotton Babies

Well that isn't a secret since I've blogged about how much I love them before, but they're hosting the cutest contest! All you have to do is write a little comment about why you're happy your sweet little babies were born! Easy Peasy, right?!?!? The grand prizes are fun and since there's a store in our area, it's worth entering. I know not all of you are fluff obsessed like I am, but they sell TONS of other goodies! Strollers, car seats, natural cleaners, TOYS and the softest clothes you'll ever put on your babe.

Check it




Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Why I Parent With My Heart


"I absolutely refuse to have a co dependent baby."

It's still hard for me to believe those words actually came out of my mouth! When I was pregnant with Risto I would say things like that all the time. Risto was destined to be a baby that slept through the night in his own bed in his own room at whatever costs. He would know how to self soothe. He would be independent. Apparently I was having a plastic doll and not a real baby.

For some parents, it works to do these things and I don't judge those parents in the slightest. It just wasn't for us, wasn't for our family. To understand how I reached my initial decision for an independent baby and how we ultimately decided on attachment parenting, you need a little back story.

The year before I had Risto I lost a pregnancy after 18 weeks. I had a Partial Molar Pregnancy that for various reasons, went undiagnosed. I had fully planned on doing a natural home water birth. I was determined to do everything parenting related naturally. Those plans were taken from me in a very traumatic experience. When I got pregnant with my darling froggy monster I was doing everything by the doctors orders. I knew I could trust him because he took such great care of me during and after my Molar. Instead of doing things naturally, I was doing everything by the book (well most everything). I kicked my birth plan in the butt and followed my Docs. lead. I ended up with a c.section and although it's not what I wanted it really and truly was the right decision for Risto's safety, and he will always come first.

I believe that my initial parenting style was defined by my loss and my fear of the natural path. I did a 180 after that experience and have since 180'd back and a major part in that switch stemmed from my c.section. I know, crazy right?? It really did!! We were 100% well on our way to have our sweet little man circumcised and honestly I thank God for our decision to opt for a c.sect. It saved my sons little guy from unnecessary cosmetic surgery. It was a decision I left up to my husband who quickly decided after witnessing my c.sect that there was NO WAY he was cutting a part our son. We asked his pedi about it who agreed that it was strictly cosmetic and unnecessary., for us.

*** I want to be very clear that we respect the decisions that others have made in this particular area. I understand a lot of people do it for religious reason, which I do respect. It is our personal religious belief that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ frees us from having to put our son through this procedure***

I had no idea that a decision like that was going to spark this interest in me to parent more naturally. I started researching more natural parenting styles and discovered that a lot of aspects of attachment parenting were exactly how I wanted to raise Risto. I went from trying to teach him to self soothe through CIO (a decision I regret, we spent 1 day.. 2 nap times trying to do this and I cried my eyes out both times, scooped up my son, prayed about it and ditched that idea) to co-sleeping. I nurse my son to sleep for naps and bedtime. I wear him on outings. I cuddle him when he cries and whisper that it's alright to be frustrated.

I can't imagine parenting him any other way. A lot of people think I'm nuts, and I'm becoming okay with that. What works for us won't work for others. Risto is my natural little hippie baby and I wouldn't have it any other way.



Photobucket

Monday, May 9, 2011

You Cant Focus On The Negative...

.... Because you have so much to be positive about!

Shout out to my darling friend Kait (who's last name I'll spare since I didn't get her permission, but trust me, it's amazing). I was all ready to go "woe is me" in this post about never being able to have my natural home birth, blah, blah, blah, when she hit me with the quote of the century.


"You can't focus on the negative because you have so much to be positive about"

Thanks to my darling friend for her words of wisdom. I will no longer be going woe is me in this joint.





Equipping and Supporting My Spouse

I've seen far to often where Dad's aren't very hands on with their babies. This isn't a bad thing to me, so I hope no one gets offended. Sometimes it's just traditional marriage roles (which is how my household is run), sometimes it's lack of interest (I've never seen this happen in any relationships I know of, but I am aware that the problem exists.) but more often I'm realizing is because our husbands aren't adequately equipped to BE hands on.

For those of us that are Stay At Home Mom's (SAHM) I think we sometimes forget (at least I do) that we know our babes better then our spouses! I've tried my hardest to make Trevor feel like an equal parent, because he is, but when it comes right down to it, he doesn't know Risto as well as I do. That isn't a bad thing, I had to learn about Risto just the same as Trevor, but the main difference is the amount of time I have to do so. I spend all day with Risto. Trevor comes home from work between 430-6 and Risto is asleep for the night by 8, that doesn't leave Trevor much time to interact with Risto.

I'm blessed to have a husband who really desires to play an active role in his son's life. I know not all men are like this and it makes me thankful, but I had to ask myself recently, am I giving my husband the tools he needs to be confident as an equal parent? I thought that I was. I've always tried to encourage Trevor as best I can. I ask his opinions, I ask him to pick out outfits, I ask him to take over for bedtime routine some nights... literally anything I can think of. I thought I was doing a great job until a few nights ago.

"I feel like you're better at doing these things because you read so many articles and mommy blogs and you're with him all day".

Those words crushed my heart. In everything I've been trying to do to make my husband feel equipped and equal, I had no idea all the time I spend reading and researching was putting a mountain in the path of HIS parenting.

I have to take into consideration his thoughts, WITHOUT spouting off facts from different articles or opinions from different blogs. I feel like an idiot!!! Here I am, blessed beyond belief to have such a great man as my son's father and I'm goofing up his confidence as a parent! AND to top it all off, I've actually fussed at him before for not being better about making decisions in regards to Risto. HELLO?!?!!? I'm getting in my own way AND Trevor's way! What a nerd!!

Ladies, if this is you too, take the time to ask your spouse how you can better equip and support them in their journey as fathers!

Trevor, I love you. I know I've apologized to you in person, but I'm saying it here too. I'm sorry! Thank you for being patient with me and I promise we're on this parenting trip together! I'm so very thankful to have you in our lives. You're the best father to our sweet little man.I love you. Risto loves you.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

You Are My Sunshine




This picture was taking a few days ago when we were blessed with 70 degree weather. This baby is the highlight of my life, the sunshine to my soul. This being my first Mothers Day, I realized everything I wanted was staring me in the face with sparkling brown eyes and a drool stained chin. God really gave me the hook up with this little guy!

Happy Mothers Day Mama's!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Tackling The Laundry Monster

Well I did it. I defeated the 4 foot tall monster, slowly growing in height and width, in the corner of my tiny 1 bedroom apartment. How you ask? I decided last night to start being a better SAHM. My home is my job (along with caring for my sweet guys) and I need to start giving to 100%. This is sparking new interest in cleaning routines for me. Laundry has oddly enough been the easiest to figure out. Here's my trick.... wait for it....

After I fill the basket with 1 clean load of laundry, I fold/hang those clothes! Now take a deep breath, I know that sounds daunting and frightening and every other word for WORK you can muster up, but it's working so well for me! All of our clothes are folded and hung up and I don't feel overwhelmed by this mass of crap in my bedroom. I love that Risto is sleeping in a clean room. I love that I don't have to worry about Trevor or myself tripping over an unnecessary mess. This first step of regaining my "perfect" housewife status makes me feel so refreshed and energized! I can't wait to figure out how to tackle other problem area's of my home. I think my favorite part of this change is that I no longer have to hand Risto to Trevor and disappear into the dark to clean. I can enjoy my husband and my son because I'm enjoying my home!

I'm off to slumber land, and it feels good knowing I don't have to start my day cleaning

Sunday, May 1, 2011

30 Day Shred and 40 Days of Devotions

It's a new month and I'm over the top motivated! I've recently lost 10 more pounds of my 60 pound total pregnancy weight gain putting me at 35 pounds lost and 25 to go, wipee!! Or does that spell wipe-e? Well either way I'm pumped. I'm in a weight loss competition with my favorite blogging mommy as the gracious hostess. The grand prize? CLOTH DIAPERS!! I am in it to win it. 30 day shred is gonna help tighten up my flabby tummy skin and CD's are a great motivator!

I'm also starting a 40 day devotion beginning tomorrow. It's designed for mommy's and I'm really excited about it. I'm currently trying to focus my time and energy on being the best house wife I can be. I'm actually making myself a "chore list" with daily things to get done around the house. I want to spend less time online and more time being a better wife and mama.

Trevor and I rent an apartment and I told him today how I feel bad that we can't rent a house because I'm a SAHM. I even asked him if he wanted me to work. He's such a sweetie and told me it's more important for me to stay home with Risto, which I love and appreciate! Then it dawned on me that my job IS my home and if I'm going to continue to be a SAHM, I need to give my role in the home 100% of my time. I'm going to spend less time online goofing off and more time being a successful homemaker! So long facebook! I'm giving myself an hour of internet a day. I'm excited. That is all