Babywearing

I'm participating in Babywearing Week hosted by Adventures in Babywearing. And who knows, maybe I'll win a new way to wear baby #3 from Nonny and Boo.

It's so interesting how much the baby world changes from just one baby to the next. In just a few years, there are new products, new laws, different techniques, books etc.

When I had Miss Rose I was super excited to get a Baby Bjorn at my shower. I definately got use out of it, although perhaps not as much as I had expected. Although it was comfortable enough, my back still would get sore after wearing it for a while.

By the time I had Gracie just three years later, slings and babywearing were ALL the rage. I was pretty intrigued and wanted to try out this babywearing thing for myself. I found a New Native sling for about $15 at a baby resale. Not long after Gracie was born I made myself a Moby Wrap (only required cutting, no sewing!). I actually found the sling more comfortable for my back than the Bjorn was.

I got SO much use out of these items. Gracie loved being in the sling. She was a kind of fussy newborn, but plop her in the sling and she was a happy camper. It was her favorite place to nap. For 6 months I was able to have her at work with me and she'd nap and hang in the sling most of the day while I was in meetings and working at my desk.

When Gracie was 2 months old I went on a missions trip to Ireland and of course she came along. Again, she lived in the sling as we walked around neighborhoods flyering, doing ministry and of course sightseeing. Everyone was very facscinated by the sling and the moby wrap.

I'm looking foward to using a sling again with this baby. It will give me free hands to wrangle the two kids who will be running around! I sure hope this baby loves the sling as much as Gracie did.


In an old stone castle on the sea...


Flyering for Kids Week...

Yes, I realize I'm wearing the same clothes basically, on two different days. It was a missions trip so I didn't bring a lot, and I was still losing baby weight--so not much fit!!



Somewhere I have a picture of the Moby Wrap, but I can't seem to locate it

Found a few more pic's to share. Not the one I was looking for, but oh well.

Mother's Day 2007//Gracie 1 month old

July 07//Fair//3-4 months old

October 07//sightseeing in San Fran//6 months

Me too, me too!!

I saw this on Beloved Mama's blog and I have to join in. I would LOVE to win a quilt. I highly doubt it will happen, but you never know :) I think my favorite is the "Nest" quilt. Which one would you choose?

Favorite Things: Milky Way Midnight

Seriously now, how can you resist this combo? Ooey, gooey caramel with a layer of fluffy white nouget wrapped in delicious dark chocolate. I'm not one to grab a candy bar often...but lately, this one has been calling my name more and more. It's my favorite by far, upsetting the place Twix has held in my life since Junior High when I used to eat a Twix bar and drink a Diet Coke on Sunday mornings in youth group.

For some reason, these candy bars are becoming more difficult to find. It used to be that I could easily locate one at the checkout stand or at least in the candy isle. Not so much lately. The last time I was at Target I had to buy a bag of the bite-size version. Sometimes it's better to have the bite size ones as I can eat 5 throughout the day for a total of about 200 calories. But sometimes I just want the experience of eating a whole candy bar. I'm going to have to find out where I can buy a whole box!

Honestly, if you are a fan of dark chocolate, you HAVE to find one of these candy bars and try it!

Thanks Beloved Mama!

Beloved Mama gave me an award...so let me pass on the love.


Seven things I did before...

1. Took a few hundred youth to Mexico during Spring Break for many years

2. Watched my niece full-time for 1 year to stay home with my first baby

3. Worked at Souplantation...still one of my fave places to eat!

4. Babysat my way through college


5. Could quote much of "The Cutting Edge" annoying my family and friends

6. LOVED Amy Grant

7. I journaled.

Seven things I do now:

1. Blog!!

2. Work a 75% schedule which gives me a few days my girls!

3. Study

4. Contemplate my future with three children...

5. Try to keep the house in somewhat of an order

6. Try to stay in touch with friends on Facebook

7. Prepare balanced meals for my family



Seven things I would like to do:

1. Go visit my out of town friends more

2. Crafty stuff like sewing, quilting, digiscrap

3. Go back to Ireland and bring my whole family

4. Travel to Israel

5. Get a hair cut, color, mani & pedi

6. Be more organized

7. Not lose important things (see #6)

Seven things that attract me to my hubby:


(in no particular order)

1. His smile


2. His skin tone!

3. His sense of humor

4. His handsome face

5. How much loves us and does so much for our family

6. His guitar playing abilities

7. How good he is at saying no to stuff


Seven favorite foods...

1. Milky Way Dark

2. See's candy

3. Caramel Macchiato's (decaf, non-fat, extra hot!)

4. Italian--eggplant parmesan especially!

5. Thai--spicy noodles please!

6. Mexican- bean burritos and carne and cheese only burritos

7. Diet Coke...bad habit, but oh well!! (not so much while pregnant though)

Seven things I say most often...

1. Oh for the love

2. Listen the first time

3. Are you freaking kidding me?

4. My back hurts

5. I want to go for a run

6. You have to dance with the one who brought you

7. Someday, we'll get to spend time together.

I'm supposed to tag seven people. If you've already been tagged with this and I've listed you, feel free to not participate, but please keep the award. Here they are:

1. Park City Girl

2. A Mommy Story

3. Girl Who Loves To Run

4. The Unlikely Pastor's Wife

5. My Charming Kids

6. Adventures in Babywearing

7. Readhead Reverend



I chose these blogs because I read them often, I find them creative and unique, and I have not given them an award before...and I want to share them with you!!!

Now don't forget to grab the award!

Fitness Friday, Halloween & More (photos included!)

I have a little catching up to do, so here goes.

Fitness Friday
I think I missed this post last week due to Halloween. I was busy all day getting ready for our church event. However, I can report that the last two weeks I've stayed on track mostly with my health and fitness.

Well, the week of Halloween contained a bit too much candy consumption. I did exercise 2-3 times however. This week I've really gotten my eating back under control. It seemed that my weight gain was going a bit too fast. Trust me, I eat plenty. But trying not to overdo it.

I've been using Babyfit to track my food and weight. I love that site for having a healthy pregnancy. After entering your health information and pregnancy goals, you can track your weight and see a graph of your gain showing the high and low goals. It really helps me stay in the middle of the two lines. We are borrowing a Weight Watchers scale that I love!

This week I ran 3.5 miles on Monday and Wednesday and I plan to run tomorrow as well. I need to get a maternity belt to give my back and belly some support, but it still feels really good to run!

Halloween
Our church had a fun community event. Miss Rose LOVED it all. She was a very proud "bad pirate who does nothing." My little feminist was insistent that she was a "bad pirate" not a girl pirate. Then she combined that with her version of the Veggie Tales "Pirates Who Don't Do Anything." She told me she did not want to be called beautiful. In fact that night when someone told her she was pretty, she looked at me with eyes that said "see Mom, people always tell me that."

Gracie was okay with the whole package. She was sick and therefore didn't have much energy. She was my little monkey. She has a love for monkies in general and is one too! It wasn't hot that night, but not necessarily cold. Much of the night her costume was unzipped and the legs unbuttoned so she didn't overheat. Gracie had her first lollipop that night, much enjoyed!

Here's a few photos...

















Gracie the Monkey
















Miss Rose the Pirate
















That is the "bad pirate who does nothing."














Unzipped, unbuttoned, eating a lollipop













Bean and his midgets (his favorite endearment these days for the kids)













Mama and her beauties (yes...I have a belly, I'm just hiding it here)


And...here's my official 6-month belly picture. I was being goofy for the camera. This baby really is growing and moving A TON!























Have a wonderful weekend!

My Letter to Barak Obama

Dear President-elect Obama,

First of all let me congratulate you on winning the election this week. I wish you all the best in office and hope that you achieve much success as our president. I will be praying that God guides you in all you do.

I realize that you haven't made any decisions or created any legislation yet. But I already have a small bone to pick with you.

On Tuesday night I was watching as you came out with your family to accept the results of the presidential election. They introduced all of you by name. I had nothing against you or your family, but I was immediately annoyed.

You see, naming my babies is a big deal to me. I am very particular. I think part of it comes from my experiences with my own name--Corrina. I like my name. I like it because it's unique but not weird, feminine but still strong. It's not trendy, and even though there are many other Corrina's in the world, there are a variety of spellings.

I am predisposed against names that are in the top 100. It's not that I don't like them, some of them I really like. But if I can find a name that isn't popular or trendy I'm much happier. In fact the boy's name we had chosen before both of our daughters was born has recently become more popular and we won't be using it for our third baby if it's a boy.

So you see Mr. President-elect, I was not happy to hear your family introduced. Not because I don't want you to be president. But because with your rising notoriety, and having young children, their names are sure to become popular.

I am bitter, because your daughter Malia shares a name with my 19-month old Maleah. Granted the spellings are different, but it's the same name. I can just see the minds of pregnant women around the United States turning, considering that name for their unborn children. Because it's a unique name, probably not many have considered it. Until now.

I have a distinct suspicion that over the next four years at least, the name of our daughters will rise sharply in popularity. I wonder how many other Malia's will be in my Maleah's school. At least my Maleah has her own spelling.

I realize it's not something personal you have done to me. It's just how things happen. But I feel a little better writing you this letter. I still love my daughter's name and I'm sure you love it for your daughter as well.

So good luck Mr. President-elect. And if by some chance you have another child or name a new pet, please don't use the name Elianna either. I will keep you posted on the name we choose for our baby in February so you can keep that off your list as well.

A camel, a water buffalo and a race horse

You're wondering what those animals have in common, right?? No, it's not a punchline to a joke.

The commonality here is ME!

I think I'm part CAMEL with how much water I've been drinking. It's like I'm going on a long journey through the dessert and feeling the need to conserve.

I've been SO thirsty lately. If there is one thing I do crave in pregnancy it's water. I'm a water drinker to begin with, usually try to get 64oz per day. But while pregnant, I could honestly drink probably twice that much and often do exceed 64oz in a day.

But, I'm not a camel who so gracefully stores water in its humps. However I do have a few humps I wouldn't mind strategically placing some extra liquid in. (if this blog had a soundtrack, Fergie would be singing about lovely lady lumps right now)

I'm more like a WATER BUFFALO. At least that's how I'm looking and feeling. Large, cumbersome and slow moving.

Ah, now you're getting it. The RACE HORSE bit.

Yup...I pee like a stinking race horse. All the time. I wish I wasn't so thirsty, because then I wouldn't have to pee so much.

It's the worst late in the evening, which of course is close to bedtime. And even when I'm getting ready for bed I just want to drink and drink.

I get up at least once before I fall asleep to pee, maybe twice. Definately wake up at least once a night. Which is just a huge annoyance. Waking to feed a baby I can handle...waking to pee just makes me mad!

But, knowing that probably barring a major act of God, this is my last pregnancy, I am trying to remember to savor every moment. Maybe not every time I have to pee. I cherish the reason behind it though. You are so moved by my sentimentalism right now, I can tell.

Even being as thirsty as a camel, feeling like a water buffalo and peeing like a racehorse, I relish the little one growing inside me causing this mess.

Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm thirsty.