Show Us Your Life : Current Reads

It has been a really long time since I have participated in Show Us Your Life over at Kelly’s Korner. But I have recently {in the past few months} started reading a whole lot again {thanks to a super exclusive book club my mom set up which includes her … and me}, so books are pretty much on my mind. I’ve always been a book worm, but since Benjamin was born I started having less time to read. I’ve made the time though and I love to settle down at the end of a long day just me and a book and some fluffy pillows.

So, currently on my bedside table… {or other places throughout the house… you know what I mean}…

Book 3 in the Anne of Green Gables series. Mom chose to read this series so we have been working our way through the books. I read them years and years ago and reading these I was reminded why I always wanted to be an author when I grow up {and maybe I still could be some day when I’m not changing diapers or cleaning up messes or playing blocks}. I love it, I love it, I love it. It really is a book for all ages. It’s funny and sad and romantic and descriptive and imaginative… it isn’t modern and I love that because I’m not really into modern-day fiction. {I mean, my favorite book ever is Gone With the Wind!}

The next books I am reading are Bible study books and the like.

“A daily Bible workbook, a personal growth manual, a practical application of Bible examples and a letter-writing course. What can I expect to learn: how to get life-changing results from writing personal notes; what materials I need to serve and glorify God; why and how to send appropriate notes to the grieving-including caregivers, divorce victims, parents of handicapped children, disaster victims and the jobless; what to say when extending forgiveness --and asking for it; how to gain confidence by practicing proven methods.” – The Gospel Advocate

I have really enjoyed this book and am trying to become better at writing notes to people. I know it is very encouraging for me when I receive notes or emails of encouragement and I think we should all practice this! I have loved this study so far. Sister Jane McWhorter is so sweet and kind and it shows throughout this book.

“Looking for a Scripture-based book to put the music back in your marriage? Your good marriage can be better! For couples who want their marriages to meet their maximum potentials for happiness, this scripture-filled practical guidebook is a must-read.  Chapters address adultery prevention, finances, intimacy, respect, leadership issues, and more.” – Colley Books

I have a few books by Cindy Colley and I have mad love for her as a Sister and I have loved hearing her speak. This has been such a great book so far and I’ve only just begun. I am looking forward to this study and Carl is even reading along with me. I am sure it will be very useful to me! I am so not a perfect wife!

{PS – You can check out Cindy’s blog here! If you haven’t already, you really should!}

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So, what are you reading? Link up at Kelly’s Korner!

Show Us Your Life: My Typical Day

This week's "Show Us Your Life" is "What's your typical day like?" I chuckled when I read the theme because with a 13 month old, it's hard to have a real typical day. When you watch TWO 13 month olds a few days out of the week, it's really hard to have a typical day! I'll break it down in my most typical of days.

Sunday
We get up around 8AM on Sundays. Usually I hop in the shower first, and then I take Benjamin down to have his breakfast while I get my clothes ready for church. Hubby is usually up and showered quickly as well.
9AM Benjamin is dressed and sometimes takes a quick nap before we go to church at 9:30.
10AM Bible class starts. Usually it's just Benjamin and myself. We do class until 11, then Worship starts. That goes on till 12, and then there is a 15 minute break, and then another service. We get home between 1 and 1:30. Depending on how many snacks Benjamin had during church, he either eats a quick lunch, or goes down for a nap.
After Hubby and I eat, I usually nap till about 4:30. Then we go visiting at another congregation for their evening worship, and hang out with friends afterward. Then we go home, and it's bedtime.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Sometime between 8 and 8:15, I get up and get Benjamin up and give him breakfast. I usually turn on the Wiggles for him while I clean dishes or something in the kitchen and wait for Mariah to come over. She is usually here between 8:30 and 9.
After Mariah gets here, she eats her breakfast and then she and Benjamin play together for a while. If I'm able to do laundry or do kitchen stuff, I do. If not, I play with them.
Usually around 10 or 10:30, the babies get tired and are ready for naptime. I usually take this time to shower and then read blogs and that sort of thing and study some.
Usually they sleep around 2 hours, sometimes longer. Whenever they get up, they get their lunch. Usually this is one before the other. Then we play for a while longer. A second nap is usually called for around 3, and between 4 and 4:30, Mariah's daddy comes to get her.
Between 6 and 7 we have dinner, and then it's bathtime/bedtime for Benjamin. Hubby and I usually either work out {which sadly hasn't happened recently, boo!}, or just watch a bit of tv while we do our own thing on our laptops. I usually blog or edit photos.
I go to bed around 12:30-1AM - which is AWFUL!

The only exception is Wednesday - we go to Bible Study on Wednesday evenings.

The rest of the days...
The rest of the days are pretty typical with the Mon-Wed-Fri, except take out babysitting Mariah. On Tuesdays we have LOST night, and usually go visiting members as well.

And those are our Typical days!

Show Us Your Life: Collections

Over at Kelly's Korner, the Show Us Your Life for this week is Collections. I don't collect much, besides photos, laundry, hugs&kisses... but I do collect "I Love Lucy" memorabilia.



I own and have seen every episode. My kitchen is Lucy-themed {or working toward it}. The 3 framed pictures are on the wall between the kitchen and the living room. They are photos from 3 different episodes. The bottom heart-framed picture is a frame my friend Brandyn bought me in Orlando, and the picture is of my mother and me ... years ago. Okay maybe only three years.

Anyway, the top right is a doll my mom got me for I think Valentine's Day when my husband and I lived in Memphis. The middle is a pocket book, and inside that is a matching wallet. And the last frame is a magazine cutout with a quote from Lucille Ball.

I have many other Lucy memorabilia around the house as well. Tote bags, books... and Lucy has also inspired many other things that I own, such as my polka-dotted aprons, and my polka-dotted wallet.

Anyway, that's what I collect! Go over to Kelly's blog and share what you collect, too!

Show Us Your Life - Baby Gear

Show us Your Life is a Blog Carnival started by Kelly at Kelly's Korner. I have been meaning to keep up with this, but you know how things go.

Today's Show Us Your Life is Baby Gear! I am going to share with you some gear that worked for us, and some that didn't. Every baby is different, but this is how things turned out over here! For you first time pregnant moms getting advice and gathering items, take it all with a grain of salt! Your baby may be different!



GOOD INVESTMENTS:

1. Bouncy Seat - I don't know what I would have done without the Bouncy Seat by Boppy that we got (well, we actually got 2) at my baby shower. Benjamin could just sit in there happily for a good long while and let us get stuff done. If ever I needed to take a shower and Hubby wasn't home, I'd just put Ben down in the bouncy seat and take a quick shower. We used it up until he was probably up until he was 6 months old when he just got too big for it.

2. Highchair/booster seat - We love our Safety 1st booster seat! It has a removable backing for when Benjamin is older, and the tray comes off, too. We got ours at a Yard Sale, and so the straps are missing, but I am sure this would be great to strap down to a chair at the dinner table. Benjamin sits so well in it, and actually fits in it.

3. Jump-A-Roo - We thought about getting an Exersaucer, and while those do entertain Benjamin for a little while, we decided on a Jump-A-Roo, and we are SO glad we did. Benjamin loves jumping in it and sometimes he'll even jump himself to sleep. It's good when he's fighting sleep because he'll just give in and lay his head down and that is indication that he is ready to go down for a nap without a fight!

4. Fisherprice Swing - We got ours free but I do recommend this! We haven't used ours in a couple of months due to it just wearing down because of his size, and the fact that he's just not interested in it (well, he wasn't last we tried). In the early months this was really handy, especially on those early, early mornings when I'd have to come downstairs with him because he wanted to stay up. It soothed him right to sleep!

5. Graco Stroller/Carrier system - We use this travel system more than any other type of carrier. Ben has always loved it. We started him out facing outward, just leaned back really far so he could lay back in it. We did use the carrier on top as well, when he fit in that.

6. Rainforest soother - The Fisherprice Rainforest Soother was very helpful when we were having problems with Benjamin going to sleep in his own crib. We'd still use it now if I could only remember to put new batteries in it!!

7. Front carrier - We have an Evenflo front carrier that we both enjoy. When we don't want to use the stroller, we take this along on our walks and everyone enjoys it. Even Hubby wears it!

8. Johnny Jump-Up - this is on the good and not-so-good list. The reason this one is on the good list is because occasionally if we need to be in the kitchen cooking or cleaning and the other isn't there to watch Benjamin, this is where we put him and he will sit there for a good amount of time before getting tired of it. It is also good when we have a meal at the table and Benjamin can't sit in his booster seat (remember- it doesn't have straps), or if we are playing a game at the table.

9. Wipes warmer - Slap a cold wipe on Benjamin when he was younger and he'd pitch a fit. Warm wipes made all the difference and made diaper changing time that much easier.



NOT-SO-GOOD INVESTMENTS:

1. Bumbo - The Bumbo was one thing I really wanted for Benjamin and truthfully it is one of the worst investments. We only used it a few times for feeding and some for Bible class, but his legs were too fat for it very quickly. We definitely did not get our money's worth. For feeding, I wanted something with a taller back, which is why we got the Booster seat.

2. Sling carrier - We used our Infantino sling carrier maybe 5 times. Maybe. It was useful a time or two when we went grocery shopping or took him to the doctor, and a time or two when I needed an extra hand to clean. He quickly outgrew it, and we just did not get our money's worth with this, either.

3. Johnny Jump Up - The reason this is also on the Not-So-Good list is because Benjamin has never jumped in this. Ever. I have never seen his feet leave the ground because he has jumped on his own accord. So ... why is it a jump-up?

4. Baby Bath Tub - We used this ... twice? We even got the fancy one with the shower attached and none of us liked this. Benjamin did so much better bathing in the big tub, and we felt more confident with him in there with either one of us while we bathed him.

5. Pack N Play - SO FAR this has not been the best baby gear. We used it for a few weeks as his bed in the beginning but then he would not sleep in it, so we switched to co-sleeping until he was 3 months old. We took it down and have not used it since. We will be using it in December when we take our trip to Charleston, so perhaps later on it will make the Good Investment list.

6. Diaper Champ - This was useful until we switched to Cloth Diapers. Now it is difficult to get wipes to go down. Really unnecessary (but I was SO excited when we bought it!).

7. Swaddle blankets - After a couple weeks old, Benjamin was no longer interested in all his limbs being tucked in tight. He had to have his arms up around his head and his legs free to kick around (because he would kick his legs in his sleep).


That's all I can think of! I hope this helps, but like I said, every baby is different! Let me know if you have a Show Us Your Life post to share, too!

Show Us Your Life - Wedding Dress

There's a new blog carnival at Kelly's Korner: Show Us Your Life! Today's Show Us Your Life is "Show Us Your Wedding Dress".

At the time we got married, I loved my dress. Of course looking back I wish I had tried on more dresses of different styles before settling, but that is what I bought (with my own money - and everything was expensive), so that is what I am stuck with. Currently it hangs in my closet in the David's Bridal bag it came in.

The pictures are bad quality because they were copied off of the website of my photographers. And I can't get the actual pictures off the computer because the DVD doesn't work on either the computer or laptops. It's a shame! Can't even look at my own wedding photos - not that I'm crazy about them anyway..


This is me and my family. I hope you can see the detail on the dress. It was really pretty! It matched the detail on my veil perfectly.


There's the back. The train wasn't too long, which I really liked.


The detail wasn't overwhelming.




There we have it! A few pictures of my dress, albeit bad quality ones! That's ohkay. :)

Next week is "Show Us Your Wedding Party and Flowers". I'm excited about that one because I love my flowers. :D

Kristen