Christmas is drawing near... Advent Wreaths or Calendars

         It has become a custom in many families to have some kind of Advent wreath or calendar to count down to Christmas. Many people will have the 25 day calendars that start on December 1st and run though the 25th, a lot of the time interactive for the children to enjoy. I know growing up, my family always had some kind of Advent calendar. The one I remember the best, probably because my parents still have it, is one that had doors that we opened each day. Normally, there would be a small prize or piece of candy awaiting the person that got to open the calendar each day. Since there were 3 of us siblings, we had to take turns each day. Even on the days one of us were not opening the door, we were just as excited for the other person to see what treat they got for the day.
         A more recent tradition my husband's family and I have adopted is the Advent Wreath. We find it a fun way to get the whole family together and make sure we keep the real reason for Christmas in the forefront of our minds. The Advent Wreath is a way to celebrate the coming of Christ, essentially "kicking off" the Christmas season. Usually, the Advent wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches (can be real or fake), and four candles are inserted into the branches, each to represent the four Sunday's of the Advent season. Traditionally, the circle symbolizes the love of God which has no beginning and no end, while the evergreens and the lit candles symbolize the persistence of life in the midst of winter. Normally, there are three violet candles and one rose colored candle, which match the liturgical vestments for the Sundays of Advent. According to Wikipedia, The three violet candles are the traditional color  for the penitential seasons. The rose colored candle is for the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word meaning "to rejoice." The First Sunday of Advent begins this Sunday, November 29th, with the lighting of a candle usually is accompanied with a Bible reading and prayers. An additional candle is lit each subsequent week until all four candles are lit on the final Sunday of Advent. Some other colors popular with Advent wreaths may red candles, white candles, or blue candles. Many, who have the white candle in the wreath call that candle the"Christ Candle," and is normally lit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
        No matter which type of Advent wreath or calendar you use, let's try not to forget the true "Reason for the Season," the birth of Jesus Christ. I hope all of you have a Happy Thanksgiving this Thursday, and First Day of Advent this Sunday.

                                                                      Advent Wreath
                                                            Image from: inhisname.com

                                                                 Advent Calendar
                                                          Image from: alphamom.com

Major Pain.... Some Ways to Deal with Labor Pain...

     I will start with a brief description of my first labor experience, and then move into some ways to deal with pain during labor. With my first pregnancy, I was induced at 39 weeks. I've been told by nurses that "labor" starts when the pitocin drip begins, meaning I was in labor for 17 hours. Yes, 17 hours! About 7 hours into labor, the nurse that was tending to me that night said she could get the anaesthesiologist to start my epidural- if I wanted one. Of course, I wanted one! So I got my epidural... many people had tried to "prep" me for the experience...It was nothing! I sat on the edge of the bed, bent over as far as my stomach would allow me, and the doctor inserted the epidural iv- done, simple as that. Honestly, I do not remember if they used any local anesthesia on the spot prior to inserting the iv (it's been 2 years and I've lost a lot of sleep since then ), but I do not remember it hurting at all. So, I sat in the hospital bed for another 8 hours (try to sleep if you can, I couldn't) with nothing too special going on... Oh, by the way, you cannot eat solid food until after the baby is born when you have the epidural- the food could mess up the effectiveness of the epidural. Well, about 2 hours before my precious little man was born, I start feeling the contractions. I have to say, with the epidural, those HURT! I cannot imagine full blown contractions without an epidural. My husband and mom kept insisting I let the nurse know about how bad I was feeling the contractions. After several complaints from me, the nurse made the anaesthesiologist on duty come in and look at my dosage. He determined that I needed my dosage upped. With in about 5 minutes, I could not feel anything again-whew! About 10 minutes later, the doctor came in to check how far I had dilated, and it was time to push. I've got to say, I was glad to have that extra boost of numbness prior to pushing. My husband and mom, held my legs while I pushed. Since I had never done anything like this before, I found it beneficial to have the nurse bring in a mirror to help me focus on the task at hand.... PUSHING! It was about an hour and a half of pushing, and my sweet little baby was born. I had a near 3rd degree rip from pushing my big bundle of joy out.... I was even more thankful for the epidural because I did not feel any stitching, at all. Boy, once the epidural wears off (was about 2 hours later for me), you feel it all! I have to note, not matter what the pain is, it is 100% worth it all. Baby's are such a miracle.
      Now, since I didn't deal with much labor pain, I had to do a little research to find some great techniques to deal with natural (non-epidural) labor. Babble.com has a list of 10 great techniques for dealing with pain during labor. Some of these I already knew, but it's good to see others agreeing that it helps.

-Water:      If you are planning on staying at home for a while before heading off to the hospital (or if you are doing a home birth), a warm bath is great to relive the pain of labor. The water's weightless environment, allows the body's muscles to relax. If you are already at the hospital, most hospital rooms have showers that you can get into and let the water run over you. If the shower has a portable shower head, you can move the water down towards your lower back, and it will help relive the major back pain cause by contractions.

-Noise:        It may seem like an odd thing to do, but if you make noise though the pain of each contractions, it can help get you mind off of it. If you find yourself in a high-pitched squeal, try focusing on making it a lower pitch, almost like a growl. It will help your shoulders relax, and your breathing deepen. Many women opt to sing or chant things during each contraction. It's another way of getting your mind off of the pain.

-Changing Position:      Really, it's fairly simple.... If you feel that you need to change the position you are laying or standing, go with the urge. Your body will try to find the most "gravity-friendly" position to get into in order to help relieve pain. Some suggestions: lean forward against a wall or chair, rock your body from side to side, or simply walking (up or down stairs can help with the pelvic pressure). Other women use large medicine balls to assist them with comforting positions.

-Support:       Whether it's your spouse or partner that went to the birthing classes with you, or a midwife/doula to offer you support. If your comfortable with it, a parent or friend in there with you can be great to help you deal with the pain or offer distractions. I had my mom in the room with me, after all, she had been though labor 3 times- I would consider her a pro. Having someone else there with you can not only offer as a distraction to get your mind off of the pain, but they can also be an encouraging word in your ear to help remind you that you are doing a great job.

-Massage:       Have your partner or spouse give you a back rub when it starts hurting from contractions. Simply, consistent pressure in downward strokes can help relieve much of the pain you may be feeling. Rolling a tennis ball down your spine can also help. I often try to use the fact that I'm pregnant as an excuse for a massage, use that to your full advantage during labor.

-Meditation or visualization:       Imaging your self somewhere safe or comfortable, can not only distract you, but also help the pain not seem so bad. Visioning the pain as the way to get your body ready for birth. Breathing deep breaths during this exercise, can help get you though each contraction.

-Educate yourself:      Take classes before birth to prepare yourself for what you may experience. If there are some things you don't remember them mentioning during those classes while you are in the middle of labor, grab your pregnancy book or look it up on your phone, computer, or tablet to make sure you understand what is going on. That knowledge, can ease your mind and the pain. Crying can even help further, if that's what you feel you need to do. Talk it out too, with your support person. Explain what hurts or what might be scaring you, it can help ease your mind ,as well.

-Have a doctor or midwife you trust:     Along the same lines of "educate yourself," having a doctor or midwife that makes you feel comfortable enough to ask any questions you may have leading up to the "big day," is important. Anytime a question may arise, jot it down somewhere- a pregnancy journal can be handy- and make sure you ask your doctor at your next visit. If it's an issue you do not think can wait until your next appointment, call their office, they usually have a nurse on duty to answer questions. Having the knowledge told to you straight from the doctor, not only can be reassuring, but you know it's correct. There's so many pregnancy websites and apps out there, and while many do have accurate information, you can rest assured that your doctor or midwife would give you the answers you need.

-Create a comforting environment:       Oxytocin is a chemical that is released into the body during labor. This natural chemical is know to produce itself when you are happy, fall in love, feel safe, and yes, during an orgasm. If you can keep your hospital room a stress free environment and think happy thoughts, it will help release this chemical into you body, which will help all of the pain go away (well, you will forget about it). If you keep stress or scared, the chemical will be delayed prolonging the pain.

-Pain medication: If all else fails, you can take medicine. There is a shot that can be given to the mom during early labor that is a pain reliever, but will wear off by the time you are in active labor (a.k.a ready to push). Or you can opt for my favorite choice, an epidural. It will numb you from the waist down eliminating all the pain altogether. Nowadays, it really is no big deal to get an epidural. You can of course do your research of the option, and ask your doctor any questions you may have about it. There are some studies that say there should not be any time limit on when you can get an epidural, but most hospitals will not administer the medicine after a certain point of labor or dilation. If you are considering an epidural at all, make sure you ask your nurses how long you have to make your decision, that way you are not told "your window of opportunity has passed."

I hope you find some of these techniques for labor pain management helpful. If you would like to see the article I referenced, here is the link: http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/labor-pain-management-childbirth-contractions/

                                          Picture of Braeden right before we left the hospital.

Thanksgiving's around the corner....

    My hubby pointed out that I did exactly what I was harping about in my last post... I pushed Thanksgiving out of the picture and skipped on to Christmas. Good catch hubby! I'd like to make sure I give Thanksgiving the credit it is due...
    History lesson time: I know all of us know about Thanksgiving, but I feel that we are quick to think of only the food, football, parades, and "Black Friday". With a little research on History.com we learn that when the Plymouth colonists gathered with the Wampanoag Indians for their harvest feast in 1621, it was a momentous accomplishment. Not only is it considered the 1st recorded Thanksgiving ever, but it was also a huge step in these two different group of people working together for a common goal. If we all think back to our 3rd grade history class, things started off with a very rocky beginning for the colonists. Many of them did not make it to the 1st Spring due to the weather exposure and illnesses. Over the next year, the American Indians taught the colonists how to farm. That November, they all gathered for what is considered the 1st Thanksgiving. Most people don't realized that our traditional turkey dinner was not what was served at the 1st Thanksgiving- Lobster, seals, and swan were the main protein. It wasn't until 1863, over 240 years, that is was deemed at National Holiday by Abraham Lincoln.
      Fast forward to today, our typical Thanksgiving consists of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NFL football game, turkey and a ton of food. We forget mostly about the fact that it's a day of gathering with family and friends, just at the colonist and American Indian first gathered. We may or may not remember that is really should be a day of Thanks Giving. My family has a ton of Thanksgiving traditions, but one of my favorites is that we go around the kitchen table and say one thing we are thankful for... Most of us says family, but it's a great and easy way to incorporate what the day is actually about.
     Let me run down the list of our Thanksgiving Day traditions. I'd also like to hear from you all about some things you do or eat on Thanksgiving. Our normal day starts when ever we wake up from sleeping in. With Braeden, that's no later than 10am. I quickly remember that the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is on. I get up, turn that on, make coffee, and sit down to watch the parade. Once that is over, the Westminster Dog show is on, and I leave that on while I get ready for the day. Usually, we have lunch over at Paul's parents house and then dinner over at my parents house.  We end up overly fed, and most of the time feel miserable we end up so full. At both homes, we have the traditional fixin's of turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, and gravy. There are always a few extra things thrown in as variables, and who knows what all we may have for dessert-usually pies of all sorts. My parents usually put their Christmas tree up at some point during the day. While we are over at my parents house, we usually all get together and play a game of Clue-losers clean up. Then, we cap off the night with the family's favorite Christmas movie to officially kick off the Christmas season- National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. By this point, we are all stuffed and tired. My small little family heads home for a slumber that is usually the best all year, probably because of all the turkey (and usually wine-not this year for me). Well, there's my typical Thanksgiving day.... I'd like to hear about yours....

I hope I've done a decent job of giving Thanksgiving the credit it is due... :)

                                                     Image from: snowvillageinn.com

Getting in the Christmas spirit...

         Last year, my husband and I refused to do any decorations for Christmas until Thanksgiving. This year, my husband decided to go ahead and put the lights up on the roof while the weather is still warm. Those have been up since the weekend after Halloween. We will not turn them on until Thanksgiving. Seeing all the Christmas stuff up in the stores, make me want to go ahead and put the tree up and finish decorating the house. It's taking all my strength to keep from having my house fully decked out in Christmas already. It doesn't help that I've been working on Christmas projects for Brittany and my Etsy shop ( GeekedOutCrafts.etsy.com ). I find myself more and more every year struggling to keep Thanksgiving and Christmas seperate. All the stores that start putting out Christmas items in October doesn't help... Neither does all the Christmas push big company stores have invested in. Does anyone else find themselves dealing with this struggle? Or do you just embrace Christmas earlier  and earlier  every year?

Here are some pictures of the Christmas stuff we have in our Etsy shop ( GeekedOutCrafts.etsy.com ) 

Dealing with pain thoughout pregnancy

      Dealing with different pain throughout pregnancy seems to be a common theme for me this time around. With my first pregnancy, I did not have hardly a problem. This baby, however, already wants to make sure it is deemed different than Braeden. There are many different stages of "pain" or painful sensations a woman may have to cope with during pregnancy.
       In the first trimester, the common causes of discomfort or pain is: cramping, nausea, breast tenderness, constipation, fatigue, etc. Typically, most women describe the first trimester of pregnancy to be by far the most uncomfortable. If you are blessed to not have any bouts of nausea or vomiting, then you will more than likely at least notice the fatigue and breast tenderness. For nausea, I have a previous post about some ways to help make that a little easier on the soon-to-be momma. Some suggest crackers by your bedside, sprite or ginger ale handy about just about all times of the day, or mints/drops to help ease the nausea. Fatigue is a little harder to deal with, especially at the early stage of pregnancy. Your body is in overdrive creating a safe environment for your baby. With my first pregnancy... before I found out I was pregnant, I was so tired, I literally told my husband that I thought I had some kind of terminal illness. I just did not feel like ever getting out of bed. Major suggestions for fatigue are to try and rest as often as possible (do not feel bad that you want to take a nap), make sure your iron levels are where they should be, and any exercise is helpful (but do not over do it). I tend to go on walks though the neighborhood. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to help the breast tenderness. Just make sure you explain to your partner why you don't want them touching you (or even looking at you for that matter). Make sure they understand they haven't (technically) done anything wrong and most of this "disgust" feeling you are having will pass soon. Early on in both of my pregnancies, I had cramping that honestly seemed like I would start my period any day, but it never came. That pain and cramping is due to the fetus implanting itself in your uterus. It usually stops when you are about 6 weeks. Many women also complain about dealing with constipation during the early stages of pregnancy. Much of this can be due to the prenatal vitamins amount of iron. That extra iron in your system causes you to become constipated, an unfortunate side effect for a very important vitamin the baby needs. That does not mean you should stop taking your vitamins. Instead, you can look for prenatal vitamins that do not have the extra iron. I suggest if you do this, try finding some natural ways of getting iron in your system (spinach, beans, lentils). -- That's just the first trimester.
      With the second trimester comes leg cramps, stomach pain (muscles stretching), headaches, etc. There's a fairly easy stretch to remedy those awful leg cramps that wake you up in the middle of the night... Point your toes upward, toward your face. It stretches our those muscles that have cramped. It should almost instantly stop the pain. It never hurts, if you are not in a ton of pain, to get up and walk around a little too- this helps keep those muscles loosened up. There are many yoga like stretches that are good to do throughout pregnancy. These stretches work to help the stomach muscle with all the stretching that is coming. If you notice you seem to be having a ton of problems with your stomach feeling like you've pulled a muscle, try working in some of these stretches. This time around, I have had this problem so bad that I cannot walk. Below is a picture of some stretches good to do during pregnancy.  I have also been dealing with terrible migraines. This is mainly due to the increase of hormones in your body during this time. I first always try the non-medicated route to relieve headaches. I have use " Tiger Balm" on my temples and across my forehead to help with the headaches. If that doesn't help, I make sure I have a quick protein filled snack. Most of the time, this works. Next, if you can, try resting in a darkened room (it doesn't have to be total lights out-unless that helps- but just not all the lights on in the room). If none of that works, all you have have during pregnancy for that is Tylenol. I never find that to help much, but it may be all you need to kick that headache to the curb.
    Other women, may argue that the third trimester is the most uncomfortable. Still with the leg cramps and stomach pain, but now you also have frequent urination that disrupts your sleep, the constant kicks and jabs from within your belly, pressure on your back and uterus and this overwhelming feeling that you are done and ready for the baby to be out.I know with my first pregnancy, Braeden would kick me so hard in the ribs it would take my breath away. My doctor suggested to try laying propped up on my left side to alleviate the pressue and pain. It can help some, but once the baby gets to a certain size, there's not much that will help. There's really no remedy to the frequent bathroom trips either. The baby is stilling on your bladder and makes you have to go pee about 50 times a day (seems like 50 times at night too). I think all the nightly bathroom trips gets our body prepared for all the times we have to wake up in the middle of the night with the baby. Really, one of the best things to help your overall discomfort, I've found, is to go on a walk. It can help loosen up your muscles and the movement of your body lulls the baby to sleep (usually), so you will see a decrease in those painful kicks.
     I hope reading this post, helps any or all of you soon-to-be moms with some of that pain we deal with during pregnancy.... Dealing with LABOR pain is a totally different blog! :) -One that I will work on soon....

                                            Picture from: Childpack.com

House Cleaning Tips.... From a Mom with a Toddler

    Let me preface this with, my house is not perfectly spotless. I work and have a 2 year old son. There are days, especially now that I'm pregnant, that I do not feel like doing a run though. So, I do not want anyone to think you have to always keep a perfect house-The Lord knows I don't. I just wanted to give you a few tips I have picked up over the years that may help you not feel so overwhelmed when you clean.

     Here's a Quick list of what to do in every room:
      -Pick up trash
      -Pick up dishes
      -Pick up toys or other items in the floor
      -Clear off counters or other surfaces
      -Wipe off counter or other surfaces
      -Sweep and vacuum
                -Mop, if time allows

In a little more detail:

     The first thing I always do, is grab a bag (I can judge by looking around the house if a grocery bag will suffice or if I should just opt for a garbage bag) and pick up trash: paper, disposable cups, paper plates, etc. When that is complete, you have essentially prepped your house for vacuuming or sweeping, but it is not time for that yet.
      Next I run though each room and pick up any dishes that need to be cleaned. I can always find a cup or two on the nightstands in my bedroom. I, also, try to remember to check under Braeden's bed or the couch for sippy cups that could have rolled under there. If you forget them, in a few days, they will let you know. If it's just a couple of cups or plates, I will really quickly just knock those out of the way so I don't have to worry about dishes later. If there are still some more dishes that need to be done (maybe from dinner last night), then I will place the dishes I gathered around the house in the sink to be cleaned later.
     The next room I focus on is the living room, mainly because that's the first room people see in my house and the room we spend the most time in. I will do a quick run though the room and pick up any toys Braeden left in the floor. I have a box in the corner of the room that I can put them in. Once I'm done with that, I just do a quick vacuum/sweep though the room (we have a rug over our hardwood floors). If I'm pressed for time, like a visitor will be at my house in a few minutes, then I'm finished with the living room. If I have the time to do a little deeper cleaning, then I will mop the floor and clean the mirrors.
      I tend to go with the flow of my house when I clean, meaning the next room for me is Braeden's room and the bathroom. I mostly will just make sure all toys are up in his room and do a quick sweep though. Then, in the bathroom make sure the toilet is clean. Next, I make sure the sink looks good. Then, I wipe down the mirror. If I am doing a deep clean that day, I, then, clean the bathtub. Then, sweep and mop the floor. Then I repeat the process in the dining room and kitchen...doing all the dishes in the meantime.
     If I have company coming over, I do not focus on my bedroom. If I am cleaning the house that day, then I will repeat the same process but include putting up laundry in the mix.

Let me make it clear.... It just about always happens... I will run though the house cleaning, and by the time I'm finished, the first room doesn't look like I cleaned at all because my sweet little toddler decided to play with all of his toys in there. I no longer let it bother me, unless there's company coming over. Usually, even then, I don't let it get to me. I just quickly try to pick up what I can, and let the person know my toddler decorated  the room for them.

I've come to realize, everyone not only understand, but they really don't care. They just prefer your company more than anything else.

                                                    Image from: northlandhomecleaning.com

Eating Out vs. Eating In

      I got this idea from a friend that requested I talk about the pros and cons of eating out vs. eating in. I've got to admit that I probably eat out more than I prefer. Typically, I find that I have to eat out on nights that I get home late from work or haven't gone to the grocery store yet. There is the rare occasion my husband and I got out to a nice dinner for a date night. That isn't what I'm really going to compare with this particular article. I plan to focus on the daily trips to fast food restaurants or the restaurant that can be considered a "sit down" restaurant, but tends to be faster than an upscale restaurant. The key these restaurants it they want to get your food out to fast and get you to leave fast. The more customers=more money for them.
      Like I said earlier, I find myself going to fast food restaurants more than I would prefer. I typically do not get off work until 7pm during the week. If my husband doesn't beat me home, then dinner has not been started. By the time my whole family is together for dinner, I don't feel like the task of cooking and cleaning up dinner (even more so now that I'm tired from pregnancy). Every mom knows, there are nights where you realize a grocery trip is needed because the dinner you did manager to throw together is either the last you have out of your freezer or pantry or makes no sense at all. These nights are seemingly valid nights to make a fast food run. My husband and I find ourselves struggling with finding a place that offers healthier dinner options. The problem with that is, the price of the healthier option is usually twice the price of the cheap burger and fries combo meal. Additionally, I have truly noticed how much better I feel when I have been eating healthier than stuffing my body with greasy fast food options. Honestly, I would say it's probably at least 2 times a week that we eat out. I did a budget about a year ago that calculated all of my eating out habits... it was shocking the amount of money each month we spent on eating out!
       I have been making a more conscience effort to keep at least a few items in my freezer or pantry to throw together a quick meal on a late night. I will not lie and say that my "quick dinner" options are always healthy options. There is that  time we get a frozen pizza or bag of chicken tender for a dinner option. More often, we will buy a bunch of vegetables(in the Summer time it's usually all fresh) or big bag of salad and have an all veggie dinner. I have tired my hand at some slow cooker meals. My favorite are chili's, stews, or soups because they are usually fool proof and don't require much prep. One major thing I have noticed, eating at home saves money. We have already noticed how much it's helping our bank account.You can eat healthier and cheaper-period. Honestly, my husband and I prefer to have a steak dinner at home. We know the true quality of our steak, it's flavored and cooked exactly how we want it, and it is ALWAYS cheaper than going out to a steak house. We also know that we can control the amount of seasoning that is put on our food, which is a big deal if you have blood pressure issues. I know it isn't always a reality to say, "Never eat out," but it is definitely something most of us should strive for- at least cutting down on eating out so much.
       I know that eating out can be easy, convenient, cheap (if healthy options aren't what you are looking for), and no dishes-sounds great, right?! In reality, when you eat in, you can eat healthier, control your food better, and SAVE MONEY (especially in the long run).

Picture from: burgerbusiness.com

Picture from: betterrecipes.com

 

 

Pregnancy update.... 17 weeks

      I just wanted to do a quick little update on my pregnancy so far. I've reached the 17 week mark (will be 18 weeks on Monday). All my apps tell me the baby's is now developing their soft cartilage into bone, that it weighs about 5 oz, and measures around 5 inches. I can definitely feel movement now (much sooner than I did with Braeden). I also feel my stomach is starting to actually look pregnant.
       Normally, the nausea phase is over with the first trimester. Lucky for me, my doctor said I fall into the 10% of women that experience nausea past the second trimester. Thankfully, it is rare if I actually have vomiting associated with my nausea. I have also been having terrible migraines on top of all this. My OB thinks its correlated to my nausea. So, he's started me on a different regimen of nausea medicine. We are all hoping it helps tremendously.
        In the most recent few days, I've had bad pressure in my lower abdomen, which has made walking difficult. Along with, back pain and back spasms, it can be hard to crawl out of bed in the morning. I now find myself waddling around like a 9 month pregnant woman. The doctor said it is normal to experience this during pregnancy, even at this stage, and he said there is not much you can do for it. So, if any of you other pregnant women out there are experiencing this, it's fairly normal, but if you have any concerns, call your doctor.
      On positive note, we are looking forward to finding out the gender in a few weeks. Especially since we have decided to postpone major planning until we know the gender. I'm sure in about a month or two, I will be stressing about getting everything ready for the baby. For now, I just want to enjoy this pregnancy for the blessing it truly is.

                                                           Image from: www.babycenter.com.au

Coconut Oil... Is it worth the hype?

       Image From: news.health.com

 

 

     I've got to admit, normally, when I see people going crazy about a product, I usually distance myself because I'm not one to get sucked in. Well, I was at the store and saw in the organic section that the coconut oil was on sale. I bought the virgin coconut oil that's unrefined and cold pressed. It was about $7. My husband jokingly said, "for this price, this stuff better be amazing." When I got home, I started my research about uses for coconut oil. I found so many things, some even a little outlandish. The few things I have used it for, it has really worked well. I'm honestly impressed.

 Makeup Remover and Face Wash

       The first use I read about was makeup remover and face wash. Since my normal routine is not the greatest (one of Braeden's baby wipes), I decided I'd give this a try. I want to first say, If you are at allergic to coconuts, do not try coconut oil. The other note, when you apply the coconut to your face, make sure you are careful to keep it out of your eyes. I simply grab a small spoon and scoop out maybe a dime sized amount. I apply to to my face, specifically where my eye makeup is. I take a damp wash cloth and wipe off my face. It totally removes all traces of makeup and leaves my face feeling completely moisturized. I've even noticed that it seems to help my acne heal quicker, as well. If you find that you do not like the way it feels on your face once you've wipe it off, you can always use some mild face soap to wash it completely off.

Lip Moisturizer and Scrub

       For some reason, this fall my lips have been overly chapped. I've been using the coconut oil as a lip moisturizer. It really does work amazing, and tastes awesome too. I haven't tired it yet, but if you mix 1 tablespoon of coconut oil with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, you have a  homemade exfoliating  lip scrub.
        I have actually formulated a lip balm using coconut oil and cocoa butter. I use all natural and organic coconut oil to make it. My husband swears it is the best chap stick he has ever used. Here's a link to my etsy shop if you are interested in buying some to try for yourself. https://www.etsy.com/listing/224032124/all-natural-lip-balm-vanilla-mint?ref=shop_home_active_9

Lotion and Body Butter

       Along the same lines, since I'm currently pregnant, I've noticed my skin seems to be more dry right now. I rub a little on my hands, arms, elbows and legs to keep them soft and moist. It feels wonderful on my skin, and smells great too. It's honestly a win win. I have also been using it on my stomach to  prevent stretch marks (I won't know how well it works for that for about 5 more months). **{Update: Since having my baby in April, I have been using the coconut oil on my stretch marks... I do feel like it is helping them diminish.} Similarly, I have also had some problems lately with chaffing on my legs (probably due to pregnancy hormones and weight gain). If you rub a little on the affected areas, not only does it help keep the area from becoming further chaffed or chapped, but it also helps heal the area because of its antibacterial and anti fungal properties.
         I have acutally created a whipped body butter using coconut oil and cocoa butter. It is a wonderful moisturizer for dry skin. It has gotten me though this winter pregnancy. My father-in-law thinks it's the best lotion he has ever used. I do have it for sale in my shop. Below is the link. https://www.etsy.com/listing/218201076/all-natural-body-butter?ref=shop_home_feat_2

Hair Conditioner

      I have tried it as a hair conditioner for my son. I learned the next day, when his hair was still greasy looking, that I should have rewashed his hair to get the excess oils out. However, I did notice that his hair was not nearly as frizzy or tangled as it usually is. Again, the smell of his hair was so much better then it normally is. If you have curly or frizzy hair I would suggest trying a little on your hair as a conditioner, but you may want to make sure you "rinse and repeat" with your shampoo. I did read that some people suggest applying it to your hair an hour or two before you shower so it has time to soften your hair, but your first shampooing with get rid of most of the greasiness.

Healing

       When my daughter was born {yes, I'm no longer pregnant... I had her in April}, she was lip-tied and tongue-tied. I was very lucky that my pediatrician specializes in lip and tongue clipping. He has an "all-natural" technique by using black tea and ice water to numb and heal during the procedure. His instructions for healing the areas were also an "all-natural" approach. He explained that coconut oil is like a Neosporin for the mouth. From what I've read, it's more like a Neosporin for body in general. He said it's totally safe for newborns, and it will help heal the clippings. I loved how he took such an "all-natural" approach not only during the procedure, but also with his healing suggestions. It definitely seemed to heal quicker than my son's clipping did.



       There are so many other uses for coconut oil, it truly is an amazing product. You can cook with it too. I haven't yet. Honestly, if you search it in Pinterest, the results are never ending with the uses for coconut oil. I haven't gotten too adventurous with it just yet,  but what I have used it for, it has been amazing. So next time you're at the store, check it out. If it's not too expensive, grab a jar, and try it out.

Some great and easy ways to sneak vegetables into your toddler's diet

      I have been blessed with the most amazing and goofy toddler. I constantly find that it can be a struggle to get him to eat healthier foods. He's quick to accept chicken nugget and mac n' cheese, but those aren't always the best options for him. I'm not going to lie, there are days where that's the quickest and easiest meals for me to prepare him (and most of the time I end up eating the same things too). It took at little research of recipes on Pinterest, but here are some ideas I have found that tend to work for us.

Flavor Is Key

       The first thing I would like to note, with my son, flavor is key. I try to be mindful of salt intake for my entire family. That is not the "flavor" I'm talking about. He loves to eat green beans, but they must have either a little garlic powder mixed in them; or, if I am cooking them stove top, I sometimes add 1 beef bullion cube to flavor the green beans. I use this "flavorful"  trick with several other vegetables too, like broccoli and asparagus.

Hide Them
       The second tip I've learned, is to hide them. I know many people suggest this as a solution, but if done well enough, it really works. One thing my son loves is my Cheesy Spinach Quiche. He can almost devour an entire slice by himself. Spinach is not only a wonderful vegetable for adults, but such a power food for toddlers too. I also make foods like spaghetti, which already have tomatoes in it, but sometime sneak in ground vegetables like carrots (throw them into the food processor really quick or grate them directly into the sauce). You can also just add some chopped spinach to the sauce, and they think it's basil, never knowing the difference.

Soup or Stews

      The final suggestion I have is making soup  or stews. This may not work for every child, but I know it does for my son. I think it's similar to the "flavor" suggestion from earlier, since the vegetables are flavored by the broth of the soup or the "gravy" from the stew. When I fix my son's bowl of soup or stew, I make sure the vegetables are cut up small enough to prevent choking and that is cool enough to prevent burning his mouth. He seems to forget he's eating vegetable when he is having soup or stew, which is always a win!

      It has taken a lot of patience and "trial and error" to get to the point my toddler and I are at with eating his vegetables. I am sure once he becomes a little more aware of what he's eating, I will have to work on getting even more creative. I truly hope this can help some of you mom's out there struggling with picky-eating toddlers. Below are a couple of recipes for some of the food mentioned in this blog today.

Quick Cheesy Spinach Quiche:

1 frozen pie crust (pre-baked at 350 for 10 mins)
           I normally either poke holes in the crust prior to placing in the oven to prevent it from puffing
           up too much or put aluminum foil down inside the crust with dry beans on top of that to weigh
           down the crust.

1 onion, diced (sautéed in a little butter and set aside to cool)
6 eggs (whisked together thoroughly)
1 cup of shredded cheese (I use Colby jack)
1 package of frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste (about 1 teaspoon of each)
-Mix all ingredients together and pour in the pie crust
-Bake at 350 for about 25-30 minutes or until firm when giggled
-Let set for about 10 minutes, serve warm

                                                Image from: ascrumptiouslife.com


Beef Stew:

1 chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
         Toss beef in AP flour seasoned with 1 teaspoon of salt, pepper, and garlic powder
         Brown on all sides in 2 tablespoons of oil, set aside
2 cans of beef broth
1 can of tomato paste
         Deglaze pan with beef broth, then add can of tomato paste, whisk until thoroughly mixed and
         all pieces are off the bottom of pan, let boil for about 5 minutes
1 bag (or 2) of baby carrots
3 celery stalks, chopped into 1 inch pieces
2 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces

1 onion chopped into about 1 in pieces
1 bag of frozen peas
2 sprigs of rosemary
2sprigs of thyme
2 leaves of sage finely chopped
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
-Mix all ingredients except the bag of peas together (add peas within the last 15 minutes)
-Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours
-Remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes
-Within the last 15 minutes add the peas


                                           

Day off or a day of appointments...

     Today (Tuesday, November 4th), I was privileged to have the day off from work. It wasn't much of a day off though. My day started at the same time it normally does... 7:30am. I got up, showered, and got the family ready for all our doctor appointments today.
      My appointment was 1st, at 10:30. I had a check up with my OB today. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat on the "radar thing" they use. The doctor said all my measurements line up to exactly where I should be. We scheduled the 20 week anatomy appointment for December 3rd. We are thoroughly excited to find out the gender of the baby. Like I said before, we are planning on having a gender reveal party. That will most likely be on December 6th.
      After my appointment, we had just enough time to eat lunch and make it to Braeden's 2 year check up. His doctor said everything looks great with him, and he's right on track with his development.
      By 4:00, I was exhausted. Since we were in the part of town not too far away from the mall, we made a stop there. I picked up some maternity clothes. My normal pants are starting to get a little sung. I had one full day on my plate. I am so blessed and thankful for it, though. It wasn't much of an actual day off, but it's my wonderful, busy life.

I feel like it's "Groundhog Day!"

       Well, I got up this morning and started my normal routien. I had not gotten Braeden out of bed yet because I wanted to let him sleep in just a little. As I was scrolling though Facebook on my phone, I looked up at the clock on the TV... It said 6:58 not 7:58 like I thought it was! We apparently changed all the clocks in the house but our alarm clock! I decided I would take this time and get somethings done on the computer... Like... My friend, Brittany, and I, just opened an Etsy account: etsy.com/shop/GeekedOutCraftsNMore ... There will be so many more items to come on there... We are working on several Christmas gift ideas. We are excited to finally get our stuff we make out there for others to enjoy. With this early and wonderful quiet time, I was also able to blog. Braeden won't let me have the computer open on my lap. The second he sees it, he closes it. I hoping, tomorrow, I finally won't be waking up an hour earlier than planned.

Daylight savings...

         Well for the first time in my life, I completely forgot all about the time change. We woke up this morning thinking we had slept in until about 9am....Nope it's 8am! We didn't even realize it until we grabbed our phones and saw the time. Well... At least we got an early start to the day! -Got to see the positive in the situation. 😳😃

Happy Halloween!

      Living in East Tennessee, the weather around Halloween is usually unpredictable, like any time of the year. What typically happens is, the 1st half of the week of Halloween, the weather is warm or decent fall-like weather. Then closer to the day of Halloween, temperatures seem to drop, and you are usually faced with figuring out how to keep your costume cute while staying warm. This year, the word "cold" doesn't quite touch it. There are places just a one or two counties over that got 5-7 inches of snow. Where we were had cold temperatures, rain/snow mix, and wind. Once we decided to brave the weather and actually go trick or treating, we had Braeden so bundled up, you could barely see what his costume was. He loved going up to the houses and saying, "Trick or Treat." He had a blast going around the neighborhood. We only did a a small amount of houses since it was so cold outside. Braeden loved it so much that he was upset when we finally came inside for the night. He loved his pirate costume, minus the hat, and didn't want me to take his costume off until he was ready for bed. Overall, it was a wonderful time had by all, even with the not so great weather.

Differences between the 1st child and 2nd child already!

      I was thinking back on the differences between my 1st pregnancy and my 2nd pregnancy  the other day. I realized there are already several things I've noticed to be different.
       Pregnancy wise, my OB hit the nail on the head when he said, "the first pregnancy is usually easier than the second one." My first time, I didn't have any complications at all. This time around, well you all know already... It's been a complete different tale. I have noticed, I feel like I am already starting to show some (earlier) with this baby. I do think I can already feel the baby move occasionally too. It's not the constant feeling you experience during the end of your pregnancy. This is much sooner than with my first pregnancy; I don't remember feeling Braeden's movements until about 22 or 23 weeks along.
      Excitement wise, we and family are just a excited about the 2nd baby as much as we were for Braeden. I have noticed though, I am not spending every waking moment of my day trying to find a name for this baby or planning the nursery, like I did when I was pregnant with Braeden. I think I've grown a little smarter. I realized that extra stress is not needed, yet. We are lucky to already have a name for a girl picked out already (we had that ready to go with the 1st pregnancy too, and then, I found out I had a boy... another story for another day!). I plan to wait until we know the gender before I begin that journey of stressing and planning. I have been making mental notes of things we definitely need to invest in before this baby comes that I had no clue about when I was pregnant with Braeden. Things like: better breast pump, my favorite diaper brand (Luvs), keeping a better schedule, etc.
        I have been told by several people that with each child, delivery seems to get easier. I hope that is true. I look forward to seeing how this baby's character is different or similar. I hope to do things a little differently this time around, now that we are more experienced with this parenting thing.