My Life in Hashtags

#Sandbox
Note to self: 100lbs of sand lasted roughly three weeks.

Hashtags

Who doesn't love 'em

Here's the latest and greatest on this young family, hashtag style, forever and ever, Amen.

#houseforsale

#happiestbabyever

#artprojectseveryday

#newpuppy

#yesiamcrazy

#housecontractfellthru

#backupcontract

#housingisexpensive

#wheretomove

#decisions

#decisions

#decisions

#AndyWarholwasCatholic

#incredible

#princesses

#football

#teethingbaby

#toomuchcoffee

#morecoffee

#bread

#noselfcontrolwithcarbohydrates

#babyeatingtablefood

#dishes

#laundry

#toomanyhashtags

#HaveALovelyDay

Reverence within Routine

Mornings, no, days require all of my all lately. I catch myself checking-out on the net and starring out the window or at the visual clutter that three kids create in the blink of an eye. My current state is so full of life that I'm often overcome. Sometimes joy, sometimes shock, but overcome. 

I've surprised myself with the I put on my morning and afternoon coffee. 

You see, coffee is a deep part of our Acadian culture...one that I'm only just appreciating...

...and while I'm checking out from my kids I do find myself checking in with God. Whispering true simple good prayers of thanksgiving as my hands wrap around my coffee mug. I am finding myself offering my small sacrifices as I sip the once-hot coffee thats just been sitting, waiting. 

It's so very interesting, this reverence that my ritual has brought and I think there will be more on this later. 

But for now, happy weekend!

To Those of You Who Read

Hello!  I am so wanting to write an article of substance.  I reflection, or an observation, but, alas my blog posts are quick and not nearly as thought-out as I would like.

My precious girl, two years ago!

I just love this photo of my Rita!  Precious baby girl.

I hope to write soon!

Happy August heat to you!

Welcome!

If you have hopped over Intentionally Simple  welcome to my humble little space!
As the archives show, this is just my journey into marriage, motherhood and, God-willing, into sainthood.
Thanks for coming by! Stay a while, maybe with a delicious cup of hot coffee...and if its already cold just throw in a few ice cubes and make it an iced coffee!  It sure is hot enough for something cool!

Relax and kick back and enjoy your time here!

Embarrassing. True. Moved to action.

As stated in the title this post is true. If you feel like being judgmental and uppity, move along.

There was a real predicament in this one toilet home this morning.

A pooping toddler (if you have/had one, you know, a minimum of 15 minutes) and a momma dancing patiently in the bathroom. So something had to be done. I grabbed the "little potty" and found much needed relief. (I'm laughing, laugh at or with me, freely!)

I did.

Pathetic, maybe?

But with Jonah now pulling up to standing and having four teeth, we will have four potty-needing people before I can blink, as that's how rapidly life seems to fly.

So I'm thinking we need to sell (or rent?) this home OR add a toilet. But since we talk of moving maybe this is God pointing-out (in a very simple and basic way) that it might be time for action? Can you pray with us for clear discernment and grace to see God's will, please?!

:sigh:

Off to fix lunch and do laundry.

Happy Friday!!!!

P.S. Is it lame that I feel like every post can be classified as "misc."? What does that say about my organizational skills?
That I'm totally lacking, yo?

Productive Silence

Organic Sweet Potato Slips, started from one we purchased

Good morning!  Good day!  Good evening!

Where to start?

I'm sitting in a coffee shop to blog.

Crazy?

Crazy.

But so fruitful.

Early mornings on the front porch, as I gather myself and create a bit of order

We (loathsome groan) have iPhones and both agreed that the amount of money we spend on cell phone service each month is absurd.  But we are waiting the 12 months (maybe more) until our contracts expire.  So, to save money in the meantime, we canceled internet service.  We each have a bit of data to use each month, but it isn't enough for me to be present in the online community that I was plugged into.

I'm hopeful to jump back in.

Time to myself is so precious.

My first true chicken salad.  Divine!!!!

I used to be really crazy about being with my children allllllll allllll allllll the time.  But it is so good to have time to breathe, enjoy, walk without tripping on a moving baby, sip a cup of coffee without precious little hands dangerously yanking it from my grip.

It's so good to just be.

Motherhood is amazing, amazing.  It is equally exhausting this go-round.  I never realized how great of a sleeper Rita was, but now I do!

Thoughts that I have been gnawing on:

completely weaning Rita

weaning Jonah

Homemade Mayonnaise, still very much a work in progress
and only 50% chance of success as of now

starting EC (elimination control) with Jonah
potty training Rita

Do you see that my entire identity is my children?

I'm naive and young BUT I know this much: I have to still be me amidst child-rearing.

So I'm reading again! I recently finished Bringing Up Bebe and am now reading How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm and Other Adventures in Parenting.

Hahaha!  Yes!  I'm reading books about parenting my children, but herein lies a delicately fine line...because my college degree is in Early Childhood Education, so my vocation/job also happens to be my passion!

Stories with Mamzie

Although cleaning Rita's poop out of the bathtub last night was not at ALL up my alley...and poor heart she heard way too much fussing from me on that incident.  I was so in need of a time-out before scouring the tub and talking to Rita.  Tyler offered to do both, but of course I was stubborn!

Anyway, back to how I'm preserving myself:

I'm also reading a bit about my chickens.

I'm building a chicken tractor/moveable coop from pallets (!!!!!).

First peach of the season!

Experimenting in the kitchen.

Baking again!  We used to bake on Wednesdays, then I have read about how the French bake on Saturdays...WHAT A DIFFERENCE!  Tyler is home to help with the care of Jo and me and Rita get to enjoy special time together.

Sometimes I talk about going to work outside of the home.  Being alone is hard for me.  Some people say it only gets harder but I more often hear that you grow into motherhood.  Meanwhile, I really love being able to indulge in my kiddos interests, cultivate friendships alongside the kids, and visit Tyler at work.  Especially visit Tyler at work.  I just love every minute I get with him.

Celebrating at a festival

I think I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now and again.  It's just tough having two babies.  Take a deep breath for me will ya?  I'm a perfectionist and an extrovert.  I'm learning to live life, rather than accomplish a to-do list, and that is why my silence here has been so productive.

2012 In a "Snap"

Happy Sunday to you! 
You know how life is so awesome when you are together as a family?
(blissful sigh)
I just LOVE Tyler being home.  And so do the kids.

Here's a little something for your Sunday...

This post was part of Dweej's snazzy link-up. I missed it by a month. Haha! So, enjoy this lacking  (I tried to find a January photo but have forgotten to ask family! Sister of mine, please say you have a photo from Januaury 2012 of Rita's birthday!) but adorable sequence of photos.

 2012 in 12 11 Photos

January

Rita's first birthday!

(camera out of town)

February

It's a boy!

March

Tutu cute at 14 months!

April

San Antonio (and Sea World) for Easter

May

Donuts for Mother's Day breakfast

June

Rita's first Wendy's shake!  It was so hot and we were all getting ready for Jonah!

July

Jonah Girard
7lbs 10oz
22inches

August

Adjusting! And a course of gentian violet...colorful fun!
(Mostly Rita just kisses Jonah...but this picture shows what I call "Eucharistic love" i.e., Rita loves him so much she wants to eat him, which happens on an hourly basis)

September

Baptism! Welcome, sweet baby.  We are so blessed to have you.

October

Loving, loving her baby brother, "Jo-Jo."

November

Thanksgiving afternoon, what a long, fun day!

December

Jonah rolled for the first time for his cousins and Tyler, on December 30th.
I totally missed it!
But then just yesterday morning (January 2nd) he rolled for me, hooray!
(P.S. He is coming-up on 16lbs!! So exciting!!)

So, just to say, lots of bloggy people refer to "horrible" "fuzzy" "poor" and other negative adjectives when describing cell phone pictures, but really my cell phone is better than our little camera.  So I'm not sorry for my cell phone photos, actually, I'm so very grateful to even have a cell phone that takes next to decent pictures!

T-e-e-t-h

Oh my. I have no life. Really. It's insane.
Rita nearly crawls the walls all day and if we go outside she runs straight for the road. I'm not kidding.
Jonah, despite the ADORABLE photos on Instagram, cries. And cries. And wails. If he isn't being held or nursing.

Oh yes. The teeth monster is wreaking havoc on my delightful baby. Please Lord, give the baby easy teething.

Holy Toledo! Tyler is home early!!!!

Happy Friday!!!

Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!!!!

Currently...

So there are approximately 477347842466 topics I want to brain-dump about. But there is neither time nor energy nor reason (me, be reasonable?!, I will explain...) for me to. But I will do what I can!

And I guess I might as well do my first 7QT!

1. Twitter!!!!!!! Not forgotten. Missing my sister-ship in that space of cyber world.

2. Oh. My Gosh.
Learning I have a serious addiction to food. Yep. Especially sugar or ANYTHING that imitates it. Even sometimes fruit. So I guess the addiction is sugar. Time will tell.

3. I'm SO OH MY BLOW MY BRAINS EXCITED THAT ADRIENNE IS MOVING TO TEXAS!!!!! My across the ocean to one state away!!!!! Let's get that conference going #pray2lose sistas!!!

4. I LURV olive oil.

5. We had a Valentine homemade steak dinner with green beans and kabobs on the side. All for under $25. Frugal. Delicious. Healthy. Fun!!

6. I realized today that I am a Valentine's Day dork!!!! Rita and I had a blast saying "Happy V/Balentine's Day!" To each other all day long. Rita also says that all the time. As in "Kitty-cat Luna eat food All. Day. Long."
Or "Rita play outside, All.Day.Long." Or maybe you prefer "Rita eat blueberries All.Day.Long!" It's hysterical and adorable.

7. Cloth covered bums. I'm breathing easier. My conscience is eased. I'm so happy. So happy. I have even been jolly while dunking and swishing!!!

I DID NOT link-up for 7QT cause, hello yo that was Friday and its already Monday. Pl

Nerd at Heart

I attempted to be really great and jump into the very impressive online catholic community of blogging, social media craziness.

Hello.

Not me.

So I'm learning to be content (hooray!) just bee-bopping along in this space. If a get a new follower once a year, great! If I don't ever even hit 20 followers, I'm so down with that. I just really don't care. And that feels great

Happy Monday to you!

And here is a special prayer you can join in praying with me:
Jesus, let me be as gentle as the manger into which you were lain and as faithful as the mule that led you on Palm Sunday. Prepare my heart and the heart of my spouse, children and all loved ones for this upcoming awesome Lenten season. Amen. Amen.

January in Louisiana

It might be chilly where you are
But from being cold, we are very far!

SO Glad This Isn't Some Professional Blog

This is not a happy post.  Please do not read on. (Ok there is a bit about minimalism in the kitchen, just skip to the third real paragraph).

Today has just beenAll week it has been a crazzzzzyyyyy week.  Maybe because I have seriously done laundry until there was no more to do and our love seat has not seen the light of day since Sunday.  Maybe its because for some dumb reason both kids babies have colds and are extra needy.  Maybe its because Jonah is officially teething.  Maybe its because Jonah is desperately trying to get the hang of this rolling-over-cause-i-really-want-to-play thing.  I don't know.

This IS what I know.

There is laundry on the love seat (yes, still. no, I'm not going to stop typing to move it. not yet. but when im done ...taking the power cord away from Rita, excuse me...taking laundry basket of 5059558985 socks from Rita...ok. when I'm done typing THEN we will wrangle the children in (turn on Netflix) and cook dinner (reheat the crock pot).  True story folks.  Welcome to life. (and THEN i can do something about that laundry. is it already 3:41pm? oh good!)

But on a lighter note the dishes are  done. ok there are like two pots left. but i mean, dishes are done, ya know?

I have totally reconfiscated (Blogger says this isnt a word. whatever.) all of the kitchen cutlery and dishes.  Four plates. two water jars. three to-go water bottles. two juice jars. four sippy cups. three forks. four spoons. three bowls. salad fork and spoon. serving spoon. three butter knives. three syringes for medicine. three coffee/tea mugs.  This is the second go-round (click "reconfiscated" up above to read about my first go-round with pairing-down in the kitchen) and we have even less this time.  I'm pumped! (Here's good parenting while blogging: "Rita, leave all that stuff alone!" as I sit at the kitchen table and she rummages in her somehow messy post Christmas post Jonah changing sizes post her changing sizes post where does all this music equipment go shuffling that has been happening since...oh, you know, a month ago.

You should really feel better about your life/parenting/everything by now.  You probably aren't in your pajamas like I still am. And you probably didn't have to turn down a visit from a really sweet high school friend cause your kiddos decided to nap simultaneously and then wake up like 45 minutes after you canceled your plans.  Its a beautiful day.  Really. I just need to get out of this pigsty house and enjoy it.

Sorry to rant.  But i feel better. :)

Buttons!

Happy Friday!

Thursday we canceled our playdate and visited Dada at work, as Rita was teething terribly and had had multiple meltdowns before 9am.

She had to scream outside on the front porch.  It was that intense.  She came in quite jolly after letting off her steam.  I should have known it would be a crazy day after this "conversation"...

Rita: Pfffttt! (blowing spit bubbles) "Get out mouth!"(Cute, but words of danger!!)
Me: "Oh Rita! Is your mouth hurting?"
Cue meltdown.
Rita: Screaming and crying.
Me: "Rita, do you want a popsicle?"
Rita: "Pooooooppppppppsicccccccclllllllle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Gosh. 

But lunch with Dada made life better.

Then we came home and she played with the dishwasher and the pantry.  She had a blast and we got the kitchen pretty spiffy!  After some delicious spaghetti (with hidden veggies!), Dada rocked Rita until she was fast asleep.  So amazing to see how she loves her Dada!

So, buttons?
Yes!

Just wanted to point-out the three buttons on the right side of this blog and wanted to give you more info so you know what you're getting into when you click those cute buttons!  They are GREAT reads!!  I love finding a new post from any of these authors in my Google Reader.  Hoping to share the joy:

House Unseen {Life Unscripted}
JUST started following this blog, but loving it!  Dweej is a clever gal.  She keeps it fresh and real = priceless.  Guaranteed smiles.

Intentionally Simple
Rachel is very kind and professional.  She does a great job with articulating struggles and points of growth in motherhood.  She has great tips for finance, living green and simple.  Guaranteed inspiration.

Like Mother, Like Daughter
Leila and her daughters are filled with wisdom and solid advice.  They (mostly Leila) share in a down-to-earth way and have great ideas for raising a faithfully Catholic family in a sacramental home.  Come and join-in on the {pretty, happy, funny, real} every Thursday! Guaranteed confidence.

There are SO MANY great blogs out there that I read.  Just wanted to explain the buttons! 
 
Happy Weekending!

St. Matthew, patron saint of financial matters, pray for us as we all embark on this holiday season very soon.  Keep us faithful to our financial plans so that the holidays are spent rejoicing and not stressing.  Amen.

New Native Organic Sling

After Rita was born and we were headed into Summer I decided the Moby wrap, although wonderful was a bit complicated and time consuming for outings.

So, not being willing to spend more than $20 or $30 on a sling I spent time on Craigslist for a week or so.  I came upon a New Native Organic sling. I was unsure about a sling made from one piece of fabric being sturdy and comfortable, but quickly fell in love with it after a couple of days.   They retail for about $40 and I found ours for $10!! That made me like it even more!

There are times when I use the sling often and then weeks when it seems to hang untouched. Now as my sweet Jonah grows and my "fat belly" (our six year old neighbor's choice of words) expands forward, Rita is seeing a lot of our sling! It is such a life saving tool and makes carrying Rita more enjoyable than holding her on my curvy wide hip. If you are looking for a sling, check out the New Native!


This is just us sharing what we have found useful - we are not paid or compensated to say this.

Pain Motivates

This might sound like an intense post.  It is really just one that is long overdue!

So, since I was eight months pregnant with Rita I have been at battle...with my self, sort of.

I've been battling CANDIDA! AH!  Yeast, trush, you name it however you want but it has been a looonnngggg battle.  Guess what?  I'm losing!  Know why? Lack of self discipline.  Yep.  Laziness.  I don't want to think harder about eating more veggies and learning to ferment foods so they give my body probiotics.  I don't remember to buy probiotics when I run out.  I don't want to stop eating delicious yummy baked goods...BLAH BLAH BLAH.  SO dumb, I know. 

So cyberworld,  here I am.  On the feast of St. Valentine, for love of this one body God has given me, for love of my family, for the love of obedience I am committing myself to ingesting only things that bring life to my poor exhausted candida overgrown self.  Ok, it's not that dramatic! :)  But the pain I have been in lately has made me move out of laziness and into action.  Praise the Lord for tough love!  He knows it speaks to this chic. 

Have you battled candida or anything of the sort?  Let me know!  I would love advice, support, etc.

"Feed" me something good!

Hello my lovely readers!   Whether you check-in on this blog to see how this little family is doing or to find something interesting to read or just to pass the time, we have a great announcement! 

You can now add "Cajun Newlyweds" to your reader!  We have set-up RSS feed and are thrilled to have this blog a little more techno saavy.  Enjoy!