Craftiness

Lately I've been on a crafty kick. So far, I've painted Griffen's bookshelf (it was from my classroom so it had lots of little kindergarten "love" marks on it), finished mother's day gifts and just finished painting Griffen's table (another classroom item). I thought I'd post the before and after pics of the table. I'm still not sure yet how I want to finish the bookshelf, so I'll save those pics for later.....For those wondering minds, no I didn't steal the stuff from my classroom. These were things that I had bought for my classroom so I was able to take them when I left.

Here is the table before. Pretty basic with just a clear varnish on it. I painted it the chocolate brown that is on Griffen's wall.

I used cardstock to cut out the alphabet using my cricut. A friend told me she uses contat paper to cut stencils, but I wasn't that brave. Then I just used the letters like stencils and painted them in. I chose the avocado green that we used in the nursery to paint the letters.

Next, I did the same thing with the numbers and it was finished....I still want to distress it a bit and varnish it. I was very pleased with how it turned out....I have 2 chairs that go with the table but I probably won't redo those till the fall when we are in a house.



My Goal

So I look at this picture and I see myself as the thinnest I've been in a while (plus I see Griffen who looks like he's constipated! :-)) I remember when we took this pic I told myself that it was the camera angle that made me look thinnner but looking back now, I really was thinner....Anyways, this was February 2010. Daily I'm realizing that I want to be a good example for Griffen and our future children. Even in the things that seem trivial, which includes the way I eat. I want to live a healthy life for our kids and to be an example for them. So begins my lifestyle change. My goal, especially before we start trying for baby #3 is to change some of my eating habits. This starts with no Dr. Pepper. I know, it will be a sad life with out my morning DP but it would be a sadder life to be too overweight to enjoy my kids fully. Another is to cut back on sugar and white flour. This is coming from the girl who was lovingly nicknamed "Burrito Belly" from my family as a child. The nickname wasn't because I was fat but because I LOVE tortillas. Not the healthy wheat or corn ones but the good homemade flour tortillas. :-) Lastly, I want to workout at least 30 minutes a day. I know that chasing around a 15 month old is not considered working out but doing something daily that really gets my heart going.....As we go into the journey towards another pregnancy (no, we're not pregnant!) in God's timing, I want to be as healthy as I can be. So I'm documenting on here that my goal is to lose 25-30 pounds. I'm very aware that that is a lot of weight but any progress is still progress. Just wanted to document this so that if you're a good friend, I give you permission to ask how my goals are going! :-)

Playing Catch Up...Griffen 15 Month Update

Griffen turned 15 months on March 14. Seems like just yesterday he was toddling around trying to walk...fast forward a bit and he's pretty much running everywhere he goes. I love the stage that he is in. Everyday is a new adventure and new thing to discover. It is so fun to watch the little wheels in his head turn as he tries something new. So very thankful for this little man who is such a ball of energy but still takes time to run up and give you a kiss. Melts a mother's heart!

15 month stats:

-23 pounds 8 ounces (not sure how accurate this is, he wouldn't sit still on the scale!)

-32 inches tall

-10 teeth, working on his bottom molars right now, which will make 12 teeth

-sleeps pretty much from 8pm to 8am

-sleeps in his sleep sack (not sure when we'll give this up. He loves it!)

-2 naps a day, about an hour and a half each

-size 4 diapers

-wears 12 month clothes but they are all long sleeved so we moved to 18 month short sleeve

-great eater, will each pretty much any fruit you give him. Green veggies are a struggle at times.

-very active!

-loves books

-new word this month is Whoa! Too cute!

-doing much better than last month at following directions and "No Hands."

-wants to be outside 24/7

-loves to kick the ball around or play catch

-doing better at the church nursery! Thank you Lord!

-loves having play dates

-enjoys bathtime

Spring Break 2011

Spring break 2011 was filled with a long list of to-do's...

1. 15 Month Checkup at the doctor

2. Go visit Lila and take her flowers. 

3. Enjoy smoothies and yogurt as often as possible! :-)

4. Try and spend as much time as possible outside.



5. Go to the Botanical Gardens and explore.

6. Celebrate Scott's birthday.

7. Have fun, fun, fun!

8. At the end of the day, get some rest and relaxation.

Our break was filled with lots of to-do's. Lots that were pretty boring so there were no pics available but all in all it was a great break. Griffen and I tried to soak up every minute we could enjoying having Scott home.



What would Griffen say???

"I love my new toy!!"

"I wonder how I could get this thing off?"

"They should have just forgotten the new kitchen set and just gotten me a box!"

"Maybe if I pretend I don't see her she will put the camera away."

"Do you think Dad will mind if I sit in his chair?"

"Darn it...she caught me jumping in my bed again!"

"I love this book!"

Life after...

It's been a little over a month since Lila passed away. Life after losing a child is a balancing act it seems. I feel like we are constantly trying to find our new "normal". Trying to remember Lila and all that she meant to us but still trying to live in the present and move forward. It's not an easy thing to do. At times, I feel guilty when I do cry and guilty when I don't cry. I feel guilty when I do because I feel like I'm not being thankful for the gifts that I do have. I feel guilty when I don't cry because I feel like I'm not mourning her death enough. Such a crazy thoughts that Satan can get into your head. The mourning process is something I'm still learning about and probably won't ever get used to.

On Saturday, we took Griffen to the cemetary for the first time. It hurt to see Scott and him standing by the grave knowing that Griffen would never know his sister. At the same time my heart was rejoicing that he would also never have to see her suffer in this world. I was celebrating knowing that God promises that he will meet her in heaven. Such a comforting assurance!

We went to the doctor on Monday to get my "all-clear" after surgery. Bless her heart, we walked in the door with a list of questions. Anything from why did this happen?, how can we prevent this from happening again?, to when can we have more kids?.....One of the many reasons I love my doctor is because as she walked in with tears in her eyes she said "I know you have a ton of questions for me but I want you to know I'm so sorry." She hugged me and we all started to cry. How sweet is she?! One of the many miracles of the day Lila was born was that my doctor was able to be there. It was such a comfort.....We were blessed to get a good checkup for me. The appointment had been met with such anxiety leading up to it because of all the uncertainty. We left with peace knowing that there is a plan and precautions that can be taken to help monitor future pregnancies.

Overall, the last month has been such a healing process. Healing physically, emotionally and spiritually. God continues to bless us with so much support and prayers from so many. We are continuing to rest in the peace that only He can give.

Ephesians 3:17-19---I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.