The Crunchy Chronicles

I've moved!

2011-04-10T15:53:00.001-05:00

I have a new blog home. Come follow me at www.hannahtallo.wordpress.com

What Christmas means to me

2010-12-20T09:23:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas friends! I hope this Monday before Christmas finds you all wrapped up in Holiday cheer and anticipation of the fun ahead. I've thought lots about Christmas this year because we are in a season of life that everything is being redefined in our lives. I've never had a toddler before and been pregnant! Christmas has had such a different meaning for me this year, it hasn't been about all the festivities (which is SO hard for me because I LOVE those!), about having the perfect tree or about making sure we get in every Christmas memory/tradition that I would like. I have laid down what I wanted this Christmas and really just soaked in the real meaning of Christmas. Sounds a little cliche I know, but I really do think this year my heart is more overflowing with gratefulness and awe of why we celebrate. I know there will be a stage in our life where those traditions and festivities will be easier and I look forward to that but I really have prayed that I wouldn't just endure this holiday season with a little one but I would embrace it for what it is. We heard a wonderful sermon from our pastor yesterday and it really go time thinking about how amazing what happened so many years ago on what we call Christmas morning. I've never pondered in my heart how ordinary Mary and Joseph were and how ordinary the situation was. I've never pondered being VERY pregnant (which I am getting very close to being able to relate with) and traveling by donkey so far away to pay taxes. There is more in the Christmas story that has stood out to me then ever before.

Coming up on Christmas day my heart is so tender to what this season really means to me. Now that I have a child I can't imagine sending a perfect son to be a human and live as a man to save mankind. I can't imagine being Mary and being so misunderstood yet having such an amazing privilege of carrying the saviour of the world. I know we often talk about "the greatest gift" but I wonder how often we actually stop and ponder how amazing that great gift is. It makes me want to complain much less, it makes me want to value the season with a young child and the opportunity I have to help shape and mold her heart.

Don't get me wrong we did plenty of shopping this year, we have attended some super fun Christmas parties and I can't wait to exchange gifts and celebrate with those I love most this week but this year it has been so much more in my heart. I counted up and we have bought over 30 people Christmas gifts! That is just our immediate family and Grandparents! So, when I say we have done plenty of shopping I'm not kidding!

Take a moment and ponder this season in your heart. Slow down a little and let's really remember why we are celebrating and what is the most important thing about this season. I hope you each have a wonderful Christmas with those you hold dear!

Happy Anniversary to us!

2010-11-23T22:04:00.004-06:00

3 years ago today I had the wedding of my dreams. I was a princess surrounded by so many people I love. I wore a gorgeous raw silk candlelight dress, had a gold sash and a elbow length veil. I had 8 gorgeous bridesmaid help me celebrate my day. I got married in a church I had dreamed of having a wedding in. I had a reception with wonderful music, cake, candy and a coffee bar. The reception hall was decorated with fall foliage, flowers and white pumpkins. It was supposed to be a gorgeous fall Texas day, but instead it was a cold, rainy winter day. Didn't bother me or seem to affect our packed ceremony of guests. Jeremy's dad and my Dad together performed our wedding. "Be thou my vision" was sung by a dear friend while we took communion together. Everything about the day was perfect to me! If anything did go wrong or fell through the cracks I was blissfully unaware of it!

3 year ago today I married my "prince charming"! How time flies when your having fun! :-) Or maybe it's time flies when you get married, move across the country to join your love, begin a new life in the first year of marriage, get pregnant, move together back to my home town in TX, have a baby girl a few months later, move again locally and to top it off I'm 6 months pregnant with baby girl #2! See, like I said time flies when your having fun! What an adventure these last 3 years have been! I can't imagine going through them with anyone else other then Jeremy. He has been a rock for me in unsure times and a voice of reason in seasons of change. He is am amazing Daddy to our little girl and I have fallen in love with him all over again by watching him love her.

We have had hard seasons and blissful seasons but such is life. I'm so grateful that just over 4 years ago God brought me the man of my dreams, I spent that next year falling in love and planning our wedding. I'm so glad I have him to live life with. He truly does complete me in so many ways! Happy Anniversary babe! Here is to many, many more years to come!

Holiday Inspiration Needed!

2010-11-23T14:03:00.003-06:00

It's official, the holiday season has arrived! I LOVE this time of year. Normally it would mean more social events, fun new holiday clothes, buying gifts for the many people in my life and just extra cheer all the way around. This year I'm trying to define what the holiday season will look like for my little family. I've never been a wife, mommy to a toddler and 6 months pregnant all over the holiday's. I'm not gonna lie I'm tired! I sleep a good full night going to bed early and then we have a day home {like today} where we read books and just relax and I'm still tired! Growing baby girl #2 has been harder physically then it was the first time. Lot's of people tell me "welcome to 2nd pregnancy".

I want to be that fun Mom over the holiday's that has all our fun traditions and fun foods that make my kids look forward to this time of year as much as I did growing up! Ava and I put Christmas lights up on our balcony railing today and she loved it. I have to remind myself that the small things are SO not small things in her eyes. I can't wait till it gets dark tonight and we can turn them on for her to be amazed by! I'm trying to have a little bit of that wonder and awe that she has for daily life. I need some inspiration though! It's hard to get excited about all the yummy food when I am daily {not really...but it seems like it} packing on the pounds without any help! I'm having a hard time getting motivated to have a Christmas tree when I know it will ALWAYS be a battle to keep it standing and together due to the help of my adorable toddler!

What are your favorite holiday traditions? What do your kids look forward to every year? Give this Momma some inspiration! Happy Thanksgiving week!!

Mothering With Intention

2010-11-05T10:42:00.004-05:00

Something I have been struggling with lately is getting frustrated with the day to day of life. Any of you who are mother's to young children know exactly what I mean. Life is such a daily thing these days! We have routines and try to add in fun outings and activities but still so much of it I struggle to not become mundane in. I have felt beat down some in the last couple months, being sick due to pregnancy, struggling with training a toddler and trying to keep my marriage a priority in the midst has gotten me discouraged. I write this not so you will feel sorry or sympathize with me but because I know I am not the only one struggling in this area. I'm hoping that the journey God has be on can in some way be an encouragement to someone else. Today I read James 1, I needed to give myself a time out of sorts and re-focus on what mattered. Ava and I were having a small snack of some fresh veggies in dip and just like everything she eats it was getting all over her all over me and she was way more interested in the dipping part then eating any of the vegetables. At moments like that I struggle, struggle to not get frustrated that she is making a mess all over her clean outfit for the day and on me, struggle with why everything has to be so complicated and I end up just annoyed that I am getting upset about it and she ends up frustrated cause I won't let her enjoy it. Back to James 1 and my time out, I went and grabbed my bible which I am embarrassed to say I run to more when I need perspective then to help me maintain that perspective. I have always loved the book of James, it just seems so real and something we could all relate to.

"Count it all joy...knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, and let patience have it's perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:1-5

Who doesn't want to be perfect and complete lacking nothing? Why do I hesitate to ask God for the wisdom that he freely gives when we ask? My pride maybe of not having all the answers. I resort to using my own wisdom and strength so often which ALWAYS fails me. I have a God who has all the answers and is more then willing to let me in on the secrets of life and I choose to try my own ways first.

I don't want to mother my children in survival mode and we have made parenting choices to reflect that. I have chosen to stay home with our children and not work full time out of the home, we have chosen our discipline style so that our children know it won't end up...."do that one more time and Momma is gonna loose it"...kind of way. I want to give my children the best version of this Momma there is and I know that is not going to happen by my own efforts. Aside from the grace and patience God offers I fail miserably at this Momma business. I want to spend more time loving and praising my children and less time complaining about them. I want it to be evident to my friends and family that there is nothing in the world I would rather do then raise my children to walk in the way's of God. I want to enforce and discipline not because I enjoy or like it one bit but because I know it is what scripture instructs and I KNOW it is what my children need. I want to spend more time in God's word prepping my spirit for the task at hand.

Let's mother with intention today, let's make a point to spend more time loving and less time focusing on the details of life that get us down. We have been given one of the greatest privileges EVER! We get the opportunity to help shape and mold a life.

Pregnancy Journal: Week 21

2010-11-03T13:40:00.003-05:00

Excuse my absence to the blogging world, I have been working and thinking of a plan of sorts for this blog. I hope to soon have a new blogging home and a more regular posting schedule about life, health, food and raising babies. Stay posted for that!

Week 21 is upon us! Over the half way mark! I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has gone by and I know the holidays are coming up and once those pass it will be time to kick into baby gear. We found out this week we are having another GIRL! Hello MORE pink!! We are thrilled but a little surprised. I had totally convinced myself it was a boy, and most people agreed with me. There are so many things different about this pregnancy and I was so sure Ava was a girl that I just knew I would be right this time. But, I was wrong! I'm so glad Ava will have a sister that will be around 23 younger then her. I love that she will have a friend for life and I hope and pray they are best buddies!

I am feeling good for the most part! Finally! I have little to no nausea and am only getting sick a couple times a week now. Sounds like allot but I will take that any day over constant nausea!! I have reached the, there is no doubt I am pregnant and not just gaining weight around my middle phase. I love feeling her move more and more every day and sometimes when she is really excited I can feel her kicking from the outside. Seeing the sonogram I was again amazed at her little face, legs, spine, arms, chambers of the heart and all the other body parts you can see. I have seen many sonograms going through midwifery school but never cease to be amazed at how "fearfully and wonderfully" made we are!

Now that I am feeling better and have more energy most days my goal is to get back into more of an exercise routine, I hate that I loose that the first couple months of pregnancy but just the idea of it tires me out! I has been nice outside so we have walked some and I hope to pick up some workout DVDs at the library. If you have any good pregnancy exercises you did let me know! We are also on the name hunt! I was so convinced it was a boy that I had only looked at boy names, so now we are starting from scratch with girl names. I so wish names just came to you some magic way and we could have some cool story about how we got the name. Who knows maybe it will! :-)

What's Cookin?

2010-09-20T13:44:00.004-05:00

Well, I guess technically lots is cookin around our house but what I was referring to was my plan and effort to get back to cooking more and the dreaded...meal planning! I can grocery shop all day long and stick to my budget but meal planning is a whole different animal for me. I like being spontaneous and I have to be in the mood to certain foods, and how on earth am I going to know a week in advance what I am in mood for? So my plan has been to shop and plan 5 dinners and then of course all the other things we need to breakfast, lunch and snacks. I started last week and it was a success and kept us from going out to eat! I'm always looking for good ways to get more raw vegetables in our diet but also simple and tasty recipes. This kale salad has become a new favorite in our house and I'm thrilled about that! I had never tasted raw kale but liked it cooked so I was a little hesitant. It is wonderful! Today for lunch I shredded a cabbage and then dressed it with this recipe of dressing and toppings and it was amazing! I love the sweet yet tangy flavors all blended together! Really, you should try it. Don't let kale scare you.

Photo Credit

Trimesters and Toddlers!

2010-09-03T10:30:00.007-05:00

We made it, I am 14 weeks today which means the 2nd trimester has arrived! I was hoping that the first day of week 13 would be a magic day but it wasn't. I have slowly noticed my nausea becoming less and less though which I am SO happy about. I haven't gotten that burst of 2nd trimester energy yet but I am still holding out. Last night I was at a birthday party for a friend and ate so much food, grass fed steak, a loaded baked potato and kale salad. I looked down at my plate and laughed saying I think my appetite has returned! I devoured the food and when I got home Jeremy commented on my belly having popped. I think it was the dinner more then baby! I am starting to feel pregnant more every day, still wearing my normal clothes but by the evening I am usually popping the button on my jeans to let baby get some air. I don't remember exactly but I think around 20 weeks is when I started pulling out maternity clothes with Ava. I have thought several times this week that I felt baby move and then realize it is just my stomach. I'm ready to start feeling that but didn't feel Ava move until about 17 weeks.

Here is a little sneak peak of my adorable ALL girl toddler! This is a normal look for her when we are going to leave the house. She must wear her shoes and its not uncommon to see her in pajamas with her pink crocs on. She loved necklaces, hats, bracelets and always has to take her bag when we leave the house. She keeps me laughing that is for sure! Poor thing has been sick for the last week but is finally back to her active chatty self.

I was in the process and almost done weaning Ava when she got sick this last week. She ran a fever on and off for a week and was lethargic so I encouraged her to nurse as much as she wanted. So, we are starting back at the beginning I feel with this whole weaning this. I was glad to be able to comfort her when she was sick and as much as I don't think I will miss nursing her I will miss being able to comfort her like that. Her appetite has grown so much since starting to wean her which I was really hoping for because she has never been a big eater. Ava turned 16 months last week and has a list of words she can say now and daily adds to that list. I love this stage and am trying to enjoy every moment I have in the next 5 1/2 months with just her.

12 Weeks!

2010-08-31T15:04:00.002-05:00

Hello last week of my 1st trimester! You couldn't have come soon enough!! I REALLY hope this next trimester lives up to all I have hoped it will!!

We traveled up north to see family for a couple weeks this month and it was a grand vacation! A nice break from the heat and a nice break for this Momma. There were many willing hands to help chase my ever moving toddler and boy was that nice! I got in a couple naps, slept a little later then normal, had wonderful meals I didn't have to cook and enjoyed a nice cool breeze on the porch every morning. Yes it was divine! But, anyone who has a toddler or kids at all for that matter knows that vacation is a relative term when you have said kids in tow. Ava doesn't exactly sleep well away from home and has been like that since she was tiny, I was on the tail end of nursing her and this trip did me in! The weaning process was planned for once we got home and this trip made me more then ready to begin that process. Just being honest people, don't judge!

Ok, so back to being 12+ weeks pregnant, I felt great most of the time we were gone which was wonderful! It all changed the day we traveled home and the days following that. It was horrid. I don't suggest traveling newly pregnant, nausea's and with a toddler. I don't think I have ever been so ready to get off a plan as I was that day! I headed straight for the bathroom to *ahem* discharge anything I had eaten or drank that day. I got a couple funny looks when I came out of the stall! For almost a week after getting home I felt like I had gone backwards and was 7 weeks pregnant again. Just yesterday I have started to feel human again and am hoping this lasts.

Today I actually cleaned the bathroom, went to lunch with a friend, grocery shopped and cleaned out my fridge as I put all the groceries away. Can someone say productive day?! I am counting on waking up one day SOON and feeling a burst of energy and not having to spend the entire day tired from doing nothing. On a more wonderful note, I got to hear bitty babies heartbeat on Friday! It made everything seem less of a bother and reminded my why this whole process is SO worth it!

I hope to post some adorable pictures of my hilarious toddler, but I have to take some first! I need to get on that and once I have a belly to show I will post that too. At this point there is nothing there. I'm enjoying that while it lasts! Happy almost middle of the week friends!

Week 9

2010-08-11T21:44:00.002-05:00

We are moving along over here and you will have to forgive my absence to this blog. You see when I sit down at the computer I suddenly become more nausea's then I already was. The thought of sitting here and composing a post hasn't set well with me. My goal this week was to blog, just once! So here I am...propped up in bed with my chamomile tea and some of Ava's natural gluten free animal crackers...blogging!

Week 9 of our bitty baby has arrived! I can't believe how fast this is moving along, I honestly thought it would move soooo sloooowww this time, but I was wrong! Don't get me wrong being home all day with a VERY active toddler and feeling green and exhausted has made for some VERY long days but we have survived. My poor husband has heard more then his fare share of whining of my part, yet he still comes home from work cooks us dinner most nights and then puts Ava to bed. Yes, I have a good one ladies! I have been feeling very pregnant these last couple weeks. I was just at the point of thinking I might just cruise through this pregnancy morning sickness free, and then it hit! Literally that fast and I was down for the count. But I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel! More good days this week and no puking which is nice!

According to medical science our baby has reached the "fetus" stage, it never ceases to amaze me that at an inch long this baby is beginning to look like a baby. Arms, legs, a beating heart, eyes and all the internal organs are forming. Wow, no wonder I'm tired all the time! I am counting the weeks till that second trimester hits and hoping and praying it is all I have hoped it to be!

I plan to do a better job of documenting this pregnancy then I have so far! Hopefully with this nausea taking a hike soon that will become a reality!

Baby News!

2010-07-19T16:24:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's true! We are soon going to be a family of 4! Jeremy and I could not be more thrilled! In March this will become a reality, what a crazy yet amazing journey we are on!

I am 6 weeks right now and so far so good! Until today I haven't felt any different other then more tired and starving hungry all the time. Then today my stomach has been turning circles and reminding me how much is going on in my body right now. I am still nursing Ava and hope to continue that through the 1st trimester at least. That has added a whole new level of hormones to my body! Since we found out I was pregnant I have felt like my hormones are having an out of body experience! I don't even know what I am at times...happy, sad, mad, confused! I really do feel bad for my husband lately and hope these raging things settle down some soon! I feel like my baby stomach is already wanting to poke through, something that is totally different then when I was pregnant with Ava. Life with a toddler will for sure make this pregnancy go fast, she keeps me busy and I don't have time to sit around and think about how bad I feel or how much longer I have. For that I am grateful!

Speaking of that little toddler, she is awake from nap and needing some play time so I'm off to play!

CrockPot Rotisserie Chicken

2010-07-09T15:02:00.002-05:00

Crock Pot Rotisserie Chicken

This is a recipe I have told many people about because of how easy it is, most have asked for the recipe so I thought I would post it here. I am always looking for creative ways to cook chicken that is full of flavor and this recipe has currently won in our house! I have stopped buying chicken parts and only buy whole chickens. They are better for you and much more cost effective. The chicken is so much tastier and healthier when it is cooked around a bone and with the skin on it. Plus, I LOVE a good crunchy chicken skin!

1 whole chicken, (4-5 pounds)

2 tsp salt

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp black pepper

4 whole garlic cloves

1 yellow onion, quartered

Olive or coconut oil

In a bowl, combine all of dried spices. Rub oil on the bird to coat it then the spice mixture all over, inside and out. Put the bird breast-side down into the crock pot. Put 4 whole garlic cloves and a quartered onion inside the bird. Do not add water. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 8. The meat is done when it is fully cooked and has reached desired tenderness. The longer you cook it, the more tender the meat.

Celebrating My Daddy!

2010-06-20T11:14:00.002-05:00

Today is the day we celebrate the father's in our lives! I love this holiday, I think I love it so much because I have been blessed with such a wonderful Dad and love a day to honor him. My Dad is my hero. I love and appreciate him more today then ever before. He is my Daddy and I am his baby girl, and that will never change. I am a Daddy's girl. I love the relationship I share with my Dad. He would do anything for me and I have never in my life once doubted that. He taught me God's word as a child and instilled in me the principles that I would carry into my adult life. Today I celebrate him, I celebrate the fun times and the hard days but mostly I celebrate how blessed I am to call him my Dad.

You have how many?

2010-06-18T22:00:00.006-05:00

This is a topic that has been on my mind lately and then tonight I came across this blog post that made me think even more. First let's start with a little history, I come from a family of 11 kids. I have 8 brothers and 2 sisters. Jeremy comes from a family of 8 kids, he has 3 sisters and 4 brothers. We both love coming from large families and growing up it was just normal, it was life. I have memories of being young and at the grocery store and hearing people ask all those questions..."you know what causes this right"...or.."you must me Mormon or catholic"..and the best..."don't you know how to prevent that". When did it start being ok in our culture to make comments to people about something so personal as how many kids you have? We don't mock people who can't or choose not to have kids. This post touched on and I so agree with the fact that the church is no better in most cases then the world at encouraging young families in the blessing of children.

Jeremy and I are often asked how many kids we want, to which we usually reply with a quick "we don't know yet", or "we hope to have lots". Coming from big families I think people want to know if that has made us want a large family or just want a couple kids. Growing up people used to make comments about affording children or more like not being able to afford kids, my Dad used to always say "God pays for what he orders". How true? We can trust God with SO many things but something as big as our family size we hold with a tight grip. Dad also used to compare the analogy of arrows in the hand of a warrior to children. Psalm 127:3-5 says that blessed is the Man whose quiver is full. Dad said if we was going out to war he would want as many arrows as he could get. Why limit to 2 or 3? I love this verse in the message bible...Psalm 127:3-5 "Don't you see that children are God's best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep."

I want to challenge your ideas of children, change the way you view them. It's not about birth control or no birth control, it's a heart issue. It's not about a number its about trust. If you viewed your kids as you greatest asset and your tool to help change the world how would that affect your parenting today. I am grateful my parent's made the choices they did and so grateful my in-laws did too! No, its not always easy. My Mom records some of her journey here and I know you will be encouraged by her message. Maybe you can't have more kids or you have chosen not to, Romans 8:1 says "there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". Don't be condemned, love on the ones you have and view them as an arrow your raising to send out and change the world. This journey of parenthood is something I have only just begin and I know will have many hard days ahead, but I don't do it for those. Yes, they come but I do it for the days my child smiles at me calling my name, I do it for the day my child will come to know the Lord, I do it for the journey my kids will have in there walk with the Lord, I do it so they can start this journey a couple steps ahead of where Jeremy and I started it. I do it cause I was raised with a message that motherhood is a highest calling a Woman can have and that it is an honor and a blessing to bare children. I do it because I want to change the world and leave my mark and will take all the help I can get!

Hard Mommy Days

2010-06-01T20:30:00.006-05:00

What's not to love about that baby face? I am more in love with this baby girl then I ever thought possible. This little 13 month old girl has also stretched me in more ways then I ever thought possible! I told my Mom that I didn't know someone this little could challenge me this much! She laughed a sweet chuckle that meant, oh I remember that stage and that kinda made me wonder if my childhood was coming to her mind! ;-) I am number 2 of 11 kids so I don't think there is a stage of motherhood that my Mom hasn't experienced and has some wisdom to offer in. Another sweet Mom whose kids are now grown reminded me "where much is given, much is required". I have to remember that even on those days when I wonder HOW I will survive I have to remember that there are many mom's who have gone before me and survived! Not only survived but did it with class!

I have been convicted that I can only be as good of a Mom as I allow God to use me. In my own strength I cannot make it through the day. I'm SO grateful that I serve a God who gives me new mercies everyday and am surrounded my Mommy's who can encourage and remind me what it's all about!

To my baby girl!

2010-05-12T15:09:00.005-05:00

Baby girl,

Your not a baby girl anymore, your 1! We made it! Daddy and I survived our first year of parenthood! You have been on this earth over 365 days! This has been the most incredible year of my life, hard at times but oh so rewarding! When Daddy and I stop and think about our life before you, it seems kinda boring. We can't imagine what we spent our time doing or how we managed without the joy you bring to our lives everyday. We have watched you go from a new baby who slept and ate all the time to a blossoming toddler who talks and walks! You have lots to say and are never at a loss for words, although we don't understand most of the words you say yet. You love other kids and get so excited to play with them. You freely give kisses and hugs. You adore your baby doll and are such a good little mommy to it, you kiss her and hug her then throw her over your shoulder when your done. We still have some things to work on before you become a Mommy I guess!

Teaching you to sleep has been a year long battle and we still have times that you fight it but I think you are learning that Mommy and Daddy always win! You are finally eating more solid foods and love eating what we are eating. You love ice and would be happy all day with a cup of it! You are fearless, nothing seems to scare you! I love that about you! You are so social, talking to everyone at the store and waving to other kids. You wake up talking in the morning go to bed after you snuggle with Mom. Daddy and I love getting you up in the mornings cause you are so snugly, you love to wake us up with kisses and laying in our bed.

You are Daddy's treasure! I love to watch Daddy love you! You have made this couple a family. We love you dearly and cannot imagine everyday without you! We have loved you since the moment we knew you were being formed in my tummy. We haven't done everything right and I'm sure will make many more mistakes but we are doing the best we can. I thank God for allowing me to be your Mommy and trusting us to raise you. Thank you for coming into our world and forever changing us!

Love you baby girl!

Mommy

*photo credit goes to my amazing sister who is pursuing photography, she does amazing work!*

Yummy stuff for free?

2010-05-10T16:17:00.003-05:00

Here are some awesome giveaways!

This one is for my local friends... free Mediterranean food! What's not to love!
http://maeannetteburke.blogspot.com/2010/05/101-blog-posts-cafe-medi-giveaway.html

And here are some yummy kid friendly and healthy snacks!
http://www.mommypotamus.com/healthy-snack-giveaway/#comment-1333

Ok, so go and enter to win these! Good luck...although I'm kinda secretly hoping I win! =)

I Love You So...

2010-05-03T16:05:00.004-05:00

Today my little baby girl turns 1 year old! People told me before I had kids how fast time goes and I don’t think I fully realized how true that was until this very day! My precious baby girl, who rocked her mommy and Daddy’s world a year ago at 7:12pm, is still my precious baby girl, but she is not a baby anymore! She walks, says “hi”, “bye”, “Daddy”, shakes her head no, blows kisses, gives Mommy kisses and freely gives hugs. She waves and charms anyone who pays any attention to her. She thinks the world was created for her to entertain. I can’t imagine my love being any bigger for her then it is. Her Daddy is so in love with her and she adores him. We have had our hard days and I know there will be many more to come, but I cannot imagine my life without my baby girl. She has taught me so much and made me laugh more then anyone ever has. She is SO busy and keeps us running but I wouldn’t want it any other way!

On this day we celebrate life! We celebrate that God has trusted Jeremy and I with a daughter to love and raise in His ways. I am humbled at the thought yet I am more proud to be Ava’s momma then I could express.

“I can’t imagine life before you came along. You are the music to my dance and my song. I am meant for you, and you are meant for me, the one I love forevermore. Undeniably.”
I Love You SO… by: Marianne Richmond

Casting My Cares

2010-04-19T16:37:00.004-05:00

Ever have flashbacks to childhood memories? I learned lots of scripture when I was little through songs and they often still come to mind at different times. How many of you remember Psalty the singing song book? Don't worry, I'm not really that young, he was more when I was a bit older but having younger siblings I still heard WAY more then my fair share of that blue singing song book!

He sang a slow song and the chorus was something like this "..I cast all my cares upon you, I lay all of burdens down at your feet and anytime I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares up you". Sounds fairly elementary but I cannot tell you how much I have sang that song in my head the last couple weeks. My Dad is having major surgery tomorrow and I have had my fair share of burdens regarding that. Casting my cares up Him...that sounds easy but really it's a hard thing for someone like me who likes to be in charge and manage my circumstances. I am holding fast to that truth right now though because in all honesty, I don't know what else to do.

I will post an update once surgery is done tomorrow on facebook and twitter for all you who follow me there. Until then, my family would covet your prayers. For my Dad, my mom and us kids as we walk through this together.

7th Generation Product Giveaway!

2010-04-11T11:48:00.002-05:00

If you like free stuff and also like using cleaning products you can feel good about using then you will for sure want to check this amazing giveaway out!

Go HERE to enter to win!

Greek Lentil Soup

2010-03-26T11:34:00.005-05:00

It's cleanse day number 4 and its going great! Yesterday I had a brief period of sweets and carbs craving but once those died down I was ok. The cleanse hasn't been as hard as it was last time, I don't feel as deprived from food and have actually enjoyed my meals. Last night we had company over, thankfully they are some of our crunchy friends and didn't mind cleanse friendly dinners. I wanted to make a lentil something because I am HUGE fan of lentils and cannot get enough of them. I actually crave lentils. Jeremy, not so much. So it's saying alot when we finished dinner last night he said "that was really good, I wouldn't mind that in our meal rotation!" It was by far the best lentil recipe I have ever made! I changed a few things so here is my version of Greek lentil soup. Enjoy!

2 cups brown lentils (washed)
1 large carrot
1 brown onion
1 large soft tomato or can of diced tomatoes
water to cover lentils (I used chicken broth with a little water)
1/2 cup olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
chili powder
diced chicken (optional)

Put washed lentils and chicken broth or water in larger pot to simmer while chopping vegetables. Chop onion, carrot, celery & tomatoes into small pieces (around the same size as the lentils or a bit bigger). Add veggies, bay leaf, olive oil, salt & pepper & chili powder

Add enough water or broth to cover lentils and bring to boil. Cover pot and simmer gently on med-low heat for around 40 min (stirring occasionally). Take lid off and simmer for another 5-10 minutes until soup thickens. Serve alone or over brown rice.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2010-03-23T10:46:00.002-05:00

Today is my Dad's 50th birthday! I have so much respect for my Dad, if you know him you know why. Dad is an amazing man! He means the world to many people and has influenced so many, I feel honored to call him my Dad. I have watched Dad struggle over the last couple years with some health issues, and it hurts. It's hard to see someone you love so much and want to think is invincible struggle. Through it all I have only come and love and value my Dad more. Dad is the one who taught me God's word and built a hunger in me for the things of the Lord. He taught me to not lower my standards and wait for Mr. Right. He always encouraged us girls in the value of being a Mom, he taught us to bless our own Mom. Now, I have a child and she loves her Pappaw! I have a glimpse of the kind of love Dad has for us kids, its strong.

I could never thank my Dad enough for how he raised us and is still raising the ones at home. Dad never gave up on us and always saw potential and encouraged us to go for what was best. I love my Daddy dearly and will always be his little girl. He is my hero. Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Cleansing Time!

2010-03-22T15:45:00.006-05:00

It's cleansing time around our house! I had wanted to do this 21 day purification program 2-3 times a year. I did it back in October and have been batteling some cold and congestion systems on and off for about a month and decided this was the time! Time to give my body the fuel it needs to be healthy and well. You can go to the link to read more about it, basically you eleminate things from your diet and add a shake and supplement routine to your diet. I had great success with it last time, felt wonderful when I was on it, lost 15 pounds which I kept off and overall just felt better. I know some people have issues with doing a cleanse while pregnant/nursing, and I find it funny that they won't take issue with eating McDonald's while pregnant/nursing. This cleanse is gentle and since I am still nursing I don't take one of the cleansing supplements and I keep protein (eggs, chicken and fish) in my diet the entire time rather then adding them to the 2nd half only.

I plan to blog my journey and some recipes on this cleanse. If you have been wanting to do something along these lines you can do the food without the supplements. It obviously won't be as effective but feeding your body fruits and vegtables your body will cleanse some iteslf. Give it a try!

Balancing Act

2010-03-18T16:57:00.002-05:00

Balance seems to be the word for this season of life for me. Balance in so many areas of life! My child is to the age that I am ready to venture into some more hobbies and possibly money making adventures. I am working to get my Doula certification and get that business off the ground. I had taken photography courses in the past and still have a love for it. I would like to one day purchase equipment and get back into that. I am dying to take on a at home hobby, I purchased fabric to make curtains for Ava's room and am about to begin that adventure! That is if I can borrow my Momma's sewing machine! ;-)

We live in an apartment so housekeeping doesn't take that much of my time, which is the blessing of our small place! I am cooking more these days then I ever have in an effort to make more wholesome and nourishing meals for my family. I would like to expand my knowledge in that area too.

So what does balance have to do with all this? I KNOW that God has called me to support my husband and raise children and I wouldn't trade it for the world! Yet, I know I can do these other things on the side also. How much is the question. I don't ever want to wander from my ultimate purpose and I never want any of these hobbies/professions to do anything but support my ultimate vision. I am a trained midwife but chose not to take my boards for practicing, why? I did not feel that there was grace in this season of my life to do that along with starting our family. Maybe that will change one day but for now I am very content with where we are at.

What has your experience been with taking on hobbies and merging your professions with your family life? I am a newbie to the mommy world and fairly new to the marriage thing too and would love your thoughts.

30 day shred? Yes please!

2010-03-10T20:21:00.004-06:00

I have started a new workout, Jillian Michaels 30 day shred DVD. Some things I really like about this workout...

1) Its 20 minutes long! Who doesn't want to workout for 20 minutes and see results!
2) I have know several people who have done it and heard great things about it
3) I have never had such a good workout in such a short period of time and been pouring sweat at the end.
4) Who doesn't like working out with her! I mean she is insane!

Let me tell you a little history in the world of Hannah working out. I have never been very athletic, just wasn't my thing. I struggled with my weight in high school and decided to do something about it and lost over 30 pounds. I became more active just for health reasons but was not hardcore at all. Before I got married I, like ever other girl out there wanted to get in shape for my wedding day. So I walked and I walked and did pushups and sit-ups. Felt great on my wedding day and on our mexican beach honeymoon! When I moved to NY (the frozen tundra..and did I mention I moved there in December) I needed some hobbies to keep me busy in a new place and living this new life for me. So I joined the YMCA and spent LOTS of time there and loved it! I got in the best shape I have been in my life and felt great. I wasn't anything impressive but for me it was! I became addicted to spin classes and that is a real workout! I had a couple friends who I worked out with some and that kept me going. That next summer...I got pregnant...and with that I got sick. The gym was the last thing I had on my mind! So for a couple months I layed on the couch, worked at starbucks and slept. Once I felt better again I got back into working out some but nothing like before just to keep me active during my pregnancy.

Now this brings us to the present! And wow, I am back to my pre-baby wedding day weight and can now wear all my clothes but...things don't look like they used to! I had these white shorts I wore that summer and I wanta wear them again! So my new goal is to firm up this body and who better to do it with then Jillian Michaels! I want to feel ok wearing a swimsuit this summer and be proud to wear a sleevless shirt. I'm telling you all this because I plan to keep you updated on my progress! And if you see me ask me about it..I need to be kept accountable!

Happy shredding!

My foodie baby

2010-02-22T08:53:00.007-06:00

My baby girl is addicted, yes already she has an addiction. It's amazing how in only 9 months you can become addicted to something, but since her addiction is anything but harmful we have agreed to go with it. She is addicted to breastfeeding. She likes the idea of real food but actually eating it is another story! She loves to play with it and then throw it on the ground! I'm a very clean person, don't really like being dirty, don't enjoy getting my hands dirty so the idea of letting Ava explore with food was not what I had in mind. I was much more for putting her in a high chair, putting a cute bib on her and feeding her some yummy organic pureed food with a spoon. But the more I became exposed to baby led weaning the more I realized the importance of how we exposed her to food. I don't want and won't have a toddler who won't eat this, and won't eat that! I am determined to not have that issue and I know many other people who have kids that way so I know it is possible. I want to help Ava avoid being my age and craving sugar and having several foods she won't eat. I was fortunate to grow up in a home that being a picky eater was not a choice! Oatmeal was a common breakfast and I didn't like it! But thanks to my Dad's persistence I now eat oatmeal as a common breakfast! And I LIKE it! Jeremy was raised the same way, I am again fortunate because he will eat anything! I have many friends who cook around there husbands likes and dislikes and that isn't an issue in our home.

So, back to Ava eating! She wants NOTHING to do with anything that resembles baby food! She is 9 months old but has only ever had a few bites or baby food as we know it, and those were a battle to get down! After reading more from the above baby led weaning article and other's on the same topic I decided to give up the baby food battle and just start on real food. Ava only has 2 teeth, although we can see the top ones so any day those should pop out! She can't chew much but will gum the heck out of any raw veggie we give her! We don't do baby teethers we give her fruits or veggies to gum on. I also steam organic veggies down and add a little organic butter and she loves them! We eat mostly organic but I make sure the foods we give Ava or all organic. The first 2 years of a child's life is SO important in developing her immune system and deciding if they will be a healthy child or a sickly child. I plan to be very strict with her eating for that period of life. I want to make healthy real eating normal to her.

Last week at mom Mom's Ava tried some rice pasta (she hasn't had gluten or wheat in any form and I don't plan to expose her to those for a while) with some tomato sauce and venison. Venison is a great way to basically get organic free range meats for free! My family is full of hunters so venison is easy to come by. We stripped Ava down to her diaper and let her go to town! She played with it, put it in her hair, ate it and had a blast! I love watching her develop and explore the world of real food!

Weekend In The Mountains

2010-02-19T10:20:00.005-06:00

We took a quick weekend trip with some new friends to Colorado to do some skiing, lots of fun was had by all! Emily and Allan have a little boy that is a month younger then Ava and Ava loves the company! They were so funny together and exchanged lots of kisses and cuddles! They both kept us laughing with there cuteness! We took my 16 year old sister along to watch the babies so we could all ski together and that worked out perfect! She had her hands full but handled it well!

We had great conditions for skiing and got in a full day which was enough to wear us all out! The boys did some night skiing Friday when we got there to get warmed up a little for Saturday. We stayed in a nice little condo that we could walk to the lifts which is totally the way to go!

Thanks to our new fun friends Allan and Emily for helping this trip happen. We had so much fun and are loving our new friendship with there sweet family! Oh, I forgot to mention they have an adorable 3 year old named Claire who Ava adores! Claire stayed behind with family while we traveled.

So much to say...

2010-01-18T15:29:00.005-06:00

I have so many things that I want to post about these days...but...I have a little 8 month old who has the characteristics of a raccoon and is currently taking every ounce of my time and energy. When she is napping, which by the way we have made HUGE strides in the sleeping department, I usually use that time to put back everything she gets out and keep my house and myself looking decent. So, until I take the time to post more here is the reason I haven't posted more.

Ava's favorite activities are pulling anything out that seems to have a place it belongs and playing with anything that looks like it might NOT be a toy! As you can tell she takes her job very serious?

2009 In Pictures

2010-01-01T20:33:00.021-06:00

January – We started off the new year in a new state! The end of 2008 brought us back to TX, so we spend January adjusting to our new home and I started working at a Starbucks in the area (I had transferred from NY).

February - My hubby and I went to San Antonio to celebrate our birthdays, Valentines Day and a little babymoon. It was wonderful!

March - I had a wonderful baby shower to help us celebrate the soon arrival of our little bundle. It was so much fun and I was so blessed with all the fun little things for baby girl! The reality begin to set in even more that this was happening!

April - The 30^th was my due date, but I had a feeling we would have a May baby. April was filled with lots of excitement and lots of lasts before our world changed forever...for the good of course!

May - My life changed forever when our precious Ava Caroline was born. Ava's delivery was the hardest thing I have EVER done, but by far the most rewarding thing. I had a wonderful home birth (all natural birth!) and was surrounded by the people who love me the most. Ava arrived May 3rd and we spend the rest of the month adjusting to life with our baby girl. I celebrated by first mother's day with a 1 week old baby too! That was the best mother’s day gift possible!

June - We made our first trip back to NY to visit family and introduce Ava to them. She did wonderful and was a travel pro! I got my nose pierced, something I have wanted to do for a while just lacked the nerve to do it. We continued to fall more in love with our baby girl every day!

July - I don't remember anything major about July, which I am sure is due to the lack of sleep that July held and the brain cells that I loss due to that! Ava continued to grow and change and was smiling and laughing more and more...oh and she started getting some hair!

August – Ava and I took our first road trip together to Oklahoma to visit a dear friend and meet her new baby boy! We also took a trip back to NY for family camp. Ava loved 3 days in the outdoors!

September – Our baby was mobile, she could roll scoot and get wherever she thought she needed to get. Her personality continued to developed more and more.

October – Ava begin to try and crawl in her 5^th month, she would get up and then fall back down and do that over and over again! The last week of October she got it….and hasn’t stopped since!

November – We took our 3^rd trip back to NY, Ava enjoyed it more then ever. She was crawling so it was a new adventure for her! She also got 2 teeth! On her 6^th month birthday we discovered it! It changed her face and her smile into looking like a big girl! We ran a 5k on Thanksgiving, a first for me! It was fun and hopefully the first of many!

December – It was like re-living Christmas all over again from a child’s eyes watching Ava in awe of the paper, bows, lights and anything else shiny! Ava had no clue what all the excitement was about but we had fun! We had a white Christmas, which hasn’t happened since 1926 so it was a big deal! We spent Christmas in DFW with my family but missed Christmas with our Tallo family.

I cannot imagine 2009 being anymore amazing and feeling anymore blessed looking back on it!

White Christmas

2009-12-28T15:37:00.002-06:00

We had a white Christmas in Texas! What fun memories were made, we will never forget Ava's first Christmas and the first white Christmas since 1926! Here is my big family that we spent Christmas eve and Christmas morning with. It was so fun! Sometimes loud and a little chaotic but thats's the way we like it! Lot's of laughing and fun stories. I am so thankful for each of these people I get to call family. I am blessed!

The Nutcracker Ballet

2009-12-20T09:10:00.004-06:00

This weekend my sweet husband and I went to see the Nutcracker at Bass Hall! It was wonderful!! There are so many things I love about going to the ballet....getting all dressed up, seeing everyone else all dressed up in holiday attire, the gorgeous Bass Hall and just the idea of going to the ballet is so classy to me. I am one of those fortunate girls, my husband loves stuff like this. His mom trained him well! I don't have to beg him to take me and he doesn't complain and dread going. He wore a suite and I wore a little black dress...ok it wasn't that little..but it was as little of a black dress as I will ever wear.. We left Ava with my Mom and off we went! What a fun evening! I think we might make a tradition of it. Oh and how fun will it be in a couple years when we can take Ava? She will love it I am sure!

We wanta wish you a merry Christmas....

2009-12-12T13:02:00.001-06:00

Here is a snapshot of our life the last couple weeks. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving started out by us running (well Ava rode) a 5k, my first one! I was happy to finish but will NOT report my time! Ava is gaining a love for food. She isn't real interested in and would prefer bits of our food over anything that resembles baby food or is fed to her with a spoon. She is crawling all over the place and attempts to stand. She turned 7 months old last week and is my little buddy! We have a blast together during the day and I LOVE the excitement she shows when her Daddy comes home. She is a true joy to us both and we cannot imagine our life without her!

Merry Christmas! Take some time to enjoy those around you and give a little extra love to your family. It's a season to celebrate the gifts God has given us and what greater gift then families to love!

Goin to the chapel...

2009-11-25T10:36:00.009-06:00

Yesterday we celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary! What a full 2 years they have been! In the last 2 years I have gotten married, moved to NY, gotten pregnant, moved back to TX, had a baby and am now planning our next local move. I told Jeremy last night, no wonder I am tired!

Thinking back over the last 2 years I cannot imagine it any other way though! I have loved the adventure that we are on together and though at times it has been overwhelming God has taught us both so much. I am more in love today then ever and have a husband who loves me and spoils me in so many ways. How could I ask for more? We have a 6 1/2 month old baby girl who is our world and we both adore her more everyday! Truly, I am blessed!

Here is a walk down memory lane from my wedding day....

I loved everything about my wedding and would do it all the same again! It was such a fun day surrounded by friends and family. I was so blessed to have the wedding of my dreams! Here is to many, many more years to come!

And the winner is.....

2009-11-24T09:35:00.002-06:00

The winner of my first giveaway according to random.org is....Darci!!

So fun!! Darci I know those adorable flowers will get put to good use on little Eden! If you will email me your address you 3 bows will be in the mail soon! Thanks for playing along friends and I hope to do more of these soon! Remember you can get your own flowers by visiting Mae's etsy shop.

Giveaway!

2009-11-20T11:20:00.006-06:00

I am hosting my first ever giveaway! I am excited to help a friend who is a stay-at-home-mom to get the word out about her adorable hand made items. She has a etsy site here that lists all her fun items.

These would make wonderful Christmas gifts, baby gifts or gifts for yourself! =) Who doesn't want a funky and fun flower to brighten up your fall wardrobe. I have to admit when Mae gave the flowers to use for this giveaway, I was tempted to keep them and say I didn't! I think I may be doing some ordering of my own soon. They are cute, afordable and if you are like me I am always more willing to spend the money to support a Mommy staying home with her baby! Oh and did I mention she does custom orders?

So how do you win these adorable bows you ask? Well check out Mae's etsy site and leave me a comment with which flower is your favorite. If you post a link on your blog or your facebook to my blog then you can leave a second comment telling me you did. This giveaway will stay open till Sunday night at midnight and monday morning I will announce the winner of 3 adorable flowers! Oh and did I tell you that the winner gets a flower for babe, baby and bride!

Ok now, hurry up and get to commenting and shopping!

White House

2009-11-19T12:44:00.002-06:00

Before Jeremy and I got married he purchased this adorable white house that needed LOTS of work. His plan to fix it up and us live in, funny how God has a way of changing our plans! We ended up renting the house out and it has been a source of lots of stress for us both but more for him. It has been rented out for the last year but we had talked about selling the house and had put it up for sale by owner in the past and nothing. We put it up with a realtor last Wednesday and on Friday we got an offer for asking price! Needless to say we took it! God is so faithful, we are going to be able to walk away from this house free and clear! We had assumed we were going to take a loss on it, oh we of little faith! Isn't it amazing when God comes through on the things we don't even have the faith to pray for?

Thank you God for your amazing love for us. That your plans are so much better then what we could imagine! And I am SO grateful for that. Forgive me for my lack of faith. May YOU reveive ALL glory for this!

Happy Monday!

2009-11-16T13:00:00.000-06:00

Ava’s world has forever changed! She has discovered food and crawling! Once she caught onto the crawling thing there was no stopping her. She loves it! I had slowly started giving her some food, our theory on baby food is that our food is what our babies will eat. Who wants to eat that bottled stuff anyway? Not me! It also keeps me eating fresh good meals if I have to share with her! I had been feeding her an egg yolk that was soft boiled and she loves it! Other then that she doesn’t really want anything to do with anything that has to be spoon fed to her. She wants to hold it and eat it by herself, I have had to take chunks of banana’s and many vegetables out of her mouth after she bit off more then she could handle. She has 2 teeth and thinks she can handle much more then she can!

What better place to eat avocados then in a sink bath? :-)

This process of feeding her has been a learning journey for me. It was so God because when I was trying to decide what to do and when to start a blog I often read posted on that exact subject! So ask and you shall receive right!

Mom Has a Blog!

2009-10-28T20:27:00.000-05:00

I am happy to announce that my Mom has launched her blog! This is something she has wanted to do for a while but wanted to do it right if she was going to do it. And she did! It looks great and I am excited to read as she posts and you should to! She will be posting encouraging topics for Mom's about life and all that this journey has brought her. Mom is my hero and I hope to one day be a Mom like her. She is so organized and runs a tight ship around the house, she home schools all the school age kids and is a wonderful Grandma to her 2 grandkids. I hope you keep up with her blog as I know it will encourage you no matter where you are in your journey.

Cleanse Day 17

2009-10-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

We are on day 17 of a 21 day cleanse and to be totally honest it doesn't feel like we are on a cleanse anymore because we have gotten used to the diet we have adhering to. The diet that goes with it is all the vegetables and fruit you want, a small portion of brown rice and/or lentils each day and day 11 we added lean protein such as chicken, fish and eggs. I kept the protein in my diet from the beginning because of nursing. We have loved our new way of eating and hope to stay with it once we are officially done. I am no longer craving sweets and haven't really had anything that sounds good that I can't have in the last week or so. Its so nice to get that sweet tooth away and actually enjoy eating the things my body needs. Jeremy has lost 14 pounds and I have lost 9, we can both tell in our clothes that they fit so much better in many places. We haven't had stomach aches, heart burn, indigestion or any other affects from food. We both have energy and have slept great feeling more rested then before. I am again amazed that giving your body what it needs allows it to function at such a higher level and eliminating the things that your body wasn't designed to have takes away those issues so many of us deal with.

It has forced us to be creative with our meals since we aren't eating much meat or beans and both seemed to be staples. So now our main dishes are vegetables cooked all different ways! My friend and her husband who are great friends and both chiropractors have been doing it also and she has blogged some great recipes. My favorites that we have done have been a roasted chicken with vegetables and a lentil soup over brown rice. I have been inspired by a new favorite website, the nourishing gourmet and encourage you to check out her recipes. I have gained a new passion for feeding our bodies fuel for life rather then just eating for the pleasure of the moment. I have always had a passion for health but that has reached a new level while on this cleanse. I plan to continue the eating plan strictly for another couple weeks and then adapt a version of it for every day life. Of course making exceptions here and there to enjoy that pleasure of the moment! =)

I have to brag on my dear husband who has been a trooper on this and done great! Before meeting me Adkins is how he would have lost weight and now her has learned that he can survive 10 days with no meat! He has also been encouraged by the results and though this was in no way his idea he hasn't complained much and has eaten every vegetable I have put in front of him! What a man!!

I plan to post some recipes on here as I try some new ones and hope to inspire each of you on this journey of life!

Bits and pieces of my life.

2009-09-19T09:26:00.000-05:00

:: Tomorrow Jeremy and I are starting a purification/cleanse eating routine. I am so pumped to take 3 weeks to give my body the fuel it needs to clean itself up. Our bodies are amazing aren't they? Given the correct food they are capable of so much! We are doing a 21 day cleanse. So many people have asked me about cleansing while nursing because it is thought to not be good. But as my dear friend and chiropractor/midwife put it "people would have no concern in I drank coke or went to McDonald's". This cleanse is totally safe to do while nursing as it is mostly a drastic diet change along with some shakes and supplements. Here is Dr. Cindy's blog who is listing in details the cleanse as she does it if you are interested in learning more.

:: My baby girl is growing and changing so much! What a fun age! We no longer can lay her on the bed cause she will roll all around it and no she hasn't rolled off yet but we hope to avoid that! She can get to anything she really wants by rolling to it! She is such a social baby and loves interaction with people.

:: We have found a schedule that works great for us! She is very flexible with it though which works great for us. She is sleeping great at night, usually up 2 -3 times to eat but is back to sleep in 15 minutes. I am starting to feel a bit more rested these days which is nice!

::Fall has started to show its face and I am loving it! I do miss NY fall though, the changing leaves and cool breeze was amazing! We can now take walks and not fear of a heat stroke!

::I am taking my midwifery licensing exam in February and feel great about the timing, I was planning to do it in Oct this year but just don't feel prepared enough and am in no rush just want to get it done.

That's all for now, the little one is down so I must use this time wisely and I think a shower would be a good call! =)

2009-08-27T12:04:00.000-05:00

The Seasons of life is something that has been on my mind often these days. Maybe its because I have a 4 month old baby who is blowing through the newborn season, maybe its because I am entering a season of parenting that I feel so inadequate to enter, maybe its because our lease in our apartment is up soon so we are seeking what the next season will be, maybe its because we want to buckle down this fall and take care of some financial things we have hanging over our head, maybe its because I am studying for my licensing exam to be a midwife and wondering what that season will look like or maybe its just because God wants us to better understand who He is in changing seasons.

I LOVE the season of life God has me in right now. I love being a mother, I love where we are living, I love that my husband has a job that provides for our needs and I love that everyday with a baby holds new and fun things! But I also feel like there are times I grow weary of the seasons changing so fast, just when I feel I am comfortable in the season we are in its time to adjust to a new one. I know that is God's way of keeping up dependant on Him, but somedays its more then I can handle! I am all for adventure but sometimes we need a break! I know I serve a God who is faithful and who never changes and that is where I rest my heart. Seasons and circumstances may always be changing but His faithfulness always remains!

I have been listening to this song alot lately and letting the reality of who God is seek into my soul.

"I am" by Nichole Nordeman

"Pencil marks on a wall, I wasn't always this tall,
You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed, You watched my team win,
You watched my team lose, You watched when my bicycle went down again,

And When I was weak unable to speak, still I could call You by name,
and I said “Elbow healer, Superhero, come if You can,” and You said “I am”

Only 16, life is so mean, what kind of curfew is at ten PM
You saw my mistakes, You watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I’d never love again

When I was weak, unable to speak, still I could call You by name,
and I said “Heart-ache Healer, Secret-keeper, be my Best Friend” and You said “I am”

You saw me wear white, by pale candlelight, I said forever to what lies ahead
two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream too much it might seem when it’s two AM

When I am weak, unable to speak, still I will call You by name.
“Oh Shepherd, Savior, Pasture-maker, hold on to my hand,” and You say “I am.”

The winds of change, And circumstance blow in and all around
us so we find a foothold that’s familiar, And bless the moments that we feel You nearer
Life had begun, I was woven and spun,

You let the angels dance around the throne, who can say when,
But they’ll dance again, when I am free and finally headed home

I will be weak, unable to speak, still I will call You by name
“Creator, Maker, Life-sustainer, Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer,
Lord and King, Beginning and the End, I am, yes, I am.”

3 Months Old!

2009-08-03T22:28:00.000-05:00

My baby girl is 3 months old today!! Jeremy and I were talking about today how its hard to believe its already been 3 months but at the same time it feels like we have always had her. Its hard to imagine life before our little bundle came! It has been the most amazing 3 months of my life to watch my child grow. I have grown so much in 3 months, nothing like having a baby to put life in perspective. The things I thought important that filled my day no longer seem to matter, and the things I fill my day with now seem so small in the worlds eyes but has become my world. I thank God for giving us the gift of life to steward and shepherd her heart.

Pictures were taken by my talented friend Heather.

She is Home!!

2009-07-30T15:38:00.000-05:00

Priscilla is home! After a year in Taiwan teaching english she is back. What an amazing year she had and she has so many memories. I am so glad she was able to go, I think she will look back on this time in her life and be so grateful for the experiences she had. We sure are glad to have her home though!! When she left for her adventure I lived in NY wasn't pregnant yet and my older brother and his wife had a new baby and lived about 2 hours outside of Fort Worth. Now she is home and I live here and have a baby, by brother and his family live minutes away so its been such fun! I think it has taken her some time to settle back into life here, I can only imagine how much of a shift it must be. She has had lots of time to love on Ava and came home just in time to start enjoying her changing daily and being oh so much fun!

My baby girl laughs now and it is the cutest thing in the entire world! She has lots to say and is full of life!!

Bits and pieces of my life.

2009-07-08T17:06:00.000-05:00

:: My sister comes home Friday from a year of teaching English in Taiwan. We could not be more excited to see her! She will finally get to meet Ava too! It has been 2 years since I have lived in the same state as Priscilla so I am thrilled to live by my closest sister again, it will be fun to have her so close and it will take some time for me to get used to remembering she is here!

:: Sleep update, my baby girl is sleeping wonderfully! She goes to sleep when we do and sleeps for around 4 hours then wakes up to eat and then goes right back to sleep and sleeps another 2-3 hours the eats again then sleeps another 2-3 hours normally. I know I am SO blessed! We are making progress with our day schedule and I do feel like we have some routine that I can count on most days. I am not huge on a schedule but I do like having some routine that we can count on and it makes us both so much happier when we have sleep!

:: It is TOO HOT in Texas for me! After living in up state NY for a year I lost my tolerance for the heat I think. I just don't remember it being this hot! I love lots about summer, but 90 degrees would be a good high for me. I am grateful I have a little baby and a good reason to stay inside with my little one!

:: I am making some effort to get this baby weight off, I am so tired of my limited wardrobe and refuse to buy clothes that are my size now. This whole breastfeeding thing has not made my weight "melt" off as I was told often happens. I started walking this week and plan to stay regular with that and add some trips to the gym when baby will allow. I have too many clothes in my closet that I want to wear again and I am not ok with settling for this larger version of me. I hope to spend the next 4 months getting back in shape and my goal is by the time she is 6 months old to be back to my active thinner self.

:: I am starting to pull the books out and study for the Midwifery license exam, I am taking that in October and it is a very in depth hard test from what I have heard so I am a little nervous to take that but so looking forward to having that behind me!

:: Ava is now 9 weeks old and growing so much! She has developed such a sweet little personality and neither of us can imagine life without our baby girl! She brings so much joy to our home!!

::My Mom is getting a blog set-up and when she does if you are a mom, wife or one day hope to be any of those you will want to read her blog! I know I am so excited to keep up with it. Mom has such wisdom to offer and I am thrilled that she will have a new out to share and encourage others with. In my opinion she has LOTS that needs to be heard and I know will encourage all those that read it. I will let you all know once she has her site up and running.

My Life

2009-06-25T18:03:00.000-05:00

The last 7 weeks that been the best 7 weeks of my life! I adore my little girl and we cannot imagine life without her! Her Daddy is totally taken with her and we find ourselves just sitting and watching her! She is smiling and her little personality is developing so much. She is a wonderful baby!! We flew to NY to see our family last week and she did amazing! Was the dream baby to travel with and was the star of the show in Rochester!

Fun Giveaway

2009-06-02T20:05:00.001-05:00

Hey friends!
Check out this blog http://elliekateandpeyton.blogspot.com/ and enter to win a fun giveaway!!

Birth Story

2009-05-12T18:03:00.003-05:00

I have been attempting to type up my birth story in detail, but when you nurse every 2 hours all day and night it is going to take me a long time to complete it! So here is the reader friendly version for all you who are interested....

Saturday May 2nd, I woke up at about 1:15am and knew immediately that my water had broke. I called my midwife to report but I was not having any contractions. She said she would come to listen to the baby and just asses but didn't have to stay if things weren't happening. I woke Jeremy up then and told him this was it! With my water leaking I knew we were at the point of no return and didn't have the chance of labor stopping and waiting a couple more days. This was happening! My midwife (Donnellyn) came and by that point I was having crampy really light contractions. She listened to baby who sounded great then checked me, I was only 1cm (like I had been in her office earlier that week) and 80% effaced. She said to try and sleep and see what would happen. I tried sleeping but I think with the adrenaline of it all I was too excited and the contractions started getting slightly stronger. I kept thinking I would be holding my baby soon, little did I know I had another 30 hours before that would be a reality! I got up about 6am and my midwife again checked me and there was not much progress so we decided it was just early labor and she would go home and we would continue life for the day and see what happened. We had a wonderful morning together, we made some sweet memories as we did some last things before our world changed forever. We went to breakfast, walked and did some shopping. I remember sitting at breakfast and every 10 minutes or so I would have a pinching, crampy contraction but it didn't really hurt but I could feel something happening. That afternoon we watched a movie and did some more walking. I called Donnellyn around 3 or 4that afternoon and was really getting frustrated. Contractions would stop if I sat down but get going again if I walked. I was getting anxious to get this ball going and since I couldn't sleep I wanted to be in labor! She told me what I have told many Mom's in labor and reminded me that God's timing is perfect and to enjoy this time and rest. Of course being the good birth professional that I am I kept walking and didn't really rest at all. She also told me I could take some homeopathics and see if that helped contractions become more regular. Around 7pm sat night (17 hours after I had started leaking fluid) the contractions were getting stronger and I was in more pain. I called my Mom and she came right over with arms full of central market food, yummy candles to light and some natural lotion for me. I remember the relief when my Mom walked in the door, I knew everthing was going to be all right by just seeing her face. We called Donnellyn around 9pm and she got there around 1opm when things were just starting to get intense and labor was getting more active. I had been having contractions all day but was able to talk and do things through then until that night. I labored all night and the details are a blur to me as I was going on 2 nights of missed sleep. I don't really have any memories of the night except that around 4am we called my good friend and chiropractor Dr. Cindy, I wasn't getting much of a break from intense contractions but progress was just so slow Donnellyn though getting adjusted might help get things moving. I was SO exhausted by the morning and really did not think I had anything left in me.

Around 6am on Sunday May 3rd, over 24 hours from when this all had gotten started, I was 5cm and progressing just slow. Labor got harder and the contractions started coming closer together. Around 2pm I reached the end of myself and could not do it anymore or so I thought. I had so much encouragement and they kept me going. I remember telling Jeremy I wanted to go the hospital and get an epidural, which of course he in a very understanding way said "ok if that's what you want to do then we can BUT remember after you have this baby you have to stay in the hospital and all the reasons you chose a home birth won't happen". Of course my response to him was "your right I don't want to go to the hospital!" My midwife checked me again and I was 6cm at 2pm, I was so discouraged because 8 hours had gone by and I had dilated 1cm! The baby had moved way down and she suggested we break my water. Now I know I said my water had broke earlier in labor but she said it was more like a leak and it had sealed back up because she felt a bulging bag of water. So we agreed to having my water broke, at this point Jeremy and I were both so ready for things to be done! After she broke my water things got allot stronger and everyone kept saying they could see I was making progress. I was doubtful because of how slow my progress had been leading up to that. I don't have much memory of the next several hours. I just remember contractions coming right on top of each other and feeling so exhausted in between them. I could not handle contractions laying down or sitting down so I stood during each contraction and leaned on Jeremy, he got in a good workout through this process because he had all my weight on him during every contraction! I did some contractions kneeling over the exercise ball just to give my legs a rest but at this point everything hurt all the time so it was hard to tell what felt better then others. I just wanted to be done! God gave me the strength to finish this because looking back I don't know how I was able to. I was so spent and so done! Around 6:30pm I got an overwhelming urge to push, I had planned to push in a squatting postition because being the educated person that I am I KNEW what I wanted! Well, looking back I laugh because I was so exhausted that I could not ever hold myself up and push! I ended up laying on the bed on my side and pushing that way. I will admit that even when I was pushing I had doubts that I was going to ever actually give birth! When I got the point that some head was staying out I reached down and touched it and that gave me the surge of energy I needed to get this thing done. I knew my baby was coming and I was going to do everything in my power to make that soon! I don't remember the painful crowning process because to be honest all I remember was the HUGE relief that happened immediatly once she was out! As I was pushing her head I remember asking Donnellyn "Is my perinium pink?", from my training I had known that pink meant blood flow which meant no tearing. She laughed and said yes! 40 minutes after I felt the urge to push Ava Caroline Tallo made her entrance into the world at 7:12! What a glorious moment that was!!

Everyone has asked, being a trained midwife myself how the birth experience was. It was so different then I had expected. So much longer! I really have no complaints though God was SO good to answer every prayer and more. Jeremy was AMAZING the entire time and never tired of being by my side the entire time. He was with me during EVERY contraction and prayed and spoke peace to me the entire time. He believed in my body when I didn't and He held me to what I knew I wanted but was willing to give up. My team of midwives was all I needed and so much more. They prayed and really did bring such a peace into our home. I cannot have imagined going through it without being able to look at my Mom and without her saying anything I knew I could do it. My sister-in-law was here and was a wonderful prayer warrior and never stopped praying. I was blessed! It was a wonderful/terrible 2 days of my life! I would not trade it for the world but never want to have my 1st child again!! =)

Birth is an amazing opportunity that every woman should have the chance to experience. Our culture has taken that right away from women and one of my greatest desires in life is to help women re-claim that right and experience. We serve a BIG GOD and birth is just one of the ways He allows us to witness His goodness.

Ava Caroline Tallo

2009-05-04T18:49:00.000-05:00

Ava Caroline made her entrance into the world on Sunday May 3rd at 7:12pm. It was an amazing experience about which I will post more later. We are so in love and are again amazed at how faithful a God we serve!! She weighes 7.3 and is 19 1/2 inch. long. Oh and did I mention she is perfect! =)

40 Weeks...

2009-04-30T12:42:00.000-05:00

I made it this far, surely I can make it a couple more days maybe weeks right? Thats what I keep telling myself at least! Although I am afraid I have been an unpleasant person to be around the last couple days and if this baby decides to stay in much longer I am not sure that is going to change much! I am going to make a really grumpy 42 weeks prego if it comes to that! Now is my chance to do what I have told oh so many others...due dates are not an exact date and to just hang in there cause God has just the right day for your little one to arrive. Not that I don't believe that its just much easier said then done! But I think God is letting me have a little test in my patience and see how much I REALLY trust Him. I want to pass that test I really do, its just not getting any easier!

Ok so I will stop complaining and being grumpy. Sorry. I really am doing well, no complaints! I have slept great felt great so besides just being done I am so thankful to have had such an easy great pregnancy! On a lighter more fun note here are some pictures of our baby girls nursery.

Here is the bassinet in our room, her bed for the first couple months.

The crib and the her bedding! =)

Changing table and all the baskets, as you can tell there are still some things that need a home.

Here We Are!

2009-04-23T16:23:00.001-05:00

I have made it, I am 39 weeks today and not working anymore and oh am I loving it! I have done some nesting and gotten everything just right and ready for Ava to come. I am not anxious yet though. I am enjoying everyday I have and know she will come at just the right time! Everything looks great as far as my midwife says and I really feel good. (Besides feeling large, unable to move much and at times every move kinda hurts..)

I was telling Jeremy last night that I can't wait to have her and start working out hard again. I have sooo missed that! I don't think I realized how much of a difference it makes in how I felt. I have kept up exercising through my pregnancy but of course it has changed. Walking for 2-3 miles is a good workout now where running 2 miles with some weight training used to be a good workout for me. I am so ready to have my body back and give this larger version back! My goal is to run a 5k this fall, I was training for one last summer when I got pregnant and still want to do it!

I guess I will end my ramblings with that! I am going to take some pictures of the nursery and post those next! Happy Thursday!

We Made It!

2009-04-07T13:00:00.000-05:00

We are 37 weeks tomorrow! YAY! So that being said we have made it to the point that she could be born at home and we are not in any danger of it being too early. Don't worry I am not getting my hope set on her coming early but its just nice to know that if she did we would be ok. I started thinking today, 37 weeks pregnant...37 weeks is a long time! It has been 37 weeks since my entire view of normal has changed! I don't want to say its been 37 weeks since my body has been normal, because nothing about pregnancy is abnormal to a woman's body but if you have been pregnant you know what I mean! I do look forward to the day very soon where I can bend again without something poking my ribs, and sleep on my back without feeling like I am going to loose the small amount of oxygen supply this little one has left for mommy! I can't imagine what it will be like to not feel her move though, that has become so normal to me and to think I won't feel that makes me a little sad. I can't complain though, cause I am feeling great and trying to enjoy every minute I have before she comes and my life is forever changed!

An update on little Hudson that I posted a prayer request about. He is home! They came home yesterday and he is doing much better. Still battling a cough and some hard spells with that but nothing compared to what he was. Thanks for your prayers! I know they so appreciate them!

The only thing I have really noticed that has changed alot in this last month is that I feel as though I could sleep forever! I slept 10 hours last night and am seriously considering taking a nap soon! Some people have told me they had trouble sleeping at this point, not this momma! I have trouble waking up! I have lots of energy once I am up and going but it just seems that this little one is draining!

Ok, off to finish some projects then see about that nap! =)

Say A Prayer....

2009-03-27T17:40:00.000-05:00

I want to ask all my blogging friends to say a prayer for a dear friend and her new little family, Stephanie had a gorgeous baby boy 3 weeks ago at home and I had the honor of assisting at the birth. He had come down with a cold and now a cough that led to breathing difficulties. He has been admitted to the hospital by ambulance after a scare of not breathing. He has been diagnosed with whooping cough and needs a miracle. Please pray for Spephanie, her husband and baby Hudson that God would meet them in the midst of this time and comfort there hearts and souls.

Thanks for your prayers!

6 Weeks

2009-03-19T21:56:00.000-05:00

Don't pass out cause I am posting again so quickly! I guess I have lots of things to post about these days as life is quickly changing. Today I am 6 weeks from my due date, amazing just 6 short weeks till Ava could come. As I was thinking about that today I had the thought that I was 6 weeks along when we told people I was pregnant. To think of all that has changed in that short amount of time. Looking ahead it seemed like sooo long to go! And now looking back I wonder where the time has gone! Well I kinda know, I packed an apartment moved to TX, unpacked an apartment, set house up here and started to prepare for our little girl! So I guess I do kinda know what this last season has held but it still seems to have gone faster then I expected.

So we are 6 weeks from the date she could come! Of course give or take a couple weeks. I had a baby shower Sunday and it was lovely! Got all the great necessities and some fun things! Monday I kicked into nesting phase and poor Jeremy worked very hard and we got the entire nursery cleaned out, the crib set-up and all the stuff from the shower found a home. So now we ready for her to come..or more ready should I say!

Here are a couple pictures from the shower...

Home Birth

2009-03-11T12:05:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, I went to school to be a midwife and am in the process of completing my paperwork to take my licensing exam this summer. I apprenticed with an amazing midwife for 2 1/2 years and learned so much! I LOVE home birth, I just love birth in general and always left a birth feeling like I had the best job in the world. I mean really how many people get to see a miracle happen at work?!?

Naturally I always thought that when I got pregnant I would have my babies at home, it never really crossed my mind to do anything else. I have never been in the hospital and unless I needed emergency care never want to. I have nothing against Doctors, just don't feel there is a need for one in a NORMAL birth. Because believe me I have done some not so normal birth and they left me very grateful for Doctor's and there skills! So back to my birthing dream...once I got married and moved to NY and realized that home birth was a slim chance there due to the laws being different and hearing that my husband was not totally comfortable with it I settled into the idea that I would have a hospital birth with a midwife. Now, once I got pregnant it all hit me a little harder when I started realizing I could not have my dream. Then we moved to TX and I decided to use a local Dr who is an amazing Christian man and Jeremy and I were both very happy and at peace with our decision. Last week Jeremy started asking me about home birth options and I could tell he was just feeling things out. I tried to contain my excitement and again gave my desire over to God. Well after lots of conversation and talking things out we decided to have a home birth! Now I know this is all not for sure, but I am confident that God 's plan will prevail whatever that may be and we both feel that is to be at home. At 7 1/2 months we are changing gears and both thrilled with the change!

I am elated! I have experienced again God giving me the desires of my heart. I had stopped even praying for God to change Jeremy's mind, I was really that at peace with things. I also had to struggle with what others might say, knowing I am a midwifery education and having a hospital birth and then also now struggling with peoples comments when they find out I am having a home birth. But it is so clear to me that this is God's plan and that He set all this into place because it had nothing to do with me! So now to order our birth kit, buy the needed supplies and wait for the appointed day she will arrive! If you think of it you could pray for me, that I would not battle fear of what could happen. I struggled with that even when we were planning to have a hospital birth. I know God is in control and I want to be able to rest fully in that! Ok, this green momma is off to order my cloth diapers! Wish me luck! =)

31 weeks...

2009-02-25T13:53:00.000-06:00

I haven't blogged in while because well to be honest, I haven't had the energy to do much of anything let alone think about what to blog about. We made it to the 10 week countdown! I will be 31 weeks tomorrows. In some ways I can't believe I am this close to holding our little girl and in other ways I feel like there is no way I can go 10 more weeks in this state! I have really enjoyed being pregnant, I really have. Just lately I have been sooo tired. I wake up thinking about a nap and all day just want to sit down. I have been feeling kinda faint at times and have kinda low blood pressure, which I am not going to complain about! But it has made it hard to get oxygen sometimes, besides that I really have no complaints. I can't wait to meet our little girl and she moves so much and I love it! I live for the moments when I can watch my stomach move around! She has found my ribs though and loves to kinds wedge her foot under them, kinda hurts at times but I can normally kinda move her.

I picked out baby bedding for the nursery and am slowly but surely getting the motivation to start nesting. I thought this started earlier and by this point I would be all ready for her but here we are a couple months away and yeah I have done no nesting. I am just too tired right now! But I am making some progress just gotta pace myself and do it. I am excited to get the nursery ready and have our house ready for this little girl! Although I think at this point anything we do on the nursery is for us not for her, she won't really can this early and will be in our room for a while anyway. But I have to go with the norm and have that perfect nursery for our first child, I mean really who am I kidding that I think if will have a nursery for any of our other kids if I can't even do it for our first child!

I am going to register this week, so if any of my blogger friends have advice on must have items to put on it let me know! Now off to take a nap!

Maternity Pictures

2009-02-09T10:44:00.001-06:00

So a dear friend of mine took some maternity pictures of me the other night, I didn't really want to do traditional maternity pictures but what Beth did was perfect! Cause I did want to document this time in my life. She was so fun and creative and I am so impressed with her work and proud of her! So go take a peak... http://bethdreyer.wordpress.com/

The Month of Love is Here!

2009-02-02T14:55:00.000-06:00

Its February, I was writing in my journal this morning about how much I love this month! Not just cause it happens to be my birthday month! =) But I love valenties day and always have, I love that spring is starting to warm the air and I just love the month. Not sure all the reasons actually I just do. I will be 24 on the 11th and Jeremy will be 25 on the 17th, I am getting old!

I had a Doctor's apt this morning and left so thankful for my Dr. As many of you have heard me blog about it, it was a hard process to lay down my desire for a home birth and meet in the middle with what Jeremy was comfortable with. Which brought us to the hospital, but I chose a Dr. who I knew would understand and respect where I was coming from but who also was excellent at what he does. I could not be happier. Don't get me wrong, I still have days where I get sad thinking I won't have that amazing perfect home birth this time. But I know God will honor me trying to honor my husband and his wishes and most days I could not be happier about it. My Dr. is a Godly man who is so wise yet has a fun sense of humor. Jeremy went with me today to meet him and really liked him which I was so glad about. I felt the apt today feeling kinda scolded, because I am not getting enough calories and he doesn't like that. So my goal between now and when I got back is to add some GOOD calories to my daily diet and hopefully I will feel better doing that too.

I am 27 weeks and 4 days! On Thursday I start my 3rd trimester, amazing! I am measuring 30 which 2 either side of your weeks is normal and he made a comment today about getting a good start of that 10 pound baby I am going to have! I am all for a big healthy baby but please not 10 pounds! She still does not have a name...we will see how long this lasts. There is a good chance she will not have a name till she is born! Ok, so that's all that's new and exciting these days. Now off to nap time...my favorite time of the day (besides bed time)!

I Was Tagged!

2009-01-21T13:31:00.000-06:00

Explanation - Post the fourth picture on the fourth folder of your pictures and explain! oh yeah, and tag 4 more people.

This is from November 2007, the day before my wedding! Mom hosted a gorgeous bridal luncheon and this is my sister Priscilla and I before the fun got started! Ah, and I had long blonde hair...was tan...skinny...and the list goes on! =) How things change in a matter of several years! Now I have short dark hair, am not tan in the least bit and well the skinny part is not really my fault at this point!

I am not going to tag anyone but if you want to do this its kinda fun!

Random Happenings

2009-01-15T09:34:00.001-06:00

This is my first post of 2009! I have been a little quite in the blogging world lately, I just haven't thought of anything exciting enough to be worth blogging about. But here I am blogging anyway on well just life i guess! I am 25 weeks pregnant with our little girl. No she doesn't have a name yet, still working on that. We both decided she will have a name once she is born and how much sooner then that at this point I am not sure! I never thought I would be that person, I thought I would have a name from the beginning but not so much!

I am loving being back in TX, miss my NY family and friends of course but gotta admit I am a TX girl at heart. I am in the groove at Starbucks here and enjoying it, although my feet say otherwise after an 8 hour shift but oh well I try and ignore them! I am all settled in except hanging stuff cause we are going to paint this weekend then I will do that. I am slowely collecting the stuff for our nursery. Which of course I am having a blast with! Can't believe its coming so soon yet I feel like I have so much longer left! She is very active these days and has good awake periods during the day that I can watch my belly move. I am hoping that is a sign of her sleep patterns once she is born. Awake in the day and sleep in the night...don't worry I am not fooling myself into thinking that will happen but I can dream right!?!?!

Here is my ever growing pregnant self, I am feeling rather large these days and not sure how her being around 1.5 pounds has made me this big! =)

Its a.....

2008-12-19T14:05:00.000-06:00

I figured the blogging world deserves to hear the big news around here!

ITS A GIRL!!!!

Against all odds we are having a baby girl next spring! I think since boys are dominate on both sides we just expected a boy. We could not be happier! Time to go shopping for pink!! YAY!!!!

Its The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

2008-12-17T17:06:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love this time of year! I love the crowds, the cheer and how everyone seems just a little happier then normal. And this year is no different for me. We are all cozy and getting settled in out apartment and got a small Christmas tree today! I know some people say a tree the week before Christmas is silly but, its better then nothing! I feel so blessed this Christmas! I have a baby in my tummy that I feel move often and have seen God's faithfulness more in the last year then any other year in my life. I do miss the snow in the north though, it helped the Christmas spirit! I don't miss driving in it and scraping it off my car though!

So maybe I am just a hormonal pregnant lady, but I am overwhelmed with a feeling of just how happy I am in this season! I cried the other night watching Christmas with the Kranks...if you have ever seen that movie you know its not normally one I think you would cry in! But it had some sweet parts that made me tear up! Oh well right! At least now I have a belly to show for all this and don't just look chubby anymore! I will post some pictures soon I promise.

Merry Christmas to all! I pray that this season we all take a step back from the rush of the season and realize just how blessed we are. We are truly blessed people! I have a saviour who came to the earth in the form of man and sacrificed so much so that I could have life!

Update From The South Now!

2008-12-09T09:11:00.001-06:00

So in case any of you are still wondering...we made it to TX! It was a long long journey but by God's grace we made it in 2 days despite the snow we ran into. It was a huge help having my Dad and brother help with the process and made the trip way more fun for us all. We arrived at my parents house wiped out spent a couple days just recovering from the trip. Its amazing how sitting that long and doing nothing can wipe you out!

Since we arrived in the great state we have been staying with my parents but we move into our apt. this Friday! YAY! I am looking forward to getting settled and make home for us here in Texas. Although it has been a wonderful break staying with my parents! I have felt pampered and enjoyed the extra time with the kids and Mom. I haven't started working here yet so I have had lots of time to play with them!

Jeremy started his job here last week, and it is going great! Its always a little tough I know starting a new job but he has jumped in and in like a pro at it now. He is loving getting dressed up in the morning for work! If any of you know him you know he loves dressing up and his background is construction so.... =)

We are grateful for God's provision to us. He has made a way where there seemed to be no way and has carried us when we didn't think we could go on. We miss our NY family and look forward to our next visit up North.

Oh yeah we find out next Friday if this little one is a boy or girl and we both can't wait!! Make sure you vote so we can see who was right!

A year of marital bliss!!

2008-11-25T10:42:00.000-06:00

Yesterday Jeremy and I celebrated 1 year of being married! We talked about how in ways we can't believe its been a year and then at the same time its hard to remember my life before Jeremy. What a year it has been too! I got married, moved to NY, became pregnant and now moved back to TX all within that first year! To say our first year of marriage has been a year of transition and change for us would be an understatement! I would not trade any of it for the world! I have grown so much and learned so much about life in this year.

I have fallen more in love then I was on our wedding day, which I didn't think was possible! My heart skips a beat when he walks into the room and my favorite time of the day is when he comes home! I find myself looking out the window anticipating him coming home at the end of a work day. My favorite thing to do is just be with him! I love being loved by him. He has made this girls wildest dreams come true! And now I am carrying our child, which for me is a dream come true! He is going to be a daddy and I am going to be a mommy! What could be better in life then that!?!

We had an anniversary to remember...we went and saw our apartment and went to breakfast then he put all our stuff in storage and took our moving truck back. Then I got him all to myself all afternoon and evening! We went to just played, at the mall, target, dinner and some yummy smoothies. It was fun! We are going to get away this weekend which will be nice, my parents have so blessed us by letting us stay with them till our apt is ready and are giving us a night away for our anniversary present! That will be nice!

Here is a little walk down memory lane from our wedding day...

I LOVE the church we got married in, it was all I had dreamed of!

Our wedding party

Cutting the Cake.

And they lived happily ever after!!

moving...moving...moving

2008-11-19T20:41:00.000-06:00

The time has arrived, the boxes are packed and the lots of goodbyes have been said. Its a very bittersweet time for Jeremy and I. We are so going to miss our family and friends here but we also have great anticipation for the journey that is ahead for us. My Dad and brother are here and are going to be driving down with us. Its nice to have them here and we are so grateful for the help! I feel there are so many things left to do but at the same time I am quickly loosing my motivation to do it! I guess we are moving either way so I better have my stuff in order!

Lots of tears have been shed in the last week and its been hard, I am so blessed to have family and friends who I dearly love in 2 parts of the country. I just wish they could all be closer together! I am so looking forward to seeing my family and so many friends that I have greatly missed! Change is always hard it seems! And its amazing to think that in one year time I got married, moved to NY, got pregnant and am now moving back to TX. What a year of change, yet the best year of my life all at the same time!

We would so appreciate the prayers as we make our journey south. I will update once we get to the great state of Texas!

15 weeks and counting!

2008-11-10T18:16:00.000-06:00

Here is the growing baby bump I have forming around my middle these days! I feel like I am growing a little everyday now! Can't wait to feel him/her move!

Election Thoughts

2008-11-05T18:39:00.001-06:00

I have been a little discouraged by the reactions I have seen from Christians to this election. During election times we have the honor and privilege to cast a vote and put in our say to who we would want to hold places in office. But those are over and the choice has been made. America has voted and we have a new president coming into office. Now don’t get me wrong this is NOT who I voted for and no I am not making light of the huge changes this could bring to our nation and many of those go against what I stand for. But, I serve a God who is SO much bigger then a president and has not been stopped by a leader in the past and I know that fact won’t change today. We as Americans and even more so as Christians are commanded in scripture to honor and pray for our leaders, and that does not change when it is someone who we don’t support. Yes there is a time to mourn our loss but then we must move on and support whoever it is that has been chosen to lead our country.

We live in a country that we can worship freely and although we have someone coming into office whose beliefs go against many of my morals it does not change my morals. I can still stand for what I know to be true! No person or law can take away the joy that I have or change the things I value or the morals I have. No human can take away my right to raise a Godly family and fellowship with like minded people. No man can take away the right we have to share truth with the world!

Pray, pray, pray we can always do that! And it saddens me to think that we have to wait till something like this happens to hit our knees for out nation. No matter whom this nation’s leader is they are always in need of prayer and we as Christians are commanded to pray for them. So let’s take this as a wake up call to the church and pray like we never have but don’t let it end once we see “light at the end of the tunnel”.

So let’s move beyond our sadness and buckle in for the adventure ahead. We know our country is going to need God to show His power in a big way and I KNOW he will!

This and That

2008-10-24T16:41:00.000-05:00

:: I am 13 weeks pregnant now and starting to feel oh so much better! I forgot what it was like to have energy and do something cause you feel like it rather then cause you have to. I have gotten back into working out some this week and I know that helps too.

:: We heard our little ones heartbeat for the first time on Monday and it was a wonderful sound!! Makes it all seem so much more real!

:: I got some good boxes today and Jeremy is gone to a guys hunting weekend with his family so my plan is to stay in tomorrow turn on some good music and get to packing. We will see how it goes!

:: My sweet momma called me today and said she bought me 2 maternity shirts at a garage sale that are so cute and a cute skirt too! I think that is so fun! And I think its funny that Mom bought me maternity stuff before I bought anything myself!

:: So many babies seem to making there entrance to the world lately and it makes me sooo look forward to meeting our little one!

:: Fall has come and gone for the most part here in NY and now its winter! Well winter to me, its in the 40's and 50's for the most part and most of the gorgeous leaves have fallen from the trees.

:: We think we found an apartment in TX and plan to confirm everything this weekend with that, thanks to my mom who has been my eyes by looking at places for us.

:: The reality of the goodbyes we have coming are hard, we have so many wonderful relationships and as excited as I am to be moving back "home" its bittersweet to leave so many great friends. I am trying to savor the relationships as much as I can and thank God for them.

12 Weeks!

2008-10-17T08:01:00.000-05:00

We made it! The first trimester is almost over!! YAY! Not that I want to rush through this pregnancy, I do want to cherish every moment but I want to be able to enjoy it and not dread getting out of bed. I have been feeling better more then worse which I think is a good sign. And I feel more human, not tired when I wake up in the morning anymore. I go to the midwife on Monday and am looking forward to hearing the babies heartbeat (hopefully!) and for some reason that will make it seem so much more real to me. I didn't want an early ultrasound so it will be the first time we have heard our baby. Not that I doubt its doing ok in there it will just do my heart good! Its a good thing I don't have my doppler from school anymore cause I think I would be trying all the time now to hear it...not a good idea!

Something that has been so odd for me is that I went to school to be a midwife and have been at around 75 births have delivered around 50 of those babies into my hands. Yet this is TOTALLY different! This is me..I could give all my pregnant friends advice and not think twice about it but for me I feel like I forget everything I know! I have a dear fellow past midwifery student who now is practicing and I have called her so much with questions that my husband asks "shouldn't you know that" to which I explain I do but I need to ask her anyway. Kinda funny! I remember my sister-in-law telling me there was a point when she would wake up and feel slim and them by the time she went to bed at night she felt so big. I am SO at the phase right now! This morning when I woke up laying on my back I put my hand on my belly and it was totally flat ya know when you can feel your ribs and hip bones...and when I went to bed last night it was not that way! Kinda funny! I pulled out the rubber band trick on one of my jeans the other day because they were so uncomfortable! Pregnancy here we come!!!

There are still times it doesn't feel real yet, but that fades fast when I get a smell of something and start breathing deep and telling my body that I am not going to throw up. It has worked too. I know that's kinda gross for some of you out there but I have been amazed at home much I can control my body and force it into submission at times. Now that has not always worked! Believe me there has been the occasion that I tried that and my stomach still rebelled against me! But thankfully those have been rare. I know I have been blessed!

People have been asking if I have had food cravings and I have said yes I crave food! =) But this week I would have given anything for jello! I know, i know it is loaded with nutrition right?! Well I got some and made it and my Mom told me she craved that and ate it lots when she was pregnant with me! And I think I turned out ok so I think our little one will be ok. I am going to try and make it naturally with fruit juice like my mom told me about so I will let you know how that works out!

My stomach is telling me its 9am and I haven't eaten anything yet....better do something about that! I am thinking a smoothie sounds good today! Yummy!

Fall Days

2008-10-13T16:19:00.000-05:00

We have had a couple of warm days for us here in Rochester and Jeremy and I headed to a gorgeous state park to enjoy some of the weather! This park is called the Grand Canyon of the East and it was amazing! The fall colors are amazing and I wish you could capture them on camera better.

Vote!

2008-10-09T11:27:00.000-05:00

I found this little poll thing and thought it would be fun to see what people think our baby is! We find out in mid December so until then it will be fun to see what everyone thinks! =)

10 weeks and counting!

2008-10-01T15:33:00.000-05:00

I am 10 weeks pregnant and counting down the days will this trimester is over! I am so ready to be at the point where i enjoy being pregnant and don't just feel sick so much. I do have to say though I have been so blessed! I have had constant nausea as a friend and a huge desire to sleep but I know it could be so much worse. I have friends who needed IV and medication to keep anything down, I am grateful! And when I am feeling kinda ugh I remind myself that it will all be so worth it and its a good time to pray for our little one and his or her little developing body. Everyone has been asking about names lately and well, we don't know! I think we are going to wait to we know if its a boy or girl till we really get into it. We have different opinions on names so its been a interesting topic around our house! We came to the point the other night that numbers night not be a bad thing!

We are making progress on our move! We have a date and although you would not be able to tell if you came to our house I am mentally doing some packing and have been sorting through drawers and preparing things for packing. Pacing up a house is an intimidating topic for me! So I will most likely wait until the last possible time that I can! We have had so much favor on this moving process and are both looking forward to what God has ahead. But I can't help when I think about moving thinking about how sweet of a year this has been! I have gotten to know my In-law family and realize how blessed I am! I have made friends that will be friends for life and I have experienced life in new part of the country which has been good for me. I have learned to think for myself in so many ways and to rely on God in totally new ways then I ever had before. Nothing in me has in regret for this season. I have loved it! Yes it has been hard to be away from family and friends but I am stronger from it I know. And my relationship with the man God gave me to love has become so strong in this year of marriage. I am really going to miss so much about this season! I have made a home here and moving homes is never easy and I mean more then just stuff. But I have peace that God has gone before us to prepare the way and He is a faithful God who will never leave us or forsake us.

I think that's about all the going ons in the Tallo house these days. I am still working at Starbucks and enjoy it most days. The early mornings have made it harder to enjoy but I know I will get past that point. My hubby is home from work and a little under the weather so I am going to go play nurse and see if he needs anything. Hope you weren't too bored with my ramblings!

Fall is here!

2008-09-02T12:12:00.001-05:00

September is here! Fall seems to be upon us in many ways and I love it! Fall comes much earlier here in NY then in TX and I don't mind that at all because fall is by far my favorite time of year! I love the colors, the foods, the leaves blowing, working outside and all the fresh produce everywhere! It seems to me to be refreshing season or relaxation and rest in so many ways. I think back to last fall and I was planning my wedding! I got to have my wedding in the Fall which was a dream come true for me. Its hard to believe it was a year ago yet it seems like such a distance memory now! How life has changed from the fall of 2007 to the fall of 2008. I have a new name live in a new state and am now expecting a child! =) Alot more changes then I expected in 1 year yet I could not be happier! I am 6 weeks pregnant and due May 1st! Some other change that is fall is bringing us is another move. We are moving to Texas. Of course I am thrilled to be moving back "home" and to be by my family and friends and even more so now that we have a baby coming! Its bittersweet though, I love NY and my family here! I am going to miss the people and so much about this place. We will visit often I am sure!

My days seem so full right now yet I know this is the slowest life is going to be for a while! Once we do a cross country move then prepare for a baby then have a baby well I know that life will never slow down too much! I am looking forward to that though, a purpose to being busy. A reason to be tired and get less sleep at night. I would take that any day over just being sleepy cause I watched a movie till too late!

Happy fall everyone! Hope this season is refreshing for you as it seems to be for me!

2008-08-19T12:48:00.000-05:00

Holy smokes! Firefighters deliver 3 Rochester-area babies in cars

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808190324

This acrticle was in the D&C today and made me laugh! Maybe more people should try home births and then this wouldn't be a problem! =)

change..change...change!

2008-07-30T07:26:00.000-05:00

Change seems to be the hot subject these days! Everything around me and everyone seems to be adjusting or preparing to adjust to a new situation, a move, a baby, a loss. The things that are near and dear to me are changing and some are wonderful yet I am nervous about what it will look like. My sister Priscilla leaves on Friday for Taiwan for 1 year to teach English! I could not be more excited for her and thrilled for the adventure she has ahead yet massive open spot she will leave in my family. I don't even see her but a couple times a year and talk to her on the phone maybe once a week yet i still am going to miss her. But like I said its all good change! I am so proud of her for pursuing her dreams and following where God leads. I know she will truly have the time of her life!

A dear family friend back in TX passed away yesterday, she had battled an illness for several years. She was around my parents age and had kids my age. I rarely wonder "why" God and her death in one of those times that makes me wonder "why God". She was a dear lady, a Godly mother and wife and even though I did not know her well she will be missed.

Jeremy and I are continuing to walk this road God has us on and again it is looking different then we thought it would. We are all up for an adventure though! God has made Himself known to us in new ways and we stand amazed at His faithfulness. It will be a year next week that he asked me to be his wife. A day that changed both of our lives forever. And what an amazing year or preparing to be his wife, then becoming his bride. God has been so faithful. Not to say that this transition has been without some rough spots. We each have times where we hit rock bottom and wonder how this situation is ever going to change. But thankfully we serve a God who regardless of our weakness still is faithful. And he has constantly been pushing us forward sometimes with our feet dragging in resistance and sometimes with us running ahead. We could use your prayers as we make this transition and settle into what God has called us to do and where God has called us to be. Cause that is the only place we want to be.

2008-07-09T08:53:00.000-05:00

Life has been full and I am grateful today for just how blessed I am! Here is a little picture overview of the last couple months of life for me....

I was in TX for week to catch up with friends and family. It was a great week! My Daddy and my adorable little nephew!

While I was home I got to spend some time with these dear friends!

My Daddy and I!

Priscilla and I..a day at the lake. She is getting ready to leave for Tiawan for 1 year to teach english. I am so excited for her but she is going to be greatly missed!

Watching Fireworks! And it was the first time in my life...I have ever been cold while watching fireworks!

Mr. and Mrs. Heuseveltd!!!! Our dear friends and neighbors now got married!! Erik and Jeremy have been friends there entire lives and it was a wonderful day!!

2008-06-20T14:37:00.001-05:00

"I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed. I'll turn things around for you."

Jeremiah 19:11-13 (Message Bible)

Today has been one of those days where I needed to open my bible and have God speak to me, and this is what I read! What a faithful God I serve! I started reading this and tears came to my eyes because it is so true! He NEVER fails us or forsakes us. I often forget how much bigger God's plans are for me then my own plans are for me. How much greater they are then anything I could imagine!. It takes me being desperate enough and sadly sometimes I have to have days like today where I am at the end of myself before I truly fall on the rock that is ever faithful.

Six Month Anniversary!

2008-05-25T20:07:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we celebrated 6 months of marriage!! We had such a fun night, Jeremy planned the evening and we went to dinner and had amazing Italian food then went to downtown and watch the sunset at high falls then to get coffee and dessert then home for a movie. What a fun adventure these last 6 months have been!

"I have been blessed with so much more then I deserve..I thank God for all I've been given at the end of every day..I have been blessed"

2008-05-12T13:11:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again, I am always amazed how fast Monday comes around! We had a wonderful crazy weekend. Mother's day was sweet although hard for me to not be with my Mom but we spent the afternoon with the Tallo's and enjoyed a nice relaxing day. Last night we got on SKYPE (those of you not familiar with sypke its an online phone/video chat) and I was able to talk and see my mom and family and they were able to see me and we had a great chat. I love seeing there faces and getting updates from all the kids. Mom would keep trying to talk as the little boys are making every face they can come up with to the camera. It reminded me how life is never boring there! Saturday our church did a mother's day tea that I was kinda running and it took up much of Friday and Sat but we pulled it off thanks for tons of great help and it went very well. I was happy with it as were most the women I think.

God is stretching and growing both of us and forcing us to step out of our comfort zone in some areas and to learn to trust more then ever. I did not think the day I married my husband I could love him anymore yet I find myself daily falling more and more in love with him. I amd such a blessed girl! =) Last week I worked later then he did and so he said he would cook dinner and I came home to a candle light dinner all prepared and ready for me! I tell you I am blessed! I think I have the best man in the world!!

Random Updates

2008-04-30T07:51:00.000-05:00

:: My job is going great! I really like it and have enjoyed all the things I am learning, I know you would think at a coffee shop you learn to make coffee and your all set. Well if only it was that easy! =) There are so many fancy drinks and special ways to make them so its been fun! I continue mt training this week then I next week I am on the floor done with training. I am having a blast with the people I work with too which is such a blessing!

:: I finally finished re-covering my dining room chairs this past weekend. They turned out great! They were a little more work then I had planned on but I am glad I did them. Here is a picture....

:: Rochester is also called the flower city and with spring has come all these gorgeous blooms like I have never seen ever! Its gorgeous! Tulips are everywhere and there are blooming trees and bushes everywhere. Next weekend starts our lilac festival (http://www.lilacfestival.com/), I am looking forward to that as I was not here last year when it was going on.

::I don't really have any thing new to update so I am going to close with that, life has been good here and we are so blessed and continue to see God provide in so many ways for our every need. We are coninuing to seek the Lord for direction for our family and what He is calling us to in this season of our live. I am a blessed girl!

Texas, New Job and Green Smoothies

2008-04-16T07:35:00.000-05:00

Hello from a wonderfully sunny Rochester NY! I am loving this sunshine and soaking up the warmer weather! I had a amazing trip to Texas a couple weeks back. It was so nice to see my family and close friends and get to just live life with my family for a couple weeks. Jeremy came down and joined us for a weekend and we had a great time with my entire family all together! I got to meet my new nephew, Henry! He is adorable and I hated to leave him behind and know I won't get to see him grow in the first years of his life. I will have to make Grandma send me lots of picture. We attended a wedding of a dear friend while in TX which was gorgeous and I was so grateful to have gone back for that.

I returned back to Rochester and the next day had an interview at Starbucks in Pitsford (the one in the villages by Main St. and Monroe Ave) which went really well and I found out a couple days after that I got the job! I am so excited to start working some and I think I will really like this job! I start training on Monday and will train for 2 weeks then be ont he floor working after that. I am going to work mornings mostly, they open at 5am so I will open 1-2 days a week which means getting to work at 4:45! =) I am not thrilled about that early but hey I got to bed a little early those nights and I am sure I will like it. The nice thing is those days I get off at 11 and I have already worked a 6 hour shift! I like that!

My curiousity has been up about the green smoothie craze I have been reading about out there on other blogs I like to keep up with. I consider myself a healthy eater and a fairly healthy person in general but I can always use some help! I take a greens in the morning and its a powder and I just shake it up with water so its kind of the same thing as the smoothie but I wanted to try it anyway. I did one this morning and it was great! I did not realize you could put that much spinich in a drink and it be green but not taste it at all!! I put frozed strawberries, frozen banana's, 1/2 a orange that I had peeled and frozen, a handful of fresh spinich and some vanilla flavored rice milk. I am really liking it! The rice milk gives it a nice creamy vanilla flavor and it tastes fruity! Its a fun way to change up what I normally do. I get tired of the same routines and am on a quest to make a healthy..no wheat..no dairy for us....diet not boring!

2008-04-01T11:58:00.000-05:00

My time in Texas has been so sweet!! And I still have 5 more days here! Being back at my parents house, the place I called home 4 short months ago has been different. In a totally good way! I wasn't sure what to expect as I was planning to come home, I didn't know what a visit back home would look like after I was married and back here without Jeremy. My family has treated me like I am on vacation and I have gotten to spend some good quality time with almost everyone already. I missed my little sibling so much. My youngest brother is 5 and of course adorable! He has grown up in the last 4 months so much. He can count to 100 now! =) The "little" boys as the we call them (the 5 youngest boys) are no longer little! They have matured and grown so much. The teenage boys have gotten so tall and there voices are lower! My sisters are all grown up and the littlest girl in out family is talking about how she is getting her permit this summer! I am so blessed!

I have parents who love the Lord and love us kids regardless of our choices. They led by example and love each other unconditionally. I have a "big" brother (well most of my brothers are bigger then me now!) who is now a Daddy himself! Watching him with his little baby Henry is so precious! I get teary just thinking about it. His wife loves him so much and fits into the Chapman family just as one of us! I know you are probably thinking it sounds all sad and like I have been away for years! But the truth us just being away for these 4 short months I have realized more then ever how blessed I am! New York is where God has Jeremy and I for this season and I LOVE the life God has and is building for us there. I don't wish I lived in TX or have and regrets I am just reminded when I am back at home of all blessings I so often took for granted on a daily basis when I lived here.

I have a mother-in-law and father-in-law who bless us in so many ways! And 8 more siblings on that side that I have come to love and treasure! Grandparents on both sides who love the Lord and have passed down a Godly heritage to us. I have a husband whom I love more every day and has made this "little girls" dreams come true! Yes I am blessed!!

2008-03-27T08:13:00.000-05:00

I am in Texas!! I could not blog about this sooner because I flew in last night and surprised a good portion of my family including my sister Priscilla who turned 20 yesterday! That was the plan was to pull off a surprise to her and it worked!! It was soooo good to see everyone and to meet my new little nephew who is ADORABLE!! I might be partial but he is close to perfect! =) I will post some pictures later. My little brothers were also surprised which was so fun! I am hanging out with the 2 little guys at home today! It is so different being "home" yet away from my "home"...its for sure a new experience. My family has been so welcoming and treating me like I am a guest or something! I even got my old room back! =)

Oh and not to rub it in to all you people up north...but its supposed to be 80 degrees today!!! YAY!!!! Its nice not having to wear a coat and be able to wear some of my spring clothes! Well I am off to enjoy the day with the little men!

2008-03-24T07:49:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! Happy Monday friends! It seems this Monday has come way too fast. It was one of those weekends that did not feel like a weekend cause it was so packed full. I shot a wedding on Saturday which I was nervous about doing since I have never shot a wedding on my own beforre. Thanks to some friends advice and borrowed equipment I was able to pull it off and am actually happy wtih the shots I got.

Easter Sunday was a very fun day! It wasn't snowy here which I was extremly happy about but it was cold still! It was fun to pull out some spring clothes and pretend it is spring weather outside. We spent the afternoon at the Tallo's house and had a great time of fun and fellowship and some amazing food!

Jeremy was sick last week withe the flu and then it turned into a cold. We went to this nutritionalist and he has been put on a very strict eating plan to help build up his immune system because he has been sick so much lately. It is been different trying to plan meals around meat and veggies and some other items. But no wheat or dairy. We eat healthy anyway but this is way more strict then we have eaten before. It will be an adventure and I am trying to right a shopping list now cause I have to shop today. This will be fun! Time to get creative!

Here are some shots from the wedding on Saturday -

2008-03-13T09:13:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! I have been so inspired lately to get more organized, now you have to understand that I think I am a fairly organized person but there are always new things I am reading about and wanting to try! Where is the balance from things being livable and organized to there being an excessive system to everything? That is the journey I am on right now! Also there is just my husband and i so there is a small amount of stuff to keep organized but at the same time I want to start the habits and systems so that once we have kids life will not be totally turned upside down but we will already be in the habit of those things. I am trying to find fun ideas on a small budget or just using the things we have around our house. Its been a fun task and I still have lots more to learn though and things to improve. If I had it my way I would have a bin/file for everything but I want to also remember this is our house and try and not make it an office! =)

So I think I have become addicted to a show I got at the library, Dharma and Greg. Now if you have not seen it let me explain. I did not grow up watching TV and still watch very little and I am not a big movie person but I got this series at the library because it sounded fun. And it is! It is about a girl (Dharma) and her husband (Greg) who get married the day they met and then learn life together. She is a natural, hippie, flower child and he is a lawyer. I think maybe I like it cause I can identify with her some. I have been accused of being a little bit of a flower child before! It is just so funny to watch and is wholesome which is also something different for TV shows. Not to mention that it is great to watch it with no commercials! Yes I know you are probably thinking that I need to get a life and I don't totally disagree with you but until that happens I am enjoying myself!

I have several applications out for work and am praying something gets set in stone before I got home the end of this month for a visit. So talking about not having a life I need to get some things done around the house this morning.

2008-03-07T20:41:00.001-06:00

Henry Chapman!!!!

Baby Henry was born at 6:30pm tonight and Mom and baby are doing wonderful!!! It is killing me to not be able to see them but pictures will have to do for a couple more weeks. Here are some pictures I was sent. He is 7 pounds 6 ounces and 21 1/2 inches long. Praise the Lord!!!!

2008-03-07T15:40:00.001-06:00

BABY TIME!!!! So it sounds like I am going to be an Auntie in the next 12 hours! My dear sister-in-law Justin is in labor and should have her baby soon. She was planning a natural home birth with Ann the midwife I trained with in school but has Toxemia (high blood pressure complication) so she had to go into the hospital and be induced. She is not progressing well so they are going to decide soon what needs to happen based on how her blood pressure is. Please be praying that her body responds well to all this and that the new little Chapman baby (we don't know if its a boy or girl!) will come soon. Thanks a ton and I will post when I know more.

2008-02-28T07:39:00.000-06:00

I guess I am not too good at this updating thing! Life has been full in this season of our lives but its been wonderful too! We moved into our apartment and my Mom came to visit us once we moved in and that was so fun not to mention such a huge help!! She helped me find curtians, hang stuff on the walls and figure out where to put stuff. It was fun having my Mom all to myself!! Which is something new for me! The day she left Priscilla came in and was here for a week. Priscilla came to visit on her way home from a month in Tiawan so she was worn out when she got here but got to rest up here and we ended up having a wonderful time together. I did not realize how much I missed her and Mom until I saw them. Now I am on the countdown to the end of March when I get to go home for a visit!! I cannot wait!! I am going to spend over a week with my dear family and hopefully be there when my new niece or nephew is born and then also be there for my dear friend Rachel's wedding. I am so looking forward to it!

Priscilla was here on my birthday so we had a fun little birthday celebration together. It was a treasure to have her here for that!! I am still on the job search and have a couple irons in the fire right now. Jeremy started a new temporary job today which is a great answer to prayer for this season! God has tought us so much and stretched us beyond our comfort zones. He has provided our every need and we are loving married life! I love waiting everyday for him to come home and waking up every morning with him laying next to me. Jeremy has been all I dreamed of and so much more! I am still getting used to the snow, and am very ready for the sun and some warm weather!! Maybe by July the snow will all have melted and it will get warm! ;-)

Here is a picture of our living room/dining room in our new little house!

I also had my first valenties day as a married woman!! And he treated me like a princess all day!! It was a wonderful day!

Help Wanted...

2008-01-21T14:18:00.000-06:00

I am new to this blogging thing and having some trouble figuring out how to customize it more. Some of you I have noticed have a section on your page that has friends that blog or something and you list others..how do you do that? I also do not know how to find peoples blogs to read...

Any help would be awesome!! =)

Happy New Years!

2007-12-31T14:29:00.000-06:00

Our First Christmas together!

Happy New Years! Its so hard to believe Christmas has come and gone so quickly this year and that 2008 is upon us! What a year of change and excitement 2007 has been for me, a year of seeing God's faithfulness in so many ways. As the year comes to an end I can't help but be so grateful for all I have been so blessed with. Being away from my family this holiday season makes me realize how much I love and value each of them in ways I never have. Grateful, that I am married to my best friend and get to spend the rest of my life with the man I adore! Grateful that God has blessed me with more family in this cold north place that is called New York. =)

I usually pray at the beginning of year and ask God for a scripture or a section of scripture that can be my theme for the following year. The section that I am clinging to for this next year is Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be know to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. and the peacce of God, which surpasses all understanding, will gaurd your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" What a powerful passage of scripture! That is my prayer for 2008 for me and my family.

Ok back to some of the practical things going on here in NY, we are working long hours on the house we own to get it finished and rented by Feb 1st. We move this weekend into our apartment which I am so excited about! The apartment is very nice and I really am looking forward to setting up house there. We are going to do some minor repairs and paint this week on our apartment and then it will be ready for us to move in. I am looking daily online for couches and other furniture to help us get settled into our new place. God has been so faithful to provide for our every need and we both stand in awe of his goodness! I am in the process of applying for a job at Starbucks and we will see what happens with that.

Keep us in yor prayers during this new season of transition for us both, we feel as though we are facing some mountains but we encouraged that God is there to life us when we can no longer stand on our own. May your 2008 be blessed beyond measure!

Lots of love from the north!

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-24T08:36:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas friends!!! This Christmas is sooo special for me cause its the first Christmas I have to spend with my husband! We are having so much fun being together and making our memories for Christmas. I terribly miss TX and all the people I love who live there. This Christmas won't be the same without them and its been hard but I am making it. It warmed up a ton here in NY yesterday and most of the snow melted but we woke up this morning to about 4 inches of snow on the ground and its still coming down!!! So I get a WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!! I better go wrap some presents and get some things done before we head out to family to celebrate this Christmas eve! Much love to everyone and hope you have a wonderful and joyous Christmas!

Snow Storm!

2007-12-17T13:19:00.000-06:00

So I guess I got my first taste of living in the North...a snow storm! Yesterday we were forcasted to get a blizzard and we got a ton of snow! Church was cancelled and we went to the Library and got movies and got some food on Saturday so we were set for the weekend! It was gorgeous to watch, from inside that is! =) This morning was an adventure getting my car our of the driveway, well it was an adventure just getting to my car! I had on my snow boots and the snow came past them almost to the knees. And now as I look out the window it is snowing again! Ah, I love it but I can imagine how people here get tired of it. Here are a few pictures of the snow as I made my way to my car this morning.

I am going to thaw out my hands in front of the heater and try and write the rest of my thank you notes from the wedding. Enjoy your Monday!!

We made it to our new home!

2007-12-12T06:55:00.000-06:00

We made it to New York! After what turned unto a 3 day journey due to some winter weather we ran into we pulled into our little home in Rochester New York last Thursday. Life has been anything but boring since we have been here! Jeremy owns a home that he has been romodeling and we are going to rent out so he went right back to working there trying to get that done. We are living in a rent house just for the month of December and then we move into our apartement/duplex around new years. We drove past the apartement yesterday and it is super cute and in a wonderful part of town! We have kind of settled as much as we can knowing that we are only going to be here a month so we have only unpacked what we needed.

I love being married and we have had so much fun and made some fun newly married not alot of money memories that I would not trade for the world!

Here are some honeymoon pictures!

Pictures of our Christmas decorations in our rent house!

We got our first Christmas tree together!!

The Tallo Family Christmas picture!

On Saturday his church had a christmas banquet and this is my new husband and I at the dinner!

I am gonna close for now but I promise I will post more pictures soon!

I am joining the blogging world!

2007-10-11T22:24:00.001-05:00

I created this blog for once I am married and move to the cold North, it will help me stay in touch more with home!!