Memorial Day.

I know it's not Memorial Day yet but I wanted to go ahead and post this now....



I've been lucky enough to grow up in a home where "proud to be an American" was an understatement and the pride to be a part of this country is like no other. Both of my parents were in the Air Force and thanks to them my blood runs RED, WHITE & BLUE. My dad has had the biggest impact on me. His devotion to Veterans and those currently serving is the strongest I've ever encountered.



I pray that this country begins to realize just what kind of price our soldiers have had to pay to keep our freedoms in tact. I don't care if you're anti-war, anti-military or anti-whatever else. You have the FREEDOM to be your "anti-" BECAUSE of a soldier. And honestly, if you don't support our SOLDIERS (I'm not saying support the war) then you can build a bridge and walk over into another country because those men and women are giving their lives just so you can belly ache about how bad this country is.



So, here is a BIG thank you to those men and women who are serving, have served or died serving this country as well as the POW (prisoners of war)/MIA (missing in action)...may we never forget.

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag.
It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag.
God Bless them all!!!

What if this were your child?

I just came across this on a blog that I follow and felt the urge to pass this on. What if this were your child? I signed it. So should you.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/CureChildhoodCancer/979491100/taf

America must increase childhood cancer research funding and raise awareness of childhood cancer - the #1 killer disease of our children!


By signing you support these goals:


#1 - Increased government funding for medical research specific to childhood cancer

#2 - Full funding of the Carolyn Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act and,

#3 - "Kids Cancer Aid" - a major media event/concert or TV Special to raise awareness and funding for childhood cancer.

Did you know:

#1 - Childhood cancer is the #1 killer disease of our children, more than from asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies, and pediatric AIDS combined?

#2 - 1 in 300 children will be diagnosed with cancer before age 20?

#3 - Each year 3,000 children die and 40,000 are in treatment.

#4 - The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) federal budget was $4.6 billion. Of that, breast cancer received 12%, prostate cancer 7%; while all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers combined less than 3%!

#5 - Childhood cancer has a huge societal impact - 180,000 potential years of life are lost to it EVERY year! And 60% of survivors face long term health issues!

You can make a difference. You can help. Please sign and pass it on.

Read more on Childhood Cancer and join People Against Childhood Cancer (PAC2) - our advocacy community dedicated to raising awareness and funding.

"Paprika"

One of my dearest friends from Appalachian has an Etsy site now! She made these sweet booties for Teagan and she loves them! Please visit her site! http://www.etsy.com/shop/CeciliaFumie

4 months!!

Has she really been here this long? Our sweet baby girl turned 4 months on Sunday! I can't quite wrap my head around the fact that this time last year I was pregnant and we didn't even know if Teagan was a girl or a boy! Time is going by faster and faster and Josh and I are trying to savor every single minute of her. We just drink in her joy and sweetness every minute we can. Like yesterday (Sunday) when we came home from church. We tag-teamed lunch and Teagan slept on my chest (which I LOVE because she doesn't like to do this a lot anymore) and her and I took about a 2 hour nap. It was Heaven!

Anyway, here are some fun Teagan facts:

*12.4lbs, 24 3/4 inches long (the doc says her genetic predisposition is starting to emerge and hopefully she'll turn out tall like a Reid!), head- 16cm (basically she is long, skinny and perfect!)

*did great getting her 4 month shots. She just cried while she was getting them and then she was over it. She and I took a nap after we got home and she was all better ;-) and then we went and had lunch with Aunt Jeana and Miles!

*diaper size 2

*still sleeps like a champ. Sleeps from 8:30-5 or 6am.

*clothes- still mostly 3 month stuff because she is so skinny but can fit in her 3-6 month dresses and loves the dress Miles got her with green polka dots!

*can roll from side to side but prefers her right side to her left especially when she is sleeping so we are going to have to start the "head turn" after she goes to sleep at night.

*can sit in her exer-saucer without a prop now and actually plays with the toys like a champ! This is one of her daddy's favorite things to do with her other then watching hockey!

*semi-likes tummy time now but when she is over she is OVER it!

*likes daycare and loves to watch the older babies. She comes home with new sounds every week! Her new constant noise is squealing.

*is still nursing and that will be her main source of nutrition until 5 months and then we'll start solids. I'm thankful for a job and an understanding boss who allows me to do my job and be able to feed Teagan.

*loves the stroller! Now she is strong enough to sit up in the "big girl" part and she can look out and she just watches everything!

*Loves to "sing" in the car on the way to daycare and then on the way home she tells me all about her day.

*Josh and I play with her first thing in the morning and this is my favorite time. Just after she gets up and I feed her we all three lay in the floor and play for a few minutes until time to get ready for work and daycare. It's wonderful!

*Went on a nursing strike a few weeks ago but we're finally over that thank goodness!

I'm probably forgetting somethings but there is so much that is going on with her that it's hard to remember it all! She has changed so much in a month that I can't imagine what this month is going to hold! We can't wait for the joyous adventure that awaits us!

Teagan's Friday

Today was a great day at Teagan's Daycare. She is now big enough to sit up like a big girl when she is in a stroller (or on your lap or in the floor with a little bit of help) and they have one of those 6 baby strollers! I thought I'd share a couple of pictures I took after I fed her at lunch today! She's with the "big kids". Her bff Matilda wasn't there today because her daddy doesn't have to work on Fridays so she gets to stay at home with him!

Here she is with Jordyn (beside her), Mackinzie (behind her) and Kendall (behind Jordyn)!

Whitewater Date!

We went to the Whitewater Center with the Heavners last night! It was great! Teagan and Miles were wonderful as usual. Teagan did great in her stroller but we got her out and I walked around with her while Josh strolled with the empty stroller. They had the "rapids" going really fast last night and she loved looking at the water and the people maneuvering the course. They had a live band and the babies loved the music and the water!
Then we went and ate at the restaurant there and it was pretty good. I am really glad that there is a law against smoking inside the restaurants in NC because it would have been awful! The only problem was it was so loud inside because of all the people that had showed up for the band. We all had a good time though! We got to catch up (not like we don't see each other at least once a week! lol) and discuss what we're all going to pack and bring to the beach!! We can't wait for the beach with them! It will be our first official family vacation with the babies! I think we all could use a break!


Teagan and Miles before our walk around the center!

Teagan relaxing in her stroller with her two buddies, Butterfly and Puppy!

Teagan checking out the water!

Savings, savings, savings!

Now that I'm a mom I really appreicate a good bargain! I thought I'd share some recent ones that I have found!


http://www.canvaspeople.com/planningfamily?coupon=family55

*this one is for a free 8 X 10 canvas. All you do is pay shipping and handling. This is originally a $50 dollar purchase.*


http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/

*this site has a lot of printable coupons as well as free samples for a numerous amount of stores. They also tell you where to go to sign up for different coupons and free samples!*


http://www.carters.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Carters-Site/default/Home-Show?id=carters#

*if you register to become a member for Carters.com then they send you a coupon for $10 or 10% off either in store or online!*


These were given to me by a friend that I thought I'd share with you as well! Thanks Angela!!

www.babysteals.com
www.kidsteals.com
www.mamabargains.com
www.kids.woot.com

Decorating

I don't have the best sense of style in the world. When it comes to clothes or my house. I know what I like when I see something but for me to put items together and make it look good is not my forte. I did come across these today on etsy and I love them...I just don't know where I would put them...possibly one or two beside the kitchen sink (in front is a window and beside is just enough wall space for two of these words...).

http://www.etsy.com/listing/47273138/breathe-recycled-wooden-sign

Yummy & Easy Recipe!

I fix this really easy pasta recipe a lot. Josh loves it so I thought I'd share it with you. I'm not a big ham person so I usually substitute the ham for steak or sausage and usually add red peppers to it and it turns out great!

Penne and Ham Primavera

Leftover ham goes Italian in this 25-minute meal for four.

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time:
Makes: 4 servings

2	cups uncooked penne or mostaccioli pasta (6 ounces)
1	cup sliced zucchini
1	cup sliced yellow summer squash
2	cups cubed fully cooked ham
1/2	cup reduced-fat Italian dressing *I think it takes more then 1/2 a cup so I just add to taste and texture*
1/4	cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/3	cup shredded Parmesan cheese *I also add a little bit of shredded mozzarella on the top just before serving and it's GREAT!*
	Coarsely ground pepper, if desired

1.	Cook pasta as directed on package, adding zucchini and yellow squash during last 3 to 4 minutes of cooking; drain.
2.	Return pasta mixture to saucepan; add ham and dressing. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot. Sprinkle with basil, cheese and pepper.

(Success Hint)

We recommend reduced-fat Italian dressing because it clings very well to the pasta, vegetables and ham. In regular Italian dressing, the herbs and spices often separate and sink to the bottom of the bottle.

Select small zucchini, which are younger, more tender and have thinner skins. Look for skins that are blemish free with a vibrant color.

Nutrition Information:

1 Serving: Calories 390 (Calories from Fat 125); Total Fat 14g (Saturated Fat 4g); Cholesterol 45mg; Sodium 1360mg; Total Carbohydrate 43g (Dietary Fiber 3g); Protein 26g Percent Daily Value*: Iron 18% Exchanges: 2 Starch; 3 Vegetable; 2 Lean Meat; 1 Fat
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nursing Strike...

Nursing strike. Those words make me cringe!! For those of you who chose to breastfeed you might have experienced this before. Let me just tell you that it is beyond frustrating for those of you who haven't.
A nursing strike is when your baby just doesn't want to nurse and will sometimes either not eat or won't eat from you. There are multiple reasons this can happen: teething, mother eating something spicy, a cold, an ear infection, etc.
Well, Teagan is going through this right now. It started on Sunday and is still going. Apparently it is normal in babies from 3-8 mths old. I will be the first to admit it is so frustrating. Last night was rough. Josh had to come rescue both me and Teagan. I was crying because she didn't want to eat and I knew I couldn't make her but she needed to eat and I felt so awful and rejected because she didn't want to eat. It was awful. She ended up being really sleepy and after the fussing I calmed her down and swaddled her and she went to sleep. I was waiting on her to wake up and want to eat around 11 or 1 because she hadn't eaten since 3:30!! She didn't wake up to eat. She got up this morning and ate like normal but then she ate early at daycare so I didn't get to feed her at lunch like normal so I'm not sure if this is over yet or not. I hope she's over it but they say it can last up to a week...yippee...

Just in case you or somebody you know is having this problem I'm posting some links with some information on it.

http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/nursingstrike.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html#linksstrike
http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/breast/AS-nursingstrike.htm

Dancing in the living room...

I just have to brag on Josh for a minute.
We had to house-sit/chicken-sit (Josh's dad owns a chicken farm) this weekend for Josh's parents while they went to visit Teagan's Aunt Livy at Carolina. We were sitting there watching the hockey game and Teagan got a little fussy and when she gets fussy (and is just bored) sometimes I dance with her. So, I got up from the couch and we started dancing. My adorable husband gets up and dances with us! I know it doesn't seem like much but we just danced around the living room with Teagan between us and it was wonderful. Then, the next day Josh picks a rose from the rose bush outside his parent's house and leaves it tucked in my pocketbook so I would find it before Teagan and I went to Hickory to pick up a few things. He told me it was because I was such a good Mom...I happily cried. He is just an incredible husband and an incredible Daddy. It really shows you how the simple things in life can just make all the difference in the world...that flower is still on the dash of my car. It's slightly wilted because of the heat but I stare at it like it's still the most beautiful flower ever picked.
I love you, Josh Reid.