Sunday, January 8, 2012
Best Christmas picture ever.
For the last few years we have always done a funny Christmas picture with Josh's family. This year was inspired by "the stache"...
Genesis 16:13
We are teaching Teagan a Bible verse every month. I talked about it earlier and promised to keep you posted on progress. Here was how the first night went.
*I wrote the verse on the mirror and was reading it off to her and having her repeat it before brushing her teeth*
Me: Teagan can you say this Bible verse? You.
Teagan: You.
Me: are
Teagan: are
Me: the
Teagan: Teagan
Me: the
Teagan: the
Me: God
Teagan: Gawd
Me: who
Teagan: Teagan
Me: who
Teagan: Teagan
Me: who sees.
Teagan: who sees.
Me: Genesis
Teagan: Gensisis
Me: 16:13
Teagan: 16:13
It was so cute and I was so very proud of her. We've made up a little song that basically repeats the verse three times and then what verse it is at the end. We've worked on it for three days and see can say it by herself if we ask her to say her Bible verse. We're not going to start a new one just yet but we might be looking at two a month! We're so proud of her!
*I wrote the verse on the mirror and was reading it off to her and having her repeat it before brushing her teeth*
Me: Teagan can you say this Bible verse? You.
Teagan: You.
Me: are
Teagan: are
Me: the
Teagan: Teagan
Me: the
Teagan: the
Me: God
Teagan: Gawd
Me: who
Teagan: Teagan
Me: who
Teagan: Teagan
Me: who sees.
Teagan: who sees.
Me: Genesis
Teagan: Gensisis
Me: 16:13
Teagan: 16:13
It was so cute and I was so very proud of her. We've made up a little song that basically repeats the verse three times and then what verse it is at the end. We've worked on it for three days and see can say it by herself if we ask her to say her Bible verse. We're not going to start a new one just yet but we might be looking at two a month! We're so proud of her!
Friday, January 6, 2012
And the winner is...
The Reich's!!
Congrats! You won the sample box of Ella's Kitchen goodies! Just e-mail me your address and I will get it sent your way! Congrats!
Wanna hear about The Reich's favorite Christmas memory?
They said "Ooh, we love Ella's Kitchen. My favorite Christmas memory is from high school, when our parents surprised us with a trip to Europe as a gift. We were jumping around and screaming like crazy!"
They said "Ooh, we love Ella's Kitchen. My favorite Christmas memory is from high school, when our parents surprised us with a trip to Europe as a gift. We were jumping around and screaming like crazy!"
Thursday, January 5, 2012
It's getting easier.
Slowly but surely the postpartum depression symptoms are easing off. We've had a lot of prayers being sent our way since I let the cat out of the bag and I couldn't be more thankful knowing we're not the only ones whispering about our problem in God's ear.
One of the big issues that rose out of the postpartum depression was breastfeeding. I got frustrated really easily if a feeding didn't go well or didn't start well. Slowly we are learning each other. Slowly I am realizing how Kyra ticks. For example, if she is tired and hungry she would rather sleep now and eat later. As simple as it seems it took me about two months to really realize that. Now, if she doesn't want to latch on either side for more then a few minutes then I burp her and try to re-latch her. If that doesn't work then I know she's sleepy and I don't fight it. She'll eat when she's hungry. Thankfully, she is right on track weight and height wise so there is no reason for me to try and force her to eat. Not that I could anyway.
I've also learned that her temperament is more like Josh's. Teagan's was/is so much like mine that I just assumed Kyra's would be too. It's not and it's taken me a little while to figure that out too. Realizing that makes it more bearable that I don't need to rock her to sleep at night or for naps. She likes to lay and just stretch and squirm around more then she really likes to be held. It's not my fault and it's not the postpartum depressions fault. It's just the way she is. Josh isn't big on being touched all the time and neither is Kyra.
One of the big issues that rose out of the postpartum depression was breastfeeding. I got frustrated really easily if a feeding didn't go well or didn't start well. Slowly we are learning each other. Slowly I am realizing how Kyra ticks. For example, if she is tired and hungry she would rather sleep now and eat later. As simple as it seems it took me about two months to really realize that. Now, if she doesn't want to latch on either side for more then a few minutes then I burp her and try to re-latch her. If that doesn't work then I know she's sleepy and I don't fight it. She'll eat when she's hungry. Thankfully, she is right on track weight and height wise so there is no reason for me to try and force her to eat. Not that I could anyway.
I've also learned that her temperament is more like Josh's. Teagan's was/is so much like mine that I just assumed Kyra's would be too. It's not and it's taken me a little while to figure that out too. Realizing that makes it more bearable that I don't need to rock her to sleep at night or for naps. She likes to lay and just stretch and squirm around more then she really likes to be held. It's not my fault and it's not the postpartum depressions fault. It's just the way she is. Josh isn't big on being touched all the time and neither is Kyra.
So, thankfully, no damage has been done and every day is getting better.
This has been a constant verse sent to me over the last few months. Oh how I love my prayer warriors.
"fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
(Isaiah 41:10 ESV)
This has been a constant verse sent to me over the last few months. Oh how I love my prayer warriors.
"fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
(Isaiah 41:10 ESV)
Working and Breastfeeding. The basics.
Let's just get real...working full time and trying to breastfeed is hard. Somehow we get it done. Here are a few things that have made it easier on me.
First off, I am lucky enough to have an office to myself. One where I can close the door and close the blinds and nobody sees me. That definitely makes for easier pumping. So, I unfortunately don't have any tips for bathroom pumping.
I have a Medela electric pump. This has helped too. It makes for quicker let down and quicker "emptying". This means overall quicker pumping time.
I wear easy to pump in clothes. I wear clothes I would nurse in partially because I also feed Kyra on my lunch break. Button down shirts over nursing tanks work wonders.
I breathe and relax WHILE the pump is doing it's thing. It doesn't help for me to really relax before I attach the pump to my breast. If I start slowly breathing and imagining Kyra while the pump starts then the letdown is quicker.
I have a paper towel or a small hand towel ready. I wipe while removing the pump funnel. This prevents leakage on my shirt or bra that screams "I JUST PUMPED" to the world.
Bring an extra set of nursing pads and leave them in your pump pack. This way you can change them after pumping so you don't have to worry about yeast infection, etc from wet pads.
I drink at least 12oz of water AFTER I pump to replenish myself and make sure I don't dehydrate.
I also take the herb Fenugreek at night before I go to bed. I ran this by my OB and lactation consultant before I did this so if you want to try it, make sure you run it by yours too.
Lastly, and most importantly, don't sweat it. With Teagan I stressed so much over not having enough milk. As she got older and as the weeks after maternity leave went by I started getting a little less while pumping. My body was getting use to her needs and I was basically forcing it to stay on task. At 9 months we'd ran out of extra supply and I was literally pumping for the next day. Then that wasn't enough and we had to supplement an ounce or two a day. It killed me. It shouldn't have. This time, if that happens, I won't stress about it. Teagan didn't grow an extra limb and neither will Kyra. Letting myself off the hook has really helped this go 'round.
Do you have any breastfeeding and working tips? If so, share them with me! I'm sure other Mama's would love to hear them too!
First off, I am lucky enough to have an office to myself. One where I can close the door and close the blinds and nobody sees me. That definitely makes for easier pumping. So, I unfortunately don't have any tips for bathroom pumping.
I have a Medela electric pump. This has helped too. It makes for quicker let down and quicker "emptying". This means overall quicker pumping time.
I wear easy to pump in clothes. I wear clothes I would nurse in partially because I also feed Kyra on my lunch break. Button down shirts over nursing tanks work wonders.
I breathe and relax WHILE the pump is doing it's thing. It doesn't help for me to really relax before I attach the pump to my breast. If I start slowly breathing and imagining Kyra while the pump starts then the letdown is quicker.
I have a paper towel or a small hand towel ready. I wipe while removing the pump funnel. This prevents leakage on my shirt or bra that screams "I JUST PUMPED" to the world.
Bring an extra set of nursing pads and leave them in your pump pack. This way you can change them after pumping so you don't have to worry about yeast infection, etc from wet pads.
I drink at least 12oz of water AFTER I pump to replenish myself and make sure I don't dehydrate.
I also take the herb Fenugreek at night before I go to bed. I ran this by my OB and lactation consultant before I did this so if you want to try it, make sure you run it by yours too.
Lastly, and most importantly, don't sweat it. With Teagan I stressed so much over not having enough milk. As she got older and as the weeks after maternity leave went by I started getting a little less while pumping. My body was getting use to her needs and I was basically forcing it to stay on task. At 9 months we'd ran out of extra supply and I was literally pumping for the next day. Then that wasn't enough and we had to supplement an ounce or two a day. It killed me. It shouldn't have. This time, if that happens, I won't stress about it. Teagan didn't grow an extra limb and neither will Kyra. Letting myself off the hook has really helped this go 'round.
Do you have any breastfeeding and working tips? If so, share them with me! I'm sure other Mama's would love to hear them too!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Our charge as parents.
I've talked before about how Josh and I are believers in Christ. We are professing Christians and we do not in any way shy away from it. Honestly, I should proclaim it much more then I do, something I plan on doing more in 2012. Not in the screaming "YOU'RE GOING TO HELL IF" kinda way but in the if you ask, I will most certainly tell.
Anyway, we've been looking at easy ways to introduce Jesus, God and the Bible more and more to Teagan and Kyra. Teagan is at the age where she is a sponge. The kind that sops up water quicker then you can pour it. I came across a blog on Pinterest that had some easy to learn Bible verses for toddlers. I think this is going to be something we start with Teagan. Kyra isn't, obviously, quite old enough for it but I feel like she'll catch on pretty quickly when the time comes.
The game plan is going to be starting out learning one a month. If Teagan starts catching on quicker, which I think she might, then we will learn more then that. We will stay at a slow pace and not shove it down her throat. We're going to make it fun and not make it a burden for her. It will also help keep Josh and I accountable in our walk. Just to make it even more fun for her we might enlist the help/participation of her two best pals Matilda and Miles David...Jeana? Tara?
The first one we plan on teaching Teagan is Gen 16:13 "You are a God who sees". If you'd also like to join in with us let us know! The more kiddos learning scripture the better!
Anyway, we've been looking at easy ways to introduce Jesus, God and the Bible more and more to Teagan and Kyra. Teagan is at the age where she is a sponge. The kind that sops up water quicker then you can pour it. I came across a blog on Pinterest that had some easy to learn Bible verses for toddlers. I think this is going to be something we start with Teagan. Kyra isn't, obviously, quite old enough for it but I feel like she'll catch on pretty quickly when the time comes.
The game plan is going to be starting out learning one a month. If Teagan starts catching on quicker, which I think she might, then we will learn more then that. We will stay at a slow pace and not shove it down her throat. We're going to make it fun and not make it a burden for her. It will also help keep Josh and I accountable in our walk. Just to make it even more fun for her we might enlist the help/participation of her two best pals Matilda and Miles David...Jeana? Tara?
The first one we plan on teaching Teagan is Gen 16:13 "You are a God who sees". If you'd also like to join in with us let us know! The more kiddos learning scripture the better!
Thanks Betty Crocker!
My sister-in-law bought us the wedding version of the infamous red Betty Crocker Cookbook for our wedding present. I've dabbled with a few recipes in the past but here recently I've started searching for quick, easy and healthy meals for the family. Seeing as we all get home around 6pm and the girls go to bed between 7:15pm-7:45pm. That doesn't leave a lot of time for cooking and eating and bathing and brushing teeth and...you get the picture.
I was flipping through the cookbook the other night and found the Wild Rice & Beef Casserole. I'll give you what the recipe calls for and then tell you how we modified it and plan on modifying it even more next time for quicker cooking.
Cover and bake 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and mixture is hot.
*Here's how we altered it and plan on altering it next time*
Instead of beef we used fresh pork sausage. I think it would have been too plain with just hamburger meat.
We didn't use Cheddar cheese. We just used whatever was in the refrigerator. I think it was the taco mix kind?
Next time I will prep the night before. Cook the meat and maybe even the rice so I can just throw it together as soon as we get in the door and it will be done 30 minutes later. I also might throw some corn or peppers in there to get some veggies in. The possibilities are somewhat endless!
I was flipping through the cookbook the other night and found the Wild Rice & Beef Casserole. I'll give you what the recipe calls for and then tell you how we modified it and plan on modifying it even more next time for quicker cooking.
- 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
- 1 package (6.2 oz) fast-cooking long-grain and wild rice mix
- 1 can (10.75 oz) condensed tomato soup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
Cover and bake 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and mixture is hot.
*Here's how we altered it and plan on altering it next time*
Instead of beef we used fresh pork sausage. I think it would have been too plain with just hamburger meat.
We didn't use Cheddar cheese. We just used whatever was in the refrigerator. I think it was the taco mix kind?
Next time I will prep the night before. Cook the meat and maybe even the rice so I can just throw it together as soon as we get in the door and it will be done 30 minutes later. I also might throw some corn or peppers in there to get some veggies in. The possibilities are somewhat endless!
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