I'm officially on Etsy!

So I've been thinking and praying about what I am going to do to make a little extra money once I stop working. I feel like there are tons of things I want to do- but I feel kind of ADD about it. Where do I start? So I decided to start by making an Etsy shop. I LOVE that website and have already spent way too much money there. I made a ribbon lamp shade for Grace's room and a lot of people who have seen her nursery have commented on the shade. So, I decided to make a couple and post them on my Etsy account and just see what happens. I've looked and I haven't found any other ribbon shades similar to the ones I have made, so I am hoping that will help me out. I also plan on painting too- probably mostly things for nurseries. The three watercolor birds I did for Grace's room are hanging over her changing table and she is fascinated by them. She studies them and stares at them, and then she coos and makes all her cute little baby noises. I love it that she has taken such an interest in them! Mike doesn't like the trim I used on the pink and black and blue and white ones. The custom shade is the one I did for Grace's room but I couldn't find that same trim at Hobby Lobby. So, that said, check out my lamp shades (there's only 3) and let me know what you think.

Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7071299

Crisis Averted?

So yesterday Grace and I went to school so she could meet everyone on staff- it was a staff development day, so there were no kids. The daycare where I registered is on the way (My school is about 50 minutes away, and the daycare is 30 minutes from my house, so I hadn't taken Grace there yet.) So, I wanted her to meet the two ladies who work in the infant room and make sure I had everything lined up for next Monday. This place was recommended by a friend as an okay place to take Grace- temporarily. So I walk in, to see all the babies in their cribs. There are cribs lining the walls, and in just about each of them was a crying baby. One of the workers was eating lunch, and the other was doing something else. They were both standing by the counter, together. Meanwhile, the room is full of screaming babies. The one lady I met before now no longer works there and there is a new girl. The other lady started talking to me. Meanwhile, the babies are all still crying at once. Neither of them went to soothe any of them, pick them up, etc. I was there for about 10-15 minutes. Another girl who works in the Toddler room came in and picked up the one little girl who wasn't crying! I keep thinking about this one little girl standing in her crib with tears running down her face. The crying was so loud, I could hardly hear what the woman was telling me. Then, she has the nerve to say, "oh, all the babies just woke up from their naps." Please, children do not all nap at the same time. Plus, last time I was there, there were only about 5 babies. There were about 10 yesterday. 10 babies and 2 adults. The math just doesn't work out. So I left in a mess and was completely upset. I do not want to leave Grace somewhere where she will be left to scream her head off. I understand she will not get the one-on-one attention I would give her all the time, but I certainly expect more interaction than I saw yesterday. My mommy-instinct was completely kicking in, and I do not have a good feeling about that place. I mean, this is my child! She deserves the BEST- and this time is so important as far as her development goes. She needs interaction, play, reading, etc!

So, here we are, a week away from me going back to school, and there is no one to keep Grace. One of my friends knows another teacher who has an older lady come to her house to watch her 6 month old(she lives on the street next to my school.) So, she is calling this woman to see if she will be willing to take Grace just until the end of school. It's either that, or my father-in-law (who is retiring) will have to come live with us for 8 weeks to keep her. Ugh. Talk about stress! I'm just hoping this is an answer to prayer...Hopefully we'll hear something today. BUT I am glad to have this out BEFORE I dropped her off and left her there all day!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I know it's a little early for Christmas, but since I missed last year by only a month, I figure I need to get a head start on this year's list. Plus, I plan on celebrating Christmas in July and the first item on my list coincides perfectly with that! The other day, mommy and I were in a really cute children's boutique looking for my Easter dress. We found the cutest polka-dot dress! It is off-white with blue, pink and green polka-dots. I love it! It will be perfect for church. I will definitely need it in a size 3-6 months. They didn't have my size in the store, but mommy found it online at this website:
http://www.shopthatstore.com/le-za-me-dot-bishop.html.
Please, please, please bring me this dress BEFORE July! You know where to find me.

Love,
Grace

Breastfeeding 911!

So if you feel like this is TMI, please continue no further. I am in desperate need of some help, and I'm hoping someone has some suggestions for me. Since Grace was 2 weeks old, I have had a terrible case of yeast in my breast. I can't feed her on the one side- it feels like a stabbing knife pain in my nipple while she's feeding,and it just gets worse the more I feed her. Then, once she's done, it burns like all get out off and on until the next feeding. I have no outward symptoms, and her pediatrician didn't see signs of thrush. She has been treated with Nystatin, which did nothing. I have been on Diflucan for over a month (200 mg- the highest dose my Ob would give me). I've tried applying heat, and an all-purpose cream my OB prescribed. I even resorted to applying Gentian Violet for a week- which was terribly messy and made her mouth purple. Nothing has given me any relief! At this point, I don't want to give up. I have been pumping the one side and it feels better, but I worry she's not getting enough. My OB said there's nothing more she can do. Anybody have any suggestions?

Bummer!

So last night, Mike had to make a run to the office and he invited Grace and I along for a stop off at one of my favorite places, Starbucks. I love me some White Chocolate Mocha! Well, being that I am breastfeeding and that it was 8:00 at night, I ordered a Grande DECAF WCM and Mike ordered his standard passionfruit iced tea lemonade, since he doesn't like coffee. Driving home, I said to him, "Imagine if I hadn't gotten decaf- that's a whole lotta caffeine!" I looked at the side of my drink where "decaf" should have been checked, but it wasn't. Mike looked at his and his was. I was so disappointed! I ended up drinking his tea, which was good, but just not what I wanted. Boo for Starbucks!

A MUST Have!

Swaddling is one of the best thing for babies, especially at night. It provides them with the feeling of comfort and security they had while in the womb. It is also one of the "5 S's" that Harvey Karp discusses in his book, The Happiest Baby on the Block and according to Karp, is one of the steps parents can take to soothe their baby. I have many receiving blankets that I began to use for swaddling when we brought Grace home from the hospital. I quickly discovered she could wriggle one or both arms out of the swaddle at some point in the middle of the night. She cannot stand to have both arms constricted. I was given the Swaddle Me by Kiddapotamus, which is practically foolproof: she can't get her arms out at all! It is basically shaped like a "T". First, her legs go in a pouch (at the bottom of the T), then the left side of the T comes across her body and tucks underneath her. Finally, the right part of the T folds across and VELCROS- holding it securely in place. No more arms flailing out or swaddle coming undone! Once we used the Swaddle Me, we never went back to receiving blankets.

Oh, and Grace is sleeping in the cradle my Uncle Bud made especially for her- it is beautiful, and she loves it!

Two Months Old!

Here are a few pictures from the last week...it's so hard to believe she will be 6 weeks on Wednesday. The last picture makes me laugh because she sleeps like this often- with one or both of her arms in the air.

Hello, Mommy Brain!

So on her blog, Thinking Out Loud, Leah recently posted about the dreaded "Pregnancy Brain." Well, unfortunately it just gets worse. I have officially moved from having "Pregnancy Brain" to ...wait for it..."Mommy Brain!" Ugh. On our first outing to the mall, Grace and I had one mission: to get dad some new dress shirts for work. Well, Belk was having a fabulous sale, so I found him some great Nautica dress shirts on sale and spotted Ralph Lauren dress pants also on sale. Well, of course I couldn't pass them up- in a color he doesn't already have (size 34). I get them home and they were a little tight- they must run a little snug, so of course I said I would take them back- another excuse to get out of the house! So I get to Belk the next day and the helpful salesman asks what size I want to exchange them for. I get a size 38 and take them home. The next morning, Mike goes to wear them. I was still asleep so he whispers in my ear, "You know you got a size 38, not 36 in these pants." I mumbled something- after all I was still half asleep.

So what does he do? WEARS them! Now I can't take them back- and they are CLEARLY too big. So I feel like we've wasted money, but is he worried about it? No. He is wearing them anyway (and by the way, they look silly!). I really have no idea what I was thinking when I asked for a 38 instead of 36. Welcome, "Mommy Brain!"

Your Vote Counts!

Vote for Felicia! Who is she? She married into the Barton family, who are longtime family friends. She and her husband, Loren are an integral part of the worship team at Freedom Fellowship in Virginia Beach. They produced an awesome CD, "You are Near" and Felicia has been singing for all of her life. She made it through to Hollywood, but was sent home before advancing to the top 36. The day after that show aired, American Idol announced that contestant Joanna Pacitti was disqualified and Felicia Barton was to take her place! This is a great opportunity for her to share God's love and her awesome talent! She sings tomorrow night- so please VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!