On The Eve Of The New Year...

This morning, I woke. I nursed Bunny. I dressed us both. I walked us to Mama's to work (Hubs had to go to work early). The children and I did your normal morning routine. We went for a walk to Poppaw's. We ate lunch at Nana's and walked to to my house for naps. While they napped, I played with Bunny and cleaned up the house. When Bunny napped, I relaxed and blogged. Hubs got home. We talked about plans for the coming year. The children woke, played, and went home. Hubs went to the store to buy stuff for our New Years Eve party at Mama's house. Bunny woke and I dressed her for the party. Hubs got home.

We got ready. We went to Mama's. We ate good food, saw good people, and had good conversation.

We took Bunny home for bath and bed. She is sleeping and Hubs and I are watching movies. 

Hope everyone has a happy new year! I know we will!

The Charlie Browniest

So... Bunny has her first crush...

On Charlie Brown...

Let me explain...

My dad has a Charlie Brown toy that plays music...

My dad has always loved Charlie Brown...

When I was young, I would always watch it with him...

Bunny is following in his footsteps...

She absolutely LOVES Charlie...

She makes her pap hold her and bounce her in time with the music...

It is the delight of Bunny's life...

It is the delight of Dad's life too...

Bunny even got Pap a Charlie Brown shirt for Christmas...

Those two are the Charlie Browniest!

Back To Basics~Less Is More

{I am a woman on a mission. A mission to declutter our home and our lives. To make more and buy less. To find the things we truly love in life and hold onto them. A mission to get back to basics. The progress is slow as I work full time (at home) and have a husband and baby to care for. However, what I have accomplished has made a great improvement in our lives.}

Bedroom~
1. First we bought an expandable twin sized bed from IKEA and put it next to our queen sized bed. This replaces our co-sleeper which our daughter was starting to outgrow.

2. Next, I made a bedtime basket.

• An extra blanket
• Extra pajamas and a hat
• Extra diaper and wipes and wetbag
• Lotion
• Binky
• Book
• Teething tablets
• A couple of quiet toys (for early mornings)
• A bottle of water (refilled every night)
• Night light/flash light

This basket has been so helpful to my night's sleep. If Bunny or I need anything at night, all I have to do is reach in the basket and there it is.

3. The TV had to go. Our bedroom is now peaceful and quiet, as well as less cluttered. After Bunny goes to sleep Hubs and I can get on the computer, watch TV (in the living room), or just hang out together.

4. Then came the closet. Until recently, Hubs and I shared the closet. When we cleaned out the guest room closet, however, I moved my things into it. This left our bedroom closet disheveled and unorganized. Hubs installed a gun cabinet (with a lock). I cleaned out and sorted everything and put it back nicely, packing away out of season clothes. We also hung curtains for doors. Our closet is now functional and neat.

5. After a quick clean out of the dresser and nights stands, our bedroom was done.

We ended up with about 1/2 the stuff, and twice the relaxation. Less really is more in the case of our bedroom.

Back To Basics

Home Hair Cuts~

I have been cutting Hubs hair since we were just dating (I used to cut several of my family members' hair). He loves that he doesn't have to leave the house to get it done. We both love that we save the money from each cut. I use clippers set at 1/4 inch for the sides, and 3/4 inch for the top. I blend it with 1/2 inch. I use scissors around the ears and shave the neck and face (pics to come).

When I got pregnant for Bunny, I stopped getting my hair highlighted. I know that it is not bad for the baby (as long as the room is well ventilated). I just decided that I liked my natural color. I though it made me look more like a mama and less like a teenager (which I was at the time). After that, I felt it a bit silly to go "get my hair done", when it is really just a trim.

So, the other day, I got up the gumption to ask Hubs if he would cut it for me (and the gumption to let him)...

Turns out, he is a natural. I love my new hair. I love that he cut it for me. I love that I didn't have to pay for it. At least not with money, that is.

An Enchanted Childhood~ December Daycare

We have been asked many times to write up our "lesson plans" so others could use them.  Honestly, we just spend a little time thinking about how we want the "school year" to look and go from there.  We wing-it a lot, doing impromptu things that add to our plans.  I am always amazed that anyone would think what we do is worthy of writing down for others to read, but here it goes!

This year, we are doing "Childhood Classics"--reading great children's books--you know, the kind every child should get to know, and then doing little activities to go with it.

For the month of December, we read some wonderful books by Jan Brett.  We read The Mitten, The Hat,  and Gingerbread Baby.  We also read stories from Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury . Out of that collection, we read The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Christmas Trolls, and others.  In addition, we read some Christmas books to help us focus on the reason we celebrate: This is the Stable and Christmas in the Manger.

Each day, we included Christmas songs and winter activities in our CircleTime.  We did a variety of activities, such as painting and coloring related coloring pages, playing with snow and playdough, baking cookies, and making a Christmas ornament from each story.  The ornaments were sent home to be hung on their own trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right before Christmas, we had a huge party, in which every child, full and part time, attended!  It was fun (and exhausting) for everyone!

 

 

We hope everyone of you had a wonderful, blessed Christmas!

Get Ready, Get Set!

I fear my days of sitting quietly with Bunny on my lap (or even playing on the floor) are coming to an end.

I fear my days of her being content to just be with her mama are merging into days of her running free.

I am not sure how to feel about this.

I am not sure what to do or think.

I am not sure how, in the same instance, I can be excited for the coming days...

 Yet already miss the days that have passed.

I have always been told (by my mama) that the days are long, but the years are fleeting.

I am just not sure that the days are long enough for the years to be so fleeting.

I Cans and I Can'ts

First of all, let me begin by saying that I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. This post is just a temporary list of my strengths and weaknesses.

I can crochet.

I can't knit.

I can drive a car,

But I don't like to one bit.

I can braid hair.
I can't stand to wear hats.

I can change a diaper

In like ten seconds flat.

I can email,
I can't text on my cell.
I can't sing,
At least not well.

I can handle money,
Cause I can't stand to be in debt.
I can make good choices,
Cause I can't live with regret.

I can be kind of shy,
But I can't let that keep me down.
I can have a tough time,
But I can't let that make me frown.

I can't think anything else to say,
So I'll write some more another day!

One Sick Bunny

So... Bunny is sick... Last night she had a fever of 103... Today she threw up once and slept alot... Tonight, though she is doing much better, I want to be prepared for her every need... So... I made a Sick Bunny Bedtime Basket... It is filled with things I might need for Bunny during the night such as:

• Night light/ flash light (actually, mine is a flameless candle)
• Thermometer (I have a temporal scanner but prefer regular digital)
• Children's Acetaminophen & measuring spoon/dropper/syringe (20 lbs = 3/4 tsp)
• Gas drops
• Teething tablets
• Nasal aspirator (aka: nose sucker)
• Earache drops
• Tissues (one or two should be enough for a baby)
• Rice pack/hot cold pack (mine is a bunny rice pack with chamomile and lavender inside)
• One or two extra binkies if you use them ( I like glow in the dark ones so they can be found quickly)
• Diaper and wipes (he/she might have diarrhea along with being sick)
• Last but not least, a cordless phone (to call my mama if it gets too bad)

Hubs sets the alarm clock for us to check her temperature and/or give her medicine. I nurse her any and all times she wants to keep her hydrated. I also double up on vitamins for myself, so she will get them through my breast milk. I sleep close to her, both for her comfort and so I know she is alright (If you do not co-sleep, I recommend at least keeping the baby in your room while he/she is sick, even if it is only in a bassinet or crib near you). I also love my Summer Infant Video Baby Monitor for when I am not right with her while she sleeps.

P.S. I think I'll add a bottle of water for myself to the basket.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspiered by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Merry Christmas!