Wordless Wednesday.w

Real Food Good-Better-Best Principle.

I found this great chart at WeedEmAndReap, and I wanted to share because it's a super visual for the foods we choose. In this house, we buy a lot of our foods organic (& local when possible), and we try stay away from GMOs and other chemically processed "foods". But, we've still got a lot of progress to make in our clean eating journey! I'm planning to print and laminate this chart for my refrigerator ASAP!

(If you are having trouble reading the chart, open the link below and check it out there!)

Image from here:
http://www.weedemandreap.com/the-good-better-best-principle

No. 2 Pencils for Christmas? In August?

As you know, annual Back To School sales are in full swing in stores right now! Every year, the end of summer sales make me want to run out and buy crayons and pencils and pink erasers and glue sticks and spiral notebooks. And, a lunchbox! And, hey, while we're at it, I'll take a couple of Lisa Frank folders too! But, sadly, the only one who is going back to school from my house these days is a fellow who claims that his only needs for the new year are a file folder and some new posters of France. Erg.
If you're in the same I-wanna-buy-school-supplies-because-it's-almost-September-but-I-really-don't-have-a-need-for-any-of-it situation as I am, I've got an exciting secret to share! Right now is the best time to buy school-related things to stuff into your Operation Christmas Child box!! The boxes aren't due for a few more months, but buying school supplies during major sales (now!) is the frugal thing to do!

If you're not familiar with Operation Christmas Child, I'd love to share a little bit more with you. Operation Christmas Child is an organization that collects millions of shoe boxes full of small gifts from generous people around the world (like you!). Donations are collected ($7/box), and the boxes are shipped to countries where they are needed (so far, OCC has reached 125 countries!). The boxes are distributed to children who are living in poverty--who, most likely, will not receive any other Christmas gifts. Each child who receives a shoe box also receives a copy of a book called The Greatest Journey (printed in his/her own language), which contains a 12-week discipleship program to teach them how to become followers of Jesus Christ.

Operation Christmas Child is a ministry that has been close to my heart for many years. I highly encourage you to take advantage of this easy opportunity to bless a child across the world this holiday season. If you have children in your life, get them involved too! This is a fun way to teach kids about giving and loving their neighbors--even the ones who live on other continents! By the way, if you make your $7 donation online, you receive a bar code to place on your box, and then you are able to track your box to its destination. Fun--and an easy educational opportunity! If you are interested on helping Operation Christmas Child with their ministry this year, now is the time to get started! You can click here to learn how to pack your box. Collection Week this year is November 18-25, so there is still plenty of time to put lots of thought and love into your box-packing. (But, like I said, NOW is a great time to start shopping!) If you have any questions about how to pack or donate your box, I would be glad to help you out in any way I can. Happy "school" shopping!

Wordless Wednesday (sorta).

Differing attitudes toward their doctor visits!
(And, ironically, Levi was the only one who got pokes this time!)

Nathaniel (3 yr): 39 in; 34 lb
Levi (1 yr): 29.75 in; 22lb, 7oz

Birthday Party 2013.

We hosted a small birthday party for the boys last weekend. It was a dump truck/construction themed party, and a very laid back event. We ordered fried chicken and balloons, I made a boys a special cake, and we spent the evening on our patio with lots of family members. Despite our initial disappointment that several friends/family members couldn't make it (new babies, new jobs & vacations, oh my!), my last minute jitters that there wasn't go to be enough food (there was more than enough!), and my husband's attempt to demolish a bees' nest right before party (well, they're still around!)......everything went off without a hitch! We had a wonderful evening, and I loved every moment of watching my boys thrill in their evening with people who love them. (I'm not sure that I've ever seen a child as excited for cake and presents as Nate was at the party!)


Happy Birthday, Nathaniel and Levi!! I love you both to the moon and back, to infinity and beyond!

3 years old.

Nathaniel is three years old today! Time flies when you're having fun, eh? I know how cliche it sounds, but it really does feel like just yesterday that he was a tiny little bundle in my arms. Now, he's in the 90th percentile for his height, and a nonstop chatterbox! Nate is the sweetest little boy, and I am so blessed to be his momma. He is silly and smart, and as energetic as any healthy three-year-old!

Nate LOVES cars and trucks! In fact, he loves them so much that whenever I ask him if he likes something (IE food, a color, etc), he replies, "No, just cars and trucks!" All day long, he plays with his toy cars and trucks--big ones, little ones, noisy ones, quiet ones. Fire trucks, dump trucks, tow trucks, race cars, police cars, ambulances, bulldozers, motorbikes, RVs! Oh, the boy loves his vehicles! He can even identify the different sirens when we hear them outside!

On the rare occasion that Nate isn't playing with cars or trucks, some of his other favorite activities include trains, playing in the sandbox (with cars & trucks), playing outside (with cars & trucks!), coloring (in his car coloring books!), playing play-dough (oh, yes, we have car/truck cookie cutters!), reading books, (Curious George, Berenstain Bears, Clifford, Winnie the Pooh, Little Critter, and I'm sure you can guess what else!). He also loves to watch DVDs, and he is allowed to watch one a few times weekly--usually Clifford, Veggie Tales, or Curious George. Nate loves to help, especially in the kitchen.

Right now, Nathaniel loves to talk about his "fwiends" (friends) all the time. He often tells me, "Mommom, you and me be fwiends!" or "Me, you, Daddad, and Yiyi--we all be fwiends!" He loves to remind us that we're all friends in this family--even Grover, Green Beans, and Smudgie! He loves to talk about his little pals at church, and his Unca Tim and Unca Matt fwiends too.

Speaking of friends, Nathaniel and Levi are the best of friends now! Sure, they bicker like siblings, but I love watching their brotherly bond growing. They play together daily, and Nate is Levi's biggest cheerleader as he learns to walk! When Levi cries, Nate runs to him and pats him gently while telling him, "Okay, Yiyi, be okay!" All of those sweet moments are just almost enough to erase the daily "No, no, no, MINE!" from my memories......almost!

As always, Nate loves his animals. He and Grover are inseparable, and they are hilarious to watch. Nate chases Grover, Grover chases Nate; they play ball and rope and chase some more! They are loud and boisterous, and might even include a small squirt gun in their antics sometimes! But, really, isn't that exactly what a boy and his dog are for?

Nathaniel is a great eater! He eats what we give him, and doesn't complain about it--too much! A few of his favorite foods include pizza, spaghetti, macaroni & cheese, blueberries, watermelon, banana chips, corn, and ice cream. He's not a big fan of green veggies (unless they're blended into smoothies!), meats (although they seem to be growing on him recently), or mashed potatoes. He drinks whole milk, as well as almond milk (He loves vanilla almond milk!).

Nate usually sleeps about 11 hours at night, and he takes an afternoon nap daily (usually 2 to 3 hours). He goes to sleep on his own, and sleeps straight through the night. Every night (& nap), he is allowed to take two small cars to bed with him, and I often find them clutched tightly in his hands while he sleeps.

Nate is entirely potty-trained, and I am so glad! We usually wake him up to use the potty once at night (before we go to bed), and he stays dry while he sleeps. Woohoo!

Nathaniel's speech has really improved within the past few months. He is speaking in longer, more complex sentences, and is getting easier to understand by non-family members. A few days ago, I was in the bedroom, when I heard Nate yell from the living room. When I returned, we had this conversation,
Me: "What's wrong?"
Nate: "That watermelon hurt me!"
Me: "....a watermelon hurt you?"
Nate: "That pretend one!"
Me: "Oooh! How did it hurt you?"
Nate: "Me lay on it; it hurt my back!"

That conversation may seem simple (and so short typed!), but it caught my attention. When did this little boy of mine learn to speak so well? To tell me what happened--completely with words, not crying or motioning or objects or guessing games? Somewhere along this life, he's growing up on me. I'm noticing how big he seems now--how very much a little boy, and how I can't find any baby left in him. Except at nighttime, when I carry him back to his bed from the bathroom, and he snuggles his head on my shoulder.....oh, these last few moments of my oldest's babyhood are precious!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Nathaniel Isaac! I love you more than you can imagine, and you make me so proud! Keep on growing and learning; you are amazing!

1 year old.

Levi is a year old today! Just like that, my baby boy is one. There is a part of me that feels sad because this past year has gone by in such a flash, but then another bigger part of me feels like this is right. This is exactly where I've wanted to be all along! Of course I've adored my both of my babies, but I do so enjoy this older stage! My baby isn't such a baby anymore; he's getting to be more of a toddler every day--and I'm loving every second of it! He's curious and quick and silly, and he's the most perfect little boy in the world (along with his big brother, of course!). For a short 6 days, I have a one-year-old and a two-year-old! Good thing it's only for a week; I'm not sure I can handle kids that close in age any longer! ;)

Levi is a fantastically fun little guy who is always on the move! He is busy all the time, exploring and nibbing all over the place. He wants to know about everything, and he isn't shy about finding out! He checks out everything within reach (drawers, cabinets, boxes, bags, etc), and loves to crawl away as fast as he can when he's caught! He laughs all the time, and has even started purposefully trying to make us laugh. He scrunches up his nose with a huge smile when he's being funny--too cute!

Levi's favorite person in the world is his big brother, Nathaniel. He absolutely adores him, and always wants to play with whatever Nate is playing (Nate occasionally feels like sharing with his baby brother, haha!) It melts my heart to see them interact, and I am so very, very glad that we've been blessed with both of them. They love to make each other laugh, and smiles on their faces are enough to bring joy into our hearts--even when we can't quite understand the never-ending humor of a cup repeatedly flung to the floor or sniffing stinky toes!

Levi crawls and climbs, and he's beginning to walk too! He walks easily while holding onto things (furniture, push toys, holding hands), and can take up to three steps on his own. His balance is good, and I think he's going to take off on his own just as soon as he realizes that he can walk without nose-diving into Mommy or Daddy in sheer excitement!

Levi says several words, and will mimic lots of sounds. So far, he says Mama, Dada, kitty (key), Grover (Goga), hi (haaah), and cup. When he wants something, he points to it. Often, he accompanies his pointing with loud grunts and sighs to get more attention. Funny! He can wave and give kisses too.

Some of Levi's favorite toys right now include the xylophone that Daddy bought in Honduras, the police car with real lights and sirens, any push toy that allows him to walk (or run!), the toy cooking utensils for the play kitchen (He carries them around constantly!), and, of course, his stuffed monkey. (Sidenote: The above photo was supposed to be of the boys playing the xylophone, but, hey, a watermelon works too!)

Levi's favorite foods are watermelon, macaroni & cheese, crackers, and sweet potatoes. He eats almost everything that we eat, and there are not many things that he doesn't like. He has been drinking whole milk and almond milk from a sippy cup with his meals for a few weeks now because he's reduced his nursing sessions drastically. He still nurses at naptime and bedtime, as well as during the night. Typically, his "during the night" feeding only consists of one feeding around 6 am, but recently, it has been every couple of hours throughout the night because he's teething.

Speaking of teeth, Levi has eight (and a half?) teeth. He is in the process of getting all four molars right now, which has contributed to many night-wakings recently. We have had good results in treating his discomfort with an amber teething necklace and Hyland's teething tablets. Occasionally, I do give him ibuprofen when he seems to be in too much pain to sleep soundly.

Levi typically sleeps about 12 hours at night. He takes one afternoon nap during the day, which is usually two to three hours long. He still sleeps in the pack 'n play in our bedroom since he still wakes up during the night. He usually sleeps on his belly, but moves all over the pack 'n play!

Levi, I am so proud of you! You are an amazing little boy, and I know that your determination and fervor for life will take you far. You are sweet and loving, and I am blessed abundantly to call you mine. I love you, Sweet Baby Yiyi! Happy Birthday!!

(Notice those kitchen utensils constantly in hand.....little future chef?!)