Daddy is home!!!

Our Family bed is complete again. He was so sleepy!

I woke up Tuesday morning and had a quick thought wondering if Chris would ever just come home one day and surprise me. Nothing made me think that; I just did. Then later that afternoon he text me saying that he was busy right then but would call me later. I was planning on going to a community group that night at 6 so I was hoping we wouldn't call then so I asked him when. He said he probably wasn't going to work that night and would prob call around 8-9. I thought that was a little odd since he had worked 2 weeks straight with no time off but then again maybe they were giving him time to rest or something. But because I had the thought of him coming him everything he said made me suspicious! So then I asked him what he was doing and he said he was driving. They were sending him all over the place for Union stuff. I reasoned in my mind that that could be true because he had been having some issues with the union earlier that week where he did in fact have to drive all over. But my heart was still hoping. I went to community group and was hanging out with everyone when he asked me when the group would be over. It hadn't even really started yet. Then he sent me a picture of inside our house with a glass of wine and our white lights lit. I immediately knew he was home and I announced to everyone that I had to leave because my husband was home. They were all excited for me and helped me get all Sammy's stuff in the car to rush home to my beloved husband who was waiting for me with M&M's!

She nestled into his armpit and fell asleep. She missed her Daddy!

Needless to say I was very excited and we both cried a lot that night! So I  have my Baby Love home with me at last!

Since he has been home EC has not been going so great haha! I have been a little preoccupied with spending time with Chris that we have just not been paying attention to the potty cues. Oops...sorry Baby Girl! So we ran out of cloth diapers really fast this last week which means yesterday and today she has been in disposables : ( Which by the way are horrible for trying to catch! They have made our catch ratio plummet!  We are probably catching about 20% these last couple of days!! But today is laundry day and I think our family is back on course so this week should get better.

I do have a funny story to tell about parenting. We saw a little boy this week that a family member was baby sitting who was 10 months old. He crawled into the bathroom and when he was pulled out he cried. Not a long cry which he dried up pretty quickly when he saw there were people he didn't know in the room. A comment was made and everyone started "aww" ing to him and he started crying again which was even funnier to everyone else not realizing they were why he was crying. But not because he had been offended; he couldn't even understand what was said. He was crying because he was getting attention for doing so. So after he stopped and was happy again I said, "Watch this" and for absolutely no reason I looked at him and began saying with a sympathetic face, "Aw, poor baby. That is so sad poor baby..." and immediately he started bawling again right on cue. Sometimes I don't think people realize how much children's emotions aren't true emotions but just a reaction to the emotion that is being given to them. Like a hurt child for instance will scream uncontrollably when people are around and especially if they are focusing on their "pain". But when no one is there or even just paying attention, they usually might cry for a second then keep playing. Unless they know someone is nearby who will give them the show they want. Just an interesting observation. Try it at home... for fun of course. Wouldn't want to make it a habit ; )


On another note... I finally made Sammy's 4 month onesie and took pictures today! It a little over a week overdue but better now than never! She is currently 29 inches long and 16.8 pounds! Thanks to Granny for the adorable new flower headbands and tutu!!! Enjoy!

Trying to get back in the groove

Since we have been home we have been having quite a few misses. I went to my mom's Sunday and stayed the night and then came home late last night. We had lots of misses over night there. I think I was just absolutely exhausted and was having a really hard time waking up. I am still trying to catch up on sleep but Sammy still isn't sleeping as much as she used to at night. She has gotten a little better; waking up about every 3 hours. But oh how I miss that good 6 hour stretch.

Her bottom gums are starting to get a little swollen and mushier. Not sure what that means but she has been incredibly fussy today! It could be that she has gotten used to being held all day long from last week or she is teething. Not sure which or if its both but little bit is throwing icky tantrums left and right. It has been a pretty hard day today to say the least. Thankfully she finally settled down and I nursed her to sleep for her afternoon nap.

Hmmm, now that I think about it I  have heard other EC moms say that they start having more misses when teeth are coming in. i wonder if that could be why. I have also heard that some babies don't like laying down when they are teething... maybe! We shall see.

So that's my day, how is yours?

Kids Camp

***WARNING THIS IS A WEEKS WORTH OF POSTS SO IT IS PRETTY LONG...SORRY!***

Monday

Just Lounging around while I set up our cabin

So I made it through my first week with my husband being out of town. Each day got a little easier to handle being away from him but it was still a very hard week for me. Preparing and now being at Kid's camp has really helped though because there is just so much to do. Sad thing is that I don't have cell phone service here so I can't talk to him on the phone but hopefully I will get set up on the internet soon so I will be able to chat with him. (I am typing this offline right now in case there is confusion!)

This is my first trip anywhere with little Sammy Jean and especially my first time without Chris on a trip! So I can tell I have some things to learn but so far I am managing just fine. Thought I would share with you all about not only my trip but also ECing with Sammy at camp.

So yesterday we left and it was only a 2 hour drive I think but we had to stop twice. Once to get snacks where I found a wet diaper and refusal to potty more and the other to eat, nurse, and potty. She was wet then too but I didn't try to potty her until right before we left so she was probably dry when we got there. Then when we got to camp it was a little chaotic trying to get our room key and moving everything in while also trying to potty and feed her. I am helping with the snack shop so we also had to set that up as well.

Diaper Stash

 Thankfully I brought the wrap I am borrowing because Holy Moly doing this without it wouldn't be very fun! I just wrap her around me and go! I did however need to figure out  our diaper bag/backpack situation. I originally was planning on using my small Camelbak back pack with a couple of diapers wipes and nursing cover in it. But even those couple of things with the Water bladder just didn't fit well. Anytime I needed something I had to basically take everything out. But I also brought my normal size backpack as well that has a place for the water bladder. It carries much more so I don't have to try to stuff everything. It even fits my wrap so I don't have to carry it when I am not using it.

I brought all of our diapers down and I would have brought our large wet bag except that right before we left I noticed that the water proof layer inside is all torn up making it pointless as a waterproof bag. I am pretty sure I dried it too much. Now I know! So I just brought a couple of garbage bags to use as wet bags for now. I also brought a package of disposables… I know, I know shocking! But they are Whole Foods brand so one of the safest and I really didn't want to be stranded in case the cloth diapers just don't work out. I am not planning on using them unless I absolutely have to.

 So there are two locations that we are having the snack bar so I can sort of set up camp at the one indoors and will just have to transfer stuff to the other one when needed. I brought a stack of diapers inside so that I don't have to keep carrying so many around with me in the backpack. I only carry 4-5 with me. And I will just collect the dirty ones at the end of the day and bring them back to the cabin. Oh I also brought Ziploc bags to put wet or dirty diapers in during transport to the cabin.  So this is my plan so far and we might have to tweak some things as we go but so far it seems to be working.

Can't forget the potty!

Last night went great. I wasn't worried about her not being able to sleep because she will pretty much sleep anywhere we go. I really like that I have a take-a-long baby! She woke me up twice and was already wet but the other 2 times I caught before she peed! Although one of them was odd. I woke up and undressed her to pee and then put her on the potty. While she was peeing I noticed there was a wet spot next to the potty. I know I didn't spill because it was 5:30 am and I was pretty awake at that point with the sun already up. So I thought maybe she leaked but neither her diaper or her pajamas were wet. So I thought maybe she peed on her way to the potty but then I smelled the spot and it didn't even smell like pee. So I have no idea where it came from or what it was. Maybe it was spit up...Idk it was weird but I didn't care enough to investigate more so back to sleep we went!

Today has been much better than yesterday so far. I feel really sleepy though from the last two nights of going to bed late and waking up early. I might try to nap when I finish this, which is what Sammy is doing right now before campers come. Back to pottying...she has been dry all day I think...yeah I can't think of a wet diaper and I don't have any in the wet bag except for one that I actually peed her on when we went to Walmart. We were in the car and I didn't want to go all the way back into the store so I just pulled out a clean diaper and held her over it so she could pee. Kind of sucks doing that since now I have a wet diaper to wash but at least I caught it and she isn't sitting in it. I think there is a poop coming soon. She had a blow out 2 days ago and pooped a little yesterday morning so it might be time for one. All last night and this morning she has had lots of gas and every once and a while some poop farts but still no deployment so I am really trying to watch for cues and give plenty of opportunities because I really don't want to miss here at camp where I have no bath to wash her in if she ends up blowing out!

 Tuesday

 

Found a girl with this shirt! I love it!!!

Last night went great in the pottying realm! Only missed one pee which I missed almost deliberately. I think she is going through ANOTHER growth spurt because she was nursing all night long! She woke up at least every two hours and it was just wearing me out. So at one of the wake ups I just nursed her instead of also pottying her and the next time she woke up she was soaked! So needless to say I am pretty sleepy today.

Yesterday evening was pretty hard on baby girl. We had just done so much and she only got a good 1 1/2 hour nap which isn't very long. So by 7:30 she was just done. That was unfortunately also during the evening program session at camp where they are worshiping and playing team games and a speaker and prayer. One of the best parts. But another issue is that is was just so stinking loud!!! Way too loud for her to be inside anyways so we just had to call it a quits and go back to our cabin. I laid her down and she fell asleep immediately, poor thing!

Our outfits matched everyday.

Today has been great so far. She still kept having stinky farts all morning so I knew it was coming. Kept trying to potty and nothing was happening until right after breakfast when I took her there was a tiny bit of poop when I wiped so I went to red alert! We left to go back to town to restock on snack shack supplies and at our first stop I pottyed her and she pooped… A LOT! I didn't go inside so I had to let her go on a clean pre-fold again but it was still way better than an explosive diaper situation!!! Now it is nap time again and I am hoping she gets a much better nap despite the lawn care going on all around us!

All Blue Day!

Later on… So EC wise we have had an awesome day! I think we actually only missed once! I have accomplished this a couple of times at home and even on the 4th like I mentioned in a previous post but I wasn't expecting to do so well at camp. And the thing is that I am not even really being super aware! I mean I am almost constantly running back and forth all day and she is just being so good at not only cuing but also holding it. I can tell we have been at her maximum holding capacity a couple of times because she pees before I even say "psst". I just barely hold her over the toilet and she is ready to go. She is so smart! ECing her really has made this trip so much easier! Except for the occasional miss I don’t even really use the diaper bag for its intended purpose. I mostly use it to carry my water, nursing cover, and wrap.

Squeezed in some diaper free time!

On the other hand she is still wanting to eat very frequently when we get back to the cabin. Almost constantly. And we had to make another car ride to town and she cried in the car the whole time until we were on our way back when she finally fell asleep! So I am going to opt out of the car rides to town from now on. I am hoping to get to go on a hike tomorrow or at least go swimming with baby girl but we shall see. I am exhausted and hoping she sleeps more tonight with out her marathon nursing sessions. We shall see!

Wednesday

 

So early!

"And Daddy loves me"

Sooooooo sleepy!!! She fed every hour and a half last night! Definitely going through growth spurt. I can tell she has grown just by looking at her! Why is she growing so fast!!! My theory is that she is seeing all the big kids running around so she wants to grow up fast so she can play with them!

Still going great EC wise. Missed only once all day and once last night. 

So Big!

Thursday

 

Last night was a little better. She woke up every 2- 2 1/2 hours. I am still exhausted though. Trying to keep up with all the campers and their schedule but I have just been lagging. We did get to stay up a bit later last night which was cool so I got to actually hear the speaker before we went to bed. They were having smores last night and I was really trying to hold out for that but baby girl fell asleep in my arms and then woke up at the end of the speaking with red eyes. So I took her back to go to sleep.

This morning has been a little rough for her. I think she is teething still. She is grabbing my knuckle and rubbing along her gums all day. Unfortunately thought that just doesn't seem to do the trick! So she has been pretty fussy this morning. We took an early nap and missed the bulk of the water Olympics : ( And now she is taking her afternoon nap while the kids are starting to swim. Hoping to be able to help out at the snack bar some time today!!! Over all this has still been a very good trip and has definitely helped to keep my mind busy from thinking about how much I miss Chris!!!

All Pink Day! (Forgot to take pictures the other days)

Saturday

We are home now. Actually we got back yesterday. Baby Girl slept a little better Thursday night but I was definitely ready to go home! The car trip home was pretty good. She cried for a good half hour straight but it was totally a fit so I dealt with that and then she calmed down and eventually fell asleep. 

It was hard coming home to an empty house. I cried a lot again last night but then the Lord was so good to me. I started asking for joy even though I was really sad and he provided. I still really miss my husband but today I feel much better! And I am pretty sure Sammy is glad to be home as well! 

So over all we had a great week! It was a lot of fun and Sammy got to interact with lots of kiddos! I hope to go again next year when Sam is a year older and can do more! And ECwise it was a great week! And I still have a good stash of diapers left for a day or two until I do laundry! Woo hoo!

New, New, New!!!

Sorry I have been absent for a while. So much has been going on it has been way to hard to find a chunk of time to write about it.

First of all husband has a new job! Well technically he has had it for about 6 weeks or so but he is finally able to start working. I won't bore you with all the details (although I actually find them quite interesting but I don't think everyone will!) so basically he is a construction inspector. It was a miracle how he got the job and it was absolute perfect timing! Usually it takes 1-2 years to get this job and he got it almost immediately! However the work did not so we have been barely squeezing by with his part time job at Starbucks...yuk! And just when our accounts were running dry he finished the certifications he needed and was called out to Southern California for at least 2 weeks! Which is awesome and very sad at the same time because unfortunately we cannot afford for me to go out there with him just yet. So after 2 weeks we will see what happens. We are very excited for this job because it will allow us to hopefully by property and or land way sooner than we would have hoped for. We want to buy everything in cash and not get into any debt. This is very important to us and now we this is a near possibility!

But I miss my husband very very much! We have not been away from each other for a whole day since we first started courting in January 2011! And now he is gone for a minimum of two whole long dreadful weeks. This is not very easy for me. Actually that doesn't even sound accurate to what I am feeling. If you want me to get real honest I ache for him. I miss his warmth at night and his body up against mine when we sleep. I miss his hugs and his man voice. I miss having him here to talk to. I miss making food for him or cleaning for him. I feel like I am in mourning over him! It is very hard not to cry at any moment in the day. I yearn for him so deeply it hurts me so much. When we skype or talk on the phone I can't stop crying. This is very difficult for me and this is only the end of day 3. Each day seems to get slightly easier but it is still incredibly painful. All this may sound silly, especially to those I know whose husbands have been or will be gone for much much longer. Kudos to you all! I seriously have no idea how you not only do it but seem to be fine doing so! Eventually with what has been prophesied over Chris it is very possible that I might have to face an even longer time away from him or even losing him completely and while I ultimately want the Lord's will I pray that it won't be so.

There is a very good thing coming from this already that I realized almost immediately. At first i was almost reprimanding myself for being so attached to Chris but then the Lord showed me his purpose for my pain. he reminded me of when the Pharisees were asking Jesus why his disciples do not fast. And he replied saying why would they fast why I am with them. But there would be a day when he would leave and they would fast waiting for his return. And then in Romans 8 when it says that the whole creation groans and suffers pains in waiting for Jesus. I am feeling this intense groaning in my bones for my husband but it is for the purpose of feeling that pain for Jesus. I feel such a loss without Chris. My favorite part of the day is when he comes home and with him being gone I feel like my day is almost pointless. I am still serving him and honoring him by keeping our home ready for his return and taking care of his daughter but it just doesn't feel the same without him here. This lack is absolutely miniscule compared to our lack without Christ. And what I am feeling is so completely overwhelming I cannot imagine our true lack that we are suffering currently while we wait for Christ's return. I am so excited for that day just like I am excited for when Chris and I will be reunited. But our reunion with Christ will be so much greater!

The whole picture of Christ leaving Earth by dying on the cross and then his ascension into heaven and then his eventual return just makes so much more sense to me now. The Lord is slowly revealing more and more to me through each emotion I am having. While it hurts so bad it is amazing to see and know the Lord even more because as much as I love Chris, I am not living for him. I am living for Christ. I am suffering for Christ. I am groaning and suffering pains for Christ. My soul is anxiously waiting for the return of my bridegroom! This is so intense!!! I wish there were better words to describe it although it probably wouldn't make much difference since it is totally the Lord giving me this revelation. Anyways...

Chew, Chew, Chew!

I am almost certain that my daughter is teething! She has been showing signs for about a month now, but these last 2 weeks and then especially these last couple of days have been a bit more intense. Yesterday she was very cranky and at one point couldn't be calmed which is very unlike her. And touching her gums made it worse. Today I can feel a hard bump right where I think the first tooth is coming in and her gums feel different. Poor baby, I was hoping she would be one of the babies that teething doesn't really affect them. It is also hard on me because Chris and I don't want to give her any medicine. We want her to learn to deal with pain and not try to run from it. So I am giving her fingers and toys to chew chew chew! My knuckles have started getting sore from all the chewing! She seemed better today in her mood but I still am hoping that tooth will just come through already. Then we will have another new experience I am sure with her biting me while nursing. One day at a time!

Teething has made her cues to potty and nurse still a little hard to read lately. So for pottying we decided to start taking her every 45 minutes unless she does cue. And it has worked amazingly! Today she was in the same diaper all day long until I was on the phone with Chris and then she wet another one when we were serving at our old church in the baby class ( I couldn't leave to potty her so unfortunately she had to just use her diaper)

Still rolling over!

Last weekend was my best friend's wedding! She was absolutely beautiful and so was the wedding. I was her Matron of honor which was a huge honor for me! But it was another new experience for me. The day of the wedding Chris was so awesome and took care of Sammy all day! But he doesn't have boobs...in case you didn't know lol...so I had to nurse her every once and a while and it was never good timing of course. So she would get quick mini feeds here and there. Although she didn't seem to mind so much since she was having so much fun with dad and all the people she saw. But by the reception my boobs sure did mind! They were so full and hard and rushed to get my food right after the bride and groom so I could get some sweet release! It was hard splitting my attention between my friend and my daughter. Thankfully she also had her sister as her other maid of honor so I wasn't responsible for everything! I did make some pretty cute head bands that I learned how to do from a website linked from pinterest. I will have to attach pictures later!

Playing with Daddy!

So now I am trying to stay busy so that I don't cry all day long. Hopefully I will get in some sewing projects tomorrow! And then next week Sammy and I are going to Kid's camp through our old church. That should really help keep my mind a little distracted! It will also be my first trip of any kind ECing Sammy. But I think it will go fine since I won't actually be a counselor. I am very excited...I think I was born to live permanently at camp! Its probably one of my favorite places in the world that I have been to! And not specifically where I am going, just camp in general! So much fun! So I will try to take lots of pics and tell you how our trip goes with Ecing and just having a baby there period!

Oh and after that there is a possibility that I will be moving down to L.A. with my husband. Everything is all up in the air and there are so many unknowns but at the very least after the next 2 weeks we should be able to afford for me to go wherever her gets called to go to which makes me very happy! We might become a little gypsy family! We are even thinking about getting a mobile home if he is going to have to travel a lot! so we shall see!



Congratulations to you if you have kept reading all the way until the end! I just have one last thing to say. I wanted to offer to answer any questions anyone has about anything we do in regards to our parenting style if that makes sense. Or something you want to hear me talk about like co-sleeping, vaccines, babywearing...anything. I could even give links to websites i have researched or whatever you want. Just a thought. Goodnight!