Humpday Photo Dump

We had a good week…and Adam got a few good pictures on his phone…but I don’t have access to them. So here’s what I got:

This is our friend Sonia and her dog Birdie. He greeted Charlie the French way… Charlie trying her hand at Shuffle BoardMy girl always needs a snack when she gets home…Sometimes two…this is her new love…cheese.

Always the good eater!

Daycare was closed thur/fri for spring break so Ms. Meg (one of my past parents from Dance) watched Charlie. Charlie picked out her own shoes…and I think this was the only hat Meg could find. All she needs is a shopping cart full of cans and she’s all ready for Nebraska Ave!

She’s getting better with her spoons! And still LOVES yogurt.

Saturday we had a play date with Adeline…so of course Tara and I took them to the bar!

When we got home Charlie’s new potty arrived…Somehow she knew just how they worked! if only she’d go in them.

Sunday Adam wanted to go to the Renaissance Festival..where people dress like this…Adam has a tradition of buying a wooden mug each year…

Charlie got her first…

And the main reason I don’t like the Renaissance Festival…

I went through my bin of fabric and realized I had a lot more non baby fabric then I remember, so I decided to donate it to my Haiti Project.

Charlie really is living up to her Monkey nick name…girl LOVES bananas…even after she’s had dinner!

Talents for Haiti

UPDATE: Pictures

Biblical Definition
Talent: [Old English talente, from Latin talenta, pl of talentum sum of money, from Greek talanton unit of money or weight; in Medieval Latin the sense was extended to ability through the influence of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14--30)]
Modern Definition
Talent: a special natural ability or aptitude
This year for our Lenten almsgiving our Church, Corpus Christi, is asking us to use our talents to raise money for our sister parish, St. Michael the Archangel in Dilaire, Haiti. The goal is to focus on education and to add one classroom to the existing school.  So how does this work? The Funds for Haiti group gave out seed money to those who wished to participate.  With this seed money you were asked to use your talents to multiple your seed money by using your god given talents. I have chosen to partake in this and was given $40 to fund my talent.
For those of you who don’t know, I like to sew.  In the past I have made and sold bags, so I thought this would be a good time for me to resurrect those bags and use my talent for a good cause.  Sine fabric is expensive I am donating fabrics that I have accumulated over the years and hoping to only use my seed money to purchase the notions needed (i.e. buttons, closures…)
I will be making two styles of bags. One is purse sized and the other tote. Since I am using fabric I already own chances are there will only be one of each, so these bags will be one of a kind…or as the French say couture. As I complete each bag I will post photos here and in an album titled Talents for Haiti on Facebook.

Large tote on top, purse size on bottom.

Corpus Christi will be holding a Talents Bazaar on April 27th from 8am to 3pm. Myself and other parishioners will be there selling their talents, feel free to attend! If you cannot attend and would like to purchase a bag from me please let me know and I will send the one you like your way! Or if you would just like to make a monetary donation, that is welcomed as well.
ALL (100%) of the money will go directly to the Education fund at St. Michael’s in Haiti.
Thank you for your support in this endeavor and in this season of selfless giving.  This project will run until June 8th, when I will turn in my talents. If you have any questions about this project or would like to get involved, please let me know! And feel free to share with friends and pass this on :)
Thank you, Stephanie
Steph3@hotmail.com

Hump Day Photodump!

Happy Wednesday. It’s rainy and dreary here today. So here are some picture to brighten up this gloomy day.

Our Ash Wednesday Picnic

 

Jill and my favorite Barbie accessory is back!

 

Fish on Friday…a new experience…

Fisherman's stew

 

Finishing up my Cake Sampler

My little style diva

Having Lunch with the Dr.

15 month picture time!

Mall fun…the boat was her favorite.

Trying to feed the ducks.

It’s Hockey Time!

Future Accountant…Or Contractor

Spending the day with daddy.

Mommy Monday-Pumpkin Parfait

 

A few weeks ago I bought a bunch of re-usable pouches for Charlie. The first time I used them I filled a few up with some melon Gazpacho I had made and she loved them. Since then I’ve been meaning to fill them up again.

When I cleaned out our pantry I found a can of pumpkin that wasn’t expired and I recalled a recipe I had found years ago in a light and fit article about a “pumpkin pie fix” treat. I thought to myself…”that might be good for Charlie in those pouches” So last week I whipped some up for her. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes. It is so simple and easy and the best part…the next morning I gave her one and she sucked it down!

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So here you go:

1 can pumpkin

1 container of vanilla Greek yogurt

cinnamon/sugar (optional)

mix the first two together and throw in a dash of cinnamon sugar. fill up your pouches or serve with a spoon.

Done.

I was able to make 5 pouches for approximately $2.50. And canned pumpkin is sodium-free, rich in vitamin A and fiber with no sugar, flavors or preservatives added. It also contains no saturated fat or cholesterol. Greek yogurt is packed with protein and calcium and is also fat free! So there you go…a healthy easy treat for kids and adults alike!

Songs

When Adam and I were planning our wedding (5 years ago!) we needed to pick out a song for our first dance. We didn’t have a “song” but there were certain songs that I had come up in our short 1.5yr relationship that would have worked. The first song that came to mind that I thought he’d be all over was You are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne, but he shot it down saying he’d heard it to much. (I guess I overplayed it oops) So I began searching the web for the perfect song to present to him.

Last week I came across the play list I had made.  As I listened all those feelings that the songs evoked in me at that time of my life came rushing back. What you want in a life partner, what that person means to you, what defines the two of you. And one song, When You Love Someone, still resonates the most with me. (It was my top choice) I just love this song...It explains everything I felt and still feel about love. Bryan Adams…you nailed it.

When you love someone you'll do anything
You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain
You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun
When you love someone
You'll deny the truth, believe a lie
There'll be times that you'll believe that you could really fly
But your lonely nights have just begun
When you love someone
When you love someone you'll feel it deep inside
And nothing else could ever change your mind
When you want someone, when you need someone
When you love someone...
When you love someone you'll sacrifice
Giving everything you got and you won't think twice
You'd risk it all no matter what may come
When you love someone.
Yeah
You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun
When you love someone

In the end we picked a remake of a classic. (I now wish we had just used the original, but we needed a longer/slower version.) We both love The Beatles, so In My Life was our final decision.

It’s our song, I smile every time I  hear it. I am transported back to that beautiful September evening where we swirled in the middle of over 200 people and my husband sang the words I love you more in my ear.

Do you have a special song or songs. Music has always moved me…And it already moves Ms. Charlie. Sad face…start singing Wheels on the Bus…she can’t but smile and clap along!

Humpday Photodump

It was a little light on phone pictures this past week…we had company so the real camera was brought out!

Charlie likes to go for rides in her push cart…

Due to company sleeping in her room Charlie was moved into ours and chose our bed for her nap instead of the pack n play

My cutie

Getting smooches

Our first trip to the beach this year!

Being cute.

Charlie is teething-big time-so to curb her fussy pants we went for a walk. It worked…until we got back inside.

Mommy Monday-Episode

I had another “episode” Saturday evening. To be more specific…a panic/anxiety attack. But as much as those 2 hours sucked and freaked me out (why is this happening?? stop it! Stop it! RELAX!) I was able to pinpoint triggers and fixes. I journal about every episode so that I can recall when/what is going on. This was the first one since Charlie’s birthday. So I was thankful I got through 3 months without one!

First off, my main trigger: Charlie had a fever of 102.9. But I knew she was fine…and she’s teething. We had been out in the hot sun all day and she hadn’t had a decent nap. So why did it set me off?

1. I didn’t eat very well all day.

2. It was hot out/I was in the sun all day.

3. I hadn’t been sleeping well the last few night (Charlie was in our room due to guests in hers)

So what did I do to rectify it?

1. I laid on the bathroom floor to cool off with a cold rag until the shakes passed.

2. I did my breathing/focusing exercises

3. I prayed that I would get through it and told myself it would pass (positive thinking)

4. Finally I went for a walk outside (where it was much cooler)

5. Lastly I wrote about how what happened and what I did.

By the time Charlie and Adam woke up from their nap I was normal again. I did start to feel anxious Sunday morning before church…but I that was short lived and I got through it quickly. By the end of Sunday I was my normal self and was able to reflect back on what a great weekend we had with family.

And I always try to remind myself how lucky I am to have these two in my life. And that God has a plan and it will all work out how it’s meant to be.