Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood

The Scariest Moment of My Pregnancy!

Published: 20 November 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Pregnancy

My Very First Prenatal Exam

Shortly after finding out I was pregnant, my husband and I joyfully skipped off to my first prenatal appointment. We were both so excited and ready to see our very first baby, in our very first sonogram, AND, as my cousin had informed me, hear our very first baby’s heartbeat!

We waited patiently, but also anxiously, in the exam room for the doctor. Once she arrived and talked to us a bit, she had me prepare for the ultrasound. As the image appeared on that black and white screen, she said nothing. My heart raced as I waited for her to explain what was on the screen.

Time has made the details a little hazy, but she basically told us, “I can’t confirm the pregnancy because all I can see is a gestational sac.”

I asked, “But doesn’t a gestational sac mean I’m pregnant?

“She said, “I can’t confirm that.”

So many thoughts went through my head at once. What?! I might not be pregnant? I don’t understand! How can there be a gestational sac without a pregnancy? She went on to tell us that they would be doing a blood draw on me that day, and then again two days later, to check my HCG levels. “In two days, the HCG levels should double from the number determined today,” she explained.

We listened, then went over to the room to have my blood drawn. Then we left, pretty deflated, and much changed from the bubbly couple we were just an hour ago, when we had arrived at the office.

Now, We Wait…

Two days later, I went back in for the second blood draw. They later called me to tell me the results from the first day. It would be still another two days before we would know if the levels had doubled.

Two days later, it happened to be Friday, and I was at work when they called to tell me my levels. The nurse who made the call left a voice message asking me to call her back. Simple. Calm. Nothing at all to imply urgency. She called a second time, and left a similar message. I noticed and listened to these messages once I had my break at about 4:30 pm. I immediately called the office, which was to close at 5:00 pm but the recording informed they were now closed until Monday. I went ahead and left a message that I was returning the nurse’s call, and that was that for the weekend. I was disappointed that I didn’t know what the levels were, but there was nothing I could do about that, so I continued on through the weekend.

On Monday, the nurse calls me again, saying my levels did not double and I needed to come in right away because I might be having an ectopic pregnancy. “I can schedule you for 9:00 am today,” she said.

“I can’t come in this morning,” I replied. “I have to work.” She was clearly thoroughly agitated that I wasn’t taking her more seriously.

She said, “This is very serious as your tube could burst!” She then emphasized how she had called several times on Friday in an effort to reach me. I pointed out she had only called twice and that there was nothing in her messages to indicate an urgency to the situation. I also informed her I had tried to call back well before the office closing time. I assured her I would be in the following day and she scheduled the appointment, telling me that if I had any pain to go to the emergency room.

Was This All Too Good to Be True?

I got off the phone and felt a little dazed. What was happening? Was it really possible I was going to lose this baby I’d only gotten to know of for a couple weeks?

I called my husband and let him know the situation, and then did a little online research about ectopic pregnancy.

“An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the main cavity of the uterus. Pregnancy begins with a fertilized egg. Normally, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy most often occurs in one of the tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus (fallopian tubes). This type of ectopic pregnancy is known as a tubal pregnancy. In some cases, however, an ectopic pregnancy occurs in the abdominal cavity, ovary or neck of the uterus (cervix). An ectopic pregnancy can’t proceed normally. The fertilized egg can’t survive, and the growing tissue might destroy various maternal structures. Left untreated, life-threatening blood loss is possible. Early treatment of an ectopic pregnancy can help preserve the chance for future healthy pregnancies.” -Mayo Clinic

Ok, so what’s the treatment?  Removal.

Now, I’m not here to debate the moral dilemma this situation creates. I will however, tell you that my immediate response to reading this was NO, I WILL NOT! (Before I continue, I just want to say that I did not have to actually make a decision as the pregnancy was not ectopic, so please don’t take my initial response as advice or even as a suggestion, if you are in this situation.)

Giving it to God – Act of Faith as Small as a Baby Blanket

Throughout all this, in my spare time I had been making a baby blanket. My great-grandmothers both crocheted regularly while they were alive and I was determined I would crochet a blanket for this baby, because I knew they would have if they were around. I wasn’t very good at it though, and my stitches were very inconsistent. I turned that blanket every which way trying to get it big enough, and…ummm…square. Truth be told, it was (and still is) the most dilapidated blanket I have ever seen. But it is precious to me and this is why.

I began the blanket in my excitement about the pregnancy… before the doctor’s appointment… before the drama. In my anxiousness, I continued to make the blanket, and as I made it I prayed over and over again for the long-awaited baby I just knew had to be in my womb. As I prayed and made the blanket, I listened and sang “Oceans” by Hillsong United over and over again, and made this my prayer as well. It’s a beautiful song. It’s a song of faith. It’s a song of trusting in God. My continuing to make the baby blanket was my act of faith; my token between God and I, that I trusted Him.

If you have never heard “Oceans”, I’ve included it here.

You see, I knew that no matter what happened, my all-knowing, ever-present, almighty God was with me, and He could grant me the life of my child. Yes, I knew that He could also choose not to, but I prayed that He would, and deep down within me I trusted that this baby would be carried to term, and get to use the blanket I was making.

The Sweetest Sound

After all the tests had been run, my husband and I went back in to the doctor’s office for another sonogram. As we pulled into the parking lot, I asked my husband to pray for us. “Pray that we can see the baby in the right place and that we will hear the heartbeat.” He did just as I asked.

We checked in. We sat. We waited. Finally, we were taken to a dim room with the sonographer, not the doctor. I remember well how notably sweet and pleasant this woman was. She seemed unaware of the shadow that had been cast on this occasion the previous week. As she moved the equipment around in the goop on my belly, my husband and I had our eyes glued to the screen. Right as the image came up on the screen, we heard it! The sweetest sound that brought tears to both my husband’s and my eyes: our baby’s heartbeat! 

“There’s your baby, ” the pleasant woman announced! We looked at each other and laughed softly as we realized the other was crying too.

“Is it in the right place?” I inquired, as I smiled, listening to the pitter pattering “da dum da dum da dum….”

“Oh, yes,” she answered, brightly. She continued to explain to us the baby’s current size, that the baby was about 7 1/2 weeks gestation, and then gave us an estimated due date. The heaviness on our hearts was lifted, and replaced once again by the overwhelming joy we had experienced just a few weeks early when we discovered I was pregnant.

“Thank you, Lord, for granting us the life of this child. Thank you, thank you, Lord.”

We proclaim how great you are and tell of the wonderful things you have done.”
~Psalm 75:1~

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6 Reasons I Am Thankful

Published: 20 November 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood, Pregnancy

Thanksgiving is Quickly Approaching

I began this evening writing out a different post. I paused to put my son to bed. (He had been playing hard and giggling lots with his Daddy.) As he nursed quietly in the dark, I felt him relax and I knew he was asleep. That relaxing has become so familiar to me now, but it wasn’t always.

Before reading tonight’s Bible passages, I opened up the Prime Photo App on my phone. Every day, the app will feature all the pictures from prior years. This has become something my husband and I do daily, and then we chat about it. “Hey, did you see this picture from 2009?”

Hard Times

I browsed through the pictures quickly, really noting the ones from this day last year. It was a really difficult time for our new, little family.

My son was not gaining weight, but growing in length, and was looking….well, he looked like a starving baby. He didn’t have the precious, chunky baby fat that most full-term babies have. He was very thin. These pictures are so hard to look back at, but still I scrolled through them. This day last year is definitely the worst my son ever looked…

At the time, I didn’t recognize by looking at him that he wasn’t well. He was just my beautiful baby boy whom I love so, so, so much.

Come Before His Presence with Thanksgiving

After looking over these pictures, I opened up the Bible app on my phone and saw the featured verse:

“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods.”
Psalm 95: 1-2

That’s when I decided my post for this evening needed to be different.

I am so thankful for my son. I’m thankful for his health. Today, I watched him eat porridge and blueberries for breakfast, eggs with cheese, and apple for lunch, and squash and peas for dinner, not to mention he still breastfeeds throughout the day and night like a champ. I’m so thankful that we don’t have to watch him struggle to eat…struggle to live. I’m thankful for his smile and his laugh and for the awesome privilege of watching him learn something new almost every single day.

After I finished my Bible reading for the night, I set my phone down, and lifted my sleeping son onto my shoulder and hugged him as I do every night. I’ll admit, I hugged him a little closer and a little longer than I do most nights. I’m just so glad he’s in my life. I’m so thankful I have the privilege of being his Mommy, and getting to share this journey of life at the side of my husband.

6 Reasons I Am Thankful

We all have many things to be grateful for, but it can be easy to lose sight of our blessings, when we lose perspective on what our hope is. Our hope is in the Lord.

Although, it is not exhaustive, here is a list of 6 reasons I am thankful.

  1. I am thankful for my husband. This man is incredible. He was incredible before I could call him “mine”. He’s extremely intelligent and loves to dig for the truth in God’s Word. He loves the Lord. He is a wonderful father. It is such a joy to see him guide our son, even at such a young stage of life. He is an amazing husband, a true leader in our home, and the love of my life. He is an encourager. He is a visionary, who makes our dreams into plans so they can become a reality. I am thankful for his love.
  2. I am thankful for my son. I know I already wrote this, but truly, this child is so precious to me. He brings me such joy, and forces me to be a better person just in the very fact that I have to be a good example for him in everything I do and say because he is watching and learning. He is smart. He is healthy. He is strong. He is willful. He is cuddly and learning to be affectionate. I can already see signs of empathy in him as he is sensitive to how other babies feel. I am so thankful I get to watch him grow up!
  3. I am thankful for our health. Although, I don’t always do what I need to do to take care of my body as God would have me to, I have been blessed with good health. My husband and son have too. I am doing what I can to learn about keeping our bodies strong and healthy, so that we can honor God with what he has given us. Our bodies are a gift and we need to take care of them, rather than abuse them.
  4. I am thankful for our home. This one can be difficult for me sometimes because I have to catch myself when I begin to complain about it. Since moving to the apartment this past summer, I have really missed our house. I have missed the giant sink that actually held all my dirty dishes. I have missed our backyard, and the space, and our neighbors. But I am thankful for this home. It is more than sufficient as a safe, comfortable roof over our head. We have a lot more in this apartment than many other people, and we need to be thankful for it, even when it lacks what our larger home did. This apartment has encouraged us to do so much we needed to do, to include purging STUFF. We have so much stuff we do NOT need, and living in a smaller space has helped us let go of a lot of extra, unneeded, and truly unwanted stuff. It has forced us to be creative in our gardening. We wasted a lot of good soil in our yard and working with a small space has helped us appreciate what we will do when we have more land again. Most importantly, it pushes us to work towards our goals – the very reason we moved here in the first place: to save more money than we could have in our house.
  5. I am thankful for time with my family. Living closer to my husband’s work cut my husband’s commute by over an hour. This helps us save money on gas and car maintenance, but most importantly, it has enabled us to spend more time together. Not only is my husband home longer in the mornings before he leaves for work, but he also is home much earlier. AND as a bonus, a couple times a week, he comes home for lunch, which is such a sweet treat for both my son and me.
  6. I am thankful for God’s gift of salvation and His Word. God has blessed me with all of the above, and so much more than I can mention. Even if I had none of the aforementioned blessings, I would still be abundantly blessed in the Lord. To know God and be covered by His grace is a gift more incredible than anything. God loves me. Wow! Jesus sacrificed His very life so that I may live forever with Him one day in His kingdom. All my wrongdoings have been forgiven. In Christ, I find my joy, and the “peace that passes all understanding” – a peace that cannot be found apart from him. This is what I am most thankful for. It is a privilege to be able to study the scriptures with my husband, and pass this knowledge on to my son as we guide him through life. This is what I consider our greatest responsibility.

So, what about you?

Have you been taking the blessings of life for granted? What are you most thankful for?

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34

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Do not Let Conception Become Your Idol

Published: 13 November 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Pregnancy

Disappointment

When my husband and I were wanting to have a baby, we expected that I would become pregnant within a few months. Three years later, we were frustrated and discouraged. I asked a friend of mine to pray. She had struggled for years and then had her miracle baby.

Wisely, she cautioned me, “Don’t let conception become your idol.”

This is something that I really needed to hear as I was letting our plan to have a baby overtake my life. I felt like less of a woman because I wasn’t becoming pregnant and I was resentful of my husband because I was certain he didn’t care as much as me. I know now I was angry with God although I wouldn’t have admitted it at the time. Why wasn’t He letting my husband and I have children?

God’s Grace is Sufficient for Me

We became certain that we just weren’t going to have any children naturally. I had to pray to the LORD daily and say, “My husband is enough for me.”

I realize now the error in this statement, even though it was a step in the right direction, what I should have been saying to God was, “Lord, YOU are enough.”

You see, God’s grace is sufficient in all circumstances.

Remember Jōb

Have you read the story of Jōb in the Bible? It’s fascinating. It makes me sad. It’s humbling, and it provides perspective.

This man literally lost everything. He lost his entire family. He lost all his wealth and possessions. He lost his good health. In all that, he did not dishonor God.

A Story with a Happy Ending

The story has a happy ending (my favorite kind of ending!). Job was blessed again by God with a family and wealth, but far beyond that, he was blessed with salvation. God’s grace was sufficient for him…even when it was the only thing he had.

So whether you are struggling with conception or a trial of a different type, seek God’s will as you remember that it is He who gives us our every breath. Our lives are a gift.

Perspective

One of the lessons I learned because of the time we waited for God to bless us with our son, is that it is God who opens the womb.

Only He can create life. No amount of “trying” on our part was going to do any good without God’s timing. My husband and I didn’t “make a baby”. God made a baby, and He gave us charge over him.

I thank God for our son. I thank Him for entrusting this little person to us and we pray that we will raise him to be a good, kind, and God-fearing man.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

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3 Family Friendly Ways to be Frugal

Published: 2 November 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Money, Money, Money!

Some say that money is the root of all evil. Well, actually the Bible says that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10) This simply means that money should not be our idol. It does not mean that we should never think about money or should never have money. In fact, the Bible encourages wisdom when handling our assets, and even talks about wealth as a good thing. It is wise to save money and even to invest it.

Invest? Are You Crazy? I’m in Debt and Living Paycheck to Paycheck!

Ok, so maybe you have some steps in between now and investing. That’s ok. The important thing is to get started! The most important aspect in my opinion is to GET OUT AND STAY OUT of debt. It is the black hole of a healthy financial lifestyle. Also, BUDGET. As Dave Ramsey says, “Every dollar has a name.” I highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU). Not only does it outline simple steps for how to handle your money, but it is a great way for you and your spouse to get on board the same train…the mental train of thought that is!

Healthy Financial Habits are Good for Your Family

You may have heard that 50% of marriages end in divorce. Did you know that a high percentage of those divorces end due primarily to fights over money? Being unified as husband and wife (or Daddy and Mommy, as your kids see you) is so very important for the health of your family. Kids are smart and they see what you argue about. They worry about what you worry about. This Lil’ Dino Mommy tries really hard not to argue or fight with Lil’ Dino Daddy in front of our son…even if he is just a year old. You may be thinking, “Surely, at such a young age, he won’t know.” or “He won’t remember.” Perhaps not, and I hope you’re right about that because I’ve already failed in not losing my temper with my husband in front of him. But there are two reasons why I really want to keep working towards the “Don’t fight in front of your kids” rule.

  1. Perfect Practice Makes Perfect. The behaviors and words we are used to doing and saying on a day to day basis are going to be what our kids see. It’s not like we can flip a switch and suddenly be a different person. Besides, in those moments of anger, we are told not to sin. Feeling angry in and of itself isn’t sinful. It’s how we handle that anger that makes a difference. I want to practice right now, today, the self-control I will need in the future. If my husband and I are in the habit of speaking kindly to one another and dealing with arguments at another time or place, then when push comes to shove (metaphorically, of course!), we will be able to do the same in the future. Besides, we should be dealing with one another kindly whether or not there are little eyes watching. Which brings me to…
  2. Monkey See. Monkey Do. Who hasn’t heard this phrase? I’ll do you one better, who wasn’t told as a kid by some adult, (maybe not your parents, well…maybe them too), “Do as I say, not as I do”? And who, if you were a teenager, didn’t think, “Yeah right!” We are supposed to model for our children the correct ways to behave and to speak. A perfect example of this in my own life was a couple months ago. I was talking to my husband, frustrated about something, but not at him, and I threw down a pair of pants I was folding as I exclaimed about it. My son, 10 months old, said, “Argh!” and threw down his toy. Oh…hold up there Lil’ Dino Mommy, get it together because your BABY boy is watching you oh, so closely. Another example of this is eating healthy. I really want my children to have healthy eating habits. It is something I have really struggled with all my life and I don’t want them to struggle the same way. The BEST way for me to ensure this is to give them the knowledge on what healthy eating looks like AND model that knowledge in our day to day lives. Eating healthy has to be a lifestyle, not merely a New Year’s Resolution or a fad.

Getting to the Point

So, we all need to practice and model good habits for our kiddos. This includes how we handle our money! So here are # Family Friendly Ways to be Frugal! If you can’t do them all right away, don’t worry. Maybe just work on adding one to start. Whether you are in debt and trying to pinch pennies to get out, or trying to reallocate some funds into your current investments, these are all ways to rename some of those dollars. This was definitely a process for Lil’ Dino Daddy and me. I will share the crazy things we do even though some of you may think they are just TOO crazy. Some may not work for everyone, but maybe they all will work for someone.

3 Family Friendly Ways to be Frugal

  1. Limit Eating Out. Cook More. This one is so tough for me, which is why it is first on the list. Feeding our family is mainly my responsibility. I want to do a good job for both the health of my family and the health of our bank account. Being a “Drive-Thru Sue” is so very easy for me to fall into. I do enjoy cooking, but let’s face it, it takes time, not to mention the clean up can seem like more work than it’s worth to prepare the meal. Now that I have a one year old toddler in tow, it is all the more difficult to find time to do what it takes to cook. However, this is the most frugal thing I can do. Since eating is something I can easily let get out of control, it is the first thing I have to address. So, for me, taking care of this has to come before a clean house, to include laundry. Here’s how I accomplish this…most weeks.
    • Meal Planning. Every week I sit down and write up a meal plan. This is a habit I learned from my mother-in-law after I was married and it has really helped us save money on food. How? Well, before I meal plan, I take a peek at what’s in my fridge, freezer, and pantry, and try to build meals around things I already have. Then I sit down and peruse my cookbooks if I’m feeling adventurous, or jot down a few meals that are staples in our home. As I make my meals, I make my…
    • Grocery List. This seems simple enough, but a well planned grocery list keeps me from buying things that aren’t ON the list. When I go to the store without a list, I end up buying more than I need, and usually waste more…because the two of us (plus little dino) simply can’t get through it all. If this is a pain point for you, I have a few friends that swear by the curbside pick up or grocery delivery options at our local grocery stores. Some stores do charge for this service, but if you find yourself spending less using this option than if you would have gone in, it’s definitely worth a try.
    • Prepare Meals Ahead. When I am cooking certain meals, I will sometimes double the recipe and save half in the freezer. Some good candidates for freezer meals are soups, chili, and casseroles, such as shepherd’s pie. I also tend to make more spaghetti sauce in relation to pasta or spaghetti squash, so I freeze half of this as well. (Bonus tip: For those who aren’t good at eating through all the produce in the fridge before it wilts or spoils, wash it and chop it when you buy it, and throw it in the freezer for another day! I do this with carrots, spinach, celery, peppers, and berries. I also buy bulk onions and garlic and just throw the whole bag in the freezer for when I need it.)
    • Eat Leftovers. I’m always shocked when I hear people say they don’t eat leftovers. I truly can’t imagine just throwing food away. Ok, so maybe some people are good at preparing just enough for that one meal. To that I say: I truly can’t imagine having to cook every night. Hahaha! But if you can, power to you. That’s awesome! If that is you, you are clearly way more organized than me and probably LOVE cooking way more than me as well.
    • Make Eating Out Special. If you are like me, eating out or ordering in, even at fast food places, can feel like a vacation from the kitchen. I enjoy not having to cook that night. I enjoy letting someone else feed me for a change, for goodness sake! My husband and I try to plan once a month to go somewhere we really enjoy and make a date out of it. (I must note that this last one is not recommended for those who are in debt. When my husband and I had debt, we did not eat out. Ever. We basically lived on rice, beans, and eggs, and at times, the kindness of others who might have us over for dinner.)
  2. Old School House Rules. Take a look at that budget. Work on taking steps to lower your household expenses. What can you do to lower your electricity bill? Your water bill?
    • Turn off the lights and switch to LED. I used to get in such trouble as a child for keeping the lights on in a room I was no longer occupying. I still shudder in fear at the remembrance of the sound of my first and middle name being yelled by my mother if she found a vacant room with a light burning brightly. In fact, this habit has stuck so severely, that I have (more than once) turned the light off as I leave a room my husband is still occupying! Whoops! Sorry honey.
    • Another energy saving method we have employed is using a drying rack to dry our clothes instead of the dryer. The average person spends about $50/month by using the dryer. Drying racks or clothes lines are not only cheaper as it relates to electricity, but it also keeps your clothes from wearing out as quickly. We use drying racks because our subdivision’s HOA would not allow the use of a clothes line in the backyard. (Ridiculous! We will never buy a house under an HOA again!) However, since we moved to our apartment, the drying racks have allowed us to continue to dry clothes both inside and outside on the patio. (Thank goodness the complex doesn’t mind
    • If you own your own home and plan to live there for a while, look into things you can do to make your home more energy efficient. We had solar screens fitted to our windows and there was a significant difference in the amount of heat coming into our home during the summer. Living in South Texas, the heat can be brutal! We also had our insulation double checked and a radiant barrier installed. Once we have found our forever home, we will look into Solar panels.
    • Saving on the water bill doesn’t take too much imagination, but doesn’t take some discipline if you really want to make a dent. Turn the water off when you’re brushing your teeth, pay attention to how long your shower is running. If you are watering your grass or garden, make it count by watering early in the morning or late in the evening. Think dawn and/or dusk.
  3. Replace Consumable Products with Reusable Products. This one was tough for our family in the beginning, but now it’s not a big deal at all. The most difficult thing to let go of was paper towels. We used them for everything from cleaning to napkins. So here’s what I did: I started cleaning the table and counters with my dish towels. I also bought a set of 12 cloth napkins – the kind you see at a nice-ish restaurant, and we use these at meal times rather than tearing off pre-perforated paper towels and passing them around the table like we used to do. I have also recently discovered a self-cleaning microfiber cloth which I really like. This has eliminated my need for chemical cleaners, so although the transition is slow-going, my home is on its way to chemical-free cleaning with these cloths and essential oil blends like Thieves.

This idea can be applied to other things as well. Consider the consumable products you use. What reusable products might you be able to replace them with? Here are a few more ideas: cloth diapers instead of disposable (do I dare mention the wipes?), maybe use reusable containers rather than plastic baggies when packing your lunch, and go ahead and use your flatware instead of buying paper plates. What’s a little more laundry and a few more dishes? – we all have to do them anyway!

There are so many ways to tweak lifestyle and habits alike in order to save money. For more ideas, visit this website. Now here’s a family dedicated to frugality. I love Mrs. Frugalwoods’ idea to put a slip of paper in your wallet to remind you of your bigger goals and dreams. If you’re us, when you go to spend money you see it and say, “Would I rather have pizza delivered or for my family to be closer to our goal of owning a farm?”

Our family wants to learn from you too! Please share YOUR frugal ideas in the comment section below.

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Our Little Piano Playing…Trekkie?

Published: 23 October 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Your Kid is Learning – Grin and Bear It

My son is quite amazing. Like my husband, he never ceases to amaze me.

I was talking to my father a few months ago who was explaining to me how loud my younger brother and sister are (they are 5 and 2 years old – long story), and how every play activity seemed to be a loud one. (He was not finding joy in these particular moments. Lol.) He…umm…I guess you can call it…reminisced?… back to when my sister and I were little, and called it “work”. Thoroughly irritated, I tried to empathize with him since I currently only have one child, and he has two at home. However, I recalled how I had been watching my son (his grandson) develop and grow as he learned new things, and yes some of this “learning” IS loud, but I really do enjoy these phases.

My perspective is different, as I see it as hitting milestones. So yes, banging blocks together, while loud, is developmentally appropriate. So I’m grateful that he is capable of doing something that a few months ago, he wasn’t able to do. When I explained this to my father, he pondered it a moment, then said, “I never thought of it that way.” (I guess you can teach an old dog, new tricks.)

Along with banging toys, my son has also learned to create so many sounds with his mouth and voice. From crying to cooing, and yelling to babbling, and all the spitting and tongue clicking in between, these are things he has learned to mimic. Though a few may cause me to cringe, I have learned to grin and bear it, and THEN clap in affirming praise because for my son, it’s something new he’s accomplished.

Either a Big Ham or a Musical Prodigy

My son truly is adorable. He’s got the most contagiously, shy smile aaaaand…. he even has dimples. Too cute, right? He has a little toy piano that belonged to my husband as a child. And while it’s terribly out of tune, it’s a real piano. The ivory keys are even the proper width of a full size piano (which we also have). He LOVES to play on this piano. When he started pulling himself up on things at around 7 months, he would just bang on the keys in the middle over and over… and over again. Then I’d clap and say, “Yay! Great job! That’s beautiful.” I would even sing along, “La la la.”

As he continued to learn and play on this toy, he learned to pound on higher and lower keys. Then came the day, at about 9 months, that he stood there and let out this forceful “Ahhhhhhh!” as he played. It was so awesome to witness this yell because, you see, he was singing.

Now, just days away from his first birthday, he will play some of the keys one at a time. (Though sometimes a passionate pounding of the piano is apparently necessary for a musical prodigy.) He’ll play a few notes and then turn to look at me and my husband, (or whoever else may be visiting), and smile that dimply, sweet smile. You see, he has come to expect, and even ask through his actions, for praise and affirmation. I don’t know about you but I think that’s pretty cool.

His “piano playing” has changed over the past 5 months, and is already quieter, more melodic, not to mention easier on the ears. He’s a little performer, who loves to make music for his adoring fans, though few they may be.

Our Little Trekkie

Uh oh, you’ve discovered a new secret about us: we love Star Trek. We’ve currently been re-watching the Deep Space 9 series and on the weekends my son watches with us. (I know, I know, screen time bad. Outside, good. Yeah, I’m with ya there.)

He doesn’t really pay attention to it at all, until the next episode starts (ok, ok we are binge watchers – you caught me!). When that musical introduction comes on (where are all my trekkies at?), my son literally stops what he is doing and watches the screen. At first, I thought it was because of the special visual effects of the intro, but then the sweetest, most amazing thing happened…

With his tiny little mouth, he formed the smallest “o” you’ve ever seen (seriously, it would melt your heart), and he let out a quiet, yet distinct, “ohhhh….” He is singing along with the musical introduction of Deep Space 9. It is precious!

“…I will sing and make music.
~Psalm 57:7b

(Admittedly taken very out of context of the original verse.)

What about you?

Tell us what amazes you about your kids.

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From Baby to Toddler

Published: 16 October 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

My Big Ole One Year Old!

My son turns 1 year old here in a couple weeks. As my husband said today, “I’m in denial.” Watching him grow up from a newborn to this newfound toddler stage has been such a joy, even though sometimes it makes me tear up. Time is just passing so quickly!

As I often do, I have been reminiscing about those first days. Lately, I’ve been thinking about his very first day, in his very first few hours. My husband and I were sitting on the bed in the birthing suite, watching the midwife do his newborn testing. We noticed that his feet were flexed upward and laid all the way against his tiny shins. My midwife mentioned that if we didn’t see a change to take him in to his pediatrician in a couple days.

My husband and I spoke about it in the days afterwards, when my son’s feet started to look more normal. Both of us had the thought, though we didn’t verbalize it in those early hours that our son may never walk.

Aaaaaand He Walks!

I am happy to share with you that as of this past week, we have a happy, brave, and fully WALKING child. He is no longer a tiny, helpless baby, but a waddling, mobile toddler. (Ok, ok, he’s still my baby.) Remembering those scary moments in the beginning has made us all the more grateful for his progress and health in both mind and body.

We have truly loved each stage with our son more than the last. Looking forward to all the many moments, milestones, and stages to come.

“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127: 3

What about you?

Share your parenthood story with us!

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Rejoice in the Lord Always

Published: 9 October 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood, Pregnancy

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Learning to Praise God

As I was singing to my son tonight, as I have every night since the day he was born, I found myself singing a song I hadn’t sang to him in a while. It nearly brought tears to my eyes…

Remembering

In those first weeks, my son wasn’t doing too well. I would look up words to different hymns and other soothing songs that were familiar to me, but that I hadn’t learned all the words to. With some of the songs, I would change the words, and it was one of these that found its into my head this evening.

“Down to the River to Pray” by Allison Krauss is a beautiful song.

The song repeats often so it’s fun to sing to little babies and kids, adding your own people, after “brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers”. I add “daughters” and “my son”, and then follow up with my son’s name to personalize it even more.

I also change the verse, so my version goes like this:

As I go down on my knees to pray, studying about the One True Way and Jesus Christ, the Son of God by name.

Oh, my son, let’s praise God. Let’s praise God. Let’s praise God. Oh, my son, let’s praise God, and thank Him for each day.

Those words, “…and thank Him for each day.” struck a chord with me tonight. Back in those harder days, I was truly praying the words, thanking and praising God for granting my son his life, each and every day.

In those difficult nights when I was up every two to three hours for feedings, and then pumping afterwards, I would take the opportunity to pray and read God’s Word. I also took the time to write posts on this blog and reach out to other mothers who were also struggling with their babies.

How Dare I Complain…

Now that life has gotten easier, shamefully, I’ll admit I find myself complaining way too often (even if most of the time it’s not spoken out loud). “The house is a mess.” “The baby is teething and waking more often, so I’m exhausted.” “I don’t ever get time to myself.” “I’ll never lose weight, because I can’t find time to cook healthy meals.” “I’m too tired to work from home today.” Blah blah blah blah blah.

While these things may be true, my heart isn’t in the right place. I should be praising God every day, just as I was nearly a year ago. Things were definitely harder then, yet I was so grateful just that God had blessed me with the child in my arms, and that He was still thriving.

I am grateful that God has granted us all the breath that makes us alive today. I need to continue to keep being positive. Thinking on the things of God, and not on my own selfish desires, wants, and even my needs. God is our provider and we are to depend on Him and to praise Him in all things and in all situations. He deserves our praise.

Guiding and Teaching My Child

I want to teach my son, and encourage my husband, as well as others around me, to cherish every moment God has granted to us.

“Oh, my son, let’s praise God. Let’s praise God. Let’s praise God. Oh, my son, let’s praise God, and thank Him for each day.”

Praise Ye the LORD!

So I will keep singing. Here are a few songs I sing, usually in the mornings, to help me be in the correct frame of mind, and just generally more cheerful. Praising our wonderful Creator will always bring joy to my heart and I pray it will for you as well.

“This is the day, this is the day, that the LORD has made, that the LORD has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the LORD has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is day, that the LORD has made.” Psalm 118:24 (To hear the song, click here.)

“Rejoice in the Lord, always. And again I say, rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord, always. And again I say, rejoice. Rejoice! Rejoice! And again I say, rejoice. Rejoice! Rejoice! And again I say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 (To hear the song, click here.)

“I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the LORD has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad.” Psalm 100:4 (To hear the song, click here.)

Hiding God’s Word in My Heart

Interestingly enough, these songs are also Psalms, so learning them is also hiding God’s Word in our hearts.

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

 

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Patio Gardening: A Farmer in the Making

Published: 6 October 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Moss Sphere Salad Planter

For a few months now I have wanted to do the moss ball salad greens thing. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s all the rage. Check out this video!

A Visit to the Nursery

A couple weeks ago we went to our local nursery to see if they had the moss spheres in stock. What we discovered was even better.

As we walked around looking at all the plants, I noticed an event flyer and gave it a once over. Lo and behold they were going to have a class on edible gardens the following week! My husband and I got really excited and decided we would attend the class.

So a week went by and we went to the class. We learned so much! The gardening expert talked about fertilizing and watering, and all sorts of tips and tricks to aid us in our gardening adventure. After the lesson, we got started. We picked out our plants, and followed along as the leader walked us through what to do.

Hanging Basket Edible Garden

Between the two of us, we ended up making three hanging baskets. Here in South Texas we have two growing seasons, so one of our baskets we filled with Strawberry plants that we will harvest in the Springtime. The other two we filled with salad greens and common herbs we use in the kitchen. Once they fill out, we can just snip off the bit of salad we need, and set it on the dinner table. Pretty cool, huh? I really want to cut down on our groceries in this respect, not to mention waste. Oftentimes, I will buy a bag of salad greens and won’t be able to get through it before it spoils (usually because I am the only one eating them). When we lived in our house, we were able to plant some different greens and lots of herbs, but we had to say goodbye to many of the things we planted when we moved into our apartment.

Headed Home – Never a Dull Moment

So we finished our baskets, paid for them, then headed home to set them up on our patio. My husband and I were chatting about this and that, very excited to get to garden again.

Then I heard a gagging sound and turned in horror to see my son vomit up a mixture of milk and…you guessed it! Dirt. Once I ascertained that he was ok and we didn’t need to pull the car over, I had to laugh. He was still reaching out to grab at the planter we had set next to him on the seat. He still had a fist-full of dirt and was trying to shovel it into his mouth. He had completely uprooted a strawberry plant, so while turned awkwardly in my seat, I replanted it as best as I could, then played referee between my son and the planter, as he kept finding gaps to grab at the dirt.

Gardening on the Patio

Naturally when we got home, we had a certain amount of cleaning up to do, but our joy was not quashed by my son’s little mishap. We were all three in good spirits and still very much looking forward to replanting some of the plants we had salvaged from our home and care for our new edible garden.

My Son’s First Gardening Adventure

We stuck a pair of sweatpants on my son, so that his knees wouldn’t get scraped up on the concrete from the patio, then let him loose. He had a blast! Forgive the juvenile adage, but…it was the best day ever! We had several pots that just had dirt with nothing planted in them. We decided to dump all this soil into our largest pot and start with fresh soil and replant a few of the edibles we’d had for a while.

As we did this, my son stood over a pot and proceeded to take dirt by the handful and simply throw it on the ground. Every now and again he would pause to “taste” something he had found. At one point I had to fish around in his mouth, where I recovered two small rocks he was storing in his little cheeks like a chipmunk! He was a crack up!

A Farmer in the Making

He even grabbed a spade we had left near him and dug around in the dirt with it. I wish I could relate the joy both my husband and I experienced watching our son enjoying the outdoors and quite literally playing in the dirt! He even chased a little spider around for a while.

For us, it was a glimpse of what’s to come. We are really working towards the goal of owning some property and having a small farm one day. We really want that for our son, as we both experienced our grandparents’ farms as children. It truly was such an awesome day!

But for now, my husband and I make plans (read our story here on my husband’s blog), while my son and I go out every morning after breakfast and care for our little patio garden and do the watering. He absolutely loves it and it’s such a pleasant time to spend together.

Our Hanging Baskets

I know, I know, they aren’t hanging. Turns out the arch of our apartment patio is concrete, so we are still brainstorming how to make these hang. In the meantime, they are still lovely to look at on plant stands.

Also keep in mind they will fill in A LOT, so look for a future post about how they turn out!

This planter contains two types of lettuce, as well as two types of Basil. We are especially excited about the Cinnamon Basil, which we intend to test out in drinks, such as tea and maybe even as a flavoring in water.
The Basil will die off this winter, so we’ll harvest what we can and dry the leaves and store.

 

 

This basket contains Kale and what I like to call, savory herbs, such as Oregano, Parsley, Sage, and Thyme. Hmm…seems like we’re missing one… Don’t worry, the Rosemary is in it’s own pot. It’s a little too aggressive to plant in with the others.

 

 

 

I can’t wait to harvest these strawberries in the spring and can our all-fruit jam! Did you know that the strawberry leaves can be used to help with stomach ache? 

Genesis 1:12

“And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

What about you?

What hobbies do you enjoy? What experiences do you really want your children to have? We really want to know!

 

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One Great Poopy Disaster

Published: 2 October 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

Fair Warning

The title doesn’t lie. This story is gross…

Well, Here’s How It Started…

A few weeks back, I had a cold. No biggie. I took care to hydrate myself and avoided sugar, and increased my intake of Vitamin C. One way I do this is by adding Emergen-C packets to my water. It’s a tasty way to get a high dose of Vitamin C as well as some energy boosting B Vitamins. I mention these packets, because I have my suspicions that they affected my son, as he gets what I eat via nursing. Let me explain…

And Then He Pooped…

My 10 month old son and I were going about our normal routine. He was playing on his little miniature piano and “singing” (yelling) up a storm. He stopped for a moment and I heard him tooting. I thought, “Ok, he just pooped.” So I waited a couple minutes to make sure he was done. (Because who wants to change a diaper only to have another one filled up right away?) Then I scooped him up playfully, yammering on to him in a funny voice about how he pooped, and was poopy, and how we had to change the poopy. (I’m sure you can imagine how I sounded…like a crazy I’m sure.)

Oh No, Did Cloth Diapers Fail Me?

I put him up on his changing table and realized there was already poop showing. Uh oh…

(Now let me take a moment to say that my cloth diapers did not fail me. I still maintain that blowouts are much less to nonexistent as compared to disposables. However, I sometimes let him air out a bit and just stick him loosely in a prefold, without a cover. This way, if he pees, it doesn’t get everywhere, but he’s a little more free as well. There are ways to put the prefold on to keep in a loose stool, but I wasn’t expecting a poo on this day, so I wasn’t prepared.)

As I looked closer there was runny poo running down his legs. So I started to clean him up a bit, but realized this was the biggest poopy adventure we’d had since we was weeks old, so I quickly ascertained that it was shower time! I scooped him back up, still talking to him playfully about the situation (Hey, it was’t his fault Mommy got lazy with his diaper) and headed for the guest bathroom as it is the closest one to my son’s room. It was on this short journey, that I realized what an unobservant person I truly am…

There Was Poop Everywhere!

Let me say it again. THERE WAS POOP EVERYWHERE!  As I backtracked out of his room and into the hall, I see that poop had dripped onto the floor, onto a bookshelf I had passed and lifted my son over, and of course, it was on the changing table, and changing pad as well. It continued to drip off him onto the floor in the bathroom and onto the shower floor as well, where I was finally able to get this child clean!

Finally Clean.

I got him cleaned up, dried off, and into a fresh diaper, (with a cover this time – no shortcuts!), did a quick clean up of the poopy items and spots on the floor that had been affected by this mishap, and we went on about our day. It just so happened it was nap time, so I walked straight to my bedroom (where my son’s crib is), and proceeded to read him a book, then sing and rock him to sleep. I also took a nap.

The Excitement Never Ends!

Once we woke up, we went back into the living room and play area I have set up for my son. I sat down on the couch to do a few things and my son went about playing with his toys. Pretty soon, he started to crawl over to me. Nothing out of the ordinary as he frequently “checks in” with Mommy while he plays. But as I looked up to greet him, I was horrified to see…. MORE POOP!

What in the world happened? Did he poop AGAIN? Nope. I don’t know how I missed it, but as I looked over toward his little piano, which is set up on a patch of tiled floor in the carpeted living room, I saw poopy smeared all over the tile. I quickly realized that this mess was leftover from the previous poopy disaster. I guess because I was being so silly with my son when I scooped him up to change him, that I didn’t see the mess that had run down and hit the floor.

Poop Clean Up: Take Two

So now that we had found this leftover mess (I can’t even say NEW mess!), or should I say, my SON found this mess and had happily played in it (Gag reflex anyone?!), it was time to clean up again. Back we went to the shower. Again I cleaned him up, dried him off, and put him in a fresh diaper. Then I stuck him in his crib and went to clean up his play area. I will spare those of you who are reading the rest of the details, as I’m sure you can imagine well enough for yourself.

Sharing the Load

During my son’s second nap, I unloaded my Great Poopy Adventure to my husband in a text. Needless to say he felt sorry for me (and was probably extremely glad this hadn’t happened on a weekend while he was home). I was blessed later that evening with a good foot rub. Gotta love a happy ending!

What About You?

I know you have them to share! What are some disasters that have happened to you in parenthood?

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

James 1:2

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Moments I Could Have Missed…

Published: 22 September 2017
Written by Lil Dino Mommy
No comments
Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood, Parenthood

*Note: Our family has been in the throes of moving chaos and this post got lost in the shuffle. It was originally written in mid-July, about two months ago, but it is just too sweet not to share. Please enjoy this snapshot into my family’s dearest moments.

Please Just Go To Sleep

Tonight my son had a difficult time going to sleep. We started his bedtime routine on time just as we do each night, and went through our whole process. It took him almost an hour longer to fall asleep than usual. Any parent reading this I’m sure has also pleaded in weariness, “Why is this happening to me?”

As a first time Momma, I’ve read a lot in an effort to learn about babies and sleep. In the spirit of full disclosure, I definitely wasn’t following many of the suggestions that have been given on this particular night. We’ve been going through quite a transition lately because we are in the process of moving. The routine is all over the place and despite my best efforts to maintain consistency for my baby’s sake, some days it just hasn’t been possible.

Why Are You So Stinkin’ Cute?!

So tonight, instead of keeping everything dark and quiet, as my son began to cycle awake, I just went with the flow, too tired to fight it. When his eyes popped open and he smiled, I knew we were in for it. He didn’t want to nurse anymore, so I put him up on my shoulder. Then he saw his Daddy laying quietly on the bed. Another smile and a bounce.

I was still rocking him in the trusty ol’ rocking chair and he started to giggle. I realized with him on my shoulder, rocking was a bit more of a ride than a calm way to settle him. You would think I would have stop upon realizing this, but instead I gave in to the fun! So, as I rocked back, I gave him a little bounce and a “Weee”. This produced another giggle. We continued this way for a few minutes and the giggles grew into a continuous chain of laughter from all three of us. I can honestly say, neither my husband or I have seen and heard my son laugh so much and so hard. It was hilarious, entertaining, and heart-warming to see my son having so much fun…even if he was SUPPOSED to be sleeping.

Cry It Out Isn’t For Us

There is a lot of pressure for parents today to let their babies “cry it out” as a method of sleep training. This post is not meant to condemn those who choose this method, but rather encourage those who do not WANT to choose this method for their child. In another post, I will address the reasons my husband and I have decided that this method is not for us and our son. And although there have been times I’ve nearly caved to this sleep “training” method, today I simply want to say, I’m so glad we didn’t miss this precious and enjoyable moment. It was so very special.

No amount of couch time, TV watching, game playing, book reading, or even adult conversation (which I do desperately crave these days), or progress in unpacking could have been any more enjoyable and fulfilling than those few minutes of playtime and laughter with our son. My husband and I will remember it forever.

If We Had Chosen CIO, We Would Have Missed This!

There are other experiences with my baby I hold dear that would not be the same if I didn’t nurse, sing, or rock him to sleep. One of the sweetest things that comes to mind is how my son pats my face while I rock him and sing. His little hand finds my mouth (sometimes I’m like a fish on a hook with his little fingers in my mouth) as he feels my warm breath on his hand. His little fingers crawl up and find my nose which becomes a handle, as he closes his eyes. I can’t tell you how many times he has fallen asleep with his hand on my face and I absolutely love it.

In fact, it’s become a new part of our nap time routine for me to name the features of my face as his fingers touch them. “Mouth”, “nose”, and sometimes even “eyes” if I lean down close enough. We are also working on signing for milk which we can incorporate a bit before he falls asleep.

I wouldn’t trade these sweet moments for all the 8-hour uninterrupted nights I’m missing out on. They are just too precious.

A dear friend told me that waiting 18 months for this sleep thing to work itself out “sounds like torture”. She is not a stranger to sleepless nights as her son is only a few months older than mine and we like to help each other in sharing our thoughts on various parenting topics.

One Day, He’ll Be Grown

And yes, I am tired. However, I have peace in the knowledge that one day my son will sleep through the night. One day he will wean and not need Mommy’s milk (affectionately called nursies in our home) for nourishment or even comfort anymore. One day, he’ll be too big to rock to sleep. One day, he will not need me to sing to him so that he can fall asleep, in fact, he may not want me to sing to him at all. One day, I won’t lay him in his crib (and co-sleeping will be a dream) as he’ll crawl into bed on his own, shoo me away, read his book on his own, flip off the light, and go to sleep…all by himself. And I’ll miss him.

Today, my son is nearly 8 1/2 months old and I can hardly believe how fast time is passing. These few months, which may add up to only a couple years will pass quickly enough, with or without sleep (and to be honest, I am finding ways to get rest). I simply choose to cherish all these moments while I have the opportunity to do so.

Proverbs 23:15-16

“My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.”

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