Right Now

I'm preaching the gospel to myself again and again, reminding myself that I have been given all that I need for life and godliness...and no matter how much I think I do I do not NEED nap-time. This on-going lecture to myself is the result of trying to get the kids to take their naps in the same room. I figured it would be better to start now and get them used to it than to wait until the new baby was born. However...today...Zeke was awake from his nap before Kessa had even fallen asleep...and then turns out he was still really tired and needed more sleep...but if I laid him back now he was sure to wake up the now sleeping Kessa. You wouldn't think it would be this complicated...I mean they do sleep in the same room at night for Pete's sake! *deep breathe* I need some tylenol! lol

This one is really starting to get the hang of walking...and is actually doing it! :D He's been able to for a while now and just hasn't wanted to because he's such a fast crawler...well no more! He's been walking up a storm the past two days!

These two are nearly insepreble...

especially since their matching outfits arrived in the mail today. Too cute...I wish I had a video of how excited Kessa was! She kept talking about all the things on their clothes...that she and Gabby BOTH had. I knew she'd like having matching outfits, but her response was even better than I had hoped for!

Frugal Friday

Well...this is my first time participating in the Frugal Friday linky round-up hosted by Life as Mom (be sure to check her out for more great Frugal ideas!!!) That being said I'm thinking about cloth today....mainly cloth diapers. I used cloth diapers with Kessa for quite a while and really liked it. I had the really nice cloth diapers that are basically exactly like disposables except you wash them. However, by the time she out-grew those great diapers I had found out I was pregnant with Zeke and decided I didn't want to tackle two in cloth (not really sure why...not really much extra work! lol) Anyway, we recently made the transition BACK to cloth for both of them and I'm so thankful that I did! Theses aren't ALL frugal reasons, but here are the main reasons I switched back to cloth. (oh, and this time around I found a GREAT price on e-bay for some new covers and we're going old school with just covers and flats.)

1. Do you KNOW what they put in disposable diapers to make them so absorbant?!?!?! PVCs and SAPs (Super Absorbant Polymers, if you've ever had a diaper "explode" on your little you know what I'm talking about.) Now here's the scary part...they used to use these in tampons...and they stopped doing that in the 80's due to their link to Toxic Shock Syndrom...and even worse...in Europe it's ILLEGAL to use them in diapers...and yet I was still putting them on my babies's tooshes 24 hours a day!

2. I'm not a big "green" person but I do believe that God has created us to care for and nurture the earth...conservative estimates say that disposable diapers make up over 70% of the world's non-biodegratable waste contributed to landfills since 1970. (and did you know that you're "supposed" to dump poop out of disposable diapers before tossing them?!?! Me neither...tiny tiny print on the end of the bag that you probably threw away says so!)

3. (here's where we start getting frugal) I have two kids in diapers so even when I get the BEST deal in the world on diapers I'm still paying around 14 cents a diaper (and let's not even talk brand name diapers!) On average, if I buy the cheapest diapers I can, I spend $14.00 a WEEK on diapers...and around $8 ever month to month and a half for wipes...and $6 every two to three months for a diaper genie refill (we only use it for poopie diapers.) Now that's we've got back to cloth I spend $30 for 6 covers, which might push it here and there, but will be enough for both my kids until they are potty trained.

4. I spend nothing this time around on the flats because I already had them (but if you go buy them we're talking like $20 to $40 for a pack of REALLY nice flats.) The great thing about flats...NEVER have to replace them because your kid outgrows them!

5. I'm even using cloth wipes this time, which honestly I find easier because I can just shove it in the diaper, it all goes in the same pail and I'm done with it. I spend nothing on these because I simple cut down old flannel receiving blankets and did a finishising stitch around the edge. That's it. I'm going to be keeping them in home-made wipes solution in a old store-bought wipes box.

So, if I've done the math even close to right instead of spending around $62 a MONTH on diaper related "stuff" (that I didn't even feel comfortable using on my babies' anymore!) I spent around $100 once and I'd say... $7 more on water than before (I line dry the diapers so that's free too!) So....from $62 to even, let's say $10 in case I had to dry some in the dryer. I'd say that's DEFINETLY a FRUGAL FRIDAY.

Encouragement

I don't know about you...but I often find myself getting so wrapped up in doing all the little mundane things that being a wife, mother and homemaker require that I forget WHY I'm doing them. It's always nice to be reminded of my High Calling and I think that that every thing was done exceptionally well today over at Keeper of the Home. I strongly encourage you to check it out! Here is a direct link to today's post on A Grander Vision.

And on a random note....(yes, my 2 year old is reading a book by Spurgeon...she sure has good taste! :)

another Lo from the April Scrap-Tastic kit.

Prima Goodness +

Just popping in quickly to share some of my April projects with the Scrap-tastic kit (it should be up in the next day or two) it is sooo full of beautiful new Prima goodness!!! I can't wait to find some more time to play more!
This frame I altered and hung up in our living room. The verses on it ( you can click the image to read all of them) are from Psalm 127 and talk about God being the builder of our home and children being a blessing. :)
Stay tuned for more!

Totally Random

Today you're in for a totally random post...here we go!

1. I am officially 19 weeks along as of TODAY. (if we're lucky maybe we'll get a picture of the belly at 20 weeks! lol) I felt the strongest kick from the baby BY FAR that I've felt so far today.

2. Totally enjoying this blog.

3. Contemplating buying some of these (yes, they're BPA free...which after reading some articles yesterday I really want for my littles and myself since I have a little INSIDE of me.)

4. Bought some ADORABLE material today to make Kessa and Gabby matching dresses with this pattern (the one on the right is the pattern we're using.)
(it's pink and has lots of hearts and is so sweet and springy and girly and we're using some wide lace eyelet for the contrasting material...I can't wait to get started on these!)

5. And a sneak of the April kit from Scrap-tastic for you!

6. Oh! And TOTALLY TOTALLY loving Swagbucks right now. I just got two Amazon gift cards yesterday...and I'm going to cash in some more today. (I haven't spent them yet though.) (if you want more info about Swagbucks you can see my original post about it here.)

7. These are just for you Kirsten...I have no great stories at the moment (besides the fact that I've taught Kessa to respond with "He is Risen Indeed!" when I say "He is Risen!") but I did think I would pop up some new pictures of the littles for you. :) *hugs* Miss you girl!

Birds of a Feather

My poor little blog has been feeling sorely neglected over the last few days...sorry about that. I thought I'd pop in and share the LOs I did with the March Color Me Daisy kit. :) Enjoy!

6th Picture

Ok, the lovely Deanna tagged me for this fun little ditty.

So, the deal is, I'm supposed to post the 6th picture in the 6th folder on your computer. And I'm also supposed to tag 6 more people to pass it along. However, since a while back I played along after Jessica tagged me I'm going to change it up a little. I'm going to start at the bottom of my picture file and count 6 back instead of doing it from the front. Here's the picture:
not so exciting...but there it is. *shrug*

and I tag Joyce, Becky, Kamie, Lyn, Nat, and Kimberly.

Pocket Planners

Just popping in to share some more Bind it All Projects. These are pocket planners I made. I didn't have a template or anything and I'm very happy with how they turned out!
This one I'm giving to my mom and I'm not sure how she'll use it so I haven't decorated the inside pages yet.and this is mine. The papers on the front are from that Bible I started cutting up last month. lol. The verses are Phil 4:4-9, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally borthers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

and 1 Cor. 14:40 - everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way (I thought that was rather appropriate for a planner! lol)

I also have an Etc. pocket for memory verses, things I want to buy for the house, etc! ;)

Everthing I used for this planner except the Thickers is from the March Color Me Daisy kit.

Preparing your Minds

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you as the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13

Lessons from Cinderella

As I was changing the sheets on my bed this morning Kessa and I had a little conversation that went something like this...

Kessa: So, umm...I have to marry a prince...like Cinderella married a Prince so I have to married a prince.

Me: Oh, ok. Did you know that God has a special Prince picked out just for Kessa?

Kessa: Oh...but we can't look for him?

Me: No, we can't look for him. We have to be patient and wait on God's time.

Kessa: mmm....but not for really?

Me: Yes, for really.

Kessa: Ok, I will wait for God's time.

Man...I hope all lessons about boys go over this well!!!!

Crop Info

I love to scrap I love to play,
I scrapbook almost everyday!
So what's this I hear, a crop you say?
We'll have so much scrappin the days away!!
I think a Dr. Seuss crop will be sweet and crazy,
be sure to join us here March 6-8 at Color Me Daisy!!

We will have some great prizes to give away at the crop. The winner of the main prize is going to be extremely happy with her loot!! Please join us for a lot of fun, challenges, games, and lots of scrappin!! Also, check out the kit this month. It's called "Birds of a Feather", it has gorgeous papers from Glitz Design, feathers, and lots of fun embellies!! It's a gotta have kit!!!

(and thanks to Aimee who I totally stole this post and rhyme from)