Proverbs 31 - Selling my wares

The one thing about art that always holds true is that it's subjective. I come from a creative family and have spent many years finding new projects. Even if they end up finding a home cleverly organized with their counterparts I don't have time for, I always want a new one. It's kind of like wandering into a bookstore. It's irrelevant that I have 17 books and 32 magazines waiting to be read, the smell of fresh, new books never loses it's allure.

I have found many wonderful creative outlets over the years, some that I was enthralled with for a season, others that repeatedly find their way to the top of my 'want to do list'. I fell in love with scrapbooking about 11 years ago and that has proven very rewarding. My maternal grandmother taught me crotchet, punch rugging and freehand embroidery, which took me a few years to really get the hang of. If only my carpel tunnel would let me crochet more. I tried my hand at knitting, which I found rather annoying. Beadwork of all kinds has wound it's way through my past, starting with indian beadwork, then miscellaneous jewlery and most recently bookmarks. I'm a sucker for bead sales like they're new books... I have the beginnings of quilting, yet haven't really finished one of those projects. My mom taught me to sew years ago, a trade which I became comfortable with only in my adult years. (If I really am an adult.) Of course random crafts fill half my drawers and bins to keep my big, consistent projects company.

My one conundrum over the years has been that I couldn't make money with my creativity. I tried a craft mall, ebay and the mart with little success. I have pretty much resigned myself to enjoy them for the value they have to me, and those that I choose to give them as gifts to. But then I found out about Etsy.com. I am super excited! A site just for the peddling of handmade goods? Fantastic! Everyone who wanders there for purchases is expecting unique, quality handmade items. Perhaps I have found my outlet. I'll keep you updated when my page is ready...

One bite at a time

Well, here we go! I say that as though it were a new beginning, when in all actuality this is the same blog I've had for, what, a year now? I suppose it is a new beginning, however, because my attitude has changed. There is purpose now where before I simply felt I was to catalog my days. I do need to give credit where credit is due to my friend Lauren, who I have lost touch with for the most part since highschool. I was up rocking Jacob starting around 3 this morning (I am not a proponant of the "cry-it-out" method) and wandered to her blogs. I lost myself! I had no idea how much we had in common these days...

I was inspired and "spurred on" as the scriptures tell us to do to for our brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm not entirely sure how to describe it except to say it made me spend the next few hours (hey, I was up anyway...) seeking God for guidance toward the purposes He has in my life. I mean, I love God, and I try to live for God, but sometimes I feel so scattered in how to live for Him. There are so many things I feel passionate about, on varying levels, and yet I feel as though I fail miserably at nearly all of them. What I really felt like the Lord was speaking to me this morning was that I was waiting to get everything 'just so' before I really used anything. I'm a perfectionist in many areas of my life and sometimes that's a good thing. However, life, and living for God for that matter, is not a static location. It is a direction, perspective, and ever-refining way of living.


So, with that said, I will no longer wait until I have 'completed my research', become well-versed in a subject, or mastered an art before using it to God's glory. The actual posting of this blog is a step in that direction because I love editing yet feel there is much I have to learn. So therefore I fear posting anything I've written because I know many out there have more English skills than me (ahem, Ashley...) and will wonder what in the world I'm doing thinking I can edit. I will let go, missed mistakes and all. No one is perfect, and I might as well share what I've learned when I just plain miss God. I hope you enjoy this because it just might be humiliating for me, but I can't remember the last time I felt so excited to run and fall flat on my face. Because, quite frankly, at least I'm running. Toward Him. And I know He's thrilled to see me coming.

Yeah, it's the school's fault

Ok, so I know this is a random post, but it's the middle of the night and I'm trying to find the end of the internet while I rock Jacob.

http://www.foundmagazine.com/find/2111

BTW, warning ... so hard to not keep hitting next ...

Similac coupons?

So it's been a million years since I posted a blog. I've known for a while now, but then I felt like it needed to be about something important rather than everyday jazz because it had been so long. I'm giving up on that however and just writing... because I can.

We've settled into a nice little routine with the boys. They usually sleep straight through the night now, so that alone makes me feel more human. They're also waaaay more interactive now too, so it's fun to play with them. They really love being startled, which I think is hilarious because I loathe it. I read them stories and they think that's great. We also do a choreographed alphabet song that is apparently fun :) They're rolling all over the place now too, including into and on each other. They sometimes talk to and look at one another and I try to get it on video. However, when I get the camera out they freeze and just stare at me. Little turkeys.

I've been able to start scrapbooking their one-year albums and I'm having soooo much fun! I'm doing one for each of them with 2 pages for every month. Then I will make a yearly family album too. This way I figure one day they can each have an album to keep without having to split everything. Plus, it's easy to lump all their stuff together and I think they need something to make them individual :)

Oh, I've also weaned since about 6 months which has given me mixed feelings. I was really hoping to nurse at least a year, but it got really hard with 2. I had enough milk, but they were very difficult to control at the same time! And it's not like I could just leave one alone while I nurse the other... So, I decided it was better for everyone to just go to bottles. (Oh my word formula is expensive!!!) But, God provides.

Monday is Isaac's birthday, and next week is father's day. I'm taking him to our first Gwinnett Braves game this Sunday (minus the dufflepuds) so that should be fun. Hooray for hot dogs and soda!

Fat turkeys

So I know I'm supposed to be happy the boys are gaining weight really well and getting healthier, but I can't help but lament they are no longer in their teeny tiny preemie clothes! Of course, I say they are chunky, but are just now only newborn size... Today at the dr Caleb is up to 8 lbs 9 oz! Jacob is 6 lbs 14 oz, so that's 2 1/2 lbs in almost 2 months for him and 3 lbs for Caleb. Yeah for chubby thighs :) They also have dimples now with the extra weight...I love my my chunky turkeys :)

Sleep continues to allude us for the most part, but this is only a season and we're trying to relish this cuddly time where they fall asleep on your chest and don't try to crawl away...

Full-time job - sitting

So I figured out that if I'm only nursing every 3 hours for one hour I sit in this chair 8 hours a day...minimum. You'd think I would post more blogs. Mostly I watch netflix. And sometimes if I catch them watching the screen, I switch to veggietales. I tried to find some books online, but it's mostly classics and Poe seems a little heavy to read out loud to them. And quite frankly, it's not like I read it for pleasure! Heavy on the macabre, light on the SNL references.

Does anyone own Alias seasons? I'd like to watch through that again without waiting for it on netflix :)

The boys are getting fat, which makes me happy. It's kind of bittersweet though, because they are growing out of their teeny tiny clothes. Of course, I realize they're still teeny tiny, but you know...

1 month

So I haven't been very good about calling and giving updates. This is mostly because I can't seem to keep track of what day is what and when I talked to people. Here would be the obvious place for a group update, but it's only been in the last day or two that I've mastered the art of typing while I nurse. Now, here I sit, waiting for the need to burb to arise before pausing my typing. (Their need, not mine.)

The boys are both home, almost a week now. Well, 2 for Caleb. I really wish Isaac would have had more than 2 days with both of them before he had to go back to work. He has next week off though, so that will be fun :) Mom's been here most of this week to help, and that has been great. I've had a few test runs taking care of them alone, and it went ok. The main thing is trying to feed them at the same time. I do try to keep them on the same schedule, because, at least then I can sleep an hour or two between feedings. Sometimes, when they're really tired or ate a lot, they'll go longer... Anyway, it's sooo much easier to feed them at the same time if someone hands them to me once I get settled. Also, it's nice to hand them off to be burped. It's a little tricky burping one without bonking the other in the head. Well, at least burping affectively anyway. And Caleb is hard to burb so he requires lots of repositioning. I'll just have to get the hang of it eventually.

I have to say just how unbelievably cute they are too. I would imagine every mother feels this way, but in my case, it really is true :) They make the best faces. Caleb is really putting on weight, so his dimples are starting to show a lot. And I know it's still involuntary, but when they smile, it's adorable. Jacob still needs to grow into his skin a little, but he's trying. His appetite is getting better every day. Sometimes I can't believe how much Caleb will eat. I have no idea how he can put away that much food! But, they're so tiny, I figure there's no harm in letting them eat and eat and eat.

Aside from being tired, I'm having so much fun. Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy this time because it will go by fast and they won't be little anymore, so I am. I mean, tomorrow, they will be 1 month. Sigh.