Summer 2011

This summer has been fabulous! My brother got married, we went to Utah and California, Thomas' parents came to town for Isaac's birthday, and we are in the process of moving from our 3rd floor apartment to a house! Yipee!

Isaac is almost 14 months old, is growing like a little weed and oh my goodness is SO adorable! He is running all over the place, climbing, and playing. And every few minutes he will take a break from that and just sit quietly on his own to read a book or two. His Aunt Lindsay got him a little blue rocking horse for his birthday, and it is currently his favorite toy. He will sit on it and rock for a few minutes at a time. Sometimes he will stand on it and rock. He is eating very well. He is a healthy boy. I am still nursing him twice a day, but in the process of weaning him. He is a wonderful sleeper and the only thing I can complain about is that I have to literally wrestle him to change his diaper and clothes! Sometimes I feel like he is stronger than me. Ridiculous, I know, but MAN that kid is strong! He LOVES to dance. I play music for him at least an hour each day and he just stands in the living room laughing and dancing. He mainly just bobs up and downs and walks around in circles with his arms in the air. I am so lucky to be his mom. He has the sweetest, most fun personality. He is always happy and laughing. I love just sitting on the floor while he attacks me and pulls my hair and tries to bite my nose all while laughing hysterically. I am very lucky to be his mom.

Thomas is working very hard lately. It is 100+ outside, and he comes home very sweaty. Poor guy. I try to stay indoors all day if I can because it is just way too hot! He is trying to get more sales than usual these next few weeks, so he has been gone pretty much all day. He is such a hard worker! I am very lucky to have a husband that was raised to work hard. I love him so much and appreciate how hard he works for our family. His job is TOUGH and it is often hard for him to get out the door, but he does it anyway. Honestly, I couldn't imagine a harder job. It is physically, mentally, and most of all emotionally draining. He doesn't have a boss, manager, or anyone to answer to and motivate him (other than me :)), which makes it even harder for him to decide to go out to work and stay working. I love him sooo much, and can't wait for him to someday find an easier job.

I have been a bit of a homemaker lately. I have been sewing a lot of things! I have been making burp clothes, baby blankets, a nursing cover, and a car seat cover! (No, I am not pregnant, it is for friends). I am going to make Isaac a nice soft blanket this week. I am also going to be making my own bread again and making my own yogurt. Isaac really likes yogurt, and it is expensive to buy since I only buy organic yogurt. I have also been looking into wheat grinding. I know I can get kind of weird sometimes. :) But whole wheat flour is SO much healthier when it has been freshly ground. It looses most of it's nutrition within 72 hours. I can't wait to move into our new house (we are renting it, not buying) so I can finally get started on our food storage! The house is 2000 square feet, which is much bigger than our apartment, and the rent is almost the same price! We will have a 2 car garage, a back yard, 2 living rooms, 2 dining areas, and 3 bedrooms. I am SO happy that I will not have to lug Isaac and his car seat up 3 flights of stairs in 100 degree weather anymore! There is also a community spray park, pool, and fitness center, so we will have all of the same things we did at our apartment complex. The house is only 3 minutes away from our apartment, so we will be staying in the same ward, and across the street from some friends in the ward. I am so happy that we will be in a house. We are planning on staying in this area for a few years, and I don't know if I could have handled the apartment for that long.

Hopefully I won't wait so long to blog next time! Have a wonderful day! :)

Raw food diet and Consignment sale!

For the month of March, Thomas and I are doing a health challenge with our stake. We are supposed to be healthier for 30 days. So we decided last minute to try a raw food diet, and let me tell you- it is KILLING me. We have only been doing it for 4 days. My body is craving anything that is NOT fruits or vegetables. Yesterday I was strong and didn't give into my Taco Bell craving, but today I did :( haha. No big deal, though. We are supposed to have 70% raw food and then the other 30% whatever we want (I imagine it is still supposed to be healthy though, not Taco Bell). I have noticed that it is getting a little bit better each day, though. We also have other goals, like drinking more water (Thomas), exercising (me), etc. I am hoping by the end of March I will have lost my last 10 pounds.

Today we went to a HUGE consignment sale, and it was awesome! There was so much baby stuff, it was hard for me not to buy it all. However, I did buy 12 shirts, 4 pants, 1 pajama, and a swimming suit for Isaac for only $40! They are really cute, and a few haven't even been worn before. I am so happy that we went!! :)

Texas

Thomas, Isaac, and I have been living in Texas since the beginning of January, and can I just say that we LOVE it! We love our apartment, we love our ward, and we love the area that we live in. The people here are so hospitable and welcoming, we are amazed!

Thomas' business is going great. He is currently the only employee of TCell Technologies. He sells and installs security systems! This job has really been a blessing to us. Starting the business was WAY easier than we anticipated, and it took very little money to start, which was definitely a plus! The company is already profitable. Thomas is loving such a "cush" job. He doesn't need to work nearly as hard to make the same amount that we were previously making, so he will hang out at home with Isaac and I for half the week. This is really nice for him. I'm sure he will get bored soon however, and start working like a crazy man. He can't help it.

Isaac is now 7 months old, and I swear gets cuter by the hour. He has 2 teeth and a smile that melts my heart. He is always smiling at everyone. People always comment on what a happy baby he is! I have very slowly started him on baby food, and he is still trying to get the hang of it. Some days he gobbles it up and others I can't get him to take one bite! I am having a wonderful time homemaking the baby food, however! I have made sweet potatoes, apples, and butternut squash. I was able to make about a month's worth of food for under $3. Making baby food is SO much cheaper and healthier for Isaac. I feel comfortable giving him food that I know has no additives and is completely fresh!

I still have 10 pounds of baby weight that I am trying to get off, so I have been eating healthier and less. When I heard that you need to eat 500 extra calories a day while nursing, I really kinda went crazy with this. Food has always been a huge weakness of mine. I LOVE FOOD. I love food all the time whether I am hungry or not. I will eat beyond full. I just love the way it tastes, and I love every food. So for the past 7 months I have not tried to hold back in any way. I still ate semi-healthy, but I ate A LOT. I actually gained 5 pounds. So now I have been eating only when I am hungry, and normal portions. I have also been buying organic everything (so pricey, it kills me), and eating a lot of fruits and veggies. Thomas and I drink a green drink every day. Yuck. Anyways, I have lost about 5 pounds, so it's working. :)

I have been reading many parenting books, I have been budgeting (we are doing Dave Ramsey's envelope program)- we are also completely debt free except for our house, YIPEE! I have also been reading and researching about homeschool. I have always wanted to homeschool my children, and have always been reasearching it. I feel that parents are a child's best teacher and really respect mothers who take the time to teach their children each day. It seems like a lot of work, but I am commited to do it if it is the right thing for my family. I don't need to be decided on it for a few years, but until then I am going to learn all I can about it so I can make the right decision!

Life is amazing, and my family and I have been SO blessed. I couldn't imagine my life any better right now. :)

Goals for the next few months

1. Become an amazing coupon mom. I want to spend no more than $35 a week on groceries:)
2. Put all of my pictures and videos of my family onto CD's.
3. Make a rag quilt
4. Take a CPR and First Aid course
5. Take a self-defense class for women
6. Learn how to sew so I can make things instead of buy them
7. Get a 3-month supply of food storage
8. Tighten my tummy
9. Stop losing my hair
10. Become a more loving wife and mother

I wanted to write these down so I don't forget! If anyone has advice on any of these, please share :)

Sleepless in Happy Valley

Ever since we moved Isaac into his own room and crib, he has not slept very well. He has progressively gotten worse and worse each night it seems. Right now he is waking up every 2 hours. He usually eats and goes back to sleep, but at least once every night he is just WIDE AWAKE and isn't hungry or anything! I am so confused. I ALWAYS put him to bed awake, and he always falls asleep within 3 minutes. I still swaddle him for every nap and at night, and I always give him his pacifier to fall asleep (otherwise he just breaks out of his swaddle and sucks on his hands). I just don't know what is waking him up all night! He used to be able to sleep for 6-8 hours straight. And I thought I was sleep deprived then- HA! Oh well. He still wakes up in the morning happy and adorable, and is a very good baby. He only whines when he is hungry or tired, so I know when I need to put him down for a nap. Overall, Isaac is a very sweet, adorable baby, and I consider myself lucky!! I love him so much, and would stay up all night with him if I had to. I just want what is best for him, and I think that is sleep!

I'VE BEEN TAGGED! :)

I'VE BEEN TAGGED! :)

1. What is your ALL time favorite song and why? None of this "well I like everything". If you had to pick one, which would it be?
I love many songs, but I have always loved "You'll be in My Heart" by Phil Collins on Tarzan!

2. What was the most memorable part of your wedding day and or first date if you aren't married yet. ;)
The most memorable part of my wedding day was probably before we were married driving up to the temple. Thomas and I drove together and were very nervous/excited! The rest of the day went by so fast it's all a blur!

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to have a dozen kids and be an amazing mom!

4. Why do you blog?
I started blogging because I everyone I know blogs so I figured I better jump on the bandwagon! However, as you can see from how often I post, it is very hard for me to think of things interesting enough to post. But I LOVE reading all of my friends' blogs!!!!

5. What is your favorite attribute about yourself and why?
I think my best quality is that I am very loyal. I like that I am frugal with money. I also have amazing intuition which is always spot-on!

6. What's on your Christmas list this year?
Nothing much! I would like to think that the thousand dollar plane tickets to Pennsylvania for Christmas can count as my present from Thomas.

7. What is your "signature drink"? It could be homemade, your daily Starbucks drink, or what you always order when you go out. If it is homemade, will you include the recipe? :)
WATER is definitely my signature drink! haha! Whenever I am at a restaurant I order water and nothing else! When I am at home I drink water and nothing else! And I drink gallons a day. I have been this way my entire life. I never drink soda.

Okay, that was fun!

I TAG

Kristen Pace

Rebecca Burnside

Mariah Harrison

I'm not sure how many people I'm supposed to tag, but seeing as how I never post, there aren't many people I know who read my blog! So hopefully you ladies will see this sometime!! :) Have fun!

Isaac has arrived!!!!! :)

Isaac Thomas Shaffer was born on Sunday, July 11 at 2:20 AM! He was 21 inches long, and weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. Childbirth was probably the best experience of my life!! I know I sound crazy but I really loved it! I started to get contractions at 4 AM on the 10th (Isaac's due date), and they started out at about 10 minutes apart. I had never had any braxton hicks contractions or any other kind of contractions before this, so I was thinking there is no way this is real labor. I didn't want to get my hopes up!! I didn't wake Thomas up or anything, I just kept timing them. My doctor told me to go to the hospital when they were 5 minutes apart. So Thomas left for work, and I just laid on the couch all day watching Heroes and timing my contractions. At around 4 pm they started to get to be around 5 or 6 minutes apart, but I didn't want to make Thomas come home from work if it wasn't the real thing. (He was in the middle of the company's Iron Man competition, and we really wanted him to win!!!) When the contractions started coming at 4 minutes apart I called Thomas and told him to come home. About a half hour later they kind of stopped and were really random. Sometimes 1 minute apart, sometimes 10 minutes apart. I realize now it was because I was so stressed that I took Thomas out of the competition for nothing, and I was really uptight! After he had been home for about an hour, I decided to eat something and relax. That's when the contractions were about every minute!! They were almost non stop! So we grabbed everything we needed and headed to the hospital. When we got there I was already in active labor. I was 100% effaced and 6 cm dilated! I was so excited!! My doctor happened to be out of town that weekend LOL, so we got the on call doctor, who I liked a lot! I was expecting to be in MUCH more pain than I was from hearing all of the horror stories. Contractions hurt, but each one made me soooo happy because I knew Isaac would be here very soon!!!! At around 7 cm I got an epidural, which slowed everything down a little bit. This was probably around 9 pm. It was an amazing epidural though, i could feel a little bit of pain, which is what I wanted so I could push. At around 1 AM I was fully dilated, and was ready to push! I pushed for about an hour and a half, however it went by really fast and it didn't seem that long at all! When I saw Isaac for the first time I couldn't believe that he was really inside of me for 9 months and that I had just pushed him out! It was very surreal! And he was so cute!!!
We stayed at the hospital for 2 more days. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I am so blessed that the pregnancy and birth went so perfect!!! Isaac is 1 month old now, and is the cutest little guy ever!!! He is getting nice and chubby too!