Sept. 3 - Peek

These two are just too cute together!  I've blogged about Griffin's friend, Kyri, and her mom (my friend), Cora here.  They have been such a blessing to us the past couple months, along with loads of other mamas and babies I've gotten to know in the Village lately. 

Sept. 2 - One of THOSE Days

Bahahah!  Some days are......messy.  Not sure why I didn't put a bib on him.  I don't think either of our brains are functioning properly today.

Sept. 1 - Supplements

These are the supplements I take every day (usually only one or two of the teas).  I feel like I should be over 50 to be taking so many vitamins...especially when I have to take several of them more than once a day!  I mean, what am I going to do when I travel?  I suppose I'll have to get me one of those nifty pill cases with the little compartments and days of the week written inside.  In all seriousness, however, they are helping with my hypoglycemia and anxiety/panic attacks.  I've taken it slow, adding one in per week.  I'm not currently pregnant, but this liquid prenatal vitamin is the only multivitamin I've ever been able to take without throwing up!  I highly recommend it to anyone who has a tough time stomaching regular multivitamins. 

[Note:  If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), insomnia, PMDD/PMS or are under a lot of stress, comment below to let me know if you want more info on how these vitamins and herbal teas can help.  I really, really do feel they've made a difference in my body, and I would love to share how they can help you too!]

Aug. 31 - My View

This is my view....a lot.  I sit here and feed/eat with Griffin 3 times a day, 7 days a week.  Each item has a little story.  The bowl was found at a favorite thrift store in Michigan with my step-mom Cindy.  It's filled with fruit, which we eat a lot of around here.  Griffin alone goes through at least 2-3 pieces a day!  The blue glass dish belonged to my Great Grandma Wright, who passed away several years ago now.  When she lived on the horse farm, she always kept chocolate covered peanuts in this dish.  Of course, this was my favorite dish in the house :)  I still remember where it sat, never empty, in her home.  The salt shaker was another thrift store find at a favorite place here in Columbia.  Ah, thrifting.  It's so....therapeutic and exciting!  The metal bucket behind the salt shaker contains all our spoons.  Why do I keep our spoons out on the table and not in the drawer like a normal person?  My only answer is that my step-mom kept them that way growing up, and my Grandma Vy keeps hers that way as well.  I guess when I got married and had to figure out where I was going the keep the spoons, it just seemed...right.  It really is more convenient to have your spoons out, as they are the most used of utensils.  Think of all the scenarios in which it is better to have the spoons out, close at hand!  I suggest you try it for a week.  You will see how fabulous of an idea it really is, how handy it is to have all the spoons you own in the world close at hand.  You will be converted.  I know it.

Aug. 30 - All Grown Up

Well, our adorable little chicks have transformed into grown-up ladies!  No eggs yet, but we expect it will be another month or two before they start laying.  Now that our family is going through about 3 1/2 dozen eggs per week, we are eagerly anticipating these ladies paying for themselves!  Whenever I open the door, Piccadilly is the first to come running.  They are all quite curious, but Piccadilly, Camilla, Ophelia, and Attila the Hen are the most assertive of the bunch.  I'm thinking I should have heeded the warnings that certain breeds were more aggressive than others, because Piccadilly (New Hampshire Red), Camilla (Rhode Island Red) and Ophelia (Barred Rock) can be downright mean.  Doesn't Piccadilly just look mean in this shot?  You are sure to get your hands pecked at if you reach in and these girls are around.  Also, they are the most vocal; it's almost like you can tell they are complaining about something or other as you walk by.  Hah.  My sweetest ladies are breeds that are known to be more docile and friendly:  Cleopatra (Americauna), Attila the Hen (Americauna), and Bo Peep (Golden Comet).  They tend to be very meek and handleable (if that's even a word!?).  Our neighborhood has been inspired, and there are several other soon-to-be chicken families in the works already! 

Aug. 29 - Make-Up Artist?

Somehow, Griffin discovered my make-up bag and proceeded to "apply make-up" to himself, Oliver, his Buzz Lightyear, and I.  These brushes entertained him for about an hour!  I really have no idea how he knows about make-up application, seeing as how I hardly ever wear make-up since he has been in the world! 

Aug. 28 - 27

I'm 27 today, and it's hard to believe how quickly 26 sped by me.  I'm pretty sure I only acknowledged I was 26 a handful of times before I turned 27!  This past year has been the most difficult yet, and I believe this may be the first birthday where not a single picture was taken to remember the day.  But I can tell you this:  God is good to me and so, so faithful through every trial.  I am so thankful for the life and many blessing He has given me, and I believe I can now honestly say that I am also thankful for the tough times/seasons my 27th year of life held.  God is transforming me, molding me, helping my clouded eyes to see and my blocked up ears to hear the things He has for me.  As painful as this process can be at times, isn't that the best birthday gift of all?  I belong to Christ, and I am being made more and more into his likeness.  What a gift.  I've struggled with dread and fear for the future a lot this year, wondering what suffering, what pain, what challenges it will hold for my family and I.  What does 27 hold for me?  But I've had to let go of this fear, cast it upon the Lord, and ask for His peace today.  Natural, unmedicated birth taught me a lot of things, and it continues to teach me things to this day.  One thing you absolutely must do during labor, especially during pushing, is to take it one contraction at a time.  You must live completely in the present moment and not allow your mind to add up the sum of your suffering though the labor.  If you allow yourself to feel the cumulative effect of the pain and suffering of the entire labor process, you will drive yourself to utter defeat.  Life is quite a bit like labor; there will be pain and suffering.  There will be burdens, tears, and darkness.  But we must live in this moment...now, today...not tomorrow, the next 5, 10, 50 years.  We can't allow ourselves to attempt to view the cumulative effect of suffering in our lives.  We cannot try to imagine what things we will have to endure.  Allowing our minds to linger there will drive us to defeat.  Someone pretty wise once said that "each day has enough trouble of its own," and we need not worry about what the future will bring.  What really and truly matters is that the Lord loves me, cares for me, and will be with me through any and every situation I come up against.  He has promised His children His peace and joy in the best of times and in the very worst of times.  The Lord is helping me to trade the worry and fear for truth and love; despair and defeat for joy and peace; discontentment and hopelessness for rejoicing and thankfulness.  As I turn 27 today, I honestly feel like my mind has undergone a renewal, and I am so very thankful.