Perspective

Perspective: the art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point.

I remember sitting in my desk in grade school during art class, learning for the first time what perspective meant. I was fortunate to have my dad as a teacher in seventh and eighth grade. My dad has a passion for art like I do. When he taught the different principles and elements of art, he usually used examples from his old high school sketchbook drawings. 

I remember he taped a drawing up on the marker board, of a lamp post with light streaming down from it. He taught us about the lines that all went to the same vanishing point. When I started my drawing that day, I had to remember, as long as I line all things up to that same point, everything turns out the way it should. It was magical, when I followed the rules of perspective, my drawings looked life-like. 

Perspective: A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

Lately, things have been kinda rough over here. There have been the usual ups and downs of life, but also some things that made me stop and rethink the everyday life.

Those things that are hard in life, the kind you don't think could ever happen, the biggies, those moments that scare you and stop you in your tracks. They really make you take a step back.

All the sudden, you look at what really is important. What matters to you and in your life?

Although, I always like to think that I have my priorities straight, the truth is that when one of these moments happened it made me think: WHAT in the world have I been doing? And why haven't I been doing the things I should be? Where have I been placing my attention, my time? What do I spend my money on? How do I live my everyday? Guilt sets in. It is a cold, scary, dark place. Feeling alone and ashamed.

The truth is that it is SO good there is an easy end to all those thoughts and feelings. God gave His Son to live perfectly for us. What I can't do, He did. Then, he took on all of the punishment for my sins. All the stupid things that I have done, and the things that I have not done. He was punished for me. He died on the cross. But, as reminded just a couple of weeks ago, He rose from the dead on that Easter morning, for me and for you that means: heaven is our home.

So there it is. Plain and simple.

What is important in my life is Jesus. There is one thing that can not be taken from me, my faith. So if I focus on Jesus and my faith, all else will fall into place.

This is the perspective I pray to have. My vanishing point is Christ, my focus is Christ, and all else will fall into place. And as long as I (with His help) line all things up to that same point, everything turns out the way it should.

fourteen pounds at four months

lincoln is four months old already! these months have gone so quickly. he giggles when you tickle his neck and chest. he coos whenever you talk to him and smiles like you just told him the best news ever. he is fourteen pounds and boasts several rolls around each ankle. he is such an easy going baby. if he is ever fussy it is due to gas or over tiredness. he drools and munches on his hands constantly.

he is quite the charmer. o dear, he sure does attract attention. he is happiest when watching other children, especially his sister. he will let her do pretty much anything to him and he just smiles and giggles.

 i was happy to be able to take him to his appointment, after dropping ellamae off at our sitter's house. i don't get a lot of time with him alone, usually it is both children. so i enjoyed every minute that the doctor was late, every minute in the elevator, and on the car ride. just he and i. i love this little guy so much. his smiles are infectious, and have i mentioned his chubby cheeks, or his fat feet that get kissed every time i change his diaper? yup, he's a keeper.

Get crafty with those Roses

Did you receive a bunch of roses for Valentines Day that are on their last leg? Or maybe you bought some for yourself, because they are on sale after the holiday, like me. After you have had them as your centerpiece as long as the petals let you, try putting them to use! Below I have a couple of ideas for using up roses.

Rose Petal Beads

Materials: fresh rose petals, about 5 cups 

Water

Rose essential oil

Wooden spoon

Blender

Toothpicks

1. Collect 5 cups of rose petals, get rid of any dry wilted ones. Add 1/4 cup of water and 2 cups of petals to the blender and chop, until the paste is fine and like clay. Put it in a bowl on the side and chop the rest of the petals with two tablespoons of water for every cup of petals. (If there is a lot of extra water soak it up with a paper towel.) Add the mixture together in the bowl.

2. Put a bit of rose oil on your fingers and roll a small portion of the mixture into a marble sized ball. Poke a toothpick through the center of the ball to form a hole and leave the toothpick in the ball.  Let the beads to dry 3-5 days, or until hard. 

3. Remove the toothpicks and allow a couple more days to dry. String the beads to make any jewlery you'd like. 

Rose Water (DIY Rose Perfume) 

Materials: cup of fragrant rose petals 

2 cups Filtered water

Glass bowl with cover

Cotton gauze or strainer

Glass jar or spray bottle for storing 

1. Boil the filtered water and add to the rose petals in the glass bowl. 

2. Cover the bowl and let it sit fir 30 minutes. Strain the petals out of the water into the jar or spray bottle. Ready for use. Cover and refrigerate up to three weeks. 

(Stemmed from the book Crafting Fun By Rae Grant )

If you don't have time to do either of these crafts in time, simply tie a string around the roses and dry them. Because then you can craft with them when you have time. Like making rose petal soaps, or bath salts, or maybe even using in baking. 

Flowers are so beautiful, so I'm always wanting to find more way to use them. If you have more ideas, please share. 

Send some Smooches

Do you have friends or family who live far away? We do and we wanted to send them some Valentine love, so we made these little notes of love to mail.

We started out by taking some photos of the kids in festive outfits. 

Then, I ordered some square prints. (We ordered off of the Print Studio app, it's a great little company) 

Next, I took square sheets of watercolor paper and painted a little message in ink on them. (I choose this paper because I wanted to write in ink, also it is a nice thick paper that makes the end product have some quality in texture and weight)

Finally, I gave the sheets to Ellamae along with some crayons. She drew some masterpieces on each piece of paper. 

To finish it off, we attached the photos with some double sided tape (something so the photo won't be damaged). And there you have it. A valentine, ready to be sealed and sent. 

Have a happy Valentines Day! 

xoxo

winter intermission: camping with babes

It's about that time of the year when I like to look ahead at summertime and vacations.

I grew up camping. We "dirt" camped as my cousins called it. We slept in sleeping bags under the canvas roof of a tent in campgrounds without the electrical hook up, where there were tall pines between campsites, and a lake was near by. We liked the least populated campgrounds.

Every meal was made over the fire (our favorite was daddy's griddle pancakes). We never knew the time of day. We ate when we were hungry, and slept when we felt like it. Most of the day was spent at the beach, on the lake, or in the woods. We would talk into the night by the campfire's light or cuddled up in our sleeping bags until we fell asleep. Sometimes we went for a whole week, and often it was a couple times a summer. Some of my fondest memories are from camping with my four siblings. 

There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted my kids to grow up with the same experience. 

It can be a bit overwhelming as you think about bringing little babes along camping, but the truth is with just a little extra planning you can enjoy the experience with your babe on your hip (which always makes moments more memorable and special). So as I promised a sweet friend, below I listed some tried and true tips to taking a baby camping. 

Things to bring:

• pack n play- this is useful for not only sleeping in, but it's great as a play area out of the sand/dirt on the beach or in the campsite (if your baby isn't walking yet)
• toilet (small toilet or five gallon bucket with plastic seat cover) - although campgrounds have pit toilets or some have plumbing, this is good to have at the campsite when lil tots have to go (and it CAN'T wait) also for anyone lazy in the middle if the night.
• booster seat - (we use this one at home or when we go places. it is compact, cheap, and fully plastic, for easy cleaning) this is good to have for meals on the picnic table or even strapping onto a camp chair works for around the fire or to the beach if you wish 
• sunscreen (we use this kind) they are still saying don't use sunscreen on babies under 6 months 
• hats (hair pony tails) - we wore braids in our hair when we were young- braids and hats serve the same purpose- keeping the ticks away. (and when you don't have along a blow dryer or hot iron the braid is the prettiest way to style in the woods)
• float devices and life preservers (we love this floaty ) 
• snacks- because most days breakfast and supper are the only meals planned, while the rest of the day snacks are easy to grab and eat, no matter what you were doing (don't forget s'mores supplies)
• baby monitor- this is great if you have friends or family in a near by campsite or you are on a site with lake access and you wish to walk down during baby's naps.
• wagon and baby carrier - wagon is good for long walks through the campground or hauling things to the beach and back. Baby carrier is good for hikes. (We use a Babybjorn)
• clothes for all seasons - warm clothes for cold weathered nights or days. raincoats for the one rainy day you go to town, swimsuits, and obviously sweatshirts for by the campfire.
• blankets and sleeping bags (these are the coziest)
• footwear - a good pair of tennies needed for walks, hikes or fishing. Flip flops to shower in if you are lucky ... And they have showers there. You'll use them at the beach as well. (my mom and dad used to put little bells on our shoelaces when we were toddlers, because we always wanted to wander off and explore the woods)
• first aid kit (aloe and bug spray) you can use bug spray on children's clothes but don't put it on their skin. (look for low deet or family friendly kind)
• fun road trip tunes (a soothing CD or playlist if it helps your child sleep) it wasn't a roadtrip for us if without a little James Taylor or the Andrew Sisters
• picnic table cloth (because toddlers eat right off the table...unless that's just my messy one)
• towels, wash tub, soap and lotions
• camera and/or journal 
• books and coloring and games for rainy days or evenings 
• flashlights - lantern kind for in the tent or on top of the picnic table. Also, hand held ones for bathroom trips, navigating, or reading at night. (toddlers love having a small one to carry themselves)

Seems like a huge list, but when you go "dirt" camping for a week you want to be prepared (my dad always packed the van and boat like a tight puzzle that only he could figure out, but we never were without something we needed) 

Other tips:

Look at stars at night away from fire by the beach (you'll never see anything else like it)

For State Forest campgrounds you will need a sticker pass ( you can purchase there) and if you plan on visiting other national parks for a day or trips that year buy the yearly pass, its a good deal 

Also at state parks they have little books and activities for kids and I think they can still earn patches from filling out the books

If you plan on fishing they make cute toddler poles that are great for beach "fishing" or out of boat

Something I missed? Tips or items to add, please comment below.

I hope wherever you plan on vacationing this year, Florida, out of the country, or just in your backyard, you take time and enjoy every minute. 

And we danced

Friday was my sweet hubby's birthday. We celebrated with a family evening, dance party (Ellamae always steals the show), presents, and a fancy dinner. We had fresh ravioli filled with mushrooms and cheese in an Alfredo sauce. Dipping bread and oil. And a bottle of vino.

We finished it off with cheesecake and fresh berries. It was a feast.

I love you Jake for all you do, the man you are, and the man that you strive to be.

Two

Two babes. Two hands.

It has been a busy two months with Lincoln here. 

It is the hardest when both kids want my undivided attention and I can only give it to one of them. Then, you are asked to choose, sometimes choice is based on urgency, or tending to the infant, and other times, because my heart is broken when I can't help my sweet girl, I chose to help her. I think that all of us have learned to have patience and understanding and are getting a system down. Just as it was before, I learn everyday as a mother. I love this blessing I have to be a mother, and couldn't be more thankful for these two.

Lincoln is growing so quickly on us. I sometimes just want to hit the "pause" button. Maybe it's because of that newborn smell, or those sweet tiny hands of his that lay on my breast as he nurses, or those darling snores he lets out when he is swaddled up tightly. 

The good news is that I don't have to be SO sad as he grows, because, I am lucky enough to see what comes next through Ellamae.

The way she "jumps" and just runs up on her tippy toes, or the bounce of her little curls, oh, and the excitement in her voice when she points to Jake or I to show us something...saying "mama, mama!!" or "dada dada!!!" I love watching her grow and learn in all the exploring she loves to do. She soaks up everything you tell her like a sponge. I love this girl and getting to know her personality is so special.

And then when the two are together, oh, my heart overflows with joy and love. Thank you, Lord.

Then there was Lincoln

It was a November evening that seemed similar to any other. Jake got a call and was asked if he could help at work for a couple hours. Before he left, he kissed me on the head and joked, "Let me know if I need to meet you at the hospital". We both laughed.

I had noticed a lot of movement from that sweet babe in my tum that day, but didn't think of it as anything serious. Ellamae and I continued on with our night: a couple of books were read, some bubbly toes turned wrinkly, tiny teeth were brushed, and some hymns sung by a night light before our kisses and prayers goodnight. Gradually I was noticing more and more movement, and realizing they were contractions. Nothing too painful, but they were coming about every five minutes. 

I did what I often do, I called my sister asking what my next steps should be. (I am pretty sure I knew what to do, but I wanted to hear her voice and be reassured about how this whole going into labor "on my own" thing works.) After a few calls to the doctor, my mom and dad, and several to Jake, I found myself on the way to the hospital with my mom. My dad stayed at our house to watch Ellamae and Jake waited anxiously to hear from me if it was more than Braxton Hicks. 

I didn't think much was going on, because between contractions, now three minutes apart, I was feeling fine and could not believe that tonight was really the night. 

After getting checked by the on call doctor, I was told that my little stinker had decided to flip on me... yup, surprise he is now breech. I was freaked out to say the least. Iimmediately  called Jake and said get your butt here ( a little different verbiage), because we are having a csection and ASAP. 

My contractions were strong and hard, I just wanted to push. I was upset I couldn't, I just kept thinking I am ready to do this, may I please?

Jake came in minutes later and kissed my head again, squeezed my hand tightly and I couldn't help but tear up. 

I was so happy to know this baby would be with us soon, and that I had Jake there. I never had surgery before, so I was worried about the unknown. Jake was so calm, loving, and reassuring. We grew a lot closer that night. 

The next 15 minutes were full of anxiety, pressure, an unforgettable stench, cringing, and strange sounds. But there was also lots of hope, prayer, love, hand squeezing, anticipating, finally a delayed cry, and tears full of so much happiness.

And there he was. It all happened so quickly. Two hours before he was born I was tucking my sweet baby Ellamae into bed. 

Jake and I were so blessed already and couldn't ever imagine being happier, and then there was Lincoln.