Today I am all mom

A few days ago, Kris walked into our apartment after he got out of school. It was around 2:00 pm and I was still in my pajamas. Ava was dressed, the house was clean, but yes, I was still in my pajamas. After Kris said his hellos to me and Ava, he asked, "Honey, are you going to get dressed today?" I simply replied, "Not if we are just going to stay home."

What's the point of getting dressed into clean clothes, when your sweet darling daughter is just going to blow a raspberry on you just as you give her a bite of pureed mixed veggies? Why get dressed, when your little bundle of joy would like to sneeze milk all over you?
If I were to stay completely clean all day, every day, I would also have to do at least two loads of laundry of my own clothes. I know to some people this may just seem like a lazy persons way of dealing with a baby and the messes that go with her. But I don't care. On the days that I stay all day in my Pajamas, I just tell Kris, "No, sweetheart, I am not getting dressed today. Today, I guess you could say, I am all mom." ~Brit

Crying it Out

Crying it out...if you are a parent, that's something that you dread on even thinking about having your child do. Before you send me your wisdom and opinions on this topic...we have already started doing it. That's right, I am a mean heartless mother that just lets her baby cry herself to sleep. Well, that may be an exaggeration, but that is what I feel like.
It all started when Ava started getting up every hour of the night crying. I would run to her and give her her wubanub (that's a pacifier for those who don't know me), but she didn't want it. I would rock her, but she didn't like that. I would nurse her, but she was not hungry. So, after an hour of trying to appease her she would finally sleep, but then be up in an hour. So Kris and
I became desperate! We did the unthinkable, we let her cry it out!!!
AND SHE DID GREAT! She exceeded our expectations. She did cry the first night for about 30 minutes (35 minutes to be exact, I know because I cried with her), and then she went to sleep. When she awoke throughout the night, she would whine a little and then go to sleep. Last night was our third night to do this, and though she cries at the beginning, she falls asleep after a little bit!
We are so proud of our sweet Ava Rae for showing us that she is a big girl and that she can fall asleep all on her own.

~Brit

The Easter Bunny

Yesterday, Kris and I went to the mall. We met his Dad, sister and nephew there. As we were walking around we noticed the Easter Bunny. So, I said to Kris, "Wouldn't it be a great idea to have Ava's picture taken with him?" and he said, "If it's free." We walked up to the price board and noticed quickly that this would not be cheap. The lowest priced item was like $14.00. So just as Kris was turning away, I asked the lady taking the pictures if it would be alright if we could take our own picture of the baby and the Easter Bunny with our own camera. She hesitated and then said that we could if we just stood out of the display to take the picture. So as I was unbuckling Ava from her stroller, Kris said to me "I don't think that this is a good idea. That bunny looks weird." So I looked and well, he did, but what did you expect a 7 foot tall bunny to look like? So I carried Ava over to the bunny, and he just sat there. I looked at him in his huge bunny face and he just sat there. So I said, "Well, are you going to hold her of what?" He gave a start and held out one arm for me to put her in. So Kris took the picture as soon as he could. Amazingly you can't see my arms hovering just in case the weirdo dropped her. From now on I will listen to Kris, if he says the Easter Bunny looks weird, then he is.

~Brit

Ava's First Sunday School Class!!!!

Well, Last Sunday, the 9th, Ava went to her very first Sunday school class!!! We were so proud and of course we had our camera ready to capture the entire event. We did not stay in the class with her (though we really wanted to), no, we let Jeremiah show her the ropes on his own. I must confess though, Ashley did go in and check on her once and said she was doing great. After class was over and it was time to go and get her, Ms. Cristy (her teacher) said, "she was wide eyed and excited the entire time!" ~Brit

For the Cause.

Here is a video that I have come across that gives a good insight into the world of Fair Trade. I have to confess it seems as if I usually do not think to much about anyone else but myself and close family and friends, most of the time. After watching this video, and doing quite a bit of research, I have realized that Fair Trade is a bigger issue than I ever would have thought. Skimming over e-mails, or tuning out of speeches on the subject is my normal routine. Now, I am fully aware of this movement, and the great cause it is doing for so many people who are less fortunate. I hope to look for the label that notates Fair Trade, hopefully you will also.
Thanks for watching,
Kris