hair feather

i read somewhere once...

that it is good to let your kids participate in fads. and trends.

even if you think they are ridulous.

(as long as they are safe of course...)

the leather jacket. the silk shirt. pegging the jeans. an ID bracelet. permed hair.

i could go on. i got to do them.

(my parents probably thought those were ridiculous.)

lilly hasnt run into too many trends yet.

(that she's expressed interest in anyway.)

beyond the silly bands.  which is now over.

but then came...

 the feather in the hair.

(which i find a tad silly.)

(which proves just how uncool and unstylish i am.)

she really doesnt beg or whine to get anything.

she really is content with what she does have.

for that we are so grateful and proud.

im not about to spend $10 to have a feather put in her hair.

but lucky for lilly...

daddy is a fly fisherman.

and he ties his own flies.

and he just so happens to have a case full of feathery things.

so maybe the feather thing isnt so bad afterall...

especially when daddy is your beautician :)

october 6th, 1995

october 6th a long long time ago...

this handsome young boy asked me out over the phone.

how could i resist?

i couldn't.

16 years later, and he is still hard to resist.

thank you for being my best friend.

i love you sweetie boy.

Happy Bday LBE!

my little shop...

Little Bean Embroidery

... turned 3 this weekend!

I've decided not to host our annual Holiday Open House this year...

(mainly due to the state of my pregnantness.)

BUT....

to celebrate LBE's birthday...

I am having a little bday sale :)

-Take $2.00 off all designs for bibs and burps!

(That makes many designs FREE!)

-Applique onesies and bibs are $2.00 off!

-Blankets are $2.00 off!

Make it a set and save a lot!!

*This sale is for one week only, orders must be placed by

Saturday, October 8th, 2011 to receive discounts.* 

Thank you to so many people who have made Little Bean Embroidery grow!

I so appreciate your love and support!

facebook rejections

-My cell phone doing the low battery beep in the middle of the night = annoying.

-I have no bagels.

-Note to self: Next time you need to freeze bananas for a recipe… peel them before you freeze them.

-if you are going to complain about something... you'd better make sure that you aren't guilty of doing that something yourself. (i'm sure i'm guilty of both... but i'm also the 1st to admit it if i realize it.)

-sometimes it’s really hard to do something you don’t want to do.

-it’s a good thing there are no m&ms in this house right now.

-Why there is a diaper bag that costs one hundred and sixty-nine dollars, I will never know.

growing baby #3

one of the many reasons for my lack of blogging these days...

(ok, it's the main reason.)

 i cannot believe how quickly this little one is growing.

and that it only takes 40 weeks to grow a human being.

and how soon we will be a family of 5.

terrifying and amazing all at the same time.

reading

i cannot stand sitting still.
it is really hard for me to do.
yes, i sit a relax and watch TV at night...
but i get up during the commercials.
to do something.
there is always something to be done.
or too much on my mind.

but this baby has other ideas.
this baby is making me sit down a lot more.
and put my feet up. and really rest.

i'm not a big reader.

but ive been reading.

ive read 4 books in the past two months.

it usually takes me 4 years to read 2 books.

i get books at garage sales. surprise.

yes, i know i could get them at the library too... but i dont love deadlines.
(and most of you who know me know that a nook or other electronic reader is definitely not a part of my world at the time being)

so here is a stack of books i've read more recently.
and they are looking for new readers.

if you want one (or two or three). they are yours...

for real, ill get them to you by hand or mail.

i'm on the lookout for more good ones to read.

and i'd gladly accept any good handme downs :)

next up.  the last 'new' book in my pile...

the lovely bones.

which i may or may not be able to read.

we will see if i can handle it without any creepy dreams.

cohen kid convos...

cohen is one funny little man...
(we got all of these in just 2 days.)

Lilly: Mom, don’t talk with food in your mouth.
Cohen: She’s mommy. She can do whatever she wants.

At breakfast.
September 10, 2011

Cohen: mom I can see your boob.
Me: no you can’t.
Cohen: yes I can. Put your bra up.
Me: (looking down to double check) you can’t see anything cohen. Where?
Cohen: (points to an inch above my bra cup) right there!

Me getting dressed in the morning at 6+ months pregnant, and apparently finally getting some cleavage.
September 11, 2011


I told him… ‘hey, I scored a goal. Give me a high five.’

Cohen talking about the goal he scored in his very first soccer game, and how we liked that he high fived his teammates. (and also telling him how much we loved that he high fived the other team when they scored :)
September 11, 2011


Me: I saw Paige at the party.
Cohen: awww, that’s why I wanted to stay!
Me: why do you like Paige so much? ;)
Cohen: cause she gives me kisses so many. She says to me…. ‘Come here’. And then I say ‘no’. But I go.

Chatting about one of Lilly’s friends that Cohen is a tad fond of :)
September 11, 2011


stay tuned...

training and fairies

big brother in training :)

cohen has LOVED having a little one here during the week.

helping change diapers, and throwing them away.

cleaning up baby toys from the basement.

singing and saying... 'settle down kinsley'. so cute.

you name it. he is there to help!

lilly lost her 3rd tooth. finally.

(she lost her 1st last september. the second shortly after.)

 she lost it at school and she did awesome :)

she wrote a note to the tooth fairy asking for a fairy.

the kids have been searching high and low to see if a fairy stayed behind.

how did i manage to get these amazing kids?

i am one lucky lady. that is for sure.

back to school 2011

the kids started back to school this week.

miss lillian is in 2nd grade this year!

 and mr. cohen is in his 2nd year of preshool.

in a transition room, which gets him good and ready for kindergarten :)

as much as the freedom of summer is nice...

it's great to be back in a routine too :)
we all made it through the first week!

600 post questions part 2

ok. we wont mention the amount of time it's been.
but im just now getting around to another answering of questions....
from way back when.

ooty1 (molly :) asks... What is your best parenting advice? And what is something you struggle with as a parent?  :)

Ah this question kicks my butt. I’d probably be able to come up with 100 different things to say. My best parenting advice… love your kids. Hug them and kiss them and let them know you are there for them. You are there to listen to them, teach them, support them, and cheer them on, build up their characters and their self-confidence and self-worth the best that you know how. Be honest with them. At all ages, tell them the truth at their level.  And also let them know that you are the parent… they are not in charge of you. Pray for your kids. Pray with your kids.
I struggle with just about every aspect of being a parent, but I try my best to be the best parent I know how to be. I struggle with the general aspect of raising them in today’s society. Trying to raise them above what is considered acceptable in today’s world. I struggle with worry... that I am not doing enough, that I cannot provide enough. I struggle with giving them 100% of me… or at least the good parts me. I struggle with my own self-confidence and the last thing I want is for that to rub off on them. I struggle with patience, and control. To name just a few ;)

Julie P. asks... What is your favorite family meal to make? Are you planning on making your own baby food this time? If you do I can probably give you a few pointers for once :)
mmm… my favorite meal to make? Too many J I love soups. Chimmichangas and burritos. Salads. Pastas. Cinnamon rolls. (that’s a meal, right?) Home made mac and cheese. I cant pick just one.

And YES!! Totally planning to make baby food for the new little one. so excited!! I’m sad I didn’t even consider it for the first two, though they were both on table food by 11 months. And yes Julie, I will definitely come to you for baby food ideas!!

Sam said... OOO, I love these kind of contests.  Okay, what are your top five musical groups/artists? (in no particular order)

Ah!! Another tough one. I like music. A lot. My variety is quite interesting. Not quite compatible even. And I don’t typiclaly go for just groups/artisits… I’m more of a song lover. sorry sam :( I cant comfortably just list 5 groups so… if you will, here is a splash of randomness into my music taste. Beauty in the World by Macy Gray, Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley, How He Loves by David Crowder Band (thought i like most all of theirs), What I Am by Will.I.Am, California Love by Dr. Dre and 2Pac, No Rain by Blind Melon, I like Alicia Keyes and Counting Crows. I like the Plain White T’s for 1,2,3,4 and Hey There Delilah. Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas, No Diggity by Black Street. Missy Elliot is cool, so is Francesca Battisstelli. Corrine Bailey Rae. Mmmm, James Taylor. Gwen Stephani. Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap. Heartless. Gold Digger. Chris Rice. Oh yikes. See how all over the place I am here? I could list them by the pages. For real. I think I may have lost more readers after this one…

arminda said... I know you're a busy gal...what do you do to unwind? :)

Ah. Sit on the couch and watch tv. or sew. Occasionally I will read.

sarah said...    congrats on 600 posts!  my two questions were already asked... 1.) tell us more about this baby on the way! and 2.) how do you relax - you are one busy gal!

The baby :)  This baby has been in our hearts for a very long time. We waited a long time before we decided that we really for sure wanted another. We did a lot of thinking it over. Discussing. Contemplating. Praying. Thinking. Wishing. Wondering. Asking. And now this little human being is growing inside my belly. (ok… uterus. Belly sounds much more fun.)

Relax… ah :)  see the above to arminda's question... but add cook/bake and eat to that too :)

Rita said...  What was the last movie you went to see?  Is Dave a willing helper in changing diapers?

The kids and I went to see Rio at the dollar theater. It was cuter than I thought it was going to be :)
Dave and diapers :)  Good question!! And it has a 2 part answer ;) Yes, Dave is definitely a great helper and willing to change diapers :) (it's actually weird for me to even think there are daddies out there who dont help...)  For the first 2 he was very helpful with diapers, but really he is a very good helper in all parts of being a daddy. Now for part 2 of the answer… I am considering cloth diapers with baby 3, and he isnt too fond of the idea. But… I haven’t done a ton of research yet, and don’t know exactly the route we will go… so I can’t say his willingness for sure yet on this baby ;) disposables… yes. Cloth… TBD :)

Krysty said... What inspired you to cut your hair? Did you think about it forever or did you just chop it off? I love it! :)
Ah... the inspiration? A gift certificate that I got for mother’s day (or my bday I don’t recall its been so long ago). I just get in the mood to chop it off about once a year ;) and a gift certificate makes it even easier!!


alright so there it is! the 2nd part of the answers to the question all you awesome readers left on my 600th post.  the next group should bring in the rest of the answers.  whenever i get to it ;)

charity raffle.

my blogging friend chloe is hosting a raffle.
with lots of great prizes.
including a Little Bean Embroidery gift certificate.
(and a few other things from some friends of mine :)

chloe is a Christian.
and a new mommy :)
and a runner.

like a real runner.
as in... she is training to run in the NYC marathon.
this november.
and she has a 3 month old.
(hello inspiration!)

while she is training, she is raising money for a cause.
for Team Samaritan's Purse.
raising funds and awareness for Children's Heart Project.
how selfless and amazing.

would you check out her raffle?
click here.
to see a cute little video... and all the amazing prizes!!

thank you :)

my beautiful girl

our beautiful little lady...

 sporting her new glasses :)

 and just as beautiful as ever.

 in so many ways :)

lilly couldn't wait to get her new glasses.

her very first pair.

dark purple with flowers on the inside.

daddy says he's going to water them.

i love your smile miss lilly.

and your style.

and your confidence.
and your heart.

you are one beautiful kid.

inside and out.

move

our new best crank it up and jam song :)
the video is a bit on the cheesy side.
ok... a lot on the cheesy side.
but you dont have to watch. just listen :)
and move.
repeat as necessary.

more kid convos :)

I think I know where we’re going… but I’m not going to spill the coffee.
Lilly thinking she knows everything.
June 9, 20111

On Fridays I’m gonna do all sports.
On Mondays I’m gonna work at Chick-fil-a.
Cohen discussing his future occupation(s).
June 15, 2011

Me: I’m so sad I didn’t learn how to play this game sooner!!
Lilly: im sooooo sorry I didn’t tell you mom.
Me: it’s ok lilly!! I had other chances to learn, its not your fault.
Lilly: well… im still sooo sorry.
Me: don’t be, lilly!!
Lilly: well, I am. I have feelings you know.
Discussing that I was 32 when I learned how to play mancala. While the kids learned at 7. And 4. (Which amazes me…)
June 22, 2011

Me: Don’t forget about your squash.
(minutes later, without having to be reminded...)
Cohen: Mom, I’m all done!
Me: Good job buddy! I’m so proud of you. Thanks for eating your squash!
Cohen: Now I don’t have to whine.
July 2, 2011

Me: (singing) I throw my hands up in the air sometimes! Sayin hey-o… gotta let go!
Lilly: oh mom. (with a tone to match the rolling of the eyes)
Me: what? If you only knew how cool…. (I wasn’t)
Lilly: if you were cool, you’d wear sparkles all the time. Like me.
Getting ready for bath.
July 24, 2011

date night

'how about a date night tonight?' dave emailed me friday morning.

i'm always up for one of our date nights.
not sure i ever turned one down.
our date nights are simple.
and we don't mind at all.

a movie.
and some type of junk food.

last night...

a free redbox movie, thanks to a code in dave's email folder.

and chocolate covered frozen bananas, thanks to what we had on hand.

a totally free date night.

being at home with my best friend is really all i wanted :)

see... we started dating at 17.  pizza and a movie were our dates.

and a few number of years later... it's still our favorite date.

i'd choose this over going out any day.

tonight?

catching up on the bachelorette, big brother and friday night lights.

i can't wait :)

and the bananas...

frozen bananas are the big rage all over blogland right now.

these? oh yum.

slice a banana (or 2) into inch-ish slices.  whatever size you like really.

cover in melted dipping chocolate. (i used part chocolate/part white ghirardelli scraps for this batch... though adding some peanut butter sounds amazing.)
put on a wax paper lined tray, and put in the freezer.

i think ours were in about 3 hours.

take out just before eating.

delicious. tastes like ice cream :)

oh and the movie?
the adjustment bureau.
(pretty good one.)

baby 3 pics :)

weighing in at 14 ounces... our newest little one!

i was so excited this baby measured in under a pound :)

(lilly and cohen were just over a pound at their 20 week appointments.)

though true to my baby growing skills...

my doctor said im measuring a little ahead of schedule.

(aka: it's another big baby in the works.)

gratefully, the technician told me to look away while she measured the baby's femur, just in case.  and i turned my head. and i'm so glad...
because i have no visual inkling of whether it's a boy or girl :)

it is so hard to believe this pregnancy is half way through.

this is going way faster than i remember.

it only takes 40 weeks to grow a human being.

wow. amazing. totally amazing.

(you can bet i won't be saying that at 38 weeks ;)

a day at lakeside

one of our favorite places.  lakeside.
we went up for chip richter's concert the beginning of july.

we had fun riding the golf cart...

playing shuffleboard...

 a picnic dinner and the concert!

 and what's a concert without some video?

we are already planning a return day trip once the busy (hot) season is over :)

florida 2011

a sampling of our florida pictures :)

first time on a plane!

the first hotel's pool....

 cooling off...

 looking cute...

dinner with uncle rick in daytona beach...

 ready to swim...

 downtown disney...

magic kingdom!

the view out our window at the 2nd resort!  pools everywhere :)

it was hot.

very very hot.

but we had a lot of fun.

see you in a few years, florida!