Monday, September 26, 2011

The Weekend!

I can't even tell you how long it's been since my sister (Ashley) and I got to hang out and run around! She lives a bit over an hour away from me, and with all of the craziness and kids, we rarely get to do "our own thing." Even though Ruby was with us, that was five less kids than usual, so it was a big difference! She had to work out here, so she drove out for work and then stayed the night at my house :) I don't think that's EVER happened! You have to know, she's been married for eight years and has four children!! She got married four years before me and had two kids by the time I got married and four kids by the time I had my first! Needless to say, our lives were in different directions for many, many years! BUT now we're on the same track which is wonderful, just a lot busier! Growing up we were inseparable. Ashley was fine without me, but I couldn't do anything without her. I needed the guidance and direction and she was really good at being bossy. As we got older I still didn't like to do things without her (we are only 13 months apart!). It was hard for me when she left for college when I was 16. She was gone for one year and I had to find my own two feet. A year later, I joined her at the same college, so we got to spend a semester together there and then her fourth (my second) semester she went to and extension campus in England and got engaged while she was there. Other than coming home to pack her stuff, she never moved back in our house after that and was married three months later. The good thing was that I still had a whole other year of school left and she lived on campus with her new husband! We got to spend lots and lots of time hanging out in their little apartment over the theatre and coffee shop on campus. We got a good 9 months in before her first baby was born! That leads us back to where we are now. Kids and busy-ness! All that to say.....I had so much fun this weekend!!!!!! 
The girls just LOVE their Auntie Ashley. Rubes is obsessed with her mini van and wanted to take turns sitting in all of the kids carseats!

We took a little trip to Portola for some coffee since NOWHERE else is open on a Saturday evening but bars and coffee shops! Seriously, kind of strange that shops close at 7pm! It took forever to get our coffee, but it wasn't a big deal because we enjoyed looking at everything & hearing the live music! Super nitchy little place, and the coffee was indeed delicious, although not my 1st choice since they don't have almond milk & I cannot have soy or dairy!! I had to bring my coffee home and put my own cream in it and by that time....well, it just wasn't quite how I'd hoped!
They had a super awesome Airstream, which is our dream to own!! Ash and Rubes did a great job modeling in it!
Then this happened. Yes, I had quarters on my shoulder. I have NO idea how I didn't feel it, but my sister pointed it out and I cried with laughter over this ridiculous-ness.
Here is my little fashionista.


We have matching pj's and we accidentally both wore them at the same time. What are the chances??
Sunday we went to Maddie's bridal shower. I've known maddie since she was in her mommy's tummy, so this was so weird for me! It's kind of insane to be so "grown up" now days. I still feel like I'm 22. No matter what, I just can't believe I'm old enough that my littlest brothers best friend growing up is getting married! Where has the time gone?
Can I just take a moment to say that I LOVE my sisters?? Aren't they just gorgeous!?

I love this picture for so many reasons. It shows my dearest friends who get me and love me and who I've known forever! They make me so happy and I enjoy hanging out so very much! I wish every weekend could be so fun filled!


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Catch Up!

Gosh I can't believe how many pictures I need to post! I look through them all & can't decide which ones to put up. Having an iphone is a good and a bad thing in the way of pictures. Good because it's so convenient and I snap a million pictures of random little things. Bad because since I got my iphone, I haven't gotten out the "real" camera. Lately I haven't been up to much. Shocking, right? I'm DYING for a date night, which I think we will get next week. I really want to go see a movie and get dinner. Actually, to be honest, it's not really worth getting dinner out anymore. I can't eat anything, so whatever I do end up getting is so awful it's not worth spending money on. The only thing we've found that works for my diet it in 'n out but I'm kind of tired of that right now. Ok, scratch getting dinner, but seeing a movie still sounds nice. :) I told Adam I feel like my brain cells are dying. I forget what I'm going to say all the time. My brain feels like a mushy bowl of oatmeal sometimes. More than loosing brain cells it's probably due to lack of sleeping. Between the two girls we haven't gotten a decent nights sleep in, well, since Quin was born on May 9th. I don't mind it really, but she's getting to an age where waking up as much as she does STILL is kind of ridiculous. She is the world lightest sleeper and it's wearing on us. We are walking on pins and needles at all moments with this one. I've never known a child to be so jumpy awake and asleep. Ruby has also decided lately that being in our bed is just to fun. We've always kept the rule that no kids go to bed with us. If she wakes up in the early morning and wants to jump in we don't mind the cuddles. But initially she has to be in her own bed. She has been waking up a lot around 4:30am and crying. She will then come into our room and when I asked her why she'll say "I was scared." I asked her what scared her and she says "the bunny." Okay, not quite nightmare material, but you never known what's going on in their little heads. I do really miss my evenings alone with Adam. Eating cereal (our snack food of choice) and watching movies.....seems like it's been so long since both girls have been in bed early enough for us to watch a movie un-inturrupted. By the time we get them both asleep we're wiped out and ready to hit the hay ourselves. It's funny how redundant these days are, but oh my goodness, I know someday I'll miss this. Is that weird? To already be sad about missing something you aren't missing yet? ha! Maybe you know what I mean! I want to enjoy every single moment I have with my precious little ones. I can't tell you the joy that fills my heart up full to the brim when I look at their little faces. Seeing them smile and look so adoringly at me and Adam. It reminds me of being a little child and how I felt about my parents. The pure joy and fun of every single day. It's all so exciting and I love re-living it through them. I do miss the ME time, but I'm happy to put it on the back burner for now. I get the feeling these years will go by to quickly and I don't want them to grow up. Woah, I'm getting a little to emotional! Must be time to sleep!! Yup, it's 10pm. Past my bedtime!! I'll leave you with some pictures and a "goodnight!" 

Here is Ruby "helping" me bake 
 My little chubby snuggle buns right before she fell asleep! Such a love!
 I can't handle the sweet chunky-ness! She found her feet and it's just to presh!
 Ruby with daddy at the beach
 It was 6pm and 80 degrees!! YIKES! Such a nice evening to be outdoors!
 Quin doesn't quite know what to think with Ruby sometimes.....she is already afraid.

 I love, love, love her beautiful eyes!
 Ruby's favorite new thing is having tea parties! We are going to have such fun when she's older!
 She asks for french fries and meat. My girl.
 Grandma and Quinny boo! Love our family time!
 All the girls. They are such a sweet bunch. Can't wait for slumber parties!

 Game night!
 NOTHING sweeter!
 My heart melts. LOVE.


 How gorgeous is this child!
 My favorite face in the whole world!!
 Rubes wanted to wear a "towel hat" just like mommy

 A rare picture of me with Adam!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Coupon Craze

Confession: I'm OBSESSED with coupons and deals! I honestly get the greatest rush from getting things for really cheap! There is something really satisfying about realizing how much stuff costs but getting it for free or close to it! I'm definitely not an extreme couponer, and whenever I coupon shop the check out clerks ALWAYS ask me if I watch the show. I've never actually seen it! I know I'm not as extreme as them because I've heard about the things they get and the quantities. No person alive needs 900 bottles of lotion! I only buy what we need and will use, and if I get something for free that we don't want, I give it away to someone who would use it! I'm telling you, having kids in diapers, coupons have and will save me thousands of dollars! I cannot believe how much the average family with two kids spend on diapers in one year. NO thank you!! Here is my latest deal I got this past weekend!

10 bags of huggies diapers
1 360 count box of huggies wipes
1 216 count bag of huggies wipes
7 boxes of electrasol dish tabs
3 dish soaps
2 boxes of kleenex
1 30 ct. Zyrtec
2 packs of energizer batteries
2 packs of gum

Grand total: $30.47





Thursday, September 8, 2011

Diet & Life Changes

I know that I've told bits and pieces on my blog about all of the issues Quin has had with acid reflux and food sensitivities. I've been asked so much about this that I figured I'd expand upon it! It seems like the number of children born with food allergies and sensitivities are increasing by the droves. Kind of makes you think twice about our food, the way it's processed, what's in it and where it's coming from. Honestly, don't even get me started. I could have very loud and frustrated conversations about these issues that drive me crazy. I'll try to stay on point for the moment with Quin & my diet :)
I knew immediately that something was wrong with her after my milk came in. She was the most miserable little baby and I knew it had to be things I was eating that were affecting her so dramatically. Not to be gross, but her spit up was not normal baby spit up, but nasty curdled yellow milky throw-up. I couldn't believe that such a tiny baby could throw-up so much and so frequently! On top of the throwing up, the worst part was her blood curdling screaming that went on for what seemed like forever. When she would spit up, she would make the most horrible faces like the pain was unbearable and sometimes choke so badly I thought she would die. I couldn't handle it! After only a few days I started cutting out dairy which is one of the biggest problems. Slight improvement, still not better though. I then cut out peanuts since I realized I'd been eating quite a bit of peanut butter. Still not the bulk of it. After doing much research and having dear friends help me through their own experiences, I ended up cutting out soy, gluten and eggs. The last to go was eggs since at the time I didn't realize that it was one of the top 5 in allergens. After about two-three solid weeks of EVERYTHING being out of my diet, Quin woke up one sunny Sunday morning by opening her eyes and looking around the room. I was waiting for the piercing screams, but none came. That was the first time she had done that and she was around 7 weeks old. A few nights later Adam and I were sitting on the couch and Quin sat on my legs just hanging out and being happy for over an hour. That was also a first since if she wasn't eating or sleeping, she was crying up to that point. I started to see the fruit of my labor and was so happy that it was making a difference for her. She is now the sweetest little munchkin! Smily, happy and ever so chunky & delicious!! She still has the acid reflux and spits up frequently, but the difference is night and day. Adam and I agree that she is a different child! Since changing her diet, I've tried adding back certain things and that was no bueno. Quin suffered greatly and so did I! Poor baby girl!  I'm now used to my new eating habits and don't really think twice about it. We don't even have a slice of bread in the house! Sometimes my husband keeps milk around for his cereal, but I use almond milk. My older daughter, Ruby, is completely off dairy now, and with all I'm learning we are definitely going to continue on as a gluten free, dairy free, soy free family! I don't even use corn in anything anymore because of all the horrible things I've found out about genetic modification. It's been an eye opening experience to say the least. I've had so much fun learning to bake and cook gluten, dairy & soy free! It's amazing how much better I feel and how our whole family seems to have more energy and less stomach problems! I have always had major stomach issues with acid reflux. Many nights you would find me in the bathroom drinking maalox or pepto bismol out of the bottle. Tomatoes, spicy foods, gluten filled carbs, dairy....it all wrecked me! I've only eaten out a hand full of times since having Quin, and the only thing so far I've eaten that DIDN'T hurt her tummy was In N Out (double meat, protein style completely plain & an order of french fries!) and this other little "healthy" restaurant that had vegan, soy free, gluten free options. We eat at home every meal, and you know what? I don't mind it! Everyone always asks me "What DO you eat?" Well.....lots of meat, preferably salmon & chicken, but we also do a lot of turkey burgers, buffalo meat, ground beef, pork....tons of veggies, salads and fruit. You would be amazed how gooooooddddd you can make things taste, even without dairy products! I can still make a creamy white sauce for pasta, cream of mushroom soup and biscuits with gravy! Comfort food has always been a favorite of mine, and I'm finding new ways to utilize what I DO have to make those delicious meals happen. I guess I've taken it as a sort of challenge! I'm enjoying this newfound freedom from all of these pesky allergens that make me feel awful anyway! Thanks to Quin, she's changed our lives for the better in more than one way!

 "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:13

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Eat More Sweet

I'm kind of a fanatic when it comes to sweets. I just can't help myself! My diet is so clean right now it's possibly ridiculous. I don't eat anything processed, I'm completely dairy, gluten, soy, egg & nut free....(as well as a few extra little cutouts) but I just cannot cut out sugar completely right now! Probably because there are so many things I CAN'T eat because of my little one that since sugar doesn't make her have any sort of reaction, I can talk myself into the fact that I deserve it since I CAN eat it! I've been going a little crazy experimenting with gluten free vegan desserts. I'm literally in heaven eating these treats! I need to slow it down on making cookies, but honestly, they are just that good. 




Discouraged!

Do you ever get REALLY excited about some fantastic idea you  have, or something you dream of doing, and then you look into it, realize it's nearly impossible and get discouraged immediately?? I feel like that's me all the time. I'll get something in my head and be overjoyed with the thought of it, and as soon as I look into the legality of it, or figure out the reality of it, my hopes are crushed. Seriously, having your own business is just about impossible in Southern California. By the time I paid all the fees, taxes and got the permits and licenses I'd need.....I'm paying other people. I want to do something I love that's fun and still get to work from home. That's just asking way to much! I know, it's the all american dream I suppose, but there are to many people now days and so many liabilities. I guess I just wish things weren't so difficult. Just venting really.

Friday, September 2, 2011

LOVE!

I love my family and friends so very much!! I'm incredibly blessed to have wonderful parents and amazing brothers and sisters! I always get that warm cozy feeling when I go to my parents house. It's kind of funny how before I was married I rarely spent time at home and I was always wanting to go out, and now I love coming "home." Ruby loves it too! Her favorite thing in the world is going to grandma and pa's house for pink juice. She asked me yesterday if she could sleep at grandma and pa's and I can't believe she is getting old enough now for sleepovers! All she needs is her cousins to come stay and make her dreams complete!

Here is baby Q with Pa. He has the magic touch :)
 I'm soooooo excited because my oldest and dearest friend Amy is having a little baby boy!! I cannot wait to meet the little guy! Amy & I have known each other since birth. Our moms were friends while they were pregnant with us girls. Isn't that awesome? I love that our kids will be able to say the same thing about each other! It's so amazingly fun when your best friends start having babies too! I love that we are all in the same part of our lives and that we can share it together and raise our kids together. 




Auntie Katie has been such a fun addition to our family! We love her so much & so do the girls!
Although our love for her is unfailing, Ruby sort of accidentally gave her a fat lip. Ooops!! Welcome to being a two year old!!!! Sorry Auntie!

Here are a few pictures of my two favorite girls! I just want to squeeze them!