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About Me
I am a wife to the man of my dreams! We've been married for nearly three years now and I couldn't imagine my life without him in it! I am also a mom to a seven month old daughter who I absolutely adore! I love the Lord with all my heart...without Him in my life I would not be where I am today! I am enjoying the balancing act of being a stay at home mom and wife and, together with my husband, am enjoying our wonderfully blessed life!!
Motivation For Moms
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Encouragement in Busy Times
Posted by jennasue
Lately life has been extremely busy and hasn't seemed to let up. Between the home improvements we're embarking on, as well as Scott working 14 hours a day/6 days a week...it makes it hard to find any time to relax. This busy schedule has been going on for quite a while...and it's odd to say, but it's actually something that we're beginning to get use to. We know that things are a bit hectic right now and that we can only get done so much in a day. It gets a little overwhelming at times, but "this too shall pass". Soon our basement will be finished and such a wonderful place to spend time together as I family...I can't wait. All of this busyness is well worth it!
In the beginning, when our schedule seemed to increasingly become more and more busy...it was a bit overwhelming! As a stay-at-home-mom I am kept very busy...and with Scott working so much and everything else that is going on...I was feeling exhausted. I've learned through these busy times though, how important it is to keep my focus on Christ, amidst all that is going on. I recently came across the lyrics of a song by DC Talk, "Day By Day" and it really encouraged me and got me thinking.
A Baby's Personality
Posted by jennasue
As Kaelyn gets older, we are beginning to see more and more of what her personality is like. It's really neat to watch as it unfolds! For instance, she's very active and curious. She's always on the go and wanting to explore everything around her. She tends to get frustrated when she tries to do something new, like stand up, and is unable to for one reason or another. Although active in her own familiar territory, in public it's another story! She's often very reserved and almost shy. She shows a bit of stranger anxiety at times and likes to know where mom or dad are at all times! As she has begun to crawl and get into things, she has heard the word "no" a number of times when touching something that she is not supposed to. When she hears the word no and is redirected, she sticks out her bottom lip and gives a very sad cry. Her feelings get hurt very easily, which tells me she will be a soft-hearted little girl. She's such a sweetie and we're enjoying watching as her little personality presents itself! Labels: Children, Home, Motherhood, Parenting
Playing in Crib
Posted by jennasue
As Kaelyn becomes more and more active, we have noticed that she is playing around in her crib throughout the night. I don't think she plays a lot, but I do know that she sits up and finds things to do in there. It doesn't really bother us since we know she's safe in there. Every morning we go in and get her at 7:00. Yesterday Scott walked in and right away could tell that she had been up playing sometime before then. Why you ask? Well, she was sitting up, with her head leaning forward on her leg and was sleeping....talk about flexibility! He said it was the cutest thing. Unfortunately we didn't get a picture, because he startled her when he walked in and she woke up. Hopefully we'll find her that way again sometime though...too cute! Labels: Children
Baby Noises
Posted by jennasue
No matter what time of day, or where we're at...Kaelyn is always entertaining us with her wonderful little personality! It's so fun to see her personality coming through more and more...she's such a neat little girl!! This weekend she was very happy...and definitely was enjoying making noises and listening to her voice. We've noticed so many changes lately when it comes to the noises she makes. If we say something, especially something that starts with a D, B, or P...she beings saying that letter...like babababa, or papapapa! It's so neat. She was doing that this weekend a lot, but also was squealing and really enjoying herself which was beyond cute! :) My brother was visiting and enjoyed her squealing and noises so much that he caught her on video with his phone. I just had to share it.... Labels: Children, Family, Motherhood, Parenting
Enjoying Where We Live
Posted by jennasue
Scott and I were recently talking about how much we like living here. When we first moved here I wasn't too sure how I'd like it. It was a little further from home than I would have liked, and I just thought it might be a bit too large. Now that we've been here over a year, I've definitely come to enjoy all we have here. Not only is the town not nearly as big as I had thought it was...but there's so much to do!! Now that we have Kaelyn, it's nice that there are things for us to do as a family. There's a lake, lots of walking paths, parks, fairs, even an annual Renaissance Festival where everyone dresses up in renaissance costumes!! I guess there are perks to living in a little bigger town...and the great thing is we're still very close to our families!!
Going on a Cruise
Posted by jennasue
Everyone in my family loves to vacation. As children we got to go so many fun places...they're memories I will cherish forever. It's so nice, because even though we're all grown and starting our own families...my parents still enjoy trying to plan some vacations that we can take together. I know they've gone on vacations with all three of us kids and our spouses/significant others at separate times over the years.
Not all that long ago, my mom was talking about how fun it would be for all of us adults to go on a cruise together in the future. A cruise is one thing I've never done. I hear it's fantastic though, and would be open to the ideal of looking into cruise deals and seeing what we could find. It probably wouldn't be a vacation that we'd take our kids on...but would still be a blast being able to go with the adults in the family. I'm really excited just thinking about it and hope at some point we get to go.
Homemade Baby Food: Carrots
Posted by jennasue
The next food that I decided to introduce to Kaelyn was carrots. Like everything else that I've made so far...it was so incredibly easy to make. It took hardly any time at all to cook them, and then puree them a bit so they weren't so big for her. I froze a couple of trays full...so that should last us for some time now. Making our own baby food has been so easy, and has saved us so much money!! Who wouldn't want to save money, right?! I would say it takes me a couple of hours a month to get things prepared and stored. It's definitely worth it, because not only is it easy and cheap...but it's much better for her as well. Labels: Children, Health, Home, Making Money, Motherhood
Back to Carrots....Kaelyn had them for the first time yesterday, and to my surprise did not seem that impressed. I was sure that she'd just love them, but they were just ok....or at least that's what I got from the facial expressions and her sticking out her tongue the whole time.:)
Great 6 Month Pics
Posted by jennasue
I was so excited to find out that Kaelyn's 6 month pictures came in a week early. We went to get them yesterday and they turned out great! There are 7 different poses, and we got lots of prints of each one!! We always like to get enough for family to choose from. The Grandparents especially enjoy this! I knew that all 7 turned out pretty good, but I didn't know I'd like all of them as much as I do. It's going to be a hard decision to decide which ones to hang in the frames I have her 3 month pictures in right now. I may just have to buy more frames so I can hang all of them ;) We'll have to see...I'm just glad we got a lot of good ones to choose from. Labels: Children, Family, Motherhood, Parenting
Picking up these pictures yesterday did get me thinking about how quickly time goes though. we got these pictures taken when she was 6 months old, and now she is nearly 7 1/2 months old...where does the time go!?
A Beautiful Wednesday
Posted by jennasue
I was ready for warmer weather, and today I got it!! I didn't even realize how beautiful it was outside until Kaelyn and I headed over to Walmart to pick up her 6 month pictures that came in today. We stepped outside and I realized what a nice day it would have been to spend more time outdoors. By that time in the afternoon, it was already getting close to her nap so we couldn't stay out long. However, I did learn a very important lesson....to always step outside, even if looking out the window it doesn't look the warmest or nicest out. If I would have done that this morning I would have realized how beautiful it was and spent more time with Kaelyn at the park or on a walk. Oh well...there's always tomorrow. Labels: Children, Home, Motherhood, Parenting
This Too Shall Pass
Posted by jennasue
This is the time of year that I kind of dread. Not because of the weather, as it's actually starting to get warm out finally...but because Scott is in the agriculture business which means Busy Season! As a stay at home mom this is a very hectic and exhausting time for me. He works about 17 hours a day, which means Kaelyn and I are sleeping when he comes home, and sleeping when he leaves. The good thing about the Spring Season is that it's pretty short. It's very busy, but they have to get all of their work done within a short time. The Fall just drags on. So at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Being home with Kaelyn and not having any help for a few weeks means that I really need to start taking advantage of the time she naps to get my work done around the house and online. Normally I would do a lot of it when Scott gets home at night around 5:30...but for the time being that is not an option. Oh well, this too shall pass. Labels: Children, Motherhood
Sweet Potato Baby Food
Posted by jennasue
I mentioned before that Kaelyn started solid foods a couple of weeks ago. She actually has taken very well to that bland Rice Cereal, and began Sweet Potatoes last week! I wasn't too sure how she'd like it, but thankfully she took right to it and likes it even more than her Cereal. The great thing is that it was SO easy to make. One sweet potato filled two trays (they're like ice cube trays)!! It's so much more affordable than the jarred baby food, and healthier for her too! I was happy that she's liking some of the foods that Scott and I eat and that she's already eating so much of them. I think my favorite part of giving her new foods is watching her facial expressions for the very first time...too cute for words!:) This week we'll be starting bananas..and I have a hunch that she'll really like these as well. I think that those will be pretty easy to make as well...as they don't even need to be cooked. I'll continue to keep you updated on her progress....what a fun time! Labels: Children, Health, Motherhood
Need Health Insurance?
Posted by jennasue
When I was pregnant, Scott and I learned how very important health insurance was. As the bills rolled in, we were SO thankful that we had good coverage. Recently we've been discussing how great our insurance is, but also how expensive it is as well. Being a stay at home mom and not working out of the house at all...I get my health insurance through his place of work. It's VERY good insurance, but a bit spendy, especially now that we're covering our daughter under that same policy. We've been discussing looking into something that was a little more affordable for us. Labels: Children, Health, Making Money
Anyone ever heard of Peoples Health Insurance, LLC before? I hadn't heard of them before just recently, but it turns out that they are a licensed insurance agency that helps people through the application process, plan pricing, and questions about health provider networks and a Illinois healthcare plan. I like knowing that there are people out there who will help me to select a quality health plan that is priced to suit our needs and offers the protection that we need. I'm strongly considering looking into them to see what they can do for us. I feel they could help me to find a more affordable alternative to the insurance we have currently. I was quite impressed to learn about them and all they offer, especially to learn that their "Rate Quote" process is really fast and easy to use. Using this I'll be able to find a number of quotes from different health insurance carriers. I've been looking for an option like this for quite some time...I'm hoping that they'll be able to help me out!!
John Deere Baby Clothes
Posted by jennasue
My little brother has been working for John Deere since he graduated from college last year. He really loves it and the type of work he does is write up his alley!! It's actually kind of fun. John Deere is really big here where we live, and we often see all sorts of John Deere apparel, toys, etc. that are perfect for Kaelyn. We haven't gotten her any yet, but Uncle Jake has.;) For Christmas this year he got her a John Deere dinnerware set (with a plate and cup). And, when she was first born, he bought her a SUPER cute John Deere outfit...bibs, onesie and even jean jacket!! When she was first born it was a bit too big, but a couple of days ago I tried it on her again and it fits perfectly! I was really excited, as it's a cute outfit that she can wear at home or out and about. I'm hoping that it will fit her for quite some time now, so that we can get much use out of it and even show Uncle Jake when he visits sometime...he'd really like that!
The Joys of Motherhhood
Posted by jennasue
Isn't it fun to watch a baby learn to do new things?! This is one of my favorite things to do, and it seems like a daily occurrence with Kaelyn these days. Whether it's learning to get up on her hands and knees or taking her first bite of cereal, it's the greatest thing in the world!! As I've recently written, Kaelyn is getting so close to crawling! She's so cute as she moves around the floor and rocks once she gets up on her hands and knees. She's also been using her voice a lot more now. Before she would just coo, but now she "jabbers" all day long!! It's so fun to sit with her and talk. She's such a happy baby, and a couple of days ago she began squealing a lot too. It's adorable. I was excited today to catch her on film doing this a little bit.... Labels: Children, Motherhood, Parenting
Making Your Dr Visits Shorter
Posted by jennasue
About a month ago I had a doctor's appointment. It was still quite cold out at that time, and I really didn't want to have to take Kaelyn out in it if I didn't have to. I decided that it would be better to get someone to watch her. I hadn't ever had anyone babysit her before, but who better to be the first than my Dad! He was more than willing and had so much fun with her!!:) Kaelyn sure loves her Grampa!!
I went to my appointment a little early, hoping to get in and out. Unfortunately that is not what happened...not a big surprise for a doctor's office, right?! I sat in the waiting room far too long, and on top of that, had to sit in the room quite a while too. As if that wasn't bad enough, my doctor then left me waiting so she could go and do some research on a prescription that she was going to give me for my migraines. I am nursing still and she needed to see which would be safe to take. I recently read that Epocrates came out with medical drug reference software for PDA's. This allows healthcare professionals to locate answers to their questions regarding drug dosing, healthcare coverage, side effects and more, quickly and easily! Boy would this have been nice during my appointment!! Over 500,000 healthcare professionals currently use the software, and that number continues to grow as they make it available for Blackberries and soon iPhone.
I thought this was a great technological advancement, and one more doctor's should take advantage of. Hopefully by the next time I go to the doctor, mine will have heard about this great option so my doctor visit can be half the time. I wish this would have been the case last time, for it would have been nice to spend more time with my Dad while he was there.
Lessons in Motherhood: 5
Posted by jennasue
Labels: Children, Home, Motherhood, Parenting
Every now and then I enjoy sharing the lessons that I am continuing to learn in motherhood. Being a new mom, everything is...well...new to me. There are so many things that I have learned and continue to learn each and every day. One thing, which may seem like a "duh" statement to some is the importance of making sure to always have the video camera and digital camera next to me at all time...and making sure that their fully charged as well!
When possible, I am always making sure to try and catch everything on film. This is something that I have wanted to do from the beginning, but as Kaelyn learns to do more and more, it seems even more necessary to have it by my side at all times! It seems that one minute Kaelyn will be on the floor playing with her toys....and in the blink of an eye she is off learning to do something new. Recently that "something" was getting up on her hands and knees. Scott and I knew that this time would come sooner than later, as Kaelyn is a very curious little girl...always wanting to discover the environment around her. She has been scooting around and moving every which way except for forwards for a couple of months now. Soon, she will be moving in that direction though....as getting up on her hands and knees is a very good indication that crawling will be next. It was so cute to watch her as she did this for the firs time. It took so much effort for her to get to that point, and once she did her little face shined and she looked so proud of herself. I'm sure it helped that Scott and I were cheering and clapping...saying "YYEEAAHH Kaelyn!!":) I suppose you could see we're very proud parents!! ;)
New Stroller
Posted by jennasue
A while back I commented on stroller rides. It's been something that Kaelyn and I have been doing a lot of recently now that the weather is so much nicer! She sure loves it. I had said how we were going to be looking for a lightweight stroller, something easier to push around than the one we had. Well...my parents are the sweetest, and they knew our need for a stroller like this...so they got us one down in Texas while they were on vacation! They're the best.:) The stroller is exactly what we were looking for, and has already been used more times than I can count. Kaelyn loves it too....so that's great! I foresee us using it many more times over the summer months.
Safe BPA Free Baby Products
Posted by jennasue
As with many other moms out there, I am always trying to make sure that the products I use with Kaelyn are safe. This started before she was even born. While I was pregnant I was always careful with the things I ate or surrounded myself with. As a baby it was the same way. I wanted to be careful what I used on her skin, or the things I ate...as I was, and still am breastfeeding. Now, she's almost 6 months old...which means solid foods are coming right around the corner! With that in mind, I have been searching high and low for quality products that are BPA Free, as well as homemade baby food recipes and tips....the things that I feel are great ways to give her a healthy start when it comes to eating solid foods. Finding the actual products was my first priority. So far, I have had a lot of luck finding great products that are reasonably priced and are safe for her to use. The Nuby brand has a lot of safe options for parents who are looking like I was. This is the brand that I probably purchased the most from. Labels: Children, Health, Internet, Motherhood
Stroller Rides
Posted by jennasue
As the weather gets nicer, I continue to think about how much fun we will have with Kaelyn this summer. Even though Spring has been here for a while, the weather didn't start to get nice until just a couple of days ago. We're seeing temps in the 60's now...which is very pleasant! Once it warms up a bit more, we'll be able to take Kaelyn outdoors so she can enjoy her surroundings. I think one of the things I am most excited about for this summer, is being able to take her on a stroller ride. It will be so much fun....hopefully the time comes soon when we can go on walks in the afternoon and enjoy the outdoors! I suppose before I'm able to do this, I'll have to be sure and get her a nice stroller that's lightweight and easy to push. Labels: Children, Motherhood
So Many Changes!
Posted by jennasue
Ever since Kaelyn was born, everyone has said how fast she would grow and change!! I always listened to what people had to say...but you don't truly understand it until you are living it. Now I know EXACTLY what everyone was talking about! In the past 5 months...Kaelyn has changed so much. She went from being a very sleepy newborn, to a baby who can roll all over, sit up, and one that coos all the time. She's so interactive, and learning to do new things each and every day! It's so fun watching her change and grow! What a blessing children are! Labels: Children
