Our 3 Blessings with personality.......

Mother of 3.

This is so true.  I had to post it....if only we could be this relaxed with our first child.  I think we just have more time to think about everything!  (:  God Bless those 3rd child's out there!

BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as

your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.


2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

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Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last

time, breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

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The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, colour-coordinate them,

and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and

discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

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Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper,

a frown--you pick up the baby

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten

to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to

rewind the mechanical swing.

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Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until

you can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it

off with some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

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Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour,

whether they need it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to

complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

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Activities

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing,

Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.

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Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter,

you call home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to

leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

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At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child

isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children

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Swallowing Coins (a favourite):

1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays

2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.

3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

Silas 6 months old!

This is a little late, but I have been having trouble posting since I updated the software on my Mac. Silas is 6 months old and it is hard to believe....time can go by so fast sometimes. He has started to army crawl everywhere. He has been trying to sit up on his own, but still tumbles to the side. He weighed 13 pounds and 14 ounces....which takes him to the zero percentile. He actually lost 5 ounces from 5 to 6 months. He grew a lot and is healthy....I think a lot of factors played into this, including our disney trip and all of us being sick for a week! We are feeding him lots now! He LOVES food...he watches my every bite. He is also a mamma's boy right now. He wants to be held....we knew he couldn't be laid back forever! He is a great baby and sleeps great at night. We are about to move him to his crib finally! He may be moved out of our closet by the time he is 7 months old! (-: He is a huge blessing to our family! I can not wait to see what his personality will be like.......

It's a small world!

How can I get cooler?  By attaching my fan to my water bottle?  (0:

Lunch at Magic Kingdom.  We were so hot and hungry, I don't think it mattered what we ate.  We remembered eating here the last couple times!
Day one...we left tomorrowland and headed to adventure land.....loving Magic Kingdom!  It was so fun to watch the kids as they were amazed by everything they saw.  They were in heaven.  

Day one....Waiting in line for the ferry to Magic Kindom.  
The Grand Floridian we passed on our ferry ride
Entering Magic Kingdom

We headed to tomorrow land first and rode the Buzz Lightyear ride first.  This is where Nolan found the toy he wanted!  We told them they had to keep looking and wait until Friday.  He STILL wanted it on Friday....guess sometimes the first thing you see is IT!

My Findings......

3 important changes to make to improve and take care of the body God gave us.

 

#1  No Hydrogenated Oils

Oils have been hydrogenated since the 1930s to prolong their shelf life and make the oils more stable. Hydrogenated oil is oil in which the essential fatty acids have been converted to a different form chemically, which has several effects on the oil. Hydrogenated oil is far more shelf stable, and will not go rancid as quickly as untreated oil. It also has a higher melting point, and is often used in frying and pastries for this reason. Finally, the chemical structure of the oil is changed, which scientists in the 1990s began to realize could result in health effects.

Hydrogenated oil is made by forcing hydrogen gas into oil at high pressure. Both animal and vegetable fats can be and are hydrogenated. In general, the more solid the oil is, the more hydrogenated it is. Two common examples of hydrogenated oil are Crisco and margarine. In the 1990s, it was realized that these products might have deleterious health effects, a tragic irony since they were originally produced and promoted as being healthier than conventional oils.  Consumption of hydrogenated oil has been linked with diabetes, coronary disease, and obesity in a wide number of scientific studies.

 

Your Metabolism Slows Worse, most partially hydrogenated oil is partially hydrogenated soybean oil. That's a problem, because soybean oil depresses the thyroid--which lowers your energy levels, makes you feel less like exercising, and generally makes you fatter!

Of course, soybeans have been used for centuries in the Orient--but mostly as the basis for soy sauce and tofu. Asians didn't have soy milk, soy burgers, soy this and soy that. Most of all, they never used concentrated essence of soybean, in the form of soybean oil. And they didn't hydrogenate it, and they didn't use it in everything.

Walking down supermarket aisles in America, you find product after product with partially hydrogenated oil--often in products you would never expect. But why not? After all, it's cheaper than butter. And it's not illegal.  As a result, Americans are consuming a lot of soybean oil--partially hydrogenated soybean oil--in virtually everything they eat. It's no wonder that America is experiencing epidemic levels of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer.

 Avoiding Hydrogenation

When you start reading food labels, it is astonishing how many products you will find that contain partially hydrogenated oils. In the chips aisle, there are maybe two brands that don't: Lay's Classic Potato Chips (not their other types), and Laura Schudders chips. Most every other package on the shelf does.

Then there are the cookies and crackers. Most every single one does.  Even some items on the "health food" shelf contain partially hydrogenated oils. Can you imagine that?? A product marketed as a "health food" that contains partially hydrogenated oils?

The more labels you read, the more astonished you will be at the variety and number of places that hydrogenated oils show up. Do read the labels and search for the product with out them.  In the local grocery store, your best bet is to go to the “Health Food” section.  Do not be afraid of it, I know it can be intimidating, but you can find an alternative and often it is NOT more expensive.   Kroger specifically often runs sales and puts items on Manager’s Special.  Some great brands I have found:  Back to Nature, Kashi, and Paul Newman’s.  Also, a great place to shop for snacks, crackers, and foods that often have Hydrogenated oils is Trader Joe’s and they are often less expensive than the local grocery store.

 

#2  No High Fructose Corn Syrup

High Fructose Corn Syrup is a liquid sweetener made by treating starch extracted from corn with enzymes, which convert it to an approximately equal mixture of two sugars, fructose and glucose.  (Fructose is much sweeter than glucose but is not as ready metabolized by the body.

The food industry likes HFCS because it’s about 20 percent cheaper than sugar, due to government subsidies on corn tariffs and sugar, and it acts as a stabilizer and preservative in food.  HFCS has about the same mount of calories as sugar.

Many recent studies have reported HFCS’s negative effects, elevated triglyceride levels, insulin resistance, which may lead to type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and possible others.  I do not think it is a coincidence that obesity rates have risen dramatically since the introduction of HFCS in many products, which began in the 1970’s.  Alarmingly, consumption of HFCS has risen by more than 1,000 percent since 1970.  Of course, the food industry and corn association says that there is not enough evidence to show that it is bad for consumers.  The new marketing tool in magazines and commercials saying it is natural, not bad for you, and the same as sugar is not the whole truth.  I encourage you to incorporate alternative items in your refrigerator that do not have HFCS in the ingredients since we do not know the long term health effects of HFCS on our bodies.

 

#3  Add Omega-3’s to your diet

Most People eat too few foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, walnuts and flax seed, and too many processed foods with excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids, including soy, corn, palm, and cottonseed oils.  A typical Western diet now contains 20 to 30 times as much omega-6s as omega-3 fats, while a century ago people consumed about equal amounts.  This fatty acid imbalance in the diet may have ill effects on mental health.  For instance, low levels of omega-3s have been linked to depression and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the prevalence of those conditions has risen as omega-3 content in the diet has decreased.  As scientist search for an explanation, more evidence suggest omega-3’s are essential to normal brain development and function.

Joseph Hibbeln, MD , senior clinical investigator at the Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, found that those countries with the highest fish consumption have the lowest rates of depression, bipolar disorder, homicide, and suicide.  One explanation may be the omega-3s found in some fish.  The Japanese, for example, have the lowest rate of major depression in the developed world and eat about 145 pounds of fish annually, while depression rates in the US, where people eat about 42 pounds a year, are roughly 30 times higher.

Your body cannot make omega-3 fats, so it relies on diet as its source.  For this reason essential fatty-acid imbalance can start before you are born.  Mothers transfer to their fetuses the omega-3 fat docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) to support brain development.  Research suggests the amount of omega-3s in a pregnant woman’s body may influence a child’s social skills, intelligence, and motor abilities.  Pregnancy itself can lower a woman’s blood levels of omega-3’s and shortfalls may contribute to postpartum depression.

For children, it is recommended 15mg of fish oil per pound of body weight to be taken daily.  It can be taken by the spoonful or added to salads or shakes.  Choose brands that can back up claims to be contaminant free, such as Nordic Naturals and the Weil brand. 

Omega-3 Supports:

*Brain and visual Development AND *Memory, learning, and focus

Extra: Organics and Vitamins

Organics are a big fad right now, but in some cases organic reduces toxins in our bodies.  In my opinion, you have to research pesticide consumption.  When possible buy local produce.  It is fresher and in turn will be richer in vitamins and minerals.  I have pulled a top 12 organic list from an article in Runner’s World. 

Spend Wisely: These 12 fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels of pesticides; buy organic to reduce your exposure.

Apples                                     Peaches

Bell Peppers                                    Pears           

Celery                                                Potatoes

Cherries                                    Raspberries

Imported grapes                        Spinach

Nectarines                                    Strawberries

 

Don’t Worry(as much): The pesticide levels of these 12 fruits and vegetables are low to undetectable; okay to buy conventional.

Asparagus                                    Mangoes

Avocados                                    Onions

Bananas                                    Papaya

Broccoli                                    Pineapples

Cauliflower                                    Sweet Corn           

Kiwi                                                Sweet Peas

 

In today’s world, it is virtually impossible to get the vitamins and minerals we need to sustain a healthy body.  I recommend all children and adults take a multivitamin daily. om

 

Sources:

Dr Andrew Weil’s self healing magazine

www.nourishedkitchen.com

www.treelight.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.mayoclinic.com

Runner’s World Magazine

www.nordicnaturals.com

Nutrition

So, as i sit here and do my research for my talk on nutrition at Realmoms (a weekly mom's group at my church) I am overwhelmed.  I have come up with my top 3 things that I am most passionate about....they are not new to me, but I tend to forget about them as time passes and then when I start to research more, I become more andmore passionate again!  

I am writing for help.  I have until next Thursday to deliver my "nutrition" talk and any information you may have would be extremely helpful.  I plan to add my final notes on this blog.  Here are the things I am talking about.  Let me know if you have any information about them.

Hydrogenated Oils

High Fructose Corn Syrup 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

What do you think?

Walt Disney World

These are just a sneak peak......I will be adding more later and doing some journaling, so visit again soon....We are VERY tired, but having a great time in the Most Magical Place on Earth!

more beach....

The beach

My Sweet Boy's first day of PreK Preschool

Nolan had his first day of preschool today and I forgot to take a picture before he went, so I tried to snap a shot when I picked him up, but he was SO excited to show me his sticker he earned for being good!  So, this is a picture of him dropping his backpack right in the pickup line and pulling his folder out to show me his star sticker!  This is our adorable 4 year old!  I can hardly believe he is this old and that he will enter Kindergarten in one short year!  BUT, I am excited to have M, W, and F with only Silas from 9 to 1pm.  I do miss him and Isabel a lot during the days though!  

Nutrition

For any of you who know me well, you know I have what can only be described as a passion for Nutrition.  I am very passionate about many things my family eats.....my top 3 are:

Absolutely NO,

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup

2. No Hydrogentated oils

3. Artificial colors and flavors

Of course, this is only possible at home and I do not throw a fit out or even consider not going to someone elses house for dinner or snacks.  We go with the flow when we are not at home, but we may choose to not drink pop, or order something we KNOW has one of the top 2 in it.  All this to say, I just read a GREAT article that explains so much about oils and trans fats and I want to share it with any of my readers along with my kids as they are older and reading through our blog/scrapbook.  It amazes me since I have been so passionate how many misconceptions that are out there and how some really educated people have no clue about some of these things and how our body works with them.  Just last night my husband heard a teenager say, "My dad said High Fuctose Corn Syrup is good for you!"  That made me cringe as HFCS is a toxin to our bodies.  Our stomachs can not even digest it, it is digested in our liver and our liver places fatty cells into our body as a result.  Okay, I won't get started because, like i said I am PASSIONATE about it all.  

If you are interested in reading an article that helps clear up some debate on oils in our foods, what to cook with, and what to avoid, read the following article.

http://www.naturalnews.com/022313.html

Happy reading!

5 months old!

This toe eating 5 month old is so much fun!  We are really enjoying him.  He weighs 14 pounds 2 ounces.  This month he has started to eat rice cereal with bananas and playing with LOTS of toys.  He actually seems to be getting bored sometimes.  He loves to be played with and talked to.  He is talking to us and cooing so much.  He loves to sleep on his belly and suck his thumb.  When he is in his careseat and sleepy he gets mad because he can not flip over onto his tummy.  Isabel and Nolan are enjoying him so much more now.  He sleeps so well and takes great naps when we are home.  He will be so much fun in Disney World.  Less than 2 weeks and we are off in a big plane to Florida!  Can't wait!  We will have to upload pictues while we are there so ALL can enjoy with us!

Fotowonder......My Favorite Newborn Pix of Silas.....5 month old Pictures coming soon!

A Bear Hunt- April 2008

Last Fall Nolan was very interested in Bears and I tried to tell him that we do not have bears around here, but he was determined that we do....so Brad had promised him they would go on a Bear hunt in the woods around our house. Well, it got cold and he would want to go always at the inopportune times, so FINALLY when Silas was born, it was spring and warmer outside, Brad had time off work and a Bear hunting they went! This is one of my favorite memories, so I had to post about it, so we can remember it forever! But, Daddy and Nolan were not able to find a bear.....I know, very sad, but no bears in suburban Indiana! I love you and your imagination Nolan!

Nice!

Thanks Dad for giving my husband the Ambervision sunglasses! He is loving them! Like I told my dad, It is 2008, not 1980! Some may think these are in style again, but some things should never reappear in the fashion world! I love you Bradley!

State Fair with Nolan

Nolan had a great time with Kelli and his mommy! He was so excited to have a day for him. He would not be satisfied until he got an Elephant Ear. Aunt Kelli had to mention it on the drive to the fair and he would NOT stop talking about it until we got one. I think the thought of an Elephant Ear was very intriguing to a 4 year old little boy.

He does not start school until September 8th, so he is getting some great time with mommy and baby Silas, including a trip to McDonald's. Poor kid has only been there a few times....I know, unAmerican! Sorry buddy...Chic Fil A will have to do...you will thank me when you are older!

Isabel's first day of second grade

Hard to believe my baby has entered 2nd grade. Her teacher's name is Mrs Bransteter and she is great! Isabel is going to have a great year. She is very excited, but of course she is our social girl and loves to be with her friends. She has been very excited to have the job of computer girl. She has to turn the computers on everyday and off at the end of the day.....taking after her dad already. It feels like she was born yesterday. I do not feel old enough to have a 7 year old little girl. 2nd grade is where many of my fond memories of childhood begin. I remember Mrs. Adam's class like it were yesterday. All the times Jennifer and I asked to go to the nurses office to see who could get an ice pack or get them to send us home! It feels like we got to go home a lot, but I am sure they were on to us after the first time or two. We had no clue back then! All the sleep overs I had in the Russiaville Trailer Park with Jennifer and even the tomato throwing guys in Ivy Hills. What memories! And to think that when my sweet Isabel is in her 30's she is going to remember many of these days. She is so passionate about life. I can not wait to see where it takes her.....well, I can wait. The days already go by so fast. I want to savor them one by one. I love you my sweet girl!

Gotta love the conversations with a 4 year old!

Nolan:  "Sorry mommy.  I just said I wish i didn't have a sister in there."

Kerri: "Why?"

Nolan: "Because she would not stop saying SO!"

Kerri: " Does your heart really feel like you wish you did not have a sister?"

Nolan: "No, my brain does!"

Kerri: "But, how about your heart?"

Nolan, "No, my heart does not feel that way, just my brain!"

I keep feeling like I need pictures to post something, but I know that is not true.  Life gets crazy and it seems like so much goes by that I do not know what to even post.  This time in life is full of memories and things going on.....My days feel like they fly by!  I feel like I used to be so organized and now I am barely floating about water, in a good way.  How much does the laundry, dishes, and a clean house really matter?  I am learning that the most important thing right now is to shepard our children's hearts...they totally trust us and after all, God did put parents there to teach us, right?  I am always telling Isabel that I am not trying to upset you are be mean to you, but God sent me to protect and teach you.  Why is it so natural that our kids think we are against them and don't want them to have fun!  I won't forget how Isabel came home from Kindergarten one day to tell me a girl in  her class told her that she sneaks candy when her mom is napping.  I asked Isabel, "Why would she do that?"  I said, there is no need for you to do that, mommy wants you to beable to have candy sometimes.  I just know that too much will give you a belly ache or make you not hungry for the good food that helps your body grow, so I may say no if it is an inappropriate time.....BUT candy is good and I want you to beable to have it!  I think she liked my answer!  I don't want her to ever feel like she needs to sneak!  I am reading Shepherding your child's heart by Ted Tripp right now and I recommend it to all parents.  The world would be a different place if we all parented the way he suggests!

I love you Isabel, Nolan, and Silas!  I want to teach you God's grace, forgiveness, holiness, and Greatness!  Living with God in your heart and soul makes life a wild ride and amazing!

What is Wrong With This Picture!!!!

After having two thumb-suckers, I am determined not to have a third!!!  We are trying all different pacifiers... and he still found his thumb!