1. I have the best husband in the world! He puts no pressure on me to get meals on the table or the house clean. And yesterday morning he got up at 7 and let me sleep two more hours. I am blessed!
2. Insurance companies are as slow as molasses in January. It helped to hear another mom tell of the many months it took her employer's insurance to add her bio son (even before the new health care laws). [We're dealing with individual insurance - not employer's, adopted - not bio, and post-new health care laws, so not even the insurance company knows what to expect.]
3. It's very helpful to have two Carters Keep Me Dry Waterproof Flannel Crib Pads, so you can re-make the crib as soon as you strip it. Chances are your baby will need to take a nap before the laundry is done!
4. High chairs are wonderful!! Why didn't we get one months ago?!? :) I was going to hold out for a booster, but when the pediatrician said to start feeding cereal, and our little one can't sit up unassisted yet, we bought a high chair posthaste! And now, in addition to keeping him contained while I feed him, we can both eat while he contents himself with sitting up , seeing us, and playing with a small toy, or he can sit and content himself while I work in the kitchen. Novel idea! :)
5. We have many generous friends. This baby boy has ALL of his needs met - and, beyond that, some niceties (like a silver-plated cup passed down from a great-aunt, a hand-knit baby cap, etc.), not to mention a veritable library of board books and picture books.
6. Friends who loan or pass on their baby paraphernalia are a blessing! (Car seat, jumparoo, bumbo, vibrating seat, clothing, bassinet, crib mattress, infant bathtub, rocking chair, etc.)
7. Our little guy's all-time favorite way to spend his time is in his activity mat. A generous friend found it at a garage sale (similar to this, but without the music, pillow or mirror), and I washed and sanitized it. He can spend hours a day on/in it. I especially enjoy watching him enjoy it in the morning. He is a morning person! He wakes up smiling and cooing. I take him out of his crib, change his diaper, and then let him play in the activity mat, where he will babble and smile and coo happily for easily 30 minutes. Plus, it's easy to transport to a friend's house, or to the cousins' for babysitting, and he can fall asleep in a familiar environment. (Much easier than transporting a pack-n-play!)
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Wedding Gift Ideas
In my aunt's 35th year of marriage, she casually mentioned to me that the item in her hand was the best wedding gift she had received. She supposed that she had used it every day of her married life. What was it? A good pair of scissors!
I'm not sure that if you gave me a good pair of scissors that I would say the same or that I would use it every day. While it's certainly not a competition to give the best wedding gift or even one that the recipient will use every day, on the other hand, you don't want to give one that they're going to put in the back of a closet never to retrieve.
So, as the season of June brides approaches, what is your go-to wedding gift? Do you go for a practical gift or something that will become an heirloom? Do you purchase something off the registry? Give money?
When I was a child, my parents traditionally gave the bride and groom a white tablecloth & a set of white cloth napkins.
Some people like to give sheets (and, the new couple is no doubt very glad to have sheets when they return from their honeymoon!). Actually, I was more thankful for the gift of a mattress cover.)
Cookbooks are a good option. (Taste of Home has a $5 cookbook sale twice a year.) Alternatively, a subscription to Taste of Home is nice, too. (Those new plates are nice, but if you don't know how to prepare meals to go on them ...)
I guess I do have a "scissors story" like my aunt's. It's the floor mat in front of our kitchen sink. Our first house guest used his powers of observation to see what we didn't have, and then gave us a floor mat ... something I hadn't considered! (This same person has been known to give a mop bucket, etc. to a bride and groom.)
We received four guest books (although the fourth person asked if we already had one and graciously returned it, sending another gift instead). This, of course, is not a good gift, if the couple are not the guest book type.
One shower guest traditionally gives brides their own toolbox!
Another item that a new bride may not have ever needed before is a ring holder. I searched and searched and could only find crystal ones in department stores. Eventually I bought myself a more "everyday" one on Etsy, similar to this one.
And, back to the practical, what could be less heirloom-ish than a step stool (like this)? [While searching for the link, I saw this (which took me back to my childhood).
What about you? Do you have a wedding gift you use everyday? What's your go-to wedding gift?
I'm not sure that if you gave me a good pair of scissors that I would say the same or that I would use it every day. While it's certainly not a competition to give the best wedding gift or even one that the recipient will use every day, on the other hand, you don't want to give one that they're going to put in the back of a closet never to retrieve.
So, as the season of June brides approaches, what is your go-to wedding gift? Do you go for a practical gift or something that will become an heirloom? Do you purchase something off the registry? Give money?
When I was a child, my parents traditionally gave the bride and groom a white tablecloth & a set of white cloth napkins.
Some people like to give sheets (and, the new couple is no doubt very glad to have sheets when they return from their honeymoon!). Actually, I was more thankful for the gift of a mattress cover.)
Cookbooks are a good option. (Taste of Home has a $5 cookbook sale twice a year.) Alternatively, a subscription to Taste of Home is nice, too. (Those new plates are nice, but if you don't know how to prepare meals to go on them ...)
I guess I do have a "scissors story" like my aunt's. It's the floor mat in front of our kitchen sink. Our first house guest used his powers of observation to see what we didn't have, and then gave us a floor mat ... something I hadn't considered! (This same person has been known to give a mop bucket, etc. to a bride and groom.)
We received four guest books (although the fourth person asked if we already had one and graciously returned it, sending another gift instead). This, of course, is not a good gift, if the couple are not the guest book type.
One shower guest traditionally gives brides their own toolbox!
Another item that a new bride may not have ever needed before is a ring holder. I searched and searched and could only find crystal ones in department stores. Eventually I bought myself a more "everyday" one on Etsy, similar to this one.
And, back to the practical, what could be less heirloom-ish than a step stool (like this)? [While searching for the link, I saw this (which took me back to my childhood).
What about you? Do you have a wedding gift you use everyday? What's your go-to wedding gift?
Monday, April 14, 2014
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #76
771. friends who have loaned us so many pieces of baby equipment (from a baby monitor to a baby bathtub to a car seat)
772. friends who have shared in our joy & welcomed our little boy with their love and prayer!
773. a few hours away from home for a committee meeting - thinking big thoughts, discussing, etc.
774. seemingly random encounters with people who have an encouraging word
775. our friendly neighbors ...
776. and warmer weather, so we're outside and actually see each other!
777. nice weather!
778. stroller rides!!
779. finding some hidden treasures tucked away in the freezer :)
780. bearing others' burdens as others have borne ours
772. friends who have shared in our joy & welcomed our little boy with their love and prayer!
773. a few hours away from home for a committee meeting - thinking big thoughts, discussing, etc.
774. seemingly random encounters with people who have an encouraging word
775. our friendly neighbors ...
776. and warmer weather, so we're outside and actually see each other!
777. nice weather!
778. stroller rides!!
779. finding some hidden treasures tucked away in the freezer :)
780. bearing others' burdens as others have borne ours
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #75
761. filling the fridge with this easy snack for the week
762. my Sunday morning line-up (at home this Sunday, with a sick little boy)
763. calling in our lunch order for Jim to pick up after his Gideons gig
764. a friend purging 4 babies' worth of stuff & offering me whatever I need
765. getting to see God do the unexpected in friends' lives
766. a hair dresser who welcomes babies to come when mommies get their hair cut
767. book club members who love it when babies come with their mommies
768. 3 months old!!!!!
769. being able to upload photos and have my parents pick them up at their nearest Walgreen's
770. perspective ~ and a husband who helps me with mine; sure, I may not "get anything done," but as he says, "I'm raising a boy with an eternal soul."
762. my Sunday morning line-up (at home this Sunday, with a sick little boy)
763. calling in our lunch order for Jim to pick up after his Gideons gig
764. a friend purging 4 babies' worth of stuff & offering me whatever I need
765. getting to see God do the unexpected in friends' lives
766. a hair dresser who welcomes babies to come when mommies get their hair cut
767. book club members who love it when babies come with their mommies
768. 3 months old!!!!!
769. being able to upload photos and have my parents pick them up at their nearest Walgreen's
770. perspective ~ and a husband who helps me with mine; sure, I may not "get anything done," but as he says, "I'm raising a boy with an eternal soul."
Saturday, April 5, 2014
On the bright side ...
During this season when we drive separately to church, I find myself complaining ... on missing out on what used to be our weekly 30-minute conversation on the way there and another one on the way home. I also find other things to complain about, too. :(
But this week, the Lord helped me look on the bright side. In addition to getting to sleep in a little :) :) :), my drive coincides with the best 30 minutes of Sunday morning radio!!
I hear the second half of Bryan Chapell's sermon (including application), and this Sunday's program also included a phenomenal organ postlude of a medley of missions hymns! Then I hear the first part of morning worship at the historic Moody Church, including some Scripture reading, and quite a bit of congregational singing ~ of hymns! ~ and accompanied by organ.
Anything in your life that bugs you or you find yourself complaining about? Maybe there's a hidden blessing that comes as you endure it.
But this week, the Lord helped me look on the bright side. In addition to getting to sleep in a little :) :) :), my drive coincides with the best 30 minutes of Sunday morning radio!!
I hear the second half of Bryan Chapell's sermon (including application), and this Sunday's program also included a phenomenal organ postlude of a medley of missions hymns! Then I hear the first part of morning worship at the historic Moody Church, including some Scripture reading, and quite a bit of congregational singing ~ of hymns! ~ and accompanied by organ.
Anything in your life that bugs you or you find yourself complaining about? Maybe there's a hidden blessing that comes as you endure it.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Conversations
Lady #1: "I haven't seen you in the Sunday School wing lately."
Me: "No, I cleared everything from my schedule."
Lady #1: "You must be going through some big changes."
Me (realizing that she did not know): "We've adopted."
Lady #1: "Oh!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Me (as I held an unwieldy pile of mail from our box, while waiting to pick up a couple packages): "I guess we didn't come in yesterday. Some days, you just can't get everything done."
Post Office Clerk: "There are going to be a lot more of those days!" :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Me (in tears): It's just so hard to go to church. Jim and I drive separately, so I drive 30 minutes there and 30 minutes back with just the baby, and he usually wails the first 10 or 15 minutes in the car. It just seems like an act of futility.
Older lady from church: It's hard. My baby fed every two hours, so I'd put her in the nursery, and then about 10 minutes later, they'd come get me. I knew I needed to go if only for 10 minutes.
(That was a God-ordained conversation, when I "just so happened" to run into her in an unlikely place around town, when we both had time to talk.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nieces (after not seeing their little cousin for 11 days): He's bigger!!!!
Me: "No, I cleared everything from my schedule."
Lady #1: "You must be going through some big changes."
Me (realizing that she did not know): "We've adopted."
Lady #1: "Oh!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Me (as I held an unwieldy pile of mail from our box, while waiting to pick up a couple packages): "I guess we didn't come in yesterday. Some days, you just can't get everything done."
Post Office Clerk: "There are going to be a lot more of those days!" :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Me (in tears): It's just so hard to go to church. Jim and I drive separately, so I drive 30 minutes there and 30 minutes back with just the baby, and he usually wails the first 10 or 15 minutes in the car. It just seems like an act of futility.
Older lady from church: It's hard. My baby fed every two hours, so I'd put her in the nursery, and then about 10 minutes later, they'd come get me. I knew I needed to go if only for 10 minutes.
(That was a God-ordained conversation, when I "just so happened" to run into her in an unlikely place around town, when we both had time to talk.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nieces (after not seeing their little cousin for 11 days): He's bigger!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)