Merry Christmas!

I got a new camera for Christmas so I took a lot of pictures. I included a Quicktime slideshow of the pics. The quality is not so good as I had to compress it a lot in order to upload it. Enjoy!

Meat!

I would be a vegetarian if I thought I would get enough to eat. Anyone that knows me knows that breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks are my favorite part of the day. I try to buy organic foods when I can afford them and when they are available, especially for the kids. I do not believe that vaccines are what is causing problems in our children because that theory is based on a small study that has been refuted time and time again (Jenny McCarthy, give it up!). Rather the pesticides and chemicals that they digest on a regular basis as their immune systems are growing....but I digress.
I recently had the misfortune to read a couple of articles on the awful practices of beef slaughterhouses and the feeding of arsenic to chickens. Yes, I said arsenic! So now eating chicken and beef are just not so fun anymore. I am currently in the process of trying to find a local farm that may sell grass fed or organic meat in bulk. To buy this meat in the grocery store is ridiculous as it sells for four times as much as non-organic meat.
Anyone have any suggestions?

Faith

I have not had a very close relationship in my life with God or religion. Not for lack of trying but I have always had a hard time with things that I can't see or feel and I have never made a meaningful connection. Sometimes you come across something that helps you remember what the important things are. This story of Kayleigh Anne Freeman has strengthened my faith in the good, strong things about people and family. Even maybe my faith in a higher power. I am a member of the September 08 birth club on babycenter.com and this is a story of a newborn that I have followed from the beginning of her birth back in June 2008. She was born at 1 pound 1 oz and has come through three surgeries to make it to over 5 pounds today. Unfortunately, she is not doing well now and her parents do not expect her to make it. Read their blog and be ready to be inspired, sad, and awed by their strength and love.
I will be offering all my prayers for this family and hopefully you do to.

The Binky Fairy Continued....

The Binky Fairy visited a couple of nights ago and left Morgan a new blankie and a movie. Morgan was fascinated by the 'pixie dust' left by the Binky Fairy on the mailbox (glitter) and the note that the fairy left. She has been doing really well without her binky and has only asked for it once. She is a little more hyped up at bedtime than usual but I guess that is because she is trying to figure out how to soothe without her binky. So I will claim the Binky Fairy to be a success!

The Binky Fairy

My almost three year old still has a binky. I know, I know, horrors of horrors she still has a binky!! She uses it at night and in the car. I have had a hard time taking it away from her because she loves it so much and I can't think of a really good reason that she shouldn't have it. Contrary to popular opinion the binky will not mess up her teeth permanently unless they are adult teeth. I remember when my Dad and brother would hide my blankie when I was younger (they thought I was too old at six to still have one) and it upset me so much that I hate to do the same thing to Morgan. I do think that it is time now though as it seems to becoming more of a crutch than something soothing.
This is where the idea of the Binky Fairy came up. I saw the idea on an episode of the SuperNanny and thought this was a great idea. I want Morgan to give up the binky herself rather than me having to take it from her. So next week we are going to gather up all the binky's and put them in a special envelope addressed to the Binky Fairy. The Fairy will collect the binky's and give them to babies that don't have any. In return for Morgan's generosity the fairy will leave a gift in the mailbox. I will let you know how it goes.....

Product of the Week 3

I started buying Baby Legs for Morgan when she was an infant. They are like leg warmers for babies. They make diaper changes easy and are great for kids starting to crawl. I get so many compliments on them everybody loves them. Check them out.

Slacker

I haven't posted in a while because I have been a tad crazed. Leah's first Thanksgiving was good. We ate at my Dad and Gloria's and the food as usual was delicious. I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I would like as I had to eat with a baby in one hand. Oh well, at least I didn't have to cook.....I did make a chocolate fondue which was absolutely awesome. There is something about a huge pot of melted chocolate that makes me want to dip all sorts of things in it. Get your minds out of the gutter people, I meant food! It does make me wonder if spending all day cooking is worth it for the twenty minutes that people spend eating it. Hopefully I never have to host Thanksgiving, I would probably buy the turkey precooked :-) Speaking of precooked turkey's, the Jennie-O turkey commercials for their pre-cooked turkey's are hysterical! Click here to watch it.