There’s a new carnival in town: a bloggy carnival. And, you’re invited to join. In fact, I URGE you to. I even have a nifty button for you if you participate – feel free to steal it:

So, get ready.  This Thursday, July 3, 2008 – I invite everyone to post a blog about your self image.  How do you see yourself?  You can post pictures, drawings, or just your thoughts (or, all of the above!).  Ladies, and Gents alike are going to be posting.  And, Thursday, beneath my post will be a place to put the link to your “Distorted Images” post, so we can check it out.

So, come on.  Join in.  You don’t have to get undressed, but you can if you want.  It’s time to be real.

Welcome back!

This weekend has rocked so far.  Tried sushi.  Found a hat for $6 that I REALLY wanted.  Moved trash and (flattened and moved) about 70 boxes to the trash place (out of the garage).  Ate supper and visited with my parents.  And, today?  I’m washing some clothes and towels and Steven is mowing…hooray…our jungle-yard will look normal again.  I think the neighbors will only buy the “Live first, mow later” motto for only so long.  If goats didn’t poop so much (or, if they came potty trained – in the woods), I would just buy goats.  Too bad for me.

This morning, after a lovely breakfast of totally non-healthy foods (eggs over easy, crescent rolls loaded with butter and honey, and cheesy hashbrowns—L had a crescent roll and banana), L and I went into the garden.  My tomato plants had grown so much and began falling over, so I needed to re-tie them…and um, weed the garden.  Badly.  So, L and I found a spot in the garden and began.  She started picking leaves, trying her darnedest to help – it’s not her fault that she hasn’t quite grasped weeds vs. good plants/flowers yet.  So, she helped pick a few weeds…some tomato leaves…some lettuce leaves…and a big ol’ piece of broccoli leaf.  I pulled my very mature (but easy to recognize and grasp) weeds up at lightening speed as she sat in between the garden rows, playing in the dirt and leaves she had collected.  I love my garden.  I love the fact that I grew it.  By myself.  I love that I planted each seed so lovingly in that ground with my two hands, and now those seeds feed my family.  I love that after a hectic day, I can walk to my little garden, and I can pull up weeds or check the plants for bugs…and…one of the girliest girls ever actually enjoys it.  For once, I don’t mind dirt under my fingernails (um, for a short time…til I can wash my hands), I don’t mind the work.  It’s my place.  The place I can go to “work” and my mind runs free with thoughts – happy thoughts.  It’s where I can breathe.  Relax.  And, as a look up to watch my beautiful daughter playing in the dirt, I see a fine line of dirt around her mouth.  And, it is in that moment that I remember why I chose to have a completely organic garden.  For my family.  I love the thought of picking a ripe tomato…or broccolli…or lettuce (I can go on and on) and KNOWING that there is NO fertilizer, NO pesticides, NOTHING but what it was intended to be.  Natural, beautiful, and wonderful.  And, my daughter could hypothetically eat all the dirt she wanted – But, she won’t, because I’m a mean mommy and don’t care for things like intestinal worms and other gross things.

I so very much love that my daughter loves nature and exploring…just as much as I do.

A friend of mine asked me to write a guest blog post for her blog. And, so I did. So, here’s to MissSmartyPants at A Whole Lot of Nothing, CLICK HERE.

I was curled up on the couch today – in pain.  Yet, I was happy.  Want to know why?  No, you really don’t…but I’m going to tell you anyways.  Because my friends, my last cycle just ended.  A 23 day cycle.  You see, for what seems like FOREVER, I have been having 45-55 day cycles (that’s longer than a month!).  But today?  Today is the beginning of a new cycle.  And, I’m excited.  Why?  Because, dang it…my body hasn’t been “normal” for a long time.  It hasn’t been doing the one thing a woman’s body should on its own – ovulating.  For some reason, my body was rebelling, and I had no clue why.  We went through 15 months of agonizing infertility…and had hoped that after L, my body would snap back the way it was supposed to be.  It didn’t.  I inquired to my doctors and they literally got out their notepads to prescribe me medicine.  They didn’t know WHY my body wasn’t working, but they could give me a quick fix (fertility medicine that would get me pregnant).  But, the whole idea (of mine) was to FIX my body and to make me “whole” again.  So, I took it in my own hands and found a supplement, if you will.  And, it’s working.  Heck yeh.

Oh, that and I am really going to try to stop being such a lazy ass.  Seriously.  Okay…maybe.  I HAVE to start doing cardio.  I HAVE to start doing some light weight training.  I HAVE to gain some weight.  Muscle weight, not jiggle my thighs milkshake weight, thank you very much.  I want to be healthy.  I want my body to be able to handle sickness and anything else in the best way possible…and this is what I need.

In the spirit of that, we’ve been geocaching a lot lately.  Like, last night.  And, again…tonight.  Guess what else comes along with geocaching?  EIGHT ticks on me alone…tongight.  That does not count the several I flicked off of me IN the woods.  Thirteen on hubs.  Zero on baby.  Yes, we counted.  Ticks suck.  Literally.

Oh, by the way…you know what would be REALLY cool for cardio?  Dance Dance Revolution…or Wii Fit.  Ahem.  *cough cough*

Before L was born, Steven and I enjoyed an activity called geocaching – an activity in which you use a GPS system to find caches, or mini- treasures, located at specific waypoints across the globe. It was a fun and incredibly cheap (FREE) activity that combined exploring, physical activity, and treasures. What’s not to love?

Unfortunately, having a small child can sometimes put a bit of a damper on the geocaching experience – especially when it involves walking for extended periods of time and up steep hills and loose gravel, walking through poison ivy, and braving things like: creeks, ticks, mosquitoes, and the like! We had thought that we’d have to give up geocaching, unless of course we lined up a babysitter – we had never realized how a simple Sleepy Wrap could change our whole experience.

The Sleep Wrap is a stretchy and soft baby wrap that you methodically tie around your body to create a “nook” for your child. Unlike other wraps, the Sleepy Wrap is not only comfortable, but it can also be worn for many positions and different sized children – from infant to toddler! Oh, and the goodness doesn’t stop yet: This is the ONLY wrap I have found so far that will fit both my 5?1? and 87 lb frame AND my almost 6? non-87 lb husband’s frame! I love that when I get tired, I can switch the wrap with my husband, and he can wear her for a while. Or, when she stays with her Mimi or Granny – it’ll fit them, too!

Sleepy Wrap is wonderful, no matter what you like to do. It’s appropriate and comfortable for so many activities! In fact, you might want to try out some new activities once you get your own Sleepy Wrap.

Click here to buy your own Sleepy Wrap, available in many colors.

(Signs she knows more than she’s letting on…)

…She can repeat songs like “la la la ” or “da da da”

…After rolling over and into the rocking chair, she smacks it and points at it, saying “Don’t!”

…I begin singing and she places one finger in front of mouth in a shhhh sign.

…While trying to put her in a baby carrier (to be worn similar to a backpack), she arches her body and falls straight back, arms straight out and holds her body rigid. (Unfortunately for her, I still weigh more than her and thus have an advantage. Even if it is only by 67 pounds. I still win.)

…She quickly throws her perfectly good toddler food in the floor when I get my bowl of food out to eat with her. Experts say to eat meals with your kid. Nobody told me she’d be feeding her food to the dog and taking over my bowl. (Not that I blame her, my food is generally less healthy than hers). Today she had chicken parmigiana for lunch. Last Friday, she had Uncle Ryan’s pizza.

…She tries to bribe me with her toys.

…If I ask her to eat something she doesn’t find interesting, she’ll try to feed it to me.  If I refuse it, she’ll throw it to the puppy.  I’ve tried more baby food than you even want to know.  Sometimes, she’ll follow suit, but sometimes she just raises an eyebrow and laughs at me in response.

…She knows how to use the cell phone…and laptop.  She can type randomness, and she knows how to make outgoing phone calls, put people on hold, and how to hang up on people.  She will answer a phone with “hiday!” and will tell her dad, uncle Ryan, and grandparents that she loves them “Iluhew” (or kissing the phone), and then will say “bye” and hang up on them.

A few of years ago, I learned about this cool thing called geocaching – which is like hunting for treasure using a GPS (with a “take something, leave something” rule).  And, my FIL and all of his coolness GAVE me a GPS.  Yes, he rocks.  Anyhow, I fell in love with geocaching, and until yesterday hadn’t been for ALMOST 2 years (pregnancy and then comes baby).  Yesterday, I had the awesomely bright idea of TAKING our newly independent 14 month old toddler geocaching WITH US.  Yes, yes…I’m brilliant.  I packed snacks, water, a couple of toys, “special all natural” bug spray, and an awesome baby carrier (to free up my hands).

I made a list of 3 different caches in our area, and we set out.  First cache required us to go in some woods.  That should’ve been the first sign of trouble.  So, I lathered Lorelei and myself up with the bug food spray, and in the 3 of us went despite the weird stares of those around us.  The GPS said we were within 500 feet of the cache, and we figured very quickly that this cache would NOT have any trails…although, we were secretly hoping that once we got in, there might be one.  Nope.  There were however lots and lots of knee-high plants.  And, guess what else?  SEWAGE.  Of course, I didn’t know this until after I tried to tip-toe through it in my flip flops.  And, guess what lives in this neat SEWAGE swamp?  Death squads of mosquitoes, who cared not that we had lathered on bug repellant.  No, they wanted to eat us and our hair and our bug repellent.  Hungry little buggers wouldn’t get off of us.  They even came after my eyelids!!  At one point, we came to a fallen tree over more swamp land (probably more poo), so Steven went ahead without us.  But, as we waited for daddy to come back, we came under attack again.  This time, they were going after my head and getting in my hair!  So, I attempted to call for hubs, and of course he couldn’t hear me (much like at home), so what did we do?  Did we sit there waiting for daddy?  Hell no!  I ran out of those woods and through the poo swamp, screaming (very softly) “Abort! Abort!”  I then proceeded to the nearest water pump and cleaned my legs and flip-flops of any swamp material and any poisonous -itchy plant residue.

Quick Side Note:  Yes, I wear flip-flops to geocache.  You never know when you’ll need to take your shoes off and wade through poop.  Or, something.

The second cache wasn’t much better.  Not that I would know.  Lorelei and I didn’t leave the SUV.  We made daddy go and get it (maybe that’s why he doesn’t like geocaching anymore?).  This time, it was better.  A grassy tick-filled hill and a little bit of woods.  He came back with about 10 ticks (NOT KIDDING) up and down his legs and arms.  Note to self:  NOT going back there.  Bloodsuckers.

The third cache rocked.  Unfortunately, it was past supper time and L was having NONE of it at this point.  She wanted to be held, but she wanted to stand and run.  And, then eat rocks.  And sticks.  We plan to go back to the third cache we visited, only next time…either minus the baby (grandparents?) or…with many more snacks.  Anyhow, the third cache we went to had a mystical twist to it.  You had to find a starting point with one set of coordinates and at that starting point, you’d find a rock.  Painted on that rock would be a tree.  You had to find that specific tree and at it’s base, you would find another rock…and so on.  It would lead you up the ledge of this hill, and we could see the sun setting on the lake.  Very pretty.  Beyond that, was an old hotel …or what had been left behind of it.  We got to walk on an old balcony in the woods.

Anyhow…THAT was my wonderful weekend.

Babywearing is a constant theme in nature: Kangaroos, Gorillas, Koala Bears – and even some human cultures. In addition to the obvious freeing up of hands that is involved with babywearing, wearing your little one has many other advantages as well. According to Hunziker and Barr in their article in Pediatrics, babies who are carried cry on average 43% less overall and 54% less in the evening hours. And, according researchers such as Barr, Brazelton, Lee, and LeVine, in cultures where babies are carried almost continuously, babies cry much less than those in non-carrying cultures. Additionally, while in a sling or pouch, babies spend more time in a “quiet, alert state” when carried – which is ideal for learning. When carried, your child sees the world from your perspective and can experience the world fully, yet feel safe and secure. Not only does your child experience the world, but studies have shown that they bond with the person carrying them and often become independent at an earlier age.

So, what is babywearing? Babywearing is the term used to describe wearing your baby. Many babywearing devices have been constructed that will allow you to hold your baby in a variety of positions, depending on their stage of life.

Is it too late for me to wear my child? The best ages to wear your child are from infancy to early toddler-hood.

How do I do this? You’ll need a baby sling/pouch/wrap. Later, I’ll go over each type in more detail, so be sure to check back.

What types of activities can I do while wearing my child? You can clean, cook (please be very careful while using sharp and hot objects), hike, shop, play with children, craft, read, and a lot more because your hands will be free. We geocache with ours!

Where can I get my own babywearing “device”? It depends on the type that you want, as there are many different types. Please check back soon for the in-depth article on types of baby carriers and our recommendations for each (and where to buy)!

Summer is here – and so are long road-trips, sports games, camping, and boating – all of which can put a damper in pottying, whether trained or not. There are a lot of options out there for mini potties, and even training potties, but most make it hard to travel with and stow discreetly when not in use (who really wants an extra potty just laying in the floorboard – regardless of how many times Dora’s face appears on it or how vigorously you scrubbed it clean??). Here’s a new option for you, though: 2 in 1 Potette plus by Kalencom.

The Potette plus has a contoured seat and a sturdy, balanced base which will help your child feel comfortable and secure (meaning he/she will actually use it). The lightly scented liners can be secured to the potty and will hold up to 5 ounces of liquid. When finished, just tie the handles together and discard the liner (much like a disposable diaper). Simply wipe down the seat, fold it up, and it can fit in your purse/diaper bag/beach bag or under a car seat.

At home, this nifty seat can transform into a trainer seat for the “big potty.” Simply fold the “legs” so they are completely out and a click is heard. Position the seat towards the front of the adult potty, and you’re good to go – the nonslip legs will ensure comfort and stability.

Potette plus would be a great choice while you’re out and about. And hey, I can think of more than one occasion where I wished I had one handy…for me.

It should be noted that the seats are good for 50 lbs and under. If for some reason you find yourself in need of a bathroom…and fast…please just keep that in mind. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you…)

Here’s your warning:  If the thought of theology sends you gagging to the nearest trash can, by all means, bring the trash can over.  I kid I kid.  I feel inspired to write.  And, I don’t want to censor myself…but I hope I don’t lose anyone in the process.  Please know this isn’t a “homecoming” or “revival” post.  This isn’t me trying to “bring you to God” – not that I truly even know the way.

It’s simply the whisperings of my soul.

So, take it for what it is, and don’t confuse it with what it’s not.  Because, for the record:  I don’t even pretend to be all-knowing (about this stuff anyhow…haha).  Learn a little about me and the way I think, and if you feel compelled to leave me a comment, feel free to do so.  I even love it when people tell me they disagree with me, it gives me a chance to learn something new…

My thoughts:

(in no particular order, rhyme or reason)

I believe in God.  But, not the God I grew up with.  Let me clarify… God never changed…but I did.  Constantly.  Always.  And, I think that was the point.

I think our country is seriously F*ed the heck up.  We found our country on the basis of God, maybe even religion, and yet we murder people and think we have any right to judge them.  We think that our country should be moral and have values, but we feel that our movies should be full of sex and erotica.  We lie to each other and then we turn around and chastise others for not being good Americans.  It’s bullshit.  How the hell do you hurt other people and then tell them not to do the same?  It’s not just in America, but this is where I live.  I just don’t understand us.  We’re frieggin’ idiots…and I know I’m counted as one.

I don’t believe in Bible Bashing.  You will never EVER hear me quote the Bible to make you feel like crap about your beliefs.  First, it’s purpose was not to be used to humiliate and hurt others.  Second, if you don’t believe in the Bible…and you’re a different religion…my Bible holds no stock with you, now does it?  Third, I never said “my religion” was right.  I call myself Catholic, but that doesn’t make me who I am.  It just happens to be the shortest and easiest way to give you a TASTE of my beliefs.  But, I believe what I FEEL is right.  Regardless of what the Pope says.  When he starts floating around throwing lightning at me, I’ll quit thinking for myself.  Fourth, the Bible was written by men.  I’ll probably get a lot of flack for saying this…but, I think that if God, in all of God’s infinite wisdom and power wanted us to KNOW without having to learn stuff for ourselves, then God would have imprinted it upon our brains…or something.  That – and guess what – Religion chose which books got to go in that Bible.  What made the thousands of other books not as worthy …so they were left out?  Because they didn’t fit in with what that religion wanted.

I’m not dissing religions.  If you’re a hard core Southern Baptist, great for you.  If you’re Catholic, grand.  Mormon?  Spiffy.  Atheist? Agnostic? Wiccan?  Buddhist?  Jewish?  Wonderful.  I think EVERY “religion” has a piece of the puzzle that is TRUTH.  Unfortunately, we’re all too busy fighting over who’s right and who’s wrong to figure it out and live in peace.

Not that it matters what we think we’ve figured out…and what we haven’t.

I would love to know the TRUTH.  –And, all that it entails.  But, I know it’d blow my mind.

Kind of like, I don’t believe God is a He…and yet that’s I how I refer to Him (out of habit – - see, I did it again).  Of course, I think God is a He and She and everything in between.  I believe God is Everything and Nothing.  I believe God “talks” to us…sure.  Just not necessarily in a voice like we may expect to hear.  I believe God goes on for Infinity (and beyond).  And, our attempts to personify God is just our way of trying to understand.

I think we all worship the same God.  You may believe in “something”, a being, a Goddess, Mother Nature, Self, God, Yahweh, or perhaps another name.  To me, it’s the same.  Heck, if God is all and nothing and everything…you could also see where those that believe in multiple Gods are right too…Because they’d all still be God.  Because God is…

I’ll add more later…(I’m being distracted… )