If laughing really burns so many calories, I should be a lot skinnier

I don’t even know where to start… I learned 3 things today; I drink too much coffee, I go to IKEA too often, and Layla is already smarter than I am.

Let’s see, for number one, we were talking about the names of baby animals. She told me a baby horse was a foal, a baby dog was a puppy, a baby chicken was a chick, a baby sheep was a lamb, and a baby cow was a half-and-half. : )

We got in the car and I told Layla we were going to IKEA, and she said, “Oh! IKEA! It’s the big blue house with giant “lellow” letters... I, E…what’s the other letters mommy?”

As we were driving, born out of the baby animal conversation, we were talking about the difference between things that are alive, and things that aren’t alive. (It started because she asked what a baby house was called) I gave her some examples and told her that things that are alive eat, move, and grow. She quickly got it, and named “alive” things. “People are alive, bushes are alive, horses are alive, trucks are alive…” I corrected her and told her trucks weren’t alive. “Yes they are mommy. That truck is moving. Do you see it moving? It eats gas. It’s alive.”

*Last cute saying today, I promise* Layla was “cooking” in her room, and I asked what she was making. “ I’m just making some food mommy. I’m kind of a good cook.”

5

That's the number of bruises on Paisley's face today. It's not neglectful parenting, it's learning to walk. And possibly some neglectful parenting. Sorry baby. Yesterday she only had two bruises on her right side, and I got some adorable pictures after she pulled up on the coffee table (and before she fell back down again) I had to angle the camera to her left side...and cover her forehead up with her hoodie...but **bragging mommy warning** does it get any cuter than this little girl?

It's here. And it's just a diaper.

In the world of cloth diapering, the name of Goodmama is king. These much-acclaimed $34 dipes are so sought after, that a mama must patiently "stalk" them on hyena cart, and even then is more likely than not to return empty-handed. After reading SO many good things about them, I decided I had to try one. I scored a used one for $28 including shipping, which was an amazing deal considering some mamas are actually charging MORE for their used Goodmamas then they originally paid for them! I (impatiently) waited and waited, and today it came. It was everything I'd read it would be...incredibly soft organic cotton velour, super stretchy, adorable print, fabulously absorbent...but I have to admit I'm still a little let down. I don't know what I expected, but it's just a diaper. A really snuggly soft beautiful diaper--but just a diaper. There's no way I can afford a whole stash of GMs, so I took a photo shoot of Paisley in the most expensive diaper she will ever wear--and I'll most likely resell it.

Her Daddy's Daughter

I'm not one to wonder how things were made or how they work. If everyone were like me, there wouldn't be any fancy-pants inventions like electricity...or automobiles...or indoor plumbing. Not that I don't love those things-- I just never would have thought of them. (but on the upside, the world would be very organized and aesthetically pleasing) Anyway, Layla evidently takes after Daddy, because the other day in the car she asked me, "Mommy, why do bikes and cars both have wheels?" I was impressed. I told her that's how they both move-they roll on wheels. "Oh, like a ball rolls?" she asked. "Just like a ball!" I told her. "But how do they roll?" she wondered. Uh-oh. "Well baby, cars have engines, and they move the, uh, pistons-er-gaskets...I mean, the wheels are on axles that spin on the...umm...I bet Daddy wants to tell you when he gets home from work!" Shoot. She's only 2 1/2, and she's already stumping mommy.

Thoughtful Living

We've been moving quickly on the path to crunchiness, and I know some of my family thinks I'm out of my cloth-diapering, tree-hugging mind, so I thought I'd attempt to explain myself. For us, it's been as simple (and as difficult) as trying to extend our beliefs and convictions about Christianity into our consumer lives. As cheesy as it is, I try to "do what Jesus would do" in my everyday life interactions...I try to be patient with my kids, friendly with the grocery store clerk, courteous on the road... I'm far from perfecting it, but it's a goal I strive for. Over the past year as I've been reading and learning more about the environment and our effect on it, I have slowly realized that my consumer actions have as real of an impact on others as my social actions do. God calls us to love and care for one another, but he also charges us with taking care of the world he gave us. Suddenly using 20 plastic bags for grocery shopping every week seemed in line with kicking a puppy or yelling at my kids. All of those things have a very real negative impact on others--even though some may be harder to see.
I'm trying to practice thoughtful living. We do a lot of things just because, well, that's the way we've always done them. I don't want to do that anymore. I want to think about things before I do them. How will using disposable diapers vs. cloth diapers effect the environment? Do I want pesticides used on my produce? How does buying this coffee effect the poor farmers in South America? Do I really need individually wrapped everything? We are so used to living a disposable life because it's convenient-- but is it worth the cost? I don't pretend to have the "answer" if there is one, and I'm not saying that any specific action is what everyone must do...I'm just saying that I want to stop and think before I buy. Having children has made me more aware that I want to leave the Earth a little better than I found it. If my new-found crunchiness is annoying, you can blame the girls. :)