Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a safe and Merry Christmas. Hope your holidays are full or family and fun, laughing and good cheer. Don't worry about the amount of food you eat or gifts you receive, be thankful and enjoy the season.

From our family to yours.

Kerby

Trying to Feed a Picky Eater

Hello there and happy Wednesday. I have to say, I always feel weird with my greetings. I never really know how to start off, so I feel like I come across as awkward. Hopefully not, but being my awkward self I thought I would point it out to you guys. 

Anyway today I just wanted to share a personal battle I have going on, against a picky almost 14 month old that lives in my house. I know everyone's kids are picky at one point or another, but man! This kid gives me a run for my money every day! One day he loves applesauce, then next day he acts like I'm actively trying to poison him by giving him the exact same applesauce from the same darn container.

Braxton does not want to eat anything that is not baby food unless it is pieces of chicken (turkey, pork, eggs, roast, etc..), french fries, or cucumbers. Anything else is immediately thrown off of his highchair for the dogs to battle over.

Some days it gets really frustrating because we are still buying baby food. He is still eating food that is designed for children up to 6 months younger than him. We do try to give him something with every meal, and just hope that today he will actually eat said piece of food.

Case in point: He loves bananas in baby food, he will eat the whole container and then get mad when it's gone. But, give the kid an actual banana to eat, and he hates it.

This is the "I'm not eating this and don't want it touching anything on my plate" spot. Whatever he is done with, or doesn't feel like eating ends up either here or on the floor.

We have tried everything we have read, done what other parents have suggested and even what the doctor has suggested. Nothing seems to stick, he just gets mad if we try to force anything and the meal is over. So our new motto is "just try one bite, you might like it" (if you get Treehouse, name the song). It's getting better, he is actually willing to try what we put on his plate. It's the  eating part that we are struggling with. But this wasn't surprising as it took him almost a month to eat baby cereal when we started solids.

The other thing we have been battling is constant constipation as Braxton will not drink anything. Water, milk, juice? Nope. In the last week or so he has started to pick up his sippy cup and take little drinks out of it, but I'm not holding my breath that he's going to start guzzling water anytime soon. It's just as frustrating because I know that if he would just drink something, he would feel better. So we keep trying until he either starts to drink on his own, or he understands why he is feeling bad when he doesn't drink. I am crossing my fingers that the warm weather will get him drinking voluntarily and this problem will be solved.

Rant over. Sorry to have a conversation with myself at you guys, I just felt like sharing how frustrating my days can be. Does anyone else have a picky eater? Any suggestions, because I am open to anything.

Kerby

2015 Goals & Resolutions

This is something I usually never do, make goals or resolutions at the beginning of the year. I know myself, and I never complete things I set for myself unless I can be held accountable. And by someone other than myself, because I am very bad at making myself do things.

But I figure that you guys can hold me accountable, even if I just think that you do. So, hopefully this will give me the kick in the pants I need to set some goals and keep them in 2015. I have a few personal and a few blog related, just to ease myself into this. Baby steps guys.

1. Make more time for friends and family. Luis and I tend to be homebodies, and stay in a lot. This year I would like to go and visit people more often, if only for Braxton's sake. He needs to know that there is more to the world than our house and car. We always use the excuse that "they could come see us". But at the end of the day everyone likes to be at home, so if we want to see people, we need to get out of the house. Maybe if we make the effort, it will be returned and we can stay home some of the time too. You have to start somewhere.

2. Get back into reading. I love to read, like love it. I can devour an entire book in one night and one sitting. But since I got pregnant in 2012, I don't think I have even picked a book up. I miss it desperately, and would love to start reading whenever I feel like it again. So the goal is to try to read (or re-read) one book a month. I may even go get myself a library card, see if I can mold Braxton into a reader too. Get to him early.

3. Post at least twice a week. I hope this won't be too difficult of a goal, and hopefully I can keep it up all year. I need to stop worrying about what I am posting, if you guys will like it or hate it. Just start posting for myself, because that is the whole point of my blog. A place for me to share my thoughts and creativity. 

4. Try to make one new meal or baked item a month. I tend to stick with what I know because I know I can make it, and it's good. But this year I would like to try some new things. With so much I can't eat it makes it hard to try new things at restaurants, so I need to try at home.  Then I can control what is in the recipe, and I know that I won't get sick from it.

5. This one is a weird and very personal (as in I am probably the only person who has this irrational fear), I need to get over my fear that chicken is always undercooked. Seriously, I am convinced that every piece of chicken is pink and I will be dying any moment after my first bite. I can actually make myself sick over this sometimes. So my goal is to trust that no one is trying to kill or poison me, and just enjoy chicken again.

I know they are not super amazing goals about climbing mountains or running marathons or doing a huge re-haul of everything in my world, but they are realistic. And by keeping them small, maybe I can make bigger ones next year.

Did you guys set any goals for this year?

Kerby

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday filled with love, laughter and family.

 
I will be taking a few days to spend some much needed family time together. See you in the new year.

Kerby

My First a Month as a Stay at Home Mom

I cannot believe that a month had past since my first day of work was supposed to start. This amazing life with my little man is just racing by, and some days I wish I could stop time and snuggle with him all day. I have to admit, I never thought I would be this lucky. To have the opportunity to stay at home with my child as he grows up. 

It's no secret that I have wanted to for a very long time. Luis must have been just sick of my little comments about how many cookies I would bake him, or amazing dinners I could cook. It's funny to look back and realize how silly I was to think that I would have so much free time. Everyone thinks that as their child gets older, they will get more free time. In a way that's true, but it's not what you think. At least it is not what I thought. Braxton is great at entertaining himself as long as you are in the room with him. That doesn't allow for a lot to get done when I am confined to a room or two. I've started getting creative and finding things for him to do in different rooms. Creativity is a wonderful thing when you want to make dinner or put laundry away.


That being said, I've learned a few things over the last 30 days about Braxton, myself and this house:

1. Toddlers have bad days too. And holy crap does Braxton ever have bad days. I'm not sure if it's because he didn't sleep enough the previous night, or because he's been teething on and off for a few weeks. Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of the crib? But some days my goal is to survive until bedtime. 

2. Animals and babies are not always a great mix. We have two dogs and two cats. Worst.idea.ever. I spend about half of my time cleaning up after and feeding Braxton, and the other half doing the same for the animals. The amount of hair I clean up ever day is mind boggling. Seriously, I cannot believe that my animals are not bald from hair loss with the amount that gets vacuumed up every morning.

3. You are never done baby proofing your house. Just when you think you're done, they decide that they can reach things higher up now. Braxton has started grabbing things off the counter if they are too close to the edge. Or they decide that things they have never even looked at before might be fun to play with now. Shoes, pillows, dog toys, none are safe.

4. Temper tantrums happen earlier than you think they do. Braxton has started having them when we take something away or stop him from getting into things. The first time he did this I just stared at him and thought, "really?". I try my best not to laugh honestly, hopefully that doesn't make me a horrible person. He's quickly learning that getting mad and throwing a fit isn't going to get him very far.

5. It's amazing how quickly you can adapt to change. I was always a morning person before and always had trouble falling asleep. Now, not so much. I loved mornings because they were my quiet time, where I got things done. Mornings around here can be the craziest part of the day with animals that need their potty break/breakfast and a cranky baby. I am starting to love my quiet evenings. And as soon as my head hits the pillow I am out like a light, sleep when you can right?. 


Anyone else learn new things everyday while taking care of their kids, or watching other peoples? Learn things about yourself? Feel free to share.

Kerby

Braxton's story

Hey everyone, today I thought I would get a little more personal with you guys and share a bit about Braxton's birth story. Since it is a little late to get into any crazy detail, a little recap will do nicely.

Braxton was originally due on December 12, 2013, but after our first ultrasound they moved the due date to December 3, 2013. The whole pregnancy it seemed like he was going to come early, the doctor kept saying that he was always on the big side of where he should be.So when December 3rd came and went, I was a little surprised. I think the delay was a blessing as it helped me mentally prepare for the fact that I was about to have a little person come out of my body. I remembered being told that walks could help induce labour, so I took our dogs for a long walk on December 4th.

That night on our walk, about halfway through I felt a little leaking (sorry, TMI!). Thinking I just had to go to the bathroom, I hurried home and thought nothing of it. But by the morning of December 6th I thought that it was possible that I had a slow leak happening. We called the doctor and he told us we needed to go have a test done at the hospital.

So off we went to the hospital, and I decided at the last minute that we should bring our hospital bag with us - just in case (you see where this is going?). We got to the hospital around 9am and got right into a room where they started doing a stress test on the baby and checked to see if my water had actually broke, or if I had a small leak.After completing the test, the nurse said she had to call my doctor. Not good. So after waiting about 20 minutes for the doctor to arrive, he came right it and confirmed that I did in fact have a slow leak. And then he informed us that he was about to break my water and induce me. We were having a baby!

Let me just say I hope that I never have to have my water broken or be induced again. That was not fun. Not.at.all. But, I got the greatest gift from it. After 9 hours of labour, our baby, Braxton was born.

Hope you don't mind me sharing a little bit about the (other) love of my life. But, I mean, who doesn't like looking at babies? Here are a few more to brighten your day (and make up for the reading you had to do to get to this point):

Kerby

blog name change and revamp

Hello there, long time no see. It's been a bit, and for that I'm sorry. But glad to say you will be seeing me (hearing me?) a lot more in the coming weeks.

But first, I wanted to share that I will be changing the name and look of the blog. Craft Wannabe fit when I was just going to share crafts and little things with you guys. But now, it seems like it's too narrow. I want to share big things with you guys too!

So you will see that the blog name has changed. I want to redo the look of the blog as well. I will be getting this up and running shortly. I just need to get some things in order first. Once I have everything finalized.

See you guys very soon!

Kerby

it's been a bit...

Wow, it's amazing how fast a year can go by and how much things can change.

 

My last post was just over a year ago, and before that was whenever I had a chance. I have never been a regular blogger, it's always something I have done when I had time.

When work, and life allowed.

 

Well, around this time last year we got the best news I had heard in a long time. We had finally gotten good news and I was pregnant. After that, I just didn't have time and didn't make time for this little blog.

 

But, I kept crafting and updating my house. I took pictures along the way and will try to share everything with you as I can. I have a nursery to share, and a gender reveal party and all sorts of fun little things.

 

Right now I am at home with the greatest gift I have ever gotten. My son. And I will keep blogging as I have always done. Whenever life allows.

 

I just thought I would check in and let you guys know I'm still here.

 

 

K.

.....and life keeps going

Hey everyone.

Well, I am trying to stay upbeat right now and having a hard time. And I said to myself, Self....(JK!) I wouldn't do that to you guys.

But I did take a step back and went back to my previous post here. And I thought that instead of running to my room and pulling the covers or my eyes again, I should snap out of it.

Life goes on. 

 (source)

Just because something happened to me, does not mean that life stops moving forward. No one knows that I am devastated but me, and I can't take it out on others.

If you did read my last post, you will know that the news is not good. 

We were hoping for the call to give us the greatest news in the world. 4 years in the making. But, it was not the results we wanted.

I just thought I would share that with you guys. 

No nursery plans in my future.

But that's okay. We will try again next month, and who knows? Maybe I will have some news to tell you guys.

K.

Life Goes On......

Well, hello there. 

Gosh, it's been forever. 

Sorry about my absence, but I had some personal things to deal with over the past month. Actually, it is an issue that I have been dealing with for over three years now, but it hit hard last month.  I found this, and it really helped pull me out of the emotional drowning I was experiencing.

(source)

I know I previously posted about telling you guys more about myself, and if there ever was a time for it, it's now. 

it's here!! it's here!!

It's here! Holy smokies it's here!

A few weeks ago I won a giveaway through The Pinterest Project for a bag from Daisy Lane Designs! And it's fabulous!

I took a few pictures to show you guys!

Isn't it great! And the quality is amazing... definitely a good investment. The above link is straight to her Etsy shop. You should take a look!

And a picture of the tag.

Well that's it for this post. If you are in the market for a new purse and wanted something handmade and unqiue. Check out Daisy Lane Designs!

Until next time!

K.



Top 5 of 2011

Hello Again! Can you believe 2012 is here already? I know I can't; time sure flies after you are about 12 years old!

My wish for this blog in 2012 is get get my creative juices going and show you guys how crafty I can be. I found last year (so weird to say that four days into "this" year) I would forget to take pictures of before I did a redo, or of the steps. Even sometimes I forgot to show you guys at all! This blog is so new to me, but I promise to do better from now on.

I have been seeing "Top Posts of 2011" everywhere I look, and it got me to thinking? What were my top posts? This blog only started in September 2011, so there are really not many "top" posts. But I did find five that were head and shoulders above the others.Without further delay:

Top 5 Posts in 2011!

#1 - Ribbon Tree; with over a thousand page views is by far the leader of the pack.

 (original post here)

Coffee (Tea?) Break

Hey all!

So back around Christmas the Hubs and I got ourselves a new coffee machine. Now, I am a tea drinker only and he is a coffee drinker. And usually, this is the ONLY coffee he drinks:



(source)

Now don't get me wrong....I have a love afair with the steeped tea at Tim Hortons, but it gets a little pricey.We wanted something we could compromise on, that could make both tea and coffee. We found our baby. We got a Tassimo.

And right now, I have one of these babies in my hand

Mmmm.....chai latte.

Anybody else know what I'm talking about with Tassimo love?

K.