Another apartment work day!

I think we've made a lot of progress. This past Saturday my Dad, Stuart's Dad, Stuart and I worked on apartment stuff. I went all the way out to Campbellsville to find a good deal on some carpet, while the guys painted the bathroom. Let me tell you, teal paint doesn't cover up so easily! They did a great job with it. When I returned Stuart and I (mostly Stuart) worked on pulling up all the old carpet and nails in the living room. So, one step further. Stuart will be moving boxes there throughout the week and we are hoping to move on January 3rd. So, start praying now for warm weather! I keep telling our baby that he is so special, we have to create a brand new place for him to live. =) The picture quality on these isn't so great, the battery was dying and so, some have bad lighting and some are a little fuzzy.

Apartment Phase 1

Thanks!!! To Uncle Jay, Jimmy, my brother Ben, my Dad, Stuart and Lindsay! They ahd a heck of a day painting this apartment! It's not all the way done, but pretty well on it's way. Here are some pictures of the new paint job. You may say to yourself, it doesn't look that different - trust me- it looks better! =) The next phase is flooring...

Six Month Pregnancy Pic!

New job and apartment!

Well, it looks like Stuart and I will be moving to New Hope! Pretty excited about working with Catholics United for Life and renovating this apartment. It needs a lot of work, but we think it will be very cool once it has a facelift! We are going to try to get in there before the New Year, but it's so busy between now and then that we will just have to see what happens! Mom and Dad are helping a lot and I think they may be more excited about it then we are!

Crib and changing table!

Dad and I went out to Burlington Coat Factory this past weekend and got this beautiful crib and changing table. Well, keep in mind that the bedding won't be the same - as this is obviously for a girl! But, the crib was actually discontinued, so we bought the display set. We were able to talk them into a 20% discount. (My Dad's crazy negotiating abilities mostly.) So, we saved quite a good amount. Can't wait to get more!!!

5 month pic

Here is the five month pic!

Halloween Night!

Here is picture of Stuart and I for Halloween. I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but we were invited to a party. I had a pretty short notice for a costume. With little money to spend, I found a sheet of black felt paper that was sticky on one side. So, with this one piece of paper, I created our two costumes. Stuart went as three-hole punch Stuart. (I know it wasn't completely original as Jim was three-hole punch Jim on the Office.) I went as a Glow-Bowl Bowling Ball. You can see the initials AMF written on my belly. I think we pulled it off well.

"Why do I look wet?" you may ask?!?! Well... the night got started with games as competition for a gift card to Buckhead's. The first round was bobbing for apples. Since I haven't done this in years, I thought it would be great fun. I volunteered to go first and was given 30 seconds to get as many apples as possible. Justin Fout asked whether it would be safe for me to do since I was pregnant, but I couldn't think of any harm. I went out it - Splash! Splash! NO holding back! I got two apples and was going down for the next when Stuart stopped me because my nose was bleeding!!! Blood had gotten into the water! They handed me a towel and I just started cracking up! I had forgotten that pregnant women's blood vessels are smaller. The surge of water up my nose had caused it to start bleeding!!!

Well, I thought I had pretty much ruined the game, as well as had one of the most embarassing moments of my life! I guess we had some rather brave individuals who decided that the dilluted blood water was fine with them and they played the game anyway! Wow! Others seemed pretty digusted! Including Stuart who refused to play! It sounds awful and I guess it was, but it was also really funny. Soon after this picture was taken, my bowling ball stick-ons started falling off and looking rather shabby. Well, at least it didn't take me too long to put together in the first place!

Too cute gift from Granny!

Check out this cute gift set from Granny - my mom. The little doggy plays music and I've been placing it on my tummy for baby to hear. It's all real soft and warm and he'll love it. Good job Granny!

Made in China, Made in China, Made in China!!!

Urg!!! Mom and I went for a dry run through Babies R' Us on Saturday! Not only was I overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff, but more discouraged by the amount of things that were made in China. (I recently went to four different stores trying to find a toaster oven not made in China. I found one by Kitchen Aid that was $150 - and it was made in India!!!)

Why avoid things made in China, you ask. Well, not only do they have insane human rights violations including their one child poilicy with forced abortions, persecution of Christians, but also the fact that we import so much from them and our national debts are accumulating! Not only that, but thier low standards have led to serious questionability with thier products, especially plastics. Stuart and I want to minimize baby Hamilton's exposure to it. So, here's a challenge: start looking at the things you buy - find out where they were made. I think you will be shocked at the volume from China.

Back to Babies R Us.... we stood staring at a high wall of brightly colored baby utensils, plates, etc. I could not find a single item not imported from China! Crazy. Even highly known baby names, such as Gerber - made in China! The only product I recall made in the US were Dr. Brown's baby bottles. Even some organic products were made in China - where I doubt there is much scrutiny over the organic standards.

I think this is scarey! So, if anyone is thinking to buy something for Baby Hamilton, we aren't trying to be pickey, but we'd love to avoid products made in China - especially if the item is something that baby Hamilton will be wearing or potentially chewing on. We aren't going to be crazy about it, and certainly it is impossible to avoid altogether, but if you will make a conscience effort, we'd sure appreciate it! =)

Stroller Options

Look at this crazy stroller that Leslie pointed out to me. It's pretty cool because you can use it for two kids or just one, plus lots of room for storage. The Graco brand car seat that my Mom has will fit into the Latch system just ifne for infant transport. The only down side that I can see to this is the weight and size. It's just under 40 pounds all on its own - no kid involved. Which is almost twice that of other strollers. Plus, it's bulky, which means it will take up the entire trunk space, making it less convenient for traveling. Probably wouldn't be as difficult if we had a van, rather than a regular car trunk. I will test it out in the store before registering for it, but I thought I would seek out feedback from anyone who wished to give it. Maybe we would be better off getting a lightweight, easier to manage stroller for baby #1 and worry about getting this tricked out stroller for when baby #2 is on the way.

Ultrasound pictures

Well, after much debate and consideration, Stuart and I decided to get an ultrasound. Here are the pics for those who are eager to see them. It's a baby boy! He did a very good job of moving around to get some great pictures. Picture 1: Baby's feet Picture 2: Baby's face and arms Picture 3: baby's fingers Picture 4: It's a boy!

4 month pregnancy pic

Four month pregnancy picture! I think there is a clear difference between 3 and 4 months! It seems like each Monday I find more work clothes that don't fit!!! If you click below on the category, Pregnancy by the Month, you cna look at the two pictures beside each other.

Marriage!

We were also able to celebrate our friend Jody's marriage a few weeks back as well! Here is a picture of the lovely couple! The little kids had a fun time running about inside the beautiful old mansion - White Hall. In addition, we were fortunate to have been present for not just one, but two performances by the groom's neice - about 4 years old. She played the piano and sang a wonderful song that she had very clearly composed and written on her own! =) Stuart was a bit late, and then came in with a nice outift, but only flip flops for shoes. It was entertaining to say the least. No one seemed to mind. And, we were able to determine that Stuart was caught up in a case of mistaken identity. So, now his name has been cleared of using a racist term at Jody's bachelor party! It was a delightful afternoon!

Dinner with Friends!

Yes - I am a little late in posting this! I think I will always be behind!

A few weeks back we were able to have a cookout with friends from out of town. Here is a picture of them and their adorable boy!

They also gave a little gift to our baby!

How thoughtful!

Oh! And not to mention the hospitality of the hostess and junior hostess!

Three months and counting! One lady asked me how far along I was and then said "Wow! You're really showing!" Pretty funny.

This is a maternity shirt, so that I can keep wearing it for all the pictures, so I don't think it shows pregnancy belly as much as others do.

A great gift!

Last weekend we were able to go to Father Rickey and Brenda's for the famous Father Rickey burgers! I love them... but just not so much now with the pregnancy! So, I had to go with a plain one. Still good though!

While we were there, Stuart and I were surprised with a gift for B.H. (Baby Hamilton - so nick-named by my mother.) It was a cute little toy with "I love Daddy" and "I love Mommy" bibs! What a cute and thoughtful gift for first time parents! Crazy that some little one will be calling my Mommy! Even crazier that one will call Stuart Daddy!

Stuart has been talking to the baby and they plan a coup around the first of March. Stuart has devised a code word and at that time the baby will just make birth real easy, and slip right out! =)

Announcing Our Upcoming Addition

I had it in my mind that I could cleverly announce our

pregnancy to my immediate family about a week earlier than our extended family. Since we love to play games, I pulled all the cards from Mad Gab that had anything to do with pregnancy - mom, dad, grandparents, labor, etc. I had about 15 cards pulled. I really thought they'd catch on! Well, turns out neither my parents nor my brother had ever played the game before. They were so excited about the game, they didn't think at all about content! Finally I said, "There seems to be a theme!" Mom was the first to get it. I am not sure how long it took my brother! Soon after Mom disappeared and showed up with a stack of baby books she'd been collecting for me! They were really excited. Ben liked the thought of being the only uncle - he got to be "Uncy Ben!" I quickly pointed out that since all families have both a fun uncle that runs all the energy out of the kids and also a drunk uncle - he had dual parts to play! Mom and Dad tried out a few grandparents names. I don't know why Mimi and PeePee weren't favorites! The next day I had flowers at my door!

To tell Stuart's parents Lindsay, Stuart and I went out to eat with them. Apparently, it was a little odd to ask them to go out to eat on a Monday night, so Stuart's Dad was a bit suspicious. When we finally broke the news, Stuart's dad said "Well that's odd..." I thought that was weird until he finished his statement - he said he has a sixth sense because he thought that may be why we asked them out to dinner! I don't think Stuart's Mom believed us at first. I seeem to recall her asking "Are you serious?" All in all, a pretty great response.

We decided to tell our friends at the party for baby Sophia's baptism. There were a ton of great moments to state it, but I didn't think Stuart would! Finally I just said "I'm eating for two." Everyone stared around awkwardly not knowing if I were serious or not. I think that mostly had to do with the look on Stuart's face, which was also a look of bewilderment. =) Finally the message got across and people were excited. I think the best response came from Katie who literally jumped up and down. Great!

Next we had to tell the extended family. Since my Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary and annual pig roast was last weekend, it seemed like the best time to tell. We decided that we would announce it during family picture time! So, it went something like this - "Say Cheese! Say Sara's Pregnant!" Here are some great pictures of the surprise!

Why do you have to be a meanie?

Why is it that you have to be rude or mean to get good customer service??? I'm sitting here at work...I tried to be nice, went through all the right steps and requested a credit for a freight charge that should not have been applied in the first place if their customer service procedures were half way decent. My request for a credit was denied and I was contacted again by the collectors! Finally, I had to cause a huge stink and be really rude, demanding to talk directly to the customer service department of the actual company rather than the collectors, in order to get the credit issued. I feel like I am dealing with a n insurance company whose first step on anything is to deny it! Urg!!!

Great websites!

I found a couple of great websites where you can search for locally grown organic food, farmers and markets.

www.localharvest.org

www.eatwellguide.org

Another Organic Mouthful!

There's a lot of information out there! I don't want to be accused of going "Al Gore" on anyone, but I thought I would pass along a few more things.

Candles: make sure they do not have a metal core in the wick. Avoid paraffin, which is petroleum based - realeases carcinogenic toxins. Choose beeswax or soy candles instead.

Buy organic flowers, rather than those treated with pesticides - especially for hospital deliveries. You can get organic flowers at www.diamondorganics.com.

Did you know that about 4 milllion tons of waste each year is attributed to wrapping paper? Not to mention that some of the glossy papers contain toxins. Instead think of creative ways to wrap or re-use gift bags instead.

For cleaning products, they suggest banning bleach and anything with synthetic fragrances. It seems that most things can be cleaned with baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide. There is also a great green line of products that are currently on sale at Kroger called "Seventh Generation." You can even print coupons from their website - http://www.seventhgeneration.com/.

For moms: many soft PVC plastics in toys contain phthalates & bisphenol, which are known endocrine disrupters that confuse normal hormone production. Basically making little girls develop earlier in life and boys the same way. Many animal studies link phthalates to prostrate and breast cancer.

So, what gets the red flag on toys? Soft, squishy plastic toys, anything with the new-plasticky smell, vynal washable items - such as baby books, most soft plastic teethers (especially water or gel filled ones).

Actually, there are a lot of wood toy options with natural beeswax finishes. Check out http://www.monkeybeantoys.com. I think these are relatively inexpensive as well.

Well, I think everyone has to decide for themselves how far they can go in living a green life. But, I sure do think the information is interesting and worth looking into more. What do you think?

Some Organic Food for Thought....

I have heard plenty of people say "you can't worry about everything." Though I completely agree with that statement, I am also becoming increasingly concerned with some of the facts that I have read about the food and makeup industry that makes me think - Man! Who thought that would be a GOOD idea?????

I guess this sort of started when someone (sorry I can't remember who, maybe Frances?) told me about an experiement where they had genetically altered produce growing beside natural ones. The wild animals consistently ate the natural and stayed away from the altered. When the natural was taken away and they had to eat the genetically altered, the animals started developing tumors!

This is crazy! So, my habits need to change. I started reading some stuff and thought I would pass along some of my new found knowledge. Take it or leave it! =)

The Environmental Protection Agency has said, "There is no safe level of pesticides, only those with an acceptable level of risk." One author went on to point out that no one would find a fly on an apple, spray Raid on it, wash it off and eat it! But, that's somewhat close to what we do each day with pesticide treated fruit.

One source stated the Dirty Dozen. These are the fruits and veggies that are most harshly treated with pesticides and worse for you. Whenever you can, but these organic: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.

The tempting 12 were those that were least likely to be as harmful for you. These are probably okay to buy in the regular section of Kroger: asparagus, advocadoes, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kiwis, mangoes, papaya, peas and pineapple.

This author also gave high praise to Organic Valley products because it is a co-op of family owned organic farms. Also, you can visit www.diamond organics.com to have organic food delivered to your door. She recommended the sampler which will send a variety to you each month. I haven't checked this site out, so it may not have delivery available in the Louisville area and it may be super expensive!

On genetically altered food: The story I heard alone is enough to make me scream about this practice. I know that the intention is good - faster growing crops that have a longer "shelf life" ending the world's hunger. But, I don't know that we should be messing so much with God's design! It was pointed out that gentically engineered milk is entirely different nutritionally, biochemically and immunologically than natural milk. That's just insane! I don't care who you are!

On clothing: I haven't read much on this yet, but one interested fact about cotton. I have seen a lot of "made from organic cotton" signs and though - "Geez! Give me a break. Like that even matters! These people are going a little overboard." But, after learning this little fact, I am not so sure... Cotton takes up only 3% of the world's farmland, but uses 25% of the world's chemical pesticides and fertilizers! Do we want to wear something that has been treated with harmful chemicals designed to kill living organisms, touching our skin day in and day out??? I have to look into this more.

When we buy any product where pesticides were used, we are perpetuating a dangerous system. Not only are the farmers and their families being exposed to the harmful substances, but those substances are leaking into water supplies and effecting whole communities.

Did you know that the technology for pesticides really got a boom after developing chemical weapons in war? Someone thought, "hey maybe we can use this on our food to keep pesky bugs away!" Insane! Now, that's not to say that the bugs on your food are a good thing, but there are ways to encourage natural bug predators to ward them off.

I can't say what steps I am taking, and I am sure that I will not become an all out organic person. I do think it is important to be more aware of how our everyday grocery choices effect our world. I am going to keep reading and studying so that I can decide what steps I can take to make changes. Obviously, for those on a small income, buying everything organic will never fit into a normal budget. For right now, my Kroger tote bags and recycling efforts are a step in the right direction. I plan to go to the Farmer's Market this weekend too. I guess that's enough for now, but more to come - both life change wise and organic info blogging wise!

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Rocks!

Upon my second viewing of this film, I have become resolute in my belief that this movie far and away outshines the first and is among my most favored films. Before the opening sequence was complete, I knew that it was a vast improvement from The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe.

Though certainly less appropriate for small children due to the violence, I felt that it was respectfully done with a tendency to avoid blood as much as possible.

The acting abilities of the main characters grew considerably, leaving me a bit sad to think that HIgh King Peter's roll in the third film will be considerably smaller.

For me, this movie achieves just as much as the book did in awakening my sense of chivalry, causes worth dying for, the king and queenship of those in Christ, the struggle between good and evil, and the our dependency upon Christ for victory. Overall, I would highly recommend it!

It's a surprise B-day party too!!!

Hey girls! So, we spoke with Erik who wanted to make this baby sprinkle a surprise b-day party for Leslie. (Since her b-day is on the 7th.) So, no word about the b-day thing until after the shower. Everyone (guys and all) are invited to go to Nick and Carrie's at 4:00 when we shall (hopefully) have wrapped up Baby Sprinkle activities and be ready for B-day activities. Don't have all the details, but i will post when I have more.

Oh - and n0 need to bring b-day gifts.

One more thing, if anyone wants to just throw money into a big gift, Erik is going to buy a double stroller for Leslie and said if anyone wanted to throw money into that, they could!

Come Prepared to be Crafty!

Hey girls - just a few things to note: One, if you are coming to Leslie's baby sprinkle, come prepared to be crafty! We are each going to make a handmade fleece block for little baby girl Horrell. Carrie and I sewed this prototype up last night!

What you can bring: scissors and an assorted size of needles! We've got everything else.

This is so cute, and I can't wait to see how everyone's turns out!

For Leslie's Baby Shower

Carrie and I are coordinating a "Baby Sprinkle" for Leslie. Since this is her second baby, they don't quite need to be "showered" with gifts! However, there are a few things that Leslie and baby girl would like. So, I have copied the posting from her blog and put it here so that you can take a look at what she would like and comment to let us know what you are planning to get her. Please feel free to get something not on this list, but we are just trying to avoid repeat gifts. Thank guys!


Leslie's Post:


I'm calling this my baby WISH list, because over the past two years, I've learned that a lot of needs are really wants... if you think long and hard and creatively about it. A lot of items sold now-a-days make caring for a baby easier, and us new(er) moms wonder how moms before us lived with out all of the doohickeys and whatya macallits... But then again, they sell things like this. When in the heck do you use THAT? and Gross. It was never that big of a problem- cover it with a diaper people.Any how- my wish list, yeah, that's where this was headed...


1) a changing pad


2) a changing pad cover- off white, light green... pink?


3) a car seat protection mat


4) a night light- any kind at all, even maybe one for the big brother so the one in his room isn't so 'baby'.


5) a baby bath tub- we borrowed one of theses before and it sure does come in handy when washing a little squirmy slippery thing... wonder if the person we borrowed ours from still has theirs...

6) a laundry basket- I really like this kind- because you know, little people make a lot of messes.

Man- I'm looking forward to those blow out diapers- let me tell ya...


7) Also- these patterns are ADORABLEand goodness, how quiclky one can forget...


8) it's always good to have infant medicines on hand for those middle of the night fever/ sickness outbursts, I imagine even more so when you want to stop any fits quiclky before the baby wakes up the toddler...


9) diapers are always good- I think I have my eye on some of these this time too, though I know me and I'd have to go all or nothing, I think... maybe not.


10) Erik and I are also researching sit n stand strollers, though we haven't quite decided exactly which brand and style are for us.


11) and man oh man- we'd be lovin' a DOULA... which we're also in the process of searching out... or, well, we will be soon.


I should add that I'm totally cool with used stuff too- it's environmentally friendly- and we all need some of that these days!! :)

Here is a couple fo books she wanted too:

Ina May's Guide to Child Birth, By Ina May Gaskin

The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin