I wear by it...

OxyClean that is!

Having a baby that is breastfed is guarantee stains (at least from my lil one) and I was getting SO upset with all the clothes that were being ruined.

Enter OxyClean laundry spray...

Outfits that had been washed and dried several times were heavily sprayed. After just one wash they were like brand new!

For my next "project" i took the cover off Morghan's old Britax car seat. The one that says handwash only (oops!) Well considering all the drinks and snacks the thing was filthy where her butt sat for 3 years so I threw it in the wash with an old quilt that also had a stain. I sprayed the quilt. I did not spray the car seat as its always come clean rather easily. Fail. The quilt came out great and is currently air drying. I grabbed the OxyClean and saturated the car seat cover, let it sit for about 30 minutes and threw it back in the wash.

IT WORKED! The colors are all bright and vibrant! Seriously... I love this stuff.

What a month...

So Morghan has gone off to Texas to be with her Paw Paw and Granna for the Summer. (Assuming we both make it that long!) I miss her like crazy. Last year I worked all day, 5-7 days a week to keep my mind off her being gone. Now that I'm a stay at home mom I got used to her being her all the time. My house feels so empty and not nearly as clean oddly enough. I need my shadow housekeeper back. I sometimes find myself avoiding wanting to call just because it makes it harder. Bad mommy, I know. We really need to Skype more, Grace loves her and when she hears/sees here she ALWAYS smiles.

Grace has just been on the move. Ok, not LITERALLY but developmentally. She can now sit up unassisted, hold her own bottle, roll both ways and is cutting her first tooth! She's a pretty happy baby for the most part and has settled into her own schedule.

Sorry I don't have more of an update!

Stronger

Been dealing with a lot lately. Some things that weigh heavy on my heart. Some big decisions that keep my brain constantly churning. All while maintaining a household has got me feeling like my world is about to come crumbling down.

I've heard this song many times, but recently actually listened to it.
It has helped to fortify the walls around me and reminds me to hang on because even though I thing things are rough, God knows that its what I need.

Stronger by Mandisa

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

[Chorus]
When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you Stronger

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares

[Chorus]

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger

JUST {{ breathe }}

The clock says 4:50 am. I sit up and glance over to see Grace still asleep. Unsure of why I woke up I lay back down and close my eyes, but not before catching a flash of light.

What that lighting?
Seconds later, the reaffirming clap of thunder rattles through the windows and walls.
{{ my heart begins beating a little faster... "breathe, Amy" }}

I now know why I woke up.
I fumble in the darkness until I find my phone.
-- Wind Advisory
-- Severe Thunderstorm Warning
-- Tornado Watch

Another flash of light creeps through the blinds illuminating the room.
The thunder rumbles outside a little more.
{{ my muscles tense... "just breathe"}}

After reading the weather (70 mph gust, nickel-quarter sized hail, possibility of rapidly producing tornadoes) I wake up Chase and tell him about the weather and he should probably move the car in to the garage. By the time he's back in bed, the lightning and thunder are almost on top of each other and growing louder. Its only a matter of minutes until Morghan wakes up.

I close my eyes as Chase wraps his arm over me just as another round of thunder shakes the whole house.
{{Heart pounding, shallow quick breaths, body rigid... "slow down, deep breaths"}}

Morghan dashes into bed and I am forced to control my anxiety to comfort her.


I didn't always used to be this way. Just 4 years ago, I used to love thunderstorms. I would lay in bed with the blinds open watching the lightning dance around my room, comforted by the thunder. Now, its all I can do to attempt to keep calm.

On August 1, 2007 I moved back to SC awaiting Chase's return from Iraq. My parents had left that morning and I spent the day unpacking and playing with Morghan. That night storms rolled in rather quickly and sirens began to go off. I raced to my paperwork to determine the meanings. Severe Thunderstorm. Great. I turn on the TV to check the weather. Just before the power goes out "Tornado Warning" flashes on to the screen and I panic.

I swoop up Morghan, a blanket and my cell phone and go into the hallway. I'm alone, with a baby in a tornado warning. As I sit there holding Morghan, I'm literally shaking to the bone I'm so terrified. I call my dad who has to calm me down from a restaurant in Tennessee. This is only the first storm of many that will bring me to where I am today.

There were never any bad storms once Chase was home.
They always happened when he was deployed somewhere.
I was always alone with Morghan when bad weather rolled into town.

There have been a few storms that left trees down EVERYWHERE.
Hail storms that leave me rattled.

I thought I was improving until last fall when a bad storm popped up out of no where. It grew extremely dark and within moments rain poured from the sky so heavy it was deafening. Almost immediately the power went out. About 2-3 minutes after the rain started hail began slamming the front door and windows. (FULL PANIC) I'm 7 months pregnant as I fling myself and Morghan in to the bath tub. I'm shaking so bad I can't hardly talk. I manage to dial my mom so she can talk to Morghan and keep her calm. The hail stops after about 4 minutes but the storm continues to rage outside for another 30 minutes.

I wish I could just love storms the way I used to.
Maybe one day, I will.

My lil Morgie-Porgie

Had a pretty good weekend, so far!

So every now and then we get Morghan little gift cards to Target, Walmart or McDonalds with $10-15 on them. We take her on mini "shopping sprees" for her special time as a big sister. She loves that she can go shopping and pay herself, and we take the opertunity to work on adding numbers together. This time we gave her one for being such a good helper with Gracie. When all was said and done Morghan chose a swimming pool, 2 jump ropes, and purple bubbles. She was thrilled!

This morning she woke up a bit early so I let her come with me to the grocery store to get OJ and syrup. When we got home she helped me make homemade pancakes. After breakfast we went outside and Chase got her started in learning how to jump rope. It takes a bit more coordination than she has, but she is determined to learn. I have however discovered that the purple bubbles ( made by Crayola) are a no-go. What was I thinking when i let her choose that?!?! Purple, purple everywhere... I made her put on a black shirt and pants and play in the grass! What a nightmare.

*** I will admit this, I still struggle to find that balance of being a mommy to 2 kiddos. Its hard sometimes because i can see the hurt in Morghan's eyes when I have to take care of the baby and can't play with her right at that moment. It's a work in progress and I'm sure as Gracie gets bigger it will become a little easier. ***

I'm Sorry, but...

I get so angry when I see parents that place their child in dangerous situations in order to "rush" their baby in to growing up.

A while back I met someone who had placed there 4 week old in a Bumbo seat, and that poor baby could barely hold his head up. Never mind the bumbo seat was right next to the stove where she was cooking!

Met a mom who lets her infant sleep on a boppy pillow in the crib at night surrounded by toys. Are you just begging something to happen to your child?

There are so many other times that I see things, but keep my mouth shut.

I realize that how other people parent is none of my business, but rushing your baby to learn how to sit, roll over, hold their own bottle etc is just dumb in my opinion. I feel bad for the parents who are so eager for their child to accomplish a new task because they are only little for so long. Let your child grow at their own pace and be grateful when they learn new things. Rushing them won't accomplish anything except probably a frustrated child.

Sorry if it upsets you, I just wanted to have a minor vent.

Spring is Here

Normally I would take Morghan out to the park for her photos but this year we have a baby so I took them inside on the couch. I'm not too pleased with them, but they are better than nothing. Perhaps I will try again on another day.



And here is a video (if it loaded correctly) of Morghan getting Gracie to smile at her.