Parenting 101

Every time I see this pillow it makes me laugh. Even though I know our Heavenly Father is perfect and loving , I sometime wonders if He sees what is going on down here on earth and says "Don't make me come down there!!!"

Baby Bribery

See Bicho do tummy time.

See Bicho laugh during tummy time.

Good, Bicho, good!

See Bicho build her neck and arm muscles.

What are you looking at Bicho?

???????

Hi my name is Rachel and I bribe my baby with Baby Einstein so she will lay on her tummy for extended periods of time. Oh well - it works!

On another note, everyone says that Bicho looks like her daddy. Personally, I think she looks like me. What says you?

(I know, I know. Improper English...)

Peluda

Peluda means hairy in Spanish. Bicho = Peluda. Time to trim the hair!

And guess who has some bottom teethies coming in?

A Sigh of Relief

(source unknown - if you know, please tell me so I can give them credit. Thanks!)

Today my dear friend from Concepcion, Chile was able to communicate with me via Facebook. Ever since I heard about the earthquake and the destruction in Chile, I have been praying for her and her family's well-being, as well as for all those who were suffering from the earthquake. From the pictures I saw, I knew Concepcion had been hit hard and on top of the devastating earthquake, a tsunami hit their city shortly after. I was afraid for my sweet Hna. Albornoz, who loved and cared for me so much as a missionary in Argentina. I would lay awake at night in my cozy bed wondering if they were living in the streets. When I tucked Bicho into bed at night, I cried wondering if my friend was laying her sweet daughter to sleep on the cold concrete.

So I breathed a sigh of relief today as she told me that her home was still intact, with minimal damage and they had enough food and water to last them until help comes. Then my beloved Albornoz began to recount how someone must remain at home to protect it at all times because of looters. She said the streets were full of violence, which frightened her. Tears streamed down my cheeks as she recounted how the school she worked at was destroyed by the earthquake and her husband's work place was swept to sea . She said "More hard times will come. Soon we all will be living deep in poverty and feel the quiet desperation that comes from not being able to find work or food in our destroyed city."

And that, my friends, has been laying heavy on my heart ever since. You see, I live in a land of bountiful opportunity. Opportunity that I mumble and grumble and complain about. I complain about living on an extremely tight budget while my husband starts out a new business, when my sweet friend wonders how she will make any money for food and shelter. I complain about having "nothing to eat", when my dear friend has no place to shop or grow food. Nevermind that there is a Wal-Mart down the street full of fresh food. Nevermind that I can sleep peacefully at night without the threat of looters or violence outside of my door.

So I counted my blessings. I asked the Lord to forgive my lack of faith and for being so ungrateful for the many blessings I have. I thanked Him for sending me a beautiful friend who is living on pure faith despite being surround by a world in chaos. You are being prayed for my dear, sweet Albornoz.

Personal Preparedness

Recently I have been feeling an urgency to get my rear in gear to get our 72 hour kits and food storage together. Not that I think anything bad is going to happen soon or that I will actually use it in the near future (although you never know!). I do believe it is my priviledge/responsibility as a wife/mother to ensure my family is prepared in case of a disaster - financial, health, medical or even a local (aka no water in the middle of the summer). Not being prepared (or even on the road to preparing) makes me anxious. And as the Lord has promised us..."If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

If you are anything like me, the thought of organizing food, water and 72 hour kits (oh and car kits!) is so overwhelming that you have no idea where to begin. Thank heavens for people who actually have it all together who have already done their food storeage/72 hour kit/car kits and are willing to share how they did it. Here are the blogs that have helped me out a bunch and I hope you can utilize them too!

http://www.iwillprepare.com/

(this website has EVERYTHING, including how to make pandemic kits in case of...well a pandemic. I love this site - which is actually written by a brother in our ward.)

http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/

(this blog gives you the basics in rotating food storage, preparing 72 hour kits and car kits. And there is a recipe index for how to actually USE your food storage. Genius!)

http://www.preparingwisely.com/blog/

(this blog demonstrates how to use things you are to have in your 72 hour kits/car kits and reviews products, such as food storage supplies and solar ovens)

What ideas do you have about being personally prepared? Feel free to share!

Live Simply. Live Well.

I thought it would be fun if I started a blog about how I decorate my home on the cheap and frugal shopping tips or shops I use to save my family a dollar or two. Its nothing fancy and I can't promise that you will learn anything or even be inspired (most of the ideas I get from reading other peoples blogs, to whom I will ALWAYS give credit!). So come check it out and if you want, try some ideas out, and leave a comment! And - show me how your projects turn out!!

The blog address is http://www.livesimplylivewellaz.blogspot.com/.

Extreme Makeover: Blog Edition

I love our new blog header! It was simple (once I got the hang of it and Bicho took a nap) and fun to do. If I am motivated enough, I will change it out with different pictures for each season or holiday. But I must give credit where credit is due. I found Clover Lane while blog hopping one early morning when Bicho wouldn't go back to sleep and wanted to swing instead. She has a great tutorial on how to make your own collage/blog header that is unique to you and your family without paying someone else to do it (or buying an expensive computer program). I am so excited I found her! I  feel like I share many of her values and thoughts on family life. Isn't it like a breath of fresh air when you find another woman who values virtue, thrift and the sacred calling of being a mother? Visit her blog! You'll love it! And you'll learn how to make a fun header for your blog :)

Spring Cleaning with Bicho

Feburary has been beautiful the last couple of weeks so Bicho and I have been doing some spring cleaning. Actually, Bicho perfected being cute while I starting my spring cleaning. Here are some cute happy pictures I got of her. I just love the little personality she is developing.

Terrence and I always joke about how Bicho reminds us of Richard Simmons with her headband on because her hair sticks out everywhere! This should be proof about how I was NOT lying when I said I had tons of heartburn when I was pregnant. It must be the Italian in me that produces un monton de pelo in the womb.

In more recent times, Bicho went to the dr. and was diagnosed with RSV - which is a fancy word for a baby cold. And I know exactly where she got it from. (I tend to blame other people's children for my child's illness.) This case involved a very snotty two year old with a horrible cough. I am so cautious and paranoid about her getting sick that of course in the one situation I cannot control, she is exposed to a sickly toddler. Oh well...

 I am learning more and more that Bicho is an atypical baby when she is sick. The doctor asked me about her cough and I indicated she hasn't had a cough. The doctor raised an eyebrow and said "That is very atypical for a RSV baby to not have a cough." So I jokingly stated, "Well if she didn't have a fever when she had an infection in her umbilical cord, I guess she wouldn't have a cough with RSV!" The doctor replied, "Oh yes. I've heard about her. That makes sense."  So Bicho is famous at the local pediactric office. Way to make your mark Bicho!

Free Movie Monday!

Run down to your nearest RedBox and use the code RBXLUV10 for a free movie tonight! Only good until midnight tonight!

Oh Wait - Your Crazy is Showing!

(Source)

Happy New Year...four days late! Story of our lives here. Who knew this mommyhoodshipness (whatever its called) would be so challenging. Good thing Bicho is so cute or else I would have to turn in my two weeks notice. As our family has grown, I have been contemplating what environment I want to create for our home. Of course I picture everything sparkly with no secret messes hiding in every bedroom closet or dirty diapers piling sky-high. And yes, ladies and gentleman, my perfectionistic (word?) idea of heaven on earth has once again have nipped me in the bud. Has that ever happened to you? No so fun - the bud nipping, I mean.

The perfect example is this past Sunday, which was Bicho's baby blessing. I was so consumed with the nitty-gritty details of chicken-macaroni-bowtie pasta saladness, and throwing every piece of junk that was downstairs into our bedroom so we had the appearance of having a clean home, that I missed the very spiritual experience of my first born child being blessed by my husband. Don't get me wrong. I was there. But I wasn't "there". And I know Bicho felt my anxiety because she cried during the whole blessing. And after. And for most of the day. So after all the planning and cooking and stressing, I ended up spending the lunch-in after the blessing upstairs with Bicho trying to keep her (and myself) from crying. And that is when it hit me. I focused so much on the appearance of having it together that I missed out on the here and now.

So my resolution for 2010 is to NOT have it all together. Sure, I will try. But I my goal will be to not "miss the mark" and focus on the life here and now. Be grateful for what I have...not the perfect put-together life I wish I had. So here's to showing your crazy every once in a while.

P.S. If you are wondering why there are no pictures of the baby in her blessing dress, refer to the post above.