New blog

Alright folks I finally got around to making a new blog. So please head over here from now on!
http://freshlyscribbled.blogspot.com/

How about an update?!

Our summer has been very busy and super rewarding at the same time so far. Which technically summer hasn't actually started yet!

Jake is insane and is taking a summer semester as well as working full time at his internship. Being a proud wife I have to brag that Jake has really impressed the company. He really works hard but then always makes sure he makes time for his girls at home.

Most of my time is spent outside playing and on several long walks a day with Evelyn, which have really kept me in shape along with other stuff I have been doing. It's been great and I love seeing this little girl grow and expand. She has become quite the little talker lately and will have several conversations with herself which I think is the cutest thing ever. She puts a smile on anyones face who sees her whether it's at the grocery store, out on a walk, or at church (which by the way 2 months till nursery!!)

Here are a couple of pictures of our summer (very hot spring?) thus far.

^^Our little fish out of water. This girl loves water and will try to get in it any way possible. Even if it's a duck pond!^^

^^ Jake and I got away for a little sunshine for our 3rd year anniversary which was so fun for us!^^

^^Peek-a-boo^^

^^ Evelyn and aunt Megan having out with Cosmo the Cougar^^

Hope the summer has treated you all well! We sure have been enjoying it!

Sometimes...

...my sister Megan and I like to pretend we are professional photographers and take pictures. Well my younger sister Natalie was in need of some senior  pictures and I told her we would have fun and take them. They turned out pretty good! Here is just a glimpse of what we did. 

Isn't my sister a babe?!

Happy Mother's Day....tomorrow!

^^Probably one of my favorite pictures with all of us kids and mom^^

This weekend my thoughts have been constantly turned to motherhood. To my grandmother's, to my mother in law, to my own mother, and finally to me. Motherhood is one of the hardest, but most rewarding things I could ever take part in, and I am so thankful that I get to be a mother to my little one. Mothers make so many sacrifices for their family and most of the time it goes unnoticed until you are older and are experiencing it yourself. I am so grateful for all those mothers before me who have helped shape me into the mother that I am today. I have a long way to go but I have so many wonderful examples to look to. 

Happy Mother's Day all you mothers out there!

Planet Wise

Some of you don't know that we have used cloth diapers with Evelyn since she was born. We had several reasons to do this, some of which include saving some major $$, and Evelyn getting her dad's very sensitive skin. We have loved them and will continue to use them for all our kids. 

For the longest time we had done the wet pail method (placing the cloth diaper in a closed pail of water). Super nasty. A while ago we have switched to a dry pail method and it has made all the difference. Now to get to the real reason for writing this...lets talk about Planet Wise. For all you other cloth diaper mothers (and fathers) out there you are probably familiar with this company. If you aren't then head over right now and check them out! They are wonderful. Well Planet Wise was very generous and sent me over one of their pail liners. They make them large so they pretty much fit any diaper pail or waste can. The actual size is 28" tall with a circumference of 54". This means it can fit either a 54 quart or a 14 gallon diaper pail or waste can.

 ^^This is our diaper pail. It has a container on the inside where we place the pail liner. Nothing too fancy but it does the job^^

One thing I've loved about Planet Wise's pail liner is that it keeps the smell in. Which when your doing cloth diapering...that's huge! Another thing that's great is it's reusable. When I do laundry, I just toss the liner in with the cloth inserts and everything gets clean. I had to constantly scrub our old diaper pail which was a pain so it's so nice to be able to just toss the liner into the laundry. 

These bags come is so many different colors/patterns as well. Try about 30! We picked the raspberry color which I love. Click here to see the other colors and patterns.

^^These are just a few of the colors they have^^

The elastic around the liner is made from a very sturdy no pill elastic so you won't get any snags and it will stay looking really nice. The bags are also anti-microbal which helps fight the presence of bacteria, mold and fungi. They are also PVC free which is a pretty toxic material and you will never find it in any of the products from Planet Wise.

Pail liners are not the only thing they sell either! They have wet/dry bags, nursing covers, sport bags, changing pads, and reusable snack bags. I've been super impressed already and will continue to purchase from them. Thanks Planet Wise! You guys are awesome.

25th

^^don't you just love this picture?^^

Happy 25th anniversary to these amazing parents of mine! They are the best parents anyone could ask for. Even after 25 years, they are even more in love than ever. Love you guys!

Who knew...

...you could have touching moments at the library?

Jake was home studying for finals so I thought I would take away this cute little distraction and go to the library. We picked out a couple of books and sat down to look through them. After a couple of minutes, a lady came by us with a group of handicapped boys to read books to them. Most of the mothers that were around quickly grabbed their children and went somewhere else. Not me. I watched Evelyn as she studied these boys, young men really. She grabbed one of her books, walked over to one of them and sat down right next to him, flipping through the pages of her book. A huge smile lit up across this young mans face. The lady told me that he loves little babies. He gave Evelyn a big hug, shook her little hand, waved and said hello. Evelyn giggled with delight. It was such a precious moment for me to witness. There was nothing different about these young men to Evelyn. Nothing to run away from. 

These were new friends that she wanted to share her love of books with. 

You are more beautiful than you think

I love Dove. And here is just another reason why I love them. Dove has recently come out with a new video clip called Dove Real Beauty Sketches. I hope all you women out there take some time to go and watch it. As women we tend to be so negative towards ourselves. My nose is too big. My face looks chubby. I have too many freckles. I have a really long chin. 

The list goes on and on. 

This video is a great reminder that how we might view ourselves, is not how others view us. And that we need to focus on the things that we do like about ourselves. 

For more information and to see all the sketches, click here!

And remember, you are more beautiful than you think.