tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73621599277960020692024-03-05T03:18:08.937-08:00what we're made ofALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-91816309749331783082015-06-07T18:20:00.001-07:002015-06-07T18:39:01.724-07:00SIX<div style="text-align: center;">
per pinterest's suggestion, i started a little tradition with ruby when she turned three of asking her twenty questions that we would repeat for each birthday after that. well, being the <i>stellar</i> mom that i am, i've already forgotten a year and am picking back up with six.<br />
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here are videos from three and four followed by year six. i love this tradition. it really shows just hoooow much difference a year (or two. ha!) makes.</div>
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my dear ruby, the thought of you and your siblings looking back on this blog someday is one of only a couple reasons that keep me coming here to write. i know every parent says this, but i literally can't believe the way time is passing by and how quickly you're growing right before my eyes. you, my dear, are my mirror. we are so much alike, so it's a constant joy and struggle to see both the good and bad in myself walking around in front of me every day. you keep me on my toes and make me want to know more about jesus so i can share him with you. you make me proud and less fearful of the future because i know you're just getting better with time. i know that your strong will and outspoken nature, although two of my greatest challenges, are also two of god's greatest gifts to me because i will never have to worry about anyone ever taking advantage of you. you will be quick to stand up for yourself and tell me if you're ever being mistreated, and that's an assurance i need more than anything. i know that i'll never be a perfect mama, but my daily hope and prayer is that i will be the perfect mama <i>for you</i>. i love you, ruby girl. you are one of my greatest gifts. -mommy</div>
ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-51111359074239918632015-05-13T08:07:00.000-07:002015-05-13T08:48:58.269-07:00OILIN'<div style="text-align: center;">
so, it's happening people. i'm in month three of my ride on the <a href="http://yl.pe/ftp">oily bandwagon</a>. except, it's not a bandwagon at all. it's a wagon that's been around for hundreds of years that's finally getting the attention it so deserves. </div>
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oils are lit-ra-lee nature's medicine. i've had some *a-ha* moments over the past couple of weeks as to both why and how much i love this oiling journey. so naturally, i wanted to get them out in writing here for my own reference and also because i just love sharing what i love. </div>
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so, here goes:</div>
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-i love the positive changes that these oils have brought to some of our daily routines. not all of the oil uses are for health.. you can simply apply because you like the scent and smelling it lifts your spirits. i've gotten in the habit of putting a dab of joy or stress away on ruby's wrists and over her heart when there's time in the morning before school. it's something simple i can do that brings us a moment of calm before we say goodbye and her busy day starts. i truly believe that there's something therapeutic in the oils that helps ground her but, even if i'm crazy and there isn't, there's something undeniably valuable about taking that extra moment to connect with her before she walks out the door. the same goes for our nighttime routine. i have a "sleep" roller bottle that's a mixture of cedarwood, lavender, and fractionated (always liquid) coconut oil. i bring that with me when i go in for stories and prayer with the girls, and i take a second to roll and rub a bit onto the bottoms of their feet before i leave their room for the night. i've genuinely seen a difference in the way they all (ruby especially) fall asleep at night since doing this. i trust that the oils are helping them, but i also value the extra care and attention that applying them gives.</div>
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-i love knowing that everything i'm using on myself and my family is <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/essential-oil-safety">verified and safe</a>. young living's processes are so trustworthy, and i value that as a wife and mom. if i'm going to go the extra step and do the work to make natural changes for my family, i'm darn well going to make sure that the products i'm using to do so are legit. young living owns the entire process that their oils go through.. all the way from the <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/seed-to-seal">"seed" to the "seal"</a>. they aren't just bottling oils that they bought from someone else. they own the seeds and the <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/company/about/younglivingfarms">fields</a>, they distill the oils, and then they bottle and ship them. they are the only company who does all of this, and you reap the benefits. you can have <i>confidence</i> that you are using oils that aren't adulterated in any way, and that means so much to me.. especially because i'm spending time and money making these oils a part of our life. </div>
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-although i understand how people may get jaded by the "fad-ish" feeling of oils popping up lately, i've been surprised at some of the hatin' going on when it comes to the use and rising popularity of essential oils. the fact of the matter is, we are all going to need to medicate ourselves in some way at some point in our lives. if someone told you they had a way for you to get the same results as a modern medication without the use of synthetic and man-made ingredients, wouldn't you be all for it? i know that i 100% would be. enter essential oils. so much relief can be found from something extremely potent and <i>all-natural</i>. i understand that "hater's gonna hate" and all that jazz, but more and more there's a burning desire inside of me to help people understand that they don't have to be chained to their pill bottles. even in the few months of using oils, i have had success at battling and beating many ailments and illnesses for myself and my kiddos. i won't go into specifics here for "fda" related reasons, but i would be oh so happy to share with you privately over a cup of coffee or through email.<br />
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-since beginning my research about essential oils around nine months ago, i started noticing just how many "mainstream" products have scents or traces of essential oils in them. i realize that it may be a difficult transition for someone who isn't used to alternative medicine to suddenly take that plunge, but in terms of things like lotions, soaps, and other products it wouldn't be that farfetched of change. i've inexpensively made cleaning, skin, and haircare products using my oils and, on top of the low cost, i also have the confidence that nothing in them is artificial or harmful. </div>
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-i'm excited by the opportunity that <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover">young living</a> gives to make one's use and passion for essential oils into a personal business. i totally get people's hesitation when it comes to mlm (multi-level marketing) companies, but i truly believe that people are sharing about their use of oils because they are genuinely seeing a difference in their lives because of them. as one can easily tell from my over 4,000 <a href="https://instagram.com/alinnamehaffie/">instagram</a> posts, i thoroughly enjoy sharing about things that i love and am excited about, and oiling has quickly become one of those things. the words of a fellow oiler rang so true for me today.. she said that even if no one ever bought oils and supported the business side of things for her, she would still continue to use and benefit from oils. that is completely my heart behind this! i'm daily seeing both big and small ways that essential oils are improving my family's quality of life, so of course i'll continue to use them regardless of how quickly or slowly the business part of it happens. if i can share those successes and help others experience that same goodness along the way, that's just icing on the cake for me. </div>
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-lastly, i have hope that the changes we're making to our health and well-being will be lasting ones for my family. one of my clearest memories from growing up is of my mom wearing patchouli oil as her perfume. we used to think nothing of it and would only occasionally call her a hippy :), but now it's something that i always connect fondly with her and my childhood. i'd love for our family's use of oils for both health and pleasure to be something that sticks with my kiddos for years to come.</div>
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so for now, those are some of my thoughts behind why <a href="http://yl.pe/ftp">i oil</a>. if you have <i>any</i> questions, please comment below or reach out to me through social media. i would love to talk with you more about this oily world and help you learn about essential oils in whatever way i can. it really is an <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/guide">interesting</a> and exciting new world for me.</div>
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ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-61638583713024514952015-03-20T12:24:00.000-07:002015-03-20T17:14:54.311-07:00five minute friday : REAL<div style="text-align: center;">
well fancy that, even after being severely neglected, my blog still exists. the writing bug is always biting, but when i finally get a second to myself i usually prefer zoning out to saying anything.. be it out loud or in written form. on the other hand, sometimes these ramblings are some of the only ways i can express myself completely and it feels good to do that from time to time. </div>
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i just discovered the "five minute friday" writing prompt and loved the idea behind it. take five minutes and write your heart about. this week's prompt is "REAL"; which seemed like the perfect week to start. i love few things more than being real and getting the same from others, so i thought i'd take a bit of naptime to write down some real words and then move on with my day. </div>
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if i were being real, i'd tell you that as grateful as i am for so so many things in my life, sometimes i feel like the days just spin in circles around me. these 1200 square feet in this apartment with four faces that i see every day asking for three meals and ten snacks washing the same clothes today that i washed yesterday because someone threw up on them or wiped peanut butter on the sleeve.. it all just starts to blur together. i started #ayearofthanksgiving2015 on my instagram account because i felt this attitude creeping in right when we moved to fayetteville. this is the one place i never wanted to live and then, here we were. </div>
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why is it <i>so</i> much easier to concentrate on the things that make us feel discontent than to revel in the blessings? i hate that part of my flesh. i love the part of myself that wants to tell my story to be an encouragement, and despise the parts that want to tell it for pride's sake. i love the part of myself that trusts in Him to be my supply, but despise the parts that can't seem to think of Him without doubts creeping in. i love the part of myself that wants to connect with community, and hate the parts that allow comparison to be the thief of my joy. </div>
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so, if i were being real today, i'd tell you that my picture isn't always perfect. i'm selfish and whiny, cynical and entitled, but in the depths of myself, i do trust that His grace is sufficient for me. i do have at least a few minutes everyday when i look around and know that the seemingly ordinary moments are actually <i>extraordinary</i> and oh so fleeting. i do feel grateful and also unworthy of my calling as a wife and mom. i <i>real</i>ly wouldn't trade it for anything.</div>
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ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-2333423494910940312014-12-18T17:31:00.000-08:002014-12-23T12:17:14.552-08:00FEAR LESS<div style="text-align: center;">
as 2015 is inching its way to us, i've found myself reflecting back on and looking forward to how i feel about new years. i've realized that, as a worrier, each year i look to january 1st with a good bit of trepidation. i say "as a worrier" not in a "this is who i am and plan to always be" kind of way, but rather because i recognize this about myself in hopes of not always living beneath it. </div>
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i've struggled with worry for as long as i can remember. i think a lot of it comes from a need and desire to control, but also in many ways from a mostly unstable past. i just want to know what's going to happen and i worry that at any given moment the rug is going to be pulled from under me. </div>
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daniel and i often have discussions where i look at him with complete confusion as he tells me that no, in fact, he does not lie in bed at night and wonder if i'll die. or worry that one of our kids will get sick or what life will look like when our parents pass away. i just can't believe these things don't overtake his mind on the regular.. because a day does not go by when i don't think these thoughts. i'm the girl who can't reach you for too long (read: 30 minutes) by phone and assumes you've been in a head-on collision and died. it seems irrational when i type it out so plainly, but when i'm in the midst of one of my worrying spirals it all makes so much sense. </div>
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but the thing i'm seeing as i look forward to this new year is that <b>i'm right</b>. </div>
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these things will happen. </div>
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people i love <i>are</i> going to die. and get sick. and have really really hard things happen to them. </div>
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and i know this because it's already happening. </div>
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i have friends whose babies have died, whose husbands have died. i love people who are experiencing infertility and loss and divorce. </div>
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this knowledge, the one that at any given moment the thing you fear the most could happen, is what keeps me from being fearless. i don't know how to do that. i trust the Lord for good things, but i also know that doesn't mean <b>bad </b>and <b>hard </b>things won't happen. </div>
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because they will, and i still fear what will happen when they do. </div>
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but recently, the harsh reality that they're coming whether i fear them or not has been helping me, not to become fearless but, to fear LESS. </div>
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because living in that state of fear isn't going to change anything. </div>
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but what will change <i>everything</i> is living each moment in a way that soaks up the goodness that's here right now. </div>
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<b>to live like all of those hard things are right around the corner can either be crippling or the biggest breath of fresh air we can stand.</b> </div>
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so for 2015, this mama's got no resolutions to speak of, but what i do have is a plan to fear LESS and live MORE. to relax my clenched jaw and squeeze my little girls instead. to loosen my tense shoulders and put my arms around my family and friends more often so they know i love them and am so. grateful. for every day i get to be beside them. i don't want to live in fear, but i don't want to put the pressure on myself to be fearless either.. that's an unattainable goal for me, but fearing less is not.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">For God has not given us a spirit of fear, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">but of <b>power </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">and of </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">love</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> and of </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">a sound mind</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">.</span></div>
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ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-38671666180724963712014-11-20T20:01:00.000-08:002014-12-18T18:16:45.980-08:00THE MOMENTS<div style="text-align: center;">
i feel like i literally need to dust off this ole blog to put some words here again. we have done more than a lap around the sun since i last put some thoughts to cyber paper, but it's quiet in our apartment so, of course, that means my mind is loud. today was one of those days that was full of the normal highs and lows that come with homemakership (you're welcome for adding that word to your repertoire). here's a glimpse into my stream of consciousness that i offered for my instapeeps this evening.. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"they are so sweet we're having the best night omg why won't they stop fighting I can't wait for them to go to bed aw they are doing so well playing together they're so funny what in the world are they yelling about now..."</span></div>
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luckily, this day actually included some of those sweeter, fonder thoughts because, honestly, many days do not. many days these girls wear me thin and raw and bring out the literal worst in their mama. i love them more than anything while simultaneously wanting to pull my hair our from frustration and sheer exhaustion. but those taxing moments turn into tender ones and by and by we always end up at bedtime and then the morning brings new mercies. when i melt into my pillow every night i never cease to feel grateful.. because even in the hard moments, i know that's all they are. moments. just like the good ones, they will pass and a new joy or hurtle will be around the corner. it's all fleeting; a truth that becomes more apparent by the second. so, in the midst of the crazy, i'm working to remind myself that the moments are all i have.. are all they have. these girls are with me for a moment, and even the hard ones are worth soaking up. </div>
ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-91188400351697347882013-06-06T13:12:00.001-07:002013-06-06T13:12:24.057-07:00F O U R.<div style="text-align: center;">
i loved taking this video of ruby last year when she turned three and, amazingly enough, my mama brain remembered to do it again for four! (also, how is she four?)</div>
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throwback to THREE:</div>
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FOUR:<br />
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i realize on a daily basis that my girl is growing and changing, but things like this really make the strides she takes in just one short year standout like crazy. even just seeing how her answers to some of the questions were things she actually likes and not just nonsense like liking "mexican" for lunch. what a nut.<br />
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happy FOURTH, rubes. i hope you read these posts someday and see that we really did our best to cherish your little years. i'll be honest with you, some days with you are straight out of a nightmare, but then there are times when you surprise me with your sweetness. or i remember challenging things that seemed unending that you don't even struggle with anymore, and i realize that you really <i>are</i> growing and changing everyday. you have such a strong little spirit, and i pray very often that daddy and i would be able to steer all of that feistiness and spunk into characteristics that help you to grow into a gracious girl who is kind and strong in all the right ways. we are doing our best to tell you about the Jesus we love so much in ways that you can understand; while also allowing you to ask questions and grasp whatever you can in your tiny mind. i pray that we're doing this as genuinely and gracefully as we know how. you're a great big sister, and i think you'll have a lot to offer sadie as she grows.. let's hope that those offerings stay on the safe and loving side, for the most part.<br />
ruby, you're a beautiful little mess, and i love figuring out life as your mama. here's to making this year even better than the last.</div>
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ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-69349056681634771812013-01-24T20:53:00.000-08:002013-01-24T20:53:06.088-08:00a big (girl) day..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIU9iy1gbHwgLveyxOyh5wQc2xXMS5MB5id_ENcCkNN_mcZHq5msPnJ_2L9s7yKF9qgXvfHrfkiCMfoOXJVJjm846nzO1nXjI50X4ui0e7EWqIY3da5yOzkG56fmr8-Qr6tItO8wWEuNE/s1600/530858_10100556942564728_1815952552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIU9iy1gbHwgLveyxOyh5wQc2xXMS5MB5id_ENcCkNN_mcZHq5msPnJ_2L9s7yKF9qgXvfHrfkiCMfoOXJVJjm846nzO1nXjI50X4ui0e7EWqIY3da5yOzkG56fmr8-Qr6tItO8wWEuNE/s400/530858_10100556942564728_1815952552_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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just the other day this peanut surprised me by looking at the earrings i was wearing and saying, "i want to get my ears pierced like you so i can go out of the house." no sure where that thought process came from, but i told her that if she still wanted to on daddy's next day off we could go to the mall and get it done. we talked to her about how it would hurt and her only response was, "that's ok, i'm brave!" </div>
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she was still asking about it today, and didn't even come inside after getting picked up from preschool.. she just yelled at me from the driveway, "you're coming with us to get my ears pierced, right mom?!"</div>
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we got to the mall and finally tracked down the piercing pagoda (only after asking the mall security guard who was roaming around.. i'm sure that made him feel really confident in the usefulness of his job). the clerk, kris, was helpful and encouraging of ruby's earring choice - pink hearts, as you would imagine. after she made the marks on ruby's ears and i compulsively checked them for evenness, kris made the first punch. i saw an immediate look of shock and pain on ruby's face and waited for her to cry out and stop the madness before kris could do the other side, but she only tightened her legs' grip around me and sat perfectly still until kris had finished the other ear. i asked her a few times if she was okay, and she nodded but kept quiet and looked up from my shoulder just long enough to accept her red lollipop on our way out the door. i tried to overlook her initial reaction of, "i don't want these anymore", and kept telling her how proud i was of her bravery and follow through on something she decided herself she wanted to do. within the five minute walk to the Disney store, homegirl was jabbering away about what had just happened and saying how excited she was to have earrings. we talked about it for the rest of the night, and i'm still in shock that there were more tears in my eyes than hers. </div>
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this little girl surprises me constantly.. from her positive and fun attitude to her willingness to try new things. she's a gem and is growing and changing before my eyes. i'm trying not to blink, because i know these little years will be over before i know it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSygKEXDwsg0nEb1vn0YSYNaN6oL7ZL55EZDSDJLsDpUwfmci0m27vTPntprJPlxuQpcV-o34vVEf-Tt2PJ4Xz4ZRAHIjC0fwraKCugak7hN_oPw7FuO7vaJ0MkzfkFYWoaB5Oh7A5K0/s1600/730043_10100557087374528_1676932544_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSygKEXDwsg0nEb1vn0YSYNaN6oL7ZL55EZDSDJLsDpUwfmci0m27vTPntprJPlxuQpcV-o34vVEf-Tt2PJ4Xz4ZRAHIjC0fwraKCugak7hN_oPw7FuO7vaJ0MkzfkFYWoaB5Oh7A5K0/s400/730043_10100557087374528_1676932544_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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i'm so proud of you, my brave girl. i can't wait for you to read this story when you're older so i can laugh with you and tell you again how surprising you are.</div>
ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-29070324702075980862013-01-23T17:35:00.000-08:002013-01-23T17:35:33.752-08:00this (not so) glamorous life..<div style="text-align: center;">
daniel left for work on a rather hectic morning a couple days ago.. ruby zooming around the house, sadie attached to my chest, me still in pajamas with sleep in my eyes, suitcases and the like strewn about the house from us just getting back in town. he gave me a kiss on his way out the door and said, "oh what a life we lead." his statement stuck with me, and i've been mulling it over ever since. you know it was a ground-breaker for me since it has me blogging for the first time since the end of august.. uh hum.</div>
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we do not live, as fergie would say, the life of the "glamorous" or the "flossy flossy" (but if you'd like a glimpse of what that supposedly looks like, here's a sneak peek).</div>
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i can't tell you much about what's current in fashion right now, how to keep yourself looking youthful and ageless, or even how to keep from getting poop on your hands less than once a day, for that matter. i'm lucky if i get to shower on the daily, and even luckier if anything other than stretchy pants graces my body. my dream car used to be a mini cooper or grand wagoneer, and now it's a honda odyssey. i get excited over things like ruby making it into the "clean your plate club", and my favorite "perfume" is pink johnson & johnson baby lotion. i spend most days inside my house cooking and cleaning in an overlapping round, and date nights are few and far between and usually end before 8 pm. it doesn't phase me anymore to say things like "yes you have to wear pants outside" "no you can't have a waffle for lunch and dinner too" and "stop wiping your boogers everywhere". i have every cartoon channel memorized, and watching "ellen" is sometimes my only adult "interaction" during the day. </div>
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<b>this is not a glamorous life, but it's a glorious one.</b></div>
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it's a life that i know for certain many people long for, and one some will never have. i know these people... and even if i haven't met them, i know they're out there. women who would long to have a baby cry for milk only they can offer; even if it happened so many times a day that it started to get exhausting. women who hope for the day when they have a husband; even if having him included bickering now and then and cooking him dinner at 10 at night when they're dog tired. ladies who'd give anything to add "mom" to the list of things they're called.. who wish they could know for certain that that would happen for them. people who'd be over the moon to own the house that i often begrudge having to keep tidy, and who wish for the clothes i grumble about having to wash, fold, and put away. families who would enjoy every bite of the food that i tire of having to shop for, unpack, and cook day in and day out. </div>
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<b>this is not a glamorous life, but it's one that i'm <i>so</i> blessed to have.</b> </div>
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and, frankly, if i can't remember that often enough to be overwhelming thankful for it, then i pray that He'd do something now and then to shake me back into the reality of all i've been given. that's kind of a scary thought to have, but one that i do always hope is in me somewhere. </div>
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<b>this is not a glamorous life, but it's one that i don't want to take for granted.</b></div>
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give thanks in all circumstances;</div>
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for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus</div>
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for you.</div>
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1 thessalonians 5:18</div>
ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-66797733668095183532012-08-19T04:00:00.000-07:002012-08-19T04:00:08.300-07:00beachy..<div style="text-align: center;">
we finally ventured out to the indiana dunes on d's day off this week.. and going kind of made me want to kick myself that we didn't discover it long ago and spend a lot more of our summer there. it's so neat to be beside a body of water that's so huge it looks like an ocean, but actually isn't one. although i liked referring to it as "the ocean" while we were there because it annoyed d so much.. oh, marriage. :)</div>
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i recently started keeping one of our friend's daughters a few days a week since she has gone back to work part-time. charlotte's a sweet little one, and it's fun for ruby to have a playmate. i would be lying if i said that having another tiny person around doesn't sometimes add a level of stress to our days, but it's not overwhelming and a lot of it comes from having to teach and correct ruby when it comes to how she treats charlotte. i'm actually really thankful for the timing because i think she's learning a lot and getting a feel for having it not be "just her" around the house with me all the time. i know it's going to be completely different once sadie is here since she won't be a playmate for ruby like charlotte can be, but i'm still positive that it's benefiting her to have charlotte around. charlotte's mom and dad have both commented on already seeing a change in her personality since she's been spending time with us. i'm thankful that they appreciate ruby's spunk and that her outgoing ways are rubbing off on charlotte in a good way.</div>
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c cracked me up with her fearlessness in the water. i was thankful that it wasn't actually an ocean because she would have been pummeled by waves more times than i'd like to count just darting out there like she did.</div>
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this was the best beach trip we've ever had with ruby. she loved playing in the sand and kept herself entertained for three straight hours. she was super giddy even from the moment we got out of the car because we parked on a little patch of sand. "there's sand <i>right here</i>, mom!" then she trotted down to the shore raving about how good it was to be at the beach. i love that enthusiastic and thankful girl.</div>
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my main man. he stood watch like this the entire time we were there.</div>
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he actually did this.</div>
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there were a couple of older girls who played with ruby and charlotte too.. it was cute because they kept calling her "sweetie" and then telling her to do things. "sweetie, can you do me a favor and fill this water bottle up and bring it back here?" "sweetie, we're trying to take the sand out of the hole, not put it in." little mamas.</div>
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i promise ruby isn't torturing charlotte.. it was just impossible to get a picture with both of them looking/open-eyed.</div>
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i told stacey, charlotte's mom, that she was like a seagull at the beach. once i fed her some food she wouldn't go away and do anything else. cutie.</div>
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beauty beauty.</div>
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handsome, bearded man. i'm glad charlotte likes him too.</div>
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daintily eating the graham cracker she bummed off of a nearby family.. ok, they offered, but i think it had a lot to do with her pleading eyes.</div>
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sadie, you were there too. </div>
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and, yes, i'm one of those bikini wearing pregnant women.. say what you will, but i've yet to find a "mama suit" that covers up the belly anyway.</div>
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daddy joining in on the hole filling.</div>
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beach baby.</div>
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we finally got in the water and the lifeguards announced that the beach was closing about ten minutes later. bumma. but we'll be back, dunes, don't you worry.</div>
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ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-19250266267200060202012-08-18T04:00:00.000-07:002012-08-18T04:00:10.066-07:00a day..<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>disclaimer: this is in no way a typical day for us. especially when it comes to the amount of stuff done.an average day starts with ruby having a pre-breakfast snack and watching PBS after she wakes up at the butt-crack of dawn. then breakfast, maybe some time at the pool or playing while mama does some stuff around the house. it's really not a glamorous or event-filled life we lead, but this day i happened to have my camera and we happened to do quite a few things.</i></div>
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grams and aunt tine, shield your eyes. we started out our day with a little trim. after daniel referred to ruby's 'do as a "shaggy beatles style" the other day, i knew she needed a little snip. i went to the place where i get mine cut and they informed me that they don't do cuts for kids younger than seven. way to discriminate, ladies. they did refer me to the daughter of one of the ladies there, so we headed to the hair cuttery and she did a great job.. for only $10. i used to cut ruby's hair myself, but as the curls keep coming in i won't dare put a scissor near there. she kept giving shy smiles and listened intently to everything the girl had her do. the lady beside us was getting her hair foiled, and ruby asked if she could have her hair painted like she was. too soon, my child.</div>
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the finished product. i love it.. her curls spring up so much more after a little trim. and you're welcome for the classy shot in front of our car.</div>
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then we had a big girl lunch date at panera.. i emphasize the "big girl" part because i have to make that very clear to ensure that madness is kept to a minimum. also, a recently discovered tactic of mine is to sit at their really tall bistro tables to keep the wiggly worm from getting in and out of her seat constantly. give it a try for your little rascal.<br />
the first face is a reaction to hearing that daddy was going to a baseball game with some of his friends that night and not taking her with him. oh the humanity. and the second is just cute because she's blowing on her food like a little lay-dee.</div>
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then we headed to the library because i've been telling her for a week that we'd go. also, i wanted to see if they had <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Thief-Markus-Zusak/dp/0375842209">this book</a> that i'm starting to read with my little cyber book clurb. can't wait to start that loveliness. </div>
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this is ruby seconds before talking in an i-have-headphones-on-and-i-can't-tell-how-loud-i'm-being voice. and then i went and paid $6 in late fees.</div>
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they are building a humungo new library in our town that will open in october, but i like the one we have now a lot too. they have this super cool tree and treehouse in the middle of the kid's section that ruby always spends most of her time in. there's also a telephone in the treehouse ('cause why wouldn't there be?) that i think talks when they pick it up, but r likes to use it to pretend like she's a secret agent. there's a video at the end of this post to show you what i'm talking about.</div>
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eyeless treehouse shot. i think she likes sadie more than me.</div>
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and because i'll never pass up an instance where she'll take a picture with me.. (she always requests a funny face).</div>
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then home for a little rest time (which i needed much more than she did) and an apple snack (i had the rest of a bag of white powdered donuts). </div>
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this sweet linen dress was mine and vally's when we were little. my mom cleaned it up and passed it on to my girls. i love it so much.</div>
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the little chef helped make <a href="http://thenatos.blogspot.com/2012/04/frugal-fun.html">these</a> biscuit pizzas for dinner (yes it's another recipe from the nato's blog. we already talked about how i'm obsessed). they were delicious. and super easy. give it a try, and freeze a few for later.</div>
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her's was boring-ville sauce and cheese, but i topped mine with garlic, olive oil, spinach, feta, mushroom and mozzarella. mm. i wish i were eating one right now. </div>
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just an attempt to make you drool a little more.</div>
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and then this happened. what other reaction would you expect from being told that you can't rip your matching game instructions in half? you know you've hit rock bottom when senseless things like, "i just want my sister sadie to be here!!" and "i don't want my feet to be on me anymore!" start a-flowin'. but then i showed her a picture of how crazy she looked and she burst out laughing. score one for team mom. </div>
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we ended the night playing outside in the courtyard with this gaggle of childrens. our apartment is quite the melting pot ethnically, so there were a lot of languages being shouted back and forth. i'm looking forward to fall, but not so much to winter when there will be a lot less outside action happening. soaking it in while we can.</div>
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well, there's a day in the life. as much as i know i'll like going back and reading about deep thoughts and milestones on our blog someday, i think things like this will be a big part of why i'm thankful i kept this record for us. i'm motivated lately to do a good job of keeping our memories and stories written down here.. i know it will be something we'll cherish.</div>
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and here's that video. as you can tell, we're still working on the "library voice".</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QbM-H5y0mpQ" width="560"></iframe></div>
ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-53784682037885132302012-08-17T04:00:00.000-07:002012-08-17T04:00:02.704-07:00story time with rubes: the monster at the end of this book.. <div style="text-align: center;">
in case you've ever wondered what it's like to hear a three year old "read" a book from memory, here's a little video for you to feast your eyes upon. wacky, random, and shirtless.<br />
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my camera died at the very end. the last page is a little picture of grover saying, "i'm so embarassed." this is probably the cutest part of the book to see her read, but you'll just have to use your imagination.<br />
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dear ruby, you are a nut.
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ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-47315856065382950092012-08-16T04:00:00.000-07:002012-08-16T04:00:13.801-07:00k & v..<div style="text-align: center;">
as my sister so lovingly reminded me tonight (wait, it wasn't loving. is went something like, "when are you gonna post about the rest of your time in nc? you do such a good job writing about yourself, but what about the rest of us?" ha what is sisterhood without sassy banter?) i have yet to share about the other fun shower we had while i was in north carolina like i said i would in <a href="http://dnamehaffie.blogspot.com/2012/08/showered.html">this post</a>.</div>
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i'm not sure that i've mentioned it yet, but my sister and her fiance are being rude and getting married when i'll be a very rotund thirty-six weeks pregnant. i mean, how dare they plan a wedding before i even got pregnant and make it so close to my future due date? psht. anywho, i love them so i'm still acting excited and rolling with the punches. seriously though, i can't wait for this day, and have made sure to remind myself of it daily by putting their sweet a invitation on my fridge.</div>
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the party was so fun and sweet. vally and kyle's friends kristen and quinten offered to host at their house, and i was in town to be able to help out with some of the details which made me really thankful. being hours away during fun seasons like this is not the funnest thing, but i'm so glad that i can be a part of days like this for them.</div>
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the soon to be b and g.. i read somewhere that you should take pictures from behind because that's where all the love is. i agree.</div>
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doing my matron of honor-y duties and writing down names at the gifts table. they picked out cute stuff, and i was covetous of those burlap "mr." and "mrs." pillows on the right.</div>
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some panorama action during gift opening.</div>
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just look at 'em. toats adorbs.</div>
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rubes got dirty and sweaty, and kept showing everyone her underwares. i loved being able to just let her run around in the backyard and enjoy all the kids at the shower. and we all know that sparklers make the world go round, and every parent's blood pressure go up, so that was fun too.</div>
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sisterly love. and sadie girl, stay in there until at least after october 13th, capeesh?</div>
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we three. it's blowing my mind that in just two short months we'll be three married old ladies. it makes me very thankful for the years that we just had each other, and even more thankful for where we've ended up.</div>
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the men folk. this is going to be a beardtastic wedding once d gets in town to round out the threesome.</div>
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uncle getting in a superb photobomb.</div>
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they're cute. kind of crazy to think that just a few hours after this a tree fell on the house.</div>
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look, i don't like to use my flash. just pretend like this is in focus. also, i can't wait for the wedding weekend so we can take pictures that include daniel. that's gonna be frame-worthy for sure.</div>
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what a fun time celebrating. two more families becoming one. God's really good, and we are all incredibly good looking.</div>
ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-48405818483114025092012-08-14T20:21:00.001-07:002012-08-15T10:05:16.529-07:00twirl and toot..<div style="text-align: center;">
ok, i am well aware that this will embarrass my child to the tenth degree when she is old enough to realize that i broadcast is on the world wide web. <i>but</i> it made me laugh so hard that i can't keep it to myself. this is why i love her.. she is full of juxtaposition. trying to be graceful one second, and letting one rip the next. completely unphased. please listen carefully at minute 1:02.<br />
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my little tooter.. i love your guts and i think you're the best little dancer i've ever seen. for real. i don't know much about ballet or what three year olds should be capable of, but i think your little toe points are the best and i love that you break into dance anytime anything remotely resembling ballet music is playing. also, there is no shame in your fashion game. you love those ballet shoes hardcore, for some reason feel the need to wear heart-y socks with them, and a leotard paired with a too-big-for-you hippie skirt that you ask me to "tie this really tight" every day when you put it on. never lose your spirit and love for the unique, little girl.</div>
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and, no, i did not pee my pants during this laugh attack.. it's been a theme lately, but i dodged a bullet this time.<br />
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and one picture lest we forget when you also threw on your christmas apron.<br />
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ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-32078458983837180152012-08-13T05:00:00.000-07:002012-08-15T10:05:31.068-07:00twenty questions: 3 year old ruby..<div style="text-align: center;">
well, this is about two 1/2 months later than i planned, but it's done! i've wanted to ask ruby these <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/228417012320293159/">twenty questions</a> that i found on pinterest, and finally got 'er done tonight during a little balcony sitting. </div>
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we were killing time while <a href="http://thenatos.blogspot.com/2012/03/enchilada-lasagna-la-thon-ya.html">this</a> was in the oven. confession: i used mango salsa and we weren't in love with how things turned out because of that. daniel kept saying, "there's just something about it that makes me want to gag with every bite." awesome. <i>but</i> i'm 100% confident that we would love this recipe using a not sweet salsa. another confession: i have turned into stalky stalkerson when it comes to <a href="http://thenatos.blogspot.com/">jami nato's blog</a> (that's where the recipe is from, so this second confession isn't as random as it may seem). like i'm honestly kind of at scary status when it comes to reading it and laughing and/or crying at every single post.</div>
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example: i started to pee my pants (well, dress actually) the other night from laughing at <a href="http://thenatos.blogspot.com/2012/03/this-one-glorious-night.html">this post</a> so hard. d was just sitting across the room starring at me while i laughed/cried/peed my way to the bathroom. when it was all over he asked, "is this a pregnancy thing?" i just said yes because there really wasn't any other way to explain what had just gone down. if that isn't a plug for the hilarity that her posts can bring then i'm not sure what is. ok.. moving on.</div>
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i found her while i was looking over who the speakers are going to be at the upcoming <a href="http://www.theinfluenceconference.com/">influence conference</a>, and i haven't been able to stop. it's kind of like crack. crack in blog form. she's funny, honest, open, and points to Christ at every turn.. for reasons beyond her blog, i feel like i've had a renewed appreciation for the "blogging community" (that sounds kind of like a neighborhood full of bloggers only- wouldn't that be an interesting place) lately. i think "mommy blogs" can often get a bad wrap, but i've seen so many points of connection and encouragement lately through what bloggers are putting out there that i can't help but acknowledge that there is power here. power to build and to destroy, if i'm honest, and that thought has brought me to mull over what i'm putting out there in my little corner of the interweb.. more on that to come.</div>
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but for now.. this little tootsie roll in all of her random, three-year-old glory.</div>
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answers to a few question this little diddy might have brought up for you:</div>
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she has never before said that "orange" is her favorite color or that "oranges" are her favorite fruit. she literally never eats oranges and only loves pink and purple on the regular.</div>
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never saw "mexican" coming as her favorite thing to eat for lunch. who even knows if she knows what "mexican" food consists of. </div>
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no, i have no clue what game "popping the alligators down" is.</div>
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her rendition of the "princess song" was made up on the spot. that high-pitched singing voice is how she always sounds when creating lyrics.</div>
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i'm not at all surprised by how much she referenced the general idea of "princesses". little lady can't get enough.</div>
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she loves cereal, so i was surprised that she couldn't think of a favorite kind. just the other day she informed me at target that cocoa puffs is "cereal made from birds". one of her and daddy's favorite things to do is share sugary cereals that i would never let past her lips on mornings that i don't get up and make them breakfast.</div>
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i too appreciate how matter-of-factly she said that "just holla" is her favorite holiday. gotta appreciate that kind of confidence.</div>
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no, i don't feed her mac n cheese for breakfast.</div>
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i also never thought "get your hand out of your underwear" would need to be uttered during this taping.</div>
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i have no idea how i'm going to find "christmas cookies" at the end of may next year. hopefully she'll forget about this random request. pretty sure she will since it was most likely senseless jabbering.</div>
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yes, i will fully support her if she actually does want to become a "great princess painter" someday. i'm sure there's a market for that somewhere.</div>
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oh three-year-old ruby girl.. you crack me up. you are both a joy and a challenge to us dailly, and we honestly are so thankful for that. i can't wait to see you as a big sister, and to see what madness your four-year-old self comes up with for these same questions next year. love, mama.</div>
ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-6816394705134785442012-08-12T14:10:00.000-07:002012-08-12T14:11:16.563-07:00fairing..<div style="text-align: center;">
we moved here just a little too late to be able to go to the county fair last year. we kept hearing how much fun it was, so it was a treat to be able to go twice. the first time with our fun friends mya, josh, and grace, and the second while d was off work and charlotte was over for the day.</div>
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little friends. they equally adore and drive each other crazy.</div>
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cautiously caressing the sleeping pig. i loved being able to expose them to all of these different animals.. even from afar. sometimes i wish we could live on a farm! but then i'd hate how early i'd have to wake up everyday. darn those rooster's crows.</div>
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peeking at the mama sow and her litter of piglets. they were fun to watch.</div>
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baby cow.</div>
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on our second trip with baby charlotte. not sure why ruby is making that evil-ish smile and holding that fork like a pitch fork. i was mainly impressed that i got them both to look.</div>
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d doing the hunch walk to hold little charlotte's hand. makes me excited to see him as a daddy to a tiny girl again. he kept holding ruby and charlotte at the same time and saying, "this is what it's going to be like. me with my two girls." sweetest.</div>
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this guy's horn span was outta control.</div>
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all up in his piggy grill.</div>
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i had never seen a brown pig before. this guy looking rather pathetic. but he gave us a few oinks, so i think he was hanging in there.</div>
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snuggly. even that one from the connected cage was trying to get in on the cuddle action with a little snout touch.</div>
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a sheep saying hello. "mom, these are goats, trust me." this is her new phase.. "trust me." don't though.. because she usually doesn't know what she's talking about. she's cute while she's saying whatever wrong fact it is, so we just go with it.</div>
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not a life i envy. you go, mama pig. </div>
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i love how all the babies have that white stripe on their back, just like mom.</div>
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crazy hair and oogley eyes. we make quite a pair.</div>
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look at that precious babe soaking up the light.</div>
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rockin' that pony.</div>
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she was rather excited to pose in all of these animal cutouts.</div>
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"moooo."</div>
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gangsta spelling on the farm. behind me, as i took this picture, was a 12-ish year old girl lit-ra-lee cuddled up beside a cow sleeping with it in the hay. d asked me to get a picture of her, but i was too embarrassed on her behalf to snap one. i have a feeling that friendships outside of the animal kingdom may be few and far between for that little nugget. </div>
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loved this old milk machine.</div>
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look at that sky. look at my love muffins.</div>
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don't worry, charlotte was still hanging in there. look at those pretty lashes.</div>
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this fella was a trip.. he looked like a stuffed animal with his puffy head.</div>
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of course our fearless lady wanted to touch every animal. nothing lunged at her or bit any fingertips off. when we were approaching the llama, i asked, "don't these things spit?" his reply, "yea, but not ours." hmm.. i took his word for it.</div>
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and then her bravery and my chicken-ish ways collided. the only thing she asked to ride was the ferris wheel. only one of us was going on with her because it was $5 a person to ride.. even for a one year old.. what? she asked for mommy to go. of course she did. because i'm terrified of ferris wheels and it was the windiest day we've had in weeks.</div>
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so we handed our tickets to this nice south african accented guy who assured me that he would bet his life that nothing would happen to this ride. ok, sir.</div>
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and then we got to the tippy top.. and i saw this face.</div>
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not afraid of a thing. </div>
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so i sucked it up and let her lack of fear remind me to have fun and relish.</div>
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so that's just what we did. </div>
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me and my girl on top of the world.</div>
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see you next year, bud.</div>
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and then rubes played daddy's "jump over the stick game" and looked like a flying squirrel.</div>
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we love the fair!</div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-56420343993972773722012-08-09T12:29:00.000-07:002012-08-09T12:30:06.201-07:00showered..<div style="text-align: center;">
an extra special part of our recent time in north carolina was being able to have <i>two</i> showers for equally exciting things. the first was a laid back little shindig at my favorite mexican restaurant to celebrate sweet sadie coming. janelle, mandy, and vally pulled it all together, and i was so so thankful for that time. i felt super loved, the fact that we're having another sweet girl before long started to sink in just a bit more, and i even exposed people to the laughing/weeping craziness that happens to me from time to time. sad you had to miss that part.. it made quite a few people feel uncomfortable. but hey, at least i didn't pee my pants.</div>
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riding to the festivities with my girl. she was all decked out in her "big sister" shirt, and i'm a little miffed at myself for not getting a better picture of that cuteness.</div>
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mi madre. thankful that she makes the trek to raleigh whenever i'm in town to save me from making long car rides.</div>
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rubes being sure to document her shoe choice for the evening. p.s. she has her father's feet.. do not even think that those crazy looking things got passed on from me. third toe that's longer than the second.. what the what?</div>
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getting all artsy with her foot placement.</div>
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cute tine the co-pilot.</div>
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ruby made sure to get a shot of me making my most asian looking smiling face.</div>
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move over brangelina.. there's a new power couple in town. knox and ruby being as sweet as ever.</div>
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friends whom i love. knox, have some class and put that gut away.</div>
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my cute cousin faye was very diligent about getting some shots of me opening gifts.</div>
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blurry gift goodnes. we don't need a lot since it's another girl, but sadie is a winter baby and ruby was a summer girl, so getting some sweet little hats, long-sleeve onesies, and super warm swaddle blankets was great. we also now have an amazing stash of target gift cards; which we all know will go to diaper and wipes, and probably a snickers or two for mama.</div>
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aunt susie sent a gift with mom.. so thoughtful and loving.</div>
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see that little sister onesie? i am so in love with those things. little sister. big sister. melt my heart.</div>
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see? warms hats and baby wrappers. so good.</div>
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a crazily tiny and cute outfit from grams and tine.. most likely what sadie girl will wear home from the hospital. remind me again how it is that she's going to be so. small.</div>
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me and the two best moms i could have asked for.</div>
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the greatest journey group that ever happened. i moved away from nc almost a year ago, but i'm still claiming that title for us.. don't hate.</div>
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who even knows what's happening here? all i know for sure is that jill is checking out a booty, and janelle and i can't keep our eyes open from sheer happiness.</div>
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"better", i guess, but not nearly as much fun.</div>
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i guess i'll share about the other shower experience in a separate post because this one is already crazy long. i didn't get pictures with everyone who was there, but i hope i did a good job of getting out just <i>how</i> special and loved i felt that they were all present to love on me and sadie. i know it's the cynical part of myself, but it's easy to think that you'll slowly slip out of people's hearts when you make a big move and don't do day to day (or even month to month) life with them anymore. times like this are a reminder that i'm so thankful for of how much we are loved and missed.. and the feeling is uber mutual!</div>
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p.s. sadie, you are already one cherished little lady. hurry up and get here. (but seriously though, you can wait.)</div>
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<br /></div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-71237218870470177662012-08-08T05:00:00.000-07:002012-08-08T05:00:06.356-07:00ohio time..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
after grams and grandpa came to town at the start of july, we ventured down to waynesville, ohio for a long weekend with some of our extended family. waynesville is the sweet country town that daniel's dad grew up in, and it's so fun to get time there and see places that he went to as a kid. it was one of those times when i kept thinking, "i need to be taking more pictures" and then never really did. but i got a few, so here you have them.</div>
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i tried to bring a few little things to entertain the kidlets while we hung out at auntie marilyn's house. isaac and ruby gave some major concentration to these boxes of poppers.</div>
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intense throwing skills.</div>
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little cousies. aunt marilyn's house is like an oasis.. comfortable, welcoming and stocked with any and everything you could ever need during a visit. the weather was nice, and it was so fun to just have family milling around with nothing pressing to do or anywhere to be.</div>
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bellies. :) d used a couple of vacation days, so of course it was a super treat to have him there. he's saving up time for sadie's arrival at the end of the year, but he was happy to take some time for this quick family reunion. </div>
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uncle d showing them how it's done.</div>
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a little snuggle with sweet simon.</div>
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creative entertainment courtesy of grams.</div>
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never did i ever get a picture with both of them looking.</div>
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wagon rides were plentiful over the weekend. </div>
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family walk complete with extreme frizbee throwing.</div>
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shari needed a little rest towards the end of our long walk. ;)</div>
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babe's the queen of shoulder rides.</div>
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<i>and</i> we got to stay in a hotel.. endless fun with the gideon Bible and a disconnected telephone.</div>
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cousins doing a little leisurely reading. we walked around a downtown craft fair and the town's library had a booth where they were giving out free library books. too sweet.</div>
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taking a walk downtown after church on sunday.</div>
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grandpa was telling us how he'd run down this sidewalk every week after church with his younger brother, uncle craig, when he was a little boy to get an ice pop at one of the shops downtown.</div>
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we even got to visit gammie's cute apartment. this bird cage music box has been in their family for years.. and our kids were just as impressed by it as all of the other generations have been.</div>
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riding "the bus".</div>
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the future leaders of america flexing their public speaking skills.</div>
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i so wish i had brought us all together for a family picture before d had to leave to head back home, but i love this shot with aunt marilyn and gammie. thankful for the genes that our ruby girl has running through her.. what beauties (both inside and out)!</div>
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a quick cracker barrel stop on our trek back to NC with grams and grandpa.</div>
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welp, there we have it. it was a whirlwind weekend, but one we were super thankful to be a part of. i was telling sharon during the family picnic on saturday that one of the the huge provisions that i see from the Lord in us moving where we did almost a year ago is that we live as close to our ohio family as we do. i know that if we ever need them they are just a car ride away, and it's so refreshing to have time all together when we can. i'm so thankful when He's good to us in little ways like that.</div>
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<br /></div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-60727325904356992482012-08-07T05:00:00.000-07:002012-08-07T05:00:03.448-07:00together..<div style="text-align: center;">
there's a huge, grassy courtyard in the center of our apartment complex that we don't take nearly enough advantage of, but rubes and i had a nice little session out there on this (dare i say) chilly august evening. for reals.. i had on a cardi. it gave me glimpses of fall weather, and i got rather excited. am i the only one looking forward to wearing boots again? i'm sure i'm going to be eating those words when i have to regularly squeeze this every-growing baby belly into jeans.</div>
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nice form.</div>
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action shot.</div>
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"mom, i'm sirsty."</div>
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are we all aware that these are the same babies on a blanket? my mind and heart at spinning.</div>
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she requested a foot picture.</div>
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and didn't want me to feel left out.</div>
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then i was instructed to make funny faces. giving her the camera is like being a part of a photo shoot where the photographer does everything in her power to make you look ridonkulous.</div>
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sadie's turn.</div>
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at least she won't make you look silly on your own.</div>
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she's the only reason i get to end up on the other side of the camera these days.</div>
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entertaining the locals. these two sweet ladies have lived in this apartment complex for 13 and 15 years. when i joined ruby for a chat with them, the one on the right asked if we moved here about a year ago for my husband's job at hhgregg. they had talked to my mom the weekend we moved in and still remembered ruby. mom, i'm sure you recall talking with them.</div>
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and finally, a bonkers video of me trying my darndest to document one of my favorite things about ruby's speech right now.. her strict pronunciation of "th". i'm not sure where this yoda-like language has come from lately, but i'm glad we got a bit of that in there too. i've said it before and i'll say it again.. kids are weird. :)</div>
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d was home in time to join us for awhile before we had to head inside. ruby found a friend to play with for a bit, and one of those nice ladies gave the two of them a little box and net to try their hand at bug catching.</div>
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what a sweet night.</div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-10353433679441509862012-08-06T07:55:00.000-07:002012-08-06T09:09:47.369-07:00thrift a gift: the loot..<div style="text-align: center;">
i wrote about the super cool <a href="http://dnamehaffie.blogspot.com/2012/06/thrift-gift.html">thrifty love gift exchange</a> awhile back, and the time has finally come to share what went down with my match up, gift finding, and the exchange.<br />
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it was definitely just as fun as i was hoping it would be, and i'll be all over jumping on that bandwagon if they do another go round. the only downer was that i was out of town when i gathered what i was sending to rebecca at <a href="http://betterlifebags.com/">better life bags</a>, so i didn't get to shop at my favorite local thrift store. the fun part was that i was able to go to the vintage village in raleigh with janelle and found something there.. something that i liked enough to get one for myself and my thrift exchange partner. :)<br />
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a few shots from the vintage village.. never-ending piles of unimaginable treasures (and junk). </div>
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i actually spotted these cast iron cross wall hangings the first time i went to the vintage village a few months ago, but didn't pick one up. their "price on the spot" way of doing things paid off this time because he quoted me a lower price than he had before and it was within my $10 gift exchange budget. this is the one i bought for myself. i was in a tizzy to package and ship rebecca's, so i didn't get a picture, but i was happy to find out that the shade of blue matches her home decor perfectly. i think she loves hers as much as i do mine. :)<br />
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now onto what was inside the goodie box that i got from rebecca on saturday.<br />
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two super sweet vintage aprons. the one on top has lace on the pocket and is pink with white polka dots. the one with the plaid hearts has three large pockets that line the bottom. i love them so much.<br />
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a linen calender from 1969.. i have a couple of these already and think i will use them as curtains if we ever have a kitchen with a window. "bless this house".. yes, please. also, the cross-stitched tablecloth that everything is laying on.. i love the intricate floral pattern, and it fits perfectly on our square dinner table.</div>
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the sweetest tea cup and saucer that ruby literally squealed over when she helped me open the box. girlfriend loves a fancy tea party. also, a glass salad dressing bottle that i know for sure i'll use.. i usually shake my vinaigrette up in an old jar, so this will be a welcome change. :)<br />
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and my favorite thing of all.. this brown purse. it's clean, full of functional pockets, has <i>gold</i> clasps and buttons, and is a perfect over-the-shoulder size. for serious.. this picture does not do it justice. i've actually looked for something like this during my own thrifting trips and haven't been able to find anything. i'm basking in the small purse days in these last few months before i'm back to toting around a bulky diaper bag.<br />
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look at all of that pockety goodness.. yes, i'm already using it. :)<br />
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when i showed daniel my treats after he got home from work last night his ever so blunt response was, "man, she gave you way better stuff." ha leave it to him to tell you how he really feels. i felt so spoiled by such perfectly "me" things from a complete stranger that i'm inclined to feel the same, but i loved that blue cross enough when i picked it out for rebecca that i'm trying not to be too hard on myself about how different our offerings were. i feel like that's kind of the beauty of something like this exchange.. the possibilities are literally endless, and everything that's shared is so unique.<br />
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i say with all honesty that my favorite part of this was getting linked up with a completely random lady, perusing her blog for what she might enjoy in the form of thrifty love, and reading words and peeking into the heart and life of someone i might not have known about otherwise. my favorite post that i read from rebecca was this honest and insightful one about <a href="http://betterlifebags.com/2012/07/16/if-i-wasnt-a-mom/">being a mom</a>. i also got to learn about her awesome company <a href="http://betterlifebags.com/mission/">Better Life Bags</a> that gives jobs and funds to the less fortunate. what a treat to get to "know" rebecca!<br />
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fun fun! i encourage you to sign up next time they organize the thrifty love gift exchange.. i'll be sure to sound the alarm as soon as i find out it's coming. :)<br />
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<a href="http://nickandcarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="a punk, a pumpkin and a peanut" src="http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h471/punkpumpkinpeanut/thriftylove200.jpg" /></a></center>
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i also linked up with simple design for "<a href="http://simpledesign.net/share-your-thrift-haul-13/">share your thrift haul</a>".</center>
</div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-16229936456890316332012-08-04T19:13:00.002-07:002012-08-04T19:13:10.872-07:00sadie girl..<div style="text-align: center;">
all's been fairly quiet on the western front as far as our november baby is concerned.. the western front being the blog, and sadie being our november baby. there's no real <i>reason</i> for this, but i would say that there are contributing factors.<br />
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for one, this go round brought me to a realization that it is in fact possible to be sick as a dog for more than half of one's pregnancy. i thought twenty weeks of roadside pukeage was rough with ruby, but sadie came in with a new record as vomiting (not necessarily nausea) finally stopped a week or so ago at twenty-four weeks (spoke too soon.. threw up today before i had a chance to publish this post. blerg). i wouldn't say that i've had as many momentous upchuck occasions as i did with rubes (did i tell you about the time that i threw up into a trashcan less than 100 feet from a couple having their wedding photos taken in a park?.. that was a doosey), but the duration has kind of kicked my butt.<br />
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also, as i was told it would, time has seemed to speed by at a quicker rate this time. i'm not any less anxious for sadie to get here than i was for ruby, so you'd think that would make it seem slow, but i'm sure that the day-to-day goings on of keeping up with a 3-ish year old has aided in time zooming by. i remember feeling like it seemed forever away when i set up a haircut appointment seven weeks after my last one.. but, low and behold, that cut will happen next week and it feels like i made the appointment yesterday.<br />
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lastly, and i'm sure most affecting, is how different i've felt being pregnant with sadie than i did with ruby and the <a href="http://dnamehaffie.blogspot.com/2011/06/mending.html">baby</a> we lost last year. the odd thing about it is that, if anything, i felt the least with that baby until i felt the most. i never really had 'pregnancy symptoms' beyond a sore chest, so i can't relate it to what i feel with sadie based on things like that. we also didn't do a lot of planning or preparing because i miscarried early on. but.. the emotions that came through the grieving and recovery process affect my pregnancy this time in a way i never imagined and also never experienced carrying ruby. i wouldn't say that i'm still at a fearful state because we are out of the "touch and go" window since i'm so far along, but it's more the ripple effect that losing a baby has had on me. it's almost impossible for me to think of sadie without thinking of our second baby, and it's hard not to feel sadness and guilt because of that. there's a great chance that we wouldn't be having sadie if we had our baby last year, so although there's no way i can see a complete loss in something that brought us this sweet girl, i still wrestle with the guilt of feeling unable to separate the two of them from each other. i also struggle with referring to sadie as our "second baby.. pregnancy.. child" because she'll never be that to me.. she's our third. there are three eggs in my nest. but that's not really something you verbally vomit on a sweet old lady asking "is this your second?" in the middle of walgreens.. all the while feeling that little tinge of pain when you say that it is.<br />
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it's just things like that that i don't quite know how to handle.. emotions that i don't really know how to file away somewhere to make sense of them. i just picture myself in those days and weeks following that loss and think, "i never ever want to know pain like that again".. and the hardest part is that i know there is pain that far outweighs what i went through on levels i can't wrap my head around. so i work, daily, on taking those thoughts captive and saying thanks after thanks for this healthy girl who's growing and who i am so so confident will bring crazy joy and newness to our little family when she comes.<br />
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what a blessing.</div>
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a sweet tye-dye number d picked out while we were visiting family in ohio. </div>
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25 weeks. (wouldya believe this was taken in the parking lot of a liquor store? i thought these oddly placed flowers were too beautiful to pass up)</div>
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<br /></div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-13842429498680012412012-08-03T08:07:00.001-07:002012-08-03T08:07:13.332-07:00special visitors..<div style="text-align: center;">
we were really excited for july to start because we were expecting fun visitors and a little time away with family. grams and grandpa came to stay with us for a few days on their trek back across country from california, and then we had a long weekend in ohio with d's extended family for a mini reunion. it's always so fun and relaxing to have mike and sharon here.. they're up for anything (or nothing at all), don't need to be entertained, get a kick out of rubes, and find as much joy in spending time with us as we get from being with them (or so they tell us :)).</div>
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ruby and i started out the mornings while g & g were here by going to vbs at our church. she went to class, and i volunteered with a group of 2nd graders. it was fun, tiring, and encouraging keeping up with their sweet selves. from what rubes said, she really loved "PBS".</div>
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the neatest part of mike and sharon's visit was being able to take them with us for our "gender reveal" ultrasound. even though sharon wasn't pregnant with her babies all <i>that</i> long ago, there weren't ultrasounds then. i was so thankful for how far technology has come.. not only to be able to see our own sweet sadie girl that day, but also to allow mike and sharon to share in something so incredible for the first time.</div>
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there she is.. sweet sadie ann mehaffie. coming november 2012. :)</div>
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a little DQ treat by the lake after our appointment. we also enjoyed nice weather while they were here; which was a treat since it had been about a bazillion degrees everyday the week before.</div>
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just imagining what getting a decent family photo will be like once there's another little one in the picture. :)</div>
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the other highlight of their visit was going out for a fancy adults only dinner to <a href="http://cedarlakelighthouse.com/">a restaurant</a> we kept hearing about in the area. the staff team from mike and sharon's summer project wanted to do something special for them to thank them for a great summer, so they decided to send them out for some quality time with me and d. our sweet friend mya let ruby hang out at her house for the evening and we went for an awesome steak dinner overlooking the water. </div>
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getting a few shots while the sun went down and before the rain came rolling in.</div>
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love this shot of these two sweeties.</div>
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lovebirds married 40 years this month. and still so sweet and sassy together. :)</div>
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very thankful for their love and hardwork through the years that brought me a sweet husband and our girls a great daddy. <3 p="p"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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snuck in a shot with my mom-in-love just as the rain drops were starting to pelt us.</div>
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and a look at rubes and grandpa bubble blowing time just for good measure.</div>
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it was such a fun and refreshing time having grams and grandpa here. now i just need to have this other baby girl to convince them to visit us again. :)</div>
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a post from our time with ohio family coming soon!</div>
</3></div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-23081661236367793752012-08-01T19:01:00.000-07:002012-08-01T19:05:25.496-07:00days and years..<div style="text-align: center;">
rubes was in bed (and fast asleep) at 8:01 tonight. by 8:06 i was taking a shower in the first chance i had for the day, but despite that i really feel like we hit our stride today. <i>please</i> tell me that i'm not the only person who's been in this parenting game for (more than) three years and still has a heap ton of areas that we just haven't settled into yet. even "simple" ones like this.. a working schedule that makes for a <strike>mostly</strike> agreeable child and a mama who doesn't collapse into a puddle on the couch at the end of the day. </div>
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yesterday, on the other hand, was not a stride kind of day. if anything, it was an are-you-trying-to-kill-me-can-we-both-just-go-back-to-bed-and-wake-up-when-it's-tomorrow kind of day. it was the kind of day where i went in and watched her <strike>when she finally went to</strike> sleep so that i could chant <b>"the days are long but the years are short"</b> to myself and say prays of thanks for her little self. </div>
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i wish i could remember who it was that first said those words to me because they are without a doubt my parenting life mantra and the words that i share with any other parent who i can tell needs to hear them too (so, all parents, am i right?). 'cause they really really are.. long days, short years. even the days when i feel like we're in our stride.. we still have those moments when i'm repeating myself over and over again or walking in to see a ball of playdoh covered in water on the counter or realizing that ruby is out in the hall talking to our neighbors wearing nothing but socks. things that i'm for sure going to laugh about someday (let's be real, i'm chuckling a little bit typing them now), but that piled together into one afternoon have me taking a deep breath and and wondering "what is she <i>thinking</i>?" (and don't even let me fool you into thinking that was all that went down in the 12 hours she was awake yesterday.. uh hum, cracked ipad screen). </div>
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but then we have those moments.. those redeeming and reassuring little moments when i realize that she really is learning and growing. when she says "ok mommy" instead of talking back, or when i say something once and she takes action. when she's patient, kind, or proactive. when we drive by a church and she says "mommy, that's the cross that jesus died on." those little moments that helps me see that in these long days and short years, we're getting somewhere. we might be getting there at a snail's pace at times, but it's still progress. </div>
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hopefully i'm not the only one who needed that reminder today.</div>
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<br /></div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-84845141625143559932012-07-06T09:31:00.000-07:002012-07-06T09:32:31.300-07:00thankful..<div style="text-align: center;">
i'm linking up with <a href="http://nickandcarina.blogspot.com/">punk, pumpkin, and peanut</a> for her weekly {thankful} post. i was excited to come across it this morning because, well, who doesn't need to take a few and simmer on some feelings of thankfulness?<br />
i was actually just thinking on thankfulness last night as i was getting ready for bed, and the thought came to mind - "we have <i>everything</i> we <b>need</b>." no, we do not have <i>everything</i>, or even a lot of what we might <i>want</i>. but when it comes to what we need, i have a very blessed little family who couldn't really ask for more.<br />
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this week, and this moment, i'm grateful for:<br />
air conditioning and protection from some record highs.<br />
a husband who works hard and selflessly for us.<br />
a little girl who is learning and changing everyday.<br />
a growing baby who i can feel wiggling around and growing inside me.<br />
encouragement from unexpected places.<br />
excitement over little surprises.<br />
family and friends in so many places.<br />
medical insurance and our health.<br />
finding sweet treasures at my favorite thrift store and teaching rubes appreciation for secondhand.<br />
creativity and productivity.<br />
momentary relief from a queasy stomach.<br />
feeling connected to people i love even from far away.<br />
a church body full of leaders who care about our growth.<br />
generosity.<br />
having a pool at our apartment complex.<br />
scripture sprinkled around our house that encourages and corrects at a glance.<br />
this blog and the memories it keeps.<br />
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how about you?<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;">for his wondrous works to the children of man!</b><br />
<b>psalm 107:31</b></div>
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<a href="http://nickandcarina.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><img alt="a punk, a pumpkin and a peanut" src="http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h471/punkpumpkinpeanut/thankfulbutton.jpg" /></a></div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-71781510993554535182012-07-05T13:29:00.001-07:002012-07-05T13:33:55.235-07:00a little swimmer & a big belly..<div style="text-align: center;">
i'm sure there are a ton of three year olds who could swim circles around our girl, but she's made such great strides in a really short time this summer and it's making me super proud of her. in about a month's time, she's gone from not wanting to get in to only cruising along the sides to swimming with a float and noodle to swimming like a brave little champ as she's demonstrating here:<br />
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she's actually taken it a step further since i shot this video about a week ago. she'll now take off her float and swim from me to the steps like the fast paddling guppie that she is. it's really fun to watch her warm up to the water and love going to the pool as much as she does. she hasn't lost any stride in her friend making abilities either, and really loves an audience. if someone is in earshot she's asking "what's your name?" and telling them to "watch me do this!" thankfully we have some kind and patient poolmates who don't mind her spunky self. also, did you know that she's "sixtyteen"? fun fact.</div>
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on an unrelated, but still blogworthy note, here is a belly pic from 20 weeks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCqcLMgIkP0zSLyvFRnPb-njQYNTqOGrRcpiKpFxdWat-dhRu1o-pkfUVFhNYHQ1kubWSoTQfiJW4sDwApGxjyGMXY9x5mkJlTv4co3TNwfsps4F3ntlnG-VQwhFUoxpiTJQcE_-f5xI/s1600/DSC03237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCqcLMgIkP0zSLyvFRnPb-njQYNTqOGrRcpiKpFxdWat-dhRu1o-pkfUVFhNYHQ1kubWSoTQfiJW4sDwApGxjyGMXY9x5mkJlTv4co3TNwfsps4F3ntlnG-VQwhFUoxpiTJQcE_-f5xI/s400/DSC03237.JPG" width="296" /></a></div>
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halfway, baybee! this was taken a week ago as well. we hit 21 weeks yesterday on independence day, and i have to say that the only independence i'm hoping for right now is from nausea and vomiting. i had high hopes that this baby would ease up at about 20 weeks just like ruby did, but the hits just keep coming. i'm sure this heat isn't helping with the fatigue, so i'm doing my best to stay rested and cool.</div>
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we find out if our november baby is a boy or girl on monday.. i don't have "gender feelings" with this babe like i did with rubes, so i'm extra excited to find out. more than anything, i can't wait to see his/her sweet little face and get some fun pictures. praying for a healthy report and check-up during this ultrasound, if you'd like to join along in that.</div>
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so, there's a little update. happy thursday!</div>
</div>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362159927796002069.post-73389297028191545352012-06-27T14:57:00.001-07:002012-06-27T14:57:44.162-07:00thrift a gift..<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">i <strike>heard</strike> read about something so super fun yesterday that i had to share with any of your lovelies who might be interested. i follow along with danielle over at <a href="http://www.danielleburkleo.com/">take heart</a>, and she posted yesterday about the <b>thrifty love gift exchange</b>. now, i love giving love and gifts of all kinds, but something about a <i>thrifty-</i>themed gift exchange just pushes all of the right buttons for me. on top of that, you buy and send a <b>$10</b> thrifted gift to a total blogging stranger; which makes it even more fun and mysterious. now to find something that i don't want to keep for myself. :)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">the details of the exchange are on danielle's (and all of the other lady host's) blog, but i'll give you a rundown here as well.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">the deets:</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><b>if you would like to join in on the fun</b>, email carina at punkpumpkinpeanut{at}gmail{dot}com<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"> </span></span>by july 5th. make sure you include your blog and a mailing address (it will only be shared with whomever you're matched with).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><b>you'll get your match by july 10th</b>, and then you can go thrift your heart out for whatever you can find in your $10 budget.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><b>mail your thrifted love by july 25th</b>, and join in on the link up on august 6th with a post all about your thrifty gift finding adventures. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">doesn't that sound like fun?! ok, i'll work on containing my excitement and give you a minute to go send your email to carina.</span><br />
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<center><a href="http://nickandcarina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="a punk, a pumpkin and a peanut" src="http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h471/punkpumpkinpeanut/thriftylove200.jpg" /></a></center>ALINNAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15822474806423647361noreply@blogger.com0