The Fuller Family

Little Miss Evelyn

2010-09-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

So it seems we're going to be welcoming a baby girl in January! To be completely honest, I have always been terrified of having a daughter. I'm not a touchy feely, emotional type person. Of course I can be emotional, but I'm not one to really journal or express my feelings. I can actually be quite girly too! I guess I'm not into the whole drama thing. Of course, I understand that not all girls can be this way, but it terrifies me to think that I won't be able to relate to my daughter the way I would like to. What if she is an emotional person? Or what if she is a bit of a dramatic? Eek! This scares me! I have been praying more than ever that the Lord would help me be a good mommy to this little girl.
As scared as I've always been to have a daughter (I've always pictured myself being a 'boy' mom), I was actually everything short of giddy the day we went to our ultrasound. All of that fear flew out the window, and I've been wearing a smile ever since! :) I am ecstatic to have this baby girl growing in my womb! I can't wait to put bows in her hair and have tea parties with her! FUN!!! Praise God for this baby girl!

Here is Miss Evelyn Blayne....

Our summer in a nutshell!

2010-09-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Ok..so umm...I've been really BAD at blogging this summer! We have been super busy, super hot, and super pregnant. Well, at least I have been anyway! I'll just make a couple of posts about our summer, then maybe we can move right along....

1. My sweet Caedmon had a 2 1/2 birthday party!

2. Nana came to visit!

3. We found out we're having a baby girl, Evelyn Blayne!!! :)

4. We went to our annual family reunion!

Here are a few pics of our trip to the aquarium while C's Nana was here visiting:

Homegrown Goodness

2010-07-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

I was going to post last week about our trip to the farmer's market downtown, but due to a kidney stone interrupting my week, that didn't happen. I absolutely love homegrown veggies and fruits! The taste is far better in my opinion than anything you'll find in a grocery store. When my Cman was a baby, I tried to grab up as much homegrown goodies as I could. It was great living in the country where people would bring their abundance to church and pass it out! I never declined. :) It saved us SO much money to make his baby food from scratch. It only took about 3-4 hours of my day to make up batches of fruits and veggies. I only had to do that every 2-3 weeks, so it was well worth my time! Here are some pictures of our farmer's market from last weekend. At the end, I'll include links on how to prepare fruits and veggies for freezing. I'll also include a link on making your own baby food. So yummy! :)

This picture absolutely makes me miss my Mama's cooking!

Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is!

Can't you just smell those yummy, juicy peaches?!

The sweet ladies at this table even let you taste some of their canned goodies!

Oh yeah...these are pretty much amazing...

I am so looking forward to the farmer's market this weekend. We don't fry hardly anything at all, but some crisp, green tomatoes are calling my name!

How to prepare some of this homegrown goodness for your freezer:

Making your own baby food:

These are some links I found useful.

I used a food processor to make foods softer, but when he was ready to move up to food with more texture I used a Grinder/Mill. This way, he could eat things we ate like casseroles, spaghetti, etc.

Small Town Patriotism

2010-07-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

Moving to a metroplex was pretty overwhelming almost two years ago. I'm a country girl who grew up in small towns, and I love running into people I know everywhere I go. It's comforting. It's welcoming. It's home to me. I'm so glad the Lord knows my heart so well, because he moved us into this little county right outside of Dallas. You know, the small town kind. This past weekend, we had the joy of experiencing a small town patriotic parade in this quaint, little place. The kind of parade where families were encouraged to join in. Next year, I think we just might.

Families waiting for the parade to start. I just loved the Uncle Sam costume! :)

My favorite snapshot of the day!

Families joining in

Loved the rides!

The 'old man' band playing on the courthouse steps. They reminded me so much of home, I had to choke back tears!

The fiddle player was such a sweetheart!

My baby boy :)

We enjoyed another 'small town' delight that I'll post about another day this week! I hope you all had a great July 4th, and I pray we never take our freedom forgranted!

Pregnancy Fails...

2010-07-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

This is my first time to participate in a Friday Fails post! Yay! I hope I can actually remember all of my fails here lately, but my pregnancy brain may not allow me!

Fail #1 - Laundry....My laundry is piled in my bedroom, the hallway and on top of the dryer. This is definitely not my style, but I am completely and utterly exhausted! I'm doing good to just get one load done in a day. My poor guys...I have to make sure every night that they have clean underwear for the next day! My laundry has become a thorn in my side...I blame it on the pregnancy. :)

Fail #2 - Grocery Shopping...Another topic I choose to blame on pregnancy. For one thing, I can either get a shower before my 2 year old wakes up or while he's napping. Usually, it's while he's napping, because I just can't bring myself to wake up before 8:00 in the morning to shower. So that means, my grocery shopping doesn't get done until I shower. Most afternoons, I feel too exhausted to go grocery shopping, so that means it doesn't get done! Definitely a fail!

Fail #3 - Potty training....not so much the act of potty training. That's actually going great! It's the persistent urine smell that comes from potty training a boy. He misses the toilet...it runs down the toilet...etc. I have cleaned and cleaned and can not figure out where this smell is coming from! Until today...I picked up the rug (by the tub, in front of the toilet). Gag! That's where the smell was coming from, and I almost threw up! After looking at the care instructions, I discovered that I get to hand wash this lovely rug, so it's now soaking in the tub. Big fail...

Ok, so this was fun, but I'm truly hoping I don't have to participate every week! lol The way I'm acting, I'm sure I will though!

Visit My Blessed Life for more Friday Fails!!!

Ohh The Things I Love....

2010-07-01T07:16:00.000-07:00

As a mommy, wife or just some who needs/loves to cook, I believe these items are musts! I received these items as part as a gift last Christmas, and I am absolutely in love! I use this cookware for almost everything! I've never bought items from Pampered Chef for myself, but these gifts definitely turned me on to them!

This Classic Batter Bowl is perfect for any kind of measuring, mixing or storing I need to do! No matter how small or large (up to 8 cups), I use this all the time! I used this for the Berry Yummy Popsicles I recently posted about!

Another one of my favorites is the Cookie Sheet. Its non-stick surface allows cookies to be lifted off easily. However, only plastic or wooden spatulas should be used. I found out quickly that metal spatulas scrape the surface!

Another love of mine?? The Stackable Cooling Rack is absolutely wonderful! I usually don't make just 12 cookies at a time. Most of the time, I'm having to bake for a special even or occasion, so I need something to help my cookies cool faster. This cooling rack is it! I often wonder what I did before I received this item. :)

Ok, so that's it for today! It must be noted that I do not represent Pampered Chef in any way! I'm not a consultant, and I have never been a hostess. I was not compensated in any form for my opinion. I received these items as gifts from a family member, and I love them so much I thought everyone else should know. So there.

Linked to: Things I Love Thursday

Rockin' Baby Shower

2010-06-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the joy of hosting a not-so-traditional baby shower! The mom-to-be didn't want anything pastel or 'babyish'. To reflect the personality of the parents, we decided on a Rock Themed Baby Shower. It was so much fun to plan, and we scoured the internet for ideas! I'm never one to go over the top, so we kept things pretty simple. The mom-to-be was happy, so that's all that matters, right? :)

These were the invites her talented husband created for her. It pays to have husbands who are graphic designers!

The colors chosen were pink, black and white. The plates and napkins came from Hobby Lobby, and I am ever thankful for their 40% off coupons!

I wish I could take credit for making this! The other host of the shower used a lady who is making her wedding cake. Here are some ideas we got from our Google searches: Idea 1, Idea 2, Idea 3

Naturally, we had to use rock candy for party favors! Most candy stores will sell it by the pound. We thought about using rock candy on a stick, but the cost is a little more. I also found that it's hard to find enough pink at one place. My awesome hubby is also a graphic designer, and he used the invites to make the cards for the top! A little double-sided, clear scrapbook adhesive worked great for sealing!

This cheese and crackers tray was so fun! I bought a mini star cookie cutter at Hobby Lobby and some cheddar and pepper jack cheese. This took a little longer to do than I thought. The cheese tends to break apart easily! It was still fun, and everyone seemed to enjoy it!

I got this cute idea from a Made By You Monday link up! For some reason, I didn't save the link. So if you know which one I'm talking about, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due! She didn't use ultrasound pics, but I thought this would be darling for a table decoration!

These were going to be hanging ball decorations, but I couldn't make them quite full enough. Since I was out of tissue paper, I decided making them into large paper flowers! I also tucked in small gifts for baby. Gift 1, Gift 2

New News!

2010-06-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Well..not really 'new' news, but I haven't posted on here yet that we are expecting another precious baby in January! After losing a baby in April, I was wanting to wait a few more months to try again. I was still so emotional and would break down into tears at nearly everything. I wasn't pregnant that long with our sweet baby, but it still hurt deeply. That was incredibly surprising to me, and I wasn't prepared to be so emotional. After talking to my husband, we decided to trust God with getting pregnant again like we had done before. However, it took me 4 months to get pregnant with our angel baby. So we weren't expecting to get pregnant again so soon. Seriously....I didn't even have a cycle between losing our baby and finding out I was pregnant again!!!
This was another range of emotions I did not expect! I was happy to be pregnant, but it was just hard to imagine having another baby in there. I almost felt like I should still be pregnant with the first baby. I felt guilty for having a completely different baby in there and not being able to carry the one we lost. I know that sounds crazy, but all moms know how the feeling of guilt will come over you for some of the silliest reasons!
We waited to tell family and close friends until we had our 6 week appointment and got to see the precious baby's heart flickering on the screen. That was a precious sight! The un-telling of our previous pregnancy was so hard, and I never wish to repeat that! We had our 9 week ultrasound a couple of weeks ago, and we got to see our sweet baby again and its little arm and leg buds. :) It had a good, strong heartbeat of 181 bpm! My husband has the ultrasound pics and has yet to scan and send them to me, so I will post pics of our precious baby soon! I will be 12 weeks this Wednesday, and things are going along smoothly. I am nauseated and completely exhausted! It takes all the energy I have just to wash dishes or do a load of laundry. I don't remember this with Caedmon, but I know every pregnancy is different. Please forgive my lack of posts! I get on here. Look at my blog and realize I am way behind. Maybe my energy and creativity will return soon. :)

So Berry Yummy Popsicles!

2010-05-31T11:03:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this simple yummy recipe! The temps out here in Texas are beginning to soar, and we all have to find creative ways to cool off that won't raise our utility bills. I found this recipe in my attempts to find healthy snacks, and I wanted to share it with you all!

Ingredients:

2 cups of fresh or thawed berries

In the ones I made, I used raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries.

2 cups of plain yogurt

1/2 to 3/4 cup of confectioners sugar

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor.

Pour into molds and allow to freeze.

My little man absolutely loves these! I can imagine they'd make a great smoothie as well. :) I'd like to know if anyone gives these a try. I'm thinking my next batch will contain peaches and strawberries. Mmmm! Be creative and enjoy!

The berries :)

Adding the yogurt

Adding the sugar

Ready to be frozen!

My Cman enjoying his popsicle!

Linked to: Made by You Mondays at Skip to my Lou

Mama Bird

2010-05-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

This a picture of the necklace my husband and little man gave me for Mother's Day from The Vintage Pearl. I absolutely love it! It's so cute but very simple and dainty. I'm not much into wearing big chunky jewelry, and this was the perfect gift. I see another purchase in my very near future. :)

I was not paid in any way for posting this. This is simply my opinion on something I love. :)

Linked to: Things I Love Thursday

Why I Love Mondays

2010-05-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons to dread Mondays. The weekend is OVER...You didn't finish your weekend projects...You were too busy to really enjoy your weekend...Work..

However, I LOVE Mondays! Monday is really the only day during the week that I have all day with my little man. I work part time the other days of the week. Even though those are only half days and Caedmon goes with me, Monday is the day we don't have to plan anything at all! Today we went to the park, Cman got a haircut, and we checked out Father's Day gifts. I loved every minute of it!

Made By You

2010-05-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been crazy busy with making things for my new etsy shop! I just LOVE to crochet! However, that means that some of my other favorite things, like scrapbooking, have taken a backseat lately. My hands and wrists are crying out for me to let up, but I just can't seem to make myself stop! As soon as I'm halfway through one project, I start getting ideas for another one! I wish I had 10 more arms to get everything, but doesn't every mom have that same desire? Oh well!

Here is one of my most recent projects:

Linked to: Skip to My Lou

SippyCupTrails

2010-05-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

I am super excited about my new etsy shop! I've been wanting to post about it for the last week, but I wanted to wait until I was able to list a few things. Check it out! More things are coming soon!!!

Not ME!

2010-04-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted one of these!

It was not me who completely freaked out this week when my son ate half a bottle of teething tablets! I also did NOT feel incredibly guilty that I had left his medicine bag in reach of his little hands. :/ Thankfully, the tablets are non-toxic. Oh, and to top it off, I was NOT out shopping (without my son) when Poison Control called back later to check on him. My response? "Um...I'm not sure how he is right now. I think he's ok. Let me give you my husband's number so you can call and check."

I also did NOT have to tell my son more than once this week to stop licking the window. My sweet love was trying to taste the raindrops outside! :)

Linked to: Mckmama

My Sweet Boy

2010-04-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

At 2 years and 4 months...

You sleep with a slew of stuffed animals every night.

You fold your hands and bow your head while we pray (while also looking around the room when you think mommy's not watching).

You know your colors and shapes.

You recognize 17 letters of the alphabet, and even know a few letter sounds.

You are silly and love to make mommy and daddy laugh!

You love doing flips and jumping on the bed.

You talk about your friends from 'school'.

You are tenderhearted and don't like when other people are sad or upset.

You can carry on a big boy conversation!

You repeatedly ask mommy and daddy to sing You Are My Sunshine and Jesus Loves Me when you go to bed at night.
You like to put on your shoes and climb into your car seat all by yourself.
You love drawing and coloring...on everything!
You like to help mommy sweep and help daddy 'cut' the grass.
You pretend that the vacuum attachment is a sword and insist on carrying it to the grocery store. :)
You have named all of your stuffed puppies after your grandparents' pets, and you sleep with them every night.
You like to point out everything that is 'big tall' while we're driving.
You are expressing your own self-will...often.
You climb, jump, and explore the playground with no fear! :/
Your laughter is music to my ears.

Mommy and daddy talk about how precious you are every night before we go to sleep. We love you sweet boy!

He Gives and Takes Away

2010-04-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

This is one post I wish I didn't have to type, but I feel that I need to just to get it out of my system. I also know that we have many people who love us and are praying for us as we're dealing with this.
We found out on Good Friday that we were expecting again! What a great way to start such an amazing Easter weekend! I knew that my due date would fall around the beginning of December. Caedmon is also a December baby, so it was exciting to think that December was going to be such a joyous month for our family. I decided to tell Jason the good news by using Easter eggs. :) I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some large pink and blue Easter eggs. However, it took me two hours to find baby items small enough to fit! I finally found a small packet of Balmex, a pacifier, baby washcloth, and a wrist rattle. So then I had to wait for Jason to come home! After opening the second egg, I think that's when it dawned on him what I was trying to tell him! Although it didn't come as a big shock for either of us, we were still excited and nervous!
We thought we would wait to tell everyone until our first doctor visit, but on Easter Sunday our joy got the best of us. We started telling our friends and family and posted our news on facebook.
This pregnancy started out much like my first pregnancy did. Nausea, soreness, etc. I looked at my tummy in the mirror every day even though I knew it was way to early to tell a difference. :) Any 'changes' I though I noticed were really just the remnants of a relaxed tummy from my first pregnancy! Ha!
Exactly a week after we found out we were expecting, I started bleeding. Immediately I got on Google and started looking up my symptoms. It was so frustrating, because sometimes bleeding means nothing at all. But it can also be symptoms of a miscarriage. I decided to take it easy and relax on the couch all day. I called the doctor, and they acted like it wasn't a big deal and didn't seem worried. So I didn't worry. However, when Jason came home for lunch, the bleeding was much heavier and he wanted me to call the doctor again. They got me in right away.
I arrived at the doctor's office and felt like I had to wait an eternity!
They finally called my name and got me to a room. I took a pregnancy test ( I had already taken two at home, and both were positive). The results came back, and the test said negative. That's when the bad news slowly started to sink in. The exam showed that my uterus was eight weeks, so she wanted me to have a sonogram. I was watching the screen hoping to find some sign of life. My womb was empty, and the technician whispered she was sorry as she walked out of the room. I was starting to shake a little, and I could feel my heart racing. It was one of those moments that I had to choke back tears, and I kept telling my self over and over to 'hold it together'. I walked to the car as fast as I could just to get away from that place, but even then I still couldn't really cry. Coming home to tell Jason the news was so hard, and I just melted into sobs while he held me.
We began sharing the news with our friends and family, and it was such a comfort to know that we were being covered in prayer. That Friday was incredibly difficult and very emotional. Each day since has been better, but I still have my moments of sadness. Especially since the miscarriage is still in process and is a constant reminder of the life we lost. But we serve a great God who gives us such peace during times like this. Even though it's hard, He gives us hope. I have no idea why we lost our sweet baby, but He does. I'm so thankful that our baby is with our heavenly Father and doesn't have to suffer here on this earth. We are also so thankful for our family and our friends who are there to listen and share our burdens with us. I would list names, but I know I would leave someone out. Those friends know who they are, and we want you to know that we love you and cherish your friendship.

All My Praise

I will follow You through green pastures
And sing hallelujah to Your Name
I will follow You through dark disaster
And sing hallelujah through the pain

And even in the shadow of death
I will praise You
And even in the valley I will say

Holy, my God
You are worthy of all my praise
Holy, my God
You are worthy of all my praise

You are seated on Your throne in heaven
And You see all of us down here
And You have promised You will not abandon
So I shall not fear

And even in the shadow of death
I will praise You
And even in the valley I will say

Holy, my God
You are worthy of all my praise
Holy, my God
You are worthy of all my praise

You made every star
And You taught it how to shine
You knew my name before there was time
And all this was just part of Your glorious design
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Easter!

2010-04-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the next post I need to share is from Easter. Each class from our MDO program at church had an Easter egg hunt the week before Easter. Caedmon's class looked for eggs on the playground, and as you can see, it wasn't only the kids who had a good time!

Newest Project

2010-04-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I've posted anything, I almost don't know where to start! One reason it's taken me so long is because our computer has crashed, and we've had trouble getting my Canon to load pics onto my husband's laptop. We 'think' the problem has been fixed, so we'll see! I'll start my 'comeback' post by sharing one of my newest projects.

I completed this project in February and gave it as a baby gift for a sweet friend of mine. I think it's perfect for a spring baby! The yarn I used was Vanna's Choice Baby and the pattern for the blanket was found at Lion Brand Yarn.

Oh dear!

2010-03-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Oh my!!! I just looked at the date of my last post and realized it has been almost a month since my last post. Eek! I PROMISE I have not dropped off the face of the earth. As of right now, our Mac (along with all of my saved files, favorite sites, etc.) has crashed, so I really have not been that motivated to post as much. Shame on me! Along with all of my saved favorites, I could potentially lose hundreds of pictures of Caedmon's birth up til now. I am so sick over it and praying for a miracle!
Let's see....in the past month: 1. We've had snow! 2. I've been crocheting several baby blankets. Fun! 3. Caedmon has become more assertive in the way he talks to me. Not sure how I feel about this, and we are in the process of steering him in the right direction with his communication. 3 Preparing for an upcoming art show with our MDO program. 4. Traveled home for a few days to watch my brother graduate from the police academy. 5. My youngest sister came and spent several days with us. We had so much fun with her here! 6. Decided to start cutting back on the amount of meat we intake and eat more veggies. The money we save from cutting out some meat will help me to buy more organic foods! So excited!
Ok, I will be back soon with several pictures! God bless!

Things I Love Thursday

2010-02-24T21:50:00.000-08:00

I love....

My Little Boy!

This sweet child of mine never ceases to amaze me. He is two years old, and every month from the moment he was born has been an adventure! You know, I always knew I would love my baby, but I never could have imagined the amount of pride I would feel. I am so proud of every little accomplishment. I love the way he explores the world and discovers new things. It never gets old! And oh, the sweet little things he says just make us laugh so hard! It's amazing to me how much he remembers, and I love watching him learn.

Just last night, I tucked Caedmon into bed. I handed him his stuffed animals and his favorite blanket. He folded his little hands together, and we prayed for our friends and family. When we were finished, I told him how much God loves him and how He made him special. He just looked up at me and smiled. :) As I was walking out of his room, I turned around to turn out his light. Out of this precious two year old's mouth, he said, "Jesus loves you, Mommy!" Oh my! What a sweet, simple truth that we all need to hear! The Lord spoke to my heart right through the mouth of my babe. I went to my room and wept as I prayed. Oh how He loves you and me!

For more Things I Love Thursday visit The Diaper Diaries!

End of an Era

2010-02-19T20:24:00.000-08:00

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Jason and I made a big decision for our family recently. I can now post that the decision was made for Jason to leave the military. Jason leaving the Army in no way means that we don't have a huge support and tremendous gratitude for the armed forces. We are forever indebted to the brave men and women who fight for us and the families who stand behind them on the home front.

I wanted to write a post for my precious husband. :) This was not an easy decision, and it's one we've been discussing for the past year. Jason has made wonderful friends and has experienced great things with the Army.

Jason and I met the week he got back from basic training and AIT. I had just started my sophomore year at UNA when I met him. My roommates introduced us, and I knew from our first conversation that I wanted to get to know this guy better. Ok, ok...the dog tags got my attention too! Not only was this guy an amazing Christian who loved the Lord, but...he looked dang good in those BDUs!

Just a few short months after we began dating, Jason was deployed at the start of the war in 2003. We both knew that we were going to be together, and his deployment was one of God's ways of helping us to grow stronger from a distance. For a year, we both poured our hearts out to each other through letters. In fact, we still have the box full of all of the letters we wrote to each other! I can't wait to share those with our children one day!

Jason ended up serving in Kuwait for the duration of his deployment. He and the troops he was with set up a base camp for incoming soldiers. From what I hear, that camp is still there today although it has been given a different name. During the summer that Jason was gone, he began writing letters to me from Proverbs 31 (the wife of noble character). He would send each letter one verse at a time. He would talk about that verse and how it reminded him of me (aww!). This went on through the summer and fall of that year. Finally, he came home for a two week leave in December. We were taking pictures one day by the lake, and he got down on his knee to propose. It was then that he gave me the last Proverbs 31 letter! How precious!

Jason came back home the following April, and we were married in June. The Army has been a big part of our lives for the last few years, and we are so thankful for the opportunities it provided for Jason and our family. Those many weeks without a husband were not easy! But we are so proud of of the men and women who are gone for months on end, and who have gone through multiple deployments.

So I know I used this post as a tribute to my husband and our love story. I guess when I was thinking back on the Army and how it has been a huge part of our lives, I realized that it has been a part of our lives from the very beginning of our relationship. Up to this point, we have never made a decision without taking into account what kind of effect the military might have on that decision. So here's to the end of one era and the beginning of a new one! An era that will no longer involve something that has been such a huge part of our lives for the past 8 years. May God always bless and protect our armed forces! We are so proud of you!

Things I Love Thursday

2010-02-17T18:30:00.000-08:00

I Love Love Love using Rosemary! Right around Christmas time, I found two little pots of Rosemary on clearance for like 28 cents each. Yippee! I bought them and put them in my windowsill. I can't wait to find some cute little pots and sit them outside when it warms up. We love adding it to potatoes. Mmmm...

I found this site Old Fashioned Living that I thought you might enjoy!

Visit The Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday!

Watching Over You

2010-02-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

I had an awful dream last night...you know the dreams that make you feel weird when you wake up? I don't know why I have dreams about people and bad things happening to them. All I can think is that maybe the Lord wants me to pray for that person. There has been more than one occasion where this has happened, and something did in fact happen in that person's life.
All of that to say, I was praying that the Lord would watch over this person, but then I thought that was all wrong. It seems so routine to ask God to 'watch over' someone dear to us. But doesn't God do so much more than 'watch over' us? Man! It hit me today that God doesn't want to just watch over us. He wants to be actively involved in even the smallest details in our lives! Of course I knew this, but God spoke this simple truth to me today as I was going about my day. Just a simple reminder that He not only watches over us, but He gets involved with us as well!
Anyway, just wanted to share what the Lord put on my heart today. :) May the Lord be an active part of your day today!

Not Me Monday!

2010-02-14T21:06:00.000-08:00

It's Not Me! who has neglected my blog for so long!
(Our hard drive has crashed, so I'm using my husband's work laptop.)

It's Not Me! who has been letting my little boy run around in his pajamas almost every day for the last week! I guess his double ear infection is reason enough, right?

It's Not Me! who just couldn't seem to do anything right this past Tuesday. I did NOT under-cook the chicken, spill the tea, and throw an empty milk jug across the room. My reactions this day definitely were NOT out of frustration.

It's Not Me! who has burned my right hand for the second time lately. I know how to get a pan out of the oven correctly, so this could NOT have been me!

Hop on over to MckMama for more Not Me Monday!

Sweetheart Clips!

2010-02-03T20:58:00.000-08:00

As you can see from my post on Monday, I made a couple of heart hair clips. Well...I got a little carried away. ;) Once I find something that is cute and easy to make, I usually make quite a few! All of the patterns I used are free, and I will post them for those of you who like to craft and crochet. Enjoy!

Fabric Flowers

Crochet Flowers

Crochet Hearts

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-02T20:50:00.000-08:00

For more Wordless Wednesdays visit 5 Minutes for Mom!

Tackle It Tuesday!

2010-02-01T20:12:00.000-08:00

Vist 5 Minutes for Mom for more Tackle It Tuesdays!

I Love to Craft! :) In fact, when we finally get settled into a place of our own, I already have my 'craft' room pictured in my mind. Very streamline yet fun! I can see my shelves above my workstation organized with ribbons, jars of buttons and crochet hooks. Then there are the baskets filled with color coordinated yarn, and drawers organized with color coordinated scrapbook paper.

BUT...

Until then, I will make do with the buffet and storage boxes that are now located in our garage. Any time, a creative spark hits me, I have to dig through cardboard boxes and drawers in the buffet. After having to do this ~~several~~ numerous times, I knew it was time to get organized.

It was time to go from this...

To this!

2010-02-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some cute, little hearts I'm thinking about making into some hairclips and selling for Valentine's Day. They take no time at all, and they are so cute! Here's the free pattern: Planet M Files. For more Valentine's Day ideas, visit Skip To My Lou!

Five Question Friday

2010-01-29T11:08:00.000-08:00

You know, I can't exactly remember how I found Mama M. at My Little Life. I love reading through blogs while my little man sleeps, and I came across Mama M's blog one day. I love her Five Question Friday's so I thought I'd join in! :)

1. Would you ever vacation alone?

Probably not! I kind of freak out if I'm in a place I've never been before, and I don't know my way around. I like knowing exactly where I'm going, how I'm going to get there, and how long it will take. So I guess you can call me a control freak. ;) No really, I AM a control freak, but I'm working on it!

On the other hand, if we ever get lost my husband takes it as an opportunity to explore a place we've never seen. I'm totally stressing out on the inside though! So no. I don't think I would ever vacation alone.

2. Do you go the speed limit?

I'm from a part of the South where people aren't in a hurry to get somewhere. They take their time and drive slowly...the speed limit. However, we moved to a place where people will run you over if you're not moving along! I try to go the speed limit, but I am guilty of driving a little too fast sometimes.

3. Why did you start blogging/following blogs?

I started the blogging right around the time we moved to Texas so friends and family would still be able to watch Caedmon grow. Eventually, I started browsing other blogs that interested me, and I was hooked!

4. Where do you shop for yourself?

Old Navy most of the time. I like that you can find cute clothes at really good prices. I'm also a big fan of Target!

5. What was the song that you danced your first dance with your spouse to at your wedding...or...what song would you like your first dance to be to?

I actually didn't dance at my wedding. In fact, no one was at our wedding! We had a dress, tux, flowers, photographer, church, etc. But we didn't invite anyone! (I hate high-stress events!) Instead, we had a reception two weeks later, and no dancing was involved. Our song is Unchained Melody though, and I love it!

2010-01-25T08:03:00.000-08:00

Not Me My Husband Monday!

Wow, I usually post about me or my child for these posts, so this one should be fun! :)

After discovering our mailbox (encased in bricks) broken in half and over on its side, my husband did NOT become a detective to find out who it was who knocked it over. He did Not stake out the neighbors looking at their vehicles to see who had a messed up bumper. He also did Not find out that our next door neighbor has a dent on the corner of her rear bumper this morning! Aha!

He also did Not get two of our neighbors to help him 'fix' it until our landlord can come do something about it.

For more Not Me My Husband Monday, visit MckMama!

2010-01-20T13:01:00.000-08:00

~~Wordless~~ Wordy Wednesday

Jason and I have recently made a big choice for our family. I'll post about that later, but it really has us thinking about what's important in our lives. Say for instance how important is financial security really? Are we ever really secure? What things in our lives should we put the most importance? What we have realized is this:

1. Our family is our first ministry. Any other ministry outside of that will surely fail if our family is not in tact.

2. It doesn't matter how much money is in the bank, savings account, or retirement plan. Our future and hope are in the Lord. Don't get me wrong. Those things are great, and we believe it's wise to plan ahead. There's just no need in stressing over it!

3. For most people, accumulated debt does not disappear overnight no matter how many plans we make to pay it off. Continuing on the journey to financial freedom builds character and trust in each other.

4. Lastly, the Lord has allowed me to slow down and take a good look around me. We live in a tiny, little rental home, but you know what? We have a home and warmth. We may not have much money to spend on ourselves and have a good time, but we have never gone without food or clothes. My little boy may drive me up the wall, and I feel like running away sometimes. But my child will never be two years old again. He's happy and healthy. He's thriving and growing.

I want to encourage you all to take a good look around you as well. You will never be at this stage in your life again. We can't undo anything that has been done, but we can make the most of what we have. I will end with a precious picture of my boy and one of my newfound favorite passages. Have a blessed day!

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1: 18-21

Linked to: 5 Minutes for Moms

Blog Award

2010-01-18T08:18:00.000-08:00

Yay! I received my first blog award! Thanks so much, Erin! :)

Here are the Rules:

1) Display the award logo
2) Nominate up to 7 blogs that make you feel comfy or warm inside
3) Link to your Nominees and leave a comment on their blog telling them about the award.
4) Link to the person whom you received the award.

And the award goes to the following blogs:

The Lord Party of Five

For a Life Time

Let Your Life Speak

I chose these lovely blogs, because I enjoy reading them every day! I love having a little peek into your lives, and you all are incredibly creative!

Haiti

2010-01-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many of you have been following the news coverage of Haiti, but they are completely devastated. I know it's so easy to just kind of overlook what's going on, because we are unaffected by it personally. I have been so guilty of this when tragedies occur around the world. Of course we have to continue on with our lives, but there are things we can do!

Most importantly, we can PRAY!

Jason and I sponsor a child through Compassion International, and we received an email from them yesterday. Here is what they said:

The catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday has resulted in unfathomable chaos and devastation for hundreds of thousands of children and families.

Compassion sponsors and donors serve more than 65,000 children in Haiti. At least a third of them live in the areas that were hardest hit.

I am asking you to please send a generous gift today to help these precious children and their families.

We are working rapidly to assess the situation and determine the full extent of damage:

Sadly, we anticipate there will be many deaths.
We anticipate thousands of children and families will have lost everything.
We anticipate many of our church-based child development centers will have been destroyed.

Without a doubt, the children we serve in Haiti are in shock and face immediate needs for food, water, medical care, shelter and counseling. We have teams prepared to respond, and we are deeply committed to helping each child.

We need your donation today. Please reach out in the name of Jesus to bring relief, comfort, love and restoration to precious children and families whose lives have been devastated by this crisis.

Thank you for caring,

Dr. Wess Stafford
President, USA

P.S. If you would like to give by phone, please call us at (800) 336-7676. Check donations can be mailed to: Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO 80997.

Another way you can help is to hop on over to My Blessed Life. Myra and her husband are donating $1 for every comment left on her post. I encourage you to visit her page and join in.

Jason and I will join in and also give $1 for every comment left here.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

I walked in and caught Caedmon doing this with his new scooter. :) (Sorry for the poor quality. This was taken with my cell.)

Linked to: 5 Minutes for Moms

Not ME!

2010-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

It was Not Me! who let my son get the baking soda off the counter and pour it all over the coffee table while I was chatting with a friend on facebook.

It is also Not Me! who sneaks the chocolates from my son's leftover advent calendar from Christmas. Nope, I would never eat my child's candy!

It's Not Me! who didn't ask the bank teller for a sucker. I do not tell my son that they just don't have anymore today. I would never lie to him like that!

It was Not Me! who turned on the attitude when the lady at the checkout wasn't nice. I also did Not roll my eyes as I walked away. I'm too full of grace for something like that!

And it was definitely Not Me! who let my son use the bath tub as a slip-n-slide! I'm much too cautious for that!

For more Not Me! posts, check out MckMama's blog!

Whispers

2010-01-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

This morning I want to take a minute to share with you my 'whisper moments'. I want so much to get up first thing in the morning to spend time in the Word. That often does not happen. In fact, my times with the Lord vary from day to day. I have to admit it's hard for me to be consistent with a certain time each day.
I love the way the Lord whispers to me, don't you? It's when I'm quiet and still that I hear Him the most. I never want to read the Bible just for the sake of saying I read it for that day. I love to read the Word and then let the Word of God speak to my heart. These 'whisper moments' are precious to me, and I crave that intimacy with the Lord.

¹¹ The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
1 Kings 19: 11-12

Frugal Fridays

2010-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

I'm also starting the Frugal Fridays posts by Life as Mom....enjoy!

I've already posted some of my financial goals, but I'll list some more along with some things that I want to be more frugal with.

1. Pay off and eliminate all credit cards.
2. Pay off all outstanding doctor bills.
3. Once these are out of the way, we can start tackling the car payments and getting it paid off.
4. Save more and spend less!
5. Starting a budget and sticking to it!
6. Continue saving money through grocery deals and clipping coupons.

Things I Love Thursday

2010-01-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

This is my first Things I Love Thursday!
There are so many things I want to post, but I'll just have to take them week by week. I love flavored tea! Not just any flavored tea...tea that is actually good for you and does your body good!

Tea #1 Mother's Milk

Why I like it:

1. It doesn't taste so bad...kind of a licorice flavor but not too strong.

2. You can reuse each tea bag by doubling it up with a brand new one.

3. You use it until reach your desired milk production.

4. And last but not least..it increases your milk supply while you're nursing or pumping!

I love love love this tea!

Tea #2 Raspberry Leaf Tea

Why I like it:

1. It tastes great with a little honey!

2. It balances out your female system.

3. It's ok to drink before, during and after pregnancy.

4. In less than a month, it regulated my monthly cycle!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

Not sure what my little man was thinking, but I love this pic!

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Mmmm!

2010-01-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

Proceed With CAUTION!
The following recipe may induce a sugar coma!

One of my newest friends has become a recipe swapping buddy of mine! She is absolutely one of the sweetest people I've met. Below is a recipe she makes with her stepdaughters. Enjoy!

Here is her sweet note and recipe...

Hey Candace,

Here's a really easy dessert recipe. The girls help me make it and have a lot of fun rolling up the dumplings!

Apple Dumplings

2 granny smith apples
2 sticks butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 sm can Mountain Dew
2 cans crescent rolls
1.5 cups sugar
cinnamon

Peel and core apples. Cut apples in 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in crescent roll. Place in a 9x13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top. Then go to confession - quickly!!!

What a Journey!

2010-01-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's 2010 already! It seems just like yesterday we were all worried about Y2K! Ha!
Man, have a lot of things happened in the last 10 years...but I'll just blog about the last year. :)
My sweet friend, Myra, included something similar on her page, so I thought I'd copy it!

2009 Highlights

I went from staying home full time to working two part time jobs. One allows me to work from home most of the time, and the other one is teaching a PreK class at our church with our MDO program.
Caedmon is also attending a class two days a week and is making new friends!
Caedmon broke his arm when he ran down the hall with a book and fell on his wrist at 18 months old.
We've made some new friends!
October marked one year since we've moved to Texas from Alabama.
My crocheting side 'business' has really picked up, and I've been able to make a little additional income.

2010 Goals

Personal

Getting a regular cleaning routine!
Try to tone up my 'mommy tummy' for myself and my husband. :)
Staying more organized in our humble rental.
Keeping my eyes fixed on the Lord and growing in my walk with Him.
Continue striving to be a lady of grace and character.

Financial

Continue reducing our debt one small chunk at a time!
Developing a tighter budget to help us do this.
Continue on my road to saving money through sales and coupons.
Save more and spend less!

Spiritual

Daily devotions as a family.
Doing a memory scripture with our family every week.
Praying over our home and family more.
Being more mindful of what we allow into our home by what we watch, listen, and speak.
Having a more Christ-like attitude.
Continue daily Bible readings with Caedmon.

Snowy Day Craft

2009-12-31T14:48:00.000-08:00

Full of Scrap!

Before I explain my craft project, I have to explain the name of this post. :) With our last name being Fuller, my husband has named his business Full Circle Designs. In the past, I have made cute, themed paint cans that I named Scrapbuckets. So from now on, all of my craft projects will be titled Full of Scrap! I may even make a new button to go along with it. :) Does it sound vulgar? repulsive? crude? Maybe, but I like it!

Now, on to the Snowy Day Craft...

Location: Hobby Lobby

Materials: 7 Chip Board Letters, 7 pieces of scrapbook paper
small amount of paint, spray adhesive, 2 brackets for hanging

Cost: Letters @ $1.77 each
Paper @ $.59 each (weekly ad had it 1/2 off!)
Glue @ $2.99 (Christmas was 1/2 off!)
Elmer's Spray Adhesive @ $2.99

Of course it comes out better if you already have a small amount of paint and adhesive on hand! It also depends on the amount of letters you need, but I still consider this a pretty inexpensive project. Hobby Lobby also has small wooden letters for $.99.
Another note to mention is that I used hot glue to put my letters together. I had to reinforce it with more glue on the back as well. Stubborn letters may require a small screw on the back.

I'll be adding more to this project in the next few days! :)

I also think when we can move into a more permanent place (and can paint), this would really pop out against a nice orange or blue!

My Prayer For You

2009-12-31T11:11:00.001-08:00

I didn't really add much to Caedmon's birthday pictures, but I wanted to add this post for him. :) Every night, I walk into Caedmon's room to make sure he's covered up before I turn in for the night. I always stand there for a few moments and just look at him sleeping. I touch his little face and rub his hair while I pray.

My prayer for you my sweet boy...
I pray that the Lord protects you tonight.
That He sends his angels to stand guard over you while you sleep. I pray that they fight on your behalf against the attacks of Satan on your little life.
I pray that the Lord protects you physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
I pray that He prepares you for whats to come in your life. That he protects your purity of mind, body, and spirit.
I pray that God raises you up to be a godly man of character. A man that's full of integrity who stands up and stands out in this world.
I pray most of all that you become a young man who loves the Lord and wants to serve Him with your life.
I love you sweet baby. Goodnight.

My Best Christmas Deals!

2009-12-31T10:03:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share some of my best Christmas deals I found for my little man! I'm hooked on saving money. In fact, I rarely pay full price for anything! I just can't bring myself to do it!

Item # 1: Leap Frog Fridge Phonics

Location: KOHL'S
Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $15.99
Coupon: $10.00
Final Price: $5.99!

Item #2: The Beginner's Bible
Location: LifeWay
Price: $16.99
Sale Price $5.00 with coupon
Final Price: $5.00!

Christmas 2009!

2009-12-30T11:42:00.001-08:00

Little Man's 2nd Birthday!

2009-12-30T11:37:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving 09

2009-12-30T11:28:00.000-08:00

Since I am waaaay behind, I will start off with some Thanksgiving pics....

David's Christmas present from Jason...

Denise's Christmas present from Jason...

Wow! It's been a long time...

2009-12-28T09:02:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I have neglected my poor blog for so long! Even though I'm not as great at updating as most people, I have still been enjoying reading the blogs of others. :) I can't believe Christmas is over already. The last month we have been decorating, baking and going to Christmas parties. I feel like we have been in a whirlwind! Of course it's all fun, but it has kept us super busy. Any of our downtime has been filled with Jason working on a lot of freelance, and I've been a busy crocheting bee! The Lord has blessed us both in the things we enjoy doing. I can't even count the number of projects Jason has completed in the last month. I was able to sell....19 sets of dishcloths/washcloths, 14 scarves, and 12 hats! This was a great way to supplement our holiday expenses! I keep meaning to start up an etsy account, but I now have nothing to put on the site! :) No complaining here though! However, my knuckles and wrists are begging me to take a break for a little bit! :) I'll only be completing orders for a while instead of adding to my collection to sell.

In a little bit (or this evening), I will add some more entries including: Thanksgiving, Caedmon's birthday, and Christmas! I'll even add some pics of great Christmas deals I found! :)

Potato Soup

2009-11-21T17:20:00.000-08:00

I love making potato soup! It's one of my easy recipes that usually turns out well. I make mine with Velveeta, but I thought I'd try a new recipe tonight that came from a sweet lady we went to church with. I think Jason like the cheesier version better, but I thought I'd share this recipe as well. Enjoy!
The makings of a yummy BLT :)

BLTs and potato soup - best served on bachelor era apple plates and bowls :)
(We haven't broken down and bought a set of Corelle yet! haha!)

Potato Soup

Chopped Potatoes
1 Small Onion, chopped fine
Salt

3 Cups Milk
1 Can Cream of Chicken
1/4 c. Butter
1 8oz. Cream Cheese

12 oz. Bacon Crisp - Crumbled

Boil potatoes, onion, and salt until fork tender. Drain.
In sauce pan, combine milk, cream cheese, soup, and butter.
Heat until melted together.
Pour over drained potatoes and onions. (I mash mine up a little more)
Fry bacon until crisp. Crumble in potato soup and mix together.

I also add additional seasonings to mine while cooking and top with cheese before serving.

GONE!

2009-11-20T10:59:00.000-08:00

Well, I was going to post pictures of the things I had been working on, but silly me decided to sell them before I took pictures! Let me explain what I've been trying to do....I've been attempting to crochet a bunch of goodies (dishcloths, bibs, toys, blankets, etc.) to either set up at craft fairs next year or set up an etsy store. I had been working really hard on getting some cute bundles of dishcloths/washcloths fixed up before I moved on to the baby stuff. :) I had about 10 bundles (30 cloths) that I had made, and was going to buy a plastic storage container to keep them. On Wednesday, 2 minutes before I walk out the door to a meeting, I decided to load them up in a basket to take with me. I thought that maybe the ladies I work with in Grade School would look at them, and maybe I might even sell a couple. Well....they were all gone in less than 2 minutes...GONE. Not that I'm complaining!!! That IS why I took them up there. :) So now I am working on more cute bundles of dishcloths/washcloths. This time they're Christmas themed. We'll see how it goes!

Another great plus to selling them is that I was able to buy Caedmon's birthday present for next month. It made me feel so good as a mommy to be able to do that for him by selling things that I had made. I felt so fulfilled. :) I've seen a couple of different websites who also make and sell these adorable dishcloths, so here's a picture of mine... :)

And here's a picture of little man's birthday present I was able to buy from the profits...

Still here!!!

2009-11-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

I promise that I have not dropped off the face of the Earth or become lost somewhere. :) Ok, maybe I have become lost in skeins upon skeins of yarn! I have been having a blast the last few weeks crocheting some goodies! I finally finished up a present, and my brain is overflowing with ideas of things I want to make. Unfortunately, it's a time consuming process, and I can only get so much done in a day! Anyway, just letting you know I'm still here, and I'll post pics here soon! We'll have to see about doing a giveaway soon! :) (Myra, I might need your help with this!)

RAWR!!!

2009-11-01T20:51:00.001-08:00

So here are some pics of the completed dinosaur costume project. I was able to fit all of the pieces (except the feet) on the hoodie, so it was easy to undress my little man. I was going to put "RAWR!" over the number on the hoodie, but I never got around to it. This was so much fun to make, and I'm already getting ideas for next year's costume!

The Pumpkin Patch!

2009-10-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we took a family trip to the pumpkin patch. This was Caedmon's first trip to a pumpkin patch, so we had no idea if he would even be interested at all! As we were walking in, Caedmon looked up and saw the big inflatable cow on top of the barn. His reaction was, "WOW!" He is so cute!!! We had such a good time, and Caedmon loved going around trying to pick up the pumpkins. It was such a good family day, and a memory we will treasure.

TODAY...

2009-10-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

I love using my first Today... button, so I thought I'd make another one! :) Today I Made....a sweater for my little man! It was actually in progress for about a week, and I finished up this afternoon! This is the first article of clothing that I've crocheted (other than bibs), so I was pretty pleased with it. Of course it has its imperfections, but I'm hoping no one can tell by looking at the pictures. :) Unfortunately, I should have made it a size larger, because it turned out a little snug. Oh well, at least I can add it to Caedmon's memory box!

Roaming Around Downtown!

2009-10-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

Since it was such a nice fall day yesterday, we decided to take a walk downtown. It was a little chilly, but we had such a good time! We only live about a mile downtown, so we bundled up and headed out. It was so pretty! I just love this time of year! Caedmon had fun pointing out all of the "punkins" and picking up "nuts". One of the highlights of the trip was stopping by a little donut shoppe on our way home! So much fun! I wish this time of year would last longer than it usually does. :)

2009-10-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

I haven't been doing the "Not MY Child" postings lately simply because I didn't feel I had anything interesting to blog about. But there comes a point when your child enters the "Terrible Twos" stage, and you find that you have an abundance of events to share with everyone. So to begin....Please keep in mind that all of these events happened before 12 pm today!

Even though my child is not quite 2 yet, he has NOT started exhibiting two year old behavior...better known as the...Terrible...Twos...

He has NOT learned to use the word 'No' on a regular basis. Even if he means 'Yes' the word 'No' still comes out. *sigh* It has begun....

While Caedmon was playing with the computer this morning (the one we don't use anymore), he did NOT decide to pick up our Garmin and start playing with it. After going to time-out (he had already been warned), he did NOT go straight to the Garmin and start playing with it again.

Hang on...this gets better......

I decided to make a breakfast casserole for lunch, and I did not hear the oven door being opened after I had left the room. That was NOT MY child playing with a HOT oven!!! I don't even remember sprinting to the kitchen to grab my child. I was also NOT so overcome with fear that I hugged him instead of punished him....Nope, that was NOT my darling boy.

And the grand finale to our eventful morning: As I was on the computer...umm...checking facebook (instead of watching my child), Caedmon did NOT start playing on our bed. As I turn around to tell him to get down, I did NOT see him swinging from the blinds!!! He then catapulted himself off of the side table with his feet, swing around, and land on the floor with our blinds on top of him. In this process, he also did NOT knock off a lamp, two picture frames, and a vase. This is definitely NOT my boy! (Thankfully, there was no injury. Just a few tears...oh, and Caedmon cried too.)

2009-09-28T14:35:00.001-07:00

This week, I have not spent hours searching, clipping, and organizing my coupons...I also have not been collecting all of my sales papers so I can find the best deals! Who knew saving money could be so much work?! :) The payoff is worth it!

This week I have not been so happy it's fall! I really think it does something to your mind and your mood. This time of year always reminds me of the movie You've Got Mail.

This week my child has not developed a sudden interest in oranges...strange! Don't get me wrong. I'm glad he likes oranges, but he carries them around like they're little pets. He also throws and kicks them. When he's done, he eats them peel and all!!! Maybe he'll get a good dose of Vitamin C. :)

Some new words my almost 2 year old has not learned this week: Nasty...Cool...Poot...Orange...

He has also not taken an increased interest in counting and colors. This momma is not proud. :)

Itzy Bitzy Shoes

2009-09-22T13:06:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! I was reading another blog, and I came across this site with adorable shoes! You can click on the link to the top-left of my page and enter to be one of 10 lucky winners to win a pair of shoes for your kiddos. They have a great selection for both boys and girls!

Corn Flake Gooey Goodness!

2009-09-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am so in the fall mood today, so I felt like baking or making something sweet! :) Here is my recipe for Corn Flake Treats:

1 c. sugar
1 c. corn syrup
1/2 stick margarine
1 c. peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
6 c. corn flakes
1 c. salted peanuts (optional)

Boil sugar, syrup, and margarine for one minute. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir in corn flakes and peanuts. Press into oblong pan. Cool. Cut into squares.

I couldn't wait for mine to cool! Still really good when warm! :)

2009-09-21T11:37:00.000-07:00

So here are a couple of things I felt like sharing. :)

I found this fall arrangement at a yard sale for $3!!! Yay! The yard sale was full of donated items to help a couple from our Life Group with their adoption process. Even though it's September, I am so ready for fall! I just wish we could be back in Alabama to enjoy the beautiful changing of the leaves. :) Fall is a little different out here in Texas, but it still has the same feel about it. Any more ideas on how to decorate my house??? I also recently bought the Leaves fragrance room spray from Bath & Body Works. I highly recommend it!

Next, I wanted to share our new behavior plan for Caedmon. We're trying the time-out thing, and it works pretty well for the most part. Caedmon likes to play while in time-out, so he now has to put his hands in his lap. This has been pretty effective for us. He still likes to test his boundaries with us though!
I thought I would try a sticker chart to see how it goes. Little man will be 2 in December, so I'm not sure how much of this he actually 'gets'. He loves Elmo, and I found a pack of 30 of these little charts and Sesame Street stickers for $1 each at Target. He gets a sticker each evening if he doesn't sit in time-out all day, and he gets to pick from the treasure box after he gets three. Not sure how effective this method will be or if it's too early to start something like this. We'll see!!! :)

TODAY...

2009-09-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Today I am going to....

Spend some much needed time with my little man. He's been having some emotional breakdowns lately, and I think it's due to our busy schedule we've recently acquired!

Not take my sweet husband for granted. I think it's easy to do this until you hear about someone whose spouse isn't quite so considerate or loving. It makes you rethink things and look at your husband with a new found admiration for being so good to you! Jason has come to my rescue so many days when I've needed his emotional support...especially the first year after having a new baby! :) He's my hero!

Scout out some good deals on shoes and jeans for Caedmon!!! Of course I'm like most women who love shopping, but I get really excited when I find good deals! Anything that saves us money is exciting. :)

Pray for so many people in my life who are going through hard situations or just need wisdom in their parenting decision making! I never prayed for wisdom more than I have since I've become a parent, especially now that we're dealing with how to effectively discipline our son in a firm, loving, Christ-like way!

Love you all and hope you have a blessed weekend!

Homemade Giveaway!

2009-09-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

There is a wonderful giveaway going on at Myra's site! I love supporting people who make and sell homemade items, and this giveaway is one of many lovely things that Mimi's Babies is giving away. It is an adorable black and white shopping cart cover. With flu season right upon us, you can never be too careful when it comes to your little ones. Visit Myra's site for 9 chances to be part of this giveaway! You only have until the 15th!!!

Yay! I did it!

2009-09-07T07:11:00.000-07:00

I finally made something out of fabric that didn't require using a sewing machine!!! I think these are super easy and adorable to make. I'm planning on finishing these off with buttons and/or rhinestones and turning them into hair clips for my cute nieces.
I've also made a decision....I am going to learn to sew. There are just too many cute things to make to not learn to sew. :) Especially if I have a little girl one day! And if I don't, then I'll have fun making things for my nieces...and myself! I've always had a love/hate relationship with the sewing machine. Maybe it's the needle that moves up and down rapidly right next to my fingers. Or maybe it's the fact that I can't sew in a straight line! Anyway, I'm going to get over it and just do it. Can you make new resolutions 3/4 into the year???
Anyway, you find out how to make these darling flowers at this site!
http://mariemadelinestudio.typepad.com/mariemadeline_studio/2009/09/festive-posies.html

Dinosaur Costume!!!

2009-09-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, so here are the pictures of the dinosaur costume I've been working on. I have all of the pieces. Now, I just need a hoodie and pants to stitch the spikes onto. I am so excited to have this much done! I will definitely post pictures when it is completed. To explain the pictures: The tail is pretty obvious :); there are two large spikes and four medium spikes; the feet fit on top of the shoe and tie around the ankle. I can't wait to see this on my little man when I'm done. I had to come up with the patterns on my own, so I will post those if anyone is interested in them.

Spikes:
Large: 15 sc across, 14 rows of 15 sc, finish off with border
Medium: 12 sc across, 11 rows of 12 sc, finish off with border
Small: 9 sc across, 8 rows of 9 sc, finish off with border

Fold diagonally and stitch together

You can do as many as you need depending on the child's size. I used 1 large and 2 medium for the hood. 1 large and 2 medium for the back. 1 large, 1 medium, and 1 small for the tail. The finishing spike for the tail is an odd shaped triangle that went wrong. :) haha!

Tail:
Chain 4 then join together to form a ring. Sc in each st and increase by one at the end of the round. Continue to sc in each st and increase by one at the end of each round until your tail grows to the length and width you desire. My son is almost 2 years old, and I stopped when I reached a round with 40 sts.
It was easier for me to sew on the spikes before I stuffed the tail. I only slightly stuffed mine so that it wasn't too bulky. I then stitched together the end of the tail. I have yet to stitch the tail onto the pants, so we'll see how that goes! :)

Feet:
Beginning row and second row are 15 sts across. Decrease by one at the beginning and end of the next row so that you have 13 sts. Sc all the way across in the 4th row. Decrease by one at the beginning and end of the 5th row ending with 11 sts. Crochet 9 more rows of 11 sts or until you reach your desired length. My son wears a size 6 toddler shoe, so I made mine to fit him.

For the strings and border: Chain 30 stitches for one string, then begin crocheting down the wrong side of the foot piece, around the toe area, then back up the other side. When you reach the end, chain 30 for the other string then finish off.

Toes/Claws: I made 6 small triangles for the claws. Beginning row has 5 sts across, chain one then decrease at the beginning and end of each row until you until you end with a row of 1 stitch. I completed all six in about 30 minutes, so they take hardly no time at all!

COST: I did all of this with two skeins of the Sugar n' Creme cotton yarn at less than $2 a roll. This took me about a week to complete with lots of breaks due to chasing around a toddler. :)

If you have any questions about the patterns, just let me know! Enjoy!

Giveaways!

2009-08-31T10:11:00.000-07:00

I found a wonderful giveaway that I wanted to share with you all!!! Skip to My Lou is giving away an art piece from Red Letter Words. You go to Red Letter Words, find a piece you like, and leave a comment about it on Skip to My Lou's page. Amazing artwork!

2009-08-31T08:09:00.001-07:00

Well, it looks like it's been a week since I've last posted anything, but there's really not anything noteworthy to write about. :) We've been busy this week with promotion in the grade school ministry, and my wonderful husband has been so kind and patient in helping me with the kids' worship. Thank you, sweetie! :) I'm also getting things ready for the PreK class I'll be teaching starting next week! Wow! It's almost September! During my spare time, I've been looking for deals on fall/winter clothing for my little man and attempting to make a dinosaur costume. :) I'm done with the tail, and I'm still working on the spikes for the rest of the costume. Now all I need to find is an inexpensive hoodie and pants to complete this project. I'll post pictures and patterns later for anyone interested. I had a hard time finding a crochet pattern for the tail, so I made one up! :) Hope everyone has a great week!

Not ME!

2009-08-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

I've never done a Not Me Monday, so here we go! :)

On our way to Vicksburg, it was not me who allowed our child to eat cookies for supper! It was almost 7:00, and we were trying our best to get there as fast as we could. And of course, when we did eat supper at 9:00 that night, our little munchkin wasn't at all interested and was ready for bed!

The next day, I also did NOT neglect to change my child's diaper and allow him to soak through his clothes not once...but twice that day! It was hot and he was chugging lots of milk and juice!

And alas, I absolutely did NOT strip my child naked and change his clothes on the steps of the historic museum we were visiting. This was all because the bathroom didn't have a changing table, and I was NOT changing him on the floor! However, I did pick the side entrance that no one was using, so nobody got a peep show. :)

And lastly, it was NOT ME who was standing at little man's new classroom at church beaming with pride, because he was one of the few children there who walked in without crying!

For more Not Me/Not My Child Mondays visit here
Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

2009-08-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

Hi there! As you may have noticed, I've added a button to my page. Yesterday was a pretty stressful day, and that lead me to the post I put up here. Then that lead me to create a button. We all have days good, bad, and somewhere in between! Please feel free to grab the button using the code beside it and use it for yourself. You can make it as lighthearted or as serious as you'd like. In no way at all do you have to link back to my page for using the button. Just have fun with it!

TODAY...

2009-08-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today I am going to...be productive!
I am going to use the spare time I have (Caedmon's nap time) to focus on very very important things that absolutely have to get done!

Today I am going to...be cheerful!
I am not going to let things overwhelm me and get me down. I am going to have a positive outlook on things and not stress over things that I can't fix!

Today I am going to...avoid having a tear-filled breakdown!
Ok, ok, the one this afternoon does not count!

Today I am going to...overlook the faults of others!
The good Lord knows I have enough of my own to worry about, and I need to learn to show a little grace!

Today I am going to...love on my sweet little boy and give him lots of sugar!
I WILL NOT let life interfere with my God-given responsibilities to my son! My family is my top priority, and everything else will have no choice but to be on the back burner.

Today I am going to...stop feeling sorry for myself!
I will not let the fact that I am homesick rob me of a blessing that God has prepared for my life.

Today I am going to...rest in the arms of my husband!
When I have a day like today, that's the only place I want to be!

Today I am going to...pray that the Lord changes my attitude!
I also like resting in the arms of our heavenly Father. I need to seek Him at all times, and I need to make sure that my cup is filled before I begin each day!

2009-08-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we're back home now, and I'm having a really hard time staying motivated to get things done. Which is a bad thing, because we have a lot going on this week with the Grade School Ministry. On top of that, I've been getting ready for the preschool class I'll be teaching! These are both things I'm looking forward to, but sometimes when I feel overwhelmed I have this incredible urge to shut down!
On a brighter note :)...we enjoyed our weekend in Vicksburg seeing my dad and stepmom. Whenever I'm with family, it makes me want to be back in Alabama so bad! When we left, I felt like I should have been driving in the opposite direction! I am enjoying where God has us right now, and I know that if I dwell on being homesick then I'll miss a blessing!
Vicksburg, MS is actually a pretty cool historical little place. We went to the Courthouse Museum and a Military Park. It was such a good time to get away and relax. I just hate that fun times go by way too fast!

Busyness!

2009-08-13T18:30:00.001-07:00

The last few days and next weeks to come are so busy for us right now! I'm hoping I can balance both part time jobs while giving my little guy the time he needs/deserves. There is a lot of prep work to be done, and this is a busy time of year for both positions. Not that I'm complaining! I'm so grateful to still get to stay home with Caedmon, and I'm actually glad for the opportunity to get out of the house some! Anyway, blogging is still new to me, so I've somewhat neglected posting anything. Maybe I'll have divine inspirations on what to say in the future. :)
This weekend is exciting though! Jason has been working so much and is working late tonight so we can see my dad and stepmom this weekend. We'll be meeting them halfway in Vicksburg, so we're really looking forward to that! I'll post picks of that trip as soon as we get home!

Not My Child Monday!

2009-08-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

Once again, I need to get this down before I forget what my sweet, darling, precious little boy has NOT done! Enjoy!

While following me around as I was getting ready one morning, Caedmon did NOT run around the house with a bra around his neck. Oh, boys....he definitely didn't do that!

A few days ago my little man was 'helping' me while I was ironing. He was sweet enough to pick clothes up and put them in the dirty clothes hamper. However, he did NOT take freshly washed, ironed, and folded clothes off of their neat little stacks and throw them in the hamper as well!

And lastly, my darling boy did not talk ALL of his baby wipes out of the box, spread them around the room, and then proceed to reach through his diaper to wipe himself. Or as he would say, "Wite."

I love this child! :)

Little man!

2009-08-04T23:09:00.001-07:00

I was thinking back on how much Caedmon has grown and thought I'd share a few pictures with you! We just love this little boy so much! He's an amazing gift from God!

A Visit From Nana!

2009-08-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go again! I have deserted the last blog I attempted to create. Mostly because I wasn't that great at keeping up with it! :) I was also having some trouble trying to undo the mess I created, so here is the new Fuller Family blog. I had a Babysites page for Caedmon a while back, so now our friends and family can watch him grow on here. :)
My mom came to visit last week, and her time here just seemed to fly by way too fast! I'm so glad she made it home safely through all of that bad weather! Here are some pictures from her visit. God bless!