Moving Forward

So Josh and I are still trying to make our new "home" a home.  Our partially finished/unfinished basement is already getting old.  It might also be that I'm tired of winter!  We have been feeling a little down because of that and the fact that our Adult Family Home License is taking FOREVER.  The State has had our application for 5 months.  Seriously, how much longer people.  This morning we woke up and decided that we should start working on our space by organizing and get everything ready to finish down here.  We dug right in and started going through our back storage room (soon to hopefully be Carson's room) and we got a page from our employee upstairs that the State Licensor is here.

Our employee was excited and we came bounding up the steps excited because we thought it was for our change of ownership process and we were finally getting licensed.  Nope, just the annual inspection.  BIG let down.  Although it was rather funny because the inspector had never seen that happy of a reaction before!  Thankfully she was very nice and it did give us practice for our big inspection.  But we were bummed and it reminded us, once again, that we are still in limbo waiting for our license.

Then I get a voice mail on my phone from the woman in government that had been working on our license and guess what!?  Things are finally moving forward.  We should hear from our state inspector in a week.  Lol.  Not sure why they couldn't have timed that out better.  We'll now be having two inspections in just a couple of weeks.  However, we are thrilled!  So excited to move forward and have all of our life changes pay off and also return to a more normal way of life...i.e...me being the stay-at-home mom (which we have all missed, including the hubbs).

This is all in perfect timing because I made an executive decision to change our schedule recently.  The new schedule is reducing our hours by quite a bit but we need to provide a life for our little guy, and I decided that burning ourselves out before becoming the official owners was a bad idea.  We're good at budgeting so I convinced Josh we could take it in the shorts until the license goes through.  Thankfully, or hopefully rather, that won't be very long!!!!  I'm so very thankful for a God that provides!  Looking forward to the future.

Book Review: True Treasures

I had the pleasure of reviewing True Treasures  for Teach Magazine, now known as Eternal Encouragement Magazine, you can check out their website at www.HomemakingWithTEACH.com.

True Treasures is a compilation of articles that have been published in Teach Magazine over the last 10 years.  They took the most encouraging articles and compiled them into one great book.  Reading this book became the highlight of my day.  As a wife, mom, and homemaker I received great encouragement and inspiration.  Before I knew what had happened my house was staying cleaner and my attitude was a little better. 

True Treasures is divided into six chapters that each have their special focus: Jewels that Make the Heart Sparkle, Marriages of Solid Gold, Parenting Pearls: Practical and Priceless, Homemaking That Dazzles Like Diamonds, Homeschooling Nuggets of Wisdom, and Godly Living that Glitters.

I loved each chapter and it is nearly impossible to say what my favorite articles are since they were all great, but the articles that impacted me the most were: "I'm a Homemaker...Period," "Do Your Children Rise and Call You Blessed, or Grouchy?" and "Letting Your Home Spread God's Message." 

Don't you love the title "Do your Children Rise and Call You blessed, or Grouchy.?"  I was convicted before I even started reading the article!  That article helped change my perspective on when I should be up.  My drive to sleep in just five minutes longer has dissipated.  I want my children to call me blessed! 

This book really has helped me become more focused on my homemaking.  It reminded me that our homes are also a place for ministry, something I easily forget. This treasure had so many nuggets of important wisdom that I can easily say it is...

highly recommended!

Plus, good news!  From now until May 31, 2011 you can use the coupon code GabbyMom to save $4 off of True Treasures.

Disclaimer: "I received this product for honest review from TEACH Magazine as a part of The Gabby Moms blogging program.  All opinions expressed are solely my own." 

New Name!

So I changed the blog name and URL address.  I decided it was time since we are planning for more children and My Life With Carson didn't really fit anymore.  I chose the original blog name, My Life With Carson, to sort of journal how raising a high need child has changed us as parents and as individual people.  The new title, Simply Life (in Progress) was chosen to convey how we are continually changing and growing as parents and as individual people and how we are trying to do all that while keeping a simple life.  Simplicity has always been important to my hubby and I and it shapes our goals and dreams and how we raise our little guy.  Sticking to the basics of needs, and some wants, but mostly meaning home cooked meals, homemade bread, veggies from the garden, etc...  Trying our hardest not to be influenced by external superficial forces.  It can be tough and sometimes we are going to struggle and you will read about it but I will also be sharing our triumphs too. 

Terrible Twos?

Does that phrase drive you nuts?  Personally, I can't stand it.  Lately when someone asks Carson's age and I say two, the immediate response is..."oh terrible twos, hang in there mama."  Labeling a little child just feels wrong to me.  I know dread stating his age.  Especially when I see it as an age of growth.  I now have the responsibility to shape his character and it's an honor to me.  Yes, there are days it's hard.  Eating out as a family is becoming impossible because sitting still for that long is absolute torture for him.  That's a good thing though!  It's forcing us to eat in more saving us money and from an unhealthy burden on our bodies.  The blessings of this age far outweigh any work I have to put in.   The increasing independence has been nice, but his budding character development has been down right awesome.  Josh and I are having so much fun with Carson at this age.  I have been loving each stage of his development as the "best."  I thought when he was a newborn that nothing would be as great as this, then when he started to sit up, crawl, walk, talk, and interact I've thought the same thing.  Next time someone tells me..."oh, the terrible twos,"  I'll say "no, actually they're terrific."

Ahhh...organization

 

It feels so good when everything has a place.  Josh and I both believe that a chaotic environment = chaotic behavior in children (and maybe even adults).  Our space was getting a little chaotic.  Especially after Carson received a plethora of toys from his birthday and Christmas which was added to our already jam packed collection.  I've had my eye on this cubby organizer for awhile and since we were blessed with a little Christmas money, I felt it was time to splurge.  Josh probably could have built it for much less but I felt it was well worth the money.  You really can't put a price on sanity. 

The unexpected joy from this has been more personal one-on-one time with Carson.  Since his toys are organized by category, I pick a tote and we play with that item.  Then it gets put away before another item comes out. Which has also been teaching Carson how to pick up after himself.  It's glorious!  We still have a few scattered toys around the house and that's okay.  I'm not expecting perfection here!

My Son has turned into a teenager!

Okay, not really! It is just amazing to me how much personality he has. What really brought teenage years to mind is how he calls out for me. When he wants my attention or help he yells across the house, MOM, MOM, MOOOM.  My response is usually geesh child you sound like a teenager!  Do I have to put up with this already!?  Then he has his opinions and know everything attitude. It's all too funny.  I'm really enjoying it, it's rather entertaining and I guess it's a little sneak peak of what I will be expecting later on down the road.

Our Life Lately

Along with new independence that Carson has gained since turning 2 has also come massive amounts of energy!  I have hardly been able to be online and I feel guilty because the only reason I am on right now is because Carson is being entertained by Thomas the train.  TV time seems to be the only time Mom gets peace and quiet.  I have limited it and I'm pretty strict about how much TV he watches, but I feel bad pushing him off to the electronic babysitter. 



I'm trying to adjust and find our healthy balance.  Mom can't work 24/7 despite what little boys think!  Although I'm feeling pretty good because Carson didn't wake up once last night...not even once.  Now, I went to bed late but even still I was able to get 7 straight hours of sleep which I haven't gotten since Carson was 4 months old.  Not sure if it will happen again anytime soon and I have no expectations.  I'm just grateful for a night to recuperation!

We have really been working on Carson's digestion.  He is still suffering from severe acid reflux and his doctor suggested an X-Ray of his internals to see if there is a kink causing problems.  I really don't want Carson to be exposed to more radiation since tiny bodies are more susceptible to it but I will if we have exhausted all other avenues.  We have been using Colic Calm, which is slightly different than regular gripe water and has claims of "curing" reflux.   I figured we would give it a shot along with a stricter diet.  It has seemed to help a bit so I am happy with that and .  I would like Carson's pain to end and for us all to be able to sleep at night!