Giveaway Winner!

Our blog's first giveaway, "Share the Love ~ End of Deployment Care Package", has ended.  Thank you so much to everyone who entered!  Our winner is...

Brandi will be receiving a decorated care package that contains a 4.5 oz bag of Hawaiian Host Macadamia Nuts, a 6 oz bag of Mountain Thunder Premium 100% Kona Coffee, a Hawaiian style baby quilt, an 8 oz bag of Hershey's Kisses with Macadamia Nuts, and a polished kukui nut and seashell lei.

Congratulations Brandi!!!  I will mail this out to you as soon as I get your address.  I hope that you enjoy all of these goodies and much as I enjoyed putting it together!

This is an "end of deployment care package" and we live in Hawaii so I decorated the box with a military/Hawaii theme.  This is the first time I decorated the top of the inside flaps - not sure why I never thought of doing that before!

Did you know that there are special flat rate priority boxes just for Hawaii?  :)

Military life can be amazing but it is challenging.  Our military members serve our country every day whether at home or deployed.  Families who are left behind during deployments also serve by being single parents, keeping love thriving from a distance, and taking care of everything at home so that their service member can focus on their job knowing that things are okay.

It means more than you know when you say Thank You to a service member and/or their families.  Try saying it next time you see someone in uniform... it will make their heart smile :)

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‎"Maybe strong is just what you have left when you've used up all your weak."

~Saucony

Family Friday: 7 Months

31 Weeks Old

Cameron turned 7 months old this week.  She is still in size 2 diapers but is finally fitting into all 6 month clothing now.  Some of her 3 month clothing, such as the white onesie in her weekly photo, still fits but is stretched tight.

She is so active now!  She is constantly moving, reaching, grabbing, and exploring everything.  She bounces around even when I'm holding her.  She wears herself out and now takes a 2+ hour morning nap every day.  Her favorite foods are broccoli and butternut squash but she hates bananas.  She loves making noise by pounding and shaking things and by squealing and babbling.

Smiling one minute and crying the next... typical girl :)

Our air conditioner died this week and maintenance couldn't come until the next day to fix it.  The downstairs of our house got up to 80°F which was warm but bearable.  The upstairs was much warmer and stuffy so there was no way we could sleep comfortably up there.  It happened to be a windless night so open windows didn't do a thing except let in outside noises.

We camped out in the living room for the night.  I slept on the couch and Cameron slept next to me on the floor in her old bassinet which she luckily still fit into.  Dulce started the night in her bed but ended up with me on the couch at some point in the night.  It was a fun little adventure but I'm glad it was only for one night.

Dulce tries her best to get into Cameron's play area every day so on the day I was going to wash the quilt and toys anyway, I opened up the fence so they could be together.  Cameron went straight for the sliding glass door and looked out for a while (and bonked her head on the glass and hit it with her hand a few times) and then went back to her quilt and played with her toys.  Dulce never left her side :)

Cameron's hair is still very thin but it's starting to grow a bit in length.  My hair has also hit a growth cycle and now I have new bangs that look a lot like Cameron's. 

The one thing about having a baby that I was not prepared for at all was the horrendous amount of postpartum hair loss that occurs months after birth and also the ridiculous-looking new hair when it starts to grow back.  My hair is thinner than it has ever been (more so in the front and top) and now I have this comical little tuft of new growth along my hairline.  I have no idea what to do with it.

I once had grandiose ideas of looking all cute and stylish to welcome Johnnie home from deployment but my stupid hair is raining on my parade.  At least Cameron will look cute.  I'm working on a stylish little something for her to wear.  By the way, we are now counting down days until he returns... single digit days!!!  It's still hard to believe that we made it to the end!

Cameron and I got clocked by a radar speed sign while we were running this week!  It took me by surprise but sure enough my GPS heart rate monitor said we were running a 10 minute mile pace which is 6 miles per hour.  When I first started running when Cam was three months, I was running a 15 minute mile (without the stroller) and it was difficult.  It's encouraging to see such an improvement in my fitness level and my speed in the past four months.

The Plumeria trees are flowering on base right now.  The ground is sprinkled with colorful flowers and the breeze carries the sweet intoxicating scent.  It's little things like this that makes life enjoyable :)

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"Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be all right."

~Bob Marley

DIY Pacifier Leash Tutorial

One of our cannot-live-without baby items is a pacifier leash.  It keeps the pacifier from falling to the floor and therefore needing washed.  If you have a baby, you know that a dirty pacifier is a tragedy when you are out and have a fussy baby!  Now that Cameron can put the pacifier in her mouth by herself, the leash also keeps it within her reach.

I bought a pacifier leash that we used for months.  I love that it kept the pacifier off of the floor but I didn't love that I couldn't take the clip off.  I needed to wash it often because Cameron likes to suck on the leash as much as she likes on the pacifier that it's attached to it.  Despite hand washing and drying it, the metal still began to rust.  I know that this was partly from me washing it and partly from Cameron's saliva.  Of course I don't don't want her to suck on something rusty so we needed a new one.

Pacifier leashes are such a simple design that I had no doubt that I could make some myself... and with a removable clip so that I could easily wash them and replace the clip if ever needed.

My first attempt worked but I am too much of a perfectionist to be happy with the reinforcing stitches that were necessary and visible.

After a day of contemplation, I figured out how to change the design to make it stronger with even more reinforcing stitches and more professional looking because those stitches are all hidden away inside.  I am thrilled with the result!

Materials needed:

• 19 inches of ribbon
• 4.5 inches of thin elastic
• 2 pieces of velcro the width of the ribbon
• 1 suspender clip
• coordinating thread

How to sew the ribbon and elastic:

Sew on your two pieces of velcro, leaving enough space in between for the clip.

Attach the suspender clip to the leash and you're done!

They are quick and easy to make.  I made two during Cameron's morning nap and still had time to get other things done before she woke up :)

Because the loop is elastic, it can easily go around toys to become a "toy leash"!

Washing these pacifier leashes is so simple without a metal clip to worry about!  I simply remove the clip and throw the leash in the wash with a load of her clothes.  I have even put the leashes in the dishwasher basket along with her pacifiers and then let them air dry.

The pacifier leash is Cameron tested and approved :)

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"Sewing fills my days, not to mention the living room, bedroom, and closets."

~Author Unknown

Family Friday - Apr 5

30 Weeks Old

We are no longer counting months, but now counting weeks and days until Johnnie returns!  It's hard to believe that we made it through the deployment as well as we did and that it is almost over.  Don't forget to enter for your chance to win the Share the Love ~ End of Deployment Care Package!

Cameron has broken the vow of silence that she's been on for a few weeks and has suddenly decided to start making as much noise as she possibly can.  She is almost constantly squealing, yelling, babbling, or blowing raspberries now.

She also came down with a little cold on Wednesday.  This is nothing like her first cold, thank goodness!  There is no fever this time, only mild stuffiness, runny nose, and coughing.  She had a couple restless nights when her stuffiness or coughing kept waking her up so I am exhausted... and last night I suddenly developed what she has and feel yucky.  I've been feeding Cameron broccoli food blends every day which she loves and that are high in Vitamin C (something she was too young for last time).  I've upped the Vitamin C for myself as well and will take some cold medicine before heading to bed.  Cameron's cold seems to be on it's way out already (fingers crossed) so I hope that means that mine won't last more than a few days as well.

Cameron is finally mastering sitting up unsupported.  She loves being upright and can keep her balance for a long time... today she sat playing for over 10 minutes.  When she is sitting up, she can easily get onto her belly when she wants to.  However, she can't go from belly to sitting by herself yet but she is working on it.  She can go from her belly to resting on her side supported with one arm.

Cameron always goes running with me because we don't have any other options right now.  However, I've actually stopped taking Dulce on runs longer than 2 miles.  She has been such a slacker lately about running and makes me drag her for a mile before she finally decides to keep up.  There is even one specific path that she flat-out refused to move on both times we've gone on it.  I had to resort to letting her sit on the stroller to keep going... I think that was exactly what she wanted anyway.  This is the same dog that used to run 5+ miles with me all the time.  She even ran a 10 miler with me once.  She's only 3 years old so I don't think it's an age thing.  I think that she's either just getting lazy or she's jealous of Cameron's ride.  When Johnnie gets home, I'll be able take her running with me without the stroller and see how she does.

The sight of her on the stroller certainly amuses everyone that we pass!

Dulce has no problems running like a mad dog when we take her to the dog beach!  She loves the beach and knows when we are going there.  It's only a five minute drive from our house but she whines loudly with anticipation and excitement the entire way.  She has a great time running around but doesn't actually go into the water unless she's following me.  Cameron had a belly-laughing fit watching Dulce bolt around in the sand when we went to the beach this week.  I love listening to her laugh :)

Any day spent at the beach is a good day :)

Seriously.  Look at those eyelashes.  What a lucky girl!

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"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything."
~Irish proverb

"Share the Love" Care Package Giveaway

Johnnie deployed at the end of October when Cameron was only 6.5 weeks old.  I had fun putting together and sending him many care packages while he has been gone.  He will be returning later this month so to celebrate the occasion, I am giving away a special care package (in a decorated box of course!) to one lucky winner!

This is a "Share the Love ~ End of Deployment Care Package" and everything in it has a meaning:

Cameron, Dulce, and I have been going nuts missing Johnnie since he left!  Our hearts are beating wildly at the thought of him coming home.  He will wrap his arms around us and we will cover him with kisses.  And you know that after a long deployment, someone will be getting "lei'd" ;)

Let me explain that in case you missed something:

nuts = a 4.5 oz bag of Hawaiian Host Macadamia Nuts, dry roasted with sea salt

hearts beating wildly = (similar to drinking a lot of caffeine) a 6 oz bag of Mountain Thunder Premium 100% Kona Coffee, whole bean French Roast.  Kona coffee is coffee grown on the big island of Hawaii.

wrap his arms around us = a baby quilt (very popular in the Hawaiian markets) to wrap around yourself or a loved one (or to give away as a baby gift).  This quilt is just like the one you've seen Cameron laying on in many photos and videos (click here or here for examples).  The quilt measures approximately 41" x 50" and is machine washable (gentle cycle, low heat).  It has loops on the back for hanging as a wall decoration in a playroom or nursery.

kisses = an 8 oz bag of Hershey's Kisses with Macadamia Nuts.  These are only sold in Hawaii (you can find them online but the price and shipping is ridiculous) and they are creamy, chocolately, nutty amazingness!

lei'd = a polished kukui nut and seashell lei.  Kukui nuts are from the Kukui Tree, which is the state tree of Hawaii.  Kukui nut leis are very common here and worn by both men and women for formal and casual events.

ENTER TO WIN!  Due to the high cost of shipping to foreign countries, this giveaway is only open to U.S. residents and military with an APO/FPO address, aged 18 and older.  Entries will be accepted until 11:59pm on Saturday, April 13, 2013.  Winner will be posted by April 15.  You may receive up to  5 entries in the giveaway as listed in the Rafflecopter box below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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"Missing someone gets easier everyday because even though

you are one day further from the last time you saw them,

you are one day closer to the next time you will."

~author unkown

Happy Easter 2013!

Happy Easter everyone!

It's amazing how much things have changed since last year...

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For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

~John 3:16

Family Friday: March 29

29 Weeks Old

I cannot believe it's the end of March already!  I've been a "single" parent for five months now.  It feels like forever ago that Johnnie actually left but at the same time, it feels like time has flown by.  The good news is that Johnnie is due back next month!  To celebrate his impending return, I will be having our blog's first giveaway soon.  Look for it within the next week.  It... will... be... awesome!

Cameron is still teething but she doesn't have any teeth yet.  It could take days, weeks, or even months before the teeth finally erupt.  There are times when she gets really fussy and I can actually feel the sharp tip of a tooth but then later it's gone.  It's like that darn tooth is teasing us.  Cameron has always been a big drooler but lately she has been drooling so much that she often chokes on it.  This week she has also started sucking and chewing on her lower lip.

A while ago, I bought Cameron an Amber Teething Necklace.  Amber necklaces are not for babies to chew on, instead they are simply to wear.  The claim is that "amber contains succinic acid, an all-natural anti-inflammatory with antibiotic and pain-relieving properties" so when babies wear the amber necklace (or bracelet), the succinic acid gets absorbed into their skin and helps relieve the pain, inflammation, and irritability associated with teething.  Do I think that it works?  I'm not sure yet.  Cameron doesn't even notice that it's on and she seems calmer when she has it on but it could be a coincidence.   The necklaces are not that expensive so I figured it was worth trying.  Besides, it fits around my wrist perfectly when looped twice so I can always wear it myself as a bracelet.  The healing properties of amber (assuming there really are some) are beneficial for adults as well.

One of Cameron's new favorite things to do is shake her head side to side.  Sometimes we will sit looking at each other and take turns shaking our heads.  It's obvious that she doesn't know that the gesture means "no" yet but it's still fun to ask her "no" questions just to see her shake her head in correct response :)

Cameron also loves to move around and reach for things all the time now, especially when I'm holding her or when I'm changing her diaper.  I swear that it's like trying to diaper an octopus at times.

I recently bought a Summer Infant Play Safe Play Yard for Cameron.  Honestly, this is more to keep Dulce out than to keep Cameron in.  I'm not worried about Dulce being around Cameron and they actually interact really well.  However, I am very tired of having to wash Cameron's toys and quilt practically every single day because Dulce licks them.  It's also nice having an area free of dog hair for Cam to play in.  For now, the fence is simply set up as a barrier.  As soon as Cameron starts pulling herself up, I will connect the fence which will make it more sturdy.  I was actually surprised by how comfortable Cameron seems to be in her play area.  She crawls all around and plays with her toys, content as can be.

I've mentioned my love of the RIE approach to parenting before.  One of the things this approach recommends is to provide a safe, enclosed area for your baby to encourage independent and uninterrupted play.  When babies are in a safe, child-sized environment, they feel comfortable to relax, play, and explore on their own.  Think about how differently you would feel being at a large amusement park as opposed to being at a neighborhood playground.  The world living room is a very big place for babies.  By giving them their own space, it helps make it less overwhelming for them.

Dulce on the other hand, doesn't like it so much.  She misses her play buddy.

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“Play is the answer to how anything new comes about.”

~Jean Piaget