My Favorite Headband/Bow Holder Tutorials {Links}

I have been busy making hairbows and headbands and all this D.I.Y. stuff and I wanted to give credit to where my inspiration comes from. I dislike taking credit for doing things when they aren't my idea. I'll be blogging pages with links in them to share with my friends where these things came from!

Firstly, these are by far my most favorite tutorials for headband and hair bow holders! I altered mine(and I'll blog about those later) to the way I liked them and how they'd work best for me.

Photo from: The Paro Post

 I loved this one because you can put everything on it. And it's pink, so that's a plus. For the tutorial, click here.

Photo from: *lyssa beth*

 These headband holders are perfect for Sehara and I, they suck for Madeline. Preferably, if the headband is open, these are great. If not, you have to pull one over all of them and it just ruins my whole day. Presentation is almost everything and this is maj! For the tutorial, click here!

Photo from: Simply Modern Mom

 This one is for open headbands, as well. I love it because it's simple and cute and that's fine with me. For the tutorial, click here.

Photo from: tinkerwiththis

I can't even talk about this one, because it's simply stunning. Not only is it gorgeous, but it's PERFECT for baby headbands. The clothes pins are the best way to hand up Madeline's headbands. When I go to pick one out, I look at the width of the headband, and what it is made out of (along with the color, and whether it's a bow or flower, blah blah) and the clothes pin allows me to actually see that. I haven't made this one yet, it's definitely on my list though. For this amazing tutorial, click here!

My Box

I have immersed myself completely into my husband, my family, student loans, house searching, the Bible, church, Ladies class, friends and family (not really in order). I've done this slowly for the past two years. I was confused and angry and mean, anxiety was written all over my face when I graduated. I had left a friendship horribly, left a religion, and stepped away to a new scenario.

I mean, I came out pretty well. I have some more tools in my belt. I have a great relationship with my husband and love him and my kids too deeply to describe. I have made new friends, lost some, and made newer ones. I understand the Bible better, even though I get confused with a different doctrine sometimes. I took a step back from "the world" without knowing it and zoned in on me. I let myself feel everything I needed to feel. I have figured out honesty is best, and know how to speak it.

When I realized I didn't know anything that was happening out there, that I wasn't making friends around town, and that I basically didn't have any substantial long term goals, honestly, I was okay with it. I soaked in it. It was freeing. I loved being able to see things from an unbiased view.

There's always something that knocks you off your feet though. We were visiting with a friend and I realized I didn't know anything new. I mean, shoot, what a great way to feel so stupid: when you're conversing with a group of people. Ugh.

It's all great and dandy to know and love yourself and all this great stuff I'd been working on, but sooner or later I have to figure out what's going on around me. The thing is, I think I can do the things I have been doing and figure out how to learn some other things. What would it hurt to read some books every now and again? How about helping out and volunteering, or toting my kids around at the library more, to sports, and school functions. Exposing them to the harmless, and appropriate activities. Gosh, maybe whip my behind in shape like I've been wanting to for a year and a half?!

Maybe, since I have all the important stuff together, I can step out of the nice, tight square box I so willingly like to sit in.

Family, Zoo, Driving, & Church

My little family and I went to Kentucky this past weekend. We picked Sehara up on the way down, from Carrollton and made it to Buckner.

Saturday morning, we went to the Louisville Zoo. We met up with our friend Josh and his daughter, Mira, and his family. Boy, has she grown! I love seeing my friends! My goal is to try to meet up with as many as I can, when I can.

The trip to the zoo confirmed that we do need to go ahead and purchase that double stroller I have been wanting. I'm even willing to put my single strollers in storage! (I love my babytrend jogging stroller) It's officially not just a want, but now it's a need. :D

We spent Saturday evening back at my parent's house. Went grocery shopping and made the best tacos and fajitas for dinner. We ate too many donuts, but had fun. Tim and Daniel took the shutter off the house and cleaned up. Daniel invited Tim to bowl (Daniel's on a bowling league) and they had a blast.

Sunday morning we hosed down the front porch and scrubbed the bricks and pebbled area right in front of the door. It felt great outside and we all just lounged around on the front porch while the kids played on the swingset.

We left a little before 3 and got stuck in stop and go traffic for over an hour and made it back to Fairborn and church 2 minutes before it started. Sehara packed in shoes (and left another pair in KY) in her duffel, Carson had gotten his shoes muddy and and wet his whole outfit. We were a mess when we pulled in the parking lot. But we made it!

Not Such A Good Memory

I've had trouble sleeping lately. My mind is filled with all these memories and I keep replaying them over and over again.
Most definitely, they are brought on by my kids. I observe their growth all day and I bask in the utmost fulfillment of every emotion they give me. They range in obsession, love, anger, joy, hurt, disappointment, pride. All those things, plus. They certainly don't know how to give  me nothing. In Tim, too. Even on our worst days, he's the bees knees. The peanut to my butter. I see all this and wonder many things. I wonder how parents (mother's especially) can abandon their kids.
One of my memories starts with my (bio) dad sitting on his stool at the counter in the kitchen. The part of the counter that doesn't really belong to the kitchen, it's more for the phone and calendar. I remember his startling blue eyes looking worried and staring at the calendar. I think he was smoking. I can't remember that part. I know he and my (bio) mom had court that morning. I had been home from school for a little while when they got back. I got back from school and no one was home, a really eerie feeling. She disappeared somewhere, frantic with the phone. It's all really a blur.
He said that everything was fine. I've always been a worrier, or felt guilty about anything. I can remember knowing how much money my dad brought home on paydays and I always knew how much they spent and around about what they had left, and that stress got bad after a few days. I always waited for it.
Between then and not much longer later, these cars pulled in the driveway, parked there and in the cul de sac, some of them police cars. We lived on RedRock Court. I saw our social worker's face, as I got in the back of her car. I'm pretty sure her name was Linda. All of us were taken to Home of the Innocents. We were checked in on the first day they opened.

Just writing this down has gotten it out of my head. I waited a good week before I remembered, and I have debated whether to post any of this. BUT, I'm just going to go ahead and do it. Besides, I feel so relieved now. It's down and I can look at it when I want.

Milk for Madeline

Little Addison was born the day before yesterday! March 19th, 2013! She was 8 pounds, 7 ounces and 20.5 inches long. She's adorable and has hair for miles. Kayt's relieved!

I had Madeline go to her Grandmother's house when we visited the hospital. I breastfeed exclusively, but I always wonder what would happen if something happened to me, or if I just want to be by myself for a longer while, what would she do? Carson had such a hard time drinking from a bottle when I needed him to and I just don't want Madeline to cry because she's hungry and doesn't know how to get milk from the bottle.

So I pump, often. I got a VERY nice breastpump from my mom and I sure put it to work. Plus, if I ever need to be away for a while, or I die, at least she would have a good amount to feed her for a bit.

Besides, I really don't want her to have a problem drinking out of a bottle. I actually fed her from a bottle yesterday. The milk was heated already and I had just got there, didn't want it to go to waste. When I got back, I pumped what she would have eaten. It's nice to see how much I produce at one sitting.

I wonder if the more I pump, the more weight I could lose? Not that I have lost any at all (with a great diet). 

Staying At Home

Being a stay at home mom is rough. Being a stay at home wife is rough. Most days, I fall short of myself, and I don't feel like I get anything done or accomplished. It's a horrible feeling.

So what I have done is I have tucked this post away until I was feeling better about staying at home. I don't want to lead on to people that I hate myself or my job, but I do want to express how difficult it can be more days than not.

This is actually something that I never envisioned myself doing. I thought that when I graduated college, Sehara and I would have a really nice apartment and I would get a great job, or not even great, but a busy job and we would go from there. I never thought I would get married, I never thought I would have more children.

I think we are supposed to be challenged in life and ever-changing for the better. Staying at home with kids and having these high expectations for taking complete care of them, loving them, teaching them, making sure they stay alive, AND having to run errands and get things done for Tim is exhausting. It's rewarding, also. I think that this is more challenging for me than going out there and having a job.

I keep telling myself that just getting to love the kids, and know that they know that I love them and that they are my babies is satisfying in of itself, because it's true. You just never feel love until you love your baby.

Now, I see myself having two more kids with my husband, a house, a busy soccer-mom life, and maybe also having some kind of income-based job.

My Kids

Carson is almost 18 months old! Can you believe that? Honestly, I feel like he's so much older than that.
He speaks so well and understands most of what I talk to him about. Oh, I love my boy.

I don't know what all the hype is about potty training. It make no sense to me. You realize that while you aren't changing diapers, you're completely responsible for taking them to the toilet every 20 minutes and getting pee everywhere. Doesn't sound fun to me. I don't have a set plan for the toilet yet, but I'm leaning towards just letting him figure it out when he wants. I want him to recognize when he goes, or the urge to go. We'll go from there. Not yet though, not yet.

Sehara is....Sehara. She's definitely a handful, but that's her. We're working on the attitude right now, and being respectful. She has turned into a little bookworm, and you know I'm thrilled about that! I love that about her. She's so into Barbies and crafting. She wants one of those American Girl dolls, and I think that would be fun to get her as a reward. Tim and I agree that at the end of this school year, or more likely at the end of her 5th grade year, we'll get appropriate highlights put in her hair.

Madeline is such a sweetheart. I love spending all day with her (except for when I really need a break). It's incredible to me that she knows when I need her to be relaxed and she's mostly tolerant of Carson's rough love. Her feelings get hurt easily. She talks all the time, I think she'll be an early talker (like, real words).

Well Spent Time

I went down to Kentucky for a total of a day. I have to say that it was one of the best days that I have had in a while. But let me add that life hasn't been horrible lately. I have been having a great time for a little while now. I have felt so loved and cherished. I mean, dang, my anniversary was this month and my birthday is a few days away.

There has to be something said for days when you have a quiet, fun, comfortable, non-rushed and non-stressed time. With your mom. That you have always had to share.

We had planned our day for a while. Pops watched Carson and we took Madeline. The madre bought me my freedom (breastpump) and accessories for it. It's kinda a big deal!

Madeline

I'm just starting to feel tired from the trip. It took only a little over 2 hours to get down and 3 hours to come back up. Carson screamed at me the whole way back to Ohio, causing Madeline to get upset. That wasn't fun. I have to say that it is so worth it. I'm sure people think I'm crazy to keep going back and forth to Kentucky all the time, but I can't express enough how important family is to me.

I have put a lot of my insecurities aside when it comes to anyone spending longer periods of time with my little kids and I've just done it. I feel bad that I don't have my kids all the time, but I can't deny the grandparents relationships with these awesome kids that I have. I also need a little break now and again.

Videos of the Kids

Bad Driving

I have written a good bunch of blogs in my head and I always forget them or I put them on the back burner until I have a big enough opinion about them. But driving is always a hot topic for me.

Since every time I go out I have to deal with horrible drivers, I have to start wondering if *I'm* the bad driver. I'll admit that there are times when I'm not paying attention or I'm distracted. I have even checked my phone from time to time.

For the most part, I really strive to be a defensive driver. I don't go too fast or too slow. I always watch where I am and how many cars are around me. Who is tailing me, and if I'm three seconds behind the car in front. I always know for sure that the car behind me is a half a second. They are always too close.

This past Wednesday, I pulled out of the mcfatdonald's driveway (I got myself a half cut tea in case you're wondering) onto a four lane road, two lanes going my way, two lanes going the opposite and a turning lane in the middle. Hold on, is that technically a five lane road? Whatever.

I don't get that far and I'm slamming hard on my brakes. There is just a general commotion going on. This huge thing is cutting in front of me, turning into the lanes going opposite me. I was at a complete stop knowing for sure that I was about to get hit (even though I would be doing the hitting) and I realized it was a tow truck. How ironic. This truck was maybe a foot away from my front bumper.

I'm sitting there trying to figure out if I had just done something wrong, if it would have been my fault. Like, golly, I must be a horrible driver if I'm having these experiences every single time I go out. Then I look around. The tow truck driver is shaking his head, he looks so angry. The car behind me also had to stop (he should have been following that three second rule), and the opposing traffic is at a stop too.

I mean, this is all happening so fast. I realize this guy almost caused a pile up, I honk my horn, angrily. I had my babies in the car. I'm quietly pissed. I said something out loud about an idiot, then realized Carson would probably repeat anything I said.

I drove on. I went to the library with my babies and thought about how sucky people are. That guy must have been sitting there for so long and got fed up and just went. But how would he have felt if the first car that slammed in to him had a 2-month-old and a 1-year-old (plus some change) inside and something happened to them. 

I wish I had been able to catch the company logo on the tow truck. I hope one of the people around me did.