Little Artist

I decided to do a Valentine's Day craft with Calvin, and we made several different types of Valentines. Some of them were more "homey" than others, but all in all they turned out great! Calvin was VERY serious and focused throughout our crafting session, and his favorite part was using the paint for his handprint and writing his "name" with the pen. He was hooked! Elio is a wonderful artist and has been painting oil paintings since he was tiny...maybe Calvin will follow in his footsteps. Here's my serious little artist!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Rossi Update!

Calvin is now 15 months old! Time surely flies when you're having fun, and let me tell you...he is a BLAST. I have not blogged at all in 2012, and to my loyal friends who care about my ramblings, I apologize. One of my goals for this year was to blog more, and well, you can see how great I'm doing on that one! Haha! Here is what our toddler is up to lately, some of my current favorite products, quick fixes, and ideas:

 -Guess what, Calvin eats like a big boy! He is still somewhat picky, but he tries food every day and is doing so much better with mealtime. It is completely true that each child is an individual and you cannot force things before they are ready. I've read some articles that say toddlers live off of air, and it's true...most toddlers just snack all day long and still need breastmilk or another form of milk as their primary nutrition. I still send a puree mix when he is at the babysitter. I love Happy Tot, it's a squeeze tube of organic fruits or veggies and he really likes those. I also send snacks and other foods. Oatmeal is a favorite of his. Every night before bed, we enjoy a bowl of oatmeal and watch one episode of Yo Gabba Gabba entitled "Sleep". He loves this routine, and so do I! The only juice I give him is either Orange Juice (Simply Orange or Tropicana) or Fruitables by Adam and Eve. The Fruitables contain veggie juice too, so they're actually good for him instead of just pure sugar.


MMM, Bacon!

 -He's into, well, everything. Calvin's always been curious, but I've found that he is much more easily entertained by random items than he is his by toys. I use things we have around the house, for example I hide plastic straws and tupperware in the cabinets he can access. He loves "finding" them and playing with them. I'm also loving the website Pinterest for toddler activity ideas. Our first craft project is going to be making Valentines, and I can't wait!


See what I mean? Into Everything.



What, Mommy? I'm not doing anything wrong...



What do we have here?

 -He is sleeping so much better, and I've noticed he loves to wake up early, then go back to bed. This makes getting to work on time quite the task...but on the weekends I love it. He's in our bed, and I am sure it will stay that way until he is ready to sleep in a big boy bed.
-Calvin loves to "read" books, "draw", and "talk" to us. He gets frustrated when he can't do something, and I can see he definitely has my personality!

-I still swear by Triple Paste diaper cream. I'm also still a Pampers fan. We tried Luvs, but ladies...if you have boys, you know how much they pee!
-I've always used Burts Bees lotion on him, but I discovered Burts Bees Calming lotion. It has lavender and eucalyptus in it, and smells so great. Perfect for after a warm bath!

I realize this is a blur, but this is what my house looks like most of the time. Kids, toys, and craziness!

This year has already been so busy for our family! My Dad's health is still stable, which we praise God for. It's still a struggle to deal with, and we still have tests, results, and an uncertain future. Brandon is with us on a semi-permanent basis, and I have to admit I love having the extra help. He is 14 now, and boy is it nice to have a half grown extra set of hands! For my close friends who know the history of our situation, I am no longer referring to Brandon as my "nephew". He has always called me his sister (which legally, I am his sister), so I want to respect his choice. The two younger boys call me their Aunt, and until they decide differently, that's ok with me.

Elio works so hard, and he has been pulling a lot of overtime. I love him so much, and I thank God for him...good and bad! Marriage is not a sprint, it's a marathon. It's hard work, but the benefits are the best. We've been stretched to our limit at times, but I could not ask for a better partner.

As for me, well...I am still working. I have had some especially difficult weeks at work that have been very trying. (Hence the lack of blogging, and lack of sanity on some days) I am praying for clarity about how, where, and when God wants me to make a change. I am thankful though that a few co-workers have told me that I have changed their mind about certain things, for example breastfeeding. People are more open to the conversation and providing me with support. Seeing me with my pumping bag every day has obviously sent a little message to my fellow social workers. Or maybe it's my big mouth...I'm not sure which. ;-)

My 2012 goals include:
-More blogging (Be on the lookout, I have a lot to say!)
-Graduate School (I put that on hold when I had Calvin, and when my Dad became ill)
-Crafting with Calvin & Scrapbooking his first year
-Getting more involved with our church
-Home projects, like decorating and improvements
-Vacations! (This may be more like a dream than a goal, but we'll see)
-Exploring my passions and making time for me
-Letting Go...as in if none of these goals are attained, I'll be ok with it. ;) Let's see how that works out, shall we?

Season Survival

This blog is dedicated to the Moms of babies and children everywhere who are frantically wrapping, baking, cleaning, and, well, doing anything but sleeping in anticipation of Santa...err.. Jesus' arrival this weekend! Here are a few things that help me get through the holidays with an energetic, busy, loud, and happy toddler!



A large canvas tote and moccasins. It is SO much easier to carry one bag instead of a purse AND a diaper bag when you are traveling, shopping, and spending time at other people's homes for the holidays! Some of the contents of this bag include diapers, wipes ( I use a Ziploc bag ),  lipgloss, a small clutch for easy access to debit cards or keys (so I don't have to take the whole bag into the store or restaurant every time), small toys for Calvin, Sippy Cup with water, snacks such as Cheerios and Cheddar Bunnies. This bag could seriously save a life. ;) Oh and the moccasins..yea they're pretty great as slippers or for running errands!




Ahh, the Sippy. I don't give Calvin juice very much (sugar high, no thank you) so I try to have one Sippy in the car, and one at home. It gives Calvin something to do in the car, and this cup in particular is great! It's spillproof and BPA free. The soft tip is easy for Calvin to drink out of. The brand is Munchkin.




Organization is key to maintaining my sanity! I love this little coat hook for Calvin's hoodies. It's secondhand, and I'm sure you could find one at Goodwill or Walmart. I prefer to layer Calvin because he sweats inside stores, and it's so much easier to remove layers to make him more comfortable!




Moms need love, too! I love Mary Kay Timewise foundation. I use the Matte option, and I don't leave the house without it on. Let's be honest, no one gets much accomplished when they feel frazzled. Take the extra 10 minutes to smooth your hair and slap on some makeup. You'll feel better, and so will everyone around you. ;)


 


We have had quite the struggle beating a nasty fungal rash that Calvin developed a few months ago. We tried EVERY cream imaginable, went through 2 prescription creams (totaling up to 100 dollars, thankyouverymuch) tried every homeopathic remedy I could find (Lavender oil did help somewhat), and FINALLY I found Triple Paste. This stuff is golden. This size tub costs 17.99 but believe me when I say all you need is a fingertip. (And if you've met my child, you know his bottom is not small) They also sell smaller sizes; I've seen the smaller tubes at Walmart. Trust me when I say this saved my baby's bottom! I will never use another cream.



Happy Toddler, Happy Mommy!





One final tip for surviving the holidays with babies and kids. ENJOY IT. Before you know it, your nephew will be 13 like mine is and you will miss the days when an Elmo toy did the job. Calvin is already changing in little ways each day, and I cannot wait to see the joy on his face on Christmas morning! Cherish these moments and truly remember the reason we celebrate. I know I am.

Holidaze.

Well, the holiday season is upon us!  I absolutely love Christmas time!  It truly is the celebration of our Saviour's birth with the added benefit of quality time with loved ones. It is so easy to get caught up in the crazy whirlwind of holiday shopping, baking, decorating, not to mention still going about a regular routine. Although I love this time of year, I do feel the stress and always wish I had more time! Calvin has been such a joy this season so far. He is noticing all the decorations, lights and loves our tree.  He stands in front of it and says "pretty, pretty!"  He is almost 14 months old and growing so fast. It seems like he does something new each day! His birthday party was a blast, and we've been busy bees ever since. I often miss my friends lately and wish I could just stop everything (work, kids, bills, chores) for a girls night filled with laughs. I'm grateful for real friends who understand the responsibilities I have and are there for me no matter what. Just a phone call or text is so needed sometimes.
Our family had a great Thanksgiving, but poor Calvin had a cough and cold so he was pretty miserable. I baked pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and the day after Thanksgiving I cooked a whole feast for my in laws and Elio's grandparents. I love cooking and baking...my Dad is an excellent cook and I've learned from watching him and reading recipes. I love providing people I care about with food...it's one of ways I show my love. It's also very therapeutic for me. Life is hectic but I love the peace of mind cooking brings...unless your meat thermometer breaks and you are holding your breath hoping the turkey isn't raw.  (It wasn't, by the way)
So although I haven't blogged in a while, please know its not due to lack of the desire to. I've been feeling stretched pretty thin lately and have found myself crashing into bed wondering when the room will stop spinning. And no, that's not due to any kind of beverage ;) Life is crazy busy for me, it always has been but much more so lately. I'm trying to get better about letting go and follow my motto "Do what you can, with what you have" Our family dynamic now has a sometimes-living-us 13 year old. So a 13 month old, a 13 year old, a few pets (I've lost count), full time high stress career, and a husband whose work schedule changes seemingly every other week. But God is ALWAYS good. I'll have my time someday. Maybe a few girlfriends or a good book will be there, and I'll close my eyes and miss this. So for now, I am going to go back to my list and check it twice. Then I'm going to soak up some much needed family time!


Some updates on our toddler:
-He's walking!! He's doing so well and walks all over the house. This comes with bumps and bruises, but so far so good!
-He is learning new words and has his own "language" it's so adorable and hilarious.
-He responds to verbal commands like "turn off the light", or "put that lid on", "pick up your toys", "brush your hair", etc. Today he even took some tissues off the ground and threw them in the trash!
-He claps...the right way!
-Sings and dances
-Enjoys bigger boy toys like blocks, trains, and cars
-"Reads" books by turning the pages and looking at the pictures
-Is eating much better. But don't ask what his favorite food is...This"all natural"  Mom is embarrassed by my son's love of french fries! Oh well, I'll pick my battles on that one.
-He's still nursing. I'm leaning towards the self weaning route, and he's still getting his primary nutrition from breast milk. I am grateful for this blog where I can share the facts behind my decision...even though I don't have to. So get ready for a possible blog on this subject. ;)
-Calvin sleeps really well...with us. Another one that I know will change with time. If not, that's ok too. Our bed may be small, but our hearts are big!


Peace & love this Christmas. Remember that there is always someone fighting a harder battle than yours.

Fall Update

I cannot believe the holidays are right around the corner! As much as I adore fall with all its loveliness, I absolutely love Christmas. I could do without the hustle and bustle of shopping for presents, but the meaning, feel, and happiness that Christmas brings is more than enough for me. I'm making myself wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate...

For now, here's an update on what our ONE year old is up to!
-Calvin is almost walking independently. We've found that our boy is quite cautious and does not want to fall. He took a couple steps on his own the day before his birthday, and now we are waiting for him to take off!
-He is dancing! It is beyond cute. It's hilarious to watch my little guy shake his hips to music.
-He talks to us all day! It's not always understandable, but he makes his wants and needs very known. His favorite thing to do now is point to different objects and say "Dee, dee!" (See, See!!)
-Calvin is a little stinker. He is very mischevious, and knows exactly what he isn't supposed to do...then he does it.
-As for eating, WELL, that's an adventure. Calvin is very independent...and picky. He gave up on purees a long time ago and refuses to be fed from a spoon. Of course you live and learn, and I shoud have taken his cues that he was ready to eat on his own. He has been able to feed himself for a couple of months now, and loves Cheerios and crackers. As for more substantial foods, we're getting there. Turns out he loves my Dad's recipe for egg cassarole...so I will be making that every week. ;) I appreciate good friends' advice, and I've given him all kinds of goodies to try. Grapes, apples, chicken, and basically whatever we are eating. I let him try everything as long as it's safe for him to have it. I know that in time he will fall into a routine and eat like a champ. Even though he's a picky little guy, he will try everything that I give him which makes me very happy. He can drink out of cups, and use a straw which is so cute.

That's all for now. I'm sure there will be much, much more to come.

Going Green...Sort of.

I never used to be environmentally conscious or even live anything close to resembling an organic lifestyle. In college, I'm pretty sure McDonald's double cheeseburgers were a daily occurance...not to mention several Coke's a day. Over the past few years I've made some changes I am very proud of, and I now know the importance of choosing good foods, better cleaning products, and homeopathic remedies. Don't get me wrong, I still eat fast food! (oh, and I ate about 4 Chips Ahoy a few minutes ago) It's about small changes leading to an overall lifestyle change, and I believe that you can enjoy pretty much everything in moderation. It started with my nephews who all have some sort of emotional or behavioral issue that requires us to watch what we feed them. I noticed that sugared, processed foods made them act literally insane. Also, dairy products in excess seem to trigger major allergies for one of them. I began becoming really ingredient conscious, and it's more important to me now than ever to eat foods that are not only good for you, but real. While pregnant, I also began thinking quite a bit about cleaning products, and the chemicals they would leave on surfaces and floors. Here are some of the changes I've made progressively over the past few months and years:
-I used to be hooked on Pine Sol, but I now use Mrs. Meyers Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner. It comes in great scents, but has less harmful chemicals and is environmentally friendly. It also lasts twice as long, and you can dilute it and clean pretty much anything.
-Method hand soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dish detergent. The Method brand is affordable, works great, and the laundry detergent lasts forever. You only need 4 pumps for a large load of laundry, it smells good, and does the job. It's made of plant based materials and won't affect sensitive skin. Method is sold at Target, and you will often get register coupons.
-Seventh Generation bathroom cleaner. It's bleach free, and is actually cheaper than major brands like Scrubbing Bubbles. Think about it...I'm cleaning the surfaces and toys that Calvin has his mouth all over, why would I want him to be basically eating harmful elements?
-Bon Ami powdered cleaner for hard surfaces (like tub bottoms, sinks, stovetop,etc) I used to use only Comet cleaner, but Bon Ami works just as great. My Dad used it for years for everything including pots and pans.
-I'm a big Clorox Wipe fan because it's easy and convenient, but I know it's not the best option, not to mention wasteful. This is one thing I haven't changed...yet.
-I'm still a fan of Burts Bees lotion for Calvin. I also like Aveeno products. We use disposable diapers, but I'm curious to learn more about cloth. If I didn't work full time, cloth may be an option. Or if I could hire someone to do my laundry... hmm... any takers?
-When buying pacifiers, sippy cups, or any other plastic made products, I always make sure they're BPA free. BPA has been linked to cancer, and it is in many plastic products.
-Food: Here's where it gets tough. We all know how expensive organic food is, so I just try to buy selectively. If chicken is on sale, I'll get regular chicken depending on the brand. Wal-Mart has a great organic option for chicken that isn't too pricey. Town and Country now has organic meats. They are expensive, so I sort of pick and choose which ones I buy. My theory is "Do what you Can". I try to stay away from processed cheeses and prefer to buy real. I'd rather something be real, even if it's not necessarily organic. Target has great brands as well. I love Annie's products for kids. Cheddar bunnies and their mac and cheese are great inexpensive options that are made with organic, real products! It's also important to buy organic dairy if at all possible. I still eat fast food, I know, I know...it's disgusting. My job requires me to constantly be on the go, and hey, I love a good french fry! If I eat "garbage" for lunch, I try to balance it out with a good home cooked meal for dinner...or go to my parents house for my Dad's home cooking. ;) As for produce, I try to go by the "dirty dozen" which lists the 12 fruits and veggies that are the most important to buy organic.


Like I said before, my theory is "Do What You Can". Even a little change is a good change!

ONE

Well, the biggest milestone of them all has arrived and I must say I am pretty proud of myself! I have made it to Calvin's first birthday with minimal tears and maybe only one anxiety attack over the past week. It's so wild how quickly it went, and how many moments are frozen in my memory forever. This day a year ago, I was marveling at  my newborn baby boy and today I played with a happy, healthy, silly one year old who is able to look right at me and call me Mama. This day is more than my son's birthday, it is the anniversary of me becoming a Mother. I always knew I wanted to be a Mom, but I never grasped how truly life altering it would be. The moment I became pregnant, my world changed. It was no longer about me, my wants, my needs. Everything I ate, listened to, and looked at grew newfound perspective. My relationship with God also grew and stregnthened because I now had a better idea of how God sees us, His children. That unconditional, never failing, no-matter-how-many-times-you-mess-up LOVE. It's truly the most powerful thing. Parenthood comes with its fair share of challenges, and the last year has by no means been easy. It puts new laugh lines on your face, but also deeper wrinkles under your eyes from sleep deprivation. It brings your relationship with your husband to an amazing new level, but also brings new ground for arguments and testing times. It quickly weeds out friends who are all about late nights or show no interest in your "new" life. I feel like the last year has taught me more than any college course ever did, and I have truly found what God wants me to be. Elio's Wife, Calvin's Mom. Although there are so many more facets to who I am, those are the cornerstone to my overall purpose in life. Serve God, take care of my family, be a good friend, and throw my career in there somewhere. You could even take my career out, for all I care at this point. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, even though there were so many times over the past year that I said with tears in my eyes "Can't we just freeze him like this forever?"
Calvin is such a sweetheart and brings joy to everyone who meets him. I know God has big plans for him, and I'm content to just sit back, watch, and be his Mommy. Happy Birthday, Calvin Robert!

A look back...