When Jesus Finds You

by Meghan // April 4, 2017 // Comments off

If someone had told me when I was 18, that the man I just met would one day be my husband, that we would go on adventures together and have all the same loves; that we would one day have 4 babies, a small farm, and be blessed beyond measure, I would have told them they were crazy.

I never imagined the partying, depressed, anxious, and shy girl who was that 18 year old, would become the 31 year old I am today. I am not done, rather God is not done, and He makes that perfectly clear every day as he uses my children, marriage, and dreams-come-true to smooth out my rough edges.

But I lived to tell about that girl. I lived to tell about the bad choices, and the sadness, the broken family that still gave so much love; I lived to tell about the friends who didn’t live to tell about it.

Not to be dramatic, but that could’ve been me. I was one bad choice away from being a statistic, like my brother, my best friend, and many, many other people I have known.

I think God has plans, He knows all. His end goal is the same, how we get there and whether we get there or not, is up to us. Free will and all…

But God can redeem it all. He can redeem the heart and soul of every person on this planet for his Glory. He surely redeemed my life.

Growing up, maturing, did a lot for my heart. Marriage and learning to grow together with someone did too. But after my brother died, I wrote God off (I think I have written about that before). I knew He was there, I knew He existed, but I wanted nothing to do with Him. I didn’t really have a relationship with Jesus, so it was easy to write off God.

And then I got pregnant- unexpectedly, in the middle of my last year at university, J.Tom and I found ourselves expecting a baby. I was terrified, unsure, not ready for a baby, wasn’t even sure I even wanted kids, and God threw me for a real loop.

It was through that baby that I found Jesus.

And it has been through her, and each pregnancy and baby after, that He has worked in my life, so that I may work in theirs. I couldn’t be a good mama to them, if I didn’t have Jesus.

Maybe He found me, while I was wandering aimlessly for those several months, and at my most vulnerable grabbed me, shook me awake, and made me realize what was at stake. A life. Another human life was going to depend on me, and what was I going to teach her?

What was the world about?

What was the world NOT about?

What was life?

What would I tell her?

Jesus.

Jesus is life.

And the only way to prove that to her, to all of the world, is to live it.

I don’t live it perfectly; I make so many mistakes. But reading the Word, talking the Word, worshiping Him with my babies each morning during morning basket, all helps get my feet where they should be so the kids and I can all stand firm in Him.

He meets us where we are, no matter where that might be.

How do you get your day started with Jesus? Where in life did He meet you?

Disclaimer: Some links on this blog are affiliate links; when you use those links you help support my family, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Homeschool and Childhood: Am I Doing It Right?

by Meghan // March 26, 2017 // Comments off

Several years back I described our homeschool as a Charlotte Mason/Classical approach.

We probably lean more in both of those directions, but I am finding more and more we are very eclectic. We use *everything* to school, focusing on living books for most things, but preferring a math curriculum, and a bit more structure than unschooling.

But, I am not here to talk about how we school.

I am here to encourage you in however YOU school.

I don’t prescribe to a “schedule” for our lessons; we have a general rhythm, a routine, that works. The baby’s naps and feeding times are schedule, as are all other naps and meals. Everything works around that.

Routine = peace here.

But recently (maybe since baby was born? or no… since Christmas?) I have stopped requiring so much of my son, 4.5yo and toddler, 2.5yo. I *thought* I was doing more justice to their childhood by not doing school so much with them and letting them play freely all morning.

*INSERT EYE ROLL HERE*

Yall- people mean well, friends, fellow homeschoolers, ME, we all mean well.

But just because someone says that it works for them, and they believe it is best, doesn’t mean that it is best for your family.

——–

I have high expectations of my kids, as I am sure most people do. I believe kids meet the expectations that we lay in front of them. Expectations should be challenging but not frustrating; not easy, but still something they need to put effort into. They should also include lots of play. It’s so important to make sure children have a good work/play balance. When homeschooling, it can be more difficult to do this, but there are always ways to separate schoolwork from playtime. When it is time for the kids to relax, try doing something they want to do, such as going on the games console and playing super smash bros brawl iso, for example. That is a good way for children to enjoy their time at home, without it feeling like a place where they have to be constantly focused on their schoolwork.

Somehow in the past few months I managed to forget that play CAN look like school, and that school can look like play without it being chaotic free play.

One of the main points taught in my teaching program, which was largely spent logging hours and observations in the preschool room in our University’s child center, is that play can be semi-structured. Play can be guided by an adult with rules and boundaries, but enjoyed freely by a child.

And explorative play can be controlled chaos. (thank you for that term, college professor who had years of classroom experience)

And when ~~you~~ I have 4 kids, each 2 years a part, by golly, we need some dang boundaries, structure within the routine.
I can’t expect a 4 and 2yo to stay inside those boundaries completely on their own every day while I school the oldest. (I know- DUH, right?) But somehow I stopped doing what I know, and began doing what others said was good?!

My point is, please, please, please do not let anyone, even well meaning friends or acquaintances, make you feel like you are doing something wrong because they are justifying or suggesting how they do things.

When You Doubt … or Forget

Re evaluate your own goals and beliefs about education- they probably don’t line up exactly with many other people, and that is okay! That’s why we homeschool, right?

When I looked around our home (and reflected on recent days) I realized we ALL felt chaotic and out of control, there was unnecessary stress and behaviors that didn’t make sense, and it all pointed back to structure for us.

Instead of heeding advice from people who don’t need the same structure we do I should have just kept on with what we were doing, because THAT works for us.

We are happy in our structured, eclectic homeschooling home; my kids excel there, my only boy who is not so independent all of the time feels included and it keeps him from getting bored (aka, in trouble), they all get more time with mama at the table which equals happiness. It’s where we learn, where we find rabbit holes and I feel comfortable enough to follow them because I have a structure to come back to.

Our home is structured, but our days are relaxed and peaceful when my kids know what to expect (oh my gosh, how many times have I written that on this blog?! Maybe 25 … maybe more).

So why did I stray from what I knew the last few months?

I can’t say with certainty. But I do know, that sometimes you have to block out the noise and seeds of doubt no matter where they come from. Stay the course and do what works, as long as it true and good.

Maybe I am just writing this as a reminder to myself, because it will surely happen again.

We really don’t need others validations, we really should do what works for us, and the more we know our children the better we can educate them, regardless of what that looks like from the outside.

So here we are mamas, almost to the end of the school year for many (we keep going through June). Be encouraged, be excited, enjoy your time with your children.

Know you are doing it right.

Disclaimer: Some links on this blog are affiliate links; when you use those links you help support my family, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Dad’s Role in Our Homeschool

by Meghan // March 24, 2017 // Comments off

My husband and I have 4 small children, ages 6.5, 4.5, 2.5, and 8 months.

We homeschool (I think that is obvious).

As my oldest has grown, and gotten older, our homeschool has changed a lot; from an environment filled with preschool learning activities, to teaching an advanced learner math, writing, history, and science.

I have learned very quickly that Daddy does and will play a really big role in our homeschool.

For starters, he and the 4.5 year old are the only guys in the house. Daddy has a HUGE influence on my son and his learning. With his dad, Mister has learned all about tools, tractors, gardening, nature, hunting, and the list goes on.

Mister is learning daily how to treat his future wife, his sisters, his future mother in law. He is learning how to be a man of character, a man of God.

Outside of that realm, my husband helps with the read alouds. Our homeschool approach is one that is literature based and very heavy with books. I *love* that, and obviously the kids do as well; it works for us. But there are some books I just would not have time for if I didn’t get some help.

Insert Daddy.

I am so thankful he doesn’t mind reading the bedtime books. The kids enjoy that he does voices, and expression. I enjoy keeping my voice, and that the kids not missing out on the books. (though there are some I wish I could get around to reading myself)

As our homeschool grows, my husband’s role will grow with it. He is an engineer, and loves reading about all the latest technology, scientific advancements, and pretty much anything else. He passes this knowledge on to our kids now; when there is something I don’t understand, he usually has an answer, or knows where to find it.

I forsee him helping in math, science, and sports in the future. He and Max play baseball, football, and our Popa got Mister his first pair of sports cleats
– such a great bonding experience for them! They love playing sports together, particularly baseball. My husband is amazing at sports so it only seemed fair that he took care of that subject area!

I look forward to the day that the kids can really understand and find interest in roboting, more advanced engineering, and mechanics. Those are areas J.Tom already helps in, but when we get to the deeper stuff it will be an enjoyable experience for him and the kids to work together in those subjects.

All in all, our Daddy helps find learning in all experiences here at home and on the farm.

How does Dad play a role in your family’s homeschool?

Click the banner below to see how other families’ dad’s help out with homeschool!

Disclaimer: Some links on this blog are affiliate links; when you use those links you help support my family, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Learning About Colorado {by the way book series}

by Meghan // March 2, 2017 // Comments off

The past few weeks we have had the pleasure of using and reviewing Colorado- By The Way, from By The Way Book Series. We took a trip a few years back to Colorado, and since then we have discussed the state a lot here and there. My oldest daughter who is 6 years old, remembers the trip and is very interested in learning about Colorado, so this book was perfect!

What It Is {about the book}

Let me just say, this is a beautiful book! We are most definitely book junkies in this house, especially books that don’t involve twaddle. Colorado- By The Way is so nicely put together; the photographs included are clear and detailed, while the words flow easily and are a wonderful help to learning about the state of Colorado.

Colorado is a beautiful state, and it does not surprise me at all that so many people call this place their home. A good friend of mine recently moved to Colorado after finding a gorgeous home in Centennial. She had always wanted to live in Cherry Knolls and after working alongside a cherry knolls realtor, her dreams have become a reality. I cannot wait to visit her really soon as her new property looks amazing from the photographs that I have seen. I might even bring her a copy of this book all about Colorado as a housewarming gift!

By The Way Book Series has created a captivating book all about the facts and history of Colorado (there are other books in the series: Ohio State, Smoky Mountains, and more!).

The story begins with Alex and Lexi joining a By The Way RV team, where they go on to see all that God’s imagination holds. All throughout the book there are examples of the evidence of God’s work-that nothing was created by chance, but in a very deliberate way. You will also find Bible verses that point to God’s glory.

The book has 48 full color pages, and is recommended for ages 5-12. My children (ages 2-6) really enjoyed this book, and I absolutely think this would be a wonderful book for older children because it is so informative, and not “childish,” in the story line. It is appropriate for a large age range. The book is a large 8×10 hardback, with a nice sturdy binding and thick, beautiful pages.

Written from a Biblical worldview, this is a terrific book for anyone wanting to learn more about Colorado.

What We Thought

We love this book! We have a house full of books, and this one is probably right at the top of my favorites list. I hope to add more books from the series to our shelf, because I know they will be accurate, appropriate, and educational. This is a wonderful travel book to prepare for a trip, or when doing a unit study on both the state of Colorado, the midwest, the mountains, and/or wildlife.

I really love the illustrations in this book- they are a mix of drawings and photographs-both of which grab children’s attention and show great detail. We were able to see inside the homes and life if “cliff dwellers” of the Mesa Verde; which led into an entire discussion of the meanings of mesa and verde, where they originated and how the english language is a great mix of Latin and Spanish. Colorado- By The Way covers state history as well as life in Colorado for both people and nature.

Something else I noticed and really liked, was that the adults in this book are respected- they are wonderful examples for the children, and they are always presented as someone the children respect. Adults are not made fun of, or made to look silly or foolish as is often found in children’s books (and especially tv shows).

I loved talking about all the different topics we came across; I think my daughter’s favorite part was about the horses and ponies. The adventures encountered by the characters are fun, educational, and always point to God.

It isn’t very often we come across great new books that span many school subjects/units but this book does just that!

Connect with By The Way Book Series

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The One With The Boys {a simple woman’s daybook 30}

by Meghan // February 12, 2017 // Comments off

Outside my Window …
My boys.

Mister has been attached to his daddy all day long. He’s done tractor work, dirt work, garden work, and now they’re playing baseball in the front yard.

I am thinking…
I wish this baby wasn’t so fussy so we could go join them; but she currently hates the cold, and it has turned cooler again.

I am thankful…
for a husband that loves spending time with his babies, guiding them, and teaching them how to be good people.

In the kitchen…
nothing. Lots of dirty dishes and no meals planned. That’s my kitchen today.

I am wearing…
pajama pants and a tshirt

I am creating…
plans for a few dresses; but I did get some things done in the sewing room last week, so that was nice.

I am going…
to Costco tomorrow! woo hoo, our favorite. =)

I am reading…
a few different titles, and my The Old Schoolhouse catalogue that came.
I am hoping…
Baby speeds up this teething process because this last week she was a bear, and still is!

I am looking forward to…
The Walking Dead tonight (yes … I love that show). School and relaxing this week.

I am learning…
This parenting thing is just flying by.

Around the house…
it is a disaster. Mama is lazy today.

A favorite quote for today…

My 6 month old teething …

‘Nuf said.

One of my favorite things…
bonfires with good friends, late nights with my husband,, easy mornings with my babies,

A few plans for the rest of the week:
get lots of school done, rearrange the living room a little, plan the garden

A peek into my day…

The One With a Puppy {Simple Woman’s Daybook 29}

by Meghan // February 6, 2017 // Comments off

Outside my Window …
It is warm and cloudy; why is it in the 70’s in February?! I won’t complain about the fog and early morning drizzle, we need the rain. And I won’t complain about the warmth, but I mean really?! If this means we will have snow in May, I’d rather it be cold now!
I am thinking…
I have so much to get done this week!

I am thankful…
that we had a friend from AR come visit this weekend, that we had rain this morning, that we have a little farm, and that we added a new buddy to the farm this past week!

In the kitchen…
There is bone broth in the crock pot, eggs on the counter, and leftovers for dinner.

I am wearing…
leggings and a shirt

I am creating…
a few things in my sewing room

I am going…
to Costco and the library this week

I am wondering…
if we are going to have anymore winter between now and spring?!

I am reading…
Teaching From Rest, as recommended by so many homeschoolers … it is a good book. Except I have already implemented most of what I am reading so far, and my train of thought is already there, so I am wishing I had picked it up at the library and not purchased it.

I am hoping…
I find more info in the book that is helpful, and not just a bunch of ideas and thoughts I already have, agree with, implement in my home. =/

I am looking forward to…
The warm week-warmth means mama and Baby can go out more (she does NOT like the cold, even bundled up, so I’ve been inside more than I’d like this winter).

I am learning…
how to work with a puppy, specifically and LGD puppy that is going to hopefully bond with and protect my chickens and family- he is NOT for playing with. He has play time, in the evenings, but the rest of the time he is watching chickens, sleeping with chickens, and sitting with me as we learn about chickens. The cows are too big for him to be with right now, but I wouldn’t be against adding a few calves for him to bond with soon. =)

Around the house…
It just is. Things are pretty clean, tidy. I just have a ton of laundry to get through.

A favorite quote for today…

One of my favorite things…

Meet Huck! As in Huckleberry Finn. He sure is a sweet, sensitive boy that likes adventure. We are sure the 40 acres will be a good place for him to learn, grow, and protect.
I won’t write about how we are training him, because honestly there is a LOT that is going into it, and I don’t know if it will all be successful. I have spoken with a consultant that has assured me Thora’s escalating resource aggression wasn’t a result of anything we did. So I am hoping that what we do for Huck can prevent any issues and create a great guardian. Because these kinds of dogs don’t necessarily “bond” with chickens like they will mammals, we have to do a little extra work to ensure he is okay around them.

However, so far he gets very upset when he is not in the run with the chickens. He was raised with his parents and chickens for 14 weeks, until we got him, so he is used to them. It is just avoiding playing with them at this point, that is important.

Huck is part Great Pyrenees, and part Anatolian Shepherd. Anatolian Shepherds are more aggressive with predators than a Great Pyr, and are better able to take on a coyote than a GP might. They are also more likely to stay closer to home than a GP, or so I read. So we will see how he does. =)

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Run errands, do school, get some sewing done, work with Huck, menu plan, and work around the farm in the WARMTH! woo hoo

A peek into my day…
See Huck’s photo collage above.

We did school, then went for a walk in the woods after lunch. Aaah, fresh air, and fun!

{Surrender} Word for the Year 2017

by Meghan // January 3, 2017 // Comments off

For the past few years I have chosen a word for the year.

I can’t exactly explain how I came up with my word this year; it isn’t something I particularly feel like I need to work on, like joy or intention. But as I have been reading my Bible and doing short Bible studies the last few weeks, the word surrender has come up so many times.

I know He is wanting me to completely surrender everything to Him; I thought I had done this a few years back (specifically when we moved from AR despite all my fears), but apparently I still need work in this area. 😉

The Lord wants us to surrender it all to Him: our life, heart, mind, body, soul, hopes, plans, dreams, children, marriage, past, present, future, habits, character flaws, health, attitudes, finances, relationships, family, our hurt, pain, worry, doubts, fear, and anxieties, all of which encompass our sins. Many of these things I have let go and given to him, but as I look over this list, I know there is much work to be done.

He takes away these sins and pours out blessings that are so. much. better! holding on to them is like cutting off our nose to spite our face. Just because we don’t know what will happen, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it-let go of it. The Lord is only going to redeem those areas of our life.

There is much, much more prayer to be said. How can I surrender to Him even more than I already have? Let me count the way!

Look for more posts on this as I (or the Lord?) work out the kinks on surrendering fully to Jesus.

Read about my 2013, 2015, and 2016 words. They were intention, smile, and joy.

What is your word for the year?

(I know may of us can come up with several words for the year. I can think of more than I can more easily apply to my life, but for whatever reason this word stood out to me during my Bible time a few weeks back and has been weighing on me. I don’t try to squeeze in more words, or a word a month, etc. It is easier and more meaningful for me to do one word for the year, and apply it accordingly. Maybe you have more than one word, and of course that works, too!)

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When The Lord Takes Away #FMF {Joy}

by Meghan // December 9, 2016 // Comments off

This week’s Five Minute Friday word is Joy.

It seems like a great way to end the year, since my word for this year was joy.

When I think of joy, I am reminded that every single thing that I turn into frustration, anxiety, and fear, God has already redeemed. He has already made it complete, done, joyful.

I just need to let it Be.

This year was really amazing in my journey with Christ; I began the year 3 months pregnant with our Coralie (baby #4). I remember being nauseous, tired, and cranky, but so overwhelmingly full of joy. We had a 2nd loss in July of 2015, and though we had not been trying, and were not trying again with Coralie, to find out God had different plans, that a baby we should not have been able to get pregnant with at that time, was going to be born brought so much joy.

And somehow, this year, in anticipation for baby #4, God took so much from me.

He took away many of the anxieties I had before.

(I am still working on things within myself) But I didn’t realize when I chose the word joy to pray on and work towards in 2016, that God wouldn’t just add it in!

God doesn’t just add things in- The Lord giveth and he taketh away.

He replaced those anxieties, angers, with Him. He replaced them with joy, and so. much. peace.

I still battle anxieties, fears of losing or something happening to my husband is probably #1. I become a mess inside when he gets on an airplane (which is frequently..). I have a few OCD tendencies that I can’t let up when he is gone. When these occasions pop up, I do tend to read reviews on the best CBD oil UK can provide for me, as well as other locations, as it’s said to help with these kinds of feelings, but for now, I believe in God to help rid of these.

There were so many other things before, and God just took them.

He took them from me, and filled those voids with unspeakable joy and unshakeable peace.

What do you think of when you hear JOY?

Disclaimer: Some links on this blog are affiliate links; when you use those links you help support my family, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Weekly Wrap Up {homeschool update} with Baby #4 Summary

by Meghan // November 23, 2016 // Comments off

So, how goes being a mama of 4, 6 years old and under? It is going really great!

We have fallen into our groove with routines, baby is sleeping great *most* days for her naps, which helps with our learning time as a family. The kids are enjoying their school time; we have finally gotten pretty comfortable with Mister doing more activities while I teach Lexie. Ila walks around with her ABC flash cards (I laminated them and put on a ring for her) during most of learning time. She likes to come sit in my lap through out the morning and “read” to me. =)

Lexie (6 years old)

The Lady is just flying through everything I give her or introduce her to. She enjoys reading; we are still going over the rules as we work through All About Reading, because I don’t want her to have gaps down the road. However, she is reading on a 4-6th grade level. Next we are going to start working to build her vocabulary, because when reading at a higher level, she is coming across many words she doesn’t know yet.

She is learning her math facts in math and really enjoys challenging herself with those. She does her math sheets independently and we do calendar most days (sometimes I just forget ..). Whenever we do hands on math with manipulatives Max likes to join in. He can do math on her level, but his writing skills aren’t there yet so we don’t focus on a math curriculum at all for him- just hands on fun! (like it should be).

We have started using the CD that came with our science (Apologia’s Astronomy 2nd Edition)- that way I don’t have to read, but I can listen along and pause it to go more in depth or explain something a little better. The kids follow along in the book, and then Lexie does the science journal.

Handwriting and math are part of her “clip board work,” that she does independently; I check over these after she has completed them to be sure she did her best, or understood everything. She loves watching herself improve, and I enjoy the discipline she is learning in completing her work on her own.

Max (4 years old)

Mister is just reading like crazy. He does not like to read formally, off a piece of paper yet. He likes me to write words on the board for him to read, and I am 100% okay with that! He is only 4, after all.

He is working through Reading the Alphabet by ThisReadingMama.com- I used that with Lexie and she *loved* it, so he is enjoying it now. Each week we go on to a new letter/site word. His favorite activities are the mazes (he is constantly asking me to find mazes for him to do), and he enjoys syllable counting. Max is also very interested in counting to 100 .. every. single. day. Which is great so I go with it; he likes to get out his number chart for that (check our Rainbow Resources for those!).

Mister is still obsessed with puzzles and anything he can do with his hands. We try to make sure he gets plenty of movement, hands on learning, and has lots of play time so he continues to grow a love for learning.

Ila (2 years old)

Ila is tagging along with us in everything we do. Right now she enjoys puzzles, dolls, coloring, and practicing her letter sounds. She doesn’t actually know the letters that correspond with the sound, but she likes to try and I like encouraging her. She is going to follow Lexie in her eagerness to learn and read, I think.

Our Routine For Now {baby #4 is 4 months old}

7am baby up, nurse
7:15-7:20ish I get Max up for mama and baby time while I give baby a bottle
Mister gets “the sisters” up =)
I cook breakfast, baby hangs out in bumbo or bouncer, older 3 do morning chores/get ready for day
everyone eats breakfast and we do our morning basket “stuff”
8:25 baby down for nap
all 3 bigger kids go outside or downstairs to play until 9am
9am we begin school
10:30- it is time to get baby up and fed. We are usually done with school by this point, Lexie may have some clipboard work to finish on her own for the rest of the week
11:15 everyone has lunch
12:00 baby takes nap, then I put Ila down for nap, bigs go outside to play
12:45 Mister goes down for nap, Lexie has rest time reading books, mama writes blog posts, does chores, or rests
2:00 time to get baby up for feeding- Lexie usually comes in to spend time with me and baby
3:00 everyone up from naps, outside or downstairs to play or we run errands
3:30 baby down for last nap, I prep dinner if not yet done
5:00 Baby up, nurse
5:30 everyone eats dinner, baby gets solids
bath, wind down, sometimes we watch a show like Mister Rogers, Bob the Builder, Boxcar Children, etc
6:30 baby gets bottle and goes right to bed
7:00 everyone in bed, unless Mister napped good then he and Lexie get to stay up a little later (but they’re always ready for bed-that’s what happens when you spend most of your day running around a farm!)
Mama and Daddy time- this is my favorite part about keeping a good routine while our kids are young~I get 1:1 time with my husband and we can unwind from our days together without little people needing us non stop. It’s nice!

Not everything is set to a specific time, but naps and feedings are. Everything else works around that, and just sort of falls into place; it is simple and flows well because I don’t have to force anything.

Coralie {4 months old}

Baby #4- wow. She is already 4 months old (19 weeks) and SO happy. The best thing I could have ever done for this baby is getting a good sleep schedule down- without it she would still be crying, fussy, unhappy, and unpredicatable.

Because of her eating and sleep routines I am able to pinpoint what she needs, she rarely cries (and if she does it is because something is wrong), and she sleeps very well as long as I hit her wake time right (too short results in a short nap, too long results in crying).

But the BEST part of her routine-she went from HATING going to sleep in her crib, to *loving* it. Before about 15 weeks old, she cried every time I laid her down on the changing table to put on her sleep blanket (we use THIS ONE). Now, the girl is happy, kicking, and ready to go to bed as soon as I zip her up! We talks and babbles while I sing Jesus Loves Me, sucks/gnaws on her hand (teething), and when I lay her down she goes to sleep within 20 minutes. Sometimes she fusses after talking for a bit, but never cries for me to get her. IF she is crying-crying, I will go rub some oil on her gums or try to burp her and then lay her back down. Then she usually drifts off to sleep.

She is still a very social girl, loves talking and playing. She got a jumper from her grandparents for Christmas, which I had to let her play in early because A) babies outgrow things fast and it seemed silly to waste a whole month of having it but not using it and B) she is all about kicking these days. She loves it. This way she can see everyone and know what is going on, which is right up her alley.

She is eating every 3.5 hours, her wake time is anywhere from 85-95 minutes (lengthens as we go through the day), and she is experimenting with solids. We have done soft boiled egg yolk, green beans, squash, carrots, and peaches. She devoured all of them, and stares at us while we eat. I think she is ready for more in her day, but honestly I am not ready to have to tote around baby food, spoons, bibs, etc every time we leave the house. I already have to pack formula and hot water, so Im good for now. I am going to try to get by without daytime solids until 6+ months. She is only having them at our dinner time (5:30) now.

That is pretty much it for our weekly wrap up and summary. We are just trucking through everything, enjoying it as we go.

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Five Minute Friday on the farm

by Meghan // November 18, 2016 // Comments off

Today I would like to participate in a little blog hop- called Five Minute Friday.

The topic today is Enjoy.

This week I have enjoyed the leaves and fall weather. It won’t be here much longer, as the cold is setting in and the wind has picked up. The leaves are now falling from the trees and soon they will all be bare. It is hard to believe our first year at the farm has passed.

I enjoy our children and animals. We added 6 more ducks to the farm (via a friend in Arkansas), and they are very happy it seems. Four of them are Pekins, 1 a white Campbell, and the 6th a khaki Campbell like the 7 ducks we already have! They are all known for their great egg laying and meaty bodies.

I enjoy scratching on the calves and feeding them when my husband is traveling. Usually he goes out and feeds them while I clean the kitchen after dinner. But when he is gone I feed them and love on them. They’re sweet, although rowdy at times.

What do you enjoy?

Link up below!

Disclaimer: Some links on this blog are affiliate links; when you use those links you help support my family, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!