Ain't Nobody Got Time for the Home Button.

I am about to tell you about a life changing feature on your iPhone or iPad.

My friend, Cait, taught me about this and our lives will never be the same. 

Here's the tip that can change your life if

you're like me and you share your iPhone or iPad for a brief moment of silence.

Or out of desperation to gain just 5 more minutes of shopping. 

Or to quiet the screaming on the overtired car ride home. 

Or to distract at a restaurant to avoid a scene.

Or if your child is like Adalyn and is obsessed with the Home Button. 

Playing with Siri is easy and fine, but only keeps her busy for so long.

But when it's given with a purpose of a video or a game within .02 seconds of holding it she closes the app, hands it to me saying "moh" or "uh oh".

Over and over and over. 

Still keeping her busy and avoiding scenes? Yes.

Annoying? Yes. 

Feeling counterproductive? At times.

Well, these feelings are no more. 

There's a magic feature hidden in the settings.

Settings--> General-->Accessibility.

 Accessibility--> "Learning" Guided Access. 

Put Guided Access "On" and set a 4 digit passcode. 

When you open an app, click the home button 3 times and then click start in the upper right hand corner. 

You have the ability to turn off all hardware buttons {this is what we always do}, touch screen and motion. 

When you want to get out of the app just click the home button 3 times and type in the passcode.

When I first heard about it I thought that seemed like kind of a lot of work {laziness at it's finest?}, but oh my goodness gracious is it worth every step. 

I seriously wasn't kidding. 

This is life changing.

Can I get an amen?

Set it up, sit back and watch your child press the home key over and over and over with the app staying open.

Saturday's Scene

Today I was flying solo with Little Miss Manners while Mr. B was in a wedding out of state.

We haven't been home in about 3 weeks so this was the first night in a while Adalyn slept inn her crib. apparently she missed it because she slept in until 9:45. I was thinking her new wake-up time was 7:30 so this was a pleasant surprise and hopefully she will get back to her 8:30-9 wake ups! Anything before 8 in my book is too early. 

I seem to have gotten bit by the spring cleaning bug. This doesn't happen often so it's imperative to follow the urge before it goes far far away and tv and food take over. Wish I was kidding.

I couldn't wait to go through Adalyn's clothes. I loved seeing her in the bright summer clothes while we were in the Bahamas. Although we aren't ready for those clothes yet, I was so very ready to ditch the winter clothes {longest.season.ever} and break out the spring wardrobe. 

While I was sorting through, I looked over on the chair and saw her sharing her raisins with her giraffe. I love watching her little imagination and playing pretend. 
And yes, she carries a tub of raisins around for a snack.

Even though we just moved in January and there shouldn't technically be much "spring cleaning" to do....there is. 
Some areas need to be clean cleaned and some need to be more organized because I quickly found a spot for things. 

So I was fairly productive- as productive as you can be with a toddler clinging to you and/or taking out whatever I just cleaned out. 
I could've been more productive while she napped, 
but I decided to relax and edit pictures instead. 

We had some dinner, she helped me clean up destroy the bathroom,

she showered, 

played peek-a-boo,

and we read some books before bed. 

Love my days with my sweet girl! 

And now I blog, edit pictures, eat my twix and start Season 1 of The Secret Life because I'm 15 years old. 

Paradise Island

We recently returned from an awesome vacation to the Bahamas!

So far this has been my favorite vacation spot. 

It's perfect for all ages and so much fun!

A 30+ minute rapid river ride {lazy river on steroids}, water slides, giant aquarium, kids area, a million pools, beach, good food, night time entertainment. Seriously, loved it.

There were just a few things I wish the resort offered- a pool area for babies and to be more stroller friendly.  Adalyn loved their kids pool area, but at times it would be a little too crazy with the older kids and it would've been nice if they had a calmer area with slides and a little pool. 

These are my daily picture collages I posted on FB. I might do a post with some other pictures and details, but no promises since I seem to be severely slacking in the blogging department. Boo.

Time went by so fast and we had so much fun!

I kept saying that I couldn't think of a more perfect name than Paradise Island. 

Highly suggest vacation here and I can't wait to go back one day!

Never Say It

So I'm not superstitious by any means. 

I say "knock on wood", but don't truly believe it.

I don't believe in jinxing something.

BUT

It's a rule, as a mom,  to never draw attention to:

 your child's good eating habits,

or playing independently and quietly

or sleeping through the night

or how long their nap is

or, most importantly, how they haven't been sick in a long time. 

 {toddler time long= at least 3 weeks}

AND

I did it.

I broke the rule. 

I personally think talking about their good sleeping habits and their lack of sickness are a close tie, but sickness takes the win for me. 

This weekend I was telling someone that it seemed as though Adalyn was sick all late-summer and fall and ironically hasn't been sick much this winter. 

I then proceeded to tell this Ben later that day. 

It's amazing she hasn't been sick much this winter- she's been in the nursery, playgroups, the mall playplace, the gym daycare and she's been going strong etc etc 

To which he replies: Aren't you like not supposed to say stuff like that?

Yeah I know, but I already said it today and I wanted to share the realization that we've had a good stretch. Blah, blah, blah

And of course, the following night went down as one of Adalyn's worst nights yet. 

She only really slept from 2am-5am. 

Therefore I only slept from 2am-5am.

She was crying on and off the rest of the time. 

When I went to soothe her, I heard it in her cry...

and then I felt it on her face...

the snot faucet.

It was back.

I jinxed it. 

But I didn't, 

because I honestly don't believe in that. 

But I'm just saying.

The next day continued with a bad nap. 

I was so tired from the night before that we both ended up napping on her chair because it was the only way she would sleep so it was the only way I could catch some extra zzzzs.

I was worried that last night was going to be the same way, but thankfully she slept through and made up for the night before and woke up happy at 10:45am.

She was pretty mellow all day 

and then I had to wake her up from a 3.5 hour nap because we had to go to family dinner. 

And sadly, she's gone downhill since with a runnier nose, sad little cough and a pitiful clingy whine. 

But thankfully a little tubby time will always lift her spirits.

So the moral of the story?

Never say it. 

It's not worth the risk.

Keep it to yourself. 

God is in control. 

My words are not. 

I know this. 

But it's best to just not draw attention to such things. 

It's just the way it works. 

PS. We survived Nemo

Just Keep Swimming Sledding

The big historical snow storm of 2013 has begun.

Nemo.

{btw I'd love to be a fly on the wall of a storm naming committee meeting}.

{Saw this on fb}

We are projected to get 24+".

Which is insane.

I want to cry just thinking about it.

The snow was finally almost gone and now it's going to approximately as tall as half my body.

Yes, that means I'm short but in snow terms it's tall.

Hopefully they will stick to the stereotype and be wrong.

Adalyn and I braved the grocery store yesterday along with the rest of the city and their moms.

I timed it perfectly during her morning nap.

For those who are new to childrearing- that is the primetime to go anywhere in public, specifically when they're strapped in one spot for 45+ minutes.

Please note my sarcasm.

Yesterday was Mr. B's birthday

 and he was away traveling for work so we have big snowy plans this weekend to celebrate filled some some of his favorites.

He's on his way home early to beat the storm.

His cupcakes are baking

I'm making his favorite Orange Chicken tonight

Our crockpot will be busy cooking chili

bbq pulled pork

and chicken tortilla soup

Other snowy staples: Bacon, eggs, cinnamon rolls, OJ, milk, diapers and a few extra goodies for good measure.

This is our first storm on our own

Now that we have our own house and generator there's no need stay at the farm with my family. 

I think that means we are officially grown-ups and it's so bittersweet.

I am so ready for winter to be over, 

but we will make the most of it! 

We've got movies to watch, pictures to edit and, eventually, lots of snow to play in.

Aside from the warm food, the best way for us to make it through this is to

just keep swimming sledding,

just keep swimming sledding,

just keep swimming sledding

swimming sledding, 

swimming sleddingggggg.

Super Bowl

We had big plans last weekend.

A busy Saturday filled with errands, family time and party prep A fun Sunday with a full house filled with church friends for the Super Bowl.

We were looking forward to hosting in our new house. 

Everyone was coming. 

20+ people.

What are the odds that everyone could make it??

That never happens.

But our weekend went a little different than planned and we ended up having a different kind of Super Bowl Party....

I had a dream that I threw up. 

Woke up feeling sick.

Thought maybe it was in my head.

Told Mr. B.

He said he was feeling the same. 

Wonderful.

We quickly discovered we got it.

The stomach bug.

As if being sick isn't enough.

As if if being a mom and being sick isn't enough.

To find out your husband is also sick...

that's just a cruel, cruel joke. 

Like, so cruel.

This was the kind of sickness where you're on the toilet then quickly to your knees, then back to sitting, then back to your knees then make it back to sitting....just in time.

You know, in case you wanted all the dets. 

You're so very welcome :)

The kind where you need to pretty much sleep all day or you'll lose it. 

With a fever, achy joints and knife-like jabs to the stomach.

Par-tay.

{I know my last post was about my fertility fears, but

this sickness was confirmation that I'm not quite ready to be sick 24/7 just yet! Ugh, I forgot how miserable it is.} 

I was so thankful for my mom for coming over to rescue Adalyn-both for her health and to allow us to rest! 

This was also the first time I left her overnight-much sooner than I had planned!-it was really sad, but necessary. 

It made it easier knowing that I couldn't really take care of her though and I knew she was in great hands!

I appreciated all the picture messages throughout the day too!

So all that mouth watering party food?

Not so much.

Thankfully the worst of it was less than 24 hours.

We let the fresh air in, washed everything and lysoled every.thing.

And we've been praying health and protection for Adalyn because this bug is knocking down our family members one by one. 

We do not want her little body to get this nasty thing!!

And thankfully, every day she's been waking up happy and healthy. 

Mr. B and I are just about 100% better now and we are praying for no more sickness!

And that her immunity system keeps staying strong!! 

The positive to this sickness was it was a good jumpstart to my Bahamas diet.

But I'm eating cookie dough ice cream in bed at 9:45PM so...

you win some, you lose some. 

Future Fertility {Problems}

Since Adalyn was about 6 months old we've been asked when we will have another. 

The older she gets the more real it becomes. 

And the more scared I get. 

Right now everyone around me is pregnant.

Seriously.

I can count on one hand who in my life is not pregnant. 

I can't help, but get a pit in my stomach when I think about trying to get pregnant.

I don't want to try. 

I don't want to be on that emotional roller coaster again. 

I just want it to happen. 

But when you're not on birth control and you're aware of your cycle...you know when you're fertile. 

And 2 weeks later you know that nothing happened. 

Even though you're not technically trying. 

But on the other hand, the more important hand, I know that God is in control.

I remind myself every single day, multiple times a day, that He hasn't given me a spirit of fear. 

{Which just so happened to be what our church sermon was about on Sunday- I felt like it was a nice reassurance for me.}

We are approaching the 2 year Anniversary to the Prayer Meeting that I believe the Lord healed me and opened my womb.

I know our faith was tested and strengthened.

But I really don't want to go through that again.

I know what we went through isn't even half as bad as what many do. 

But a negative test is a negative test no matter how long you try. 

I also know that it really doesn't matter what I want to happen.

What I plan. 

I know that I can only do so much. 

I know who holds my future. 

I do take comfort in that.

This time I have the expectation that it won't happen right away so I know that will help too.

But I'm still scared.

I'm still dreading it. 

I'm still trying really hard not to be fearful. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is the perfect verse to get me through as we approach this "trying" season.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

{The Message}