Beginning the Essential Oil Journey

Young Living Essential Oils

It's an Oily Beautiful Day!

      Well I've been converted. I'm even more "hippie,"  "granola," and "crunchy." I currently cloth diaper, breast feed, try and eat organic, reduce/reuse everything possible, craft to my little (or fat) heart's content and now I'm eyeballs deep into the love of oils! 

      

       When we moved to lovely...deserty Tucson I never realized that I had chronic allergies   (way to go desert) and suffered from a sever sinus infection every few months. The doctor prescribed me nasonex and clairitin daily. Now I  don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of a daily medication... I had had enough! So I broke down and asked my friend who has been posting daily testimonies of these lovely oils. Next pay check I ordered the starter kit (pictured above) and haven't looked back.  

My precious allergy trio roll on 

       I'll begin my first testimony with my allergy trio roll on for my dang "chronic desert allergies." Like I said before since we moved here I was the victim to awful sinus infection like literally every few months and being pregnant most of that time and now breastfeeding I'm very limited on medicine I can take. In comes this sweet thang! Lemon, peppermint, and lavender young living essential oils, 5 drops each mixed in with I don't know how much carrier oil, probably around 30 drops. So far I apply as much as needed throughout the day to my neck, behind my ears, wrists, throat, you name it.  So far so good. Only the test of time can tell me how successful they are. The great thing is I can ingest this too. I plan on making capsules when my new order of peppermint and lemon come in. If anything it smells lovely and awesome.  I'm not a big fan of peppermint and love this combo. I should make a post on Young Living itself and why their oils are superior and the only safe brand to use and ingest, but here is the webpage... go check it out. Specially the Seed to Seal deal. Really awesome stuff peeps. 

Young Living  

The terrible teething...or constipation... or growth spurt?

Take Me off the Frying Pan 

this Mommy is Brain Fried

    See that? That scrunched up face of just pitiful whiney crying? That was my day... all day. And being new to this whole Mommy thing, it's a guessing game as to why this was permanently affixed upon my wee one's face. 

       What's funny is it could be one of like 12 things! Gas? Teething? Constipated? Growth spurt? Instinctual knowledge that Mommy didn't sleep well? Either or it was a long day. And nothing worked even after a decent poo (tmi yea yea when you become a parent you become obsessed with poo. Color, texture, how often is like the baby guide book of all thats going on in that thing). Being held and cuddled worked for a bit buutttt if your kid is like mine, cuddling never happens. Looking around, standing, reaching and grabbing etc but nooooo... can't be put down and doesn't like to be baby worn! Ugh the experiences of the already strong willed baby!

       I'm sure there were other Mommy's that felt that way today too. But tomorrow is a new day! Rise and Shine and give God the Glory! (for those who know this song you are welcome)

Mommy Thoughts

 Thoughts From This Mommy

       I sit here on my couch and stare at my no-nap Wednesdays (well any days) beautiful baby. I'm so lucky--no blessed to have her. She's extraordinary in every way and hilarious with her crooked grin and chatter box jabber. She's a petite overachiever and a slow weight gainer. I take a guilty pleasure in having a mini me but with her daddy's soulful eyes and energizer get-into-everything attitude.

Chillin, watching some TV and perfecting the projectile squeal

           I'm amazed by the fact that just 6 months ago she was born. I'm awed and in wonder when I kiss her downy head and smell her lavender baby smell that my body was able to house this beautiful creation that the Lord blessed me with. I know I'm biased but she is baby perfection.

 Looking like a little pirate at the park

           Though somedays we never set foot out of the house, it's never a dull moment.

Peaches... she actually isn't a fan

              And when we do it tends to be an adventure. Whether a monsoon flood with some couponing mixed in or just trying to juggle baby, carseat, stroller, and diaper bag is a huge accomplishment and a sweaty new workout I've mastered in this darn desert heat. Either way I'm learning to love this new stage of my life and stumbling around trying to balance every different aspect is never anything but interesting.

So Tir...Focused!

Focus T-25

    Being a stay at home new mom who has very easily jumped back to the weight I was right before I birthed my beautiful nine pounder baby, I was feeling really bummed. And fat. And heavy. Tired. Jiggly. Acne prone. And the list could go one! Seriously and on and on... So, around 2 months ago I started to try and cut things out. Pop (I barely drank any to begin with), as well as, desert-y stuff like cake and cookies. My big problem was and still is portion control. Breast feeding doesn't help either... hungry all. The. TIME! Well happy day I lost 10 lbs in a month.

     In jumps T-25. I started T-25 a month ago, got sick and week into it. Boo! I finally have been able to start up again and been doing it a week and a half. Though I haven't lost weight I feel better and my legs feel firmer again ;) . Still flubby and jiggly but I've come to terms I always will and I'm ok with that! Next goal is to finish T25 and do the best I can and to eat smaller portions. Which stinks, like big pile of newly introduced to solids baby poo...

Baby Cannon

Eva-Marie Jewel

9 lbs 1.5 oz

19.5 in

and a head full o'hair

     Well it's been a whirlwind hiatus from the blog the last few months. Since my trip to Georgia I have been busy busy. Then to top things off a week before our little Miss Eva Marie arrives my husband falls victim to his traitorous appendix! My mom was able to come out a week earlier than planned because of it though. It was a huge help...and re arranged my entire house. She's been gone 2 weeks and I'm still calling asking her where some of my things are haha.

      I know a lot of people post their "birth story" but mine was uneventful so I'll keep it short. I was induced bright and early Monday March 10th and was in labor a grand total of 2 and half hours before I caved for that epidural lol. In my defense my contractions never ended... it was just one continuous contraction and I still had 12 hours to go (I'm not a nice person when I'm in pain).

 Playing the waiting game

     My right side never numbed accordingly and to fix it the doc lady gave me the dosage used for C sections...lets just say I felt nothing for 3 hours haha. Bad side effect was my left side was so numb I couldn't even lift my left leg and that got annoying quick. I tested positive for that strep b and was given four doses of antibiotics before she arrived. About 8-9 PM I began to run a fever and Eva wasn't reacting to my contractions like they wanted her to. Some kind of movement indicating she was moving toward the birth canal. I ended up having them insert a certain thing that measures my contractions from the inside next to the placenta to see how strong they were and if they were strong enough. With my fever and her lack of reactions to my contractions my Ob was starting to be concerned for both of us and if things didn't change a C section would have to be consider... something we didn't want. Lord willing though with more pitocin and a will to avoid a C section at all costs within Eva's safety around 10 PM I was ready to push. I was a world champ pusher and Eva arrived 28 minutes later. 

      I'm not sure how most women feel after giving birth. A numbness and relief fell over me. The immediate relief of her leaving my body was one I won't ever forget. Watching my husband hover over her as they checked her vitals (she had a slight fever as well and I wasn't able to hold her for almost 20 mins after she was born) the joy and pride on his face. To be able to finally see the child God knit together in my womb and to hear her cries are things you can never forget.

     I love her more today than the day she was born and know that it'll just continue to grow...it's a scary awesome feeling!

First visitor!

Beautiful

Visiting her new best friend! Little over a week apart!

After Eva

    Let us just say that I didn't enjoy pregnancy. I'm blessed to no end that I was able to not only conceive my precious baby, but have a healthy pregnancy with no complications and carry her to term, but I didn't overly like it. I was a complete bum and then I was so much heavier than I was used to that I hurt a lot. I barely left the house, which in turn caused, for lack of a better word, "depression." Since then, though, Eva has managed to venture to the zoo ...

9 days old

been to Costco (we love that store!) Arizona Renaissance Festival...

   And a lot more I'm sure, but what's cooler than a Ren Fest?!?

Newborn Pics!

The Adventure Begins!

     

Baby Cannon

34 Weeks and Sleep Deprived

How far along: 34 weeks and 1 day

Total weight gain: just around 20 lbs, technically I'm not allowed to gain anymore since I'm considered overweight-lame

Maternity clothes: yoga pants and t-shirts mostly and my random maternity tops

Stretch marks: getting some right in front :/ they say it's more about your genes than body butter…I believe it

Sleep: sucks… hips, back, ankles, tinkling...

Best moment: was able to go for a walk last night and not be miserable

Movement: a ton

Food cravings: cereal - anything in the pantry and chocolate soy milk

Labor signs: negatory ghost rider

Gender: Girl 

Belly button in/out: way in still, but my belly button ring is moving up my belly and I can now easily touch the "back" of my belly button lol 

What I miss: sleeping good and dear Lord Dr. Pepper or pop in general

What I'm looking forward to: not having to pee every time I get up and having this little karate kid

Milestones: finally hung up a picture in the new house and slowly getting nursery in order

Everyday Life

The Life in the Military…

Unless YOU know first hand

Shoosh

    I haven't written in a while. Moving while 8 months pregnant wasn't easy and a month and a half later still isn't completely finished. But that isn't what is on my mind today.

    This topic has been on my mind for a while now. And was refueled today after seeing a anti-military rant from a "girl" with not an iota of knowledge on what she said. A few months ago I read a blog written about support of our military and he wasn't going to because he didn't see why they needed it.

     Now before I joined the military via my husband I hadn't a clue either. I didn't have an opinion either way really.  I had no interest and never even knew anyone in the military. Boy what an eye opener when I befriended a woman who was in the service and her husband was and still is. She was my pastors daughter. I remember sitting on their couch talking and laughing while she was staying with her parents during one of her husband's deployments. I remember her phone ringing and the instant seriousness and sober air that clung to her. She picked her phone up, more like clutched it, and took the call in her room. It was only 15 minutes long… Little did I understand how meaningful and heartbreaking one 15 minute phone call was and is. She came back more sober than she left but knowing her husband was ok eased the tension around her eyes and softened the stiff set of her shoulders.

   I don't think people understand how much a service member sacrifices. Yes, some join to serve their country, some join to get schooling, and some join because it's the only way to support their family. And, yes, some are turd smugglers and jerks and all they want to do is shoot a gun…I've met maybe two like that. Yep that's right two. The others have families and bills and responsibilities. I have been actively living the military lifestyle for only eight months, but I have already seen two fathers deploy with multiple children under four, my friend I mentioned earlier just had their second child while her husband is deployed again, their son is barely four months old now and has yet to meet his daddy. My sister in law has her own horror stories of when her husband was deployed last year, things that I don't feel free to tell, that is her and her husbands own story.

    I love how people mention the military benefits…what benefits?! They are being stripped away quicker than I care to name them. My husband works easily 12 hour shifts for a minimum wage pay, his job he does now makes decent money at an airport, he chooses to make a career, though, because that's honorable and he has a goal and I'm ok with that. Yes, we get health insurance, but it's also taken from our pay really, as well as, my dental insurance and if I want to have my eyes checked once in a while. Our president wants to take away what little benefits we are offered now because they chose to join and put their life in danger… yes they did, but I'm so happy to let my husband go to a third world country and put his life at risk and loose even more of what we are "given" because he chose so. 

   What is sad, though, is I haven't even began to touch even the tip of what these families go through. I seriously mean the tip. Do you enjoy having Christmas surrounded by your family? Playing white elephant? A bar-b-que in the summer? Do you enjoy and at least tolerate where you live? They aren't even given that choice half the time. My husband would have given anything to be home for Christmas this past year. It was his second Christmas he couldn't spend with family… and I know there are families who have been in longer who have missed more holidays and birthdays and deaths…. You should take a minute and think before you bash the military, they sacrifice so much even when their own government turns against them, sometimes just to be able to provide for their families...