Nursing is the best..

Even toddlers know that..

My new present..

Nope.. not my daughter..

I got a new camera!

I am loving it. If only I could upload the instructions to my brain, directly. But i will have fun figuring it out along the way..

We are nuts. NUTS.

Certifiable.  And based on our love of "Photo Booth," it's obvious.  Enjoy (at our expense). 

Im supposed to learn something, right??

I've turned another year older.  

I'm now 33 years young.  

And every year I gain, I get more and more introspective about my life.  Not surprising.  I know that as you get older you start to gain perspective that you don't always have when you are younger.  So, just because I know you absolutely will NOT be complete until you know, here are some things I've been chewing on: (that was sarcasm, btw). 

*people want to know what you think, but with the freedom to not have to think the same thing. 

*It may be best to keep your mouth shut. 

*It may be best to speak up. 

*Knowing the difference of when to speak up and when to be quiet is governed by a very thin line.  And you will spend the rest of your life trying to figure out that line. 

*I do not need to try and control my kids and their emotions.  But I can give consequences for their lack of control with them. 

*teaching your kids that it okay to be angry at mommy or daddy, is very freeing.  (but no, you can't call me names like "meany.").  

*a lot of the things that I learned about my parenting style were legalistic, controlling behaviors that I myself was enslaved too.  God's grace gives some great instruction in parenting. (and no, that doesn't mean my kids "run wild in rebellion."). 

*It's okay to not be okay.  It's okay to let others "not be okay."  It's GREAT to admit, out loud, that you are not okay.  

*life is a precious gift and no matter how difficult the day, the next one is typically a little bit easier.  

that's all for now. 

Shameless Plug! JUST DO IT!

Time to put in a shameless plug.

My sister Mishka makes an adorable Origami Christmas ornament from the Christmas cards and photos that friends and family members send to you EVERY year. She does the work for you. You just send her your cards and she mails it back to you. And for a great price.

check out her Etsy page..

Mishka's Etsy Page Here.

also, check out her blog here!

My life just got way easier..

It's been documented that I love my Moby wrap.. but my Isaac is quite the porker and i need a little extra support. To my rescue: The Ergo Baby Carrier.

He loves it!!

and so does she!!

In fact it holds up to 40 lbs so technically Jorge and Alex can get in it too.

It does a hip hold and a front hold. I seriously love it! I think every one should have one. it made cooking dinner so much easier tonight. I look forward to a long life with this thing!

My NEW Birth Blog!!

"Sweet Birth" Doula Services is my new home for all things birth/doula!!

I will keep this blog for personal family life "stuff" and have the other blog for everything birth related! So be sure to hop on over and become a follower of that one too!

Rachel G.

SAHM meets BPWNET...

Stay at home mom meets Big Passion With Not Enough Time..

Original, I know.

I have a huge passion for being a doula. A door that opened in ways and in a time in my life that is hard to comprehend sometimes.

I also have a major passion for being a stay at home mom.

I am having to learn it's okay to love both. But only one trumps the other. (thankfully, God is working out the kinks). And I know there will always be births. But there will not always be these years with my kids.

Not trying to compare the two. Just trying to allow myself the freedom to enjoy the doula work, but to also not let it consume me right now.

Make sense? No?

Didn't expect it to.. just thinking out loud.

Night. ;-P

Feeling the urge again..

Well blog friends (if you are still out there..).. i am beginning to get the "blog" urge again.

I have been disconnected (intentionally) for a few months now and am starting to feel the pendulum swinging back toward the center. A balance is presenting itself (rather, has been in the works) and I can feel the desire to actually start writing again.

Things here in our world are "life as usual." Busy. But in a good way. In a way that means "I'd miss too much if I were spending as much time on the Net as I had in the past."

Today I took the kids to our church "drop in" nursery (you pay by the hour) and I went on an errand spree. I did three things in an hour and a half that would've taken me double that time if I'd had all four kiddo's with me. And in the process got my Christmas cards w/family letter stamped and mailed out and also got some Christmas gifts ordered. I also went to return something at the Galleria. I am just so thankful for the drop in nursery at our church. It has been such a blessing for me.

I have a few blog posts floating in my head so i look forward to typing them out. So stay tuned.. that is, if you are still there. ;-)