OK.

OK, here is a cute video that a friend of ours made for us. I love it, and it makes me love my kids even more!

I think it is fun to see the adorable outfit real mom's sport across the blogsphere, but on our limited college student budget and my distaste for trying on clothing (usually results in me feeling hot, itchy, like the walls are closing in on me) has resulted in my kid have way more stylish and adorable outfits. So instead of  WIWW I will be doing WBWW.
Here are a few of the outfits that I just love on her:

Headband: Etsy from CocoChicCouture Flower: 5 Petal Ribbon Flower made by Scary using instructions from MakeBows Stripped Shirt: Old Navy clearance rack White Undershirt: Carter Long Sleeved Onesie Worn with turquoise leggings from Walmart (not pictured)

Headband: Etsy from CocoChicCouture Flower: Gift (instructions for how to make a similar one can be found at Sew4Home) Dress, Long Sleeve Shirt & Leggings: Hand-me down from cousin

Headband, Shirt and Undershirt: Hand-me down from cousin Bow: Boutique Hair Bow made by Scary using instructions from Girly Thing Bows Worn with pink leggings from Walmart (not pictured)

Carter Little Sis Shirt: Gift from Momma Shaffer Pants: Borrowed from different Carter outfit.

Headband: Etsy from CocoChicCouture Flower: 5 Petal Ribbon Flower made by Scary using instructions from MakeBows

Thanks Jo for the great advice on marriage (Marriage: The Theory of the Laundry Basket) for looking for the best intentions in our spouses behavior, because we are all human and usually we are short on time and long on mistakes (I know that I am grateful for a husband that realizes all I do and that I might not have had time to do it all).

You know what? I love this guy!

Slim Jim with our sundaes from Ghirardelli  Ice Cream Shop in Las Vegas (Anniversary Trip)

Not because he has managed to keep his good looks (bonus) but because he is a romantic. He asks me on dates (no big deal you say?). Not just once and a while but all the time! With Slim Jim's work and school schedule it seems like weekly we have to re-evaluate what night and what time we are going to have our date night. I think that if it was up to my scattered brain we would probably only have date night once every month or one every other month. But lucky for me Slim Jim realizes the importance of date night and when he gets his work schedule for the week and looks over his school schedule he usually says something like, on a busy week: "We need to go on a date this night" or on a less busy week: "Would you prefer to go on a date on ________, __________ or ________ night." I then talk to my favorite babysitter, Al, and find a time that works for her.
What I usually contribute to date night is the activity. About a year and a half ago I caught the couponing bug, I went hard core at it for a while but then I found my coupon niche and left behind getting a boat load of cereal or yogurt. The only couponing I do hardcore now is local deal saving. I follow of the Facebook pages of many of our favorite local restaurants and other businesses. I also sign up for all of the text message deals that I can. In our city a group of local businesses have deals every day, the business rotates through the week. These are usually really good deals and it is fun to have variety. Here are example of a few of our dates from the last couple of weeks:
Pizza Pie Cafe - Receipt Day: found out about the deal via Facebook - Buy any item at full price on receipt day and get the same items you ordered for free by taking in your receipt any time in the month of February (Buy one get, one free later). We got a pizza bomb for each of us and then we watched Borne Identity while the kids napped.
5 Buck Pizza - Saturday Deal: found out about the deal via Text Message - $7 for Large Pizza and two fountain drinks. We did a family date for this one which Ryder really enjoyed because pizza is his favorite deal.
Great Scott's - Movie and a Drink: found out about the deal via Facebook - Buy new 90 cent fountain drink and get a free movie rental. Slim Jim and I went to dinner at Wendy's with a gift card his grandma had given us for Christmas. We then rented two new releases and had a 44 oz drink for $2, nothing like putting the home theater to use while the kids are sleeping.
Nielsen's Frozen Custard - Date Night Special: Monday-Thursday all day they have various $5 dollar deals that makes for a nice weekday date. During Ryder's nap we got two hamburgers, two frozen custards, two drinks, two fries and we paid our baby sister (Al) in a chicken finger meal deal (chicken fingers, fries, a small custard and a drink).

Classic move- I learned the tight squeeze move from mom.

I think the biggest thing I have learned in my 4.5 years of marriage is that date night doesn't always have to be on a Friday or Saturday night (it actually will save you money a lot of times and you might get to enjoy a more quiet location if you go on a weekday or during the middle of the day). It isn't about when you go just that you do. It seems like every date we go on helps Slim Jim and I recharge our marriage batteries.

(Rainforest Cafe Las Vegas- Anniversary Trip) After Several Failed attempts of a self portrait this is the one we got and I love that Slim Jim is making this face because he is showing his great sense of humor. That sense of humor is what I fell in love with and what I continue to enjoy with every date night.

So as you may know, I am pregnant with my second baby and very excited. The biggest concern on my mind with being pregnant has been my fear of those few intense hours leading up to my perfect angel coming out into the world. I was fairly nervous about labor and delivery before having my first and when I got pregnant again, I found myself I am about twenty times more anxious. Let's just say the first time was a less desirable delivery. With that experience I vowed I needed things must change.

This pregnancy I have switched providers, I am seeing both midwives and doctors, I have my own personal doula, and I'm taking a fairly preparation heavy birthing class with my husband. It is a completely different and wonderful situation. Instead of dread, I really find myself excited for this bundle of a surprise to come.


"What makes the anticipation so high now?" you might ask. Well I'm doing a method and class called Hypnobabies where you put your self into self hypnosis and meditate. Epidurals are not generally needed because your body can produce it's own anesthesia if you can visualize it. I know, it probably sounds 110% crazy, but it does work. Last class we experimented with it by being under hypnosis and our husbands pinched the back of our arm. It felt more like pressure than discomfort. Later not in hypnosis they pinched us so we could compare how it felt. It hurt.

The other thing I love is the focus on a positive and peaceful pregnancy. Everyday we are supposed to listen to a joyful pregnancy affirmation track on our CD. It talks about how our body is normal and healthy, and then it goes on to say that you have control of your baby and the decisions that lead up to it's coming. It says much more than that, but you get the general just of it. It's very empowering and I wish I would've had it with my first.

AL:
First of all I would like to officially declare that I am definitely left brain functional. I’m not exactly sure what my sisters will say about me, but most of the qualities fit me.
Evidence: I LOVE to plan and have always had goals set for way in advance. I reason through logic most of the time and rarely through emotion. Things need to be said exactly how it happened. On my first real summer job I had I got called "Miss Exact" because of this. I really enjoy math and science (hence the Physics Education degree). Even when assembling the most simple of things, I always read the directions first and double check that I have all the needed parts. I love solving equations, organizing, and bluntly dealing with reality.
Deviations: I hate to teach using lecture and discussion and if I had my choice in the matter, I would do hands-on activities for 95% of my science lessons. I am more into fictional stories than nonfiction. I read sitting up and laying down (it doesn’t really matter as long as I get to read). I think I’m pretty good at sports (namely volleyball and basketball) and I enjoy artistic things like painting, drawing, and sewing.


As opposed to my extreme left brain, I would say probably both of my sisters are right brained (the first much more so than the second).
JO:
99% right brained.
Evidence: Things are definitely done spontaneously. Lol. It always makes me chuckle when I get updates on what’s going on in her life. She definitely acts on feelings and doesn’t usually think all the exact details out before doing something. She is amazing at running and has always been into art. I remember with her last baby we were visiting her and she was having labor contractions and painting another masterpiece for her guest room. I’m not quite sure what her ideal classroom is like, but she doesn’t mind a busy, active, and noisy home. I think that’s a really good quality because she has four boys in a row that are all pretty close together and kind of wonderful handfuls.
Deviation: Not a cat lover. I’m not exactly sure about music, books, or studying. Keeping track of time is probably pretty important since there is so much responsibility for her, but I think that this might be a recently acquired characteristic (since growing up, i.e. getting married and having kids).


SCARY:
Even though I declared her as right brained, I thing she 2/3 right and 1/3 left.
Evidence: She often reasons with emotions. Is creative and artistic. She plays most sports, is into photography, plays music, sews things based on an idea she had (doesn’t need a pattern) and they turn out beautifully. She’s really good with people and definitely thinks really deeply about everything. I don’t think she usually reads directions when assembling an item. It’s funny when the two of us are together when a new item needs assembled. Lol.
Deviations: She is always making to-do lists and likes non-fiction biographies and other factual and unexciting things to read. Prefers classical music as opposed to rock and is definitely not a cat lover. She’s not usually unpredictable (but maybe that’s just cause I know her so well). I think she likes to read independently and study in quiet places. I know that when she was in school she would go to the quiet floor of the library to do homework. I could never go here because there was no sort of noise to tune out.


CONCLUSION:
The great thing about sisterhood and especially our sisterhood, is how no matter how different each of us are, we still are really close. With the three of us together we make a dynamite team and a triple threat. We generally support and defend each others decisions. And whenever we are together, we spend hours together having sisters council. This is no kind of formal meeting, but just an assembly in which we all spontaneously end up together in a bedroom sharing stories together. I've been lucky because I am the youngest and many of them have been benchmark moments in my life. I remember when I had my first period. Erika was home visiting and we all ended up in my room looking at the stars on the ceiling and telling funny stories about what each of us had gone through. Time after time we are always there for one another.

It's so great to have a sister. They are the only people that you can truly share everything and know that you can trust their confidence for life. They sympathize with your perspective and let you know that you're not alone in your struggles. I really don't know where I would be without my two sweet sisters. Both have impacted my life and given me the confidence that makes me me. I love them dearly.