Perks of working

There are several perks at working at the museum. There are these passes called REAP cards that got us into other museums and attractions for free. I especially loved the zoo, children's museum and OMSI (our science museum). I have to give that card back.

The other major perk is I have an iPhone 4s paid monthly. So not only do we have to get a new plan to add me again but once you have a really smart phone it's hard to go back. I started my reasons why I will miss my iPhone 4s on Facebook but I will list them all here instead of taking over the newsfeed. Haha!

#10: not being able to entertain Kaden when we are waiting for something or in the wee hours of the morning when he's awake and I'm not quite ready.
#9: when waking up every three hours to nurse Addysen it helps me stay awake through her feeding.
#8: to easily sync all my contacts, calendars, email to my Mac and Joel's info.
#7: to FaceTime my niece Chloe! She is so funny over video.
#6: to quickly stay connected. I have a laptop but it's easier to pick up my phone where ever I am in the house and text or call or fb etc.
#5: to read. While I'm waiting in line or at a restaurant or in the car.
#4: for directions. I am constantly unsure of where I am or the best way to get from point a to point b.
#3: my new friend seri. She helps me look up stuff quickly and efficiently.
#2: a platform that I'm really comfortable using. I'm an apple product girl. I know how it works or where to look things up at, etc.
#1: to capture memories. I love the photo and video options. Easy to share and good clear pictures. Won't you miss adorable pictures of my kids like this???

Stay at home mom?

I never imagined myself as a stay at home mom. I always figured this day and age you HAVE to have dual income to do anything. But by faith Joel and I have decided that I quit my job at the Portland Art Museum. I have actually enjoyed the past 12 weeks of maternity leave. I can't believe how fast time flies by. The hours at the museum were crazy and not sustainable with two kids and Joel working. Some days I would not get home until 4am. The team was more than understandable when I turned in my two week notice.

I am thankful that when Kaden was a baby Joel was still finishing school so he was able to stay home with Kaden. We sent Kaden to daycare for a few weeks but it wasn't the right fit for us. Kaden was such a chill kid that Joel was able to take Kaden to meetings and he would just sit there and play or sleep.

So now with Addysen here it doesn't make sense to pay for child care for both kids. I would be just working to pay for child care. If we had grandparents around that could watch them would be one thing, but all our family down here have kids of their own to watch and take to sports events and stuff to add two more kids is silly. I am excited and scared all at the same time. Parenting is a huge responsibility.. And to have to be on my toes 24/7 is quite draining. I don't want to just plop them in front of a tv and call it good. (we don't have a tv to plop them in front of even if I wanted to... Lol). I will probably be working very minimally from home. But for now Joel is the primary bread winner. He is raising support to work at Missio and we now need to raise a bit more to cover our insurance for the family since that was a main reason why I was working. If you want to know more about how to support us financially especially so we can get our insurance covered you can email Joel.

For now I am trusting finances will pour in and am constantly reminded that God clothes the flowers in the fields and feed the birds so not to worry about our daily needs. I am looking forward to this next season of life and spending time shepherding these two little hearts toward their creator.

Cloth Diapers!

When Kaden was born we only knew a handful of people using cloth diapers. Joel and I were studying about creation care and how God calls us to take care of his world. We wanted to be more responsible with the earth God created for us to live in. So we dove into cloth diapers. We got a handful of Gdiapers and began our journey. But kaden was too skinny to wear them right away. We went about three months straight wearing exclusively cloth. But the thing with gdiapers is that they had inserts that were flush able... And just started to come out with bamboo cloth inserts. So, cost was the inserts were quite spendy. we ended up traveling to Seattle and buying a bag of disposables and when we returned from our trip we never went back to cloth.

Now with Addysen we decided we wanted to try again. This time with a lot more friends using cloth and lots more research on how to sustain using them long term. We decided to go with bumgenius diapers. They are pocket diapers vs gdiapers have more pieces to assemble. So far we are using them exclusively and have a really good routine for washing, hang drying, stuffing the pockets and changing. These seem like a better fit for Addysen. We love the fact that we are saving money (diapers are just getting more and more expensive... These cloth diapers are one size that will grow with the baby). They are super cute too! And good for the environment. Right now with Addysen being exclusively breast fed the diaper can go right into the wash without rinsing the poo off. We will see what the cloth diapering will look like when she starts eating solids. A few people have been asking about the cloth diapers... I would love to pass on any research or answer any questions. I'm no expert but I have a few resources that could help. Since now I'm on permanent maternity leave I will make this investment in cloth diapers work as long as I can-all the way up to potty training.

One, TWO... Buckle my shoe...

Two months! Addysen is two months old. She is a whopping 10.11 lbs, 22 inches long and 15 inches around her head. She's finally on the charts. Haha! She is sleeping longer stretches and staying awake for longer stretches too. She's a fast eater and usually ends her feedings choking on the milk cause she's trying to pound down her food. Haha! At first I didn't know if she was eating enough but she's doubled her birth weight so I think she's fine. Her smiles are adorable, her giggles are so sweet and her big eyes communicates "everything is going to be ok". She can hold a pretty long conversation...She went swimming for the first time and absolutely loved every minute of it. She was stinkin cute in her little bathing suit. 

We spent her first week of being two months in Seattle celebrating auntie TD's grad and spending time with momma's family while dadda was on a retreat and working. It was a very fun week being very spoiled by everyone. Addysen is officially in cloth diapers full time and we love them! Big brother Kaden is still in love with his little sister. He does get impatient when he wants food and we are busy with Addysen. Kaden graduated from preschool and ended the school year with a field day with the daddies. The summer just begun and I have a feeling it's going to fly by super fast.