Welcome to the Party!

On a much, much, MUCH brighter note, there is a thing going on called a Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Call me a Noob, but... well, I am a noob. I really am not too sure what's going on and with a one year old running me ragged, I just don't have much time to read everything on the rules page, but if you want to join the fun, just click here and read the rules. (well, I got the jist... I'm such a slacker!) In the mean time, I will sneak back here and read the rules off and on. I know there are tons of giveaways to be given, such as a Mod Mum Sling, and a great giveaway from Ju Ju Beane Boutique which is giving away a wall canvas and carries other great things... like clothes... (I'm crazy about baby clothes!!! Good thing I'm broke or I'd go... well, broke.) and tons of other great giveaways to be found on this post here. You can also get your blog noticed!
So here I am... the odd man out. I hope I can catch up! Welcome to my site, party goers and thanks for the chance to have a little fun!


OK... I've found out that I need a list (I'm posting as I read the rules... smart, huh? Just like college all over again LOL!) So here are my list of my top favorite giveaways!!! Yay!!!!

1. Number 54, I think I would die if I won this-- a 60 dollar gift certificate to Mikarose! The last time I wore a dress was to my wedding and baby, I need to wear another!!! This was gifted by Liza from Liza's Eyeview.

2. Number 34, Custom Tutu from Live Love Dance Boutique. I'm all about the little baby tutus and have always wanted photos of Anna in nothing but a Tutu! Too Too cute! :)

3. Number 37, a Moby Wrap gifted by From Dates to Diapers. I've always wanted to try a Moby Wrap and would love one for our next baby! :)

4. Number 80, I also had to mention the cutest little Scripture Doll that was gifted by Live, Laugh, Blog. It's absolutely adorable and would make a great Easter gift!

5. Number 67. And finally, a blog makeover by Shauna at See My Designs. This would be good old fashioned fun! :) I'm curious as to what she would do to my blog!

6. Number 117, Somehow I missed the 25 dollar gift certificate to Target! How dare I? I am a huge Target fanatic. This is just... just... unthinkable! Gifted by Mommy Bytes.

7. Number 15, a 50 dollar gift certificate to Kids Magical Wonder Boutique! Like I said, I am crazy about kids clothing!

8. Number 47. These flaming baby legs are so stinking adorable! I'm hoping for a baby boy next, so we'll see how that goes in a few years. Gifted by Fire Mom.

9. Number 101. Women's Devotional Bible which is just gorgeous! I love the green cover, but most of all I love that it is a Devotional Bible. I've never had one before and I think it would really hope to cement my new commitment to God to keep up on my reading and prayer. Gifted by Jubilee on Earth.

10. Number 50. 12 Beautiful classic boutique bows! I am such a hair clip and bow nut! I would love this set for my daughter and she will wear them every day (once she gets real hair in, that is!) Honestly! Gifted by Mommymandy.com

I would be happy to win anything really if any of these prizes have been taken. I also have my eye on the two nursing covers. They will get plenty of use since I intend on nursing my future children as well. Thanks! :)

Edit #4-- LOL... thought I ought to introduce myself. My name is Sarah. I am a Christian who loves Jesus Christ. I'm a stay at home mommy to my little fifteen month old daughter, Anna, our only child. I am still breastfeeding with a goal of two years... if we make it.... she has weaned herself down to 3 (average) nursings per day. I am a college grad and want to go back for an Education degree some day. I can't wait for baby number two. I really love to write... therefore, the blog world is a great one to be in, but not live in. I'll try to blog without becoming an addict.
My husband Paul, my daughter, and me at the park this last weekend.

Little Bro

I was thinking about my little brother last night. Every so often, memories come flooding back to me of him. I remember floating down Canyon Creek on our inner tubes when we were kids. I remember him being so obnoxious! I remember snubbing him with my best friend... we would make him play the girl or the homeless kid... the crappy parts. And then I remember the last time I saw him. I remember that he was stationed on the Oregon coast and was nearby and wanted to see me. At first I wanted to tell him no or make up an excuse, but for some reason I really wanted to see him. I talked hubby into driving over there and borrowing money for gas, but Sean surprised us instead. He came here. We ate lunch at Shari's and he got to see his little niece. He showed me his rippling abs and gave me one of his patches. That was the last time I saw him. That was October. Two months later he was dead. Two months later he was gone. Two months later he did the unspeakable... something that I will never understand... Something that although I saw his unmistakable high hairline and freckled nose sticking out of the casket that day at his funeral, that I will never believe.... he committed suicide. I still don't believe it. I still expect him to call me and annoy me. I expect to see his name on the phone and think, "Oh great! Sean has something to say that will annoy me!"... I regret saying those things and feeling those things. Of course, I thought he would live to annoy me until he was forty. Just like any good little brother should. I still don't believe it and I still don't understand it. The good thing about dreams is that I get to relieve that last hug from October over and over. As often as I want. I miss my brother. I love my brother. The hardest thing about all of this is not the fact that I will never get to see him again or that I will never hear his voice again... I think that it's the fact that I don't know where he is. A part of me wants to believe that he cried out to God in his final breaths. I heard once that strangling deaths are long and drawn out. I pray he had time to realize his sin and cry out for forgiveness. But a part of me remembers his bitterness toward God and I think he did this in spite of God and he would have done anything but admit he was wrong. I really hope that the former is true... that he is with God. I guess only time will tell. Some day I will be in heaven... but I think I will be too overwhelmed with the wonderful and awesome presence of God to search for my brother. There is no pain in heaven. So maybe I will forget about the pain of losing my brother and think on the joy of the Lord instead. And maybe in the meantime I will have years to heal from this pain and sadness.

The Toddler Bed

Anna has a toddler bed now. She so far has been taking to it just fine, but do you know what I discovered? If I give her my pillow she falls asleep fast! I think she recognizes my scent and feels comforted. It's amazing. I know that the end of our cosleeping days is coming soon and that's sad, but I really do need some sleep. I'm exhausted. She really isn't a good sleeper and has never been a good sleeper, so even if she takes to the toddler bed and gets her own room, I fear that it won't do too much good and she will never really fall asleep and then sleep through the night. I've never been a morning person, either. So maybe this is some secret evil plan... I don't know. I really don't believe in any of that hoo haw anyway. I believe in God. I should believe hard that the Lord will help Anna feel safe and secure and help her sleep through the night at last!

Coloring!

Anna loves to color--on everything... plus she likes to taste the crayons. It's tons of fun! I'll have to scan some of her creations. Right now she is coloring in Grandma's journal beside me as I type on the laptop at the kitchen table. She wants to color on other pages rather than just the one--stubborn little thing! Now she's trying to stick the crayon int he bindings of the journal--all bitten and worn down. She has a giant floor pad to draw on and it's so funny to watch her. She lays down on her tummy so she can draw on it and holds the crayon in the perfect position in her fingers that you and I do--like she is so much older than fifteen months for just a moment. She is the most important little person in my life... so lively, so beautiful, so wonderful. I am blessed!

We Have Clippage!

After months of baldness--fifteen to be exact--my daughter finally has enough hair for a clippy! Sure, I have to shellac her little hairs together with my husband's hair gel, but it works. And I'm glad. I've told my husband hundreds of times that as soon as Anna has enough hair, I'll go clippy crazy. And sure enough, I have.
Maybe now all of the people we meet will stop calling her "Little Fella" and "boy" (even when she's wearing so much pink my husband complains about it, she's still a little fella!!!) *sigh* Probably not. Wishful thinking.
Bow photo added for comic relief. :)

*edited to remove photo*

New blog finally... wild child on lap.

I've come to the conclusion my daughter is a monkey... she's not furry... although she was pretty fuzzy at birth. She climbs... constantly, she often makes sounds that do not sound like human language in any way. (Pause, chase child away from mouse!) I often wonder when that particular time of conception occurred.... I do not drink(chase child away from keyboard) alcohol of any kind, I do not do illegal drugs.... the strongest drug I do is Tylenol every so often... so when did I meet my monkey man and create a monkey baby with him? I do not know. I am absolutely stumped. However... I do find joy in knowing that my monkey baby... if she ever gets out of hand... can be threatened with living with her real family at the zoo.... but she's pretty good and isn't hard to (chases baby away from mouse again) watch after.... so I think I'll keep her. And the zoo will remain a field trip instead of a visiting session of some sort (Pause, sit child down).
*edited to remove photo*

Email me!!!

I am creating this blog because I deleted the old blog, but it still links to my blog if I enter contests from Prizey... so... If I won, please email me at sarahmarie.pemberton@gmail.com