Just for Moms

Boutique this Saturday!! Dec. 5

2009-11-30T16:53:00.001-08:00

I will be in a boutique this saturday, Dec. 5, in West Jordan!! (1253 W. Trimble Ln. (9160 S.) West Jordan. (Despite my almost due baby bump!!) This is going to be at my sister's house, which is just off 90th South, and 13th West- just down the street from the Jordan River Temple! It will be from 9am-1pm. My nursing covers will be on sale for $15!! And I also have a few other cool things I am selling! Plus, my sister is selling her clocks, and jewelry. And there will also be super cute designer jeans, and lots of other stuff. This boutique will be a great place to find a great deal for anyone on your Christmas shopping list!! So PLEASE stop by!!!
For more info, visit the Shop Til You Drop blog, or the Facebook event, where you can invite all your facebook friends!!

Help them adopt!!

2009-09-28T21:08:00.001-07:00

Meet Shian, Tom, and Gavin! I have known Shian my whole life- or rather, she has known me my whole life. She is one of my sister's best friends, and Shian's younger sister is one of my best friends. (Does that make sense? lol) Anyway, I know that Shian and Tom are wonderful parents to their son, Gavin, and I know that they will continue to be awesome parents to their future adopted child. Shian and Tom are hoping to adopt! If you know of anyone who may be thinking of giving their child up for adoption, please contact them! HERE is their adoption blog, and here is a letter to the birthparents of their future baby:)
Dear Birthparents,

We admire you for your courage to give your child life. We can't imagine the anguish you must be experiencing. Please know that we are praying for you. You will be guided in the direction you should go. We know you will make the best choice for yourself and your baby and find peace in your decision.

Our names are Tom and Shian (sounds like Shan). We have been married for 2 1/2 years so far and look forward to a lifetime together. Because we were both 29 when we were married, we wanted to add to our family right away. That obviously hasn't gone as planned. We have discovered the Lord has another plan for us. While we have not exhausted all infertility treatments, we really feel we have been led to adopt at this time and we couldn't be happier. We know there is a certain child meant to be a part of our family.

We promise to give unconditional love to any child placed with us. We are hoping for a very open adoption where the birthparents will become a part of our family, including letters and pictures, access to our family blog and in-person visits. You will be welcome in our home.

We sincerely thank you for taking the time to learn more about our family. Please feel free to contact us or our caseworker at any time. We are praying for every person who reads our profile and can't wait to meet our birthparents and baby. We love you already.

Tom, Shian and Gavin

Take a second, and VOTE for me!!

2009-09-17T19:30:00.001-07:00

I was a little hesitant to enter this "baby bump" photo contest, but the winner will get a new nursery! And since our hand me down crib is...well, not good, we could REALLY use this!! (Especially during the financial crunch we are in!) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take one sec, and go HERE to vote for me!!!! I AM PICTURE #109!! Just click over til you see me! Thanks SO much!!:)
(Voting STARTS Friday, Sept. 18 at 7AM, and goes til Sept. 30) PLEASE VOTE!

Discipline and Tantrums

2009-08-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

My daughter is starting into throwing tantrums. If she doesn't get her way, and just over other random things. She is 16 months old. My question is, what is your approach to discipline? I am not sure what would be appropriate for her age or within the next couple of months. I have overheard some Mom's say they started "time out" at 18 months. Basically my approach has been to ignore her or not talk to her until she calms down. That seemed to work for a little while, but she has now started hitting to get my attention when I ignore her. She will also throw things and lay on the ground and scream until I pay attention to her. Basically, I just want to know what worked for you. PLEASE leave comments! As I really need some help with this issue! Thanks everyone:)

"Couponing"

2009-08-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

So, everywhere I go these days I keep hearing the word "couponing" and how amazing it is.....you know the whole bit about saving so much money per month and getting items for free. I am the type of person who LOVES finding deals. I always shop the clearance section for clothes and baby items. But now that we have moved and my husband is back in school, which also means he will have no job for 2 years......and unfortunately that means we are living on students loans. Anyway, I really want to see what the couponing craze is all about. Does anyone know much about it? I would love to put together a "couponing 101 Course" and put it on this blog. So please leave comments! And e-mail me too (marissa_jarrett@yahoo.com) if you are interested in putting together something like this. I think there are lots of SAHM's out there that would love to learn!

It's a BOY!

2009-08-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

The profile
The little feet:)
And the proof.

His little face.
This morning, Car (my husband), my Mom, and I went to my ultrasound! I invited my Mom cause I know she only had an ultrasound with my youngest brother, almost 17 years ago! So I knew she would love it. (And she did:) But the tech told us each bone and organ in the baby's body, before she revealed the sex. I kept seeing a little somethin somethin when she would skim past the bum, and my first thought was "that cannot be what I think it is!" Car, and I were totally convinced that we were having a GIRL! No, not because of the home gender test, but because this pregnancy has been SO much different. I have been SO sick, and SO emotional. Everyone kept saying "it's cause you are having a girl". So we really didn't think there was any other possibility. But WRONGO! This little goober of a boy has been making his mommy sick, and crazy! lol All we could do was laugh when they said it was a boy- laugh at the fact that we were ALL SO wrong!! I have to admit that I thought I would be disappointed if it was a boy, but as everyone says- your true feelings show through when you actually know what you are having. And all I feel is EXCITEMENT! I can't wait to meet this little dude, and see how much different or alike he is to Charlie! His little ultrasound pictures don't look like Charlie's at all really! (they aren't very clear though, either).
Anyway, we are so so excited! And we will be naming him OWEN:) That is another good thing about having a boy. We were dead set on a boy name, but we kept going back and forth on our girl names.
I have always loved the name Owen, and it just makes me smile every time I hear it. Just like the name Charlie:) Another reason I love this name, is because one of my favorite books of all time is "Owen". It is about a little mouse that has a blankie and carries it everywhere! If you know me at all, you know that I STILL have a blankie that I rub the corners off of! I have had only 3 blankies in my lifetime, but two of them sadly are in their grave in my cedar chest because they are just rags. I love the cute story, AND the adorable name!!
We will be meeting this little guy sometime around New Years!! And I can't wait!:)

Nursing Covers only $15 EACH!!!

2009-07-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

My Charlie Cloths/ NURSING COVERS are on SALE for only $15 each!!! Plus FREE shipping! (In the USA) Take advantage of this offer, because when they are gone, they are gone!:) EMAIL your order to: rachellelaree@msn.com
Spring posies (far left), Chocolate/Mint Stripes (middle), Yellow blossoms (far right).

Purple/Yellow Cubes (far left), Cherry Blossom stipes (middle), Red starts (far right)

Country Colors (far left), Pink/black polka dots (middle), Sailor (far right).

Baby & Mommy Must Haves

2009-07-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

I want to share some of MY Must Haves:) I made myself a baby wrap carrier. And I can't wait to use it with my new baby!

You can carry your baby so many ways with one of these!
Lansinoh nursing pads are my favorite!! They are so thin that they don't bunch up in your bra, but they absorb a ton!!
A bouncer. My son got a lot of use out of this. I intend to re-cover it with cuter fabric for this coming baby.
A spa/sound machine. This saved me many nights, when my son kept on screaming!! His favorite was the sound of the birds with a stream.:) And it was only like $15 at Wal Mart. Great investment!!
A swaddle blanket, or as I like to call it, a "burrito blanket". When my boy started to get really fussy at night, this helped a ton!! I think they are like $10 at Wal Mart.
A nursing cover:) Shocker, I know. When I made my first one, I couldn't believe how much easier it was to nurse at church, or even at my house (if I had guests). I was a lot more confident too, because I didn't have to worry about trying to hold a blanket up with my teeth! (p.s. I sell these! Check out Charlie Cloths!)
A boppy pillow. My baby was a HORRIBLE nurser for the first four months, and this helped a lot, so that I could hold him better, and keep the shield on better. I am in the process of making a new cover for mine, to match the cover that I am making for the bouncer! Cute!
A nipple shield. My husband calls this the "human bottle". That's basically what it is. It totally taught my baby how to latch on, and not only that, but it helps if your nipples are super sore. I LOVE these!!
This nipple cream is amazing! My visiting teacher gave me some when I was struggling with nursing. It's not like the lansinoh, or other brands that are really thick- cause every time I used those ones, I had to rub it in, and it would grab the skin. Ouch! This stuff is really smooth. It's kind of expensive at $10 for a 2 oz bottle, but I am sure it will last me through at least 3 kids!

WHAT ARE YOUR MUST HAVES? Leave a comment!!

Another Sleeping Question

2009-06-22T05:18:00.000-07:00

What Time Do Your Kids Wake Up?

My daughter has been getting up at 5:30 am for the day and she also goes to bed pretty late (like 9:30-10:00). Last night I put her to bed at 8:30 and she still woke up just as early. She is 14 months and only takes one nap per day (usually sleeps a MAX of 2 hours) That's why I want to know what time your kids wake up. Is this a normal time for a kid to get up? Because to me it just feels too early.

To Brighten Your Day

2009-06-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

A Child's Angel

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. One day he asked God: "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"GOD replied, "Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you." The child said"But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy." GOD said "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy." The child continued, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that men talk?" GOD said "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak." The child then asked, "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" God assured, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." The child then asked, "I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?" God replied, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life." The child said, "But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore." God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you." At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard. And the child in a hurry asked softly: "Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." God's response...."Your angel's name is of no importance, you will simply call her 'Mommy'."

By: Erma Bombeck

CUTE IDEA

2009-05-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

I have been looking for things I can do with Kaylee to help progress her learning. She loves books and I think they are a great learning tool but I also wanted something a little different. I searched around and found these MEAL MATS. You can put them on your child's high chair while eating and basically they can go anywhere because you laminate them. Click HERE to check them out for children ages 12-24 month and click HERE for children ages 6-12 months.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-17T20:30:00.001-07:00

Wow, sorry this is so late! Life has been crazy around my house these days. But I want to wish all of you a Happy Mothers Day! I hope you all got spoiled rotten:) It is the hardest job in the world but also the most rewarding!

Also, I am attempting a "healthy living plan." No, not a diet! I hate that word. I really want to be a healthier person. I eat out WAY too much, snack a lot, and I have a MAJOR sweet tooth. I have always been a firm believer in exersizing and have pretty much stuck to a routine since Kaylee was born. But I want to change my eating habits. Especially since being home most of the time I have notices it is SO much more tempting to snack all day long. Before when I was busy at work and school I really didn't have time to snack. I barely had time to eat! So, I have a question for all of you......what are some healthy snacks for me? What do you all think of 100 cal packs? I have never tried them. And what about those Quaker Rice Cakes? Are they any good? I just hate spending money on snacks I either won't like, or make snacking habits worse.

Gender Prediction Test??

2009-05-13T18:48:00.001-07:00

I saw this gender prediction test at Walgreens a couple weeks ago. I have been reading up on it, and people are saying that it's 94% accurate!! It's pretty expensive though- $35. (At least I think it is. lol) Do you think it works? Should I give it a try?? They say you can find out as early as 6 weeks pregnant!! I might give it a shot just in case:) Would you do it!??

I'm expecting!

2009-05-13T16:49:00.000-07:00

I (Rachelle), figured I would share this awesome picture of myself:) jk But I am expecting baby #2 in December! My kids will be exactly two years apart! We are so excited!:)

Host a party, get a FREE NURSING COVER!!

2009-05-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

My little NURSING COVER business, Charlie Cloths, is trying to expand it's roots! If you would like to host a nursing cover party, IN UTAH, you will receive a FREE nursing cover!! Email me at rachellelaree@msn.com for the details! Anyone can do it!!

My baby won't eat...

2009-04-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

anything that is good for him! I admit, I am not the best at eating healthy either. But when I give him fruit, he won't eat it. When I give him mac n cheese, he won't eat it. When I give him anything that is even remotely nutritional, he won't eat it...

BUT HE WILL EAT...
Candles, and wax of any kind...Crayons...another waxy treat...
And last but not least, I caught him guzzling KY gel!!!! What the heck is wrong with this kid??! (I called my husband, who is a chemist & knows a lot about ingredients and formulation of products such as these, as soon as I saw him doing this, cause I thought I was going to have to get his stomach pumped or at least call poison control, but I was assured that KY gel is made to be edible. Thank goodness!) (Although that's just gross.)

Diaper Rash Continued, The Cure!

2009-04-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

After my whole experience trying to treat Kaylee's diaper rash, I thought I would share what I learned. I know a lot of you probably are already very familiar with what I am about to say but I know I have been clueless on most things like this since my daughter was born.

2 weeks ago I picked my daughter up from the sitter's and she had a horrible diaper rash. She has really sensitive skin and even 10 minutes in a soiled diaper can give her a rash. I treated it with EVERY cream I could buy over the counter and that didn't work, so I tried taking her diaper off and letting her play with no diaper for 2-3 hours, still nothing. In fact the rash started to get worse. I called my doctor and she told me it had most likely turned into a yeast infection. She prescribed me some Nystatin, which is an anti fungal cream about 2 days ago and since then her rash has gotten better everyday.

I am serious when I say that I bought EVERY single cream on the shelves. I want to cry when I look at the massive amounts of money I spent on creams. To save all you other Mom's out there the trouble, I have listed my top 3 diaper rash creams. Even though Kaylee's was a yeast infection,these creams still helped with the redness and the pain. And on her normal rashes they seem to get rid of them the quickest.

My number 1 choice in Balmex. It really does reduce redness in just one diaper change!

My # 2 choice in Aveeno Baby Soothing Diaper Rash Cream. This one really helped with pain, not as good with reducing the redness though. Also it smells really nice and cleans off your hands easily as well.
My #3 pick is Bourdeaux's Butt Paste. Everyone recommended me this cream, so I must admit I was expecting a little more out of it. The main thing I liked was there was absolutely no smell. And it cleans up easily. Also works for pain and redness, but not as much as Balmex or Aveeno.

Well, there you have it! My thoughts on Diaper Rash treatments!

Read more about Yeast Infections in Babies Here. This is a really good article from babycenter.com about signs, symptoms, and treatments.

DIAPER RASH!!

2009-03-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

What worked for you? I need some serious help on this one! Oh the joys of having to leave your kids with a sitter......grrrr! Anyway, she has a really bad rash and I have tried every cream out there......seriously! HELP!

Eat Your Veggies.......

2009-03-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

My question is about snacking and eating for kids. My daughter is almost one and starting to eat more meals with us. I am having a hard time coming up with meal ideas that are healthy for her. I also have the same problem with finding snacks. I would love to start her eating habits off right, but its hard because I am not the greatest eater in the world:) I would love any advice on snacks and meals that are healthy and enjoyable for kids!

Bottle Weaning and a Request

2009-03-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

My daughter is almost 11 months old and I am starting to get worried about bottle weaning her. She is SUPER attached to her bottle and she is resistant to drink from sippy cups. I have been trying to give her water/juice in her sippy since she was 7 months and she just won't have a thing to do with it. If anyone has tips on how they got their kids to drink out of sippys let me know and I would also love to hear tips on bottle weaning.

And my request is for our blog authors. I was hoping to make this blog a bit more personal. I was hoping that all blog authors could e-mail me a pic of themselves and a little blurb about themselves as well. Probably about a paragraph long....about how many kids, if you work, are in school....things like that. Then I was going to post the pics and description on the sidebar of this blog. If you are not comfortable thats ok. I just thought it would be kinda fun and make this blog more personable. Anyway, my e-mail is marissa_jarrett@yahoo.com. Thanks ladies!

COUGH REMEDIES!

2009-03-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

My daughter has a cough that is keeping her up most of the night. I have taken her to the Pediatrician and she says its a virus, so I need to wait it out. But if anyone knows of some home remedies that could help with her cold (besides a humidifier/prop her up at night) it would be MUCH APPRECIATED! We could both really use some sleep!

God Bless You Little Gracie......

2009-03-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

So, I have this thing for finding heart wrenching stories/families/situations.....whatever you want to call it through blogging. It seems I have run across quite a few through the media, friends or family. I like to donate what I can to help to the cause. Usually they are just asking for prayers and in my opinion your prayers can never be too long.

I had been meaning to post a link to the Gledhill's family blog......which then turned into "Gracie's Blog." But I never got around to it. I have been following it for 6 or 7 months. I was particularly intrigued because my Mom used to work with heart transplant patients at Primary Childrens Medical Center in SLC (where Gracie was at most of her life). And because she had big brown eyes just like my daughter. And I just thought the family was an incredible inspiration and example to others.

Here's the story. Little Gracie was born with a severe heart defect (can't remember the name, it says on her blog). She had open heart surgery when she was 4 days old. She continued to have problems and it was eventually decided the only treatment was a heart transplant.

When we left for our vacation a few weeks ago, the last I read on Gracies Blog was that she did in fact have a donor and would be receiving a transplant in the next 24 hours. Then I got busy with life and haven't checked it until today (I kinda figured she would have been fine). My heart is aching right now just writing this, but unfortunately Gracie's body did not accept the heart (they aren't sure of the exact reasons yet) and she passed away on March 2nd. She was only 11 months old. Almost the exact age as my little Kaylee.

Please keep Gracie's family in your prayers. And read the blog too. I promise it will touch your heart. Her family is so strong and such faithful servants of our Heavenly Father. They know that they will see her again one day. What a comfort that must be to them.

And to think I was sitting here complaining because Kaylee has the flu........now all I want to do is hold and rock her all night.

Life truly is fragile. Hug and kiss your babies more than usual today...and all your loved ones for that matter. Isn't it wonderful that we have the opportunity to be with our families forever?

here is the LINK: http://thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com/

Just For Moms!

2009-02-25T13:56:00.000-08:00

Copy and Paste the following Code into your blog as a cute way to link back here!! (Add a gadget in your sidebar, and paste the code into the HTML/Java Script section!)

Thanks Rachelle!

2009-02-25T13:13:00.001-08:00

My friend Rachelle created this header. Isn't it cute? I LOVE it! She has also created a link button that you can put on your blog that will link to this one. I just have to give her rights to do that. I am planning on doing that today so look for that button in the near future.

In case you forgot, Rachelle is the one who has the "She's Crafty" website. There is a button to that blog on the right hand side of this blog.

She is so talented!

Motherhood and Friendship: How Baby Changes Everything!!

2009-02-17T09:53:00.000-08:00

This article is very interesting. I know I can definitely relate. It is so true having a baby does change the dynamic of your friendships. This article gives some perspective on that. The author is Veronique Vienne. Click here to read it.

Ideas

2009-02-12T06:21:00.001-08:00

Since Valentines Day is just around the corner I wanted to share a few ideas I have seen. They are all cute and the best part, they are inexpensive.

The first idea I got from Rachelle's blog called "She's Crafty." Notice I now have a link to her blog on the right hand side of this blog. Click here to see the exact post/idea I am talking about. Way cute!I would highly recommend checking out the rest of her site for some other great ideas.

I also found this site. Click on it to find some awesome deals to restaurants. I got a $25 gift card for $10. All you need to do is enter your zip code to find the deals in your area.

And the last thing, if anyone wants or knows someone who would want a link/button to their site/blog on this blog let me know. Right now I have the I read Nie Nie button and the She's Crafty button, but anyone is welcome just let me know.

Ok, I promise this really is the last thing. I am looking for someone to create a custom design for this blog and also a custom link button. Let me know if you are interested! E-mail me at marissa_jarrett@yahoo.com

Hi There!

2009-01-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hi! I am Marissa's friend, Rachelle. We danced together in college, and just came back in contact! She told me about this blog, and I am so excited about it!!
A little about me...
I am 23, I have one baby boy, who is 13 months old. I am from Salt Lake, and I love to dance, sew, scrapbook, and be creative! (Marissa's last post had two of my craft sites, and they are also in the side bar!) I like to goof off, and watch chick flix! I HATE to clean the bathroom, and try my hardest to bribe my husband to do it, but usually end up doing it myself with a grimace on my face. I serve in the Young Womens. I love the gospel! I miss my girlfriends and having a carefree existence, but would NEVER change my life now that I know what it is like to be a Mom! I am already baby hungry.

Anyway, the reason for my post...
I need a little advice. No, I am not planning on getting pregnant any time soon, but I do want to have another baby maybe sometime next year. Here is where your advice comes in. I have a good friend who has been married for over four years and can't get pregnant. She gets really sad and upset when others around her are blessed with pregnancy, and I am SO scared to get pregnant again, because I feel like I would offend her and maybe hurt our friendship. What should I do!!? I HATE hurting other people's feelings, and I realize that I worry way too much about it, but sometimes I just can't help it! Any suggestions???

Cute Craft sites!

2009-01-15T06:10:00.001-08:00

This past week I have been so Lucky to come back in contact with an old friend that I used to dance with a few years back. She is very creative and makes the cutest crafts. She has two websites that I just had to share because they are so cute! I have also given her Author rights to the blog, so you may start seeing some posts from her, at least I hope so!

The first is:

http://charliecloths.artfire.com

This site has variety of items for sale and all at decent prices. She makes everything from flower headbands, aprons, nursing covers and lots of other things.

http://rachellescraftcorner.blogspot.com

This blog shows pictures of all the other things she makes. Everything is so cute! You need to check it out, it will be worth it:)

Teething.....

2009-01-05T06:23:00.001-08:00

My daughter is almost 9 months old and still has no teeth. She has been waking up at night lately and she seems to be in pain because her bottle doesn't help. I feel bad giving her Tylenol or Motrin every night. And sometimes I wonder if it really is her teeth bothering her since this has been going on for almost 2 months and still no sign of a tooth. Does anyone have any tips on teething? Or know the signs of teething? I am just in need of some sleep and if its not her teeth then I would want to try letting her cry it out. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

Biting Child

2008-12-21T22:08:00.000-08:00

I need help with what to do about a biting child. The little girl is 2 years old. She bites all the time! She will even take out the Binky, bite and put the Binky back in like nothing happened. She bites alot at daycare. Not really at home. What can I do to help her stop biting the other kids? Anybody know WHY kids bite? I mean other than being frustrated with someone and not being able to communicate.

Searching for the Christmas Spirit?

2008-12-21T18:48:00.000-08:00

Look no further! Read this talk by President Hinkley. I loved it. Merry Christmas everyone! Sorry I have been a slacker at keeping this blog updated. I have some fun ideas coming up after the Holidays.

Sick kid. Help!

2008-12-10T15:16:00.001-08:00

My year old son has been sick since Saturday. He has had diarrhea for 5 days now. He was throwing up Sunday and stopped and then started again today. We went to the doc for his year old appointment. The doc felt that he was well enough to give him all the year old shots. He got 5 total. We've been keeping up on the Tylenol to help with the fever. Giving him showers to help. He won't really eat or drink anything. He is so miserable. The doc said he isn't too worried about his sickness. But his first time mommy is. Any ideas on consoling my baby? Helping him eat something and keep it down?

Spiritual Enlightenment for the Week

2008-12-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry, with the holidays approaching I haven't had much time to update this blog. CLick here for another great and uplifting talk. This one is by Jean Knight Pace entitled "The Joyful Surprise of Motherhood." Here is my favorite part of the talk.

"Myth number one: Before you have children, you need to do everything else in life that is important to you, because after you become a mother, you’ll never be able to do that again."

"This is the most common thing I heard in the later stages of my pregnancy. What a terrifying phrase—“never be able to do that again”—as if I were going to have a terrible and disabling accident instead of becoming responsible for one of Heavenly Father’s spirit children."

I cannot even begin to count the number of times I heard this while pregnant. It really got me scared to have a baby. I honestly thought I would never do anything for myself again. I was lucky enough to be doing some research on motherhood before having my daughter and I cam across this talk. It helped me realize how much society and the church really differ and what matter's most is what our prophets have taught us.

great ideas needed...

2008-12-05T07:08:00.000-08:00

Me and Mat want so much to be better at reading our scriptures and praying and family home evening ... I am being very honest in saying that we have a really hard time sticking to all these things ... but we are constantly trying and we have the desire to be great at it ... So, the reason for this post is not to tell everyone that we suck (lol) but to get some ideas from you all ... How do the rest of you do it? Mat has a very unsteady schedule - it changes constantly so doing the exact same thing every day doesn't work ... like this week he's been going in at 4am and then some days he is there till 11 pm and his days off are ALWAYS different ... if anyone else deals with hard schedules and has any ideas for me PLEASE share... we need to figure out how to be consistent at these important things in an inconsistent world. Also, any ideas on making it fun for our very young children?

"Daughters of God" by Elder M. Russell Ballard

2008-12-03T08:26:00.000-08:00

I love this talk. Click here to read it. I know as a mom I need constant reminding of how eternally important this tough job is. I find that reading uplifting articles/stories helps me get through the "rough" days. I am going to dedicate this week, or what is left of it to this talk. Focusing on the main points. If you have an experience you want to share. Feel free to leave it in the comments, e-mail me, or post about it. I believe that's how we learn, by sharing our own personal stories.

{We are Daughters of God Week - Part 1:}

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

"I am impressed by countless mothers who have learned how important it is to focus on the things that can only be done in a particular season of life. If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only one-fourth of a parent’s life. And the most formative time of all, the early years in a child’s life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent’s normal life. It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the help of the Lord, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes. This eternally important work falls to mothers and fathers as equal partners. I am grateful that today many fathers are more involved in the lives of their children. But I believe that the instincts and the intense nurturing involvement of mothers with their children will always be a major key to their well-being. In the words of the proclamation on the family, “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

"We need to remember that the full commitment of motherhood and of putting children first can be difficult. Through my own four-generation experience in our family, and through discussions with mothers of young children throughout the Church, I know something of a mother’s emotions that accompany her commitment to be at home with young children. There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, monotony, and frustration. Mothers may feel they receive little or no appreciation for the choice they have made. Sometimes even husbands seem to have no idea of the demands upon their wives."

As many of you know, I am not a full time "stay at home Mom." Sometimes I really wish I was, but I don't have that option right now. I have been judged quite harshly by many for this. I loved reading this because it made me realize that, even though it may not seem like it, there are other's out there like me. And also, it made me feel like it was ok as long as I love my daughter with all my heart and I do!

Feel free to share what you liked most about this part of the talk!

Thanksgiving Recipes from Jessie

2008-11-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Jessie e-mailed me some yummy Thanksgiving recipes today. She has a blog that is amazing! It features her recipes with pictures that show the cooking process step by step. Which really helps out people like me. Check out her blog at www.foodbringsfamiliestogether.blogspot.com. Michelle has already featured it in a previous post, but here is again just in case you missed it.
Thanks for the recipes Jessie!

Pumpkin pie
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
4 large eggs
1-29 oz can pure pumpkin
2-12 oz cans evaporated milk
2-9 inch unbaked pie crusts

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a bowl. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Add the pumpkin and mix well. Add the sugar and spice mixture. Gradually stir in the evaporated milk. Pour into pie shells. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the temp to 350 and bake and additional 40-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 2 hours and then serve or refrigerate.

Cranberry Sauce
1-12 oz bag fresh cranberries
1 cup water
1 cup sugar

Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. Add the cranberries and return to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the cranberries burst or crack open. Remove from heat and put in a bowl, cover and cool completely. Refrigerate until serving time. This is way better than any canned sauce. It is amazing. You can even put a little orange zest in it for a little zing!!

Sausage and Apricot Stuffing
1 lb sausage-browned and drain the fat
1/2 cup butter
2 cups diced celery
1 1/2 cup onion diced
2-16 oz cans apricot halves-drain and reserve 1 cup juice
8 oz herb stuffing mix
8 oz cornbread stuffing

mix3/4 cup chopped walnuts-optional1 tsp each of poultry seasoning, salt and pepper Saute the celery and onion in the butter. Mix all the ingredients with the 1 cup reserved juice from the apricots. Mix well. Bake inside a turkey or in a 9 x13 pan until crispy and browned. 350 degrees or whatever degrees you are cooking your turkey. This is the best stuffing ever!!!

Quick 'N Easy Recipes from Marissa

2008-11-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

Like I said, this week is dedicated to recipes. So far, I haven't received any recipe ideas, so here are some recipesI make frequently that I like. They are quick'n easy because it seems like I am always in a hurry. If you have any recipes you want to add, please e-mail me!

Chicken Enchiladas

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2-4 chicken breasts cubed and cooked in a skillet
1 can green chills
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 pckg flour tortillas
1 8 oz tub sour cream

Directions:
brown cubed chicken in skillet. In a separate bowl combine and mix together cream of chicken soup, cheese, sour cream and green chilli's. Add chicken to the mixture. Spoon about 2 tablespoons mixture into center of tortilla and wrap tortilla enchilada style. Repeat with all 10 tortillas and place in a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

SouthWest Chicken and Pasta

Total cook time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
3 cups uncooked corkscrew-shaped pasta OR cup uncooked medium tube-shaped pasta (ziti)
2 cups broccoli flowerets, cut in 1" pieces
1 medium green or red pepper, chopped(optional)
1 can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup Salsa
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
Grated Parmesan cheese to taste

Directions:
COOK pasta according to pkg. directions. Add broccoli and pepper for last 4 min. of cooking time. Drain.
MIX soup, milk, salsa, chicken and pasta mixture in same saucepot. Heat through. Top with cheese.

Mushroom, Broccoli & Cheddar Bundles

Thaw: 30 minutes
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
2 pkg. cresecent rolls
1 egg
1 tbsp. water
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped broccoli (2 cups), thawed and drained
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 small onion, chopped(optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions:
THAW crescent rolls at room temperature 30 min. Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix egg and water.
HEAT oil in skillet. Add broccoli, mushrooms, onion and garlic and cook until mushrooms are tender and liquid evaporates. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese.
UNFOLD pastry on lightly floured surface. . Place 2 tsp. broccoli mixture in center of each square. Brush edges of squares with egg mixture. Fold corners to center over broccoli mixture. Press edges to seal. Place 2" apart on baking sheet. Brush with egg mixture.
BAKE 15 min. or until golden. Makes 32 appetizers.

Quick Chicken Mozerella Sandwhiches

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Prego Traditional Italian Sauce ( I always use prego, but I am sure any kind would do)
4 refrigerated fully-cooked breaded chicken cutlets (you can buy these in the freezer aisle)
4 slices mozzarella cheese
4 round hard rolls

Directions:
HEAT pasta sauce to a boil in skillet. Add chicken. Cover and cook over low heat 5 min. or until heated through.
TOP chicken with cheese. Cover and cook until cheese is melted. Serve on rolls.

In need of Thanksgiving Recipes

2008-11-19T16:14:00.001-08:00

I am in desperate need of some yummy recipes for Thanksgiving. I need a recipe for just about everything, stuffing, candied yams, pies......and anything else you can think of. I want to actually make something good this year. I am going out of town and won't be back until Monday so happy weekend everyone and I hope to see some recipes and new posts when I return.

recipes from Chelle

2008-11-19T11:52:00.001-08:00

I saw that some of you are looking for good recipes. My sis-in law Jessie has a food blog where she puts new recipes on there all the time and even has pics to show you what it should look like through out the process. So if you need recipe ideas go check it out, it is at http://www.foodbringsfamiliestogether.blogspot.com/ . If you have a recipe you are looking for you can ask her and she will try to find a good one or give you the one she has. She is a great cook so make sure to check it out!

Question from Emily on Sleeping Through the NIght.....

2008-11-19T06:30:00.001-08:00

My boy is 11 mo. old and still hasn't slept through the night. (honestly I think he has 3 times). I have tried feeding him rice, nursed, lots of formula. I feel like everything. The doc says he'll go on his own but I need sleep too. Any ideas on helping me and him to get a good night sleep?

Welcome!

2008-11-18T09:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the blog created just for Mom's and Mommy's to be. This week I am looking for ideas on how to organize this blog. I thought it would be beneficial to get a list of ideas/topics that sound interesting to all of you Mom's out there. Then once per week or less if we desire we could change topics/ideas. Also, for those who have admin rights (if you do, you should have received an e-mail) feel free to post anytime if you have a question and need some advice or if you just feel like posting! If you don't have Admin rights, but would like them, let me know. Either leave a comment or e-mail me marissa_jarrett@yahoo.com. It is my hope that we can create a network of Mom's and get some questions answered as well as make life long friends! Also, this blog was really created for anyone, so please tell your friends about this blog.

While I am waiting for ideas to pile in (wink, wink) I thought this week we could do introductions. If you have admin rights, feel free to post a little about yourself and your family. A picture would be nice too. And I have decided not to make this blog private, so if you are concerned about that don't use your last name and you could even use a code name if you wanted. I will start the introductions...unless someone else wants to:)