Verse of the Day

Absolutely love this...

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

As the new year approaches remember that 2010 is now behind us.  It is finished, passed us.  We cannot change anything that has happened in 2010.  We must not waste our valuable time dwelling on something that we wish we could change.  We must rejoice in the Lord who will bring us a new dawn, a new day, a new year and a new opportunity!  Keep the journey moving forward, knowing that God already has a plan for you and continue to look to Him to help you along the way!

Good-Bye 2010, Hello 2011

My yearly recap has come.  It was fun to look at last years recap today to see how things went differently this year!  So here it goes:

December 2009/January 2010: Celebrated the holidays in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey.  Signed in Kolobrzeg, Poland on January 2nd.

February 2010: We celebrated Jayden's 3rd birthday with 4 of Adam's teammates and 3 of our new Polish friends in Kolobrzeg.

March 2010: Adam and I tired to help Jayden get rid of his pacifier (this was a huge event in our home) but it failed miserably when some of neighbors yelled at us in Polish.  Adam and I both started p90x (he is still doing it, I have taken a break)!

April 2010: The month my amazing sister-in-law and sweet nephew met Jesus.  Adam and his family launched the Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Memorial Fund in honor of his beloved sister and nephew.

May 2010: A slow month of all of us.  Our hearts were aching and there were many questions left unanswered.

June 2010: Our first JEHH event took place at a local tavern.  We raised nearly $8,000!  Jayden attended his first summer sports camp and he absolutely loved it!  Lastly, my dear friends and family put on the most amazing bridal shower ever!

July 2010: Adam turned 30!  I pulled off an amazing surprise birthday party with our close friends and family!  We also celebrated Miss. Olivia Turner's 3rd birthday in Richmond, VA!

August 2010: The first JEHH Golf Tournament took place and it was by far the best tournament Mount Snow had ever put on.  Adam and I were held hostage when our friends decided to have bachelor and bachelorette parties!  Adam went to a NY Yankees game and then to the beach for a night and the girls headed to Atlantic City to soak up the sun and have a great dinner!

September 2010: I married the man of my dreams!  It was a beautiful day...

October 2010: Our little man took his first trip to the ER for an injury.  He fell of his bed at 3:30 AM and hit his eye on the corner of his end stand.  7 stitches and 1 hour later he was back in his bed fast asleep!

November 2010: Adam decided to take a step back from basketball and train kids while he waited for a better contract to come.  I was asked to be apart of the birth of my best mommy friends' 3rd child!  We welcomed Jaelyn to the world, it was a magical day!

December 2010: The Harrington household was attacked by the stomach bug twice; once landing me in his hospital. We were able to celebrated the holidays with our family and friends!

That is a quick, not very thought out year in review.  This year was struck by a horrible tragedy that we are still learning to deal with.  But by the Grace of God I know we will get through it and turn this mess into a message for everyone.  I am blessed beyond belief to be in a relationship with Jesus, to be surrounded by an amazing husband, a loving son, great friends and family.  I must not never forget that even in the hardest times.  Have a happy and safe new year everyone!

Christmas 2010

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone.  It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Thanksgiving.  Unlike past years, this Christmas we focused more on the birth of Christ and the season of giving.  As a Christian we find it extremely important to teach Jayden the real meaning of Christmas and for a 3 year old living in a commercial centered world that can be challenging.  However, the challenge is making us stronger and helping us realize that by the grace of God we are able to teach Jayden the meaning of Christmas before anyone else does.

Adam and I both agreed to purchase a couple gifts for Jayden and the rest of the gifts under the tree would be gifts we were giving to others.  So when Christmas morning came around there were plenty of gifts under our tree but only 4 of them were for Jayden.  He was absolutely thrilled that Santa thought of him and left him 4 gifts!  By limiting the amount of gifts we purchased, he was truly able to enjoy the ones he got instead of opening them to see what it was then tossing it aside to open a new one.  I will say that my son may be the only 3 year old that is very interested in clothes.  We bought him a new dress-up jacket and he absolutely loved it!

Because we have 2 (or maybe 4, depending how you look at it) sets of divorces parents, the amount of gifts Jayden received from others was still way too much.  What are you going to do with those grandparents!  Hopefully as the years go on, we can focus more on giving to others in need instead of to each other!

From our family to yours, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and may you have a happy New Year! God Bless!

Christmas 2010

Married to a Baller: New Website Design

I don't know how many basketwives read my blog but if there are any, I would encourage you to go check out my dear friend Erin's new and improved website.  She has a new layout and new feature that focus on connecting people through basketball.  One of my favorite features is the google map she has that you can pinpoint where you're going and see if anyone else has played there that is apart of her contact list.  It is such a helpful tool as many of you can imagine!  Let's give Erin a big thanks for all of the information and resources she continues to provide for us :)

Valuable Lesson: Miss. Rita

While I was at the hospital I had a "roommate."  I couldn't see the sweet old lady but I could hear her.  She told one of the nurses that she had no family and just a couple friends.  She said that she wouldn't be doing anything for Christmas because she had no one to celebrate with.  She had lost her husband 15 years ago and she had gone down hill ever since.  Although I was totally out of it I remember saying to myself, I am going to go visit Rita when I feel better.

Yesterday both Jayden and I were feeling better so I told him about Miss. Rita and how we were going to go visit her.  He made her a special Christmas card and put together a treat bag.  When we arrived at the nursing home he continued to ask questions about who we were going to see yet I didn't really have any answers.  We made our way to Rita's room and she was delighted to have a couple visitors.  We had a great conversation and I told her how I was her roommate and wanted to visited her after I felt better.  Before we left I told her I would be back to visit every month with Jayden.  She had tears in her eyes she was so delighted!

When we left Jayden and I talked about people who don't have family, friends, a home or food and he immediately began to thank Jesus for everything he is (it brought a tear to my eye).  I am so thankful that we were given the opportunity to meet sweet Rita!  Hopefully Jayden can bring a smile to her face and keep bringing pictures to decorate her little room!

The Stomach Bug

After spending an amazing weekend in New York City Jayden was graciously greeted by a nasty stomach bug early Wednesday morning.  I called the doctor who told us he probably picked something up from the city and if he doesn't stop throwing up or going to the bathroom by morning to to call back.  He did feel better the next morning but he was extremely tired.  On Friday morning I looked at Adam and told him I was beginning to feel ill.  Sure enough it hit me like a Mac truck.  Ouch!  I know myself and I know my body and when Adam got home from doing errands I told him I needed to go to the hospital.  Long story short, 4 bags of IV and a few other shots I was finally felt like myself again.

Just when we thought the bug was done, we were wrong.  While Adam was with me at the hospital he started to feel ill so he left and sent my Mom to be with me.  Sure enough, Adam was at home ill and the next morning I called my Mom and the bug attacked her as well.  The count doesn't stop there, but we truly don't know where other family members and friends attracted the bug.  Let's just all agree and say it was a nasty bug that I hope to never meet again!

New Winter Activities: Karate & Ice-Skating

I just wrote a piece about activities and now Jayden has just started two new activities.  I should start off by saying, besides gymnastic class in France and dance class in Poland last year, Jayden has never been in a "class" here in the United States.  The things Jayden would love to do I feel like he does them on a daily basis anyways; go to the gym with Daddy, playing basketball, baseball and soccer.  All of which he does weekly with Adam at the gym.  So if I was going to sign him up for something, it would not be one of those sports right now.  Instead, I looked into karate and ice-skating.

I am going to just put it out there that Jayden is incredibly coordinated and uncoordinated at the same time.  Is that even possible?  For example, his hand-eye coordination blows me away.  However, he could trip over a dust ball.  I just don't get it.  So I decided that between karate and ice-skating he could really work on his overall coordination.  This morning we ventured out to his first karate lesson and he absolutely loved it.  He got right into the action and he did exactly what the instructor told him to do.  When the class was over he told me next week he had to wear "one of those white outfits and bring a sport bag to put it in."

After karate we went to "Learn to Skate" at the local skating rink.  I had a feeling it was going to be a disaster because again, Jayden can't walk without tripping or falling down.  Much to my surprise, he did great despite looking like a cute baby giraffe on stilts!  It took him a while to move a couple feet but he did it and was very proud of himself.  After it was over he told me he wanted to come back next week and thankfully my mother agree to strap on some skates and help him out a little more (God bless her soul).

How cute is my niece, Addison?

My little giraffe!

Recommended Reading: Ever After by Karen Kingsbury

5 months ago I wrote about Even Now by Karen Kingsbury.  I was excited to report to you about the sequel Ever After but apparently time passed and I didn't finished it as quickly as I would've liked to.  So here it goes: the sequel was just as good as the first book.  It is kind of a fairytale but once in a while, I good fairytale is good for the soul.

I will forewarn you, bring a box of tissues with you because I sobbed uncontrollably toward the end of the book.  I couldn't stop.  I had to put the book down and walk away on numerous occasions.  It is a longer book but a very easy read.  If I wasn't the worlds slowest reader, you probably would've had this book review months ago!

Thanks Leigh for the great book!

Parenting: Activity

Let's face it, preschool aged children are very active and in my eyes it is important that they are active on a daily basis.  At such an age they are interested in exploring and finding out their limits.  Therefore, scheduled active time is a must.  Indoors or outdoors, there are activities that can keep your children active and happy at the same time.

Jayden is very, very active.  He has more energy then I know what to do with at times.  Therefore, being active inside and outdoors is something I try to schedule everyday.  During the spring and summer months we spend the majority of our time outdoor.  During the fall and winter, it isn't as easy to spend much time outdoors because it is so cold (Jayden is not a fan of the cold).  So to keep his activity level high we bring his basketball hoop indoors, a few softer balls and his scooter.  Yes I know, probably not things that should be allowed indoors but we make it an exception in our home.

Below are some of the indoor activities we do to let out some energy:

1.  Basketball Games.  Yes, we have some heated games in our home.  It usually ends up with Jayden and Adam both winning and Mommy losing.

2.  Balloon Game.  It sounds silly but a single balloon can offer at least 30 minutes of fun.  Try to keep the balloon from touching the ground as long as you can.  It really takes some effort and ends with lots of laughs.

3.  Beanbag Toss.  We have a small Cars beanbag games that Jayden just loves.  It isn't anything too sophisticated but it does offer lots of fun.

4.  Scooter.  Again, probably not house appropriate but we do allow Jayden to ride his scooter around the house, mostly in the kitchen.  He isn't harming anything and he is getting his legs moving.

5.  Dance Parties.  Go ahead and laugh but truth be told we have some awesome dance parties in our home.  If anyone has seen Jayden dance you can understand why having a simple dance party can let out some serious energy.

Of course there are many less "active" activities that we do on a daily basis but that's for a different post. If your have the pre-winter blues indoors, try some of these activities.  It will let our some much needed energy!

Parenting: SLEEP

So why would I have "SLEEP" on the top of my parenting list?  Well that's because in our house sleep in a very (and I can't stress that enough) important part of our everyday lives.  Jayden's behavior is directly effected by the amount of sleep he gets, the quality of sleep and how long of a nap he gets each day.  I will be 110% honest and tell you that when Jayden doesn't nap, he might make it until 6 PM without having a complete meltdown over something.

On to a quick version of Jayden's sleep schedule since birth...
From the day we brought Jayden home from the hospital he has been a great sleeper.  He only woke up at night when he needed a diaper change or wanted to be fed.  He certainly slept between 18-20 hours a day in the first weeks.  People were amazed how much he slept.  Jayden would nap/sleep anywhere.  During Adam's games, at a restaurant, on the couch and in my arms.  Around 4 months old, Adam had decided that he really needed to be napping in his crib and be on a solid schedule.  Well Jayden had a different idea, he liked to nap wherever he fell asleep.  So one day Adam told me it was time to let him "cry it out" in his crib until he soothed himself to sleep.  55 minutes later, a million tissues and an expensive phone bill (I called my mom to talk to me while he was crying) he had fallen asleep.  It was from that day on that I swear Jayden learned that nap time and bed time were two things that were going to happen everyday.

Skip a few months and between the age of about 6 months to 12 months Jayden would take 2 long naps a day.  Around 14 months old, Jayden switched to one very long nap in the middle of the day.  Skip 2 more years and today, Jadyen still takes a 90 minute to 2 hour nap every day.  There are very special days when a nap doesn't fit into the schedule, however, that happens maybe once a month and he is then in bed by 7 PM because he is so tired.

For a couple years now, we have made 8 PM an appropriate bed time for Jayden.  Because I don't work and Adam has a pretty flexible schedule, we never have to be out of the house or up before 8 AM.  With working parents, I know some kids who are up and ready to go by 7 AM.  At this age and younger, I feel that 10 to 12 hours in an appropriate amount of sleep for a child.  Therefore, if you have an earlier riser, put him/her to bed earlier.

Now that you know what the daily sleep routine is in the Harrington household I have to admit that I whole-heartedly believe that as parents it is our duty to sleep train our children.  It may sound silly but its the truth.  We have taught our children how to eat, play, speak and listen so why do some parents skip on teaching children healthy sleep patterns?  When parents and children are overtired a lot of tension can build up.  In order to prevent that, we must take a step back and realize what is best for our children... even if that means letting them cry for 55 straight minutes (gosh, that was the longest 55 minutes of my life I think)!

If you are looking for a good book to read check out, "Healthy Sleep Habits; Happy Child."  I wrote about the book a while back, check it out!

Parenting: Discipline

As parents, we must all realize that children are a gift from God.  A gift that can be taken away from you at any time, a gift that comes with extreme responsibility and a gift that should be raised with discipline.  It is our duty to lay out the blueprint for the rest of their life.

There are many different ways to discipline your child/children and each child reacts to discipline differently.  For example, raising my voice at Jayden does absolutely nothing.  It almost makes matters worse.  However, if I drop down to his level and use a calm voice he responds much more positively (although sometimes it's harder on me I try to remember how is reacts when I yell).

It is important to realize what the bible says about discipline and how to put it in to action properly and effectively.  We must not let the desires of our children control their behavior.  For example, if they want to watch television instead of doing their chores, you are not doing them a favor or being their friend by allowing to watch television instead of taking care of responsibilities.  Allowing them to skip their responsibilities daily will create a pattern of laziness that could last a very long time.

In our home, discipline is not taken lightly.  There are special occasions when we let behavior slide a little but we try not to make it a weekly thing.  Adam and I both try to use consistent discipline techniques.  Therefore, whether Jayden is with Adam or I, the rules are still the same.  We also try to be the best role models we can.  I am surprised how much information and action Jayden can retain at such a young age.

As I mentioned earlier, every child reacts to discipline differently.  Below are a few things Adam and I have concluded about Jayden at this point in life:

1.  Jayden gets extremely embarrassed when he gets disciplined in public.  When Jayden needs to be discipline for acting inappropriately or not following the rules, we tend to bring Jayden away from the crowd.  It is much more effective and he reacts much better.

2.  Jayden's poor behavior usually stems for one of two things; hunger and being tired.  Therefore, it is our duty to make sure he is feed and gets rest when he needs it.

3.  We correct Jayden when he is wrong or misbehaves but it is so important that Jayden hears our encouraging words and praise daily.  Jayden loves being praised.  I really feel like he feels like he is succeeding when he is praised.

4.  And lastly, when Adam is out of town Jayden's behavior takes a hit.  I still haven't figured out exactly why it's still a work in progress.  But I have to remind myself that I need to be both the father figure and mother figure when Adam is out of town.  Jayden responds very well to men and I need to remember that.

As Christians it is importantly to realize that an undisciplined child is dishonoring the Lord and His word.  Some people may feel like we are too hard on Jayden but in our eyes we are being loving and responsible parents, raising a child on the word of the Lord.

Parenting: Preparing Your Child to Leave

To some this might come across as a controversial post but I truly feel it is a key part in parenting.

Very bluntly, Adam and I are preparing Jayden to leave our home.  There are many different ways to take that sentence but to me, basically I am saying that when it comes time to go to college, Lord-willing, we have raised our son to be prepared and ready to live on his own.

There is no better verse in the bible that explains my point then Proverbs 22:6:

Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

The verse above says exactly what I am trying to say.  As a family, we are all on a journey with Jesus.  We are continuously teaching our son the importance of living by His command and acting as role models.  If we can strongly instill in Jayden's heart the word of the Lord then by the time he leaves our home there is no doubt in my mind that Jayden will succeed in whatever he does.  He will be mentally and spiritually prepared for whatever lies ahead of him.

On a different note, everyone has different parenting techniques, that's obvious.  However, when I see mothers just hovering over their children I begin to think what would happen if for one day their mother couldn't be there for them.  It sounds silly but I am pretty sure we've all seen it happen.  As Jayden gets older, I find myself being a more relaxed parent.  I allow him to do as much as he can on his own without getting hurt.  I am thankful that I am able to be a stay-at-home Mother but when the time comes and I have to enter the work force I want to be at ease knowing that I have prepared my son to leave the house without worrying.

To all my basketwives & girlfriends!

Is it silly to say that I am happy I am no longer a basket-girlfriend/fiancee and finally a basketwife?  HA!

Anywho, my dear friend Erin has once again thought of an ingenious idea.  Basically she is a creating a massive list of country contacts.  As you can see in her "Calling All Basket Wives and Girlfriends!" post she already has 27 contacts who combined have played in 122 different cities.  For anyone who has lived overseas, this truly is a special list.  It is always nice to have other wives on the team but it is even nicer to know someone who has lived there before.  The gift of sharing is a great thing!

If there are any wives or girlfriends that read this blog that would like more information or to have your information pass on to Erin, please let me know.  You can also email her directly at erin@marriedtoaballer.com.

Parenting: Teaching Your Children About Jesus

First and foremost, Adam and I try to base our parenting solely on the bible and surrounding Jesus.  We both began out walk when Jayden was 2 years old, so it is still a learning experience for the both of us.  As we continue to study the bible and live a worthy life there are a number of things we do daily.

1. Reading Scriptures.  Reading from the Scripture daily helps as a way to bring about discussions or questions from Jayden.  Sometimes it is only a verse but we always talk about what the verse is saying and say a pray after it.  I pray that by doing this it will help Jayden's spiritual growth and provide the information he needs to understand His grace, life and how He died for our sins.

2. Give Thanks.  Children soak in more information and behavior then we think.  I make it a point to give thanks to the Lord not only at meal times but when our prayers have been answered as well.  On the flip side of this, when we say our prayers together at night and our prayers are not answered right away, I make sure that we both give thanks because Jesus is still listening to us and guiding us in the right direction.

3. Praise and Worship.  Praise and worship plays a huge part in our daily lives.  While we are home or in the car some type of Christian music or a sermon is playing.  It amazes me how many songs Jayden knows word for word.  The music really gets into Jayden's heart and I can see him feeling the words he is singing.  He may not know exactly what the lyrics mean but it will eventually spark questions.

4. Authority.  As some of my facebook friends can see, Jayden feels that since Daddy is on the road, he is in charge.  Adam and I are both learning to teach Jayden that there is someone even bigger and better then both Adam and I: Jesus.  Jesus is the "boss" in our home.  He is who we answer to everyday.  This will help Jayden understand that even when he leaves our home when he is older, there is still someone he needs to answer to and obey.

5. Prayer.  Teaching Jayden to pray has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding things we've ever done.  Let's be honest, I am still learning how to pray.  By teaching Jayden how to pray, he is establishing a direct line of communication to God.  He is beginning his own personal journey with the Lord and his prayers are truly coming form his heart and how he is feeling.  

These are just some of things we practice on a daily basis and they are all a work in progress but I wholeheartedly believe this is and should be the foundation of parenting.  I will leave you with a passage from Deuteronomy which acknowledges the fact that as Christians it is our duty to teach our children about Jesus.

"Impress them on your children.  Talk about then when you sit at home and when you walk along, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."  -Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Welcome, Jaelyn!

I can't believe I never gave Miss. Jaelyn Lee Boliski a proper introduction!

On November 9th I went to visit one of my most amazing friends in the hospital as she began her induction.  As the day went on I continued to be by her side as she fought through her contractions.  As time approached for the arrival, Ace had asked me to stay in the room to be with her while she delivered.  I was so honored and overwhelmed with joy!  I knew it was gong to be a long night so I decided I better grab sometime to eat and see Adam and Jayden real quick before they headed home for bed.  On my way back to the hospital her husband texted me and said, "You better get here NOW!"  I sprinted into the hospital and shortly after a 9 pound .25 ounce baby girl was born!

She truly is a gift from God.  Eric and Ace have 2 other children but both were born via in vitro after many years of trying.  Baby Jaelyn was conceived without any medication and she is a happy and healthy baby girl!  I am so happy for the Boliski family and I wish them nothing but happiness!

That's a wrap!

Can you believe that Thanksgiving has already passed and November 2010 is coming to an end?  It feels like Labor Day was just last weekend!

I slacked a little on my "Give Thanks" posts but I covered the major areas in life for which I am thankful for.  It is funny to look back to see how it varied from last years "What I am thankful for."

For the month of December I am going to focus on parenting techniques, tips, tricks and lessons learned.  I was (and still am) so thankful for the few woman in my life that gave me advice while living overseas with Jayden and having a husband that doesn't have the typical 9-5 job.  My goal is to pass on helpful information to anyone who reads this blog.

Here's to December :)

Give Thanks: Life

Plain and simple, I am thankful to wake up everyday getting another chance at life!

Verse of the Day

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5

During the thanksgiving holiday we must remember that we are entering a time to give, a time to be thankful and a time to honor the Lord.  If you are feeling a little lost, don't forget that God is faithful and that no more how long it takes you, God will wait for you to come to him.  Not only will he wait for you but he is ready.

Give Thanks: Friends

I am so very thankful for my friends.  I have spent a lot of time within the last couple years realizing who are my true friends and who are acquaintances.  There have been times that I have felt like an outsider as I continue on my walk with Christ and some of my friends go the complete opposite direction.  Have I lost some friends along the way, of course.  That's life but at the end of the day I continue to count my blessing for having amazing friends and thank God for having enough time left in life to make more!

HillsongNYC: December Update

To all my New Yorkers check out what is going on with HillsongNYC in the month of December!  All my single friends that claim that can't meet anyone in New York, you don't want to miss December 7th at the Brooklyn Bowl.  It will be the first step in finding yourself a nice Christian man!

Give Thanks: My Family

I have the most amazing family and I even married into a pretty cool family as well (God bless those people that do not get along with their in-laws).  I am so thankful for each and every member of my family for they each contribute to a part of who I am today.  There isn't a day that goes by when I don't talk to my Mom and get a text from my sister or a phone call from my brother.  It is amazing how the older you get the stronger the relationship with your siblings become.  

Wall Art

My dear friend Leigh and her family had given us one of the coolest wedding gifts ever.  It's a piece of wall art that says, Adam & Kearstin Harrington September 4, 2010.  Each letter in the name Harrington is actually a picture!  I absolutely love it.  I've been pondering what to do with it since I wanted it to go somewhere where everyone would see it.  However, I am absolutely no decorating sense; at all!  So instead of thinking too hard about it I ordered some picture frames from Pottery Barn and decided to hang a few photos and the wall art in our living room.  I am thrilled with the look of it (minus the 3/4 of an inch one picture frame is off).

Give Thanks: My Church Family

I won't get into too much detail but I am so thankful for my church family.  It is just an amazing feeling knowing that no matter what is going on in your life you can always turn to your church family.  Raising a family and being around people that share the same core values as you makes life much easier!  I am and will forever be thankful for all of our Christian friends that continue to help me on my walk with Jesus.

Celebration of Life

This weekend we made our way down to Cape Cod to celebrate Adam's grandfather, the late Ernest Dubois.  It was a gorgeous weekend and there was plenty of love that filled the air.  It was obvious that Ernest had a great sense of humor and was very well-liked from the poems and speeches by all of his children.  As the day went on and we continued to be surrounded by family and a few close friends, I realized that life is such an amazing gift given by God and we must treat it just as that; it must be appreciated in good times and bad and taken care of all day, everyday.

The JEHH Holiday Raffle

The holidays are approaching and the Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Holiday Raffle has started!  Two amazing prizes are up for grab including a Costa Rica Getaway and an NBA Fantasy Night.


The 2nd prize is an NBA Fantasy Night which includes:

A night to remember! Your NBA fantasy comes true when you sit in Mark Cuban’s owners seats at the Mavericks vs. Celtics game. Enjoy VIP parking before the game and a hotel room in downtown Boston after the game.  Your experience doesn’t stop there as you stay in post game section and enjoy a meet & greet with Dirk Nowitzki. So bring your camera and enjoy this NBA night in Boston, MA.

• Mark Cuban’s 2 Owner’s Tickets to the Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics Game on February 4th, 2011 @8:00pm in Boston, MA
• One Night Hotel Accommodation in Boston, MA
• VIP Celtics Parking
• Authentic Jason Kidd Signed Dallas Mavericks Jersey
• 2 Post Game Passes
• A meet & greet with NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki

The Grand Prize is a Costa Rica Getaway which includes:

Sit back, relax, and prepare to be in this all –inclusive paradise for 4 days. A trip for 2 to an amazing sustainable rainforest Eco-Lodge Hotel, Finca Luna Nueva, in Costa Rica, for 4 days, 3 nights including:

• Round-trip airfare from anywhere in the Continental US
• Shuttle to and from airport
• Overnight accommodations at Casa Luna or Bungalows
• Breakfast included
• Use of the natural swimming Pool and Jacuzzi
• One farm tour around Finca Luna Nueva Hotel
• Activities available for purchase

Add lunch and dinner for only $27 per person per night (taxes and service not included)
Value: $4,800
Trip valid: January 2011- September 2011.
*Dates subject to availability.

What great prizes!  Tickets are $25 each and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the JEHH Memorial Fund.  For those that usually give to charities as a christmas gift, please remember us!  For more details, check out our new and improved website!

Give Thanks: My Bible

It may sound silly but I am so thankful for my bible.  Whenever I need pick me up or have some alone time the first thing I do is kick back and grab my bible.  The bible instantly changes my mood and spirit and by the Grace of God that "not so good day" becomes great.  His words inspire me to be a better person, friend, wife, mother, to be obedient and keep my faith strong.  The bible and constant prayer reminds me that the Word of God is the only thing in this world that will guide me home.

New York City & the Marathon

Everyone knows Adam and I are spontaneous people.  There is no pulling my leg in order to get me to do something fun and exciting.  So on Saturday late-afternoon we jumped into the car and headed to New York City for the night to celebrate our dear friend, Carl's birthday.  He had no idea we were coming so he was excited when we all showed up (Jayden too)!  It only took us 2 hours to get to New York but once we started heading into the city the traffic was crazy.  We had not known that the New York City Marathon was on Sunday.  Therefore add together regular New York City traffic plus 2 million extra people coming into the city just to watch/run the marathon and that counts for a lot of cars.  But on Sunday morning it was totally worth it.  We walked to a near by cafe which was located on the route of the marathon so we were able to cheer for the handicap, the lead pack of the woman and the lead pack of the men.  It was amazing to see how fast they were running.  I promise you, the lead pack of men were running faster then my sprint!  What a cool day to be in New York City!

I am sure there are many inspirational stories about people running marathons.  One that caught my eye this morning was about a man who had just been trapped in a mine in Chile for 69 days.  Can you even imagine trying to run in a marathon after being trapped in a mine for 69 days when the most he had run was 7 miles before?  It sound unreal but he did it and he was felt very honored and proud!  Check out on short story on him by MNN.

Give Thanks: Our son, Jayden

There are so many people in this world that long to have a family but for one reason or another it just doesn't happen.  So today (and everyday) I am thankful for our healthy, full-of-life, ambitious, smart and witty son Jayden.  

Jayden is just a joy to be around.  He had a great attitude about life and I continue to thank God for giving our family such an amazing blessing.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't count my blessings twice when I get to Jayden; he is the light of our life!

October 2010

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Today is a special day!  My mother brought my big brother into the world 28 years ago!  My relationship with my brother today is the best it has ever been.  Being 4 years older then me, we always missed each other in the school system (thank goodness because we didn't always see eye to eye).  But now, we are both happy to have a sibling you can count on!

Happy Birthday Big Bro!

Website: The JEHH Memorial Fund

It is my pleasure to announce to you that The JEHH Memorial Fund website is up and running.  After a minor bump in the road we were introduced to Ameronix and it has been a pleasure working with them.

Please check us out!  We appreciate all your support and feedback!  And don't forget to "Chase your dreams!"

Jill & I in Limoges, France 2008

Give Thanks: My Husband

#2: I am thankful for my Godly husband who is faithful, gracious and wise.  He is a strong man of God who continues to amaze me with his love, dedication to life and his ever-growing relationship with Jesus.  

I am more thankful for my husband now than I've ever been.  I will continue to honor and serve my husband the way God has called me to do.

To all the wives reading this, I encourage you to read Proverbs 31:10-30.  Re-read it if you have to and let it soak in!

Happy 2 Months

I would like to wish my amazing husband a happy 2 months of marriage!

Everyday, Thanksgiving Day

Last November I wrote about being thankful and followed up by writing one thing I was thankful for for the remainder of the month.  As I look to a year ago, I had to remind myself that as a Christian I need to treat everyday like Thanksgiving Day.  I must give thanks to the Lord during the great times and especially in the midsts of a problem for it is then when I find myself truly growing as a Christian.  So even though I find myself giving thanks to God throughout the day, I will finish the month with some of the things I am most thankful for.

#1: I am thankful for God who made the ultimate sacrifice to free us from our sinful nature.  For God loved us so much that He gave His only son so we may live.

Recipe: Turkey Meatloaf

I made this dish for the first time last night.  I couldn't think of anything good to make so I decided to jump out of the box and try something I've never made before.  According to Adam and our neighbor friend, it was a huge hit (and the kicker, it was super easy)!  I served it with potatoes and a fresh salad.

Turkey Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

1.25 lbs of lean ground turkey
1/3 cup of italian dressing
1/4 cup of barbecue sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl until well mixed.  Press into bread load.  Sprinkle a few extra bread crumbs on top and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until top is nice and brown.

HillsongNYC: Update

Here is the lastest update from our pastor, Carl Lentz.  He talks about how the church is going to continue to do monthly services until February so more relationships are built.  They are not in it to "win the battle" but to "win the war."  Watch out NYC :)

The Deal of the Century

People continuously ask me why I use coupons and buy Louis Vuitton bags.  Well I've said it once and I'll say it before, Louis Vuitton does not go on sale people!  I need to get my sale somewhere!

So here it goes; my deal of the century.

I went to JCPenny's on Saturday while the boys took a nap to get a pillow for Adam.  Well they didn't have the pillow I was looking for so I walked around to see of there was anything else worth buying.  I walked into the big boys section to see if there were any summer clothes on sale for next summer.  I ran into this one section that was 80% off the entire rack.  They had the cutest boy shirts, some shorts, etc.  I picked one up and it was mark $.97!  I couldn't believe it.  The shirts were originally $13.99 and they were on sale for $.97!  I kept looking and before I knew it I had 9 shirts and a pair of skinny jeans in my arms for Jayden.

I walked up to the register with my 9 shirts and a pair of jeans, along with my 15% off total purchase coupon and my free $10 off $10 coupon from the mail and ended up paying $1.60 for everything.  Yes, I said it correctly; I paid 1 dollar and 60 cents for 9 shirts and a pair of jeans.  Uh-amazing, ey?

Verse of the Day

Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  -Peter 5:8-9

As Christians we must remember that the devil is for real.  The devil will try to pull you off course when you're weak and try to direct your focus off of Jesus.  Instead of focusing on trying to always do the right thing we must continue to keep our focus on Jesus.  By doing so, we will have no other temptations to look a different way.  Always remember who is in control; God.

One little, two little, three little stitches...

Four little, five little, six little stitches... Seven little...

Yes, it's true.  Our little man has 7 little stitches above his left eye.

It all started on Saturday night around 3:30 AM when I heard a thud and then a loud painful cry.  I went into Jayden's room to see that he had fallen out of his bed.  I comforted him and told him he was fine (I figure he was just scared) and then he continued to cry so I moved his hand which was covering his face and noticed his entire left side of his face was covered in blood.  From his hair line to dripping off his check onto his clothes.  Adam immediately jumped out of bed as I screamed his name and took Jayden into the bathroom to clean him up.  What I was hoping to see was just a little scratch that was going to stop bleeding once we put some pressure on it.  However, what we saw was a gash the length of his entire eyebrow that was thick and deep.

We hopped into the car and made our way to the emergency room.  Our very first trip to the emergency room due to injury (spent the night in the ER in France due to a stomach virus).  We arrived at the hospital at 3:45 AM and was immediately taken to a room and the nurse quickly got everything ready.  As soon as the doctor came in he knew he needed to get ready for some stitches and that's when I left the room.  Adam said Jayden did great, only cried when he saw the needle.  Believe it or not, we were home by 4:30 AM.  I hear all these horror stories about waiting in the emergency room for hours upon hours.  Thankfully that didn't happen to us!  As soon as we arrived back home, Jayden went right to bed and asked if next time he goes to the hospital if I could call the ambulance to pick him up instead of Daddy driving him.  I then told him I hope to never go back there again!

Videos of the Week

There are two videos I would like to share with ya'll this week.  The first one, my dear friend Erin shared on her blog under the title "Identity Crisis."  Please check it out.  Deanna Favre talks about how her faith is getting her through her current family troubles.

The next video is a glimpse of the first night of encounter for HillsongNYC.  The short video gives you an incredible feeling that God is really moving and the people of HillsongNYC are really starting to build a faithful church in His name.  To God be the Glory!

Please note: you can totally see Adam and I in the front row during the praise and worship part of the video.  Adam is a complete rockstar!

Healthy Diet: Black Bean Salad

This past weekend, Adam has decided to go on an even more strict diet than he is currently on.  I actually don't know how that is even possible but I guess that means no cheat days and much more fruits and vegetables.  The problem I have noticed thus far is that he needs to eat at least every 90 minutes because he can not seem to eat enough to feel full.  So I have been trying my hardest to help him with his new diet.

Every Tuesday we invite our friends over to taco tuesday.  I use chicken instead of beef, wheat tortillas and low-fat cheese.  But still, Adam didn't want the tortillas or the cheese so I looked up a recipe and found a great black bean salad.  He had the black bean salad and added some chicken and a little rice on top to create a taco salad.  Enjoy the recipe!

Black Bead Salad

Black beans are a delicious staple of Central and South American cuisine—they fill you up without filling you out. This black bean salad with a decidedly Southwestern flair is quick and easy to make, high in protein and fiber, low in fat and calories, and tasty as all get-out.

• 2 15-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained (or 3 cups freshly cooked black beans)
• 1-1/2 cups frozen corn, defrosted
• 1 small red bell pepper, seeds and stem removed, chopped
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• The juice of 2 medium limes (about 1/4 cup)

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and enjoy! Makes 6 servings.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

HillsongNYC

There are no words to explain the weekend we had in New York City.  It was the most incredible, fulfilling weekend I have ever experienced in my life.

To give a little background, it goes like this.  After years of not having any communication, Adam and his college room/teammate Carl Lentz had began to talk again.  They have one of those friendships that years could pass by but when they're together again it's like a day has passed.  At the time, Carl and his wife Laura, were pastors at Wavechurch in VA Beach.  But since then Carl and Laura have been called to New York City by God to plant a church.  They have teammate up Hillsong (a thriving church that has many locations throughout Europe) to start HillsongNYC.

It has been an amazing ride thus far but on Sunday night it was their first night of Encounter; the official launch of HillsongNYC.  Over 5,000 people gather for 3 different services at the Salvation Army Center in Union Square.  The atmosphere was amazing.  God was certainly moving!  People joked about us staying and being there for all 3 services but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I met some of the most amazing, kind-hearted people to walk this earth.  Their love filled the air and their love for Jesus and desire to have an impact on a city that many people don't know which direction their walking in is so strong.

November 14th is their next Encounter night.  It is in your best interested to be there!  Fly, drive, ride the train!  Whatever it takes... be there.

Professional Photos: Jayden

I love professional photos.  The crisp look of the pictures and the clarity of the pictures when they are printed is just amazing.  Adam's cousin's wife is a photographer and she took some pictures of Jayden the other day (when they missed their flight back to CA and had a few extra hours to play).  Here is the link to a few of the photos.

Enjoy!

Photographer: Jodi Foucher, San Francisco, CA

Expressions

If you were to spend more than 2 hours with Jayden you would quickly realize he is a man of many expressions and voices.  He has his player voice and then his deep, old man coach voice and his facial expressions go along with his voices.  I swear the child could act.  

While we were at the Cape this weekend we were sitting outside and Jayden decided it would be fun to take silly pictures with different faces.  Here is a glimpse of what the Harrington's do for fun!

Beauty & Confidence

I saw a commercial today that really caught my attention.  Basically it was about a woman who walked into a room with little confidence and said, "I'm here" and then another girl walked in full of confidence and said, "Here I am" (insert sexy, confident tone).  Both girls were very pretty but you could see they way the second woman presented herself she had confidence in who she was.

During my walk with Jesus I have become much more confident in who I am as a person and with my looks.  For starters, God does not focus on my appearance but rather what my heart feels and my inner beauty is what is important to Him (1 Samuel 16:7).  Secondly, as simple as it may sound, Adam makes me feel absolutely beautiful.  So as God is strengthening my inner beauty and Adam is strengthening my appearance, I am more confident in myself today then I've ever been.

Are they're days that I am not a fan of my hair, my skin or my body?  Of course.  But I have learned that when that happens I need to take my focus off my appearance and focus my eyes on the Lord.  For my top priorities do not lie on my looks but on God, my husband and our son.  The Bible does tell us that it is important to present ourselves nicely but not to take it to the extreme.

With that being said, my friend of mine told me a little story about herself.  She is a professional make-up artists, yet she rarely ever wears make-up.  I asked her why since she is so good at what she does and she said it was simple; she replied, "Why would I spend time putting on make-up every day when I can use that time reading my bible or spending alone time with the Lord?"  She continued to say, "I wear make-up about once a week or once every other week and that's when I have date night with my husband.  I love getting all dolled up for him on date night so I feel super glamorous for him and only him!"  She made perfect sense.  And I've been following her lead for a few weeks now and I love it.  I don't wear much make-up anyways but now I skip all the make-up and save it for date night; a special night with the love of my life.

Verse of the Day

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.  -Proverbs 27:1

How many of us take something for granted today that isn't guaranteed tomorrow?  I have a hard time taking care of things I can today and not be distracted of what needs to be done tomorrow or the next week.  Let's make a pack to enjoy our walk with God today and trust in his faith that He will take care of tomorrow.

Marriage Tip #1: Date Night

Look at me writing about marriage tips when we haven't even been married for a month yet!  After 5 years with someone and 4 years living with them, you kinda get to know what works in a relationship and what doesn't.  And one thing that will always work is date night.

After having Jayden, Adam and I didn't go on date night very often.  I nursed Jayden for his first year of life so at times I felt like I wasn't able to leave his side for more than a couple hours (I didn't have enough supply to pump and I wasn't willing to supplement with formula when I could simply go home and feed him).  But since Jayden has grown and Adam and I have worked on what keeps our relationship as strong as possible, we have made a pack to establish a bi-weekly date night.  It is my favorite time of the month.  Now date night doesn't have to be anything too special like a fancy dinner and dancing; for Adam and I it usually consists of dinner and maybe a little shopping at Pottery Barn or Target (I know, we're really cool). But there are those times we like to get dolled up and hit the town!

Last night Adam and I went to see Barefoot Truth in concert.  They were amazing!  Great music, great vibe and even better lyrics.  We had such a great time!  Check them out!

So the moral to this post is to schedule a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly date night.  Keep the spark in your marriage alive.  Get away from the children and enjoy your husband or wife!

Tantrum & Sucking: Hand in Hand?

For Jayden, yes.  For others, I don't know.  However, it is one thing I've learned that plays a huge part in our everyday life.

Anyone who has read my blog, knows Jayden's struggle with his pacifier.  Since we left Poland we've been very strict with it that he only has it when he is in his bed for nap or bed time.  However, what he has been doing (which I haven't really noticed until yesterday) is when he gets very upset or misbehaves he goes into his room and calms himself down with a pacifier.  But when I open the door to go talk to him about his behavior, he hides it.  So to me, I have been thinking he has been doing a great job with his emotions and calming himself down until he is ready to talk about it.  Wrong!

Long story short, yesterday we had a playdate with one of my best Mommy friends and her little girl who will be 3 in November.  Jayden was not on his best behavior; not sharing very well, not using soft and kind words and complaining that he was hungry, then thirsty, then hungry (which I knew he wasn't because he had just had breakfast).  I had had it with his behavior and the meltdown began.  Fast forward 40 minutes and as he was sitting on the stairs, in timeout, trying to calm himself down he had asked me to get the playing cards he had brought with him from home.  I gave him 1 playing card and he began to suck on it almost like a pacifier.  I was shocked.  He had sucked on it so hard the corner had come off.  I have come to the conclusion that Jayden has a VERY, VERY hard time calming himself down without sucking on something.  He works himself up so much that he can't get down without sucking.

Jayden hasn't had a tantrum in months.  He has probably only had 4 tantrums since we left Poland and everything they've been over is something silly; wanting his pacifier, not wanting to wash his hair in the bath, wanting to stay at the gym while Daddy is working out and lastly, wanting to finish the movie "Air Buddies" instead of going home.  Silly, eh?  But from this day forward, actually since yesterday, I will NOT give in to Jayden's pacifier.  I think it is a valuable lesson and important for him to learn how to calm himself down naturally and on his own.  I'll let you know how it goes if another tantrum comes up (which I hope it does not)!

Morning Sign-In: J-A-Y-D-E-N

For 2 weeks now, Jayden has been going to Ja'Duke preschool.  He went last year around the same time a couple days a week before we headed to Poland.  As our busy summer has finally ended, Adam and I both decided it was best for Jayden to go back to preschool at Ja'Duke until we figure out Adam's next move.  Jayden absolutely loves it there and we are happy with our decision.

And hear comes the sad part.

Adam and I trade mornings driving Jayden to school.  I tend to just put his stuff away, say good-bye and leave (I am not one of those Mom's who hang around for 30 minutes).  On Friday, Adam and I were dropping him off and I heard the teacher tell Jayden he needed to "sign-in on the morning board."  I looked at Adam and was mortified because I know he can't write his name.  He certainly knows how to spell it as he screams it perfectly at the top of his lungs when anyone asks but I haven't worked on his writing all summer (bad Mother, I know).  So I sat back and watched.  He tried so hard to make letters, which he thought spelt Jayden but looked more like six circle-things.  I was literally almost in tears.  He is in the 4 to 5 year old classroom so he is the youngest one in his class but still.  So needless to say, I am determined to help Jayden learn how to write his name sooner than later.  In 2 days,  he has learned the J - A - and Y.  I am hoping by the end of the week he'll be a pro!

What do YOU think is an appropriate age for a child to learn to write their name?

My Favorite Items: Baking Soda

Who would've thought baking soda has become one of my favorite products?

Confession: I have awful skin.  And I mean awful.  I believe I wrote a similar post about my skin and my current treatments (however, I can't find it) but after visiting numerous dermatologists, using a handful of different medications daily and becoming so sensitive to sun that it hurt to be outside for more than an hour I threw in the towel.  I literally threw away every medication I owned and broke a few frustration tears at the same time.  It was then when I decide to go for a more alternative route; baking soda.  

For about 5 weeks now I have been showering was baking soda.  I make a thick paste and use it all over my body.  Until this past week it has worked wonders.  I have never been so happy to go for a more alternative and natural route in my life.  Besides, .48 cents for a carton it is great on the wallet!  Hopefully I can give you another update in about 3 more weeks telling you I've made more progress!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Andrus!

The wedding season has finally come to an end (thank goodness)!  Our dear friends Matt and Kasia finally tied the knot this weekend and we are so happy for them.  Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Andrus!

Adam was honored to be part of their wedding and of course looked fabulous as usual!

Clean Drinking Water

Who ever thought we would live in a world where there are hundreds of thousands of people without clean drinking water.  I am not going to go into too much detail but I will introduce you to two people who will provide you with details; Maria Wegner-Johnson and Joel Houston.

Maria has been training to run a half marathon in November and has decided to dedicate her run to Living Water International.  As a part of that, she is raising money for them.  If you would like to help Maria reach her goal and help Living Water International, please donate here.

Joel Houston is a friend of Adam's and the lead singer of Hillsong United.  On behave of his 30th birthday, he has also set up a fund that will give 100% of your donations to help bring clean drinking water to people in Central African Republic.  Again, any donation will help.  If you would like to help, please donate here.

I ask you today, to give thanks to God as you sit back and drink, shower, wash dishes and do laundry in clean water.  Be thankful.

Recipe: Broccoli Casserole

It has been at least 3 months since I sat down and wrote a weekly menu and then went to the food store to get what we needed. It felt great this morning to sit down with the flyers, clip coupons and make our weekly menu. I have to share with you our meal for tonight because it was one Adam's favorites and possibly the easiest recipe, ever.

Broccoli Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

2 Cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 1/2 Cup Instant Rice

2 Packages of Frozen Chopped Broccoli

8 to 12 oz Valveeta Cheese

1/2 Cup of Milk

Pinch of Salt and Pepper

1 Stick of Butter

1 Sleeve of Ritz Crackers

Directions

1. Thaw the chopped broccoli in microwave

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together soup, instant rice (uncooked), broccoli, cubed valveeta cheese, milk, salt and pepper.

3. Pour into 2 qt casserole dish (baking dish)

4. Melt a stick of butter over the stove and mix in a sleeve of crushed Ritz crackers and pour over the top of casserole.

5. Cook for about 40 minutes or until edges are a light golden brown.

(Note: I opt out of the stick of butter and salt because I try to make this dish as healthy as possible).

Say but Don't Do

One of my biggest pet peeves is people who say they are going to do something and don't do it. If you can't do it, just tell me, we will find another way. If you ran out of time, not a big deal just say so. However, when I meet someone who says they are Christian and love Jesus, it urks me to watch them be hypocrites to what they claim believe in. I know it is out of my control and I really shouldn't even let it get to me but it does.

In Isaiah 29:13 the Bible reads,

The Lord says:

"These people come near to me with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

is made up only of rules taught by men."

There are people who may talk about their love for Jesus but do not follow His word. I believe that God knows whose hearts are close to Him and His teachings. You must be faithful and take a strong stand in what we believe in no matter what other people around you believe in. Being a Christian and loving Jesus is not a trend; it's not going to be cool one weekend and not the next. The Lord is omnipotent; He can do anything that pleases Him, but his actions will always be in accord with the rest of His character (Jeremiah 32:17). Stay true to your character and yourself.

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Harrington

I can't believe we are finally married!

Any time we meet a new couple it is certain that we swap our "How We Met" stories. Well... our story isn't your typical, "We had a class in college together..." and so on. In fact, I believe I was 13 years old when Adam was off to college. It all started one summer when my mom sent myself and a few of my close friends to basketball camp. I loved basketball when I was younger. I was always the tallest girl out there and could hang with all the boys. Adam, his brother, couple best friends and high school basketball coach were the counselors. As soon as Adam was introduced I had a totally crush on him (yes, at 12 years old you can think boys are cute)! And to be honest, he was totally flirting with me! At the end of the second day, all the counselors picked their "pretend wives!" It was so funny and believe it or not, Adam said told everyone that I was going to be his pretend wife for the week. I remember to this day how gitty I was! Skip a few days and at the end of the week I had broken my wrist (Adam had scared me while I was running backwards and I fell) and on Friday he had signed my cast, "My Future Wife! Best wishes and good luck, Adam Harrington." He was 18 years old at the time and I was 12. I still have the cast to prove it.

Fast forward a little less and 10 years and bam! we have an adorable son and just tied the knot. I can't even begin to describe how blessed I am to have Adam as my husband. I can promise you that God put us on this earth to be together. There is no doubt in my mind. I am forever grateful for September 4, 2010!

(The photographer took 1200 photos so it may be a while until we get them back to share with everyone)!

Whip 'Em Out

Please excuse the awful photo. Nursing Jayden at 3 weeks old with my Hooter Hide in Zagreb, Croatia.

Nice title, ay? So as more of my friends are getting pregnant and having babies I have really become an advocate to nursing. Was I one to whip it out anytime at any place? No, but that has to do with my comfort level. I would however, where my Hooter Hider and nurse anywhere I was.

It all started for me when I was told, "My doctor said giving my child formula is better then nursing." First, who the heck is your doctor and second, are you for real? I then wanted my friend Maria to step in and bring down the house with facts! It really irritates me when people with infants do the following: don't even try to nurse and then go ahead and complain that formula is so expensive. Here is the good news, nursing is free!

Ok I am done complaining for now but please watch his comical but true video!