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The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

October 19, 2011

{family favorites} Tales of the Lost Binkies

So baby J LOVES his binky (that’s our name for his pacifier).  This is new territory for us: M never took one and D was so-so about his and actually weaned himself off before he turned a year.  But J…well he’s a different story.
He uses it for all naps and bedtimes, and honestly would have it all day long if I let him.  J and his bink are BFFs.

Notice I said “bink”.  Singular.  At one point, we had four of them. But for about six weeks, we’ve been working with only one.  One!  Now this where you non-mammas will think I’ve lost my mind, while you current mammas will nod your head and understand the madness.  First, there is only one specific brand he likes…no use trying to convince him otherwise.  I am constantly on my hands and knees searching for that silly thing.  You will frequently hear in my house, “First one to find the bink wins ________”.  There are text messages and e-mails to my husband, telling him I’ve lost it AGAIN and to say a prayer before I go crazy.  There are countless jokes that it needs to have a beep function, so I can find it when it’s at the bottom of the toy basket or between the seat cushions.

Why do I put myself through this madness?  So last night, after baby J literally threw his binkie off the deck, never to be seen again, I bit the bullet and bought another pack.    We’ll wean him off soon enough.  But this mamma needs a happy baby and a Diet Coke! 

Please tell me I’m not alone in this crazy binky madness!  🙂

P.S. I found another mama in the pacifier craziness!  Find her words here.

October 18, 2011

{ramblings} Finding Joy in Ordinary Days

“There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein
Sometimes life is hard.  Sometimes life is complicated.  Sometimes it’s hard to see further than the here and now.  It’s in these times that I must be the most intentional.  I try to consciously seek the goodness and the joy in my ordinary days.  Here are a few:  
  • wearing my new sweater for the first time
  • brother giggles
  • baby J’s adorable walking, which looks a lot like tango steps
  • a happy husband doing what he loves
  • fresh vegetables from the local farm
  • warm, handmade quilts on a chilly morning
  • waking up to a clean kitchen
  • windy days and kite-flying off of the back deck 
I encourage you to take a moment and write down 10 good things.  I promise they can change the whole tone of your day.   
“Joy does not simply happen to us.  We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”
– Henri Nouwen

October 17, 2011

{family} A Pirate Birthday Party

This weekend, we celebrated D’s birthday.  Three years old already!  He chose a pirate theme for the big day.  My Memere has trouble with stairs (and my house has many of them!) so we brought the birthday party to her and set up in my parent’s dining room.   

We had a fun day and my heart grew three sizes watching my sweet boy.  He is much like me and doesn’t feel comfortable being the center of attention, so he was a little shy and unsure about the whole experience.  But once the formal festivities were done and the playing began, he was one happy guy.  I mean, who doesn’t love making his big brother walk the plank?  
 
Happy birthday to my big boy, the apple of my eye.  

October 13, 2011

{home} It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Autumn…

Ever so slowly, I’ve been getting out my Fall decor.  Why is it taking me so long to decorate?  Maybe it has something to do with those three crazy boys of mine!  

Anyway, decorating this time of year is tricky for me.  I tend to be really picky.  I don’t really decorate for Halloween and I don’t like scary things.  Which is humorous in itself, because I’ll be the first to ooh and ahh over the neighbor’s elaborate Halloween Extravaganza display.  But for my own home, I think it boils down to simplicity.  So here are the beginnings of my decorating so far:

Jury is still out whether I’ll keep the plush.  It was mine from my childhood and the boys love it, but I think it borders on cutesy….we’ll see.  I found the print as a free printable.  So cute and a nod to my Texan husband who actually uses the word “y’all”!

 My mantle so far.  I bought the mini pumpkins at the farm where we went pumpkin picking.  I’m kind-of wishing I bought all white, but I also had a little almost-3-year-old helper and he picked his favorites.  So who can complain?  🙂 

Our “carved” pumpkins.  I HIGHLY recommend these things if you have small children or you just don’t like digging your hands in slimy pumpkins.  They poke right into your pumpkin and boom, you’re done.  Instant gratification and double plus: they’re super heroes! (And a Mr. Potato Head pirate just to shake things up a little)

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