Maternity Shoot

Last month my amazing friend did a free maternity photo shoot for me. I was 34 1/2 weeks. Here are some of the pictures:

My "baby" is 16

Happy 16th birthday to my "baby!" I can remember the day this boy came into my life, screaming his head off. It has been some ride, but what a blessing that I have been able to be his mom. I am so proud of the amazing young man he is becoming. He is caring, respectful, helpful, kind, and funny. It is strange as the years pass and they need us less as a parent, and the relationship changes. I would... never trade those baby years, or young child years as we climbed trees together and read books, and did our craft (sweat shop's, lol); but I also am coming to really enjoy this new stage where we talk and have real conversations, especially when Jason has me cracking up. I am so proud of this young man. Who will always be my "baby" and my firstborn son, but who also is becoming a man right before my very eyes.

 

 

Where are we?

I know I have neglected this blog. Hurricane Sandy really devastated us, and we are still dealing with recovery.

We are home (after being displaced from after hurricane until March of this year.) Our home was repaired using insurance funds and volunteer work for labor from Christian Aid Ministries.

Our home is fully repaired with a new furnace, central air, first floor, fridge, washer and dryer, and more. However after being told we would not have to raise our home, we actually do. We are in the process of applying for grants to raise or knock down and rebuild our home since two contractors feel our home is unraisable (due to its age.)

I lost my business (in home daycare due to hurricane.) I now have one child back (my nephew Kaiden, he is 3.) But I am still down $260 a week from my pre hurricane income. But by the grace of God we are current on all our monthly bills.

We are still homeschooling. We took a break for Aug. & half of Sept., and started again last month. Jason is in high school and Josh is in 5th grade. These pictures are from the first day of school.

 

 

 

In all the hurricane Sandy craziness, we have some exciting news. On July 21st I got remarried.

I wrote last summer about beginning to date my now husband, Jay. Well, we decided that we were meant to be and got married.

Also I am expecting another baby boy due Dec. 18th. We are all very excited. This is me a few weeks ago. Today I am 31 weeks.

I am sure that is enough news for now, but I wanted to share that we are ok, and a few updates.

Anyone still out there?

-Becky

Over five years using cloth

I realize it has been over five years that I have been using all cloth in my house. I have not bought tissues, paper towels, or disposable menstrual pads since 2007. I use cloth toilet paper, but do buy for my guests and boys. I have a few reasons why I started doing this:

-financial
-our earth
-my sensitive skin

Are these reasons still relevant to me? Yes, they all still are. In five years I haves saved about:

Product   Monthly Cost   Yearly Cost   Five Year Cost

Tissues    $5                      $60                $300
Toilet Paper $5                 $60                $300
Paper Towels $10             $120              $600
Paper Napkins $5             $60                $300
Menstrual Pads $10          $120              $600

                                               Total        $2100

So I think saving about $2,000, maybe $1,500 if you factor in extra laundry it has made sense financially.

I also think keeping those trees from being cut down and all the resources that goes into making these products has benefited the earth, especially since I wash the cloth in cold water and line dry to kill germs ( the sun is great at that.)

But still the number one reason for using all cloth is my skin. I have not be one rash from a disposable diaper ( I had many before.)

So even if fianances and our earth were not a factor I would still continue to use all cloth.

-Becky

Where have we been

We are home again after Sandy badly damaged our home. However we have been busy trying to get back to a normal routine. Also my laptop is terrible with connecting online and my iphone is so small to blog on. But it is my goal to get back to blogging.

After my haircut

I know it is a slight change, but for someone who has this odd aversion to getting a hair cut, it is dramatic enough for me.

Before my haircut this morning

This is me about to go to a salon for a haircut (with a gift certificate I got for Christmas.)

My last haircut was Nov. 2011 by a friend; and the haircut before that was Oct. 2002 (I am not kidding.)