Green Grilled Cheese that even my 1yr old will eat!

I have made a "healthier" version of grilled cheese since I was pregnant with Greyson. It's so easy to add in some greens to this yummy sandwich.

I always add spinach and tomatoes and recently began adding avocado's, as well. I love sharing good food with Blakely, but she never has quite appreciated me giving her spinach leaves in our grilled cheese. It's hard for her to chew it up considering she only has 2.5 teeth.

So, I decided to try something new this past week.

I made grilled cheese like normal, good wheat bread, colby jack cheese and butter. While that was frying, I took my mini Ninja and put spinach and an avocado and garlic and herbs. It came out as this awesome paste that I could just "paint" right on our sandwich. Sorry I didn't get a close up. :( #fail

My 1 year old ate it right up, minus the tomatoes. She always wants to eat what I'm eating, so now I have to watch what I eat even more... or eat while she naps! :)

What a Difference a Year Can Make

We just finished celebrating our second daughter's 1st birthday yesterday.

What a joy it is to our hearts to be able to celebrate her....her full year of life.

After losing Greyson, I felt like there wouldn't be an ability to celebrate again. Pregnancy, birth, special dates, etc.
 It felt like death had swallowed up the joy that is supposed to be tied in with having children. All I had known was mostly pain.

We feel like the Lord has restored our hope with Blakely. Which is why we added that on to her name at the last minute.

Since we threw her a Luau (that she won't remember lol) the whole day was consumed with preparing and having fun at the party. I felt like I didn't get too much time to sit and reflect the miracle she is to my heart; how God has brought her to us to help heal and help us find joy and hope and a reason to celebrate again.

I was experiencing an array of emotions the week prior. I was so excited to throw her a party, so excited she was 1 now and out of the SIDS time frame, excited that she is getting bigger, sad she wasn't a baby baby anymore, sad her big sister couldn't be there to help celebrate, bittersweet when looking back over the past 2 years of carrying her and delivering her and taking care of her.

I remember the day she was born, we had the best Doctor and the most amazing Nurse. Both loved Jesus. So calming to me. Waiting from 9a-2p to push her out was the most stress and anxiety I had experienced the whole pregnancy. So thankful for the epidural to keep the physical pain at bay. I was busy enough trying not to have a panic attack; listening intently to her heartbeat.

All I had dreaded for 9 months was there...and my only hope was to come out of the next 36 hours with a living baby...
And praise the Lord, we did and we have her still.

We are so thankful for her and I am so excited to see the plans the Lord has for her. We will always celebrate the fact that the Lord chose to bless us with another baby so fast, and another little girl, to help heal our hearts.

(Sorry it's a bit blurry// a lil snuggly time before guests arrive)

Last year was a hard one at this time, preparing for her birth, trying to not get "too excited", but fighting the fear, grief, agony like a beast.  Then welcoming her into our family, trying to be a good parent despite the sadness still lingering and trying not to spoil her to much just because...we could. Fighting to enjoy and cherish every moment and not be in a perpetual state of fear every time we said good-night to her.

Within the last year, she has made me smile so often, laugh and find enjoyment in small little things. Her little squeaks and squished up nose smiles are heart-melting. Her little toes and the rolls on her legs, her cute little teeth, her beautiful eyes and starting-to-curl-perfectly dark hair--

...all of her is such a blessing to all of me.

SO thankful that days goes by and God allowed us to experience His love and grace and hope and mercy through His most precious gift.

(with the Greyson Bear) (2 weeks old)


One thing people would say after Greyson died, was that "time will heal" and "in time, it will get easier". I never believed them. I knew it'd get easier...for them. Not me.  I always felt so sad and hopeless wondering if I'd always feel this miserable forever.

 But, to be honest, in this last year of Blakely's life, I have felt that thing with time, as days go by, as we find joy in our second born little girl, the edge of sorrow from not having Greyson here with us is lessened.

 As each day goes by and we are able to enjoy her as gift, I feel so thankful that time has kept moving...and I have become so thankful in the difference a year can make.

Organic Baby Immunity Booster

This still has been so helpful to us as we have been moving and going back in forth the last few months!
We store it in an old baby food jar container and rub it on Blakely's feet and then put socks on her. We do this when she is not feeling good, has a cold or a fever and it definitely helps! We have done it today as a matter of fact, because she has been sick for a day or two.

What you need:
+old container with a lid
+ coconut oil
+Essential Oils (Eucalyptus and Four Thieves) (We love Eden's Garden brand!) (But we had some old NOW brand... (don't really like that brand anymore)

What you do:
Melt the Oil for about 20 seconds. (Use at least 2 tbsp, but it really depends on how much you want to have on hand)
Add 5-8 drops of each oil and mix.
This mixture will stay oil at 77' and warmer, and will harden when in colder temperatures.

Rub it on the bottom of your baby's feet and immediately put socks on. Otherwise you will have oil all over. :)
I use this sometimes when I am not feeling good. ;)

I got the coconut oil on Amazon and the Essential Oils from a Health Store and Online at Eden's Garden.

Life this Summer

Wow, I am terrible. I have missed Blakely's 10 and 11 month updates. We've been moving our stuff slowly to the Tropics since May. Moving makes you kinda hate all your stuff. :)

I will try to just condense her last 2 months real quick: 
She is eating everything but meat, drinking mostly water, some goat's milk...and still nursing 3-4x a day. We will probably be done nursing within the next 6 weeks. It's bittersweet, but it's getting to the point where she is antsy, anyway, so it's not as sweet and cuddly as it used to be. I will always cherish those (these) times with her.

She is crawling fast and standing for minutes at a time and taking 3-4 steps. She is learning to play good by herself finally...after giving her some boundaries ( A Play Yard!)
She used to hate traveling and now she is a pro at it! We are so thankful! 1,000 miles with a baby can be rough! But she has been so great at it!
She sleeps through the night still, but better now. I finally, 2 months ago, felt like I was catching up on my sleep!

 She is so so cuddly now a days, loves to cuddle with her blankies and her favorite animals, a tiny giraffe and a big puppy we got her at Ikea. It's so heart-melting.

She has 2 teeth with 3 on the way. She has a cold right now that somehow she caught from Florida to Indy. Boo.

 We are throwing her a Luau for her first birthday this next Sunday. Super excited to blog about that next week! Making all sorts of fun Hawaiian themed food!

Our life lately has been a little stressed. Packing, moving, driving, unpacking, sorting, settling, cleaning, etc. We have been able to go on more dates more frequently since we are in Indy and have family here, which is a life-saver. :)

DOING:
see above:)
+ planning her birthday party
+ exploring ways I can work from home a little and bring in some extra cash for us
+ enjoying the summer outside, swimming, walking, picnics, etc. she loves her wagon!
+ looking into decorating our new home in Florida

EATING:
+I just discovered I liked Mango's. :)
+Mostly Vegan at home (when out, we eat whatever! :) )
+detox smoothies ( I use Perfect Food Raw Organic Green Super Food)


GOING:
+back n forth to Florida
+Target 
+parks
+Nana & Papaw's

LOVING:
+the things God is speaking to me this week. He is trying to get my heart and attitude in check.
+listening to Bastille and John Newman and Hillsong.
+ that I am getting ready to set up my new coffee maker, so I can begin making Iced Coffee at home.
+ that my hubby bought me my own gym so I can work out at home. Haven't done a lot of that in the last few weeks because we've been so busy. Hoping to get back out there tomorrow.

LEARNING:
+being a parent can be rough. Working together with your spouse, trying to figure out how to discipline, giving your baby enough time to themselves, but time with you, learning how to be ok with not much time to yourself. No one really tells you.
+being a parent can be so rewarding and such a blessing.



Be on the look out for a new design and theme of my blog coming in the next few weeks. I am excited to add direction to my site and add more pictures and blog more often. :)