A speaker at my church mothers’ group recently talked about all the opportunities for “brain candy” that we have at home.  So much of our days keeps our hands busy, but our minds are unoccupied. That can be a recipe for depression and unhealthy spirals if we’re not careful. It’s easy for me to replay my stresses or an unpleasant exchange with a friend over and over in my mind while I feed my child lunch, wash dishes, clean toilets, or go on walks.

Praying is the best solution, of course.  But sometimes, what I need is just some good girl talk.  And when I can’t call a friend to chat, a new favorite way to fill that need is with a few wonderful podcasts I’ve discovered recently.  If you are a technophobe (or just a tech-novice), let me explain that a podcast is simply a regular audio files (just like a radio show episode) that you can listen to online, or download.  Effortless and free if you have a smartphone.  Just search the titles and download as many old episodes as you want, and if you click “subscribe,” new ones will already download every week.

Here are some of my current favorites:

The Simple Mom Podcast

Tsh Oxenreider (of SimpleMom.net) spends an hour chatting with another blogger every week about raising kids, home decor, traveling, potty training, yard sales, recipes, you name it. Her guests are warm, funny, and wise, and her perspective on intentional motherhood leaves me encouraged every week.  The hour flies by and the archives are full of fabulous conversations.  She’s my absolute favorite for laundry day.  I don’t even notice all the folding.

Inspired to Action

This is a new podcast from Kat Lee (of InspiredtoAction.com).  The episodes vary in length, but my very favorites are her wonderful, quick encouragements for how to be a better mom that day.  She has a fabulous gift for encouraging moms with her wit and practical advice.  In two recent podcasts, for example, she talks about how to be a more patient mom in 24 hours, and how to deal with yourself when you can tell it’s going to be a bad day.  Kat constantly says that every mom is a big deal, and she wants them to know it.  Her podcast always leaves me eager to play with my baby and have a great day together.

Joy the Baker

Ok, this one has nothing to do with motherhood.  But it’s funny and fabulous and so girly that I just adore it.  Despite the name, it also really has nothing to do with baking.  Joy the Baker (of JoytheBaker.com) is a young blogger who chats with her friend, Tracy Benjamin (of Shutterbean.com) about any and all aspects of life.  Fashion, relationships, food, friendship.  It’s light and carefree and makes me laugh out loud almost every week.  Good times.

*Disclaimer: The Joy the Baker podcast would very occasionally get a PG-13 rating.  Some adult themes when it comes to relationship/dating discussions. OK, disclaimer over.

The Kitchen Hour

Another newer podcast, from Meagan Francis (of TheHappiestHome.com).  Meagan chats with guests about her idea of a “kitchen hour;” ie, setting aside time every day to do the necessary work of getting dinner on the table, with more enjoyment and less stress.  Her guests are usually authors, and I don’t always agree with them.  But I love that, because it’s thought-provoking and engages my mind about some of the more controversial aspects of child discipline, motherhood, and even how children learn.  A good listen for your time in the kitchen!

These are just some of my current favorites, so I’d love to know: What do you listen to while you work? Have you found other podcasts that encourage you and pass the chore time?

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I am not good at quiet time.  Every boastful part of me wants to pretend otherwise, but it’s true.  The daily discipline, the waking early or staying awake a bit later, the not-doing-my-to-do-list to be with God.  It does not come easily for me.

In the past few months, I’ve been trying to do better.  Setting an alarm, waking up a few minutes before my baby does.  If I’m being perfectly honest, it is not the idyllic quiet time that my perfectionist self wants.  You know, the lingering over steaming coffee, and writing with gorgeous handwriting in my prayer journal, and watching the sun rise.

I’m lucky to get 15 minutes.  Some days, I’m lucky if it’s five.

But the Lord is meeting me, right there in my imperfect, inadequate quiet time.  On the days when I don’t shut off the alarm and go back to sleep, I feel like He is coming to me, handing me just one morsel of truth for that day.  Just one simple thought to carry with me.  I think He knows that’s all my exhausted momma brain can handle right now.

The other day, I found two amazing verses, just inches apart in my Bible.

There’s this, in Galatians 6:14: Far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

And just before it, in Galatians 6:9: Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  

There they were.  Little anchors, polar opposites.  A verse for a good day.  And a verse for a bad day.

See, life with me is a wild pendulum swing of emotions.  My husband never knows quite what kind of home he’s going to come home to every evening.  Joyful, happy, love-being-a-mom girl?  Or spent, sad, and defeated lady?  But here, God has two truths that can anchor each side of my day, steadying my pendulum.

If I boast, may I boast in Him!  And may I not grow weary, because I am in Him.

On the good days, when I feel like a super-mom (even for a moment)  Far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of Christ.

When my child does something amazing Far be it from me to boast.

When we left the house and did something special together Far be it from me to boast.

When I got CUTE that day, goshdarnit  Far be it from me to boast.

I don’t think that means never sharing the good moments, either in person with a friend, or on Instagram or Facebook.  But it means that I am striving to enjoy life’s moments for their own sake, without needing to share something with the world to make it real.  And it means being careful that my sharing of a good moment never makes another woman feel any less happy with her own life (so much as that depends on me.)

And then there are the bad days.  He tells us, “Do not grow wearing of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

So I’m telling myself that as well.

When I’m picking up tiny pieces of food covering the floor all around the high chair, AGAIN Do not grow weary of doing good.

When I’m reading the same book out loud, AGAIN Do not grow weary of doing good.

When I’m folding laundry, AGAIN Do not grow weary of doing good.

When somehow, against all odds, there are dirty dishes in the sink, AGAIN Do not grow weary of doing good.

My precious mother-in-law told me that young motherhood is a long season of sowing.  For a long time, we do all of it, every day, with few glimpses of the reaping to come.  But it’s coming, if we do not give up.

So on good days, and on bad days, I’m trying.  And I’m leaning on my God.  And I’m setting an alarm.

Have you figured out a way to fit quiet time into motherhood?  What works for you?  

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Ingredients

2 1/2 cups Blanched Almond Flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 cup dark chocolate 73%

Instructions

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together wet ingredients in a smaller bowl. Mix wet ingredients into dry. Form 1/2 inch balls and press onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes. Cool and Serve.

That’s it! Super easy. Feel free to share your favorite grain free recipes in the comments below!

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Airport Check-In

It’s a little overwhelming (and looks a little crazy!) to lug all of the baby gear around an airport PLUS your baby. But thankfully most of it is short lived because check-in is the first step in the travel process and there you get to leave your two biggest items: the suitcase and carseat. In the above picture you will see how I managed to get all of my stuff to the check-in counter alone. A baby carrier and stroller will be life savers for you!

As I mentioned in my last post, some airlines will have a heavy duty plastic bag for your carseat. I highly recommend using this to protect your carseat during travel. One thing you may not know is that you can also stuff anything in the bag with the carseat at no additional cost if you need to reduce the amount of things in your luggage.

Besides the carseat, check-in is pretty normal except they may ask to see your baby’s birth certificate. Also, you will need either a second boarding pass for your infant, or a “plus infant” added to your normal ticket in order to get through security.

Airport Security

After check-in, I load Winston up in the stroller and push him to the security checkpoint. You can carry your baby with you through the metal detector (no need to take their shoes off), but not your stroller. If it doesn’t fit on the belt to be scanned, you will have to alert security personnel you have a stroller and they will wand it down and bring it to you on the other side. I highly recommend taking as little as possible through security. I had one diaper bag, the ergo, and stroller and that was plenty!

Down Time in an Airport

This is where having the stroller is super helpful (if it hasn’t already been amazing)! If you have down time, it is nice not to have to carry your kid all around the airport before or between flights. I also do whatever I can to get Mr. Baby’s energy out so he will be as tired and calm as possible for the actual flight. Beware of drinking so much liquid during this time that once you get on the plane you get stuck holding your sleeping baby while dying to go to the bathroom!

Boarding The Plane

Be sure to visit the counter at your gate to gate check your stroller. No way you want to take that thing on board with you! At this stage of the trip, I usually put Mr. Baby back in the Ergo so I can have my hands free for boarding and easily folding my stroller at the plane. After you board, it can be really helpful to ask a flight attendant to let you know if there are any empty aisles/seats available so you can have more room for juggling your baby.

I haven’t found a particular seat (aisle vs. window) to be any better than the other–I think it is most dependent on your particular baby’s needs and interests.

The Flight

I have always tried to schedule my flights around a time when my son is most likely to take a nap for the first part of the trip. Take-off really helps lull them to sleep. If you nurse, you can nurse while the plane reaches altitude to help with any pressure that needs to be relieved in your baby’s ears. Otherwise, a paci, some snacks, or a sippy cup help with this as well. Right now my current method is the paci and a lot of cuddle time, and usually Mr. Baby will take at least a short nap.

After a nap, I offer snacks and other things to keep my son occupied. Books are great, or looking at the magazines on the plane. Other fun games like “patty cake” are great as well, and as we know, non-toys are the best toys! So make an exception and let your baby play with your sunglasses or necklace. It can also be fun to bring one new toy for the plane ride to hold their interest a bit longer.

One other helpful thing I did pre-trip was to download some iPad apps that are baby friendly. I don’t usually let my son watch TV or play with the iPad, but I felt like if there was a time to make an exception to the usual play routine, it would be on the flight! Both of these apps were worth the money, with Timmy Tickle being my favorite:

Timmy Tickle
Fish School HD

If you need extra activities to fill time, you can stand up and walk the aisle of the plane, or do a diaper change/clothes change just because. Personally my son HATES diaper changes/clothes changes, so I try to avoid that if possible because it’s just a huge hassle with him in a tiny bathroom. But I’ve heard that this works wonders for other people!

De-Boarding The Plane

De-boarding is just like boarding! I Ergo my baby up, grab my stroller at the gate, and then at that point put my baby back in the stroller. That’s it!

Feel free to ask any Q+A below. If there are enough questions I may do a follow up Q+A post!

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It was inevitable. . .Winston bombed the pictures!

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But I have done it via plane. About a month ago, I made my first flight and trip with Winston by myself to Virginia. As I gathered all of my things together, I kept wondering if I would have everything I needed for traveling with a 10 month old baby away from home. I know I’m not the only one who has been through this! Let’s face it–once you’ve been pregnant, your brain just isn’t the same. Anyways, I enlisted the help of Raynel to get some tips as she has flown with Evangeline multiple times. I decided it was all too helpful, and so I added some things I learned and am ready to share them with you all.

Keep It Simple

Limit the number of bags you are taking or carrying on the plane. You only have two hands, AND you have a baby to deal with. I flew United which allows you to check one bag for free. However, I would have gone ahead and checked one anyways were that not the case. It is just too much to deal with a carry-on suitcase in addition to a baby and the other things you need.

You are also allowed to take 3 carry-on bags with an infant, but I found it so much easier to only be carrying one bag on the plane. Now, part of this would depend on the length of your flight, but one bag was plenty for a 3 hour flight. On the way home, my suitcase was going to be overweight, so I took two bags on the plane with me, but I definitely prefer one bag.

Your carseat and stroller check for free, so don’t worry about those if you need to bring them. In fact, I highly recommend bringing a stroller.

The Packing List

This list is pretty exhaustive, and may vary depending on the age of your child. But it should give you a starting point to make sure you didn’t forget anything!

* = optional

Me

Pajamas
Outfits
Underwear
Shoes
Jewelry
Makeup
Shampoo/Conditioner/Body wash/Face wash/Pouf*
Mousse/Smoothing Cream/Comb/Razor/Deodorant
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Ponytail holders, Headbands, & Bobby Pins
Vitamins/Medications
Water Bottle

Baby – Clothes

Pajamas
Dresses/Pants/Tops
Socks
Shoes
Hair Bands/Clips/Accessories*

Baby – Supplies

Swaddle Blankets
Shampoo
Wash cloth*
Bath toys*
Bibs
Diapers
Wipes
Spoons
Ergo (or whatever carrier you have–it’s a must!)
Video Monitor*
Toys & Stuffed Animals*
Books
Pacifiers
Favorite Blankets
Travel Snacks
Sippy Cups
Coconut Oil (or other baby hygiene supplies)

Other

Books
Games
Cell Phone Charger
Camera
Camera Charger and Memory Cards
Stoller
Carseat
Wallet
Phone
iPad or Laptop
Earbuds
Birth Certificate for Baby*

Breaking It Down

Suitcase–The bulk of things I needed for myself and for Winston–Checked at Ticket Counter

Carseat–Put in protective bag at ticket counter–Checked at Ticket Counter

Stroller–Used throughout the airport–Checked at Gate

Ergo (Baby Carrier)–Stuffed in bottom of stroller or diaper bag–Carried on plane

Diaper Bag–Containing things like camera, iPad, snacks, change of clothes for Winston, toys, etc.–Carried on plane

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I will walk through the easiest way to deal with the actual travel day by yourself and your baby!

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This was the first of the shoots I did during my visit to Virginia, and by far the coldest I’ve ever done. But it was ooooooh so worth it! Somehow–I don’t know how–we managed to survive the frigid temperature and intense winds, move a $36,000 harp over bumpy soil (without it blowing over), and get back inside in 30 minutes! Intense, but fun.

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I have been wanting to add some fresh art to the collage wall in Evangeline’s room, but with an 11-month-old to chase around, I needed something that didn’t take much time or cash.  This little DIY silhouette is a great solution!  This project is simple, simple, simple.  You can do it in about an hour, and it looks so fun when you are finished!

Supplies

1 sheet black construction paper
1 sheet colored or patterned paper
Digital camera
Printer
Scissors
Tape
Picture frame

(That’s it! See, I told you this was easy.)

Step-by-step

Take a photo.

I got my husband to hold Evangeline out in front of him and he made silly faces at her to keep her attention, while I snapped a few digital pictures from the side to get a good profile shot.  I finally chose this one, because the edges of her face and hair were good and defined.

Print the photo off in the size you want.  No fancy printer needed; black & white ink on cheap printer paper is absolutely fine.  It came out looking like this:

Cut widely around your profile, and tape that piece of paper on top of your black construction paper, so they don’t slip apart while you’re cutting.

Cut around the profile.  This is the most time-consuming part of this project.  Those little chins and noses are tiny!  Be sure to cut around any curls and wispy hairs, and other little details from your baby’s face.  You’ll want those sweet touches in the final silhouette.

Carefully untape your template profile from the construction paper version.  Tape or glue the black paper silhouette onto your colored or patterned paper.  I found this polka dot paper in the scrapbooking section at Joann Fabrics for $1.99 per sheet.  It’s perfect for my little girl’s room.

Stick it in a frame, and voila! You’re done!

I made a second silhouette of our labradoodle, Bella, just because it was so fun and easy.  I used teal construction paper for that background.  I like how it looks on our aqua walls.

The collage wall is coming along.  Still needs a few more projects, though!

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