HYPNOBIRTH CLASS 5

Meet Dr. AnnaLynn and see the teeny tiny us in the right corner...

Our HypnoBirthing classes officially ended and they were all done through skype. Technology can be such a wonderful thing! Last class we watched some more amazing birth videos, did some last wrap ups, talked about more scripts to use and did an amazing practice session. The last practice was an interesting one and I don't want to divulge too much just in case some of you decide to take the class (I haven't gone through birth yet, but all I can tell you is good things thus far). I feel prepared and ready and have very positive feelings about the impending birth. If you have any questions regarding HypnoBirthing, I would pick up the book or even give Dr. AnnaLynn a call (or email) wherever you are because remember all our sessions were done entirely online.

Overall, the classes have taught me skills to be able to bring my entire body into complete relaxation, yet still have my mind completely in control and alert. It really is such an astounding feeling. Now, game time is coming up and I keep visualizing how it will all play out, in a positive way of course.

Time is dwindling down and the birth seems so far to me, though I know it is actually closer than it is far. I probably look like I could pop at any minute and sometimes I feel like it too! I still have to get the hospital bag ready and a few other loose ends to tie up until I think I am officially ready. I really can't believe it is almost time, whenever that time is! September is here and that means baby is coming... eeks!

The girls are ready and get super excited about the baby. Well, Soul doesn't really know what's going on and I think she is going to be in for a shocker when baby comes home. Other than that we are chugging on through with school, house stuff, and just life. Though I must say that today was a lot harder than most. The girls were easily and exceedingly disgruntled and I wasn't the best mama. Today was one of those days that I feel like I just failed miserably at parenting and training my children. If I were given a grade for today, I would have gotten a big fat F! Man oh man. I wish I could get a do over.

Actually a funny thing, kinda not really, was that I took away some toys from the girls as a consequence for their disobedience. The result is that they drew me on their chalkboard with a big fat X over me. Really! They said I wasn't being nice. I went back to take a picture to blog it of course (it was too funny not to share), but then they had already erased it. I had to talk with them about the choices they made that led to their toys getting taken away. They stated they knew it was their fault and so I told them they should draw an x on them too and then I did it. Really mature Ruby! See I told you, today I get a big fat F and would probably have made it onto the fail blog. Tomorrow's post on the fail blog should be my picture. No joke.

I am glad my God is gracious to forgive someone as foolish as me (I am so foolish) and that tomorrow morning his mercies are brand new. I am also thankful that my children also have very forgiving hearts. Tomorrow will be a better day, at least I will pray it is...

class 4...

class 3...

class 2...

class 1...

OUT TO SCHOOL

Nope. I didn't go into labor, just in case you were thinking that due to my absence. We just got busy prepping to send True to school for the first time. Yikes!

{where from again? dress: little bean shop; salt-waters: c/o tea collection}

Yes, I know. She only goes one day a week, but still it is a nerve wracking one day a week. I mean there are more germs at school, I can't monitor her hand washing, and not to mention school bathrooms (Yes, I have a big public restroom phobia!), and the fact we are trusting complete strangers! I was drilling and prepping her on what to do in the bathroom and if anyone ever makes her feel uncomfortable and just kept reassuring her that she can always tell me and her Papi anything. Dang. It is scary being a parent! I need to pray more.

Glad to report that today was a success! Prayers answered. We all went to drop her off. Ben was the one to escort her to the playground, while the other girls and I stayed back. We didn't want to call too much attention to us just in case it made her more anxious and nervous. As soon as True and Ben were out of sight, Brave started crying saying she was missing True, then I started crying, and as soon as Ben was headed back towards us I could see his eyes weren't very far from joining our teary ones. I know. I know. One day a week... still, it ain't easy.

It was a bit calmer of a day with just Brave and Soul. We even went to the mall! We went home had lunch, put Soul to nap, Brave and I cuddled a bit, then I took care of some things and next thing you knew it was time to pick True up. We were all very excited! Though the most excited of all was True when we did finally get her. She got in the car and was ranting and raving about what she calls feater (theatre) class, her spanish class, and drawing fishes in art class. And then her friends... she went on and on about her new friends and how they played and how she wasn't shy! Praise Lord Jesus! If you have ever met True, she is superly duperly shy! So the fact she loved school and wants to go 5 days a week (yes, she said that) and enjoyed making friends makes us so happy. It was such a good day today that we ended the day taking them to eat pizza and games at Chuck E. Cheese. Rides for a quarter?! Who can beat that?!! Seriously.

I know we started homeschool last week, but finally sending her off to school one day a week makes everything feel slightly more official. Our little girl is growing up!

WEEKEND DONE

Ben and I got some nice quiet time in, the girls had a nice time at their Grammie and Grumpy's and I even got to make my BFF an A-frame tent (with a little twist from the original directions) for her classroom. Plus, we got to gather with our church family. These things make for a good weekend.

Hope your weekend was just as nice!

huzzah, friday (on a saturday)!

I turn around for a minute and the silliest things always happen... Soul puts the ipod in her shirt because that is how she sees me walking around the house, then Brave puts minty foot lotion all over Soul's arms, or Brave and True douse Soul in baby powder all over her body. It doesn't always seem silly at the time, but I guess it isn't so bad that I have time to take a picture!

Friday night was lovely because the girls are at the grandparents and Ben and I had the house to ourselves. Love it! Today we will be relaxing, getting a few things done, going on a date, and maybe adding in some lovin'!

This week's learned and links...

- Soul can say, "Scuse, peas", means "Be excused please?" and "Wa wat", means "Wanna watch" because she wants to watch some book read alouds on the computer.

- The girls love homeschool and are really excited about learning.

- True and Brave are so forgiving to put up with my frustrations when I am not being the best mama.

- Soul is feisty and tries to fight her older sisters.

- We are quite close a to name, at least we got one on the table.

- I need to work on being more encouraging to Ben like in Ephesians 5:22-33.

- Check out my newest living room ideabook on houzz. Would love all those things, definitely out of my budget though!

- I really can't wait for fall to come!

Enjoy some rest this weekend!

afternoon at the flea

We went to the flea market to pick up a little side table we had purchased from a vendor back in June, but had no room in our car to take at that time. We walked around a bit, but didn't really find anything, or maybe we really just weren't looking cause we have spend-phobia right now. There were two things I really did like, but they were already sold, so it is just as well. This was definitely our last time at the flea market as a family of five and next time we go we will be a family of six and introducing our newest little one to our love for hunting old pretty things. I so can't wait!

The funniest thing of the day is that the two older girls insisted being in the stroller, while little Soulie insisted on walking around herself. She is a trooper that one!

on me: shirt, target. undershirt, local boutique. shorts, old navy. shoes, jessica simpson.
on true: shirt, vintage (gifted from Rachel). skirt, misha lulu. shoes, salt-waters c/o tea.
on brave: hacienda stripe dress, c/o tea. shoes, salt-waters.
on soul: shirt, vintage via tiny fox vintage. skinny french terry cargo, c/o tea. shoes, salt waters via tiny fox vintage.

This belly is getting increasingly hard to dress with each week. My shirts are suddenly getting shorter and shorter and pants and skirts are getting tighter and tighter. Most days at home, I am literally in pajama shorts and a tank all day cause it is just easier that way. I seriously dread getting dressed cause I never know what to wear (and I change my clothes about 10 times before I settle on something to leave the house). Then, I have been obsessively looking for shirt dresses on etsy cause soon enough, that is all I will need to wear again, though this fall/winter I am thinking of adding more jeans and pants into my wardrobe. I will give being a jeans girl a try, not sure if it will really work though!

Today has been such a good day so far as I had yummy lunch and dessert with Danni and Linda and now I am at my mom's waiting to pass the girls off to her for the evening. Ben and I want to spend one quiet relaxing Friday night alone and have a semi-peaceful Saturday before our life gets a little bit crazier soon. The girls don't object to being at their Grammie and Grumpy's because it includes waffles for breakfast and BLT sandwiches for dinner and usually, they sucker their grandparents to take them shopping. Ain't being a grandkid, grand?!!

Enjoy your weekend friends and I will be back later with a little friday recap!

hypnobirth class 4

It's been awhile since I wrote about my hypnobirthing class, but is has been awhile since I had one. Life took over for us and Ben and I haven't been able to have a session with Dr. AnnaLynn, tonight will be our last one.

Last class, believe it or not, Ben did not fall asleep during our hypnosis session. I think he was trying very hard to keep alert, my mom sat in to watch me go into hypnosis a bit, so she would know what to expect when she was there with us in the birthing room. And I have been practicing a whole lot since then. I try to do it every night before bed, then I use it to lull me to sleep, and once in the mid-afternoon. The afternoon practices are harder because the boisterous energy of True and Brave in the room sometimes won't let me relax.

I know I am the guinea pig for all my friends and some people are still weirded out by the whole idea. It really isn't that strange friends, it is just getting to a place of deep relaxation and using your imagination. It really is quite nice. Some people try to get me to put myself in hypnosis in front of them, but I think that is just too weird, so I don't. Plus, I need my music and anchors and need to be super comfy and being in the middle of a pizza parlor ain't the comfiest.

I am at 36 weeks now and normally go somewhere in my 38th week (what?! can I really be that close?!!), and I am pretty excited about my body doing the birthing process this time around. I am not quite ready yet, as there are things that still need to get done before this baby makes an appearance (I need to put together a hospital bag and a going home outfit) and try to clean more of the house. I am just anticipating when it will be time to put all I have been practicing into action. Really, I am so excited! I have dreams all the time that this baby just slides right out of me!

At the same time, I am really cherishing these last few weeks as this will be the last time Ben and I will be in this place. Unless God pulls a fast one on us, four is as high of a number as we will go, so I am trying to memorize and enjoy every little bump and kick I feel inside of me. I will really miss feeling a baby inside me. I think I am also finally slowing down as I have been more tired these days and though I have been working out this entire pregnancy (I try to do 5-6 days a week with Ben), today was the first day I felt like, "Whoa! This workout is kinda hard now."

I was telling Ben last night that maybe we should make a papier-mâché out of my belly. Strange, I know, but I am just trying to figure out a way to capture these last days in this stage of our life. My heart is really full trying to fathom and enjoy it all and not let it escape too quickly, but at the same time we are super duperly excited to meet the newest one! I think we may even have a name. Maybe. Almost. We will see...

class 3...

class 2...

class 1...

another salmon recipe keeper

From homeschool to food, don't you love how I can jump from one topic to another so quickly?! I am a lifestyle blog after all, at least I think of it that way. I am sure there will be lots more school talk round these parts, especially since this is all so new to us and there are so many aspects of it that I want to capture and reflect upon. All in all, homeschooling day two went well, I just need to be more patience. God, help!

On a food note, we tried out this delicious salmon recipe last week. I really liked it, though next time Ben and I both agreed that the recipe could go a bit lighter on the vinegar.

Marinated Salmon with Watermelon-Sesame Salsa (via Kaiser Permanente recipes)
Instructions:

Marinate salmon fillets for 20 to 30 minutes in two cups puréed watermelon, 3 oz (3 to 4 inch long piece) grated fresh ginger, 1 cup sake, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes and 1 tsp salt.

For the salsa:

1 cup diced and seeded watermelon

about 1/4 cup diced red onion

1/2 cucumber diced

1 Tbsp toasted (dark) sesame oil

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

1 tsp red pepper flakes

3 to 4 leaves of fresh mint chopped

1/4 bunch of cilantro chopped

2 tsp sugar and 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil.

Mix and adjust seasoning and sesame oil to taste.

Grill the salmon fillets or roast in a preheated olive oiled baking dish at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes. Arrange the fillets on a bed of mixed lettuces, garnish with cherry tomatoes. Top the salmon and the lettuces with salsa. Serves four.

The recipe contains onions, which I can't really stand right now, but having ice cream afterwards makes the lingering onion taste in my mouth go away. Problem solved. These days though I am craving some sort of teriyaki beef. Hopefully, Ben and I can get a date night in on Friday and satiate this craving of mine. I so can't wait to have my normal appetite back and have me some sashimi and beer! That's right... I am looking forward to drinking a beer!

Are you craving anything lately?

first day of (home)school

The first day of school went fairly well. Okay, maybe I did have some frustrating moments and the girls got sent to time out a few times (better than the principal right?!), but it wasn't bad for a first "official" day. Actually, the "official" day is on Tuesday, but we want Friday off, so we started today. It's kinda nice having that flexibility!

Today, we did some phonics, writing, math, and spanish (really basic stuff). The girls really liked the end when they got to do free journal and document the bits and pieces of what they learned today. They dictated to me sentences of what they learned and I wrote it down. I am sure once we get into a regular rhythm of things, I will break down our precise schedule for you, but we aren't quite there yet and we don't do "school" all in one sitting. The day is broken up into parts and we do a chunk of school while Soul is napping. I hope to get baby and Soul on the same nap schedule, so it will make things manageable for the girls' learning time.

I didn't really do "preschool" with True as we did things weaved into the day, but it was never official, but with Brave, she is just being taught the same things as True. She doesn't get some ideas as quickly as True, but I figure she will get what she can and next year when she is in kinder, concepts will be much quicker for her. The tricky part is being patient with her and remembering she is still a whole year younger than True.

Thank you for all your encouragement and your questions regarding our decision to homeschool. Here is some background information on me that you may or may not know about that helped aid our decision to homeschool.

1. I have my California Teaching Credential and taught 4th grade for a year before I got pregnant and decided to retire early. Not that having a credential automatically makes you a great homeschool teacher or vice versa.

2. My siblings and I were homeschooled by our parents. My younger siblings did it through through elementary school and I did it from my sophomore to senior year in high school. My remaining two years I was integrated into a local private school and took my math and science classes there (it was too hard to teach myself physics and calculus), but I was so mixed in with the students of that school that I even went on the Senior trip with everyone.

3. Most of my really good friends are still currently teachers, so if I need help or have questions, I have plenty of support and trust me, I have already bugged some of them.

I know you must all have lots of questions of the whats, whys, and hows we are homeschooling and I promise to address that in another post soon, but I will touch on just one subject of homeschooling that I know some of you are wondering about.

True is indeed a shy girl and we do think it is important for her (and the rest of our kids) to be able to get social interaction. Though she is at home, she isn't deprived it as we are part of a this church family where she is able to engage and meet with other children every Sunday. In addition, our homeschooling is done through a public charter school in which we have the option of signing up for "enrichment" classes one or two days a week. She will be attending a full day of school once a week and will be definitely getting lots of social time through there. And honestly, she does have (almost) three little siblings she interacts with daily who are very close to her age, so she will be more than fine. Plus, when I was a kid, I was just like her, super shy and always hiding behind my mommy's leg, but look at me now... Ben says I ain't shy at all, though I think I am just a smidge.

That's our philosophy on the social aspect of homeschooling and I remember when I was homeschooled there were some kids who were a bit more peculiar than others, but really, I think they would have been just as peculiar if they weren't homeschooled. Plus, peculiarity isn't such a bad thing, I am so glad everyone is different and has their own quirks! Aren't you?!

handmade bunting

A friend of mine is due with her first child, a girl, 2 days after me (she is dying to know what I am having!) and she needed a little bunting for the little peanut's (that's what they call the baby) room. I happily obliged to make her one and I hope she likes the way it turned out!

School starts tomorrow and I wish I had more of the house clean before this new chapter begins, but whatever... the show must go on! I will officially have a kindergartener! Eeks!!!

This space is about to enter a whole new dimension now that our home is about to turn into a homeschool zone. I can't wait to see how this all turns out and document and share our journey with you all here. Thanks for always being so interested (and sending encouragements) in our little part of the world!

huzzah, friday!

Sometimes some apple pie and ice cream are necessary to get through the day! School starts next week for us and we are ready as we'll ever be. I have two weeks worth of lesson plans mapped out, projects, and activities ready, so here we go...

This week's learned and links...

- Soulie now says little short phrases like, "Papi, there you!" and "I poo poo!"

- True is filling her older sister role well. She is definitely bossy!

- Brave has been more sensitive lately and I need to be more intentional in giving her more love touches.

- I can get quite obsessive about the strangest things. Now, it's ankle boots.

- The girls' closets are way too full. I need to purge yet again.

- Nighttime brings out the pregnancy waddle.

- This verse is hard to apply. In all things, I must count it all joy! Even when things are super frustrating. Lord, help me!

What was going on in your life and heart this week?

vintage here, vintage there: sunday afternoon

This whole picture session first started out awry. It was after church and Soulie was pretty cranky (see first picture), True and Brave were complaining, and Ben was kinda hangry (hungry + angry, which is a word made by the BFF). Eventually, everyone gave me several minutes of cooperation and we snapped some photos. After which, we hopped in the car and headed home and all the girls knocked out within the first few minutes. If you ever think my girls are always so cooperative for photos, they aren't. They're real kids after all.

Ben and True were being little hams together in the back, they are both so similar, Ben relates so much better to True than I do. It is so interesting to watch each child's differences and how you really do have to deal with each child differently. Each of them is very special and I can't wait to get this fourth one in the mix!

I really need to do some reorganization of closets in a major way. I am bad at putting away summer clothes in the winter and winter clothes in the summer and since we live in Southern California, don't all the seasons seem to blend together anyways?! Rachel got hers organized earlier this week and I probably should do the same, but my nesting fire burned out long ago and now I am in survival mode with three kids. I also took a nice long break from buying any vintage clothes for the girls, since our closets are jammed packed, but lately I have succumbed to adding more to our collection because some dresses are too pretty to resist!

Once again, my only vintage are my shoes, which I love (thanks Stacy for finding them for me!). I actually pulled my black maxi skirt up into a tube dress, my mama bought me this crop top from H&M and I just put that on top. The top is a random print of safety pins, but I love it so much! I also got bored putting my hair up all the time, so now I leave it down, but I need a hair cut in a bad way. Time to make an appointment with the stylist sister.

on me: dress, target. crop top, h&m. shoes, vintage via marie's vintage. bracelet, vintage.

on true: dress, misha lulu. shoes, salt-waters c/o tea. hair bow, h&m.

on brave: dress, vintage. shoes, salt-waters.

on soul: dress, vintage c/o little reader vintage. leather booties, handmade by me a long time ago (see here).

I have mentioned Misha Lulu here many times before as it is one of our most favorite children clothing brands, and Misha Lulu has big news as her fall line includes a collaboration she did with Sanrio for Hello Kitty! True's dress is from that line and I have seen the rest and it is pretty wonderful. I am not all too keen on cartoon characters all up on children's clothing, but this collaboration is too pretty and has such a handmade feel that I really couldn't resist some pieces. I am sure you will be seeing my girls sporting more of it in the coming weeks in this space. Misha Lulu has such a whimsical, vintage feel that it is no wonder that Hello Kitty really wanted to be part of that Misha Lulu world. There are even coats this fall season that are just A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!

Pretty things on my etsy favorites list (buy them, so I won't be tempted) : black and green, red bird wrap, sunny cotton day dress, alice floral skirt, cream mocs, and woven flats

The weekend is upon us (ours will be pretty packed with parties) and I will be back later with my Friday recaps! Don't forget to head over to Rachel's later to see what pretty things they wore to celebrate her birthday over at the Red Velvet shop.

giveaway winners announced

Please excuse my extreme tardiness in announcing the winners for this $50 gift certificate to Joyess and this party in the box from Lola's Girl. Here are the winners...

If you are one of the lucky ladies, please email me so I can get you in touch with my sponsor. And thank you everyone else for entering, there will be more coming soon!

Don't forget to check out Joyess blog and shop, which is now fully stocked, and Lola's Girl blog! If you are interested in being a sponsor for September, do shoot me an email.

luna magazine

I am so late in sharing this as this came out in March, but I am honored to be featured as one of the blogs to read from around the world in Germany's Luna Magazine.

The magazine has lots of pretty eye candy (too bad I can't understand it, though I do know what my part says cause I answered questions for them), so if you happen to be in Germany, you should pick up a copy!

little vintage style

My little girls are over at Hart & Sew today. To find out a little bit more about their sweet clothes or hear me gush more about loving vintage, check it out here.

I am kinda slow on the posting this week as I have been busy prepping everything to start school next week. Yikes! So nervous! I will officially have a kindergartener, who I will be responsible in teaching because I am homeschooling. There will be a whole new learning curve for this next couple months, especially once little babycakies arrives.

Oh and I am glad you all loved the pictures of the baby shower because I am in love with it all too! I love looking at the pictures and watching the video to relive the fun I had all over again. I feel so blessed!

p.s. danni's baby shower recap here.

*photo courtesy of John Lauren.

a babycakies cupcake shower

This Saturday was my last and final baby shower (I really am done with 4 kids!). It was utterly perfect and babycakies and I felt quite loved. The celebration was a simple, yet fancy picnic surrounded by my closest friends and centered around something I love... cupcakes! Actually, I love all sweets, but this particular party was a cupcake decorating party. It was fun to see everyone decorate their cupcakes and try to win for the prettiest and the ugliest. Let me tell you that some of these gals got pretty creative with some ugly cupcakes. There were so many details that were lovingly infused into the whole celebration. I really do have the bestest friends!

Danni and Linda are pretty amazing together when they plan something, then throw in my mom, well, you just know it is gonna be great! To make sure they had all their bases covered and knowing how nerdy about pictures I am, they made sure to have my close friend Owen, who is a photographer, take pictures and then they know how much I love video, they had Jenny video.

If there weren't enough pictures on this post, can see more here and of course, they made sure to have a little video... all too perfect!

party planners: Danni and Linda (with my mom and sisters)

invitation: Danni (and this clever gal did the wording)

favors: Danni and Linda

food: my mom (and sisters)

photography: John Lauren

videography: Jenny Kim

my dress (cause I have a feeling you will ask): salvage house (see sponsor ad on the side, same dress, I had to have it once I saw it)

Want to read other posts on the party? See RJ's (my sis), Helen's, Linda's, Jenny's, Karen's, and I am sure Danni's will come up later up now here.

To all my friends (and family) who have spent the last five years throwing me baby showers... I love you all and am blessed by the love of God that flows through each of you. God is truly so good to me to give me such wonderful friends and I can hardly wait for the opportunity to give return the joy you each have given me! I love all of you lots!!!

*all photos courtesy of John Lauren.