It was a lovely month at the Edmonds home. Aaron and I helped serve at Compassion Vancouver, an effort in our community to offer free medical, dental, and social services to the needy. I was coordinating the hospitality team and it was wild and crazy day serving several hundred people, but the event went extremely well, although I had never experienced such extreme exhaustion till after this event. I received a massage from one of the volunteers and slept from 8:30pm-6:30 am! Maybe that is what I need, a daily massage anyone?
Aaron received some extra time off work and we enjoyed it immensely by taking a quick trip to Manzanita, OR, biking around town, and just resting. Our family picture above was taken from the top of a mountain just north of Manzanita overlooking the Oregon Coast, the highest peak between San Francisco and Canada. We hiked 1.5 miles zig zag straight up this mountain with two kids on our backs. We died but were determined to make it to the top. It was worth it!
Titus started walking this month. Once he finally decided to take the plunge, he was rocking and rolling. It has been delightful seeing him explore on his two feet, even if he waited till 17 months to do it.
Karis is loving learning her ABC’s, thanks to the inspiration of Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve and our other preschool resources. I added a craft book, Little Hands Paper Plate Crafts in order to add more letter related crafts to our learning (this month is “B” so we made a paper plate painted bird). We make one craft each week and bake one treat related to the letter (blueberry muffins this week). I am not really the crafty type, but wanted some additional ideas for simple projects to make and these are simple, easy, and only require some basic craft supplies.
I honestly did not complete any reading this month, beyond getting started on one book. I immersed myself in the Bible for all my reading times to help sustain me through sleepless nights. It has been beautiful to see all that God is working in and through me. During a bought of depression, the Lord again reminded me of the importance of cultivating thankfulness. Upon waking each day, I strive to write out at least five things I am thankful for that day. Just practicing this habit is so effective in establishing a joyful heart.
The Lord also reminded me of the importance of good routines. I had stopped my menu planning and was randomly going to the store here and there, planning meals on a daily basis, resulting in a sky-rocketing food budget. I had stopped my weekly planning retreat and the results were quite disastrous. I am so thankful for the Lord’s gentle guiding me back on track. By the end of the month, I have re-established these routines, returned to my monthly menu planning for September, re-opened my planning notebook, and my heart and life has been so much more peaceful. These tools are invaluable. Thank you Lord for getting me back on track!
Today is my birthday…the big 25! We celebrated last weekend by taking a fun breakfast and shopping outing with my sisters (did I mention I love Buffalo Exchange for used quality clothing), followed by a special date walking around Portland with my hubby. We are off this weekend to celebrate the union of Aaron’s oldest brother, Nathan, to my soon to be sister-in-law, Kathy. We are thrilled! I will be sure to share some pictures of this lovely event later.
Have a blessed weekend!
Happy Birthday, Lindsay! I am so glad you guys had relaxing time in OR. Thank you so much for your honesty about falling off the wagon with meal plans, grocery shopping & struggling with depression. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness & grace when we fall and giving us the strength to mount up on wings as eagles. Your blog has been an inspiration to me
Thank you for sharing your life!
Glad your birthday was a good one!
Happy Birthday, Lindsay!
Happy Birthday Lindsay, and I wanted to mention, what a beautiful radiant smile you have.
Happy Birthday! I just turned 29 a week ago, and funnily enough, my youngest (also 17 months) also started walking last week. He seems to like it okay, but I can tell he’d rather have lunch.
Happy Birthday! I’m new to your blog and absolutely love it!
Happy Birthday Lindsay
Glad you had an awesome day!!!
It looks like you found a lovely spot to have your family picture taken. We will have to keep that in mind for our next vacation-at least on our way to our next vacation.
Happy belated Birthday! I have enjoyed reading your blog over the past several months. I will be 26 tomorrow–yay for September birthdays!
Hi Lindsay! Happy Belated Birthday!
I also just turned 25 in June, and I just want you to know how richly blessed my life has been, as a wife and homemaker (i’m not a mother yet), since I discovered your blog. I know I’m just one example of how the Lord is really working through you to lead other women into lives of simple, natural, intentional and *passionate* homemaking, for His glory! You can be encouraged today that all of the hard work you are doing is producing an abundance of good fruit. Praise God
I echo Beth – turned 25 in June, homemaker but not mommy yet, I have been encouraged again and again through your obedience to Christ, Happy Birthday Lindsay!
Happy Belated b-day!
Massage everyday? YES!—have Aaron give you one. You don’t need to be a professional to give a good massage. I know a good “frolic” in bed helps me too!
Happy Birthday Lindsay!
What a beautiful view you had on that mountain!
May I ask what your daily schedule looks like with 2 little ones?
I have 2 little ones myself and am struggling with sleep due to my 10m old son, who wakes up several times a night and this since his birth.
Enjoy your day!
My pediatrician, and my mom and grandmother told me from day one, to not feed my babies at night. they get use to eating at night, and hence wake up. Babies aren’t going to starve if they miss a feeding.
Not sure if your baby is still eating at night… but you can alway break that cycle. And don’t always run and get the baby.. they need to learn to soothe themselves back to sleep. Let him cry for 5-10 minutes. If he’s dry, and you know he’s okay, let him cry it out.
“from day one, to not feed my babies at night.”
This is very scary advice! Wow. Please PLEASE research before skipping all “night” feedings for newborns.
Also, I neglected to give any *helpful* info in my comment, so I wanted to add that “The No-Cry Sleep Solution” book has lots of safe and gentle ways to teach a baby to sleep/nap better.
Thank you for responding to Danielle B. This comment has been on my mind since I read it just an hour ago. You cannot allow a newborn to go “all night” without food! Please do not do this from day one.
Yes, we need to be careful with this recommendation. This will certainly not help establish and encourage a solid breast milk supply. It takes time for a baby to adapt and learn to sleep through the night. I don’t think it is wise to recommend not feeding them until you know for sure that they are old enough to not need the night feedings. From newborn they have very small stomachs and need to eat more frequently. As they grow and develop, their stomachs will grow as well and they will be able to stretch the time between feedings. At 10 months, your baby should certainly be able to sleep through the night on his own. At this time, you can definitely try to let the child cry for 5-10 minutes before responding to him. Many times they are in between sleep cycles and will go back to sleep on their own. My babies were sleeping through the night by 2-3 months, but it was their own doing with a little help -giving them a few moments to console themselves. If that doesn’t work, check the diaper, and then try putting them back to sleep. If that doesn’t work, feed the child, by all means! We need to maintain a balance between crying it out and meeting the needs of our children. Certainly it takes some training to get them to sleep through the night.
I respectfully disagree. I would take advice from family and a doctor before a book. I had more than enough milk supply, it wasn’t drying up at 6 months or whatever. My kids were bf for 18 months each.
My children never starved, they missed ONE feeding a night. And they never cried more than 10 mins.
We all have different way to parent.
I don’t want to make this an argument, Danielle B., but I completely agree with Lindsay. Yours is the only doctor I have heard give this advice. Feeding newborns on demand is recommended by the Board of Pediatrics. This isn’t just taking the advice of a book vs. a doctor. “The No-Cry Sleep Solution” was written with the full endorsement of Dr. William Sears. There are different ways of parenting and it sounds like your children have been alright, but this is a topic close to my heart after seeing two babies “learning to sleep through the night” become weak, fussy, dehydrated, severely malnourished angels needing hospitalization. Both had loving, well-meaning mamas whom I love dearly and I wonder if I could have done something to prevent that heartache. So I’m speaking out against it now. I have yet to hear a sad story about a baby being fed when it’s hungry. Like Lindsay said above, we need to maintain a balance.
Hi Nathalie.
I read your comment and couldn’t help but to respond. I have 2 sons ages 3 and 22 months. Have you tried letting your 10 mo. old sleep with you? I know some people hate the idea, but this worked very well when I was nursing my boys. Everyone slept soundly thru the night. Sometimes they just need to feel your warmth. And in those instances when they did wake to nurse, it didn’t disrupt my sleep too much. Never underestimate or deny your babies the power of your comforting presence. Now that my youngest is weaned, he sleeps in his own bed through the night. Just something to consider. Have a great day!
You can view our daily schedule here.
Dear Lindsay, I am a fan of your blog and have referred it to several friends. Ahh….25! You are almost half my age but such a kindred spirit. The wisdom and character God has given you at such a young age is wonderful! You are a blessing to others and you are most certainly a blessed woman! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Lindsay!
happy birthday! may you be richly blessed in all you do!
Happy Birthday Lindsay! Congratulations on being a quarter of a century young! At least that’s how I like to look at it!
I just turned 25 in April. I hope you have a wonderful, blessed birthday!
Happy birthday! What a great month, and that photo is such a beautiful view!!
Happy Birthday! I love your blog. Blessings to you and your family!
Your honesty about your depression and insomnia is very refreshing.
Happy Birthday, Lindsay! You really had a lovely month! Like you, I too realized that slipping from my routine and planning was playing havoc with our budget and so have moved back to a planned and more peaceful routine!
Wishing you an abundant and blessed year ahead.
Happy Birthday!
I can’t believe you’re only three years older than me
It sounds like you had a wonderful month, I hope your birthday starts of a wonderful year for you
Happy Birthday Lindsay!
)
I have just discovered something that is helping me through some of the mundane tasks of full-time motherhood I am listening to books on CD from our library and getting some much needed intellectual stimulation while doing dishes, folding laundry and clearing clutter. Today I got a lecture on the Revolutionary war, a commentary on motherhood, and a clean kitchen at the same time. I’m loving this because it is a way to round out my knowledge and vocabulary to boost homeschooling efforts. Plus, I can give myself a stronger foundation to launch into my own projects once my children are grown.
Happy happy birthday, Lindsey! You are wise beyond your years!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend with your family-sounds like you have already had fun celebrating!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Lindsay!
Happy Birthday! You are a blessing to so many people and especially to me!
Happy Birthday! And thank you so much for taking the time for writing. I have been so blessed with your ideas, wisdom, recipes, etc. I wish I had some good advice for the insomnia. I’ve definitely had times of sleeplessness, but it was “child induced”, and the only cure was time.
Great family picture! Hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Happy birthday Lindsay! I hope you have a wonderful day with your family, and a blessed year growingin the grace and knowledge of our Lord.
Thanks so much for writing and blogging. Even though I am single and not looking to be married anytime soon, you write about things that are applicable to women–and men–of all walks of life. I don’t feel like it’s directed towards moms of littles like many Christian women’s blogs. I really appreciate that. Thank you!
Happy Birthday – mine is on this coming Tuesday, but I wish it was my 25th ;0)
I’m new to following your blog but I have enjoyed reading it. I wanted to thank you for sharing the idea of cultivating thankfulness and the list you write each morning. I have a tendency to focus on the bad, and I plan to use your idea to break that habit.
Blessing and have a wonderful birthday weekend.
Happy Birthday!
Love the view in your family picture. I am new to the blog also and have really enjoyed it. My family is especially grateful for all your yummy recipes! Enjoy your weekend.
Happy Birthday! Hope you enjoy the long weekend!
I love these monthly updates, keep them coming.
Sarah M
Happy Birthday! What a busy and wonderful month it sounds like you had
Have a wonderful and blessed birthday!
Thank you for your blog. Its so nice and refreshing to my heart and mind read it and learn more about natural and passionate homemaking.
Hi Lindsay! I’m a big fan of your blog, but this is my first time commenting. Have you ever read “The Mood Cure” by Julia Ross? Insomnia is something she touches on in her book, and she has substantial knowledge of natural remedies for many common disorders. It’s available on kindle (and possibly your local library!).
Have a blessed birthday!