Happy Two Months Baby Girl

Updated to add this picture of you at two months:

Today you are two months old, it's hard to believe that time goes so quickly. You have brought such amazing joy to our lives and are a wonderful addition to our family. You are a champion nurser, at 3 weeks old you were 10 pounds 2 ounces and at 7 weeks you already weighed 12 and a half pounds now you are 23 and a half inches long. Plus Mommy's back below pre-pregnancy weight - thanks to you!!

Your smiles are like the stars in the night. Your big brother loves to kiss and hug you and make you smile. He'll make silly faces at you and you smirk at him.

Your eyes are a deep ocean blue and your hair a soft and sandy brown with a hint of strawberries. You radiate a beautiful chubbiness that is oh so kissable and squeezable. You have the interesting talent of being able to burp without coming unlatched and you already play the "other cheek" kissing game with Mommy and Daddy.

I love the way your hair stands up when it's newly washed and your ruby red lips as thy suckle. There's just nothing cuter than a nursing babe and you are adorable.

Daddy and I just couldn't be happier that God chose you and your brother for our children. Seeing and loving you is evidence of God and his love. From your tiny toes to your perfect ears and button nose we love every bit of you. Beautiful Girl.

Top picture: 1 day old. Bottom on your baptism day at 7 weeks 5 days old wearing an 84 year old dress. The dress was made by your Great, Great, Great Grandmother for your Great Grandmother who wore it first. Your Granny and Mommy also were baptized in it as well as many Aunts and Cousins too.

New Recipes for us this Fall

Recently Adam asked me to make taco's for dinner. Now if you haven't guessed by now, I'm not into buying those little spice packages that have a million extra ingredients in them, so we never eat tacos or sloppy joes. That's all changed now... these recipes are quick and easy and I've got two more dinners to rotate in with normal stuff this Fall! Why didn't I think of this sooner!

Taco Seasonings

I just eyeballed the amounts - and you could adjust the spiciness to taste, it's fairly mild on the heat.

• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp each salt and black pepper (I used less)

In a small bowl mix all ingredients together and add to saute pan with ground beef or chicken. Can be stored in an airtight container. I find it's enough to season 1 - 1 1/2 pounds of meat or so.

Super Sloppy Joes (from Rachel Ray - 30 minute Queen)

• 1 Tblspn extra virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
• 1 1/4 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp to 1 tblspn steak seasoning blend
• 1 mediun onion, chopped
• 1 small bell pepper chopped
• 1 tblspn red wine vinegar
• 1 tblspn Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 Tblspns tomato paste
• 4 crusty rolls split, toasted and lightly buttered

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan. While meat is browning combine brown sugar and steak seasoning. Add sugar and spice mixture to the skillet and combine. When the meat has browned add onion and red peppers. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers , red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with meat for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and paste and stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes longer. Spoon onto rolls and serve. (I just made homemade biscuits and we spooned them over those.

I love my hubby

Yes, that's what a pound and a half of carob chips looks like. To give him credit, the list specified a years supply!!!! I really am so very grateful that you are willing to go shopping for me honey, Thanks!

Blog Action Day

October 15th is Blog Action Day. Each blogger will post about the environment in their own way in relation to their own blog. I already had a couple environment related posts up my sleeve for a rainy day so I'm getting them ready! If you feel moved to participate visit the web page for more info.

Tender moments

Eight days old.

Thanks Ashlee!!!

My wonderful blogging buddy Ashlee who blogs at Mama's Nest and is the owner of Nest sent me a sling! I've used it every day since receiving it on Friday, it's my first adjustable sling and I love it! Plus I love the fabric, it's very well made and I think more stylish than my wardrobe!

It is so easy to put it on quickly even just to do one small task, with other carriers if I'm going to put it on it's not really worth it if I'm just taking out the garbage before I change her diaper. This one I just plop her in and we're ready to go. Like my son, she doesn't like any of the horizontal positions, just upright which is fine with me. I have figured out how to nurse in it but I still have to hold her with one hand. I think I may go to my local La Leche League meeting on Thursday because I know it's possible to nurse hands free so hopefully someone will be able to give some advice. For now, it's nice to have to take a break to sit and nurse but soon it will be nice to be able to nurse on the go.

I also LOVE the tail of the sling, it comes in really handy for shielding the sun out of her eyes and covering up while nursing or when she's asleep.

If you need encouragement on why it's good to wear your baby Ashlee's got a great list here. My favorites are *Carrying infants lowers the level of stress hormones and adrenalin circulating in the blood stream of the infant, as well as the parent/caregiver. *Continuously carried infants actually initiate separation faster and become more emotionally self-reliant. *Babies who are carried have a lower mortality rate than infants who are denied this constant contact. - Well there are just too many to list here!!!! Thanks again Ashlee!!!!

More Three Year Old Speak

The other morning while we were cuddling in bed making baby sister smile (my son gets the biggest smiles from her) he says:

Mommy she's the cutest ever, ever, ever come out your belly!

The struggle to be consistent

Since we moved I've had a hard time getting my son to pick up his toys. I started to reread Toddler Love and Logic and a couple weeks ago got a bit more serious. Giving my son choice until I was blue in the face. ME: "Would you like to put your left shoe on first or your right?" HIM: I want to play with my trains ME:Well that wasn't an option, let's do the left.... ME: "Bath or shower?, Would you like to leave now or in 5 minutes? Spoon or fork, bowl or plate, red or orange, la, la, la...."

Things seemed to be looking up again (remember to stay consistent Mom and Dad!) except on the toy front. Oh, I thought I had done what they said in the book: if they won't pick up their toys give them a choice of them doing it or you. Then Mom and/or Dad put it up. I had done that with a handful of toys but it never seemed like he missed them. One day a couple weeks ago after his quiet time in his bed room toys were EVERYWHERE. I said OK buddy, you may come downstairs for a snack after all your toys are picked up. He looked at me and said "No, you can do it."

I stood there about ready to go ballistic and then thought - you are messing with the wrong Mama kiddo. Took him downstairs and I went back up and picked up EVERY toy in his room and put them up on the top shelves of closets. I had no mercy except that his night time cuddle guys were on his bed and not part of the mess so I left them.

He was upset when he saw his very empty room later that afternoon. I showed empathy, I consoled him. I asked if he wanted them back tomorrow or the next day. He said the next day and I held him to that even though I really don't think he got that it was longer without the toys. Ever since those toys have been back picking up a room has never been so easy, nor has my 3 year old ever been so willing.

Unfortunately the lesson didn't carry over to downstairs and currently all the downstairs toys are in the garage or up high as well - this morning when he say the empty shelves he did choose getting them back tomorrow instead of the next day. It's just reassuring that when I don't mess it up, this Love and logic stuff really works!

Presto!

The other day my son was playing at my feet while I was nursing. My daughter popped off and burped to which my son said, "Excuse you Daddy."

His new favorite TV show is Super Why! and now he says "Presto" all the time. The other morning it was raining and he asked to play outside in the rain. I said as long as he got dressed in something warm it would be okay (it was more of a drizzle at the time). Then he said something to the effect of, "No it's raining outside." I said yup it was. He replied with, "Oh, it's raining outside. How are we going to do? Super readers!!!!" I was rolling on the floor. Then I had to bring up the fact that God is the only one over the weather - and we started to sing "God is over, over, over the wind and waves."

Freeloadin' and lovin' it!

One week old in a carrier made by a good friend of mine. (If she ever wants to sell them I'll let you all know!) : The only way dinner gets made (one monyh old):

It's not so bad being awoken during the night to find...

These were taken last week and the baby acne is almost all gone now!!!

So....

Last evening I realized that one nursing pad was missing. (Not the disposable kind - the washable ones). By the way I nursed in public places - one of which was church!!!! Yikes!

Let's go fishing!

When we were in Las Vegas this summer visiting my Mom in law we went to the FAO Schwartz store in Caesars Palace. There I saw this fishing game and knew my son would love it. He pretends strings, ropes even my hubby's cell phone ear piece are fishing lines but I couldn't justify the 20 something dollars for a bunch of cardboard fish and things that I knew my boy would fold and crumple. Plus when I showed it to my hubby and his response was "Oh, we can make that so much better."

So one of my last nesting projects 6 and a half weeks ago was making this fishing game for my son. I found a small tupperware bin at a local thrift store and decoupaged the inside with strips of light blue tissue paper. The bin is large enough to store all the pieces and to play by fishing the pieces out of it. I had Adam drill holes in four dowels and painted each one a different color for each different player.

I tied string to each dowel and dabbed the knots with super glue to make it extra secure. At the opposite end of the string I tied a magnet with the help of hot glue to secure it before I tied it, then reinforced the knots with super glue as well.

For the fish I printed pictures that I found online (i.e. clown fish, crab, blue whale etc.). I also printed the names of all the fish and taped them to the backs. After slipping on a paper clip I covered both sides of each cut out fish with self laminate to prolong their life span.

It was really pretty fun to make and for $15 I made two of them, one for my nephew also - I think a pretty good bargain! I have been thinking that if you printed the fish on cardstock you could use packaging tape to cover the smaller size fish instead of the laminate which was the most expensive component. With older kids you might not even have to laminate at all.

We are just having fun learning how to take turns but really your imagination is the limit. I think it would be fun to fish for letters and make words or with words to make sentences etc.

If you want to participate in the Make it from Scratch Carrnival Stephanie from Stop the Ride is hosting this week and she's got a theme. She wants to know where in the world we are - country or state. Get your post up and submitted by Sunday for next Tuesday's carnival!!

Hours of fun!!!

When Daddy takes him to get a haircut!

I usually cut his hair with clippers but a couple of weeks ago he was over due and for some reason I couldn't find the 30 minutes to cut it! So Daddy and him went together and came home with glue!

Mommy Do!

From long....

to short.....

I had it done on Saturday and I'm still getting used to it but it's definitely a lot lighter and more fun.

My little beauty is dong well, she'll be 6 weeks tomorrow. We call her a little squeaker because she makes all these wonderful baby noises and squeaks that are too adorable. She is very strong and has good head control and is starting to smile more! If only I can catch it at just the right moment for a pic!

To my 3 year old!

Nearly a month ago my son turned three and I've neglected the big event here on my blog. In real life, we did it up with a big shindig and had a bunch of his friends over to celebrate. The focus was back on him, I'm sure a welcome feeling just days after his baby sis joined the family!

Throwing a party 12 days postpartum is great if your Mom is here! Thanks to Granny everything went smoothly! We made homemade playdough which was each kids parting gift along with a goody bag with a couple of dollar store finds in it. (Seriously I think we may have spent $5 at the dollar store for bags and party favors - sometimes I just love the dollar store!) Some bigger siblings helped put Cars themed tatoos on all the little guys and while it's always really important for me to make my kids cakes I let my hubby purchase this years- boy is that a budget killer! Well worth it in this instance however.

I just can't believe I have a three year old! He just had a little growth spurt too so all his 2T shorts are getting too short - good thing summer's almost over and we've gotten 2 seasons out of some of them!!!

My favorite things you are doing right now my beautiful boy--

• The way you'll burst into song - and start singing one of "Bob and Larry's Sunday Morning songs" or "Doe a Dear" or yesterday in the car with the radio to "I can only Imagine" I love your beautiful little voice.

• Everyday when I walk into your room after "quiet play time" there's a new adventure waiting for me - once you were even asleep on your floor and two days ago you ripped off a good two foot section of the wallpaper! THANKS maybe in a couple weeks you'll have it all off! I wonder if then you'll be able to paint the walls for us!

• Your ability to learn has always fascinated me but now it's amazing. You can recognize most letters - only about 6 slip you up and you count to 30 - you can speak so well. Daddy and I are so very proud of you!

• Ever since your little sister came along it's become apparent to me what a HUGE heart you have. You are always wanting to kiss and hug her (isn't that what baby's are for?) and you have learned to be very gentle and caring. It's a nice side to see of your very boy rough and tumble personality.
• You can 100% get yourself dressed - if there are no buttons involved - which is a huge help for me! Mostly you get things on right side out even.
• You still LOVE to help me in the kitchen, and you have most of just about every book that we own memorized and after two times reading through library books heaven forbid Mommy or Daddy skip one little line to save time before bed!!!!! I think "What do People do all Day" is one of the only ones you don't have totally memorized and that's a really long one. Yet still a favorite for you.
• You know that D-O-G, C-A-T, and C-A-R and your name spell words. You ask me to spell things - did I say you are SO smart!
• You are always willing to share with Mommy and Daddy and you are working on taking turns and sharing very well when playing with your friends. It's fun to see your imagination at work when you play with your "guys", matchbax cars, blocks and others.
• You always make the sunshine a bit brighter each day for me and you'll always be my baby - even if you think you're a "big boy!"

I LOVE YOU MY WONDERFUL SON!

Tonight while giving my kids a bath I found myself wanting three more arms. For one thing I'd be able to wash both kids and floss the annoying corn between my teeth all at the same time. Then when I got the little one out and dressed she wanted to nurse and so I sat on the toilet nursing away knowing that my son needed to get out and ready for bed but also desperately needed his hair washed. Again I needed more arms - I guess God knew that we really can't do everything and that's why he gave us Dad! Conveniently with two more arms!!!

Time

Tiny Toes

Two In Cloth

We are just here treasuring every moment we spend together. Someday I hope to be able to get a better handle on things so I can justify computer time again! But for now we are just enjoying this time with my now 3 year old son and 3 week and six day old daughter because they'll only be this big today, tomorrow they'll be bigger.

My hubby's Mom sent an email and this was at the bottom, I thought it was powerful and fitting!

Birthday Story Part 2

I guess with a new baby when I say I'll write more tomorrow it means next week!!! :) My Mom was here for the last two weeks so today's my first day "on my own." So far God has been very very good to me!!! Both are currently sleeping and I thought I'd try to finish the story of our daughter's birth and share a few cute pictures.

"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:31 (NIV)

I woke up at 4am having contractions and I laid in bed resting to see if they'd continue even with me relaxing and drinking water. For about 3 or 4 days before I'd been having some pretty strong contractions but if I laid down and relaxed they'd get further apart and then I'd fall asleep or they'd just go away completely. This time I wanted to make sure they were real before calling. After the 5th one about 10 or 11 minutes apart I grabbed my hubby awake thinking "this is the last one you get to sleep through honey!" When the contraction subsided I asked him to bring me the phone and number.

He proceeds to do a couple things and then get out his clothes and begin to get dressed before I say "I'd like to call before my next contraction comes so can you get the phone first." He groggily replies and smiles at me, telling me I'm beautiful. I call at about 5am and since we are all packed I get dressed, put my hair back in braids and we let my Mom know we were leaving.

We arrived at the birthing center at about 5:40am and start to settle into our room. The same room where my son was born, it has a twin bed, a comfy chair, and a large birthing tub - along with it's own bath room. The lights could be dimmed and we just tried to relax and laugh between contractions. Occasionally I'd ask my hubby if he could at least wake up when I was having a contraction and we'd giggle. I was way more aware during this labor than I remember being with my son.

After we were settled in a bit my wonderful nurse (really my best friends Mom - we go to the same church- who so wonderfully said she'd be on call just for us!) checked me and I was 5 cm. She showed me on the little diagram how big that was compared to 10cm and I was convinced we had a long way to go.

After awhile my back began to really hurt so Adam laid behind me on the bed and would push on my lower back during the contractions, I then said I was ready for the tub. I'm not sure what time it was but as soon as they started getting the tub ready for me I had 3 or 4 contractions right on top of each other which was well, eventful. Before I got in the tub I was already at 8cm and it was time to call my Dr. By the time the Dr. got there I was complete and ready to push!

The first contraction I pushed through I was thinking in my head "I'm not sure I can do this, this hurts way more than I remember!" After that contraction I looked at my hubby who was telling me how awesome I was doing and I said out loud "We can do this!" (He asked me later if I remembered saying this and I told him that I felt like I had to say it out loud since my thoughts during the pushing weren't helping me.) After the second contraction that I pushed through I said something to the effect of "Oh my goodness!" and everyone laughed at me that I was so mild manored in the throws of it all!

The third contraction was the last out she came to join us at 8:07am and they plopped her on my belly in all her chubby beauty. Adam and I oogled and googled for maybe a minute or two and then he cut the cord and they wrapped her in a warm towel. I felt like I had to use all my strength with two people helping me get out of the tub but I made it over to the bed. Adam got a chance to snuggle her for awhile and then I did. They never had to take her away from us, a scale was wheeled in and she was weighed (9lbs 4oz). Then we nursed for a good long while and called family and asked my Mom to bring our son out to meet his baby sis.

It wasn't until after lunch that we gave her a bath and got her dressed and measured and foot printed and all that stuff. It was so nice to have all that time to bond and for my son and Mom to be able to hang out until after lunch. We did more cuddling and nursing while my best friend came for a short visit. After which our family Dr. came and checked her out and we were discharged. I think we arrived home at about 5:30 pm and another friend was over just for a quick peek before work. I'm pretty sure we all were in bed by 8pm.

"I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26 (NIV)

Our Daughter's Birthday Story (part one)

So it looks like my Dad ended up being the closest guess - crazy as it might be. But I'll buy him starbucks when he comes to visit in a couple days so there are 3 others that guessed the correct date and I'd love to send you all something - Heaven Sent, Ashlee from Mama's Nest, and Audrey from Pinks and Blues. Send me an email to thebutterflymama at gmail dot com with your snail mail address! And thanks for playing!

I'm feeling great. I'm rested and still resting too but really things couldn't be going better as we are all getting adjusted to our wonderful new family member. I wanted to share the first bit of her birth story with you all while I have a moment to type, it's much more slow going one handed but it's nice to have a cutie pie nursing as I go!!!

"Last Monday seems like a lifetime ago," my hubby casually said to me at some point this week. I smirked at him and we both shrugged since it basically was. My Dr. called me late that morning and said, "Heidi, you're still pregnant!" She had told me the Tuesday before that I was 3-4 cm and wouldn't make it to my next apt. Also she made that tempting offer that we could induce any day. I wanted to wait at least until my due date so that brings us back to Monday. With the next day being my due date she asked if I wanted to be induced that next morning. I was done so I agreed that I'd be at the birthing center the next morning at 8am.

I just have to add that watching my son that day was amazing. He and my Mom were making cookies and even though it took them at least twice as long to do it together sitting in the chair and seeing the look on his face made one thing clear. I know why I love to do those things with him and it was great to sit there and see his smiles and the look of satisfaction on his face while he was helping. It IS worth spending this extra time with our kids while they are little since they are only this big today, tomorrow they'll be bigger. (He now seems gigantic next to his little sis!)

Anyway, it was sort of a hard decision to induce vs. got naturally. I was nervous all evening even after my nurse called and explained everything. My husband has since mentioned that I never gave this decision to God and he was right, I didn't have much faith. Especially since I awoke with contractions at 4:00am my worry and emotion was unnecessary. When I woke up I also had the song "I surrender in my head which was a nice one to be singing going into labor.

Since this much has taken two sittings to type I'll write another segment tomorrow!

Welcome to the family

We welcomed "baby sister" to our family at 8:07am on August 14th weighing in at 9 lbs 4 oz and she was 21 inches long. Our big kiddo is officially a big brother and doing great! I'm voiding my no name policy for a day or so and then I'll update this to get rid of it but I thought all my new friends should get a chance to learn her name. She's nursing like a champ and we were home within about 9 hours of giving birth. You'll be hearing more about her birthday soon but I'm going back for another nap now! Thanks for your prayers, she's an amazing blessing!

The update from here is see my last posting! Except maybe with one less finger holding on!

I was totally convinced that this little one would be pretty early so I think God's reminding me who's in charge here!!!

On a totally random note, I totally love my crocs and they've saved my feet and back this entire pregnancy but can I just tell you how much I'd love to wear some really cute shoes again!

Still hanging in there...

I thought this picture from last October was a perfect fit! I'm still hoping that those of you who guessed today end up being right, but not much is going on to indicate that! So I guess there's still time to guess!

There's no hiding my HUGENESS!!!!

Not that I'd even want to try. I'm enjoying this pregnancy as much as I possibly can. I'm enjoying every day of a bouncy, wiggly little girl who even though she's zapping my energy and making me pee at every stop we make, I'm so in awe of the fact that she's in there. About to be born into our family, this tiny person inside me. A whole complete little girl who will soon enough be able to survive outside of my body.

I find that I can't wait for so many things... can't wait to meet her, nurse her, hold her, see my son's face as he meets her for the first time, see Adam hold her and love on her, and see all those tiny fingers and toes. Last week I kept saying, "OK God, give me just 2 more days to get things organized before the little girl comes." This week I find myself hoping that labor starts NOW just because I feel ready. Ready to be an infants Mom again, to parent two kids (sometimes I think I'm nuts too), that I'll still be able to keep up with the house this time, and I'm just ready tomorrow marks one week until I'm due after all.

I can say that I used to be one of those people who thought, "how can there be enough love in my heart to love another child." After all I love my son completely, but after these nine months with my daughter in my womb I feel that I have more capacity to love than I ever thought. Today, I feel more confident in my parenting abilities and full of love for my family and incredibly grateful that God has blessed us dearly and wonderfully in so many ways. Incredibly looking at things from a place of gratitude always helps my perspective and outlook.

Well, the purpose of this post wasn't to be this sappy ;) but share all these pictures of my huge belly that my hubby took this weekend. You can click on the pics to make them bigger if you need to LOL!!! Did you catch Mr. Big Brother's face in the picture where he's hugging me? Silly kid!

Remember to guess my delivery stats if you haven't played already. Hopefully there's less than one week left!!!!

Getting Close

I thought it might be fun to play a little game for the last couple of weeks of this pregnancy. I'm not sure if at the end of it I'll have any energy to give anything away or not but I thought it might be fun anyway to see who's the closest. How about a Starbucks gift card to the winner of the closest guess - that will be easy enough to get and mail!!! UPDATED TO ADD: my Mom will add a couple of hand knitted dish cloths to the prize pot too, they are very pretty and great because they are washable and reusable!!!

I will give you as many details as I have as far as Dr. visits and past history to help you with guessing my delivery date, time, baby's weight etc. Whatever detail(s) you'd like to guess. After our new arrival comes I'll post all of her stats and of course pictures!

Tuesday I was 38 weeks and I'm due on August 14th. Two weeks ago I was about 1 cm dilated and this week 2 cm. With my son I was dilated 4 cm for at least the last two weeks and I delivered him ON my due date at 8:19pm, he weighed 8lbs 6oz and was 21 inches long.

Here's a picture of me at 38 weeks one day along and here's a link to a pic of me pregnant with my son at 37 weeks.

Happy Guessing!!!

Oh, and please don't think you have to have a blog to guess, if you normally lurk around here (that means you read and you don't normally comment) I LOVE comments and the more guesses the merrier!!! :) You can still click on leave a comment fill in your name and comment!

Yup, I've Started Composting With Worms

I've wanted to start doing this for three years and finally got brave enough. I always thought it would be easier with a professionally purchased bin made especially for it. Something like this one but I decided I'm too cheap to buy one. There are many different ways to make one and I chose just to use a big blue plastic bin since we have quite a few of them.

My hubby helped me by drilling two small holes in the bottom and some one inch holes across the top of one side and the bottom of the other. I've read that plastic bins tend to stay very moist so I wanted it to be pretty well ventilated. Then I glued some screening to the outside of the bin to cover the holes, mostly to keep away flies, apparently they worms don't try to escape as long as conditions are not toxic!

With the bin all ready, I shredded a bunch of newspaper by hand until it was in 1-2 inch wide strips then I threw in a couple of handfuls of dirt (worms don't have teeth and need some grit to eat.) I then dampened the newspaper bedding with water using enough so that all the paper was wet but not too much so that it was dripping. After adding the moist bedding to the bin I added the worms which is what yesterday's picture showed. After about 30 minutes they were all underneath the newspaper bedding and now when I open the bin I barely ever see any worms on top. I buried some food scraps in the bedding, put on the lid and let them be.

In just a week that first pile of scraps I put in are almost gone, but I think I did overload the system with too much fruit and veggies a couple days later. Apparently if I just let it sit now the worms will catch up with the scraps and eventually they'll multiply to an ample population to handle our amount of food waste. In a few months we'll have wonderful vermicompost to feed our garden and plants.

Oh, and did I mention that this entire composting system is currently sitting in our downstairs bath tub. It only smells when you overload it with food (even though mine is over loaded at the moment it doesn't really smell unless you go digging in the bedding). You can find more info and order your own red wriggler worms at Mary Applehof's web site and I also purchased her book Worms Eat My Garbage as a reference.

I'll probably be posting periodically with updates on how it's going - but this is how I got it all set up!

I'm updating this post because I forgot to mention yesterday that Jamie who blogs at all things avery just introduced her new business. Her custom photo card site is amazing, it's called Wee Little Designs (cute name huh?!!) and I can't believe the number of designs she has, nor how amazing they all are! Comment and link to her blog by tomorrow and you could win 25 free cards! She's really got talent!